My husband is in the military and is going to gunnery for a month. so i was thinking 2 shakes a day and a small meal and tredmill. i know we are suppose to eat real food i just think maybe doing the shakes for a while will bring my weight down. it is easier then counting everything.

I think it would be better for you to eat 3 small low cal meals and drink the shakes between meals. You don't want to send your body in to starvation mode. BTW, I don't count anything.

I agree with the post about 3 meal a day and shakes in between. exercise is good, remember (at least for me) we didnt get the band so we could "diet" but have a new lifestyle. I never did well with "diets" thats why I decided for the band was for me. I hope you do well with what ever you decide to do Good Luck...

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We are all unique and our bodies will all respond differently. Try it and see if it works for you. Even when I was doing shakes all day, I made sure to drink enough to get in around 1200 calories because when I drop lower, my weight loss stalls. An aunt of mine lost weight doing Slim Fast for Breakfast and lunch and a regular meal for dinner (5-6 oz Protein, a cup of steamed vegies, 1/2 cup of starch).

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I answered yes, but I really don't see the point. Shakes are not low-calorie meal replacements, really. You can increase your satiety for the same number of calories by eating lean and leafy meals. I have 3 meals a day plus 2 shakes, and have consistently lost very well.

The problem with protein shakes is that they are liquids and will not stay in the pouch (are you pre band?). So I think having liquids will make you more hungry and more likely to want to snack during the day.

I was told by my surgeon to do this WHEN I stall. He said it's a great way to get your weight going down again.

I think a small portion of fish or chicken and a side of vegetables would be healthier and may actually help sustain fullness for longer.

I think it'll work. Diets like Slim Fast and Medifast seem to reduce weight, but is it really a diet you want? Are you stalled and just wanting something to jump start weight loss, or are you just wanting to dump a large amount of weight while he's gone for that month?

I understand just wanting to get the weight off, but be careful about "dieting". I know for me I got the band because diets never worked long term. They were so restrictive that eventually I'd want something not on the approved list and end up binging on it. Just be careful that doesn't happen to you. As we know, binging with the band isn't a great idea.

One other thing you might want to consider; if you aren't getting enough Protein per day you may risk losing hair. I don't know how important that is to you in the big scheme of things, but it's something to consider.

But, if it's something you want to try to break a plateau, I say, go for it. You have nothing to lose but time and weight. :thumbup:

Edited October 18, 201015 yr by MellieW

I want to jump start it i havent lost any weight in a couple of weeks. Its driving me mad. I thought maybe cause my husband is home and always wants food. I figured it would be a easy thing to do. I use muscle milk LIGHT which has alot or calories and protien. I thought that would be too much with 3 small meals. When i drink it makes me fill a food full. I dont know maybe its mental. I just want this weight to come off i do not care if it is a pound or 2 a week but something

I want to jump start it i havent lost any weight in a couple of weeks. Its driving me mad. I thought maybe cause my husband is home and always wants food. I figured it would be a easy thing to do. I use muscle milk LIGHT which has alot or calories and protien. I thought that would be too much with 3 small meals. When i drink it makes me fill a food full. I dont know maybe its mental. I just want this weight to come off i do not care if it is a pound or 2 a week but something

I can understand that. It was always easier for me to lose weight when my hubby was TDY, too. He's a 3 real meals a day kinda guy with a metabolism I can only dream of.

So, I can understand wanting to take advantage of the time he's away to jump start your loss or break a plateau. As long as you are getting enough Protein, and feel satisfied with the shakes, I don't really see anything wrong with it.

Keep me posted if you decide to try it, I'd like to know how it worked out for you. :thumbup:

ETA; **But I'm not a Dr. so I'd suggest running it past your Dr or Nutritionist first.** :smile:

Edited October 18, 201015 yr by MellieW

I want to jump start it i havent lost any weight in a couple of weeks. Its driving me mad. I thought maybe cause my husband is home and always wants food. I figured it would be a easy thing to do. I use muscle milk LIGHT which has alot or calories and protien. I thought that would be too much with 3 small meals. When i drink it makes me fill a food full. I dont know maybe its mental. I just want this weight to come off i do not care if it is a pound or 2 a week but something

Forgive me if I am reading more into your post than you meant. A pound or two a week is the average you should expect with a band. Your post sounds as if you are saying, "I don't care if it is ONLY a pound or two a week." As in, "I should be losing 5-10 pounds a week, but will accept 1-2."

Using shakes is not a requirement of banded life, but it can help to up your Protein consumption if you cannot eat enough from food sources.

My surgeon specifically told me he doesn't want me drinking my calories, and to stay away from shakes as much as possible. I bought tons of shakes and powders pre-op, only to end up tossing them out months later.

It IS possible to lose weight without drinking shakes. They are convenient, but they don't provide much satiety.

I would just like to remind you that if you let your calorie count go to low you will most likely stall so I have to agree with the other posters and say try to stick to 3 small HEALTHY meals a day.

forgive me if i am reading more into your post than you meant. A pound or two a week is the average you should expect with a band. Your post sounds as if you are saying, "i don't care if it is only a pound or two a week." as in, "i should be losing 5-10 pounds a week, but will accept 1-2."

using shakes is not a requirement of banded life, but it can help to up your Protein consumption if you cannot eat enough from food sources.

My surgeon specifically told me he doesn't want me drinking my calories, and to stay away from shakes as much as possible. I bought tons of shakes and powders pre-op, only to end up tossing them out months later.

It is possible to lose weight without drinking shakes. They are convenient, but they don't provide much satiety.

i guess it was a shock to lose 10 lbs in pre oop week and then the rest the following week. Now i am up to losing nothing at all and i am so frustrated. I eat right i excercise. Its putting me back into my depression and i do not want to go back there. Then ill start with chocolate cake and ice cream and all that crap. I have been so good i have used sugar free pudding for those times i need it. Still no lost weight.

I don't think that is a good idea. Have you gotten proper restriction yet? I view every pound I lose before finding the sweet spot a miracle and a blessing and when I am not losing, I view it as a chance to learn HOW to eat. I practice chewing, making smaller meals and using smaller dishes. When my H goes away I continue on like normal as far as my diet goes. He just left this morning, and I ate my normal Breakfast, making my normal lunch and dinner.

I used to go on crazy diets when he got deployed. When he went to Korea for a year I lost 70 pounds and gained it ALL back when the Korea tour was over PLUS interest!

My diet doesn't depend on what my husband wants to eat. HIS diet depends on MINE!

i guess it was a shock to lose 10 lbs in pre oop week and then the rest the following week. Now i am up to losing nothing at all and i am so frustrated. I eat right i excercise. Its putting me back into my depression and i do not want to go back there. Then ill start with chocolate cake and ice cream and all that crap. I have been so good i have used sugar free pudding for those times i need it. Still no lost weight.

How long have you been banded? Are you saying you lost 27 lbs. in two weeks? 10 pre-op and then 17 the next (going by your ticker)?

That is a big loss. If so, I'd not be surprised if you went into a plateau after a loss like that.

If your surgery was just recently, your body is still healing and adjusting. Give it some time. You are doing the right things. Watching your diet and exercising. It will show up eventually.

When I was actively losing, my weight would go down 3 lbs one week, up 1, down 2, stable for 2 weeks, up 1, down 2, stable for 3 weeks, down 3 lbs, up 2 lbs, and on and on. It was never steady losses from week to week. Frustrating yes, but once I realized it was the way my body lost, I was ok with it. And over the course of two years, I was down 70 lbs.

Give yourself a break, and try not to turn to food for comfort.