I am scheduled for May

[bandedgirl08 1]

Hi, Everyone

Glad to hear mostly positive post for us May folks. I am seven weeks out and eating pretty much anything I want except bread. I just have not missed it, so figure I'll stay away from it. I have felt like night snacking this week, so I need to get that out of my head real quick. I started swimming last week and started doing cardio this week and feel great about that. I am down twenty pounds since being banded on may 5th and am happy with that. I am mostly happy that I have it so easy, no complications what so ever. My biggest challenge is getting my mind wrapped around not drinking the required 1/2 hour before, during and 1/2 hour after meals. I am praying for strength in this area and know that I can work my way up to it. Just got back from a trip to Florida for nine days and all went great. I enjoyed swimming everyday and it felt good to visit with friends and family.

Let's all be as great as we know we already are.:confused_smile:

Bandedgirl08

Banded May 5, 2008

Dr. Jeff Allen, Louisville, Ky.

[FeliciaLevy75 0]

Felicia! Great post..we are eating about the same way! I am not hungry too often so stay away from white carbs bandsters! I fully enjoy my Protein shake in the morning at it lasts me for about 4 hours!

Keep posting folks! Shelley

Hi Shelley,

It's funny talking about what we eat. Today a friend of mine asked me to show her I was actually eating (to be fair, this came in to question when I shared that I have essentially lost a pound per day in the past month).

I posted my FitDay.com tracking list to her for the past few days and the list looks huge, but I am only eating an average of 800 calories per day, usually less.

Slight tangent - Those numbers are slightly skewed, too, as I overcompensate for calories and hidden fat when I am eating out (requests for no butter or oil are largely ignored). I'd rather record it a little high than miss it and wonder why I am having weight loss issues, you know? But I digress...

/tangent over

So, less than 800 calories, I am not hungry, I am not weak or weary, I am fabulous!

Doc has no complaints and may not give me a fill if I keep this up. :confused_smile:

[bandfan1 0]

I had three weeks of full liquids then on to food, starting out soft.

Now that I am eating, and since people are talking about hunger, I thought I would share my hunger-killing tricks (i.e. they work for me, some are doctor recommended, but no promises to the general public):

1. Focus on eating all your Protein first, per the doc. I usually do 2.5-3.0 oz lean Protein like chicken or fish per meal then, if I am still hungry, I make the other 1 oz veggies.

2. I still do Protein shakes in the morning (1-1.5c of non-fat yogurt, protein supplement, and frozen fruit or Starbucks SF Mocha Syrup and ice). They are thick, full of protein, and I am not hungry all morning. If I feel like I might be getting a pang, I drink Water. (No one at docs has said anything against it as long as I am not hungry.)

Yes, there are carbs, but they are naturally found in the yogurt and fruit - no sugar or sugar-based additives. Natural sugars take longer to process and don't have the same negative impact that refined sugars do.

3. Be careful with pastas and breads, even some potatoes depending on preparation - ever seen what they do in Water? Imagine that in your stomach! It may seem filling at first, but then they break down quickly into sugars... hello to hungry again!

4. Fake cheeses (i.e. cheese flavored, powdered, etc.) may taste good, but they have no (or negative, and not in a good way) nutritional value. Have to have cheese? Find a low-fat string mozzarella or 0.5-1.0 oz of another favorite. Just don't do this too often... yes, we all need a little fat to process Vitamins and minerals, but cheese is mostly saturated fat.

5. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Drink your water and when you've finished, drink some more.

6. If you are still getting hunger pangs... try distraction. If you get a pang, get up and go do something in another room for a few minutes. Leave the area you are in: change of scenery, change of focus, change of needs. Go play with the pets, kids, or SO. Walk down and check the mail. Get in the car and go to the hardware store, buy a lightbulb.

Especially in the early stages, according to my doc, hunger can be head hunger, not true "hey, I'm starving here" hunger. Get out of the habit of feeding yourself everytime you are hungry; train yourself to focus on mealtimes, not the in-between.

Great tips!! I was banded on May 1st. I do find that certain times of the day are rough. between 3 - 5pm I definitely need to find activities that are not compatible with eating!!:smile: I am getting on my rebounder (mini trampoline) for 45 minutes per day and have added some more exercises for strength.

I am going for a fill on Monday and think that it is definitely needed. Even though I am eating much less, I feel that I could use some more restriction:crying:.

Right now the scale is moving veeerrrryyyyy slowly!!!!! It is frustrating to me because I feel that 60% of any weight loss right now is due to sheer discipline and NOT putting bad foods in my mouth!!

On a positive note, I am losing inches!! My waist is down 6 inches :biggrin2::biggrin2:

[FeliciaLevy75 0]

Keep going, bandfan! Inches = awesome!! The scale doesn't always tell the story, especially if you are gaining muscle. Great job!

[jbflorida 1]

Bandfan--I am also getting my first fill on Monday and I am ready! I know I can handle more food and am using good sense and good choices to get by...but it is hard.

The scale is moving sloooooowly, but it is moving in the right direction. As my friend says, "who cares about the numbers on the scale? I'll don't care if I weigh 300 as long as I am a size 8." (She is a large lady--unbanded).

I am out of women's sizes..and into misses..NSV

PS It's nice to be part of a community here at LBT that is so supportive and caring.

[bandfan1 0]

THanks everyone!! I needed to hear that!! I am so grateful for the support on this thread. My friends who haven't been banded just can't relate to what I am saying!!

Monday will actually be my 2nd fill. It should be interesting to see how my body responds to that!!!

My biggest hurdle still is taking small bites. I am so used to taking these big gigantic bites!!! Hopefully the next fill will solve that problem!!

I'll keep you posted!!!

[Allison 2]

Hey ladies! Just checking in!!! I feel a lot better now that I can eat more types of food, still mushies and soft foods and such but I feel better. I'm down 23 pounds! I just said in another thread that when I graduated highschool in June 2006 I weighed 209 lbs, Before the start of my pre-op diet I weighed 229. Today I weigh 206! I can't believe I was able to undo more than two years of damage in about a month!!!! I know that theres even more to come once I start excersizing lol

[kamicola 1]

It's been a while for me since I last posted... I was banded in Mexico on May 27th and am down from 337 to 311... I feel so much better... I was noticing when I was working in the yard today that I was much more flexible and I am not in as much pain as I usually am after working for several hours in the yard.... we just got a new puppy and walking is so much easier... It's just amazing how fast things can change... I can tell in 3 weeks though I will definately need a fill as I am able to eat most anything, but haven't pushed it with Pasta, rices or breads, but am getting to the point of being able to eat huge portions... I am trying real hard to take 20-30 minutes to eat, but I find it getting more challenging... I am working on the self control and that is improving. I just keep reminding myself how much better I will feel again after another 20-30 pounds and that keeps me on track for the most part. Glad to hear others are doing well too!!!

Kammi in Everett, WA

[amsderb 1]

Great Job you all!

Hey Kami...when I started my preop diet and all on Dec. 4th I was 311...I have only been banded for almost a month, but what I am getting at is you will be where I am in NO Time at all! I was 264 on my scale this morning! I am tickering what the docs scale says... but still on the day of surgery, I was 278 so I am DOWN!!!

My biggest problem has been all the skin rashes I've had...I don't know if you all every caught any of my other posts but since like January I have been plagued by one skin thing or another....then after surgery..OMG it was like...just peel off my skin please!!! I had what I thought was HIVES...reactions to meds etc...Well, last week I finally went to the Dermatologist and I have Psoriasis! It all makes sense now and yes, surgery aggrivated it all.....at times under my skin folds I had it and it is called inverted psoriasis...It was SO BAD LATELY that it covered my head...I have to use this expensive perscription Shampoo, head tonic and body lotion..all total about 300 bucks for the amount equal to a large travel size of each! They are super steroids...I am finally getting better...UGH...what a journey...much worse than surgery!

So, my port site was rashed out too...Doc said no fill unless cleared up...It is looking better....considering that 1 week ago today I looked like I had the measles...so one more week until fill....oh please rash go away!!!

Well, that is my new news...like I said, it all makes sense...and the stress of this Spring with waiting for approval, my job, trying to loose for surgery etc...then new medications... just turned me into a stress strawberry! I hope it all just calms dowm...ohmmm...ohmm...that is me chanting for tranquility...LOL

By the way Kami, I am drinking the coconut oil and lathering it on me hoping it will help too! According to the book I bought about the blessings of coconut oil - it should help me too! I am trying anything...

As for sticking to the eating plan...doing pretty good...when I go to the nutritionist on July 2nd it should be interesting to see what else they say.....

Well, Carry on folks

TTFN, Shelley

Edited June 23, 2008 by amsderb

[FeliciaLevy75 0]

I had to share a couple of NSVs:

1. Sitting in restaurant booths comfortably for the first time in a very long time.

2. Wearing jeans I bought too small 2 years ago and have never worn.

3. I wear a red plastic Bracelet from the American Heart Association in memory of my father... it sat up around my wrist before surgery. Now it sits about 3" down my arm.

4. I am not constantly adjusting my shirts when I sit or stand to make sure they fall right over my body.

5. My choker necklaces no longer choke me.

And that's after only 36 lbs!! =) I can't wait to see what happens next!

Edited June 23, 2008 by FeliciaLevy75
grammar

[amsderb 1]

WOOOHOOO Felicia!!!! Good Going!

Here is one for me...I was never comfortable driving my DH old explorer because the seat was lifted and then the seat belt was like toooooo tight.....now...NO problem!!! Not that I want t drive that anyway! LOL

[mzreeda 1]

Felicia! Great post..we are eating about the same way! I am not hungry too often so stay away from white carbs bandsters! I fully enjoy my Protein shake in the morning at it lasts me for about 4 hours!

Keep posting folks! Shelley

greeting im no morning person i know i should have something by 12noon what is the name of your protien drink? maybe i should drink 1 in the morning time

[FeliciaLevy75 0]

When I do Protein shakes (now about every other day/every three days), mine usually consist of:

• 1 c Dannon Light & Fit Yogurt, Nonfat, vanilla (FYI, I noticed this brand tends to have a lot less carbs than a lot of others)
  
• .5 - 1c (depending on size of fruit) FROZEN fruit (peaches, mangos, strawberries, berry mix)
  
• 1 scoop GNC Soy 95 (or something along those lines) unflavored or Vanilla
  
• 2 T Benefiber powder Fiber supplement
  

A sample one I did looks like this:

food Name

Serving Size Cals/Fat/Carb/Prot

Dannon Light & Fit Yogurt, vanilla, Nonfat

1.5 cups 100/0/18/9

Peach, raw

0.5 cups 37/0/9/1

GNC Pro Performance Soy Protein 95

1 scoop 130/2/3/25

267 cals

2 g fat

30 g carbs

35 g protein

This keeps me full; I don't snack or have the urge to snack.

The downside is that it can be carb-heavy if you are conscious of that. I prefer low carb because it works for me, so this is kind of high. BUT, it's also my most balanced meal all day with a little bit of everything first thing to get me moving.

Keep in mind, too, that the carbs are from the dairy and the fruit: natural carbs. It's a small solace and I know some more militant folks will disagree with me that carbs are still carbs, but it works for me.

I focus on eating lean protein and green vegetables the rest of the day. Go go protein, go away hunger.

Edited June 23, 2008 by FeliciaLevy75
formatting

[amsderb 1]

I use a product called Weight and Inches....the gym I go to sold them but then I found it online at Dietdirect.com....

They are Meal Replacement and low carb...I mix with Water (I used to use Iced coffee but am still not having coffee...yet...as per doc. order.....)

Anyway, sometimes I mix 1 - 2 tsp of greek yogurt to make it creamier, I also use ice to make slushy...you can also add sugar free syrups like...if chocolate flavored I like black cherry or coconut...

You can check out the supplement facts on the dietdirect.com web site...look at Meal Replacements and then pick weight and inches shakes!

[Bizzy Bee 1]

We May Bandsters are going to look like May Poles in no time :thumbup: YOu all sound like you are doing fantastic! I am doing well too. I am having some strange pains about where the band is. NOt sure what's up with that, it's not really pain, more of a pressure kind of feeling. I go in for a fill next Monday, maybe I'll figure out what it is. Keep up the super work. Keep me inspired :cool2: Vacation is NICE :smile: Went to the casino and had a free buffet. I am so glad it was free, because although I took what looked like a lot for me, when I left the plate looked like it hadn't been touched and I felt GREAT!!! instead of overstuffed. Definately couldn't have gotten my "money's worth" if I had paid the 16 bucks for the meal.