Paula F

I don't know what your problem is. I was sincerely trying to help, not scold you. I asked some legitimate questions. I know you know yourself, but a lot of things change after surgery. One of those things is the feedback you get from your digestive system over things like hunger, acid reflux and satiety. Good luck.

- you are eating too fast
- you put too much food in your mouth at once
- you are not chewing your food well enough
- you need to slow down between bites, put your fork down
- puree your chicken first, it will be easier to eat
- WTF pretzels? really?

The Greek yogurt that Aligayle suggested is also loaded with probiotic cultures - baskillions of them which are very good for our digestive health. Keeping things moving along and healthy is important!
I know that when my losses slow -which they have recently I look at basics - LilDiva's bootcamp plan works wonders - really up the Protein, the Water, take ALL Vitamins (I have been known to be selective if I am really over the flavor of a particular chewable - i am at the point that I am transistioning to more capsule forms though which helps) make sure you get all of your Calcium, move your body.
Just getting my 64 oz or trying to hit 128 will make me drop weight like crazy.

I eat 5-6 small meals a day. Normally I have 2 ounces of solid Protein at a meal. Occassionally 3 ounces. So it is not snacking but an actual planned meal every 3 hours. I am just over 7 weeks out.

Hi everybody!! I haven't been on in awhile. Life kind of takes over!! I was sleeved in January 2011 . Starting weight 304. Current weight 153. It pains me to see my old pics but it is a great reminder!! The sleeve is an awesome tool. I have maintained my current weight since January of this yr. I'd still like to lose more but for now I am happy with where I am at.

There were 2 major factors in determining my goal weight.
1. When I was my healthiest I wast 155lbs. This was my walking around weight when I was very active & wrestling.
2. More coincidentally 155 also is 25.0BMI for me this is the highest weight in the normal category.
I am 5'6" normal ranges from 112-155.

After almost two months of bouncing between 161 - 163 I finally made it to 159. I'm.so close to my 145 goal I can almost taste it. My ultimate goal is 140 to give myself some wiggle room. I'm a slow loser so evey lb. has been a struggle. I had to start exercising 2 hrs a day to get the scale moving again. I know I will start bouncing between 159-161 before I lose again because that's my pattern but I happy to see 150's. Hopefully it won't be to long before I see the 140's. Then the real struggle will begin. Learning how to maintain which I never been able to do for more than 5 mins before.

I should follow up my post with saying that I still get my Protein in, minimum of 65-75 grams per day, so after that is when I may fit in that special something that I just have a craving for but can't really eat much of. Getting in your Protein will prevent you from wanting the junk food. Just dont substitute that pan of brownies in instead of that chicken breast! That is not what my point was and dont think neilsleeve was getting at that either. Point is eat right but dont be afraid to treat yourself in moderation if you can tolerate it.
One of my favorite junk foods is ice cream but over the past 2 weeks, I discovered I can't tolerate it and was sick for a few hours the 2 times I tried it. Tried it once and felt bad, tried it again just to verify it was the ice cream and not something else...sure enough, same results even in moderation. I guess I will hang up the ice cream indulgence for now. Boooooooooooo!

i know doxie, what a dork!
and Katie, heres the best part of this complication. I have lost NO weight since my pre surgery loss of ten lbs. If fifty pounds does not fall off of me by wednesday (my next doc appt) heads will roll!

I took my baggy spanks and hemmed the sides with a zig-zag stitch .5cm x .5cm...saved about 300$ that way!

I was just responding to another poster, 3 months out and starting to slip a bit, trying to give good sound advice...and this was the next thread up and I appreciate hearing all that you have posted, especially since many have met goal or are very close, because in truth, getting there takes time and I think we all struggle with head hunger and making the wrong choices at times, but I really saw wisdom in your posts.
I really do see this as a lifestyle change and am so happy to have the restriction to help me with Portion Control. I know that prior to surgery I was a volume eater, and it would take me a lot to get full, and my world was filled with cravings.
Keeping the cravings at bay is work for me, but I am able to for the most part stay away from the worst of the evils, I don't even buy crackers anymore because they became my favorite slider food and they would call out to me from the kitchen, anyway I was starting to consume too many calories and could never eat enough of them. So I switched over to black olives and string cheese as my little go to snack.< /p>
I loved the Jerky idea as an appetizer of sorts, but to just keep that hunger in check and take the edge off. Evenings are harder for me, and I do keep low cal frozen Desserts in the freezer when I need a sweet and account for calories on myfitnesspal.
I am losing slowly but steadily, and at 5 months out, I know I have a ways to go, and I am embracing this new life and no longer dream of passing thru In-N-Out for a double-double with fries and a coke. If I have a burger craving, a patty with cheese and pickles does the trick, and if I really want the traditional burger fix, I make a little slider with a small whole wheat dinner roll, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickes and low fat mayo. It is the tiniest thing, but fills me up and satisfies the craving.
You are all a great support!

I am just over 9 months and have definately noticed the "desire to eat" returned sometime over the last few months. According to everything I have read, that sort of challenge happens to many people. The hard cold truth about weight loss surgery - everybody says "it is just a tool" and this is exactly what they mean. It does not permanently assure weight loss or even maintenance. So, I asked someone the same question - why bother then? The answer was this... the tool gives you a chance to catch yourself, get yourself back on track before you have gained a bunch of weight. It keeps you from rebounding UP so quickly. But the key is YOU still have to make that happen. Sucks, but at least I found that out before surgery. (I was a conversion from the lapband so of course i wanted to be sure this actually works over the long term!)
In truth, you probably can't eat what you used to (volume at once) but it is easy to slide into eating too much.
I talked to the dietician about my returning hunger and her main message was to keep portions small. That way, you don't get used to eating large amounts and you can keep a bit more of the restriction.
I personally found that going back to basics:
-8-10 glasses of fluids - check
-60+Grams of Protein everyday - check
-eat Protein first, followed by veggies - check
-limited fruit and whole grains - healthy carbs - check
-follow Vitamin regimen - check
Once I did all that, I felt that my desire to eat began to diminish. When I am hungry before i think I should be, I make myself consume about 16 ounces of Water and that always delays and reduces my eating.
One of my challenges is staying away from the junk food that the rest of the family brings home. Simple carbs (white bread, Cookies, crackers etc) trigger my hunger big time.

I've been dying to eat refried Beans with melted cheese (after reading posts). Not all that cracked up to be but it's substance. Funny- I made half cup of Beans with 1/4 cup cheese. Need my Protein because I refuse to eat any more whey Protein powders after this nasty rash.
So at my follow up I'm still 14 pounds down all done in the first week - none in second. I'm ok with that. I feel like I've learned so much from these posts and my own research that I kinda know why and what to expect. So thank you veterans of VSG!!!
Ummmm - oh they found a bunch of cysts on my ovaries and apparently also a nodule which was biopsied and it did come back abnormal. Oh oh. Gotta see a Gynochologist. I don't have one. Well I do now after her recommendation. Again- not really worried.
Thank you all VSG-ers. This has been a wonderful journey. I had some very very minor bumps. I'm doing splendid. They were shocked today that when they pushed on my belly it want tender at all. They also took my staples out. I spazzed over that and they knew I would becuse I'm a freak. I didn't feel a thing! Hahahahahahahahahha. I crack myself up sometimes.
Ok- on to finish what I can of these beans and then I must wait 30 minutes to drink. That will take some getting used to.
2 more weeks off of work. Love my doctor! She has been so wonderful!

Here is a great recipe for a side dish (or main dish if you are on smooth or mushy stage). It is very tasty and something different. i got it from my Weight Loss Surgery Cookbook for Dummies.
2 cups canned sweet potatoes, drained (I used one 14.5 oz. can)
1 egg
1 TBSP brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup fat free or reduced fat cream cheese
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground cloves
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Spray baking dish with cooking spray. (Said to use 8 x 8 dish but this only yields four servings of 1/2 cup each, so I just used a small round ceramic baking dish from Home Goods).
Place all ingredients in to a food processor and puree until well mixed. Pour the mixture into dish and bake for 20 minutes.
YUMMY!

Verdict is in! Absolutely delicious! I ate half of one, my 18 month old daughter polished off a whole one and my extremely picky husband devoured them, and he can't wait for me to make them again. I highly recommend this recipe!

Made these for dinner tonight- 1 was more than enough for me (plus salad). The other adults in my family each ate 2. We all voted this is a definite do again!!!! Portion controlled.
Lasagna Cupcakes
2 cup marinara sauce (I just used 1 jar)
3/4 pound ground beef or turkey
24 wonton wrappers
8 ounces shredded mozzarella
3 ounces Parmesan cheese
4 ounces Ricotta cheese
(optional) basil for garnish
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray muffin tin (12) with cooking spray.
Brown beef and season with salt and pepper. Drain. Add sauce. Mix.
Begin with a wonton wrapper and press it into the bottom of each muffin tin.
Spread with a small spoonful of Ricotta cheese.
Top with a little meat sauce then some parmesan and mozzarella.
Use around 2 teaspoons of all the ingredients depending on your personal preference.
Repeat layers ending with cheese.
Bake for 18-20 minutes or until edges are brown. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. To remove use a knife to loosen the edges then pop each lasagna out. Garnish with basil (if desired) and serve.

IlyssaDel,
I saw the recipe and I decided to do it. It very good and it taste like lasagna.
Shelly's Baked Ricotta
8 oz of Ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1 large Egg, beaten
1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
salt & pepper to taste
1/2 cup Marinara Sauce
1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
Mix ricotta cheese, parmesan, beaten egg, seasonings together and place in a oven proof dish. Pour marinara on top and top with mozzarella cheese. Bake it in the oven @ 450 for about 20-25 minutes (best) or nuke it till hot and bubbly. I usually made it first in the oven and heated the leftovers in the microwave

Is look's yummy!!!!!!!!

shredded parmesan. Can't stand the fat free and I'm more worried about carbs than fat as long as I stay under 30 grams of fat for the day. If I go a little over on fat I don't worry. Carbs I have to keep low or weight loss slows. Good thing about cheese, no?

Good morning everyone,
My surgery is Monday (9/17) morning and I am the 1st case. I have to be at the hospital at 5:30. So today and tomorrow will be busy getting things together for me, my hubby, and our girls. In the mist of it all throwing a Birthday party for my daughter that is turning 10 tomorrow.
I am just so excited that this day has arrived. I can say that I have an out pour of support from the co-workers that do know and that is a good feeling expecially when you work with them 8 hours out of the day. So I am blessed to have good understanding co-workers.
Stay sweet

Hi Everyone,
I'm new to this site. I had the Gastric Band placed on 5-23-2011. When I started my pre-op diet I was 415 pounds. On 5-1-2012 less than a year after surgery I weight 287. That was a loss of 128 pounds. I was so happy with my band and followed all the instructions and was very successful. Unfortunately on 5-1-2012 my band slipped, blocking my ability to eat or drink anything. It had to be removed. I thought I could do it on my own...but I can't. I gained about 25-30 pounds and have been hovering between 310 and 320 for the last few months. I finally met with my surgeon and we are going to do the Gastric Sleeve. I was very active on LapBandTalk until my band slipped. I hope to be involved here as well. I am still learning a lot and look forward to being part of this community.
All the Best...
-Jeannette

I know there is an October group here somewhere but I thought I would start this off by introducing ourselves!
I'm 25 years old and from British Columbia, Canada. My surgery is set for October 2. My pre op ensure shake diet starts September 2 but I have started a week early for a head start I am
A nurse by profession and engaged but no kids. With my history of PCOS kids will come after I drop the weight. Starting weight: 280lbs Current Weight: 275 and losing everyday!!

I found Premier Protein - 30 G of Protein and low carb - at costco. I am still preop, but find it edible.