Angela the Breeder

I had my first fill yesterday and feel the SAME thing. As soon as I eat it's like stuff is just sitting there...in my chest. Guess I need to chew better. Congrats on the losses! Good job!

Okay, I'm a busy, busy woman. I find making time to eat almost impossible once I get to work. So I've gravitated towards Protein bars. Met-Rx has a high protein sugar free 320 calorie bar that has 32 grams of protein in it. (And only 2g of sugar) They taste delicious, thus I keep thinking they must be really bad for me. (Like everything else I love.) Anyone have experience with them? Or do the numbers looks really bad and make you want to run away? (Banded 11/29/11 - down 20 pounds)

Thanks Ready! That 27g of sugar alcohols was staring out at me like a red sore! So I've decided I'll do a half of one per day until they're gone. I've gotten so many good suggestions I'll just plan better the night prior. I appreciate your two cents. NEVER bossy! It's helpful!

Here is the nutritional breakdown on them: (Also, I don't have more than two of these a day. The other times I have lean protein.) Ingredient Amount % Daily Value** Calories 310 Calories From Fat 80 Total Fat 9g 14 Saturated Fat 7g 35 Cholesterol 5mg 2 Sodium 290mg 12 Total Carbohydrate 32g 11 Dietary Fiber 2g 8 Sugars 2g Sugar Alcohol 27g Protein 32g 36 Potassium 210mg 6

You all have some great info here. Thank you. To answer the questions, these bars are filling and yes, buy me four to five hours of satisfaction. Definitely NOT a snack. As for my work hours, I own the company. There's just SO much to do Mon - Fri that I literally can't get away from my desk. When I get home, I raise rare cats that require a lot of work, hours and attention. I still allot for 60 hours of cardio each afternoon. The nuts I bought were oven roasted plain almonds. No added salts or sugars or seasonings. Now I'd worry about the fats in them. I've tried the Protein shots but 1) found they tasted like plastic and 2) they didn't satisfy my appetite. I found that they're great if it's late in the night and I missed dinner. The protein bars I chose are Met-RX Protein Plus, loaded with Vitamins and minerals, so I believe they're very good for me. What just scares me is the 320 number. I try not to make any of my three daily meals add up to such a high number. So if I'm eating such a low calorie diet, and working out aggressively, am I throwing myself into starvation mode? I lost 20 pounds in 30 days, but feel I've stalled.

Thanks for the advice Elcee. Unfortunately, I don't even have fifteen minutes to heat something up while working. (I work two full-time jobs.) I am wondering if 320 calories is too much to eat at a sitting. Or do the numbers just look "off". FYI, my doctor said absolutely NO nuts. (I found this out after I bought a five pound bag of roasted almonds.)

Who was your doctor? It's a huge fear of mine that something will go wrong and I'll go upside tens of thousands of dollars trying to repair an unforeseen problem.

Congrats! Hang in there. When you feel like you are starving...task yourself with reorganizing your closet, go on a small walk, call up an old friend, do SOMETHING. You'll get through it!

I too am at a stall. I had surgery one month ago. Down 20 pounds. I eat about 1000-1200 calories daily, and ride my bike at 21MPH for one hour six days a week. My clothes are feeling wonderful with muscles tightening up everywhere. But I feel the scale should be showing a bigger loss. A fear for me is could I be eating too little calories? I'm afraid that my body is thinking that it's in starvation mode and holding onto what I eat. FYI - my calories are 80% Protein. Less than 10g of sugar per day (broken up with no more than 5g at a time.) Other calories are from veggies only. No sugar, no starches, no sauces, no butters, less than 25% fat. Advice? Angela

Et tu, Brute'? Yep, you're elbows deep in the hardest part. I was banded on 11/29 and have found myself in the same boat. I even felt a little depressed and obsessed over the whole issue. I had a dream that I gorged myself and ruptured my stomach. Then I came to the rationalization that I CAN DO THIS. My biggest trick...when I'm THINKING I'm hungry, distract myself. I can distract myself with a phone call, an email, a hobby, a task, a walk...ANYTHING. And it works. If not, I calculate my total Protein, make sure I've taken what I'm supposed to up to that day, and request the back up troops move in. (Sugar-free Jell-O, sugar-free popsicles, V-8, sugar-free pudding, or broth spruced up with garlic and onion powder, or "diet" fruit juice.) It will get easier, especially when the pounds are melting off, clothes start feeling looser, and there's signs of your success. Hang in there. So far, I've lost 15 pounds. Not bad for 16 days.

Hi November Bansters. I'm five days out since my banding. The surgery itself was MUCH less scary and painful than I had anticipated. What I did find was the gas/shoulder pain was quite uncomfortable. (I have back issues so it was more intense.) Over the next couple of days, I found intense pain in the sternum area, and found that it was due to simply over-filling my stomach. Yep - taking big gulps of fluids gave me tummy pain. I found that sipping small amounts avoided the pain completely. So now I have NO pain. I'm just a little tired. I'm not hungry at all. Even preparing small meals for my family doesn't get my appetite going. I'm really enthused that this was such a good decision. I only wish I hadn't waited so long. Due to my crappy insurance, I had to do a self-pay...and $9995 is A LOT of money for me. But I think it is the best money spent. Good luck to our December bansters!

I am three weeks away from my banding surgery. It's funny how right now, although my diet is not restricted yet, I have no desire to eat things I shouldn't. My mind and body are SO ready for the surgery. I've even spent months learning to chew correctly...realizing that I've spent my life INHALING my food. My weight gain started after I had two babies within 17 months, and shortly after that broke my back. I found out I had Disc Degenerative Disease and that my back issues would continue to worsen. Since breaking my back in 2004, I've been sedate and have literally given up on my body, as I felt betrayed by this disease. At the age of 34 I had the back of an 85 year old. But now I'm 40, and I want to reclaim my health. I am TIRED of carrying around 180 extra pounds. It's making my back problems much worse, let alone killing my self-esteem. One thing I worry about...is sex. How long after surgery did you wait before you "split the sheets"? My husband is awesome. He loved me when we got married and I was 118 pounds, and loves me now that I'm a marble with a head. One thing that is important is being intimate. I know not being intimate makes my husband perceive that I'm upset with him. (Stop laughing.) I know that penetration does not equal intimacy, but it's clear that my husband finds it the best source of intimacy. (Sorry if this is TMI.) Any advice on what to expect? (Provided there aren't surgical complications.) I appreciate sharing of experiences...because it gives me hope and strength. Angela

Sunshine, I share your feelings. How did I get here and why can't I correct this problem on my own? A feeling of failure, weakness, and eventually disgust. We can lean on our circumstances as to our gain, or realize we've been doing it wrong. So what? Now we have a chance to do it right. We're simply getting a tool to help. The rest is up to us. I don't think anyone that had surgery cheated. If anything, they took the tough road. Difference is, you have a HUGE support team here. I know I have gathered a lot of insight from folks on the board. Best of luck and keep in touch!

Hi 34Mom, I too am scheduled to have my surgery with Dr. Terry Simpson. I looked at his "PLAN", or basically insurance. I didn't pay the $600 for extras. However, he did offer me an insurance plan spanning from $2250 - $10,500 that would "cover me" should I have issues after 90 days. I am doing self-pay ($9995), had to prepay everything before I could schedule surgery, and this only covers 90 days of follow-up. (And two fills within that time.) This does not include the initial consultation ($100), the nutritionist ($100) and the psych eval ($100), all needed to be paid upfront, in cash. If the doctor didn't have such a great reputation, there is no way I'd consider going to him as his financial promotions are ridiculous. I feel like I'm going to the 99Cent store, and God forbid I need his help after 90 days, should I have complications, or not heal as expected.

Wow Cheri, These are awesome words that couldn't come at a better time. I am scheduled to get banded on the 29th of November. Everyone in my life is fit and trim. It's like I have built my own private country within some other one. I'll be sure to utilize my optimum losing months wisely. Angela

Hi N - I have surgery in three weeks and my surgeon didn't change my diet at all. Hmmm...I have to wonder if it's necessary to change it or is that just recommended. Ang