Grey Cat

i don't understand any of this. I eat 1 serving of Cream of Wheat + 4 oz of fat-free, sugar-free yogurt every morning for breakfast. (total=170 calories) I don't know why there is any talk of these shakes or breakfast bars which I imagine have too many calories. It is important to eat as you will for the rest of your life. currently 14 weeks post-op, down 67 pounds

Follow me at michaelwasfat.blogspot.com for these and other ideas.

I will be sure to check you out on your blog.. Cream of Wheat? Does it keep you full? I will try it. You have a point about eating for the rest of your life.

I've been using the RVL Meal Replacement Shakes from Mona Vie along with a supplement capsule and a protein bar. I drink a shake in the morning with a capsule. It fills me up and gives me energy. I usually stay full till 12-1, then I have a sensible lunch. Sometimes I get a little hungry in the afternoon so I'll eat a half of a protein bar. Then for dinner I usually drink another shake and take a capsule and I'm pretty well done for the day. Sometimes I'll eat a healthy dinner, just depends on my schedule and how I feel. Since I started these shakes about a month and a half ago I've dropped 25 lbs, my hair isn't falling out anymore and I feel great!! Overall since LapBand I'm down 100 lbs.

Wow that is great that you have been able to lose that much! Good for you.. Where do you get RVL meal replacement shakes… GNC ?

That is a good idea too. I do eat eggs and yogert but kashi cereal too makes me sleepy…lol do you like egg beaters?

I agree with all that was said… I too suffer from depression, off and on through out the years, The funny thing is that it comes and goes and for years have not had any symptoms, until I had miscarried twins. Then it came back. I didn't want to leave the house, and do much of anything, no cleaning, no exercise and I love my pool, maintaining it — lost interest in that as well. I had gotten the band 7 weeks ago and thought that would help. If he weight came off then I would feel better. But of course that was not the case. So I got put on welbutrin, and have been for 2 weeks.. i am starting to feel much better. Sometimes we put on weight to hide our feelings, and when we are given the tools to take off the weight, we still do not deal with the underlying reason we put the weight in the first place.- thus the depression can get worse. Hang in there and know that the band is not a cure all, its a tool and your heart can also be a good tool. Do not be so hard on yourself. Hang in there!

cat

7 weeks post op, I did not have saline in my band either. I have heard that some doctors do that, but mine did not. The swelling in your tummy should as others have said cause enough restriction. I followed the diet to a T after the band was placed for a week. I had gas too. or Air Bubbles in my body cavity that occur when you are cut open and the air gets inside and then after sewn up, have no real place to go but to dissolve on its own back into the blood system. This is how i understood it. The only relief I had was Walking and lots of it. The bubble moved to my shoulder blade, and was uncomfortable for awhile. So I know what you are feeling.. and I wish you luck and I am glad you listened to your body. It is worth it.

Do not be dismayed when you find yourself hungry after the band. I have found some foods that I love before the diet, were good in moderation, HOWEVER they slide right through the band and do not make you feel full. The high protein food that is good quality will remain in your pouch longer and make you feel fuller. I was confused and hoping that I would not be hungry anymore and was sorely let down when after 3 weeks post op.. nothing was filling me up… because i was still leaning toward my old diet… and habits that i reasoned if in moderation wouldnt be that bad because the band wouldnt allow me to eat much of it… but not true! Good LUCK and I hope your surgery goes well!

You just got some great advise and I even learned something new. Thank you.

I am glad you learned some new stuff! I really do not have a filter when it comes to expressing my thoughts when it comes to the band..lol and I am very glad that I have such a strong support group!

I think you might not be getting enough protein or it isn't spread out evenly throughout the day. I am very similar to Mom..I eat 5 small high protein meals a day..I eat every 3-4 hours. I don't like food when i first wake up so I always have a protein shake for breakfast (I am in maintenance stage now..and still eat this way). Then 3 hours later it will be some sort of protein snack..meat/cheese roll ups. Lunch varies..cheese quesadillas (sorry for the spelling) or some sort of tuna or chicken salad on a couple of crackers. 3-4 hours later afternoon snack..carrots/dip or cheese sticks. Dinner I always cook for our family something high protein, low carb...I have a ton of recipes..I cook a lot by crockpot. One of our favorites is Pizza Soup...tastes just like pizza but no bread and it is about 240 calories. 3 hours later..maybe jello or pudding. If I was needing any other snacks in between those I eat Sugar Free popsicles. Keep in mind you can only process 30 grams of protein at a time so if you make a smoothie or something that has 80 and you think you made your goal for the day..you will be tired within a couple of hours of eating it because you only retained 30 grams of it. I looked at this as a lifestyle change not a diet. I had to make sure that what I was eating to make me lose the weight I would continue to eat after wards. I know this will sound weird but I was actually afraid that I wasn't going to stop losing weight. I lost 130 lbs in 10 months. I ended up gaining 5 back to be healthy. Cooking your own foods and having a great attitude really goes a long way! Every body is different so you can not compare but you can see what has worked. Oh I agree...my drinks of choice Orange Sunrise Crystal Light and Water..to me the strawberry-banana was "too thick"..believe me that sounds funny when it comes to Crystal Light but everyone's tastes buds are different.

I never realized that about the protein and I will give it a try. I too get tired if I have too many carbs.. i get that mid morning crash. Thanks for your input! I love crystal light sunrise too! and congrats with your battle. The lap band is in for life, so you are right diet is not the term.. its more of a lifestyle change.. Thanks!

Maybe it's how you structure your food intake throughout the day. I had to experiment and play around with mine until I found what works for me to keep me from being hungry. I was at first, but now, am rarely hungry unless it's close to meal time. I start off the morning with a high-protein shake on my way to work. At work, I eat 1/2 a protein bar. (This came throught experimentation too - because along with protein comes calories!) Around 10:30 a.m. I start drinking a can (11.5 oz) of V8 vegetable juice. This is a great way to get your veggies in and curbs hunger til lunch. Then at 3 I have a snack, usually something with protein, like yogurt or the other 1/2 of the bar I had for breakfast. Then supper is around 6. For my beverages throughout the day, I drink Crystal Light - they have a strawberry-banana flavor that suppresses hunger. The also have other flavors that boost energy, increase metabolism, etc. The key is to make one change at a time so you can tell if that one change makes a difference - and give it time too - it usually doesn't make a difference right away, but after 2-3 days, you'll notice. Hope these tips help, everybody's different!

Thank you! I love crystal light grape drink..lol and sunrise.. i have not tried the others… I will give it a try and see what happens the trick is just finding balance i think.

Thanks for the feedback! I am relieved to know i did not ruin the fill. I have not had anything get stuck thank goodness! I never even vomited. Now its just knowing what foods work with the band and what don't. I really want to feel full, and I have found some foods do make me feel fuller faster than others. Anyone have a difficult time with raw veggies? - such as salads lettuce tomatoes onions? it seem that the " output" is not very pleasant to me, as before salads did not bother me at all.