kassy07

Ground chicken or Ground Turkey- You can make burgers, chili's, Soups, meatballs, meatloaf, taco's, lettuce wraps. You can make "spaghetti" by roasting spaghetti squash and making a meat sauce or meatballs with the ground chicen or turkey.
chicken breast are ususally on sale every week. Buy the family pack, divide into 4oz servings either cook at once or freeze indiv. You can do sooooo many things with chicken breasts. Throw some in a crockpot (even frozen) with some taco seasoning, a jar or salsa, black Beans, cilantro, lime juice, or whatever you lke, put it on before you go to work come home shred it and have a taco salad or a tacos.
Omelets- Cook some low sod. bacon or turkey bacon add in some fresh spiniach, mushrooms and onions. Top with a little cheese and some plain non-fat greek yogurt and/or salsa
Or you could do mini egg muffins with the same ingred, as above put them in a (12) muffin pan and bake for 20-30 min at 350. These are the perfect make a head Breakfast. Grab, warm, eat:-)
Deli Meat- Turkey or Chicken rolled up in Romaine lettuce leaves and a slice of cheese with some mustard or lite mayo, or Okios greek yogurt dip
For Snacks,
Dannon Light Greek Yogurt- 100 cal 13g Protein
1-2oz of cheese
depending on my calorie intake and Protein for the day I may add in a Quest Protein Bar, approx 180 cal and 20g p
cottage cheese with tomatoes
cucumbers soaked in apple cider vinegar with onions....summer thing:-)
Raw cauliflower with Okios Greek Yogurt Dip
60 cal. sugar fee pudding cup

I was banded in december so I can eat anything really lol I am weaning off of Protein Shakes because they dont keep me full. the doctor wants me to eat solids to keep myself satisfied!

Hunger is all over the map that early on. I didn't have much hunger for several weeks postop on full liquids unless I snacked on a pudding or something between liquid meals. That would arouse my appetite. Enjoy it now because hunger will return eventually. Then you'll get band adjustments and have months of adjusting. I do best when I don't snack and when I eat few if any carbs. I'm ten weeks postop. Good luck and keep us posted! Also don't worry about calorie intake this soon. Protein first and hydrate. Some days I had 500 calories that early. Later you'll want more. But at 6 weeks out I was told 800. I average about 900 now except that I'm on vacation so it's higher right now.

Take a deeep breath:-) You're doing fantastic!! 40lbs. in 5 months is amazing! My doctor always told me that an average 6-8lbs monthly loss was amazing! It's been 5 months since your surgery which means you're averaging an 8lb loss every month which is the highest end of the average.
This is all just my opinion but when I read your post, I almost feel like you're trying to prepare yourself for failure so that you wouldn't experience disappointment. Trust me, been there done that, but like you said this is a lifestyle change, not a diet where you do anything and everything to dump as much as you can as fast as you can. Everyone loses at a different rate, and your weight loss rate is great. I'm not sure but are you worrying so much about weight and food that you're dealing with head hunger vs. real hunger and are unable to tell the difference? If you're stressing out alot about it, that will also give you a hungry feeling, so try and relax and listen to your band, not your head:-)
Just because the scale isn't moving doesn't mean you're not losing weight, if your clothes are fitting better than you're losing inches vs. lbs. Your body goes through these cycles of lbs lost vs inches lost to keep up with itself so what seems to be a stall on the scale is acutally your body catching up and sheading inches, which to me is a hell of alot more important than the # on the scale!
Don't get down on yourself, you're not a failure. If you stay the course and communicate properly with your doctor, follow his or her instructions to the T, eat as healthy and as clean as you can, exercise and get your Protein and Water in, YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT. There really isn't another option. Yes, there will be times when the scale stalls but during those times look for as many non-scale victories (NSV) as you can to keep yourself positive and motivated!!
You're going to be just fine!!

@@kassy07 I'm not sure if I'm the best at motivating people on here, but it sounds like you need to take a step back and remind yourself why you got WLS to begin with. Also, your weight loss is good and you should be proud of what you've accomplished this far. We all knew or should have known that this process would not be easy. We all have/had to face our challenges with food. After all, the band is there to help us it doesn't cure us. This is the time when you have to dig deep because only you can WANT this for yourself...and let me just say you deserve it.
If your surgical center does not offer support groups see what you can find on Facebook. You can also check out the mentors section on this site to see if there is someone you can connect with and have some accountability to. When I feel down I read through some of the success stories on here or listen to my favorite music. Exercise even helps tremendously to keep my eye on the prize. Your self sabotaging by going for sliders. Don't keep them in the house if you can help it. Have faith that you'll get to the green and teach your mind to listen to your band...not just your head. Ask yourself if you're truly hungry or are you bored, lonely, depressed, anxious. I used to be an emotional eater. I still struggle, it's not always easy, but I want to be a thinner and healthier me more than I want to eat crap food.< /p>
You've got this! Don't give up on YOU!

You're diet consists of mainly slider foods you know? You're not using your tool if this is what you eat. A consult with your nutritionist might help you out?

Some days are harder than others but you can get through this...
Look how far you have come…you have had a great weight loss and stalls/plateaus whatever you want to call them are going to happen at times…especially when you arent making the best food choices.
I know for myself, in the past, when I hit a bump in the dieting road I would have gained weight back….you said you have at least held your own…that is an accomplishment all by itself. Would the pre-WLS you gained weight in a situation like that?
As for making poor food choices, I understand. I had surgery in september and some days I get a little complacent…lets see how far I can "push" things. Noone is perfect…each day begins anew for a reason. Just take one day at a time and do not beat yourself up for the past. It is over with and cannot be changed but you can focus on the here and now and make the best decisions you can.
As for the Protein shakes…I know my nutritionist says to get rid of those, I know many people use them, I do not. I eat all solid foods and it hold me so much longer. If you are exercising that much more maybe you need to up your Protein a little more…could that be why your hunger is worse. It sounds like you are still trying to find the green zone…..I hear it takes time…and patience. You can do it.
Look how far you have come…I always say to myself…"go ahead and go back to old ways….see where that will get you….how happy will you be then?". I hung a before and after pic on the kitchen refrigerator and in the bathroom….sometimes I just need to see it and remind myself how far I've truly come.
Hope that helps you in some way…keep us posted…good luck!

I feel ya sister. I have gone back to eating foods that are pre-labeled with calorie counts on them. Yogurt, healthy choice, sugar free pudding and jellos, yogurt, I make a vegetable Soup that I eat for lunch. All fresh veggies with Taco mix seasoning. It is so hard I have stalled with my weight loss but don't really know if I need another fill. I go tomorrow for an appointment lets see what the Doc has to say. Good luck to you.

Can I make them give me more?

I feel like they just want my money, I have to pay a 40 dollar copay every visit. So by the time I'm up to 4 ccs I'd have paid 120 dollars. It's ridiculous. And what happens when my flex spending runs out? I won't be able to afford it and then I'll really be screwed.

Focus on Protein like Mikee said. I always have a baggie of mesquite smoked turkey in the fridge to take the edge off. There's this new cream cheese with extra Protein in it that you can lather up the turkey or even some deli ham and that's a good snack that sticks with you.
I feel your pain too. I was banded 11/28/2011 and I was in Bandster hell for 4 months. Right where you are. But my doctor was much more aggressive. It pisses me off that some of these docs drag this out. I understand the reasoning for taking 2-4 fills to find some restriction but your doc's one of those who is overly cautious..
It's tough, but you might have to get assertive with your doc and tell him you aint waitin no longer. Let's launch this rocket now!!

i too wonder if the dr. isn't financially motivated. ;33 doesnt seem like much of diddley squat!

I was told the same thing, they want me at 100 grams of Protein a day but at 1100 calories a day, it is so hard and Protein Shakes just arent cutting it. I guess I am just being impatient and I just really need to work on going out and exercising more. I get discouraged and my first coping skill to do is to eat bad things.

I was told that I needed more Protein, was told to eat one of those Pure Protein Bars...until I could get my hunger under control. but I also get up and move around a lot more now that I feel a little better...try just walking around your house a few times!!! outside if weather permit's okay? best wishes kassy07, you'll do fine!!! My 1st fill was 2 cc's and 2nd fill was another 1 cc, so I am at 3 cc's as well...I go for my next one May 8th!!! So hang in there just don't give up...learn to eat slowly, small bites and chew chew chew...that is what is helping me.

So I had my surgery December, 18th 2013. I have a 10 cc band and I have been into the doctor and have gotten 6 fills. I am currently only up to 3 cc in my band. now I guess that they are moving me to .33 fills which means ill have to go in 3 more times just to get up to 4 cc's in my band. I guess my point is that I am frustrated with how long I have been in the yellow zone. I was 387 at the beginning of my journey and now I am down to 332. I have lost weight and it has helped me not be as hungry. The worse thing I noticed is that I am hungry withen like an hour of me eating. What do you guys suggest I do to keep my mind off of being hungry all the time.

So I had my surgery December, 18th 2013. I have a 10 cc band and I have been into the doctor and have gotten 6 fills. I am currently only up to 3 cc in my band. now I guess that they are moving me to .33 fills which means ill have to go in 3 more times just to get up to 4 cc's in my band. I guess my point is that I am frustrated with how long I have been in the yellow zone. I was 387 at the beginning of my journey and now I am down to 332. I have lost weight and it has helped me not be as hungry. The worse thing I noticed is that I am hungry withen like an hour of me eating. What do you guys suggest I do to keep my mind off of being hungry all the time.

B-52 thank you so much for sharing this with us. My learning curve is one REALLY big curve. I am realistic, I know my years for unhealthy eating habits is not going to change overnight but you have really given me hope. I know that once the band gets adjusted my relationship with food will drastically change but until then I am a work in progress.

Most surgeons don't put much saline in the band at surgery time. You'll most likely need several fills before you feel any restriction or satiety. Some people feel it immediately but only maybe 1 in 20?
tmf

This year will be reflection on my long journey, I've had many ups and downs, weight loss surgery IS a journey. I will be 9 years post op this year, and this great little tool is still keeping my weight down.
I am still happy and healthy, I don't have to take a boat load of supplements, or kill myself exercising, just an hour walk daily on my treadmill or outdoors helps keep my weight down.
I started in a size 26, and my lowest size was a 8, I hover around a size 10/12 at 5'7 inches tall now, I don't have to kill myself at this size -- and still eat what I want, I am grateful to be healthy at 9 years post op and most importantly -- still wearing a size 10...

I was banded on 11/21/2013 I have lost a total of 21 lbs so far. At times I feel as of I'm not losing like I should be. I have 3cc's in my band now. I understand that everybody is different but is this normal for me to lose slowly?

So I am 30 days out from surgery, ive lost ten pounds and have 1cc in my 10 cc band. (my doctor has told me that I can only get 1 cc at a time...) I AM HUNGRY. ALL THE TIME. I use the Protein shakes, I eat greek yogurt, high Protein foods. any suggestions on how to get the hunger away? I have been exercising, which has helped but I have not gotten that "full" feeling. I know I am not in my green zone, and I know it will take some time. I am just frustrated with myself. I definately have restriction, I can't eat bread or Pasta without getting full really fast. I am still getting used to not drinking while eating, I have made that mistake a couple times, and I end up throwing up. I just need some words of advise I guess.

You need to start eating meat, eggs, veggies. Start with eggs and yes bacon for Breakfast, tuna or chicken salad for lunch, eat the yogurt for a snack, dinner eat some fish and veggies and then before bed some cottage cheese. Drinking shakes will not keep you full ever. That is why slim fast never worked for anyone. You need to eat solid foods to keep you full. If you eat a cup of tuna it will keep you full for a while.

Hang in there. I have had 3 fills and finally feel the restriction longer than a couple of days. Keep watching what you eat and try to eat what I call real food, like cooked veggies, deli turkey, etc. That helped to fill me up. And keep drinking Water. When I start to feel my stomach wanting food, I start drinking more Water. That helped to fill me up. Good luck to you!!

Sorry, my phone won't let me edit. I don't mean that Protein Shakes aren't doing you any good. I meant they aren't doing good at keeping you satisfied.

I agree with Terry. Protein Shakes aren't doing you any good. My surgeon specifically said to stop them and eat solid foods. Yogurt is even a slider too. Eat slower, chew your bites. It will take you longer to eat and you will become satisfied. You don't want to have a feeling of being full. Just the feeling of not hungry. Do a Protein Bar in place of the shake but watch the calories too. Best wishes!