mybella

Congrads, you will not be sorry, welcome to the other side

I made chilli with ground turkey and when I chew it down is is mushies. It was easy, I used beans from stratch, but you can buy canned beans of your choice, I bought the Delmonte original chilli mix in a envelop package. I called for 2 cans of tomatoe sauce or stewed tomatoes and 1lb ground beef or ground turkey. I doubled it and use 2 stewed tomatoes and 2 tomatoes sauces. I ate it everyday at least once, and added hot pepper, onion, green peppers and it has been a week and I lost 4 pounds. I also ate chicken and tuna in a can with Heluva onion dip mix which is a quick way to make it into a salad and easy to go down. Hope this helps

I stopped smoking 30 years ago, Newports, and never wanted to start back up. Now last year I came across an electronic cigarette and tried it for fun. Went home and researched them and I decided to try one for oral gradtification to stop snacking so much. There is on nicotine, no harsh chemical, no odor, does not set off fire alarms and if you get the right type, which I will tell you the best out there since I have tried many, you will get the vapor and cigarette hit you need to satisfy you. I have 4 friend I turned on to this who stopped cigarette smoking and now do the e-cigs and they smoke less. You can sneak in the bathroom and puff. There are types that look like a cigarette, but one that will satisfy you the most is a larger device that holds a charge longer, vapor fluid longer and does not leak like the other do. Remember the one that does not look like a cigarette but satisfies is the best choice if you are going to spend the money because if you get the wrong one, you will not stop and get agrevated by the maintence of th wrong ecig. However, this is a way to stop or to keep smoking the electronic way. I did stop 2 weeks before surgery and had my husband hide my kit until I feel I am totaly healed because the air is still not good in your pouch and i will try it again in 3=4months down the line. The main reason you may want to try this is to quit and not get the toxin in your body. Once those toxin have been replaced with the motion of hand to mouth movement, visual vapor that looks like smoke and the nicotine buss you get from smoking, you are on your way to stop smoking to prepare for surgery. If you get it, tell your doctor you stopped and use this device to stop because you are eliminating the toxins. But you should/must stop 2-3 weeks before surgery and it will be easier to stop because you do not have all the other toxins in your system. After you get the device, do not go to a cigarette. My friend at my old temp job, started the ecig by trying mine and she used it for a week, did not use it that much because she could use it any time so the desire to use it was minimal because the toxins were not there. 1 week later, she left her ecig in her office and came outside after lunch to the smoking area with her friends and she smoked a reg cigarette and felt dizzy and did not like it. She said that made her realize how she will continue with her ecigs and has not started back again. She even smokes in her office now. She takes a puff and puts it on her desk. If you are interested send me a private message and an email so I can send you the information on the email. In fact anyone who wants to stop or not give up the smoking experience but the toxins. Obama, Letterman and others use this to stop, but getting higher nicotine and you can go down to 0 nicotine and stop all together or just use this device going forward.

Well they are not always right I have had my share of mishaps with the nut and doctors. Try it and drink the 3 oz but add the 1 scoop of protein. Carnation has almost half the protein. Protein keeps you from being hungry and maybe your body need more protein. I should have 80 grams per day of protein and the by having the 3 protein shakes that is 75 protein a day.

I agree with Sojourner about qualilty bariatric shakes. Your shakes should have at least 25grams of Protein and with the 1 cup of skim milk you are adding a little more protein. I used Isopure no carb, no sugar and it has 25grams of protein and 2 scoops is 50grams that should hold you over for 4 hours and you should have 1cup of skim milk and even if it takes you 1/2 drink it slow. I hope this is the answer. Keep us posted

I don't know, I would try to have a small amount, like 2oz of non fat greek yogurt which is high in protein. That may help curb your hungry horrors between meals.

are you drinking your fluids too fast. that happened to me and i was starving, i was told that you have to sip your water, because you would be washing what is in my pouch out.

I use isopure 2 scoops 50gr of protein, with skim milk which adds more protein. Not sure what stage you are at now. I you feel hungry, try greek yogurt between your 3 shakes..

are you nauseous do you takes med for nauseas. I don't have saline in my band, maybe you are still swollen and if you have saline in your band that could be it. also I was told right after surgery to drink only 4oz of fluid and it should take me an hour, so 1oz every 15 minutes.

i struggled with my purees stage, after 10 days of puree I was put on mushie foods (food not being pureed, but soft and chew well).My dr. said because it is more of a solid food it will stay longer. She was right, I am no longer eating snacks like yogurt and colttage with have a lot of protein trying to feel full and I am able to get all of my water in where with the puree stage, I could not get more than 35-40oz in a day. I am on the third day of mushies and am eating only 3 meals, about 4oz of protein and 1-2oz of fiber and if I have 2oz of yogurt, I can go longer without eating. I am getting in 8-12glasses of water a day, with ceystal light. The scale is now moving and in 3 days so far I've loss 3 pounds. I get my fill on the 19th of September and my doctor said I will not be able to eat 6oz, but for now without anything in my band it is ok to eat 6oz. Yesterday, made chilli with ground turkey and at 1 cup, but it was all protein because it was so good. I am not stuffed after my 6 ounces, but I wait my 30 mins after eating and I am very surprised that I am not hungry for hours. So I say, eat your prescribed amount, wait 30 minutes and drink your water and you will be surprised that you can do it. Dr. said once I get my fill, it will be easy and I will not be able to eat the 6oz. I was banded on Aug 6th, liquid shakes for 2 weeks, purees for 10 days. Hope this helps. Oh, i did the drinking water vey fast on my first 2 days of purees and I was starving so I stopped and I was not as hungry.

Are you doing the 30 min before and after rule with eating. If you were drinking with your meal, or drinking very fast that can push your soft foods down and you will continue to be hungry because you are washing the food down. It happened to me on my second day and i was hungry, as soon as I started taking smaller sips, i was not hungry.

Check with your doctor, but if you have nothing in your band, you can't do much damage, just go forward and eat slow chew long. good luck

Mine last about 6 days. I read that it is called "referred pain". When ever you tamper with the stomach and liver, you feel the pain in your shoulder, just like when you have a heart attach you feel it in your left arm. I will go away soon, just take your meds.

Could it be that you are hungry. I have been banded since Aug 6th, and when I was 2 weeks liquids after surgery, I would feel nauseous when it was time for my next shake. Only you know if this true. I would eat 2oz of greek vanilla non fat yogurt or low fat small curd cottage cheese. in between if I felt hungry but it was too soon for my shake. The yogurt and the cottage cheese is high in Protein. Hope this helps, and feel better.

I have been using the calorecount.about.com because i don't have an i phone and it give you a lot of brand names which makes it easy and ther is a section that gives you your intake of all the nutritions, like carbs, protein, fat calories etc. I then journal my information an excel spreadsheet and paste it from the caloriecount.about.com.

I think it varies because of the weight you lose, so everyone is different.

so sorry about all of your complications. as far as your eating, sounds like you need to be on a shedule to avoid the pain even if you don't want to eat. discuss with your dr and nutritionist. good luck and at least you caught it sooner than later

Is this banster hell, when I was on my shakes and yogurt and cottage cheese, i was not hungry like this, just wanted to chew. I am only on my 2nd day of purees and I have not been this hungry since before my pre diet. I am using the small portion control, but I am constantly wanting something more and my next visit until the 19th of Sept. Tomorrow I think I am going to start my day with a Protein shake to replace my Breakfast and see how the rest of the day. From 7am today to 12pm I had 1 scrambled egg and dice peaches for breakfast, still unsatified, had 4oz of greek yogurt 9:30 am with lots of will power and then had mized veggies pureed, and by 11:30am had 2 tablespoons of chicken salad and 4oz of unsweeted applesauce. And drank 8 glasses of Water. Sill want to eat. If I had a shake, I would not even think about lunch until 1 or 2pm. It is 2:43pm and my stomach is grumbling. First time hungry since May 22nd when I started this jouney.

The comment about easing to your green zone sounds right, because they have to gradually add to your band because if the fill too fast you may swell so much that you will not be able to get anything in. If you notice no one ever gets a fill before 4 weeks. I bet your next visit for a fill will not before 4 weeks. Keep up your protein and say away from carbs, that is what makes you hungry. Mark my words. You can not avoid carbs in foods like yogurt, cottage cheese etc, but if you avoid the white carbs that will help alot. I was told in one of our workshops that if you look at a lable and you see fiber, you can deduct that from the carbs in that item. Also that you do not need to worry about sugar because the carb and sugar are the same. 1 serving of carb is between 15-20 carbs. On my prediet my nut told me to take in 100 gram of protein, 120 carbs and 50gr of fat no more and stay close to those numbers and I loss 25 pounds in 2months. I am waiting today to find out what my intake should be now that I am on mushies. It was nice on shakes only because I did not have to count anything. Hope this helps. How much have you loss?

I had surgery on Aug 6th and is is like a blink of an eye and you are then being pampered by the nurses and dr. You will have a button for pain meds. there is not pain except when you get up your muscles in your stomach ache like someone beat you up in your stomach, not like you pulled a muscle and when you get up you will have help and they will have you walk a little. The worst part was dry mouth and my nurses kept me with these large qtips with lemon flavor on it and i would spread on my tougue, gums and side of mouth because you are not able to drink until your xray while drinking. Nausea is the only thing I was worried about and I got a tip from a nurse to ask for the patch for nausea. And if they ask you if you ever had motion sickness say yes and they will give you the patch. I kept me from being nausea. Don't be nervous and if you are tired, that will help you rest even better. Oh there is a tv in your room and a phone most likely so you can call people so bring your cell phone with your phone numbers. You will sleep alot. You will be fine.

I agree with the raising your calorie intake and make sure you are getting in your Protein. Expecially if you are working out your are burning calories. If you can't get in more calories and protein is a great way to get in calories as well, then I would say start your day with a high Protein shake like 50gr of protein and then the rest of the day can be add ons. I use Isopure no carb no sugar and it is 230 calories for 2 scoops of powder.

Are you getting all of your protein in each day and water besides the carbs? I was told by someone who has been banded for 3 years that the 2oz portion of protein it is hard to get all the protein in so it is best have a double scoop of protein in the morning and add the rest with your other 2 meals. I am concerned about my protein intake as well. Or maybe the amount of food is not enough to keep your matabolism going meaning not enough calories. It is a fine line to get in your calories, stay within your carb intake and get the calories. Because when you eat yogurt and cottage cheese there are carbs involved so it is a tough tight rope to cross. I asked my nutritionis to get back to me with specific carb, protein and fat intake per day so I can try to get this right. I start mushies tomorrow and the amount of food that which is EX: 1 egg for breakfast, 2oz of protein, with 2 tablespoons of hummus or squash for lunch and a 1/2 cup of chili for dinner.

Your welcome, but you can call member services on he back of your BCBS card and they will give you information. They were vague, but they did tell me if my doctor feels I qualify I will be approved and BCBS does cover the WLS. So you may do better with another doctor, but did you get the sleep study and the upper GI test?

I have BCBS of Massachusetts. I was only 100 pound over weight and no underlying condition when I started this journey. During my test, they found out I had a Hiatial Hernia which I thought was very bad heartburn and sleep apnea which I never thought I had that either. My question to you did you get the sleep study and the upper gi done? Do you have high blood pressure or diabetes? Any of the above is a condition that they will not deny me. At the begining, I had the weight and both sides of my family has high blood pressure and diabetes and kidney failure, so I though that was enough according to my dr, but I ended up with condition which was the hernia, and sleep apnea. I heard that BCBS has changed it policy in the last 6 months so I would check with you insurance company and if you have not had the sleep apnea or upper gi test see if your dr will give it to you. Sleep apnea is a condition from overweight so you may have it and not realize it just like me. Is your BMI over 40 because mine was and that is why I started this journey and that you have gone on multiple diets. Good luck

Some ideas I wrote on one of my other replies which could relate to your comment about savory flavors and begining your muchies. I feel pretty good, my husband has been on me about not doing to much, so we have been going school shopping and getting a lot of walking in. I also have been trying to say busy in the house without lifting more than 10lbs. I only loss 15 pounds on my prediet and after surgery. My dr and nutrionist said I should ot complain because I loss 34 pounds in 3 months on Aug 22nd. On the 20th, I start mushies and bought a lot of stuff to eat to make the transition easier. I want to know if your puree stage has only 3 puree meals without snack and are you suppose to have 2oz of Protein. Here are some things I bought: 97% fat free turkey chili with Beans, 97% fat free veggie chilli with beans, very high in protein and very low in fat. 1%, which I was told to top it off is cold greek vanilla yogurt to simulate sour cream, bought refried beans raw kidney, raw black eye peas, raw lentel and raw black beans to make a Soup with chicken thighs, cabbage and carrots so I can blend it together with low sodium bouillion cubes because it was hard to find low fat or fat free Soups without rice, potatos or Pasta, so I will make my own. I also wanted to get the cream of wheat and cream of rice and it was so expensive and I can only have a little, so I bought the same thing with low carb, etc in baby wheat and rice cerials which was much cheaper than 1 12pack cream of wheat. I also bought 3 different stage 3 veggies and chicken and turkey meat in a jar that looks like vienna sausages but is turkey and chicken, so when I am lazy to cook. Maybe above can give you some ideas.