chasingadream

What a great job!! Congrats on 6 years of banded life and maintaining your goal for so long. You look wonderful and I appreciate your coming here and inspiring me....only banded for 5 months I look forward to reaching goals such as yours!

I kept it simple...my go to's were tuna, egg and chicken salad with light mayo....in a magic bullet it was a perfect consistency and has lots of Protein. I had the same meals as my family I just magic bulleted it to the right mushiness (chicken w/ mashed potatoes and gravy, 93% ground beef made into taco meat, wendy's chili blended w/ sour cream.) You can puree anything...it doesnt always look appealing but tastes soooo yummy after being on liquids!

Congrats on getting to this phase... You look wonderful and have such a positive and focused attitude on what you need to do for you to continue to be successful. Love hearing about the process of how you are transitioning to maintenance because I know this time around I WILL be reaching that milestone too....somewhere down the road. Right now I am a few pounds away from one-derland and Im waiting with anticipation...its been a good 25 years since I've seen a number under 200 and I am looking forward to it! Looking forward to the nice warm Spring weather when we can plan another get together for NY bandsters. Hope you are weathering the last round of snow okay!

Congrats on being banded and with your weight loss thus far. I agree with Bandista....there is quite a learning curve. I am just about 5 months out and am STILL learning...and I believe I will be for a long time. But it is the best thing I've done for myself in well, forever! Wishing you continued success!

Just a question...do you think you are too tight that you are struggling to get solids down. I have not had a fill yet so I have nothing to compare your experience with. Also, if your body thinks its not getting enough caloric intake it will hold on to whatever you put in it so it doesnt feel that it is starving... and dont forget--all those soups and broths are loaded with sodium that may be causing you to retain Water which will affect weight loss. Dont be discouraged...it will come off....maybe a call into your doc or nutritionist may help you. Best of luck...keep us posted!

Congrats on your surgery ...glad it all went well and that you are feeling good! It is an adjustment for everyone. I have the best supportive hubby ever and 2 small children to feed and its been a process....but it is doable. It is hard for others...they think we can't eat or we can't eat certain foods. It is a learning curve for everyone...just have patience. I know in the beginning my husband would tell me I couldnt have something and I would get mad at him and tell him that I can have whatever I want just in smaller quantities. He is just so used to helping me during the "diet" mode that it is just natural for him to say that. 5 months out and he's finally getting it and my kids are now used to mommy eating on a smaller plate without questionning it. Wishing you all the best...keep us posted!

I am 5 months post op and have not had a fill yet and I am satisfied with 3 small meals and 1 snack (on occasion). I did have lap band with plication...and some say it is the plication doing it....i'm just happy that it is happening the way it is! I had the same experience as you of not being hungry. It is different for everyone...if you are following your docs orders and getting in all of your requirements than I would think you are on track. If you are concerned you should defiantely call your doctors office and check with them to ease your mind!

That is great...thank you...i will remember that next time "I can't" creeps into my head!

The same thing happens to me now too...i have to inquire about it too!!!!!

My nutritionist wasn't happy when i told her i was eating cheerios. Ive since switched to kashi go-lean crunch and special K's high Protein which really holds me, especially the kashi. As for lunch i like to eat egg, chicken or tuna salad. I make my own with a little light mayo...one can of tuna or one can of swanson chicken or 2 hard boiled eggs makes a half cup of food with some crackers...and its a lot of protein and filling. Im no doctor or nutritionist but could your body be holding on to what you're consuming because you are eating so little that it thinks you are not getting enough ...just a thought. Im agreeing with the others, please call your doc/nutritionist to help you!! Good luck and let us know how you make out!!!!!

Thanks for posting them! It was a very nice afternoon...look forward to doing it again in the future!

Pictures came out great!!! It was a nice afternoon...great to hang out with all of you!

Hoping you are feeling better and things are looking up for you. You are an inspiration not because of all of your successes but because you are human and struggle as well. Half the battle is acknowledging the trouble one has and then moving forward with things and you are doing just that. Wishing you all the best and you are missed!

Me and my baby girl selfles

Such wonderful news all around! Congratulations on everything.....ENJOY EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

Well hello movie star! That was great! Loved hearing a voice to go with your beautiful face! You are such an inspiration and will continue to be one for me. Not only did you change your life for the better in so many positive ways but you continue to help so many of us on this very site and now you are helping others in your own neck of the woods. You should be so proud of yourself. I am happy to know you!

Looking forward to it..see you then!

What a wonderful accomplishment...way to go! You look terrific! Thank you for sharing your story!

Hi....feel your frustration with just wanting to eat and eat and eat.....I have the band w/plication and have not had a fill yet but am feeling okay eating those 3 meals and one snack a day....but there are still times when i want that something and I am NOT hungry AT ALL...I feel those are learned habits I must break! I'm still learning to stop at that feeling of "okay you've had enough--you dont need to eat more or clean your plate"...dinner is my tough meal...maybe because my others are portioned so well and Im eating at work....but even at dinner....im learning to stop eating when i feel "OK"...learning that it is okay to stop. I dont have a pronounced "soft stop" that some speak of like a hiccup or burp....so I just have to slow down and listen to how I truly feel...and that is SO DARN HARD because I just want to eat it all and more! But even then I can continue to eat and eat and eat and eat....and once or twice I have until I got that uncomfortable feeling of pressure and even pain and learned my lesson....never stuck though...thank goodness. So, in my opinion, and someone please correct me if I am wrong...the band is not meant or will not stop you from WANTING to eat and eat and eat....some of it is just self-control and a re-training of our brains...and yes, the lack of that self control is what got us to overweight in the first place. And Im not sure if self control is the best term.....maybe urge is better!!!!! So even though I am at an ok place with the size of my meals and losing weight I STILL HAVE THAT "WANT" TO JUST EAT....thats when i need to find something else to do to keep busy. I dont think any WLS would help me with that....am I making sense??? I hope my experience lets you know that you are definitely not alone and I feel that having this band is hard work...but its hard work that Im willing to put in it...and there is a very very very big learning curve with it all.... Please dont be discouraged....we got here over a long period of time and it may take a long period of time to figure it all out and get it off...but as long as we NEVER give up we are ahead of the game. Good luck!

Congratulations...what a WONDERFUL accomplishment.... I can't wait to be ON SALE....LOL

100 calorie packs of almonds laughing cow mini baby bell light cheese friendship on the go 1% cottage cheese (20 grams protein) i like pure Protein bars (usually find them in CVS--20 grams per bar those are my usual go to Snacks....

First and foremost you need to check with YOUR doctor/nutritionist about their recommendations for you to have a healthy diet ASAP! Most doctors give a list of what you should and should not be consuming. EVERY doctor has different Protein requirements as well. With that being said, I was on full liquids for 2 weeks post op and they were primarily protein shakes. Good luck!