isaviolinist

I love eating out too. I try to look at the menu before we go so I can know what I want (and what modifications I'm going to ask for). There is a steakhouse that we like locally (I don't eat red meat, so I always get seafood at steakhouses) and I always order the steamed Alaskan King Crab Legs. Instead of the drawn butter that normally comes with them, I ask for the green onion aioli that comes with crab cakes. A pound of king crab legs usually yields about 7 ounces of meat, so the crab legs are around 190 calories, 3g of fat, no carbs of course, and 38 grams of Protein. I use a little less than one tablespoon of aioli which is probably 70 calories, 7.5g of fat, and no carbs or protein. So altogether its a 260 calorie meal, 7.5g of fat, carb free, and a whopping 38 g of protein. Crab legs are great because you can't scarf them down (as you have to crack the meat out of the shell which can take some time). You really have to take your time (which also makes each bite more enjoyable). I don't eat red meat, pork, or poultry so I've become an expert at ordering seafood at restaurants (which is generally the healthier option anyways). I always ask how many ounces the fish is (that way if its 8 ounces, I know how much I'm eating if I eat half or 3/4s of the dish) and I always ask for it to be prepared without ANY fat (yep, its totally possible to broil a fish without a stick of butter or a cup of oil). If there is an option to steam or poach the fish, that's generally pretty safe. I stay away from anything pan seared. I also avoid dishes that are "encrusted", "breaded", etc. If the dish comes with some kind of sauce on top (especially a cream or butter-based sauce) I ask for it on the side (or just not at all). I do all of this, even in fancy restaurants (I honestly don't care if offend the chef). Its not that I won't eat foods that are pan-seared or macadamia-nut encrusted, as I don't restrict what I eat (this isn't a diet), I just prefer to make them at home so I can control the portions and the calorie content.

I don't restrict what food I eat or don't eat. To me, that is another diet which has failed me time and time again prior to getting my band. I count my calories anally, and I know that if I want to have a dessert or some other "special" food (like if we are going to the movies and I know I'm going to want some candy), I'll need to budget my calories for that. One thing that is important to consider however: binge eating or overeating are different stories than indulging in a treat, mindfully, now and again. I'm in therapy for binge eating disorder. When I do have a treat, he nice thing is, now, instead of eating a piece of cake the size of my head with 9 scoops of ice cream on top (and then going back for seconds without thinking twice), I'm generally okay with a small piece of cake and a small scoop of ice cream (and if I want more, and I have the calories to spend, I'm cool with having a little more). Case in point: last night, we decided we wanted to have dessert and I had 500 calories left for the day, so I had some ice cream. And I didn't beat myself up about it either and I stayed within my calorie range. When we do that, if I'm still feeling down about something I ate, instead of eating MORE to comfort myself, I do something productive about it, which usually involves spending an extra 30 minutes at the gym, or taking my cross training class AND a spinning class that day. Today, I'll probably do 90 minutes of cardio at the gym, instead of the usual hour. That way, there is never any reason to worry that I'm consuming more than I'm burning. It used to be that if I consumed under 4000 calories a day, that was a pretty good day, as I was generally probably consuming at least 5000 calories a day and not exercising at all. Nowadays, on a really good day, I burn 2000 calories more than what I consume, and on a "bad" day, I burn 700-1000 calories more than I consume. Its wonderful that now, on the bad days, I'm still at a significant deficit. So yes, you will be able to indulge and eat the foods you like. And if you play it correctly, you'll be able to do that and lose weight at the same time. Good luck!

Your PCP sounds gross, and sounds like she clearly has worked out a deal with this other surgeon and his WLS program that financially benefits both of them. Since you are not interested in that program, she is not interested in you. Really gross. I would immediately find a new PCP.

I'm a binge eater too. I'm seeing an eating disorder therapist for it. I lost almost 80 pounds initially with the lapband. I then was filled just a little too tight and started eating foods that would slide right through my band (namely, milkshakes and ice cream) because eating had become so cumbersome and I was throwing up a lot. That lead to full on binge eating for the better part of a year. I regained almost 50 pounds bingeing on milkshakes and ice cream (and sometimes mac and cheese...for some reason that also usually slides right through which is unusual). I have since lost all of the weight I regained plus more and am working hard in therapy to try and recover from my eating disorder, but its not easy and the evening is always very challenging for me (I can go the whole day without thinking about food...the nighttime is a different story). I think for binge eaters, it is possible to eat around any WLS. Binge eating is a mental issue, and the only way to fix it is to deal with the issues in your head. WLS won't really effect it very much, in my experience. I don't regret regaining 50 pounds, as it was a learning experience, but I do wish I had started going to therapy prior to getting the band. In hindsight, that would've been a great idea (although I'm grateful for my therapist now and it was the right time to start seeing her). Overall, I would say the lapband has worked for me. Despite still struggling with binge eating, I have completely changed the way I look at food. I've lost almost 90 pounds (I probably have about 50 to go...but I focus more on my body composition - body fat percentage - more than scale weight...the last thing I want to do is start burning lean mass in order to see a number on the scale). And I'm officially a gym rat (that's the last thing I ever though I'd be). So yes, the band has worked for me but I have also put in the work, and it was hard (definitely not an easy fix). My best advice is to start seeing a therapist first (or go to an OA meeting...OA isn't for me, but I know it has worked for many many people), and then look into lapband surgery.

I haven't gotten a fill in a long time, but I always did 2 days of Clear Liquids (first day was the day of the fill), 2 days full liquids, 2 days mushies, and then back to solids. The reason why is because sometimes the stomach gets irritated due to the adjustment so its good to give it a rest before putting food in it. Im sure all doctors have different post-fill protocol though. If you're feeling sore, perhaps you should consult your doctor about it. If you've had chronic soreness for months in your chest, you should definitely consult your doc.

Oh cool! I'm glad you found it! Thanks for reading it PBing is what everyone said - productive burp. You "burp" and whatever was stuck (or otherwise just not wanting to be in your pouch) comes up. Its not like throwing up in that its not coming from your lower stomach (although there is still stomach acid in it so make sure you brush your teeth afterward if it happens....I come from a family of dentists, so I'm extra careful/paranoid about these things ) and generally it comes up fairly easily (there's no wretching, and its more like a burp...hence the name) but its still not great for the band. Sliming is also what it sounds like. When food is stuck, your body naturally makes a lubricant. Its pretty slimy (if you ever PB it up, i kind of looks like a jelly fish) but its trying to help the food pass through. Its your body's natural reaction. Here is a crabcake recipe from my blog (this one is adapted from Bariatric Eating and is breadcrumb-free): Breadcrumbless Crabcakes This is another crabcake recipe from awhile back that I had posted. Its also really yummy with a little bit more calories (but still not much to be honest): Maryland-style Crabcakes (with panko breadcrumbs) I like both recipes - let me know if you try either one of them out!!

I was scared - and then I let my fear run me and sabotage my efforts and regained 50 pounds. I since have taken back control of ME so that my fear isn't driving the bus anymore, and have lost all I gained back plus some. Gaining back almost 50 pounds was actually a learning experience for me and while it sucked at the time, and it was annoying having to re-lose the weight, I'm thankful for the experience as I'm much stronger now. Im not always that confident (and am working hard in therapy to continue taking back control of my head) and I definitely falter from time to time (and sometimes MORE often than time to time), but I just have a different feeling inside of me that knows that my weight loss (and just as importantly, my fitness) goals are completely attainable and not that far off, actually. Beforehand, the thought that I could lose weight was completely unrealistic to me and I couldn't fathom being thin. Now I know that it will happen and I feel comfortable with it.

My blog is also in my signature! I love reading blogs...definitely helps me to hear others' experiences!

I didn't lose 15 pounds the first week after surgery, but when I got back on track in Sept with my food and exercise I lost 11 pounds in the first week. Probably a lot was water weight, but definitely not all of it. Just be excited for the loss and don't worry about it Congrats!

I probably wouldn't consider crab cakes mushy (they're kind of in the same category as like a salmon burger maybe...which isnt as solid as a piece of meat or something, but its definitely not mushy). I love crab cakes and make them a lot, but I still sometimes get stuck when I eat them. I don't usually order them at restaurants because they rarely bake them, they always pan fry them, and there is often ingredients that I don't want to waste calories on in restaurant crab cakes, especially when I can make really delicious ones at home. Sometimes when we go to a steakhouse I order them, but I just have to conserve my calories for them if I want to have them out to eat. Anyhow, I probably wouldnt call them mushy. Mushy is more like mashed potato consistency. If you put the crabcake in a food processor for a few seconds (gross lol) it would be mushy.

We belong to a cross training class (which includes body composition assessments every 6 weeks, nutritional counseling/guidance, and access to prehab/physical and sport injury therapy whenever we need) , a spinning class and planet fitness. I'm a big supporter of joining a gym and/or class. The other people in the class are helpful for motivation and if I don't come to class/the gym, people start wondering where I am (its easier to go when people are expecting you to be there). I love belonging to a few different ones because I'm never bored and actually look forward to working out. The reason we joined planet fitness is because its open 24/7, I can bring a guest anytime (that's the 20/month membership) so my fiance doesn't need a membership, and when I travel or go home to visit my family I can use that PF for free. There are other places in the area that probably offer more things (classes, swimming, etc) but the 24/7 hours and ability to use any PF anywhere sold me. And since there are SO many machines, even at peak hours, you never have to wait for an elliptical or arc trainer, which is wonderful.

Best of luck!! Get lots of rest and walk as much as possible!

I don't eat poultry or red meat (or pork), but sometimes fish, if its not flaky or moist, has a really hard time going down (like swordfish...or any other "meaty" fish). So I really only eat flaky fish (salmon, cod, turbot, mackerel, etc.). I can't even imagine trying to eat steak or chicken (except for maybe dark meat...I would imagine white meat would get stuck on the first bite). I guess just take the tiniest bites and really chew until its mush!

I had a smattering of random things for "lunch" - some cheese (about 1.25 ounces), a tablespoon of guacamole on a chip (supermarket samples...gotta love em), a banana. And for dinner we broiled a whole Spanish Mackerel. It was delicious - pepper, sea salt, and some lemon. I ate about 4 ounces and had some kimchi on the side. Yum!

Sorry for the late post! I had a crazay day Well earlier in this week I hit onederland (199.8). Today I'm back at 200.8. Oh well. I'm sure I'll see onederland again soon So I'm starting this challenge today at 200.8!

I'm in therapy for my binge eating disorder which always takes over at night unfortunately, just like everyone else. I try to tell myself that all the food I'm craving will still be there tomorrow - its not necessary to eat everything right now. And of course, my band is so loose at night (yet I cant eat anything before 3-4 in the afternoon). Head hunger and compulsive eating are really difficult issues and I've not found that the band takes away my head issues. Hoping therapy will help me.

I don't drink soda anymore - my doc told me it was off limits so I just stopped and don't really miss it. When we got engaged however, my fiance had sparkling ice wine (he forgot about the carbonation) and I took a few sips and was fine. But I don't make it a habit.

I'm not at my computer but I'm in (many of you know how much I LOVE these challenges ). I'm going to try for 16 pounds. Ill add myself to the spreadsheet when I get home!

Congrats on your success! How inspirational! I can't wait to be a size 6! I can't even imagine it. Thanks for posting

Basically, the recipe for losing weight is consume fewer calories than you're burning on a daily basis. I don't know how many calories your mom burns daily, but assuming she burns 2000 without exercise (which is just the average...everyone is different and there are many different factors which contribute to how many calories a person burns daily), if she eats 1000 calories daily, she'll have a deficit of 7000 calories per week (1000 calories per day). That's about 2 pounds per week. I lost 80 pounds initially without doing very much exercise. I slipped back into old habits and regained about 50. I then relost the 50 plus some via healthy eating and TONS of exercise and I feel like a different person than I did when I lost without exercising. Exercise is very helpful and while you can lose without it, I think its great to try and do some. You feel WAY better and it helps me stay motivated.

Hi Bayla - I'm not sure if this question was directed at me specifically, but I'll answer I eat between 850-1000 calories a day (when I don't cheat a little lol). But I think this is pretty individual for everyone (and always good to check with your surgeon and/or nutritionist to see what they recommend). I know many on here eat 1200 a day and some even more than that. Before exercise, I generally burn a little less than 2000 calories a day, and I try to burn at least 1000 calories a day via exercise. My scale weight varies week to week but over the long run, on average, I lose 3 scale pounds a week (but one week I might lose 1 pound and then the next week it might be 5 pounds...the scale is a tricky thing). But more importantly, my body fat % has decreased immensely. My first goal is 22% body fat, which would put me in the healthy range, and I'll find out tomorrow where I'm at, but I should be at 29ish% at this point. Counting calories (I use fitday.com...there isn't a BB app for it, but I just log in via my blackberry web browser and can log my food anywhere that I am) and exercising like a crazy lady has really worked for me. I had regained 50 pounds at one point and it was because I started eating slider foods because my band was a bit too tight. I wouldn't have it filled anymore - but perhaps a slight unfill? I never had my band unfilled - I just tried to chew better and make better choices (which is working for me now...I also probably have lost some fat around my stomach which has helped). But I do know that I got to a point where eating became so cumbersome and I was throwing everything up, so I started making friends with milkshakes again. We became real close, real fast. 50 pounds later, I decided to get back on track. Anyhow, I love calorie counting. At some point, perhaps I'll be able to be less stringent about it (when I get to maintenance maybe?) but for now, part of repairing my relationship with food is being very aware of whats going in my mouth. And as Jachut said, its so easy to have food amnesia when I don't log (by the way Jachut, I knew you were having a procedure and then I didn't see you around for awhile, so I'm glad you're back!! I was a little worried).

Sorry I didn't see those last two responses because LBT was not working for me - but thank you so much for the encouragement everyone!!!

I laughed out loud at the vegas buffet comment lol. My band is the same way. I don't even try to eat anything in the morning anymore. Puking everyday got old fast so I won't even attempt breakfast or a solid lunch. I have a protein shake at noon and then dinner anywhere between 6-8:30PM. Sometimes when we eat dinner earlier (closer to 6) I still get stuck. However if we eat dinner at 7 (or my band just decides to loosen up earlier) I can eat anything and everything. I usually always have a REALLY healthy dinner. I love cooking and am very innovative with recipes. I'm always satisfied after dinner which is usually 2-6 ounces of protein...I don't eat pork, red meat, or poultry, so my protein is always seafood or soy protein and sometimes legumes. Occasionally I have a veggie and rarely do I have a carb (although I don't limit myself...if I want to eat some rice or pasta or potato I do...I'm not a restricter). However after dinner, I am generally able to eat EVERYTHING. And since my binge eating is SO BAD at night its often a recipe for disaster (and this issue isnt really about my band...its my head). Its a bummer but thats just how my band works. If I were a binger in the morning, that habit would quickly be broken. Anyhow, Im just trying to work with it. And therapy is helping. Im rarely ACTUALLY hungry at night. Its almost all in my head.

To Alex or anyone who has any kind of control over the website - I have been clicking on the new content button for the past 2 days and it keeps coming up with "Sorry, there is no new content to display". There is no way for me to see new content other than going through each sub forum individually. I love posting and contributing to LBT but I don't want to go through every forum individually. Is there a solution? I really like LBT but I'm thinking of finding a more user-friendly WLS forum. If anyone is paying attention to these concerns, I'd appreciate a response so at least I know someone knows about it and is/is not working on it.

I just registered for another website. I do hope LBT gets it together. If it does, I'll definitely be more active on here again. Alex also doesn't really seem to care or be around (aside from posting news stories...I'd much rather have answers and solutions to website problems than news stories). Anyhow, I'll see how the new site goes. Seems more user friendly than the current LBT.