Bailey Jan

1 day apart. My surgery was 4/12.

4 1/2 years since VSG!! Weight has been maintained and now I am an avid CrossFit athlete and a certified nutrition coach. If anyone is having problems with their nutrition and food. Let me be here for you. I can honestly say, I know what you are going through!!!

Those are some cute plate ideas. I could only think of one: Newleaf and maybe could incorporate it into your loss by turning over a new leaf...

I found this recipe in the United Airlines Magazine
Peanut Butter Power Balls
3 parts creamy peanut butter
4 parts in fat dry milk
1 part pure honey ( or agave nectar ). I used sugar free flavoring syrup instead. I had the Carmel on hand. Just added enough to barely moisten so I could make balls.
1. Sprinkle dry milk into peanut butter and mix. Add honey or syrup
2. Shape into bite size balls on dinner plate; place in freezer for at least 15 minutes
3. Enjoy, feel the power of healthy energy.
I used 1 tablespoon as my one part. So 3 tablespoons peanut butter, 4 tablespoons dry milk.
It would be dangerous to make too many!
Be careful they can be addictive!

an article by joe rossini..kinda long but worth the read
In my opinion, being ACCOUNTABLE to YOURSELF for the plans and actions you take daily, is perhaps the single most important distinction of a mature and responsible individual. In this week’s lesson, we’ll try to elaborate on this observation.
When we are children, we feel pressured to be accountable to our parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches and friends. We are often motivated into action for FEAR of the penalties or embarrassment we will face from inaction or not following instructions. Fear forces us to be ACCOUNTABLE to perform. As adults we will avoid running through red lights for FEAR of a ticket, a fine, higher insurance rates, or losing our privilege to drive. We feel the pressure to be ACCOUNTABLE to conform to laws or suffer the consequences. Instead we should follow laws for positive reasons like safety and the moral good they do in society. In our careers, we move into action because we become ACCOUNTABLE to our employers or customers and a failure to perform could cost us future promotions or even losing our jobs. Fear is a strong motivator and unfortunately it’s sometimes the only motivator in people's lives. If someone is not accountable to perform a job or task, they just might not feel compelled to do it.
Here’s an idea: How about instead of being primarily motivated by fear, you shift to being primary motivated by Pleasure or Desire. Working towards a goal that you really desire can easily help you to make the shift. Setting goals because you want more pleasure in your life is fantastic, but often very difficult to get started on. The reason is that you must develop the discipline to be accountable to YOURSELF or perhaps to your spouse or children.
Being accountable to yourself means accepting that “You are who you are and where you because of the choices that you have made.” That can be a tough pill to swallow, and most will avoid doing so. But once you accept that the aforementioned statement is true, you are on your way to becoming a mature and responsible individual.
You can now think to yourself, “O.K., well if I’m where I’m at because of my choices, then I will choose to set a goal to do something that I really want.” If you act on that thought, you have just become accountable to yourself. This is your nature; it is your birthright. Unfortunately, too many individuals never make that claim.
If you don’t decide to be accountable to YOURSELF, and don’t set out to achieve your OWN goals, you become a prime target for others to decide for you. There is no shortage of opportunistic, articulate, and crafty individuals who will gladly make plans for you. Your weakness has become their strength. The fact that they have no right to plan someone else’s life doesn’t matter. You gave them the key to the door. Become accountable to yourself and set your own goals and avoid having others set them for you.
If this intrigues you, then here’s where to begin: First, think of what you might really enjoy doing in life. What will get you up and get you going every morning. Then, set goals to grow your skills and do whatever it takes to be good at whatever it is. Invest quality time each and every day toward achieving your goals. Turn your plans into action and make yourself accountable for doing so.
With such a game plan, you’ll keep the opportunists at bay. You’re no good to them. You know what you’re doing with your life, and they specialize in people who don’t have a plan.
Whether you’re aware of this or not, this was the philosophy of the first people who came to America. These are America’s founding principles. The ability to carve out your own life, be accountable to yourself and your family, and have no one hassle you or make plans for who you will be or what you will do with your life. This philosophy caused the greatest migration of people in history. For the first time ever, there was a place on Earth where man could live according to his will and nature.
If you could grasp this concept of ACCOUNTABILITY, it could change your thinking forever. For once you are driven into action because you WANT to and not because you HAVE to, your whole world could change. You will want to read more; take courses to build your skills; join organizations in order to network with other motivated people; and broaden your overall horizons. You will be motivated from within and ACCOUNTABLE to YOURSELF to perform at your very best. Ponder these concepts and move into more pleasurable territory today!

I agree! I tried many different brands and unjury is the only one I truly like.
I'm 7 months post surgery and still have a chocolate splendor Unjury shake for Breakfast every morning.

I love them too. Try the vanilla. I do 1 scoop, 1 Tbsp sugar free pistachio pudding mix (dry) and 1 c skim milk. Yummm! Or 1 scoop vanilla, 1 c trop 50 orange juice and about 6 frozen strawberries. I use am immersion blender (also called a stick blender) to blend all my shakes. Easy to clean. When I do my chocolate splendor with 1 c skim milk I also add a couple ice cubes- makes it really cold. Also try the chicken broth. It is similar to lipton, imho. You just can't have it too hot - only 130 degrees, I think, or the protein clumps.

So I'm back on liquids for a couple days after my first fill and i just tried a sample unjury chocolate shake packet they gave me before surgery.
And I wish I would have tried it before!!! Like when I was on my 4 weeks of liquids...because it was GREAT!
So I'm just letting you know, if ur on liquids.... Try it!!! I think u can only get it online.
Yummmmm-o!

I love frozen blueberries- so refreshing when its hot outside. Freeze fresh ones on a cookie sheet & then pop them into a ziplock or just buy them already frozen. For protein I'll mix a laughing cow lite mozzarella & tomato wedge with a 1/4 cup lf cottage cheese- it reminds me of the pimento cheese spread I loved as a kid. Eat it with special k pop crackers- 15 for 55 calories. Also banana carb master yogurt instead of milk with kashi almond flax- 100 calories for 1/2 cup & 60 ( I think!) for yogurt- I'll eat that & feel super satisfied. My favorite night time treat if I have leftover calories is a banana "shake". Freeze ripe peeled bananas. I use my stick blender- 1 cup almond milk (original or unsweetened), 1 pack Splenda, & 1 cut up frozen banana. Blend until thick & creamy. Yummy! Only 135 or 160 depending on almond milk. Pretty good considering a small shake @ McDonald's is 580!!! Hope this helps!

I just actually posted this on another thread, but one of my favorite snacks is taking a piece of American cheese, folding/ripping it into squares and then laying them out on a piece of parchment paper, putting them in the microwave for about 45 seconds or so and then voila! - homemade cheez-its!

Lala... Try the Sabra Hummus... It comes in a variety of flavors from plain, spinach/artichoke, jalapeño, garlic, roasted red pepper, to pine nuts!!! Can u tell I'm a hum-a-holic?
At only 60 calories a serving it goes awesome with whole grain crackers, baby carrots, I even dip string cheese in it!! Lol

Today a want each of you to make a (Lap Band) Bucket list of all the goals and things that you want to accomplish.. And give yourself a time goal and a people goal.
If you come upon something that is not on your list or does not comply with your goals then dissmiss it!! Dont use any more substitues for the goals yo want to accomplish!!!
Know that you can't make a cake using carrots instead of eggs it wont work its not the correct ingredients right!!
Well thats how your goal list is going to work, if its not part of the ingredients then it should be elminated off your goal list.
Caution: I must tell you that you, that you may have to elimate some people in your life. They may not be apart of your goal.

Anxiety about having surgery and essentially changing your lifestyle is to be expected...even the most grounded individuals will have some reservations about making those types of sweeping changes. I know i did...

Trust me when I write that life as you have known it will resume, with a few minor exceptions. I'm only 5 months post op, but now I'm able to attend parties, go to restaurants, travel, and go sailing. Pretty much all of the activities I enjoyed before getting my band. I just make different choices on the menu, and every meal I order gets stretched into 3 meals.

For the initial month or 2, you are still adjusting to the many changes we need to make...and inherently, people do not do well with change. How we interpret the situation we are confronted with makes a huge difference in how we ultimately will adjust to our new lifestyle.

It's important to understand that the more self determination we feel in life, the healthier we will be from an emotional standpoint. Having a band is very self empowering; you and only you will determine your level of success with your weight loss journey. For some, that can be a frightening thought, because many have a fear of failure. Day to day, remaining compliant with your diet can be very challenging, but overall, we do not need to be perfect, only make the best effort every day to do the best we can to follow the rules.

People who do not need to loose weight do not have the surgery...and the reason many of us got to the point of choosing to have the band was because of our relationship with food. That has to change; food is not your friend. We must learn to eat to live, not the other way around. When you have to say goodbye to a friend, you can actually go through a grieving type process as you adjust to understanding that you can no longer seek solace from food to cope with stress or boredom.

I was fortunate to have a chance encounter with a woman who had been banded 2 years ago...she helped me to place things in a better perspective. What is more important to you, having your health and mobility or knowing that you can eat whatever you want to in whatever quantity you want to? Put into those words, discussion over...just do it!
Yes, it has been a major adjustment for me; and pre op and initial post op times are the most difficult. Gradually you do get your life back to some sense of normalcy.

My interpretation of having my band is that it is an opportunity for me to restore some of the health that my weight was stealing from me. I still feel fortunate that I was able to have my surgery, even with the complications I have experienced. Because I know what the alternatives would be...so my thoughts remain positive and I do my best every day to remain compliant, and I also accept that I am not perfect.

Get in touch with your reasons for choosing your band, and keep them at the forefront of your thoughts so you can review them when you have moments of anxiety or regret.

Best wishes...

I haven't found a ready-mixed shake that was as affordable as a powder that you mix yourself. Besides, I like to experiment with mine. It's just more fun that way!

I liked core power chocolate - it's a premade shake. I have yet to find a powder I love. I mixed my powder with skim milk to get more protein. My doctor/dietician recommend a skim milk from HEB (I don't know where you live and if you have HEB there) called mootopia because it's fat free, lactose free, and has extra protein (12g for a serving), plus its really tasty since its a little creamer than regular skim milk due to the extra protein. Hope this helps!

Choose your Protein powder based on taste and nutrition,,,I was advised to use only 100% whey Isolate Protein shakes, and like the Wheybolic Extreme from GNC. I find that the shakes taste better if mixed with milk...and you can throw an ice cube or 2 into the blender to make the shake thicker.

I've not yet discovered a ready mixed shake which has the same nutritional value as protein powders, but the Atkins premixed shakes seem to have a fair amount of protein (though it is not all whey protein), and to me are more palatable than most I have tried.

Everyone is different, however the only one I genuinely like is unjury. I have the chocolate splendor for Breakfast every morning. They also sell an unflavored powder you can mix with other stuff.
I mix mine with skim milk because it's extra nutrients and Protein
Unjury is only available online: http://www.unjury.com/store/protein/

Just crushed them and put them in coffee...it was the best solution! Thanks so much everyone, I would have never thought of it!

Four years ago, I began my journey and became a member of Lapband Talk. I am a Registered Nurse, and researched every article I could find on what type of surgery to have. When I went in for my initial family doctor's appointment, I was well prepared...I had already typed out my health history, weight history, and every diet plan I had ever tried. My doctor referred me to a bariatric doctor and I did the same with my surgeon's initial visit. Also included was a list of questions that I had about the surgery. I am sure they thought I was some geek. Here is what I have learned throughout the last 4 years and a bit of advice for those starting out.
1. Research pays off: talk to people that have had different types of bariatric surgeries. Look at the pros and cons. Can you handle the cons?
2. LBT provides great support. Use it and learn from others
3. If your insurance denies you, don't give up. I wrote a letter of appeal and got it. Just include research and your past medical history.
4. Restriction varies. You can be "tight" in the morning and then feel as though you have litle restriction in the evening.
5. Don't shoot for "too tight"...it is MISERABLE not being able to swallow your own spit.
6. If you are going to do this, then get pumped up and do it right...go all out! Follow the rules. Work out!
7. When you go out to eat, make sure you know where the closest bathroom is...just in case.
8. I often order more food than anyone else. My coworkers make fun of me. I know I still have an addiction to food...I only eat about 5 bites and I am done. Hey! I can make about 6 meals off of one dinner!!
9 Icecream might go down easy, but it can cause some people to have spasms. I can take a few bites and my band doesn't like it...a good thing.
10. Shoot for eating the hight protien foods first. At least get that in.
11. Some of those high Protein foods, like meats are dry and don't go down well. chicken is sometimes hard for me to eat.
12. I am always drawn to the "big girl" clothes. I am still a "fat chick" in my head.
13. Many bandsters talk about marriages ending after the band...mine did. He didn't like a "fat wife"and was embarrassed of me in public, so I left him when I lost the weight. Hope he is choking on those mean words!
14. The band is a TOOL! Use it as such. Don't continously drink high calorie drinks and wonder why you don't lose weight.
15. I have not had a carbonated beverage in 4 years. Never thought I could do it..but I don't miss it!
16. If you lose restriction all of a sudden, and it doesnt come back for days, then something is wrong...I had a leak in my port..had to get it replaced.
17. People will look at you and treat you differently when you are thinner. There are people that talk about "fat" people and when I tell them that I had weight loss surgery they can't believe it..I know they would never have given me the time of day, 4 years ago.
18. Don't eat bread or french fries..they don't go down well if you have the proper restriction.
19. Drink before your meal and then stop when your food is done.
20. Most places will let you eat off of the kids menu and buffets will let you have the discounted price (bring your card). If they don't, then speak to the manager. There is no sense in paying and adult price at a buffet when you are going to eat less than a 3 year old.
18. Enjoy your new life. Enjoy being healthy!

allik07... here is what my mushy diet consisted of. And I ran it by my VERY finicky doctor and he approved, so I know none of this will hurt you.
Oatmeal - I added fruit to my oatmeal. I put the fruit (blueberries, strawberries, etc) in the microwave and with a fork mushed them to where they were thinner than yogurt.
Mashed potatoes- boxed with sea salt and fat free shredded cheese. The cheese melts and becomes a mushy.
Progresso Soups - I put them in the blender and the chunks became smooth. I love their baked potato or clam chowder
Cream of wheat - I added brown sugar to it, and it was actually yummy.
Jello pudding - I have a huge sweet tooth, these things saved me from grabbing a candy bar or making Cookies
Yogurt - I liked to put it in a blender with apple sauce and some fruit and make a smoothie. Add Protein powder and there is your protein for the day
Egg whites - liquid eggs, poached or scrambled. I could only eat one at a time - with sea salt
I am sure there is more, but I haven't been in the mushy stage for two weeks so I have put it out of my mind! It gets better, the results are amazing, just push through.

I am getting banded tomorrow! I am excited and scared but at least I have to be there at the crack of dawn when I will still be half asleep.
Good luck to everyone!
Stacey

Since it was so early and everything moved so quickly that time frame was great!
Thanks everyone. My surgery Went well but had a double surgery. I had a hiatal hernia that I did not know about and it was removed. I'm feeling good on lots of pain meds.

I am getting banded tomorrow! I am excited and scared but at least I have to be there at the crack of dawn when I will still be half asleep.
Good luck to everyone!
Stacey