MadcapMama

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

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

I am two weeks post op today. I have been weighing myself every day, and keep yo-yo ing the same pound or two every day. I resolve to set two weigh ins a week and not get on the scale, and not be frustrated. I am barely eating, and can't understand why the weight isn't falling off me, but I keep trying to hold my fear at bay. I wish I had done measurements, b/c I suspect I would see some movement there. This board has been a lifesaver for me - I keep listening to everyone when they say that they hang for a bit, and then lose a bunch at once. I think it's kind of a shock- I lost weight so quickly during the preop diet, and during the first week after surgery- I was thinking that it would continue. Hang in there- we feel your pain, and there are long-timers here to reassure us that it will start coming off! I am meeting with my nutritionist in a half hour, and will share any insight she has weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

It will get easier. I found that it was almost like pushing past hunger into indifference. I managed to cook Easter dinner for everyone without it being too traumatic ( I lost it a little over the scalloped potatoes, but fought my way back). What I found really helpful was to focus on the fact that I really wanted to have the surgery laparoscopically, and if my liver wasn't in fine shape they would switch and make the full incision. The fear of the full incision kept me on the straight and narrow... weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1