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I found lots of excuses not to fly over the past 2 years, when I was my heaviest. 3 weeks after my band, I took Amtrack from FL to NY because I knew I wouldn't fit in the airline seat without a problem, so I used my surgery as an excuse. Instead of flying for 2.5 hours each way, it was 23 hours there and 28 back!!! Now, I have been flying pretty much every month, and on Spirit which has very tight seats. I still leave the seat arms up, but at least I can buckle the seat belt!

In addition to being banded 4 months ago, I have been having dental work done, so I am on the nursing home diet! Make some Cream of Wheat with milk instead of Water, throw a tablespoon of sugar free syrup on top, and it is delicious. The milk gives it extra Protein, you can make it as thick or thin as you can tolerate, and the warmth feels good on the band. Also, go for Greek yogurt when you can, as it has a higher protein content. It is also thicker and makes you feel more satisfied. Make yourself a veggie casserole using either yellow squash, zucchini, or even butternut or acorn squash. Cut them up small, make a mixture of cottage cheese, egg, a bit of skim milk, salt and pepper, and some cheese (I use parmesan) put all but veg in the blender, pour over veg in a baking dish, and bake at 350 for near an hour (keep testing veggies for softness.) I detest cottage cheese, but done this way, you'd never know it was there and you are getting plenty of protein. Lastly, when you are out, pintos and cheese at Taco Bell are a quick choice, and better than a taco or burrito.

Trader Joe's makes a chewable adult vitamin, "Trader Darwin's" that tastes like a vitamin c tablet.

I asked my nutritionist about the lattes, and she looked it all up. The protein (which is whey, I was wrong) has about 6g protein, and the milk has 9g! So, we are getting a lot of protein from one warm, delicious indulgence. She said it is a decent choice if you are out and need something quick, but obviously not as a major source of nutrition.

Not quite sure about the amount of Protein, but I think they use soy if I am not mistaken. Anyway, I have also been making my own at home, with a bit of variation. I bought Torani brand sugar free White chocolate Sauce that is made for caffe mochas. I get it at World Market. They have tons of sugar free syrups, and this was an extra added bonus. The syrups and this sauce are only about $5 each. A couple of squirts in with the cold milk, then into the microwave for a minute, mix it up, and add the coffee. I don't always add protein at home when I make it. I have a pretty good idea of how much protein I get in a day when all my meals are at home. It's when I'm out and about that I lose track, and that's when that Starbucks Skinny etc. comes in handy! If your local barista tells you the protein content, I'd love to know it. Thanks.

Here's a ridiculously quick and easy lunch: Roll up a piece of cheese inside a piece of turkey (or ham, or chicken ...) and get some of the Hidden Valley Ranch Lite dressing cups, and dip away! Also, on the weekend, instead of making one big quiche, make it in muffin tins and wrap them individually and freeze. Grab one in the morning, and reheat at lunch. Since you are crock potting, make some meatballs in there, and throw a couple of those in a ziplock steam bag with some zucchini slices, nuke for a minute or 2, and throw it on a plate. A chunk of mozzarella, and you're set. Buy some Greek yogurts and some sliced, roasted almonds. Crush up the almonds in your hand, throw them in the yogurt, and enjoy. I get the Chobani which has 14g of Protein. The fruit in there is literally the only sugar I eat, ever. The almonds have about 7g of protein, so it really is an excellent lunch. You can also dip chunks or slices of cheese in hummus, salad dressing, spinach dip, tomato sauce, whatever you like. Hope these ideas help.

If you make that Greek yogurt, you really up the Protein content. Every morning for Breakfast, I have a Greek yogurt with either blueberries or strawberries, with about 1/4 cup of crushed up sliced dry roasted almonds. It is extremely good, filling, and blueberries and almonds are both "super foods." Also, I always carry some kind of nuts with me in my bag. Trader Joe's makes a bag of individual packets of 50% less salt peanuts or cashews, as well as unsalted dry roasted whole almonds. Toasted soy nuts are good too, but it's not a taste everyone will like.

My family and I are, for the first time, helping our church with their community Thanksgiving dinner for those who are hungry and/or homeless. I intend to share dishes with the crowd that are healthy and in keeping with my new eating regimen. I will make squash and roasted veggies, lots of gravy, and I am bringing sugar free dessert. I'm sure there will be diabetics in the crowd, and they'll probably be glad to finally get to have some dessert on a big holiday. I won't over-do it, because the last thing I want to do is to be fighting someone for the restroom so I can barf. I have spent 41 years eating myself stupid at holiday time, and I did not go through all this 4 months ago to make myself sick for one day. I haven't touched a single piece of the kids' Halloween candy, and I don't want to. I have a bar os sugar-free dark chocolate, and I will let a square melt in my mouth if I need the chocolate fix!

I am having some similar problems. I am losing in the boobs, around the hip joint, and in my legs a bit, but my abdomen remains the same. So do my flabby arms. So, I need larger sizes (or elastic waist/drawstring) for the bottoms to fit the tummy. I also need sleeves roomy enough for my fat arms, even though the body part is usually too big then. Try buying a coat or jacket with that issue going on! I have lost 32 bls. in just under 4 months, and I have been happy with the weight loss. I wonder if the abdominal issue has something to do with the surgery itself, or the position of the port. Anyone have an ythoughts/knowledge on that one?

This is from the Lean and Luscioius cookbook: 1 TBS + 1 tsp margarine 4 cups thinly sliced zucchini, unpeeled 1/2 cup chopped onions 2 TBS dried parsley 1/8 tsp galric powder 1/2 tsp dried oregano 1/4 tsp dried basil (I use Italian Seasoning Blend for all the spices) salt and pepper to taste 2 eggs, slightly beaten 6 oz. mozzarella, shredded 1 TBS dijon mustard Preheat oven to 350. Melt margarine in a large nonstick skillet over med. heat. Add zucchini & onions & cook 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until veggies are tender-crisp. Remove from heat. Stir spices into zucchini. In a large bowl, combine eggs, mozzarella cheese and mustard. Add zucchini mixture and stir until combined. Pour into a sprayed casserole dish. Bake, uncovered, 35 minutes until lightly browned. Makes 4 servings. Per serving: 227 calories, 13g Protein, 16g fat, 9g carbs

Before surgery, I was completely anti-Starbucks! I called it liquid crack. Now I love them! They have a coffee made just for us!!!! I order a Decaf, Nonfat, Sugar-Free Vanilla Latte with Protein!! Almost every day! You can also call it a decaf skinny latte with protein, but I like to make sure they get everything right.

I have a cookbook from my mother-in-law that is awesome! It is called "Lean and Luscious." The edition I have is from 1987, but I know they have updated it and you can find it on Amazon.com. I have dog-eared about 50 of the 400 recipes that I have either tried or am going to try. Since we focus a lot on Protein, sometimes we don't get in our veggies and the like. Here is a sample recipe that I made the other night that was really, really good: Baked Squash - Southern Style 2 10 oz. pkgs. frozen yellow summer squash 1 TBS minced onion flakes 2 TBS + 2 tsp reduced calorie margarine (Smart Balance) 2 egg whites Sweetener equiv. to 1 1/2 tsp sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1/8 tsp pepper 3 TBS dry bread crumbs Preheat oven to 350. Cook squash according to directions, drain and place in a bowl and mash well. Add onion flakes, 2 TBS of the margarine, egg whites, sweetener, salt, pepper and 1/2 the crumbs. Mix well. Pour into 1 qt. baking dish that has been sprayed well and sprinkle with remaining crumbs. Dot with remaining margarine. Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes, or until set and lightly browned. 90 calories, 4g protein, 4g fat, 10g carbs (based on 4 servings)

I have become obsessed with squashes! Last night, I made a butternut squash recipe that rivals candied sweet potatoes: 1 butternut squash 1 TBS reduced calorie spread (I use Smart Balance) 1 TBS sugar free "maple" syrup dash salt Cut the squash in half, scoop out seeds and lay face down on sprayed cookie sheet and bake at 400 for about 45 minutes (until very soft and mushy.) Squeeze the cooked pulp out of the skin (or just peel away the skin) and mash with a fork. Add the rest of the ingredients, and put in a baking dish and back in the 400 degree oven for about 15 - 20 minutes until it looks a little brown/dry on top.

I had these daily BEFORE the surgery. Turns out, I had a hiatal (sp?) hernia that the dr. repaired while he was in there. I used to take 2 Pepcid Completes daily, a.m. & p.m., religiously. Now I haven't taken one since. Maybe try the Pepcid and see if it makes a difference.

I have been buying clothes as I need them, mostly workout clothes. I am lucky that I am working from home, so right now I am in a bathrobe!! One clothing item I find most annoying in the too saggy department is underwear. I seem to be losing in the butt and boobs faster than anywhere else, and can't stand to be that uncomfortable underneath!!

Did they use glue to close your incisions? I had some ridiculous itching from the glue that they used. My old boss was actually allergic to the glue used for a different type of surgery.

I was a caffeine whore for years! My husband made my coffee for me, and I asked him to gradually replace one teaspon at a time with decaf. I never knew how much I was getting of the real stuff, and how much was decaf. I think I was on decaf for 2 weeks without even realizing it. I was crippled with migraines, and it is a known fact that obesity causes migraines, especially in women, and caffiene makes it worse. Now, since the surgery & decaf switch, I only get migraines at that time of the month!

I used to hate, hate, hate Starbucks, even when I was on caffeine! Now, they are my hero!!! You can now (or maybe always, I don't know) order a coffee with protein powder at Starbucks! This is what I get now: Non-fat, decaf, sugar free vanilla latte with protein. It is my new favorite. They have other sugar free flavors, like caramel and hazelnut. Yay Starbucks.

Good morning. I find that I really need that first cup of coffee to "warm me up" and get things lubricated and loose in the morning. I can't tolerate anything cold at first. Also, it takes about an hour after the coffee before I can eat anything, and that must be soft and smooth - usually a Greek yogurt. It takes a few hours before I can really eat something substantial. So, I find that lunch is my biggest meal. It also takes a really long time to learn how to chew your food correctly. I still don't get it right, and find myself getting stuck about every other day now. It was every day for a few weeks. I am 3 months post-op and have had 2 fills. I find that crunchy things help me to chew softer foods better. An example would be 1/2 a pita chip with some tuna, chicken, meatloaf, etc. Otherwise, I need to douse everything in some kind of liquid - salad dressing, hummus (I know, not really a liquid but it helps) ketchup, just to get it to go down smoothly. I read somewhere to take a piece of melon between bites to keep things moving. Hope this helps.

While I did not have the not-burping problem, I had the dizziness and hunger too. I called my dr.'s office, and they put me on full liquids a few days early. My first "meal" was warmed up ricotta cheese, and it was heaven! I needed to be reminded that my band was put in empty, and once the initial swelling went down, I didn't have much restriction. I learned to eat several small meals a day, most of them warm or hot (Soups became my best friend, and so did my blender.) Also remember that the whole 4 or so oz. of food is for those who have restriction from their band being filled. Call your doctor, and tell them about the dizziness. Tell them you would like to start the next phase, and see how it goes. Also, if they let you have Protein shakes (and I don't see why they wouldn't) be careful - if they are all you are living on, they could cause intestinal distress as some people cannot tolerate them easily with no other food in their bodies. Good luck!

I have discovered sugar free ice cream recipes, and the other night I actually made sugar free frozen yogurt using Greek yogurt for added protein! There's a lot to read here, but basically, I used plain Greek yogurt, splenda, vanilla and frozen strawberries (kind of one of hte last comments on the blog below.) I didn't have an ice cream maker, but I just used my electric mixer every hour. I am bidding on one on eBay, so I can't wait to make some of the other ideas I found using sugar free pudding, evaporated skim milk, etc. A Frozen Yogurt Recipe to Rival Pinkberry's Recipe - 101 Cookbooks sugar-free Ice Cream Recipes Cooks.com - Recipes - Sugar Free Ice Cream

Along those same lines, you can purchase a water bottle that has it's own filter in it so you can always get water wherever you are. It's also great for the airports because you can bring it through security empty, go to a fast food place, and ask for a cup of ice and some tap water.

I told/tell everyone! I have info on my Facebook page. Obviously, everyone that looks at me knows I am fat. No hiding that one. So, I am very upfront about it. Also, I am now a major pain in the neck when it comes to eating (I am training to walk a 1/2 marathon in Miami in January and already told them the Pasta dinner the night before won't work for me, I need protein!) I am very proud of what I have done - scariest thing I've done in a long, long time. I also take people's hands and have them feel my port. I figure the doctor needs to give me a kick-back for all the positive, free p.r. I've done for him and this procedure!

SEEMS I'VE BEEN POSTING THESE THINGS IN THE WRONG PLACE, SO EXCUSE THE DUPLICATION IF YOU'VE SEEN THESE ALREADY! I have gotten a bit creative in this stage, since I love bread and sandwiches and the like. I have found new "holders" for my dips and spreads and things. For tuna, chicken, ham & turkey salad, spinach dip, hummus, guacamole, I use the following: Thin slices of zucchini or yellow squash Whole wheat "pitettes" cut in half to make 2 rounds (my dr. allows some types of bread items - pita, tortillas, whole wheat toast) Cracker-sized cheese slices For hot items, like poached eggs, I get the polenta in a tube, slice it into thin rounds, and fry it in some cooking spray, flattening it a bit as I go along. Then I can put whatever I want on top of it, like chicken stewed in tomato sauce and shredded. I also made some very thin zucchini pancakes and put some goat cheese in-between two and made a very gourmet-ish and grown up grilled cheese! Instead of boring mashed potatoes, add an egg, a tablespoon of flour, and some herbs, and make some potato pancakes to put food on. Hope these ideas help someone out there who is getting bored and frustrated.

I had a similar problem about 4 days post-op, and the dr's office told me it may be whey Protein. Some people can tolerate it better than others, and since that is what I was practically living on, it was probably to blame. Most people can tolerate soy protein, but I find it tastes worse than the other stuff. If you are in the liquids stage, you should be able to have just about any broth from regular soup, Jello, popsicles, etc. I would open up a can of progresso veg. beef soup, heat till really hot, and strain out the broth. I didn't even use a fine mesh strainer. Also, if you heat ricotta cheese in the mocrowave, it becomes a liquid. They put me on "full liquids" a few days early, and ricotta was my savior. Good luck!