nomorejellybelly

I use about 1/4 cup of "ranch-style" spicy pinto Beans that I make, heat them up, scramble an egg with it and put it on top of a tostada shell (think of a big round tortilla chip) which are about 56 calories each. I add a little salsa, a tiny bit of cheese and sometimes jalapeno slices. It's roughly maybe 250 or less) calories. This fills me up pretty good. P.S. I also love low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese with peach/strawberry preserves.

I'm glad for you.

TexasNurseMom - Soumds good.

Sorry, but I really wanted to ask this question... Does anyone else have a problem with passing gas? I've found now, for several weeks, that I tend to pass gass in "little toots" a lot through out the day. It doesn't happen at any certain time, so I don't know what the problem is.

I try to stick to a cup of food. Sometimes a little more. It is hard to judge how much, when you're at a restaurant, but I do my best and if I ever feel like I've had a little too much and am paranoid about stretching my pouch, I do have something to drink. I don't then eat more, after I drink something. That would defeat the purpose. I think you should definitely not do 2 cups of food all the time. I don't know, maybe once in awhile is okay, but not all the time. Good luck to you. P.S. I have really started getting used to thinking 1 cup of food looks like enough, even though I do really still think about wanting to eat more alot.

You need to get in Protein. I used Muscle Milk, Slim-Fast and a supplement that tasted gross, but really worked. It was called Protein Bullet.

I'm only 4'8", so I think suggested weight is between 90 and 105 pounds. That sounds like a Crazee number right now. I set my goal at 115 and I'll see how I feel when I reach that goal and then keep going if I feel the need. As long as I'm wearing small clothes, I'll be happy. That's the added bonus. Being healthy is the most important, but I do want to look hot for the first time in my life. I agree with you, Jenn79co. I think somewhere in the middle of those numbers sounds good for your height. You can do it!

Congratulations! That's so awesome.

Congratulations! It is exciting to fit into smaller sizes. I bought a small sized sweater and some size 6 jeans at a yard sale the other day, so I have something to push for, for next Winter. I'm in size 12-16 jeans now. I can still wear at least one of my size 16's.

I am so excited to finally be able to say I am half-way to my goal of 115 (maybe a little less, we'll just have to see how I feel when I get there). My weight loss is fairly slowish and keeps fluxuating up and down by a pound or two. It's weird. I was 165.2 on Monday, 167.0 on Tuesday and then back down again to 165.2 again today. Arggh!! I don't know if it's something I'm doing, effect of my thyroid meds or maybe both? It's driving me nuts, but at least I am still losing and I'm still fitting into smaller clothes. People have actually used the term "svelte" and said that I'm shrinking away". I have to laugh, because I think elementary school was the last time I could have been referred to as svelte. I just turned 40 last week and I am still so glad that I got the band. My goal is to get as close to I can to my goal by my 1 year anniversary on 09/08/11.

That is awesome! Congratulations. I'm halfway to my goal in 6 months.

I say go for it. It can't hurt, since you are getting liquid and you said you will drink decaffeinated tea.

Stick with it. Overall, I've done really well, but because of my thyroid issues (my thyroid was removed a few years ago and I'm on total thyroid replacement meds for the rest of my life), my weight loss stalled and is actually pretty slow again. I had lost so much weight, my medicine wasn't working and I had to get the dosage changed. I am almost 1/2 way to my goal. I'm lucky to lose a 1lb a week. I've been flip-flopping up and down the last few pounds. Even though it is a little frustrating, I remind myself why I got the band and that I haven't put myself through all this for nothing. I am not going to sabotage myself. It is so exciting to have people tell my that I am "wasting away", that I'm looking "skinny" (what me?) or that I'm just looking good. One of the guys I work with even said something to me the other day. Brave guy. He was the first one of them to say anything. Yay!!!

After a certain point, you have to use your own self-control also. If you're continuing to eat right and exercise, you can keep off the weight. I'm not at my goal yet (about 1/2 way there), but I'm simply determined not to gain my weight back.

I think the amount sounds okay and I think that since it's a low calorie food, it shouldn't be a big deal.

I usually eat about 1 cup of food. Sometimes a little more. I don't freak out when I eat a little more than a cup. 1/3 cup is nothing. You need to eat more than that. I've tried to get down to 3/4 cup, but that only works for me, when it is something like cottage cheese.

Try to get as much Protein as you can. That will help with hunger. I used a supplement called Protein Bullet. Tasted gross, but it really helped. Don't listen to stories about failure. Just remember that "the band is a tool". It's not the total answer. You have to be an active participant in your weight loss. I mentally have to remind myself not to overeat, for example. If you believe in yourself, you won't fail. You can do it!

I think you need to go to the doctor as soon as possible, if your pains are that bad.

I shop at Goodwill. You can find really good stuff there, very inexpensively and you can find stuff that is still really good quality and in some cases they still have the tag.

I use whatever I want, but within reason.

I've had 3 fills. The 2nd one didn't bother me, but the 1st one and 3rd one did. The PA said that she had trouble finding the actual spot where they stick the needle for the 3rd fill. Now I am not looking forward to another fill.

I had my gall-bladder removed about 6 years ago and I haven't had pain in that area for quite awhile (knock on wood), but I'm pretty sure that the pain I was having was from scar-tissue being pulled. Don't be worried about that. My port is a little to the left about 2 inches above my navel.

Are you hungry? How much Protein are you getting? I've had really good luck, but my weight loss has slowed down. I'm lucky to lose 1lb a week. I take thyroid medicine and my thyroid levels have been out of whack, which affects my weight loss. I've been flip-flopping around between 167 and 170 for this past week. I'm so close to being half way to my goal (I'm only 4'8") that it is a little bit frustrating. Just hang in there. You can do it!

Wow! Can't believe it's been 5 months since I got the band. I've lost about 47 lbs. I'm usually about 1 lb a week and I'm okay with that as long as it is consistently at least a 1lb a week. I really like that people tell me I look skinny sometimes or that I am melting/wasting away. I am wearing some smaller clothes and that feels great. My new favorite store, is still the Goodwill Store. I'm exercising about 30-45 minutes a day during the week and minimal exercising on the weekends. Now that the weather will start getting nicer, I'll get back to walking my Lab at night. I'm having more energy and I find that I'll do squats, stretches and walking in place while watching t.v.. I do still struggle with portion size. Should I be more concerned with amount like measuring 3/4 - 1 cup of food or by weight? I get really freaked out if I measuring something that is really light weight, but takes up a lot of space. Maybe someone will have some tips for me. Think I'll actually go ahead and search that on the discussion forums. Later.

So I've been able to fit into some smaller size clothes, even if I can't fit into something of the same size by a different maker. am I making sense? For example, I have jeans in sizes 12 - 16 that fit, but yet I have a pair of size 14 pants that still don't fit. ...but the reason why I'm adding this NSV, is that I'm wearing a pair, sized large, of Victoria's Secret sleeping pants. I just am excited that I'm wearing something smaller that is from Victoria's Secret.