sweetbaker

Everyone's metabolism is different. While 800-1200 is the range most of us are giving by our nutritionists, that might not work for you. It didn't work for me. I wasn't losing and after discussing with my dr and doing a metabolism test, the target number for me was 1400. That's how many calories it takes for my body to shed pounds. Hope you find your number!

My elliptical has the moving arms so that helps give more of a full body workout for me. I can't do the ellipticals that only the legs move on a tract, too up & down for me and heck on my hamstrings. I'd say just start out slowly with resistance at 1. After 5 minutes, see if you can increase the resistance a notch. Gradually increase every 5 minutes, etc. until you reach the goal you've set for yourself. Considering it's all about getting your heart rate up, if you can only keep resistance at 1 or 2, just get your speed up until you're feeling stronger and muscles are adjusting to the new routine of working out. I've worked my way up to resistance 15 and start at 1...I increase resistance every 2-3 minutes and it keeps me from getting bored (mentally & physically)! Good luck and keep up the good work!!!

Give them to a crafter/scrapbooker to keep up with things like buttons, safety pins, brads, letters, and other small items!!

Give them to a crafter/scrapbooker to keep up with things like buttons, safety pins, brads, letters, and other small items!!

That's awesome!! Congrats. Sometimes it's the small victories that keep us going!! Keep up the great work

I'm sorry your weight loss has stalled. Are you tracking calories? Protein? Exercising? Getting all your water in?

I used to take prescription Naproxen for my TOM but now take 3-4 Aleve to equal the prescription dose. It's the only thing that works for me and I usually have to take it 2-3 days during my cycle. I asked pre-surgery if I could continue taking them after surgery and she didn't see a problem with it, only if I took them on a daily basis. I think everyone's dr might have their own opinion. Just ask yours.

I've been tracking my calories and protein the good old fashioned way...paper & pen. Calorie intake around 1100-1300 (based on dr recommendations following metabolism testing) and exercise (elliptical for an hour 5 times a week). Water intake 100oz/day. Protein intake 60-80g/day. So I see on the boards that a lot of people use & recommend myfitnesspal.com for tracking. Thought I would give it a shot....surgery was 5/4/11 and I've been stuck at 10 pounds pre-surgery loss and 10 pounds post-surgery loss (in first month and none since) and I've had one fill (that provided no restriction/hunger control). My question is....after you've entered all of your data (age, weight, goal, exercise, lifestyle) and it gives you a recommended calorie goal for the day.....who follows that and if you do, have you had success? Based on my input (lightly active) and current exercise, it recommends I eat 1950 calories a day. WHAT????? I know that what I've been doing is not dropping any pounds so I'm wondering if I should slightly eat more and meet the dr recommendation and the myfitnesspal.com recommendation in the middle and see how that goes? Needing feedback...thanks!!!!

I follow this website called hungrygirl.com and just today she did a slimmed down version of the Starbucks Mocha Coconut Frappucino. I love her ideas on making stuff that we love with the same taste as original but lower cals.

You are right...slow & steady wins the race!!!! I ate more calories yesterday and had a great loss today so hoping that's the start of a new trend. I'll definitely friend you because it's neat to get ideas from other's eating plans!

lea3277, you are still so early in your journey that I wouldn't worry about it telling you that you need more calories. I know at about 2 weeks post surgery I was only at around 700 myself. If you are still in the mushie stage, it's hard to get enough calories. It'll get easier as you transition to solid foods. Best of luck on your journey!!

I'd definitely add the protein shakes back in but what about beans/legumes? They're an incomplete protein so if you had them with a small portion of a carb, such as rice or quinoa, you'd get more protein in that way as well!! Good luck to you

Thanks Vicky. My dr recommends 1300 but that hasn't been working...no pounds lost. I might up it slightly based on the calories I'm burning through exercise (2500/week+) and see if that makes a difference. I know I've never lost well on high protein (via Atkins) but it's important for us a bandsters to get it so I'm trying! Thank you for your input!!!

hahaha...It's okay esch. We all have flavors we love the most. The only ones I drink and really like of the muscle milk lite is cafe Latte! It's like cold coffee

For pre-mixed shakes I like Muscle Milk Lite (about 110 calories) and I've found that at Kroger when I'm out of town. (small town with only a Walmart for shopping for me) and I've ordered it online. For powder, I order Jay Robb whey Protein Powder. It tastes amazing with skim milk or water. Pina Colada flavor is my favorite but all flavors are good. You can find it at Whole Foods or from his website www.jayrobb.com. I've tried a lot of protein powders over the year that taste chalky or just terrible in general and his is super good! I usually need to add a few more calories in my day so I'll make it with skim milk and fruit (like chocolate powder with frozen strawberries or vanilla with frozen peaches) for a smoothie. Hope you find one that you love as well.

It's Stacey....I'm still trying to figure out my profile. Just joined last week. Looks like I need to do a signature. lol. You are welcome for the advice, just know you aren't alone and we can all start fresh after a bad morning, bad day, bad week or month. Keep your head up

Puking can cause complications that you don't want. It sounds like you might need an unfill slightly. I'd get in to see my doctor, if I were you. Don't stop at the front desk when you call.

I think it also depends on what your nutritionist/doctor advised you to eat on your calories. A lot of people on the forums consume 600-1000 calories. After doing the metabolism test, my doctor wants me to eat 1300 calories so everyone is different. I do the elliptical for 45min-1 hour prob 6 days/week. Upon waking, I have hot tea. Breakfast is either an omelet or oatmeal with 1/2 scoop choc prot powder and 1 tbsp reduced fat Peanut Butter. Snack is 1/2 pure Protein bar. lunch is either tuna or chicken salad with a boiled egg & 5 whole wheat crackers or a baked potato with turkey chili and fat free cheese. Afternoon snack is 1/2 pure Protein Bar. dinner is 4 oz chicken with salad. If I need a dessert, it's a sugar free popsicle. Sometime during the day if I see my calories or protein are too low, I'll drink a Muscle Milk lite Protein shake. I drink about 80-100 oz Water a day. When I'm having a bad day or feel as though the weight isn't coming off as fast as I'd like, I come to read other's posts here and it helps me know I'm not alone and that everyone's journey is individual. Congrats on your upcoming nuptials and good luck on your journey!!

If it were me, I'd ask to speak with a nurse rather than the receptionist. Be your own advocate. Sounds like either the meat is too dry or you are too tight. Good luck!!

No lecture here. I think a lot of us have cheated in our lifetimes when trying to follow an eating plan or else we wouldn't be where we are getting WLS. Dust yourself off, get rid of the guilty feelings, and start fresh this morning following the diet plan exactly. It's part of the process to hopefully make for an easy surgery and recovery as well as the beginning to following rules that we bandsters will need to follow. You can do this!!!! Have a great day and don't look back

I'm so sorry you feel your doctor wasn't listening to you. I'm single as well and know that when it comes down to it, I'm my best advocate. I'm about 6 weeks post op and I still feel a tug/pinch if I reach for something, but I feel it where my port is, rather than where the actual band is around my stomach. Is that what you are actually feeling? I know if I over do it with the elliptical or stretching, etc. that I'm sore the next day. I've asked my dr and it's just the healing of the port where it's stitched to the abdominal wall. We might look all healed up on the outside but our bodies are still forming scar tissue on the inside to hold everything in place (port and band). Try to be conscious of your movements, especially the reaching, and if it doesn't subside, I'd ask my dr again. Good luck & I hope it gets better for you!

Kelli01, that sounds like it might be easier than the contortions I was in on the table. Maybe I'll ask if they ever do it that way at my next fill. Today is a week and finally the soreness has almost completely subsided. Yay!!! Thanks everyone for your feedback.

Hi all! This is my first post but I've been reading the boards for months. Surgery was 5/4/11 and down 21 lbs so far. Had my first fill this past Monday and was not expecting it to hurt so much. It took my breath away and I will admit there were some unladylike words that came out of this Southern girl's mouth. It felt like he put the needle in and shoved down and over to get the port over to it. It's been five days and it is still very sore & tender. NO fever/redness/oozing/bruising, etc. Just sore, especially the more I move throughout the day. Nurse isn't worried unless any of the other symptoms arise, but she said it's a bit uncommon to be sore 5 days later. (I was thinking..."you didn't witness the manipulation he did on my port area, lady!" I was just wondering if anyone else has encountered such a painful fill and continuing soreness post-fill.