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Try lean shakes you get them from GNC they are lactose free and 170 calories and2 grams of sugar and they taste great and keep you full a long time

Sorry if I disappoint you Countrygrrl, My Surgeon and Nutritionist encourage me to "eat normally", but to modify. I like Pizza and elect to eat the Goodies on Top. To me, the Toppings are the best part and I figure the Calories in to my Daily Allotment. To each his own.

I am no expert, but I would go back to what you were doing while you were losing. If I ate more than three small meal per day( and maybe one snack) I would gain weight! That is what my body seems to do. I stick to my calories and smaller meals and I am steadily losing. I don't know if these Dr's always take into account how differently all of our bodies work. Again, I am no expert but that is my opinion! good luck!

HELP!!!!! I'm having some major issues and concerns! I had my surgery in Jan of 2010 and was steadily losing until July, 2011. I moved from VA to GA and obviously had to switch surgeons. I was only 7 pounds from goal and was having a few issues with my band...I felt it was too tight, so I saw my new Dr here. From the minute I was told I could exercise following surgery, I was up and at 'em, starting with walking, running, spinning, kickboxing, you name it, I did it. It has never been an issue from the start, but suddenly my new Dr says I'm not eating enough. My previous surgeon told me to eat 3 oz total at meals, and snack only if needed(while I was working nights as a nurse). Well, the new dietician and PA told me to eat more calories and eat 4 oz of protein and 4 oz of veggies or fruit, and snack between meals. When I work, I work 12 hour days so I get up super early. I get up at 4am to go to the gym before work, then I eat breakfast at 6:00-6:15. They wanted me to eat something every three hours(some form of 4 ozprotein and 4oz fruit/veggie). Well, since I've been doing that for the last two months, I've GAINED 13 POUNDS(3 pounds in the last 6 days)!!!! I have called and e-mailed the Dr and dietician and they don't really seem that concerned. They keep telling me to be patient and that my body will adjust and my metabolism has to speed up after having supposedly been in starvation mode. Really??? How much weight do I have to gain and how long should it take for me to get out of starvation mode? Not to mention that I am working out 5-6 days per week including weights and cardio(30-60 minutes). Has anyone else had this problem? How much does your Dr tell you to eat? I am feeling SOOOOO discouraged and feeling like this is the same thing as all the other weight loss methods I've used. I don't know what to do, any suggestions would be very helpful, as I cannot get any response from my previous physician either:-( Thank you!

I have been following the 5:2 intermittent fast for about a month and it helps my restriction. Google it for some info. Basically to give you a simple summary, I eat regular healthy food aiming for 1200 calories five days a week. Two days a week on Mondays and Thursdays I do a modified fast. That means for me, nothing at all but water or coffee up to 1pm. At 1pm a lunch of 500 calories, heavy on solid protein. Then nothing but water or coffee until my normal breakfast the next day. That's it. Two days of 500 calorie days. No snacking. It snapped me out of a rut I was in and my weight loss started up again. I also feel much better restriction with doing this. Good luck.

I was eating my exercise calories and my weight never moved. I stopped eating the extra and cut back to between 1000 & 1200 calories as recommended and i have started to loose again. I stopped adding my exercise because it does trick you in to thinking you have more calories to play with and that messes with my brain.

My question would be what are you using to calculate your calorie burn? If you're using the calculators on a machine such as a treadmill, those are notoriously optomistic, as are websites that have estimates of calorie expenditure. A HR monitor that uses a chest strap is a little more accurate, but still not perfect. I use livestrong.com/thedailyplate to journal my food and it also adds back in my exercise (and I use a Polar HR monitor to estimate my burn). I try not to eat back my exercise calories, but if I'm truly hungry (waited 20 minutes after my meal.. and extra Water, extra plain veggies just aren't cutting it) I will eat back some of them. I try to keep it at no more than half of what I've supposedly burned. It's sometimes good to have a day of 900 calories and then a day of 1400 calories.. keeps the body a bit confused. As long as what you are doing is working for you, keep at it.

On myfitnesspal.com when I exercise, it adds to my calories. So, if I get 200 calories from exercise, it raises my calories for the day to 1400. Which is cool to me, MORE FOOD! Just kidding.. Anyways, do I still try to keep under 1200 calories or do what it says and add the calories. I'm confused because my RN says to definitely stay under 1200. What do ya'll think? J.

Thank you for the replies. That makes me feel so much better. I just feel like I am doind everything right I should still be losing. I started witha BMI of 32. I did this because I was gaining 5 - 10 lbs a year. I culd take off 5 just to gain 7 or 8 back. I am self-pay and did it because of health reasons and feeling so bad all teh time. I had gained 49 lbs in the past 10 years. As I get older another health problem creeps in. I know I won't lose a lot each month but I was hoping 1 - 2 lbs a week. Glad to know that this is part of the healing phase. My doctor doesn't have me restricted on calories, he has me at <30 carbs per day, >80 g protein. The pre-op diet helped to motivate me.

Are you at goal weight yet? My program instructs 500-1,000 calories per day, mostly Protein, until goal. I'm not saying you can't go over that if instructed, but if you are at 1,200 that might explain why you're not losing or gaining. The post about Water retention also makes a lot of sense. Good luck.

Every doctor is different. Mine said 3 oz of Protein, 1/2 cup vegies, 1/4 c. start (optional). I limit my carbs severely because I'm trying to control my diabetes with diet alone, so I'll usually have just the protein and vegies and if still hungry, will just have another 1/2 cup of vegies. At my sweet spot I'm eating about 900 calories per day. .

I've done well sticking to 3 weeks of full liquids after surgery. I kept remembering Dr. Ortiz telling me that the most successful people stick to his reccomendations. My full liquids have been mostly soups, tomato, black bean, cream of asparagus, cream of chicken - you name it, I've had it. I added mashed potatos a few times in week 2 b/c I really needed it. I was so fatigued and tired all the time. I also began taking super whey protein shots last week. I actually really like them. They're almost like tart candy. Anyway, I'm religeously tracking my calories on calorie-count.com. In this last week I'm averaging between 1100-1200 calories per day. I'm not working out and know I need to start on the treadmill and personal trainer deal. I've just been so darned tired! Officially, on Monday, I'm supposed to start eating solid food. (Ortiz doesn't believe in the mushy stage). I've started eating solid food now. I can eat a graham cracker, I tried scrambled eggs for the first time and *almost* had one of those slime moments. I just kind of felt that little 'warning' of don't eat any more. I've felt the stuck/sliming feeling once. I was not thinking, ate a piece of my daughter's bananna nut muffin without properly chewing and it was painful - like a lump stuck in your throat and you can't burp even though you want to. Your mouth salivates like crazy so all you want to do is spit b/c you're in too much pain in your chest to swallow anything! It only lasted about 2 mins and it was over. Don't want to do that again! I've realized how cool it is to not be hungry all the time. I think the band 'massaging' the vegas nerve at the top of your stomach is really working. I never fully understood that. I asked so many times on this board and I just couldn't get it. Now I GET IT! You could eat, for sure, but you're not like I gotta have this or that. I've got to dissuade myself by drinking water, or crystal like, or a cup of coffee but I never get ravenous like I used to. That alone is awesome. I hope it stays that way. Its subtle - but a controlable hunger. Way cool!:thumbup: So, I'm not losing as quickly as so many others on this board. I'm constantly amazed by people losing 20lbs in 2 weeks since surgery. I was 236 exactly 1 week prior to surgery. I did the 3 protien shakes a day and according to Dr Ortiz's scale was 224 on surgery day. That's 12lbs in one week which doesn't seem real. I weighed myself and was like 228 the day before surgery. Anyway, here I am, almost 3 weeks post surgery and I'm sitting STILL at 222 lbs. So maybe I really was 228 and I've lost 2lbs per week in the 3 weeks since surgery. BUT STILL - why aren't I losing all the weight like everyone else here?? I KNOW my calorie intake - I'm not going above 1200. And in the first week, I'm lucky if I got 600 calories in. If I were hearing that from someone else, I'd tell them, slow and steady wins the race. I'd tell them to be happy to have lost a total of 14lbs in the last 4 weeks. I guess I was just hoping for more like 20 lbs. :frown: I'm starting solids this weekend - 2 days early - but I know that's what my body needs and can handle. I'm listening to my body. I'd also tell myself that I need to work out - so I've just got to make that happen. I'm going to stay on board - be kind to my body and this wonderful gift of a lapband and be gracious. NO NEGATIVITY allowed! I'm also going to use Soups - since I've learned they are soul soothing and like a comfort food. I find if I have some warm soup - it just makes me feel cozy - which is, I think, a lot to do with what I used mass amounts of food for in the past. To soothe my soul. Its why I could never get enough - or I couldn't find the right thing to satisfy my craving for comfort and fullness. Now that I have that - I'm also working on my work/life balance. Focusing on spending less mind energy on work and more on my kids and my family. More time on knitting, sewing, and yes even cooking! I'm learning to NOT waste calories/what my stomach can hold on bits here and there while I cook. I want to sit and savour it and savour it for a looong time. My scars are healing quite nicely - a couple of them I can't always find right away - so that's good. The port incision site is still sore. I can tell my port is right below the incision - I can feel the little bump that must be the port. I hope they look better and better and disappear! LOL. I have 3 months until my 40th birthday. What will I weigh on my birthday. I have dreams of weighing like 190-180. That would be 30-40lbs in 2.5 mos - not a healthy goal. At 10lbs per month, I'll only be at 198 - if I'm lucky! Now, that just feels depressing....:frown:. But its better than where I am today. I just wanted to look really GREAT on my birthday. Ok, enough pity party. Stick to it - Duke University study shows lap band patients lose their weight in the first 12-18 mos. So will I! I'll make it! I hope solid foods give me the energy I need to turn the corner and start dropping weight - or have it just fall off- like everyone keeps talking about. Is that really going to happen to me?

600-700 a day in calories, plus low as possible carbs definitely works:)

Hw 292 Sw 286 Cw 219 Goal 180 5'6 Surgery Aug 17 2017 72lbs lost I consider myself to be a slow loser only losing 72lbs in 8 months... my job requires me to walk 4to7 hrs a day plus 4-5days of cardio per week... my water and protien intake are where my doc recommended plus extra water when I do high intensity cardio... calorie intake approx 1000cals per day sometimes Lil less sometimes Lil more still rely on protien shakes I track my food with my fitbit app... recently I have started weight lifting and my body is literally screaming at me for food every 2/2.5hours ... it's a really weird feeling... I know it's not from lack of water... tried water loading and it's not helping.... i have approximately another 40 lbs to get me to goal.. also a bit worried about my muscles retaining water during repair also any tips to accelerate my weight loss ... all advice or tips are much appreciated ..sorry this was long winded. Sent from my SM-N910T3 using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi everyone! I am on day 17 post op and I have tried to transition to soft mushies but find it hard to do. Last night I tried to order 1 egg with 1 pancake and the actual chewing with the fear in the back of my mind of eating it too fast bothered me. So I didnt eat it and ordered "vegetable beef soup liquid "and that was so much better. I dont have a problem with the actual food going in, I have a problem with the chewing and the fear of eating it too fast. So my lunch and dinner is still soup with soggy crackers mixed in. I am still getting about 800-1000 calories a day. Is this normal? Does anyone else out there feel the same way I do?

My fix of choice when I need a sweet or treat is a sugar free chocolate fudgesicle ... love them and only 40 calories each. Below is info that others asked on the Wafer Bars: I have never tried them, 210 calories for package of two. I eat my sugar free fudgesicle! 2 sticks in package - 1 package = 210 Calories, 14 Protein, 2 sugars and they dont list exact Carb... they already have it deducted from the Fiber and list "Net Carb" of 8.... You really have to read the label instead of thier display cause they will have the nice cardboard display that shows "only 90 calories".. but they are referring to only one stick, and the sentence underneath that on the display says "14 g of quality protien" but they are referring to two sticks with that statement!!! LOL... just the way it is advertised, I think all of us quickly learn to read labels!!!

Try Oh Yeah! wafer bars. The WAFER bars, not the ones like flavored cement. The wafer bars are kind of like a Kit-Kat, sweet and crunchy and have 7 grams of protein and 105 calories in each stick (2 sticks to a package). One stick is plenty and satisfies my sweet tooth. They come in Chocolate, Vanilla, and Peanut Butter flavor.

EAT MORE CALORIES! I was in your situation for a long time. I found out i was not eating enough!! I was under 1000 cals and worked out a lot. Once I upped my cals to at least 1300, I'm dropping like crazy now!

Some band surgeons are more strict with rules. My first surgeon specifically told me never to diet again. The key is to get enough Protein along with a variety of other foods. However, my current surgeon is strict and actually wants me on a diet. He said it's typical that most patients will lose about 1/2 their weight with just the band, but in order to lose the rest we have to count calories.

I have yet to check out Target's Protein choices.. thanks for the suggestion. I do the EAS AdvantEdge Carb Control - premixed, comes in a 4 pak, can get it at any Wal-Mart, Meijers Stores or GNC. 110 Calories - 17 g of protein and 2 carbs. Comes in 4 different flavors, the Dark chocolate is great, I switch between that and the Chocolate Fudge. Also, I priced out buying it premixed 4 pak at Wal-Mart $4.39 a pack vs buying the powder and mixing it.. only saves like 10 cents a serving.. for 10 cents, I love the conveinence of premix. Give it a try..

My surgeon had me on up to 800/day until I was on solid food. Then my calorie intake was increased to 1,000. I have to be careful of my carb count. Try to stay under 50 carbs/day. I keep a food diary & this has helped. And my proteins are 60+/day. I found to many carbs slows down my weight loss. Good luck with your journey.

I am now in the same boat. I have been working out like 6 days a week and for almost 2 hours on those days doing half elliptical and half circuit/strength and I added C25K this week in addition to that. I just weighed after hiding the scale for a week only to find I gained a pound!!! I know my clothes fit better it's just discouraging because I'm working so hard! I need to find a way to calculate how many calories to eat and burn to lose. I think I'm burning to much and not eating enough. Who knows. End rant

I feel ya sister. I have gone back to eating foods that are pre-labeled with calorie counts on them. Yogurt, healthy choice, sugar free pudding and jellos, yogurt, I make a vegetable Soup that I eat for lunch. All fresh veggies with Taco mix seasoning. It is so hard I have stalled with my weight loss but don't really know if I need another fill. I go tomorrow for an appointment lets see what the Doc has to say. Good luck to you.

Seafood Stew – 3 tbl of olive oil ½ onion - diced 2 jal peppers – diced 2 gloves of fresh garlic diced– or you can use 3 tbl/4 tbl of the jar garlic 1 lb shrimp – cooked, peeled, and deveined 1 lb of cod – cut into cube pieces – you can also use any other type of whitefish. 1/2 lb of mussles – or use any other type of seafood you desire – clams would work 2 cans of petite diced tomatoes (do not drain) 1 10 oz jar of clam juice 2 cups of chicken broth 1 12 oz can of tomato sauce 1 bunch of cilantro - chopped 2 small zucchini – or 1 large – I think I use about 2 cups – diced up 1 tsp of cumin 2 tbl of garlic salt – this is not set in stone, you may need more or less depending on your taste 1/4 to ½ tsp of red pepper – again depending on your taste - very hot Garnish - Radishes, diced onion, diced jal pepper, shredded cabbage, avocado, diced limes to squeeze on top, hot sauce (salsa) and more fresh cilantro - all this for garnish In skillet sauté onion, diced peppers and garlic until tender. In a separate pan, mix the remainder of the ingredients and bring to boil. Once boiling, reduce heat and add the sautéed onion, pepper and garlic mixture. Cover and simmer for 20 min or until fish is done. You might wait until the end to add the garlic salt and red pepper to see how much you want to add. Do several taste test to see if seasoned to your liking. Make an arrangement of toppings to garnish with. It is delicious to squeeze some fresh lime juice over it and add some shredded cabbage. I add all of the garnishes to mine. This is how the Spanish culture serves it. They always squeeze a lot of lime over it. You could serve with some warm flour or corn tortillas for the family members who were not banded :embaressed_smile: Makes about 6 - 8 servings. A 1 cup serving is about 260 calories.

The shakes will go right through you pretty fast. The denser Proteins will sit in your stomach much longer. My surgeon wants us off the shakes and getting protein from foods as soon as possible. When I mentioned that I occasionally still have a protein shake for Breakfast at almost six months, she was a little annoyed. I still do it anyway because I can make really tasty ones. I don't sip on them throughout the day because I like them fresh out of the blender and cold. The reason for getting on regular foods is that the protein shakes really do not give you everything you need nutritionally (certain amino acids, Vitamins, minerals and fiber) and for the fact that we basically should be not on a liquid diet for long. I eat tri tip, ribeye, sirloin, fillet mignon, turkey, chicken, ahi tuna, white fish, shellfish, pork, cheese, Greek yogurt, beans and nuts for protein. I don't like lamb or organ meats. Quinoa is a high protein grain I eat. Lots of calories and carbs, so a 1/4 cup serving usually does it. Treat it like couscous and add feta and cranberries or whatever.