Need Help to get back on track TODAY!

I need help from all of you. I’m just lost. Totally, and completely lost.

I have so many things going on in my head that I’m sorry in advance if I ramble. I’m going to do my very best to stay on point and cut out the bull and give the facts.

Fact #1: High Weight 306

Fact #2: Surgery Day Weight: 279

Fact #3: Lowest Weight 251, Current Weight 261

Fact #4: 6cc’s in a 10cc band.

Fact #5: Have not lost even 1 lb. since July. (2 months after surgery)

So here is a long story made short…Had the surgery – had side effects – ended up the band was ‘too tight’ had to have air pulled from the band in order for me to even be able to drink water without it backing up. Surgery was in May – couldn’t keep water down until July after the 2nd ‘unfill’. (Biggest mistake – I was losing 3.3 lbs. per week average during those weeks) Eventually, the band was loose and I was hungry so we started doing fills – I currently have the 6cc’s in the band. Funny story though, since we’ve filled the band…..I’ve still never hit the ‘sweet spot’ or even a place where it is consistent. I have weeks where everything seems fine – then I hit my PMS week and it’s like I can eat almost anything I want. Yes, I stay full once I’ve eaten more than I should….but I do not have any ‘stuck’ or PB’ing 99% of the time. Nothing to stop me from eating too much. Now please don’t misunderstand – my description of eating ‘anything I want’ is greatly reduced from what I could have eaten before the band – I’m always reminding myself of that – however it is WAY more than ½ a cup of food I was told that I would be eating.

I have not had a fill since October. I had an appt. with my surgeon in November but we both decided that I needed to work on my end of this more – eating better food and exercising more. I’ve tried but with the holidays it didn’t happen. I even went off of my B.C. pill thinking that maybe hormones were stopping me from losing weight. Also wonder if my body is just “STUCK” at this 250 lb. mark? Can’t get past it – years and years of trying – no luck. And now, as in the past, I’m creeping up again. Well, I’m not doing that this time!!

So this brings me to today – What I need is some sort of eating plan…I can do the exercise – I’m more active now than I’ve been in 10 years…and I feel better…but I need to work on the eating part. My problem is that they told me that I should be able to eat everything anyone else is eating …just less of it. Well..me being lazy in general about food and having a family to cook for – took that literally and I don’t have any special foods that I have for myself – or foods that I should be eating to get the most nutrition/protein.

What do you all eat? Can someone give me a meal plan? Or ideas for simple, plain foods…something I can eat at home or on the go…I just need some ideas and a plan to follow. I’m kind of just floating out here doing the same old thing.

HELP please! ?

Thank you! J

Jennifer, I'm really sorry to hear that you are going through this. I know how difficult it is to lose the weight and really work at it.

As for foods, I've found seafood and fish to be my best friend because of all the Protein. During the week, I have fish or seafood every single night for dinner. For lunch, I eat tuna or a turkey wrap that I make at home, something like that can have alot of protein, which is what you need the most. Just get some lunchmeat (low fat) some low fat cheese, and anything else you like and throw it in a low carb tortilla. It tastes good and really helps you stay full because of the protein. I don't have a sweet spot either, and feel like I can eat alot, but it's all about self control. Other things I found that work for me are string cheese, chili from Wendy's, Protein Bars. Stuff like that. chicken is also great for protein, I make salads with chicken quite a bit.

It's all about finding what works for you and keeps you satisfied, but try to focus on the protein. That's what you need most at this point to help you with the loss.

BEST OF LUCK!

Thank you Carrie - I wrote down the ideas you gave and I'm making a shopping list. I will get back to eating more fish - I was eating it all the time after my surgery and loved it. The low carb tortilla idea is fantastic too. What type of Protein bars do you use?

Thank you SO MUCH for the tips!! I'm going to keep updating this post as it will help keep me motivated.

I also made an appt. with my Dr. for the 20th so I'm looking forward to that.

So for dinner tonight - Tilapia - and I'm going to top it with a bit of homemade fresh salsa.

Thanks again!

I think it is ridiculous that your surgeon wants you to try to lose weight without the band restriction. Obviously, if we were any good at that we wouldn't have the band. I know how frustrated I was before I had restriction. I felt like the band didn't work. My last fill put 9cc in a 14 cc band and it is like night and day. I am so restricted now that if I get all my protein in I don't get much of anything else. For example, yesterdays meals:

Breakfast-Chike shake

Lunch-4oz chicken

Snack-high protein fruit smoothie

Dinner-4oz pork

Snack-2oz cheese with 3 crackers

It is dinnertime now and so far today I have had about 4oz pork and a handful of nuts.

If your doctor isn't willing to work with you on getting you to good restriction ASAP, I would find another doc. There are people that got banded when we did that are almost to goal already! I hope that you get this resolved soon.

Hi Jen, I so relate to your frustration. I was banded in february and I've lost about 30lbs since banding (only 5 of that since June). This slow almost non-existant weight loss is not what i signed up for. I'm seeing an endocronologist next week to see if there's something more going on. I've had an underactive thyroid for years, but even though medication regulates it I wonder if my hormones or something is messing with my weight loss.

I think that once we get to the root of the slow weight loss, that the band will start working for both of us. Good Luck!!

What I have found during the last almost 8 months is that the band allows me to eat small amounts of food without being hungry all of the time. What it does not do for me is choose what I eat. That's the hard part.

I try to eat 1200 calories a day, but if I am honest with myself. I go over most of the time. Also, I eat really good food most of the time, but not all of the time. I have lost 45 lbs since 5/28 I also thought it would be faster. I am sure it would be if I stuck to 1200 cals and the right food ALL of the time.

Unfortunately, it is still about choice. Everything I learned about eating healthy still has to apply. That's the fact I have learned. I still have to work really hard at this.

Even if I had some of the problems I have read about I would still think this is the best choice I have ever made.

I still have a long ways to go but a size 14 petite beats the heck out of a woman's 20 anyday.

Thank you Carrie - I wrote down the ideas you gave and I'm making a shopping list. I will get back to eating more fish - I was eating it all the time after my surgery and loved it. The low carb tortilla idea is fantastic too. What type of Protein bars do you use?

Thank you SO MUCH for the tips!! I'm going to keep updating this post as it will help keep me motivated.

I also made an appt. with my Dr. for the 20th so I'm looking forward to that.

So for dinner tonight - Tilapia - and I'm going to top it with a bit of homemade fresh salsa.

Thanks again!

No problem Jennifer! That tilapia sounds delicious. Oh and the protein bars I like are the Zone Perfect, the chocolate Peanut Butter. They are 210 cals, 7g of fat, 24 carbs, and 14g protein. A little high in the cal/carbs, but worth it. I have one every morning, and have done that since surgery. They really keep me going!:smile2:

Jennifer I wanted to get back to you on some of the things I eat, but had to stop this morning. Since I am at work, I figured I better do a little.

fish (try adding spices and squeezed fruit juice on it, same for veggies), string cheese, salmon and tuna cups, Smart Ones, low calorie Soup. Last night I ate a can of Progresso Ministrone soup with shrimp I threw in for dinner. Packets of instant oatmeal, english muffins, boiled eggs chopped and smashed. salad with low cal or fat dressing, (try adding fruit to salad) fruit, yogurt, apple sauce. turkey wraps with mustard and veggies and maybe low fat cheese. Scrambled eggs with veggies, especially spinich and mushrooms.

When I eat in restaurants which is often, I order fish and veggies or chicken and veggies, or salads with fish or chicken. Fast food is KFC grilled chicken (remove skin) and their green Beans, the little wraps at Mcdonalds or Wendys. Wendys also has good low calorie chile.

The best thing I use is "I can't believe it's not butter spray. I cook with it and replace it everywhere I would use butter or margerine. That's a lot of places for me.

I still have to make sure I get enough Protein and I cut everything very small and chew, chew, chew.

Good luck to you. We are all working together to ge to the same place.

Take care

So..I'm back on track - I bought tilapia, low fat cheese, Protein bars, chicken, low carb tortillas, zucchini (my fav. veggie to steam and serve with fish!) sugar free pudding/60 cals. for my 'sweet' tooth (limit of one a day!) Diet Peach Tea and am drinking more Water & tracking everything I eat on MyDailyPlate.com. That will help me immensely - I'm bad about tracking it but I'm only cheating myself.

I'm happy to report that as of this AM - I have lost 2 lbs. since posting this on Monday. (Water weight I'm sure - but I'll take it!)

Thank you all again for your responses and help - I do appreciate it so much! It's great to know you when you cry out for help (and/or a swift kick in the rear - lol) that you will get it!

That's awesome Jennifer! Congrats on the 2 lbs! I'm sure you'll continue to lose now! And I agree, this is a great place to come for reinforcement. Keep up the good work and enjoy your new groceries!

Wow Jennifer my heart goes out to you. I have only been losing 3 to 4 lbs a month instead of the 2 to 3 a week that I heard so much about since before surgery. I know how frustrated I am with that, I can only imagine yours.

With that said I will give you some of the things I eat that I enjoy.

As mentioned above I also love Wendy's chili, I also stop at taco bell for their refried Beans if I can't wind a Wendy's.

I love Greek yogurt, (you can find that at super walmart in the yogurt section) but hate regular yogart so that is a life saver for me. It is higher in Protein and in my opionion much better. Sometimes I mix it with a little cream cheese and make a spread to eat with low fat crackers.

I eat oarmeal alot, and recently discovered adding chocolate protein power and Peanut Butter (reminds me a little of no bake cookies)

whenever I want pudding I add some Protein powder to it to add to the nutrition value.

I do eat pizza when my family wants it, but I just eat the toppings off of it and make sure it has lots of veggies.

One of my favorites that I couldn't eat for awhile is some baked chicken topped with mozzerella olives, mushrooms and pizza sauce. I cut the chicken in half length wise to make it thinner and just top it like I would a pizza.

Today I am going to make some piwheels with neufchatel cheese (cream cheese) greek yogart and crab a little garlic and green onion spread on a low fat tortilla shells. I love crab ragoon so this is how I get my fix. You can just make the dip and put it on low fat crackers. I like wheat thins.

Also there is a site called Linda's Low Carb Menus & recipes - Home has tons of receipe ideas.

Hope this helps a little!

Hey, Jennifer, congrats on getting back on track and already losing 2 lbs! :thumbup: We're here for ya -- ask and you shall receive. I don't really have much to add. Everyone else has mentioned all the things that I would have said -- daily plate tracking, 1200 calories, Greek yogurt, low carb, exercise, etc. The one thing that I have done that I can say has made a huge impact for me is giving up refined sugar and white carbs. That's a huge sacrifice, I know, but I am a true sugar addict.

I also agree that your doctor should not expect you to do this diet alone without the help of your band. That's why you had the surgery! If you need a fill because you are hungry all the time and have no restriction, you need a fill! So, I hope all goes well with your appointment on the 20th.

Keep coming back and let us know how you're doing. You are an inspiration to us, too! We all help each other along the way. :w00t:

Your story is my story. I lost more on the preop diet then I have being banded. It's been a rollercoaster ride for sure. I am stuck at the 250 mark - I go back and forth with 245 and can't seem to make it move lower.

I need to log my foods I think that will help.

Anyways, good luck!:wink:

Thank you everyone! I'm doing MUCH better.

Jazzy - I'm so happy you posted!! We are the same age, banded the same month - at the same weight. We have to keep in contact!

To update everyone, here is what I posted on my shiny new LAP-BAND® Blog:

Jen's LAP-BAND® Journey

(Come Visit me there!)

Fine! I get it.

Happy Monday!

Two weeks ago I had what someone I know would call a "Come to Jesus" with the scale. Said scale was at 261.8 on Jan. 11th. Whaaa??!! I had gained 10 pounds over the holidays. Not only that, the fact is that I had my surgery in May and quit losing in July.

Some of the blame lies with ‘bandster hell’ because I went from

May-July: So tight that I couldn’t drink and ended up dehydrated and needing IV fluids 3 times – which necessitated having air removed from my band. (Yes, it really happened – twice!)

July–Present: 3 fills – 6cc’s in a 10cc band but still barely any restriction at all. (Hopefully, this will be resolved with my next fill on Feb. 1.)

The rest of the blame lies squarely on my shoulders and I’m here putting it in black and white. I know what I did – I

took an innocent comment from my surgeon,

"You should be able to eat the same things everyone else is eating, just much less"

and used it as my personal license to eat all the things I was used to eating, things that in my obese world, everyone else ate. (I won’t go into detail, I’m keeping this a ‘G’ rated blog – no food porn allowed here!)

I have re-dedicated myself to clean eating, correct portions, more activity, tracking my food, 1200 cals/day and drinking Water. I went cold turkey on Coke and cut out as much refined sugar as I could and what a difference! I’ve officially lost 7 lbs. in the last 2 weeks.

I’m still a slacker on the exercise…but c’mon I’m gonna get there, I promise. (Does reading about Couch 2 5K count?)

Oh, just to test my clean eating theory I decided that I’d try to drink a can of Coke yesterday. Well, Mr. Scale decided to pay me back – I gained a full pound. (I was 253.4 yesterday am.) The Coke was the only thing I did differently.

Okay, Okay, - I GET IT! No more Coke! FINE!

(It didn’t taste so great anyway – so there!)

I’m going cold turkey again.

Anyone else need to join me on the no sugar bandwagon?

Way to go, Jennifer! I gave up sugar and Diet Coke cold turkey back in May when I had my surgery. One day I accidentally had a sip of Diet Coke and it tasted awful!

For me, I can't eat all the same things that "normal" people can. I've tried for years. That's what I did on Weight Watchers and it never worked. So, when I decided to get banded, I also decided I had to change the foods I ate. It's been tough! But, I'm also glad that I did it.

Keep up the great work! You're doing an awesome job! :thumbup::thumbup:

Logging food, I find, is the bes way to get back on track. Also, varying your caloric intake from one day to the next can get you going too. My doctor tells his patients to not eat a serving of food that is over 5 gm. of surger or 5 gm of fat. It is an easy way to help keep the calories down on a daily basis without having to keep of record of total calories