I am finally starting to feel human again after being sick over the weekend. So today is my first official day OP. Here is my question to all of you "experts". I am on the yellow menu and I have to tell you, it sure feels like they have me eating alot of food. I mean 8 oz. of lettuce is a huge salad. For supper I had chicken and green beans. The menu says I am suppose to have 6 oz. of chicken and 4 oz. of green beans. That sure looked like a lot too. I was just making my lunch for tomorrow and 6 oz. of turkey is a lot too. And it was, I didn't eat it all. Is this normal? Am I required to eat all of this. If am going to gain weight if I eat this much.
I have always been the habitual snacker and stress eater. And trust me I have major stress in my life. I am an only child taking care of my 72 year old Dad on Hospice with Alzheimer's.
So I am totally sticking to the 3 meals a day with no snacks. Just during pre-conditioning I lost 6 pounds and I am pretty sure it would have been more had I not gotten sick. There is no way I can eat as much as they want.
And one last question. On the meat portions. Are those weights before or after they are cooked.
Everyone already gave great advice about your questions but I just wanted to add one more thing.
8 oz of lettuce is a LOT! If it's too much for you right now try adding some of the heavier salad vegetables like cucumber, celery, broccoli or cauliflower. It helps when you are feeling it's just too much food!
Well, my stomach was gurgling this morning and there was a little relief but not what my family is now calling "waiting on the mother load". So Britt, you may have a silly husband but my entire family is now involved and silly! My sister in law came over last night, she was on the phone with her sister talking about it. I'm sure, by the end of the day, Benton County Arkansas will have heard the news.
With the lack of movement - I took 1 Cascara Sagrada (it's a natural herb that my consultant recommended). That was around 7:20am. It's close to 11am and still nothing. The pain isn't as severe, which I'm thankful for but I just want to go! Is that too much to ask?
I'm thinking I'm going to go home at lunch and eat a big salad! And I know I've been drinking plenty of water... I'm up to 120oz. per day. Another interesting fact I learned from MRC - did you know you should stay within 8oz. of water intake each day? So if I drink 120oz. one day then 100oz the next day, it's not a good thing. That was according to another consultant and I hadn't been told that before. Not sure if anyone else has been told this.
candi, I'm sorry this problem is continuing for you.
You know, it's weird--I have IBS and the first time I went through MRC I had to take a stool softener once a week instead of going 8-10 a day. That alone was enough to make me stay OP!
Now I have diarrhea immediately after drinking my first liter of water and then no more problems for the day.
I think the difference this time is that I'm exercising and last time I didn't at all. I'm a nurse so I'm sure it go back to the old theme- mobility = bowel motility.
Seriously, I know you're getting a lot of advice but when people came to the ER with this problem we'd recommend Miralax, a stool softener (Ex-Lax causes too much cramping), a little caffeine, fruit, and a brisk walk. Then wait patiently.
Once you get too worried about this it becomes a psychological issue and you "hoard" because you think it will be too painful to move your bowels.
After a few days you might request a simple xray. They can show if you're full of poop or just have pressure that makes you feel like you have to go. Frankly, I'm surprized your doctor didn't do a CT if he thought you had appendicitis. Blood work is not sufficient for a diagnosis. But you're still with us (thank the gods and goddesses) so it's not that.
Good luck, candi. I'll check back to see how you're doing.
Once you get too worried about this it becomes a psychological issue and you "hoard" because you think it will be too painful to move your bowels.
After a few days you might request a simple xray. They can show if you're full of poop or just have pressure that makes you feel like you have to go. Frankly, I'm surprized your doctor didn't do a CT if he thought you had appendicitis. Blood work is not sufficient for a diagnosis. But you're still with us (thank the gods and goddesses) so it's not that.
Good luck, candi. I'll check back to see how you're doing.
My doctor did an xray yesterday, urinalysis and the blood work. The pain isn't as bad so I think something that I'm taking is working.. but just not enough to get everything out. And I'm feeling SO bloated! I know I can take an extra B6 for that.. but until I get the constipation issue taken care of, I don't want to add anything else.
Oh - and I know what you mean about the IBS - I have that too, along with a spastic colon. So this constipation thing is completely new to me!
I'm heading home to eat a salad and some turkey along with an apple and then take some more miralax.
Hi..
Congrats to all that lost, and welcome back to members that have returned.
I weighed in today and lost another seed.. I lost .1, and I am delighted with that , as that went .1 point under the 3pound under goal that I want to stay at, and the foods that I added in on maintenance did not make me gain.
I made the Ranch style chicken fingers and they are awesome. Hubby loved them. Thanks for posting the recipe.
Hope everyone has a pleasant day and all have a good weigh in.
Hi..
Congrats to all that lost, and welcome back to members that have returned.
I weighed in today and lost another seed.. I lost .1, and I am delighted with that , as that went .1 point under the 3pound under goal that I want to stay at, and the foods that I added in on maintenance did not make me gain.
I made the Ranch style chicken fingers and they are awesome. Hubby loved them. Thanks for posting the recipe.
Hope everyone has a pleasant day and all have a good weigh in.
Patzi
Congratulations on your loss during maintenance....I'm so glad you liked the chicken fingers. LOL...I'm having them again tonight.
My doctor did an xray yesterday, urinalysis and the blood work. The pain isn't as bad so I think something that I'm taking is working.. but just not enough to get everything out. And I'm feeling SO bloated! I know I can take an extra B6 for that.. but until I get the constipation issue taken care of, I don't want to add anything else.
Oh - and I know what you mean about the IBS - I have that too, along with a spastic colon. So this constipation thing is completely new to me!
I'm heading home to eat a salad and some turkey along with an apple and then take some more miralax.
Hope you're having a great day!
Hoping you get some relief soon...Oh I ate my filet and didn't have any problems so far...and it was so good. Thanks for the info about it.
Thanks so much for all the support, guys. My appointment went so great yesterday. You can't imagine (or you probably can) the relief that knowing there is a center now to go to for support and help through this thing. I start this morning on pre-con, then go in Friday for Fun-day Friday to pick up my first batch of HNS-YAY can't wait for the kiwi-melon, my fave..
You are all such wonderful, supportive people and I know that together we can do this thang...
Hi Janet and welcome...
I love the kiwimelon too especially the liquid concentrate to pour over shaved ice. YUMMY
Everyone already gave great advice about your questions but I just wanted to add one more thing.
8 oz of lettuce is a LOT! If it's too much for you right now try adding some of the heavier salad vegetables like cucumber, celery, broccoli or cauliflower. It helps when you are feeling it's just too much food!
This is great advice. I did become an expert in the beginning on what veggies weighed more (it has to do with their water content). Cauliflower gets very heavy when cooked (so you eat less). Large slicing tomatoes weigh more than roma or grape tomotoes, cucumbers are very dense, etc. I typically use 1-2 oz of lettuce and/or spinach and then use heavier veggies for the other 6 oz.
This is great advice. I did become an expert in the beginning on what veggies weighed more (it has to do with their water content). Cauliflower gets very heavy when cooked (so you eat less). Large slicing tomatoes weigh more than roma or grape tomotoes, cucumbers are very dense, etc. I typically use 1-2 oz of lettuce and/or spinach and then use heavier veggies for the other 6 oz.
Hahaha. that's what I did in the beginning, too. I even bought a bunch of different veggies so I could weigh them all at home and figure out which were the heaviest. Now I don't care--I'm not sure if it's because I've just gotten used to salads, or if it's the warmer weather (I always crave salads in the spring/summer), but I've been eating a ton of salad lately.
Hi..
Congrats to all that lost, and welcome back to members that have returned.
I weighed in today and lost another seed.. I lost .1, and I am delighted with that , as that went .1 point under the 3pound under goal that I want to stay at, and the foods that I added in on maintenance did not make me gain.
I made the Ranch style chicken fingers and they are awesome. Hubby loved them. Thanks for posting the recipe.
Hope everyone has a pleasant day and all have a good weigh in.
Patzi
You are doing such a great job figuring out what your body needs on maintence and are a real inspiration and example of why it is important to continue the program into maintenece and not just stop once we hit our goa weights. Thanks for sharing.
I am on the yellow menu and I have to tell you, it sure feels like they have me eating alot of food. I mean 8 oz. of lettuce is a huge salad. For supper I had chicken and green beans. The menu says I am suppose to have 6 oz. of chicken and 4 oz. of green beans. That sure looked like a lot too. I was just making my lunch for tomorrow and 6 oz. of turkey is a lot too. And it was, I didn't eat it all. Is this normal? Am I required to eat all of this. If am going to gain weight if I eat this much. 
