firedoll

Thank you everyone. I have to say....seeing that 199 show up on the scale this morning was wonderful. Six looooooong months to break through the 200s. My weight loss has been so slow that even my closest friends have stopped asking "how are things going?"

I hope this feeling sustains my determination for a while!

Hi, I had my surgery on November 24th ant too lost a lot in my first month, totaling 37 lbs. I had my 1st fill in January, and my second in March, totaling 6cc. I have NO restriction and have a big appetite again I gained back 12 lbs too!!!! I go for another fill on the 6th of March....they all have been flouroscope too, so the surgeon can see the restriction and says it is still working great, but I do NOT feel it. Is there hope for me????

I am in Evanston..........anyone with a good experience with any lapband specialist? Id like to stay close to home if i get approved.

I do not know how close Veron Hills or Harvard Illinois are to you....but there is a Bariatric Center that works out of both places. They are called the Bariatric Center Of Illinois. Doctor Leslie Mcclelan is the Surgeon. They are very good and professional. I just had my Lap Band Surgery on November 24th! It is great I LOVE it!!

Pat good luck on your first fill .... things will go well and I'm sure your looking forward to the restriction.:laugh: it's hard to get the butt in gear but you can do it. Good luck and lets us know how it went.

I too am having a hard time motivating to exercise:redface: I get my first fill Thursday. I am excited but also wondering will I be one of those that needs two or three to feel restriction? Good luck Pat and please let us know how it goes:thumbup:

hey firedol! I have not had my first fill yet. I will have it on the 13th of Jan. I hope I feel restriction. on the day of surgeryi weighed in at 233 at my home and now I'm 223-225 it ranges so i feel i should have lost more. Inches are better than the scale.

we were both banded on 11/24 as well. How much did you loose?

Evelyn:thumbup:

I have lost 31 all together. I did loose about 18 on the pre-op diet. I have no restriction and really need it now!! Good job on your weight loss too:thumbup:

Good luck on the first fill I know you must be excite I'm anxiously waiting my 2nd one. No restricition for the past 3 weeks... trying to be good...lol. Great job on the weight loss over the holiday ....YAHOO:biggrin:

Thank you Heather! I wish you luck now with the fills the weight loss will come easier!:thumbup:

I have no restriction but did loose 2 over the Holidays! I just wanted to stay the same and not gain. I can eat just like normal, but not quite as much as before when I would binge! I have my first fill on the 15th and also want to get moving now. Hugs to all!!

Tammy

Hi all...glad to hear you are all doing so well. Me, not so much. I am hungry all the time and having trouble making good choices. My first fill is Monday...will help a lot with the ability to eat I hope, but the poor choices thing is up to me. I miss my restriction!

I have been the same way for the past couple of days!! I have absolutely no restriction. The swelling in my stomach must have gone down and now the band is just sitting there. I think that is what is going on?? I am able to eat anything and now feeling really hungry again. I am going to try and get back into the good choices tomorrow. Right now I am eating sugar free Russell Stovers candy!! I am trying to stick to alot of Protein, but am able to eat way more than 3 oz at a sitting. My fill is January 15th:eek:

I'm here! I see everyone's posts, I've just not been in a posting mood lately. So much going on!

Did you ever order the Optimum Nutrition Protein powders I suggested, or was that someone else? So many of us - I can't remember!!! :cursing:

Also, I'd just like to post that I've finally hit my stride - almost 2 weeks after my fill, haha. Numbers on the scale finally headed in the right direction (for a change) and they're not going back up! Lowest I've been since surgery this morning - YEEHAW!!!

:ohmy:

Yes that was me:tt1: I did get them and can not wait to try them. I have been too busy to makey anything:eek:I will try in the next couple of days though. Great on the weight loss too:thumbup:I also finally went into the 230's! Started in the 260's:blink:I did break and have a few sugar Cookies yesterday, but I also do not feel quilty. I find it easy to get right back on track now with the band. I also can not eat as many Cookies as I could before!:w00t:

Hey Ladies,

This has been the MOST interesting thread the past few days...I've been reading a lot, copying down product names and ideas, and very much enjoying the exchange.

I was banded on the 17th and am transitioning to solid food with very little trouble. Tried a sandwich this week and got a little stuck, but nothing too painful. I will not try it again for a while, though...I LOVE bread, but it's not my friend right now.

I love the ideas about adding Protein powder to SF pudding - I have a couple of boxes at home, so I'll be trying that as soon as my protein arrives (which I ordered this morning). I know I'm not getting enough protein (I do track what I'm eating) and may add my Protein Shakes back in as another poster suggested - between meals.

So far, Soups have been great for me - reasonable amounts of protein, lots of veggies, low fat, and everything goes down really well. I also found deviled ham and chicken go down pretty easy - the trick is to find lower fat and sodium versions.

Keep up the good work, all - you are inspiring and educating me as well! I'm back in the gym this week - have gone two days so far, and today will be my third. Monday and Tuesday I have classes at night, so I'll have to go another day on the weekend.

We will all be healthier in 2009!:ohmy:

Where is everyone!! I know we are all busy with getting ready for Christmas:tt2:

Up a pound, down a pound, stall a little, down a pound . . . and repeat repeatedly is the story of my banded existence.

It is normal for it to be this way and as long as you are not having any lasting gains this far out you are doing OK until you get your first fill. I was exactly the same but have made it to goal . . . so don't be discouraged. If you keep doing the right things consistently, the pounds can't help but fall off, even if they do so in their own time.

I was banded the 24th. I have lost 24 lbs since I started the pre-op on the 19th. I also have lost my restriction and feel hungry almost not quite as much as before. I can not binge like I used too but I feel frustrated also. My first fill is January 15th, and I hope to god that I will feel that restriction again so that I am not as hungry. Let's compare how we can eat.....for instance I had 3oz of eggbeaters for Breakfast. For lunch I lost it and had about 4 pieces of ham (lunchmeat). I also ate a salsbury steak lean cruisine at 270 cal:eek: I am only at about 500 cal so far and I think I messed up by not having a Protein Shake. They say that is the secret. having a Protein shake in between each meal?

Did you make the pudding like that before or after I recommended it? I'm glad you liked it!!! It's the perfect afternoon snack for me - it just means I've been buying more milk than usual, haha.

You should try making oatmeal from scratch, using the plain oats you buy at the store. Mix in a scoop of Protein powder (your choice of flavor, but this is where chocolate tastes gooooood), a packet of Splenda, chopped walnuts and raisins/dried cranberries. Then of course, add some Water and cook it like you would normally cook oatmeal, only you'll need a little extra water since you added protein powder to the mix. :tt1: It makes a really hefty portion though, so cut the portion in half and only use half a scoop of protein powder if you've got really good restriction.

ooooo That sounds good too! Can we have walnuts and raisins?? Just curious.....every doctor says something different. NOW... I had not made it yet, I read your post, checked the cabinet for pudding choices and sure as heck I had sf/ff cheesecake pudding!! I made it right away and actually just ate the other 1/2:tongue_smilie:I ordered the variety pack of protein powder. What else can you put these flavors in??

It's not a Protein drink, it's a protein powder that you mix with milk to make your protein drink. The brand I buy is called Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Protein Gold Series. They've got all sorts of yummy flavors!!! And they're all about 24g of protein per scoop, about 110cals and 5g carbs.

Optimum Nutrition at DPS Nutrition - The Nation's leader in Discount Nutrition

Thanks!!! Just so you know I ordered the 16 variet pack to try all of them. Now what other things can you mix them with. I had some of the sf/ff cheesecake pudding and I made it and added 1 scoop of my chocolate protein powder drink mix. I devided it in 1/2 and at one portion......OMGGGG it was sooooo good and filling:thumbup:Thanks for the great tip!!!

It does help you reach it sooner, without a doubt, but to use it to monitor when we are full by getting to the point of PBing on a regular basis (or nearly) is dangerous to our band. You have a fantastic attitude...restriction definitely helps, you are right. But some of it is also up to us to relearn better habits. I am amazed at how long I have been able to go without being hungry between meals now that I know what real "hungry" feels like. Its hard when you CAN eat more not to do so...to us, satisfied means "full". But really, satisfied is supposed to mean "not hungry".

Yesterday was not my strongest day. But I am rededicated today and doing well. It definitely is a pleasure, the way food tastes and feels in my mouth. I am struggling with it, but winning the struggle a lot of the time right now (90% of the time!) simply for fear of messing up the good thing I have going and now also because my clothes are starting to be too big! I am dropping weight since my surgery to the tune of 5 lbs per week. Won't stay that fast, but I want to take advantage of it as long as I can!

You are doing great...just keep evaluating and studying yourself, tweaking this and that, and do not give up! :hug:

Thank you so much for your support. Heather is right this group is a WONDERFUL group and I thank you all for being my true friends too!!! It takes a sincere person to be honest...:angry_smile:

Speaking of pudding, I have something fabulous that you ladies must try.

I've been getting SF Instant pudding mix (mainly the White chocolate and Cheesecake flavors). I mix it up with 2 cups of 2% milk (as the directions tell you to) but I also add in one scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream Protein powder (24g per scoop). :frown: The pudding thickens in 5 mins since it's the instant kind. It's soooooo damn good, OMG you have no idea, LOL. It's a protein-filled way to snack! Of course, since you add the protein powder it makes the pudding thicker than it normally would be. I basically split one box of pudding into two small containers, and that usually serves as my afternoon snack before heading home from work. This way I don't go home starving - that leads to eating too much, haha.

Pretty much any flavor of the SF Instant pudding and any flavor protein powder will work! My husband does SF Chocolate pudding mix with Rocky Road protein powder. But I'm not as much of a chocolate fan, so I stick to the Cheesecake flavor mostly, that's my fave. :w00t:

Ok Heather.......:angry_smile:.....I just made 2oz of eggbeaters with a slice of FF cheese and ate it slow, I feel FULL!!!!:w00t: I need to eat more small meals a day, that is the problem.

Jaime.....where do you get the flavored Protein Drinks in vanilla ice cream and rock road??????PLEASSSSE tell us:tt2:

Good Morning Firedoll, If you are questioning if your eating to much I would ask the Dr's office how much am I supposed to eat and how often. When I left the Hospital I received a packet with directions for each stage.

At the Mushies & Now Regular food Stage I have been instructed that my Pouch will only hold 2oz of Solid or Fluid at a time. So that is all I'm allowed to eat at a sitting 2OZ.

I have a HUGH problem with self control and if it's there I'm going to eat it. I have to eat my meals while doing something else I can't sit at a table and take a bite..put the fork down... take a bite.. put the fork down.... I don't have the patients. So in order to get around this and give my head time to catch up with my tummy I clean up my meal while eating... take bite, wash a dish, take a bite, clean the stove.... that works for ME. It spaces things out....yes unforunatly your food does go cold:sneaky:but if it doesn't get a little chilli you may be eating to fast.

Restriction is tough for everyone...I'm only allowed 2oz of eggs this am so I st down at the computer and started typing took me 15 min to eat... Find something to do this week inbetween bites and see if it's TIME is the trick.

If after putting time inbetween bites doesn't work I have read a few posts that people have discoverd 3 Meals a day doesn't work for them they have to have 6 small meals a day. This may work for you... My Dr. has prescribed 3 Meals with a 2oz Protein Shake inbetween meals to help with hunger between meals. My shakes are only 110 Calories for 11oz !!! 0 sugar 17gms of Protein only 4gm carbs. so it gives my belly a little something before meals.

I stalk the heck out of my nutritionist because I had a mental break down and I was like this is so F'n confusing I can't remember everything. :angry_smile: BIG HUGS

Thanks Heather! Yes I a eating wayyyyy more than 2 oz of food at a sitting. I did get a packet with the weeks and what foods I can add and such. I too am supposed to have two Protein Shakes in between meals. It is SOOOO frustrating to have to time everything as the shakes are liquids and you have to keep them an hour away from your solids. I think better planning on when I eat and spacing out smaller meals is what I need to do to prevent myself from eating two larger meals....that is the problem I just figured that out. I am in my old habit of waiting to eat later in the day and eating too much then!!! Thanks girls I appreciate the support!

That isn't really the way the band is supposed to work. You are not supposed to eat until you feel restriction, until you feel like you could throw up if you take another bite!. You are supposed to eat only until no longer hungry! To eat until stuffed is only going to cause you problems. Learn to look for the "soft stop". A sniff. A sigh. A hiccup. Eat very very slowly. When the hunger pain goes away, you are done. Stop eating. Get up from the table. No, you won't feel full. You have to learn to redefine what it means to have completed a meal. The "only supposed to eat half a cup" does not refer to what actually can be fit in there. It refers to when you are supposed to stop. If you eat high Protein and low carb, you will not get hungry again for three to four hours. Fullness is not supposed to be defined by literally not able to take another bite. People naturally of a healthy weight stop eating when they are no longer hungry. That is what we are learning to do and what the band is meant to help with. To rely on it to literally physically stop us is not using the band as intended and is going to line you up for slippage and pouch stretching and a lack of satisfactory weight loss results.

I have to ask also, how long is it taking for you to finish that much food? It should take 20-30 minutes to finish half a cup. Frankly, I often stop eating because I am plain old bored and sick of sitting there, and my food is getting cold. Make sure you are taking baby sized bites. Get a baby spoon and use it to eat if you are struggling with this. Put your fork down and wait several minutes between bites to give your body a chance to assimilate how much food it is getting. Are you drinking with your meals? That's a definite no-no too and if you are doing it, could be pushing your food through your stoma and letting you eat more...in essence, sabotaging what you are trying to accomplish here.

Meals should be a time of thought and inner reflection right now. We are relearning old bad habits that lead us to get fat in the first place. Don't let yourself slip into old behavior and expect the band to make it all work out in the end. It won't. You will wind up with complications like so many on this site have. You can do this. Its hard. Its frustrating. Its scary. We are so used to eating until full. Its hard to learn a new way, but you can do it and we are here to help.

Thank you so much for waking me up to how this is supposed to work! See when I felt all that restriction in the first two weeks I thought that was how it was going to be, and that this would be easy if I felt like that everytime I ate! So that reassures me that this is normal for me to want to eat if "I CAN". NO I am not drinking anything while eating. That I am real strict with. Just hungry and eating as it tastes so good. I am not eating as much as I used too, just a little more than I thought I would be able too until I get that satisfied feeling. This is what people do without the band and loose weight.....stop when you feel satisfied. See I thought the band would help me to reach that satisfied state....KWIM???

Hi Ladies,

The first two weeks after surgery I felt a little nausous and some tight restriction. Now the last week and this week I am back to normal:eek: Like last night I ate a whole large can of tuna mixed with light mayo, FF Cottage cheese, maybe a cup. I thought we were suppossed to stick with like 3-4 oz of food total at a meal:eek: Now tonight I had a cup of FF Refried Beans with FF sour cream and FF shredded cheese and salsa on top. I then ate a cup of steamed vegis with salsa on top and maybe 3/4 cup of FF Cottage Cheese. See I think I am eating way too much, but I really do not feel that "stop or you are going to feel sick feeling"!! Help girls my fill isn't until 1/15. I am still down 24lbs but not budging:sad_smile:

I was banded on 11/5 and lost 8lbs in the first week. Since then, I've bounced back and forth between the same 2lbs. Total weight loss for me is no more than 11lbs during this first month. But I have to say that is probably the norm. I'm just glad I didn't start to gain weight back once I went from Liquids to Mushies to Solids! :whatchutalkingabout

I see my surgeon tomorrow for my first fill, and I'm hoping that will jump start the weight loss. I've been close to eating my arm off this last week because I have NO restriction, so I am eager to get this fill!!

I am so excited to hear about your fill!!! I want to hear what it feels like and how it helps your appetite. I just got back from my 1st post op appointment. 24 lbs lost, and lots of new foods added for me!!! :wub::laugh::laugh:I just had some egg beaters with melted ff chedder on them and a little ff cottage cheese with a dab of salsa on the eggs too...mmmmmmm I am so fulfilled tonight. Good luck tomorrow:thumbup:

ginnytwo - I tried some chinese food this past weekend and spit it out (only two bites, but I knew I couldn't cheat). Then I was disgusted with myself afterward. But, I know exactly what you mean when you say you just want to chew and savor something.

My surgery date was 11/17. I was on a modified full liquid diet for 3 weeks (included yogurt, whipped cottage cheese, applesauce and pudding). I called my doctor yesterday and said I was starving (which I'm not but I needed some new food, some flavor or something). So they said I could add mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, very wet/moist salmon and haddock, tuna fish salad and saltines!!!!!!!!! I was so excited, the second I got off the phone I made the tuna and it was the best tuna I ever had, then 4 hours later I had the best scrambled egg ever!!! for dinner. Today:

B - Protein Shake

S - low sodium V-8

L - 1/4 C tuna and 5 saltines

S - Protein shake

D - 4 oz salmon & 2 oz triple squash Soup.< /p>

Plus, I've sipped 40 oz of Water.< /p>

I lost 14 lbs. pre-surgery and 14 lbs since. I am so frustrated though because you can't see it at all and my clothes are hardly even loose (a tiny bit only). I am 5'7" and my starting weight was 267, I'm now 239. How can someone lose 28 lbs and it not be visible or have a change in body???? Oh well, I guess when I'm down 100 lbs it will be apparent and I suppose the end result is all that matters.

:cursing:Tuna and crackers!!! YEE HAA that sounds like a buffet to me:tt2: I know how you feel, as I have lost 23 lbs and my husband can see it big time, and my parents also said "wow" you can really notice it especially in my face. NOW....last night I went to a class at our Fire Department as I am on our Ambulance, and NO ONE said anything to me:cursing:I was like come on not one out of 30 people could notice a loss:cry_smile: That was depressing:angry:

I'm still on liquids. I called my nutritionist this morning and whined at her. It's a good thing she has a charming southern accent and I love her. I was like, "mashed potatoes?....smooshed peas?.....cottage cheese? ....." Nope. Nope. Nope. Thank God, she called my nurse and they agreed to let me have some pureed stuff, Soups, etc. I had cream of wheat for dinner and it was SO GOOD. I've never had it before, but I savored every little bit. I can have grits. Not oatmeal, too many pieces. I can have yogurt, if I let it melt in my mouth before swallowing it. I think my surgeon is kind of strict. Pretty much anything pureed, but she doesn't want me to go down the smoothie road. She says it's too hard to stop.

Right now I would love to go make some more cream of wheat, but........I'm not hungry. I just want to eat. I just want to savor the flavor of something on my tongue. I'm ready to cook up this Lean Cuisine Ravioli, chew it, and then spit it out, just so that I can taste it!!! I need serious help.

Time to turn my thoughts to something besides for food. I think I'll start reading this Overeaters Anonymous book I just got in the mail.:thumbup:

Wow I thought my surgeon was strict:eek: We are on the same page with our surgery date, but I think I am a week ahead of you with the diet. I am on blended and strained soups, blended ff cottage cheese, low sugar yogurt, sf pudding...not really much else, with a Protein Shake in between these Liquid Protein meals along with Water and sf non carbonated drinks. I quess everyone is on different meal plans but in the end after the 7 week healing we all end up in the same boat:thumbup: You are doing great....look at that 28 lbs!:cursing:

Ugh, do I really have to say? :cursing:

B - Venti Chai from Starbucks (but it had 2% milk in it.....)

L - Crab Cake sandwich (only ate the crab cake) and bowl of Vegetable Beef Soup from Bear Rock Cafe

S - Lower Sugar Maple and Brown Sugar oatmeal, which I ate 2hrs after lunch cuz I was so hungry :tt2:

I've been drinking Crystal Light all day. Not hungry right now, but I will probably be chewing off my arm before 5p when it's time to go home, so I'll more than likely have my Chobani greek yogurt that's in the fridge, to tide me over until I can get home and have dinner around 6:30p once hubby gets home.

Dinner will probably be leftover Shephard's Pie, which is a layered casserole consisting of ground beef, green peas, cream corn, and mashed potatoes. I also put a nice big layer of cheddar cheese on top of the taters. It's so bad for me, but sooooo good, especially on a cold night - nice and hearty.

:scared2:Yes I know how you feel:tt1: It all sounds healthy I must say. I love Shepard's Pie! You could make that really healthy too with ground turkey mixed with 98% fat free cream soup. The vegis are fine but then use lower fat free shredded cheese. I bet it would taste really good like that too!!! I just had a sf vanilla pudding, for some reason I am not feeling any restriction today....:thumbup::ohmy::smile2:

Well if your goal is 83lbs lost, and you've lost 23lbs, that percentage is 27.7%!!!! Way to go!!!

Basically, take what you've lost (23) and divide that by the total you hope to lose (83) and then multiply by 100. That gives you your percentage!

(Sorry, I was a math major in college....:cursing: )

AHHHH Thank You! Yes that is a very positive way to look at our losses!

So girls what is on the menus today?? I have had:

For Breakfast:

1 blue bunny yogurt

1 chocolate Protein shake

For lunch:

1/2 c ff cottage cheese, and 1 c of ff cream of chicken soup

Percentages! I can dig it. After all, I am a Biggest Loser freak! :wink2:

I can't believe they're almost to the finale!

Pat has lots of good points! We have invested too much into this to mess it up!! Let's all stick together and I think we can do this. I had healthy choice bean and ham Soup last night with a sprinkle of ff shredded chedder on it, it was DELICIOUS of course only a 1/2 c and it was plenty. My surgeons office gave me a packet of what foods I can have with whatever week I am post op. This was one of the ideas on week two. Next week I can look forward to the ff refried Beans and blended tuna and canned chicken blended mixed with a little ff gravy. We all have to give eachothor ideas on soft foods until we can be safe with the solids!!!

I love the idea of the percentage. I am right behind you as I started at 263 lbs and am at 240. So 23 lost so far wanting to get down to 180 so 60 more lbs to go....what would that percentage be???:smile2:

So, Pat, does that mean you get to move on with your diet now???:wink2: Cause I'm gonna do whatever you do, girl! Unless, it's liquids for another week.

:smile2:LOL....LOL....me too I am moving up with you girls! Congratulations Pat!!

Ugh, I know what you mean about the shakes. I've been sticking to just a few flavors that I like and now I'm losing it.

Every doctor is so different with these diets! I am on full liquids for the first two weeks. Starting on the 10th, I'll be able to go to soft foods! :sad: I'm so freaking excited! I didn't even realize it until yesterday. I hadn't bothered to look at the menu, because I assumed it would be baby food type stuff. Chicken! :cursing: I'll be able to have chicken!!!

:tt2::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose:

:tt2: LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL! :cool2:

:rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose:

Yes see that is what I am saying....every surgeon has a different agenda for food menus for each week past surgery. Now why would I want to follow mine when Heather is allowed chicken sooner...:lol::lol::laugh::laugh:and doing well too!!!