Look! Normal food!

[luke]

Some people might be coming up on surgery or recently post-op and being somewhat depressed or fighting a moment or two of drama thinking "I'll never eat that (whatever) again" or "My relationship with my favorite food is dead." Well it's not dead, it just goes to sleep for a few months and then comes back only slightly changed.

Here's today's breakfast and lunch:

IMG_3268.JPG

Breakfast (post vitamins and water) is a nice 2oz slab of ham and a yogurt and yes(!) I'm also eating the peach fruit sludge included...probably half to 2/3 of it anyway.

Lunch is a homemade chili that contain ground beef, braised stew beef, tomato, onion, scallion, kidney beans and homemade chicken stock. (Not listing the numerous spices) AND five mini pork-dumplings. Yup. Pasta. Granted it's paper-thin and wrapping some pork and cabbage...but to my mouth it's definitely a carb-wrapped bready treat.

The "Creamy Bites" are chewy chocolate/caramel calcium chews. They're my snacks.

I'm still losing (inches if not pounds at this moment) and I'm happy with my meals. I'm nicely full at the end and more importantly I'm satisfied and not feeling like I'm deprived.

So if you're in the doldrums thinking "poor me"...SNAP OUT OF IT! Go drink your water and vitamin, move a bit more and know that you'll be enjoying many of your favorite foods again soon...just in reasonable amounts.

Good morning!

[RoDean]

Are those condiment cups you are putting everything in??? They make jello shooters in them??

[Rose69]

Great post Luke! I think it's important for the newbies to know that life with food does get back to a normal, normal. I wish someone had posted this 8 or 9 months ago when I was so misserable. I'm just under 9 months out and couldn't be happier. Keep up the great job!

[luke]

Are those condiment cups you are putting everything in??? They make jello shooters in them??

Nope. Those are little lidded containers I bought off amazon.com. They're called "FitFresh" containers. They have measurement lines on the side and tight fitting lids and hold 8oz/one cup. The chili one is about 3/4 full. You can compare them to the Fage Yogurt in the photo. That's a 5.3oz/150g yogurt.

As I type this I just ate the ham and yogurt and I can just feel the food sitting almost at the top of my pouch. Perfect. Happy. I do want a sip of something to drink but I've learned that I need to wait 10-15 minutes after eating, but I have my water waiting here.

[GA400]

Words of wisdom, Luke! The food divorce isn't permanent, it is more like a separation that gets relieved in stages, with conditions

My supper last night was grilled ribeye steak (very well chewed before swallowed) and some sauteed mushrooms. For dessert I had some homemade pina colada sorbet. Breakfast this morning was a fried egg, corned beef hash, and some Arnold thin bread toast with butter. Very similar to what I ate before surgery, just significantly smaller portions and less carbs and sugars. I don't feel deprived at all!

[Lucy61]

Very well said by all. Real food does happen again, it is up to us and only us to make the smart choices.

[Holly]

Agree with you all , food is still tasty just better choices and great deal lesser in volume, the question I always ask is this , is it need or desire. Do I need to eat this so I get what my body needs or is it a desire to eat impulsively. Treats are good, just a few bites, when you deprive yourself of food pleasure they become obsessions. I also keep a food diary which keeps me knowledgeable in my protein levels and sugars, but just relax and enjoy life and keep learning . Luke what is the name of those calcium creams u had on here, I am looking to get new ones

[luke]

Luke what is the name of those calcium creams u had on here, I am looking to get new ones

Calcet Creamy Bites. It's not a REAL substitute for say...a bite-sized milky-way, but it's pretty darn close and a vitamin. They aren't zero calorie though. FYI. I count them in my food journal.