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I am 2 years out, and still burp a lot, especially as I begin eating and after...

I applaud you for not cheating for this long - great job! I agree with the freezing, and using applesauce...sometimes you do need quality of life over time, not saying never to yourself only reserve for the special times.

ground turkey meatballs (baked) w/onions, cilantro, spices glazed carrots (brown splenda) pearled couscous w/dates, raisins and red onions Love lapband - can taste flavors, and cook w/o all the fat!

For those who don't really like Cottage Cheese, I puree the Cottage Cheese to "dip" texture, and add 1/4 or less of Ranch dressing mix - it's wonderful!

I pureed a lot of different Soups and stews, and they didn't taste gross, I liked getting the different flavors, and could add more cumin, coriander, garam marsala, or whatever was the main one. I also kept a list of all the foods on TV that were driving me crazy - you really can puree almost anything. I pureed chili w/turkey dogs for a chili dog, beef massaman (thai coconut curry - my favorite, and it comes with a lot of sauce), spaghetti and meatballs (tasted better than the lasagne). I did a lot of baked potato mushed with cheese, melted. I also did a lot of the roasted chicken that you can get from the store, add chicken broth and it's kind of like chicken soup or chicken salad w/o the mayo Good luck!

1) ATkins protein bars - there are many choices, delicious, and double digit protein! 2) Chocolate Viactiv chews Also, dark chocolate M&Ms do help my hardest days.

Not drinking with and shortly after a meal!

My doc is full liquids the 24 hours after a fill, the 2nd day mushies then back to normal. I haven't had any trouble yet (knock on wood) and am at 6.7 cc in a 14 cc band. After the first 3 fills, it's usually only .1 or .15 cc per time and it does feel like a lot.

I'm so sorry I didn't find this group of banders before I visited San Antonio April 1-9! I loved your city, and actually lost a pound despite not sticking strictly to a diet (besides protein and liquids). I was there for the women's final four, and found it so easy to walk everywhere (wish my town in Upstate NY didn't have so many hills!). Loved all the Mexican food, great choices.

I'll be flying in Friday through Wednesday, and wondered if you had recommendations for reasonable, healthy restaurants, and is there a support group for lap-banders there during that time (April 2-7)? Thanks, Nancy

I used the unflavored Isopure in soups, sprinkled on chili, etc. BUT I also use non-fat dry milk powder - the same protein overall, and easier to drink/take in almost anything, sauces, added to skim milk, anything. 1T =5g and it's cheaper than the other whey.

I ditto everything you said! In addition, I lived 25 years in the closet, and never realized how much energy it takes to hide an important part of yourself...I'm not willing to do that again - way too much stress. All my energy goes to living my life, and sharing with family, friends, and others.

I don't know if they changed the other flavors...but I only really liked the dark choc and strawberry. I hope they get a LOT of complaints and go back to the old formula! OR offer both... but I can't imagine there are folks that are not getting the gas, etc. Luckily I buy out the shelf when I bought, so have some old ones left but am very sad to have to find a new morning Protein source!

I drank a few dark chocolate royale shakes each day, and recently began getting diarrhea in the mornings after the shake. I wrote to Atkins customer complaint web site - and yes, indeed there was a change. Please if you are experiencing this too - please tell them, and complain - like new Coke, I want the OLD Dark Chocolate Royale back, the one that does NOT make me sick!! Here's the message: There has been a formula change and I’m terribly sorry to hear that it has had such an adverse affect on you! I have forwarded your feedback onto our R&D department for consideration. The following items have been changed in the shake due to customer demand: DAIRY Proteins (MPC and Calcium CASEINATE): High quality: Use of dairy proteins. Cows are pasture fed and free grazing and BSE (Mad Cow) and Foot & Mouth disease free. Satiety: Each serving contributes 15g or 30% DV of Protein. Many research studies have concluded that diets higher in protein can help promote satiety, or a feeling of fullness. [*]FAT SYSTEM: High oleic sunflower oil: is produced from specialty non-GMO sunflower seed varieties developed through plant breeding. The resulting oil contains very high (~80%) levels of monounsaturated fatty acids and only trace levels of linolenic acid and fulfills all non-GMO requirements. Cream: Use of 100% fresh, premium cream [*]IMPROVED FLAVOR: Cocoa: Use of a new, premium cocoa powder to enhance the chocolate fudge flavor in the product. Flavor system: Use of a new flavor system which demonstrates preference for the new system in a major taste study (Penn State). [*]HIGHER ELECTROLYTES: For those in the induction phase, electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium) are necessary to prevent Water loss when the Atkins dieter’s metabolism switches to the fat burning cycle. New formulas have increased: Potassium, Sodium, Calcium (50% of your DV per serving!) As I said, I’m sorry to hear this product is affecting you in this way. I hope you will be able to continue to enjoy our high protein bars! Best wishes, Join for free our online community at http://community.atkins.com/security/newsletterRegistration.jsp to register your email and join the Atkins Community. Our instructors, nutritionist Colette Heimowitz and Atkins-expert Don Freidkin, have the knowledge to answer all of your questions, so it’s like having your own private weight-loss coach on hand whenever you need help. Plus, you can interact with others to share motivational tips, meal ideas and success stories. Your questions will turn into “conversations.” Posting on the Atkins learning Center will provide you with the most complete and accurate answers to all your questions and the “Getting Started, Staying Focused” sections is a great place to start. We trust you will find this information helpful. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact us again. Sincerely, Deana Kalberg Atkins Information Agent Atkins Nutritionals Inc. 1-800-6-ATKINS www.atkins.com

I wrote to the customer complaint site at Atkins.com, and asked if there was a new formula because of the diarrhea symptoms I'm experiencing after drinking this for 1.5 years! There WAS a change with the dark chocolate royale recently - I'll post the whole message from them on an Atkins thread. Nancy

I add stuff to my eggs, different each week, and often do egg salad also. Usually I can only have a Protein drink for breakfast, but sometimes save scrambled eggs from Sundays for Monday/Tuesday lunches. Scrambled eggs with 2-3 of the following: thin sliced ham or turkey chopped diced onions diced green peppers blended or whisked cottage cheese shredded cheese pre-cooked potatos (ie left overs) chopped tomatos I don't usually get tired of eggs this way, but also can't always eat much or swallow too early in the morning

I have been drinking an Atkins for 13 mo. every morning, and sometimes more, and have noticed lately that I am having some diahrrea, but not always, so have not related it to the drinks.

This is something I struggle with every day! I still fill the plate further than I should...and sometimes take an hour with many breaks in between to eat most of the Protein that I take. I am pretty good at putting anything else away for later, but the protein is in my daily calculation so I want to eat it. This head re-training is the hardest part of this!:redface:

The 3 weekdays I swim 40-60 min, and Saturday 75 min. I try to mix up the order of the laps I do, switching up the strokes throughout the hour. Usually the minimum days I do 5 breast stroke, 5-7 back stroke, 12 free, 2 side. The max days I do 15 free, 12-15 back, 10-12 breast, 2-5 side, and add some Water PT exercises, leg lifts, knee bends, lunges in the shallow, and water sprints, treading, leg lifts (legs together and separately), and side leg splits. I just used goggles for the first time Saturday, and it's so beautiful under there. It helped a lot. I have some good ear plugs, and use the lane markers to help me count the laps so I can think about other things while swimming - plan out my day if a work day, or brainstorm other fun things too. What do you do during your laps? I wish I could do every day, but the pool at the University I work for gets really busy when the students are in town, so 7-8am 3 days a week is what is available and reasonable (2-3 people per lane, any other time it's 4-6!)

I'm worried about not getting enough protein though...cause I've had some issues with not losing if I don't get enough. I just want to start losing again.

Thanks everyone, I really needed this thread tonight... I have been on and off stuck since last June...and want to move that ticker. When I first hit 50 pounds down (I was banded 1/20/09), I was thrilled and told everyone in my family, at work, etc. Since then I have only lost 4 more pounds though my clothes continue to go down, and I was happy when I did my measurements on my anniversary. But the doc and others around me don't seem to understand and keep still asking me about the numbers. I am trying hard not to focus on them, but it's tough. I swim 3-4 days a week (between 25-40 laps each time) - do I need to do something else?? Suggestions? I have had some trouble with my heels and shoulders, so only have tried the workouts in the pool (no gravity).

This sounds fabulous - I'm going to try it this week! I've been blending cottage cheese with ranch mix as a dip, and this sounds like a great alternative for a snack!

Believe it or not, I cook or research recipes - why not feed the food obsession through planning good choices? I watch food network, and try to find new ways to cook things we can eat in a new way so I really can enjoy when I do eat? I plan out food for the week, and when I will shop, and exactly what I'll need. If I find something on sale, or think of something new when at the store, I come back and find a way to cook it. Also, I keep a glass of cold crystal light near me when watching tv. Today I blended up cottage cheese with some ranch dressing mix and used it as a dip for peppers and for wheat thins. I couldn't eat my eggs this morning, so was trying to find some Protein that would go down (I'd already had 2 shakes).

I had a too tight question today too - though I haven't thrown up, it was the first day that I could only eat 5-6 bites of scrambled eggs with onions/peppers/ham this morning. I was not hungry for the rest of the day, and made a meal for everyone and was really scared to try to eat, but so far I've had 4 bites of rare sirloin and so far it's ok (though I don't swallow the whole bite, my dogs are very happy - any grizzle or fat and they get a treat). I was coughing a little this afternoon, and last time I got a fill (on the 11th) my doc asked if I was coughing at night...and it would be a sign of being too tight...anyone had this happen?

I'm sure you can order a crock pot via Amazon, but would the plug work for you?