LENGTH ALERT! (This has very detailed tips and tricks, so this is not a short post. Just a "heads up")

People asked me a lot how I went from Slow Loser to getting to goal. I did better my second year of banding and when the weight came off - it really came off.

This is something that worked for me, and I recommended to other Bandsters.

Granted, these are tips that's not in any LapBand brochure or doctor's manual, and YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY - but if you already think of yourself as a Slow Loser like I was, then maybe you will be open to trying something to shake things up a bit.

When I needed a weight-loss push, I didn't cut down on calories much (if I'd recently had a fill adjustment, that's different) but in general:

I *added* Protein to every thing I ate.

This helped me to lose steadily (although it sped up my weight loss, more importantly it kept it steady). And it worked! Some Bandsters in my same banding date were better at counting calories - I wasn't. Some were better at counting carbs, I wasn't, but I excelled at ADDING protein. And I did well and later, other fellow Bandsters were asking me for help and tips. :crying:

How did I do it? I did not reduce calories or the amount I consumed (without a fill it wasn't much need to try that) and yet, I still lost. (I added a little bit of Beans, or a sprinkle of cheese (my favorite), or eggs - whatever I could. I didn't reduce what I ate, but I "upped my protein" - and it worked.

With the band, if you eat more protein, you generally will find yourself eating less overall - it doesn't feel that way but you do.

Every single time I added more protein to my regular Band-friendly meals, I lost more weight, even though I wasn't eating less calories sometimes. Sounds crazy - but in my particular case, if I didn't keep my protein levels up, my body held on to calories a lot more. Who needs their bodies "hoarding" calories? :thumbup:

If adding a bit of food meant I would lose more, it was worth a try. It worked.

And I paid attention to the TYPE of protein I ate. (Even before banding, I didn't eat beef or pork at all. And the band was developed in other countries where the pork and beef consumption is a lot lower than it is here in the 'States. I'm not a vegetarian, I just eat seafood and poultry only. My doc said this helped my weight loss a lot because the protein I ate was leaner, not fattier protein like pork/ham/bacon or beef/hamburger/fatty red meat. So I didn't have to regulate my portions as much as some Bandsters did. My can of tuna did more for me than a hamburger ever would have.)

Also, I'm a single/childless Bandster who lives alone, so I eat out for almost every meal. If I could make it to goal - while eating out - ANYBODY can.

How did I do it? Here were some tips.

• At Breakfast, with my morning egg(s), I added a bit of cheese on top. Or I would have cottage cheese added. For protein and hunger reasons, cottage cheese did better than yogurt for me - unless I just had a fill or was very very filled or adjusted. The most filled I am, the less I eat in the mornings. So especially if you are not at your sweet spot, try Proteins that "stick" with you more to keep hunger away. Yogurt alone was not good enough of a breakfast for me, with the band it just went through, and wasn't really filling. Now if I charged up my yogurt with lots of nuts, seeds, and wheat germ - then BAM! I'm not much of a cold Cereal eater (I prefer hot cereals) but if I had one I made sure it was a protein-packed one (I LOVE Grape Nuts cereal best. Go Lean is awesome, and several of the Oatmeals & Cream of Wheat cereals have good protein content. I also added a few nuts to those, too. If I had a yogurt smoothie drink as a snack, I had them had a half scoop of Protein powder (a full scoop can make it too thick sometimes) or some soy or nuts.
  
• Lunchtime was easy to get more protein in. I'd eat a scoop of tuna salad or chicken salad for lunch - and have them add some shredded cheese, some seeds and/or some nuts. I also love Soup. Usually a cup is a nice start to my lunch if I'm having a scoop of salad or tuna. If it's my whole lunch I get a bowl of soup and eat what I can from it. My band will tell me when to stop. Almost any kind of any soup is great with a sprinkle of cheese or nuts added. Beans, too!
  
• With my dinner I always like a cup of soup to begin. Gets me going, jump starts & 'primes' my band and it's a great protein opportunity. Then if I could, I concentrated on seafood. ANY type of fish worked great with my band - From catfish to salmon to snapper to Tilapia. Or even shrimp or my all time favorite, calamari. I enjoy oysters in season and clams all year. The weeks that I ate more seafood, I lost more weight - across the board. Usually grilled is a good choice to be honest I even ate it fried (sorry, weight loss experts) and I still did well. And with my seafood, if I could I added beans to almost everything. With my steamed veggies, I added nuts and a sprinkle of cheese sometimes. I know it's not very It really does work!
  
  

See when I restrict my calories or even when I try to cut down on fat - I usually just end up cutting down on protein. And no matter how "well" or how much less I eat, if I cut my protein my body won't 'burn' up the fat. It holds on to it. I know that protein is the fuel that helps the LapBand machine work and not trying to diet or 'cut down' was a blessing to me.

I've had other Bandsters try this, and yes they are skeptical at first but when they start seeing inches lost (muscle really does weigh more than fat, so your clothes tell you before the scale ever will) then they get on the bandwagon. So don't just 'cut down' - ADD some food on your plate. That's right. ADD MORE nuts, boiled/diced egg, beans, cheese, seeds and other yummy forms of protein. Your body and your LapBand will thank you for it. Also adding protein allowed me to eat fewer carbs and save them for what was really a nice treat - a nice martini or occasional glass of wine, with dinner. Yes, I'm a drinking Bandster. All the successful European Bandsters I knew drank a glass or two now and then and they were my role models. I can't drink a lot AT ALL - a little goes a long way, but it was nice to get to goal weight without ever missing a Friday Happy Hour. I got the band to enhance my life, not take away some of the things that make it enjoyable. I eat out at restaurants, I go have drinks with friends - and I feel and look great. BRAVO!

Good Luck to you. (And since so many people asked me the same question in private posts - that's why I am posting it on the Slow Losers board too...)

Keep up the good fight. I did it - and you can too.

Thanks for the info. It really helps to read how someone else has conquered the beast of hunger, even after banding. My only problem is I have a hard time swallowing , chicken, salmon, and tuna.

Kegra , so your saying that 75 g of protien is not to much if your not eating carbs?

I was told that 50 to 60 grams per day is the initial goal right after banding, then 75+. If you are concerned about 75grams being too much, then you can purchase a kit that tests for ketones, or ask your doc for a urinalysis to test ketone levels. If you are feeling great, then I would say you've nothing to worry about. If you start feeling 'off' to 'bad', then see your doc.

The "lap-band bible" that my clinic gave me says that cheese is just a glorified version of fat. Make sure you're smart with portion size and the type of cheese. Choose low-fat!

Other than that, sounds like good advice.

Thanks so much for the help I need to eat more protein Iwas banded on 3/21 and only lost 17 pds i just got goog restriction on July 8 were Im lost 10 pds i have been so discourage i work out 4 to 5 days a week i notice the last couple of days i started eating the scale moves

Awesome, Mischievious!

This sounds so backwards, but it DEFINITELY works. I can't wait to hear more about your continued success.

Losing by adding - and not subtracting?

It's worth a try. It does work.

Thank you New Sho for posting. I was banded on 8/27/07 and plan on using what I learned in the first year to be successful in the 2nd year. I too was a bit of a slow learner. I am very happy you are at goal!! Stay in touch!!:w00t::biggrin:

Hi--

I'm still awaiting insurance approval but am investigating "how" and "what" to eat. Your post makes lots of sense. The only thing I've wondered about though is that so many have posted about Protein supplements...did you use those? It looks like you go all natural except maybe a half scoop in a smoothie.

Thanks,

Anne

Thank you New Sho for posting. I was banded on 8/27/07 and plan on using what I learned in the first year to be successful in the 2nd year. I too was a bit of a slow learner. I am very happy you are at goal!! Stay in touch!!:w00t::biggrin:

That's what I think is so great about the band, it seems no matter what stage you're at, if you fall off the wagon, you can regroup and it's right there waiting for you to recommit. Congratulations on getting back on the "band" wagon.

Great Post -thanks for the information. Great Job you should be very proud of reaching your goal!!!

Praise Jesus, what a wonderful, simple plan, I am going to use this method when my time comes. I hope to be banded after the first of the year,,,,i am dreaming of a new me.......

Awesome, Mischievious!

This sounds so backwards, but it DEFINITELY works. I can't wait to hear more about your continued success.

Losing by adding - and not subtracting?

It's worth a try. It does work.

I haven't been doing so great the last few days as I (do other's experience this much?) just feel like it's tooooo much work (or bother) to eat and so just take a bite of this or that throughout the day, but I KNOW i'm not eating enough...the down side is that I crave sugar in the eves, so I need to get back on track to lose these last two pounds so that I can enter Onderland.

On the plus side, I had a great self confidence booster NSV this am. I took my car in for service and as soon as i'm out of the van two very young handsome service men are right at my door to help me. I can't tell you how many times I was just invisible and they just let me wait for the young man I made the appointment with, later after one of the "hotties" helped me the guy who I was supposed to wait for tracked me down in the waiting area to "check in" with me....the expressions on their faces were the ones I remember from my skinnier days and if any of you know what i'm talking about (it's an appreciative look) there's no mistaking it for just plain good customer service. I'm seeing that happen more and more the places I go, customer service is improving!! I think it is just that I am NOT invisible anymore! I really like it.

Mischevious, that's a great NSV! I know what you mean and I have missed that great customer service. I am looking forward to getting it back. It's amazing how the bigger you get the more invisible you become. I guess that means fat people become the proverbial "elephant" in the room.

Oh, you are absolutely right! Even when you go to department stores or whatever...you can definitely be overlooked when you are overweight.

So glad to hear you are so close to onederland!

~~anne

Thanks so much for your tips. I didn't get the band to be "on a diet" for the rest of my life, counting carbs, etc....I was sick of that. I want to eat what I want, just not much of it and feel satisfied. So far, I have lost 40 lbs (20 left to go) and I have been banded 9 months. I will try your tips!

Hi Brenda from arkansas,

I m LovingIt from Dubai and I think you recounted my story...i lost my 40 pounds in first 6 mnths and now 5 mnths later only 8 pounds so in total 11 mnths of surgery it is only 48 pounds...

and yes i feel i can eat a lot before i start feeling restricted...and then i just throw up...and i eat more...it is terrible yes...

only good thing i m doing is exercising...in some ways i m happy with teh band that i can eat watever i want ....albeit in small qunatities compared to earlier...n still maintain my weight and also lose it ...very slowly though...

but when i read about other people losing hundreds of pounds in less than a year i start worrying...

but yes i am going to start the Protein diet now...i love fish...so it is a fish dinner for me from now on...lets c what happens...

my advice to u...think of it as an aid to ur will power...