Isa Bella

I'm pretty good at leaving a large amount on my plate, like the other half of a sandwich, but when it is just one or two bites, I can't leave them alone!! It is pitiful :thumbup: Then 10 minutes later I'm rushing to the bathroom and it is all wasted anyway!! That is what I need to keep in mind: I can throw it AWAY now, or throw it UP in ten minutes!! :smile2:

OMG!! Im the same way. I would just look at the last bite and even though I new the outcome :thumbup: I would still eat it. Now I just tell myself...Self, you can throw it away now or throw it up in a few minuits. :thumbup:

Low Fat Orange Fluff! Yum!

This has been a family favorite for years. =)

I use low fat (small curd) cottage cheese, half of a regular size tub of Cool Whip Light, 1 small box of sf orange jell-o, and 1 small can of mandarin oranges. Mix with large spoon and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

Makes 4 cups

Serving size: 1/2 cup

Calories 116

Carbs 11

Fat 4

Protein 7

Its been a family fave in our house also. Thanks for the breakdown. Im so used to making it & since Its just me I make 1 serving at a time or I could probably eat the whole thing. Have a great day!

cottage cheese wth 1 tlbs FF cool whip, sprinkle of SF orange Jello & some mandarin oranges drain (in own juice) sooooo yummy. You can also use fresh strawberry's & SF strawberry jello instead of the orange.

The above recipe is not a blended recipe. Just mix with spoon and ENJOY!!

cottage cheese wth 1 tlbs FF cool whip, sprinkle of SF orange Jello & some mandarin oranges drain (in own juice) sooooo yummy. You can also use fresh strawberry's & SF strawberry jello instead of the orange.

I was banded July 19th no pre-op diet & as of this morning have lost 22 lbs. I have had 2 fills & still no restriction but getting closer.

I had not lost these past 3 wks & now gained little over 5lbs this week due to steroids I had to start taking for back injury. I was walking 5miles a day everyday swimming 2 x wk when 1day on the treadmill I over did it (9 incline for 1hr) after shower I heard a pop in my back and 3wks later still in lots of pain. I was soo close to "onederland" 202 but then...steroids. I know its temporary & Im determined to eat healthy & get better. Its a struggle bcuz the steroids keep me in a ravenous state of mind.

Dont overdo the exercise. start off slow & Listen to your body.

Everyone is doing such a great job. Im glad I got banded & found this forum. Have a great day!

Im in the same boat. I injured my back & after a Toradol injection and muscle relaxants, anti-inflmmatory drugs felt no releif so I broke down and started taking steroids. Medrol which is a 6 day treatment starting off at 6 pills a day down to 1. I was at 202lbs on Wed & this morning at 207.8 I knew to expect the weight gain & I also get really hungry...ravenous is a better word. . I was in so much pain that I didnt care. I was sooooo close to onderville but I know that it will come back off. They say it takes few weeks to get out of system. Dont get discouraged. This is life & we will face hurdles every now & then but I know I have the band & that the weight will come back off. Wishing you the best & hope you feel better soon.

Hi Stefani, I was just wondering the same thing. Ive noticed they got darker recently. Or im completely losing my mind. Im going in for my 2nd fill tomorrow and Im going to ask the Dr what he recommends & also asks his staff if they know what has worked for their patients. Will update tomorrow.

Thanks Everyone!! It does help when your all so positive..I said I would try to change my attitude about bandster hell but sometimes can't help but get into a rut..I will keep pushing along and hopefully my next fill on the 5th will give me some restriction..PLEASE JESUS!!

We all do the same. Some days are easier than others. Im going for my 2nd fill tomorrow & praying to get some restriction. Take it 1 day at a time. Keep each other posted.:drool:

Im in the same boat. Remember its a slow process. I was banded on July 19 and have lost 23 lbs. I had my 1st fill on Aug 31st have a total of 6cc & still no restriction but I expected that. I have lost 1lb a wk since my fill. I just take it day by day. It is a daily struggle. Im hungry, dont get full but Im happy wth what I lost and know soon enough the weight will start to come off. To top things off I injured my back so have not exercised in 5 days. went from walking 10 miles a day to "0" NOT GOOD!!! Im starting to take steroids tomorrow & know Im going to gain weight but Ive accepted that we will come across hurdles in our lifetime we just have to do our best and develope healthy lifestyle. I did not do a pre-op diet either. Think about it. You have lost 30lbs in less than 2 mths. They want you to lose on average 2lbs a week so your doing a FANTASTIC job. Dont get frustrated. Focus on all the positive things that have come out of this already and stay focused on the new healthy habits you are learning for a healthy lifestyle change. Wishing you the best of luck and keep us posted. I go for 2nd fill on Thurs & will update. Im curious to see what will happen since I will be on steroids WHICH make make ravenous & getting the fill .

Go to their site. They have some promo's going on. Good time to join. Best of luck!

I was banded on July 19 and up until last week all was good. I was struggleing a little but nothing I could not handle but then I over did it on the treadmill & injured my back. (I already had 2 back surgery's) Dr's told me just that week not to use the incline but I wanted a good workout and exercised for an 1hr on incline of 8 & 10. NOW im suffering the consequences. Ive had severe low back back went for a Toradol injection last tuesday & what do I do?.... Go to the Rose bowl & walk 2 laps (3.2 miles a lap) I should of rested but felt a little better and was soooooooo set on losing weight b4 my 2nd fill. I've had 1 fill & no restriction which Im ok wth I understand the slow journey but due to all the meds Im on the last 2 days have been munching on anything I can find. Even though its healthy still eating way to many calories. Ive been taking anti- inflammatory & pain meds + muscle relaxants & they have not helped at all. Im going to see Dr tomorrow & she will want me to take steroids. This is how I gained my weight in the 1st place. Im really frustrated and desperate. I know Ive gained & will probably gain more. I went from walking 6 to 10 miles a day to "0" + eating more calories. NOT GOOD! Im getting my 2nd fill on thursday & so hoping I get some restriction. Hopefully that will stop me a little. I know I will be on liquids for 2 days after so hoping that will help also. I apologize for for this long msg but needed to vent. Sometimes just letting it out and sharing helps me & hoping I get that will power burst that I need to overcome this small obstacle. I know its not the end of the world and evetually will be able to exercise & be more disciplined wth my eating after the meds leave my system. Thanks for listening.

Blessing for all and wishing everyone great success & that they heal and feel better soon.

Im starting WW today. Im going for my 2nd fill Thursday & hoping to feel some restriction. Its been tuff past week especially yesterday. I was exercising all the time and eating really good then I injured my back and everything changed. I tried to not take the meds because they make me hungry & make me eat at night. I wake up and realize Ive gotten up from bed to eat. (NOT GOOD) But broke down cuz the pain was radiating down my leg & was in constant pain. So I went from walking 8 to 12 miles a day to "0" & yesterday I was munching all day. Even if it was healthy I consunmed to many calories. I jumped on the scale today (which I knew not to) & gained 2 lbs. Need to journal & keep track of what im eating especially now that im grounded. Good luck to everyone.

It just started. Glad I read this thread or I would of forgotten to watch it. This season I will not be eating my chips while watching it.

Thats great. No matter if you walk, jog or run at the end of the day those who finish accomplish the same distance. I registered for the L.A. Marathon in March. I completed it the 1st time at age of 39 & then at 40. I walked both of them and finished in 6 1/2 hrs. Im 48 yrs old now & looking forward to complete it once more. My goal is to participate in a triathalon for my 50th. Good luck to everyone. You can do it!

My 1st fill was 6 wks post-op. My second fill is scheduled 4 wks later. I feel no restriction after my 1st fill but I knew that might happen. My friends reached their "sweet spot" after 5/6 fills. It is a slow process but I know will get there b4 we know it. Best of luck to everyone.

Hi Isa Bella and all july bandsters! I came on today cause been struggling the past week ...been so hungry and so frustrated that after my first fill I have no restriction..I really was expecting that 7 weeks out that it would be easier but its even harder than cause I feel so pre band normal!! I wish I had your attitude a little more Isa Bella!! I have lost almost 30 lbs since surgery but in the past week gained 3! Im so frustrated about that but I need to eat so much more than a half of a cup to feel satisfied...Im not eating bad just on a couple occasions by bad I mean fattening non healthy foods but even a salad I can eat the whole serving of a plate of salad plus whatever comes..I can probably eat about 1.5-2 cups of food to feel satisified but than 2 hours later Im hungry again and stomach is growling...its crazy..I will take responsibility for this week..work has been nuts and my son had pneumonia so I found that I didnt walk like i was doing , eat more and didnt drink as much water..but I am so worried that Im sliding back into my old habits..I was really getting used to eating slow and chewing but now I feel so "normal" that Im not doing that as much anymore..never ate anything that caused an issue yet and I should be really happy and motivated now because I have been getting compliments and seeing a difference in the fit of my clothes but I guess that isnt enough. the constant food struggles are just overwelming me!! hopefully things will get better with my next fill on Oct. 19th!!! hope everyone else is doing good!!

Hi Nicole, Good to hear from you.

Dont be so hard on yourself. We got banded bcuz we needed help. I too don't get full wth 1/2, 1/3 or 1 cp. Im eating slow & chewing & chewing & chewing but still starving. So I eat a little more. Not quite as much as I used to but more than 1 cup for sure. eating lots of raw veggies as snack (while I can cuz have no restriction) My Dr. told me from the beginning it was a slow process and yes I was getting very frustrated with myself and wondering why I was having such a difficult time while thinking others were breezing by and getting full on 1/2 cup w/ no restriction. I have read many posts on here and many bandster went thru what were going thru. They struggled but once they reached restriction the weight starting melting off. So then I just accecpted that it was part of the journey. I still start off wth 1/2 cp Protein and 1/2 cp veggies but then get a little more :thumbup: If I starve myself I will binge by the end of the night. Do your best having no restriction. We will get to our "sweet spot" soon enough and watch out world. Take care:drool:

Hi Bella, It's been a month since I have been on here. I have gotten very busy with life and I have gone through a few things. I have been playing with my port...running my fingers over it, trying to get used to it being there. I have had my BF feel it....he likes stuff like that and thinks it's awesome. Weird I know. Anyways, my port is dead center below my sternum/curve of rib cage. I just had my 1st fill and it is a little sore around the port site....other than that I'm great!. Good luck to everyone and Bella I'm glad you are still on here and doing great! Take care!

Hi Stars,

Glad to hear from you. Im doing well. Had my 1st fill on Aug 31st and my 2nd is coming up in 2 wks. I still have no restrictions but I will get there soon enough. I just take it day by day and do not stress myself about losing the weight. I know once I get some restriction It will be alot easier. I have lost 1 lb since my 1st fill. Still exercising although I do need to kick it up a notch and still struggle in the evenings but like I said I dont allow to stress out over it. Im enjoying the journey & re-learning a new & healthy lifestyle. I dont want to just feel full cuz of the band but really want to to introduce and learn & healthier way of life. Everything in my kitchen is healthy so even when I get hungry at night Its 1 more healthy snack. Good to see your doing great. Keep up the good work and remember not to let yourself get stressed out when we struggle cuz it will get easier and the weight will come off soon enough. Take care:smile:

How are the July bandsters doing? Keep us posted. Wishing everyone the best.:thumbup:

The amount of cc's very so much for everyone. I had 4.5cc at surgery and 1st fill was 1.5cc total of 6cc in 10cc band. I have no restriction so far. In my research & also what my Dr. told me it take several fills. My 2 friends reached their "sweet spot" at 5/6 fills. It is a slow process. I knew this going in to it. Even though I have no restriction. I practice eating as if i do. I cut everything up in very small pieces & chew, chew, chew & take about 20-30 min to eat a meal. Im 8 wks post-op & still eat to fast sometimes & get stuck feeling. Im using this time to learn & implement my new lap-band eating tecniques so they become a routine habit. This Lap-band journey is a learning experience It's about creating healthy new eating habits to last a lifetime. I have a great counselor I have been seeing every week since 4 mths pre-op and I have learned so much of myself & why I overeat. For me this journey is not just about getting restriction to stop myself from overeating but really learning & implementing new habits for a healthier me. I want eating healthy to be second nature and not feel like im on a diet all the time. Best of luck to everyone & be patient. You will reach your "sweet spot" b4 you know it.

Im in for 2lbs/wk for a total of 16lbs. I will give it my all but if I fall a little short that's ok :thumbup:

Good Luck to all!

Count me in! It's approximately 15 weeks till X-mas so Im going for 2lbs a week making it a 30lb weight loss goal. My Actual goal would be to weigh in at 175 making it a total weight loss of 34 lbs. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Congrats Jen! That's fantastic news. Enjoy the victory :blushing:

I was told by my Dr. that it usually takes 4cc just to fill the band not really causing any restriction. The reason for liquid diet is when they start to fill the band it may cause swelling & you do not want to irritate stomache/esophagus any more.Also that's why you feel like you have restriction at 1st then it goes away. From what I was told & from most of the people who post here it takes from 3 or more fills to reach your "sweet spot" My Dr put in 4.5cc at time of surgery & my 1st fill was 1.5cc so for a total of 6cc. I have no restriction & have not even had a stuck moment (I do cut up everything very small &chew everything really good) I get my next fill in 3wks. Im hoping to get some kind of restriction by 3rd fill. Till then I have to live by will power alone. Make healthy food choices & I do walk 4 miles everyday + some kind of intense workout for at least 30 min 5 days a week. Good luck to all :blushing:

Thanks for your post. Here in L.A. also and set to record show also.

for me just BMI over 40 & proven, sustained attempts to lose weight so I just had Clear Liquids day b4 surgery. Dr said lab work was great, everything was within range.

Let's keep each other posted & see how we do with our next fills. We each have different reasons for choosing the Lap Band. Some could lose the weight but not keep it off while others struggled wth food choices on a daily basis & need the restriction factor to minimize intake altogether. So no matter your starting point on this journey we are on the same road now & want to cross the same finish line. Sometimes just posting my struggles on this forum & reading the feedback gives me the motivation & kick starts my will power into full speed. I dont feel alone here. Looking forward to hearing from all of you during both the struggle & victory's.