elcee

OK Jen, please tell us, if you are not going to eat animal Protein, fat or starches what are you going to eat?
For the record animal Protein is healthy and is one of the things most band Dr's advise you to eat first when you have a band. Fat is an essential part of a healthy diet and helps to control hunger. The important thing is to choose the right type of fat. Nuts, avo's ,fish etc all contain healthy fats. Foods with lots of fats added such as croissants or donuts are obviously not healthy. Starches are fine, they help to give bulk and are still the bodies best source of energy. Again you should choose wholemeal, grainy starches over white extremely processed ones.
I assume that you do not have your band yet. You may find that once you do your opinion on what is/isn't healthy may change.
A good example is that a diet preband would probably contain a nice grilled chicken breast with lots of salad. After you are banded you will probably find either a) you cannot eat the chicken breast because it is too dry or you can eat a small amount but it makes you too uncomfortable or c) find that it gets stuck. You will probably go for option d) still eat chicken but choose thigh over breast and instead of grilling it you may cook it in the crock pot and serve it moist with some kind of sauce.
If I am wrong and you are banded already then please share some of your favourite meals with us. The title of the thread was
Can You Tell Me Your Favorite Meals!!!
not
What are the healthiest foods to eat that I should be eating once I have a band.

I met a guy yesterday that was probably in his early 50s. He was telling me how he had about 3/4 of his stomach removed when he was in his teens due to ulcers and other problems. So in effect what he had is very similar to having a sleeve.
Whilst this guy was by no means obese he looked like your average guy of around that age. Overweight with what looked like a beer belly.
So this tells me that even with drastic reduction of stomach size unless you continue to aim to keep your weight under control it won't happen. That it is still easy to gain weight.
He also mentioned that he has a lot of problems with excess acid. Something that I believe is a common problem with surgeries that reduce the size of the stomach.

I would say that yes it is because of dehydration. Alcohol dehydrates and dehydration makes a band tighter.

The last month has been a pretty long plateau and I've been getting down on myself about the scale not moving. Today I reminded myself that it isn't always the scale that tells the picture. I did a little shopping and not only was I able to shop in the Misses department, but I bought a dress I would never have touched before. Completely out of my comfort zone, or so I thought. Couldn't wait to get home to try it on for the boyfriend. Big success. Can't wait to wear it. I feel a nice evening out in my future.
I find that I enjoy shopping now, trying on clothes and pushing my own boundaries. I have painted toes, that I can see, and feel more feminine than ever before. I don't know if it makes sense, but instead of trying to 'blend in' and not be noticed, I want to say "look at me here I am".
Looking forward to the next stage in my journey. I will reach goal that is a promise I've made to myself that I don't plan to break.

I am 5' exactly. If I had weighed 199lbs when I got banded I would have had a BMI of 38.9! Sorry that makes you mad. What makes me mad is people that don't think some people are/were fat enough to get surgery.
Personally I am glad that I had the motivation to do something when my BMI was only 32. Being obese was bad enough , I don't see why I should have had to wait until I was morbidly or super obese to do something about it.It is always better to do something sooner rather than later.

I am 5' exactly. If I had weighed 199lbs when I got banded I would have had a BMI of 38.9! Sorry that makes you mad. What makes me mad is people that don't think some people are/were fat enough to get surgery.
Personally I am glad that I had the motivation to do something when my BMI was only 32. Being obese was bad enough , I don't see why I should have had to wait until I was morbidly or super obese to do something about it.It is always better to do something sooner rather than later.

And you cant really say something so judgemental and offensive and then act offensive when a similar assumption is made of you!
Personally I think you're very lucky to have this opportunity as young as you are. When I was 23 and a huge 180, the only things available were Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers and Limits (remember those?)

I assume you must be a consultant.

Well I posted that info., and I believe your not quite rite !
Corned Beef is a excellent Protein dish. Served with Cabbage ,Potato, onion is a good dish.
My Surgeon told me to eat the dark meat from chicken, the white meat is to dry for me to swallow, and the calorie difference is not significant.
Pork is high in Protein, and baking it locks the juiciness in.
Seafood or Fish is always a good choice.
Steak I like mine wrapped in Foil 2 x, and smothered with onions, peppers, and mushrooms. sprinkled with oregano, then baked in a 500 degree oven for 1 hour. You never had a more TENDER Steak.
Mushrooms can be oven baked or deep fried ? Other vegetables,,, You can have what you can tolerate.
Everyday is a different day with the band, so I take it one day at a time.
If you see this as wrong, then that's up to you.
But the Question was Can you tell me your favorite meals ?
These are all possibles. Including Lamb when I can get it, BBQ on a Grill is also great.
Look these foods up on calorie king and you will see they are high protein foods.
Remember: I'm talking about quality,"THE BEST YOU CAN GET" and quantity " LESS IS MORE !"
So I agree with elcee. Except for a hiccup or 2 This is all SPOT ON !
Thanks elcee.
Shirley.

To have to wait a week and a half is no time at all. I wouldn't stress about it. Just concentrate on eating healthily and not giving in to all the junk in the meantime.

I would rather be underweight than overweight. The normal BMI range is quite wide so I think it is easy to settle on some point within that and be happy. I certainly wouldn't be happy if my BMI still said I was overweight.
I am forever being told I am skinny but it's not true. It is simply that my friend/s are jealous(which they admit) and also that they are no longer used to seeing normal weight people as there are more overweight people these days than there are ones that are at a healthy weight. I would actually like to lose a few more kilos but i need to be able to choose where they come off ( my stomach instead of my legs)
As for the wrinkles - the bags under my eyes are more prominent than they used to be. I actually went for a consultation last week and was told that it happens with age as you lose fat in your cheeks so fillers would help. I am seriously considering having them done but they are so dam expensive and only temporary. I still think the slightly tired look that I have now is preferable to the big round face and lots of chins that I had when i was overweight.

Actually Shirley's suggestions were spot on. She didn't say anything about fried foods(except the mushrooms). Steak is healthy if you are able to eat it.Have you ever heard of grilling or baking it? Most foods require some kind of sauce post band. Dry foods are very hard to eat. Gravy does not have to be full of fat, it can be made with stock, flour or cornflour and a stock cube or other seasoning to your taste.

So, today is my 4th Bandiversary. I cannot believe four years have gone by so quickly. I've had no complications. I keep up with my Vitamins. I see my surgeon about once a year to check on everything. My blood pressure is normal, my cholesterol is normal, my blood sugar is normal, my BMI is normal, yay!!!
I have to say this has been the easiest weight loss/maintenance plan I've ever been on. Even with the stuck episodes. You need to keep a sense of humor with you for times of stuckage.
I lost 70 lbs in the first two years and I've kept it off for two years with hardly any work.
I love my band. I am concerned about keeping it with me for the rest of my life. It IS an implanted device after-all. So, that's why I see my surgeon annually. My primary care doc checks my Vitamin levels.
Life is pretty darned good. My DH got me flowers today to Celebrate, what a sweetie.

I'm amazed that the job market over there is so good that the health insurance offered can be a factor. At the moment in Aus things are pretty tough(though we are supposedly doing better than the rest of the world) and there is no way someone would turn down a job because of what was/wasn't included in health insurance. At the moment people, especially those starting out can be lucky to get any job at all.

That was the part that jumped out at me as well. Reading the post it sounded to me as though the Op thought that everything would just magically fall in place once she got restriction.
Well it isn't like that.
When I introduced myself on this board initially I was told that the band is only a tool and that I have to make it work. I was probably a little shocked and taken aback but I kept that info on board. I realised that in order to be successful I had to be in control.
Yes of course I needed HELP to lose the weight and keep it off but I also had to remember that it was only HELP and that the band wasn't going to do it all.
For the first couple of months I kept "chasing" the sweet spot(restriction) as people used to refer to it then. It sounded like a wonderful place. I would be able to eat tiny amounts and not get hungry in between. What I hadn't realised is that the sweet spot in the way it had been marketed to me doesn't exist. But what I also should have realised was that i was already there. I was eating smaller amounts, not getting hungry as quickly and losing weight.
If you do your part and eat the type of foods that you should be eating. Protein, veggies, good carbs, fruit you will probably find that your band is working and that you will lose weight. You may not lose it as fast as you would hope but slow and steady is good. Also noone expects you to be perfect 100% of the time. Stick with the 80/20 or 90/10 rule.
And as Sharilo says the tighter you are the harder it becomes to eat the kind of foods that you should be eating.
So yes you may need another fill but do not expect that it will suddenly turn you into a perfect eater overnight. And recognise each fill and the help it gives you and work with it to achieve the body that you hope to have.Sometimes the changes from the band are subtle, it doesn't always scream at you so make sure you are listening carefully.

That was the part that jumped out at me as well. Reading the post it sounded to me as though the Op thought that everything would just magically fall in place once she got restriction.
Well it isn't like that.
When I introduced myself on this board initially I was told that the band is only a tool and that I have to make it work. I was probably a little shocked and taken aback but I kept that info on board. I realised that in order to be successful I had to be in control.
Yes of course I needed HELP to lose the weight and keep it off but I also had to remember that it was only HELP and that the band wasn't going to do it all.
For the first couple of months I kept "chasing" the sweet spot(restriction) as people used to refer to it then. It sounded like a wonderful place. I would be able to eat tiny amounts and not get hungry in between. What I hadn't realised is that the sweet spot in the way it had been marketed to me doesn't exist. But what I also should have realised was that i was already there. I was eating smaller amounts, not getting hungry as quickly and losing weight.
If you do your part and eat the type of foods that you should be eating. Protein, veggies, good carbs, fruit you will probably find that your band is working and that you will lose weight. You may not lose it as fast as you would hope but slow and steady is good. Also noone expects you to be perfect 100% of the time. Stick with the 80/20 or 90/10 rule.
And as Sharilo says the tighter you are the harder it becomes to eat the kind of foods that you should be eating.
So yes you may need another fill but do not expect that it will suddenly turn you into a perfect eater overnight. And recognise each fill and the help it gives you and work with it to achieve the body that you hope to have.Sometimes the changes from the band are subtle, it doesn't always scream at you so make sure you are listening carefully.

No negative here. I love my band. I'm at goal and have been for almost 2 years. Feeling good, looking good, no major problems.
YAY BAND

It sounds to me as though you are expecting the band to do everything. You seem to have forgotten that it is only a tool that will make eating properly and less easier. It will not do it for you.

It sounds to me as though you are expecting the band to do everything. You seem to have forgotten that it is only a tool that will make eating properly and less easier. It will not do it for you.

It sounds to me as though you are expecting the band to do everything. You seem to have forgotten that it is only a tool that will make eating properly and less easier. It will not do it for you.

I think u need to discuss with the doctor how u are feeling and what is happening regarding your eating and lack of restriction. I have a size 14 band and am just over 7.25 fill, it does sound like u need more of a fill than u have but the problem is he will only put in as much fill as the Water drink test indicates, a lot of doctors would do the same. It certainly would seem a good idea to request an xray or fill under flouroscopy, here in the UK they never fill using xrays but i see u are in the US so it may well be that u can request it. Asking for a 1cc fill i dont think sounds unreasonable especially as u seem to have little restriction at the moment so i would go for it
My only concerns regarding some of your post are that you say that 'when u feel restriction you are going to want to eat the right things'.. making the right choices on food really isnt about restriction its about your resolve and comittment to making this band work for you. Some people can lose weight eating the same food just smaller amounts others have to change what they eat aswell. I look at the pouch the band makes like a shopping bag , even if u reduce the size of the shopping bag its still your choice what u put in it.. The band wont make healthy decisions for you only you can do that .. I know u probably know this and sorry for having to say it .. I really hope you do well at your appointment today and then maybe u can start again on taking control more. You dont mention exercise at all and that ofc for most is also key to making this band work so get moving if you arent doing any and maybe you can start losing again. I do eat low carb, low fat high Protein and that formula works for me along with exercise everyday .. go for it !

I'm amazed that the job market over there is so good that the health insurance offered can be a factor. At the moment in Aus things are pretty tough(though we are supposedly doing better than the rest of the world) and there is no way someone would turn down a job because of what was/wasn't included in health insurance. At the moment people, especially those starting out can be lucky to get any job at all.

You shouldn't have continued trying to eat. You should have waited until you felt the pain /pressure disappear or felt the object move through.Putting more food ontop of something stuck usually just makes it worse.

Your Dr seems to have been negligent so because of that you advise everybody that they should not get a lapband.
People get organ transplants and their bodies reject them - would you advise them not to get the transplant?
Women get pregnant and die in childbirth - does that mean people should stop getting pregnant?
You can get MRSA in hospital - does that mean noone should go into hospital.
You can have surgery for something minor and end up dead because of a blood clot or some other unforeseen complication.
You can take medication and have a serious allergic or anaphylactic reaction - should everyone give up taking medicine.
Yes you have had a bad experience and I am sorry about that. It sounds as though the NHS or whoever it is in Scotland messed up. That is hardly a good reason to advise others not to go ahead. If you want to caution others maybe you should make them aware of the risks of this particular Dr or the NHS in general.
Life itself is risky. There are no guarantees. Imagine trying to live your life without taking any risks - that life would be no life at all. You wouldn't be able to go outside your front door because you could get struck by lightning or run over by a bus. You certainly couldn't go in a car as that is one of the most dangerous things people do every day. But staying at home is dangerous too, that is where most accidents happen. You could:-
Have a fall
Burn yourself
Get electrocuted
Be poisoned by food, or chemicals or gas or plants
You certainly wouldn't want to have sex as that could involve catching a life threatening STI
You would probably be so bored sitting in your room wrapped in cotton wool to protect you and keep you warm that you would over indulge in food and then you would get fatter and fatter and fatter and probably die prematurely anyway from a stroke or heartattack

The complications from having a lap band on a long term basis dont come near the problems that you are storing up being overweight .. to me there was no comparison at all, the lap band wont cause you anywhere near the life threatening health problems you could face with obesity.. If ever i had to have my lapband removed i would say good bye to a good friend who has helped me lose the vast amount of weight i needed to and have no regrets about this process at all good luck..