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I used to think ALL veggies sucked, until I had them on a kabob. WOWZA! I want to eat this all by itself, but, like you, I have to have my damn protein! Can we cheat on our diets with veggies? Oh, if my Mom ever heard me say that...

That sounds yummy! I think I'm gonna try it. OR - I might put the veggies on a skewer and grill them directly. Thanks!

IDK, I like TR33HGR...it makes you think.

I don't see anything wrong with drinking your coffee with regular creamer and sugar, it's just 10 oz, so I don't think damage is being done. I commend you (actually, I'm jealous of you ) for drinking 1-2 per day! I need those big 16 oz. mugs or more. That's my reason for using sweetener and FF 1/2 + 1/2...if I didn't I'd gain all sorts of weight. I wish I could use real sugar because it's pure, not manufactured sweetener. That always bothers me, my usage of sweetener, it must be bad for me. I started drinking it black, but still crave the sweetener and cream. I guess I have to take things small steps at a time. Good job Kristen! Keep on losing...

Can you add flavored Torani syrups, SF?

I found a site that has all sorts of flavored decaf. My objective, to drink it without creamer, hence removing fat and calories. Here it is. http://www.sloroasted.com

Oh, and Jellyfish, you have the most beautiful dog!

I drink my decaf with FF 1/2 + 1/2 and Equal. OR, I drink caffeinated Hazelnut. My question for you guys....I want to drink flavored decaf, black...but can't find any. Do you know of any websites that sell coffee?

Alright. I have several mental health issues, including PTSD. I was in therapy before being banded, but not effective therapy. I got banded in 07 in 08 I couldn't handle the pressure of having been banded so I got unfilled and spent the last 4 years abusing my band, my diet and myself. It wasn't until I entered therapy with a qualified, direct, take-no-bull therapist and psychiatrist that I, 4 YEARS AFTER HAVING BEEN BANDED, was able and willing to follow all the rules that LapBanding requires and safely return to banded living. I had the best intention to be a successful bandster, but I wasn't ready and I really could have hurt myself. And I wasted 5 years of my life. PTSD is nothing to skirt around. And it doesn't go away, you only learn how to deal with it, hopefully. After banding, all sorts of new added pressures can be placed on an already fragile mind. You may be able to do it safely, some do, but be very, very careful. Be open, honest and persistent with your psych team and remember YOU are part of that team. Luckily, you have some time, but six months can't heal a lifetime of pain. I wish you the BEST of luck! Keep asking questions to others and to yourself. Do everything you can to be a successful bandster. It's not easy for all of us. Don't give up having a healthy mind AND body!

I'm on a low but good carb diet/lifestyle. I stay away from white flour, rice, Pasta, etc because of their carb value and because they hold no nutritional value and I choose not to waste valuable eating experiences on something that will not help my system. However my diet is not written in stone and I do partake once in a while on some things. I want to be realistic. My NUT agrees. As for the carbonation, my posse has nothing against it. And I've been drinking it since being banded in 07. Of course, I have no saline in my band. Things might change if ever I get a fill. Everybody is different....

Don't those Greek yogurts taste sour? I haven't tried one, but I know I don't like plain yogurt. Could I add SF syrups to Greek yogurt? Obviously I can add fruit. You tell me...

9:00 PM, EST Sounds good to me, but I'd only be able to chat for up to an hour.

Lapbandster, I checked your link on crunches, and I think I can do it, however, I don't know how to get on the floor. My knees can't accept kneeling. But I will try to be creative. You know? It's a really silly thing I feel about going to the gym and doing a little (if I must) and leaving. I hate being the fat lady that walks into a gym full of fit people exercising their hearts out, and here I step on, say, the eliptical, and quit after three minutes because my thighs are giving out. It's embarassing! Humiliating. I think to myself that they're all inwardly laughing at that fat lady, or feeling sorry for me. I'm struggling with this with my therapist, but I'm just not catching on. There's a YMCA opening near me, but membership is in the low 500.00's! No other pools available. I haven't worked in over a year (I clean houses, or I did) and we;re NOT making ends meet. There may be an Aquafit class that's about $100.00. I'm still checking. A pool would be the BEST option for me with my knees and weight. I'm so frustrated and depressed. At least I do well with my band and am continuing to lose weight. At least that hasn't changed.

Shame on you! LAME??? You're doing a heck of a lot better than some of us, and you're doing your best! "Lame" should never be in your vocabulary. I will try to do some walking the way you describe, I promise. I have a membership to a small gym by me, and I used it for a while (recumbent bike, but now my knees can't do a full rotation), but am deathly afraid of going. I know, I would tell someone else to Just Do It. But I am scared of being in pain. On Pinterest, there's this Nike Logo with the words under it, "Just Do It, Even If You Suck. I like that. I have to ask, what's a crunch? Thanks for your help btw!

I have two new knees, and they hurt, so I don't walk.I weigh 316. When I do, I am walking funny, it hurts and I am WAY out of breath! I'm almost heaving, if that's the word. I think the whole world can hear me. It's SO hard to do! What can I do to breathe easier when I walk? I know alot of people lost weight by walking, so I know it works. But how can I be motivated to put myself into misery?

I am 46 and peri-menopausal. Have not had the TOM since January, but this month I very lightly spotted for a day. Barely noticeable. But man, the hunger I felt before that and a week after that day, was huge and hard to control! Can you still have phantom hunger when you have no TOM? I'm so hungry! One day, the thought of food turns me off, then another day, I'm famished. This also happens in the same day! I've been eating fruits, veggies, Protein and yogurt. I'm kind of grazing, which I know is bad. I'm so disapointed in myself. I have no saline in my band, I'm thinking of asking for a fill. But again, can you have phantom hunger from non existant TOM's? I just know I am....

Check out http://www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.com and look for her massive list of Protein shake recipes. She makes making them and drinking them sound fun! I think there's a reference to that list on the left side of her page. Good luck!

So am I. What I've noticed on LBT and other places, is that everyone's taste buds are different, and everyone likes their own brand of powder. Looks like we have to do some taste testing . Hopefully people will post on this.

Maddysgram, Wait as long as you are able for those knee replacements, but don't wait too long and damage your knees even more (like I did, and I'm suffering) They say they onlt last 15-20 years. Getting banded, like you are, and losing as much weight as you can before any knee replacements is a GREAT plan! You may end up not needing the replacements after all! Good luck!

I agree with what mis73 said, band sized portions of healthy food. Deb32, the party has already started! It is solely up to you to eat properly and follow all the rules. Don't make the mistake of waiting till your first, second, third, whatever fill to "get that party started." Eating without restriction is very hard, and you have LOADS of people, including me, who will be there for you when the going gets tough. I have no saline in my band, and have been eating small portions of the right foods and I am losing weight. Even without a fill you still have the restriction that just having the band in you provides. Work with it. I know you can do it! We're rooting for you!

Well thank you mis73, that means a lot coming from you. I really look up to you! Food addiction is a very serious issue that needs to be accepted as an Addiction, just like alcohol, drugs, gambling, etc. Well, they're different, but they're an addiction none the less. If we could only get the professionals to recognize food addiction, then maybe people would come out of the woodwork, and maybe be less ashamed. It's nothing to be ashamed about! I can't wait to see me lose weight too! And it WILL happen. I am in control.

I'm sorry to hear of your knee problems, I know it makes a huge difference in your daily function and weighs heavily on the mind. I had both of my knees replaced this past year and my weight is making them hurt really bad, even though they should feel better. I stopped going to the gym, which really bothers me, but I can't seem to do the exercises I'm supposed to. My knees don't rotate enough to use a recumbent bike. And walking is real painful. But I gotta do it eventually. Well that body function and nutrition knowledge is reletively new to me, but I read and re-read Agatston to help me out. I see a lot of people eating junk, but just less junk, and that's not good. On top of losing the weight, you need to eat the right food for life longevity too! Good to see another Agatston fan!

Thanks for asking! Overall, I'm doing pretty well. I've lost 17 or 18 pounds since July. I don't remember seeing them in June. I've adapted to my diet better than I thought I would, however I still have some bumps in the road every so often. I talk them out with my therapist. Of course, she's not in the room when I'm having a wicked case of the Head Hungers. I see my NUT in September, hopefully I'll have lost a good amount by then. (My scale shows all different weights sometimes, so I don't always know what I weigh. ) I'm doing my best, thats about all I can say!

If you've seen me around the board, or not...I thought I might re-introduce myself to the Forum. I explained things in the "My Story" section of my Profile. If you're interested...

I've been to eggface's site and am very impressed with her Protein drink recipes, and the shear amount of them! Odd that you mention her... SHE is the one who made me interested in Protein shakes in the first place!