str1349

1) So, how many calories do you aim for a day? Why? I try not to eat more than 1500/day because according to MFP - that's what i coud have and still loose 2 lbs p/wk 2) Do you watch your carbs in addition to protein? - yes, but not insanely strict 3) Do you do a special diet (low-carb, Paleo, Zone, WW)? - no, jus try to make healthier choices 4) Do you eat your earned exercise calories? no 5) Do you eat at scheduled times of the day or only when hungry? a little of both - still trying to determine 'head hunger' from true hunger!!!! i recomitted in the past 6-7 weeks, so i'm kinda a newbie again, but hope this helps. so far its working for me. lost 4.2lbs last month!!!

SueBee01 - great advice!!! i agree w/the no liquid protein. since my unfill is so new - i guess i'm a little hessitant to have solids in the mornings. but i'm going to try something more substancial (sp?) in the morning for bkfst. i can eat betwneen1-1/2 cups depending on the texture/type of food. i don't have a nutritionist or a registered dietician persay - and my doc isn't terribly specific on portions. when i told him about me counting calories, he said i didn't really need to count calories and to jus choose healthy wholesome food. i'll call his nurse in the am and talk to her about how much i should be eating as far as volume. me being able to actually eat now is brand new to me, so maybe 1.5 c of food IS too much.i am staying satisified w/what i eat (except in the mornings....going to try solid proteins now).....thank you soooooo much for your kind advice. you've done so good - i want to continue to be equally successful!!! thanks again

thanks OMW2Thin.... i too am learning more and more about my tool and what it REALLY means to truly listen to my body! looking back on the last 7 years, i was probably always just a 'little' too tight. i would pb sometimes - sometimes more than others. i could NEVER eat in the mornings or jus after waking up. eating out w/my family was usually more dissapointing and frustrating - rather than relaxing and enjoyable. for the first time in 7 years - i enjoy the whole eating experience - and it feels good to be able to eat what i'm supposed to..... lean protein, veggies, salads.... And jus like a lot of people who are 'jus a little too tight' - i was eating soft foods - snack foods - and starchy foods - rather than healthier wholesome foods. since this was my first unfill, i'm nervous that i can eat 'too good'. i'm going to continue to make healthy choices, and wait and see what the scales will say when i see my doc in april! i'm excited and nervous at the same time.

thank you for your reply to my post. i totally agree w/you - and jus like you, eventhough i'm not a goal - i'm healthier than i was when i started!!!! thanks again

yes. i am stil loosing as far as i can tell. i am a little nervous about being able to eat easier now since i got an unfill. I am going to give it a full month and see if i've lost and if so how much. then w/my dr's advice i'll decide on if i need a teeny tiny fill (keep in mind my unfill was only 0.3 cc and has made a massive difference) - i'll continue to follow and post my experiences. it's so helpful to me to have the advice of others - who are currently liiving the banded life!!! thanks again for all your support

thanks for sharing your experiences!!!

you're correct. i only had 0.3 cc removed. my band is a 10 cc band. my total fill volume was 2.2!!!

i absoutely love chinese food and love to cook. i need some ideas/recipes for healthy alternatives to things like general tso's chicken, fried rice/noodles. i would love to hear what you guys eat/cook. we do go out to eat chinese sometimes. what would be some good choices for me? thanks in advance!!!

i recently 'started over' after being banded for 7 years (didn't follow up for various reasons.... whole different story) nevertheless, i'm back on track and have managed to keep off over 50 lbs. i am seeing my doc on a monthly basis and recently had a small unfill on march 20th. i have a 10cc band and was filled to 2.2cc - and felt like that was a little too tight (i was pb'ing/sliming alot) and my doc recomended a slight unfill. so i had it done. well, now - i fill like i can eat too much. since being 'recommitted' i'm really paying attention to how much i eat, how much i can eat, and how soon i'm hungry. well, i think i'm getting hungry too soon. i'm going to call my dr monday, and might go in for a re-adjustment. jus curious on what you guys think.... thanks guys!!!

i recently 'started over' after being banded for 7 years (didn't follow up for various reasons.... whole different story) nevertheless, i'm back on track and have managed to keep off over 50 lbs. i am seeing my doc on a monthly basis and recently had a small unfill on march 20th. i have a 10cc band and was filled to 2.2cc - and felt like that was a little too tight (i was pb'ing/sliming alot) and my doc recomended a slight unfill. so i had it done. well, now - i fill like i can eat too much. since being 'recommitted' i'm really paying attention to how much i eat, how much i can eat, and how soon i'm hungry. well, i think i'm getting hungry too soon. i'm going to call my dr monday, and might go in for a re-adjustment. jus curious on what you guys think.... thanks guys!!!

everyones jouurney is personal and obviously very different. you're right... don't judge!!! jus sayin. positive comments ONLY are appreciated.

last month i followed up w/my lap band surgeon after 7 years (long story) point is I finally followed up. i have been successfull in that i have kept off almost 50% of my excess body weight ( 55 lbs ) and kept it off - inspite of having two more kiddos. i still have to "spit" someitmes when i eat so my doc recommended not giving me a fill, and to follow the rules a bit more strictly, and come back in a month for a re-eval of my progress. i don't have to spit nearly as much - but i still have to sometimes. i eat slow, take small bites, and usually don't drink w/ my meals. however .... it takes me FOREVER... to finish a meal. i think my band has been tooo tight this whole time and that is acutally slowing down my weight loss!! i see my doc on the 19th (next week.) i'll repost on how my appt goes and my progress. btw. i've lost another 5 lbs since last months dr visit!!!

i have been banded for a while ( feb 2004) and have lost around 50 lbs. i've recommitted and will follow up w/ my surgeon this coming tues... yay!!! i haven't found any protein shakes that i'm crazy about. i've tried the slim fast high portein shakes, and they're ok. i jus need a shake that i can 'stomach'. i like chocolate and vanilla - jus need some good suggestions!! any ideas?

i found a support group locally and a doctor to do my much needed fills. i was banded in 2004 and initially did ok, but after several months - i regressed to my old eating habits and slowly learned to eat 'around' my band. so, after 7 years and three more children, i am oficially fed up with being overweight and officially dissappointed at myself for not using my tool to help me loose weight. my husband (who is wonderful) is overweight too, and is just now willing to 'eat the plan' with me. i am staring over and going to completely change my eating habits slowly....to prove to myself that i CAN do this....and so my new doctor doesn't think i'm a complete joke!! my husband and i both are going to start the post-op diet tomorrow. any ideas from anyone else with the same or similar situation? any advice would help....thanks in advance

hi all. i feel like my stomach is too stretched. i can eat more than i think i should be able to (it takes a while, but i usuall get it down). Can i re-shrink my stomach or do you think i need a fill?

ok. i got my band in feb 2004. my doc was almost 2 hrs out of town and we had a small child and life got busy and i didn't go to follow ups appropriately. long story short, i need to find a dr and have my band reevaluatediwe have had 3 more chldren since then w/no complications and no need for un-fills. all our children were term and at a healty weight. i too didn't gain a significant amt of weight 8-14 lbs each pregnancy. long story short, i still have some restriction but i have learned to 'eat around' my band, and i don't follow all the rules. i recently joined ww. i can eat everything i'm supposed to - but b /c of my band - sometimes it takes me FOREVER to eat anything. of course junk (crackers, chips) goes down much easier than say chicken breast or turkey burgers..... i want to re-learn how to use my tool. any advice or feedback is greatly appreciated. btw, our youngest child is now 9 months....all girls!!