Weight Watchers?

[flowers 0]

Is there a place on this site that gives basic diet instructions for the band? I know each surgeon is different but is there a basic plan to follow?

I dont think there is a basic plan. My fill doctor told me my portions are too big when she looked at my band and stomach under fluor, said to cut back a little on portions so my stomach goes down in size.

Eat small portions. Dont drink before or right after or during your meal are rules some follow, but I never did it right. I still drink when Im thirsty.

[BgB9 9]

Married, have you tried seeing a nutritionist? My doctor has one on staff so there isn't any charge other than my copay. She was very helpful in coming up with a plan. And she was very specifically trained and experienced in dealing with people who have had wls. I guess I was really lucky having my doctor be head of a bariatric clinic at a teaching hospital.

[married 0]

I get a lot of protein.. But I research and look really hard to find products that have it.

Plus I am only filled 5.0/10cc band so that might make a difference.

Sample Day (points/protein are approximate)

8oz coffee (0pts)

Apple (1-2pts)

lite string cheese (1-2pt)(6g protein)

Ostri-pepperoni stick (1-2pt) (13g protein)

Bullet - 2pts (25g protein)

Healthy Choice Wiskey Beef Entree (5pts) (18g protein)

Green Beans 1/2 cup - (0pts)(1g protein)

Raw Carrots 1 cup - (1pt)

WW ice cream cup (2pts)(5g protein)

Garden Vege Medley (2pts) (4g protein)

Grilled chicken Breast (3pts)(25-ish g of protein)

And I still have more pts for the day..

Hey thank you for taking the time to give all that info. I think it can be done too and certainly you can get in enough Protein even though you do have to research like you said.

[married 0]

Married, have you tried seeing a nutritionist? My doctor has one on staff so there isn't any charge other than my copay. She was very helpful in coming up with a plan. And she was very specifically trained and experienced in dealing with people who have had wls. I guess I was really lucky having my doctor be head of a bariatric clinic at a teaching hospital.

My doctor does have a nutritionist but what I find with her is that she is a lovely but naturally skinny person (she said so herself) so she says things that you just want to smack her for LOL. She seems to have a general knowledge of nutrition but not for the lapband and you'd think she would she works for a bariatric surgeon. Maybe I need to try again with her.

[married 0]

I dont think there is a basic plan. My fill doctor told me my portions are too big when she looked at my band and stomach under fluor, said to cut back a little on portions so my stomach goes down in size.

Eat small portions. Dont drink before or right after or during your meal are rules some follow, but I never did it right. I still drink when Im thirsty.

So did your pouch shrink when you cut down and how many fills have you had? Are you still hungry with lesser amounts of food?

[lacasst 1]

I guess I should have read more before I posted. I was given very specific dietary rules. I met with a nutritionist twice before and twice after my banding and can meet with her again any time I have questions. I was given a target amount Protein to eat and advised to eat that first then noon-starchy vegetables if I was still hungry. I was told the quantity to expect when I hit my "green zone" and given a list of foods that go through the band easily and have high calories so I could avoid them (my doctor has a thing against nuts and milk). They spent time with me on Vitamin supplements and what I 'd need if I followed the plan. It works for me. Averaging 10 pounds a month isn't exactly as fast as I would like, but it is where my doctor wants me to be (hacked me off he wouldn't give me a fill last visit).

BgB9,

No that plan sounds great,I wish my office had something that specific & detailed.I think I'll ask to meet with the nutritionist again.I tried to do weight watchers and found it hard to work the points and get enough protein.So whoever said alot of these diet plans are not complelety cohesive after WLS was right!:scared2: So I'm back to trying to eat all my protein and monitering portion size and smart choices....BTW I would kill to be losing 10 lbs a month that is awesome!!

Edited April 4, 2009 by lacasst

[kastoner 0]

I have been reading the posts re:Weight Watchers and feel that perhaps some people are missing the point of the how the Weight Watchers program abd the band can complement each other. Weight Watchers is used as a tool for tracking your intake and allows you to see your progress on a weekly basis. I adjust my points allowance to suit my needs as a lap bander. A weekly weigh in can bring home the reality of how much you are losing and allow you to get back on track if you are not doing as well as you would like. I can't afford to weigh in at my doctors every week and my scales are tempermental.

[CapitolChick 1]

Bumping Thread!

Ok, I posted 2 new discussion on the social site.

1) Share your fav WW + LB friendly food.

2) Feed Bag.. post what you ate.

[married 0]

Just had my fourth fill and am still contemplating doing weight watchers. This fill finally gave me some GREAT restriction. The WW plan that worked the best for me was the original plan where you counted and measured carbs, Proteins, etc rather than points. And I think its because the diet tends to be more balanced when its all there each day. I lost weight fast. I am not even sure I could get down all that food now after the fourth fill. I assume that the restriction will begin to fade after awhile. Does anyone have any problem getting all the points in and do you have to have to go to a much lesser point amount because of the band? And how do you figure it out?

[aspenAvery 1]

That is my question.... How do you know how many points to eat? I don't think I would need to eat the total number of points for my weight.

[Bella8891 0]

"To each his own"......I have always liked the structure of WW but was always hungry. Now with my band, I am not hungry between meals. It is very easy to follow WW with the band. I give myself 20pts/week plus the extra 35 if needed. Some days I don't even get to 20 points, but that's OK. I really like the weekly weigh-in. It keeps me from jumping on the scale everyday. I could not do WW WITHOUT the help of the band. There is no difference between following points or counting calories....you can keep it high Protein, low GI if you want. Just another way to keep track of calories.

[tonya66 13]

That is my question.... How do you know how many points to eat? I don't think I would need to eat the total number of points for my weight.

There is a questionaire you fill out that gives you the number of points you will need.

1st, there are certain points for the type of work you do, I have an office job, mainly sitting, so I got 0 points for that. My friend is a housewife and she got 4 pts for her job.

Then there is your weight, you take the first two numbers of your weight - when I started WW, my weight was 171, so I got 17 points for my weight. But as your weight drops, so will your points. Mine is is now in the 160's, so I only get 16 now for this part of the questionaire.

Then they also give you points based on your age, I'm over 40, I don't think I got any for that. Or I might have gotten 1 or 2

Then if you were male, you got more, and female got a few points.

When I started WW I began with 22 points, I'm now down to 21. The most points you can have is 44, and the least is 18.

Then everyone gets 35 "extra" points, you can use them or not. They are for special occasions or many people use them.

I have been successful pretty much without WW for the past 2 years with my band. I'm down to the last 15lbs to lose and I decided I needed some structure to help me lose the weight. Its going slow, but it is helping me.

Everyone is different, it depends on what you like. I was at a point in my life that I needed structure. Many don't like it, but I needed it and I also needed some accountability, so the meetings give me that.

Best wishes to you.

Edited April 14, 2009 by Sunshine2

[married 0]

There is a questionaire you fill out that gives you the number of points you will need.

1st, there are certain points for the type of work you do, I have an office job, mainly sitting, so I got 0 points for that. My friend is a housewife and she got 4 pts for her job.

Then there is your weight, you take the first two numbers of your weight - when I started WW, my weight was 171, so I got 17 points for my weight. But as your weight drops, so will your points. Mine is is now in the 160's, so I only get 16 now for this part of the questionaire.

Then they also give you points based on your age, I'm over 40, I don't think I got any for that. Or I might have gotten 1 or 2

Then if you were male, you got more, and female got a few points.

When I started WW I began with 22 points, I'm now down to 21. The most points you can have is 44, and the least is 18.

Then everyone gets 35 "extra" points, you can use them or not. They are for special occasions or many people use them.

I have been successful pretty much without WW for the past 2 years with my band. I'm down to the last 15lbs to lose and I decided I needed some structure to help me lose the weight. Its going slow, but it is helping me.

Everyone is different, it depends on what you like. I was at a point in my life that I needed structure. Many don't like it, but I needed it and I also needed some accountability, so the meetings give me that.

Best wishes to you.

but can you eat all the points for your weight range with your band?

[tonya66 13]

but can you eat all the points for your weight range with your band?

Well, it depends on how my band feels that day. I have a very finicky little band. For the past 4 weeks, I've had not problem, then about a week ago, I've got tight again. I couldn't even finish 1 packet of oatmeal. I could only eat 1/2 cup of turkey chili last night.

I usually can eat around 18 points, even when I'm tight - sometimes its hard, but usually can do it. But if I'm lose, I can eat my regular 21 points (and more if I allow myself).

[married 0]

Well, it depends on how my band feels that day. I have a very finicky little band. For the past 4 weeks, I've had not problem, then about a week ago, I've got tight again. I couldn't even finish 1 packet of oatmeal. I could only eat 1/2 cup of turkey chili last night.

I usually can eat around 18 points, even when I'm tight - sometimes its hard, but usually can do it. But if I'm lose, I can eat my regular 21 points (and more if I allow myself).

Hey thanks for answering my question. I have one more and then I promise I will go away. LOL. Do you tend to eat more slider type foods while following WW or do you eat the type of food that is recommended for the band?