August

Today … B – Lots of coffee, woke up late L – Lean Cuisine salmon with vegetables and whole wheat pasta. Ate the salmon and a few bites of the veg and pasta. It had spinach which always gets stuck. I didn’t PB but got full very quickly because the spinach wouldn’t let the other food slide past. S – ½ oz pepper jack cheese and large glass of 1% milk D – 3oz chicken breast with chili spices, pepper jack, and 2tbs ff greek yogurt, ½ C. corn and black beans mixed.

Today.... B – ¾ c Millet grits with 1 slice of cheese and 1tbs. light butter, 1 egg L – Protein smoothie w/ ½ frozen banana and ½ c. frozen black raspberries S – 1 light string cheese, 1oz turkey jerky. D – Crab cake, red pepper slices dipped in 2tbs. blue cheese pecan dip

Is there a Ross near you? Ross has thrift store prices for new clothes. Their prices are so cheap that you won't feel bad if you only wear it a few times. The trouble there is you have to have the patience to dig. Their racks are very full and disorganized. You have to take your time and look at every item on the rack to find the good stuff. I prefer to go often and only look at a few racks at a time. You'd spend the whole day trying to look at the whole store that way!

The hosts on What Not to Wear say that women will often need to have their pants altered and to make friends with a good tailor. Do they make something like Right Fit in smaller sizes? You’d think that clothing manufacturers would get a clue! I have the same problem with my waist being disproportionately smaller than my hips. My arms are a trouble spot for me too! They are much smaller now but I have a disgusting amount of skin hanging from them. The skin is wrinkly and gross. I’m definitely going to need surgery on them and other places. At least I can fit them into sleeves now! I haven’t tried GAP yet. I looked online and saw they had size 20 in some things. I can find things at Old Navy in the stores. I had to buy from them online to get my size in the past. I'm too cheap to shop at Lane Bryant anymore. Even their clearance items are more than I want to pay for what amounts to disposable clothes. I have a limit of $30 for anything, including suits. Most of the time I’m lucky enough to find shirts for $10-$15 and pants for around $20. I found a couple of suits last weekend that were leftover from last winter on the clearance rack at Filene’s Basement for $20 each. Even Filene’s original price was over $100. The original MSRP tags said $250, so I was very pleased. I bought them a size too small hoping that they will fit right once the weather is cooler. I have a blouse from Ross that gets more compliments than any item of clothing I’ve ever owned. It cost $3! I do find excellent deals but it seems to take up all of my free time.

I'm still shopping in the little corner, but at least I'm not limited to to buying the 2 things in the store that fit even if I didn't like them. At size 30 it was difficult to find clothes at Lane Bryant. It's thrilling to me to put something back on the rack because I didn't love it, not because it was too small. Even better putting it back because it's too big! I scoff at the big clothes like I would an ex-flame that I thought became a total loser....TeeHee. I can only imagine what it will be like to be able to buy off any rack in the store. I'm sure I'll feel just as overwhelmed as you did, and maybe a little giddy. I've promised myself a Chanel suit when I get to goal weight. It will be used because I can't afford new, but even used they are still insanely expensive. Maybe I'll wear that Chanel suit to my high school reunion and scoff at my ex-boyfriend. *Daydreaming here!*

There used to be a good plus size consignment store in the metro Atlanta area, where I live, but they mysteriously closed down after many years of being in business. The other consignment stores only carry regular sizes. I'm getting closer to the regular sizes but not quite there yet. At first I wanted to give to the Goodwill because I was always disappointed that they never had larger sizes when I’ve tried to shop there. It felt good thinking that another plus size woman that was possibly less fortunate than me would be thrilled to find my clothes. Now it’s taking a toll on my budget. You are right that I should be selling my too large clothes on EBay instead of donating them. I’ve gotten so good at finding bargains that I usually get things for below consignment store prices. Maybe I’ll make a profit! :scared2:

Today…. B – ¾ C. Uncle Sam’s cereal with ½ C. 1% milk L – Cup of hot & sour soup, ½ cup Thai basil chicken, 1 bite brown rice S – 3 pieces of sugar free coconut candy and 1oz beef jerky D – Leftover Thai basil chicken with a few bites of brown rice.

As Slim said, it's a powdered Peanut Butter. I bought mine from http://www.netrition.com. I was mixing regular peanut butter into my Protein shakes as a special occasional treat until I discovered the PB2. Now I use it almost daily. It also makes a good tasting peanut butter when mixed with Water. I can't tell the difference in the shakes but as a peanut butter it isn't quite the same as the real thing. It isn't bad at all as a peanut butter in fact it's quite good, but it's missing the fatty flavor. I'd live without fatty flavor for the calorie difference!! I imagine after eating the PB2 for a while I'll think regular peanut butter tastes greasy and gross.

Today....... B – Protein shake w/ peaches L – Protein shake w/ PB2 D – 3oz crab cake, 1 c Caesar salad S – Fiber One bar I went to the band clinic for a checkup. They like for patients to come in every month or two even if no fill is needed. I always have liquids before my appointment even if I don’t think I need a fill. Just in case and also so they won’t weigh my lunch when I get on their scale. Isn’t that silly of me? Is my tiny lunch really going to weigh that much? I do like having the regular appointments where people will be reviewing my weight. It helps keep my honest. I can’t count how many times I pass up fattening foods because I’m afraid I won’t lose enough weight before my next appointment. Whatever works, right? :wink:

Congratulations on resisting the chocolate and even more for fitting in 2x pants! It's things like passing up the chocolate that got you into those pants. :ohmy:

Today.... B – Protein shake w/ ½ frozen banana and PB2 L – ½ C chicken salad, handful of pita chips, 1 celery stick, 1 baby carrot, 5 grapes S – ¼ C chicken salad, 1 celery stick, 2 baby carrots D – 4oz tuna steak, ½ cup kashi (toasted buckwheat) with mushrooms

Today B – Protein shake made with frozen peaches L – 1 C. club salad S - .5 C leftover club salad D – 1 C spaghetti w/ meatballs (Dreamfields spaghetti and turkey meatballs. I’ve found that Dreamfields pasta is MUCH easier for me to eat than regular pasta. I believe it’s because it swells less in my stomach. The fact that it is reduced carb is a bonus. My family doesn’t know the difference. Expensive but worth twice the price to me.) S – Maybe another protein shake

Today.... B – Omelet with herbs and brie S – Protein smoothie w/ PB2 L – ½ C. Tuna salad S – 2 sugar free Oreos D – 2oz mini burger on mini bun. 5 french fries

Yesterday.... B – ½ C Uncle Sam’s cereal with ¼ c. 1% milk L – Huevos rancheros at Mexican restaurant (ate about 2/3 cup eggs and beans). Too many chips with salsa S – Protein shake D – Most of a lean cuisine pizza S – Fiber One bar I was out shopping with my stepson yesterday. It was hot and we went in an ice cream shop. While he was choosing his flavor I realized that I was just thirsty. So I passed on the ice cream and had a bottle of water. I was so proud of myself because ice cream is my big problem food in the summer. I realized that I've only had "real" ice cream twice in the last 6 months. Both times it was a small serving. Now I just need to wean myself off the chips!

Today…. B – Protein shake w/ PB2 S – lf string cheese and handful of lentil/potato curls. L – skinny iced latte….15 minutes later: 1/3 chicken cobb salad sandwich from Starbucks. D – 1 ¼ c. taco salad

I'm so grateful for the band. There is no way, no how that I'd be able to be happy at just 1,100 calories a day without it. Pre-banding it was tough to stick to a 1,500 calorie diet which is generous as diets go. I'd have to eat a stick of butter and maybe a pint Ben and Jerry's to get back to my pre-band calorie consumption. Mmmm...butter and ice cream!! Needless to say that my evening snack will be a protein shake with lots of ice before I run off to ice cream land!!

Luluc, Do you think it's better to calculate the BMR for the weight you are now or the weight you would be to be a normal BMI? At my current weight and activity level I'd have to eat nearly 2,800 calories to maintain. At my goal weight I'd need to eat 1,800 calories to maintain. My 1,100 calories a day would be good for healthy weight loss by somebody at my goal weight. I'm sure I ate at least 2,500 calories a day before banding. Sometimes far more than that. Gee, is it any mystery how I got so overweight?

Today… B – Protein smoothie w/ PB2 L – 2 ½ oz lean roast beef, 2/3 yellow bell pepper, dipped in 1tbs. light blue cheese D – ¾ Trader Joes roast chicken patty and 1/3 Trader Joes veggie masala burger, dipped in ff greek yogurt mixed with chutney. S? – Might have the rest of my patties from dinner, or something else if I’m hungry again.

Confused, you're almost at goal and are clearly losing weight. The PA at my band doctor's office said it's possible for your body to go into starvation mode if your calories drop too low, and that I shouldn't go below 1,000 calories a day. I average around 1,100 and seem to do well at that level.

Today… B – Vanilla protein shake w/ ½ C. frozen peaches added. L – 1C chopped salad with turkey, black beans, corn, peppers, tomato, zucchini, and cilantro with 1tbs. Ranch and 1 tbs salsa. 5 corn chips. S – ¼ C. turkey salad with high fiber crackers D – ¾ C Chicken and broccoli stir fry with 2 tbs rice Congratulations!! Happy Birthday, True Diva!! You’re looking great in the new AVI. You don’t even look like the same person as the picture in your signature. For those who posted questions about small portion sizes….. For me portions sizes are directly related to my fill level. I was lucky that I got good restriction on the 2nd fill. I have had another tiny fill since then and had to have half of that removed. I understand that most people need quite a few more than I did. Before I had good restriction I was going crazy with hunger. It seemed like I was hungry all of the time. I was trying to restrict my portions but it worked against me because my brain wasn’t registering full. From what I understand the band allows you to be satisfied with toddler size portions of food because it’s much easier to stimulate the vagus nerve in your stomach that signals fullness to your brain. If you can get your stomach to send that signal you’ll stay full (aside from head hunger) for quite a while. Before you have good restriction it will take more food to reach that point. In my case I consume fewer calories overall if I eat until I do feel full, not stuffed and sick, but full. Even before you have good restriction, you do have some and you can use some tricks to get full on less food. I admit that I don’t always follow the rules, but I do know that they work: Eat dense proteins and eat them first. Try to get down 3oz of protein before you eat anything else. Do not add a lot of sauces or condiments to your protein because it will allow it to slip past the band more easily. Avoid chips, crackers, and ice cream, which are my personal downfall foods. Even with great restriction you’ll be able to eat a lot of these foods. I can’t eat as much of them as I could before banding but I can definitely eat way more than a serving. Eat real food. Limit canned and other processed foods. Nutrition is more important than ever when you can only eat a limited amount. I worry about protein powder being highly processed. Protein smoothies keep me away from ice cream though so I figure it’s the lesser of the two evils. I’m glad that my ice cream cravings go away in the winter! Try to eat slowly so that your brain has time to receive the signal of fullness. Time your meals to at least 15 minutes.

Today B – vanilla latte Protein shake L – 1c non-lettuce parts of a taco salad S – 8 Sugar Free chocolate covered almonds D – 1c chopped salad with turkey, zucchini, corn, peppers, onions, tomatoes, and cilantro with 1tbs light ranch (no lettuce)

B – ¾ C Uncle Sam’s cereal w/ ½ c 1% milk L – 1 C stir fry with chicken, bok choy, peppers, and udon noodles S – 1oz almonds D – ½ C chicken korma, 1/2 c cauliflower, 1tbs. Chutney, few bites of naan Today was the first time I’ve had cold cereal since banding. I was reluctant to try it because I have problems eating broth based soups with chunks. I can eat thicker soups, even with chunks with no problems. It’s the broth based soups like chicken noodle that kill me. The thin liquids must push down on the solids with more force. Plain water on an empty stomach will sometimes get me, while a thicker drink goes down fine. I’ve found that even a slight change in viscosity like crystal light vs. water makes a big difference. Nice little high school physics experiment I have going on in my stomach! I cannot have liquids when I eat because it pushes down on the food and hurts so bad. Following the no drinking while eating rule has been no problem for me. I thought the cold cereal would be difficult but it wasn’t bad. I have a hard time getting enough fiber so I was glad to find another option.

That's the mark of a good cook, KC...has tons of cookbooks but never uses a recipe. :biggrin: I do understand. I often "research" a dish I'd like to make and then combine what I gathered along with my ideas and past experience to come up with my own version. Fortunately the Internet and subsequent plagiarism of every cookbook ever in print has greatly reduced my cookbook purchases. Recipezaar is so bad that people freely admit the source. I have a hard time with the measurements and cooking times when somebody asks me for a recipe. They don't understand, it has the amount you need of this and that and you cook it for just enough time for it to be done!

You can try what I did to wean myself off the food porn and food in general....shop instead. Not sure which is worse, to be fat or to be broke. How exactly does one accomplish being rich AND skinny???

Slim, During my post op phase and for the 5 day pouch diet last week, I made "cream" soups with Greek yogurt for protein: § 2-3 cups of any vegetable or combination of vegetables (zucchini, carrots, yellow or winter squash, pumpkin, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, celery root, parsnips, spinach, kale, etc). Any vegetable you like will work. I typically use a single summer type vegetable (squash, spinach) because their flavors are so delicate, but often combine the winter root vegetables. § 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock. A bouillon cube and water will work fine, or even plain water with a little extra salt. § 1 clove garlic § Few sprigs of any fresh herb you have laying around or a combination, even fresh parsley. Dried herbs will work in a pinch, but fresh is much tastier. Last week I used cilantro, mint, and basil in my cream of zucchini because that’s what I had. Curry or ginger and cilantro are awesome with winter squash or carrots. § 1 C. Fat Free Greek Yogurt § Salt & Pepper to tatse Cut vegetable(s) of choice into large pieces. Simmer vegetable(s), chicken broth, and garlic in a covered saucepan until vegetables are just tender, typically 10-15 minutes. Hard root vegetables may take longer, and leafy vegetables like spinach will only take a minute or two. After vegetable of choice is cooked, throw in fresh herbs. Puree with a hand blender or transfer to a regular blender or food processor and process until smooth. Add Greek Yogurt, salt, and pepper. Puree again to incorporate yogurt. Reheat under low heat until soup is almost simmering. ***NOTE if you use regular yogurt skip the final heating because it will curdle. This soup tastes very rich like it has tons of flour and cream, but it’s virtually fat free and very low calorie. The Greek yogurt has tons of protein. The soup is not very filling though, even to a bandster, but heck you could eat the whole pot of it and wouldn’t have more than 200 calories! You can use the same method for cream of tomato soup with a can of pureed tomatoes or even V-8 with the yogurt and herbs, plus a little splenda. I've even made an uncooked version with seeded cucumbers, mint, garlic, and yogurt blended.