krtork

Yesterday: B: Greek yogurt, granola L: Tortilla chips, black bean dip, salsa, co-jack cheese S: Chocolate covered cranberries D: Ham, baked potato, sour crm, rasp Jell-O salad, green beans Didn't even feel like eating the pie! Today: B: Greek yogurt, granola L: Tortilla chips, guacamole D: Lettuce, cucumber, chicken, ranch dressing S: Sliver of fudge - oh my it was soooo good!

We just got the Wii and Wii Fit for Christmas. It has been fun using the programs. I think I will use it in between my running workouts. We are getting DDR, my son and I are excited about having dance offs!

I don't think I will make goal by next week, but I have finally lost 2lbs. I have been stuck for the past 3 weeks at the same weight! Woo Hoo! I have 4lbs to meet my goal - it would take a miracle, but I will be happy with any downward movement!

I finally busted my plateau! I am down 2lbs this week. I was surprised since I ate ham for Christmas dinner and figured the salt alone would push my weight up! I only have 4lbs to go to meet my New Year's goal - don't think I will make it, but as long as the scale keeps moving down I will be happy! I was looking at last year's Christmas pictures - man what a difference! I feel great and had a wonderful day with my family!

This is such an individual thing! I was banded on Aug 5, just had my 4th fill and I am at 6cc on a 10cc band, and man can I feel it. I have only been able to eat between 1/2-3/4 cup of food each meal and I am full for about 3-4 hours. It is perfect. I know that I was tight with my 2nd fill for about 2 weeks and then everything really loosened up. I have had the same tightness for about 3 weeks now. It is hard to get in all of the calories and Protein being as snug as I am, but I have to make each bite count! It is good for me!

I am a teacher and our insurance would not cover the band. I paid $15000 up front to the hospital. That included the all pre-op visits, surgery (all inclusive), post-op visits and my first two fills. It did not include overnight, as the surgery is outpatient for my dr. I put it on a credit card - 0% interest, etc. I did have to pay the hospital the whole amount up front. Kind of scary, but well worth the cost. I feel fortunate have the dr that I have, my fills are only $100. I have seen others post and it is really expensive, in the $3-400 range! Make sure you know what you are getting with the surgery cost and how much fills are. I feel fortunate to have my husband support this decision, it has made it a bit easier when I have to go in for fills each month. It is well worth what you pay for the surgery. I also think knowing that we are paying off the bill each month really helps me stay committed to losing the weight and changing my lifestyle! Hope this helps!

Good for you! Sounds like you are really committed to making the necessary lifestyle changes to be successful with your band! It is great to have a partner that you can talk to about your band, especially someone that you can see everyday and they get what you are going through! I wish you the best of luck!

I have had bacon and did not have a problem with it. It was crisp and seemed to go down well. On almost all days I have oatmeal for breakfast. I add, honey, Protein powder and Benefiber. It goes down well and keeps me full. I am not a huge breakfast eater and it is one of the things I can stomach at 6am! I teach and we have a really early lunch, 11am, and I have to get in all of my calories and protein, so I eat breakfast early, so I have time before my lunch to let it all digest!

I had my Realize Band put in Aug 5, 08. I lost 20lbs pre-op and have since lost 40lbs. I have had to work really hard at losing the weight since I didn't have much restriction until my 4th fill. I am now feeling true restriction with only being able to eat 1/2-3/4 cup of food. I feel fortunate having the dr that I have. They will schedule fills when you feel like you are not having restriction and we have monthly support group, which I find to be really beneficial. I am now at 6cc in my band. I know that everyone is different, so for some it may take less and others more. Would it be possible for the dr to see in 4 weeks, vs the 6 weeks? That might make it a bit easier and you won't feel like you are able to eat a bunch of food between appt. I would definitely keep weighing and measuring food, especially when you are not feeling your fill. I feel like I have a pretty good handle on serving size, but I still measure a few times a week just to keep myself honest. I work hard to stay in the 1100-1200 calories and 80 gm of Protein. I usually find it hard to get the protein in. If I am lacking in protein I notice that the weight loss slows dramatically. Are you getting in your exercise? I found that to be one of the hardest things to get started once I had my band. I started the Couch to 5K plan and have found that to be very helpful for me. I even told people that I was going to run a 5K on Dec 6 and that gave me some added motivation! I have been stuck at the same weight for the past 3 weeks, it is frustrating - I just want to eat, but I can't! I am really focusing on my protein, exercise and Water. I know my weight will move again, I just have to stick with it. I am glad for my band, if I didn't have it right now I would be back eating and gaining the weight I have already lost. Keep in mind that this is a lifestyle change and you didn't gain the weight over night. It will take time to lose the weight and adjust to a new way of life. Keep up your resolution to use the band to help you lose weight. It is hard this time of year when everyone is eating all of the goodies and treats and you have to pass, but you can do it!

My nutritionist was talking about soda/carbonation in group the other night and even if soda sits for 3 months open on the counter, when they put a balloon over the top of the bottle it fills with the gases in the soda!

MacMadame~ Don't know how cold it is where you are, but we were up to the mid to upper-20s yesterday, went out to run and it was great to get out of the house! Dress in layers and enjoy the outdoors!

Moderation is key. It is ok to have a taste or one piece of something, keep in mind what you are eating and don't let it get away from you. It is hard with all of the temptation. I did not bake this year, I just know it would be too tempting for me to have it in the house. We did receive some food gifts, but I have been able to leave them alone and not dig in and eat tons. I try to not think of this as a diet or cheating. It is a lifestyle change and I have to live in the real world, so moderation is key! I am glad that I have my band to help me with this, I am finally feeling restriction and feel full after I eat. I have to remember to drink my Water between meals, make good food choices and exercise. Stay commited to your long-term goal and you will get through this holiday! A couple more days, you can do it!

B: peachy keen pumpkin muffin, skinny chai L: ff ref beans, grd turkey, tortilla chips, salsa, avacado S: Apple, peanut butter D: Turkey Chili

A Lot Less~ Sorry for your loss, it is hard to lose a young person. I lost a student last year right before graduation, it is so hard, when they have so much of life to live.

Kathy~I got the yaktraks. I think that is how it is spelled, they are like chains for your shoes. I got the pro version that has a strap over the top of your shoe so they would stay on while I was running. I had really good traction. No slipping and I was able to push off really easily.

Shhh, don't tell. I went for my run today, I couldn't wait! I went back and did three 5s, that seemed to go well. I ran on the packed snow - I got some of the chains for your shoes, they worked well. It was sunny and 28 out, finally above the teens! Yeah! It was a great run and so far I don't have any port pain. We are supposed to get another big storm in tonight, so I wanted to get outside and run and not be stuck on the treadmill.

I am on a three meal, two snack plan. I too use the Snacks to add Protein. I was bumped up to 1100-1200 calories a day and 80 grams of protein. I find it hard to get in all the protein, so I use the snacks to get that extra protein in! The SB Meal bars a good chice for protein and a great afternoon snack. I try to not eat after 7:00pm - I used to be in the habit of eating ice cream, Cookies, etc every evening. The band helped me break that habit, but I still have to work at not eating in the evening - most of it is head hunger, not real hunger. I just had my 4th fill and I am finally having true restriction and able to eat 1/2 cup meals and be full for 3 hours. Definitely, drinking between meals helps!

B: Greek yogurt, chai w/soy L: jambalya, crackers S: apple, peanut butter D: Grilled shrimp, a few bites of salad, 3 bites of cheese cake (Took my parents to dinner)

I used to be a polar bear, not anymore! I am always cold now, especially my toes and fingers! It has been really cold outside this past week and I can't wait for it to warm up outside - please let it get up to 30!

I would check in with your dr. Especially if you haven't had any problems with acid reflux in so long. The other thing it could be is eating too much at one time and the food is pushing back up out of your pouch into your esophogas (sp). Make sure you are eating slow enough to get that "full" feeling. I sometimes eat too fast and it sneaks up on me and all it takes is one bite to put me over the edge and have that over full feeling or go to sliming - yuck! Don't know if this helped or not, hope you are feeling better!

Luluc, will you come cook for me, your daily food always sounds so good! I had ff refried Beans, sprinkled with cheese and a tsp of salsa, blended - oh so good!

My nutritionist has me on something similar. I can have 1100-1200 calories a day and it must include 80 grams of Protein. I try to limit my fat intake and I intentionally (sp) limit my carbs! I am a bread addict! My dr wants us to really limit bread, rice, Pasta for the first 6 mos to eliminate the habit of making those foods a first choice. This has been good for me. I now think protein first, veggies, fruit second. I do eat whole grain crackers that are thin, I have to limit myself to one serving a day, again - carb addict! They seem to go down well. I have convinced myself that I CAN NOT eat bread - self imposed for the obvious reason. LOL! I find it hard to get in all of my protein, I too have to really work at it. I do add plain Protein powder to my oatmeal in the morning to get an extra boost. I was eating salad with chicken for lunch, but after this last fill the lettuce isn't going down so well. So I have been eating turkey meatballs, turkey meatloaf, grilled chicken strips, cottage cheese, etc. Apples with Peanut Butter are my current fav in the evening! I find it helpful to write it all down during the day, so I am aware of what I am eating. I have a pretty good handle on serving size, but I still occasionally measure, just to self-check. I do go over in calories every so often, but I consider every day a new day and go back and start over again. I do have to push for protein, it is really hard - good luck, try to stay on track, it is hard this time of year with all of the temptations!

*I am running again - finished my first 5K! *I am happier *I am not obsessed with food from morning to night *I am eating healthier *I feel better, more energy, fewer aches and pains *I can cross my legs *I can ride my horse

I think this would be a good habit for me! B: 2 eggs scrambled w/cheese L: 1/2 slice turkey meatloaf w/cheese S: Choc covered pretzel (2) D: 10 tortilla chips, black bean dip, cheese, 2 oz chicken, 1/2 avacado

Went in for my 4th fill today and my port site was real tender. I have noticed that it has been tender to the touch lately, but didn't think much of it. So the PA calls in the doctor and he pokes around, yeah, that was nice:thumbdown: He tells me that it shouldn't be that tender and that he wants to be aggressive because it could be an infection! WTH! I am now on antibiotics and anti-inflammatories (sp) for the next seven days. He said it could be an infected port and it could be eroding - it's only been in there for 4 mos! He would have to chase me down the street to get this sucker out! Anyone else have a similar experience?