dolphintattoo

Walking doesn't do anything for me (other than be a cool down tool at the gym). I need the intensity of cardio either in the form of a machine (stair climber, ellipitcal, arc trainer etc..) or something like a TRX class/cross training. My HR is up to 150/160 at those activities, I can never seem to get above 130 with walking. Jogging on the other hand does work for me, I just am not very good at it (darn flat feet). I went from 20 minutes on the stair master in the weeks following my banding to an hour a day now, I do each machine for 15 or 20 minutes each. I often watch something on my iPad while I am working out to pass the time.

I can feel it, my doc said it's normal, especially when doing ab work. If it hurts I stop.

I am fairly new to this, having only been banded in January, but one thing that was made VERY clear to me was that 1) if the band is stopping you from eating it's too tight and 2)YOU have to do the work, the band is just a tool, in fact YOU DO HAVE TO DO THIS ON YOUR OWN! I am really glad sometimes when I read things on here that my doc has a conservative attitude (I only have 5cc in my band) and that they are focused on changing behavior not just shrinking down my stomach. to the OP: Although you can eat a huge amount, have you tried stopping after 5 bites to see how you feel, then again after 10? Sure I can cram a bunch of food down during a meal, but I don't NEED that much food and I am learning real portion control and how much food I need to control hunger not how stretched I can make my pouch. This is a mental game not just a physical one.

I love sushi, but am not sure how to eat it now that I am banded (not yet filled however). Do you cut it up into little pieces or take it apart to eat it? It seems so bad to destroy a work of art!

Banded 1/31 and had my first glass of wine this past weekend, no issues at all. Didnt notice feeling any different

I guess it really depends what you are eating. At that stage I had a lot of tuna, Greek yogurt, chicken and added Protein powder to things like mashed potatoes.

I would call now and not wait, at the least he says its gas, but if its something more he will want to see you.

I like the pure protein one, I get it at Target or Trader Joes but Walmart may also have it. For convenience I also use Atkins Advantage because they are pre mixed you just open the cap a drink or throw in a blender. I am south of boson an did BJs has a good selection too.

While I am sure you have lots on your plate, we all do, posting about your daughter has nothing to do with your Lapband. I might be "cruel" but if you expect the weight to fall off because you take care of a disabled child you are dillusional, they have no relevance to each other. Part of a support group is offering advice, that is what everyone here did and you didn't like it. I was banded 1/31 and its a struggle to eat well on the various stages and get to the gym 4 days a week with my own personal life challenges, family responsibilities etc... I didn't go and have my guts cut open an a strange object placed inside me and expect to be a size 2 tomorrow. Sounds like you may need the help of a therapist to help you deal with your life stresses and how you deal with them and your weight.

I am in the mush stage also, I use my food processor a lot and find the Starkist Tuna Salad packets to be a pre-made mush for times when you are out and about. I also do a lot of yogurt, chicken pureed with tomato sauce and things like that. I don't love the look of most of it, but it's just 2 weeks then I am on to soft foods!

at 10 days I was feeling hungry, but if I stayed on the diet (I was all liquids at the time) and now I am on mushies, and eat the Protein item at meal times and have a high protein snack/shake between I have been able to pretty much avoid terrible hunger. Sure I get hungry, but it's not headache hunger unless I have forgotten to bring a shake with me and will be out for hours. I am almost 3 weeks post and my hunger is real but satisfied with a much smaller amount of food than before (1/2 cup of tuna vs. a giant sandwhich for lunch). the head hunger (or desire to munch) hasn't really gone away! I don't have any fill yet, won't get that for 6 more weeks but my doc has prepared me it can take 6-9 months to get to the green zone.

Regardless of fill level, your insides are swollen after surgery and I think most folks feel full initially but as times go by the swelling goes down making it harder to stay full feeling.

I used a body pillow (I am also a stomach sleeper) which I had from when I was pregnant. Its great to prop you up either from behind or under your stomach so your not really laying on your stomach but your not on your back either.

I have also been using Laughing Cow Cheese to add moisture to meats or hummus.

I have seen that others have used an app, I am struggling to stretch 3oz out to 15-20 minutes! Are there any free ones? Mindful Bites, Eat Slower Pro!, and My meal timer are all $.99

I have to attend a half day meeting where both Breakfast and lunch are served next week. The breakfast is continental so fruit, pastry, muffins, bagels (none of which I can eat in my mushie stage) and lunch will very likely be sandwhiches. My plan for lunch would be to pick the tuna or chicken salad sandwhich and just eat the Protein, but I am stumped on the breakfast. Of course I can skip all together, but generally folks at this meeting do eat a bunch and we eat as groups during the networking session. I also have a business dinner one evening next week, we are going to a steak house, no idea how I am going to deal with that.

Some deli's keep them in pickling juice, but I keep mine in water so they don't dry out in a rubbermaid container in the fridge for up to a week, they don't usually last that long!

BBB sells the mini cuisinart for about $60, I love it.

Also a patient of Dr. Glasgow! Last night i did ricotta cheese topped with Pasta sauce and part skim shredded cheese for dinner. I am eating a lot of Starkist tuna salad, egg salad which I make with relish & mayo and my version of tacos which is ground beef, avacado, sour cream and salsa in the food processor. I also add Protein powder to my mashed potatoes and fat free creamy italian dressing. I am struggling a bit with fruits & veggies outside of the Protein shakes I add them to because the texture is more funky to me. I do feel like after liquids this has been such a relief especially as savory foods go.

I haven't actually used it yet, only had a chance to download last night and have only had a protein shake so far. I was planning to use for my bite intervals as I am in still in the mushy phase and chewing 30 times isn't realistic, there isn't anything left to chew by 10 bites!

Thank you!

I missed that it was imitation, I agree go with the real stuff, you can get it in with the canned tuna if you don't want fresh in the seafood case (or if your store doesn't have one). Imitation is usually crappy bottom feeder fish mixed with all kinds of weird chemicals and addititves.

It's on my ok list as long as it's mixed with something like mayo to make a mushie.

I agree with others that many providers offer different advice. My surgeon himself has told me there is no such thing as a forbidden food for LB patients, but patients may have foods that don't agree with them and they don't eat those foods. He and his team believe that to be successful you have to learn to live a normal life with the band, that might include eating chips at a party or something, certainly not every day, but on occasion. The more restrictions (food not band) you have, the more likely you are to slip up or fail and then it's a domino effect. My doc also said they are learning more and more about the band every day, he used to tell people to stop drinking 15 mins before a meal, he no longer says that, he feels current research says you can drink up to the meal, that is a change. In your shoes I would just mention to the doc you heard some different info from the NUT at support group and you wanted to confirm if it applies to you. He may surprise you and agree with something like the soda (my doc again is ok with it and has never had a patient slip b/c of carbonation).

I was banded 1/31. I know I am in The healing phase, but I am following my docs guidelines (70g protein) Mushies, eat Protein first, 2 progein shakes a day etc... The scale is moving in the wrong direction. Up every day for a week. I was down 22lbs now I am back up 8lbs. I am also STARVING by 4pm. Doing cardio 4x a week and strength training with a trainer. Eating low carb/low fat. Not that time of the month. Just venting because its frustrating.