steph_anie

I would hardly call once a week an addiction? So someone who has a glass of wine or a beer once a week is addicted? Your ignorance and prejudice about Marijuana is showing....

I honestly am excited for refried Beans lol, a day away!

Winner winner chicken dinner !!!!!!!!!
Wasabi anything is killer in my book. Love 'em.
Wasabi almonds. Best dang snack I've ever had.

I was sleeved on 10/25, close to the end of the Full Liquids. Thank goodness too cause I need something to chew lol. I work in a kitchen, lots of walking. I returned to work 8 days post op. People were surprised to see me back so soon, but I couldn't stay in my house anymore. I got bored and the tv food commercials were making me head hungry and irritated lol. Work has kept me busy. :-)

You will ultimately need to learn how to prepare food for yourself. It will support the success of your weight loss. Pre-packaged food often comes with loads of calories, hidden sugars, a high fat content and a lot of carbs. Youtube has a plethora of instruction videos, Pinterest has a ton of recipes that take you step-by-step through the recipe and many times local libraries or community colleges will have free or low cost cooking classes. Yes, supporting this decision will take a huge amount of dedication.
Like many people the reason why they are obese is the types of foods they ate. A lot of those food selections were made based on ease, convenience, taste and affordability. It is a habit that needs to be changed or their success will be derailed. It is just the reality of having WLS.
Aside from that pep-talk there are options. Many have already been mentioned but I'd like to add a few.
Deli made chicken salad. You have to be careful as a lot of places use a Miracle Whip type dressing and not a mayo based one. You can always ask before you buy. Many grocers will offer already shredded rotisserie chicken in their Deli's cold case. Making chicken salad is not hard. If you can make tuna, you can make chicken salad.
Hormel canned chili. I have had both Turkey and Vegetarian, as well as regular. It is great with a few sprinkles of cheddar cheese, some sour cream and a splash of Tabasco.
There are frozen meals that cater to high Protein needs. Just pay attention to their carb content.
I used to eat Tomato Soup with a sprinkle of cheese and a slice of Avocado. I also would heat a can of refried Beans with some shredded cheese, sour cream and salsa (smooth no chunks) and even Progresso Light Soups as the veggies/protein in them are super tender.

Think thin bars are delicious! I love the brownie crunch.

I was sleeved on 9/8 - just 5 days post op:
With the exception of never ending nausea on Day 2 post-op, I am surprised to have experienced very little pain. Morphine drip day one, tylenol 3 day 2 and that's been it.
Kind of nice to not be hungry and not thinking about when and what my next meal will be.
Very difficult to sip, sip, sip - I'm close, but still not getting in all of the liquids I should be.
Still cannot get comfortable enough to sleep for more than two hours, yet I am exhausted.
Because I do not want to be off of work any longer than necessary, I never thought I would be setting so many alarms/timers to keep me on track:
1. Get up
2. Sip, sip, Sip
3. Sip, Sip, Sip
4. Morning protien-
5. Shower/get dressed
6. Walk, walk, walk
7. Sip, Sip, Sip
8. Nap, Nap, Nap
9. Sip, Sip, Sip
etcetera, etcetera, etcetera

My name is Martha, I am 31 yrs. old I have always battled with my weight. I was willing to do anything even the other types of surgeries, luckly my husband heard of the band and gave me tons of info on it, so I began looking up info talking to my doctor about and decided to go for it. I am scheduled for my ban september 22 in Monterry Mex. with Dr. Rumbout. I am a little nervous, (will it work for me, will it hurt, can I keep it up) but I am optimistic, it has worked for many the way I see it has to work for me. Wish me luck. Martha

I like ThinkThin

my response was meant to be sarcastic

Does death count as a "bad experience"?

Galveston, preop waiting on insurance review! Excited to have found some locals!

Glad to see someone has been able to post op continue it. I was worried I'd have to give it up. I smoke daily myself. Thank you for sharing!

Gloria, I had these plateau's a few times in my first year. I would think the weight loss must be over now. Then a couple weeks later I would jump down 5 lbs or more. I wouldn't worry about it at all. As long as you are eating like you know you need to, and not eating between meals, eating junk food, etc. you will lose the weight.
As far as Protein, I had a lot of foods that I couldn't tolerate at first. Now I can tolerate much more with no problems. The thing about meat and egg Protein, it is more solid and it sits in the pouch longer. Something like yogurt or liquids run right thru and the fullness feeling tells the brain we are DONE eating comes from that pouch being full. Not stuffed, but we still feel stuffed easily. Even now, I find if I am eating solid protein I get full so much faster and stay full longer than when I eat softer foods that are easier to eat. I have had problems with many veggies, especially fresh uncooked ones like brocolli in a salad. I talked to my dietician about that and she said that eating 2 little brocolli "trees" is plenty. I think it has taken a long time to adjust my head to my stomach size. I don't really like most meats but I sure lost alot of weight when I ate them...But you can't eat something you get sick from. Are you really sick or is it more just uncomfortable because you are trying to eat too much of it??? I am out over 2 years now and I still can't finish one regular hamburger. About 3/4 is all I can eat.I will eat one half a bun or I can't eat half. Over time more foods will work easier. Basically it is true that protein first, then some veggie and fruit, and last if you have room, a whole grain carb. Good luck!!!!! You are in the best time of your surgery that first year. It will come off. Tracy

Oh and just to add I didn't transfer an addiction lol I've been smoking weed for 10 yrs +

I am 4 months post op and i smoke weed every day . I started 2 weeks post op . I don't get the munchies I feel it's something mental and I can control it . It relaxes me and it's just something I choose to do. It hasn't affected me in any way I am 70 + lbs down . So that's my experience and my opinion and everyone is entitled to one

Oh, boy.
Guys, you're forgetting that marijuana is used medically in many states, and is used to treat many chronic pain problems as well as an assortment of medical issues/diseases.
Please educate yourselves and get out of the dark ages.
Many, many people who you never would suspect use marijuana do. I'm one of them. I've got two degrees, run two of my own businesses, and have debilitating chronic pain issues that I *might* wish on my worst enemy but certainly not anyone else. I've been a stoner for many years, and have been using it to treat chronic pain issues (metal rod fused in my spine) for several years. I'm grateful it's an option. You don't just have to smoke it-you can vape, do edibles, use a tincture drop under your tongue.
I'm 7 years out with my LapBand, and don't have much of an appetite these days. It actually helps me eat. It helps me sleep. It helps with so many things, and I wish people would stop being so closed minded about it because they're not educated about it.
I'm not sure I would recommend it on a regular basis as a new bariatric patient, because of munchies, that I will agree on. You're trying to learn new habits over years of developed bad habits, and I could see that as being detrimental in some cases, but certainly not all.
Once a week is not a frequent user. Not a bit.
If it helps you relax, and you can retain control over the munchies, you go right ahead.

I promise I will try it after my surgery and I'll give a shout out about my experience. (some of these responses truly had me laughing out loud!! folks need to "lighten up"!)

Ok - I have no idea if the internet remedies are good or not, but I could never see myself placing raw onion on my body.
Sincerely,
no onions. :-)

Just found out that my program doesn't require the preop liquid diet! Oh man it feels good to know I won't have to prepare for that. I've heard stories. People saying they missed chewing the most! Anyways. I'm just waiting in insurance review I think! Then we'll be setting a date I assume. How exciting!

I saw potatoes and cereal and I was kinda shocked. I'm still pre op and surgery in 8 days but the biggest thing I keep hearing is Protein first. And ZERO potatoes. Now I'm from the Midwest so meat and potatoes has been my basic "diet" for years and years - it's how I got to 350 plus pounds to be quite honest. There is no way any of us can lose substantial weight eating a diet to starchy carbs and low protein.
As harsh is this may be to hear, why did you get the surgery if you didn't like meat? I'm not being sarcastic but if I wasn't going to give up candy I certainly wouldn't let anyone surgically cut me up when the deal was give it up.
Toss the cereal and potatoes, replace them with almonds and sunflower seeds, cottage cheese, Swiss cheese, tuna salad, tilapia, shrimp, crab (real not fake), turkey, chicken, beef, yogurt (Greek), etc but ZERO potatoes and cereal.
We are all given a "tool" with this surgery and although this tool can tip the scale into our favor and give us better odds of being smaller and healthier - we ultimately need to take responsibility and stop the insanity "always do what you've always done and you will always get what you've always gotten"
Best of luck, I know you can get on track - that's why we are here.
I feel fortunate that the facility I will be having my surgery seems to have an awesome approach to pre op and post op support, not to mention I was just told both surgeons are in every surgery they do. I felt safer somehow when I was told that.
No potatoes.

YES, I agree, I spoke to a friend who had surgery just a few months ago who didn't do same program as I did and she has already gained most of her weight back due to not taking Vitamins, eating properly etc. I don't think she was well informed of anything, I'm glad mine took almost 6 months. I learned so much more by thoroughly going through the workbook my nutritionist gave me and general research I did whenever I had random questions up until I found this app. Take the time to go through it the right way so that it sinks in properly and your body won't go into shock from lack of *insert your comfort food here* (mine is fudge frosting apparently, I found that out 3 months into the program when I kept buying it for no reason lol)