2KpUpwithAvery

DAB I'll tell you why its good for you to post to "us", because WE need to hear that you've done so well. Some will feel Jealous, I feel optimistic every time I read a post like yours! Can I ask a favor? Please post some sample breakfasts lunches and dinners that have helped you along the way. I'm certain something has become a staple for you right? Breakfast and lunches have become simple for me, its Dinners that I'm finding a bit more difficult Can you and ANYONE else who wants to post, please post some good dinners that are working for you :-) Thanks!!

Well I must say, I was in the same boat as you. I thought the idea was for the creation of a smaller pouch just above the band would "fill up", and hence give the feeling of being full with a small portion of food. I have read the posts, and although I have plenty of room for more fills, I don't want to because of the pain that already coincides with eating sometimes. I think for me personally, its litereally still a BATTLE getting myself to eat the very small portion of food we should be eating. Like 60 grams ! That isn't much, but I'm adjusting! Good Luck

chicken salad and definetly BAKED FISH, or even pan fried (with pam) blackened fish such as Tilapia, salmon or even a nice piece of Cod. For those of you looking for a nice healthy way to feel full fast, white fish or salmon works great. Add a mix of your favorite veggie and you have an excellent Protein packed healthy dinner that'll fill you up right. later, good luck

fairy dust, I must say, I'm here for you! I too haven't enjoyed the success I was "hoping for", however its VERY important that we both understand its more due to our inability to EAT properly and not blame this slow weight loss on the band. I believe, and am sure you are the same, that the band is a tool for weight loss that I carefully decided upon. Now, nearly 6 months later its still a work in process. I've started eating early in the evening, and have went with a healthy diet of FISH! Its the easiest way for me to eat healthy, and for me personally FISH offers me the quickest restriction while allowing me to take in a decent portion with great flavor. Try blackened fish! Its become a staple in my diet and I'll post this one positive note for you, IF YOU CAN GET BACK ON TRACK THE WEIGHT LOSS WILL COME BACK QUICKLY!! When I have a good week, I just feel great because the loss is evident very fast. Now the key for me is to do it back to back weeks rather than "well I did great this week, I can slack off this next week" Wrong! But we're learning, this is a long journey. Lets help each other out!

Join Date: Jul 2008 Age: 40 Posts: 71 State: Louisiana I'm the 14th! 1 wsw27 1 tillydog 1 doedoe1961 1 staylucid 1 mygirlayanna 1 Rdk211 1 kiwifruit_77511 1 Mrs J.J 2 minidriver 2 slim2be 2 BethO 2 mrsgriffin2u 2 trudeip 2 Barbiek 2 annabella 2 SanDiegoSusan 2 anita reyna 2 jjenkins2411 2 1day at a time 3 BigBander 3 scoutmama 3 2GoodDogs 3 kimlam 4 joiful 7 slim1 7 ginnyc 7 AmyWA 7 Redheada 8 blaze 21 8 Louisville Lesa 8 zeama 8 cinda 8 flowers 8 JaJeanne 8 Booklady 8 IntoLess 9 Ailie 9 Sarv 9 MarylandMommy 9 siouxsie Sioux 9 Rivieramaya05 9 lalaredd 9 missrach 9 aliNSanDiego 10 sallen21 10 Goobe 10 2Blite4life 10 melmel 10 Fancy Nancy 10 vannie 10 Danasuze 11 Applebottom 11 vra123456 11 wstone 11 falloons 11 melallot 13 OvrLvl 14 MaidMarion 14 Chellets 14 pbpunisher 14 lindsaylee74 14 crzytchr 15 Fearless55 15 Flowerpurr 15 lynlynkr 15 pschmolle 15 perfectforme 15 PENTURN 15 mellimel71 15 Melody2006 16 eyespy 16 lisainbohemia 16 lotzasunshine 16 SciTeach 16 lynlynkr 16 michkor 16 jomomma 16 Charlene K 16 nanaislosingit 16 moez02 16 aclubb 17 OCBreeze4U 17 3m’smom 17 tnag86 17 Long2bFree 17 Simba00 18 PDXBandster 18 toogoode4u 18 CapitolChick 18 ElusiveQuality 21 clayverde 21 just1more 22 Moocatschade 22 zillyanne 22 TeriVA 22 kimaly 22 lleighton5 22 Choromom 22 annesan 22 Laniev00 23 BABOOMER 23 shellbell99 23 vanman 24 daniml 24 nyllrap 24 linksmom 24 lisadental 24 Frypan 24 Diva21 25 thatDEgirl 25 NewJEM 25 Kiki220 25 Nachtigall 28 ann71 28 splfrd 28 mamanmidwife 28 BeverlyDiane 28 Jessicadyan7 29 Cherub 29 Chellets 29 Cindersb4 30 orea15, 2KpUpwithAvery 30 ShondaN ____________

I believe my soreness/swelling helped me get through the liquids and full liquids phase (I just exited the full liquids 5 days ago) Even on full liquids there were days I'd drink Water and one can of cream of something soup... No Jello, no anything else.... the appetite was gone, cramps were present. Now I'm in the mushy food stage and am controlling just fine, and I'm a 500 lb man (actually ex 500 lbs man at this point) so getting my mind in line with my goals was very very important. This will not fail, I won't let it... Good luck, get your mind straight cause these battles are going to be ever present!

Wow, I read EVERY post and it took until the last one to finally find someone who thought like myself. I told everyone (once i had it, prior to it was my medical business and nobody elses). I wanted the support, and am VERY proud of what I've decided to do for myself. Alcoholics are not chastized for getting help, nor is anyone else with a crutch, problem or yes even Addition! I may be crossing the line, but I don't mean to :-) Its my personal experience that many many woman are the ones who fear letting everyone know, where as the guys are more willing to accept the consequences and gain the support. I might be way off, if so I apologize but its just a personal observation. Let the world know, the more help the better!!

It is what it is.. Bottom line, I didn't decide to be banded or not be banded because of any ONE positive or negative article. This is just one article that was researched to find flaws, they are out there but so are the positives :-) Lets all migrate to the positive articles!!

Good Post :-) No fills yet Breakfast: Egg Beaters and Salsa Lunch: 5 crackers w/ chix salad ($1 at the dollar store) and some cottage cheese w/ fresh garden tomato slices Dinner: Canned chix breast w/ salsa and a dollup of full fat sour cream to bring it together Plus two slices of dill pickle For a snack mid day, I had three lil sweet pickles. All in all about 1000-1100 calories

Don't worry, I was banded two days before you, lost 16 lbs during the pre-op diet and after surgery did one week of clear, and then one week of full liquids. I'm now into mushy foods and haven't looked at the scale since BEFORE I had surgery. I've done enough weight loss battles in my life to know I would experience weight gain after the liquid period and didn't want to feel "owned" by the scale anymore. I'll check the scale after a month or so, for now its do what I'm supposed to and things will play out accordingly. Don't let the scale be the ultimate judge, ESPECIALLY when you just entered the mushy phase. Good luck

I liked ur last reply the best, your following your doctors direction. IF, and only IF, you listen to others will information be conflicting. Just listen to your Dr. and assume because he did the surgery he has YOUR best interest in mind :-) Just my thoughts, but I do understand the other woman who was critical of what "seemed" like you had no idea why you couldn't eat in the beginning? That you didn't know the healing process involved with this surgery. You just have to remember that conflicting reports come from different people, with different health histories, with diff amts of weight to lose, with different bands (sizes/capacities) and different motivating factors. Things are just different, again I applaud you for following your Dr's orders :whatchutalkingabout

very good to hear Becky, was hoping that somone would show up in that "Elite Group" Hope to join you in the near future, you should post more about your journey here so we can read it.. Weight loss per say 3/6 months each of the past three years. A mainstay in your diet, or how you approached eating with your band? Any exercise plan you likely were on would be great.. Just any information to help us all reach the same, as I said, Elite Level of weight loss. Very well done :thumbup::thumbup::cool2::scared2::thumbup::thumbup::thumbs_up::thumbup::thumbs_up:

I'm with ya! My BMI is an embarassment, but the battle has begun. Good idea, I want to hear from others of larger sizes so I can feel Like i have people providing info who can relate. Thanks Froggi!

Yes sir, I'm with you I started this process just over 500 lbs at 507. After pre op diet I was 491, now 7 days post op I haven't a clue. Not planning on weighing myself through the up and down liquid to mushy to reg food stage. I'll keep myself sane, eat as good as I can and check my weight after one month :-) Very happy to meet others in a similar boat, it'll be nice to gain support and motivation from others of bigger sizes. Thanks

Sounds as if no amount of advice will be the right amount of advice :-) Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter

Ditto, I'm with you... Lets hang in there, I've also read from others AND my Dr. said not to be alarmed. We're ok

Wow! I feel better you liked the advice. This is a very serious battle, lets group hug and get on with it Heck, I even feel kinda cool cause someone said I gave a piece of good advice

Thats one of the funniest things I've ever read on here! "We won't fix ur other eye...." I love it!! Our families should meet!!

Just wanted to update everyone and come back and read the support that everyone is so good at providing. I'm now 6 days post op and NEVER in my life thought I'd be so excited to eat a can of cream Soup (tomorrow I enter full liquids) I've tackled this head on, no matter the pains and hunger strikes I've NOT cheated one time, nor will I during this clear liquid/full liquid phase. I've got a game plan for dealing with my return to "food" when I'm allowed mushies next week, and then "soft foods" the following week. Advice to everyone, develop a game plan and plan out a nice menu. You'll feel much better with a plan mentally by creating sort of a "new world" which your now a part of. I'm also reserving scale watching to others, I will not get on a scale until one month POST OP. Why you ask? "I am just so curious" people say! I don't want to see the ups and downs that are typical/normal/expected when you go from liquids to full liquids and then introduce food back into your diet. You'll lose, sure! Then lose some more, awesome! Then when you get back to some mushies and soft foods during the second half of the month there will be a time where you put on a few pounds. I've decided i don't want to see the fluctuation, I won't let the scale determine my daily happiness. After one month it'll just be a number, then I'll look again after month two. Thats my Plan! Just me... nobody else's Nite everyone!!

6 days post op and experiencing pains and cramps and hunger and through all that.. Hell no, no regrets. I'm a 34 year old man, I have my entire life ahead of me and I don't have to tell you all the same. Positive energy breeds positive results. You can only do what your body allows, nobody who used the band as a tool and as help to a healthier "you" will ever be disappointed in the end. I plan on NOT stepping on a scale for at least a month or two. Honestly, we all become so fixated on lbs that we have too many ups and downs because of that darn scale :-) Its ruled my whole life, I won't let it happen again. After weeks of being post op you have to realize you lost weight due to being on liquids, of course when you reintroduce "food" like "mushies" ur gonna put on a few. You won't gain 10 lbs, and soon it'll turn around and you'll start to see the results again. Thats why through the up and down period I won't look at a scale for at least a month. I want to see a number after one month, not the typical ups and downs that go along with it.... Good Luck guys...

Heres a tip, and I believe it to be a GREAT TIP! If your going to let food get the best of you on certain nights, please please please put healthy food in! No, I'm not telling you to munch on rabbit food i'm talking about healthier choices. Slice of low fat cheese with a piece of turkey, or the whole turk sand depending on your restriction. Eat some cottage cheese with a slice of fresh tomato, or an extra bowl of healthier soup. Either way, if you are going to EAT EXTRA, EAT HEALTHY. At the end of the day, it won't sabotage your goal and the extra calories aren't that bad. Good luck, remember this is not a diet.. Its not going to end, we have to change mentally and realize this is an every day battle. That means a new battle starts tomorrow :-)

Yes!! This is me to a T. I have a feeling of pressure when I take a deep breath and have been blessed with what feels like a permanent cramp in my side It feels like the kind of cramp you get while running, drinking way to much, then trying to run some more.. Only problem is its just staying, and staying... and staying. Its still here! Your right, when short of breath its nearly impossible to breath without some pain/discomfort. I like the idea of taking it easy, but I want to get to the point I feel good.. Like you others, I will join the chant! Until then, I'll worry there is something wrong with me.

DIVA... You know what the cool thing about eating ur Frosted Flakes would/could be? You could actually eat them CRUNCHY and by the time you chew chew chew chew chew (you know the drill) you get two things! A great crunchy taste your craving AND you get ur mushies. I loved ur reply, you have a certain amt of calories to use and I am with you, all mushies for the most part are gonna slip through at this point so keep urself from goin nuts and have a pleasure food. If its cereal, so be it :-) Good luck.. GREAT question :-)

Don't worry, its my thinking that you'll experience the ups and downs until you hit your sweet spot with your fills. Don't worry, this is a life long goal so don't think you've ruined anything. Keep strong, hopefully you followed the Diet you left Juarez Mexico with, I TOO WAS JUST BANDED IN JUAREZ by Dr. Rod. One week of liquids, one week of full liquids.. two weeks of mushy and then onward. Hope ur doing better, one G R E A T way to turn your personal negative into a "not so negative" is to do this.... IF you feel the need to eat MORE than you feel you should be right now, BE CERTAIN what your eating is healthy! I'm not talking about munching on carrots and veggies.. I'm saying eat some turkey cold cuts or cottage cheese with tomatoes rather than a frozen pizza meal, or frozen mexican food meal. I think you'll find come the end of the day, regardless of WHAT you ate you'll realize your starting the battle off on the right foot and again, even if you ate "too much"... it wasn't all that bad for you :-) Hope I've helped!! Be certain to email lupita! Or she will get ticked at you :-)

hopelives... IT is a struggle, and let me tell you going two weeks without food isn't easy and I'm only on my 5th day... You hang in, the 16th is fast approaching :-) OH! As for Avery, I didn't mean to give the impression I don't see her. I just see her as most divorced fathers, every other wknd holidays and EVERY single day I can sneak in between. I have a great relationship with my daughter, but without being with her every day it'll never be the situation I would've imagined. I simply want to be there, side by side with my daughter every day. I'm sure you understand. Keep on keeping on!