Bozzj

i'm going to be blunt and i hope it doesn't offend. if you cheated. ok that's in the past. if you continue to cheat, you should know that it will only get harder after the surgery and maybe this isn't for you. i know you might think "that b*tch" but this isn't easy...it's hard afterwards..and i think in the beginning is when we're all charged up and super strict. i'd move forward following the docs orders and you'll see the rewards for all your hard work.

soda is a bad no no according to my doc. i haven't had it since the band.

you know i don't count much of anything...i just use common (weight loss sense). for me, i don't want the diet to be a "diet"... so i: avoid, bread, Pasta, rice and Desserts I eat: wasa crackers (1-with tuna salad or whatever on it if i need bread), Protein, veggies, and every now and then- potatoes. I make sure my portions are small...i carry dole fruit cups with me everywhere and i whip that badboy out if i'm hungry. Literally, i was driving yesterday and took it out for a snack lol. I try to eat fish at least 2x a week..but not more than 3x... Often times i crave breakfast- so i make turkey bacon instead of real bacon. With all of that said--i don't count up my cals..i guess i haven't had to as of yet. I just make sure i'm staying under 1000ish and i do that by eating 4-6ozish of food x3 daily (and a snack if i need it).

This is so true. I stand a little taller now..and i still have a looong way to go. Just keep telling yourself that you are going to live a life you never thought possible...much of it is mental..talk to yourself. literally.

yup!! unfortunately it didn't go away for a few weeks (especially when i started eating again). just do everything you should and it'll stop in time. hang in there!!

So i read somewhere- that someone made mexican meatballs. I didn't print the recipe, but decided to throw something together and see how it turned out. Well, this was to DIE for...my dh (who is thin) really loved it...kind of gives you that "fast food fix" without eating fast food. 1 lb ground beef about a tbsp of cumin about a tsp of cayanne pepper about a tbsp of garlic powder s & p to taste 1 egg about a 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs 1 can enchillada (sp) sauce 1 can (medium size) tomato sauce onion powder (a dash) about a tbsp tomato paste Put meat, egg, breadcrumb, cumin, cayanne pepper, garlic powder, s & p in a bowl. Mix with your hands (don't over mix). Roll into balls (all about the same size) and put them on wax paper (something that they won't stick to) until done. *note* my slow cooker is one of those where you can saute on the stove then drop into the slow cooker base...if yours isn't, then just saute in a pan first. Put about a tablespoon of olive oil in the bottom of the pan and brown the meatballs (don't overcrowd). When they are all done...drain the oil (if using a similar slow cooker as mine) and put the meatballs back in the slow cooker. cover them with the sauces (it will look like a lot). I wanted it to be a little extra spicy so i put a dash or two of more cayanne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and the tomato paste. Stir. Cook on low for 6 hours. I served this with some ff refriend Beans (and rice for the hubby).

i made this..it's very good..and sweet (which is good because i don't over eat when having this) Note to all: lol if you're kind of a ditz like me sometimes..defrost the cool whip before trying to mush it all together...i'm a dork!! i ended up blending it together (in the blender) with the pineapple because i got annoyed..and it's still good, but you got those fibers from the pineapple going through it. I mean i still eat it just fine lol. ...but it would come out better if defrosted first.

1 bag of 16 Beans (goya, among other brands sell it) 1 can crushed tomatoes (the larger can) 8 cloves of garlic, minced ham hock or a handful of diced ham (you can omit this if you want) s & p to taste Water I prepare this in my crockpot, but you can do it on the stove if you prefer. Saute garlic until tender. Remove from heat. Dump in all ingredients and fill to the top of your crockpot with water (i left like an inch from the top). Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. When ready to eat, shake in a few drops of hot sauce (if you like that sort of thing).

the only thing i had an issue with is tomatoes with the skin on. i haven't tried everything yet- like beef (except for ground beef--that's fine) or pork chops and whatnot. fish, moist chicken (cooked in sauce or something), ground beef that's moist, etc are what i stick to. i haven't had Pasta, bread or rice (only wasa crackers) so i couldn't tell you how they are...i just know they are on my doc's "no" list.

Name........................Current.......Goal....... Lost.......Still to Lose bozzj..........................260.2........140ish......31.8.......120.2 i started this journey 7 weeks ago..so far, so good...my first goal is to break 200lbs.

I was trying to be creative last night and made this...it was very yummy. 4 portabella mushroom caps (stem removed, cleaned) 2-3 tablespoons of fat free ricotta 1 teaspoon of garlic paste (in tube. you can use regular garlic though) teaspoon dried or fresh parsley couple tablespoons of olive oil red sauce, with or without meat (i used homemade meat sauce that was frozen--defrosted) part skim mozz. cheese Preheat your broiler. After your mushrooms are prepped, lightly brush some oil on both sides and s&p (both sides) Put them on an indoor/outdoor grill or in a saute pan (doesn't matter much which you use) cook for about 5 minutes on both sides until tender. Put on a cookie sheet. Meanwhile, as they cook mix the ricotta and the garlic and parsley. Get your mozz cheese and sauce ready. Once the mushrooms are cooked, put some ricotta cheese on them, then sauce, then mozz cheese. Broil them until the cheese is melted.

i'm eating kashi right now with skim and no problems...then again i've been lucky so hard and never had a problem with anything (knock on wood).

i tried this with 2 eggs and a 1/2 cup egg beaters, 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 teaspon baking powder, 1 1/3 cups skim millk, onion, bag fresh spinach, and fat free feta cheese. i cooked the onions and spinach. then i let it cool. meanwhile, i mixed the other ingredients..i put a dash of cayenne pepper (very little) s & p to taste. put the cooled other ingredients in there and mixed (no feta yet). then i put it into a pam'd pie plate and topped with ff feta. it was very good. i cooked for 25 on 400, but i wish i let it go a few more minutes so the edges of the quiche were like crust. i didn't miss the meat at all...

ooh these sound good. i'm going for my first fill next week and i'm hoping that after that at some point i can have rag veggies. my doc outlawed them prior to me seeing him at the 6 week point. I'm not supposed to even have nuts, but i have them sometimes lol and they go down just fine.

Anyone have snack ideas? i've been eating low fat cheese and choc. covered soy nuts (but i notice i eat these too often). I'm not feeling creative, but I enjoy having a snack in the afternoon or evening. Any ideas?

Memorial day weekend...beautiful weather and i was feeling pretty good. I decided to take my FIRST walk outside in years. Normally i walk to the car and call it a day. I was blasting Pussycat Dolls in my ipod and everything was going ok--i was hurting, but it was tolerable--until "the hill" and not just any hill but a freak hill that almost killed me. There was tons of skinny girls walking around so i couldn't roll down it crying..i had to act like it was no sweat. I never realized HOW fat i really am..i mean i just broke 270...and when i looked in the mirror i didn't see a skinny girl, but this weekend i really felt like i might not make it up the hill. When i got home my skinny husband was sitting on the couch and i just bursted out in tears. Very difficult day, but i'm glad i went out there and gave it a shot. Next time..i hope i cry less until one day it gets easy.

Memorial day weekend...beautiful weather and i was feeling pretty good. I decided to take my FIRST walk outside in years. Normally i walk to the car and call it a day. I was blasting Pussycat Dolls in my ipod and everything was going ok--i was hurting, but it was tolerable--until "the hill" and not just any hill but a freak hill that almost killed me. There was tons of skinny girls walking around so i couldn't roll down it crying..i had to act like it was no sweat. I never realized HOW fat i really am..i mean i just broke 270...and when i looked in the mirror i didn't see a skinny girl, but this weekend i really felt like i might not make it up the hill. When i got home my skinny husband was sitting on the couch and i just bursted out in tears. Very difficult day, but i'm glad i went out there and gave it a shot. Next time..i hope i cry less until one day it gets easy.

it reduces hunger, but i'm only 5 weeks out (no fill yet) and i'm hungry some days. i have more of an issue with "head hunger"

that sucks. it's strange how some doc's are concerned about liver size and others aren't. My doc didn't even put me on a pre-op diet... i hope it works out for you!

so just a week ago i was ranting about "a skinny bitch" without really thinking about what's happening here. i'll explain. tonight i went out for dinner with "that" girl...otherwise known as my best friend (one of two). She's thin..like size 4 thin...but growing up (when i was a size 8) she admitted to being jealous of me. why? no idea. so we sit down at Houlihan's and things are just weird. i mean she's being "nice" but she's distant. then i'm being weird because she's being weird so the entire situation was just WEIRD. i ordered grilled shrimp and california mashers...tried my best to talk like normal (we used to be the girls who laughed so hard people would stare)..now we were in and out of the restaurant in 35 minutes. 35 LONG minutes. I don't understand. I mean..i can be tough..and most days i am..i am my own champion because i've learned that no one else will be. but that hurts..i mean we're friends for 13 years! I thought this was going to come as i got thin...i'm no where near that point... when you prepare for the band they don't talk about how others who were supposed to be friends may turn their backs on you. they don't explain why girls are so friggin jealous and how to cope with the loss. i can see this is the beginning of the end...but i suppose if that's in fact true..it was never a friendship to begin with.

so just a week ago i was ranting about "a skinny bitch" without really thinking about what's happening here. i'll explain. tonight i went out for dinner with "that" girl...otherwise known as my best friend (one of two). She's thin..like size 4 thin...but growing up (when i was a size 8) she admitted to being jealous of me. why? no idea. so we sit down at Houlihan's and things are just weird. i mean she's being "nice" but she's distant. then i'm being weird because she's being weird so the entire situation was just WEIRD. i ordered grilled shrimp and california mashers...tried my best to talk like normal (we used to be the girls who laughed so hard people would stare)..now we were in and out of the restaurant in 35 minutes. 35 LONG minutes. I don't understand. I mean..i can be tough..and most days i am..i am my own champion because i've learned that no one else will be. but that hurts..i mean we're friends for 13 years! I thought this was going to come as i got thin...i'm no where near that point... when you prepare for the band they don't talk about how others who were supposed to be friends may turn their backs on you. they don't explain why girls are so friggin jealous and how to cope with the loss. i can see this is the beginning of the end...but i suppose if that's in fact true..it was never a friendship to begin with.

Such a great article, thank you! I hope you keep them coming... Someone asked me, "why this time? why are you serious this time" and i couldn't really tell them. Well i guess your article sums it up. I'm going to write down my goals though...and post them where i can see them daily. :cry_smile:

why don't you "test" your body for one full week. try having only whole foods...with low fat and limited to no carbs. some things i've been eating that i enjoy is: Protein Shakes for Breakfast (but an egg would be good too, etc) chicken salad for lunch or dinner with low carb bbq sauce (thanks to georgia girl) or i have it with chipotle mustard and a tiny bit of mayo. dinner--tonight i'm having chicken taco Soup (from spark people) that's low in fat/cals. if i were you i'd keep a food diary that way you can see what works and what doesn't. rarely do i eat carbs (except when i was on mushies)..since then i stick to 1oz weight watcher cheese, Protein and more protein (i'm on soft solids). i hope it works out!!

personally i couldn't have. i had zero energy from the clears. i didn't start feeling like me until 2 weeks. i know many, however, can.

i'm on flinestones with Iron chewable..they aren't bad. also, viactiv (which are chewable). for my other meds, i just cut them, not crush them.