TheGh0st

Today's Breakdown: 56oz - Water 3 - LowCarb Slimfast (190/20/2 per can) 1 - serving Protein pudding (217/21/10) 1/4 cup - Cashews (188/5/8) YIKES!!! BAD GHOST VERY BAD GHOST! That brings my total to 975 Calories, 86 Protein & 24 Carbs Would have been much happier with myself if I hadn't reached for those darned Cashews in the breakroom at work. I told myself I was just going to suck on one to get the flavor but next thing I knew I had already ate 1/4 cup. Thankfully I managed to pull myself away before I eat any more. (OK OK the phone rang, but at least I stopped.) Will try to do better tomorrow. Still not too bad overall I guess.

I've heard there is a pretty good store bought one called Stallone I think, but I make my own. I have several different recipes. The one I used today was to mix: 1.4oz sugar free chocolate pudding mix 2 cans of Low Carb Slimfast and 1-1/2 scoops of Protein powder. The entire batch has 680 calories, 76 protein, & 36 carbs. I divided it up into 4 servings which breaks it down to (170/19/9). It tastes pretty good as is but I usually like to put it in the freezer for about 1/2 hour until it starts to freeze then stir until it is about the consistency of a Wendy's Frosty. I also like to stir in 1/2 tablespoon of P.B. just before I eat it. That bumps the breakdown up to (217/21/10) but is worth it to me. Another good version is to replace the Slimfast with 2 cups cottage cheese & 1/2 cup skim milk that has been run through the blender until completely smooth before mixing with the pudding mix. The cottage cheese has a better protein to carb ratio than the protein powder and is an all natural substitute for those that don't want to use Slim Fast or Protein powders. The end results taste really good, it reminds me of my mothers chocolate pudding made with whole milk. It does NOT taste like cottage cheese in any way. The best thing about the cottage cheese blend is that it works great with all kinds of different flavors. I've used it to make the sugar free cheesecake mix and sugar free lemon pudding. It also makes a thicker pudding which helps fill me up. Actually the only reason I used the slimfast this time is I didn't have any cottage cheese on hand.

Hopefully someone else with a bit more knowledge can expand on this but it is my understanding that a "slip" isn't really the band slipping down or up the stomach but actually the lining of the lower stomach folds in on itself and tries to push back up through the band. In some ways it kind of like a hemerrhoid. A bad slip if gone untreated like hers can cut off the blood flow to the stomach lining and lead to the tissue "dying". trash.bmp

I was on a Clear liquids diet for 3 days prior to surgery. I was told they have to manuver around the liver to put the band on our stomachs and that the clear liquids helped to shrink the liver. Of course the best advice is always to follow your doc's advice. Good Luck.

I personally HATE coffee but as long as it has NO-Carbs I don't see why you couldn't drink it. I'm shooting for the following: Monday: (Approx 800 calories) Breakfast: Protein shake & Water Lunch: Protein Shake & Water Dinner: Protein Shake & Water Snack(s): Protein Shake & Water (only variation may be adding Crystal Light to some of the water) Tuesday: Ditto from Monday (Approx 800 Calories) Wednesday: (Approx 900-1000 Calories) Breakfast: Protein Shake & Water Lunch: salad with Feta cheese & Nuts sprinkled liberallly on top. Dinner: 6oz Protein pudding & Water Snack: Protein Shake & Water Thursday: Ditto Wednesday (Approx 900-1000 Calories) Friday: (Approx 1000-1100 Calories) Breakfast: Protein Shake & Water Lunch: Salad with Feta Chees & Nuts Dinner: High Protein Low Carb (Probably Tilapia and Broccoli) Snack: Either Protein Pudding or Protein Shake Saturday/Sunday: Traveling so will just try to do best I can to be high protein / low carb. I better lose at least one pound doing this or my morale is going to go down the toilet.

OK 27 minutes and counting until we start the second wave of the 2-Day challenge. Good luck everyone!!

I recently had Plastic Surgery. The surgeon reccomended using a Vitamin E Cream with a minimum of 10,000iu of Vitamin E. I was able to find it at a local CVS but not Walgreens. He said to use vitamin E lotion NOT vitamin E gel though I didn't get a very good explanation as to why. He also said that massaging the scar was as if not MORE important than the vitamin E. He instructed me to massage the scar in small firm circular motions for 1-minute twice a day. My plastic surgery scar is still red along the incision line right now but has no lumpy scar tissue as of 3 months out. He didn't have me start massaging it until several weeks post surgery and has instructed me to keep massaging it for at least 3 months. I only wish my band surgeon had given the same advice as my port scar is VERY raised and UGLY. Though luckily my PS says when I get my breast reduction later this year he will do a quick scar revision at the port site as well. One last note. The surgeon & his nurse who had also had Plastic surgery both said NOT to waste money on expensive creams like Mederma. They didn't feel they gave any better results than the much cheaper CVS store brand vitamin E lotion.

A few bandsters I know that are keeping it quiet will usually order Soup off the menu. Then if someone does notice and ask, they will say something about feeling like they are coming down with or getting over a mild stomach flu or if they travelled to visit the person they will blame thier "touchy" stomach on jet-lag. On the pizza, you might try getting thin & crispy crust. Or you pull the stomach flu card again and ask to go elsewhere. I can't say which would be worse. Hiding the surgery, then constantly stressing about people asking why I'm not eating enough or worrying that the few I confided in might slip and tell someone I didn't want to know. Versus not hiding the surgery, and dealing with the stupid comments like, "so when will you be able to eat normal, healthy foods again?", "How much do you have to lose before you go back to have the band removed?", "Gee, if you are only suppose to lose 1-3 pounds a week with the band, why didn't you just do it without the band?" etc... Personally I chose to tell everyone and deal with the occasional idiot comments, but I can totally relate and respect the people who chose to keep it private. After all it really isn't anyone elses business.

Nina - You were reading my mind. If I am doomed to this shoulder surgery (I'm still praying for relief with the Physical Therapy) I was thinking I'd try to beg, bribe or blackmail the docs into agreeing to do both during the same time frame, if not the same day. I will say now that I'm finally on some heavy duty prescription pain pills the pain is pretty much limited to only when I move my arm the wrong way, instead of the constant dull ache that was driving my crazy. PS - Shoot where did all the cool smileys go? I had wanted to insert one of those mad face/laughing smileys on the blackmail comment.

Can I join in as well? I'm still fighting some major Carb Cravings after a huge spill off the proverbial wagon during the Holidays.

You know I had that happen once as well. I'm no computer tech but what worked for me in the end was to go to my "User CP" and set all the threads to NOT send me E-mails. Then reset them all back to "E-MAIL NOTIFICATION". Don't know if it was just a coincidence but it seemed to do the trick for me.

One more positive change for me has been that I've started to exercise again. Not near as much as I could/should but it's a start. I am meeting a bandster friend Wednesday nights to walk at a local mall, last night we walked close to 4 miles in just over an hour. I'm looking at gyms too, but have been holding back because it looks like I may be going in for another surgery soon. My right shoulder has been hurting for several months now and I've been ignoring it while I focused on the PS, hoping it would just go away. Sadly it has only gotten progressively worse. The doc & physical therapist are both fairly convinced I've torn my rotator cuff and are scheduling me for an MRI to find out for sure. Everyone, please pray I don't need surgery. I hear it is a long and painful recovery with 12 weeks of Physical Therapy. I don't know how much of that would require me to be off work but am worried about how our budget could handlen an extended leave from work. And the FMLA act that has been discussed over on LJM's thread doesn't apply to companies like mine that are under 50 employees so my work could replace me without retribution if I took time off. Ofcourse to tell the truth, what I am most upset about is that if I have the shoulder surgery it will mean I won't be able to schedule the time off for my Breast Reduction for another year or two. I am so SICK & TIRED of using all my vacation time up for surgeries. I'd really like to be able to just go somewhere fun and enjoy this new body of mine.

It has been 3 months since yesterday. And, yes I do feel back to normal I suppose. I haven't been too active on this thread as I'm a bit disappointed/disgusted with myself right now. Despite the surgery removing 10 pounds from me I am now up 7 pounds from my pre-surgery weight. That makes a total weight gain of 17 pounds! Yes I know there is some swelling. Yes my swellling though not painful or uncomfortable in any way does seem to be more than most people. But I just can't believe that all 17 pounds are from the swelling. Especially considering the VERY poor food choices I've been making. I am still very happy with how my stomach is looking. And I do think I've turned a corner with the food. Both yesterday and today so far I've been following the high Protein low carb regime very well. Let's hope it is a trend. No matter how my resolve stands up with food I will post an updated photo for everyone to see at the end of the month when I have my official 3 month follow up appointment with the PS.

I concurr, personally I told anyone and everyone willing to listen and many that probably were only pretending to listen. I don't have any regrets as that is just who I am, but it has made it harder dealing with some people even relatives. They all pretty much got over the "easy route" thoughts but as you surmised they rapidly progressed into feeling it their right to drill me on all aspects of my weight loss. Questioning what I am and am not eating, questioning if I'm losing too fast or too slow. It can get very frustrating. The people I have met that kept the band secret from thier family members generally have taken the approach of if pressed about how they are losing weight they brush it off with a saying like "I'm just watching my carbs". Surprisingly, since you are chewing each bite longer very few people will notice that you are eating that much less food. Good luck and best wishes no matter what you decide.

Unfortunately you will never be able to convince everyone this isn't a cheaters way out. Heck, if I'm honest with myself there are still times I feel like I cheated by getting the band. But then I slap myself a few times and remember just how HARD this "easy" way has been for me and everyone else I know. The band just turns an near if not impossible task into one that is very hard but attainable. I don't think I've met one bandster that has ever felt this was easy. For goodness sakes should a diabetic feel they are cheating by taking insulin rather than controlling it through diet & exercise alone?

Didn't know where or if to post this but I just went to Walgreens yesterday. They are having a great deal on Slimfast right now. It hasn't really been advertised well but if you buy 3 boxes of Slimfast (I prefer the Low-Carb) you get a $6 "Register Rewards"coupon off your next purchase at Walgreens. You also get a second Register Reward coupon for $5 from the same purchase because of another promotion going on where you get $5 for spending over $15 on Unilever products (which Slimfast is). Where I live the Slimfast is currently on sale for $18 for 3 boxes. 6.00 - Slimfast Low Carb 6.00 - Slimfast Low Carb 6.00 - Slimfast Low Carb 18.00 - Sub Total 1.36 - Tax 19.36 - Total (6.00) - Register Reward for buying 3 Slimfast Products (5.00) - Register Reward for spending over $15 on Unilever Products $ 8.36 - Final Cost for 12 cans of Slimfast or 70 Cents per Can! I think I will be crusin' all the different Walgreens near me tonight and buying them out of the Low-Carb Slimfast!

Didn't know where or if to post this but I just went to Walgreens yesterday. They are having a great deal on Slimfast right now. It hasn't really been advertised well but if you buy 3 boxes of Slimfast (I prefer the Low-Carb) you get a $6 "Register Rewards"coupon off your next purchase at Walgreens. You also get a second Register Reward coupon for $5 from the same purchase because of another promotion going on where you get $5 for spending over $15 on Unilever products (which Slimfast is). Where I live the Slimfast is currently on sale for $18 for 3 boxes. 6.00 - Slimfast Low Carb 6.00 - Slimfast Low Carb 6.00 - Slimfast Low Carb 18.00 - Sub Total 1.36 - Tax 19.36 - Total (6.00) - Register Reward for buying 3 Slimfast Products (5.00) - Register Reward for spending over $15 on Unilever Products $ 8.36 - Final Cost for 12 cans of Slimfast or 70 Cents per Can! I think I will be crusin' all the different Walgreens near me tonight and buying them out of the Low-Carb Slimfast!

I also use protein shakes from time to time. Especially for breakfast when I'm feeling too tight to eat solids. However, I still wanted to address the idea that there are nutritionalists out there saying you can't hit 60+ grams of protein in a day just from banded foods. It may not be easy to each day but here is one example of a days food that would fit. Breakfast - Egg & cheese omelet lunch - Tuna salad served on 1/2 a boiled egg (Like a Deviled Egg but with Tuna) dinner - Baked Tilapia with a couple broccoli florets and a tablespoon of mashed potatoes. Shoot, I can't find my old post with a breakdown on the protein/carbs/etc. but it did come out over 60 grams of protein as well as low-carb/low-calories.

Yeah I like the site. But if you read the description on the "Peoples Choice Ideal Weight" calculation closely it says: This shows the average weight that other people of your Age, Height, Weight and Gender would describe as their ideal weight. In other words as you lose weight the goal is recalculated based on what other people your new weight would say is their ideal, making the goal weight a constantly moving target. For example at my height (5'2") I'd have to get down to 112 pounds before my "peers" thought I didn't need to lose any more weight. And for now, that just seems impossible to me at my age. Heck, getting to the 150's is still feeling impossible.

Everyone has different reasons and methods for choosing their goals. Everything from referring to the BMI chart like you mentioned to picking a weight from their past where they felt "normal". My doc had been one of those who said you should set your goal at around 50% of your beginning excess weight. He based that on some old studies that indicated that was the average weight loss of bariatric patients. Personally I think that is a bit of hogwash. I don't have a problem with someone setting a higher goal. Then re-evaluating it when they get closer, I just didn't like the doc acting like that was the best I could hope for. One site I found usefull in setting my goals early on. Below is a link to a site I found usefull in helping me set some goals. It is worth taking a look at. Better Ideal Weight Body Calculations

I asked two local docs. The one that banded me and the one I see for fills. One said no unfill was necessary before the surgery. He thought it would be better to wait and get an unfill after the surgery only if necessary. The other doc suggested a small unfill before surgery as a precaution. I chose the unfill mainly because I knew I was already too tight and had been struggling with the fact I already needed an unfill. When they did the unfill they pulled 12.5cc out of my "10cc" band and put 10cc's back in. Last week they put another 1cc back so I'm now up to 11cc's.

Can't help you on the starving comment but I would strongly reccomend (sp?) switching to Slimfasts Low Carb version over the Optifast. The majority of the band docs really push the high protein regime and the Low Carb Slimfast has both the highest Protein grams as well as the lowest Carb grams of any of their varieties. I use to drink the protein powder drinks until I realized that the low carb slimfast not only gave me as much protein as most of the protein powders but also gave me many vitamins/minerals. The two stores I've found that carry it are Walgreens and Sams Club

As for the SlimFast comments. There is a variety of Slimfast called LowCarb. Locally I find it at Sams Club and Walgreens. It has more Protein and less carbs than the Slimfast marketed as High Protein. As to the tastes of some of the protein supplements. I like to mix things up. here are a few suggestions. chocolate Flavored Protein drinks such as the Slimfast Low Carb or the Protein Powders. - Mix in a couple tablespoons of Nestle's Low Carb Hot Chocolate Powder to bump up the chocolate flavor. It only adds 25 calories and I think only 4 or 5 carbs. - Mix in just a little instant coffee - Blend up in a mixer with 1/3 frozen banana and/or a Tablespoon of Peanut Butter Fruit Flavored Protein Drinks such as Isopure's glass bottles. - mix in some Crystal Light lemonade or other flavored packet to bump up the flavor. - run through blender with a 1/3 frozen banana or 2 frozen strawberries. - or try making some sugar free Jello (with 1/2 the hot water) then after it cools to luke warm (or cooler) then mix in Isopure as the remainder of the liquids. The only Isopure I could drink was the GrapeFrost with the Crystal Light Lemonade mixed in. I found the Orange Isopure to taste like a watered down McDonalds Orange Drink with this odd slimy after effect. But I never tried adding Crystal Lights orange mix to the orange Isopure, which might have helped. Once you get to a point they allow foods such as puddings. You can make a whole array of protein puddings that are pretty tasty. Soft frozen they can even substitute for soft serve icecream.

Nice to meet you Mary. I wish you the best on whatever path your journey takes you. Please feel free to ask any questions you might have. Ofcourse we are mostly a biased group but we can still be helpful.

Hey there Pam - I know what you mean about the chocolate. I've been giving in to its calling way too much over the holidays. Even gave in to a Sheridan's Chocolate Concrete Mixer today with Hot Fudge and Carmel mixed in. So Yummy and yet so not good for me. I've promised myself to get active in the exercise side of my journey to a slimmer and healthier life this year. However, I'm being side tracked by some sever shoulder pain issues. I've been struggling with a sore right shoulder for nearly 6 months but am one to put off dealing with what seem to be minor annoyances. Twice my doc has given me orders to see a physical therapist and twice I decided I was too busy with other issues such as Christmas shopping and my Plastic Surgery to deal with my shoulder. But I've let it go too far. Now I'm in a state of constant pain shooting up and down my arm with my right hand feeling as if it has permanently fallen asleep. I'm hoping it is just a pinched nerve and that I haven't let it go so far that it has caused any permanent damage. But I'm worried that it could be something more serious, I just can't believe a pinched nerve wouldn't have resolved itself by now. I was also popping Advil & Tylenol pills right and left for the last month and after seeing some recent posts on Lapbandtalk am worried about if I've done any harm to my stomach due to the band. I've tried stopping the pain pills the last couple days but it hurts so bad I'm about ready to take the risk just to get a little relief.