Search the Community

My sister who was banded last summer was hungry from the get-go and couldn't wait to get her first fill. I knew from the forum that most do not feel restriction. I think I'm blessed like Jack. I really don't feel hungry (even when my tummy growls sometimes). Last night was the first I felt tempted, but I think it was only because I was tired of the sweet stuff like Jello, popcicles, yogurt. Took care of that by making a little beef/mushroom broth. Hit the spot and took care of that craving. I was also told to watch it with things like cream Soups and puddings as they are so high calorie. Congrats Jack on doing so well. Don't think I'll hit 20 by New Years, but maybe 15? another member of the 12/21 possee

For those that like yogurt, I found out you can buy yogurt makers. The 'starter' is just a cup of whatever yogurt you can buy at the store that has live bacteria in it. I'm going on vacation next wee, but then I think I am going to order a yogurt maker. It'll be something fun to do maybe, and a good way to get the dairy in.

Count me in girls! I just went to a Project Fresh class 2 nights ago and got a Calcium brochure. I was shocked to learn how easy it would be for me to add in somemore calcium in my diet each day. (I'm probably in dire need of it!) I was also in shock to read this on the brochure: Too much salt (sodium) and Protein can spell trouble for bones, too. Both cause calcium loss, which is a problem when your diet is low in calcium. Caffeine also causes a small amount of calcium loss. (Salt, protein, and caffeine are only a problem when calcium intakes are very low, another great reason to get enough calcium everyday!) So that settles it for me ladies! I'm totally there! We go shopping tomorrow, and I will be sure to pick up some yogurt, ice cream, cheese, sour cream (great for making snack dip out of), and baked Beans (beans have 150mg of calcium in a 1 cup serving!). I will post the list on this brochure here too, and that may help everyone figure out which products pack the most punch. Good luck everyone!!!!

I am seriously thinking about steak. I want some steak. I also want to eat some rice. What did you do? Did you give in? Will it hurt my band? I am getting so tired of the same ole food choices. I am a picky eater for a fat person and some of this stuff I get tired of really fast. I mean MOnday I will be 4 weeks post op. My nutritionist has me going to solids on week 6. I am beginning to think that it is not for the band but to optimize the weight loss or jumpstart it. I am so sick of yogurt and sf jello and I don't like mashed potatos I want some mac n cheese. I really got this band so that it would help me with portion control I don't want to have to diet with it. Certain foods are restricted everything has to be low fat and sugar free. This is the pits!

Mmmmmm, soft foods: Tuna and light mayo with relish on club crackers Crab cakes Black beans, egg, salsa Cottage cheese mixed with yogurt Sushi Avocado Laughing Cow light wedges!!! Egg salad Spoonful of peanut butter

Well, I guess it depends on your perspective and idea of food priorities when banded. If you're always trying to eat Protein and fill up on that, then you'd find it quite difficult to consume much fruit. Its very filling and I find it quite hard to eat, its one food that causes me quite a deal of discomfort, although I can get it down. Sometimes I have a glass of juice. But whole fruit is better. I personally try to get at least one piece of fruit in per day - usually I'll slice up a banana to have on Cereal for Breakfast or I'll have a fruit smoothie, or I find I can get it down with yogurt too. I focus more heavily on vegies as I find it much easier to eat a wider variety and greater quantity - and I figure fruit and vegetables as one food group, so I dont worry if I havent had "fruit" as long as a large portion of my daily intake is fresh produce. But I dont focus on protein or do protein first so its a lot easier. I dont tend to eat fruit as a snack. I dont find a piece of fruit that appetising and never have. I like the look of a healthy, full fruit bowl on my kitchen bench and I'm very prone to buying fruit and not eating it, its something about the texture/crispness/coldness that I dont enjoy and never have.

Once you get to the eat all stage, Amazons own Amfit bars are great. Low cal, low cost and high protein. I always carry one in my bag. For you, just now I would recommend thick soups and protein yogurts.

Hi Jono 201! Wow, I have been checking on this Lapband talk forum for a week or so and not found any of Dr Neals patients. aND HERE YOU ARE. yOU WERE BANDED IN mARCH?! My surgery is scheduled for June 22nd and I am excited and of course worried as well. Were you happy with Dr. Neal's care? Any tips pre or post op. Lately I have been reading so many stories here on line about complications during and after, but I'm sure for every sad story there are 10 happy ones...I am very confident in Dr. Neal's surgery skills. I just don't know about my skills in managing this new band. I am so worried about not getting enough liqiuds down and getting dehydrated. Also my Birthday and 4th of July are coming up and I will be on Clear liquids...What a bummer that will be... Anyway, please write back. I live in NW Olympia. Bye Josie:clap2: quote=jono201;431738]I too did a lot of research and was also well informed by by surgeon. I also bought, laid out and made convenient any thing I might need post surgery, especially a wide variety of liquid diet items such as creamy Soups, Protein shake powder (chocholate for me), and yogurt drinks. I also made sure I had my magic bullit and plenty of low fat soy milk to thin my liquid meals. The one thing I wish I had been more informed about was the pain in my neck and shoulders from the anethesia. It was not until I woke up that I was informed that the pain would not go away for days. Also, the whole gas issue I was uninformed about, so I had not pre-bought anything to ease it. Other than that-like the other posters write-read read read and read some more.

I'm also one who can hardly stand regular yogurt. It's a texture/consistency thing. I can do a few bites but then start having trouble with it (nothing to do with band, I have food issues!). I can't eat cottage cheese either, unless it's in something like tuna or lasagna! I have discovered that I really LIKE greek yogurt! It's thicker and you need to stir well but it's tangy and just really good! You can buy it at any grocery store. Raley's, where I shop most of the time (in my little town), only has a small variety of one brand but I just bought some flavored ones at Trader Joe's today when I was in the city (an hour from home). I went ahead and bought one of each flavor. I have to go back to the city next week for more appts. so I'll buy more of what I like next week. Try it, you might like it! And Sue, if we lived closer I'd have taken those off your hands for you! LOL!!

My doctors advised me not to follow the stories on people who don't like their bands because it discourages you. And because we don't know the entire story regarding why they had issues with their band. I met one woman and she kept complaining how she never lost any weight and then when I asked her why, she said oh she couldn't get anything down except ice cream. I asked her why she didn't try yogurt, or cottage cheese, or jello, or other alternatives, and she just ignored me. So you don't know the real reason, and most ppl think that the weight is going to fall right off that they don't have to do anything. It's not true. No one should discourage you, you do this for yourself!

I had recently posted a recipe for chicken salad, with greek yogurt and it is really delicious - I agree, it is a good substitute!

Oh my. Just like Babbs said, you're eating too many carbs so of course you'll be feeling hungry. Carbs cause carb cravings and not eating protein is going to make it even worse. Protein is absolutely the first thing you eat and should be the large portion of any meal for the rest of your life. It doesn't matter if you aren't eating sugar. Simple carbs like potatoes or grits act just like sugar in your body and the more you eat them, the more you'll want to eat them. And not eating enough protein will really screw you up - your body will start burning muscle instead of fat, your skin and hair will suffer and the fatigue will get worse... not eating your protein is just all around super bad. chicken, fish, beef, low carb yogurt, cottage cheese, regular cheeses, high protein/low carb milk (like Fairlife or Mootopia), Beans (refried are awesome with a bit of cheese and/or sour cream)... there are so many things you could be eating that are way better for you. Your sleeve isn't the issue; it isn't the problem - your food choices are. Please do the reading and research on here for good protein meals and recipes, as you are heading down the wrong road right now, but you can turn this around if you're willing to try. Good luck!!

Well you have to get the protein in somehow and until you can tolerate more food....liquid's pretty much the only option. It's just a necessity. If you really hate the sweetness of the shakes, adding unflavored powder to Soups, Hot drinks, puddings, yogurt is also a good idea. If you can only stomach 1/4 cup of yogurt, then mixing a half scoop Protein Powder in with it will give you an extra 10-15 grams on top of the 7.5. (At two months out though, you should probably be able to eat a little more than you are--did you check with your doctor to see what he or she says about only being able to tolerate so little?)

You don't say whether or not you're hungry. That's the sign of needing a fill...or possibly just not eating what your body needs. A few ideas though... Your meal should allow you to be hunger free for about 4 hours. If it doesn't, perhaps a small protein snack mid-meal would help (an ounce of cheese, hardboiled egg, etc.) . Yogurt or Protein Drink is fine for Breakfast if it gets you through the morning. lunch and dinner, according to my surgeon, should be 3 oz of protein, 1/2 cup of vegies and 1/4 cup of starch (maybe and only if I'm still hungry). Record everything you put into your mouth in something like fitday.com. You'd be surprised how fast the calories add up with cheese and Soups. Once you know for sure how many calories you're eating, then you'll be better able to figure out why your weight loss has slowed. Don't expect major losses. One person I know only lost 3/4 of a lb per week. I only lose 1 lb per week and that's only if I stick to a 1200 calorie diet. Have enough days at 1600 calories and I don't lose anything. A lot will depend on your own metabolism. Some people see a faster weight loss when they exercise. That hasn't been my experience, although I do feel better. .

I have a ? If anyone can answer.. My liquid diet allows one fruit and either a fatfree no sugar added yogurt or ff sugar free pudding...couldn't find sugar free yogurt..bought fat free chobani plain yogurt..doesn't list sugar in ingredient but has like 7 grams of sugar..

dhrguru, Great topic! Let’s see…I have learned to love: Life! So cheesy, but so true. I love life for living’s sake, and not for the sake of the food that comes along with it. Healthy food. I like Greek yogurt, blueberries, salmon, and so many other healthy foods. I like their taste, and I like the feeling of knowing they’re good for me. Unhealthy food: I say I have learned to like it because now I can crave it, enjoy a reasonable amount of it, and get over it. Before, I just ate it. Exercise. Yes, I love running, lifting weights, biking, and being active generally…and not just because it feels good when it’s over (although I like that feeling, too). It lowers stress and makes me feel strong and powerful.

Good to know Andrea. I am almost 3 weeks out. Supposed to be able to eat regular Protein etc. but the only non yogurt soft food i can tolerate so far is. Tuna on crackers. I even had frothing yesterday yuck. I ate half a crab cake while out to lunch. Just the middle not the fried part. I am hoping because I drank like 20 oz of Water an hour before? It felt like something was stuck halfway down. Then I spit up foam. As long as it will get better I will go back to yogurt and cottage cheese. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My 16 year old daughter got banded last Wed. Dec 22 (which made for an intresting Christmas). It will be a week tomorrow and she keeps telling me she is so hungry- I went ahead and fed her runny mashed potatoes. It seems to help for a while. She does not want yogurt or pudding but food-well there is not much food on a full liquid diet. She very distressed from not eating. She has lost about 8lbs but it is the hardest 8lbs I have ever seen anyone lose. It is very hard for a mother to watch. She has had some health problems and the extra weight did not help matters. Any help would be appreciated.

My doctor requires 48 hours clear liquid and then a full-liquid diet until our two-week follow-up. As long as everything is OK, we are allowed to do the soft/pureed food for the next 2 weeks. I was told we could have cream Soup, smooth yogurt, puddings, applesauce w/out chunks, and whipped cottage cheese during the liquid stage. Of course, this is in addition to any low-calorie non-carbonated beverages and Protein shakes. I pureed a can of vegetarin chili 'til it was liquid today for lunch. I hope I didn't push it too far. I just couldn't stand the darn cream Soups anymore. There were no chunks in the chili so I hope I didn't damage anything by cheating a bit. Anyone have any creative ideas for the liquid stage?

That is the same kind of bottle I use, only I bought mine at Meijer. We ahve like 3 of them around here. One for both my husband and I at home that I keep in the fridge and I have one at work that I drink out of all day. I almost always have my Water done by the time I leave work and it is so easy to measure using that bottle. Anyhow y'all better hold up the fort while I am on vacation this weekend. It is our annual "girls weekend" so I will be at a hotel with my mom, grandma, 4 aunts, and 2 cousins. I have already packed my sack of 100 calorie snack packs and ff pudding and yogurt. Wish me luck!!!! Oh and the hotel has a workout room so if I am working out I expect y'all to do the same!! =)

Sadness-- I was banded 3/7. I had some Fluid taken out 2 weeks afterward due to being sick, and I have had one fill since. Definitely not in the "green zone" because right now I have less in my band than I did at surgery time. Also remember to take small bites, 60 seconds apart and chew until mush. One meal should take you 20-30 min to eat You asked what I eat: Breakfast is usually eggs, maybe a little fruit. When I work, I have premade these little things I call "egg muffins". It's beaten eggs poured into a muffin tin over sausage and vegetables. They freeze well, and I can eat them slowly on the way to work. I dont have time at work to eat over 20 min, so I do it on the way. lunch is 3-4 oz of chicken, pork, steak, or fish. And 4 oz of veggies. Like asparagus, sautéed peppers, green Beans, Brussel sprouts, etc. dinner is the same. Snack is string cheese, or lunch meat, or strawberries and yogurt. Try to keep the snack less than 100 cal. Avoid sugary drinks and anything that will go quickly through the band (aka sliders). Maybe you need a talk with the surgeons office to review eating habits with the band. Get a food scale and weigh your food. You will be surprised at how your brain thinks you need more than you actually do!

These are some of the recommendations I got from my nutritionist this week. Hope this helps to break the monotony: 1) High Protein Milk = 1c milk + 1T non-fat powdered milk = 12.5g protein (add sugar-free hot chocolate mix, sugar-free pudding mix, sugar-free coffee syrups, or sugar-free chocolate or strawberry syrup for variety; also, mix in advance and leave in the fridge overnight for better flavor and mixing of the powdered milk) 2) High Protein Egg = 1 egg + 1T milk + 1T powdered eggs = 11g protein 3) Ricotta cheese mixed with vanilla extract, cinnamon, and/or nutmeg 4) Plain Greek yogurt mixed with sugar-free cheesecake pudding mix; 1/4c = 7g protein (cannot WAIT to try this one!) 5) chicken with Ranch = 1 can chicken mixed with 1T powdered ranch + 2T plain yogurt; 1/4c = 10g Bon appetit!

I sometimes mix a TBSP into my 6oz container of plain Chobani yogurt add a few splendas and you have peanut butter fluff...yum.. I usually do it if I'm wanting sweet and sometimes I stick it in the freezer for a little bit which makes it sort of like ice cream.

When a craving strikes ask yourself Am I stressed out? When you're under pressure, your body releases the hormone cortisol, which signals your brain to seek out rewards. Comfort foods loaded with sugar and fat basically "apply the brakes" to the stress system by blunting this hormone. When you reach for food in response to negative feelings such as anger or sadness (like potato chips after a fight with your spouse), you inadvertently create a powerful connection in your brain. Its classic brain conditioning; "The food gets coded in your memory center as a solution to an unpleasant experience or emotion". Stimulate happiness "Women especially have a profound emotional reaction to music". Create upbeat playlists to listen to whenever a craving strikes. The songs provide a distraction and an emotional release. Wait it out "People give in to cravings because they think they'll build in intensity until they become overwhelming, but that's not true," Cravings behave like waves: They build, crest, and then disappear. If you can "surf the urge," you have a better chance of beating it altogether Choose the best distraction "What you're really craving is to feel better," You've heard the trick about phoning a friend or exercising instead of eating. But "taking a solo walk won't help if you're feeling lonely," Instead, identify your current emotion--bored, anxious, or mad; by filling in these blanks: "I feel ____ because of ____." Then find an activity that releases it. If you're stressed, channeling nervous energy into a workout can help; if you're upset over a problem at the office, call a friend and ask for advice. Ask yourself "Have I been eating less than usual If you're eating fewer than 1,000 calories a day or restricting an entire food group (like carbs), you're putting your body in prime craving mode. Even just 3 days of strict dieting decreases levels of the appetite-reducing hormone leptin by 22%. Do This! Lift any bans--safely Plan ways to enjoy your favorite foods in controlled portions. Get a slice of pizza instead of a whole pie, or share a piece of restaurant cheesecake with two friends. Don't "eat around" cravings; trying to squash a craving with a low-cal imitation won't satisfy your brain's memory center. For example, if you're craving a milkshake, yogurt won't cut it--especially if you've been depriving yourself. You may even take in more calories than if you'd just had a reasonable portion of what you wanted in the first place. Munching five crackers, a handful of popcorn, and a bag of pretzels, all in the name of trying to squash a craving for potato chips, will net you about 250 more calories than if you'd eaten a single-serving bag Are you getting enough sleep? In a University of Chicago study, a few sleepless nights were enough to drop levels of the hormone leptin (which signals satiety) by 18% and boost levels of ghrelin, an appetite trigger, by about 30%. Those two changes alone caused appetite to kick into overdrive, and cravings for starchy foods like Cookies, potato chips, and bread jumped 45%. Do This! Have some caffeine; it can help you get through the day without any high-calorie pick-me-ups. It won't solve your bigger issue of chronic sleep loss, but it's a good short-term fix until you get back on track. Portion out a serving, you probably don't have the energy to fight it, so try this trick: Before you dig in, dole out a small amount of the food you want (on a plate) and put the rest away. Are you a creature of habit? You may not realize it, but seemingly innocent routines, such as eating cheese popcorn while watching TV, create powerful associations. "The brain loves routine". The thought of letting go of these patterns can cause a fear response in an area of the brain called the amygdala. "Once the food hits your lips, the fear response shuts off in a heartbeat." Do This! Eliminate sensory cues; smells, sights, and sounds all act as powerful triggers. Watch television in your basement or bedroom so you're far away from the kitchen and the cupboard full of Snacks Picture yourself healthy; try the "stop technique": Every time the food you crave pops into your head, think, Stop! Then, picture a healthy image (say, you're lean and fit). After a while, your brain will dismiss the food image and the craving will subside. "One of my clients did this four or five times a day, and within 2 weeks, she stopped turning to sweets every night after dinner." Shift your focus; Australian researchers found that distracting your brain really does work. When a craving hits, divert your attention to something visual not related to food, like typing an e-mail. Passing up one bag of potato chips and 1 pint of Ben & Jerry's Peanut Butter Cup ice cream per month can help you lose 10 pounds in a year

Hi, I was banded in Birmingham too, not by Dr. Dewitt tho, Dr. Miles at St. Vincents East did mine 1 week and a day ago. I was so happy to be able to eat some yogurt, ya know something not just broth.. it is the worst.. lol Anyway hope everyone is doing good. I don't get a fill until Dec 16 but I am looking forward to that.