reverie

Online calculators are rarely correct, especially for obese people. I'm eating 1700 calories, with an hour+ of exercise a day, and I weigh 130lbs or so and I'm still losing. 1900 seems too high, especially when you have excess fat to lose. You need to focus on a caloric deficit and finding that really comes through trial and error. I'd recommend sticking it out until 6 weeks before you start messing around with your calories. Stick to a level that works for now and then focus on the scale. As some have said, you're 3 weeks post-op and you really need to take a step back and let yourself heal, honestly. Your body just underwent something very very invasive and while you may feel great on the outside, your body needs time to heal. It needs calories and nutrients to heal. Put the scale away for a few more weeks. It won't kill you, you're not going to gain 15lbs. Practice eating high Protein meals, getting in your Water, and resting when you can. Yes weight loss is important and is something we all want, immediately, but it doesn't work that way. Did you get fat overnight? Nope. Are you gonna lose steadily and constantly now that you're banded? Nope. My advice is to take a step back, breathe, and let yourself heal, even if you don't want to hear it. If you're this worked up over not losing 3 weeks post-op, you have a pretty frustrating road ahead as weight loss is NOT steady, linear, or constant. You'll lose a pound one week, 5 the next, and 0 the next. It's all part of the journey. Learn that it's a marathon, not a race. Good luck!

Got it!! I love how you can personalize things to fit your needs/health needs. I hope it works well for you! The people I know who do it look great and feel great. It amazes me that they are never really hungry after a week or so. The body is amazingly adaptable. The things you find out after being banded! At least I have plenty of options if I ever lose my band.

Why not just track your calories on your own? I couldn't imagine paying anymore than I already have to lose weight with the band.

IF is very interesting! I've read about it when browsing fitness/bodybuilding forums and it seems very doable, especially if you have a busy schedule. I have never read it being done in 24 hour formats though, but I guess if it works for you, it works, and that's all that matters! From what I've read people fast for 14-16 hours then eat all of their calories in a 4-6 window frame. I love how IF disproves the whole 6 meal a day thing/frequent meals belief. The fact is, despite what anyone wants to think, that you can eat one huge meal a day at 10:00PM and be fine, or you can eat 20 small meals; meal timing is so irrelevant and has NOTHING to do with your metabolism! I've read it works best for men but if studies have proven to work to help with insulin resistance and ghrelin, I say why not! Good luck and have fun testing the waters I always look forward to your posts. PS. I still love my Protein but I've dropped mine a bit; carbs were much too low and fats too high, I think. But I still love what low carb dieting did for me

Have your iron and vitamin D levels checked. Some multi-vitamins are low in vit. D.

http://www.bariatriceating.com/BErecipes/ http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/recipereview/ http://www.3fatchicks.com/diet-recipes/ http://forum.lowcarber.org/forumdisplay.php?f=39&page=2&sort=lastpost&order=&pp=25&daysprune=-1 Just a few

I'd definitely say eat more. I started off eating 600-800 calories at my highest weight and lost pretty well, however I did plateau so I upped my calories and the scale moved again. You can't live off of 600-800 calories, especially not as you near a more "normal" weight. Maybe switch up your exercise, add in some weight lifting but my advice is to eat more.

You have to practice some will power. Yes a fill will help when you are able to get one, but I fill doesn't keep you from eating. It may make you fuller but it isn't going to keep you from putting food in your mouth. Maybe portion out what you eat, eat that, and then no more. Go somewhere or do something where food isn't on your mind/in sight.

1. None! 115lbs down in less than a year? No complaints or regrets from my mouth. 2. Nope. The gas pain hurt at times but was bearable with pain meds and walking. 3. 2 weeks; could have gone back in a week but had the paid leave so I used it. 4. I'd say 2 weeks or so post-op I felt much better. At 3 weeks I felt great.

Haha. I'll get there. I hate pictures!!

Those who have slipped in the past are more prone to slip again; go with the sleeve.

I'm down 115lbs in less than a year and I have 5-6 more to go and then I'll assess from there, but in a size 2 I'm not sure I can or want to get much smaller. From the beginning I did a low carb diet, similar to South Beach. I stayed away from breads, rice, Pasta, fruit, etc. as I was a big carboholic pre-banding. I tracked everything I ate and still do today, religiously. I exercised since day one. I started off with just walking until I was cleared to do more strenuous exercising. I ran for a little while, bought a treadmill, but got bored of it so I moved onto Beachbody programs. I did slim-in-6, P90, P90M, and now I am on my second round of P90X. Nowadays I truly eat what I want when I want but I keep it under 1800 calories to continue losing, but slowly. I don't keep myself from anything because I see no need. My problem pre-band was portion control and pure laziness; now both of those are gone. Good luck and hope this helps.

Don't pour yourself anything to drink when you eat. No cup, you can't drink. Pretty easy!

This. Hair loss is common with WLS. You just have to ride it out. Avoid ponytails and irons, straighteners, etc. It'll stop in time

A calorie is a calorie..is a calorie Your body doesn't know a calorie from an apple any different from a calorie from pizza. If it fits within your daily caloric needs, there is nothing wrong with pizza. Don't be so foolish.The only thing important at the end of the day is a caloric deficit and ensuring your dietary fat/carbs/protein needs are met along with exercise.

No. You do get some restriction from the band; I have no fill and I have plenty; things get suck, I PB, etc.

Gas-X strips, Jello, broth, soups, ricotta cheese, cottage cheese...anything that's on your post-op diet. A heating pad for the gas pain.

Myfitnesspal.com works great.

Plan and portion out your meals ahead of time. That way when your food is gone, it's gone. My eyes are still and will always remain bigger than my stomach, therefore I choose to portion out everything I eat before hand. Works wonders.

Bread/pizza/anything else is only "out" or "tough" depending on your restriction level. I eat bread just fine, but I have no fill so my restriction level is pretty loose. If you don't keep a super tight band, bread, pizza, and anything else are fine. Just be sure to chew. Toasting the bread works best, IMO. If a tight band is ideal for you, look into buying thin sliced bread or wraps and make your own "pizza." Flat out and low-carb tortillas work great.

Centrum chewables; learn to love 'em.

Join the club!!! I splurged big time Head is back in the game today though. Felt good to just eat I must admit, haha.

6 weeks post-op for me. Was only allowed to walk up until then.

I've never had a slip but the common symptoms are a sudden loss of restriction or sometimes too tight of restriction that doesnt allow you to keep anything down, including water/liquids. Slips usually occur in those who keep their bands too tight and are constantly vomiting and PBing.

You'll be fine. The band isn't that delicate