Just wondering if anyone else is having a hard time eating meat. It seems like it always gets stuck. I have not been getting the protien that I should be. Even shredded beef BBQ gets stuck, and it hurts. Another question I have is I am 5 months post op and I have only lost 35 lbs....there are other 5 months out and have lost 80 lbs...how do they do it? I am 5'7" and started at 235 and now at 200 and want to lose another 35-45 lbs. Any suggestions...Thanks everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :confused:

Hi Kelly -

Sounds like you are too tight. Sorry. :confused:

If you are not able to get in enough calories, your weightloss will be slow. Also, you are not that far from goal, so you will not be losing as fast as those who have farther to go. The closer you get to goal, the slower the weightloss will be, because the discrepancy between the calories you need at goal and the calories you need to maintain your current weight gets smaller and smaller.

Start sucking down those Protein shakes, and seriously consider whether or not you are too tight.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

Hey Kellygirl,

As I know you know, there are MANY factors that influence each person's weight loss. At 235 there is NO WAY you should expect to lost 80 lbs in 5 months. You were a relative lightweight when you started and there's no question people with less to lose lose less quickly than those with more to lose. (Of course those with more to lose, like me, might also lose less quickly. :confused: )

Maybe I am not losing because I am not eating a whole lot. What is the best thing I can do for getting my protein in? I guess I could do more ground meat suppers instead of grilled meat. Do you think is is possible for me to be 35 lbs lighter in 6 months?

Hi Kelly -

To be honest, I have never been so close to goal and tried to lose weight, so I don't know realistically what you could expect. I know that 35 pounds in 6 months is very realistic for me, with 85 pounds still to go.

I think your very very best bet is to up your Protein, lower your carbs, and start doing some strength training to build muscle. Aerobic exercise is great, but it's your MUSCLES that burn fat, and the more of them you have, the faster your metabolism will be, because those muscles require more energy to maintain even at rest than fat stores do.

You will really have to make sure you are taking in enough calories, though, to build your muscles. Also, as you are building muscle, bear in mind that your weight may not change as quickly at first (muscle weighs more than fat) but you will lose inches (because muscle takes up less volume than fat, pound for pound). Once you have a good muscle base being maintained (and not built) then the weight will come off faster.

Please do not do anything unhealthy to meet your goal!

Good luck!

Hi Kelly, I was banded in Aug. also and have lost 40lbs. so am close to your wt. loss. I joined curves when my wt. loss was -35 and in a week lost 5lbs. I also can't handle much meat no beef or pork I live on fishsticks they seem to go down good and have protein. Good luck. Roxanne

I am not a seafood eater, but I will eat Luby's fish. I have not thought of that as a good protien, but it is!! I can handle a fish stick if there is not any black in it; so I am definetly going to get some and see if they will go down. I am glad to hear that I am not the only one that has a hard time with meat. Not that I am glad that you can't eat meat, just to know that I am not the only one. I hope all goes well for you...and me in that case. Thanks to everyone that has helped me along my way...It is weird that people I have never met have a special place in my heart.

Hi!

I have a hard time with meat as well but have found any kind of sauce help alot.I put salsa on my chicken,homemade low fat cheddar sauce on meatloaf,applesauce on pork ect!

C

I too have a hard time with beef so I bought a Protein drink called "Boost". They are delicious and give me enough the added calories that I need.

You can also have different type cheezes. Personally I like Feta and Munster cheeze.

Mary

Kelly, there are definitely times that I have a lot of trouble with meat. I get my Protein mostly through very thinly sliced deli meat at lunchtime, and sometimes for Breakfast. By dinner I'm usually able to eat something more solid, but sauce helps a lot.

Buy good-quality meats at the deli counter and ask them to slice them really thin for you. Roll them up with cheese for extra yumminess. I'll bet you'll find that's a lot easier to get down than grilled chicken (which I haven't been able to eat for months now).

That is a wonderful idea!!! I have not thought of that and I am a cheese lover!!!!! Thanks!

I was banded in July and initially lost 40 lbs in the first 3 months. This was mainly due to me eating liquids and soft foods. I was also afraid to eat much because of fear of slippage. Once I got past that fear and started eating solids my weight loss stopped. I was able to eat way too much. Now I've had two fills. My appetite is still strong and since my initial loss, I have gained twenty back, and now am standing at a total of 19 lbs lost in seven months. I am very distraught. My doctor tells me to eat less. eat lower fat foods, and excercise more. I haven't had a lot of success with this advice in the past. This is why I spent nearly $20,000 of my own money for this surgery. Needless to say, I feel like I wasted my money. The ONLY discourgement I have from overeating is when food gets stuck in my band.

I don't mean to bring anyone down. But I misunderstood the results of this procedure.

BamBam

PS How much are you all paying for fills?

Hi Bambam,

I hope you don't mind but I started a new thread with your message in the Support section. This is a very important message that you have and I want it not to be lost in this thread about meat. You'll get a lot more feedback there, I think.

Originally posted by Alexandra

Hi Bambam,

I hope you don't mind but I started a new thread with your message in the Support section. This is a very important message that you have and I want it not to be lost in this thread about meat. You'll get a lot more feedback there, I think.

Your doing a great job at moderating Alexandra :confused:. I remember you started before you was banded and I think you have really grown into the job. You always give great advice about insurance issues and are courteous towards the other members ... Kudos!

Thanks, Leo! :confused: Very nice of you to say!!

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. Yes, it's me who has lost 80 pounds in just 5 months. Just a few thoughts...

I NEVER expected to be doing this well.

Kelly, Alexandra, and others who have lost 30 or so pounds in that time - you're really right on track. I was always told to expect 1-2 pounds a week and I truly expected that in 5 months, if I had lost more than 20 pounds, I would be right on target. And that's where you both are. So, don't compare yourself to others. (Yes, I know, easier said than done. I would be doing the same thing.)

I won't say this process has been easy. I've actually really worked at making right choices. And I did (and still do) have a lot to lose, so the weight is going to come off faster than if I had much less to lose. (Though it is slowing down.)

A few things I'm doing that I think makes this all work...

- I'm making the right food choices (most of the time). I am eating lots of Protein (eggs, fish, meat, hummus, Beans, etc.) I have a Protein shake occassionallly. When I'm hungry, I go for some protein first. My daily protein intake is at least 70-80, but often over 100.

- I'm really restricting carbs. Not all carbs - but mainly potatoes, bread, Pasta, etc.

- I did NOT listen to the dietician who said that I should be eating 700-800 calories a day. I really felt strongly that if I went down to that low amount of calories, my body would go into a starvation mode and my metabolism would slow down - slowing my weight loss. In fact, I am generally eating between 1000-1500 calories a day. (My weight loss is dramatically slowing at this point, and I expect that I will need to have another fill and lower my caloric intake.)

- I have been regularly tracking my food intake on a daily basis on fitday.com. It helps. I know what I've been eating. And sometimes I am surprised that it's not more than it is.

- So far, I have had 3 fills. I anticipate getting another one soon (perhaps this week, depending on what the scale says.) My theory has been that even though I've been eating much more than I expected to be able to eat, as long as I'm losing, I didn't want to be too restricted. (Again, I know that I will need to drop intake, but I didn't want to slow my metabolism prematurely.) So, when I go to the doctor this week, my feeling is that if I have lost anything, I will not get a fill. But if I'm really at a plateau (or even a possible gain), it's time for another fill.

- I stop in at my doctor's office weekly (almost) to get weighed. It helps me know where I am. I guess years of Weight Watchers and other weekly weigh-in programs has me conditioned. However, this is the first time I actually look forward to getting weighed. (And yes, when it's a plateau, or even a gain, I get discouraged.)

- I have been exercising. I was doing Water aerobices 2x/week (even before surgery), but the class is on hold now. I have also been going to a personal trainer almost weekly (recommended by my doctor). And now have just joined a gym. (Went yesterday for the 1st time on my own, and am I sore!)

- I go to the montly support groups - just to keep in touch.

- I read lots and lots of the online groups to see what other people are doing. I look forward to reading all the posts, on this board, as well as a couple of others.)

I think that all of these steps have really helped me. And certainly, my good weight loss has been a tremendous motivator.

In fact, however, I too get discouraged. I KNOW I have lost much more than I expected to lose. But I'm also feeling those same feelings of ... "will this continue"; "have I lost all I'm going to"; "I have SO much more to lose, I'll never make it"; etc, etc.

So, even though I have lost a good amount, I need the same encouragement as all of you to keep on going and take one day (and one pound) at a time.

Don't compare yourself. Just relook at what you're doing and try to make some small changes and good choices. And keep up with the protein.

Hope this helps. I think it helped me to put it in writing.

Good luck.

Mary