Search the Community

hub and myself prepare my foods 95% of the time (measured and weighed out) protein 4 oz, veggies 3 to 4 oz and some fruit 2 to 3 oz.....not all ate when i do eat.....as the band lets me know when enough is enough.....that being said, i choose not to eat certain things so i know that the foods i eat are considered in the calorie counting process (high fat/cals etc)...3500 is a pound.....if i eat more cals then i can burn off, i will gain.....i make sure i am well under that every day.....i eat when i am truly hungry.....protein first (that is my fuel) veggies and later on fruit......eating out, we dont do much but i just eyeball it and try not to fester so much.....again, the band controls what i input ........do what works for you.

My NUT and doc told me to measure by volume whenever possible. The reason is because the idea is to keep portions to a size not to stretch the stomach above the band. So, whenever possible I use a measuring cup rather than a scale. I was told to keep all meals to a cup or less of food. Though I do measure as instructed, I also strictly count calories too. I've seen too often people eat smaller portions yet don't lose weight despite it. More often than not, it's because they're still eating way too many calories. Smaller portions doesn't necessary mean less calories. So, I choose to track my calories and measure my portions so I can be sure.

Changing Chris, Hi. You re doing a huge amount of walking on a tiny amount of calories. You will crash and burn if you are not careful. Your body needs to keep the few nutrients you are giving it, hence no weight loss. Let your body heal and at least get on to real foods before you put the stress of any exercise on your body. You don't need to jump start the weight loss or cut corners, It will just happen while you rest and recover.

I have been losing very slowly, lots of plateaus in the almost 2 years post op. I am not saying I am always perfect, but I eat pretty well. I try to keep around 1200 calories. But.... every time I chart my food on fit day I find I am only eating 500-600 calories a day (and I swear I am doing nothing but eating all day). I really believe that this is part of my slow loss. I really struggle to add enough calories every day to get to my 1200. (And I NEVER thought in my life I would say that) Any input??

At 5 weeks out, it seems like I'm eating a LOT! :wink2: I don't measure my food or count calories, but I'm wondering if I should. It seems like many of you know exactly how much you eat in a day. Do you recommend keeping track?

I did a low carb diet for the first 6-7 months of my journey; that is when I lost most of my weight. I started with less than 30g per day then went to 50g per day as I exercised more. I can't say I was addicted to carbs but they were my go to food; I'd eat bowls of Pasta and bowls of rice, so I opted to cut them out, temporarily. I found a lot of good low carb/keto diet recipes so they really helped keep me sane. Try looking for some and see what you can find. There are thousands out there. Nowadays carbs are the least of my worries My life revolves around calories in vs. calories out and my carb count varies per day. Some days it's at 100g, other days 150g. I am mindful of them but low carb has gone out the window; I feel much better working out when I eat carbs. My weight loss has slowed, but I'm saying that's because I am almost at goal and I don't expect the weight to fall off as rapidly as it did. Also, why are you cutting out Peanut Butter? PB is a perfect protein/fat source when doing a low-carb diet, not sure why you think it can't be eaten. As for ketchup and BBQ sauce, low carb variations do exist, do some Googling and you'll find plenty Hopefully Elfie sees this post; she is the queen of low carbing.

I have stuck to a low carb, low calorie diet. I found that the less carbs I ate, the less I wanted them. I eat chicken breast with salad most of the time usually with no dressing at all but if I use dressing, it's low calorie low fat. I also eat some veggies like broccoli. I keep waiting for the day I will get sick of salad, but I have been doing this for about 4-5 months, since I started solid foods, and I still crave the salads. Once in awhile I will have half of a boneless pork chop or a couple pieces of bacon to change it up a bit. If I feel an absolute need for something with carbs, i go ahead and eat it. I just eat a very small amount of it So far my weight loss has been pretty good, my doctor always seems pleased by it. I average almost 3 pounds a week weight loss. Good luck to you!!!

I saw the Lloyds brand as well when I was at the store and read the label and it seems to be very similar (only 70 calories for 1/4 cup.) Cant beat it !

I use mostly salsa with everything. I also LOVE hummus but transitioned it from a side that I dip veggies in, into my protein portion of my meal because it's higher fat and calorie...I was spending a lot of calories on just a condiment! Salsa is my staple though!

I am finally getting filled Monday..for the last few weeks I have been able to get down whatever I want even though I haven't tried often.I am kinda frustrated because I can get whatever down..even though I know that will change. I have lost probably 20-30 lbs so far but I've been unrestricted for several weeks I've just been trying to keep my calorie intake to 1500 calories or less( I'm 6'2 and over 300) so that's not alot of calories.Please tell me I'm not a Lone Ranger here..I have felt guilty just from the sheer fact that I can get things down If I want to...And what is this green zone people are talking about? Haven't heard of that...any comments and suggestions are more than welcome

I love this stuff and DH loves it too. We an eat an entire head between the two of us You really do save ATON of calories.

Would love any feedback, it'll make me feel better . What do u all think, tomorrow is my four month mark and I'm down 48 pounds, I may be in another stall, oh well, point is I wanna know what people of my losses so fat. I eat 6-800 calories, less than 40 carbs and 30 fats and 60-100 grams protein. Am I doing ok? I hate feeling like a slow loser!

It is amazing how different each surgeon is both pre-op and post. I can have 5 shakes a day. 1000 calories, at least 50 grams of protein. SF jello and popsicles. Low salt broth, sf drinks. If I am hungery, I can have up to 2 cups of steamed or raw veggies/day.

No, I didn't feel like that. When I got home from the hospital I was gleeful I wasn't dead, didn't have a flesh eating disease, and wasn't in pain and didn't have to take pain meds. I really hate and have a fear of hospitals so getting in and out of one unharmed was a massive relief for me. I wasn't thinking about my weight loss, I was thinking I beat the grim reaper. However at 6 weeks I felt like I hadn't lost enough, I had lost 20lbs in a month before on low carb diets. I felt that I should have lost a lot more considering I barely eating. Then after 6 weeks I could eat more than starvation level calories, I started losing really fast. Don't focus on the negatives, focus on the positives. If you focus on the negatives and stress yourself out, the stress won't help your weight loss. Stay calm, relax and rest. the weight will come off.

One month after a gastric sleeve.... Ups and downs. I'm eating all kinds of things, in tiny amounts, and sipping. 23 pounds down since surgery day, so, not too quick, not too slow. I now take two chewable multivitamins, calcium+D, and biotin. I am off the pain meds, but I've saved some percosets for when I'm feeling better... *wink* I just took my last prilosec. I wonder how that will shake out. Physically, I feel mostly back together, but not 100%. I teach 7th grade, and I have enough energy to teach all day, so a win there in the recovery column, but I'm having a devil of a time finding all the words I know that I know. Several files in my brain have bad directories now. Very frustrating, but I have hope that it will resolve soon. Stoopid anesthesia.... My incisions are still angry red, but totally sealed up. I had a pesky suture that kept poking out of one, but I finally clipped it off below the skin and it covered and closed itself. I realize just now that the itching has gone down dramatically in the last day or so. Win. My waist and thighs are drawing in, but that makes my flabby lower abdomen look bigger! I know it's melting, too, but not as quickly, and relativity is a bitch. I'm tracking all my foods, and I'm hovering around 8 to 9 hundred calories on a good day, sometimes less, but I am getting consistent patterns established. I can go on this way indefinitely, I think. In 30 minutes, on an empty stomach, I can bring 12-16 ounces of water. I can totally feel the water flow through the pylorus. More solid things, say, cottage cheese, I can take about 4 ounces, but I need to take a break in the middle. Fish, I can get 2-3 ounces in, and no more. And it must be very wet fish - not overcooked. I threw up once, and it was overcooked trout. I had slime first, and when I could not stand the discomfort any more, my husband said, just get it over with. I don't like to vomit. Myself needed convincing, but I felt better after. I've only puked once on the soft foods, so I count that as a win, too. I've tried some other more solids, too. A bite of carrot even. No problems. But I don't want to push it. I'm cooking and shopping out of habit, and my freezer is FULL. I think I will just stop cooking altogether. What I cooked tonight will literally take me a week to eat. Maybe over sharing here, but the first real poop was rough. A week after surgery, we were shopping and I realized what needed to happen. I made a nice normal poo, and then felt nausea. I think the intestines had been in a shock and the waking to do their job was too much for them. It's gotten better since, but its days between the little poops. Small eats means small outs. Doesn't bother me much. Similarly, sex was a cautious adventure, too. A week out, we managed a gentle try, three weeks after surgery, all systems were ready for anything. Win. And, as always when I am on a diet, I want to put hot sauce on everything. However, I don't think this is a good idea just yet. I am curious as to what comes next and to see how this goes. At one point several years ago, I was 293 pounds (5'11"). I worked hard and dieted down to 187. That was impossible to maintain through a divorce, a brief time of homelessness, a career change, and a new relationship. I'm at 227 as of this morning. I'm pretty sure that losing some more is in the cards, but how much more? At my lowest, I was thin looking. Some said too thin, but 10 or more pounds would not change that look much, not at my height. My doc says 149 is a healthy weight for me, but I think that is WAY too thin. I'd be a bag of bones! My boobs would be two empty purses with olives at the bottom! So, goal... 175, and then reevaluate? That's 52 pounds from here, and if I go 2 pounds per week that gets me there by summer. We shall see... Lastly, my husband is taking this opportunity to get himself back on track. He was banded 7-ish years ago. He dropped 150 pounds, but he's put 25 or so back on in the last year. We've been happy and eating like newlyweds... Anyway. He's been super supportive. His goal is 210, from his staring point of 275. Doing the math, from collective high weights to goals, 400 & 293 to 210 & 175, we will have lost a collective 308 pounds. That's like two people... It's us getting ourselves in better health together.

Once you hit restriction, soda will hurt like a mother (for some people, me being one of them). I did soooooooooooooo well before and months after my surgery not drinking soda. My lovely boyfriend brings home bottled cream soda and I was like hmmmmmm, I want that. OW. I had to let it sit open for like 2 hours for me to enjoy it (and let the fizz go out of it). That first drink of it though with the fizz? no bueno. There's also a lady in my december bandster's forum who drinks a fountain soda every day with no problem. I think a lot of it has to do with the Dr's not wanting you to drink your calories early on...I dunno. I'm sure you're fine though.

I think at this point you just need to worry about getting in water and protein. I didn't count calories until soft foods and I think I was only getting about 400 calories at that time.

I was cleared for wine at 1 month, but I don't drink very often because of the calories. I eat "smart ones" pizzas all the time! They are 300 calories and 17 grams of protein and taste amazing! I probably started eating them when I was 2 months out.

Did you increase your calories to break the stall or did it break on it's own?

I really can't wait to meet with my nutritionist. I was also sleeved on 5/28 and just recently started getting in 400 calories. Last night I went to 500 (because of the darn munches!) I didn't feel guilty but I have no idea what my calorie intake should be right now. I just know the protein and water numbers.

Still getting all my protein but getting the damn munches at night. Pre sleeve habit. 5/28 sleeved

I'm surprised they want you to eat that much at 6 weeks out. I still don't eat that much and I am 16 months out. I was lucky if I got in 800 calories for the first several months and even now if I try to eat too much dense Protein, I barf. Not to suggest you disregard your doctor's orders, but I've never heard of a doctor suggesting you get that many calories that soon after surgery. You will be back to being hungry again in a few months...enjoy the time now where you're not able to eat a lot and can lose weight quickly.

There's NO WAY at 6 weeks you will be eating 1400 calories! 600-800 is pretty normal as early on as you are. I'm 5 months out, and I can't get over 1000 yet! That said, try to eat every couple hours to get your calories in. I wouldn't go back to the shakes, as your pouch does need to start getting used to "real" food. 4-6 smaller meals a day should do the trick to get your calories in. And yes, even if you're NOT hungry You've got to kick that metabolism into gear and give it some food! Good luck and good job thus far with your weight loss!

are the natural pb's lower in calories or fat? i too love pb. and hope i can have it after being banded!

Wowzaa...Friday sucked. Flat out one of the top (bottom) ten work days I've ever had. In one decision, I cost my struggling company about $40k that it sincerely doesn't have. I was a basket case on Friday and it took me long into the weekend to get a grip on my mood. Objectively, I knew about 2 hours in that it wasn't truly my fault and about 4 hours in I had determined that with the information I had at the time, I would make the same decision every time. But it took me about 24-30 hours to adjust back from my bad attitude. I was mad at EVERYBODY although I did do my darnedest not to show it. I slipped a little, but my truly awesome friends rallied and even tried to cheer me up with crazy You Tube videos. :thumbup: But by Sunday, I was all better and today is just another new workday. I have a lot of responsibility in my job and a lot of high expectations. Occassionally, I'm going to make a mistake and that is just part of life. The good news is that we may have legal rights to retrieve the money so that would be even better!! Regardless, we have all learned a lot from this experience. Moving on to Sunday...I went shopping. (Sidenote: finallyincontrol, I think you were the one that said that I love to shop? I thought of that repeatedly during the day. HA!) I now have plenty of clothes to get me through the next 20-30 pounds, I think. One of my friends here at work told me I look very SLENDER in the outfit I'm wearing today. ME...slender? Uh, okay. Huh. I will take it!! I figured out last night that I wasn't going to be down this week at my Monday morning weigh in. I even had a fill this week...a teensy weensy one, but a fill nonetheless. I ALWAYS lose a couple of pounds at least on a fill week. But I guess I have reached my first dreaded plateau. Y'all know I'm not one to sit around and find out. So...yes, I have a plan! I ordered a Body Bugg last night and it should be here sometime this week. I'm committing to a new 8 week plan. I'm not technically starting until next week since I don't have the bug which I have already named Jax (after the badass biker on Sons of Anarchy). I was going to name it Bicho (meaning bug in Spanish), but I was afraid that everyone would think that I was calling it a bitch. :smile2: I will use Jax to accurately determine calories burned during the day as well as log my calories consumed. I'm committing to using Jax for calories burned for 8 weeks. I'm committing to recording calories consumed for 4 weeks, because I honestly don't think I can get myself to do more. Hopefully after 4 weeks it will become habit, but committing to 8 weeks for something I absolutely hate to do is too overwhelming. Additionally, I'm committing to doing 20 minutes of beginner yoga 4 times per week. At least 3 of those times must be in the morning before work (because I think it would be really beneficial). Honestly, using Jax for calories burned is a no brainer. Once I got over the thought of spending $300, using it will be no big deal. Getting myself up (just 20-30 minutes) earlier in the morning is going to be a little more challenging, but I used to do it all the time. I know that once I get through a couple of weeks, I will be able to do it. Recording my calories consumed is going to be the real challenge here. Technically, it was supposed to be part of my first 8 week challenge, but I gave it up after a day and decided that I would only do it if I gained weight. I'm such a sucker to myself!! But I thought if I lowered the committment to 4 weeks, I might at least get out of the gate. I'm going to visit my brother and his family for Labor Day. They know I'm doing this and saw me at the highest at Christmas and then again 40 pounds lighter at my grandmother's funeral. There are over 5 weeks until that vacation and I would very much like to lose 10 pounds. That is a lot for me since I typically average 1.8 pounds and I seem to be slowing. BUT it is very doable. That would put me at around 70 pounds lost and only about 15-20 pounds from my lowest weight ever as an adult. I can do this! Thank you all for your good wishes and support. It makes ALL the difference in the world!