Indulgences, "cheats", etc.

jcavanna2

Morning! As I was driving into work I was thinking about food and some of the stuff I use or used to use as indulgences and how some of that has changed. Curious what everyone else uses as indulgences - does not have to be a substitute. For me, I LOVE pizza - but now I can get through one slice at most where before I could normally knock back 2. I used to always have some sort of ice cream for dessert, though during the week it was always a WW, Skinny Cow or some single serve. Now I don't usually eat after dinner but if I do, it may be a package of my daughters cookie snack packs that are usually 100-140 calories. Somehow, the ice cream is not as exciting to me anymore. I have also noticed that I tend to gravitate a little more to savory stuff.

I do feel lately that I have given in to more junky/carb heavier stuff because I have had a few not so nice experiences with meat. I am trying to go back to my pre-op diet where I lost more. If I didn't eat a piece of some sort of chicken for lunch I always had a really good salad with a hard boiled egg as my protein. I think I am going to go back to that. I also am going to try some less sweet protein shakes. I bought the sample pack from Chike - I bought it really for the coffee flavored sample which I plan to have over the weekend so I made the strawberry. It's really good, a little bit sweet for me but is good. This is the smoothest shake I had so far. I think blending it with ice would make it that much better. I also bought Bariatric Eating's Inspire RTD mocha latte and I spite Blueberry Cheesecake protein powder. I have the caramel latte one and it's good and definitely not too sweet. Have any of you tried these Bariatric Eating products? If so, what do you think? Anyone have any particular product that has been helpful to them?

Hoping to trigger some bigger losses and hopefully help my stomach through some of my protein issues since maybe I did too much too soon.

NicoleL874

Seeing as I gain weight from wheat a lot has been off the table. I just found a really good gluten free bread, so I've had two sandwiches this week. The carbs are higher, but if I figure it out it's not a cheat, it works. I have a box of chick pea pasta at home. I'm debating making it. I'm a little scared as pasta was a binge food for me, but since binging for me is now a WHOPPING CUP OF FOOD I'm not so worried. I'm going to test out one box and see if it triggers anything.

I was never a sweet person, so that hasn't been an issue for me except near my period. For those times I have these protein brownie bites...*googling for name*...from Think Thin. I like the salted caramel bites and the brownie bites. I'm a peanut butter girl, but those were eh. I found them at Meijer and Walmart. 8 pieces are roughly 150 calories and 10 protein. I have MAYBE 2 at a time.

As for other snacks, I do a half bag of Quest chips with dip. They are NOT potato chip swaps for me, not AT ALL. I can trick myself into accepting them as crackers. I look for low calorie dips usually near the deli in stores. I will weigh a 1/2 bag and 28 grams of dip to bring to work. Also, I will come back and let you know how "Kay's Naturals bbq mix" works out later today. Just brought it to work for the first time. I do get pork rinds. LOVE THEM. When I buy them I HAVE to open the bag and weigh them into individual servings to make sure I don't overeat. I also LOVE Whisps, you can google them. Around here they are only available at Costco. They are made of parmesan. I know I can make them, but if I can buy them already made, why? lol These are delicious, and again, being wheat free they are a great cracker swap. They also add great crunch in salads, or a "crouton" for soups. Moon Cheese at Starbucks is great too. It's little balls of freeze dried cheese.

If I think of other things, I'll come back. lol

jcavanna2

That's good to know - we had drastically cut out pasta as well but do have it occasionally. Maybe I will try those moon cheese things. I have seen recipes for those whisps too! What bread do you like? I tend not to lose as much if I am
Heavier on carbs, looking forward to really get back to the way I ate before surgery where I ate minimal carbs - my body is a guessing game. I am thinking that maybe going to 1 shake for breakfast and a little something with it like cheese may help.

NicoleL874

I've been making a ricotta and berry bake. Super simple, but I'm at work...again...on a Saturday. WHOA IS ME! lol (I'm out of town from the 18th - 28th, so I'm making up as many shifts as I can! Missing 8, making up 6!)

From memory...

15 oz part-skim ricotta
3 eggs
1/3 cup milk
1/3 cup swerve (artificial sweetener)
1 tsp vanilla

Blend all together. Put in a glass dish that's been greased. Drop in berries of your choice, I used a small container of blueberries. Cook at 350 for 25 - 30 minutes.

It's kinda high in carbs because of the sugar alcohols. I subtract sugar alcohols because they don't affect my weight loss. It's like 116 calories and 9 grams of protein per piece in the dish I made it in. I've been having a 1/2 scoop of protein powder in my coffee and then having that to "EAT". It's an awesome treat. I'm trying it tomorrow with frozen cherries. I'll email myself the recipe and repost if I got something wrong.

I keep my carbs below 75/day and it seems to work for me. Too low and I stall, too high and I stall, finding that sweet spot is CRAZY!

jcavanna2

I am gonna have to try my sweet spot with carbs - I know pre-op my dietician had me out 50% fat, 25% carbs and 25% protein and that worked for me. The Inspire mocha latte ready to drink was surprisingly good and it was my dinner last night - 20g protein and 3G sugar. Can't recall the carb count but I think it was 5g.

That berry bake sounds good. I have the Truvia baking blend which is also like Swerve. Can't wait to try that ricotta bake - and I have a large container of part skim ricotta at home that needs to be used

NicoleL874

Just finished a piece of it that I had frozen to see how it fares. A little grainier than fresh, but not bad. Definitely freezable if texture isn't an issue for you.

jcavanna2

If it isn't too grainy I should be good with it. The Inspire Mocha Latte had a light hint of graininess. It was still good though and didn't bug me