MSnika3

Hello all, I've been lurking this board for a few weeks, now. My best friend and I have decided to take the lap band journey together. We have our first seminar tomorrow. I am very anxious and excited. Just wanted to officially say, hi!

Yesterday: B-lowcarb Slim Fast L-Few tortilla chips and Rotel D-A few bites of salad, 1/2 blackened stuffed catfish over rice, a bite of steamed veggies, a few bites of sweet potato bread pudding. Today I am going to eat more regularly and make better food choices.

50 + pounds and trying not to count. I've been quite a slow loser, but I am so excited that I can finally shop in ladies/misses and even juniors sizes. I haven't had a fill since January. I may go in for a slight fill next month. I've lost the same five pounds since April. I've started exercising this week and I'm vowing to make better food choices. I've given in to consuming what goes down easy as opposed to eating small bites and chewing very slowly. No excuses. I know what I gotta do. Congrats to all! Everyone is doing so well and looking so fly!:thumbup:

[ May 9, 2008 Surgery Day May 9, 2009

Thanks Denise! :thumbup:

Well thank you! I just like to share my experience whenever it applies! Sometimes it gets a bit long-winded! :eek:

Okay fellow low carbers, I've been thinking. Since we have almost 350 posts in such a short time on this thread, why don't we make it a sub-forum under food and nutrition. I've noticed that we have many different topics popping up here and there. If we continue this much longer, we will have a zillion pages to sift through to find a particular post. Since we talk about everything from ketostix and daily menus to why we are low carbing, I was thinking we should go ahead and make it a sub-forum so we can creat different threads about low carbing. I don't know how to do it or if anyone even agrees. Just my humble little opinion! Anyone?

Here's another link that was posted early on in this thread. It's the one I use. It's a little different than the couch to 5k intervals. But close enough and very effective. I love it! Good luck! Podrunner: Intervals - Free Workout Music for 5K Training

banded, popsicle, and clairey -- I agree with plain, jb, and luv. However, I know your frustration, I have been there. As a matter of fact, I am not far from it. I had surgery May 9th, lost 15 lbs from pre-op to 2 weeks post-op. I plateaud for about 3 weeks. The last 6 lbs have been yo-yoing up and down for about 5 weeks. I have had one fill (6/27) and still feel very little to no restriction. By very little I mean, if I take a large bite of something, chew it 2-3 times, and swallow, I can feel a little discomfort that lets me know the band is there. But if I eat at a normal pace, take a normal bite, and chew thoroughly. I can hold an enormous volume of food. I also have a large appetite. My stomach lets me know quite often that it is empty. Unfortunately, I have to wait 6 weeks between fills! Grrrr! This is what I'm currently doing to keep losing: 1) I watch my carbs. My meals consist of Protein and veggies. Right now, I'm not even eating fruit, but you may not want to be that strict unless you are "low carbing" (Atkins, etc). I don't eat bread, crackers, flour, sugar, milk, yogurt, etc. I try to keep my carbs below 30g. And they only come from eggs, cheese, and vegetables. It controls my appetite, keeps me from craving junk and sweet, and keeps me satisfied with each meal. 2) I get in enough protein 60-70 grams. I drink at least one Atkins or SlimFast LowCarb each day as a snack, often with string cheese, almonds, sometimes both! If Breakfast is on the go, then I'll have a Atkins Protein Bar or Protein shake. So, sometimes I end up having 2 shakes. 3) I drink TONS of Water. The standard 8 - 8oz servings plus and additional 8oz for every 25 pounds I'm overweight. Some is in the form of unsweet tea or crystal light. 4) I exercise. I am trying to work back up to daily. I was doing well, but got off track a week ago. But at least 3 times a week. My weight loss has been fluctuating on a daily basis since exercising (don't know why). And my scale has not shown a loss in about a week, but I can tell I'm losing inches, so I'm sure it's the whole muscle increase phenomenon. 5)I journal my food intake on thedailyplate.com. I try to do it everyday, but sometimes I don't quite make it. But I'm very consious of what I consume. I try to keep my calories between 1000-1200. After I lost the first 15 lbs. I plateaud for about 3 weeks. I don't think I was consuming enough calories. When I began to eat, I began to lose. Then I continued to eat and began to gain. That's what started the yo-yo effect, but low carb has prevented that. 6) I also post regularly, usually at least onece daily, for support and accountability. Several weeks ago, I was also very disgusted, frustrated, and discouraged. But reality finally set in that I was in bandster hell and I could either wait it out with weight gain or maintenance, or I could work my butt off to lose while waiting for restriction. I have good weeks/days and bad. But I'm pressing on. Some people have been blessed with good first fills or large weight loss right after surgery, others, like us, have not. I feel that most people who have lost large amounts of weight, thus far, have been where we are and worked by making lifestyle changes to get where they are. I am determined to get there, bandster hell or not. Good luck to you! Keep us posted! :biggrin:

Julie, what a coincidence! I was just sitting here flipping through my Weight Watchers book trying to decide when i want to start using the core plan. I tried it pre-band and loved it. But, we know how all pre-band diets end. I just need some good ole restriction! I can eat like 4-5 cups of food! Disgusting!!

Ditto to Mama and Renewed. Those were definitely the rules of my surgeon. My only problem is having too much room for carbs after the protein and veggies!

Kami, I low carb as I wait for restriction. It enables me to lose weight while curbing my appetite, and keeping me satisfied with my food selection. I find it easy to enjoy a pizza buffet with my kids as I enjoy a salad and a plate full of pizza of which I only eat the toppings. I would not enjoy it as much if I had to sit hungrily nibbling on a salad with fat-free dressing and only one slice of pizza, I have low carbed off and on many times over the past several years. So, I know that staying at a strict carb limit for the long haul is not possible for me. I hope that I will have good restriction after my next fill, so that I may eat more of a variety of healty foods like fruit, yogurt, cereal, beans, whole grains, etc. And even enjoy an occasional bite or two of a "bad" food. Whenever my "tool" works for me, then I plan to stick to good food choices and the other band rules. But until I am blessed with some type of restriction, it's not a matter of what makes me happy. It's a matter of how I am best able to lose weight. Am I happier eating this way? Not on your life. But it's a necessity for me at this time. Because I am happier watching the numbers on the scale decrease instead of increase. :crying:

Thanks Rugman, I guess I'll have to try that for the next bottle! :crying: I did find them for about $6 at Wal-Mart, much cheaper than the pharmacy. So, I don't feel so bad about blowing through that first bottle, but I will definitely try that technique! I could be putting that $6 in my gas tank! :biggrin2:

Kay -- as for food suggestions... I agree with droppindown. Mushy foods may need to be traded in for more solid choices. I too love broccoli. I can and sometimes do eat it daily. You may want to check out the food and nutrition forum. There are many meal and menu ideas. Right now, since I have little to no restriction, I am rather strict with low carb...so it's mainly chicken, fish, lean beef, veggies, protein supplements, and protein bars (when I'm in a pinch). Trying to keep my appetite and cravings in check. When I get good restriction, I will add back cereal, skim milk, yogurt, fruit, whole grain foods, beans, etc. I look forward to being able to taste something "bad" without going overboard. Right now, it ain't happening! One bite is the kiss of death. I will lose control.

Hollins -- I am having dinner at a Mexican restaurant on Wednesday. I'll tell you how it goes. What I plan to have is the fajita taco salad -- (chicken or steak, lettuce, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, cheese, guacamole, sour cream) minus the shell. My problem is going to be passing up the cheese dip and margaritas. :ohmy:

Hi Kay, I feel your pain. I am also a May Flower...banded May 9th. I've lost only 21 lbs, of which the last 7 I had to lose a couple times. I have had one fill of only 3 cc and have no restriction. I was down 15 lbs before my first fill and I sabotaged myself with a week long binge thinking that I would have restriction soon and it would be no problem getting the few pounds off. My mistake! So for the last 3 weeks this is what I've done to get my weight loss on a slow but steady decline: 1) I watch my carb intake. My carbs come only from the healthy stuff. No rice, flour, sugar, potatoes, corn, sweets, bread, fried food, etc. Until I get good restriction I am trying to limit the intake of these items due to my tendency to overeat, snack, etc. 2) I get in 60 grams of protein daily. During meals, I make sure I have plenty of protein and vegetables. I supplement with protein shakes. 3) I drink about 100 oz of water daily (some of that is unsweet tea or crystal lite). They say water helps, so I drink it. 4) I exercise 3 days a week (I shoot for more but often come up short). I do understand the heat. I live in South Mississippi and it is excruciating. I exercise before 8 am or after 7 pm. I don't know if that works with your schedule, but cooler times of day may be easier. How about a work out tape at home? 5) I track my food intake on thedailyplate.com. It really keeps me in check as to how much I am actually consuming. You may be surprised at how many calories you are getting in with the apple juice. Maybe you could try eating an apple? Though, the scale is not moving rapidly, I can tell that I'm losing inches. So, I'm sure the exercise is helping a great deal. I do understand not wanting to be bothered with it. I've always hated to exercise, too. But it is helping, so I will continue. I hope you get past your plateau. Best of luck to you!

Thanks for the info Kami. I know I need extra fiber. The only time I'm regular is when I eat unhealthy. When I low carb, I may go once every two weeks if I'm lucky. I may try some Kashi and the spinach suggestion. I can eat salads all day, but romaine and iceburg are not too fiber-rich. I will probably stick to the Miralax for now, until my next fill. If I get some restriction, then I'll start adding back carbs with the cereal. Right now I'm afraid to touch carbs other than from a few veggies, cheese, and eggs. Speaking of cheese, putting that on hold for a while might help get things moving.

Finally got some moderate ketosis going this evening. Whoo hoo! I swear I've used almost the whole bottle of ketostix in a week, just looking for a little sign of color! Yesterday: B: 1 sausage patty, 1 egg with cheese S: Chocolate Atkins Shake L: Grilled Shrimp Caesar Salad D: Grilled Pork Chop, seven layer salad Today: B: 1 sausage patty, 1 egg with cheese S: cheese string L: Salmon Caesar Salad S: almonds, atkins shake D: 1/2 Salmon Caesar Salad

Unless you don't have restriction! But I know mines coming, maybe five fills from now, but it's coming!

Welcom Kathy! Girl, you are not too big! Get on out there and pound that pavement! :biggrin2: Speaking of pavement....I do run outside, but only before 8am or after 7pm. This South Mississippi heat is a butt kicker! I haven't tried the treadmill. I've always hated the treadmill for some reason. I will do the stairmaster, love the elliptical, but there was always something about the treadmill that turned me off. Maybe it's my inability to walk in a straight line without concentrating. I mean walking at an angle on a treadmill belt can cause some serious problems (and I have stepped down half on and half off the belt a time or two!) Not fun!!! So, until my straight lines get a little better, it's the pavement for me!

I'm staying on plan today because in the long run I will feel better for having done so!

I fell off the wagon this week. Hadn't done a thing since last Friday! I suck! But I got back out there this morning after trying to talk myself out of exercise. I completed 1 more day of my couch to 5k. Trying to stick in there!

Rugman -- you are awesome with your low carb wise self! Holly -- I haven't posted in a few, but I have printed of a binder full of recipes from the link you posted the other day! Thanks! Felicia -- Dang girl, you are doing it up! Can I get where you are! 4 lbs a week is amazing! I don't know what the heck I'm doing wrong. My scale will go up and down with no change in eating whatsoever. I don't get it! I keep losing the same few pounds every week! Renewed -- I would like to echo others and also add that what you are considering also sounds like Weight Watchers core plan. When I was on it, I loved it. It is similar to sugar busters and south beach. You eat from a list of core (healthy foods), limiting your intake to what satisfies your hunger. The list includes leaner meats, cheeses, eggs, whole grains, potatoes, brown rice, fruits, vegetables, etc. It eliminates processed foods, refined sugars, white stuff (flour and junk), and limits fats (w/lean meat and low-fat cheese, skim milk). It also allowed for a certain amount of non-core foods. Of course it was suggested that you don't have them, as they aren't the healthy way of eating, but if you must, they are factored in. I found it very satisfying and plan to eat that way when I get closer to goal and have good restriction. That way, if I have a "treat" every once in a while, I won't overdo it for weeks and undo all my hard work. Which, of course is why I'm low carbing, now! You have done so well, and are such a great source of information and encouragement. Best of luck in what you decide, and please do stick around. You will always be a low-carb bandster at heart!