The honeymoon period is considered the first 18 months following weight loss surgery when you will find your weight dropping off quickly and, at times, it seems to do so without much hard work.  Take advantage of this time to learn your limits and reestablish your relationship with food.  This is your time to lose as much weight as you can and to achieve your lowest weight.  Being a smaller, healthier you will not change any past struggles.  If you are an emotional eater, you will need to monitor your weight to see if you are gaining during challenging times.  Appetite does return and patients do regain weight.  It is important to choose recommended foods so you may continue to do well.

Tips to keep you going:
Eat solid food! 
Runny and crunchy foods slip right through your pouch, leaving you feeling hungry more quickly, which in turn allows you to eat a greater volume.

Protein, protein, protein!
As we learned in our previous Tidbit Tuesday: Protein article, protein is and always will need to be the center of your meals.  It is good to set a goal of consuming 60-80 grams of protein every day after a RNY or sleeve and 100 grams of protein every day after a BPD/DS. 

Limit your carbs!
We just learned in our Tidbit Tuesday: Carbs article that not all carbs are bad, but you want to stick to the carbs that contain….you guessed it….protein!  These include beans, lentils, peas, milk and yogurt as well as carbs that contain fiber such as beans, whole grains or whole fruits. 

Get your fluids in!
We recommend you get in at least 64 ounces of fluid every day.  This can be a bit of a struggle in the beginning but as you get further out, most people do not have issues.  You should stick to calorie-free, non-carbonated and non-caffeinated beverages. 

Track your food in a journal!
This isn’t always fun. However, when you make an effort to track your food intake, it makes you more mindful of what you’re eating.  Any time you find yourself struggling, start a journal and you will quickly find what you need to improve on.  There are many options for journaling, from pen and paper to different apps you can download on your computer or phone!  

Exercise!
Exercising maximizes weight loss and helps maintain a healthy body.  After surgery, in addition to good nutrition, you also need regular activity, so plan to build exercise into your daily schedule.  Read more about our exercise tips here.

Just remember, you won’t be perfect at this – no one is perfect and everyone’s journey is different. You’ve come so far and should be very proud of every step you take.  If you find yourself steering off course, get right back on track.  The more you follow your new lifestyle changes, the more successful you will be!   

If you have any questions, feel free to call our office at 785-232-0444.

Recipe share: Pizza chaffle

What is a chaffle, you ask?  It’s the new hot thing those in the “keto” world are raving about these days, and to be honest – they taste great, there are TONS of variations you can make, and they are generally low carb and packed with protein as most recipes include an egg and cheese.  A simple google search for “chaffles” will pull up endless recipes.  The chaffle makers are 4-inch waffle makers, which you can find in most of your big box stores.

Here is one of our go-to favorites – especially when in the mood for pizza. 

Ingredients:                                                                            

• 1 large egg
• 1 heaping tbsp almond flour
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella
• 1 tbsp grated parmesan
• 1/8 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/8 tsp garlic powder

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
2. Turn on your mini waffle maker.
3. In a small bowl, whisk the egg and then combine with the remaining ingredients.
4. Once your mini waffle maker is hot, sprinkle the griddle with a little shredded mozzarella.
5. Pour HALF of the batter in and then sprinkle with more cheese. Close the lid and cook until the automatic timer or light goes off; repeat for next chaffle.
6. Place the chaffles on a baking sheet and allow them to cool for a few minutes (so that they don't get soggy) and then spread with a low carb pizza sauce, shredded cheese and toppings of your choice.
7. Bake for 3-4 minutes, and then an additional minute or two with the broiler on to brown the cheese.
8. Sprinkle with a little more Italian seasoning.
9. Enjoy!