transformer

Hi there! For those of you who need food ideas, I just started a new thread about what to eat yesterday: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f9/whats-good-eat-after-post-op-diet-46237/ There are also a ton of ideas throughout the Food thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f9/ Feel free to send me a PM if you have any other questions!

VABandster--CONGRATULATIONS!!! I'm so excited for you! :wow2: sweethot--Great NSVs! A couple of them made me chuckle--it's so true! BooBooKitty--Good luck on your finals! I feel your pain! The good news is that once you're done it's holiday time!!! Oh yeah--about your age...the good news is that you'll still be closer to 30 than 35. I'm going to be 42 this year, but I'm still happy because I'm closer to 40 than 45! LOL!

Here's an interesting article about kids who are hungry 24/7! Check it out: cbs11tv.com - Prader Willi Syndrome Makes People Always Feel Hungry

I can't say I call myself fat or anything else. I just try not to talk to myself in general...other people don't seem respond to it very well! :confused:

I don't know anything about having too much spit, but the title of your thread made me LOL! If you look at it really quickly "Do you think I'm full of spit?" You realize what it looks like it says right? :pound:<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

Hi there! I would give my doctor a call and find out what the scoop is before having the band ripped back out... I'd think it would be wise to investigate before jumping into having another surgery. Let us know what you find out!

Hi! I agree with Denise822 that a South Beach diet type approach works well for bandsters. If you have too many carbs that aren't from green veggies (i.e. Pasta, breads, potatoes, starchy vegetables, etc.), your weight loss will slow down. Good luck!

Did you check out the mushies stage link yet under food? http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f9/mushies-stage-recipes-17637/ Good luck--variety is the spice of life!!

Hi there! If you don't want to lie about having surgery, I'd vote for lying about having hurt your back instead. That happens to people all the time! I'm so naughty--encouraging you to lie! :confused: Seriously though, everyone's right. You can't be lifting things that soon after surgery. I hope all goes well for you!

Hi there! Don't panic yet! It takes more than one fill to feel restriction. In the meantime, just do the best you can to follow the diet plan you were given. Be sure to get your Protein and Water in every day--it might help you not get so hungry. Good luck and hang in there!

Sometimes you don't even have to go through a previous surgery to know it's gonna hurt! My high threshold for pain comes from my OB trying to induce labor for a week before my son was born, then going through 28 hours of hard labor once my water finally broke on its own. Anything I've gone through since then has been a complete walk in the park in comparison! LOL! :faint:

phyllisc--Great tip on the pork--I'll have to try that out next time I buy some!

Great ideas Betsy Jane! Yum yum!

My doctor does fills on a set schedule--he follows a standard fill protocol that is carefully laid out ahead of time (usually at 4-6 week intervals). His office is very busy as well. The only time I could see myself demanding an immediate appointment would be if some type of serious complication developed.

Don't forget to double-check what you are eating. Many bandsters report feeling full longer if they eat lean Protein first, then veggies, and carbs if there's still room. A food log is helpful, too, to keep track of grams of protein and Water intake. Make sure you are making good food choices and that you are drinking 64 ounces of water daily between meals. Avoid overly processed foods, sweets, and junk food as much as possible. This is the most difficult period of time to get through. For me, it took almost a year to get to an optimum level of restriction! Hang in there--after several fills, you'll find that the restriction improves!

Some doctors do not want to fill the band aggressively (i.e. a lot of volume at a time), but choose to follow a standard fill protocol instead. It often takes several fills before you get good restriction. I didn't have really, really good restriction in my 10cc band until I reached a total of 9cc in the band on November 1st (almost a year after banding). That took about 4 fills if I remember correctly.

My doctor recommends two days of liquids and two days of mushies after a fill. That procedure has worked out fine for me so far!

OMG--I am developing bony knees! Can you believe it? :faint: (I know, I know--I REALLY need to get a life)! :doh: I whacked my knee on one of my lower cupboard doors this morning. I decided to check out how bad the bruise is so I just pulled up my pant leg to check it out. Lo and behold--I have bones in my knees! :wow2: Obviously, I don't spend a whole lot of time ogling my knees! LOL! By the way, sorry to hear about the computer woes! That's a major bummer! :think I got out there and raked leaves today with my son and got the whole front yard done! I didn't even feel like I was going to have a coronary! :whoo:

By the end of the first week, I started feeling like my old self. It was much easier to sleep upright at first though. My reclining sofa and I became one! LOL! My whole body ached--I think it was the effect of the anesthesia. My son kept making me laugh which really hurt (helps to press a pillow against your stomach--same thing when you ride in a car). I only took Tylenol for the first few days, but I have a very high threshold for pain. Walking is great for keeping your blood flowing and it helps relieve gas pains--take Gas-X if needed. It works really well! Be sure to follow your post-op diet instructions well so your stomach has time to heal. If you are concerned that you are in too much pain, check in with your doctor's office. They are there to help you! I hope you feel better soon!

I love it--wish I could be so uninhibited!!!!:girl_hug:

Hi there! Go to these links to get directions for adding an avatar like my Tazmanian Devil or the weight loss ticker I have at the bottom of my signature: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/avatars-custom-title-issues-3434/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/ To make the glitter writing, go to GlitterMaker.com and follow their instructions. If you are new to this site, make sure you check out the Lap-Band Surgery FAQs and References section: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f73/. A lot of "newbies" like to read the Abbreviations and what they mean thread so they know what everyone's acronyms mean (like LOL, IMHO, etc.). Hope this helps! :biggrin1:

Thanks for the congratulations! I've probably lost more by now, but I haven't weighed myself for a while. My jeans are getting looser come to think of it. Now you've made me curious! I don't eat Snacks, just three meals per day, so the Protein drinks would count as a meal. If I wake up late on a weekday, I'll blend up a quick Protein shake and take it with me! That way, I'm not tempted to stop by McDonald's for a fat-laden breakfast sandwich (that will just make me gag anyway)! LOL! While on the subject of fast-food places, I sometimes end up going out at lunch with colleagues which could be a problem. I do my best to pick the lesser of all of the evils on the menu. For example, at Wendy's I'll get just a grilled chicken sandwich, eat the insides of it, and leave the bread behind, get a salad, or I'll order just a cup of chili. At Burger King or McDonald's, I order the grilled chicken sandwich (not a combo meal--no fries, onion rings, or drink--just the sandwich) or get a salad with fat free dressing. If a pizza place serves salad, I go with that or sometimes a wrap sandwich (I usually have leftovers with either option). If the pizza place only serves pizza, I order a slice of veggie pizza and eat mostly the toppings on it. Mexican food can be tricky because a lot of it is loaded with fat from cheese, sour cream, and guacomole. I usually get fajitas and eat mainly the meat and veggies. I like getting that because I get a lot of leftovers out of one meal! Less work for me! If I'm stuck picking up something real quick at WaWa's (a gas station convenience store), I look for yogurt, string cheese, cottage cheese, South Beach protein bars (19g of protein and low carb!), or Slim-Fast Optima shakes (low carb). The bottom line is that you gotta do the best you can with the food choices that are available sometimes!

Hi there! I posted this information on another thread, but maybe you'll find it helpful as well. I basically eat what "normal" people eat minus the fat, sodium, tons of carbs, and in smaller portions. No rocket science needed--I promise! If I can do this, you can do this! The first thing I do is eat out of plastic containers that hold only a cup of food at the most to control portion sizes or I use a dessert sized plate rather than a dinner plate. It's a psychological thing! I usually aim for 1/2 cup of Protein at each meal then add in veggies, etc. Some people can eat more than a cup of food at a sitting which is fine--everyone is different. I'm a little shrimp--only 5'4" so my tummy is probably smaller than some folks'! As long as you're still losing, it's all good! I eat three "meals" a day and I try my best not to eat at all after 6 PM. I don't snack between meals. Instead, I drink Water in various forms and strive to get in 64 ounces a day to flush out fat, keep from retaining too much water, and to stay hydrated. I don't really like plain water, so I got a PUR water filter and flavoring cartridge that I attached to my faucet. I either make flavored water by the glass or keep a pitcher in the fridge to fill up my water bottle. I drink Crystal Light, too. For dairy foods, I'll usually eat the low-carb 4 oz. yogurts although I find that yogurt does not do a very good job filling me up! I do still make Protein shakes with store brand skim lactaid milk (I'm still working on my bottomless container of Champion Nutrition whey Protein powder from a year ago)! I usually make it with about 8 ounces of liquid, 1 scoop of powder, and enough crushed ice to raise the volume to 10 ounces. I buy fat free cottage cheese and eat 1/2 cup with different things mixed in. I might add a teaspoon of sugar free strawberry jam (10 whole calories!) or a tablespoon of yogurt just to add some flavor. My doctor advised me not to add fruit like applesauce to it to avoid eating too many carbs. I eat string cheese sometimes with about 4 whole wheat crackers. I tried the lowfat version once, but wasn't too crazy about it. I also eat Egg Beaters for Breakfast often. Some stores sell flavored Egg Beaters--Southwest/Garden Vegetables, etc. Those are pretty good. I usually buy the plain kind and add something to it (chopped scallions, salsa, a sprinkle of cheese, chopped onions, peppers, and tomatoes, etc.). You can also play with spices as well. I eat refried Beans pretty often. I take a 1/2 cup of fat-free refried beans and combine it with a tablespoon or so of different types of salsa just to make it more interesting (peach salsa, pineapple salsa, etc.). Sometimes I add a teaspoon of fat free sour cream or a little sprinkle of shredded cheese on top (emphasis on little sprinkle--cheese can have a lot of fat). I also eat canned salmon a lot. I'll take a 1/2 cup of canned salmon and stir in different things (chopped scallions, chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, dill, etc.). If you buy a couple of plum tomatoes instead of the big ones, that makes enough to mix in without having a lot of tomato left over to spoil. I add to that fat free mayonnaise or a fat free dressing that goes well with salmon. I do the same with canned tuna. I always rinse tuna (packed in water, not oil) in a collander to wash off the salt, too. That's an old habit I picked up from my dad's diet plan after he had a heart attack years ago. I also season salmon steaks with lemon juice and pepper and broil or bake it and then serve it with non-starchy veggies. I enjoy other types of fish as well (bake tilapia topped with salsa or canned chipotle peppers with adobe sauce which is very spicy, bake any white fish with a can of chopped tomatoes over it, etc.). All of these fish ideas can be split into smaller serving sizes and frozen. I make stir-fry often with chicken or shrimp and frozen stir-fry veggies. It's very quick and easy, and you can freeze the leftovers in small portions for another time. I find it's too salty if I use regular soy sauce, so I usually buy the low sodium kind. I make a basic soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and cornstarch sauce found in most cookbooks. I usually cook rice for my son, but I don't usually eat any because I eat the meat and veggies first in my little plastic container and I get filled up. For chicken, I have the best luck if I use chicken broth to cook it. Dry chicken and I don't get along well! Blech! Sometimes I'll cook a whole package of boneless chicken breast in my pressure cooker with 1 1/2 cups of low sodium chicken broth or a can of diced or stewed tomatoes to keep the meat moist. Once the meat cools, I'll chop it up and freeze it in 4 oz. serving sizes. I'll mix the cold or hot cubed chicken with all kinds of things. For warm meals, I'll heat the chicken up with some salsa, chopped tomatoes, or frozen non-starchy veggies. I'll add the cold chicken to salads, add fat free mayonnaise and scallions to make cold chicken salad, or grind it up with FF mayo and eat it on a few whole-wheat crackers. I use turkey the same way. I haven't quite mastered making pork easy to eat yet. I'm still working on it. I can't eat shake 'n Bake pork chops anymore. Again, if it's too dry, I gag on it! I do have beef on occasion, but I make an effort to eat fish, chicken, and dairy more often. I do purchase frozen meals sometimes (Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice, etc.). I try to buy the ones that have just meat and veggies like steak tips and broccoli or turkey and veggies. If it's too much, I'll save the rest for another meal. If I buy a salad, I find that it lasts me for a good 2-3 meals. I dip my lettuce in the dressing as I eat rather than pouring the dressing all over the salad. It stays crisp a bit longer that way. You'll notice that I didn't mention the words bread or potato. I do eat some of these, but sparingly. I'll have a toast with Peanut Butter on occasion for breakfast. I can say now that I no longer eat doughy foods like doughnuts or cinnamon rolls. I avoid processed carbs as much as I can (chips, Snacks in the cookie/cracker aisle, etc.). I don't know if any of this babbling helps at all, but at least there's a few ideas in there that might appeal to you! Part of learning to live with the band is changing your thinking--the hardest part of this journey is overcoming what your brain is telling you from years and years of bad habits. If you make the food taste good and look good, you won't miss junk food at all. By the way, sugar free jello/puddings with lite cool whip can help satisfy a sweet tooth, too! I feel like I'm a successful bandster not because I lost 100 lbs. in a year (which I most definitely haven't), but because I'm focusing on the good things I can eat and not bemoaning all of the foods I really shouldn't be eating in the first place. I'm choosing to lose weight at a slower pace than some folks--I'm not in a race with anyone but myself. I'm trying to make good choices to be healthy in order to change my lifestyle. I want to make lasting changes, not fall victim to the "fad diet" quick fix mentality if that makes sense. I didn't spend money to get banded and go back on the cabbage Soup diet, if you know what I mean! My band is just a tool to help me curb my appetite--the behavior modification and exercise is all up to me! Good luck with your journey!!!!

So glad you made it through! Every day will be a bit better so hang in there and try to stay positive!

Hi there! Now, I don't make "gourmet" food or anything like that--I basically eat what "normal" people eat minus the fat, sodium, tons of carbs, and in smaller portions. No rocket science needed--I promise! If I can do this, you can do this! :girl_hug: The first thing I do is eat out of plastic containers that hold only a cup of food at the most to control portion sizes or I use a dessert sized plate rather than a dinner plate. It's a psychological thing! I usually aim for 1/2 cup of Protein at each meal then add in veggies, etc. Some people can eat more than a cup of food at a sitting which is fine--everyone is different. As long as you're still losing, it's all good! I eat three "meals" a day and I try my best not to eat at all after 6 PM. I don't snack between meals. Instead, I drink Water in various forms and strive to get in 64 ounces a day to flush out fat, keep from retaining too much water, and to stay hydrated. I don't really like plain water, so I got a PUR water filter and flavoring cartridge that I attached to my faucet. I either make flavored water by the glass or keep a pitcher in the fridge to fill up my water bottle. For dairy foods, I'll usually eat the low-carb 4 oz. yogurts although I find that yogurt does not do a very good job filling me up! I do still make Protein shakes with store brand skim lactaid milk (I'm still working on my bottomless container of Champion Nutrition whey Protein powder from a year ago)! I usually make it with about 8 ounces of liquid, 1 scoop of powder, and enough crushed ice to raise the volume to 10 ounces. I buy fat free cottage cheese and eat 1/2 cup with different things mixed in. I might add a teaspoon of sugar free strawberry jam (10 whole calories!) or a tablespoon of yogurt just to add some flavor. My doctor advised me not to add fruit like applesauce to it to avoid eating too many carbs. I eat string cheese sometimes with about 4 whole wheat crackers. I tried the lowfat version once, but wasn't too crazy about it. I also eat Egg Beaters for Breakfast often. Some stores sell flavored Egg Beaters--Southwest/Garden Vegetables, etc. Those are pretty good. I usually buy the plain kind and add something to it (chopped scallions, salsa, a sprinkle of cheese, chopped onions, peppers, and tomatoes, etc.). You can also play with spices as well. I eat refried Beans pretty often. I take a 1/2 cup of fat-free refried beans and combine it with a tablespoon or so of different types of salsa just to make it more interesting (peach salsa, pineapple salsa, etc.). Sometimes I add a teaspoon of fat free sour cream or a little sprinkle of shredded cheese on top (emphasis on little sprinkle--cheese can have a lot of fat). I also eat canned salmon a lot. I'll take a 1/2 cup of canned salmon and stir in different things (chopped scallions, chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, dill, etc.). If you buy a couple of plum tomatoes instead of the big ones, that makes enough to mix in without having a lot of tomato left over to spoil. I add to that fat free mayonnaise or a fat free dressing that goes well with salmon. I do the same with canned tuna. I always rinse tuna (packed in water, not oil) in a collander to wash off the salt, too. That's an old habit I picked up from my dad's diet plan after he had a heart attack years ago. I also season salmon steaks with lemon juice and pepper and broil or bake it and then serve it with non-starchy veggies. I enjoy other types of fish as well (bake tilapia topped with salsa or canned chipotle peppers with adobe sauce which is very spicy, bake any white fish with a can of chopped tomatoes over it, etc.). All of these fish ideas can be split into smaller serving sizes and frozen. I make stir-fry often with chicken or shrimp and frozen stir-fry veggies. It's very quick and easy, and you can freeze the leftovers in small portions for another time. I find it's too salty if I use regular soy sauce, so I usually buy the low sodium kind. I make a basic soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and cornstarch sauce found in most cookbooks. I usually cook rice for my son, but I don't usually eat any because I eat the meat and veggies first in my little plastic container and I get filled up. For chicken, I have the best luck if I use chicken broth to cook it. Dry chicken and I don't get along well! Blech! Sometimes I'll cook a whole package of boneless chicken breast in my pressure cooker with 1 1/2 cups of low sodium chicken broth or a can of diced or stewed tomatoes to keep the meat moist. Once the meat cools, I'll chop it up and freeze it in 4 oz. serving sizes. I'll mix the cold or hot cubed chicken with all kinds of things. For warm meals, I'll heat the chicken up with some salsa, chopped tomatoes, or frozen non-starchy veggies. I'll add the cold chicken to salads, add fat free mayonnaise and scallions to make cold chicken salad, or grind it up with FF mayo and eat it on a few whole-wheat crackers. I use turkey the same way. I haven't quite mastered making pork easy to eat yet. I'm still working on it. I can't eat shake 'n Bake pork chops anymore. Again, if it's too dry, I gag on it! :puke:I do have beef on occasion, but I make an effort to eat fish, chicken, and dairy more often. I do purchase frozed meals sometimes (Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice, etc.). I try to buy the ones that have just meat and veggies like steak tips and broccoli or turkey and veggies. If it's too much, I'll save the rest for another meal. If I buy a salad, I find that it lasts me for a good 2-3 meals. I dip my lettuce in the dressing as I eat rather than pouring the dressing all over the salad. It stays crisp a bit longer that way. You'll notice that I didn't mention the words bread or potato. I do eat some of these, but sparingly. I'll have a toast with Peanut Butter on occasion for breakfast. I can say now that I no longer eat doughy foods like doughnuts or cinnamon rolls. I avoid processed carbs as much as I can (chips, Snacks in the cookie/cracker aisle, etc.). I don't know if any of this babbling helps at all, but at least there's a few ideas in there that might appeal to you! Part of learning to live with the band is changing your thinking--the hardest part of this journey is overcoming what your brain is telling you from years and years of bad habits. If you make the food taste good and look good, you won't miss junk food at all. I feel like I'm a successful bandster not because I lost 100 lbs. in a year (which I most definitely haven't), but because I'm focusing on the good things I can eat and not bemoaning all of the foods I really shouldn't be eating in the first place. I'm choosing to lose weight at a slower pace than some folks--I'm not in a race with anyone but myself. I'm trying to make good choices to be healthy in order to change my lifestyle. I want to make lasting changes, not fall victim to the "fad diet" quick fix mentality if that makes sense. I didn't spend money to get banded and go back on the cabbage Soup diet, if you know what I mean! My band is just a tool to help me curb my appetite--the behavior modification and exercise is all up to me! Good luck!!!!