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:

Mary,

Would you mind sharing what a typical daily menu is for you? I was banded about a week after you and have lost 38 pounds which I know is a wonderful thing but I seem to be stuck now even after my 3rd fill recently. During the day and especially in the morning I am definitely restricted, but at night I just seem to keep eating and I don't understand why I'm not as restricted then and I don't seem to get that full feeling. You must be eating alot to be getting in that much protein. I know in order to lose weight you do have to eat so you obviously are doing the right thing. Thanks for sharing.

In answer to your question about my daily eating...

Really, it varies greatly. And, just yesterday, had a 4th fill - so I'm sure it will change a lot. But, as of a couple of weeks ago, here's an idea of what I was eating...

- Breakfast

1/2 cup cottage cheese

or

1/2 cup tuna salad

or

2 scrambled eggs with salsa and a little bit of cheese

or

yogurt with some high Protein Cereal

or

occassionally a protein shake (Unury with Lactaid fat free milk)

and if really hungry I would sometimes have a combination of the above

- lunch

Generally I'd have about 3/4 - 1 cup of some sort of protein - ground turkey with taco seasoning, left over fish, tuna salad, turkey meatballs, Soup

- Mid-afternoon

Sometimes I have a yogurt in the afternoon

- dinner

Sometimes start with soup - homemade, low fat - often vegetable based, but sometimes with Beans

Usually mainly protein - lots of fish (6-8 oz); or chicken; or ground turkey; or some kind of stewed 9soft) meat (lamb or veal)

Some vegetables

Dessert is usually my treat of fat free, sugar free pudding and a fruit juice popsicle

If we go out for dinner, I usually get fish and double vegetables.

I also snack on hummus

Occassionally have some crackers

I have to say I'm lucky. I'm at home with my mother, who does all the cooking, so I don't have to prepare anything. It definitely makes it much easier.

Lately however, I've been really hungry - eating the entire meal in a restaurant, and even had a steak the other night. So, that's why I just had a 4th fill.

Hope this helps.

Mary

Hello Kelly, The one thing I have found in my weight loss is the more Protein I get, the more weight I lose. My surgery was in July, '03 and to date, I have lost 90 pounds. Very exciting for me. But, in late December, I reached a major plateau after reaching 79 pounds by year-end. I had only had one adjustment since surgery and since year-end, I have only lost 11 pounds! I had an adjustment in late February and have begun to lose again, however, it is very slow and I think mainly due to my not being able to get a lot of meat down. So, I have begun drinking Protein drinks (powder mixed with orange juice) and hopefully this will increase my weight loss at least to 2 pounds per week. I only have 40 more pounds to lose.

Anyway, this is my advice...add the protein. I am not a real fish eater (I love shellfish but who can afford it). White fish makes me sick to smell it. I eat lots of tuna and when I eat tuna, I lose!

Good luck.