horsegirl315

I agree with using myfitnesspal to track your food, that way you know you are hitting all your numbers as far as protein, fats, carbs, etc...I do find, some days, that I need a shake to fulfill my protein goal for a day where I didn't eat a whole lot of protein. I get stuck on chicken, most beef besides filet, and I eat fish a few times a week....the other days I get my protein from legumes, a good healthy source of lean protein, and Greek yogurt. Once you are adjusted to the green zone, you may find that often, you aren't hungry in the morning, and even if you are, you may get stuck on anything you try to eat...I get stuck on yogurt sometimes...nothing severe, it passes within a few minutes, but its annoying for sure. Drinking hot coffee or tea can help loosen the band in the am, but some days a shake for breakfast is all I can manage. Like the previous poster mentioned, it will help with cravings during the day. Don't worry, you won't be sick of shakes forever...if there was ever a time I hated then, it was post op...I swore I'd never drink another! Isopure protein powder tastes really good, its 50 grams of protein for 2scoops, and about 200 calories, no carbs, no sugars...herbalife is a good option too if you like to switch up your flavors all the time.

Took me six months, including 3 months "supervised" dieting...aka meeting with nutritionist once a month and talking about eating while banded. Then the general things required by my insurance. I have BCBS of RI.

For me, the green zone is not being hungry before 2pm 90% of the time. I usually have a protein shake, or just a glass of skim or 1% milk win my vitamins in the morning. Then I don't think about food until its time to make dinner...that's right. I DON'T THINK ABOUT FOOD! Sometimes I forget dinner even exists. I definitely feel like the hunger nerves are calmed, lol. I'm not saying its smooth sailing once you get to the green zone, I still hit plateaus...in fact I've been at the same weight for almost two months....just going up and down with the same five pounds...but the difference now is, I don't feel helpless or hopeless. I just move on every day, knowing that I will eventually get over this. I LOVE MY BAND!!!

After surgery, I was on liquids for 1 week, then puree for 2 weeks, then soft foods until week 5...i would be very careful with eating porkchops 1 week after surgery, you should eat soft foods until you heal, so your band heals in the right spot...thats wht my dr said anyway

Great job ladies, keep it up! Before you know it, you wont be thinking about your band every minute of every day...it will become second nature, just less hungry

OH! i almost forgot, for those who love pasta, i don't have a problem with shirataki noodles, 40 cals for 8 oz...the are in the same section as the tofu in the produce section!

i literally did this last night! went out for dinner with the family, 200 cals for 2 oz pasta doesnt appeal to me for the same reason, calorie counting, so i had salad, a few bites of eggplant parm, and at the meat sauce off the pasta!!

great ideas, everyone! some of my favorites: coconut almond milk by almond breeze--tastes amazing, good in a Protein shake, 60 cals for a cup when i dont want to make dinner--wendy's chili and a plain bkd potato--i can only eat half of the chili and potato, so filling, good amnt of protein chobani little champions greek yogurt in honey banana flavor--yes, its for kids. but it tastes soo good, and is only 100 calories. love to use it as a dip for strawberries Peanut Butter CHEERIOS--enough said. morningstar veggie crumbles--lots of protein, low on calories, good with skinny cow cheese shmeared on a pita and warmed in the micro shirataki fettucine "noodles" made from chic pea flour--40 cals for the 8 oz package silken tofu--add to a Protein Shake for more protein and a verrrry creamy texture! LOVE this stuff.

me too!!!! pain at the port, esp with a deep breath!

your quotes are my 2 fave scriptures!

I thought the same thing---but NO!!! Not okay, for me at least. I was so sore, even pulling pants up and down was quite a chore for about a week, never mind a tampon! If I can recommend anything to you, before surgery, get some overnight pads to come home to...and ask for some extra gauze-like panties to take home, they are sooooo stretchable!

CONGRATS!! I was banded Jan 30 and it took me about a month or so until the port pain went away...just don't hang out with any funny people, cause if they make you laugh, you'll soon be crying from port pain!!

Sounds like my first fill. I go for my second tomorrow...give me a fill over dental work ANY DAY!!!

I hear you about the horseback riding, I have felt so self concious in the past few years with my riding. I have lost 30 lbs since my surgery on Jan 30, and already feel much better!!!

Banded Jan 30, by month one I was down about 20 lbs, and approaching month 2 with a total loss of about 30. I count calories and exercise 3-4 times a week....3 of the times consist of walking for about 60-90 mins, and once a week I get on the treadmill and run, try to keep it at 10-12 min/mile pace as long as I can stand it, take awalk break, then back to running. I love the challenge it gives me! I have had one fill so far, 3 cc in a 10 cc band...going back for another fill April 10. Good luck to you!

For the first yr, you should protect your scars from harmful uv rays...if you wanna go tanning, just put a thick coating of 70 or higher spf on your incisions....if you do that, I say go for it, everyone looks thinner with a tan

Have you tried tracking calories? That's what I do to keep myself in check. I was banded Jan30 and have lost about 30 lbs since then, but it has not been bc of the band! It has been self control and fear of eating too much...so I guess some of it is the band, then I have had one fill of 3 cc in a 10 cc band...looking forward to my next one for sure!

I haven't had a fill yet, but I can already tell that tuna and I are not gonna be friends....had a few semi.stuck episodes that I Di kit wish to repeat. Holly, I love the chicken in the can, haven't had it in a while, I will try it soon!

I added you, I put my lbt username in the invite!

After being banded, I'd say the first week was the worst for stomach gurgles and burping! The burping hurt! Gas x helped a lot. I'm four wks post op tomorrow and the burping is a daily occurence. Esp after eating. I take it as my cue to stop eating. It happens around 1 cup of food, not every single time, but enough to make me notice that it doesn't seem to be a coincidence. I'm thinking if changing careers to be a professional burper? LOL my fiance says I can enter a contest now!

The only thing I would caution you about is bandster hell--the period of time between surgery and the amount of fills it takes to get you to restriction. At this time, its all about portion control, healthy choices, and walking away even when you don't have that full feeling, or should I say over full feeling, that we are all used to. This is where I am at now. I have not had a fill, had surgery Jan 30th. I do not get any full signals from the band, but I also don't push it. I am too scared to try! I eat my portion, and that's it! I do find hat he more I heal, the faster I get hungry between meals. But hopefully a fill takes care of that. As far as not being on a schedule, not counting calories, I can't guarantee that won't ever be necessary. The weeks leading up to surgery and the first month after is a lot of work. Planning, eating and drinking at certain times, etc. Maybe it won't bother you bc it wont be forever. But make sure you know exactly what to expect...this forum will definitely help you!

Good topic. Mine is on the left, slightly below my ribs. It does bother me if I bend at the waist, maybe because I'm short, 5'3. I think once I'm skinny it probably won't bother me as much, plus I'm only a few weeks post op and still not able to even sleep on my left side. But I was quite annoyed the first time I bent over and realized "Porticia" was having a tantrum!

Nice Shirley! Good deed and good looks!