amponder

Atkins, is higher in fat, but they have some great high Protein frozen meals, with very low net carbs, their Chili is some of the best I've ever had.

I would put in a plug for a company called Luvo. They are not low carb but they are healthy real food that is pronouncable. I can eat around the carbs if I choose now. The food tastes like it was made in someone's kitchen not a factory. The problem with some brands mentioned is that they contain MSG, modified food starch or some derivative. It makes me feel weird and zippy and high for some reason. The chicken and chili is bariatric friendly and a couple of other non-Pasta flavors.
http://luvoinc.com/

Great article. I wanted to add a brand I discovered at my local Safeway. I haven't seen it in any other store so I'm thinking it may be one of their brands. These have twice the amount of protein as any listed in the article and are very low in carbs and fat. My favorite is the cheesy chicken (26 grams of protein, 8 carbs.) All of my favorites are in the pic below except I don't care for the pork wrap and chicken stir fry. The others are delish! I can eat about 2/3 of a container at one year postop. $2.99/ box.

Atkins, is higher in fat, but they have some great high Protein frozen meals, with very low net carbs, their Chili is some of the best I've ever had.

Your weight loss surgery diet takes a lot of work. You need to measure your portions, focus on protein, and think about every bite that goes into your mouth. There may be days when you run out of time or are sick of worrying about everything. That’s when you turn to your freezer.


Nope, you’re not about to desperately dig into a carton of Haagen-Dazs. You’re reaching for a pre-portioned meal or snack that is high enough in protein and low enough in calories to fit into your diet. A frozen meal or snack may not quite be a locally grown, organic, freshly made gourmet meal, but it sure beats the alternative if the alternative is opening a bag of chips or ordering a pizza.
If you like having frozen meals around, these are some good ones to consider. What better time than now to think about your freezer, since March is National Frozen Foods Month? These suggestions are good sources of protein and not too high in calories.
Heat and Eat
You’re on your way home from work, you’re exhausted, and you’re starving. Is it time for you to swing by the Chinese or restaurant on your street for some take-out? No, because you don’t have thousands of calories to play with. Plus, you know you have some good choices in your freezer that are just a few minutes away from being ready to eat. At least, you do if you’ve stocked up your freezer!
Read labels carefully when shopping for frozen meals. Check not only the protein and calorie content, but also the serving sizes. Some meals, especially pizzas, seem like they’re for one person, when they really have three or more servings.
Lean Cuisine, Weight Watchers Smart Ones, Michelina’s Lean Gourmet, and Amy’s Kitchen have frozen meals you can work with. Keep some in your freezer at home, and, if you can, stash a few at work to have for lunch. They sure beat opting into your coworkers’ group order for Italian subs and potato chips.
Here are some frozen meals with at least 10 to 15 grams of protein and no more than 250 calories.
Lean Cuisine Steak Tips Portabello with 15 grams of protein, 150 calories, and 14 grams of carbohydrates.
Lean Cuisine Herb Roasted Chicken with 16 grams of protein, 180 calories, and 5 grams of fiber.
Lean Cuisine Roasted Turkey and Vegetables, with 16 grams of protein and 200 calories.
Lean Cuisine Cheese and Tomato Snack Pizza with 10 grams of protein and 180 calories.
Lean Cuisine Pepperoni Snack Pizza with 12 grams of protein and 210 calories.
Michelina’s Lean Gourmet Salisbury Steak with 10 grams of protein and 180 calories.
Michelina’s Lean Gourmet Shrimp with Pasta and Vegetables with 11 grams of protein and 240 calories.
Michelina’s Lean Gourmet Baked Pepperoni Pizza Snacks with 11 grams of protein and 250 calories
Weight Watchers Smart Ones Chicken Quesadilla with 170 calories and 12 grams of protein.
Weight Watchers Smart Ones Spicy Szechuan Style Vegetable and Chicken with 240 calories and 11 grams of protein.
Weight Watchers Smart Ones Chicken Santa Fe with 160 calories and 19 grams of protein.
Amy’s Kitchen Light and Lean Swedish Meatballs with 260 calories and 12 grams of protein.
Amy’s Kitchen Light and Lean Quinoa and Black Beans with Butternut Squash and Chard with 240 calories, 10 grams of protein, and 11 grams of fiber.

Start Your Day Off Right
Okay, what would be the ideal breakfast on your weight loss surgery diet? Maybe an omelet made with baby spinach and mushrooms and low-fat feta cheese? Cottage cheese protein pancakes served with freshly cut fruit? Nice, but you probably can’t make these kinds of breakfasts every day.
If you’re going to talk about being too rushed to cook healthy homemade meals, you have to mention breakfast! Most of us just don’t have time to cook a hot, high-protein breakfast. Frozen meals can do the trick in a pinch. If you’re feeling ambitious, grab a piece of fruit to eat with your breakfast and up the fiber. Here are a few good choices. You can easily turn these breakfasts into grab-n-go meals by wrapping up the sandwiches or packing the other meal options into a container.
Lean Cuisine Veggie Scramble 16 grams of protein and 180 calories.
Lean Cuisine Turkey Sausage Scramble with 18 grams of protein and 180 calories.
Weight Watchers Smart Ones English Muffin Sandwich with 210 calories and 13 grams of protein.
Weight Watchers Smart Ones Three Cheese Omelet with 13 grams of protein and 200 calories.
Jimmy Dean Delights Egg White with Spinach and Mozzarella Honey Wheat Flatbread with 11 grams of protein and 160 calories.

Meal Minus One
What else should you have in your freezer so that you’re just minutes away from a meal that fits on your weight loss surgery diet? I like to call these “Meals Minus One” because you just need to add one (or a few) ingredients to make them a meal. Here are a few ideas – but check your grocer’s freezer for other healthy varieties.
Morningstar Farms Meal Starters Grillers Recipe Crumbles, with 9 grams of protein and 70 calories per half-cup. Toss with fresh or frozen veggies and – optional – top with low-fat cheese for an easy breakfast scramble.
Morningstar Farms Garden Veggie Patties with 10 grams of protein and 110 calories. Stir fry with frozen stir-fry vegetable mix and teriyaki sauce.
Van’s 8 Whole Grains Lite Waffles with 3 grams of protein and 65 calories for 2. Serve with nonfat Greek yogurt and fresh or frozen berries.
Jimmy Dean Delights Fully Cooked Applewood Smoke Sausage Links with 120 calories and 10 grams of protein, served with 1 packet of instant oatmeal.

You can have a quick, high-protein breakfast with only a little bit of imagination, and even less time and effort.
A Note on Frozen Foods and Health
Are frozen meals really that healthy? Aren’t they processed? Don’t they have preservatives in them? Yes, you’re right. Many frozen meals are high in sodium. They can contain added sugars, and be higher in fat that you expect. Weight Watchers Smart Ones Chicken Santa Fe, for example, has 800 milligrams of sodium or more than one-third of what you need in a day.
Ideally, you could cook each meal from scratch using fresh, wholesome ingredients. That’s not possible for most people. When “perfect” isn’t possible, it’s time to look at the “next best” option. And if your choice happens to be between a Jimmy Dean Delights Maple Pancakes and Turkey Sausage Griddlers with 10 grams of protein and 240 calories and, admittedly, 12 grams of sugars, versus, say, a fast food sausage biscuit with over 500 calories and a day’s worth of saturated fat, frozen doesn’t look quite so bad.
Frozen foods can bail you out those times when you just need something quick and easy. Spend some time going through the freezer section at your local supermarket so you’re not caught empty-handed when you get desperate. And this March, check the specials at the grocery store to capitalize on Frozen Foods Month.

I eat bacon too, I find it too hard to do low carb and low fat together, some of my go to's are chicken wings usually buffalo, or traditional bone in, with a little ranch dressing, and of course chilli is always a good option. I also had a restaurant serve me a turkey burger wrapped in lettuce, I was surprised how satisfying it was.

Hi there, many people report that when they eat they end up hungrier than if they didn't - do you find that generally? What I've noticed over the years is that a low appetite equals a slow metabolism. Those with a fast metabolism are generally very hungry and that the hunger you can create by eating a small amount can be very beneficial in the long run. As a bander it is really important to protect yourself from the need to overeat - when your desire for food is greater than the capacity of your stomach pouch the first thing that happens is your stomach stretches with the extra food, the second is that you regurgitate. It's the first step that does the longterm damage to appetite control because you possibly have a stomach that has stretched before and can do it again. Once there's repeated stretching, the tension in the stomach wall is not so tight after a standard amount of food and so the message to your brain to say you're satisfied weakens. Regards Amanda

Snacking is counterproductive for me, a bander. If my meals are five hours apart or less, I don't need a snack. My appetite goes to sleep between meals. If I delay my meal beyond that, a snack can help bridge the gap and prevent overeating, but the down side is now I've awakened my appetite. For ME, a bander, snacking is not helpful.

It offended me as a newly banded patient, and Your statement about this being such a widely aired show is right on point. A Dr. with this opinion is entitled to it, but voicing it on this show, he can expect debate and criticism, If his statement and the backlash it caused makes people at least do some research and educate themselves about WLS it was worth getting my panties in a bunch over.

I am fortunate enough to have won a shopping spree a couple of years ago and own my own treadmill, for me the problem is running out of the right kind of foods. I keep canned roast beef and chicken and tuna stockpiled for those times I can't cook.

It offended me as a newly banded patient, and Your statement about this being such a widely aired show is right on point. A Dr. with this opinion is entitled to it, but voicing it on this show, he can expect debate and criticism, If his statement and the backlash it caused makes people at least do some research and educate themselves about WLS it was worth getting my panties in a bunch over.

Well, Dr. Huizenga's motivations to critisize WLS may lie in his investment and celebrity on Biggest Loser. Biggest Loser is a brand, and right now it's a lucrative brand to be associated with and Dr. Huizenga is profiting from it, even to the extent of opening his own resort style fat ranch, which I'm certain is aimed at a particular wealthy demographic. His views are very single dimensional and ignores the many complexities of mental and physical reasons for weight loss. He has been quoted as citing a study comprised of just 35 subjects, hardly a statistically accurate sampling, for many of his conclusions. Although we might expect him, as an MD, to proffesionally consider other medically accepted options, he chooses to select publications that support his business. I believe Dr Oz has been critisized for questionable claims, seems to be a Hollywood weakness.
In the end, Dr Huizenga can make all the claims he likes, it's a free country, but results speak louder than words. In actuality, he has not found the "magic pill", I therefore suspect his program, or Biggest Loser, is not likely to produce results unlike many studies with thousands of data points, which say diet and exercise has a low statistical success rate vs. WLS. As far as the damage he might do to discourage obese viewers of the show from WLS, I don't think he has the credibility as a TV personality verses a patient having a serious conversation wth their primary doctor or their surgeon.

It offended me as a newly banded patient, and Your statement about this being such a widely aired show is right on point. A Dr. with this opinion is entitled to it, but voicing it on this show, he can expect debate and criticism, If his statement and the backlash it caused makes people at least do some research and educate themselves about WLS it was worth getting my panties in a bunch over.

I agree that the audience of the Biggest Loser likely has a huge segment that could benefit from WLS and it is a shame that they are being told WLS is "distasteful" by a "trusted" doctor. It seems medically unethical to disparage a surgery that could save thousands of lives and is widely medically accepted as the most viable treatment for obesity.

As I see it, Biggest Loser has a business brand to protect. I imagine they see WLS as a threat... they are getting lots of money from the show itself + people paying thousands and thousands for a few weeks(!) There have been stories of people who "successfully" lost all this weight, and then it came back, for example, there was one person on Bariatric Pal that lost the weight on Biggest Loser and eventually wound up having WLS. Maybe if they discourage bariatric surgery, it keeps the hope alive that you can lose all this weight and keep it off... just like most diets and products. Possible (< 5% chance), but not likely.

Well said @Alex Brecher !! Good thing there's those of us who aren't afraid to put ourselves out there and show the world what a good bariatric surgery is. Great article.

What irked me was that one of my biggest goals, and the reason I have a blog, was to put it all together to create an ebook for men, on WLS, specifically the sleeve, and to be able to show from a man's perspective the hard truths about WLS. I wanted to do this so men won't take the same 3 to 4 or more years of waiting around to get what they need or to not do it at all and die prematurely or continue to live horribly.
That one sentence uttered on a tv show, set back what I had hoped to accomplish by light years. Some know my anger boiled over and in a very inarticulate way, I let the show know how I felt.
The worst part was reading posts from other overweight people who are attracted to the show like moths to a flame, and even in many cases repeated what the "doctor" had said while begging to be helped with their weight loss and obvious co-morbidities. Once people see it on television they become almost armored against the real facts. Once that first impression is made, it becomes a battle of incalculable proportions to change that perception. That's the real loss to the WLS community. Also I do wish more celebs who had this surgery would have stood up and decried this statement as malicious and untrue. While i do commend Rosie O'Donnell for having an open dialog about WLS, Iw would've been nice to see a press statement speaking about this issue as well. People Like Rosie, Al Roker, or Magic Johnson, etc. all have a forum in which they could advance the knowledge we have, to the general public, but no one stepped up to take their turn at bat, and as a result we all struck out mightily.

This was my objection as well. He is allegedly a medical doctor and WLS is medically accepted as a viable treatment for obesity, so for him to disparage it they way he did seems medically unethical.

I remember reading an article several years back from a former contestant where she talked about some of the strategies for weigh-ins: water loading, saunas, caffeine, etc. She said they actually weigh-in the morning of on a normal scale in an office with minimal/no clothes.... the big fancy scale on the show is just for show. And then one of the things that really surprised me was learning that a "week" on the show wasn't necessarily a week in real time. Like from the arrival at the ranch to the first weigh-in is more like 2-3 weeks. And then depending on what they have going on for that "week's" challenges and special events, the "weeks" could be more or fewer than 7 actual days between weigh-ins.

I have a lap band and had lost past my goal weight. I started having problems with the band. I found out it was too tight and always had been. I couldn't get most foods down despite following all the rules and having had the band completely unfilled. Despite a band that never functioned properly, I had lost all my weight and kept it off for 6 years. I had exercised much of that time. Eventually, I had gotten too thin and I felt tired all the time. I started eating popcorn, cheetos and other Snacks because that is what I could reliably get down. My weight stopped dropping and started to climb a bit. I retired from a very physically active job and stopped exercising due to some depression because I missed work. That is when I really started to gain some weight back. I gained back to my original goal weight and then another 40 pounds.
I had past success at weight loss but I felt I needed a jump start. I needed to get out of the house and into a new routine. I researched weight loss resorts and found the Biggest Loser Resort in Malibu. There was a sale going on so I pulled out some retirement funds and scheduled a month at the resort at $1900 per week. I lost 14 pounds during the month I was there. I think they had us on a 1600 calorie per day diet. I couldn't eat even half the food because of my band. We literally exercised all day. There was a morning hike of 5-7 miles. You dashed from one workout class to the next. They had really good classes on nutrition too. The program was great. I loved it and really benefited from it. I came home and lost an additional 30 pounds on my own. You have to keep in mind though that I went in at 172 pounds, which isn't that big, so I was able to really work hard and burn a lot of calories there. I noticed that people that were much larger had a hard time keeping up during the workouts and they had a greater tendency to skip out on classes and hide in their rooms. I think the resort was great (the Malibu location closed down in January but there is a non-BLR affiliated resort in the same spot that just opened), if you could afford it, BUT it involves extremely rigorous exercise that isn't sustainable after leaving there. I'm single and retired and I didn't manage to keep it up. I've gained back 20 pounds. I did love it though and would go back there in a heartbeat (to the new place that opened). None of the staff where I went ever criticized or even mentioned WLS. I don't remember whether I had to tell them in the medical history. I didn't tell my fellow guests.
In my opinion, somebody with a lot of weight to lose that has a job and a family to take care of just might need a more permanent solution or a combination of solutions. I can definitely see having WLS and once you find you have good mobility and can do hikes (they have varying levels of difficult including a level hike for those with injured knees) and exercise...go to a fitness resort for motivation, exercise training and fellowship. I made some good friends during my stay. It's a good option if you need a jump start, like I did. Also to add...I'm an introvert and have avoided support groups. The fact that I paid a small fortune to go to the resort made me come out of my shell and talk to the other guests and the trainers.

"Does it really matter what a reality television show says in passing about weight loss surgery? I believe it does. For one thing, the country already has a culture that largely views bariatric surgery negatively. We don’t need to increase the negative feelings with these vague statements proclaiming that the show helps contestants lose weight the “right” way, and other methods of weight loss are “wrong.”
Second, the show has millions of loyal viewers, including many who may be eligible for weight loss surgery. In my opinion, the show is doing them a disservice by stating unequivocally that bariatric surgery is a bad option. For some of these viewers, bariatric surgery may be the only option that would allow them to lose the weight that has plagued them their entire lives."
PS: I wear boxer briefs

I get why my panties were in a bunch about the comment. Here's the deal:
The complete and utter HYPOCRISY of his statement! The contestants on that show exercise for 8 hours a day. According to his statement, they are losing weight the RIGHT way, and not turning to "distasteful weight loss surgery." How about he give us the skinny (pardon the pun) on how many of those contestants keep the weight off after they are back in the real world and the show is long over? I'll be willing to bet the stats are better with WLS patients.
Notice how I used the word "contestant"? This guy is the spokesperson for a GAME SHOW, and he wants to tell us what the right way is to lose weight?
And for those of you who say "Oh, who cares what some guy on TV says about WLS. I'm happy with mine"...that's the EXACT reason why we need to speak up and defend our choice to lose weight and keep it off! If we as the WLS community just stand idly by and let people misinform and misguide millions of people about it, we are doing a disservice to ourselves, current and future WLS patients. You say you don't need to be an advocate for WLS just because you had it? If we all in the WLS community aren't willing to speak up and fight the ignorance and misinformation that's floating around out there, who will?

If you’re a weight loss surgery patient or patient-to-be, you’d better grow a thick skin if you haven’t already. Your thick skin will help shield you from negative reactions to bariatric surgery. People are not afraid to make personal and hurtful comments about this surgery, even they often have no idea about the facts.


One of the barriers to getting weight loss surgery is the fear of telling others about it. People are quick to make you feel ashamed about your choice. They accuse you of cheating or of making a dangerous decision.
But it’s not just uninformed people who can make you feel bad. What about the media, which you trust to get its facts straight, and which influences millions of Americans’ beliefs and opinions? Sadly, the media spreads its share of misinformation about weight loss surgery.
One striking example occurred on the final episode of this season of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.” For the record, this was not the first time this show publicly aired negative comments about weight loss surgery. On this occasion, Dr. Robert Huizenga clearly stated that weight loss surgery is an unhealthy choice. The implication was that it is a mistake in all cases, and far inferior to the weight loss methods used by “The Biggest Loser” contestants.
There was no mention of the fact that the weight loss methods used by the contestants are the exact same as the most effective weight loss methods used by weight loss surgery patients. That is, both use a low-calorie diet that dramatically reduces junk foods, and both encourage physical activity. The problem with weight loss surgery? Dr. Huizenga did not explain. Viewers can only guess at the horrors he was thinking of.
I’m certainly not the only one to notice such snubs on national television. The BariatricPal community had a thing or two to say about this particular episode of “The Biggest Loser,” and I invite you to check out the comments and add to the discussion if you haven’t already.
The Biggest Loser
Nobody’s dream in life is to get weight loss surgery. Unfortunately, nobody’s dream in life is to struggle with obesity, but many of us do. What options do we have? Those of us who have chosen weight loss surgery chose it because we exhausted our other options. Those options – regular diets – just didn’t work for us.
So, what would Dr. Huizenga have recommended in my case? A 16-week stay at the Biggest Loser Ranch, just like the contestants who made it to the season finale? Full dietary, medical, and physical activity support, just like the contestants? Sure, I would have been happy to try that option. Unfortunately, it costs about $3,000 per week to stay at the resort. That’s a value of $48,000, not including the longer-term support contestants receive.
Could I have lost the weight without surgery if I had had $48,000 to spend and the promise of lifetime support? I don’t know. What I do know is I did not have the chance to try. I did, however, have the chance to get weight loss surgery, and I made the most of it.
Don’t get me wrong. I really respect what I see on television of the Biggest Loser trainers and health staff that I see on television. Dr. Huizenga seems genuinely distressed about contestants’ poor health at the beginning of the show, and just as genuinely satisfied about their improved prognoses by the end. This season, trainer Jen’s tears were representative of the sincere stake the trainers have in the contestants’ lives. And, like many in America, I’d be on the first plane to Los Angeles if Bob or Dolvett offered to train me. But I do wish they did not feel the need to bash weight loss surgery without explanation.
The Truth of the Matter
Even if you have the choice between losing weight the Biggest Loser way or through weight loss surgery, which is better? There’s no question that you need to decide for yourself, but let’s take a look at each of these weight loss methods.
Losing weight Biggest Loser style means spending hours a day in the gym. The show doesn’t air nearly as much material on food as it does on exercise, although terrible eating habits got contestants to where they were, and good nutrition is clearly a part of their new lifestyles. It seems doubtful that Biggest Loser contestants can continue to exercise so many hours per day for the rest of their lives after the show, and I am certain that many other individuals just do not have this kind of time.
Weight loss surgery is…well…surgery. It involves going under the knife and changing something about your insides. There are inherent risks that are unavoidable when you undergo weight loss surgery. Aside from that, bariatric surgery requires a controlled, high-protein, nutritious diet, and exercise is recommended. Many patients can average about 100 pounds, or a respectable and reasonable 2 pounds per week, during their first year after surgery.
How do the results of losing weight Biggest Loser style versus with bariatric surgery? Initial weight loss seems comparable, according to a study discussed in US News and World Reports. But the study found Biggest Loser contestants ending up with a lower metabolic rate – making them potentially more likely to regain their weight. Granted, this study did not follow participants long-term, so we do not know what will happen in 10 or 20 years. What does seem clear, though, is that it is not yet justifiable for the “Biggest Loser” to state matter-of-factly that all weight loss surgery is bad.
Why Does It Matter?
Does it really matter what a reality television show says in passing about weight loss surgery? I believe it does. For one thing, the country already has a culture that largely views bariatric surgery negatively. We don’t need to increase the negative feelings with these vague statements proclaiming that the show helps contestants lose weight the “right” way, and other methods of weight loss are “wrong.”
Second, the show has millions of loyal viewers, including many who may be eligible for weight loss surgery. In my opinion, the show is doing them a disservice by stating unequivocally that bariatric surgery is a bad option. For some of these viewers, bariatric surgery may be the only option that would allow them to lose the weight that has plagued them their entire lives.
I don’t know what the solution is to this problem of negativity towards weight loss surgery and weight loss surgery patients. Education and patience come to mind – spread the word, when you can, about how weight loss surgery works and why some people get it. And, grow a thick skin. No matter where you are in your weight loss journey, you’re bound to get some negative comments about your decisions. Just know that you are doing the right thing for yourself.

The magic of transformation really isn't very magical.
Transformation is found in the daily practice of kindly, lovingly stretching ourselves and reaching for more in our lives and in our bodies .
That's what I'm doing in this 5 year old photo...when a disabled woman with chronic pain, opiate addiction and 170 pounds of excess weight bravely took a chance on a yoga class for the disabled.
I love this "me" from 5 years ago, I see her inner beauty shining and am so grateful to her for taking the leap of faith, in the absence of evidence, that things could be better.
WLS is a leap of faith, a big one! It can be a wonderful spring-board to transformation from un-wellness to health but additional leaps are required to get there.
What leaps of faith towards further wellness, happiness and fulfillment can YOU take today?

I wish more people felt that way. Some people on this forum get offended if you mention counseling. Food addiction is a much a mental issue as it is a physical one.