MadcapMama

Name, real or screen~ Laurel Goal weight for September 29th~265 Weight on September 1st~277 Age~42 Dietary goal for September~ high Protein, less carbs Exercise goal for September~ join a new class, get to gym 2-3x beyond the class Personal goal for September~ starting a new job as a preschool teacher! Learn to balance, and to say no gracefully to all the cute Snacks the parents bring in. Date banded~4/10/12 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~38lbs What is your favorite Fall Activity?~ fairs, sweaters, family time! weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

Cream of wheat- make it really thin and runny, add Splenda and then a little sf maple syrup to flavor (I cheat and use a little brown sugar, too) fills you up. weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

Checking in at 277.7- 2.2 pounds down. I obsessively weigh myself every day, and only believe the high numbers- this challenge really helps, because I can see the truth- slow but sure weight loss!! weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

I just tried making cream cheese pancakes that I found on pinterest. So yummy, and just what I needed to break my food rut. 2oz cream cheese 2 eggs I packet splenda/truvia Cinnamon if wanted Mix up everything in a bullet/mini chop and let settle for a bit. Then cook 1/4 of the mix at a time in a hot pan (I used med heat) with a little butter or Pam. Top with sugar free syrup or preserves or fresh fruit. Yummy! weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

Checking in at 279.9- down a pound. It's not much, but my scale has been stuck since April 19th between 281.5 aapnd 280.9 so I will take any downward motion!! weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

My best go to meal is two eggs, scrambled with 1/4 cup of over the moon milk and a couple tablespoons of lite shredded cheddar. They are pretty wet that way, and I end up with 23 g of Protein (counting the tsp of butter that I use in the pan). I spice them up with salt and pepper, and still enjoy them. I also made a big pot of meat sauce, and serve it over ricotta. But I am one step up from mushies- stage five- ground and puréed. weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

I had my surgery on 4/10 with dr Andrews from the same practice! They are great there - it's easy to understand what is expected for you, and when I ran into some unexpected complications after surgery ( violent hives, presumably to the Protein drinks) Elaine and Michelle were fantastic and kept checking in with me. I am going to try and make it to the support group on Wednesday. weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

I was banded on April 10th. Two weeks ago was my first day back at church. It was very hectic- I was helping the children's choir, who were singing for first communion. I went up for communion in a rush, and without thinking, took the host, and swallowed it. No chewing, just the way I have done it for 35 years. Well, it got stuck, and I panicked.. I had told myself that I wasn't going to take the host, and then I forgot. I freaked out for a minute, but then I was able to stand up and move around for a minute, and it passed. But boy, When I start taking the host again, I will chewchewchew before I swallow., yikes! weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

I am still in stage 5 (mushy/ground) and I have a big pot of meat sauce in the crockpot- am planning to serve it over noodles for everyone else, and over part skim ricotta for me (shhh- I might have a bite of garlic bread though ) weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

Smmrsue - i am also a little frustrated with my slow loss. I was banded 4/10 and the scale has barely moved since 4/19. I had my follow up with my surgeon yesterday and he said that I needed a fill- but I can barely get 800 calories in these days. I am wondering if I get my calorie intake up higher if that will help, but when I get a fill won't it be harder? So puzzled. But my dr was encouraging, so I am trying to stay strong... weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

Name, real or screen~MadcapMama/laurel Goal weight for April 29th~270.9 Weight on April 1st~280.9 Age~42 Dietary goal for April~try bumping up calories a little and see if that starts me moving Exercise goal for April~I got cleared today to exercise! One day in the pool, two days on the bike a week Personal goal for April~ catch up with my house- I haven't done any real cleaning since surgery. Also some gardening. Date banded~ April 10,2012 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~23.1 What is your favorite flower~ peonies and hydrangeas from my garden. weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

Pinterest has tons of good recipes- go poke around there. I also love epicurious. Our hands- down favorite fish recipe around here is baked cod with a cracker topping. It is, however, not light. During my pre-op diet, I made it for my family for lent, and made some for me with light butter and only a few crackers, and it was still great! Melt a little butter in a pan, sauté some minced onion until it's soft. Mix into a few (I did five for a four ounce piece) crushed ritz cracker, a little parsley and thyme, and a little more melted butter and top the fix with the crumbs. Bake until the fish is opaque- I often cook it at 425 for 10-15 min, but 350 might be safer. weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

Honk- I am from the boston area as well- metro west . And I agree- often TJ's is a better bargain than the regular store, except maybe market basket.... weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

That's one of my fave Snacks I have 1/3 a cup, with 3 Splenda, a drop of vanilla and some cinnamon. 113 calories and 9 proteins! weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

I just had my two week post op nutrition meeting with my nutritionist, and she advanced me to stage four- I had already been doing some stage four foods b/c I had an allergic reaction to the shakes, so she bumped me to eggs and Beans then to help get the Protein in. But I have been longing for weeks for a cracker. Really, just one salty cracker. And my stage four includes 2-4 crackers So I just had four crackers with two tbs of hummus- and I am so full and happy!! I am very thirsty, so I need to think about that for future eating. Now to tackle the rest of the plan- I am daunted at the idea that I now need to eat 70-80g of protein, and 1000-1400 calories, but I know that it doesn't have to happen tomorrow. It's a silly thread, I know. But I figured that I would Celebrate with some folks who can appreciate how good a cracker is after four weeks of no crackers. And how exciting it is to eat four crackers and be super full- before surgery, I'd eat most of a sleeve of town house crackers and call it a snack. So thankful to be on this path Have a great day! weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1