Desdemona

MSnika3--I'm impressed! To stay on plan on the 4th is a real accomplishment. Thanks for the feedback on my food suggestions. Another thing I have recently discovered is putting about a tablespoon of sugar-free preserves or jam into cottage cheese for Breakfast or lunch. They make peach, blueberry, strawberry, rasberry, and cherry. I also eat smoked salmon or chicken salad for lunch. I put celery, a little blanched almond and just a few raisins or dried cranberry into the salad. Gives it a great flavor. Some people put a little chopped apple in instead of the dried raisins. You can also make up a tuna, salmon, chicken salad and use celery sticks to scoop for lunch. Some people like celery stuffed with sardines or anchovie. If you’re in a hurry for dinner grab some stuffed pepper or those hamburgers they make up at the deli that have either bacon and cheese or portobello mushroom burgers that a lot of supermarkets have made up in the deli. Just make sure they aren’t adding bread filling to any of it. If you get into a situation where you really just feel like if you don’t get a little carb or “treat” in --- try splurging by adding some frozen petite peas (fewer carbs) to your meal as a starch instead of breaking down and eating potato or rice. If you are cooking for the family and really need to make a Pasta salad or make a hot pasta dish – use Dreamsfield pasta. They will NOT be able to tell the difference and you can eat some too. Just make SURE you don’t cook it beyond the box directions or it will breakdown into more than 5 net carbs. Diabetics are finding that it really does not raise their blood sugar. If you are trying to strict Atkins induction level, don’t use it but it’s much better than falling off the low carb wagon. Try not to eat it more than once a week. The same thing with bread. If you just have to have a sandwich use Joseph’s whole wheat pita (5 net carbs). You can also cut it into wedges and bake it to make pita chips. Again – be careful with it because it’s still bread. I have learned and read a LOT about low carbing over the many years including the medical reasons and benefits of it. I know that it works well for me and I know that newly developed (500 years) foods raise Cain with my genetic make-up. I lose weight, get better blood readings, and feel much better when I stay away from all those carbs. My downfall has always been when I get hooked back in to the sugars/carbs. I just pack the weight right back on. The band has made a huge diff and I find I can stay on healthy food much easier.

Pickled or deviled eggs, chicken salad, cottage or ricotta cheese with a tablespoon of sugar free peach, cherry, strawberry, or blueberry preserves/jam, cold kielbasa, steak, marinated or sugar free barbecue chicken thighs, cold roast beef, ham or lamb, prosciutto, smoked salmon, cold salmon or tuna in Dreamsfield (low carb) pasta salad, any meat/fish in George Forman grill, Atkins or Reset low carb whey-based protein drink, low carb yogurt, small amount of nuts, cheese or beans, iced-coffee with milk/cream, cream cheese.

Oh FUN---great idea! I want to: 1) be at my goal weight - 120lbs. 2) have my reward trip booked (white Water rafting down the Grand Canyon). 3) have a toned/strong body.

It's true that you need to get your protein but you will find that when your hair starts falling out--it will continue until your weight loss stabilizes. There are studies that demonstrate that: 1) hair loss during extreme weight loss is very common, 2) it WILL all grow back when you stop losing weight, 3) it is not a sign that anything is wrong, and 4) the biological/medical cause for it is not known but they do know it's not associated with poor/low nutrition or essential blood counts. In general, there is nothing you can do except buy a wig IF the hair loss gets so extreme that you have noticeable patches. Most people don't lose to that extreme. I have been losing my hair too (a lot) and I'm not thrilled but I also am not worried because I was on a total 11 liquid protein drink diet many a number of years ago and lost even more than I'm losing now. It all grew back so I'm here to tell you not to worry or panic. It WILL grow back. Good Luck.

OHH!!! And Sueangel!!!! WHERE in TARNATION did you find Wii Fit in W. Mass???!!!

Fenton--We're all looking forward to your hitting the 100 mark this week. I'll check every day to join in on the count down. Sueangel -- I must have missed this! WHAT lake in W. Mass do you live on??!! I have 2 places here --- Westfield and a small place in Williamstown. I stay in Williamstown a few nights a week during the academic year for an easier commute to Albany. Since W. Mass isn't that big we are probably close.

MSnika3--welcome! Yep! Low carb is the way. Remember that it will be easier when you get restriction but it can take many MONTHS before you have sufficent restriction. I'm not there yet and I was banded in mid March. We can gain a LOT of weight before we get good enough restrctions so if we want to lose weight we need to diet the old fashion way. Low carb will also help us lose faster even once we do get restriction. Good luck.

FeliciaLevy75—When I start out on a low carb diet – especially before restriction---I built in good tasting substantial meals for dinner to help me past the early carving. Breakfast and lunch were easy enough (especially on work days). Breakfast could be Atkins drink or/and deviled eggs on the go. Lunch McDonalds quarter pounder with cheese (skip bun) etc. For dinner I’d often look to the crock pot and make a nice roast or meat with sauce. Sauces, wines, seasonings really keep things interesting and the crock pot meant that I could cook veggies right in the pot for flavor. Or I’d do something like stuffed green peppers simmered with tomato sauce. I’ll cook cauliflower on the side and splash the extra tomato sauce over the cauliflower. That’s easier that making the faux mashed potato recipe. If you go to a low carb recipes page, you’ll find a lot of great ideas. If need a snack, I do pickles and olives, chicken wings (in low carb tomato sauce or buffalo wings with blue cheese), low carb salsa or guacamole with pork rinds, SOME almonds. There is a low carb yogurt in the supermarket. I try to stay away from the protein bars because they have sugar alcohols in there that a lot of people find causes stalls. The Atkins protein drinks don’t have those ingredients. Things like blue cheese, pickles, and deviled eggs, a small amount of nuts or cheese and iced coffee with a little heavy cream really go a long way in getting me past the craving stage. I have also found that if I’m feeling really tired, low energy, I just have to raise my carbs a little. It may mean that I can’t be in ketosis. It still works – just not as fast – and I am able to stick with it much better because I feel good. Once you get restriction – it WILL be easier. Good luck.

Lynn -- I'm just catching up on some posts and just now read your post re: getting filled July 10 and also your shoulder problem. I'm also getting a fill July 10 and this past Monday I finally began PT for my shoulder and spinal disc degeneration. This is the first time I have ever had PT. I have been suffering with the shoulder and neck pain for a few years. I'm already feeling a difference and I'm hoping reduced pain will help me stick with exercise better. For those of you who are using the Wii Fit----what do you think? Do you see increased rates of weight loss then before you began using it? Also---are you seeing increased energy or endurance during the day?

OH MAN!!! I forgot!! Well now I've missed yet another pride day in NYC! Shoot!

chica –This is VERY good information too! I really appreciate your response because I’m worried and I’m trying to figure this out. Well, hmm, now I just don't know what to think. Well---my cycle is history so that isn't it. So far I have never vomited, PB or slimmed but I do sometimes get this feeling when I swallow like something is stuck in my esophagus. It's painful from pressure but not usually REAL painful. If I wait it slowly passes--like something going thru an hourglass. It doesn't seem to be related to the end of a meal ---so I don’t think it’s because my pouch is full. It can even happen many hours after my last meal when I'm just just drinking some cold water. It just kinda sits there with a little pressure pain (not huge pain) for a few seconds. It doesn’t seem to be consistent or even usual---only happens sometimes. Yesterday it happened with more pain than usual with my very first bite of the turkey wrap for lunch. I was drinking water just prior to taking the bite but I only had about a quarter of a glass before the meal. I put the wrap down and waited for it to pass for about 10 mins. Then I slowly took really little bites and chewed really well like Fenton was saying. I ate half the wrap that way and didn't have anymore problems for that meal or the rest of the day. I'm really concerned about this because I'm scheduled to go back for my 2nd fill on July 10. It's going to be by fluoroscopy because my port has turned and they can't find the hole by feeling it. I go to a teaching hospital so I'm working with a resident who works with my surgeon. I'm afraid that if I don't explain this right to him then he either will not give me any or too much fill. Hmmm—now I’m wondering if this could have something to do with my turned port. Maybe it’s exerting some type of pressure?

Fenton---I'm glad we have you. I'm pretty good about reading books and medical studies on the band but the details can still be hard to understand unless you also have a detailed knowledge about anatomy or about how the band is exactly situated in there. So between what you are saying and what I'm feeling --it sounds to me like my band needs more fill because I'm feeling hunger/cravings too easily and quickly with the 4cc I have in my 10cc band--but that I'm overwhelming my esophagus and causing a bottle neck on that value because I sometimes glug water or don't eat small enough bites or chew food well enough. So basically -- it looks like I'm just "attacking the water or food too much/too fast" whenever I let myself get too thirsty or hungry---right? THANKS Fenton!

lynnie77 -- I say this to be truthful and in the very best spirit. I agree that what's done is done but do be VERY careful. The reason you can't eat "forbidden foods" right now is that your surg is still new. You could EASILY; 1) stretch out your pouch, 2) cause a slippage, 3) put too much stress on stitches that are holding the new port in place which can result in a hernia in the short or long term. This could all make your band less effective or cause a medical problem for you. In addition, although this is primarily a healing time -- you can get a really terrific weight loss bounce out of sticking to the eating plan. You don't have to tell people about the band if you don't want to but there are things you can say like: My stomach is bothering me so I'm going to eat light until it settles, or I'm not eating processed foods so I'm going to have something else but please enjoy the pizza, or something else. Pick up a copy of a small book about lap band surgery from Amazon (there are 2 that are good). If you are unsure about something call your MDs office before you do it or as soon as something happens. Don't put your WLS or your weight loss at risk for anyone or anything.

k-podski--CONGRATS!!!!! westcoastmom---Welcome---you're one of us now! Amanda--I know what you mean----I'm sort of doing well too but I want it to be even BETTER. I also don't think it was cool for that guy to push you to do something that you just got done telling him you did NOT want to do. It's like he just decided that it was OK for him to take control of decision about your body/self-care out of your hands and do it his way. It wasn't his place. I have a dumb question about restriction. I have only had 1 fill and I'm hoping that those of you who are further along with fills can explain something to me. Is restriction about restriction around the stomach or restriction around the esophagus? I'm asking this because sometimes Water doesn't go down well. It feels like it's stuck in my esophagus. The same thing is happening with food. Today I took the first bite out of a spinach wrap (turkey, red pepper, spinach, a little bacon and cheese) and I had to stop right away. It felt stuck (hurt) in my esophagus. After a while -- it felt like it cleared and then I ate very slowly and chewed a lot and it seemed to be OK. I only ate about half of it and I had plenty of food---but at dinner I had 2x that much food (which is unusual). Most of the time --I think I need another fill because I'm not usually full when I eat. I just stop eating to limit calories. But I keep thinking that if I get more restriction then things will hurt more going down my esophagus. OR---Is it possible that the hurting or stuck esophagus is about drinking or eating too fast and has nothing to do with restriction?

Yes. There is more swelling around the port area and it does stick up but not in everyone. Different surgeons place the port in different areas of the abdomen and even the same surgeon will put it in different places in different people. It all depends on each person's anatomay and each surgeons preference. There is no really dependable/predictable answer to how your port will eventurally look/feel because everyone is different but as my port has anchored into my muscle and as I have lost abdomen fat --- the port seems to be nesting deeper into my abdomen. However, after saying all of that -- I have heard of people who have lost a great deal of stomach fat needing to go back and have a new port put in because it can start sticking up a lot again after a lot of weight loss. You're MD should be able to give you more precise info and a better prediction on your particular situation.

Hi DunkinDo120607 Welcome home! Get on your scale and find out how much damage is done. Actually --- if you only gained 10-15 you are lucky and in GOOD shape! 10-15lbs would be very good news for you and it means that you could just start right back in --- lose it fairly quickly and get right back on track. You will find great support here. Come talk with us every day and let the board help you.

Congrats Lynn! It IS big news and I know it feels great! It's a real benchmark for you! Annie---AH HA!!! Thought so!! I teach psychotherapy with a specialization in traumatic stress and human developmenal theory. It's just your neurobiology working on you girl! Just say NO to your brain and teach those hormones to behave themselves! If you give in -- they'll keep raising their ugly little heads in your brain every time you feel bad. Also --eat protein!! Fenton---I know what you mean about the weight stalls. My eating was pretty good but I was really coasting on the exercise because I just didn't want to face it. It took a weight stall of 8 weeks to get me frustrated enough to finally give in to the gym. Now I'm there every day and I'm losing again (thank GOD!). Since the body keeps adjusting to exercise -- I have decided not to exercise anymore than I need for a steady weight loss. My thinking is that if I do more than I need to -- then my body will get use to the higher level of exercise and I'll just have to crack it up even higher when I hit another stall. This way I can up the ante as needed. I don't know ----maybe that's just "stinkin' thinkin' on my part -- but it's my story and I'm sticking to it at least for now. Anyhow--I guess I see a parallel with your food strategy. As long as you’re losing at a pace you’re comfortable with -- you'll enjoy and then when you hit a stall or want to lose faster -- you'll renegotiate.

PRCowboy-- When I was on mushies I depended on refried beans, cheese, and scrambled egg because they are low carb. I also used Reset which is a whey-based protein drink. It has 22 grams of protein and only 13 grams total grams but only 4 of them net carbs per glass. It also contains Stevia instead of the sugar substitutes that can cause weight stalls.

anniedub----2 thoughts come to mind: 1) sounds like you may be craving carbs? Did you eat an unusual amount of carbs recently (besides the pasta)? That may have triggered you? Or are you in a place in your cycle that may be triggering carb craving? 2) Being the psychological type I am wondering --- if there is a particular anniversary for you around now that is either sad or very happy? Anniversary grief or joy reactions are pretty common affect and behavior triggers.

AthinnerDenise---I always slow down to read your posts when I come across them. You are my heroine! and, lynnt1215 ---I always watch for you too. We are same day sisters. You are doing so great. Both of you woman really influence me and get me to try new things. jbflorida ---interesting story about WW. I do really think that a number of diets are good. Different ones are more compatible for different people and most of them work. I think the competitiveness between differnt diets is silly. The problem is not the diet. It isn't as simple as just picking a diet. We gotta stay on the diet, we gotta move and we gotta change behavior so we can maintain the weight loss. The band really helps us stick to the program. Last week I decided to treat myself to a sundae made with sugar free hot fudge/whipped cream. That occasional treat would have been fine except I ended up in the kitchen for a second round. As soon as I took the 2nd spoonful of that second sundae I got a dull ache in my stomach. I was OK but I just had a feeling that if I pushed it -- I was going to hurl. I didn't even WANT the ice cream anymore. The whole thing thrown out. Now--I just want to say---I have NEVER turned my nose up at a dish of ice cream in my entire life!! Then -- the half gallon sat in my freezer until my spouse (who isn't over weight) polished it off. Well----it's a minor miracle that the ice cream sat in my freezer that long. Normally -- I would have “skarfed” that down in a day or 2. I had my 1 sundae---enjoyed it ---and I'm not looking for another one. I'm eating healthy and exercising. That is what the band does for me!

evelas5000-- congrats!!! Isn't it great that we are all rolling down hill for a change!!!

I agree that there's some kind of competitive dynamic that goes on among different camps. It's kind of crazy. We know from research that the best intervention outcomes are when multiple approaches are used simultaneously. Combining approaches such as a good diet program, banding, therapy, exercise etc etc only increases the likelihood of a good outcome. I recently had someone tell me that her WW instructor said she knew someone who lost a lot of weight on the band gained nearly half of it back and the instructor was offering that as proof that the band doesn't work. I told her to ask the instructor how many people she knows who gained ALL of their weight back after losing it on WW? We know a LOT of people that has happened to. It doesn't mean that WW isn't any good. It means that additional work/interventions are needed for those people.

Sharona---This may sound boring but I made the frozen sugar free pops my substitute for Ice cream. If I buy a box of Skinny Cows or even the sugar free fudgicles I end up eating them until there gone. At least if I end up eating 4 freezer pops -- I still only ate 60 calories, 16 carbs and no fat. I know that may not work as a substitute for everyone. I also tape little signs to myself right on my dash like, "Dairy Queen -- 340 Calories! Sugar free pop -- 45 Calories!" Fenton -- sounds good. Ya. It does seem like several of us are deciding to set a short-term goal for this summer. Let's make it a challenge. Good luck! mscathyl---Wow! You are really at full-tilt boogie! You'll be at goal weight in no time. Amanda--Thanks for the post. I REALLY like it.

noahsmomm-- Brandy made a really good comment. People come on the board to talk about what they are worried about. Have you checked the poll on the board that ask people if it was worth it? Almost everyone says IT IS WORTH IT! When a bunch of women sit around talking about pregnancy and giving birth -- they pretty much moan and grown about all the things that were uncomfortable or painful etc etc. And then they turn around and have another baby so it must have been worth it --- right? I have been through some discomfort but it's gone. I may slime or PB someday --- but trust me---I will never give up my band. I have my life back. I feel 10 years younger and I still have another 56lbs to lose! I am sleeping better than I have in years. Almost all the body pain I had before I lost this weight is gone. I'm feeling so much hope for the future. I'm having a ball tossing all my clothes into the good will and parading around in size 12. For the first time in YEARS -- I just KNOW I will reach goal weight. There are few guarantees in life, including banding, but insanity is doing the something over and over and expecting different results. I KNEW that my trying to lose it on my own just one more time just wasn't working---and wasn't going to work. So I did something different. So far -- it's just amazing.

noahsmomm-- I have never liked exercise and I have a long history of not sticking to it but I'm hopeful that now things will be different. I'm walking pretty consistently and that is a minor miracle. First -- I just focused on losing some of the weight because every inch of my body hurt me. I couldn't walk a block without feeling really awful. After I lost 18 lbs I got an exercise cycle and put it in front of the TV. I managed to do about 5 mins for the first several times and then I worked up to 40 mins. It was boring. Then I got banded and lost another 20lb. I really felt a lot better (more energy ---more focus) just from losing the first 40lbs. I actually felt like moving more. I can walk 4 or 5 miles now and I didn't even have to work up to it. It just became easier because I was lighter. Heavy people have pretty good core muscles from hauling around so much weight and that strength comes in handy as you lose weight. I know a woman who lost a lot a weight 5 years ago on bypass and still at goal weight. She says that she hated exercise before and hates it now but she still consistently exercises because she loves the way she feels and looks. It can be difficult for people to decide between the band and bypass. My MD and nutritionist said that I would some weight but not a lot on the band if I didn't exercise. They said that if I didn't think I was going to exercise or watch my diet -- then I would be better off with bypass. I thought about it long and hard and decided that I would make the committment rather than do bypass. I don't think the band is for everyone.