Making Use of the Surgery Delay
As ready as I was to get the show on the road, it's actually been good to have a little extra time to prepare. One of my "dreads" has been the thought of existing on protein shakes for 2 weeks prior to surgery and for 1-2 weeks post-op. I've been trying to get used to it by replacing a meal a day with a protein shake but there's only so much I can gag down. At first it was ok but it got old really, really fast.
The problem has been a lack of research and experimentation. If I couldn't find it at Costco or Walmart I didn't buy it. But they have very limited stock and it's all pretty much chocolate or vanilla and once in awhile a strawberry. Hence the change from do-able to gag-able. I'm not much of a sweet person anyway (in my tastes...not my personality ) I found myself craving solid and salty foods which unfortunately sent me into a binge that reversed the weight I'd just lost.
Now I'm so excited and having a great time experimenting in the "bariatric foodie" community. After all it wasn't a lack of excitement over food that put us in this situation in the first place. I would venture to guess that a goodly portion of my overweight companions enjoy the gift of food as much as I do. Who better to turn to to find great tasting foods that meet bariatric guidelines? Meeting the nutritional requirements is most important but doing it in such a way that we can actually enjoy and celebrate the food we are eating runs a close 2nd. I know for myself that if I'm gagging it down or dreading putting it in my mouth it's not going to be a permanent lifestyle change. It's going to be a "lose a little, gain a lot" scenario when I finally can't take it anymore and binge it out of my system.
I never realized there really is a bariatric foodie community out there and they've come up with some awesome products. No, Nancy, you don't have to choke down a chocolate shake 4 times a day. Yay!!! There are lots of fruit flavored protein powders and liquids to add to my usual jug of water I drink. And salty foods too! As one of my weight loss attempts I tried the Medifast diet. Gaggy sweet shakes and flavored sawdust "food" packets. It didn't last long. The bariatric foods I'm discovering, by contrast, are really yummy and not a single one has had the texture or taste of sawdust.
I just got my first experimental box from the Bariatric Choice website today and tried some Vinegar and Salt protein chips that are YUM! The fruity protein powders mix easily and taste just like the water enhancers I've been using, but unlike the enhancers, it hits the nutrition mark as well. The Syntax Nectar line averages (per full scoop): 100 calories, 24gms of protein and 0 carbs...and they're delicious.
I was really worried about this and now I really think I can do it. And I can help my mom in the process who just called for recommendations because her doctor wants her to have at least 2 protein shakes a day (her protein levels are scary low) and she can't gag them down either. We're going to have fun!
So far (on a scale of 1-5):
Syntax Nectar: Fuzzy Navel - 3.5 (kind of a funky smell but tastes good), Caribbean Cooler - 5 Yum!
WonderSlim Fruit Drink: Strawberry Kiwi - 4 (Tastes like adding Crystal Light, never know it's a protein drink)
BariWise Protein Chips: Salt and Vinegar - 5
ProtiDiet Protein Crisps: White cheddar - 5
ProtiDiet Protein Squares: Raspberry Dark Chocolate - 2 (tasted good for a sweet protein bar but I've eaten too many of this type bar. Fits into the, "Anybody's Brand High Protein Meal Bar" catagory.)
By the way...really big news. I got my insurance approval!!! Done deal. Now I just have to be able to follow the pre-op diet without screwing it up.
The problem has been a lack of research and experimentation. If I couldn't find it at Costco or Walmart I didn't buy it. But they have very limited stock and it's all pretty much chocolate or vanilla and once in awhile a strawberry. Hence the change from do-able to gag-able. I'm not much of a sweet person anyway (in my tastes...not my personality ) I found myself craving solid and salty foods which unfortunately sent me into a binge that reversed the weight I'd just lost.
Now I'm so excited and having a great time experimenting in the "bariatric foodie" community. After all it wasn't a lack of excitement over food that put us in this situation in the first place. I would venture to guess that a goodly portion of my overweight companions enjoy the gift of food as much as I do. Who better to turn to to find great tasting foods that meet bariatric guidelines? Meeting the nutritional requirements is most important but doing it in such a way that we can actually enjoy and celebrate the food we are eating runs a close 2nd. I know for myself that if I'm gagging it down or dreading putting it in my mouth it's not going to be a permanent lifestyle change. It's going to be a "lose a little, gain a lot" scenario when I finally can't take it anymore and binge it out of my system.
I never realized there really is a bariatric foodie community out there and they've come up with some awesome products. No, Nancy, you don't have to choke down a chocolate shake 4 times a day. Yay!!! There are lots of fruit flavored protein powders and liquids to add to my usual jug of water I drink. And salty foods too! As one of my weight loss attempts I tried the Medifast diet. Gaggy sweet shakes and flavored sawdust "food" packets. It didn't last long. The bariatric foods I'm discovering, by contrast, are really yummy and not a single one has had the texture or taste of sawdust.
I just got my first experimental box from the Bariatric Choice website today and tried some Vinegar and Salt protein chips that are YUM! The fruity protein powders mix easily and taste just like the water enhancers I've been using, but unlike the enhancers, it hits the nutrition mark as well. The Syntax Nectar line averages (per full scoop): 100 calories, 24gms of protein and 0 carbs...and they're delicious.
I was really worried about this and now I really think I can do it. And I can help my mom in the process who just called for recommendations because her doctor wants her to have at least 2 protein shakes a day (her protein levels are scary low) and she can't gag them down either. We're going to have fun!
So far (on a scale of 1-5):
Syntax Nectar: Fuzzy Navel - 3.5 (kind of a funky smell but tastes good), Caribbean Cooler - 5 Yum!
WonderSlim Fruit Drink: Strawberry Kiwi - 4 (Tastes like adding Crystal Light, never know it's a protein drink)
BariWise Protein Chips: Salt and Vinegar - 5
ProtiDiet Protein Crisps: White cheddar - 5
ProtiDiet Protein Squares: Raspberry Dark Chocolate - 2 (tasted good for a sweet protein bar but I've eaten too many of this type bar. Fits into the, "Anybody's Brand High Protein Meal Bar" catagory.)
By the way...really big news. I got my insurance approval!!! Done deal. Now I just have to be able to follow the pre-op diet without screwing it up.
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