Padanelle

I hope this is how the quote thingy works...I'm sorry if I screw this up forgive me in advance!! ok...100X safer? i dont think so. I know people who have all of the various surgeries, and we've talked about it at length. I almost had the bypass and Im beginning to wish I had. all of the different operations have their risks, but im quite certain that none of them are "100X" safer than any of the others. where did you find a number like that? im really curious. Terry banded Paril 2009

Very sorry for my typo. It should have read '10x', not 100.

Spanx or similar brands won't 'cure' saggy skin, but they will smooth out the lumps and slim your measurements a bit while you are wearing them.

The calorie/protein count seems a bit high. You really should contact your nutritionist or surgeon. Everyone's needs are different, based on their weight and activity level. It is very normal for your weight loss to plateau, and I don't believe your body is in starvation mode if you are eating the proper amount of Protein. Be patient, and stick to yout nut's guidlines.

Good luck!

Check with your doctor, as the pre-op diets really vary a LOT. Some surgeons don't require any diet, or only for a few days. Mine was 2 weeks of shakes + 2 cups a veggies p/day that included at least 50 g Protein, no more than 35g fat and 1,000 calories.

I wore Spanx before surgery, but have not since - no particular reason, but probably because my clothes fit so much better now.

I've lost a little over 40 lbs, and so far my skin has not been sagging. I don't know if that will still be the case when I reach goal. Since the surgery, I have been using Jergens Firming Lotion once or twice a day. I'm not sure if its helping, but I do have very soft skin now. lol.

Padanelle - Thanks for all the ifo about the powder Protein. I will try to stop by GNC and see if they carry it. Can I find greek yogurt in the the yogurt section?

Thanks,

unjury can only be bought online: www.unjury.com

You can get the Greek yougurt at most supermarkets. I like Fage brand 0%. Its great mixed with fruit. I also add different spices and creat a sauce for dry meats/fish.

- ... I am going to buy some Protein powder too to add to Soup or yogurt. There are so many out there that I don't know which one taste good.

I am going to talk to the DT again today and sees what she said.

powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury makes and unflavored and chicken broth flavor Protein powder which is pretty good. If you don't want to buy the whole container, they sell samples.

Also, I highly recommend Fage FF Greek yogurt. It has 20g protein p/cup and tastes great.

Kartman - Thanks for all the info. You're right about finding something I like to get me motivated. Unfortunately, I have had no success with joining gyms. I have wasted so many memberships, going for the first month and not continuing.

I've been looking into WII. My friend has it and invited me to try it before I spend the money and it becomes another dust collector. I have had several different brands of treadmills over the years that becam good clothes racks.

I have done well with exercise videos. Zumba sounds like fun. I may bring out some of my old Jane Fonda & Richard Simmons tapes (I'm dating myself) and see how it goes.

My favorite recipe site is epicurious.com

Here's a link to a quick & easy recipe. Be sure to read the reviews, as they have good suggestions.

Light Refried Black Beans Recipe at Epicurious.com

They suggest topping with sour cream, but I recommend FF Greek yogurt - tastes like sour cream & is high in Protein.

Enjoy!

Joan

Welcome Kristen,

Good luck with your meeting on Wed.

Joan

FINALLY I'm a onderland member!!!!!! 199!!!!!!

Congratulations on your wonderfull success!

Joan

Many people don't know the difference between gastric bypass & lap-band surgery, which is 100 X safer. I think the statistics for death due to lap-band surgery was 1 in 1,000, but I believe with the new bands it has gotten much safer. That's why it is important to check out your surgeon beforehand.

I have been fortunate with the support I have gotten from family & friends. I only had one person try to discourage me. Everyone else has been great.

I bought a VitaMix several years ago, and barely used it, but its now getting a great workout. It makes hot Soups - to ice cream in minutes. The Magic Bullet is a lot less expensive, and I've read good things about it. There are lots of other brands, but you'll probably want some form of blender.

You'll want to find a good Protein Powder that you like. Start early trying them, as they will probably be the mainstay of your pre/post op diet. Many companies offer samples. You can google "protein powder samples" to find the various brands. unjury is a popular brand, and comes in the ususal choc/van/strawbry flavors, plus chicken broth & unflavored. I highly recommend the latter two.

They sound great, but how do you stop after an oz or 2?

High Fiber Cereal, Activia, Prune juice, Plumsmart juice, metamucil, diet tea, mineral oil. I have at least 3 of thesse each day, and I still suffer.

Going to try MOM tomorrow.

It was all slider stuff, so I doubt if you did any harm. Just get back on the wagon tomorrow. Hope it was a happy day!

How about the

Rice Diet

Grapefruit Dietand does anyone remember AYDS?

Since I'm vertically challenged (4'11") my nut told me I should aim for 50g of Protein. I used to log in everthing I ate, along with the calorie, Protein & fat count. I stopped counting about a month ago, but still journal my food. A typical day would be:

Breakfast: 22g

1 cu 1%milk w/coffee 8g plus either

3/4 cu Cereal (Spl K or Kashi Go Lean) 10g w/ w/ 1/2 c 1% milk 4g & 1/2 cu blueberries or

1 scrambled egg 6g w/grated LF parmesan 2g

toasted whole wheat Eng muffin 6g

Lunch: about 15-20 g

1/2 can tuna fish Water chestnuts or canellini Beans (I use balsamic vinegar instead of mayo) or

romaine lettuce with tofu or canalleni Beans or

lentil/spinach Soup made w/unjury chicken broth Protein powder or

crustless vegetable quiche

Dinner: about 20g

3 ozfish/chicken/beef w/either sm salad or spinach

The Breakfast & lunch items I eat for any meal.

Depending on how hungry I am, i have 1 or 2 Snacks a day that is usually either: activia 5g, Jello SF/FF pudding made with protien powder 10g, V-8 or piece of fruit

On days that I am too busy or not very hungry i supplement with 1/2 bottle of Isopure Lemon Green Tea mixed with regular green tea 10 g

I usually don't eat many starches unless I'm having friends over, and then I like to make cuzcous w/unjury chicken broth, peas & spices.

Hope this helps.

Kartman - Congratulations on your fantastic weight loss. And thanks for the tips. Its encouraging for me that you didn't start exercising until 5 months. I'm such a couch potato, with all the best intentions, but can't seem to get started. Keep up your great success!

Joan

Andy, you should be proud of your weight loss success. You are doing great. Plateauing is normal. How long have you been at your current weight and how many fills have you had so far?

You mention that you haven't changed what you are eating much. Perhaps trying a few days of liquids and mushies might help. That usually helps me get the scale going in the right direction when it seems to be stuck for awhile. You'll probably have to do that if you are having a fill soon.

You can get Biotin as part of a multi-Vitamin. I like Trader Joe's High Potency chewables. They taste pretty good, and have 100% of the daily requirement for Biotin, zinc and other minerals important to maintain healthy hair. They also have 50% of the daily Iron requirement, which is VERY important for healthy hair. Don't take Calcium within 2 hr of taking Iron, as the Calcium will affect the iron's absorption. Multivits that contain both usually have very low calcium content.

Shampoos will not help, as it does not reach the roots. Your hair is already dead, so it can't revive it. Other hair treatments are meant for genetic Hair loss, so it will not help in this case. Just be patient, eat your Protein and take a your vits & minerals.

Michelle,

You should be so happy with your success. 50 lbs in less than 4 months - that's fantastic! No wonder your skin hasn't had a chance to adjust to your new body. In the meantime, get some Spanx or other support undergarment. And be patient...

If food is coming through your nostrils, I can't help you there. But if its just normal sneezing, its probably a sign to stop eating due to eating too fast, too big a piece, food too dry, not properly chewed, etc. Put your fork down, take a break, and try again later if you still feel hungry. But becareful to follow proper banding eating rules.

Everyone is different, so the warning signs are different. For some its hicups, burping, tight feeling, etc. Its important to learn your signas and listen to your body.

Hope this helps!

Alex,

It's very normal to experience depression after surgery. I woke up one day during my first week post-op and thought, OMG, what was I thinking! Fortunately, the depression passed quickly.

One of the hardest parts is the liquid diets pre/post op. It's lousy on your social life, specially if you are going out to eat. It gets a lot easier once you reach the mushie stage. Your menu choices may be a bit limited, but you can find quite a bit that you can eat in restaurants that will not make you feel left out.

And of course, lots of choices will open up once you are solids. Its an adventure discovering what you can and can't eat - and this will change with each fill. But if you follow your new eating habits, you will be able to enjoy going out again. Plan your restaurant and food choices, and hang in there through the difficult liquid phase. It's definately worth it!

Good luck!

Joan

Laura - Thanks for the Tiramisu receipe. Look forward to trying it.

Joan