jowens@mnat.com

Thank you all for sharing your experiences and giving me encouragement and support. I am going to increase my calorie intake and see how it goes.

Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery: Over 140 Delicious Low-Fat, High-Protein recipes to Enjoy in the Weeks, Months and Years after Surgery (Paperback) Book Description A Whole New and Completely Delicious Way to Eat after Weight Loss Surgery After her weight loss surgery in 2003, Patt Levine knew she would have to stick to a very restrictive diet, but there had to be something better than the "totally tasteless mush" her post-op food guidelines recommended. Levine put her cooking skills to work and now, in Eating Well after Weight Loss Surgery, she and collaborator Michele Bontempo-Saray offer over 140 original, low-fat, high-protein recipes that taste just as delicious pureed and chopped as they do served whole, so you can enjoy flavorful, satisfying meals through every stage of your post-op eating program and cook for your family and friends—all at the same time. These mouth-watering dishes, which cover everything from Breakfast to dessert, include: Crustless Spinach and cheese Quiche * BBQ-Baked chicken * Asian Turkey Dumplings * Cider-Glazed Pork Chops * London Broil with Horseradish Cream Moussaka * Salmon with Creamy Lime-Dill Sauce * Scallops Provencale * Orange-Ginger Tofu * Vegetable Frittata * Southwestern Tomato Soup * No-Noodle Zucchini Lasagna * Basic Cheesecake * Apricot and strawberry smoothie Complete with advice from a certified nutritionist, helpful tips for stocking your pantry and refrigerator, and nutritional analyses for each recipe, Eating Well after Weight Loss Surgery is guaranteed to make eating a true pleasure and help you maintain your weight loss for years to come.

Hello May Crew! I was banded May 25th and I lost 20 pounds in the first 3 1/2 weeks. In the last 12 days since then, I have lost no weight at all and have even seen the scale go up an additional two pounds. I have been doing the Protein shakes along with mushy foods. I have been afraid to go to 100% food for fear of overeating because I feel no restriction so I am hanging onto the Protein drinks. I can't believe I haven't dropped any weight and may have even gained a few pounds with as little calories as I am consuming which I guess is around 800 - 900 calories. HELP.

How about low-carb pasta? Check out Dreamfields http://www.dreamfieldsfoods.com/index.html

I take five pills per day and am required to crush them. I started out putting the powder into applesauce but the bitterness got old fast. Now I take about 2oz of V8 juice and disolve the powder as much as possible. Then I swallow it quickly which prevents me from hardly tasting what is going down.

Wondering what amount is normal for a first fill. I am 6 weeks out and next week I am having my first fill. I have started to feel hungry so I know it is time. I am concerned about getting enough of a fill to cut back on my hunger.

I was back in my underwires within a week of surgery. The underwire actually worked better for me because it got the weight off of my stomach. The underwire rested above my top incision so there was no realy complication after the initial soreness subsided.

Hello All I was banded 30 days ago and I have lost 20.5 lbs. I had my surgery in Wilmington Delaware and my insurance (BCBS of DE) covered the procedure and aftercare. I had a very positive experience with my physician and the hospital. I am hoping to get my first fill in two weeks. I am currently taking Protein shakes and drinks along with occasional mushy or bleneded foods. I am going very slow as I do not want to test my band or my willpower at this point. I did get a gag reflex from all the creamed Soups and milkshake-like Protein Drinks so now I am taking Isopure, nectar as they are more like juices. Struggling with the exercise but hoping to establish a workout routine this weekend as my doctor has given me the okay. My wounds are healing very well and I am not upset about the minor scarring that will be left. I am very glad to have the lapband and I look forward to becoming more healthy in the coming months. Joly