steph2012

I should have added that I have a lapband.

This stage is really about healing. You'll likely need 2 or 3 fills before having any restriction. My advice is as was suggested. Start making the right food choices even though you may find yourself feeling a little hungry for now. You want to start this journey off on the right foot. You've invested a lot in this procedure. You don't want to sabotage yourself right out of the gate! Don't worry about weight loss right now. Let your body recover from surgery & get your first fill appointment booked as soon as you can.

I cooked with quinoa for the first time this weekend, Quinoa chicken Chili: http://queenbeecoupons.com/crock-pot-slow-cooker-quinoa-chicken-chili-recipe/ It was delicious & a very hearty meal. I substituted ground turkey for the chicken breast because that was what I had in hand. I had several people taste test the chili & everyone thought it was wonderful.

My heating pad was my biggest blessing. You will want that as soon as you are settled in. As well, buy yourself some gas strips to help with the gas pain in your shoulder (from anesthetic).

Hair loss is a common symptom of WLS. It's your bodies way of coping with the rapid weight loss. I'm sure there is someone that can offer other suggestions but personally I just waited it out. It'll last a few months but it does stop.

THe company that banded me (now) only gives 0.5 cc's fills. If you need an defill, they typically take out 0.25 cc's at a time. You should feel an immediate difference. If you had some taken out and didn't feel the difference right away, you probably need more taken out. I would go back again...

Hi all, For the last 4 days, my band has been mysteriously tight. I first noticed it Friday. Since then, I've eaten very little - nowhere near the recommended 1 cup of food per meal. I find I have no appetite and when I do eat a little Protein, I feel significant discomfort around what I imagine is where my band is & in my left shoulder. I have also been experiencing acid reflux beginning today. I've had my band nearly 2 years now & there have been occasions when it's been tight but none lasting this long or being this severe. Typically it's been tight if I've been really stressed out or sick. I may be experiencing a little stress but nothing anymore significant than normal. Should I be concerned? Of course I'm thinking the worse - slipped band. What should I do?

I'm in Canada so today is a holiday - our Thanksgiving. Was planning to call a nurse/surgeon tomorrow to get their advice. I like the suggestion of drinking liquids for a few days to see if things calm down. The unfortunate thing is that I live in Halifax & had my procedure was completed by a clinic in Toronto so local doctors don't know much about the band. The clinic in Toronto is a flight away so visiting then in person is not a viable alternative unless it is something SIGNIFICANT.

OMG! These chicken muffins are delicious. I added diced onion instead of onion powder because I was cooking & already had the onion cut up. I cooked the celery & onion before adding. I found they did stick to the pan a little. Maybe I didn't use enough cooking spray. So spray muffin pan well. I can GUARANTEE I'll be making these again and again and again...

Hi all, I've been banded 20 months now. Weight loss has stalled over the last 10-12 months. Up until now, I was happy maintaining the 80+ lbs that I had lost. Now I'm ready to start again. I'm looking for some high Protein snack ideas. I am well aware of the typical Snacks but I'm tired of those. I'm looking for new ideas, maybe even new recipes. I recently came across this recipe for a lentil dip that I am going to try. I haven't entered the info into a calorie/protein counter yet. 1/3 cup veg. oil 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 1/2 tsp cinammon 1 tsp dijon mustard 1/2 tsp curry In a seperate bowl, combine: 1 can lentils (drained & washed) 1 cup red pepper (diced small 1 cup dried currants 3/4 green onion, chopped pinch salt Mix both lots of ingredients together. Refrigerate 1-2 days I'm hoping the lentils will provide enough protein to make this a decent snack. My plan is to scoop a tablespoon(?) on a cracker. 3 or 4 will be a snack size serving. Anyone else have any ideas they can share?

Epicure sells a similar product called a Chipster. They also sell seasonings to flavor your potato chips. It is a great product. http://www.epicureselections.com/en/products/food/healthy-snacks/4215/chipster/ Search the site and you'll find the seasonings... Backyard BBQ Seasoning & Poutine Seasoning. I don't sell for Epicure but I'm sure someone in your area does.

Looks great! Thanks for sharing.

I tried a similiar recipe last night, Quinoa chicken Chili. It was delish. I substituted ground turkey for the chicken because I had ground turkey in the freezer that I wanted to use. Next time, I'll add peppers. I topped it with sour cream & shredded cheese as the recipe suggested. It was a 5 star meal! http://queenbeecoupons.com/crock-pot-slow-cooker-quinoa-chicken-chili-recipe/

I love lasagna but pasta is always such a problem. Thanks for sharing this recipe!

If you find some of these shakes start to 'separate', trying adding a pinch of xanthan gum. That will solve that problem.

Great idea!

I make a high Protein bacon & cheese muffin. I'll post the recipe when I find it (at home). I'm still perfecting it to suit my own taste. It makes 24 muffins so once you experiment with a batch, you kinda have to eat them all before testing new ingredients. I like that your recipe only makes 3 muffins! Will be trying this one for sure!

I've made a cauliflower mash before - like mashed potatoes but didn't get this creative. I'm always looking for a low carb side dish. WIll definitely be trying this. WIll share it with other bandster friends as well. Thanks for posting!

Thanks for posting this recipe Terry. I have been looking for new recipes to try. I'm particularly interested in this recipe because I have some ground turkey sitting in the freezer that I'd like to use & who doesn't love Shepherd's Pie! I'll be trying this on the weekend. I'l let you know what I thought.

I have been banded for about 18 months now. I've lost about 90 lbs. I'm looking for a book that focuses on life after the band. In hindsight, I made the decision to have the lapband too quickly without knowing all the facts. So, now I'm looking for the information that I should have known all along. Saying that, I have been successful but I am more interested in learning about the mechanics of the band & how to use it to my FULL advantage. WIll this book answer these questions?

Brad, Do you have any recommended reading material(s) to help one figure out their body/nutritional requirements? I'm guessing there was a lot of reading behind your opinion... I was banded early in 2012. The first year was rather successful, losing 80 lbs but now the momentum and motivation has started to slide. I need to 'shake it up' a bit. I want to lose another 50 lbs.

If you are having trouble reaching your caloric goal, have a high protein shake for breakfast or as a snack - approx. 250 calories. When you get the hang of things, you won't have any trouble eating 1000-1200 calories a day. LOL

I eat 3 meals a day (about 300 calories each) and 2 snacks (approximately 100-150 calories each). If I don't, I find I get really hungry before bedtime & end up eating junky food to satisfy the hunger. I also find that if I skip meals or snacks, my band seems to tighten and I have trouble when I finally do eat again. I aim for 1200 calories a day.

Hi everyone. I'm new to this forum though not new to banding. I was banded in January 2012. Since that time, I've lost 70 lbs. I have another 50 or so lbs that I'd like to lose. I live in Canada and was banded in Canada. I was a regular on another WLS community but I found the site too restrictive - we weren't able to vent or express our frustrations. The company would block the postings. I believe it is when you are frustrated that you need the most support from others. My weight loss has stalled/slowed over the last few months. I feel like I'm back on track again but you know how easy it is to fall off the wagon. It's time to get this weight off now, once and for always. Anyway, that's a little about me. I'm looking forward to meeting you!