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I was told to eat what I wanted, but watch the

calories and not to eat more than a cup of food at a setting and to exercise....

ok, well I guess I wasn't confused! lol! I don't know what I am doing anymore! I

was upset because one person told me one thing and then another person told me

something else. It was almost like it was a wasted doctor's visit. I was so

pissed when I left the office! I over ate driving home and paid for it dearly!

BOY-DID-I-PAY-FOR-IT!!!!! I was very, very uncomfortable from 1pm until 1am the

next day! You would think that I would have straightened up and done the right

thing....RIGHT? Well, NO! I feel like I'm back to my old habits and I don't like

this feeling!

Thanks for the message and good luck to you too! Yes i did give up caffeine as ordered by the dietician and i think thats why my head is exploding lol. Today i found a drink that was calorie and carbonation free with caffeine and I'm drinking it so hopefully my head will stop aching. I'm excited for us, while this liquid diet sucks!! it feels good to be working on things ;o) i will try the chat thanks for the advice

Hi Anna.

That is so cool that you are also scheduled to be banded on 9/17, the same day as me!

Yes, I've started my pre-op diet but NYU is very strict with their diet. You had a few choices for low calorie protein shakes but I chose the Carnation Instant Breakfast (CIB). However, with this diet I only get 5 to 6 CIB shakes per day. Boy, are these shakes getting tiresome. I can also have up to 2 cups of certain veggies like lettuce, spinach, cucumber, onion, tomato, broccoli. cauliflower, carrots, mushrooms, zucchini, string beans, okra, cabbage, asparagus, brussels sprouts, and peppers. I cannot have any corn, peas, potatoes or beans. And no fruit is permitted.

I can also have sugar free (10 calorie) jello and sugar free ice pops. I'm supposed to have 6-8 oz of water/day but haven't been able to drink that much.

My stomach growls all the time and CIB shakes have made me very gassy. This has not been easy for me so far.

Maxi

I am amazed when I see your ticker that you lost 100 lbs in 2 months! Is that correct? I'm very curious how you did that. What your calorie intake was during that time. You're doing great and I congratulate you!

Hey smilin_apple,

I saw your response on the before and after thread. Honestly, I just follow the band rules except I work out more than 30 minutes a day. I work out 5-7 hours a week, which helps a lot. I keep my calories around 1500 a day and get my water in. Don't get discouraged! Are you are the right restriction level? You've still lost an incredible amount of weight and you should be proud! Let me know if you ever need to talk or if you're getting discouraged. Best of luck to you!

Amber

When I was first banded I tried to eat around 1200 calories a day, but felt that I didn't have enough enery to work out. When I got my Bugg, I discovered on work out days I was exerting 3000 calories! So, my goal is to hit around 1500-1800 calories per day.

Okay, here' s my question? If she puts more in your band and it's too much, then can't she just take some out? How long are you supposed to "wait" before she puts some more in your band, if needed? In the meantime, I'd take in lost of protein (I use this liquid protein that has 42 grams and 170 calories that you can mix in with water,) and keep myself busy (I work on my art) doing anything that kept me away from food.

Don't give up hope. I know...believe me, I know, how difficult it is, but you'll find the "sweet spot." You said, that if you had the willpower that you're having to pull from now, that you wouldn't have needed the band in the first place. If you're like me, and evidently you are; it's not neccesarily getting the weight off, it's keeping it off. It's coming your way, just hang in there. BTW, I find it funny, that 140 is what I'm shooting for too! How tall are you? I'm 5'7. I started at 271, you?

Thank you for your helpful advice. I must admit I had fallen into some bad habits and had stopped exercising as much as I did in the beginning because of a shift change on my job. For the last 2 weeks I have went back to really watching what I eat and limiting my calorie intake. I have started working out at least once a day for 30 minutes (sometimes twice). I am back on the wagon now and am really trying to reach my goal. I have come too far to stop now. I will tell anyone, its easier getting off the wagon than it is to get back on so my advice is dont get off. lol I will turn 40 in February and it is my goal to be 155 by then. I weigh 162 now so I think I will reach my goal. I will keep you posted.

doing pretty good, just get tired very easily. I'm guessing it's the low calories from eating BROTH!!!!

I am soooo hungry!

Brenda i was just looking at ur pictures and i think you have done a great job so far. I commend you on that. I also read your blg and it seem as if you having trouble to loose a few more pounds first you have to be honest with yourself about your eating habits. Make sureits on track another thing to look out for is what you drinking make sure you are not drinking your calories. That can be easy to do at imes i find myself strungling with that. My next advice is to find you a real intense workout plan and stick with it atleast 3 days out the week. Keep me posted i would love to follow your process. Maybe we can help one another out. Good Luck and keep up the good job.

I'm doing pretty good. I stated soft foods today. I got in 680 calories. That more than doubles what I have been getting. I feel pretty good. How about you?

Hello, when did u have surgery? What day post-op are u begining to excercise! I also work for public school sysytem in TX., my surgery was 3-17-09, lost 14 lbs pre-op and only 4 lbs in 13 days post-op! How many calories do u figure u eat a day now? I know I am consuming 350 calories a day just in liquid protien bullet and 1 protien shake a day, not much more in food! I got to do soft canned meats and fruits after 1 week, at 2 weeks get to move to fresh meats, veggies and fruit! Bell just rang gotta run! Nancy

Hi Trace,

I went back to work so I'm only online on weekends now. I lost 16 lbs while I was doing the liquid diet and haven't lost anything since I started the pureed. I'm eating around 1000 calories a day. I'm a little frustrated but I wonder if it's our bodies reacting to the sudden calorie cut and weight loss and if it will pick up again soon. I hope to get a fill at my next appointment on April 30th but we'll see. I haven't been excercising so I know I need to work on that but I'm still feeling really tired. Are you tired? It's so nice to be able to chat with someone who's at the same stage and see we're going through the same things. Hopefully we'll be melting away soon.

Hugs, Sherry

MyMy,

Hey I have the guidelines posted in my blog. You can find it Here. My Bandster Guidelines..... - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum

Liquid caloried just run right through the band. If you eat solid food you stay satisfied longer without being hungry. That is how the band worked. That is why you should drink with your meals. It washes the food out of the pouch and you hungry faster. You should wait at least 30 minutes before you drink. I started getting lazy with that rule and I noticed that my hunger was coming much sooner. I will occasionally have a protein drink for a snack to tide me over an hour or so until supper. It is very rare that I have a protein drink and I can expect to be hungery in a few hours.

Food early in the moring gets your metabolism started early in the day.

Hang in there and you might need a fill. Just listen to your stomach to find out. Some days are just harder than others.

Being a foodie I cant stand the taste of the Isopure or most of the drinks. I actually can eat beef tendon ( yeah gross ) but I can get it at a Vietmanese restaraunt here and it goes down great and each portion has like 36g of protien for 3 ozs and only 150 calories which just rocks for me. I will look into that stuff that you reccomended. Once I hit 30 things just changed with my body and even though I am glad that I am losing fast the moment I hit 240 ( my sweet spot for weight ) I plan on hitting the gym to work out at the same time to keep myself nice and toned. Congrats once again ..

1/3

Hello Kit (you're nick is KIT right?),

Just saw your messages. I'm so sorry for the late reply. It's been a very busy holiday season for me. And boy...it's a real challenge to do my pre-op diet during the christmas season.

I see that your sked has been bumped to the 14th. That's alright, like what you said, what's 3 days right?

I've been doing my low calorie pre-op diet (1200 a day + Glucerna Shakes every meal). My first few days were, ugh, kinda hard, especially seeing all that food in our Christmas parties.

So at every get-together, what I did was I just let everyone eat ahead of me. I am an amateur photographer (Flickr: Changkers' Photostream), so I just volunteered to be the "event photographer". Takes my mind off all that food. So by the time I want to eat, I can just grab a bowl of soup and some bread, and I can continue shooting photos for everyone. Basically I just needed to find something to keep me preoccupied.

I have been getting all the protein and fluids I need, if not more. I have two protein supplements a day. One can of soup at hand, two sugar free puddings, and a sugar free jello and fudgcicle. I am definitely pigging out! I am getting about 800 calories a day. I need to walk more. I really appreciate your prayers! That is so sweet of you! I had my surgery on the 28th, 6 days ago. I do feel a bit better each day. I am making the blues go away!

I go back to work on Monday. Thank you for all the support!!!

part 2

I'll keep losing because its not even close to the calories I used to take in & this just keeps me tied over. I'm in no race to lose weight, I'm trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. So if it doesn't melt off like Dr.Oh wants it too, I'm ok with that. I want to do this healthy. And his crash diet is so not that. I guess he has a poor reputation w/nutrionists in the area because he's not concerned w/nutrion, just weight loss. That can be dangerous. I found out his "nutrionists" at St. Francis aren't all certified, they are ex-patients of his. =O I know right! So be careful how far you take this liquid thing. Use your best judgement. But don't eat any meats!! Or even fish yet! Soft soft foods only. You don't want you stomach working hard to digest foods or the band can slip. Eat as much protein in fat free greek yogurts & fat free cottage cheese. It might help you feel human again.

Part 2

And I did it again yesterday. LOL I've got to get things done for my household and it drives me crazy no to. But I promised I'd take it easy the rest of the week.

So I've been eatting little bits, this a.m. I had 1 egg & 1 small piece of toast w/low fat p.butter. That was 10g of protein right there. I just chew chew chew. We're not "restricted" right now so we can eat. Just be careful that it's not more than 1/4 cup at one time and as low fat & low calorie as possible. I had such a great meeting with my nutrionist, she helped me realize I can do this on my own, it will be really hard but I only have 3 weeks until my 1st fill. I too am trying to get my protein from food and not just the protein shakes. Today I'm going to make it a big effort.

I'm sorry you don't like yogurt/cottage chesse. That could give you a lot of protein! Try mixing your shakes with almond milk. Freeze some almond milk that way you make a small smoothie w/protein to get 20g when you can't eat it.

Hey Kharissa,

Congrats on the surgery date! Thats wonderful! I am on day 4 of the liquid diet ...its not as bad as I has thought it would be. But then I figured I would be passed out by noon on the first day! LOL! So anything is better than that right?! I have not been hungry...i drink some of my liquids ever 1.5 hours or so...2 (EAS ADVANTEDGE from walmart is what i am drinking now, but i want ISOPURE from GNC or UNJURY sold online) shakes a day and i drink half at a time. I think the key is to never let yourself get HUNGRY. I havent really had any cravings although last night i had a dream I ate a taco. LOL! I am tired and kinda sluggish and very emotional. I will cry on the drop of a dime...and I am not normally that way. I am getting around 500 calories a day and it just has my system all out of whack. Dont psych yourself out about it...its tough, but it really is a mental thing. You will be fine with it...we can do this!

Hey,

How did your surgery go?

Since we had surgery on the same date we should definitely try and stay in touch I have a food log I'm making sure to fill out so that I can track my calorie intake and workouts. Let me know if you want me to email it to you

Glad to hear you're doing well! Lots of eating challenges at this time of year! We have a Christmas potluck to go to Friday night!! Ham, scalloped potatoes, potato salad, baked beans, veggies, and lots of desserts, I'm sure! We have to stay strong... sample, but don't indulge, make healthy choices, adjust calories for the rest of the day if we know we're going to be eating things we don't normally eat, and ramp up the exercise to help compensate! Keep up the good work!

Hi Jaxmom, It is exciting to meet someone from around here. I am having surgery at memorial. I am excited but scared too. I am doing well. I have an appt tommorrow with my surgeon to go over lapwork and stuff. I also have 2 final exams tommorrow (college). I am so nervous about them. I had a hard time studying today. I think I didn't get enough calories the past few days. If you have surgery out of the country do you know who will do your fills?

Hey, generally for breakfast I make sure to focus on my protein whether it be a boiled egg, a protein shake (I have an AWESOME recipe if you want it), then I fill my big jug with water flavored with squeezed limes, I may only eat a few bits of something for lunch. again I make sure I get protein like a piece of chicken (lunch is usually quick for me so I never get a lot) then for dinner I eat my veggies and a meat. By dinner time its always like I can eat more so tend to eat almost a whole cup of food. OH for snacks I eat like veggie chips so that Im getting my veggies in as well. Hope this helps you some...then if I want a snack like something sweet usually I have plenty of calories left over so I eat something sweet at least 2-3days per week. I keep up with my food intake on myfitnesspal.com! GOOD LUCK youve done awesome!!!!!

Oh one thing that I think has been helping me these past few weeks is Ive boosted up my cardio (and trust me I dont exercise much):smile2:

yeah i do some weights, i would say light weights not heavy LOL . I am going to try to change up my work outs. when i see the dietician on the 11th i will have her log on to livestrong.com thats where i track all my calories and exercise ,so she can see exactly what i am doing LOL