kimk1999

A lot of us use myfitnesspal. My username here is the same there and there are a number of other threads here for mfp and other peoples usernames. There's an app for your phone to where you can scan in barcodes. They have a lot of restaurants meals out there already. It's pretty easy to use. You can change your settings to change the name of your meals (I added in more Snacks and timeframes). You can change who can see your diary. If you make it visible, people can comment on your post when you're done with your meal for the day.

I'm two months out and still sticking with various muffin recipes... What about yogurt? As b-52 suggested different homemade shakes.

I'm confused - the topic was for vegetarian breakfast ideas but you mention eggs. So I'm not sure what restrictions you have with your vegetarianism. I've been doing a lot of different egg muffin tin recipes. Basically it's scrambled eggs but in a muffin tin that you can make ahead of time. Dice up onions and pepper and mix that with eggs. What do you eat for lunch or dinner? You could eat those items for breakfast too.

I was a big drinker (not *that* bad but worse than what I should) pre surgery. It's just a great way to slow down, sip something relaxing and de-stress from work So 2 months post surgery, I've dramatically reduced down my drinks but can't give it up entirely... Wine (prefer non bubbly - or sitting out for a while if it is bubbly) I like chocolate Vodka with seltzer Water - but I have a soda stream to make it just a little bit carbonated pineapple juice and vodka I will have a sip or two of my fiancé's beer, but the carbonation doesn't sit well with me, so a sip or two for the taste but not the discomfort. I will add that the more I limit and avoid alcohol, the faster the scale goes down.

Kind of similar to this ... Go to www.myfitnesspal.com and you can sign in through Facebook or just create an account

Have you heard of a new site called earnd it (yeah that's how it's spelled - not a typo). Well it's new to me at least. You sign up for the program, link your fitbit, nike, run keeper, mapmyfitness, endomondo, bodymedia, etc to this site and when you exercise as you normally would, you can earn points for free or discounted exercise stuff. Here's my referral link - http://earnd.it/LrtNOu You get a free 50 points by going through this link. It's new to me so I'm not an expert yet. The link looked fishy when a coworker sent it to me but it seems pretty legit after googling the program. You're exercising anyways, why not get rewarded for it? Let me know if you use it already, what you think.

My first thought was gall bladder too. From what I've read on this forum and from my sister (had hers removed but no wls). Second thought was diet. Have you introduced a new food/recipe or whatever recently? Did you start drinking carbonated sodas? Are you eating more than you were before?

This is one thing that my coworker and I both 'complain' about to each other. We're expected to be the super heroes and do everything. I'm starting to push back and ask for me time and pushing him to help out more. Your health needs to become pretty important over chores. Good luck finding the balance. I'm still struggling with that and I don't even have kids yet.

I'm glued to my desk most of the day too... I'm not sure if you're stuck on a lot of telecons - but when I'm stuck on telecons, I'll stand up and move in my cube When you get a potty break - do a couple of extra squats before going back to your desk. Say 5 squats for 4 bio breaks is about 20 squats overall. Maybe even standing calf raises. Can you find a bathroom a bit further requiring you to walk further? I actually 'pinterested' desk exercises last night... Chair dips to work triceps. Sitting down, lift one leg and hold it for 30 sec, switch legs. This should work your quads. Walking on your lunch break helps too. Some others that I've read last night... Put your hands under your desk and push (pull??) up. do the same but pushing down on the table. Take a hand and put it on your inner thigh and push in then repeat pushing out. Home stuff - When you've grabbed something for dinner - do a bicep curl. Even though canned green Beans isn't much weight it's better than nothing. As you're cooking or even brushing your teeth do some calf raises or leg raises. I've marched in place in the shower lol.

I was wondering how you guys were doing? I'm 6 weeks post op and definitely in Bandster Hell. I had my first fill this past Friday. She said she put in 4.8 cc's. I was hoping for wonderful (so to speak) restriction. I'm starving after 1-2 hours of eating. It's not lasting long at all and therefore I feel the need to snack all day. I'll bring Snacks to work such as the babybel cheese, yogurt, or even nuts. I'm just starving and nothing is working. I finally gave in and went to the vending machine at work. Are you guys going through this? Is the band working better for you? I've lost about 14 lbs post op in 6 weeks, so that's not too bad and I'm decently happy with it, but I'm just frustrated with the hunger. I want chips, chocolate, and whatever. Oh I am drinking a decent amount of Water - not my full goal, but quite a bit (with black tea and black coffee too to add to my fluids), but I just feel frustrated.

Woohoo. Just when I was getting depressed and frustrated with my plateau it started moving again. Glad the scale is moving for you.

For me, that's steak. I've gotten stuck with it twice. I can now eat a ribeye but not my filets. Chewing it to smithereens is not that great for me anymore. My poor fiancé absolutely loves all things red meat and keeps cooking it. I keep eating less and less of it to where I have to snack later. He hasn't caught onto my hints that I'm not liking steak that much anymore. I haven't tried sandwiches yet but I think they'll be on the list.

For us, we're saving a considerable amount. I was taking vitamins before so that's no change there. When we go out to eat typically we'll share a meal and my booze bill has significantly decreased... Usually I'll have a few sips of my finances beer where before I'd have ordered my own. I love the taste but the carbonation isn't that comfortable. I can usually get at least two meals out of my entree if I order my own and recently I actually got 4 since the portion was so huge. For home cooking, one chicken breast will usually make two meals for me. I used to dine out all the time for lunch but now I have a lot of leftovers so that saves money. I will get a free water instead of soda/tea and I have been able to order smaller portions. Chipotle my bill before was $8.40ish and now it's $2.47 because I order one taco. I was just banded in December so I'll need to look at budgets for Nov vs this month for a proper comparison. My guess is easily $100 per month but it's probably more.

Everyone loses differently... I understand your frustration. Two weeks post op I lost 8 lbs. then I lost about about 4 and was stuck there for about 3 weeks (plus or minus a lb for those threeish weeks). I was getting disappointed too. After a while the scale started moving again. It's still a slow process and it's frustrating. I know I shouldn't compare to others but it's human nature. I know this wls isn't a magic cure all quick fix but I can't help myself that I feel it's going too slow either. One thing that got my scale moving again was introducing small snacks to keep my metabolism going and not think it was starving. I bumped my calories up to 1200/1500 actually and things moved. Just don't do it too long or you might start gaining.

Saw this while I was able to log into Cigna From my surgeon on my surgery date: Billed: $5000 Cigna payed (the negotiated reduced amount): $1,054 I don't know if you'll qualify for the negotiated reduced rate that insurance has to pay or the full amount they tried to bill.

For me... I've been stuck a few times and I've only been banded about 2 months. It feels almost like you're choking but can breathe. It hurts to breathe and lost of pressure in the back of the throat / chest feeling. My doc recommends warm water and meat tenderizer. I have a container at work, at home and in my purse. I have a difficult time swallowing anything when I'm stuck. I'm learning as to what I can solve with liquids vs what just has to come out. Sometimes just waiting and walking it'll move on its own. It's a crappy feeling but it's not the end of the world.

Not sure if I know the difference I what you're asking... My total bill from the hospital looks like the billed my insurance about $42,000. I think my surgeon charged about another $5000?? My total out of pocket due to my 20% and getting close to my max out of pocket deductible beating the end of the year I ended up only paying like $350 out of pocket for everything. Follow up fills are on my own.

Oh and tonight we gave the last of our pop tarts to my brother in law so I know how tempting it's ooey gooey goodness really is

Oh my gosh!! You're so fat, you're 20 lbs above your goal weight! I can't believe you bought pop tarts yesterday. I'm so disappointed in you. Kick it into high gear to get to your goal!! (Does that help?). Hugs

I know this isn't that active of a thread but I wanted to add my two cents here too Dr. Ache banded me Dec 2013. She used the Spider technique as well and went through my belly button. All in all I'm happy with the result. I like how they fill us a decent amount on the first fill so hopefully it won't take forever to get to green. Everyone in the practice so far has been super nice.

Like the others before me said - every surgeon is different and it's really up to them how much they want to fill you with your feedback of course. I have a 10cc band and it did not come 'pre-filled' at surgery. On my first fill, my surgeon started off with 5cc, had me drink some Water and by my statements, I was able to tell them with drinking water when I felt it sit there and when I felt it leave. Very confusing and difficult to tell. I ended up with 4.8 cc's by the time we were done with the 'experiment'. Like bandista, we have a similar process - lay down on the table, with a pillow under your back, the doctor feels for the port, inserts a needle with saline, you sit up / or stand up, they fill you to their preferred limit, have you drink some water, and then that's basically it. She removed some and then added some more back in. Some doctors do this under a fluoroscope but I don't know anything about that process.

It's definitely good for you to research the pros and cons of the surgery coming up. I did the same and had the same apprehensions. One thing that helped for me was that you can read about failures of just about any diet out there - weight watchers, Paleo, Atkins, etc. you just need to realize is this the tool that you need for your health. It's not a magical cure all. One thing that I like about the band over the sleeve is that this is completely reversible. If it doesn't work out for you, it can be removed and/or you can have the sleeve at that time. I've failed at many sheets in the past. I am worried about losing the weight and it finding me again. I'm only two months out. If you stay on this forum and stick with myfitnesspal you should be ok with all the motivation out there.

Oh yeah - I've also started having chocolate flavored coffee. That has reduced down my cravings for the sugary chocolate. I still don't know if I'd have the willpower against the little sweet kisses that are just sitting there.

Some ideas for you... 1. Can you chew gum or pop a mint in your mouth when he's about to go potty? That usually deters me from eating chocolate. My surgeon is against gum but some are not. 2. I've read that if you're craving chocolate then you are low on magnesium and eating some nuts will help. I haven't found that true myself but it works for others. 3. Any way that you can pull out say 5 pieces or whatever your kid would need for the day. Have that nice and accessible with the rest of the bag out of site? 4. Maybe chew gum, have a mint, brush your teeth immediately afterwards to keep you from going back. I'm terrible with chocolate. I can't have just one. I'll continue to eat it until I get sick so those are some tactics that might help. If it's that tom for me, all bets are off with respect to chocolate. Good luck!!

Mmmmm guacamole.... I'm craving that now. Lol