Kell

I LOVE casseroles and make them often and freeze them in those 1/2 cup Glad containers...easy meals to heat up (for me and the kids!)!!! But you should see my freezer!! haha! My mom comes over for lunch and pulls out 2-3 of them to eat for her lunch! Our favorites--not really lowfat, but not too awful are these: Cheesy tater tot casserole. 1) Put 1 pound of hamburger or ground turkey (uncooked) spread out in a 9x13 pan. 2) Add 2 cans of veggies (drained). I usually just add green Beans as my kids love those the best--sometimes mixed veggies, depends what I have in the house! 3) Add 2 cans of cheddar cheese soup spread on top. 4) Top with tater tots 5) Bake at 350 for about an hour I think. The other is the chicken and stuffing one on the Stove Top box...I just throw it together now and add mixed veggies. (dressing, chicken, cream of mushroom, LF sour cream) I usually buy the cooked cut up chicken for convenience for it and usually have that in the freezer. Just got some Italian meatballs already cooked and frozen and put them in the crockpot with BBQ sauce. I put them in containers, usually 2 meatballs in a container with sauce and freeze them too. I like to get ahead on easy meals as I have little time to cook! I also have some LC and SBD meals in the freezer for if I really need something in a hurry...and they usually make 2 meals for me. I try to eat kinda "normal". :hungry: I definitely am sticking to it much better. I do get my Protein in first though and now have a terrific fill and can't eat much so am back on the wagon! I lost 80 lbs in my first year and now had been stuck...just lost 7 more and back to it. Hope these help some! Kell 87 lbs down and 40+ to go!! :clap2: Back exercising daily and back on my way....

Hi, I don't post on here often (no time!) but wanted to share because I am so happy! :clap2: I have a 10 cc band, did great and didn't get a fill for 4 months and then got 2 cc. Now about 5-6 weeks after that I got my second fill, another 1 cc. I finally know what restriction is!! I had no clue what to expect, just knew I wasn't quite there. It's so hard to explain, but when you feel it, you know it! I'm back on track and on my way....42 pounds gone and about 50 left to go! Thanks for listening! Kell

I love the SBD savory beef and broccoli with cheese one! I just got a different kind (the peanut chicken thing) and haven't tried it yet. I also like the WW smart ones chicken/veggie alfredo (no Pasta, just alfredo sauce)...and the Lean Cuisine cheesy chicken or honey dijon chicken. I love convenience foods! We got a list from our nutritionist with all the high Protein, no pasta/rice meals...now if I can just find it! haha! Kell

Lots of good ideas! :hungry: Lately I have been eating triscuit crackers with cheese melted on them, usually 4 at a time. So good! My nutritionist said they were good crackers for Fiber and would take longer to go through the band...and I love them! I also found those Nature Valley sweet and salty granola type bars...peanut and almond varieties. They are so good! I use them for the times I want to cheat (but not too awful)! I guess it replaces my candy bar cravings! Except chocolate...then I give in and have one Hershey kiss or something and not even feel guilty! Notice I said "one" and not the whole bag!! Makes a difference!! ETA--I forgot my favorite thing right now! Scrambled eggs with a little cheese mixed in and Oscar Meyer "real" bacon bits (not the hard ones). And the kids love it too! :mad: Yummy! Kell

I hear ya! No time to cook! I usually cook when I have time and make a casserole or two and freeze it in those Glad 1/2 cup containers. (Yesterday I did italian meatballs in BBQ sauce in the crockpot and then froze lots of them--but I love making casseroles with meat, veggies, etc) Then I can throw something in the fridge in the morning and then microwave it when it's time for dinner. This works for me though because I am a single mom, so that amount is good for all of us! :confused: Kell

Hey Marci! In my experience, the 2 cc fill did nothing. I still could eat what I was, which I felt was too much. I waited it out for a while though and was still stuck and not losing, so that is when I got the next fill, 1 cc. It made all the difference! I can finally feel those feelings....when I am full, etc. Before this last fill, I didn't quite get when others talked about having restriction...I just knew I wasn't there yet. Hopefully your next fill will be what you need! Good luck! :confused: Kell

Thanks! Except I have had food stick twice and one time I even had (my first!) PB. It wasn't so bad because the pain of the stuck food was way worse! In a strange way I was happy because I knew my band was working and now I understand what others were talking about! :Banane56: And I have lost 6 more pounds and am on my way! I do exercise 5-6 times a week too and I know that has really helped! Good luck to everyone! I am really happy I got the band and I love it!! Kell

YIKES!! I guess I won't try this with the kids! It's definitely not worth it... Kell

I had my first fill on Monday (2 cc in a 10 cc band) and am still doing liquids/mushies. I think this will be the kick to get me back into being careful about everything I eat! I am 3 months postop and this is my first fill. I have lost 30 pounds since surgery and had lost 14 before. My fill was really easy too, I was a little nervous after reading some stories here! When I stop losing again I will go back and my dr says he now will add 0.5 cc at a time. I am hoping for another good 3+ months at this. Good luck! Kell

Great idea! I think it sounds great for the kids to help put it all together and squish it in the bag! We'll have to try it!! Kell

Hi, I don't post much but have been trying to read when I have time, so thanks, I have learned a lot from you!! :biggrin1: I had my band on 2/14. I was told that when I stopped losing and was eating too much then I needed to go back for a fill. My surgeon said he had patients who go months without a fill and continue to lose. I think that is me. I have lost 17 pounds since surgery (plus 14 preop) and the past few weeks it has consistently been 1.5-2 pounds a week. I have lost inches, so I know my exercise is working! I do exercise daily and I usually make my meals anywhere from 1/2-1 cup, mostly eating lean proteins and veggies when I can. And it suits me fine so far! Does this sound normal? Anyone else go for a while without a fill? Thanks! Kell

Cute! I bet at 8 they get it. My twins are 3 1/2 and just know that my tummy owies are all better now and I can lift them again! When I got home from the hospital they wanted to count my band-aids...so we did that a lot! They are the best motivation! Every day I exercise and they tell when I am done that I did a great job! haha!! Kell

Being Easter time we had tons of hard-boiled eggs around, so I made egg salad (just with lite mayo and yellow mustard) and added tuna to it...not too bad! And lots of protein! :confused: I made up a few of the 1/2 cup serving sizes and it has been great to grab when I'm short on time. I love Chinese food and I found a meal to satisfy that craving. The South Beach savory beef and cheesy broccoli dinner. I can eat half of it and sometimes add some lite sour cream to the broccoli. It's yummy! Those are my favorites recently! Kell

I used these mashed potatoes (though they came from a box--4 cheese flavor is my favorite!) in my postop mushy stage with pureed ham in them. Yummy! I still eat them for a quick meal sometimes with cut up ham in them. In the pureed stage I used the ham that comes in small cans, like tuna. Easy to puree and makes a good meal with the potatoes! Kell

:hungry: I am single with 2 children and when I make a meal I usually try to have leftovers. Before I left them in the fridge because I just ate on them until they were gone. Now that I am banded I know meals will last a lot longer (and I want to cook some ahead to have easy choices accessible!). Do you freeze yours in freezer bags? Or those plastic containers? I want to freeze them in a serving size, so was thinking those 1 cup Ziploc or Glad containers. Has anyone used those to freeze in portions? I want it to be easy to go from freezer to micro if possible. Thanks! Kell

Penni60 :confused: I guess I didn't realize how the title sounded! :loco: LOL! Thanks...I love those Glad containers too and have been using the 1/2 cup ones all the time (and great for kids too!). Thanks for answering! :eek: Kell Banded 2/14/06

I was on antibiotics for a sinus infection before my surgery, my last dose was on a Sunday and my surgery was that Tues (Feb 14). The dr said it was fine. In fact, I even got to skip the antibiotic shot that they usually give before you go in for the surgery since I was just on them. Good luck! Kell

Hi Julie! I have a girl and a boy and they will be 4 in July. Twins are definitely an experience! But it's a blast and getting better as they get older!! Kell

I am about the same as you, started at 290 and after the preop diet and this week of fluids (I am 6 days post op) I am 268 as of this morning. I am a single mom of twins who are 3 and it was worth every penny! On my list of goals is to not be the "fat mom" and to take them to the Water parks when they are older and not be embarrassed to do those things! I kinda looked at it like it's for their future too, so I can be around without health problems. Not to mention I will be able to keep up better on bikes, soccer, etc, now. I am very happy with my decision...and am not even on "real" food yet!! :clap2: Kell

Please help! :help: I am 5 days post op and have had a bad cough for 3 days and went to the ER this morning to be checked for pneumonia. Good news is no pneumonia per chest x-ray and my lungs are clear. The ER doc said it was okay to take Tussin DM (otc medication) to help control the coughing. It's just viral and my kids have had it too but luckily they seem to be getting better. I have had some sugar free cough drops and have 1/3 of one at a time and it helps a little. I just hate coughing so hard because I am worried about my band! I am still on liquids and finally getting in enough. I have read a lot on here, but haven't really posted. I have learned so much here...thanks! Thanks in advance! Kell

I had my surgery on 2/14 also and luckily the gas pains are gone (had gassy diarrhea though-yuck). I have not been getting in enough Protein, but my nutritionist said to just push fluids so I don't get dehydrated first of all, then work on adding protein. Each day and as the swelling goes down it gets easier to drink more. I am still on liquids for another 8-9 days and then mushies. I have been getting in one Carnation Instant Breakfast low carb with 1% milk for a little protein, otherwise Water, juice and broth. I can't even think about thicker smoothies yet! I guess with time... I didn't take any of my liquid lortab after surgery and just took liquid tylenol the day after for a low grade fever. Good luck! Hope you start feeling better! :confused: Kell

Hello! I found this site through a friend a few days ago and have been lurking when I find time! I am seriously considering WLS and hoping that I can get the band. I will also be having a hysterectomy at the same time via open laparotomy. I am just starting to get this process started working with my primary provider. My gyn is all for it, saying both at the same time would work great, even may get part of the bypass paid inadvertantly (part of the hospital stay, etc). However, I am not betting on it. I am having a sleep study coming up to determine if I have sleep apnea. My dr thinks my insurance may pay if I do. (Unfortunately, I honestly don't think I do, but we'll see.) But I am prepared to self pay if necessary. In the meantime I am trying hard to lose weight on my own, but it is just not happening! A forever battle I guess. I look forward to reading more of your stories and learning from your experiences! Kell

I am a single mom with almost 3 year old twins (boy and girl). I work as a medical transcriptionist from home (for a nearby hospital--where my surgery will be!) at night when the kids are asleep. I get in 30-40 hours a week, depending on how it goes! I am so lucky I get to be with my kids all day and still able to support us! I am so thankful for that! Kell

I am hoping for the band because it is less invasive, less risky, less after-effects and somewhat reversible if problems do occur. I am still doing research, but am really wanting the band now that I have learned so much about it now. Kell

So true!! I am new to this board, but not to those looks, comments, etc. What people don't know is that I have struggled with weight my whole life (though in high school wore a size 10 and thought I was HUGE...now I wish!). They also don't know how I walk on my treadmill 3-4 times a week, watch what I eat--eating healthier is much easier how that my kids eat "real" food now--chase my almost 3-year-old twins all day and stay up at night working from home (I am a single mom)!! It is so frustrating!! I am so happy to have found this board!! Kell