staceyhearn79

Download the My Fitness Pal app to your phone and use it every day. It will open your eyes to what you are really putting in your body. Yes, I know that we get the band to not diet, but until you're in the green zone, sometimes it helps to be aware of what we're eating.
I am still fresh from surgery but on my blenderized diet they suggest things like mashed potatoes and macncheese. I ate some yesterday and put it in the app. Wow! They have a lot of calories. I'm going to try to eat something healthier in the future.
Hang in there! Don't lose focus!

Hi there, don't forget to Celebrate the fact that you are twenty-five pounds down at the end of 2013 rather than twenty-five up, which was the direction I was headed for sure. You got that chunk off and now you're ready to tackle the next. Let's do it! I am in the process of getting fills to get my band working properly for me. I want to find the green zone -- otherwise it feels like a diet and that is too hard to sustain over time (as I've proven again and again). I want to be in sync with my band and my body. So, the fills, the exercising, the attention to Protein first. Here's to 2014 and the health and happiness we all deserve!

Ricksgal, you have come to the right place to get remotivated! There are newbies and oldsters on this site. Are you exercising, and watching your carb intake? Most of us, when we are filled properly, can't eat many carbs, and are filed and satisfied with our 4 oz of Protein and veggies. If you have not visited your sugeon's foccie recently for a fill and discussion with the nutritionist, do so. Happy New year and new start, this is the starting point! Karen..aka..kll724

>>>>please fill in your profile, too!!

some more information is needed. where are you on fills? i am 7mos out on the 29th and i have 7cc in a 14cc band. i know i am really really close to being in the green zone. i couldn't if my life depended on it overeat at this point. the only advice i can give you is to try and remember what it was that made you want wls. and how you felt when you lost the 25lbs. everytime you eat something ask yourself if the calorie intake is worth it. a candy bar isn't worth the calorie count. but a piece of chicken or fish is. get a saucer out. put some salad or cooked vegetables on it and than put a 4 oz Protein on top of it. this is all you should eat. if this isn't satisfying for you, you need to discuss it with your surgeon. you can get right back on the band wagon by discussing with your doctor your struggle. a fill might be needed or a talk with a nutritionist or even a counsler to try and find out why you are having some troubles. we all have food mind issues that we still deal with everyday. also just start walking. everyday as much as you can. exercising turns our minds off for a few min's so we aren't thinking about food all the time. i wish you lot's of hope and i know you can do this. 25lbs is still lighter than you were. and you should be proud of this.

My Dr. would refer to this chart he had hanging on the wall, and ask me EXACTLY were I felt I was...could be yellow, borderline yellow-green, or green, etc, etc....he would then ask a few other questions, mainly about hunger - cravings, look at my weight loss for the month, if any, then determine if I needed another adjustment or not....he made no qualms that his goal was to get me smack dab in the middle of green...
So, how is your hunger? The chart does not say how many hours...simply no hunger....many people say this is true for them between meals only...I am one of those that has no hunger at all...24 hours a day I can care less about eating, but I'll not go into that now.......
Second is portion control....can you overeat with little of no problem? Eat anything whenever you want with no limits? Again, speaking only for Myself, it is impossible for me to overeat...I throw more food away....
The other 2 are no brainers...if you have the others, the rest falls into place...
Everyone is different...I know I am different and do not expect others to be just like me....but my hunger/cravings are under control, cannot over eat, have steadily lost weight to the point I am done loosing, so it goes without saying I have complete Patient Satisfaction....
Many people find their "Patient Satisfaction" within their own comfort zones, and that's what is really important...that the band works for them...

My doctor has told me that if I can't go 4 hours without food, then I'm not green. I'm happy with the sudden desire to eat less, I know then I'm getting less calories even if I'm eating every 3 hrs vs 4. I guess this is just when the fills get smaller. I had a hiatal hernia fixed at the time I got lap band, so my dr was conservative with fills. I've actually done really well with that recovery and have not had any acid reflux since the surgery. I guess I'm just looking to make sure I'm not being too nitpicky about what green actually is.

Hi there, I am actively working towards this as well. My surgeon's goal for me is a tennis-ball sized meal and not hungry again for 4-5 hours. I have had three fills so far as part of their regular protocol (no Fluid in band at placement) and they seem to expect patients to take 4-5 before getting to the green zone. Of course this varies greatly by individual. I originally thought I might be one of those people who did not require a fill because I was not hungry after my surgery, but then the hunger did return. Mostly I've been able to stay satisfied on the small portion but then I get hungry again too soon. Just recently I am noticing a desire for a larger volume of food. So this tells me I definitely need another fill -- that is scheduled for January 6th. And then I am booked for January 20th (two weeks after) to assess that and see whether yet another will be indicated. I marked this thread to "follow" so maybe we can keep touching base. I have the chart, of course, with what the yellow, green and red zones are, but it's such an individual thing. And then there's the post-fill adjusting that the body does. As for protocol, I have no post-op protocol at all, beyond "take it easy." Well I always take it easy because I had one ghastly stuck episode early on and I don't ever want to repeat that. But I don't do all-liquids. Wondering what your post-op protocols are like and what you are looking for in terms of signs? Oh, also, I have been able to tolerate foods around me without wanting to indulge and now I am doing the "outlawing" thing -- getting stuff out of the house and declaring it illegal for me, etc. This tells me I am not near the Green Zone, that I have that dieter's mentality big-time right now. I'd like to get to the point when I can have an open jar of nut butter in the house without waking up in the morning and thinking about it. Good grief. Or cheese. Let's not even discuss that.

I wish I could help you on this one... Perhaps GREEN ZONE people will read and respond. It's funny, but I have the opposite situation. I can go for HOURS in between meals and often eat only twice a day, but I can eat a larger volume of food before getting a "full" or "near full" sensation. So, I still have to be conscious of portion sizes. Can't wait to get in the GREEN ZONE. Perhaps my next doctor's visit on Jan. 13.

hello all! I was banded in july of this year, i have about 5.5 cc in my 10 cc band. this last fill, the dr gave me a full 1 cc because the prior fill of a half cc didn't do a thing. about two weeks after my fill, i am suddenly finding myself full on a few bites of food (about half a cup), which is great, i find it amazing, actually! but i'm still only staying full for 3 hours, i'm really looking to go 4 hours. i'm deliberate not to drink an hour after i eat (i thought that was the problem at one point, because i wasn't watching the clock too closely, but i've since set a timer on my phone) and i'm not eating mushy food; i'm getting Protein in first.
i'm slow to lose weight, i'm delighted if i lose a half a pound a week. right now, i'm down pound over two weeks, so i'm on track. is this green? would i be forcing it to have another adjustment in two weeks? (I go once a month). anyone else get to this point and decide to stay put or have an adjustment? i'd love some feedback.
thanks in advance!
jenn

since I've had 3 c-sections, my Tummy Tuck will be covered by my insurance company as a "scar revision" due to adhesions. I will only have to pay 250.00. now I just need to hurry up and lose this weight!

Hi Folks. If anyone approaches the point when a panniculectomy (apron) is going to be done, please be sure to contact local burn centers to possibly donate! I have worked with WLS patients for several years and hear that is a need. Sometimes if insurance won't pay, I have heard that burn centers might help or advise.
Thanks,
SanDiegoSue

THANK YOU!!! I will try this. Although I feel great about my last fill I think I will need one more. I also need to remember not to drink while I eat. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Water and I drink a lot of it.
Wow, I have forgotten my basic rules; I have really fallen off the wagon. Light has just dawned on marble head!! I haven't been portioning out my meals; chewing slowly and completely; stopping when I felt full or comfortable....
I'm a full-time student and when classes were in full swing and finals approached I lost focus on my weight loss. I stopped coming here.... I'm so thankful that I posted today.

Bee - I've ALWAYS said that if there wasn't life after dinner, I would be thin!! Night demons.......shared by SO many of us
Since being banded, I've found that anything made with ground meat is best; ground turkey, lamb, beef, etc. One of my staples (I make it at least once a week):
1 pound of ground beef or turkey - browned with a little salt, pepper & garlic powder, drained of excess fat.
I mix in one can of Rosarita traditional refried Beans, and once can of black Beans (I do not drain the liquid from the black beans.....it keeps the whole thing more moist)
Mix this all together in the pot, heat through, and enjoy! This is my new comfort food, and it's high in Protein, and low in fat/calories. I eat about 1/2 to 2/3 of a cup. That's all I need.
This past week I browned a pound of ground lamb (same way as above), but added chopped onion. Then I added a can of cream of mushroom Soup, mushrooms, and some cooked quinoa. It was REALLY good!
Sometimes, I'll make some Pasta sauce with a pound of ground turkey or beef, and I'll eat my usual 1/2-2/3 cup without Pasta. You can be very creative with ground meat, and I've found it to be very "band friendly".
I'm pretty good about putting all of my food into MyFitnessPal. It's amazing how quickly daily calories add up, and the program keeps me on track; not only with calories, but with my daily protein intake. I keep that to a minimum of 60 grams, up to about 85 (sometimes more, depending on the day).
A suggestion for evenings.... My doctor is completely against eating anything at night. I understand why, but it's not realistic for me. I'm going to eat a snack at night, whether I'm hungry or not. It's just not something I'm going to give up......like a baby that needs that last bottle before bedtime
My suggestion is, when logging your calories for the day, make sure to leave a little bit for night time. Allow yourself that one thing, but don't eat it too early after dinner. Make yourself wait, so when you're done, you're not that far from bedtime. For me, that can be some Greek yogurt or an Atkins bar (one of the 130 calorie ones......tastes just like a Snickers). Some small, under 180 calorie snack. That way I don't feel deprived, and that need for my "last bottle" has been satisfied - LOL! I've been able to alter SO many things since being banded, but the evening snack isn't one of them. And I'm okay with it, even though it's against "doctor's orders". My calories are in check, and so am I
Another idea - though I haven't done it yet, is to make ground meat meals in muffin tins. My friend is hooked on them, and I've read some on here as well. Another way to make a few measured meals at one time, that lasts a few days.

I will get on myfitnespal right now! Thanks everyone. I need to fight my head hunger and hopefully being more in control of counting my calories will help. Here's hoping.

Thank you! A lot of it is head hunger and it's at night. I want to eat when I'm stressed, unhappy, etc.. I can keep busy during the day but not at night. Can you believe that we don't have a bathtub in our home?? Three bathrooms and not one bathtub!
Can you share any of your dense Protein recipes?

I can relate ~ my husband is Military also....I would ditch the boxed meals and track your food on something like myfitnesspal, make sure you get at least 60 gms of Protein and drink a lot of water...if you aren't exercising start out by walking. But don't give up, you can do it....Best Wishes

It's good that you're making higher Protein choices. My suggestion is, to stay away from the frozen boxed foods, and make a dense Protein pot of something that you can eat for a few days (if cooking for one is an issue). The frozen meals (unless they're specifically low carb....like Atkins), tend to leave you wanting more. Dense protein will quell cravings, and keep you satisfied for longer.
If the issue is head hunger, or eating out of boredom, loneliness (missing/worrying about your husband)......anything OTHER than physical hunger, then you will have to find something to take yourself out of that space. Get out of the house and go for a walk. Run errands.....even if you don't feel like it. Take a long hot bath. You have to find the thing that works for you. We can suggest how to deal with part of this, but head hunger is a whole other thing; it's the curse that haunts us and has gotten us to this point.
BeeKipp - try & focus on your journey so far. Think about all of the time and effort put into bringing you to the lower weight you are today. Do you really want to sabotage ALL of that? I know that this is the most difficult thing that many of us face every day. We can go through long periods where we're really on track, and have everything under control. Then SOMEthing shakes our foundation, and the first thing we want to run to, is food. The best suggestion I can give for sitting & wanting to eat for any other reason that true hunger, is to find something else to occupy your mind. For me, walking in a beautiful place helps, or a nice long bath.
Good luck.....you CAN do this!!!

Congrats that is awesome!

I know exactly how you feel! I was so anxious than finally got the call and I was approved rite away but I was only approved during a certain time frame so even after approval I had to wait a month for surgery. Mine was 2 weeks ago...but anyways Congrats & I wish you luck on your journey!

Well, for the last three weeks, I've been very upset because the scale hasn't been moving, but all of a sudden (this week) since Monday, I have lost 2 pounds. Finally, some results! Yippee! BTW I was banded on June 28th. Total loss now = 22 pounds.

Awesome! thats a big change. mine are gettin big too....i have no idea when im gonna start gettin different clothes. I don't have as big of change as you do tho. but hey go get you a new outfit....reward yourself u earned it!

I know exactly how you feel! I got banded on the 25th I've lost 14lbs since surgery and that was last weeks weigh in. I think we expect to loose the weight too quickly. The reason we lost in the beginning is because of the stomach being swollen. I myself don't have any Fluid yet my 1st fill is on Aug.6th. Also something that may help you feel a lil better is try measuring yourself I took my measurements. I may not be seeing a change in my weight rite now but i'm seeing a change with my measurements 4inches gone around my waist and I can visibly see the change in my arms and legs. Everything is gonna work out and be okay! Wishing you much success on your goal!

Awesome! thats a big change. mine are gettin big too....i have no idea when im gonna start gettin different clothes. I don't have as big of change as you do tho. but hey go get you a new outfit....reward yourself u earned it!

I am noticing my pants are getting loose. I am wondering how often did everyone wait before they started buying new clothes? I dont know if i should buy a couple new pants and shirts just so i wont look like i am drowning in my clothes or just wait for more weight to fall off. I am now down from a 36/38 to a 30/32 in pants.

I was banded on July 3 and this is the first true day that I have felt normal. At times the pain was so bad that I wished I could take back having the surgery. So the pain will go away, it is totally normal.