Desdemona

I try to keep an Atkins bar with me just in case I get stranded without anything to eat. I also remember Atkins saying in his book "eat a Big Mac --cheese--all the sauce--lettuce--throw away the bun" I don't do it often but if I'm stranded it works. Yesterday-- 1 slice low carb pizza 2 zesty pickle spears 3 coffees Sliced pork w/low carb pocket ½ avocado Atkins crispy chocolate caramel bar Today 2 fried eggs, 2 strips of bacon 1 coffee 2 iced green teas 1 slice low carb pizza Steak w/blue cheese, mushrooms, cauliflower 6 almonds 5 black olives 2 zesty pickle spears Atkins crispy chocolate caramel bar

schampange--The Center for Disease Control (CDC), and all professional organizations use the BMI system. According to that -- your current BMI is 29.8. A healthy BMI is 20.9 - 25 (depending on body build---muscle ratio). So if you have a large frame or are big boned -- you can be more like 25 but if you are smalled boned--you will want to be closer to 21. So your healthy weight range is 130-150. Here is the CDC link that explains what BMI is and how to calculate it. You can also decided that you don't want to go as low as the CDC recommends but their BMI rates are based on measures that provide maximal reduction of weight related health care risks. BMI - Body Mass Index: Adult BMI Calculator: English | DNPAO | CDC

It looks like we are really revving up here!!! Great! FeliciaLevy75---ya---I know what you mean. It really is hard to stay at low a very very low carb. Atkins doesn't recommend staying at 20g for exactly this reason but I guess we tackle it becasue we want to get it off ASAP. Hopefully our bands will help us maintain the loss this time so we don't have to stay so low ever again. mamato3---thanks but I have been at low carb for a LOONNGG time. Atkins wrote his first book in 1981 and I found a copy of the grapefruit diet which he based his work on in 1971!! So my first 20 extra lbs came off that way. I was only 20 years old -- sigh---oooo where DOES the time go??!!! I was pretty darn CUTE --if I do say so myself---for about 6 or 7 years before my late night partying came back with a vengeance! Every few years for the last 36 years I have low carbed and then put it all back on -- and then some until I reached 100lbs overweight! I agree with everyone here that -low carb rocks--but until the band -- I kept falling off the wagon. It always began again with bread! As soon as the carbs got a hold of me through bread --I'd be into chips, potato, pasta---then onto sweets. Now I'm hoping the band will keep me off--or limit --the bread and other crap. I'm also a researcher and have studied the low-carb research EXTENSIVELY. Believe me--it is poised to really revolutionize nutrition and health care interventions. So here's my report today -- a little higher on the protein than I'd like. I'll try to do better tomorrow. Atkins shake 2 chicken wings with spaghetti sauce 10 10almonds 1 zesty pickle spear 2 coffees Pork tenderloin, cauliflower, pork broth Cheese stick Guacamole and pork rinds carbs 17, protein 76, calories 1074

Yes. That's why this time is referred to as "bandster hell". It not only gets old but then you have to keep your cool through several months until your fill levels get to the point where you aren't hungry. But it's important that you really white knuckle this time and use the old fashion diet through sheer willpower. We all know that method doesn't work forever because we all ended up gaining weight in the end -- but all overweight people are experts on HOW to diet and we can all do it for a while. You are going to have to bite the bullet and do it one last time until you heal and then get the right level of restriction. If you fall off the wagon and eat -- then you may not heal right (causes future slippage and hernias) or you will just gain weight and have all the more to lose once you get restriction. It will most likely take MONTHS before you have good restriction ----so please hang in there. You can do it.

smarquezrn and maguirre67 --Congrats on your bands. A word of caution though---make SURE you follow your MDs post surg instructions. I know exactly what you means about feeling low energy. It is a combination of low calories and the effects of being under BUT the low calories and light meals you are suppose to be eating right now were not prescribed to you so you could lose weight. You were given that diet so your stomach muscles would not move around much (via digestion activities). Don't put stimulants in your stomach -- like coffee. Stay with light meals/foods as instructed by your MDs. There are sutures along the back wall of your stomach folding the stomach into a flap to hold the band in place. Your ports have also been anchored into an abdominal muscle. That all has to really heal up very firmly or you could end up with: 1) a hernia in the future OR 2) band slippage in the near future. That can happen if you put excessive pressure/weight/activity on those healing areas. After they heal well you will be all set to do anything. In addition, don't feel too worried about not losing right away. A lot of that has to do with water retention and internal inflammation from the surg. Give it more time - as your body gets over the trauma it has just been put through -- the weight will dramatically drop off in a few days.

Yes--your port is going to be tender for a while. Then it will subside and just when you think the discomfort is gone you will suddenly have increased discomfort. It can scare you because you'll think you pulled something. It's GAS in your stomach that is pushing on the weakest muscle area---your healing port. You may also get an increase in tenderness there as you begin exercise. It will also heal up and the tenderness will go aways. If you get the tenderness -- make sure you are drinking a lot of water -- because that moves things along and prevents gas.

You Go Girl! Isn't it fun!? Yes, it will slow down as you go along and you will have to work with your band BUT you will also find this a LOT easier than all those other times when you tried to do it without the band. There is nothing like success to motivate us to do more. The band will also curb your appetite and cravings so that you can handle them much better/easier than before. Nevertheless -- you will still have work to do --just more manageable. Stick with this board because you will learn a lot and make good connections. You will feel "held" in your journey as you travel the road with us. I wish you the very very best.

ya know---it can be very hard to understand why people say what they say unless you really want to take the time to have a deep conversation with them about it. I can think of lots of reasons why this woman said what she said. It could range from general negativity to a very sincere sense of caring about you. We all get different reactions from different people. I find that most people just don't know that much about the details of gastric banding. Well! Why should they? I didn't know much about it myself before I decided to spend nearly a year reading every darn piece of research that has been published in the last 5 years on it, and every book written on it, and every message board I could lay my hand on. I educated myself. If I care enough about what a particular person thinks (sometime times I do care and sometimes I don't) I can elect to educate them or walk away from them knowing that don't have the facts. As far as co-workers, friends, family --- I'm an open-book. I do what I do and I am what I am. I don't hide any of it. Some of my co-workers are very interested and they need help. My being out about my banding is helpful to others. After I have opened up about my process with others they have conveyed what they have learned to me to others and I have received a number of messages that my experience has really helped someone else. That means a lot to me. Others might think I'm weak for doing it. Well --that is THEIR problem -- not mine. If they are going to be that judgmental of me over a lap band then I really can't feel much respect for who they are or what they think --- and I'll be darn if I'm going to hide who I am or what I feel -- just because there are some judgmental small minded people around me.

I think it really comes down to personal fit. When people say Atkins it really seems that most people are thinking of his induction phase which limits to 20 carbs a day and is just 2 weeks but many people elect to stick with it. There are in fact 3 more stages with higher carb counts. A compete literature search in Pub Med on low carb studies for the past 4 years pretty much demonstrates both the safety and benefits of all low carb diets and Atkins is the most studied of them. Nevertheless, it is hard for most people to continue at 20 carbs a day for a longtime. It has also been shown that it really isn't necessary to be that low unless you are particularly insulin resistant. In addition, many people, especially people over 50 tend to get very low energy, have brain fog, and irritability on only 20 carbs. That is why I think it's a matter of personal preference. Try to find out where you respond best to low carb eating. Which type of low carb can you stick to? Which one do you feel best on? Which one works best with your lifestyle? That is the one that will work best for you.

My MDs office gave me an outline for a post surg diet and then when I was discharged from the hospital they gave me a detailed one. I'm wondering if there are a lot of bansters out there that are not provided with this by their MDs. I think that they should do that for you because it's really important. They told me I could not have soda, coffee, juice (but after a few days I could add some cranberry juice to water. I could have any of the sugar-free clear drinks like crystal light flavors. I could have light tea after the first 24 hours. I could have clear broths (chicken, beef, turkey, veggie). Some people love the Trader Joes but I liked the College Inn best. I could have all the sugar-free freezer pops I wanted and that seems to be a life saver for most people. I probably went through nearly a box a day and I still always have them in my freezer. They are excellent when you are craving for something sweet and/or cold.

Hi All- Atkins shake 4 chicken wings with spaghetti sauce Low carb pizza 3 coffee 10 almonds 25 carbs/67 protein

I'm with Christine on this. I notice that you are 59. I'm 56. I think things like age, metabolism, genetics, history, exercise, gender all play a role. My nutritionist said that as long as I was getting 40-60g of Protein I could go as low as I wanted on calories. I have also heard people say that they couldn't lose until they had more calories. Another thought I had was -- your title indicates that the MD told you 700/800 forever but you didn't mention that in your message so I'm wondering about the details. My MD is also conservative and puts people on a very specific meal schedule for several months that restricts types and quantities of foods. When you add up the calories of what he tells us to eat it only comes out to about 700/800. It takes about a total of 5- 6 months after surg to get through his eating plan. It gradually increases to more food and calories and we eat pretty normal by the time we get through it. He says the purpose of it is not really about weight loss (although you do end up losing weight on it). He says it's to help the stomach heal. He puts stitches along the backside of the stomach where he created a flap to hold the band in place to help prevent slippage. Then he anchored the port into the muscle wall. The purpose of his method is to do everything he can to prevent future complications. Putting too much food -- or the wrong type of food into my stomach before everything heals well (which takes a long time) can cause slippage or hernias years down the road. Different surgeons use different surg approaches so they may give different after surg directions. So—my point is---talk to your MD or MDs nurse (a lot of times the nurses are easier to talk to and better at explaining). Find out, specifically, why he is saying you should have so little food----is it about losing weight or healing? Is it temporary or life-long. If he really means life long—why is he saying that? If it doesn’t make sense to you – consider other expert opinion. Good luck.

mandi78- You don't say if your therapist is a specialist in eating disorders. A specialist would have known that the band and bulimia activity don't mix. It is very important that eating disorders be addressed as they are potentially dangerous. Please find a qualified therapist. The other thing that you can do is join an Overeaters Anonymous support group. They really focus on emotional eating. You can also get their literature, buy work OA books, join OA message boards. You can not deal with bulimia alone. Please don't be afraid to reach out and get help. You will find that by focusing on the emotional eating rather than "dieting" you will start to lose. Good luck. mandi78

I think it would help if you gave us more info like -- how long have you banded? What is your current BMI? How much total have you lost so far? What type of exercise are you doing? How long have you been following 1200 cal and doing your current level of exercise? What are you eating for your BMI. What is your approximate age? Are you male or female? All of these things can be clues. It could be a combo of things. Are you getting ENOUGH calories? Are you getting enough protein? Many times people start losing when they INCREASE calories or protein-----especially if they are working out a lot. Do you feel tired?

MSnika3--I'm impressed! To stay on plan on the 4th is a real accomplishment. Thanks for the feedback on my food suggestions. Another thing I have recently discovered is putting about a tablespoon of sugar-free preserves or jam into cottage cheese for Breakfast or lunch. They make peach, blueberry, strawberry, rasberry, and cherry. I also eat smoked salmon or chicken salad for lunch. I put celery, a little blanched almond and just a few raisins or dried cranberry into the salad. Gives it a great flavor. Some people put a little chopped apple in instead of the dried raisins. You can also make up a tuna, salmon, chicken salad and use celery sticks to scoop for lunch. Some people like celery stuffed with sardines or anchovie. If you’re in a hurry for dinner grab some stuffed pepper or those hamburgers they make up at the deli that have either bacon and cheese or portobello mushroom burgers that a lot of supermarkets have made up in the deli. Just make sure they aren’t adding bread filling to any of it. If you get into a situation where you really just feel like if you don’t get a little carb or “treat” in --- try splurging by adding some frozen petite peas (fewer carbs) to your meal as a starch instead of breaking down and eating potato or rice. If you are cooking for the family and really need to make a Pasta salad or make a hot pasta dish – use Dreamsfield pasta. They will NOT be able to tell the difference and you can eat some too. Just make SURE you don’t cook it beyond the box directions or it will breakdown into more than 5 net carbs. Diabetics are finding that it really does not raise their blood sugar. If you are trying to strict Atkins induction level, don’t use it but it’s much better than falling off the low carb wagon. Try not to eat it more than once a week. The same thing with bread. If you just have to have a sandwich use Joseph’s whole wheat pita (5 net carbs). You can also cut it into wedges and bake it to make pita chips. Again – be careful with it because it’s still bread. I have learned and read a LOT about low carbing over the many years including the medical reasons and benefits of it. I know that it works well for me and I know that newly developed (500 years) foods raise Cain with my genetic make-up. I lose weight, get better blood readings, and feel much better when I stay away from all those carbs. My downfall has always been when I get hooked back in to the sugars/carbs. I just pack the weight right back on. The band has made a huge diff and I find I can stay on healthy food much easier.

Pickled or deviled eggs, chicken salad, cottage or ricotta cheese with a tablespoon of sugar free peach, cherry, strawberry, or blueberry preserves/jam, cold kielbasa, steak, marinated or sugar free barbecue chicken thighs, cold roast beef, ham or lamb, prosciutto, smoked salmon, cold salmon or tuna in Dreamsfield (low carb) pasta salad, any meat/fish in George Forman grill, Atkins or Reset low carb whey-based protein drink, low carb yogurt, small amount of nuts, cheese or beans, iced-coffee with milk/cream, cream cheese.

Oh FUN---great idea! I want to: 1) be at my goal weight - 120lbs. 2) have my reward trip booked (white Water rafting down the Grand Canyon). 3) have a toned/strong body.

It's true that you need to get your protein but you will find that when your hair starts falling out--it will continue until your weight loss stabilizes. There are studies that demonstrate that: 1) hair loss during extreme weight loss is very common, 2) it WILL all grow back when you stop losing weight, 3) it is not a sign that anything is wrong, and 4) the biological/medical cause for it is not known but they do know it's not associated with poor/low nutrition or essential blood counts. In general, there is nothing you can do except buy a wig IF the hair loss gets so extreme that you have noticeable patches. Most people don't lose to that extreme. I have been losing my hair too (a lot) and I'm not thrilled but I also am not worried because I was on a total 11 liquid protein drink diet many a number of years ago and lost even more than I'm losing now. It all grew back so I'm here to tell you not to worry or panic. It WILL grow back. Good Luck.

MSnika3--welcome! Yep! Low carb is the way. Remember that it will be easier when you get restriction but it can take many MONTHS before you have sufficent restriction. I'm not there yet and I was banded in mid March. We can gain a LOT of weight before we get good enough restrctions so if we want to lose weight we need to diet the old fashion way. Low carb will also help us lose faster even once we do get restriction. Good luck.

FeliciaLevy75—When I start out on a low carb diet – especially before restriction---I built in good tasting substantial meals for dinner to help me past the early carving. Breakfast and lunch were easy enough (especially on work days). Breakfast could be Atkins drink or/and deviled eggs on the go. Lunch McDonalds quarter pounder with cheese (skip bun) etc. For dinner I’d often look to the crock pot and make a nice roast or meat with sauce. Sauces, wines, seasonings really keep things interesting and the crock pot meant that I could cook veggies right in the pot for flavor. Or I’d do something like stuffed green peppers simmered with tomato sauce. I’ll cook cauliflower on the side and splash the extra tomato sauce over the cauliflower. That’s easier that making the faux mashed potato recipe. If you go to a low carb recipes page, you’ll find a lot of great ideas. If need a snack, I do pickles and olives, chicken wings (in low carb tomato sauce or buffalo wings with blue cheese), low carb salsa or guacamole with pork rinds, SOME almonds. There is a low carb yogurt in the supermarket. I try to stay away from the protein bars because they have sugar alcohols in there that a lot of people find causes stalls. The Atkins protein drinks don’t have those ingredients. Things like blue cheese, pickles, and deviled eggs, a small amount of nuts or cheese and iced coffee with a little heavy cream really go a long way in getting me past the craving stage. I have also found that if I’m feeling really tired, low energy, I just have to raise my carbs a little. It may mean that I can’t be in ketosis. It still works – just not as fast – and I am able to stick with it much better because I feel good. Once you get restriction – it WILL be easier. Good luck.

lynnie77 -- I say this to be truthful and in the very best spirit. I agree that what's done is done but do be VERY careful. The reason you can't eat "forbidden foods" right now is that your surg is still new. You could EASILY; 1) stretch out your pouch, 2) cause a slippage, 3) put too much stress on stitches that are holding the new port in place which can result in a hernia in the short or long term. This could all make your band less effective or cause a medical problem for you. In addition, although this is primarily a healing time -- you can get a really terrific weight loss bounce out of sticking to the eating plan. You don't have to tell people about the band if you don't want to but there are things you can say like: My stomach is bothering me so I'm going to eat light until it settles, or I'm not eating processed foods so I'm going to have something else but please enjoy the pizza, or something else. Pick up a copy of a small book about lap band surgery from Amazon (there are 2 that are good). If you are unsure about something call your MDs office before you do it or as soon as something happens. Don't put your WLS or your weight loss at risk for anyone or anything.

Yes. There is more swelling around the port area and it does stick up but not in everyone. Different surgeons place the port in different areas of the abdomen and even the same surgeon will put it in different places in different people. It all depends on each person's anatomay and each surgeons preference. There is no really dependable/predictable answer to how your port will eventurally look/feel because everyone is different but as my port has anchored into my muscle and as I have lost abdomen fat --- the port seems to be nesting deeper into my abdomen. However, after saying all of that -- I have heard of people who have lost a great deal of stomach fat needing to go back and have a new port put in because it can start sticking up a lot again after a lot of weight loss. You're MD should be able to give you more precise info and a better prediction on your particular situation.

Hi DunkinDo120607 Welcome home! Get on your scale and find out how much damage is done. Actually --- if you only gained 10-15 you are lucky and in GOOD shape! 10-15lbs would be very good news for you and it means that you could just start right back in --- lose it fairly quickly and get right back on track. You will find great support here. Come talk with us every day and let the board help you.

PRCowboy-- When I was on mushies I depended on refried beans, cheese, and scrambled egg because they are low carb. I also used Reset which is a whey-based protein drink. It has 22 grams of protein and only 13 grams total grams but only 4 of them net carbs per glass. It also contains Stevia instead of the sugar substitutes that can cause weight stalls.

noahsmomm-- Brandy made a really good comment. People come on the board to talk about what they are worried about. Have you checked the poll on the board that ask people if it was worth it? Almost everyone says IT IS WORTH IT! When a bunch of women sit around talking about pregnancy and giving birth -- they pretty much moan and grown about all the things that were uncomfortable or painful etc etc. And then they turn around and have another baby so it must have been worth it --- right? I have been through some discomfort but it's gone. I may slime or PB someday --- but trust me---I will never give up my band. I have my life back. I feel 10 years younger and I still have another 56lbs to lose! I am sleeping better than I have in years. Almost all the body pain I had before I lost this weight is gone. I'm feeling so much hope for the future. I'm having a ball tossing all my clothes into the good will and parading around in size 12. For the first time in YEARS -- I just KNOW I will reach goal weight. There are few guarantees in life, including banding, but insanity is doing the something over and over and expecting different results. I KNEW that my trying to lose it on my own just one more time just wasn't working---and wasn't going to work. So I did something different. So far -- it's just amazing.