sld21

I don't get anywhere near 60 grams of protein in a day, hopefully a third or half, never truly calculate and I have none of these problems. I have been banded a year and a half, 103 off and my blood sugar is normal and other labs. I mean every now and then I drink my protein when I am too tight or in a rush but typicaly don't get substantial protein until dinner and a bite or two at lunch. I can't handle solid protein in the a.m and prior to banding I was an eggs and backie kinda girl. I am having steel cut oats as I type, they may have some protein in them naturally...because I didn't cook them with milk.

eww...not to embarrass or anything (I know it has been done) but I'd rather stay constipated. My doctor states its normal that you may only go once a week if that, less food in, less food out. If you are sticking to mostly Protein rich foods, you will be slow to go. You may need to throw in a veggie. I have difficulty eating them but can whip or blend them or you can make them into a warm veggie smoothie like a Soup to drink on. Add a spoon of the tasteless Fiber stuff and if you do this once a day, you're bound to go. Fiber gummies did it for me, now I don't worry as much. I may go once a week and still lose weight.

Goodwill all the way...some thrifty or homeless person is looking snazzy in my expensive Lane Bryant and Ashley Stewart...oh well....but funny thing is I can fit into Goodwill stuff now and have found some rocking name brand jeans for $3.00....size 8's at that. Goodwill never had enough plus size clothes...they have my 24's-14's now and I prided myself that I was a decent dresser. I have to due to my job anyways.

I live in Louisville...I am a size 8/10 now but still have several large pieces...though I gave away the majority to the Goodwill on Broadway.

I like the Muscle Milk Light...most flavors....I usually get the EAS Advantage. They are low carb and about 4.97 for 4 already made shakes at Walmart or GNC. I like the chocolate and vanilla. Many of the Unjury shakes are okay as well. I actually tried the chicken noodle flavored on, warm and it was just light chicken broth and had a whole bunch of protein in it. I eat regular food now, out a year and a half and I only drink protein shakes when I'm in a rush in the a.m.

Although, as much as anyone, love a good mashed tater....mashed cauliflower is a yummy low carb option and tastes very similiar. Boil it until tender and mash with butter and milk and season just like you would your mashed potatoes. You can even have gravy on top of it. I am not in a mushie phase as I am a year and a half out, but fix it as a side dish and it is deliciously close to the potatoe. I have lost 103 lbs so far, so I'm good. Just thought I'd share. I try to limit my carbs and if I really want them, I'd rather waste them on something sweet every now and then. I keep a tight band though, so this helps my weight loss, I'm sure and I TRY to eat more Protein and have done 5k's, 10k's and other fitness stuff this year. The band does work, when you work with it and keep up with your follow-ups. Good luck! I'll post a pic sometime.

I am also maintaining...I have been 157 for a month now but will lose the last 7 this summer when I am running (this past month has been a mess at work with testing and such) I usually work out 30-45 minutes a day. When I am working out, I can eat a little more, again I would go for protein because it takes me harder and longer to get it down. The only thing I'm probably truly lacking is veggies in my diet though I love them, I just don't have room. I take vitamins though, so I'm okay right now. I get them in a couple times a week.

I don't literally feel it but I can feel every bite, drink, swallow, anything that goes in my mouth and down, I can feel it going slowly down because I have 8 or 9 cc's in an 11cc band. I still eat what I want and some things I don't and some at certain times of the day and some at certain times of the month;) My day is different but its all trial and error...I take small bites and feel full after a few bites and I can get stuck very easily but I am okay with that because it reminds me how to eat and what my limit is. Typical day: work day Bkfst: A cappucino hot (now frozen) or a Protein shake Sometimes a bite or two of granola or a handful of dry Cereal (today was the last day of school and I had two mini donuts(it is what it is) Lunch: I nibble due to the types of students I teach but it might be a lunchable(I can eat a half one of those) or I might have some soup(if I have time) Dinner: I can get down a little bit more.....so I stick with protein and sometimes I may eat some of the side that I cook with it. But if I were to get say a chicken sandwhich at McDonald's, I could eat the patty very slowly and finish it though it may take me 30 minutes and that's all I would eat. After: Sometimes especially with it hot, I may have some sugar free or no sugar added icecream. I also tend to drink a lot of Water in the evening because I have been hectic all day. I haven't had anything but water, zero stuff that is non carbonated and unsweet tea with splenda in almost two years. I shy away from sugary juices and drinks. So a tight band to me may be uncomfortable to some(sometimes me) but I deal with it and trial and error. My doctor is happy as a lark, I may not be getting in everything that I need but my labs are great. I also exercise at the Y or walk the 50lb pit bull.

Yes..mixed drinks without carbonation are what I usually choose, for example, vodka and cranberry with a splask of OJ (oh yeah). A shot wouldn't get you drunk, I suppose, but your tolerance is lower when you start losing weight, it takes less to get you loopy. I usually can have two and I'm done. People also recommend that you eat before you drink so it doesn't hit you hard but I can't do that, if I'm full, it only wrecks with my tummy and makes me feel stuck. I am a social, rare drinker..but I have always been (though I could get more in before banding)

Thank you kindly!

That soup is a fine choice for nutrition and consistency.

I hate it....especially raw in salads...I never eat it but when I mashed it with butter and milk, and seasoned it with salt and pepper, it tasted almost identical to mashed potatoes. It had a slight cauliflower taste but not that bad. I wouldn't be able to eat it raw. It would be tough going down plus I just don't like it that way but cooked I can deal with.

Why the unfil though?

well I 'm not a nurse but a 7th grade teacher and one of my students was complaining that it was hot(at 7:40 in the a.m and it was chilly) I told her I was quite chilly...she then told me "that's because you have no meat on your bones" I almost wanted to hug her. She is also in a tight squeeze of an aisle and I was able to slide by her quickly to help her and she comments "wow you can fit through that space". They have seen me lose about 53lbs since August. I have lost 103 total in 18 months. Size 24 to a 8/10 (though I do have some cute 7 jeans) 7!

My doctor never said no straws...but it depends on the day and how fickle my band is....straws can sometimes bother me and put too much pressure and make me feel like what I sucked in is stuck even if it is liquid. So generally, I don't use them...but I can use them more towards the afternoon or evening....too tight in a.m.

I use to enjoy a beer every now and then but since being banded its usually torturous. The carbonation kills me. But I guess it depends on how many fills you have and how tight you are. I haven't had anything carbonated in almost 2 years unless you count a sip every now and then of a beer and it wasn't worth it. I usually have to wait for it to die down some before I can drink it. My doctor never said no to it...it's only in the first six months or so, he even okayed soda if I let the bubbles die down some if I really want one but now its willpower...its been a year and a half, why ruin the streak.

You can puree almost anything you want to eat...like Soups, meat etc. I remember cooking tacos one night and takinga scoop of meat, added salsa and cheese and whipped it in the blender. Delicious. Tuna salad, refried Beans with cheese and salsa, greek yogurt has a great amount of Protein. Protein shakes, protein pudding. I am 16 months out...103 off.

I might be able to bite it two or three times...tiny bites at like 3 or 4 in the afternoon. No subs here.....I get their soups and sometimes if rarely, a wrap. Sandwiches are easily stuck and a waste for me. If I get a dollar McChicken at McDonald's, I can sometimes get the patty down..the bread gets thrown in the bag. And the chicken takes me a minute.

kinda funny reading through this... I was just thinking it was a liquid and you should wait at least 30 minutes after eating solids;) lol

you look great

I overall am a normal drinker at 16 months out but use to gulp as well. But I promise you, once you reach restriction, that gulp will put pressure on your stomach and it will feel like a big, painful burp bubble. Though it is rare to get stuck on water, if I drink to big of a swallow after eating, it can cause too much pressure and feel stuck and make me pb.

I was walking the track at the on day 5....but I took 2 weeks off per dr's orders and I had the time accrued.

My scars are barely noticable.....I'm 15 mos out

I get extremely tight....easily stuck and quicker to chuck....but it will go back to normal around mid day, early evening.

I am 16 months out...100 lbs down, was 260 now 160....was 22/24 and 2x/3x now 8/10 and medium, size 10 shoe now a 9...was a diabetic, no longer...was not having cycles, now regular...clean bill of health except for a little bit of high cholesterol thanks to my heriditary. 4 lbs from normal bmi NOT morbidly obese. Barely able to finish 15 minutes on a treadmill, now running 5k, 10k and 10 milers. Sure I have my moments (mostly in my head) where I wish I could eat a bunch of food or even order my own (such a waste now, I usually eat off of my husband's) Sure I also have physical moments (stuck, unpleasantly full from a bite or 2) but they are worth it all...the bigger picture is clearer to me now....future kids (I'm 34 and the LB was a motivator for me for kids), and if I don't have them, I have my health (something that was always a nag in my head and heart and a bad taste in my dr's mouth(blah blah blah, you're fat, you're this) Personally I think he thinks I'm hot now(though I was pretty on point at 260:) So there's my story....the lapband is your own choice..I chose it and it works for me!