2muchfun

Full blown Atkins squeezes excess fluids from soft tissue so most of the weight loss in the first few weeks is just Water. If you can maintain Atkins for months and months you can lose. I kept my weight in the 150 range for about 20 years doing Atkins and low carb.

For omelets I'll use egg beaters so I can add more cheese. But, then I use a 2% cheese sometimes too. I use lite mayo and miracle whip. I eat the Oroweat slim breads(lapbanders have to make concessions eh). I sometimes use butter but on a day to day routine, if I need something greased up I'll use "I can't believe its not butter" spray. For the most part if the taste difference isn't a lot, I'll go with the lite version. If the lite version is icky I use the real deal.

We all get different marching papers from our own docs. There is no normal or standard pre-op diet. What was yours, maybe we can help?

Pick up fork, place food in mouth, put fork down, chew, swallow and then repeat. Some doctors say 1 minute but your band will dictate to you how fast you can eat. If you eat too fast your pouch will fill up and you'll get the feeling there's a golf ball under your sternum. No need to be afraid.

I've never seen anyone post something similar. But, you should call your doctor, doesn't sound right to me?

Yes, call the doctor and no, you don't have to have a fill.

Could this be it? http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/296333-crock-pot-pumpkin-chili/#entry3349627

So many answers to your questions. Are you carrying excess skin? This could be 5-10 lbs of excess weight? If you're exercising a lot, could you be building muscle in place of the fat you're losing? 2 weeks is a very small stall so I wouldn't panic till you get to 2 months at this point of your trip. The weight loss math is on your side. You should be able to lose fat with the regimen you're on. And of course, the last 15-20 are always the hardest to say buh-bye to.

Sounds good. I may show up. I need a kick in the butt to get back on the wagon full time.

Fran, who hosts the Good Sam meetings? Is Dr. Johnell involved? I understand he closed down the bariatric center in Greeley? I'm in Thornton so I might like to check it out.

This isn't a diet if your band is adjusted properly so no need to eat only egg whites. But, I still use egg beaters if I'm making a crustless quiche or an omelet and want to add ingredients such as cheese, sausage, bacon etc. We just use common sense and try to keep each meal around 300 calories give or take.

It took me 4 months before I started to lose weight and your story is similar to others I've seen. It will happen, just keep hitting it!

Too Cute

The rules are Protein first and preferably solid protein like fish, chicken, low fat beef. Veggies second and high Fiber carbs last if there's room. Pay attention to the soft and hard satiety signals! If you search through the Nutrition section: http://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/12-food-and-nutrition/ you can find some ideas, but it's mostly just healthy eating. Eliminating processed foods is important. Have you watched these videos by Dr. O'Brien? He's one of the foremost bariatric surgeons in the world and his advice is valuable. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa3Lwt6ElIs&list=UL Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4jYJipQ7vc part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbdhf44ZweI&feature=relmfu Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF3TCKUn3YI Part 4

Being in the green zone means you're satisfied with about one cup of food per meal and satiated for 3-5 hours in-between. The band won't stop you from eating more than that, it's up to you to look for the soft or hard signals that you've eaten enough. Those signals are hiccups, burps, yawns, runny nose and the hard signal is total lack of hunger any longer. New bandster's always struggle with eating properly. I know I did and it took me 10 months to realize it. Eating slowly, much smaller bites and chewing food to a mush is so difficult for all of us since we've wolfed food down for years. Those habits are hard to break. It only takes one small chunk of broccoli or chicken to cause a stuck episode. At 7 months I believed I was in the green zone only to find I too had a hard time with multiple stuck episodes. I had .5 CC taken out. That was my bad. I just didn't realize I wasn't eating like a good Bandster. You're not the only one who struggles with the eating rules. Sometimes doctors fill patients too quickly before they learn how to eat properly. It's a pain in the keester but it's the only way the band will work it's magic. Keep getting fills but watch for the satiety signals and work on the eating rules and you should find success!!

Look out Aeropostale here she comes!!!

Yum, this should go well with my deep fried crinkle potato chips jk OK, so what do you stick in this tub of mush? Sorry, I had a bad experience with a couple of greek yogurt cups and I cringe when I think about it?

Tosha, sorry but you're posts are confusing? You say you could eat just as much but you were too tight? That makes no sense? Did you get stuck a lot on solid food or liquids? It may be obvious to you but we're just trying to understand, it's not obvious to us?

Call your surgeon and make an appointment with the nutritionist? You're eating a lot of processed foods. Real Protein from fresh fish, chicken is more satisfying and nutritious for building muscles and maintaining or losing weight than processed foods. Your nutritionist will know how many calories you should consume but not all calories or protein are the same. It's not just eating 1000 calories and you lose weight. A nut can help you a lot. I highly recommend it. tmf

Well, you're not the only one person who will not succeed but seems like you want to quit or you're looking for an excuse to give up? If your band isn't adjusted properly you won't lose, it's that simple. And your post is not uncommon. See it all the time. Doctors also see it all the time and if your doctor is a good surgeon, he'll recognize the situation and work with you to help you to be successful. But, it won't happen unless you make the first move? Make that appointment and get a fill/adjustment. Like I said, I've seen posts like yours before and the patients who went back to see their doctor were renewed with a new sense of determination to succeed. You could be one of these people too! tmf

Are you a vegan? Typical meal: Bfast: 2 egg omelet with cheese and turkey ham around 300 cals Snack: apple 80 cals Lunch: Oroweat thin bread with 2 slices turkey, one slice cheese, mustard, lite mayo. 300 cals snack: Jerkey 1.3 ozs 90 cals Dinner: 6 ozs salmon, salad or lima Beans or asparagus: 500 cals Treat: Dove dark choc: 30 cals

You must be hungry with what you're eating? Do you feel restriction/satiety yet? BTW-I'm not seeing a lot of Protein with the menu you posted? I guess if you're not hungry that may be OK but if you're exercising??, you're not eating enough protein to build muscle.imo

The only news better than this would be your announcement you won Powerball but a new job you wanted comes in close

Reviews: http://www.bariatricpal.com/surgeons/1280-kenneth-hollis/?tab=feedback http://www.bariatricpal.com/surgeons/1748-christopher-reilly/?tab=feedback Click on patients to see who his clients are?

No worries! I lost 12 lbs the first 2 weeks and then nothing the next 3.5 months. I too was 4 months out with virtually no weight loss. Then, my 3rd fill and a nutritionist consult started me on my real journey. She pointed out the extra foods(about 300 cals) I was eating that were empty calories and did not allow the band to work it's magic. I changed my diet just a little and along with the exercising(2 years ago in March) outdoors, I started to lose weight consistently. About 38 more lbs over the next 6 months. It's frustrating I know, and this is one of the downsides to being banded that no one tells you about before surgery, but, hang in there, count those calories, exercise and I know you'll start to lose. tmf