PattyGirl66

I love homemade fruit smoothies, packed with Protein.. Every morning I have one. Not only is it healthy,but I am getting in the important nutrients in naturally.. Here is my morning plan: 4 fresh strawberries (I alternate with 1/4 cup fresh blueberries) 1/2 of a small banana 1/4 cup of low fat vanilla yogurt (this stuff is packed with protein) 1/4 cup of skim or almond milk (I perfer almond milk) 1/2 scoop of Protein Powder (unflavored) (ice cubes optional) **be creative, you can add peaches, mangos, etc.. remember to always remove the skin from these fruits! Calories: 178 / Protein 16 grams

Hi Mara, This site is the best ever! You are going to learn so much and it will be prepare you for before, during, and after surgery to become a successful bandster. Look forward to hearing about your progress along the way

OHH btw that bowl looks big in the picture, believe it or not its a 'dipping' bowl that holds exactly 4 ounces of food. This is my eatting bowl. Its a beautiful dinnerware set I got 2 years ago from Kohls, Oneida, came with over 40 pieces. Nice deal!

Thanks hon, it actually we very very good! almost taste like a baked ziti without the Pasta. I mean the possiblities are endless, you can doctor it up to your taste, maybe adding a sprinkle of parmasagne cheese, etc...

Ingrediants: 2/3 cup of Tomato Soup (condensed) 1/4 cup of skim or almond milk 1/2 scoop of Protein powder (unflavored) 1/8 cup of Part skim Ricotta cheese Parsley for garnish Directions: Warm in the microwave the milk (about 12-15 seconds) , add Protein Powder and fork mix thoroughly until powder is disolved. Stir in the tomato soup and put back in microwave (about 40-50 seconds) remember to not bubble. Pour into small serving bowl and add the ricotta cheese, parsley or whatever you like for garnish. Calories: 145 / Protein 15 grams Enjoy!

Your good!!! 2 weeks post op here and have almost the same feeling. My surgeon told me I am tight because after surgery the stomache swells and many times air gets trapped under the stitches where the band is (causing a tight affect) Keep up the good work

Amanda, don't feel bad hon this is very normal. Every day, every hour we show different numbers on the scale. My advice to you is this, please only weigh yourself once a week,first thing in the morning after you have went to the bathroom. Make it a special "weigh in day". I can't imagine the torture everyone had by weighing themselves every day, every hour. Its hell! why do that to yourself. Also, remember sometimes during our menstral cycle we gain, too much salt can lead to Water retention, so many factors. Main thing is to not get discouraged. Track your meals daily so you can see what your calorie index looks like. get in plenty of water and you are going to lose those pounds girlie!! Hang in there!!

I was just thinking about my favorite black cardigan in my closet, I can't wait until it falls off of me. You look amazing hon, Look at you a completely different person stands before you in that mirror! ^5

Michelle, also since you mentioned you are drinking very little water, I think you might of answered your own question..increase your water intake. You will be surprised how much drinking lots of water helps during weight loss. You can buy one of those measured water bottles so you can see how much a day you are increasing your water. I think between your calories and water you will start to see the results you are looking for.. PS: Just as Mis73 said, speak to your nutrionist about how many calories you should have at this rate... Let us know,

Like your posting says, 'Never going to give up" ((Hugs))

if you feel you are getting stuck I wouldn't get a fill. I think you are doing absolutely great, and just as Karen said above you just need to be patient and calm down This is very normal to happen when one is in the lower numbers and getting close to goal. Hang in there!

Ingrediants: 1/4 cup of 2% cottage cheese 3 Tbs. of a fresh avacado (blenderized or hand forked) depending how soft the avacado is 2 Tsp. Guacamole Seasoning Directions: Add 1/4 cup of cottage cheese, add 3 tbs fresh avacado, sprinkle 2 tsp. guacamole seasoning. Calories : 130 / 7gms Protein Enjoy! *** Perfect for mushy stages, or any part of a meal ***

Don't panic you are fine,just go back to your liquids as per your surgeons instructions. I was to be on a 2 week liquid phase after surgery but because I couldn't get my protein down the surgeon said get right on to the mushy stages but make it liquidy. Its 2 weeks today and I am on Mushy stage for another 2 weeks. I am finding new recipes, making my own fresh fruit smoothies adding protein powder to my foods. Remember your pouch is healing.

I am a tummy sleeper too! It took 5 days post-op to get on my stomache to sleep,even now I am tender and sore. Every passing day gets a little bit better.

Ingrediants: 1/4 Cup Low-fat cottage cheese 1 egg 3/4 cup all purpose flour or whole wheat flour 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. baking powder 2 tbsp. granulated sugar or sugar substitute 1/3 cup of skim milk or almond milk 1 cup of fresh blueberries Directions: Preheat oven 350 degrees (top rack) Fork blend cottage cheese and egg. Add flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar (stir). Add milk (stir) add blueberries (gently stir). Spoon into 9 Muffin cups, bake for about 15-18 mins. Calories: With regular sugar/ 68 With substitute sugar/ 58

Your favorite drinks after being banded should be Water and gatorade. I can't express how important both of these fluids are to your healing process. Water you should be drinking a lot of, as much as you can possibly can get in. Gatorade helps with replenishing any loss of fluids through this process, gaining back electrolites, such as sodium, carbs, and potassium. I am 12 days post-op and drink about 60 + ounces of water and about 12 ounces of gatorade. NOOO soda of any kind! Speak with your Surgeon about carbanation drinks for a better explanation. Best of luck,

A little tid bit for ya on the dark meat.... Dark Meat is NOT All Bad For You Take a look at the nutrition. Most dark meats tend to contain more zinc, riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, Vitamins B6 and B12, amino acids, Iron than white meat. Dark beef meat contains about 11 times more zinc than tuna, and about 3 times as much iron than raw spinach. chicken and Turkey dark meat contain vitamins A, K, B6, B12, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, minerals as selenium, phosphorus and zinc. Here are the nutrition facts about white and dark meat chicken. One 101 g. chicken leg has 12 grams, 18 grams of Protein and 3 grams of saturated fat. 141 g. serving size of roasted chicken breast has 5 grams of fat, only 1 gram of saturated fat and 43 grams of protein. Both white and dark meat chicken are high in cholesterol, but dark meat contains a higher percentage.

<--drinking tons of Water here ... I was always a big water drinker before being banded. I use to drink well over a gallon. I am up to about 64 ounces now. I do sometimes drink to I am full, I think because for some weird reason before being banded I like that 'full' water feeling, isn't that odd? Anyway, I drink normally.. I am fully aware of not to 'guzzle' like a luniatic. Water will just stream through the band, however you have to be mindful when you have anything 'thicker' than water in you. Even yogurts or cottage cheese is considered thick and you would have to sip afterwards. I am still on liquidy mushy foods for another 2 weeks...

Coley, when you ate your cheese stick did you wait your time to drink any fluids? Did you chew chew chew that cheese and take breaks in between? Do you think you drank to fast after you ate the cheese? If you can still get fluids down you are more than likely having a 'stuck' episode. I seriously dread it and it scares me. I am in the mushy stage now and everything I eat is liquidy. I do drink very fast at times (well all the time) and so far (knock on wood) I have been okay. I've heard many on here say try sipping pineapple juice or chewing Papya enzymes if you have a stuck episode. If its a really a bad stuck take a few sips of gingerale (very very tiny sips) you don't want to expand your pouch, supposedly the 'carbanation" works as an 'unplug" system. However, I would do that as your last resort if you still have that stuck feeling. If you still feel this way, call up your surgeon... Best of luck, keep us all posted!

Hi Kristine, You weight loss numbers are impressive in such a small amount of time. Whatever you are doing is working for 'you'. We all lose weight differently and at our own pace. Its wonderful you can still mingle and go out with your friends and eat at fast food places and you are still aware of the calories/fat you are eatting. I mean think about it since when did you or any of us sit down and eat 2 chicken strips and 6 french fries and stop? You seem to have a lot of will power and contro, good for you! Keep doing what you are doing, it is working. Don't worry about extra skin you are very young and more than likely the skin will bounce right back Congrats on your weight loss and continued success! -Patty

Yup, everyone is different. I am 10 days post op and I am about 85% feeling good. Still very swollen and have minor incisions soreness. I have no children living with me and hubby is doing all the household chores

You deff are going to have super special treatment! Sending lots of good vibes your way! Keep us posted on your progress!

Hi Donna, I am so sorry you are going through this. I dont know about another fill if you cant get a thin slice of deli meat down. If it keeps happening maybe you should get a little unfil. I have no clue yet when my surgeon starts fills yet, however I think I am going to wait a month or so where I am on solid foods before this happens. I am only 10 days post op and still very swollen, and told my stomache will be swollen for another week! I wish you the best, keep us updated. Patty