bigtom1948

Tasty Quiche recipe my daughter got from somewhere (I'd tip the hat but she doesn't remember who or where it was posted to originally). Anyway she & her husband have been banded for about a year and make this into 4 servings for 2 meals. It freezes well once cooked for use within a month (it doesn't stay in the freezer that long though ) CRUSTLESS SPINACH–MUSHROOM QUICHE Sodium Per Serving – 112mg Serves 6 as an entrée, 8 as a side dish This recipe was given to me by a vegetarian friend. It is so good and no one will ever know it contains tofu . . . unless you tell them! Optional - I add 2 level tablespoons of Oscar Mayer real bacon bits but it does increase the quoted fat and salt levels a bit. 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (This is also know as sweet butter) ½ sweet onion, diced 2 shallots, chopped 4 ounces mushrooms, chopped (about 1½ cups) 1 garlic clove, minced ¼ teaspoon dried basil ¼ teaspoon garlic or onion powder ¼ teaspoon dried tarragon ¼ teaspoon dried thyme 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 4 eggs, beaten, or ¾ cup egg substitute 8 ounces firm tofu ½ cup lowfat ricotta cheese 2 ounces no-salt-added Swiss cheese, shredded (about ½ cup) They used low fat slices diced into small bits. ¼ cup lowfat milk 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and moisture squeezed out teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (1/2 tsp dry ground spice may be substituted but flavor is not as intense) Preheat oven to 350oF (180oC). Coat a 9-inch quiche or pie dish with nonstick cooking spray. Heat oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat; add onions, shallots and mushrooms. Cook, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent, 3 to 4 minutes; add garlic, basil garlic powder, tarragon, thyme, and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until you smell the garlic, 1 to 2 minutes; remove from heat and let cool slightly. Mix together the eggs, tofu, ricotta, Swiss cheese, milk, and spinach; add to onion mixture. Pour into prepared quiche dish and sprinkle with nutmeg. Bake in a preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until custard has set and top is lightly browned. Cool for 10 minutes, then cut into wedges and serve. NUTRITIONAL INFO PER 6 SERVINGS: Calories 200 Fat 12g (Saturated Fat 5g) Cholesterol 125mg Carbohydrates 9g (Fiber 2g, Sugar 5g) Protien 20g Sodium 112mg

Still not banded myself but my daughter and son-in law have been for about a year. According to them: Because they don't want you to drink anything 1/2 hour before or during or 1/2 hour after your meal to insure that the meal isn't just washed through meat density and dryness are issues for us to be aware of. Fish is the easiest meat to take with the band, shell fish and shrimp/lobster next. Sushi hangs up in both of them so be careful with that. Next is chicken moist dark meat is ok breast and wings sometimes causes problems cause it's denser and dryer. Leave the chicken skin on the plate it too can block in the stomach hole left by the band and besides thats where almost all the chicken's fat is. Turkey and other fowl pretty much follow the same guidelines. Next is pork they introduced me to Mrs. Dash lemon & herb in the George Forman. 1st build up the front feet to eliminate the slope to the drain. Lay a sheet of aluminum foil building up the edges for a tray effect. Brush the Mrs Dash on both sides of 3/4" thick boneless pork loin chops and lay in a single layer on the Forman. Then cover them with another sheet of foil crimping them lightly together. cook for 12-15 mins. The meat retains more juices with the Mrs Dash cause it's salt free (Salt pulls Water from meat). They cooked it for us and it was yummy. One 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" chop will equal approx a 4 oz serving of protien. Do not expect a crisp chop it'd be too hard to pass anyway. Last on the common meats is beef. Whole meat like steak and roast will tend to block the band leading to pain and or PB Productive Burp, Sliming (if something gets stuck or hangs up the body produes great quantities of thick saliva to try and wash it through if you swallow this then you are on a sure and fast track to expelling the meat into the toilet). They advised that meatloaf and ground beef are less of a problem but chew well and wait a minute or two between bites. This will be tough for me, I've always eaten too quickly and not chewed my food as much as I should have. It's one of those enforced behaviors brought on by the band and I truely hope I don't forget that when I get to eat. Finally eat the protien (Meat, Beans Tofu) first then the veg, They also served this as a meatless meal and they had no problems getting it down and it was very tasty too: CRUSTLESS SPINACH–MUSHROOM QUICHE Sodium Per Serving – 112mg Serves 6 as an entrée, 8 as a side dish This recipe was given to me by a vegetarian friend. It is so good and no one will ever know it contains tofu . . . unless you tell them! Optional - I add 2 level tablespoons of Oscar Mayer real bacon bits but it does increase the quoted fat and salt levels a bit. 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (This is also know as sweet butter) ½ sweet onion, diced 2 shallots, chopped 4 ounces mushrooms, chopped (about 1½ cups) 1 garlic clove, minced ¼ teaspoon dried basil ¼ teaspoon garlic or onion powder ¼ teaspoon dried tarragon ¼ teaspoon dried thyme 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 4 eggs, beaten, or ¾ cup egg substitute 8 ounces firm tofu ½ cup lowfat ricotta cheese 2 ounces no-salt-added Swiss cheese, shredded (about ½ cup) They used slices diced into small bits. ¼ cup lowfat milk 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and moisture squeezed out teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (ground spice may be substituted but flavor is not as intense) Preheat oven to 350oF (180oC). Coat a 9-inch quiche or pie dish with nonstick cooking spray. Heat oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat; add onions, shallots and mushrooms. Cook, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent, 3 to 4 minutes; add garlic, basil garlic powder, tarragon, thyme, and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until you smell the garlic, 1 to 2 minutes; remove from heat and let cool slightly. Mix together the eggs, tofu, ricotta, Swiss cheese, milk, and spinach; add to onion mixture. Pour into prepared quiche dish and sprinkle with nutmeg. Bake in a preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until custard has set and top is lightly browned. Cool for 10 minutes, then cut into wedges and serve. NUTRITIONAL INFO PER 6 SERVINGS: Calories 200 Fat 12g (Saturated Fat 5g) Cholesterol 125mg Carbohydrates 9g (Fiber 2g, Sugar 5g) Protien 20g Sodium 112mg Hope this post is helpful but our doctor's and your nutritionist's will surely go over the warnings post op if they havn't already done so before the surgery.

Into day 5 of OptiFast and it's getting a little less hard to bare weight loss seems to be slowing down and my gut is basically empty except for some animal that growls a lot . 9 days to go and I have developed ketosis breath that even I can detect. Peppermint toothpaste helps tone it down but ketosis breath comes as a byproduct of fat burning and comes out in your breath and also in your urine. It happens when you don't have redily available carbs to convert to glucose the stored fat is metabolized from the liver and from muscle first and then from those adipose tissue deposits we'er all trying to shrink down to somewhere near normal size. Once we can eat normal food even though in modest amounts the breath should return to normal. I have noticed good night kisses are a bit quicker than usual. Good luck to all of us and I guess you all can expect those pangs of the first few days to wane as the body becomes used to less food coming in.

1/28/11-Smokey2112 2/02/11-TylerAshton567 2/02/11-Shawnypoo 2/04/11-blondeej (Trisha) 2/07/11-ruthiesmg 2/07/11-soon2besexynslim 2/09/11-Mrs.Mustang 2/09/11-Bunnykins 2/09/11-Loozer2B 2/10/11-JMH80 (Jackie) 2/10/11-Elle23 2/10/11-Trns4md 2/10/11-TexasNurseMom 2/10/11-bigtom1948 2/11/11-Justplaintired 2/11/11-KeeKee99 2/14/11-Alikitty 2/16/11-TexasMama 2/16/11-ThisMumRocks 2/18/11-daisy_0729 2/21/11-hoagy 2/23/11-Angel2001 2/25/11-Sophinator 2/28/11-Post Modern Retro Pretty

Your story, unfortunately, is all too common. I felt just as ticked off at that guy in reading your story as if I had experienced it personally. One can only hope that he gets treated the same way he treated you in the future. The only worse situation is Old & Fat (my recent experience) wherein after 200 applications I got 1 interview from a pitite young lady whose face telegraphed disgust the minute I entered her office she tried to recover but failed. I look at myself in the mirror every day and even though I am heavy I am not a blob I work out just like you do and the only machine I use less than 150 pounds is the vertical press so my body habitus is firm I am well groomed and I dress well. 390 pounds stacked on a muscular 6'5" frame is a tad different than someone with the same weight 8-10" shorter with poor muscle tone. Even so, it hurt and I was angry. I was already in the lapband program so the event didn't cause me to seek help. But this mid 20's girl was out of her depth as a hiring manager she needed to act accepting of all types of people even if she loothes fat folks.

Icequeen Huh, I suppose I'll at least get an ice chip to melt in my dry parched mouth after I wake up. Thats all I ever seem to want after surgery. See you there on the 10th of course I won't know which one you are. The doctor has me scheduled for an overnighter and I promise I will be a good patient as long as I can press the magic button when needed for pain. Yep, none of that brave stiff upper lip stuff for me, no siree bobbycats.

I have been using a bi-pap and the mask did take some getting used to. sleep apnea is a serious problem and my cardiologist sent me to a sleep specialist after I had my stint put into my circumflex artery. Both the cardiologist and the pulmonologist have told me that not using the device can stress your heart so much that it can percipitate a heart attack and that repeated episodes of reduced oxygen can damage brain tissue or lead to a stroke. After 8 years of using the device I don't know if I would sleep well without it I kinda like the noise it makes as it negates the tinitus (Too many loud Rock Concerts when I was young I guess ) They also both advised me that this is mostly a fat persons disease so losing weight will most likely cure you. Please note the hedging in that language, so be sure to check with your sleep specialist prior to hanging up the ol mask as another relic of our formally fat selves.

Its not too bad you get to choose chocolate, vanilla or strawberry. I chose to get all chocolate and I'll probably hate chocolate after two weeks on that diet. I finished day three today and the day wasn't bad, I was hungry mind you, but not too unbarable. The second day real hunger pangs set in and today thay are abating. I'm still hungry though... Do keep in mind that an all liquid diet without Fiber will zip through you so if you are working do not assume that gas is only gas . I think that the main reason I wasn't in any distress on the first day was because my wife took me out for a nice 12 oz. prime rib dinner with salad, bread and a medium sized baked potato for my last dinner and I was still full the next morning. My daughter and son in law (both 1 year lap-banders) joined us and neither can do steak very well he can't eat lettuce or bread and she has a problem with potato skins. They both shared and ate a salisbury steak making sure they mashed it to bits before putting it in thier mouths. He lost 150 pounds from 410 and she has dropped 125 from 305. They are both still losing weight though its taking a bit longer now. Looking at thier success inspired me to go for it too. You can believe me that they had no will power at all when it came to food and they believed a half gallon of ice cream only had two servings at most. I am really happy for thier accomplishment and hope to do just as well as they have done.

Just finished day three of the 14 day pre op diet unfortunately I don't get anything to chew on just the 5 Optifast shakes and 1/2 gallon of Water. It's getting better the hunger pangs are abating so the only thing thats a real bother is the need to be near a bathroom (this stuff is not stick to your ribs food if you know what I mean). I have noticed that food ads on TV are making me salivate and this is even for stuff I don't like . 11 more days of this to go and I have lost 7 pounds already, yepper near starvation is an efficient diet. I am going to sneak a surgar free Jello and tell myself it's a steak. Do you guys think it'll work? Well I knew what I was getting into and I hope the reward is a healthier me even if I look like a Shar Pei in the process. Well, I am saving up my allowence for a possible tummy tuck down the line so, right now, my confidence level is high. Good luck to us all.

A couple of us got dropped in the last cut and paste hope this restores everyone to the roll call 1/28/11-Smokey2112 2/02/11-TylerAshton567 2/02/11-Shawnypoo 2/07/11-ruthiesmg 2/07/11-soon2besexynslim 2/09/11-Mrs.Mustang 2/09/11-Bunnykins 2/09/11-Loozer2B 2/10/11-JMH80 (Jackie) 2/10/11-Elle23 2/10/11-Trns4md 2/10/11-TexasNurseMom 2/10/11-bigtom1948 2/11/11-Justplaintired 2/11/11-KeeKee99 2/14/11-Alikitty 2/16/11-TexasMama 2/18/11-daisy_0729 2/23/11-Angel2001 2/25/11-Sophinator 2/28/11-Post Modern Retro Pretty

Glad you made it through surgery ok except for the shoulder blade thing. Please keep us up to date on your progress.

2/2/11 - Shawnypoo 2/7/11-ruthiesmg 2/7/11-soon2besexynslim 2/09/11-Mrs.Mustang 2/09/11-Bunnykins 2/09/11-Loozer2B 2/10/11 - JMH80 (Jackie) 2/10/11-Elle23 2/10/11-Trns4md 2/10/11-TexasNurseMom 2/10/11-bigtom1948 2/11/11-Justplaintired 2/11/11-KeeKee99 2/14/11-Alikitty 2/16/11-TexasMama 2/28/11-~Post Modern Retro Pretty~

I'm 62 and was pretty fit even though overweight all my adult life. I worked out AT A GYM 3-4 week and was able to eat moderately well into my early 50's but the excess baggage slowly gained over time and I went from 250 pounds at 52 to my max of 390 pounds, my current weight of 365 and I am 6'5". What Changed in my life from 52-62? I went from an active on my feet job to a desk job that demanded manditory overtime I stopped going to the gym as often and I continued to eat like I was still exercising like before. My life became a cycle of Eat sleep Work and I became too tired even to have fun on weekends. This was a true downard spiral. My company downsized and my job, the one that seemed so important and demanded so much time from me was gone. I was unable to find work and lived on the severance, unemployment and a small pension. At 62 a fat man even with experience and degrees will probably never find work. I was even turned down by McDonalds, guess they were afraid I would eat the product...Picture frosty day in hades for that. In that one year after being laid off till my 62'nd B'day I gained 35 pounds to reach that all time high and I was Miserable. I had to have a heart stint put in, The ol blood pressure went through the roof and deep dark depression set in. Why do I say all this because if you see yourself where I was then you realize No Job is worth what you are going through. If the band didn't work for you then you must make time to LOVE yourself and go to a fitness center or gym. Don't bother with buying equipment you will use for a clothes rack and take up space in your home. Do 1/2 to 1 hour of cardio limit weight training to 6-8 exercises for chest arms and back the legs will be ok with the cardio at the gym and ask the gym to set up a routine for you. Let them know weight loss is the goal not massive muscles. Go 3 times a week do not weight train the same muscle groups 2 days in a row except for walking thats what we were made to do. Park as far from your office as possible and get some extra walking in, Do the same at the stores you go to, walk. Never take the elevator for 1 or 2 floors, great exercise. You can stand up at your desk to work, it burns more calories. This follows in the suggestion of an under the desk leg exercisor is a good one. Your legs are 40% of the average mans muscle mass and a pedeling device with resistance also is better than sitting and doesn't keep you from typing on a computer or answering the phone. So you see and I am sure already know that theres lots of exercise opportunities you may be overlooking or avoiding. Talk to your nutritionist, find out whats going on, you are taking in more calories then you are burning the same as the rest of us. Do a follow up with your surgeon perhaps they can work with you to get you on track. Do all of this today, don't wait another day passes and another and pretty soon, if you'er lucky, you are 62 and perhaps in ill health and then the task will be that much harder. I'm not trying to be preachy, I'm just trying to show you a future that would be a lot harder than it needs to be. Let us know how it goes for you and I for one wish the very best for you. All of us here know it's not easy. Ask for help, work less play and laugh more. I finally realized that no matter how much I love food it doesn't love me back. Good Luck.

Dr. Aguila is doing mine on 02/10/2011 I wish I had the had the will power he had to lose weight. He's trim now but I couldn't seem to keep pounds off like he has and like he says this is just a tool to help you succeed you still have to work at it and be aware of your real nutritional needs. But right now... at only day two of the 5 shakes a day thing...I'd love a salad - plain, no dressing, no meats, no cheese - just a feeling of something in the ol' tummy.

14 grams per 8 oz serving (160 cals) 20 grams of carbos (almost all from surgars) 3 grams of fat and no Fiber or cholesterol at all. It gives you the equivalant in 5 shakes to almost all the Vitamins, minerals and electrolytes but it really misses in the something to chew catagory. I've been taking my lasix and just weighed myself and (per my health-o-meter scale) I weigh in at 365, after two days on the OptiFast Shakes so I think the gain was mostly retained Water cause a 12 pound loss in 3 days seems a bit unlikely. Some lost, much more to go and I am already HUNGRY!

I'm on the same regimen and it's rough and i'm only on my second day. Nothing to chew on I wish my doctor would allow the veggies a cup of green Beans would tame the snarling beast in my stomach. 12 more days of the diet then the big day and 2 weeks of Clear Liquids to look forward to. It's gonna really take the pounds off, thats for sure cause starvation works really well for weight loss. Then we get to eat and with a bit of care and luck I, all of us really, can control the constant need/desire for food. At the very least that's what i'm hoping for.

I hope that you enjoy your last pre band meal with a special night out. I took my wife to her favorite resturant (I like it too) and had a nice reasonably sized (not the queen or king sized but normal) prime rib dinner. Yesterday I started the pre op meals all liquid all optifast and today I can seriously say I am hungry but coping. I hope the pangs relent some over the next couple of days though otherwise it's going to be a long two weeks till Feb 10th surgery date. My dr. also requires a 7-10 pound reduction by then just like yours but I get nothing to chew on except my gummi bear vitamin . I do envy your plan it sounds more humane. This is almost like quitting smoking cold turkey. BTW you will notice all the food ads on TV as you get hungry but without the relief of hitting the fridge for a little snack. Heh Heh but I guess that's what got me to where I am today and I am working had to change that outlook. Good luck to us both on the 10th.

I had a optifast shake and 4 oz of OJ (for the added potassium). I am on day two of this and my stomach is talking big time. I am hungry! I'm sticking to it though but it's gonna be a really tough two weeks.

Edit- - - Sorry Kimmie these comments were intended for originator of thread Well thank goodness for you cause you get to chew something, veggies and the bar. My Dr. is all liquid Optifast which tastes as good as it can but still reminds me of Metrical from the 60's-70's but not as gritty. I just finished the 1st of 5 for today and this is day 1, This is going to be really tough. Two weeks of that and because I plan to stick with it, I don't see how you can help but drop some serious poundage. Good luck to you, stick with it the goal will be worth the pain. My daughter and son in law both went through it last year she lost 125 pounds and he lost 150.

I picked up mine too today starting tomorow with optifast 5 shakes a day. Going to surgery 2/10/11. Only bad part of the day so far is I weighed 4 pounds more than my last visit. I think it's cause I usually go in the PM and today was a mid AM apporintment. Because of that I skipped my 80mg of Lasix or I wouldn't have been able to make it to the doctors office. I feel for the ladies cause Water retention is a real bugger. Took the lasix when I got home and I can see that the 4 pounds could easily have been retention. Well the charting at the doctors will reflect the water loss and I'll look like a champ in 2 weeks when the surgery is done. Just a bit depressing though, I am sure everyone knows what I'm talking about on that issue. Well good luck to you and all the other Fe'bansters looking forward to the new me doen the line.

Just wear what makes you feel comfortable.

Boy I'd love to use the eliptical machine but every time I get on it I get nauseous. I have an inner ear problem that I discovered when I joined the Navy in 1965 4 years in the Navy 3 1/2 years seasick When I got out I weighed 185 pounds Involuntary Bulemia is a great way to get really skinny. For prospective that 185 pounds was on a 6'5" man you could count my ribs and my legs were sticks with bony knobs at the knees. I have been gaining weight ever since I was discharged in 1969 with the usual diet ups and downs we all have been through. At any rate the up and down mixed with the forward and back motion was all too familiar to my inner ears and at every attempt I had to lay on the floor for a while. I gave up on that pretty soon, I'll tell you that. So I have to stick to treadmill and stationary bike as well as walking on off days. Too bad though, cause nothing short of distance swiming burns calories as fast as that machine. Good luck to all of you guys that can use it.

Congrats and good luck

Gee, I hadn't thought of taking a before photo. I have done remodeling in my home and when finished I wished I had taken before photos to see the difference later on. Cause after the change is in place it tends to become like it's always been that way. A set of progress photos would be good reminders of progress made and a warning not to slip back to old bad habits. I'm going to take one clothed and one unclothed, I can share the clothed but I won't shock anyone with the others. It's not that I am a prude (AANR Member) but I am not particularly proud of the look of the current body. So I'll keep the shock value of those photos to myself cause you can't unlook at something. :bolt:

Yep, bought a Health-O-Meter just for this journey. I selected the green slide arrow on the dial and I can't wait for to reach the 200's and then perhaps getting off of these accursed hypertension meds.