HeavyDutyQ-tee

What in the heck is going on....okay, I know what is going on. I have been eating the wrong things. I do good, I do bad, I am having such a hard time finding consistancy in my eating. I'm exercising 4 or 5 times a week. I keep falling off the wagon. Maybe because I can still pretty much eat anything. I've eliminated all white flour and sugar as well as sodas. One day I weigh 188, the next day I weigh 191. This has been going on a while. I blamed the holidays. But, that over.
I don't want this to be a "poor me" post, but, jeeze.....how do I find consistancy? Do I need to began a food journal? Do I need to go back to the basics? I need help, but, I'm not sure what help I need. Maybe I need accountability. I have none. No husband, no one telling me I need to get with the plan. I know this, argh....
Maybe some of you can speak to me with the voice of experience. I would truly appreciate it.
Jackie O.

I don't measure my food, but with the restriction I have I can only eat 1/2 to 1 cup. Depending on what it is. If I try to force it, it will only result in pain. Probably stretching the pouch or pressure on the band.
I don't count calories. Since my portion size is under control, all I need to do is make good food choices.

Happy New Year to everyone!
Ok you guys, I really need help on making better food choices. I saw the dietician but she wasn't too helpful to me. Maybe because she hasn't went through the surgery herself. Can you guys tell me some safe foods that will work?

Allyson LapbandLiving Lewis
Look me up!!!

I'd eat more, and not because I believe in starvation mode, but for nutrition sake.
I've always been a bit gung ho about nutrition, I figured if you eat well and eat 1200 or so a day you should be fairly OK. I've never really taken supplements, and dont drink Protein shakes. But I've had a wake up call recently, yes, I was having cancer treatment, so that puts a unique strain on my body - but my set of nutritional issues include Iron depletion, osteopaenia (that's a precursor to osteoporosis), B12 deficiency, all of which have lead to some unpleasant symptoms including depression, anxiety and real brain fog to the point where I wondered if I was suffering dementia.
That's as a result of six years of calorie restriction, coupled with a lot of very hard exercise. I'm thin, yes, but I was well on my way to being a frail little old lady! I broke a rib three weeks agoand all I was doing was trying to adjust the knob on a spin bike that was done up a bit tight! That is what led to the bone density test, which showed my bones are not what they shoudl be. Needless to say by the time I lay out what I know I need to eat in a day, there's over 1500 calories there. I can eat that, I'm maintaining now, not losing, but it just really proves to me that you absolutely CANT survivive on 500 a day and you really really need to be supplementing carefully. You need a good multi, you need your Calcium and if you're menstruating, you need your Iron.< /p>
You can feel fine for years undereating, but it kind of hits you all of a sudden.

You go Q-tee ! I know what your talking about, and it's a big step up from just walking or doing the Wii. (not knocking it at all)
This is just stempin it up. "YES !" You will see a big difference. I guarantee it.
Keep in touch.
Shirley.

Just a small piece of advise,,,,,,,, stay on fluids for a couple days, just so the swelling goes down.
It's better to be safe...
Congrats....

Sounds like you are getting some good advice on here - i would just add - please do not get your hopes too high for the first fill. I have had 4 fills (7.5 cc total) in a 14 cc band and i'm still not restricted. I am only just now feeling "something" in there. But i know i'm not in the green zone and i can still (but usually don't) eat too much food. I'm hopeful that my 5th fill on Dec. 6 does the trick. All of this is to say - i hope this is not the case for you - but you may find that you do not feel "different" at only the first fill (or for a few fills after). This is bandster hell and it is the worst time for a bandster - heeled up - can eat anything - and not to the green zone yet. BEST OF LUCK TO ALL OF US ON OUR JOURNEYS!!!

Just wanted to share a victory with you all... Well I met my 1st goal... So about 3 wks I turned on my Wii game n went thru my past weigh-ins on Wii Fit. I was so shocked when I discovered that I was 42lbs lighter back in February 2011. It sometimes seems so unrealistic that we can gain weight that fast. Well, on that same day 3wks ago when I wanted to see how much I had gained... so stepped on the Wii Fit Board & my heart sank when I was told I was over the weight limit for the Wii Board (330lbs maximum weight) & the computer asked me to step off the board.
Well, I'm down 13.9lbs n the Wii Board is No Longer Rejecting Me!!! So excited!!! Might not seem like much but to me it was the best thing ever!!! So overly excited to finally be moving forward with-in my Journey #ThisIsOnlyTheBeginning

I stay under 1200 calories a day and usually eat around 80 grams of Protein. Here is my day so far:
Breakfast- 1/2 of a bagel and a little cream cheese
Lunch- 1/3 turkey and Swiss sandwich on wheat bread.
And dinner will be- turkey meatballs, marinate sauce and a little but of whole wheat noodles.
The bagel wasn't the best choice this morning... Usually I eat an egg or something. Honestly, my philosophy for myself is to live a normal life and not feel like I'm dieting. I quit diets. This is a new life style that will live me forever so I need to feel normal. As long as I stay under 1200 calories a day and get my Protein and Water in, I eat whatever I want. I'm losing on average 3-4 lbs a week so it's working for me :-)
Good luck on your journey!

Wow, since April I've been preparing for this surgery I've had very insightful & some very challenging moments. I'm a pretty "detailed" person, so I did my "Living Will" paperwork and emailed it to my children today as they all live out of town.. I'm experiencing a gamut of emotions this evening, but for the most part I'm excited to finally be on a road to real Weight Loss. I've had my moments of weakness and I've learned very helpful information from this site, overall I'm pretty happy to have made it through the 2 week pre-op, with one minor slip-up..

I appreciate everyone here that shares their stories and advice.. Keep me in your thoughts & prayers.. My surgery is at 9 a.m., I report to the hospital at 7 a.m.,.One of my sisters and my Father will be there with me. The minimum I will be in the hospital will be overnight, the nurse said because I'm having a small hiatal hernia repaired as well, my stay may be 2 days, we will have to take it day by day. Based on my level of pain & comfort will determine if I go home Wednesday or Thursday.

I'm going to turn in early tonight, so I can wake up and be on my way to a better & healthier ME!!!

Again Thanks for the being best support team EVER!!!! I will post when I'm home and up to it...

Lap Band Forum ROCKS!!!!

I made a pizza today on a tortilla shell & it was fabulous! It was perfect b/c the crust was super thin & went down well Just thought I'd share my new idea with u guys in case ne one is craving pizza but can't seem to get it down...

Give your input on Protein drinks and Mixes. What you found out for you, where to buy, prices, taste....
Before surgery I bought Atkins ready made drinks - 12 pack at Sam's Club for $15 vanilla, chocolate - 15g Protein, 150 calories, 11oz - loved the vanilla
Bought EAS ready made at Walmart - similar and a little thinner than Atkins. Also bought Isopure bottles of Grape, strawberry and Apple Melon - only didn't like the strawberry
I bought several for post op from www.supplementwarehouse.com - they were ok on the shipping but didn't have the unflavored in stock and held the whole shipment. I got the package 1 day before surgery!! I will reordered from them but not the unflavored.
Atkins - Boxed ready mix drinks - Vanilla & chocolate at Sam's Club 15g Protein per box, 160 calories - Great for a quick fix especially for first week post op. Bought the Strawberry but haven't tried it yet
Syntrax Nector - Fuzzy Navel - $28.25 for 2 lb tub - 24g per scoop, 90 calories - This tastes like orange peach - I like to add 2 scoops to 16oz Water
Syntrax nectar Chocolate Truffle - $28.25 for 2lb tub - 24g per scoop, 100 calories - Mixed in Water tastes watery but I started mix with 16oz Fat Free Milk with 2 scoops and it is delicious!
Syntrax Nector Unflavored Medical - $14.36 for 1 lb tub - 10g per scoop, 40 calories - add in chicken brother, mix first in cold Soup and warm up slowly!!!
Designer whey Blue Blueberry - $9.29 for 10oz tub - 6g per scoop, 40 calories, 1 net Carb - This is absolutely delicious but I didn't realize this was so low in Protein - so I added unflavored 2 scoops and it added 20g Protein to the 6 for a total of 26g.
Isopure - Apple Melon $40.56 for 3lb tub - 32g per scoop, 110 Calories - Bought at The Vitamin Shoppe close to me. Tried 1st time today - not as good as the ready made bottle drinks but will experiment to find a better taste.
I am not adding any extra stuff to my drinks - (no peanut butter) Just trying to follow a strict guideline for maximum weight loss.
For me I plan to do the Chocolate Truffle with Milk every morning for a "Breakfast" then a flavored drink the afternoon.
Hope this helps someone!!