derbygirl

Katina, I am in my 6th week. I love Chinese, but I wouldn't have attempted that just yet. Of course, the Chinese foods I love are deep fried and smothered in sugary sauces. I keep to fairly simple recipes most of the time, but I did have a slice of pizza Hut thin and crispy pizza this weekend and did fine. I also made meat sauce this weekend which I would ordinarily pour over spaghetti, but I just ate the sauce and made it really meaty so I'd get lots of Protein. There are a million ideas. You might try checking out some websites for low-carb diets. The recipes there will give you lots of protein.

This IS a great thread...I wish I could load you guys up and take you to the grocery store with me!!!

Hey, I forgot something REALLY CRUCIAL...making it SIX things instead of FIVE... Yoplait chocolate Mousse Whips OMG, so good :faint:

I wonder if maybe I just need a new crockpot? Do some of them get hotter than others? After 8 hours on high, mine wasn't even CLOSE to falling off the bone.

Hey, I posted a Sausage-Mushroom Dressing over in the food/recipes section. It is GREAT...I am not kidding...and I am a picky eater. The recipe uses mushrooms instead of breading. Check it out! I'm making some to take with me on Thursday.

I think it was nice of the manager. Here's another reason to tell: They're going to find out from someone and it may not be you. I told my HR person, who I ASSUMED was bound to confidentiality. Well, she didn't tell anyone in the office (that I know of), but she did tell a former employee who keeps in touch with everyone at the office. Needless to say, the cat is out of the bag. I had planned on telling people I had surgery after they started asking what I was doing to lose weight. I just wanted a few months without the nosey questions and food policing and all the other things that come with telling people you're on a diet. So, go on, tell everyone. You might as well be the one to spread it around.

I'm kind of glad to hear that it's going to happen no matter what because I have really struggled to take in 80 grams of protein each day and I've been worrying about it. It's hard to remember to drink that protein drink at exactly the right time so it doesn't come too close after one meal or too close to the next.

I'm a cash patient and I feel like I've sacrified everything, financially, to have this lapband surgery. Before the surgery I was concerned that I'd need a lot of support for the weight loss journey, but it seems like that's been the easy part. I'm in a position where I need to sell my house and rent an apartment. And because of that I'm having to find a new home for my pets. I'm getting calls from creditors, which is something I've never had to deal with...and they make you feel like an awful person...like you're trying to pull something over on them. I don't feel like having this surgery was a mistake, but this is a major consequence that I didn't anticipate. Is anyone else dealing with this? I'm really depressed and could use some cheering up. I can't even afford therapy now. :tired

No, I didn't thaw the turkey, but I cooked it for 8 hours. It was thawed after a couple, so I don't think it would have reached 170 no matter how long I cooked it in the crockpot. Good luck to everyone who is planning to use the crockpot, but be sure to use your meat thermometer. You might need to finish it off in the oven. And thanks for the tip about the Rachel Ray website!

Before I was diagnosed with diabetes, I started having foot pain, not knowing that was a symptom. I always assumed it was stress from my weight causing the pain. My blood sugars have come down since the surgery, and for a couple of weeks post-surgery, my foot pain went away. But it's back now and I'm wondering...will it go away as I lose weight? Or is this permanent damage? Is anyone here currently dealing with this problem, and if so, how do you manage the pain? Or if you have had this problem in the past and no longer have it as an issue, please speak up.

Today is the first time I've forgotten to bring my lunch with me to work. I live an hour from my office--I can't just run home. I have nobody to eat lunch with, so I don't want to go to a "real" restaurant. So it brings up an interesting question.... What can I swing through a drive-through and buy that's healthy and tolerable for me...and has a good amount of Protein? Suggestions...? :rolleyes And don't say a grilled chicken sandwich without the bun because that stuff's like plastic and I'd have to chew it for like 2 weeks before swallowing it.

Lisa, have you told your doc that you're constantly PBing? He might be able to help you figure out why it keeps happening.

These are great ideas...especially sex. Thanks, guys!

Jack, or anyone else who is familiar, How long does it take to know if the food you just ate is going to stick? Up to an hour? Immediately? I haven't gotten stuck yet and I'm anxious about it. Sometimes I swallow something and think, "oh no...I didn't chew that well enough" and then I sit there and dread whatever this "stuck" feeling is going to feel like.

What's the verdict on salad dressing/mayonnaise? I know that Atkins followers prefer the real deal vs. Miracle Whip due to sugar content. Should I follow that same line of thinking? I really prefer Light Miracle Whip. Maybe I shouldn't be eating it at all? Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks for the tip. Can you get the veggies to carmelize in stock? I think I'm going to try half stock and half oil. And maybe fat-free margarine next time.

I tried the turkey today. It never reached 170 on the meat thermometer, even though I cooked it on high for 8.5 hours. It might have been fine, but I didn't want to risk it. Also, my crockpot might not get as hot as some. Anyway, I finally just pulled the meat off of the bone, put it in a baking dish and stuck it in the oven on 350. Wasn't done in time for dinner, but it will be ready tomorrow. Fortunately, I had made some chicken and mushroom stuffing that was to die for. So that became my dinner. I posted the recipe in the recipe forum. It takes a little time, but wow...it's amazing.

I buy Egg Beaters in the 3-pack because each of those is exactly 4 ounces. So on the weekends, I spray a saucepan with Pam, pour one of those in and just a little skim milk, salt and pepper. Cook it on medium high and stir it constantly. You'll get wet scrambled eggs...and if you add a piece of 2% American cheese, you can get a little extra Protein. It's quick and easy. On the weekdays I struggle with breakfast. I am not a morning person and will not get up in time to cook anything, no matter how simple. I like to take some whipped yogurt with me to the office or a really ripe banana. Or both. I'm going to look for those frozen scrambled eggs someone mentioned though because I didn't know they made such, and it sounds like a great option.

Sherilynn, I was feeling the exact same way you are just about a month ago. I was diagnosed 2 weeks before surgery. But you will find that those blood sugar numbers will plummet within a couple of weeks after surgery. I was between 160-190 pre-surgery. And now, four weeks out, I average 105. Don't sweat it. And, if by chance, the numbers don't fall fast enough for your primary doc, you'll just have to take a pill everyday until they do get in the right range. Everything will be fine. You're doing EXACTLY what you need to be doing to get your diabetes under control by having this surgery. Good luck!

I was banded less than 3 weeks ago, and everything has been going fine, but for some reason I'm depressed. Has anyone else experienced this? I don't know what to do. I don't even know why I'm depressed, but I'm sitting here crying for absolutely no reason and I haven't been able to drag myself to work in two days. Is this common?

I want to thank everyone for posting their experiences and helpful suggestions on this topic, and I especially want to thank Kathy. Girl, this is EXACTLY how I'm feeling right now. I lost weight like crazy, beginning with the pre-op diet....30 pounds in 3 weeks. I was psyched! Then I waited 10 days before weighing again...and I had only lost 3 more pounds. I felt like I was eating next to nothing, of course, and my hunger was beginning to return, so I WAS starting to wonder if I'd made a mistake by spending every last dime I had on this surgery. Thank you so much for letting me know that this is a completely normal situation. :nervous

Please let us know how it went. I have my first fill in a couple of weeks and I'm nervous, too.

I did a search on this topic because I'm sure it's been done a million times before, but it came up negative. Please post your favorite Protein supplement. Thanks so much from a new bander! :girl_hug:

Also, does anyone eat protein bars? I'm looking for something I can grab on my way out the door in the morning..or eat at the office.

Vegas mentioned Isopure. Both she and my surgeon claimed that Isopure has 40 grams of protein. But the ones I've picked up only have 20. Are there different kinds and strengths??