Hi guys,

I did my surgery about a year ago now, and I'm down 40 pounds. I have to be honest though, I feel like I am in the worst health of my life . I am constantly tired-- I can sleep any amount of time and have a really hard time getting out of bed in the morning. The worst thing is, I'm only 24 so it's putting a MAJOR cramp on my life.

I keep getting tested for things, and most of the time my tests are all normal (iron levels, Vitamin b levels, Vitamin D levels, thyroid, etc). So the only thing I can think of that is the problem now would be nutrition.

I'll admit, I definitely DO NOT get the amount of Protein, fruits and veggies people are recommended to get. My biggest problem is, though, I don't understand how with the band you could possibly eat enough to get the daily recommendations? Are there any wonder foods or plans you guys are following that help you get the nutrients you need that are band friendly?

On a typical day, I eat:

a slim fast bar for Breakfast (cant keep much down in the mornings)

a small lunch like easy mac, a piece of pizza, a pb sandwich

peanuts for snack

and a meat for dinner.

Any suggestions?

Get rid of the pasta and bread at lunch time. Switch it for something high in protein...soup, refried beans, tuna...and maybe a fruit or veggie. Skip the slim fast bar too. I can't eat much in the morning either. Have a protein shake. No wonder all you want to do is sleep. You aren't getting the proper nutrition. And if you aren't exercising....start. That will help energize you too.

To be honest, that's a pretty horrible diet, its all processed! I agree, ditch that easy mac rubbish at lunchtime, that sort of stuff should never be on anyone's diet, there's absolutely nothing nutritious about it. Go for a good homemade soup, something with vegies and chickpeas in it for example. Do you only eat meat for dinner? If so, eat a bit less meat and supplement with some vegies. Make a smoothie in the morning instead of a processed protein shake - add some oatmeal or wheatgerm to it, some yogurt, some frozen berries and a bit of protein powder to boost it. Other things you could eat for lunch would include tuna or chicken salad or homemade dips like hummus and crackers with something easy like sliced cucumber. A small salad with a boiled egg might be an option too. Take a supplement as well.

Hi,

I went through the same thing. I was tired, couldn't get up, couldn't stay up, etc. I was hard-core exercising (still am) but had no energy. I looked at my diet and decided to change it. I began to add Protein to my yogurt (which had 6 gms). This boosted my morning amount of protein. When I didn't want yogurt in the morning, I had eggs with cheese. For lunch I changed to a salad with grilled chicken or tuna. And after working out I have a small, drained can of Water packed tuna. (This saves me from buying the $5 Protein Shakes at the gym). The tuna has 18 gms of protein and 80 calories. This fills me until dinner is ready. It helps me eat a smaller dinner. I have whatever my family is having for dinner; just a much smaller amount. I usually find that if I have nutritious and healthy meals for breakfast and lunch, I am satisfied in the evenings much easier with something more healthy or in a small amount. (Like Sunday, I had spaghetti but just a very small portion).

All the best to you!

Try not to eat the same thing every day either - lots of variety is the key.

Where are your fresh fruits and veggies? You didn't list a single one of either on your typical day menu. That's got to change.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I recognize my diet isn't ideal... but Im on a student's budget, so it's hard to do fresh fruits and veggies sometimes... a lot easier to get cheap junk. Anyone know of inexpensive quick meals that are relatively healthy?

I definitely will start having some more tuna (since I actually like it) and I think smoothies and yogurt would be key. I'm a picky eater so that makes it tough in terms of Soups and such, but there were aton of great suggestions here.

Fresh fruits and veggies are in season now so they are very inexpensive. Go to a farmers' market or a road side stand. You can get a whole turkey breast of $6.00. Buy one and cook it in the crock pot. It stays juicy that way. Freeze it in small servings and take them out as you need them. It's alot cheaper than easy mac and actually has some nutritional value. You need to expand your horizons and try things you may only think you don't like. I always thought that I didn't like cream soups until I was in the mushie stage. My aunt passed away and my cousin took everybody out to her favorite Italian restaurant after the funeral. The only thing on the menu I could eat was cream of chicken soup so I ordered it and discovered it was awesome! You have to leave that "picky eater" mindset behind you or you aren't going to be successful in your journey. You need to start eating to live instead of the other way around. Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.

Hi,

I went through the same thing. I was tired, couldn't get up, couldn't stay up, etc. I was hard-core exercising (still am) but had no energy. I looked at my diet and decided to change it. I began to add Protein to my yogurt (which had 6 gms). This boosted my morning amount of protein. When I didn't want yogurt in the morning, I had eggs with cheese. For lunch I changed to a salad with grilled chicken or tuna. And after working out I have a small, drained can of Water packed tuna. (This saves me from buying the $5 Protein Shakes at the gym). The tuna has 18 gms of protein and 80 calories. This fills me until dinner is ready. It helps me eat a smaller dinner. I have whatever my family is having for dinner; just a much smaller amount. I usually find that if I have nutritious and healthy meals for breakfast and lunch, I am satisfied in the evenings much easier with something more healthy or in a small amount. (Like Sunday, I had spaghetti but just a very small portion).

All the best to you!

Of course you have to look after your diet plan and the food that you eating but you also need Procera AVH. A mood enhancing formula that has been created by doctors that will help restore oxygen and important nutrients in the brain. is a mood enhancing formula that has been created by doctors that will help restore oxygen and important nutrients in the brain. This will you also to ease the stress feeling that you have.

Try not to eat the same thing every day either - lots of variety is the key.

Thanks for the advice. I usually do try to mix it up but I was just giving her a generic run down of what I was having yesterday! I do mix turkey instead of chicken and tuna. But, for me, just so that I do eat Breakfast, I stick with the yogurt or eggs. Nothing else stays down. So, that I don't skip, I change flavors of the yogurt and Protein. That's all the variety I can take right now. Any other suggestions for a breakfast that will stay down or that will go down? Bars are a no go. oatmeal made me vomit before banding, I can only imagine now. I do work and need it to be quick as I'm on the road by 6:30 am.

Slim fast bars are full of sugar and hardly any Protein you need a better Protein Bar if thats what you are going to eat for breakfast. Easy mac for lunch is not a great lunch and there is no protein in it its all carbs and pretty much fattening. Get rid of the bread and sandwiches and eat something more filling for lunch. Why only meat for dinner eat some good vegetables. Make a stir fry with some meat in it. You need to broaden your horizens in the food department for sure.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I recognize my diet isn't ideal... but Im on a student's budget, so it's hard to do fresh fruits and veggies sometimes... a lot easier to get cheap junk. Anyone know of inexpensive quick meals that are relatively healthy?

I definitely will start having some more tuna (since I actually like it) and I think smoothies and yogurt would be key. I'm a picky eater so that makes it tough in terms of Soups and such, but there were aton of great suggestions here.

If you like Chinese food, I tried my new egg roll recipe last night. It was great! I make several at a time and then refrigerate them so I have them during the week. This recipe makes 8 egg rolls.

1/2 package of broccoli coleslaw mix

1/2 small onion, chopped

2 Cups of finely chopped chicken

2 Tbsp of stir-fry sauce (I like Kikkoman's)

1 tsp of ground ginger

2 tsp of garlic powder

Egg roll wrappers

Preheat oven to 350.

In a hot skillet or wok, stir-fry the onions for a minute or two, then add the broccoli coleslaw mix. Stir for a couple minutes, then add the chicken. Mix it together, then add the stir-fry sauce and season with the ginger and garlic powder.

Grab a small bowl of Water and your egg roll wrappers. Spoon about a 1/4 - 1/3 cup of the mix in a wrapper and wrap corner to corner, tucking in sides as you roll. Dip your finger in the water and paint the last corner of the wrapper with water before rolling it closed. Lather, rinse, repeat with the rest of the mix. Bake at 350 for 15-20 min. Awesome with a little sweet chili sauce.

Nutrition info per egg roll (may vary with different brands):

Calories: 152

Fat: 2g

Carbs: 17g

Sugars: 7g

Protein: 16g

Enjoy!!