dreamers

I've been juicing a month now, and it kick started me out of a stall! (Of course I work out more, eat well and track too)
I think it's partly cos u feel like being healthier and actually less hungry when ur body is nourished with Vitamins and minerals.
That's why 30 mins after a McDonalds meal people get hungry again, cos there is nothing to really nourish your body.
My skin + energy levels have improved greatly.
The trick for WLS people is keep the fruit out of the juicer. Greens greens greens! It's not tasty to drink with all that kale, celery and spinach in the juicer but taste isn't the point.
I have a green juice first thing before my Breakfast (usually an egg or egg on toast).
If u don't use fruits, the calories and sugar are very low. Some days when I'm not in the mood for the bitter green taste, I add a small green apple or some carrots.
I recommend trying it!

I've been juicing a month now, and it kick started me out of a stall! (Of course I work out more, eat well and track too)
I think it's partly cos u feel like being healthier and actually less hungry when ur body is nourished with Vitamins and minerals.
That's why 30 mins after a McDonalds meal people get hungry again, cos there is nothing to really nourish your body.
My skin + energy levels have improved greatly.
The trick for WLS people is keep the fruit out of the juicer. Greens greens greens! It's not tasty to drink with all that kale, celery and spinach in the juicer but taste isn't the point.
I have a green juice first thing before my Breakfast (usually an egg or egg on toast).
If u don't use fruits, the calories and sugar are very low. Some days when I'm not in the mood for the bitter green taste, I add a small green apple or some carrots.
I recommend trying it!

Sometimes people don't say anything cos they feel it may be inappropriate. Pre lapband I had dieted and lost 50+ lbs and one of the girls I shared a work space with who I grew close with never said "congrats" or "you look great" and it bothered me cos so many other people had. Eventually I asked her about it and she said she didn't want me to think there was anything wrong with me before I had lost weight so she didn't wanna say I looked great for losing a lot of weight. That always reminds to remember sometimes people don't know what to say or don't think they should say anything.

Sounds like a great idea!
It's good to see you fighting back against a plateau with good old fashioned elbow grease and a good attitude! Hope you do well. You have inspired me to do something similar so thank u so much!

I remember being just as nervous before my first fill. but just take it slowly and tell your doc you wanna be conservative with the fills.
Remember you can always be unfiilled if needed

Thank you so much for the encouragement! I am committed to making this lifestyle change and will be sure to be as conservative as my Dr will allow. I will definitely keep you posted on my progress. Optimizing the bands potential is a key to my success, but knowing I've been able to manage til now with shear willpower alone assures me every day that I am able to change my life in so many positive ways!

To get extra calories when you really can't eat, try blending your own Protein shakes with Protein powder of choice (vanilla is a good neutral) and use full cream milk and a tablespoon of Peanut Butter. That has loads of Protein, adds calories and is yummy. It helped me go from 400 calories to 900 in my first weeks. Sometimes i would add 1/2 a banana too. My body never went into starvation and I lost 10 lbs in the first 11 days after surgery.
Of course once your appetite returns, switch to non fat milk and limit things like Peanut Butter.
Good luck!

I too use my fitness pal but I never eat the cals earned from excersie. Add me if you want and look at my diary I have set 1200 cals per day Taysidebell is my username x

Sorry you're in Bandster hell. It'll get better.
Maybe I'm not understanding your question... Is it that it is adding more calories to eat or subtracting them so you have less? If the latter, I've never experienced that. If the former, see below.
On the days that you work out, you can do one of two things, 1). not log it so you don't get confused with calories or 2). Manually review your calories to ignore the calories burned, i.e. you know your daily target, just subtract your calories eaten from that. Your ending calories should always be = or > calories burned.

My doctor advises to eat this way: Protein first then veg/fruit then a bite or two of bread. He says "bread is your friend.". Eating protein first will help you feel full longer and the bread will help too. But it's important to put the protein in first.

Glad you were able to undo the bad... But next time when you think you need to eat and it isn't time or you have used up all your calories for the day... Find something else to do that doesn't involve food. As you know the time before restriction is so difficult but you apparently want it bad enough... So just teach yourself to say no.
It will get easier.

You have to stop. I know, it is easier said than done, but you need to train your body to accept the smaller amount of food. Bump up the Protein content and try drinking warm liquids in between. You have to really WANT the band to work. Do or do not, there is no try. Soon yesterday and today will become last week and this week, at which point you have reverted to pre-band eating. Make the sacrifice for your health now!

you will get alot of responses but here is mine
at almost 2 weeks, i was still on liquids and then i went to mushies and then soft...the first 4 to 6 weeks is for healing and is important that you realize what you have to do now.
stopping at a cup of food is not easy for me.... who ever thought getting a band was easy will not be successful...you have to help the band... this is my life now.
i was a huge/alot of stuff eater--the more the better.
its a matter of want power now...i am sure i can eat way more than my allotted cup but i stop.. i want to lose weight bad enough to make that decision to do what i have to do. (to stop at one cup)..so thats what you are going to have to do now. congrats on your surgery.

I was banded on 11/15/2012 and have yet to experience Hair loss. Does this mean it might happen later on? :/ I have been taking Biotin since 2 weeks prior to surgery and it has increased my Hair growth. I pray it continues, my hair is thin enough as it is thanks to the flat Iron I used on a daily basis. lol Good luck to all! Hope things work out.

Hey guys,
do you use My fitness pal? If you have a smartphone it's handy cos you can punch your food into it right as you eat it.
My NUT told me between 40-60 grams of Protein is acceptable, and i find that very easy.
Even when i couldn't eat mushy food (i just started mushies a few days ago) i found it pretty easy.
Here is an example menu of what i ate.
Breakfast
Svelte 'Hello beautiful' choc Protein shake = 15g Protein
lunch
smoothie made in blender:
1 cup fat free milk, 1/2 banana, 1tbsp smooth Peanut Butter, 1 scoop 100% whey Protein powder (vanilla) = 35g protein
dinner
Same as b.fast
Thats 65 grams of protein already and only 864 calories. I would even ad a little more PB or something to get to the minimum 1000 calories. (a lot of people loose faster if they don't go into starvation)
As i progress into mushy food i am replacing shakes with real food such as canned tuna w/mayo, poached egg w/ mozz cheese, refried Beans w/ low fat ricotta + avo.... and i am still reaching my minimum of 40g protein and staying between 1000 - 1200 cal
I have kept the banana, PB + whey Protein Shake cos it's my biggest source of protein for the day which is handy and keeps me super full.
Hope this helps!!

Haha.... Now that i have your attention..............
Merry Christmas..... to all my LB family.... Wishing you all a wonderful New Year... Here's to seeing "less" of you all next year....
Love you guys

That's it, I just miss sandwiches!!!

CG must have missed your post, but if you look at her signature right above her dogs, you will see she has taken off 88lbs in 6mths. I'm so proud of her, but don't tell her. Her head gets too big.LOL
Everyone is different when it comes to fills. I now a lady who lost 100lbs before she needed a fill and then there's some who have need multiple fills to hit their green zone.
The secret is sticking to that 1 cup rule, 3oz Protein each meal and always eat that first and if there's any room left 1/4c veggies 1/4 good carbs. Drinking at least 64 oz of Fluid a day.
I have only had 1 fill at 3cc and not in green zone yet, but I'm losing nicely by living the LB rules.
My Dr told me that on average it takes between 4 & 7.5cc to get to green zone. I'm counting on green zone to keep me from gaining the weight back.
I wish you all the best on your journey!

I was banded 12/7/12. I started mushies on day 6. Prior to that was Clear Liquids and my dr allowed 2 Protein Shakes as well. It still feels weird when I eat. Just take it slow and pace yourself.

Sounds early for mushies, but I would follow doctor's orders. Keep bites very small, and small sips. I did the three week liquids after surgery so no help there. The first mushy food I tried was scrambled eggs and cottage cheese, but chew even these!

yes, it sounds like because you are swollen. your are very early out..also, from my own learning experiences early on, drinking too fast/sipping too much caused discomfort. i was 2 weeks liquid post op, then 1 week mushy and then 1 week soft and then as tolerated.....
bee welll

Yeah I guess you're right.
It would also would help if people who are frustrated from reading the same questions over and over not comment, because it comes off mean after reading their comments they made on the other threads.

I'm excited to see more people not getting fills (: keeping yourself at a good restriction to just be losing the right amount of weight each month is so smart! That way you can really get to know your diet and what you're body can handle without starving and using the band in ways it isn't intended.