juliansmom2003

Glad to hear you were able to get in for another fill so soon, Elfie! I too hope this is the one for you--I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!!!

Hi there, I received a couple messages asking for the recipes I mentioned in my previous thread (chicken and the pepper steak), so I thought I'd post them for everyone. Here they are. Enjoy! Crockpot Ranch Chicken 4 skinless boneless chicken breasts 8 tablespoons garlic and herb marinade 2 tablespoons dry ranch dressing mix 1/4 cup of Water Directions: Pour water in the bottom of the crockpot. Add frozen chicken. Combine marinade and ranch dressing mix then pour over top of chicken. Cook on low for 8 hours. Calories: 318, Fat: 7.34 grams Protein: 55.28 grams Slow Cooker Pepper Steak Ingredients: 2 lbs beef sirloin, cut into 2 inch strips garlic powder to taste 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 cube beef bouillon 1/4 cup hot water 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1/2 cup chopped onion 2 large green bell peppers, roughly chopped 1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes with liquid 3 tablespoons soy sauce 1 teaspoon white sugar 1 teaspoon salt Directions: 1. Sprinkle strips of sirloin with garlic powder to taste. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the vegetable oil and brown the seasoned beef strips. Transfer to a slow cooker. 2. Mix bouillon cube with hot water until dissolved, then mix in cornstarch until dissolved. Pour into the slow cooker with meat. Stir in onion, green peppers, stewed tomatoes, soy sauce, sugar, and salt. 3. Cover, and cook high for 3 to 4 hours, or on low for 6 to 8 hours. Calories: 302 Total Fat: 15.8 g Protein 28.2 g

Way to go on your feel good moment! May you have 1,000 more! Keep up the good work!

I provided the link above if you want to look at the explanation. Lots of people on lapband talk have tried it. Basically to get back to basics, shrink your pouch a bit and really curbs the cravings for bad things from what I hear.... I'm willing to do anything to feel some kind of restriction and re-kick start my weight loss.

I wish I had an answer for you, but I am in the EXACT same boat as you (calories, 3 mi per day), except I'm getting about 80 g of Protein in a day and 72 ounces of Water. The freaking scale isn't moving! I'm thinking it's because I'm due for my time of the month this week, but who knows? It just stinks when you feel like you're doing everything right and you don't get results. I saw on one of the threads about the 5 day pouch test. I might try that to see if I can get the loss going again (my fill isn't for another 3 weeks and I will be so miffed if I don't lose any more before then) Hang in there! Hoping someone will have some great advice on what we can do!!!

I'm sorry your daughter is sick. I hope everything is okay. I was banded on October 21 and have lost 47 lbs (17 of it was pre-op, 30 post) and I am STUCK! I've been eating 900-1100 calories per day, power walking 1-2 miles every day and I'm at a complete standstill. I had my first fill on 1/14 and it did absolutely nothing--I have no restriction whatsoever. Due for fill #2 on 2/25. Hoping that will kick start my weight loss again. I have 35 lbs to goal and it feels like this is going to take forever! That 5 day pouch test sounds like a good plan. Heck, maybe I'll try that while waiting for the next fill. It sounds like you need to eat more protein. You should be getting around 60-70 grams in per day. Even if you don't want to cook/prepare chicken or fish, take a some sugar free vanilla pudding, put a scoop of protein powder in (chocolate) with some fat free cool whip and you have at least 24 grams right there! Stock up on some of the "go to" foods also-- ff yogurt, cottage cheese, lowfat string cheese, etc. and try to drink water at all times. It's a lot to manage, especially when you have such difficult things to handle personally, but there are things you can do that don't require too much planning. Best of luck to you! Please keep us posted!

Honestly, I need to keep motivated somehow because I HATE exercising LOL! I know it's a necessary cross to bear (shouldn't feel that way because it is good for me). I am just exhausted with 2 jobs, 2 kids, a hubby and life in general, but I know that if I am going to be successful at this, I HAVE to put in my time and exercise. I have been doing better these last few weeks, but I'm thinking if we have some kind of goal on the board it will help keep me motivated. Like, I will exercise at least 30 minutes 5 days a week (or whatever goal you want to set) and we can update on Mondays when we do the weightloss challenge updates? I just feel so much more motivated with the weight loss challenges that I thought this might be a good thing to try to help push me and get my butt in gear. Would anyone be interested in doing that?

Okay signing in. Last week I did 4 days of exercise and power walked 2-3 miles each of those days. Goal is to do the same this week (did 1 mile on Monday and 2 miles yesterday). It stinks because I am not losing anything!!! I am eating about 1000 calories a day and nothing is coming off! Makes me want to stop exercising because I lost more weight not doing anything LOL Have a good week, everyone.

I agree with Betsy. What is the harm in asking the doctor? You have a right to make an informed choice. This is major surgery and you don't want to take any chances! The last thing you want to do is go into surgery anxious and nervous. I would definitely talk to the surgeon so you can make a decision. There are two sides to every story obviously, but I think it would be easy to tell if he was hiding something. And if you do change, I have a GREAT surgeon in NJ for ya ! Good luck!

Hi Adriana, I can so relate to your situation on so many levels. I too wasn't eating enough pre-op and then went so long without eating, i'd just binge (and of course all on the wrong things). I'd love to help you through your journey. Please feel free to friend request me through my profile or email me directly at karen.tilton@richardson.com Best of luck to you on your journey. This is truly where life begins again!!!!!

Got my band on 10/21/09 and first fill on 1/14/10 (the Holidays and vacations screwed me up so I went a LONG time before my first fill). It didn't do much, so I go in on 2/25 for my 2nd.

Look at you! Way to go losing 14 lbs since your last fill! Honestly, I have had some sliming/sick episodes due to taking big bites or eating too fast, and I have absolutely no restriction. Hoping I finally get some when I get fill #2 on the 25th. I am bummed I have to wait that long! I am noticing that I feel a little less hungry than when I first got my fill (weird, since that was 3 weeks ago). Anyway, great job with the weight loss!! I'm jealous LOL. 35 to goal and it just will not move!!!! Grrrrrrr

Grrrr up 2 lbs this week to 184. Don't think I'm going to make my goal (173) :-( I've been playing with the same 2 lbs. Meanwhile I'm exercising my a$$ off and gaining? Boooo!

I agree with the others about the lawsuit. Unless there is malpractice on your surgeon's part, they see this as a personal choice and your responsibility to research such a life altering procedure before moving forward. I was banded the day before you and can SO relate to your frustration. Believe me, I'm in a not so good place right now because I'm just stalled, but waiting for my next fill to see if that will be my much anticipated 'green zone'/'sweet spot'. I lost 17 lbs pre-op and 32 post. Honestly, I've done all that without restriction, without the band being at an optimal fill level, so it can be done. Journaling your food and doing any type of exercise for 30 minutes, taking in approx 60-70 grams of Protein per day and 64-96 oz of Water per day will definitely help you see results. If you are hungry, have a healthy snack that has protein (i.e. cheese stick or FF yogurt). Believe me, if everyone in Bandster hell sued their doctors when things were tough for them, they wouldn't be in business LOL Hang in there and definitely look through this site. There are some really good posts and advice that could help you through this rough patch. Good luck with everything!

Just thought I'd share a great find from this morning! I got my Walgreens Calcium citrate pill stuck yesterday, so I mentioned it to someone at work and she pulls out this little foil thing that I thought was candy. Here it was a little tootsie roll-tastin' calcium chewable (Viactiv). I am going to pick some up after work today. I am not going to suffer like I did yesterday every again. OUCH! Just thought I'd share for recent post-ops or anyone looking for a softer alternative to the big horsepills :thumbup:

Sending you a request now.... (Karen.tilton@richardson.com)

LOL nice post-op surprise, eh? We talked about this in group before I had my surgery so I knew to expect it, but WOW is it loud! I have no idea what makes it growl so loudly (even when you're not hungry!), but it is very common.

OMG could have written your post. I was so upset yesterday to find out I have not lost anything since last week's weigh in when I went to group last night. I am power walking (2 miles in 30 minutes) every day and Monday through Friday I walk one mile round trip from train to office and back. I am so frustrated that I am busting my butt while fighting extreme hunger (no restriction and fill #2 is not until 2/25!!!) and I don't know what to do to jump start things again. I can't wait to hear everyone's responses!

I'm really trying to make it a point to exercise more. I usually do the 1 mile walk for weightloss (15 minutes) through Comcast OnDemand each day (hey, it's something LOL!) Yesterday I woke up at 5 am and couldn't sleep, so I did one mile in 15 mins, plus did the 2 mile walk in 30 minutes when I got home (I was feeling ambitious LOL). I just entered my foods on dailyplate.com and it looks like I took in 1348 calories, burned 414 with the exercise for net calories of 934, took in 72 ounces of water and 129 g of protein. I NEVER eat this many calories (usually end up eating about 1,000), but I guess all the exercising made me hungry, but I did eat good, protein-rich food. My question is, does this look like an optimal plan to lose the 1-2 lbs per week or do I need to add more calories (or hopefully exercise less LOL)? I'm just not sure the best way to make the numbers work and want to be sure this is the best way to go because I know if the calories get too low then the weight loss plateaus.... Thanks for your help!

Thanks, ElfiePoo!

Awesome idea!!!

Definitely gas. VERY common this early on. Buy stock in gas-x strips and walk whenever you're able. Walking really helps! Hope you feel better soon!

Hang in there skinny! I completely understand your frustration--it's so hard when you are going by the book and the results aren't matching all your efforts. I think a lot of us are feeling that way lately and it's great we can all vent to each other and come here for support. It definitely sounds like you need another fill. I could eat that much too, so I feel your pain. I am just trying to hold on to the next fill, but it's getting hard and I can sooo understand a mini binge, trust me. It's great that you're getting back on the horse. You have been doing so great. I think once you get to some proper restriction, all of this will pay off for you. Hang in there!!!! Now I want pizza LOL!

Hmmm I'm thinking with all the challenges going on, we'd keep it simple. Maybe how many days of the week we'd commit to exercising. I'm signing in for a goal of 5 days out of the week beginning next week. Maybe we'll just call this the February exercise challenge and then we'll start again in March? We can sign in every Monday. What do you think?

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