feliciadawn

This is a recipe I created based on a mocha I used to love when I lived in Oregon. 1 cup frozen cherries 2 cups milk (whatever kind you like) 1 Tbsp cocoa powder 1/2 cup coffee to taste (I like a strong coffee flavor) or 1 tsp instant coffee granules 1 tsp amaretto coffee creamer or flavoring(more if you like it sweeter) 1 scoop protein powder Blend and enjoy!

Cherries are one of the healthiest things you can eat. There are about 100 calorie in an entire cup. I'll take those calories and enjoy my fruit, thank you very much

I posted the recipe because I thought it was unique and tasty. Not for criticism, but thanks anyway.

Dawg? Really? Jesus. Actually the calorie count is more like 350 and it's a meal replacement for pre or post surgery when you can't eat. Get over yourself.

Good for you. Then don't eat it.

Hi sorry I don't know what the nutrition facts are altogether. I added each ingredient into my app separately. It will depend on what kind of milk you use and what kind of protein powder. You can just leave the coffee out if you don't like it and it should still taste good

One more thing I wanted to add...NEVER be afraid to question your doctor. They are not Gods. They are working for YOU, not the other way around. You are the customer and they need to treat you as such.

That seems really strange. I would definitely ask your doctor, get the surgery report, and if you still feel uncomfortable with his explanation or reaction, find a different doctor. I have my surgery notes and report saved on my computer just in case I move and have to switch doctors. Requesting the surgery report for your records is normal and totally within your patient rights (it's the law that they have to give it as well as any other results you ask for). There must be a reason he did it that way but 1.) he should have told you after the surgery, and 2.) he should have done a barium swallow (fluoroscopy) before the surgery so he wasn't going in blind.

Hi! I have been banded for around 5 years and I have a lot of the same concerns. I am getting more and more excited and comfortable with the idea of the sleeve after reading the posts on here, going to my nutrition classes, and dealing with my stupid band which is even now as I type stuck after trying to eat lunch. I can't wait to get this stupid thing out of me. What happens now that i can't eat my lunch is I will still be hungry, leading me to grab something unhealthy that I know will not get stuck.. At this point I think my band is actually preventing me from losing. Good luck!

I've had my band in for about 5 years. Initially I lost about 70 lbs, but then my life became stressful and I started eating more. It was my fault, but I gained the weight back. My band is fine except when I eat, almost everything gets stuck and I have to sit and wait...and wait...and wait for it to go down. Had a barium swallow and the band is fine. My problems started when I went to get a fill, woke up the next morning, and couldn't even swallow water. I had to go back to the dr. to get the fluid taken out of the band. I didn't want to go through it again, so I never went back for another fill. Flash forward a few years and the weight is back. I went to a great doctor near where I live and he said the band is crap and he doesn't do it anymore. He said many people are in my situation where they can't tolerate fills. The problem is many people, especially women, retain water often. The body swells as do the internal organs including the stomach. When this happens, your band is tighter and it's harder to eat. I can't tolerate fills because I have a lot of water retention in my body naturally, especially during "that time of the month" and my band is already so tight that everything gets stuck which leads me to reach for junk food which slides right through. I am switching to the sleeve because I know at some point, this band is going to have complications and I'd rather be proactive. I also want something more permanent that isn't an artificial implant in my body. I think the sleeve is going to allow me to eat more healthy without the "stuck" feelings of the band, and I hope to get to my goal weight this time around (about 100 lbs)

Hi, looks like this was posted a while ago but I'll respond anyway. I had my band put in by Dr. Ortiz in 2011. It was the best experience with a doctor and staff that I have ever had. I am now looking at a revision to sleeve or bypass (now that my insurance covers it) but I would go to him again if I still lived near Tijuana. The hardest part was coming home and lugging suitcases so soon after surgery. We stayed at the Marriott in Tijuana, which was beautiful and amazing. Had to be at the clinic early in the morning and we were done by noon and left the clinic by 4. We stayed down there 4 days. Any questions, feel free to message me.

So I have had my band in since 2011, about 6 years. Nothing is wrong with it, I had an upper GI and all was fine. I have gained all but about 20 lbs of the weight back, and I never lost as much as I wanted to from the beginning. My doctor won't give me a fill as food gets stuck all the time and he says my band is at the correct restriction. He wants to do a revision to a sleeve, but I am worried about the long term complications of having over half of my stomach cut out. I haven't heard of anyone with the sleeve for 20-30-40 years or even longer. I am 37 so I would have to live with this for a long time. I made the wrong decision before and I don't want to make it again and end up on the operating table again in 5 years. Anyone out there who has had the sleeve for a long time, or anyone who had a band to sleeve revision longer than just a few months ago?

I made this as a mistake (was going to make oven chimichangas) and i'm glad I made it! 3 or 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (or 4-6 tenderloins) 1 can green enchilada sauce 1 can red chile sauce 2 cans refried Beans (I used the spicy ones) 1-2 cans black beans 1 carton (or a few cans) chicken broth 1/2-1 cup quinoa (depending on how much liquid you have) 1 chopped onion 1 chopped green bell pepper 1 chopped red bell pepper 1 tomato 1 package or one can corn olive oil however many tortillas you want to eat, or you can just use tortilla chips salt, pepper, garlic, cumin, chile powder, lime juice, etc..whatever you like..to taste put chicken (don't even have to thaw it) in slow cooker, pour sauces and broth over it, add beans, stir it up as best you can (it will look kind of yucky at this point) saute the onions, peppers, and tomato in the olive oil until just brown. Add to crock pot. Set on low and cook about 4 hours. Add quinoa, cook another 2-3 hours. Add oil to pan and fry tortillas (this isn't deep frying, just fry on each side for a few seconds until crispy) and put on a plate with a paper towel to soak up grease. Break up the tortillas. Serve with n/f greek yogurt or sour cream, guacamole or chopped up avacado, and cheddar or whatever cheese you like. You could also just serve with tortilla chips or soft tortillas (but soft tortillas are sometimes a problem with the band)

I have been having stomach pains about once a month for a few months now, at first I thought it was just really bad gas. Then, on Friday night it was so bad i could hardly walk. I looked it up online and realized it was probably gallstones. Went to the ER, got blood work and an ultrasound done, and yes, it is gallstones. So, I may have to have my gallbladder removed. More holes in my stomach is just what I want! Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had theirs removed after they had the band in for a while, I was banded 10/28/11, so i've had mine about a year. I'm afraid the dumb US doctors (was banded in MX) will not be careful or will screw up my band during surgery. Please help!

Can you guys who had the gallbladder out after you had the band placed tell me if you had a different surgeon than the one who did the band? I'm going to have to have someone else and I'm afraid they're going to mess up the tubing or port. I am trying to find a specialist, but the hospital only gave me a number to a general surgeon who I am going to see today.

sorry, I didn't mean dumb, I meant "usually uncaring and often arrogant" I had my surgery in Mexico, and let me tell you, after the wonderful experience I had there, and the horrible experiences i've had up here with uncaring doctors who are only in it for the money, I'd go back to Mexico every time. I'm in Vegas, which is why I had it done there. I'm very close and have been back down there for all my fills and follow ups. No band complications whatsoever and down 73 lbs in less than a year. I'm more scared of having my gallbladder removed in a US hospital than I was of getting the band done in Tijuana.

can I ask why they put in a 4cc band and where you had your surgery? I was also banded in Mexico by Ortiz with the 11cc johnson and johnson band. I've heard there are a lot of complications with the 4cc

I also was banded by Ortiz in October of last year (almost a year! aaah!) i've had 1 fill and lost 70 lbs, no complications. He and his staff were amazing, the marriott where we stayed was wonderful. We went back for our fill, and everything was great again (except the wait at the border getting back.) He DOES do the sleeve. We (my sister and I were both banded by him) had a great experience and would go back in a heartbeat.

There is no restriction with junk food, people. Between last night and today, I've eaten an entire large bag of potato chips. I can eat them like I used to before the band. The. Entire. Bag. Now I feel like a bloated, water retaining whale. I do need a fill, but if I don't stop my journey down the junk food path, I won't lose anymore weight... inspiration PLEASE?

Be careful, if you overeat and make yourself throw up, you may get a slip and have to have your band removed. You don't wana go through that. We all have our demons to fight with the band (mine is no restriction with junk food) but we have to be careful and keep on fighting. Seeing a counselor will probably help, just find out why you are emotional eating and get some tools to turn it around. I am looking for one myself. Also, two pregnancies and the band within a couple years? Your body is probably freaking out. Give it a chance to settle down and be patient. Giving myself the same advice!

I am 7 months out toooo! Banded in October, down 70 lbs, and feel awesome. I have about 50 to go until i'm where I wanna be, and confident I will get there. I started at 325, now i'm at 255 and I cannot tell you how much better I feel. My feet/ankles/knees feel better, I have more energy, I can already fit better in restaurant booths and movie theater seats. Can't WAIT to be able to ride horses and not be embarassed to go on rides at theme parks!

My sister and I are both having our surgeries with Dr Ortiz in Tijuana on Friday (OMG that's in 5 days!) we are so so so nervous. Driving from Vegas to San Diego and parking, then being picked up by the Obesity Control Center's shuttle to go to the Marriott down there, then surgery next morning. I'm just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on what to bring to make our experience more comfortable. I'm almost more worried about the 6 hour drive home than I am about the surgery. We will be down there for 4 nights, so hoping to feel a little better by the time we have to drive back. Here's what i've got packed so far comfy clothes slip on shoes nausea and gas meds tylenol bras w/out underwire heating pad this is so weird! I've never had surgery and now i'm going to Mexico for the first surgery of my life. Seems crazy. I wish it was this time next week already, we'd be done and recovering in our hotel please help!

You can eat this on the mushy stage, or even the full liquids phase if you take out the banana. I eat it for Breakfast, it's VERY filling and I can only eat about half a 6 oz container of yogurt. It would also be a good smoothie, but I like the chunks of Peanut Butter. one 6 oz (one serving size) container plain, fat free greek yogurt, whatever brand you like, or about 3-4 oz of greek yogurt from a large container 1 tbsp honey 1 tsp cinnamon, or to taste 1/2 (or less) cut up banana 1 tbsp peanut butter ( i like creamy but any kind is good) stir it all up and eat it! Yummy!!

Call your doctor, but i've just started gettting heartburn too, no nausea though. Banded 6 months. I've put in an email to my doc and waiting to hear back, but she said in the mean time, to take omeprazole OTC, you can get it at walmart or walgreens. She also told me (which I haven't been following like I should) no drinking while eating, wait 30 mins before and after you eat to drink. Eat slowly, take small bites, and chew slowly. I think my problem is i'm healed now, and everything goes down easy again...I do have restriction, but i'm not being as careful as I was about what I put in my mouth and when. Maybe at 6 months we get used to it and think we can eat whatever we want again? Anyway, that's what my nutritionist said, I will follow up when I hear from the doctor.

Mine has been split pea soup! I started when I was on the liquid diet after surgery, strained the peas and drank the liquid. Since then, I have been making a batch every week, freezing it, and taking it for lunches or warming it up at home. I've read that peas aid digestion and are good for the stomach, and I noticed that when I don't eat my pea soup for lunch, sometimes my stomach doesn't feel as good as it does when I do eat it. Here's a recipe: 1 bag dried split peas 6 cups chicken broth (for one lb of peas, follow instructions on pckg using broth instead of water) 1/2 package chicken apple sausage, chopped small 1 small-medium onion 1/2 bag baby carrots, chopped lemon juice fresh mint, chopped garlic, pepper, thyme, rosemary, salt, basil, etc..to taste. I use fresh herbs if I have them, dry if I don't. olive oil or whatever healthy oil you like cook the peas as directed on package, add carrots while the peas are cooking to get the flavors meshed and the carrots softened. Saute the sausage and onions in the oil until brown, add to soup and let the whole thing simmer until peas are done - there should be no whole peas visible, just green mushy yummines. Add herbs last to retain the flavors of the herbs, especially the mint. Add lemon juice. Eat!