Cindi2014

Well tomorrow morning at 9:20 my surgery is. Wow. It's here. Next post post-op

Hi - starting mushy food on Wednesday. I need ideas for how I can get my Protein in. I'd like to do a Protein shake for Breakfast still but not sure that's a good idea. Problem is, I'm very picky. I won't eat cottage cheese or yogurt and there's no way I can puree meat and eat it. That pretty much leaves me ricotta cheese, scrambled eggs, cream of wheat and Protein shakes. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get my protein in?

Terrible...that is beautiful. I thank you with tears in my eyes. I am still preop and that hit home.

Miss eating my meal while it's hot! Between the slow pace and the good chewing by the time I am half done with my dinner it's cold. I know I know stop bitching and keep chewing . Just needed a moment

So instead of feeling sorry for myself I am pissed at myself!!! So all the young girls at work are doing the 30 day squat challenge and I am trying to do it too...well I have to break it up more through out the day to get all of mine done...one of the larger young girls made a comment that it will take me forever....so instead of going with the desire to bounce her head on my desk...just kidding... I told her please use me as an example of how not to let yourself go, its a good thing you are taking charge now and getting back in shape. Yes it will take me longer cause I am slower and have arthritis but I do way better when I am pissed of then when I am feeling sorry for myself... so screw the poor me crap I did this to myself only I can get myself healthy again!!!!

Thank you all so much. These are some great ideas. Just what I needed to know. I'm back at work today and feeling pretty good. So happy I did this. Thanks again for all your support. Finding this group was the best thing I ever did

Thank you all so much. These are some great ideas. Just what I needed to know. I'm back at work today and feeling pretty good. So happy I did this. Thanks again for all your support. Finding this group was the best thing I ever did

I did tuna a lot. My wife also cooked ground beef in the blender and made sure it was fine chopped and mixed it with gravy with mashed potatoes which was awesome after being on liquids for a while. I also used beneprotein to add more Protein to my meals. It has no taste or anything, and actually I still use it here and there to hit 70 grams of Protein. Adding it to the healthy grain cream of wheat made with milk puts it at 20 grams of protein. Another thing I did was blender chicken breast to where it still had some texture and added FF cream cheese, sour cream, garlic, spinach, and artichokes and made a delicious meal that had 26 grams of protein in 5 oz. Good luck though, hope this gives you some ideas to try.

Hi Cindi and congratulations on your band! Don't know if you like cauliflower but for mushy stage I steamed a head of cauliflower then hit it with the stick blender, adding salt, pepper and coriander plus chicken stock. Made kind of a savory pudding. Same thing with yam/sweet potato. Can make a nice mushy yam. I was really missing veggies and needed Fiber. Stock is great for thinning things out. I enjoyed a Soup made by Imagine found in health food section of regular grocery store -- comes in cartons. Potato leek was my favorite but there are many kinds. Also I made egg drop soup, yummy. Miso soup with soft tofu. I didn't have any calorie or Protein goals during the post-op phase and I wasn't hungry until later in, coinciding with first fill so that worked out. Good luck with all -- you're doing great!

i drink a Protein shake every morning (as do alot of people)
refried Beans, tuna salad, chicken salad, eggs, cheese, (all examples of Proteins (that i ate and still do)
google Protein rich foods.......and for the picky part me also, but def take time to find out what you like to eat
and can eat (that is good for you)......as we are not on a diet, we are merely choosing better things...
PS, drink a lot and stay busy and congrats, you are doing well my dear

Cindi2014 during my mushy stage I ate alot of tuna and softer fish any kind I could mush with the back of my fork...at least that was fine with my doctor!!! I couldn't stand the thought of food in the processor...so whatever I chose I merely mushed up really good. think of stuff you like and see if you can do that with your choices. but like I said I ate alot of tuna fish, chicken in the can and fish tilapia and salmon...I'm not a big fish person but I did what I had to do to get past this stage. best wishes on this and will be looking forward to more posts from you...take care!!!

well I know I've just lost 20 lbs. so far however I just had a NSV. My neighbor, whom I haven't seen since I started the pre-op diet two weeks ago, just saw me outside and said I looked great and looked like I had lost a little weight. I beamed and said yes, I'm trying to watch what I eat, lol. Just made me feel good so I thought I'd share. happy moment, can't wait for more moments like that

Hi - starting mushy food on Wednesday. I need ideas for how I can get my Protein in. I'd like to do a Protein shake for Breakfast still but not sure that's a good idea. Problem is, I'm very picky. I won't eat cottage cheese or yogurt and there's no way I can puree meat and eat it. That pretty much leaves me ricotta cheese, scrambled eggs, cream of wheat and Protein shakes. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get my protein in?

sorry you are feeling so much pain. Today was a better day and the first time I felt "normal'. I found whey Protein mix powder and I bought some already premade Protein Drinks for convenience. I am still not getting all of my protein or fluids but is getting easier. I have a lot of Jello, puddings, cream Soups, broths, pop cicles, etc. haven't had any hunger pains really.. probably because my plan calls for me to eat about 6 tiny meals a day.

well I know I've just lost 20 lbs. so far however I just had a NSV. My neighbor, whom I haven't seen since I started the pre-op diet two weeks ago, just saw me outside and said I looked great and looked like I had lost a little weight. I beamed and said yes, I'm trying to watch what I eat, lol. Just made me feel good so I thought I'd share. happy moment, can't wait for more moments like that

How is everyone that has already been banded doing?
Just had my post-op appointment and I have lost 25 pounds total.

Glad you are doing well Betty !!! I am on full liquid through Wednesday. can't wait to begin the mushy phase.

“Daddy, why do you have such a big belly?” innocently asked by my precocious five year old Son Connor, that was the spark that lit the fuse to my deciding to change my life. Sometimes we need not be shouted at to be shaken from a slumber. Sometimes a whisper is louder than a shout. A few months back, I was walking through life in a perpetual haze. I believed I was a happy individual, I am surrounded by a loving Wife, amazing children, and a diverse and loving group of friends & family. I was however overlooking the fact that I was physically careening down a slope at breakneck speed. I have always been a large, “big-boned”, individual. For most of my adult life I was able to deflect my rapidly increasing waist line by using self-deprecating humor and sarcasm as a protective shield. I was the definition of the happy go lucky fat man. I was the go to BBQ guy, the first to crack a beer with you, the first to grab that extra slice of pizza; I began to believe it was what was expected of me. At least I told myself that as a pathetic excuse to allow myself to continue to indulge in excess. Over the years, many people have expressed disbelief when I revealed my weight when asked. I often hear things like, you carry it so well, there is no way you weigh that much…as if I would choose to add extra pounds for some reason. I incorporated this as a defense mechanism, and lied repeatedly to myself that my weight wasn’t that bad.
On the inside, I was fighting every day to try and do the “right thing”, and try to somewhat live a healthy lifestyle. I knew what to eat, how to eat, when to eat…but choosing to follow what I knew would work was not something I could do for an extended period of time. I am not ashamed to say that I was weak in spirit, I had no will power, and realistically I still don’t. But, I knew I was treading into uncharted territory, weight wise. I was easily winded, my knees creaked, my back hurt, and that doesn’t cover my fear of what might possibly be going on that I couldn’t physically feel. I tried to play in a flag football tournament and failed miserably, I dreaded carrying my own Daughter to bed; even kneeling by the tub to bath the kids was a nightmare.
So, when my Son asked me that simple question, and I had no intelligent answer, only excuses, I decided enough was enough. I am not above asking for help, I am honest with myself, and I knew that the changes I wanted to make, I could not make alone. I decided to explore Bariatric surgery as a tool to help me save my life. After considering the several options available, I decided that Lap Band surgery would be the best fit for me. Once I made that decision, and embraced it, my mind turned to the endless possibilities that would stand before me. The truth is I am not changing to look good on the beach, or to wear a certain pant size. Yes, truth be told, these will be wonderful benefits of changing my lifestyle, but there are three reasons for my wake up call. My Wife & my kids, there it is, the definitive reason. The reason that I breathe, the reason that I wake up every morning, the reason why I will do whatever is needed to give them the best of me that I possibly can.
Now, I expected to meet some resistance to my decision, and I have not been disappointed in that regard. Some people see weight loss surgery as cheating, or as an easy way out, that you don’t have the will power needed to do it on your own. To that I say, then using the gym is cheating, buying $100.00 running shoes is cheating, eating low fat food is cheating, they are all tools to help you get to where you want to go. For someone with food issues, mental, as well as physical, weight loss surgery is nothing but a tool to help you get off to a good start on a new life. It is not a magic trick; you do not have surgery and wake up 70lbs less than the day before. You have to eat right, exercise, make good decisions, just like anyone else trying to live right. Telling someone that weight loss surgery is cheating, is the same as telling an alcoholic that AA is cheating, they are simply tools designed to help you meet a need. I am not trying to fool anyone, especially myself; I do not have the will power to walk this alone. I am not ashamed to say that I need every tool in the box to help me be who I want to be. To be honest with you, I have never been overly concerned with the opinions of others, if I know in my heart that something is right for me, then all else be damned. I know in my heart, that I will be adding years to my life, and I don’t care how I get it done, or how anyone feels about my choice.
At the end of the day, I want to look my Wife and kids in the eye, and have them know that Daddy is doing everything in his power to be there for them. I dream of doing the simple things that many overlook, or take for granted, running a 5K, playing sports with my kids, carrying my sleeping Daughter up a flight of stairs without wincing in pain. I have many inspiring people in my circle, friends, family, especially my Wife, who has shown me that change is possible and given me the blueprint to work off of. I look forward to the day, in the not too distant future, when I can update you all about the new me.
For now, I leave you with the latest steps I have taken on the path to living right. Yesterday I began a 2/3 week diet before I have surgery. My Surgeon has submitted the paperwork to my insurance provider and we wait patiently for them to sign off. After that, we will hopefully green light surgery for some point over the next few weeks. I know many of you are privy to my journey; I just wanted to share with as many people as possible, and hopefully inspire others to take the proverbial bull by the horns.

I was whining earlier this week and I went down a size - wearing size 12 dress.


Me & my mom today
Happy Mother's Day!

well I know I've just lost 20 lbs. so far however I just had a NSV. My neighbor, whom I haven't seen since I started the pre-op diet two weeks ago, just saw me outside and said I looked great and looked like I had lost a little weight. I beamed and said yes, I'm trying to watch what I eat, lol. Just made me feel good so I thought I'd share. happy moment, can't wait for more moments like that

I read this recipe and it sounded really good. I can't find the original one (the one that you bake in the oven) but here's this one.
No-Noodle Lasagna

This recipe is suitable for the pureed food stage.

Ingredients:

Low fat ricotta cheese

Spaghetti sauce (look for sugar free sauce)

Grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

Put two tablespoons of ricotta cheese in a bowl. Top with one tablespoon of spaghetti sauce and one tablespoon of grated parmesan cheese. Microwave for three minutes.

Variation: One you progress to the soft stage, you can add cooked ground beef to the lasagna if you like.

Been a while since I posted this!
So I'm sorry to be too graphic here but remember, someone filled your body cavity full of gas, they pumped fluids, medications, antibiotics and anesthesia into your body. They punched 5 holes in your abdomen, moved all your inner body parts around, shoved a tube down your throat, took an electric scalpel and burned away excess fat and tissue wrapped around your upper stomach, then wrapped a plastic strap around your stomach just below the lower esophogeal sphincter, stitched it in place with 5-6 sutures bringing your lower stomach up and over the band and then snaked a tube out of your body and then sewed another plastic piece to the muscle tissue on your rib cage.
Now, thinking about all that has been done to your body, you're doing quite well aren't you?

had some egg drop soup, sweet potato fluff, and tore out the middle of some sushie for the avacoda, salmon and cream cheese and mashed it up. man was that good!

so lunch with mom was good. i wasted money on the buffet but the egg drop Soup, sushi centers and a little sweet potato was yummy
didn't really eat much now that I think about it. spoon full or two of sweet potato, soup, and 3 sushi centers (mashed) and i called it quits. feeling much better today than yesterday. going to go back to work half day on tuesday i think.

feeling better by the day, too. still sore getting up and down of the couch and in the bed, but when I'm not moving I'm good.
Haven't had any bad gas pains, just a little rumble that I treated with gas-x chewables.< /p>
Been fine getting two Protein shakes in plus my creamy Soup with unjury chicken Soup flavor, so my 60 grams have been easy to get. Plus I'm able to get all my Water in too, so everything is going great! I find if I drink too fast, it feels tight, but it doesn't happen often. I haven't been using those little cups from the hospital, just sipping out of bottles and cups.
Good luck to those who haven't been banded yet! Can't wait to see you on the other side!