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https://www.buzzfeed.com/carolynkylstra/mason-jar-salads?utm_term=.iu9MzP7pQO#.fjMqE6XOap Bariatric patients look at these and think....would be nice, but WAY too much bulk there to eat.. And it's true...it's a lot of food for a bariatric patient. But if you're eating six small meals a day, it can be nice to have leftovers handy for the next little meal:) Also...you can make these geared a little more to the bariatric diet. Consider the following layers: Hummus Turkey bacon Tuna salad Tofu Shrimp Chicken breast Black beans Chick peas Lowfat hard cheeses Cottage cheese Fetta cheese Olives Banana peppers Avacado chunks Sweet potato chunks Hard boiled eggs Yogurt Pickles Reduced fat reduced sodium salami (great in greek salad!) Protein Pasta (made of chick peas, lentils, and whole wheat) Think of all of your favorites. Include some fruits. A few raspberries, peach slices, fresh apple chunks, pineapple, blueberries Some nice finely diced veggies like peppers, cukes, tomatoes, mushrooms, brocolli bits, onion, fresh herbs Make homemade dressings with low sugar and fat Oh! and if the idea of carrying glass jars around scares you....consider stopping at Gordon's food service and picking up tall plastic deli containers. You can get 50 containers and lids for under ten bucks. The more variety you're including in your diet....the more diverse your gut microbiota will be. Diverse gut bugs are correlated with better weight loss during diet attempts. Switch it up. Get lots of fiber in addition to meeting your protein goals. Get you some wonderful phytonutrients:) And enjoy flavor!

I am in Ahwatukee. Where are you? I am doing great! Your hunger will leave you once you get filled! Just don't worry about it until then and eat carefully. I have lost about 33lbs so far,,,,it was hard when I wasn't filled but hard when I am too! I just went to Mexicali and got my 3rd fill and now I have 6 ccs in my band (10cc sagb) and I really feel the restriction now! Be patient,,,it will work for you! If you want to call me you can send me a private message and we can connect that way! I am so happy with my weight loss thus far and I know it will be ok for you also as I was really concerned about the hunger too! You are in your first stage of eating and I have some good ideas for you! Let me know!! hugs to you and hang in there Susan

All of my attempts at weight loss have been in good faith and with, what I thought, was a fairly educated mind about how to do it - yet I always failed. What I didn't do, until I was getting ready for WLS, is to address the emotional part of HOW I GOT to 330 pounds. I mean, how does that happen to someone? How can I be college educated, seemingly successful in other areas of my life and be squarly on a path to an early grave at my "own doing"? I had never really let go of my ego. I always had that bargaining voice in my head that rationalized and minimized dieting and weight loss. What this site did was to help me see that I AM NOT ALONE! There was power in that for me. I can't explain why, it just was. My parents are both alcoholics. My mom has 30+ years of sobriety and has dedicated her adult life to helping others with addiction. My dad has never gotten free from his addiction. I was exposed to the tennant of AA and the 12 steps a long time ago. As a teen, the foundations were laid but I NEVER really embraced the concept of accountability. I think this surgery MAKES me be accountable. It also gives me a control I have never experienced. That concept of "control" is one major difference between food and alcohol addiction. It is not a one size fits all. It's not like there is a perfect recipe for how to be successful in this BUT there are similarities of how people become successful. For an alcoholic, you don't go to bars, you don't take the first sip. For a food addict, it's not as simple. But there are lifestyle changes that support my goals. Again, I had NEVER, EVER considered the emotional side of weight loss (except for attending one, solitary OA meeting at age 23 in which I was so full of shame I could never go back). This time, at 45 and in a very different place in life, I was able to say "I am a food addict and the data (weighing 325+ pounds) supports that. I can't run from it." And all of that self realization brought a huge amount of shame in the beginning. I am coming up on my one year anniversary for my first doctor appointment (mid August). It's gotten easier to think about my failures in the past without shame. It's still there but it's less and less. I do know that if I get too far away from this site, the voices in my brain that tell me "it's okay to cheat today" start to creep back. This site, belonging to a community, helps me stay focused and accountable. I am far from perfect (I ate a half piece of cake yesterday) but I have come so far. People tell me how great I look and I minimize it. Not because I am not proud of myself, but because it doens't support success. When I say I have so far to go, they say "but you've come so far you should be proud". I have started explaining to people that I can't "celebrate" in the same sense of before. Celebrating tells my brain that it's ok to reward myself with an extra calorie or two or two hundred. It's a slippery slope and always will be. I still have a LONG way to go to get to a goal of "normal". The hardest work lies ahead. It scares me but I have some tools for success and I am going to keep coming back here checking in and being accountable. Thanks to all who commented - it helps keep us going!

I'm just curious. I'm 6 days post o.o and I don't believe my scale. sent from my rotary phone

It Does Not Take Much To Be Successful At Weight-Loss!! It Takes Everything!! Happy Sunday!! Love All Of You!! Keep God First and Everything Else Will Fall Into Place!!!(Sharon)

My nutritionist has me on probiotics (to help the stomach post-op), calcium 3x a day, and B12 (but I take a B complex pill for the other benefits). I've also been taking a multivitamin, vitamin C, and extra biotin as well, to help counter (maybe) the hair loss. The last bit I've been taking since November, but the NUT recommendation has been since mid-January (probiotics were recommended to start as early as possible, but I only got my hands on some a couple weeks ago). My surgery is Feb. 9th. I have to say, that since I started taking the vitamins, I feel so much better and more energetic.

I was banded on 5/23/13 and I've had great success with weight loss. At least initially. I've got a 10cc band with 5 cc's of saline in it. I've been having problems swallowing things like chicken, rice and shrimp. My doctor thought it was weird that the food is stuck just trying to swallow but he drained my band for 3 weeks just to see if that was the cause. The swallowing problem got better but didn't go away altogether. The Dr didn't think it was related to the band and refilled it to 5 cc's and referred me to an ENT doctor. This Dr put me on meds for acid reflux, I've been on them for over a month but things only seem to have gotten worse. My family doctor says sometimes when you restrict the stomach with the band the esophageal sphincter will constrict as well causing the swallowing problem. She suggested having a procedure to stretch the esophagus. My bariatric doctor says he's never heard of any such thing. Has anyone else had similar issues?

I really need some help. I had surgery over 4 years ago. I initially lost about 60 lbs. I lost my job in October of 2009, and had my last fill in Nov 2009. I started my weight loss surgery at 272lbs. I am back up to 243lbs. My lowest weight was 219lbs. I can not afford to pay for the fills, as they are about $250.00 and my doctor will not take credit cards. Can anyone please help me find a doctor that will help me by taking a credit card for a fill? I need to try to get back to losing weight instead of gaining. I am very depressed, and am at my wits end. I had to pay for my surgery, and that cost me $18000 cash. Please help!!!

I credit all the best Vitamins and hair products to still having great hair loss for 1 1/2 years. You either will or you won't. I sure thought I would not. Thankful I bought a great wig. Three years later all is well. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

These stories scare me as I have had some pain the last year but they keep assuring me its not my band. I have had 2 CT scans, one a year ago, one last Friday. I am scheduled for a colonoscopy this Friday. The docs think it could be scar tissue from previous surgeries but I am still a bit worried and would like to know whats really up. I admire all of you and your attitudes and wish you all the best in maintaining your weight loss.

First congratulations on your loss!. A 50 lb loss in the first two - three months is somewhat above average for most people having this surgery. If I could ask, what was your expectation at this point? I ask this a lot from folks that post similar and it is rare that I get an answer. I really am curious what you thought you would weigh two months out. Did you talk to your surgeon to see where he thought you would be? Again great job on the loss, I would not be "dicouraged" if i were you.

Drinking more Water might help too. If you've lost that much so quick your body may just be catching up to the loss. Just think of how shrunken your liver will be already and how much easier a time your surgeon will have with doing the procedure. Hang in there...

The monthly visits are very important, whether you're losing weight or not. The doctor wants to monitor your progress. Too much weight being lost, they're going to unfill you a little bit. I know that might horrify some of you, but I lost a lot of hair during my 100 lbs fiasco that scared the bejesus out of me because I ate terribly, nothing nutritious, mashed potatoes loaded with butter and southwest eggrolls...but I kept losing because my restriction was so tight. Fortunately I have a lot of hair and it wasn't noticeable except when I wore black suit jackets...but I put a stop to that by going vegetarian and following the blood type diet, which is the last regimen I will ever need! If you are not losing fast enough, they'll bump you up a little. I could swear the thinking at my doc's office was: 1. Fill - liquids 2 days (lose weight) 2. Mushy foods 2 days (lose more weight) 3. Solid/regular...which makes you maintain for another 3 - 4 weeks til next follow up. Like clock work, 4 - 8 lbs a month. I always lost the most during fill time and then it was just my body dealing with the lost fat. Then my body would be like "OK...lord...we can survive with those 8 lbs, I just made the adjustments, we should be able to hang on to calories again!" and then I thwart it with another fill :wink2:

Penni & Teresa, I hope you guys see this since it's in response to your posts on Alex's thread. Thank you so much for doing the research for me. Dr. Kuri called me, and he did not check for erosion. He suggested I get a scopey if I'm worried. But unless something weird happens, I'm not making an appointment for one. I figure I'll let my band do the talking, and unless it's screaming at me, I'm going to leave it alone. However, just to make sure I worried till I fell asleep, last night I lost all restriction. BOOM, gone. First time. Last night was my first mini binge since being banded. After dinner, I kept eating chicken from the roasting pan. Then I ate 2 Pringles (that's all that was left) then I ate 1/4 cup chile with chips, then 3 Cookies, then a few ounces beef jerkey. I have no idea where that came from or why it happened. Zero restriction. I could have kept eating. That's the first time since my band that I got out of control. I went to bed a little uncomfy, but no reflux or horrible pain. I just ate a Protein bar this morning and feel it in my sternum, so maybe I have a little restriction back. Damn, I certainly hope so. But even without restriction, what the hell happened to my willpower last night? Worry warts eat it? Get this, Sara at Dr. Billy's office said that even altitude affects restriction. She says people get fills at one altitude, but once they get home to either lower or higher, their restriction can change a lot. Now I have to wonder if bariatric (haha, I mean barametric) pressure works the same way. We have a storm coming, and it always makes my eyes hurt. Our funny little bands might even be affected by lightening or the tides!

Rica, you made a good point. My little brother's best friend has always been like another brother to me. I saw him last week and he didn't notice my weight loss. So I said, "Adrian, I've lost 49 pounds and you haven't said anything." He just looked at me so innocently and said, "sis, I never though you were fat." Maybe all my friends and co-workers are just being really nice. Maybe they instinctively know that I have an aversion to compliments. Maybe it's a good thing they don't say anything!

Hi there, Jackie, I will have my pre-op consult with Dr. Oweis on May 4. The first time I met with him was October '05. I was denied by insurance and working on approval since then . . . I'm feeling better about the 'competence issue' since the last time we talked/typed! I figure they've been doing it for over 5 years, like you mentioned about your seminar, they really seem to be knowledgeable about band placement to avoid complications, etc. I also figure St. Luke's would pull the program if it was a liability to them! I start some of the pre-op testing next Monday, 4/23. I'm getting excited again (more than nervous like I was before). I've been having dreams about it . . . One was that my husband wanted to take another job, maybe I got that from you! Tomorrow I have to start the 1200 calorie diet, in addition to the extra chewing, and not drinking with the meals. I've done surprisingly well with it so far! I have two children, my son is 10 and my daughter will be 9 on May 12. We're going to have her party a week early so I don't have to worry about it so close to surgery. Yes, I've battled weight most of my life. It had been just the later years that I passed the 200lb. mark. I weighed about 135 when I was married 12 years ago, but I had lost 20 - 30 lbs to get there. Within the year, I was in the 160's, constantly yo-yo-ing. I got up to 200 during my pregnancies, but got back down to the 140's with phen-fen after each one. Of course, the weight loss never lasted long. After each loss came a bigger regain. I feel so tired, ache all the time, and so ashamed of my appearance. Not to mention taking a ton of ibuprofen to deal with the joint pain. Congratulations on going back to school for your RN! I've always thought I'd enjoy being a nurse, but the science scares me! I got my Bachelor's degree in business, and avoided science classes like the plague. My sister-in-law is an RN and makes great money and has a great schedule. She works for Macgruder Hospital in Port Clinton. Have a great week, 'type' to you later!! -Lisa

Normally, our protein goals should not change markedly between when we are losing and when we are maintaining weight, as the goal in each case is to maintain our lean body (or muscle) mass, which (hopefully) won't change much as we lose the fat (there will inevitably be some loss, but we should try to minimize that with the typical protein recommendations and some strength oriented exercise.) Once reaching goal weight, then one can evaluate their body composition (fat and lean mass amounts) and make adjustments accordingly, or if one wants to go into a muscle building program, then an increase may be in order.

just 5 weeks out, but my hair is thicker, I credit it to quality multi-vitiams I am now taking twice a day, and biotin I added in after surgery, and loading up on protein, I get about 100g a day

My suggestion is to research ALL the surgeries and then pick a surgeon who is a big fan of whichever one you think will work for you. Here's a chart to get you started: Weight-Loss Surgeries Compared

Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas has an exercise program for post weight loss surgery. I do not remember the price. I believe you have to get approval from your surgeon, but it has the exercise classes and nutrition classes post surgery. I really hate that I moved back to Houston. Houston does not have any exercise program for post surgical patients.

Tod I was on a 6 month plateau with zero weight loss. I started writing down everything I ate..in one month I lost 10 lbs. Journaling your food really does help. It keeps you accountable. There is something to be said about seeing what you eat on paper. It makes you make better choices.

Cutting your hair actually makes it healthier! Talk to your stylist. They can look at your hair and decide if your hair is healthy enough for it. I am planning to get highlights in about a month, just in time for summer! I have very healthy hair and lots of it. So any hair loss won't be noticed. Besides, it makes us all feel good to do these things for ourselves!

Hello my name is deanna and my surgery date for getting sleeved in April 4th 2016 I am both nervous and excited and I start my pre op diet tomorrow so I am very worried about that long week, I am having my surgery at St Vincent East in Birmingham I haven't found a support group that is close enough for me to go to since I live in Haleyville if anyone here knows of one I would love the info please, also I would like to find someone near me who is going through the same thing maybe we could exchange kik or numbers to be weight loss buddies. Sent from my Z812 using the BariatricPal App

If it's bothering you and possibly hindering further weight loss I would absolutely have it removed.

Hello Everyone, My name is Iris and I am with Bariatric Support Specialists and I would like to take this opportunity to invite the members of LapBandTalk.com to join us and Dr. Lloyd Stegemann of New Dimensions Weight Loss Surgery based in San Antonio, TX for the LapBand Buddies Weight Loss Surgery Cruise & Conference. The cruise & conference is scheduled to sail aboard Carnival's Elation from the port of Galveston, TX to Cozumel, Progresso and Belize, May 14 - 21, 2006. We have a great educational conference planned that will cover things like nutrition, exercise, mental health issues, fashion shows, makerovers and much much more. We have some great pricing for the cruise & conferece that makes it affordable for everyone. Even better we have a payment plan that makes it even more affordable. If you would like more information on the LapBand Buddies Weight Loss Surgery Cruise & Conference please send me an email to bariatricsupport@gmail.com and I will send the information out to you. This is a great opportunity to meet your fellow LapBanders and I hope that everyone will be able to join us. Sincerely, Iris C. Slack, CTC, ACC, CBSGL Bariatric Support Specialists