Yvette1026

Your body is going through the changes of an intense work out.. you weren't losing because your muscles were building to burn more fat, this is a GREAT thing! I was expecting your post to say "I gained weight!" - which is very typical in this type of situation with intense workouts like boxing. (I kickbox myself.)

I would recommend using protein smoothies to supplement your protein..you can make the same smoothie with as much protein as you want without altering the taste too much, especially if you're using greek yogurt like Fage 0% as base, which has 20 grams of protein, mixed with some protein powder (mine is 20 per scoop) add 2 scoops and you're already at 60 grams, plus 8 from the skim milk, etc.. it's a very easy and delicious way to boost your protein, stay full and stay cool during the summer time as well.

Overall the chances are you probably weren't eating enough and/or your body was adjusting to the new routine, without seeing your food journal or what you've been eating, its hard to say. But I hope that helped, all the best to you!

Couple of things...

1.) Your male friend needed to expound on his comment. Men will choose the skinny/thinner girl every time but for what? Relationship or hookup? There's a difference.

This is a conversation I have with people A LOT I actually do some radio interviews, etc.. on the topic because it's such a hot topic. When the show "More to love" was on air I did my rounds on radio shows because I personally was mortified by that show. But as I came to find out, this is the reality of most overweight women or as I've come to help alot of them realize..it's their perceived reality or the one they create for themselves.

At 33 having been plus size/full figured or well let's just say it..Fat my whole life.. I mean my entire life and having been a size 14 or bigger since age 8, yes I said 8 as in 6, 7, 8.. I don't have any other reality.

I've never had an issue dating, having a boyfriend, keeping a boyfriend or anything like that. I've been married, divorced, dated lots and even serial dated (3 dates in a day, 5 days a week).

I've often been told that's because I'm not the "normal plus size/fat girl" - i.e. low self-esteem, ill-kept, ungroomed, etc... And while that may be true the difference between me and most is CONFIDENCE. Whether it's true or not, when I walk into the room I firmly believe I am the most beautiful girl in the room and I act accordingly. While it may only be true in my head, I'll get the attention like I am because of how I carry myself.

All of the above is something that has to come from within, your outer appearance really has nothing to do with it. You ever see gorgeous men with hideous women or vice versa... CONFIDENCE.

People are just people, everyone wants to be liked, men find it highly flattering when a woman finds them attractive because most women don't express it to them. However, as women we have to allow men to come to us, and really the key here it to love yourself before anybody else can love you. I know that sound cliche but it's true.

You can sit and wonder why your life is passing you by or you can stop and just into as it's happening now. It's all on how you look at it.. half empty or half full?

Most fat women tend to throw themselves pity parties and think oh gosh they don't like me, because I'm fat or whatever.. when they bottom line is they don't like you cause you don't like you.

I know it's a lil' harsh and a lot of people probably don't want to hear it, but that's truth and sometimes it hurts.

You've done something out of love for yourself to better yourself and your life, let it flow and let people be drawn to you, the real you that's waiting to burst out... but please not she can burst out at 285 or 185.. she's still the same person. Love yourself and be good to yourself!

Protein Scoops are up to you 1 or 2.. I was doing 2 to ensure I was getting all of my protein.. the strawberry shake is 540 calories and 52 grams of protein (using the products I was using) in the entire blender.. so if you mix it up and freeze to use the rest later it's just as good you just need to defrost and re-blend. It got me through my mushie stage and still gets me through lots of days.. now at 7 months out and 60lbs down the smoothies have been a friend to me! lol Hope they're as good to you, let me know how they work out for you!

These recipes will make a blender FULL, for me that works because I just drink them all day and I make mine thick so I need to use a spoon (makes me feel like i'm eating)

But here you go from my previous response to someone else:

I do lots of various ones but a couple of simple ones are:

1/3 blender of ice

1/2 cup greek yogurt (Fage 0% is best - lots of protein)

2 scoops of vanilla (I use whole foods brand whey protein)

strawberries (6-8 should do)

Agave nectar to taste

Blend to desired consistency. I blend mine to a thick milkshake consistency, you stay full longer and you actually feel like you're eating something. And being the summer time it's a refreshing treat.

My next favorite one is using the frozen fruit mix from costco (mangos, peaches, strawberries sliced and frozen in a bag).

Ice 1/3 blender

Fruit 1/2 cup

Orange Juice 4-8oz

Protein Powder (Vanilla) 1 or 2 scoops

Agave Nectar to taste

Blend.. this one is so tropical and good.

I had to be on protein shakes for 3 weeks so I understand what you're feeling, I got super creative, hot chocolates, puddings, etc.. all made from protein shakes.. but the above are my quick favorites to go to.

Remember Greek Yogurt and Agave Nectar are your friends in this time period blended into a smoothie it's definitely of GOD! lol

I used smoothies in this time period, I tried the soups etc and it wasn't working for me. The only thing that did was soft mushies like tuna salad, chicken salad, etc..

I would skip all of that and go to fresh fruit protein smoothies. I just typed a couple of recipes in another response.. I'll go cut and paste them hang on.

The key is to make smoothies that are of substance. They will keep you full and you'll feel like you're eating something.

I do lots of various ones but a couple of simple ones are:

1/3 blender of ice

1/2 cup greek yogurt (Fage 0% is best - lots of protein)

2 scoops of vanilla (I use whole foods brand whey protein)

strawberries (6-8 should do)

Agave nectar to taste

Blend to desired consistency. I blend mine to a thick milkshake consistency, you stay full longer and you actually feel like you're eating something. And being the summer time it's a refreshing treat.

My next favorite one is using the frozen fruit mix from costco (mangos, peaches, strawberries sliced and frozen in a bag).

Ice 1/3 blender

Fruit 1/2 cup

Orange Juice 4-8oz

Protein Powder (Vanilla) 1 or 2 scoops

Agave Nectar to taste

Blend.. this one is so tropical and good.

I had to be on protein shakes for 3 weeks so I understand what you're feeling, I got super creative, hot chocolates, puddings, etc.. all made from protein shakes.. but the above are my quick favorites to go to.

Remember Greek Yogurt and Agave Nectar are your friends in this time period blended into a smoothie it's definitely of GOD! lol

Congratulations and the title of your blog "Why not sooner" is exactly how I feel, like WHY didn't I do this sooner?!!?!? Everything for a reason

I'm 7 months post op as of yesterday..you won't (shouldn't) feel bad after your fill.. you were more than likely very swollen which is what caused the feeling you felt and for the liquid to be removed.

As for your energy level, check with your dr and ask if you can move to mushies or eat something of substance like cream of wheat, that'll get your energy up.

WOO HOO! Lookin' good!

I hope you shaved a few inches off being out there! It's too hot.. I stay inside and go from my air conditioned house to my air conditioned car lol AZ is too hot, I even sat out of two concerts this weekend cause I wasn't tryin' to be out there in this AZ heat lol.. Maybe all us AZ people can meet up for Fro-yo or something and cool it down

I LOVE LOVE LOVE couple's dancing.. Ballroom, Salsa, all of that.. the old fred astaire and ginger rogers movies get me every time!

Yet another reason to NOT tell people your business. But WOW and your fellow bandster and her parking lot unfill...there's so much wrong with all of this on so many levels... just WOW

I tell people as I choose to, I don't lie or hide it.. but just as with any other medical procedure or diagnoses I don't go around reporting it to other people either, it's not their business.

Like right now I have a knee issue (I rebuke surgery in the name of Jesus ) but because I'm not up and active like I normally am everyone is like are you ok..what's wrong with your leg... to some I just say "I'm good, I'm just healing" to others I'll tell them what's going on. When it comes to all things medical it's REALLY not anyone's business to know or ask, but that's just my opinion.

When it comes to being banded many people feel like you're cheating and you took the easy way out as if we don't work hard for this EVERY day.. but we do, much more so than if we were just dieting but they don't understand. I choose not to argue with fools.

Congratulations on being banded.. But why are you taking pills? You should have received liquid pain meds and if not prescription then liquid tylenol. It's very important to not put solids in right now as they can get stuck or add to your swelling and slow your healing process.

The bleeding is worrisome, were you sleeping on your stomach? Did you look at your incisions? Did you bust some stitches? Glad you're not in pain...here's to a rapid recovery!

You're going through changes which will definitely have an effect on him as well. Your husband has a point only if you're neglecting him or other priorities to be on here.. (Which I don't think is the case.)

There's things about this process that ONLY other people going through it as well can relate to. Can your husband give you advice on being Stuck, Band friendly recipes, Band Concerns, etc??? More than likely not. Assure him that the site is mostly women (which it is) and that he's more than welcome to come on and see what it is you're doing at any time.

While it's important to be open and honest with your spouse, it is also important for you to have a personal time/space/release to do whatever it is that you would like to do. Whether it's blogging, reading a magazine, or playing a video game. Whatever you choose to do.

There's a lot worse things that you could be doing... he should realize that.

Chip and salsa isn't cheating.. you got this lapband for life... it's there to be a tool. I'm sure you had less chips and salsa post band, then you had pre-band right? So it's working.

How long has it been since your fill? Most people don't really start to loose until 2nd or 3rd fill that's why they call it "bandster hell" you're still getting the hang of it? Maybe you need a more aggressive fill?

Also proteins over carbs, remember that! You can do this! All the best to you!

You slept late, the majority of people are always tighter in the morning and then loosen up as the day progresses. This is a pretty normal phenomenon. I always test my band to see if I can eat in the morning.. I take a sip of a heavy juice like Orange or Pineapple juice and see how it goes down.. if it's slow going... I do a shake if it goes down easy I do eggs, etc..

Then there's days like today where I tested...made eggs got about 1/2 way through 2 scrambled eggs and my band said.. NOPE not any more.. so now I'm sitting here burping and feeling oh so disgusting... blogging to distract myself as well lol

On the upside being stuck only lasts a few minutes I find that bending over and then stretching back in an arch of the back gets things unstuck pretty quickly but also reduces the pain level.

Don't worry about calories and intake right now and you should have been given a lapband booklet that you had to sign for that has all of the info in it.

Reading your post I get a very positive vibe like everything is going to change dramatically for you... I think your lack of weightloss/change will happen very soon too, besides being in Cali you can always go to TJ and have Dr Ponce de Leon do your fills for CHEAP.

WOW Way to go! We need pictures! lol very inspiring!

Oh yeah and I totally eat sushi all the time.. well as sushi as I get with my california rolls lol.. but yes I eat them, just instead of a whole roll or two for a meal, I'll eat about 3 slices and be done.

I eat rice, pasta and bread it can definitely be a challenge and it fills me up quicker. But I do eat it being an O blood type I NEED it, carbs and red meat.. need need need it... but yeah I just listen to my band if it says "no bread today" I don't eat bread.. if it says ok.. I go for it. I've found usually if it's toasted it's not an issue. Bagels, english muffins, waffles, etc.. like this morning I had eggs benedict with no issue. But then tonight I had a wheat tortilla and that was a no go. Listen to your band and body and you'll be fine.

They say not to drink through a straw or chew gum, I do both and don't really notice any difference. They say we suck in too much air drinking through a straw or chewing gum, I don't know how most people drink/chew but that's not really a problem for me.

Do what feels right to you!

Good for you...and trust me when I tell you to STAY AWAY FROM THE BREADSTICKS... I ate them a couple of months ago.. PAIN.. OMG PAIN!!! STAY AWAY FROM THE BREADSTICKS.. I REPEAT....STAY AWAY FROM THE BREADSTICKS! lol

But you did great! I totally believe in still eating what you want, just less of it, that's the key to true success in weightloss with the lapband in my opinion.

Thank you... I figured some would agree and that others would either disagree or aren't ready to hear it.. with 65 reads and only 4 comments.. ummm I'm gonna say the majority falls in the latter.

Do you have a Whole Foods near you? Their brand of whey protein shakes are about $11 and they taste great when used as a base or alone. Also Jay Robb's Egg White Protein tastes great, little more expensive but you can find it on sale. Check out your local health food stores they ALWAYS have protein shakes on sale, you may sacrifice flavor for price but you can usually find some great deals!