CalicoskiesNC

I've tried the spritzes and they are ok. I don't buy them anymore. I just use low fat dressing, but I measure it out. I like Italian as it spreads over a big salad easier and its got so much flavor. I use Wishbone light, its 35cals per 2T. I have found that if I put my salad in a mixing bowl, add my dressing and then toss really well I can get a fully dressed salad with a small amount of dressing. I just have to wash an extra bowl, but thats ok

Does anyone know if its safe to color your hair after surgery? I was banded 11.19.10. I only use the semi perm colors, just wondering if it would be ok. I will call stylist tomorrow, but she may not know.

I walk in my neighborhood 30-40min or I go to the gym. I broke down and joined one 5 min from home, women only. I do 30 min on elliptical and cycle, then I do 30 min on the weight machines. I have Wii and so many games, but got bored with them. I sometimes do Walk Away Pounds DVDs too.

So what happens when you stop taking the phen? I would not take it even if my dr gave me the Rx.

I am BCBSNC and I have to pay specialist copay of $40 for fills. My dr does them with flouro.

Tonight I had a piece of marinated salmon, broiled. I added some steamed broccoli and 2 Mrs T's pierogies. Dessert was a Key Lime light yogurt. I will have a light string cheese stick before bed.

I too have a few sweet cravings now and again. Something that works for me is just a bite of extremely dark chocolate, at least 72%. Its very strong and after a nibble melts away, I really don't want anymore. SF Jello pudding cups help, as does a cup of sf applesauce that I stir in about 1tsp cinnamon. And sometimes when I can't get food off my mind, I brush my teeth with Tom's WIcked Fresh and that works! Makes my mouth so minty and fresh that I dont want to eat anything and ruin it! Oh, also a cup of hot peppermint tea also helps sometimes. ETA that I also keep a few Werthers SF hard candies in my purse and at work. Taste good and only about 5cals each.

Wishbone light Italian also 35cals and very good. I like a vibrant dressing cuz I use less. Can't do any creamy ones, too easy to overdo. I like newmans own products, Will give that a try.

Me too. Cereal for breakfast does keep me full 3-4 hrs at least. I love Special K and plain cheerios and some of the Fiber Ones. I eat a few slices of centercut bacon with it(not in the bowl!) or a cheesestick or half a Greek yogurt so I get protein boost too. I won't give up Spec K, I love it and Spec K is not why I am overweight.

3-5 wks post op I was doing less than 1000cals no problem. Now, week 8 post op and no fill yet I am hungry a lot. I try very hard to stay at 1200-1300 cals. I go for my first fill jan 25 and I hope that helps me. I only keep my cals in line now with willpower and keeping all the trigger foods away from me. If I do go over for a day it's with a healthy good food choice, not junk. My dr says that after a few fills I should reach a point that 700-900 cals daily will work for me. He says that after you reach goal that your cals will increase by a large amount to maintain. That's reassuring cuz it's depressing to think of 700 cals forget!

I think the best way you can stay on track is to have a cooler and lunch pack with you filled with lots of healthy food options. You can pack applesauce cups, cheesesticks, fruit cups, pudding cups, turkey or ham cut in small cubes, maybe a chopped boiled egg, Protein bars, lots of Water or unsweet drinks, small cups of tuna or chicken salad, cottage cheese, maybe some 100cal packs. You can pack some high Fiber Cereal in baggies for Snacks. If you don't have good healthy options with you so you are able to eat before you are ravenous, you will be more likely to make bad choices. If you do crave fast food, have options already planned for each place so you know what to get. I use my iPhone app to look up menus and nutrtion first. Don't forget to pack a ziploc baggy with your Vitamins and other supplements so you don't forget them! I would also have a bag handy with napkins, plastic utensils, handiwipes, maybe a few large ziploc bags in case you get sick. I always keep papaya enzymes with me now, they helped me with a stuck episode involving scrambled eggs a few weeks back. ETA that I have rough days too, I have no fill yet and I have to fight hunger daily. I keep only good things near me so that even if I do eat over my calories for the day, its with healthy foods that are dairy and protein rich. I don't feel as guilty. I just can't keep tempting stuff near me right now.

I don't care for Viactiv, tastes too mediciney to me and I don't want to spare the calories, I think it was 20each? So I just eat 2 Tums after each meal. My NUT said this will work. Calc carbonate just needs to be taken with a meal, calc citrate is more easily digested and can be taken on empty stomach. I drink milk and eat yogurt and cheese every day, so my 4 Tums are just supplemental.

My dr told me at least 30 min daily of something aerobic and 3 times a week try to some strength training.

I did Curves 6 yr ago. Was fine for about 4-5 mo then it got boring and super crowded. It was a small space and way too many women would be there at peak times. That Curves closed up last yr. It was also next door to Subway and always smelled bad, like onions and peppers. Near me I have a place called Tone Up For Women. It's got a circuit setup on one side and rows of ellipticals, cycles and treadmills on other side. It's $40/mo and includes all the classes and 2 sessions with a trainer. I am considering it as they have no signup fee and no contract. It's also 1.5 mi from home and open 24/7. I hare spending the money tho.

I really like about 10-12 cocoa roast almonds. Lots of crunch and chew. Also enjoy applesUce, cheese, or a south beach peanut butter protein bar. Sometimes I just grab 2 slices of deli turkey.

B was a scrammbled egg on half English muffin with 3slices centercut bacon. L was 1/2cup chunky Soup and activia dessert yogurt with Protein powder. D will be a piece of broiled salmon, a few mini potato pierogi,and some steamed broccoli. Snacks have been a small applesauce with 1.5 tsp cinnamon, and maybe a cheesestick or cocoa roast almonds later.

I didn't expect all my hunger to disappear when I got my bNd. I expect my hunger to become manageable. That's exactly how it's been for me for the last 2 months. When I am hungry I eat, but I can eat something good for me like 2 slices of deli turkey or cheesestick and I feel satisfied. At meals I make my plate with my small portion and I eat it slowly, enjoying it and when the food is gone mealtime is over. I don't have any desire or need to overeat. I am also afraid of being sick or damaging my insides if I overeat. I am eating 3 meals and 2 or 3 snacks daily. Without having a fill yet I am rigidly sticking to 1200 cals daily. I try to exercise of some type 30-45 min daily. I am losing 1-2 pounds weekly. That's what I expected from my lapband and I am very happy today. If this is as bad as it gets, I can do this for my lifetime easily.

Some things I have learned about myself in the last 6-8wks that may help you. 1. Even tho I can eat much more than I do, I just don't. I have support around me so that keeps me accountable. When I'm having trouble with head hunger I talk to someone, helps so much. Also, knowing I have to face the people at my dr's office really helps me stay in line. I don't want to show up for weigh in and be heavier than last time, I would feel so bad about myself. 2. The right foods DO help fight hunger and cravings. Protein Snacks will take away my hunger in 15min. Cheesesticks, 2-3slices deli turkey, yogurt, cottage cheese or applesauce with Protein powder stirred in, South Beach Protein Bars or 10-15 almonds. 3. I use a calorie tracker app called My Fitness Pal. I faithfully log in all my bites and its set to 1200 cals now (I have no fill yet, could not survive on 800cals right now) Having this visual lets me know where I am each day. Last night, I only had 52 cals left after dinner but I wanted a snack. So I had to find one that fit in the 52 cals. Air popped popcorn with butter spray! 4. I eat 3meals and 2-3snacks daily. If I don't let myself ever get starving, its way more easier to control my food choices. So when I'm hungry, I eat! I keep all those good snacks near me. 5. I still enjoy a few things that I identified as my absolute faves: 1 cup coffee every morning with real 1/2 n 1/2. Few times a week I nibble on Dove Dark chocolate pieces. No more than 2 per day, and not every day! Chic Fil A is my fave fast food...I can have 8pk nuggets only for 280 cals and loads of protein so I make it a once weekly lunch or I can have a chicken Breakfast burrito that is large enough to cover breakfast and my snack, at 470cals! I found a 40% reduced fat kettle chip...and once a week I can have a serving of 18chips for 140cals. 6. Exercise doesn't have to be long crazy visits at the gym. Workout dvds, Wii Fit, just walking or cleaning house works. 7. Spoil yourself in other ways! I let myself get a few new apps/songs in the Apple store each week, I splurge on things I love at Bath and Body WOrks.

I don't really struggle, I just eat my dinner and they eat theirs and we all get along. I eat mostly what they eat, but sub a few things on my plate and leave other foods off. Actually, my new eating plan has helped my family as we all eat better now.

Me too... I am working very hard to eat only 1200 cals. I never go over 1200, and I only eat good foods. This is hard, everyday its hard. I have no fill, banded 11.19.10. I don't go for a fill till 1.25.10. I saw NUT yesterday and she just kicked me down. I have lost 23lb, but stalled for the last week. NUT told me I should only be eating 700-800cals. I told her I would not be able to do that until maybe after a fill. She basically said I have to use willpower. I left so depressed, I cried on the way home, all 18miles. If I could eat 800 cals a day, I would have done that before getting a band. I know it will get easier as I get some fill. Sometimes I feel like NUT are all over the board when telling us what to do. I am going to find another NUT. She really hurt me and made me feel like a failure.

I take mine whole, with my dr's ok.

I sauté chic breasts then dump some pasta sauce and simmer till cooked thru. Easy and keeps it moist. I also have put them in my crockpot with a combo of BBQ sauce and ff Italian dressing and simmer all day then shred it. If I bake them I will spray with olive oil and don't overbake. Near the end of cooking I will smear with BBQ and melt a slice of provolone on top with maybe some thin sliced ham.

Yes, I won't give up my one excellent cup of coffee in morning. I use raw Stevia now and a lowfat half n half.

I tried the vita gummy ones and they were nasty, I returned them to Target. I have dr appt jan 25 and I will show him my krill oil caps, they are much smaller than fish oil. I hope I can take those, if not I will continue my search for a palatable gummy or liquid.

One more trick I do, if it's evening and I have eaten all my calories for the day I will let myself have a glass of 1% milk. I figure it kicks my hunger and I have gone over calories with a healthy glass of milk. I really believe dairy is crucial to a healthy diet.