SassyB

One of the problems I have is coming up with menu plans. I have been looking for Lapband menu plans so that I don't have to think about the calories, proteing amounts etc. That is what I liked about the preop diet, I knew what I could have and how much. I'm up at 3am and out the door to work at 4am, I make it home around 7pm-7:30pm...long day. So the last thing I want to do is prepare meals. HELP!!!

Great!!! I'm I will need a lot of support.

Well I too am glad that this was posted...I have failed the band as too. I was banded almost 2yrs ago and still have not been able to change my eating habits in my head. I don't think that I have ever reached my "sweet spot" even though I was told I should have. I too have been eating way too many things that go down easy. After reading these posts I have decided to make an appointment to see my doctor and give it another try.

China, congratulations on the weight loss. I have done weight watchers in the past and had success, I think I will go back on this Saturday to start it again. So what are you eating. I have been so confused...any ideas are welcomed.

Lora, I don't have a FB account so I will have to create one. The only thing is I will not be able to access it while at work. I have such long work days that at home I'm rarely on the computer during the week; but with this I will be anxious to see how are days are going. :smile:

I know that the devil knows that I decided to do liquids today....I'm at work and everywhere I look people are eating...what is up with that? Well I haven't been hungry since I woke up at 3am this morning and it's now 8:43am. I think that I'd better go and make a protein shake before I get tempted. Hope today will be an easy one for all of us; I know for me I have this thing about wanting/needing to CHEW!!!

I like green tea as well and would love to find out the name of the one that you are drinking. I could use a boost for my water intake.

Lora, I will be praying for you and myself, that we will be able to get off the carbs without withdrawals. Even though I'm not getting a fill tomorrow like you, I can however start the liquids tomorrow as well and we can support each other.

Lora, I am sorry for your loss. I have 7 sisters and can't imagine lossing one of them. I was banded April 21, 2009; lost 30lbs and I feel like a failure. I'm also struggling with perimenopause/menopause where I crave sweets and carbs. I never knew I could get so out of control! I started eating breads...never ate much bread most of my life. I have tried to get a handle on using my tool. I do good for a couple of days then the cravings come back. I did the low carb eating that my doctor recommend, but the same thing happens. I cannot wait to be done with menopause! Maybe we can help each other. What were your meals like before (when you were losing)?

GingerJane, I'm sorry that any of us have these types of people in our lives (in some form or the other). I pray that you will find it in your heart to forgive your DH for this mistake. Unforgiveness holds us back and eats at our very soul, but forgiving him releases you to move forward. Sounds like his family would be happy in knowing that it upsets you that they know. Maybe you can find a way to turn them finding out into something positive for you. Don't let them take you down to their level, some things just aren't worth the trouble and some people for that matter. You have done a great thing for you in having the surgery. Stay positive, this is about you not them!!!

Congrats Whillow, You mentioned that you upped your protein. Could you give me an example of what you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I can't seem to get a handle on this. Some people are eating the complex carbs, some no carbs. I'm really confused; trying something different each day. I need help! Thanks.

WOW your all have done great with your weight lost. What are you eating? Are you staying full? I'm struggling. My starting weight was 289, I'm down to 253. I would like someday to get down to 140lbs. I know that a lot of this is due to my weakness. I long for this weight to come off. I have read some much information about what to eat or not to eat, what to frink or not to drink...I'm lost and have not figured out what works best for me. You all keep up the good work

My problem right now is during my work hours 7am-4:30pm. I'm up to get ready for work between 3am-3:30am, out of the house by 4:15am, I'm commuting so I usually make it to work 6:50am. I'm a secretary and busy or not I want to munch all day long and not on good stuff. Yesterday, I did good all day, but on the way home I stopped by MacDonalds and got the ice cream sundae (plain). Some days I do good. I was having a protein drink (20g-30g) at 8am for breakfast and it was holding me until lunch time, but not as of late. I have my coffee (decaf & caffeinated mixed) on the way to work. Lunch some days can be salad with grilled chicken, or grilled shrimp. Sometimes I have a Smart Ones meal, canned tuna w/ lowfat mayo. I hate having to think about what I'm going to eat. I have such long days that I just want to eat the prepared meals and call it a day. Today I have a Smart One meal and brought in some of the bag cabbage for making coleslaw to heat up and add in to get a filling veggie. I have some restriction, but I don't know if what I'm eating holds me for 3-4 hours because I'm munching. I see myself losing inches, but then I lose my mind!!! Now it seems like I think about food all the time. Before the surgery I didn't. I need help!!!

I'm in the same boat. Unfortunately I haven't found the way out. I would be interested in knowing what you psychologist recommended. I do really good at work, but once at home on the weekends I LOSE IT!!!! What is wrong with me?

This really is a good thread. One of the problems I have is that my job as a secretary doesn't allow me to get much movement throughout the day, which causes the urge to want to eat. I haven't lost much in lbs but I am noticing a difference with inches. Yesterday I was able to put on, button and zip up a pair of pants that long before surgery seemed to be about 3-4 inches before they would close. What are you all eating throughout the day. This is the type of eating I generally do: 5am - banana. 7am/8am - OH YEAH (32g) Protein shake. 1:15 - Small garden salad (vinegarette dressing) w/ a few grilled chicken or shrimp pieces (less than 3oz.). 4pm/5pm - Greek Yogurt (13g protein) or Muscle Milk Light Protein Shake (20g protein). 8pm - Small tilapia filet cooked in pan with Pam (olive oil spray) and a small garden salad (vinegarette dressing). 10pm - Sugarfree pudding or Jello. I'm so very bored with planning what I'm going to eat. HELP!!!

I too have Tricare Prime and was banded April '09. I did have to stay overnight and was glad that I did. I was glad to have the nurses coming in checking on me, giving me meds for pain. I don't think that I would have felt confortable going home within a couple of hours the surgery. My surgery was scheduled for 4pm that day so maybe that had something to do with the overnight stay.

Congratulations to both of you on the weight that you have lost. I was banded April '09 and have lost 31 lbs. I must admit that I thought the weight would come off a lot faster. When it didn't I started eating things I shouldn't have. I dreaded going in for the fill because I hadn't lost more weight. There is a lot of information out here about the LB surgery procedure and even meals, but there doesn't seem to be much on how to change our thinking about food. I had the psychological evaluation but that is as far as I have gone into getting help with the mental part of this journey. For so many of years food has been a big part of my life (family reunions, summer cookouts, etc.). Sometimes it has been a comfort, but I think on a whole I LOVE EATING GOOD FOOD. So I'm trying to change my relationship with food, realizing that it did take me years to get here so getting back to a healthy weight will not be a short trip and I may even "fall off the LB wagon", but I will get up and start over. I know that my thinking is starting to change because I look at food labels, when I never did before. Sometimes I even look at food and asks myself if it's worth the set back the I WILL HAVE if I eat it. Each of us are different and we have to find out what works best for us. This has been the hardest thing for me as of late because of menopause; I so want to be one of those people who can have the potato chips, bagels or muffins without it sending me into a out of control downward spiral. I'm just not one of those people. I have found that having no carbs work for me. So I'm trying to find good carbs to replace the bad ones. Go back and get your fills, even if you the doctor come down on you, face the music and move on. Don't let that stop you from trying to change things. Each of you will have to find out what works for you and go in that direction which may be different. I have to give it to you for doing the LB with you husband. :thumbup: I don't know if I could survive if my husband had the LB too :thumbup: (he's always been thin). He's one of those that discipline in so many areas of his life never seems to be a problem. It would be yet another comparison that I couldn't deal with. Try again...don't give up.

Congratulations, it's always good to see the scale go down.

Kiddow, I feel your pain. I was banded April 2009 and had only lost 20lbs up until Feb. 18th. I must admit that I didn't have much restriction even after having 6 fills, which of course caused me to overeat. ElfiePoo on this site helped change that for me when she posted what she's eats and how much she eats daily. THANKS ELFIEPOO!!! I'm down 11 lbs since the 18th. I too had cravings for carbs (I blamed it on menopause) and thought that I had no control over them. I did not want to take the time to write or log what I was eating, my excuse was that I didn't have time...BIG mistake. Truthfully I didn't want to know because I wanted to continue to eat like I had been eating. I had to face the cold hard truth :eek:; I was not following the rules. So I changed some things...I have been eating and drinking my proteins, eating fruits and vegetables and trying to get my 64oz of water in. Some days I only get about 42-50 ounces. I have found that I do better having the decaffinated green tea instead of plain water. I no longer an craving the carbs :wink:. I pray that I can stay on track and continue to use my band the way it was intended. I say all this to say to you...TRY JOURNALING if you aren't already. I journal using LIVESTRONG.COM, it has the nutritional values of a lot of food already, which takes the guess work out of journaling and the time. Best of luck.

I'm not sure about you but I have lived most of my married life (32 yrs) trying to please my dh with so many things in our marriage; I'm just starting to find out who I am. Getting the LB has been for me, of course he can receive the fringe benefits :wink:, but it's for me. I messed up enough with my own issues and i refuse to let his control me anymore. If it were me I would try and be as supportive as I can, but not at the cost of losing ME. Stay strong and remember that we can't change people only ourselves.

Trust me, you don't want to cheat even a little at this stage. It will only make it worse for you to stay with the plan (i'm talking from experience). If he really wanted to eat them at the house maybe he can eat them in another room or you go for a walk until he's finished. DHs, you gotta love them. :wink:

dragonflylover...I'm not sure why His mid-life crisis would cause you not to eat.

ElfiePoo, Can you give me an example of what you are eating for 1 day? I sure would like to know so that I can get back on track.

I too believe in the one and only living God who has so much love for us that he sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for all of us...even those that don't believe in him. We all have been given freewill to accept him or not (another show of how much God loves us). I too would love to know where in the bible it says

Thanks Meli, I will have to start posting more often and not just read. I will also take your advice and start with small goals. Today my church has started a 28 day fast (no meats, sweets, caffeine, rice, Pasta or potatoes) as well as other things we might want to give up (TV, computer etc.) so I'm praying that this will jumpstart me again. I will have to drink my proteing for sure this month. I go in for a fill Feb. 5 and prayerfully will finally get the right fill. SassyB