BetsyB

For my consumption? I usually keep the following on hand: Inspire whey Protein powder PURE whey Protein Powder a variety of beans/legumes tuna packed in Water Crystal Light peach iced tea mix In the fridge: smoked salmon cheese turkey breast lettuce and spinach shredded broccoli slaw mix other veggies shredded cabbage Ken's Steakhouse Light Asian Sesame dressing berries, seasonal fruits chicken-black bean chili Pasta e fagioli Soup, made without the pasta (so, basically, a tomato-based bean soup) In the freezer: skinless, boneless chicken breast (which I eat far less often now that I have restriction) ground beef tilapia mahi mahi tuna steaks salmon shrimp scallops cod boneless pork chops tenderloin of pork Basically, I eat 2-4 ounces of protein (lean meat, poultry, fish or a combo of legumes and a little cheese) at each meal, plus nonstarchy veggies. I also have an occasional fruit (though I like veggies tons more, and lean toward them). I eat veggies as Snacks, too, when I'm hungry between meals. There's other stuff in the house for my family---breads, pastas, rices, and so on.

Nope, definitely not a figment of your imagination. But I think it has more to do with what you eat (its glycemic impact) and how frequently you eat than caloric level. I eat a very low-calorie diet; I have to in order to lose and maintain, and it's why I'm banded. It's really important for me to distribute the calories I do eat throughout the day, and it's really critical for me to choose the foods I eat carefully.

It's really hard, sometimes, giving up what has been a good "friend," comforter, social hub, focus of celebration, etc. For many of us, food took on roles it was not meant to have. And grief for the loss of it, in those roles, is normal. It gets SO much easier with time. I promise, with time, food will take its proper place in your life. You will learn that you still can eat--and sometimes, you can eat just what you want to eat (even if in tiny amounts). Celebrations can still involve food! But right now, you're in a terribly, terribly restrictive phase. And it's all new to you. It will get better. Truly, truly it will.

In your shoes, I'd ask my doctor to check my blood sugar. Skewed blood sugar can cause vision changes. Of course, lots of other things can too---and the changes may have nothing at all to do with the band. But checking blood sugar is simple, and as good a place as any to start. Good luck!

You're right--before restriction, you're hungry. Depending on your doctor's recommended plan (and overall approach), the degree of hunger will vary. Some doctors approach the time before restriction as being a time to heal and not focus on loss. Others (like mine) recommending eating as though you have restriction--weighing and measuring foods, staying within certain parameters, and so on. I was encouraged to do this--and did it. It was hard---like any other stringent diet any of us has ever been on. But I told myself that it would be the last time I'd be hungry in the name of weight loss. I started approaching restriction about 4 months out, and have good restriction now (at 6 months). I'm really glad I was super-careful during those first few months, though, because it really did give me a good jumpstart--both on weight loss and on mastering habits that made it easier when I did get restriction (taking small servings, taking small bites, chewing carefully). But really, there's no one right way to tackle it. Either approach is reasonable, and you can choose which works better for your life.

By the time I started on pureed protein on Day 3, I was hungry. The 1.5 tablespoons I was allowed per serving (3x/day) generally did the trick for me (at first), but I was definitely ready for food almost immediately after surgery.

While it does build muscle, it doesn't do it quickly. What is more likely is that your muscles hold Fluid, and the days of rest allow that to leave your body. During hard exercise, our muscles can't get all of their oxygen needs met from what we breathe in. So they use lactic acid fermentation--a process that produces both the needed oxygen and the byproduct lactic acid. Lactic acid is what gives muscles the "pumped" look (and causes muscle soreness). This is the result of the body's tendency to maintain homeostasis. When there is more lactic acid in muscle than in surrounding tissue/fluid, Water moves into the muscle to "even things out." With time, the fluid is flushed from the body, and the number on the scale goes down. This isn't to say that hard exercise doesn't build muscle. It just doesn't tend to do so at a rate fast enough to see daily differences on the scale.

It's pretty normal for the body to regroup (stall) after a big loss. It doesn't necessarily mean big changes are necessary. Sometimes you just have to wait it out. ETA: If your band is causing you to feel full, and you're not getting hungry super-quickly, it may not be the answer.

It's your choice, of course. But getting indignant at the doctor for sharing what the BMI chart says ... well, going in to surgery, you knew you were obese. It really couldn't have been much of a shock to hear her recommend you aim to achieve a normal weight (that is well within your reach) rather than remain overweight. You've lost a HUGE amount of weight. There is nothing wrong with taking a breather, getting used to the changes in your body, and reevaluating. It's probably too soon to form concrete ideas of what normal weight will look like --- your mind needs to catch up with all of the changes in your body so that you can make a clear-eyed choice.

I was a die-hard addict for decades before surgery---so I totally understand the craving. And my doc is a no-carbonation guy, too. I've just crossed that six-month line---and while I've tried diet soda, it just doesn't do it for me any more. Aside from the carbonation being uncomfortable, after a period of time without it, my tastes have really changed. It only took one sip for me to say, "Eh, this isn't something I will miss any more." I've found that to be the case with many things that occupied my mind soon after surgery. We all have things we thought would be wonderful--but lots of times, a taste tells us, "Nah, not worth it. Not worth the mind space, and not worth eating." Maybe you'll have the same experience--finding that it just doesn't do the trick for you any more.

Yep, surgery interrupts the hair growth cycle---for a while, hair that ordinarily would fall out is retained. Then BAM! It decides to all come out seemingly at once. I, too, use Biotin. I also take zinc, as recommended by my doctor. I get 100-ish grams of Protein a day. I've done this since before surgery (though I upped biotin a couple of months after). I still had the period of hair loss. I added in Nioxin shampoo/conditioner when the loss started. Doing all of these things helped me feel better. And the hair loss did slow down and --now it seems--stop. But I think the cycle would have played out the same way either way. It happens---and we do things that make us feel better (like we're in control!) in the meantime. I'm not knocking your suggestions. I still am taking the supplements. I'm just not convinced that they do a ton. I think time is more influential.

I dunno, Sherry---that's almost 1.5 pounds a week. That's not a turtle's pace; it's the expected rate! You're doing a great job :smile2:

Yes, it's normal. It gets easier with time--and as you approach restriction.

Working rotating shifts is so hard! Planning your menu in advance--and sticking to it as much as possible--becomes really key. Do you have difficulty in the morning because of tightness? If so, it might be worth talking with your doctor about adjustment; allowing yourself to reach the hungry-then-lose-control stage defeats the purpose of the band. If you were able to get something into your body in the morning, then stick to well-planned meals for the rest of the day, then you'd feel lots better. When you say you have trouble with healthy foods, what do you mean? What kinds of difficulties do you have? Does tightness play in? What are you eating? How much? I don't know about you, but when I did shift work, exhaustion really played into food issues. When tired, my inhibitions are reduced---making it so much harder to make spur-of-the-moment food decisions. (And that's what led, for me, to eating too much of what was available when I was able to eat.) Even just having a basic plan to guide your decisions can help tremendously. For example, I know that at lunchtime, no matter where I am, I will have 2-4 ounces of Protein and nonstarchy veggies--and maybe some fruit. Within this general guideline, there's actually a lot of flexibility. But there's not enough to let me get off-track. On days when my band doesn't like chicken or other dense protein, I know to veer toward Beans or other gentler protein choices. I'm not in Jersey, but if you want an online buddy, I'm here :smile2:

PURE unflavored whey protein from Bariatric Eating is as close to flavorless as I've encountered. It's really good, and comes darn close to disappearing when combined with foods/drinks.

If your policy specifically excludes it, the odds of approval are slim to none. BUT, most companies re-up their insurance policies annually---so it's a good idea to lobby your HR people to create policies that DO provide coverage. You can make a pretty compelling argument, too. Companies choose policies that exclude WLS because they believe it to be less expensive; in reality, the costs of obesity-related claims (and absenteeism) are much higher.

It's believed that the hair loss is related more to interruption in the growth cycle caused by the trauma of anesthesia and surgery than to malnutrition. Which means that it's time-limited---you'll lose hair for a while, then the cycle will reboot, and regrowth will occur. You can try to minimize the loss by being sure that your nutritional status is as good as possible. In particular, they recommend that you get plenty of Protein, take a good bariatric Multivitamin, supplement with Biotin and zinc. You can also use a hair loss shampoo/conditioner such as Nioxin. But started with all of the above (except for the Nioxin; I held off on that until I started seeing loss) before surgery, and still had loss. It seems to have peaked already--so I'm hoping I've seen the end of the problem!

My typical day is some variation of the following: breakfast: 2-4 ounces of Protein (today it was a warm Protein shake made with almond milk) lunch: 2-4 ounces protein + nonstarchy veggie (today it was a 2.6 ounce pouch of tuna with Dijon, a teaspoon of mayo, and Mrs. Dash plus 1/2 cup broccoli slaw with Ken's Light Asian Sesame dressing dinner: 2-4 ounces protein + nonstarchy veggie and/or fruit (tonight I'm making Pasta e fagioli Soup for my family; I'll yank a half cup or so of the Beans and meat with just a little broth for myself before I add the pasta; I'll round out the protein with a sprinkle of Parmesan) evening: protein shake If I'm starving in the afternoon (uncommon), I add another veggie, or a cheese stick, or something of that nature. I take in about 800-ish calories/day. I don't have specific foods that give me trouble--really, I am more likely to have trouble at specific times: when I am stressed, when I have PMS, and so on. chicken can be difficult for me--it's probably the most problematic. Most lean Proteins work pretty well for me. When I'm tight due to stress or PMS, I tend to lean toward legumes for protein; they go down easily.

It all boils down to age, genetics, degree of overweight, number of times weight has been lost and gained, whether there have been pregnancies, and a host of factors that are not really within our control. Exercise can make the underlying tissue firmer, but does not affect the skin. Getting to a very low BMI helps tremendously for the same reason. Some of the firming lotions work well---temporarily. But really, the degree of excess skin that remains after you reach your goal is pretty much predetermined. There's no lotion or oil you can use to prevent it. There's no exercise that will prevent it (though again, the underlying tissue's appearance can hugely affect how well the excess skin lies). Rate of loss doesn't really affect it. It just is what it is. I've been really surprised at how well certain parts of my body are rebounding. I'm watching other parts of my body, aghast---and hoping that as the subcutaneous fat is lost, I at least am just left with shrinkles instead of the blobbiness I currently have! (I'm also researching plastic surgeons.)

Children and dogs are often not a good combination. And no matter WHAT the provocation, a biting dog needs to be kept separate from children. ETA: After reading further, I see that it was not a provoked bite---and really do think it's important your kids NOT be around the dog. That said, this does not mean you have the right to dictate the terms of this separation. Unless the bite required medical care and was mandatorily reported to authorities, you can't demand that your mother get rid of the dog. And really, while you can ask her to babysit at your house, you have to realize that she's not obligated to do so. So, if your husband is insistent that your kids not return to your mom's house, he needs to be reminded that this might result in the need to pay for another babysitter. You might suggest crating the dog, but that usually works best if introduced in puppyhood. If you don't believe your mother would follow through long-term, it doesn't really represent a great solution, anyway. It's a shame that a situation escalated to the point of dog bite. But you're infusing the situation with a lot more emotion than is fair. It's not fair to equate your mother's refusal to get rid of her dog--a part of her family--with "choosing her dog over her grandchild." Your mom is in a different stage of life than you. She has raised her family. She likely loves having your children around---but also wants to keep her life and routine as intact as possible. If she doesn't want to give up a loved companion, or spend the time she sits for your kids at your house, it does not speak to her love for you or your children. Please remember, when you discuss this with her, that childcare by a grandparent is a blessing, not an entitlement. Try not to demand, but rather to work together to find a solution. I do think that you're quite right to want your children separate from the dog. Not all dogs are reliable--and most dogs, if provoked, will eventually snap. I just would caution that you don't misinterpret your mother's decisions as lack of love or care. It's not fair to her.

Heather, don't give up hope! You're in that awful stage where the band isn't quite doing the trick quite yet. A little more adjustment, and I will bet anything that you will be more confident and pleased with your decision. Adding exercise is a BIGGIE--for me, it is a critical piece of the puzzle. As you get more accustomed to it, you may find yourself loving it

What sarcasm and holier-than-thou attitude? I don't see even a little of that in this thread. You got a lot of different (and thoughtful) responses based on others' experiences---which is what you asked for.

I can't imagine why they would need to be blended together---just stir the protein in and enjoy like a regular bowl of oatmeal :biggrin:

For me, it's too much food on a couple of levels. First, it's more than my stomach could handle. But secondly, it's a 600-calorie sandwich! The meatballs have 310 calories, and only 11 grams of Protein. The cheese adds 50-60 calories, depending on the type you chose. The flatbread has 230 calories, 38 g carb (if you pay attention to carbs), but only 2 g Fiber. I have no doubt that it filled you up---it was a lot of food. Since you were able to tolerate it and liked it, there's no real reason (unless it contraindicates your doctor's instructions) to avoid it completely. I think I'd just put into the "not very often" category. ETA: You asked what other people consider to be a lot. I don't know how many meatballs were on the sandwich, but for me, "a lot" would be 2.5-3 meatballs, depending on size. I do have good restriction now, though--and that makes a huge difference.