MadcapMama

Name, real or screen~ Laurel Goal weight for September 29th~265 Weight on September 1st~277 Age~42 Dietary goal for September~ high Protein, less carbs Exercise goal for September~ join a new class, get to gym 2-3x beyond the class Personal goal for September~ starting a new job as a preschool teacher! Learn to balance, and to say no gracefully to all the cute Snacks the parents bring in. Date banded~4/10/12 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~38lbs What is your favorite Fall Activity?~ fairs, sweaters, family time! weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

Cream of wheat- make it really thin and runny, add Splenda and then a little sf maple syrup to flavor (I cheat and use a little brown sugar, too) fills you up. weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

Checking in at 277.7- 2.2 pounds down. I obsessively weigh myself every day, and only believe the high numbers- this challenge really helps, because I can see the truth- slow but sure weight loss!! weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

I just tried making cream cheese pancakes that I found on pinterest. So yummy, and just what I needed to break my food rut. 2oz cream cheese 2 eggs I packet splenda/truvia Cinnamon if wanted Mix up everything in a bullet/mini chop and let settle for a bit. Then cook 1/4 of the mix at a time in a hot pan (I used med heat) with a little butter or Pam. Top with sugar free syrup or preserves or fresh fruit. Yummy! weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

Checking in at 279.9- down a pound. It's not much, but my scale has been stuck since April 19th between 281.5 aapnd 280.9 so I will take any downward motion!! weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

My best go to meal is two eggs, scrambled with 1/4 cup of over the moon milk and a couple tablespoons of lite shredded cheddar. They are pretty wet that way, and I end up with 23 g of Protein (counting the tsp of butter that I use in the pan). I spice them up with salt and pepper, and still enjoy them. I also made a big pot of meat sauce, and serve it over ricotta. But I am one step up from mushies- stage five- ground and puréed. weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

I had my surgery on 4/10 with dr Andrews from the same practice! They are great there - it's easy to understand what is expected for you, and when I ran into some unexpected complications after surgery ( violent hives, presumably to the Protein drinks) Elaine and Michelle were fantastic and kept checking in with me. I am going to try and make it to the support group on Wednesday. weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

I was banded on April 10th. Two weeks ago was my first day back at church. It was very hectic- I was helping the children's choir, who were singing for first communion. I went up for communion in a rush, and without thinking, took the host, and swallowed it. No chewing, just the way I have done it for 35 years. Well, it got stuck, and I panicked.. I had told myself that I wasn't going to take the host, and then I forgot. I freaked out for a minute, but then I was able to stand up and move around for a minute, and it passed. But boy, When I start taking the host again, I will chewchewchew before I swallow., yikes! weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

I am still in stage 5 (mushy/ground) and I have a big pot of meat sauce in the crockpot- am planning to serve it over noodles for everyone else, and over part skim ricotta for me (shhh- I might have a bite of garlic bread though ) weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

Smmrsue - i am also a little frustrated with my slow loss. I was banded 4/10 and the scale has barely moved since 4/19. I had my follow up with my surgeon yesterday and he said that I needed a fill- but I can barely get 800 calories in these days. I am wondering if I get my calorie intake up higher if that will help, but when I get a fill won't it be harder? So puzzled. But my dr was encouraging, so I am trying to stay strong... weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

Name, real or screen~MadcapMama/laurel Goal weight for April 29th~270.9 Weight on April 1st~280.9 Age~42 Dietary goal for April~try bumping up calories a little and see if that starts me moving Exercise goal for April~I got cleared today to exercise! One day in the pool, two days on the bike a week Personal goal for April~ catch up with my house- I haven't done any real cleaning since surgery. Also some gardening. Date banded~ April 10,2012 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~23.1 What is your favorite flower~ peonies and hydrangeas from my garden. weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

Pinterest has tons of good recipes- go poke around there. I also love epicurious. Our hands- down favorite fish recipe around here is baked cod with a cracker topping. It is, however, not light. During my pre-op diet, I made it for my family for lent, and made some for me with light butter and only a few crackers, and it was still great! Melt a little butter in a pan, sauté some minced onion until it's soft. Mix into a few (I did five for a four ounce piece) crushed ritz cracker, a little parsley and thyme, and a little more melted butter and top the fix with the crumbs. Bake until the fish is opaque- I often cook it at 425 for 10-15 min, but 350 might be safer. weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

Honk- I am from the boston area as well- metro west . And I agree- often TJ's is a better bargain than the regular store, except maybe market basket.... weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

I just had my two week post op nutrition meeting with my nutritionist, and she advanced me to stage four- I had already been doing some stage four foods b/c I had an allergic reaction to the shakes, so she bumped me to eggs and Beans then to help get the Protein in. But I have been longing for weeks for a cracker. Really, just one salty cracker. And my stage four includes 2-4 crackers So I just had four crackers with two tbs of hummus- and I am so full and happy!! I am very thirsty, so I need to think about that for future eating. Now to tackle the rest of the plan- I am daunted at the idea that I now need to eat 70-80g of protein, and 1000-1400 calories, but I know that it doesn't have to happen tomorrow. It's a silly thread, I know. But I figured that I would Celebrate with some folks who can appreciate how good a cracker is after four weeks of no crackers. And how exciting it is to eat four crackers and be super full- before surgery, I'd eat most of a sleeve of town house crackers and call it a snack. So thankful to be on this path Have a great day! weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

That's one of my fave Snacks I have 1/3 a cup, with 3 Splenda, a drop of vanilla and some cinnamon. 113 calories and 9 proteins! weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

I am two weeks post op today. I have been weighing myself every day, and keep yo-yo ing the same pound or two every day. I resolve to set two weigh ins a week and not get on the scale, and not be frustrated. I am barely eating, and can't understand why the weight isn't falling off me, but I keep trying to hold my fear at bay. I wish I had done measurements, b/c I suspect I would see some movement there. This board has been a lifesaver for me - I keep listening to everyone when they say that they hang for a bit, and then lose a bunch at once. I think it's kind of a shock- I lost weight so quickly during the preop diet, and during the first week after surgery- I was thinking that it would continue. Hang in there- we feel your pain, and there are long-timers here to reassure us that it will start coming off! I am meeting with my nutritionist in a half hour, and will share any insight she has weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

They have the pure Protein shakes in both protein concentrations. Plus lots of powders and bars. weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

It will get easier. I found that it was almost like pushing past hunger into indifference. I managed to cook Easter dinner for everyone without it being too traumatic ( I lost it a little over the scalloped potatoes, but fought my way back). What I found really helpful was to focus on the fact that I really wanted to have the surgery laparoscopically, and if my liver wasn't in fine shape they would switch and make the full incision. The fear of the full incision kept me on the straight and narrow... weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

Thanks I talked to my drs office today, and they agree that it is likely soy. They advanced my diet a tiny bit, and are going to let me eat scrambled eggs, hummus and mushed up beans- i do not want to drink any of the Protein Drinks for a bit until I let all of the hives go away, and then I can add one type of Protein Powder in at a time and see what happens. weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 293/surgery scheduled for April 10!

Hi folks- I was banded last Tuesday. This morning I woke up covered in hives. They have gradually getting worse all day, despite taking Benadryl and zyrtec. My current theory is that this is a reaction to soy- I have tested allergic to it, but never had trouble with it before. However, now that my diet is so much smaller, I am wondering if it's having a bigger impact Unfortunately, all of my Protein drinks/powders have soy in them. I know that there are soy free protein powders and drinks our there- anyone want to recommend any of them? Anyone else have this happen? I am frustrated-I did all my pre-surgery work to find drinks and powders that I enjoyed, and now I am back to square one. I am going to ask the dr's office if they can advance my diet a little so I can eat eggs and mushed up beans/hummus, so maybe I can avoid th drinks altogether for a bit.... Thanks for your thoughts/recommendations. weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 293/surgery scheduled for April 10!

My dr put the 14cc band in for me. He chose it because a. The size of my stomach and the fat layer around it and b. he feels like it is more "flexible" for fills- less likely to go from no restriction at one fill to overly tight at the next. My understanding from reading is that the 14cc has an advantage if you do slip- they are more likely not to need surgery to correct it- just unwilling it gives you enough room to self correct, apparently. I am not a dr though. weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 293/surgery scheduled for April 10!

My dr does not allow any NSAIDS (ibuprofen, naproxen) ever- they are associated with ulcers, and band failure. I have been getting the adult dosage liquid Tylenol at cvs. Good luck!! weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 293/surgery scheduled for April 10!

Good luck!! You're going to do great!! weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 293/surgery scheduled for April 10!

I am on the 2 week post op liquid diet, but my dr does allow a few super-mushies in- yogurt, applesauce, whipped cottage cheese. It's unseasonably warm here in Boston, and I wanted a cool and creamy treat- I just took 1/3 cup part skim ricotta, mixed in 3 packets of Splenda, a little cinnamon and a little vanilla, and it's heaven- my own little ricotta pie plus, it has 9 g of protein!!! This will stay on my snack list weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 293/surgery scheduled for April 10!

Try the Protein Shakes now- don't wait until after surgery! Walk as much as you can after surgery Find some liquid Tylenol before the surgery - I quickly wanted to step down off the narcotics, but it took us a while to find it. The kid's stuff is nasty- try and find the adult version. Don't buy a ton of one thing, but have a variety of things to try for food après surgery- I am surprised at the choices I am making, and the things that taste good. Good luck!!! weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 293/surgery scheduled for April 10!