roziecakes

Yep, if we're only supposed to be eating a cup-ish total for everything, then I try to make 1/2 or 2/3 of that a protein, and then the rest veggies.

I always cook too much too. I call myself the "Queen of leftovers"

I would like to join your FB group! Also, I've never checked out emilybites.com before... what an awesome site!

A lot of people like to eat beans. I would eat them if they didn't give me such awful gas. My favorite high protein option is Quinoa. You can use it in place of rice, and cous cous; and I have found that it doesn't stick as easily as rice does.

I highly advise against drinking alcohol. It's just empty calories, hard on the stomach, and you end up getting more intoxicated than you think because your pouch is small. I agree though, that if you must drink alcohol, watered down vodka is probably the way to go. Do not get anything carbonated mixed in.

I would stick with the amount the doctor gives you. If you have too little calories, it can make your body think that you are starving, and it will actually slow your metabolism to protect itself. What has worked best for me is to make the most of the calories I've been alloted. To eat Protein first, and to not eat a bunch of processed foods; to make the most nutrient dense choices available to me. I agree with Floridays that fruit is a good snack. Fruits are often high in Fiber, which is good for your digestive system, and also helps you feel full longer I'm with those who aren't so much into Protein shakes. I think that you can pack yourself with calories on those, they don't taste that great usually, and I never felt very full for very long after drinking them, but your mileage may vary, I suppose. That being said, you can buy flavorless Protein powder and put it in other foods...

Hi there! I used to come on this forum a lot, but haven't in awhile since I've been so busy with my new baby, etc; but I'm looking forward to talking with other folks banded in June of 2011. I lost 25 pounds pre-op; and about 75 with the band. I am looking forward to losing the last 50-ish pounds. I spent most of last year pregnant, so I have to catch up now!!

I was a stuff and swallow person too, that was my biggest challenge. I was also someone who drank a lot of fluids at meals... so I get this. It is like a zen meditation! I was told to sing the ABCs in my head while I chewed, totally helped!

I have a little baby, so I don't get to exercise as much as I did in the past. I tend to do a lot of short workouts throughout the day, and it adds up to about an hour a day I would guess? I get up and do 20 minutes of yoga each morning (well... almost, sometimes the baby needs me more than my yoga gets done), and I try to take at least a half hour power walk or jog. I run 4 miles 2 days a week. I do weight training and crunches and stuff like that in the evening after the baby goes to sleep, and before I do.

That is wonderful!! I wish I could stop eating meat. I don't eat red meat; I just eat chicken, turkey and fish; but I can't cut it out completely because I don't have a lot of Protein options. I can't eat soy because it messes up my hormonal balances, I can't eat Beans because they give me too much gas that is really painful, and I don't eat dairy (right now). Stopping the red meat though, was one of the best decisions I ever made!!! I hope you continue to feel wonderful

For breakfast I premake oatmeal at the beginning of the week, and separate out portions. I eat that with half a banana. I also might have raisin bran Cereal. I don't do dairy though; I use almond milk. I honestly really like eggs for breakfast. I don't eat bread because for me it sticks really bad, so no toast, but I cook 2 eggs and put a little salsa on them, or avocado. Avocado is great because it has good fats in it. For lunch I like to have sliced turkey, and a vegetable of some kind; cucumbers, etc. or salad. I know that might not be easy to take with you on a construction site, as the veggies might wilt; but try to bring a cooler with an ice pack. I like to make potato soup too; you can put that in a thermos. I don't personally do dairy, but you can add low fat cheese to all those suggestions. I used to like cottage cheese as well. (The reason I don't do dairy is because I'm breastfeeding, and my daughter is intolerant, I'm not against dairy or anything, ha ha). I'm a big fan of cooking things ahead of time, and freezing portions, or storing portions. One of my favorite lunches is brown rice, chicken (chopped fine), salad mix and salsa. It's like a burrito bowl without the tortilla or Beans. (I don't eat beans because they give me really bad bad gas that gets trapped in my pouch... ow!) Hope that helps!

I'm one of those who have had this problem as well. I got prescribed Colace, and I take it when I need to, but I don't want to get dependent on it. I put fiber in my coffee, and try to eat bran cereal at least a couple of days a week. It's worked out pretty well!

I do have some loose skin, but not a lot. I have to say that after I started weight training, and I drink a TON of water, it has helped with the loose skin. That being said, I have found that just getting tight running pants works for me; but as mentioned, I don't have a ton of loose skin.

I'm glad to have helped give hope! That was my whole intention As for the port, it doesn't stick out anymore. I can still feel it under my skin, but it's not sticking out really far.