Sairy30

I get a soy sugar free mocha often. What I have found is the soy, though not "low cal" is creamy and also a source of protein. Ordering the sugar free mocha syrup doesn't have the funny after taste that the regular syrups have... (In my opinion). You do have to get used to a new flavor of Mocha, but it is still rich and good and I still really like it. If i order a sugar-free with non fat milk, the non-fat milk is just watery and icky.

Could you share your recipe for almond flour tortillas? Thanks!

Well from what I have been reading people are supposed to be having a lot of success with it. i have been banded since 2006 and have lost over 100 pounds, then started gaining back after a health crisis and being at the wrong fill level for a long time. I feel like because I had so much to lose, and still do have to lose, that the sleeve might be a better choice for me. I chose the band strictly because I was self pay and had it done in Mexico and it was affordable. From what I am reading the sleeve can be more effective than the band for some people. Just looking at options as I never reached my goal, and am somewhat frustrated and discouraged right now.

I have heard of people doing this as well and having success. My pouch was dilated at one point due to being too tight, and i had to have an un-fill and be on liquids for a while. I now look at it the same as when you get a fill you are supposed to be on liquids for a few days as your stomach adjusts, and it does always jump start weight loss for me, I suspect you are not quite at the right restriction level, and probably need another fill? I am at a little over 6cc's and it is a good level, but takes a while to get there. My first year was frustrating, and first few months I only lost 11 pounds. I lost a total of 60 pounds the first year and thought I was a failure at the band too, then I realized, 60 pounds is a lot more than I ever lost before... and continued to lose. Hang in there!

BTW, I have been considering revising my band to a gastric sleeve, and was going through the same process in my head again. If I do this, if I have to tell anyone, which would only be a select few, that I am having gall bladder surgery. It's a simple short operation... it's a little white lie, but I don't want to have to go through the social issue again. I have anxiety issues, it's my body nobody needs to know.

I am the same, I am self employed so when I left I told my assistant what I was doing, but that was it. I was only gone three days, and came back to work on day 4, (which I think you should take more time if you can). I told some friends, and I was always disappointed that they didn't care about my privacy. They said they won't say anything, but they of course, tell their husbands, sisters, mothers, and swear them to privacy too. And we all know how well that works. I sat at dinner with a friend and her mother, and her mother kept STARING at me, and finally she said, well I am just trying to figure out how your band thing works. I was HUMILIATED.. After i lost 100 pounds, I was literally cornered by some women that I knew at a business event asking me how I did it. I said extremely restricted potion size, calories counting, and exercise, which literally is what I am doing, but one lady said, I don't believe it, tell us! It was like a sitcom. I lived in a very small gossipy town. LOL Really it reminded me of being the fat kid in high school again when one of the most popular things was to ask me how much I weighed.... I have since moved. Not for that reason, but that part is a huge relief. My reasons for not telling is yes, I was ashamed that I had let myself get that big, and ashamed that I need something like surgery to control it, and terrified that it wouldn't work. That is just me. It's a personal decision.

I drink espresso with canned light whipped cream which adds the creaminess and sweetness and very few calories. It's my favorite part of the day and I have between 2-3 shots.

Also one thing to remember about Lap Band/WLS boards of any kind, when people have issues with their band they are going to discuss it here. Slippage, erosion, stretched pouch etc. are far from the norm of this procedure, but people that are experiencing it are going to discuss it, it's human nature in my opinion.

Me too had to get above 6cc's to feel good restriction. Everybody is different in how they respond and feel restriction. Keep the faith, it will happen.

The one thing i have found that is a huge treat for me is to use Redi Whip, or any whipped cream cannisters. The calories are only 15 for Two Tbs, which is enough to put on top of your coffee and less than one gram of sugar.

I gave up soda easily after being banded and switched to propel, gatorade, etc. Now I buy diet root beer and add fat free half and half to make it creamy. It is like a cheater root beer float. However it has Huge sodium content, so I don't drink it very often.

I make salads with spinach and don't seem to have a problem.

I am not sure of exact amount for fills as I signed up for nutrition counseling and fitness program as well and the fills are part of the program... however the last place I was going in Olympia, I was paying close to $400 because I was not one of their patients.

Sorry to hear that you can't get the band, but I know several people who have had the RNY and are very happy. I think the mind set of , I will never get to have "this or this" again, is kind of part of a grieving /anxiety period that everyone goes through because the comfort we feel from these foods is like our best friend. Once it starts working for you, whatever you choose to do, you will be thrilled! If you try to eat sugars/chocolates and experience the side effects that come with it, you will no longer crave it. There are things you can't have with the band too. Try to see the procedure, whatever you have to do as a huge positive change in your life. I am considering revising from the band to the gastric sleeve. I was a self-pay on the banding and the financing was difficult and the cost of follow-up is also difficult. If your insurance is going to pay you are so lucky! You are getting a second chance on life!

There are published diets associated with it, but I believe it is more of a protein-centric type of eating http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleolithic_diet .