lilmispcl

I have still lost as long as I stay under 1200. I am sooo conflicted on what to do. Last week I did carb cycling and stayed right at 1200 calories each day but alternated the amount of carbs (high of around 100 net and then as low as I could go which was between 10 and 40 net). This seemed to work for me as I lost 3.6 pounds that week but I am worried about eating more than "I am supposed to eat". I have not had any difficulties with my band or swallowing or anything but I hate being confused. I didnt realize before I was banded that our calories would be sooooo low. I am worried that 500-700 calories is not healthy. This week I am still going to carb cycle but I am going to shoot for 1000 calories and smaller portions (no more than 1 cup each meal). I just can't imagine having 500 calories then exercising and burning at least 200. I really need to call the clinic and talk to a nutritionist. What were your post op instructions?

I super proud of myself tonight! I hate doing things alone. I had made plans to start the C25K with one of my friends this evening. Well 6 o'clock came and went and she didn't show up. At 6:30 I texted her asking if she forgot about me (I confirmed our plans only 2 hours earlier), I waited another 10 minutes with no reply (while struggling with myself over wether to go alone or not). I finally decided this is about ME and I need to do it for ME and I can't count on anyone else to make it happen. If I do Im just setting myself up to fail. So out the door I went and I ended up at the community center where they have an indoor track and found they also have child care! Score! So, I joined the fitness center and did my first day of C25K with just me and my iTunes! Here's to many more evenings of getting healthy ALONE! And I'm ok with that!

I've been doing it for a week today and have lost 3.6 pounds. But I wasn't sticking to 1 cup servings. I was following the recipes right out of the book and getting about 1200 calories each day. This week I am going to modify my portions to lapband size portions (no more than a cup) and stay between 900-1000 calories while also carb cycling. I'm also starting the Couch 2 5k program...nervous but so looking forward to results!!

I am wondering which mayo u successful bandsters use for things like chicken salad and egg salad? I am about out of light mayo and was wondering what people think of the fat free or the olive oil type?

My instructions for eating once on solid foods is this: Eat under 1000 calories per day. Eat three 1/2 cup meals per day. Eat 60-80 grams of Protein per day. Sip lots of Water throughout the day. Do not snack between meals. I am lucky to hit 600-700 calories a day unless I eat total crap. I feel like making healthy choices there is no way to get that many calories in a cup and a half of food each day. I was supplementing with 2 Protein shakes a day to make sure I got my protein. Am I missing something? I have started carb cycling but I am eating more than a half cup at a time and I eat 5 times a day. I am eating about 3oz of protein (usually chicken or 99% FF turkey breast, ocassionally a steak) combined with either healthy fat or carbs and always veggies. I'm eating 1100-1200 calories and alternating my carb intake each day. It has only been a week and I am losing faster than I was with such limited calories. I don't have any trouble eating...I eat slow and chew alot. I'm just torn between my original eating plan and carb cycling. I want to be healthy but I don't want my body to get used to living on 500-600 calories a day because then if I ever go over that I will gain weight. But I also feel like I paid a ton of money for this band so I should be following the instructions. LOL Ughh... why is weight loss so complicated? What and how often do you successful bandsters eat???

I know exactly what you are talking about with the "sticking" ... it has happened to me a couple times too. I can eat anything too. I don't want a fill. I have 3cc's in my band and when I eat stuff like chicken and broccoli I can only eat about 2 ounces of chicken and a half cup of broccoli. I dont like that I can barely get in 700 calories so I am trying carb cycling. I read the book Choose to Lose by Chris Powell. It sounds like my body will love it and it reintroduces some foods I have cut out completely. I was trying to do low carb all the time. This plan you do High carb, low carb, low carb, high carb, low carb, low carb, Cheat day. So you are constantly changing what your body gets and it doesn't get used to the same thing all the time. I have gone walking a few times but havent started a daily plan. I am going to join the community center here because I can go after work at 6p and they have free child care.

I just read a book called Choose to Lose - The 7 day carb cycle solution. It is simply alternating your carb intake from day to day and it seems to break the plateau because your body doesn't get adjusted to what you are doing since it constantly changes. It keeps your metabolism in high gear. You can check it out on his website chrispowell.com or look at the Dr. OZ show website to see videos about it. I have been banded since April 5th and have been back on solid foods for a month. I felt like I was eating the same thing all the time and I was eating as low carb as I possibly could. I was having a very hard time getting over 800 calories in a day. I started the 7 day carb cycle solution today. Hope it works out!

I use Isopure Low Carb protein powder from GNC. I make a shake using 8oz of unsweetened Almond milk, one scoop of Isopure, 2 tbs of PB2, half a frozen banana and 4 frozen strawberries. It is AMAZING. One scoop of Isopure has 25g of protein and 110 calories. It is very filling too!

Awesome! We had surgery on the same day!! Whats typically on your menu for the day? Are you using My Fitness Pal to track what you eat? I feel like I need more guidance in the nutrition area but haven't found time to call. I have 3.5cc in my band and dont really feel like I need a fill. I dont find myself to be hungry usually but I think thats due to 2 months of super low calories. I have a hard time getting over 800 calories a day because I am trying to minimize my carb intake. I dont have trouble eating anything except when I eat chicken if i take too big of a bite it can be quite uncomfortable. Sounds like you are doing great! Hope to keep in touch and watch your progress!

So I have gone to Ruby Tuesday twice now since my surgery on April 5th. Even when I order from the Fit & Trim menu and stay well within my calorie goal for the day I have gone up a pound or more and it takes 3 days to get it off again. I don't get it! Maybe it's the salt content??? It's so not worth going out to eat. I definitely prefer to cook at home and know exactly what I am eating. Has anyone else had this same issue?

Awesome!! Congratulations! I know you are feeling great! I just went a bought a new pair of pants today a size smaller (well my old size was sooo tight but I wasn't about to buy the next size up!) Feels great! Keep up the great work!!

I had a 10 day preop diet started March 25th which consisted of 2 or 3 Atkins protein shakes. They contain between 10 and 15 grams of protein and are very low carb. I also ate oatmeal or an egg & spinach omelette for breakfast and 5oz of lean meat and 1 cup of green veggies for dinner. I lost 15 pounds preop and have lost almost 17 pounds post op. My surgery was April 5th. I did not lose the first week after surgery....probably because I was not getting nearly enough calories because I was not at all hungry. For me I truly believe the protein keeps me full and staying away from carbs keeps my cravings at bay. Those Atkins shakes are great too.

Calories are definitely not created equal for this body! But I guess if i just focus on Protein and calories that might work except that today I have had 92 grams of protein, 25g fat, 68g of carbs and I am only at 894 calories. 92 grams if protein and Im still pretty far from my calorie goal. If I eat that much protein consistently I would never go #2!! Lol I appreciate everyone's input!! I can't figure out how to add friends on mfp without an email address.

So I have been tracking my food in My Fitness Pal and I love the little pie graph you can look at to see what percentage of your diet is coming from Fat, Protein and Carbs. My question to you gurus is what percentages do you like to see to keep you losing steadily? Today I am sitting at 31% from carbs, 26% from fat and 43% protein. I need to increase my calories but do not want to increase my carbs and fat...so what food has high calories and low fat and carbs?? LOL tree bark? I am having a REALLY hard time eating 1000 calories and I want to try to hit that every day with limited carbs. I have done Atkins type menus in the past but its so easy to eat high fat foods and I don't want to do that either. So...what are you all eating??? How many calories and grams of protein are you eating each day?

I had surgery on April 5th. The week prior to surgery I did have my doubts. I dreaded being one of the band failures. BUT I realized that the decision to succeed is all mine. I will not fail at this ... its a tool to be successful and I plan to use it. If you use it and follow dr.'s orders you will succeed. You are not alone in this journey and if you use the band and all the support you have you will be successful but if you don't put in the work it won't work. Like any diet you have to stick to it...the band helps by taking away the hunger. If you are hungry after healing you need to be willing to work with your dr to get your band at the right setting so you can be successful. Don't be afraid to work with your doctor as often as you need to until you are feeling satisfied between meals and losing. I am only 4 weeks out of surgery but I honestly feel that this was the best decision I ever made. Because although I still fight with my head my band will not allow my head to win....I know I will cause myself pain if I try to gorge at a buffet so those days are over for me and I couldn't be happier about that! Day to day I work the band by sticking to my dietary instructions but the band keeps me in check Its a great partnership!!

My best friend and I meet in Vegas for a girls weekend at least once a year and we spend lots of time at the spa so I know exactly what you are talking about with the robes! I am definitely looking forward to our next trip!!!

I am on solid foods now but my stage 2 consisted of refried beans with 2% cheese and sour cream, (I still eat these every day!), 2 protein shakes with at least 15g protein each, chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad, tomato soup. I tried to stay away from the canned soups because they are super high in sodium. If you shoot for high protein foods you will not get hungry....its amazing how long the protein keeps you satisfied.

I am super excited that when I wrap my bath towel around me it actually closes!!! It's been a LONG time since that was the case! So happy!

Lots of people take gasx for the gas but the CO2 is placed in the abdominal cavity not into the intestines so I dont see how the gasx remedies would work. What worked for me was walking....movement gets the gas moving and I had very little discomfort from the CO2.

I didnt have any trouble getting the chicken down and I really enjoyed it. I am just so used to eating fast because I take care of 6 children all day so I dont really get time to myself when I want to eat. LOL I probably could have stopped one bite earlier and wouldnt have had the discomfort.

Well I am in my first week of solid food and tonight I had baked chicken breast and broccoli. I measured a 1/4 cup of chicken and a 1/4 cup of broccoli. My pouch was definitely full by the time my chicken and a couple bites of broccoli were down. I felt the feeling where you know if you try to eat another bite it's just not going down. I was chewing really good but I realized I should have been eating slower. I didn't end up in any "pain" but was uncomfortable for about 10 minutes. It felt like the food was just waiting at the bottom of my esophagus until there was room in the pouch. LOL