I typically have two meals a day is this normal? I usually am not hungry in the morning so I have about two cups of coffee then get hungry (not ravenous like before...just a bit) so I concentrate on having my minimum of 60 grams of protein a day so it could be eggs, pnut butter, cheese...getting really bored with the food routine any suggestions? Thanks@

Magnolia, do you think that you could possibly start drinking a Protein shake in the a.m.? Just Protein powder in fat-free milk (in blender), add 1 fresh banana, some frozen fruit (strawberries, blueberries, or peaches, etc.), add a few ice cubes to thicken. Delicious - like a smoothie. Not too heavy to eat in the a.m.

Are you on solids yet? Then try a scrambled egg and a veg. sausage pattie (micro. total - 2 1/2 min.) for Breakfast. For lunch, how about tuna or chicken salad and couple of ritz crackers? Refried Beans w/ cheese are good source of Protein. dinner - lean, moist meat (chicken, beef, pork chop, grilled shrimp, or baked fish, etc.), some kind of dipping or steak sauce, vegetables.

I don't always have time for breakfast. But I find that I stay satisfied feeling longer if I do. Are you getting all of your Water in each day (but not drinking an hour after meals)? Are you taking a chewable multi-vitamin?

The main thing is to eat solid foods each time that will stay in your pouch longer. Try to eat interesting foods that you really like. Enjoy your meal leisurely, savor each bite. Don't get bored w/ your choices. Keep them flavorful and colorful, pleasing and enjoyable. Use a pretty salad plate (size helps w/portion control). Have a variety of drinking glasses to help you get your water load in. A chilled jug of water and Cranberry Lite gives you some variety on getting fluids in.

You'll do fine!

I'm not too big on breakfast either. But, I have started doing something that will help ensure that I get the protein I need and is still healthy for me. I take my big mug (like I got in the hospital) put a scoop of Nectar Whey Protein it, then fill it up with water. 32 oz instead of the suggested 8 oz on the Nectar container. This way, the protein isn't overwhelming to me, but I'm getting it and the water that I need. It's really no different than drinking propel or crystal light, etc except that it's got protein too. I think there is 23grams in one scoop. So I'm fixing that on my way out the door in the morning. Drinking on it til noon and it's keeping me from getting too hungry, plus I'm getting my water and my protein. Kinda cool.

Leatha

Great idea, Leatha. I drink Protein shakes, but they are kind of heavy for me.

Nancy

thanks everyone for the feedback but I still dont know how many meals you eat on one day?

I eat 3 meals a day and an afternoon snack. If I don't eat 3, I find myself grazing more throughout the day.

3 as often as I can. No less than 2. and I usually have a snack before bedtime to take my medications.

Just wait a minute everyone... what's this powder mixed in Water? I was having a Protein shake every morning, then lunch, then dinner. My goal is not to snack. But I haven't had a protein shake in a couple weeks because I'm always in a rush and they're a pain to make.

Where do I get the magic powder? Sounds way easier than the milk & fruit I've been doing.

When I'm good, I have one Protein Drink with fruit in the morn.

One cup of coffee with real cream & real sugar.

Band size lunch (protein & veggies, a couple crackers)

Dinner - whatever hubby cooks in small portions.

For me, no snacking. Snacking doesn't work for me, it gets me wanting more, more, more.

But when I'm being a bad band girl, I eat a lot of Pringles and anything else not tied down.

Okay I get it now protein powder it sounds awful but where do I get it and why cant I just mix low fat milk and a banana to get protein without using the powder? Is this a dumb question? I am still learning.... help...

All Protein powders are different. I get the unflavored or vanilla Soy powder so it doesn't have any taste to speak of and mix it w/fruit and ice cubes for a delicious smoothie. I buy it at the wholesale club (cheaper than GNC, more Vitamins in it, and tastes better). Mine has 14 grams of protein, Vitamin A, C, Calcium, Iron, Vitamin D, E, Thiamin, Riboflavi, Niacin, Vitamin B-6, Folate, Vitamin B-12, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Phospphorus, Iodine, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, Copper, Manganese, Chromium. (Are you still awake?) Just plain milk doesn't have all of those in it. Fat-free milk has 9 grams of protein, Vitamin A, C, Calcium, Vitamin D.

No questions are dumb. That's how we all learn - everyday.

All doctors give different rules for eating after getting the band. Some doctors recommend you add Protein powder to your milk to make sure you get enough protein every day.

If you count your protein grams by looking at nutritional labels, and you are getting enough protein with food alone, then you don't need the protein.

With me, I don't like eating in the morning, and a lot of days I have too much restriction to put any food in my stomach till lunch time. But my body needs protein, so I drink a shake for Breakfast.

If you don't want to have a shake, you can have regular protein like eggs, cheese, cottage cheese, chicken, tofu, etc. Or you can eat a Protein Bar. There's lots of options, but there are no stupid questions. The only stupid ones are the ones we're afraid to ask!

Originally posted by DeLarla

Just wait a minute everyone... what's this powder mixed in Water? .

I bought a big container of the nectar whey Protein mix. I just throw a scoop of it in my 32oz mug of water and move on. It's about 23g of Protein and I'm drinking my water too. They have different flavors and it's one good way for me to make sure I get my protein. You can also buy Isopure which some folks rave about. I think they all taste pretty nasty myself, but I can stomach it to get the protein I need.

Originally posted by Abundant

Okay I get it now Protein powder it sounds awful but where do I get it and why cant I just mix low fat milk and a banana to get protein without using the powder? Is this a dumb question? I am still learning.... help...

You can. Jessie Ahroni never advocates Protein drinks. She says you can definitely get the protein you need by having one cup of lowfat milk and 2 meals with adequate hard Proteins. This is all a very individual journey. I have not pulled the blender out once since I started this. I did buy ready to drink cans of protein drinks. Then, I bought the big container of the nectar Protein, but I try to get my protein through hard proteins most often.

It's all up to you and what you like or are willing to do on a daily basis.

I'm eating 3 meals a day

I drink 55 oz of Water every morning before 9:30 am and drink 2 cups of coffee I pee all day but this way I have most of my water in and can continue to sip throughout the rest of the day ( I started this water regimine last Wednesday and it is working great for me)

breakfast - 2 scrambled egg whites w/ a piece of turkey ham or 2 sausage links

lunch - cheese & crackers OR Tuna & Carckers

dinner - whatever I make for family but small portion NO Carbs with this fill I can do bread , rice or Pasta very well at all

I mix the protein powder and fruit into fat-free skim milk. Atkins canned shakes are good to have on hands when you're in a real big hurry. I'm like Lisa, I can't eat breakfast a lot of times. So the shake seems to be a little more filling than just plain milk. But when I do eat breakfast ( scrambled eggs and veg. sausage patty), I stay full feeling a lot longer.

I WONDER CAN I HAVE SLIMFAST TO DRINK IN THE MORNING FOR PROTEIN? OR MABYE WITH THE NECTAR WHEY PROTEIN MIX, CAN I MIX SOY MILK AND YOGURT WITH IT? IS SOYMILK HEALTHY? I AM LACTOSE INTOLERATE AND THIS IS THE ONLY TYPE OF MILK I CAN DRINK.