juliansmom2003

Weighing in this week at 179 (down 1 lb since last week--I'll take it!) My goal is to be 170 by Easter, so hopefully my fill on Thursday will jump start some more weight loss. Fingers crossed, everyone! Hope you are all doing well!!

Congrats, Elfie!!! That's soooo wonderful! I'm hoping I'm doing the happy dance next week too (FINALLY get my second fill on Thursday, hallelujah!) I'm interested to know what you're eating after this latest fill. I'm always worried that not eating enough will send me back into starvation mode and another plateau. Way to go!! SO happy for you!!!

I posted these in another thread, but just in case wanted to repost here. A ton of recipes (lots of crockpot ones too!) for you guys. Calories, fat grams and Protein are listed in most of them. Enjoy, my friends! :sifone: RECIPES.pdf

Oops, I posted this on the pre-op board. It seems like the crockpot ranch chicken was a big hit with some of you! For those of you who still need the recipe, here you go and enjoy! Ingredients 4 serving salad Dressing Mix 1/4 cup Water Directions 1. Pour water in bottom of crockpot. 2. Add frozen chicken breasts. 3. Combine marinade, ranch dressing mix and pour over top of chicken. 4. Cook on low for 8 hours. Serve. Calories: 171, Fat: 4.5g, Protein: 23g For some reason, I found it to be a bit salty, so let me know what you think!

Tiff--how did it go today???

I have had one fill (on Jan 14) and it was my TOM and was already swollen, so I guess he didn't give me much. Needless to say, my portion sizes are maintained by ME right now, not the band. I have another fill next week, so hopefully it will help me get fuller on a smaller amount of food so I can lose the rest of this weight LOL! Good luck to you!

I would totally wait (especially if you're self pay). I got my first fill the day before my period ended and he barely put anything in (my doc does the fills under fluoroscopy so you can see the restriction levels). He put some in and removed some twice, so there was hardly anything in there and I was completely ravenous the whole day and every day after. It's not too bad now, but my portion sizes are still over 8 ozn so I'm getting another fill next week. I feel like I wasted my time getting that first fill.

I was banded on 10/21 and didn't have my first fill until 1/14, almost 3 months post op. I go for #2 next week and I'll be 4 months post op. I think like with everything else, each doc is different. I wish I had one that could get me in every 2 to 3 weeks for a fill lol Still on the hunt for the sweet spot :-)

Ugh, so finally ate lunch around 3:45 and housed a 10.5 ounce Lean Cuisine (took about 12-15 minutes to eat it). I was still hungry, so I figured I'd go for Protein, so I ate a light cheese stick. Waited a few minutes and I was STILL hungry. So I grabbed the Quakes rice cakes stash and had about 10 mini cakes (60 cals for 7 I think it is). Anyway, I'm not even concerned with calories right now because I'm still WAY under, but I know I can't continue to eat like this (portion size wise). I am sitting here NOW feeling over full (still never get the chest pains, but all of a sudden I feel like I've eaten Thanksgiving dinner). I did stop after the Lean Cuisine to see if I would feel full (didn't eat too fast, nothing got stuck), but I was legitimately still hungry. Now I probably will eat hardly anything for dinner because it's so late. The thing is, I will be satisfied for 4 hours or so, but my portion size is still out of whack. I know I need a fill, I guess I just needed to vent. Thanks for listening. (Praying to God I don't go in next week for my fill to find out my pouch is stretched!!!)

Oops, yes 4 servings :-)! Sorry about that!

How many different ways can we cook a chicken, do you ask? I seem to find them somehow. Here's another one I'm going to try. I'll post some yummy burger ones next I just found. Sweet N Sour Chicken Prep Time: 15 minutes, Cook Time: 15 minutes Ingredients 1 lb pineapple and liquid, vinegar, sugar and ginger. Stir together and bring to a full boil. Calories per Serving: 216, Fat: 6 g, Protein: 25.33g Enjoy!

I haven't had my favorite craving (burgers) in a lonnnng time, mostly because of the fat content and you never know what is going in there LOL I found a couple of really good recipes under 300 calories each that I thought I'd share for you red meat lovers: EAGLES TAILGATING BURGERS (named it just for you, Todd!) LOL Ingredients 2 lb cheese 1/4 cup Yuengling 1/2 cup Onions 2 tsp Minced Garlic 2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce 2 tbsp Spices, Basil Leaves Directions 1. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat. 2. Combine the ground beef, bread crumbs, Romano cheese, barbeque sauce, beer, egg, green onion, basil, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Mix lightly using your hands, then form into 8 patties. 3. Lightly brush the grill grate with oil and place patties on the grill. Cook until no longer pink in the center, 7 to 8 minutes per side for well done. Calories: 248, Fat: 10g, Protein: 25 g Ground Barbecue Burgers Ingredients 1 lb Ground Beef, 90% Lean 1 1/2 tbsp Ketchup 1 tbsp Mustard, Prepared, Yellow 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce 1 small onion Onion, 1 Small - Cooked 1 serving Green Bell Pepper (4 Oz) Directions 1. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil grate. 2. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, grated onion and bell pepper. Mix well and shape into patties. 3. Place burgers on grill and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until done. Calories: 286, Fat: 14 g, Protein: 32.6

For those who like the recipes I'm posting, wanted to share with you what I'm planning on making for dinner one night this week. Enjoy! Baked Dijon chicken Ingredients 1/4 cup Dijon mustard 1/4 cup NESTLE® CARNATION® Evaporated Fat Free Milk 1/4 cup plain, dry bread crumbs 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 4 (4 ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breast halves Directions 1. PREHEAT oven to 475 degrees F. Spray 13 x 9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. 2. COMBINE mustard and evaporated milk in shallow bowl. Combine bread crumbs and cheese in separate shallow bowl. Dip chicken into mustard mixture, coating both sides, then into bread crumb mixture. Place in prepared dish. 3. BAKE for 15 to 20 minutes or until chicken is golden brown and no longer pink in center. Calories: 208, Fat: 5.9 g, Protein: 32.75 g

There are a ton of crockpot recipes on here. I've attached as a PDF. Enjoy! :biggrin: RECIPES.pdf

The "sweet spot" is actually the "magic" fill level that allows you to feel full on less than a cup of food and will keep you satisfied for at least 4 hours. The official Lap Band site also calls this "the green zone". Hope this helps!

I agree with JeweI that this is a lifelong deal. Not a diet, but a complete lifestyle change. I cannot feel the band inside me either. Sometimes I can feel the port from the outside, but I can't feel anything from the inside. If I didn't get that horrible pain when I eat too fast, I wouldn't even know it was there! I am 36 and my starting BMI was 42 and I also had mild sleep apnea. I don't even snore anymore. I am 30 lbs away from goal and I can tell you that the band was the best thing I've ever done for myself. I will keep it for the rest of my life (God willing LOL). I have lost 52 lbs with no restriction, so honestly, if you use this as a tool and work with it, honestly you will see results. Lots of luck to you on your decision. This is a great forum for support, so you're in the right place.

Honestly, if it weren't for journaling, I don't think I would be losing so well. I use thedailyplate.com and journal everything I eat, as well as exercise. Remember, if you are exercising, you need to compensate for those calories burned. As a PP mentioned, there is a possibility you aren't taking in enough calories (which was my issue for awhile). Do you have restriction? If not, perhaps you could go in for a fill or try the 5-day pouch test to jump start your weight loss and get you back in tune with your band. I did it almost 2 weeks ago when I hit a plateau and I've started losing again (knock on wood). Good luck to you! Stay with it!!!

You look awesome! Keep up the great work! If that's not motivation, I don't know what is!!!

Down one pound since last week, so I'm at 180. Missed my goal by 7 lbs :-( hmmmpfh. Oh well onto the Easter Challenge!!!! LOL

Sounds yummy. I'm going to take a look for them!!!

It seems like the crockpot ranch chicken was a big hit with some of you! For those of you who still need the recipe, here you go and enjoy! Ingredients 4 serving salad Dressing Mix 1/4 cup Water Directions 1. Pour water in bottom of crockpot. 2. Add frozen chicken breasts. 3. Combine marinade, ranch dressing mix and pour over top of chicken. 4. Cook on low for 8 hours. Serve. Calories: 171, Fat: 4.5g, Protein: 23g For some reason, I found it to be a bit salty, so let me know what you think!

Sorry--I left that out!! It's 28.2g of protein :crying: And SOOOOOOOO yummy :scared2:!!!

Just wondering how many carbs everyone allows themselves. Sometimes it's hard to get away from them, as they are in veggies and other healthy foods we eat. I have been hanging anywhere from 90-140 per day. Is this too much? Knock on wood, the scale is starting to move again and I don't want to mess it in any way....