LB4Life

I thrive for my home DVDs and they really get me through the winter months! I love the Turbo Jamm (kickboxing) and just recently I got the Core Rhythms (latin dancing). I enjoy both and the DVD packages come with a variety of 30/45min cardio and tonning for different body parts.

Thanks for all the advice! I guess the whole "tracking food dairy in the head" thing, just doesn't work for me :sad: I was writing it all down but then stopped awhile ago. I must start again and really keep track of what's going into my mouth. I do keep active with cardio/weight training 5-6 times a week so perhaps I'm having a few "extras" that I shouldn't. I think writing it down definately make me more accountable before it goes into my mouth :thumbup: The good thing is that I'm maintaining at the same number and not gaining, but each week it can be a little frustrating to see that same number on the scale. Back to it....I'm determined to kick it back into gear!

Hello August All-Stars, It's been awhile since I've posted and I thought I'd check to see how everyone is doing. WOW I can't believe it's been almost 8 months now living with the band!! My weight loss has plateaued for the last two months and I wanted to see how everyone else is doing with their weight loss??? I've been doing lots of cardio/weight training and the scale is not moving, yet my clothes are fitting better, weird? I'm down 57 and am very happy, but wondering if this is an average place to be at this point? Anyone having a love/hate relationship with their scale? Have you hit a plateau and know how to help me kick it back into gear? Thanks!

My doctor suggests no shakes after the 1 month mark (when back on solid foods) and the reason is due to the liquid passing over the band and not keeping you full as long as solid foods. I am just not a morning person so I make my protien smoothie and take it to work and sip it for about half an hour sometime longer. For sure I find a big difference and I'm hungry 2-3 hours later versus my lunch/dinner of solid food that keeps me 6-8 hours satisfied.....but in the end this is what works for ME. I follow all the Dr. rules but some suggestions I believe to be flexible to meet the needs of each person. Plus I find that my band is tighter in the AM so a liquid breakfast is great.

I've done Tae Bo (kickboxing workout) and it was pretty good. Most gyms have some version of a kickboxing class and they are my favorite. At home I've been using the Turbo Jamm DVDs which I LOVE! A couple weeks ago I bought the Core Rythms (latin dance moves) and it's great too! If I don't make exercise fun then I tend to slack off, so these work well for me especially in the winter when I don't want to go out in the cold!

I have a good medical leave plan at work so I took 3.5 weeks paid leave. I felt achy but able to function after about a week but two weeks were better to feel like a normal person again. I was glad to have extra time to get through all the post-op food stages and get back to normal foods and bodily functions - didn't want to deal with that at work!

I tend to mostly eat protiens, dairy, veggies and fruits first but when I do eat breads I will stick with dry/crunchy foods like crackers, pizza crusts or toast. I've had a couple bites of cake and chewed well and there was no problem. I've had three fills and I have tried many things. I also ate some lasagna I made (with much less pasta than normal and more veggies) but it made me feel sluggish and heavy in my stomach so I will not eaten that again.

I just bought my holiday groceries this week and have two big potlucks to go to next week. I am bringing a cheeseball - YUM! and crackers....but I will eat mostly the cheeseball, lots of protien and of course in moderation :sad_smile:

I survived my first fill and it was a little more intense than I thought it would be, but my threshold for discomfort is HIGH so I made it :thumbup: The Dr. had a hard time finding the port site, so finally after the sixth try he got it and then I drank a glass of water then out I go. I don't feel or see any differences in my eating but it's only the first one. The area around my port site was a little tender for a week after too, I'm sure from all the probing and pushing on my abdomen. I apprently there was 4cc already there from the surgery, so he added one and now I have 5cc in my 10 cc band. Hope all the August All Stars are doing well - I'm doing great!

I like to keep it as simple and easy as possible: how about adding protien powder to chocolate pudding? I use choc/PB protien powder and you could add it to the powder mix, or just buy the ready-made cups and stir into it. I also found this receipe in a weight loss surgery book from the library, sounds yummy, but I haven't made it yet: strawberry Ricotta Whip In food processor mix following until smooth: 2.5 cups strawberries, 1/2 cup ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup plain yogurt, 1/2 tsp grated orange zest, 1/2 tsp vanilla and 4 packets sweetner. Whip 6 tbsp egg white and 1/2 tsp cream of tarter until stiff peaks form. Fold the egg whites into the strawberry mixture. Pour into 4 small dessert bowls and chill overnight. The book says lap band patients can have this week 1+. Here's the nutritional breakdown: Calories 85.92 Protien 8.89g Fat 0.38g Carbs 14.01g Colesterol 3.83mg Fibre 2.41g Sodium 85.27mg

Sorry, new at this poll thing. Looking to see when people got their first fill, especially to see how all the August All Stars are doing and when they are/have gone? :thumbup:

I was banded on August 21 and am scheduled for my first fill on September 26 (5 weeks post op), is this too early? I spoke with my nurse at the clinic and after telling her how I'm doing, she said it sounds like I need a fill, so I booked one. Just curious if others are getting their fills around this time. I thought we are not physicaly healed until six weeks? Any advice appreciated, thanks :thumbup:

Great minds think alike Chicken salad with the spinich dip is very tasty! I also use the canned turkey to make a puree. Tostito also has a ranch dip that I'd like to try - YUM!

I'm on mushies now too and I find the "food and nutrition" section on this site very useful. There are food lists and a thread that people post what they have eaten each day (like an online food journal). From that thread I got a tip to use the tostito spinach dip with a can of chicken chunks - I puree it in the bullet blender and it's pretty good!

The drinking rule was confusing to me too and I'm following it now that I'm doing mushies. My Dr. says it's okay to stop drinking just before you eat (or 15 minutes) and start again 45 minutes after. Fluids go down easily and that's why some can drink up until the time you start to eat. I try to allow at least 5-10 minutes for the water to pass through the band, then I eat my meal, then I wait at least 45 min. before I drink again. Like everyone has mentioned, this rule is important so that we can make the most out of the band and allow our stomach to have that satisfied feeling. I think that drinking too soon after is very important, so that we don't wash all the food through the band. I do find it more challenging to get all my water into the day with this rule - but am getting at least 8 glasses.