A New New Dawn

I bought small Rubbermaid containers. They hold 1.2 cups so I almost fill them. I use them for taking lunch to work, storing leftovers in individual portions in the freezer so I have them ready to go, and many times at home I will serve my dinner in them and it keeps me in check and measures my food.

I love it, as do my kids. It has so much great nutritional value. I make it with vegetable broth, black beans, cilantro, and crushed red pepper..

Thanks for sharing! I am going to try that skinnytaste one. I also like emilybites.com recipes.

As always, a great article and a great dose of reality! Thanks for always keeping it real!

You're welcome. My doctor and nutritionist told me Protein first as it will keep you full and is what you need the most of nutritionally. You should get in at least 60 grams of protein per day. I also notice when I get in the appropriate amount of protein it makes a huge difference in my hunger and in my weight loss. I will tell you first hand, it makes a HUGE difference in the portions I eat by eating my protein first as well. When I start w/ chicken or meat, for example, I am easily full after that and some veggies. If I start with a starch or other food (ie. salad), I can eat and eat and... Also, it is very important to "take it easy" after being stuck. Your stoma gets irritated and inflamed so even though the stuck food passed by eating solid foods right after you can irritate it more and are more likely to get food stuck again. I had this happen recently and after struggling for 2 weeks I had to finally give in and get an unfill as I could barely get liquids down. It was definitely a learning process for me. Glad you are feeling better.

I agree with taking it slow and not going w/ ice cold. At this point, you probably will only be able to take small (frequent) sips to get liquids down. Also, if you are still experiencing pain, are you trying your pain meds? If lukewarm sipping of water/liquids isn't tolerable, I would suggest calling your doctor's office.

I think a visit with your surgeon and/or nutritionist may be a great place to start. Also, are you following the "banded guidelines" of about 3-4 ounces of solid Protein to start your meal and then 1/2 c veggies? Most docs recommend no more than 1 cup of food. Since you say you are over serving yourself, I would suggest going back to the basics of weighing and measuring your food. If I am having something like chili or stew I actually serve it in my little Rubbermaid 1 cup bowl so I know I am not over serving myself. If I am having meat/protein I will weigh it to make sure it isn't over 4 ounces. I, too, can overeat/serve easily if not doing this. Second, make sure you are taking very small bites, pausing 30 sec-1 min between, then going for the second bite (putting your fork down in between helps). If you are doing this and still having difficulty getting foods down, you may need a slight unfill or perhaps there is something else going on like a slippage of the band. I am not a doctor so your doctor could assess that best. Also, keep in mind, if you have had a stuck moment, you should stick to liquids for a day or two, then mushies, then back to normal eating. If you are trying to eat too soon after, it may still be swollen/inflamed and you will make it worse or get frustrated that food isn't going down. I haven't done the "5 day pouch test" myself but have seen others on the site that have done this to get back on track. Best wishes to you and congrats on your success.

I would urge you to talk to your insurance and ask them these same questions. Also, did you have to go through pre-op testing for the surgery you are already scheduled for? Maybe some of those hoops you would have to go through could already be satisfied with some of the testing you have already completed. Best wishes to you either way.

A lot of that is SPAM too. I have the exact same message from the same email address on one of my pictures.

I agree... once in a while it sure beats getting take out or canned foods. Also, one thing that works well for me is I bought several rubbermaid 1.2 cup containers. When I make a meal, I will often make extra so I divide them into my 1 cup servings/containers and put them in the freezer. For those nights I don't want to cook or for quick lunch I can grab for work it helps a lot. I get a healthy and tasty meal ~ made by ME! Thanks for sharing your tip as well.

Diane, you are a remarkable woman! Your blog brought tears to my eyes and was very moving for me. I choose to be an optimist as well. I appreciate you sharing your personal story as we all can learn a lot from your strength in one way or another and apply it in our own lives. Enjoy your lemonade today and your time with Mom. Hugs to you, my friend.

I agree w/ Madds. I would think it is just regular food put through the blender. I would double ck w/ your nutritionist if in doubt or if they gave you papers during the preop. I made things like chicken pureed w/ salsa, refried beans, etc. ground meat w/ a little bit of liquid and in the blender... it doesn't look the most appetizing but it sure tasted good.

Great job!!!

It sounds like you have a great attitude. Best wishes on your journey!

I will think happy thoughts for you and you have a great attitude!

That is great!!! Keep up the FABULOUS work!

I am glad you are asking so you know better what to expect and aren't shell shocked later... First, I will preface this with everyone being different. Some people are able to eat anything, others have difficulty eating certain foods. It also depends on how tight each person's band is. Also, this is based on my experience and others I have talked to.. I am not a medical professional. After surgery, they will give you instructions that you should drink xx ounces of liquids. Many people get frustrated or worried as they cannot get all of it in immediately after surgery. The key is making sure you are sipping often throughout the day. Your tummy will be inflamed and you will not be able to gulp large quantities of liquids. Make sure you are staying hydrated and you will be able to increase the volume gradually each day. Second, once the swelling subsides, your hunger may come back w/ a vengeance. This is normal and we refer to it as "bandster hell". Stay strong and stick to the plan. It will get better. Some doctors do a slight fill at the time of surgery, others do not. Once the swelling subsides, you may not even feel like you have been banded as you may be able to eat as you did before. It may take several fills to get you to that sweet spot, which is different for everyone. My dr. did the first fill 6 weeks out and then waited 4 weeks for each one after that. It took me a few fills to "get there". In the meanwhile, I stuck to the plan and was able to lose consistently. After I was "detoxed" from the pre and post-op diet, I didn't miss the junk food at all and don't crave it. chips, Cookies, and ice cream break down and pretty much dissolve in your mouth so they go down very easy for most of us. YOU will have to stay strong as to not go there and not have it accessible to you. The band will not stop those for most of us. What it will stop is your desire to eat a big mac, or a overeating. For me, and several bandsters, bread gets stuck very easily. So my days of eating a big sandwich are over. Bread is a fattening weakness for me, so I don't even crave it anymore as it doesn't feel good going down. Occasionally, I can have a piece of heavy/hearty bread (multigrain, high fiber) as the doughy breads don't like me or my band. I also have difficulty eating scrambled eggs or boiled eggs (if eating alone). Instead, I eat eggs over easy or in tuna salad, etc. Since I have to eat much slower w/ the band (small bites, pause, than another small bite, etc) over the course of about 20 min. I get full so I can't eat a big meal if I wanted to. As for pizza, one piece for me is about all I can do and it isn't often. It also has to be thin crust. It is very filling, and a very heavy food. A couple months after surgery, I was craving pizza but didn't want to eat unhealthy food. I bought little 7" premade thin pizza crusts at my local Meijer, put sauce, lowfat cheese and lots of veggies... It was yummy and low cal/fat and satisfied my craving. As you go through this journey, you will find healthier ways to enjoy the unhealthy foods you used to like. So, the band IS a great tool; however, you have to still make the choice to eat well and avoid the slider foods. It will aid you to not overeat and to keep you satiated for 4-5 hours between meals. I just wanted to help you understand that it won't be fully effective right out of the gate and that you will have to do a lot of the work too. If you have any questions or want to elaborate on anything, feel free to PM me or ask here too. I am not a 'perfect' bander but have 8 months experience. Sorry for the novel.

I am sorry you felt she was harsh. I don't believe she meant it that way and was just speaking truthfully without sugar coating. I am concerned by your perception that when you can only swallow a few tbsp of food the cheating will subside. The band will not keep you from cheating. Some of the most unhealthy foods are the easiest to get down, even with a tight band... chips, Cookies, icecream go down like a charm and are considered "slider" foods. Changing our relationship with food and the idea that cheating is harmless is extremely important. None of us are perfect but we would be remissed to say "it's ok" because the reality is you are potentially hurting yourself. The band will not do all the work. It will help you stay satiated for longer periods but will not prevent you from "cheating". My reply is not meant as harsh either, just trying to be realistic and also to let other newbies understand the reality as well. Best wishes to you on your upcoming surgeries.

Yes, I like the costco premier Protein (chocolate) drinks. They taste good (really cold) and sometimes I put them in the blender w/ some ice and 1/2 a banana or fruit to switch them up a little. Today I added a couple strawberries to the blender too. I have a "magic bullet" blender and it is a breeze and easy cleanup to use. I have heard many say they like the unjury Protein Drinks but you have to order them. Also, if you like Peanut Butter, there is a PB2 powder (peanut butter w/out the fat) that people add to their shakes to switch them up. A couple of pointers for after surgery too... I have seen many people that get really worried they are not getting in all their shakes/liquids after surgery. Know that your tummy will be inflamed so it takes a bit for the swelling to go down to where you can get in the recommended amount. In the interim, just keep taking sips throughout the day. Second, keep in mind that after the swelling goes down and you begin feeling like "you" again your hunger may come back in full force. Just stay strong and on your post op plans during this "bandster hell" phase as it will get better. It may take several fills before you feel the band's effects.. I am excited for you... !

Again, not being a medical professional but knowing how the band works for me, it makes no sense to me why they would unfill you 1.0 cc and it seems your reflux was gone and then fill you with 2.0 cc surpassing how much you had when you had the initial onset of reflux. Also, not to be Debbie Downer, but if you are seeking another doctor you may have to call several in the area to find one that will see you. Often another surgeon doesn't want to take on someone when he/she didn't do the surgery. Also, while it may not be out of pocket for you, if he is billing the insurance that may be an incentive (for a dishonest dr) to have you come back more often. Lastly, it may be time for a crucial conversation with your dr (respectfully) as to what the plan is, etc. You need to be comfortable and have every right to speak up. Best wishes to you and for success!

best wishes to you, please heed your doctor's orders along the way and you will do GREAT! If you haven't already, try out your post op foods (protein drinks, etc) now so you find things you like and have those on hand during your recovery. Keep us posted!

Certainly, this is a personal decision you will have to make; however, what is the success rate of doing nothing? Even if it was a "cop out", does it really matter what method you chose to lose weight and get healthier as long as you do it? Having the lap band is not a magic bullet. It does still require us to make good choices. However, for me 7 mos out and down 75 lbs, it is the best decision I have made. If it were just a matter of diet and exercise and a snap of a finger we wouldn't have opted for the surgery. We chose this to help us in the process and for many of us it has worked. I was not sick or miserable after surgery and my recovery went well. I have had moments where I was frustrated with the band, but it wasn't the band, it was me changing my relationship with food and my eating habits. This is an emotional and physical journey. It is not an easy fix but it sure has helped me when I wasn't doing anything but GAINING on my own. Best thing to do is attend the seminar and also support groups and meet with people that have been through this. Talk to people here and read their stories and do your homework and research so you know what you are potentially getting yourself into. Best wishes on your journey to a healthier you!