mamato3

I am struggling big time with this. You all who are successful at it are awesome. I know I already posted this a few days back, but I am so constipated. I just can't take it. (gross and too much info, I know) I find that to keep my carbs below 20 I just end up eating meat, eggs and cheese... don't really have room for much else. I don't mind eating these things, but my body is screaming at me and it is no fun! haha

I guess I am a night person. I work 4 nights a week now until 11:30 and dont' get home till 12:30 so it is kind of hard to change that routine even on nights off. I have always been a night person anyways. I HATE MORNINGS! hahah

Well I just got home from work and I am having a hard time winding down to go to bed. I did not have such a good day today! Hubby had an epidural steroid injection done today and we ate out for lunch. It is hard making good choices when eating out! Then work was a whirlwind tonight and I didn't even have time for dinner so I had those crackers with cheese in the middle. No idea how many carbs it was. Lots I'm sure! So, it is back on track again for me tomorrow!

I would love to join you all. Thanks, Salsa for the invite! I have not been good in the last month or so about the exercise so I could definately use some motivation from others. I have no idea what to set my goal for. I am going to try to make it to the gym at least 2 times a week so I will say 8 strength training sessions for June. Cardio I'll commit to 30 minutes 5 days a week so 600 minutes. Hmmm... might not sound like much, but it's a lot more then I've been doing the last month. Looking forward to chatting with you all! I better go get walking! haha Renee

Nope, I didn't make it either. *pout* Mamato3.........242.......199...........205.5..........6.5 Oh well.... it was still a good amount of loss! So, what is the next challenge???

Yikes.... I am about to abandon ship here! Help! LOL So, this morning says I am up 2 pounds from yesterday. How can that be?!?!? I stayed on plan yesterday and the only thing I can figure is I had ham for breakfast and dinner and the sodium is killing me. Ughh! I am upset. To make things even worse... I am SO constipated! I have not been constipated at all since being banded so I am thinking it has to be the Atkins thing. What do you think?

I did pretty good yesterday ( I think ). I am ready to beat up my DH though! I told him no way to PF Changs, so guess what he did????? He went and brought home chinese food takeout from another place! hahaha I managed to just eat steamed shrimp and veggies with some garlic sauce. I'm sure the garlic sauce wasn't good, but it was better then any breaded and fried foods. I definately do not have the willpower to stay away from the scale. It calls my name every single morning. I'm down 2.5 pounds since we started. YAY!!

I hope your little guy has a quick recovery. Sorry to hear he needs surgery. Eating out is definately a challenge when you are doing this. My hubby wanted to go to PF Changs and I said NO WAY! haha

Well my first day went really well. My eating was right on target but I didn't have a chance to exercise :sad: I have a question for you all though. When you count the carbs, do you count total carbs or net carbs? Like the slimfast low carb chocolate has 6 total carbs but onlly 2 net. Either way, I stayed under 20 yesterday, but I was just wondering. Let's have another good day today. Renewedhope - you can do it... today will be better. I admired your ability to do this in the past, so I know you are good at it!

I have been banded for almost 5 months now. I have not had a problem with Pasta or bread or steak or any of the other common things that people seem to have problems with. You definately have to take small, and I mean small bites and chew them very well once you have good restriction. I have had 2 PB episodes and both times it was because I ate too fast and without thinking. I also didn't chew well enough. The first time was on deli meat, the second was on french fries ( I know, shouldn't be eating french fries!) Like someone before me said.... try not to worry so much about what you can't eat. Pretty soon it just doesn't matter as much!

Good morning ladies! I woke up this morning excited to get started doing this. I know low carb works and I am ready to get the scale moving! Prior to being banded, the only weight loss plan that ever was very successful for me was Atkins. I just wish I could stick to it long term. But 2 weeks should help me lose a few pounds and kick the cravings! I am glad you decided to do it again cause it will keep me on track having people to do it with! Renee

I can't think of a better reason to have this surgery then to get healthy for my kids! I battled gestational diabetes with my pregnancies and decided afterwards that I had to do something before I developed type 2 diabetes. I am so happy I did this.... I haven't felt this great in years!! How old are your kids?

congrats buxndux and welcome to banded life! That gas is awful, huh? It will be all better soon.

I would like to join you all. I'm on a mission to make it to onederland and I seem to be at a stand still. blah! Ready to kick the carbs to the curb for while. Looking forward to doing it with you guys this time. Denise - I was a healthcare coordinator at an assisted living for 2 years before I had my girls. I know how hard it is for people to adjust to a new living arrangement like this. They have to give up so much. It is equally hard on family members. I would try to make sure he is getting involved in some type of activities. So many times the elderly tend to want to seclude themselves to their apartment, even for meals! I hope he adjusts well.

I don't think there is any reason you can't start over. It is up to you. Do you WANT to lose weight? I would find a doctor who you are comfortable with, make a commitment to yourself to do it and make a plan you can stick with. Your band is there waiting for you when you make up your mind to use it like it was intended! Check in to this site often for support and inspiration. Good luck!

Good luck today!

I thought that I had reached my sweet spot awhile back... felt satisfied with small meals, hunger did not return for 4 or so hours and was still able to eat most anything. Then all of a sudden it just disappeared. POOF! Felt like I was back at square one. I was eating more and more and hardly losing any weight. I went ot the Dr. half way in a panic thinking that I was somehow losing Fluid. Well they were wonderful and reassured me by pulling all of the fluid out of my band to show me I wasn't leaking. Then they went ahead and added more. I now have 8 cc's in a 9 cc band. OH BOY! Today I didn't even attempt Breakfast and just drank a Protein shake. lunch... ouch! I tried eating a couple bites of pork chop and it hurt. Tried a couple bites of rice and it hurt. Managed to get down a few bites of cauliflower and pears. By dinner I had loosened up enough to eat a few ounces of chicken, some cucumber salad and a few swt potato fries. Wow, that was a long post just to say... I think I am finally at my sweet spot! Now, I just hope it lasts! Oh, and I have lost 5 pounds since my fill which was on Friday. I should do liquids for 2 days a week every week! hahahah

B- Atkins Strawberry Shake L - few bites pork chop, 1 bite cauliflower, few bites pear (everything hurt going down.) S - 1/3 banana D - 1 bbq chicken strip, few sweet potato fries, 1/4 c. cucumber salad

Can skim mile be purchased by the barrel? HA!

I'm not sure I am going to make it . 8 to go in 12 days. Maybe a miracle will happen! haha NAME ... Start Weight ... Goal ... Current Weight ... To Go 4jin............225.......199...........219.5.........20.5 Abby1...........172.......140...........172...........32 Allaboutme .....211 ......165 ......... 205 ..........40 Allison925 .....175 ......145 ......... 175 ..........30 Ann.............287 ......180 ..........197...........17 Anyalee.........231.......199...........231...........32 Angie4b1g ......237.8 ....205...........222.4.........17.4 Ariel ..........199 ......169 ..........199 ..........30 babs0101 .......216 ......190 ..........200 ..........10 Bbgray .........260 ......220 ..........260 ..........40 Bigbaby ........207.......167...........193.5.........26.5 bobby_hamrick...233.......199...........233...........34 Chocolate_Snaps.292.......242 ..........274 ..........32 chickatee.......184.......145...........176...........31 Cookielover ....198 ......175 ..........198 ..........23 cQQlgirl .......220.......195...........209...........14 Debihaines .....254.......200...........227.9.........27.9 eugeniam........200...... 185...........200...........15 Faithmd.........308 ......300. .........302.1........2.1 FairyFacade.....333.......180...........246...........66 Foofy ..........244 ......210 ..........235 ..........25 Gayle...........246.......190...........214...........24 Georgia Girl ...275 ......237 ..........255 ..........18 grammylew.......216 ......190 ..........200...........10 Hazeleyegrl1 ...233 ..... 200 ..........208...........8 HeatherA .......255.6 ....225 ..........250.9 ........25.9 HoppingToIt.....309.......240...........309 ..........69 Hungryforchange 225 ..... 190 ..........225...........35 Ivyrose325 .....261 ..... 215 ..........250...........35 Jeni 85 ........214.4.....184.........200.5...........16.5 Jennie1976......235.......205...........226...........21 Jfran ..........181 ......145 ..........181...........36 Jsprague .......240.......220...........233 ..........13 KarenG..........195.......165...........174...........9 Katrose.........268.......215...........234...........19 kristin1031.....256.......226...........199...........27 Legster ........216 ......187 ..........189 ..........2 Linda Lu:.......228.......195...........15.2.........20.2 liz_hager.......196.......170...........172...........2 Loftonall.......210 ......150...........210...........60 Lori_NC.........281.......250...........281...........31 Luluc ..........166 ......135 ..........142 ..........7 MamaJava .......283 ......233 ..........283 ..........50 Mamato3.........242.......199...........207...........8 Mandyjo.........188.......150...........175...........25 Mary-2b150 .....225 ......150 ..........193...........43 MissTrini.......218.......170...........218...........48 msdaneen........305.......145...........236...........91 Nadean .........204.6 ....160 ..........190.4.........30.4 Nhanson ........226 ......196 ..........220 ..........30 NOlanebryant....238.4.....198 ..........238.4.........40 Nykee...........325.......299...........325...........26 PigsRFlying.....230 ..... 150...........192...........42 Rainer .........256 ..... 216 ..........233...........17 Redtulips3 .....245 ......199 ..........205 ..........6 Sfeiner.........285.......271...........245...........40 Shadst83 .......233 ......199...........233...........34 Smithem1 .......240.6 ....190 ..........240.6 ........50.6 Soaf9...........265.......145...........220...........75 Squale..........314.......285...........314...........29 Sta6160.........205.......140...........170...........30 Stacy73 ........226.4 ....194 ..........222 ..........28 Starryeyed .....237 ..... 199 ..........229...........30 Sunny112........215.......130...........143...........13 Suzzzie ........297 ......243 ..........273 ..........30 Syndy...........252.2.....212.2.........252.2.........40 TheCapn.........520.......399 ..........469...........70 Trish5713.......255.......230...........255...........25 TxArcher .......360 ......285 ..........346 ..........61 Wombat712 ......152.8 ....120 ..........132.2.........12.2 Wrestlersmom....266.......150...........260...........116 Tmusicmaker123..384.......299...........311...........12

8 to go!! Yippee!!

I'm staying on plan today because I only have 11 more pounds til ONEDERLAND! yay!

Sure, protein is protein. However, "hard" protein sits in your pouch for a longer time giving you that sense of fullness. For me... if I drink a protein shake for breakfast I get hungry a lot sooner then if I eat scrambled egg and turkey bacon. Same goes if I eat pasta for a meal.... it doesn't keep me satisfied as long as solid protein and a few veggies. I DO enjoy meat though... so your challenge will be finding proteins that will keep you feeling satisfied so that you wont keep returning to the fridge for more food all day!

I think I watch more cooking shows now then I ever watched prior to getting my band. Like Georgia Girl said.... I just try to come up with healthier ways to make some of the things I see. My favorite is Rachael Ray and we all know that her recipes are not usually of the healthy variety. I also make some recipes for my family and just pick out the protein and veggies and try to steer away from the starches.

I really dont think there is a set time frame for between fills. How is your weight loss? Are you still losing eating the larger amount? It is such an individual thing. I saw the NP in my surgeons office the other day and was sort of lectured for thinking I needed to wait. I had lost 6 pounds in 4 weeks but have been working really hard at it. They said if I am hungry 2 weeks after a fill.... CALL. Why struggle?