Fit4Me

Congrats! Keep it up!

I use It Works! Its Vital Pack which include:It’s Vital^™ Minerals:• Sea algae-derived Aquamin® premium mineral blend with over 74 trace minerals• Support for healthy bones and teeth with 250% the RDA of Vitamin D• Maximum Calcium absorption with Vitamins K₁ and K₂ (MK-7), ensuring calcium stays in bones to help minimize arterial calcification• Keep your heart strong with Vitamin K₂ support for cardiovascular healthIt’s Vital^™ Omega-3:• Triple strength fish oil-derived DHA and EPA fatty acids to help maintain and support healthy cholesterol levels• Natural rosemary-based antioxidants to fight free radicals and support health cell growth• Support for healthy joint movement and for the body’s response to minor inflammation• Lemon-flavored softgel that’s easy to swallowIt’s Vital^™ Core Nutrition:• Gluten-free, plant-based, whole food complex• Patented controlled-release technology for sustained nourishment throughout the day• Mind/body energy blend to stay energized and sharp mentally and physically• Improved metabolic support to boost your body’s ability to burn caloriesIt Works! Greens which equal to 8 servings of fruit and veggies, detoxify, alkalize and promote pH balance filled with 38 herbs and nutrient-rich superfoods. Not to mention they are delicious!Website: www.showstopperwraps.myitworks.com/shop

It Works Protein is delicious and all natural, gluten free, no sugar added, low calorie and has 14grams of protein per scoop. Let me know if you would like any more information.

https://showstopperwraps.myitworks.com/Shop/Product/496

I prefer almond butter over Peanut Butter because it is a healthier nut. I usually only eat almond butter as a snack with crackers, on fruit, or in my Protein shakes. 1-2 spoon fulls are more than enough for daily intake.

Almond butter is way more expensive, but investing in our health is important. I purchase my almond butter from the organic store for about $8.99. It lasts forever!

Here are some fun facts. Which ever you decide, make sure it is all natural unsalted.

GOOD FATS Monounsaturated fat Polyunsaturated fat

• Olive oil
  
• Canola oil
  
• Sunflower oil
  
• Peanut oil
  
• Sesame oil
  
• Avocados
  
• Olives
  
• Nuts (almonds, peanuts, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, pecans, cashews)
  
• Peanut butter
  
  

• Soybean oil
  
• Corn oil
  
• Safflower oil
  
• Walnuts
  
• Sunflower, sesame, and pumpkin seeds
  Flaxseed
  
• Fatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring, trout, sardines)
  
• Soymilk
  
• Tofu
  
  

I love salads. It took a long time before I could really enjoy a salad but now I eat them almost daily. The trick I use to be able to enjoy a salad is ripping/cutting the lettuce into shreds. I rip it to little pieces and make sure I have enough dressing on it. I add eggs, cucumber, Beans, broccoli and so many other veggies so I'm not eating all lettuce. The more heavy veggies kind of help push the lettuce down. If that makes sense?

Also, another trick is that salads are not my first meal of the day since the first meal is usually the hardest for me.

When you feel full, your body will definitely know it. The fullness feeling is no longer on the lower part of your belly. That old feeling of laying on the couch with your pant button unbutton and your stomach hanging out. Now, is more of a satisfied feeling before you are even done eating or a pain on the top of your stomach where the band is. When I was first getting used to eating and felt like I was having a "good" day by being able to eat more, I would get a sharp pain around my band and feels like a square passing through a circle and I would much rather stand up than sit down. But once it passes, it feels like a ballon popped and you can relax. But it doesnt mean to stuff yourself again!

I'm sorry to hear you are having complications. I've been banded 4 years and I have good days and bad days. I have to admit it took me years to finally understand the way my band works. There were days I wanted my band tight to lose more weight and days I wanted to take my band off so I can pig out on some food. But that the old me!!

We cant depend on the lap band to work magic! Although I know the old bands had a lot more complications, before we ALL had surgery, we were explained the pros and cons and still decided the risk was greater if we did not decide to have surgery. I know no one really knew what to expect post op, and how our lives would really change for the better. We all have been discouraged, experience pain, and discomfort. But, all gastric procedures are the same. They all have cons and we experience them at some point, some worse than others.

To say you were getting sick when in the sweet spot must mean you never really were. To say you weigh the same as the day you had surgery, I'm sorry, but thats YOUR own fault. After 9 years, you should be at a different state of mind and not let the food control you or depend on the band to work miracles. We all knew that with the band, it is a much slower weight lose than other procedures and its reversable. Which are the 2 reasons I choice the band. I only loss 50lbs my first year but each person is different. I also did not weigh as much as others weighing 250lbs. Its been 4 years and I'm down to 150 and I've worked my ass off for it. I havent had a fill in 2 years and nowhere near gaining my weight back.

Deciding to have any bariatric surgery is a life commitment to yourself and none of them will work if you do not put in time and effort to change you old routines that got you to the point where we needed surgery to lose weight. I dont love my band at times, but I love what I have accomplished with my band. And I've learned and listened to my body when my stomach acts up and have learned to not repeat the same mistakes.

Good luck on your sleeve. Just know that we all can gain our weight back and more with any procedure if we choose to not change our lifestyles.

Hiccups and burps are a sign I need to slow down or stop eating. After you start eating and have been with the band a while, you will realize how helpful burps are. At first, when I eat too much and felt I was going to be sick, I would just let it come up. But now that I know my stomach, I can burp and burp and somehow the food passes just fine. My BF already knows the signs too...lol

I can only drink warm liquids in the morning and then move onto something soft before lunch. I do not have a problem eating after 8pm, unless I took a nap. lol

I sent you both a private message.

I was banded 4 years ago too and I know how you feel. I have never gained more than 6-8lbs but its easy to lose focus. Remember that this is our life commitment to ourselves. We took control of our life the day we had surgery.

Having a great support system is the best! My family and friends are so supportive and I could not have made it as far as I have without them. We are here for you, because we've needed a friend at times too.

I have created a 90 day challenge for me and my friends if you would like to join us. We start Aug 5th, and I'm still finishing some last touches to the meal plan and the exercise plan.

Email me if you are interested and I will let you know what to do. Don't worry, its a private group.

I too skip Breakfast. I just drink Decaf coffee until lunch.

Thats pretty much my life too. Sucks for me because breakfast was my favorite meal of the day.

I never eat when I first get up.. I get up about 6 am.. don't know why just habit.. drink coffee til about 8 , make the beds and then maybe fix breakfast about 8:30 or 9 ... I am tighter in the morning and was stuck this morning,, made mushroom, egg and cheese omelet..I don' think my band likes mushrooms.. but I stopped eating and did fine.. I sometimes just eat some greek yogurt in the morning if I need to go somewhere early....

I love greek yogurt but even that takes a while to pass if I eat it too soon.

So after 4 years, I still cannot not eat Breakfast when I get up. I usually have to wait a couple of hours and have coffee hours before. For some reason, drinking something warm in the morning sets my stomach to be able to eat a couple hours later.

I have never (since 2009) been able to wake up and meet friends for Breakfast and enjoy my food. So its annoying to just order coffee. I try to trick my stomach by drinking coffee or tea as I get ready to meet up for breakfast, or wake up hours earlier but its now to the point where I just rather meet up for lunch.

After a couple of hours in the morning, I can eat whatever. I get to work at 6:30am but dont eat until 9am. For some reason, I also think my stomach prefers room temp food.< /p>

Anyone else have this problem? Any one elses stomach as weird as mine?

You're lucky...my band will not tolerate boiled eggs. Epic fail!

eggs are tricky for me too. I can eat eggs any way one day, and then can't the next. Its annoying! lol

By the way I live in Maryland. Have a nice family reunion.

I love my simply organic website. I have been eating clean for 2 years and banded for 4 years. I gave up meat, and eat as organic as possible. Or at least as much as my budget allows. I am not vegan but gave up milk and meat for my health. I look at the ingredients for everything to make sure it is as healthy as possible. Eating clean and healthy gave me an amazing about of energy along with my ALL NATURAL supplements I use. Not to be gross, but by eating healthy, I can even tell in my bowel movements-TMI.

http://www.simplyorganic.com/store.php?Screen=recipes

Here is my website of the supplements I've been using for years and love.

https://showstopperwraps.myitworks.com/Shop/Category/192

I was drinking Protein Shakes the next day too and still live on my Protein shakes. Protein and Vitamins are two items we learn to live with. But I love my protein shakes!!

I also take Greens which are 8 servings of fruit & veggies a day as a supplement. You will realize that we need supplements since we do not get all the nutrients from food anymore. The first 6 months was the roughest for me trying to figure out what I can and cannot eat. For my "bad" days where I could not eat much, protein shakes saved my life.

I pretty much gave up meat because of health issues and because it was so hard for me to eat; especially red meat. Now, I just eat seafood & veggies.

Meals in the crockpot or casseroles were pretty good since its usually saucy.

Since you were just banded in April, I'm sure you are scared to venture out to some old foods like I was. Especially, since reheated food bothered me for a long time. Good snack/lunches for me were:

• cheese sticks
  
• yogurt
  
• soups
  
• applesauce
  
• chicken salad
  
• frozen lean cuisines in sauce
  
• sweet potato, mashed potatoes
  
• tilapia
  
• smoothies/protein shakes
  

Pretty much anything soft and not too dry was ok for the first year (for me).

Thanks for your input. My major reason for getting healthy is for my two kids and so we can add to our family with me being healthy. Can anyone chew like normal with the band unfilled or do you still have tp chew, chew,chew?

*FentonMama*

I still have to chew chew chew, especially when eating breads, eggs, or any of the food they warn us about. Chewing is a way of life now and when I dont chew properly (even after 4 years), the food comes up. I've learned my body/stomach now, so I can tell when I dont feel good. The burps are a way of life too...lol

No more lady like...lol

Yeah! I noticed a lot of Water helps too. But it is funny because that the first thing I thought that my pee smelled like Cheerios...lol

I havent had a fill in almost 2 years and I eat everything. Some foods I still have trouble, mostly when I eat too fast, but for the most part I eat what I want. You will learn to live with your band and not depend on it anymore.

Its funny you say that because I do notice that too. I actually had to think about what I ate the day I first smelled it. It might be from your Vitamins. I take a mulitvitamin and drink "Greens" (supplement of 8 servings of fruit & veggies) and I think it might be all my supplements. Ask your doctor, but I think its normal.

I have been working out since the day my doctor gave me the ok in 2009. The one exercise that irritates my band, is crunches/sit-ups. I recommend planks and leg lights for core strengthening.