CalicoskiesNC

Wow, I am eating too much! I have been satisfied on 1100-1200, but I do think I need to be under 1000 to lose better. I see my NUT 12/29 and my DR 12/21 so hopefully I can get some advice. I have no fill and since my hunger has returned its been manageable at 1100-1200, but I don't know if I could do the 800-900 now. Tell me a sample diet for 800cals. I eat 1C of Cheerios or Special K plus milk at Breakfast, mostly a Protein source at lunch (turkey dogs, deli turkey, chili, Beans, cottage cheese) yogurt plus Protein powder for snack, meat and veg for supper and leave about 100 cal for 1/2 a skinny cow treat or a Jello pudding at night. I also have 1-2C milk a day and 2 Snacks of usually a fruit or string cheese or Laughing Cow on 2 crackers. I think I am doing well, but the dairy stuff cals really add up. I've lost 16lb since 11.19.

I think I had my first stuck epi last Friday. I had worked all day and got too hungry for dinner. I had an egg overeasy, on 1 slice toast with a piece of american cheese. Had this awful feeling in my upper back. Very odd, very uncomfortable. I walked around, swung my arms above my head and tried to stay calm. I spit a few times, never vomited tho. About 10min later I could tell it passed but I didn't want to eat anymore. Spent the night sipping water and went to bed kinda hungry. Scared me enough to get papaya enzymes, meat tenderizer and pineapple juice for an emergency kit!

I also have the Viactiv and they are ok. What I have found thru journaling all my eating with My Fitness Pal app on my phone is that I actually eat the amount of calcium I need in a day. I eat yogurt, cottage cheese, string cheese and milk daily. Therefore, I do not take a supp regularly.

I did have to spend the night. My surgery was at noon, I was released the following day about noon. I have sleep apnea and always have much trouble coming back from anesthesia so my dr wanted me overnight. I didn't want to stay, but looking back it was a good thing. I got better pain and nausea management thru my IV than I would have had at home, also I was very anxious and nervous about the whole deal and it was reassuring to be surrounded by nurses. I was also walking a bit wobbly for a good spell. I don't know why but my oxygen level and heart rate were going so low they set off the monitors several times. Anyway, moral of my story....bring a bag, try to relax and realize that even 1 night in the hospital is a very short time.

I count calories. I am sticking to 1200 or less daily. When I exercise I do not up the amount eaten even tho my app does. I use MY FITNESS PAL and love it. Simple, great databank of foods.

I got my first jars of PB2 last Thursday from netrition. I could hardly wait to stir it up and taste-test everyone in my family. This stuff is like magic! Its like eating natural peanut butter. I was so skeptical, but not anymore! I keep a jar at work and mix up 2T for a snack. I just love the stuff.

Vitamin Shoppe and GNC sell IDS Protein Shots that are tubes, not very big, and have 42g each. There are several flavors, the fruit punch and watermelon are not too terrible. I dilute them with water when I drink them which is rare. I have an unflavored protein powder called Pure that I got at bariatriceating.com. I blend a scoop into yogurt that I have once a day, thats 15g. I have also blended it into pudding, and I cannot tell its there. I do much better with that stuff than I do chugging some syrupy yucky drink.

My dr said that he puts the band in while it's full then he cuts the tubing and let's most of the saline out but that about 2cc will remain. I don't get a fill till end of Dec.

Even if you can do breads and pasta, those are not the foods to give you satiety. If you eat more protein rich, dense food I think you will better control your hunger. This is what is working for me. String cheese, tuna or chicken salad, slice of good sharp cheddar, cottage cheese or yogurt with protein powder mixed in. High fiber cereal in the morning with a small serving of fruit keeps me satisfied for 4 hr. Try cutting back the carbs and see if it helps. At the end of the day, depending on how my food log looks, I let myself have one slice low cal bread or something sweet like pudding or lowfat ice cream. I really have lost my cravings for loads of carbs and sweets. But it took about 5 wks of fighting head hunger.

Feeling my band/port inside me was one of my biggest fears presurgery. Fortunately, I can't feel either. Not in any way.

I am having the low calorie problem too. After dinner if I am low I have a Carnation Instant Breakfast. It's 170 more cals and protein plus calcium. There are days where I just cannot eat much more than 1/2 total at a meal. Yesterday while I was working I got a fruit smoothie McDs. That was 210 cals and I was still only at 877 for the day. I make sure I get my vits+ in and then hope my body burns more fat for the deficit. I am walking 30min a day.

I use My Fitness Pal too and I love it. I have been measuring and counting cals. I can only hit about 1000cals a day. Just cant eat much.

I sorta skipped the pureed stage cuz it was nasty to me also. I stuck to mushy things or foods I could mash with a fork. I diced meats up so very tiny. I used Laughing Cow in my scrambled egg to keep it soft and creamy. I put Pure protein powder in my yogurt twice a day. I have till Saturday then I am on reg foods. I can barely get to 1000cals daily. I just take my vits and get my protein. I think it may still be swelling. I can only eat about 1/4cup dense food or less. I drink a few cups of milk a day, that helps with cals and protein.

I have 6 annual visits with a NUT covered by insurance. I definitely plan on using them. My NUT also gave me her email and allows me to msg anytime with questions. I would go even if I had to pay out of pocket.

Costco has the big jug of Vitafusion fiber gummies for $16.97. They were really good! I tried the big Fiber Choice chewable fiber tabs, not so bad but the gummies are much better. Gummies have 5g fiber each. I wish I could find a yummy calcium. I have Choco Viactiv but they are only ok. Would love to try the Calcet creamy bites, but 35cals ea??

I was a big sweets glutton. I just dont eat full fat ones now. Breyers smooth n creamy ice cream is a sweet treat that's not too bad if you can portion control. I love a spoonful of peanut butter to suck on. I love jello pudding cups, s/f ones and even if you cheat and have a second one it's only 60cals. You just have to find low cal sugar free subs that work for you. Applesauce with tons of Saigon cinnamon is good and sweet. If there is a food I cannot portion control myself, I cannot have it in the house.

Some things I like: Baked potato no skin with 2 wedges melted Laughing cow cheese and some steamed broccoli chopped fine stirred in. Mashed great northern canned Beans seasoned with chopped ham. Scrambled eggs with melted Laughing Cow wedges, finely chopped ham or bacon, or Jimmy Dean turkey sausage crumbles. Sometimes I toss in a few TBL of refrigerated hash browns. When I make meatballs for the family, I freeze a few for me. I thaw and finely chop and stir them into Pasta sauce. I take a small baking ramekin and plop in ricotta, sprinkle parm and parsley and garlic powder, top with the meatball sauce and bake in my toaster oven. Top with more parm and a pinch of mozz. I like finely chopped rotisserie chic mixed with 1/2 n 1/2 blend of Greek yogurt and lite mayo, and whatever seasonings, add some tiny diced celery, just enough for crunch.

Jello's chocolate indulgence dark Choco pudding cups are s/f 60cals and really really good. It's my nightly treat. These are the little 4pk not the 6 pk. They taste better than the 6pk, richer. Also, breyers smooth and creamy 1/2 fat ice cream has a flavor called dark chocolate velvet that is incredible. It's so dark and chocolatey that it looks almost black. It's 110cals 3G protein and 3.5 fat for 1/2cup. It's really good. Uh, I like chocolate!

Ang, do they taste anything like the omega 3 gummies? Those things are vile. I make myself eat 3 everyday but I can't stand them. I just believe in omega 3.

Sorry for my typos. Auto correct on my smart/dumb phone.

I am like you, Katie. I have no real physical hunger but have to battle head hunger daily. I a feeling very satisfied on 3 small meals and 2 even smaller snacks, about 900-1000 caps a day. I am still a month away from first fill. I need to worry more about establishing an exercise routine. I do hope this state of diminished hunger and cravings lasts. My dr says sometimes it does for awhile. He said he has patients go several months before needing a fill.

Good heating pad on your back and a mushy type ice pack on your belly. Also extra pillows when you sleep.

I started out with a paper journal. Then I found "My Fitness Pal" app on my iPhone and I use that exclusively. It's the best calorie/+ tracker I have found and I have tried a lot. It's also free. It's easy to show your dr or NUT your food diary and it also shows all your nutrients eaten for the day. You can set your caloric goal as well as customize the nutrients. I adjusted my protein to 75g and my total fat to 25g. They have a corresponding website too. It's actually my 2nd most important tool after my band. The food data bank is huge. I have only had to manually enter 2 items in over 2 months.

I love peanut butter. Have you tried the Smuckers all natural? Only ingredients are peanuts and salt. It tastes fab! Says to keep in fridge but I never do. It gets to hard. I just eat it straight off the spoon. I like a spoonful for snacks or even a dessert some nights.

I was banded 11.19.10 and I am having trouble making myself eat enough. I eat or drink about 800cals a day. There really must be something about the placement of the band in relation to nerves controlling hunger. I have basically no hunger but my stomach will rumble when empty so I eat a few TBL to shut it up. You shouldn't be eating ice cream and hamburger. I had my postop yesterday and even though I feel great and totally healed my dr said mushies and puree for 2 more wks. Try eating high Protein foods like cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, mashed Beans, eggs and see if they don't linger in your pouch longer to give you satiety. I won't eat anything unless it's a protein food. My NUT said the longer food stays in the pouch the longer my hunger is squelched. Shes right too, it works. You can stir an unflavored Protein powder into applesauce, pudding, pureed pears or beans. Do you have a nutritionist you can talk with? If so call today for advise before you are gaining. I hope it gets better for you. I feel very fortunate that I have no cravings or appetite.