Lisa73

LOL- that made my day! :thumbup:

I just made this recipe for the first time. The recipe came from Hungry Girl Cookbook. Yum Yum Brownie Muffins Serving 1 muffin, 181 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, 357mg sodium, 37g carbs, 2g Fiber, 20g sugar, 2g Protein. Ingredients: 1 box of boxed devils chocolate cake mix (about 18 0z) 1 15oz can pure pumkin Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees Mix the two ingrediants together. Don't add the eggs, oil or Water mentioned on the cake box. Batter will be thick. Place batter into 12-cup muffin pan lined with baking cups and sprayed with nonstick spray. Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. I thought these were really good I make all kinds of Desserts from the finished muffins almost like you would use pound cake for different things. My picky 4 year old daughter even ate one without any icing I could't believe it.

Laughing Cow Cheese also makes a great alfredo sauce for chicken or pasta, just add one Light Garlic and Herb wedge with a little milk and melt in the micro. I like the fact that I can just make one serving at a time.

I also understand your frustration I have hardly lost any weight compared to the others on this site. Just until the last two weeks I was under the impression the band was just going to to the work for me wow! was I wrong. I have started to really follow the rules. - Do not drink with meals -Eat low calorie and low fat foods that are healthy, -Drink 64 oz Water and exercise daily. Now I weigh and count every calorie and jounal my food daily. I thought those days were over. I did not want to put the time into it, but I realize now you have to. I have to honestly say that it's starting to work I have lost 5 lbs in the last ten days and it will work for you, just start to really be honest with yourself and you will start to realize why you are not loosing and then you can begin a fresh start. I am setting a 10 lbs goal I cannot think about the 100lbs I have to lose right now, that seems impossible to me. I can only focus on 10 lbs at a time. 10lbs Goal 10 times = 100lbs. I can do that!

My friend's insurance has the exact same thing ( I Can Change Diet)just be aware that the six months will not start until you acquire thier insurance form and your doctor fills it out, signs it and returns it to them and if you lose enough weight that your BMI falls below what is requred they may not authorize the surgery.

Hello, I'm in Alton, Illinois but drive over to St. Louis for my fills to the SSM Weight-Loss Institite in Bridgeton Mo at DePaul Hospital. They have two different support groups theres one for bandsters and one for gastric bypass patients they have monthly meetings I've heard they are very helpful the number is 1-314-344-6800. I would love to attend one of the support groups just been really busy.

Get that junk food out of the house or ask your family to keep in a place that you don't have to look at it. Out of sight out of mind.

Time Of the Month

Dragonflylover, I understand and totally agree with you. I always express how I feel to my doctor, but my doctor is really going to do what he feels is best regarding my fills. Some doctors are going to be aggressive with fills and some are going to be conservative theres nothing you can do to change that. I have decided that I can not loose any weight while I am waiting for restriction or I can just diet like I would before the band and loose some weight while waiting for the restriction. I also have not been exercising or counting calories. I know after reading on this forum that the ones who are loosing are exercising and counting calories that is just the truth. I joined a gym over the weekend and started journaling my food, Water and exercise. I know now thats the only way its going to happen for me. I measure my food and stop eating once the food is gone I may not be stuffed but the hunger is gone and in between waiting for my next meal I drink, drink, drink water. The weight will come off just be patient it will happen for you and me to. Lisa Banded 10-7-09 Starting wt 242lbs Current wt 228.4

Well I am not a picky eater but I can say I usually hate fat free foods you also need to keep in mind this is a meatless product. I think the texture and flavor is excellent for a meatless product, and yes I eat meat all the time I just love the convience of this product. You really do have to dress this product up a bit like the meat patties I always add fat free cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle and ketchup on a grilled bun. I am still careful to read the labels some of thier options are still a little high in fat in my opinion but when you compare it to a fast food burger or thier chicken patty to a fried chicken sandwich you really do come out ahead.

Hello to everyone I was banded in Bridgeton Missouri at SSM Weight-Loss Institute by Dr. De La Torres I would love to talk with you all and see how aggressive or conservative you feel like your fills are. Lisa Banded 10-7-09 Starting Wt 242lbs, Current Wt 228.4 No restriction yet next fill 2-25-10.

Jachut, thanks so much for your post on Satiety I never knew this and I have really been strugling thinking I was doing something wrong when I call the nurse office they tell me it's typical to loose weight slowly but I think my weight loss is ridiculously slow I guess in a way I have been doing something wrong always waiting for that sence of fullness while I am eating. I will have a new approach now when I sit down to eat a meal. Thanks, Lisa :frown: Banded: 10-7-09 Starting Wt 242lbs. Current Wt 228.4 No restriction yet, only 2 fills with a total of 4cc. in a realize band.

I eat a lot of Bocca products I like them because they are alot lower in calories and fat then regular meat and I enjoy the fact that the product is already pre-cooked and measured (if you purchase the patties) when I buy the Bocca Crumbles I usually eat that with low carb wraps. I got this one recipe from HungryGirl.com It's one low carb wrap with Bocca Crumbles, 2 tbsp of chopped dill pickles, 1 slice of fat free cheese and a couple squirts of ketchup. I don't know why but I love this wrap I guess I get tired of chicken and turkey all the time. Banded 10-7-09, Start Wt:242lbs., Current Wt:228.4, Goal Wt:130lbs. Total of 4cc. No restriction yet. Going for a fill this Thursday.

Could you wear control top underwear or a light girdle?

I would love to join I just seen this, but I would love to do a six week challenge I have no restriction and have not been doing very well so yesterday me and my dh joined a gym I am really hoping this will jump start my weight loss. I am not sure what to put as a goal for six weeks maybe 10lbs. Thanks, Lisa Banded 10-7-09, starting wt 242.0, current wt 228.4, Goal 130.0 Easter Challenge Starting 2/15/10. Six Week Challenge .

Irishbookworm How are things going for you have you had a fill and how much did you get? Lisa (Dr De La Torre's patient from DePaul.)

Oh thats a good one. I like that alot! :biggrin: Lisa.

It is really great to hear all the encouragement I also decided to buy 2 cook books that focus on eating 200 calories at time several times throught out the day I really like them alot most of the recipes are single serving which is great because my hb and daughter are really picky eaters and I love everthing. They are by Lisa Lillien Titled Hungry Girl and they have been life saving for me. They have a really great website to hungry-girl.com I really encouge everyone to check it out you will not regret it. I heard about this on the Rachel Ray Show it was very impressive. I bought mine at Target the first one is tiltled Hungry Girl 200 under 200 and the other one is Hungry Girl Recipes and survival strategies for guilt free eating in the real world. I love everything so far and nothing is time consuming to make. Thanks again Lisa.

I also feel the same way I was banded Oct 2009 no pre-op diet required and as of today I have only lost 12 lbs. I was really counting on the restriction to loose the weight I called the nurse to discuss this with her and she said I may not feel restriction until the 5th or 6th fill. I have only had to 2 fills with a total of 4cc. and she said the doctor was being fairly aggressive with my fills. I didn't realize I was going to have to reley this much on will power. I feel thats why I am overweight is because I don't have the willpower. I am glad I have the band but I have accepted that this is going to take a long time to reach goal. Lisa :smile:

I asked the nurse what they do in that case and she says the put a large disposable pad under you during surgery it happens all the time they are use to it. Lisa

AirForce.Wife congratulations on your new band :scared2:! I hope your doing well. I was banded in October just now realizing I need to exercise and watch what I eat more the band is not going to do all the work for me.

My fill went well, I think I got 2 cc's I still have a pretty big appetite Dr. Morales reminded me this is a slow process he wants me to only loose 1/2 to 1 pound a week. At that rate it will take me 2 1/2 -3 years to loose a hundred pounds. Well it's better than nothing. Lisa

I also purchased vitamins from Bariatric Advantage and I do not like them at all. The daily vitamin is really tart and the calcium crystals make your water taste like vitamins, I put my calcium crystals in a half cup of crystal light/juice and drink it. I have to dissolve it in a little tap water first otherwise it will not dissolve in a cold drink straight from the fridge. I am having my first fill tomarrow I am really excited about that. I have read on this sight others stating that when it's their time of the month the band gets tighter, and I will have to say thats going to be true for me also. I will try to not schedule my fill for the same time next month to avoid being extremely tight. Lisa

Now that the swelling has gone down and I can consume a large amount of liquid again Iam finding it difficult to keep my protein shakes low calorie when I am adding the fruit and sunflower butter. I have stopped the fruit, that saves about 100 calories. I read on another web site (bell plantation, inc. -pb2 powered peanut butter) about peanut butter powder that is low calorie and low fat and is really good, you just add it to your own protein powder drink, I want to order some of that. I know that I will drink a protein drink for breakfast the rest of my life, since I will never be able to eat that much protein in a day so I might as well have some variety. Let me know what you think of your vitamins I hate mine and the calcium crystals have a bad after taste I wish I would of ordered the chocolate chews. I put my calcium crystals in crystal light that helps a little I cannot stand it in plain water. Lisa