readytogoforit

yes, protein will make a big difference! I found a snack with protein that is good - Seapoint Farms dry roasted edamame. 1 oz. = 11g protein; 8g carb; 120 calories; 3g fat. very satisfying

I have been enjoying raspberries! I add some in my yogurt along with a little granola & flax seed! I have had some really good nectarines too, love this time of year!!

try to get into a habit of eating "something" 3X's a day. breakfast is most important, be sure to have protein at all meals. concentrate on protein, it will give you energy and keep you feeling comfortably satisfied. be sure to have H2O with you at all times!! you did quite a bit, slow down!!!

it's funny, it has been hard to look at myself in the mirror. a full mirror not just my face!!! the first times i stared at my body, bewildered!!! I still feel that way, every time I look at me!!!

I think this is not your problem, it's theirs! it is their own guilt that is getting in the way. I would continue to be the same person you have always been with them. try to get together, continue to eat well, take home the left overs. I bet they will eventually ask for help in doing the same thing!! they might be afraid of losing you too!?? As much as we all want things to change (weight loss), it is really complex. It's a lot more than the numbers going down!!! I have had lots of attention too because the change is extreme, I usually say thanks and try to change the subject. I love the attention but I like my friends too. as time goes by we will not be such a "big deal".

thank you! Love it, honesty is the best policy! we are not kindergartners, we should be able to do this! Oh yes, most of us did do it.

at this point the only thing you need to do is heal. try to drink as much as you can but, don't worry about it. keep drinking water, sips all the time. I remember thinking how weird it was to eat so little after surgery but time will change all of this. your body just experienced a major surgery. it needs a few weeks of recovery. you will start to concentrate on weight loss later. keep coming to this site, read as much as you can, you will learn from others. good luck and welcome, this is the right place to be!

Right on track, keep drinking the water! You will look back at this time and say "oh to not be hungry!!"

No, too many carbs. 157 calories, 30 carbs, too much for me. I try to stay with whole wheat products now.

Please make the commitment to YOU! You can do this, you can be successful but you have to take care of yourself, all the time. Life is still going to happen. Bad things come into our lives all the time. We have to stop using food as a "FIX" for pain. Trust me I am including myself too. The biggest change I made just before surgery was taking a class at church. It was a class where we looked back at who we were and who we have believed we were. We forgave ourselves for all the "junk" and believe that God forgives us. I ceremoniously burned the past and all the lies I believed about myself. It was so rewarding.I am sorry if I am getting too religious, it just helped me so much. I have disliked ME for so long, I didn't put myself first as far as health and wellness was concerned. i don't know if I would have been able to succeed with a gastric band if I hadn't "fallen" into this class!!!! Life still happens. Recently my son basically told me he hates me. this is extremely painful but, he needs to feel this stuff and move on. I have to believe I have been forgiven. I've told him I am sorry for past wrongs, I can't do anymore. He will come around when he has worked out all his feelings & that's alright. This was huge for me. Luckily, I now have a support group from church. I talked to someone, cried and felt better. I can only take care of me and pray that he will forgive. I will be nothing if I do not take care of my health, I am not crumbling & bingeing. This is the first time I have even talked about this! Whew, not easy to do!!!

I agree constant relearning! Slow down is the biggest one!!! you will probably be able to eat bread, just very slowly, Eat small bites. We don't have to eliminate everything, we just have to slow down. Eating slowly will help remind you that you are full.

A healthy breakfast is important! try to at least start there, tastes so good.

Yahoo!!!

I think society likes to say that it is the easy way out. Believe me, it is not. It's funny, the people who say it's an easy way out have not ever experience being overweight. I don't think we could ever make them understand. We work hard for the weight we lose. The gastric band is not a miracle worker, it is a tool. It is a tool that you have to have surgery for but, nevertheless still a tool. Don't commit to this until you can believe it. It's work but well worth every second!

I have learned to never skip breakfast. I never used to eat breakfast, I would get a sweet coffee and a pastry instead!! Now I have yogurt w/ fruit and a small amt of granola or scrambled eggs with mushroom, spinach & parmesan cheese( 1 oz). It has helped me with my energy level and motivation for the day. I ate early today, went to the club to exercise came back, it was 11:40. I made a light lunch. I have learned to always have a roasted turkey breast in the house for me. I eat it plain or on a salad, sometimes in a small sandwich. If I always have food around that I like it makes it so much easier. You have to eat to lose. You are still new to this journey so things will start to click in for you. I wasn't this diligent in the beginning. Dr Oz talks about having some meals that are always the same. I find it comforting to know that the things I like are available for me.

the speed at which you eat is probably the most important part. I think it is one of the hardest things for us to remember. I never used to eat my meals slowly! Obviously, that's why I was obese!

exercise usually comes at 4 to 6 weeks. walking is so good for you!

I hope you can go to your wives doc appts. you can talk to a nutritionist and get some ideas. A lot of us try to stay clean, no processed foods, mostly fresh or frozen veggies/fruits. no artificial colors, sweeteners etc. I don't eat frozen dinners (too many carbs),no casseroles, pasta, rice,potatoes, no drive thru restaurants anymore (too many empty calories). Boy, I do miss Taco Bell!! I hope that doesn't sound to severe. I guess what I mostly do is keep it simple. I concentrate on protein and veggies/ fruit. There are websites with recipe ideas for gastric band patients. This has been a big change for my household. I often make so old favorites for the family and something different for myself. I really don't mind.

sad but true, but I am sure they are that way in all respects of their life!

Bob Harper (Biggest Loser coach) says to have half of your body weight in grams. for me that about 80 grams, I can usually do that. He talks about how well the protein fills and keeps you satisfied longer. My Doc has always told me to lead with protein, lean as possible, then veggies or fruit. I love fish and feel it satisfies so many nutritional needs. I try to eat fish at least twice a week, I love salmon!!

GOOD FOR YOU!!!!! you look so good, keep going!

I use myfitnesspal each day. when I don't I tend to over eat, not bad food, just more than I should. it helps me to be accountable to me! It is so easy to have a little of this or that and not realize how much they "cost"!

I have lost a good amount of weight, it has been slow (1 to 2 lbs. weekly). I agree, as long as it keeps going in the down direction I am happy!! I have had plateaus, very frustrating!! I just keep going, there is NO turning back to the old life!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!

love her articles! I have subscribed to her weekly emails. we need all the help we can get, she great!