HELP!This is my first time here or in any forum gegarding the band. I had my band surgery this past January and I have not lost any weight. I truly don't know what to eat!

I can't seem to get this whole band concept down. I eat bad band foods I think. I can eat rice and slice bread and chef-boyardee. I am absolutely addicted to chocolate and cakes. I beed to stop this but I need ideas on what I should be eating. I am depressed because I am a horrible bandster. I don't feel like I ever had surgery!

Please give me some ideas of your meals from bfast to dinner.

Please,please should I eat lettuce, can I eat lettuce?

My doctor said that I should always eat Protein first then some vege. Protein is what keeps you full for longer period of time. I also love cakes and Cookies, so I would have a small piece of cake or 1 cookie once or twice per week when I really crave them. That way you don't feel being deprived from all the goodies. As for the love of chocolate, you could try fat free sugar free Chocolate Jell-O pudding. They are pretty good that it should take your craving for chocolate away. Protein source includes lean meat, tofu and dairy products. I am not at my sweet spot yet so I do eat large portion. Here is one of my typical day of meals:

Breakfast: usually two eggs and 1/4 cup of fat free cottage cheese.

Snack: sugar free popsicle

Lunch: 5 OZ of meat (fish, chicken, pork) and 3 OZ of vege.

Snack: 1 reduced fat cheese string

Dinner: again 5 OZ meat, 2 Oz of tofu and 1 OZ of vege.

Edited April 27, 200917 yr by EmmaWang

Well, I do eat rice and bread and I do not believe that they stop all people from losing weight. Many people can handle carbs fine. They are not poison for everyone.

But you MAY do better on a lower carb diet.

personally, i find my band works best when I make a conscious effort to avoid eating too many "easy" foods. Easy foods are not necessarily unhealthy foods, what I mean is that I naturally choose stuff like yogurt for Breakfast followed by Soup for lunch simply because they are easy, dont cause problems and over the years my appetite has developed a preference. However, if I eat this way, I will be picking between meals because these foods dont give satiety for very long.

Now, if I eat an egg on a slice of wholegrain toast for breakfast and some grilled chicken in a tossed salad for lunch, I might think meh, cant be bothered, too hard, just dont feel like it but they are the things that fill me up and keep me satisfied. I really struggle with this, not due to lack of willpower but just because my appetite now tends to drive me towards softer easier foods and I do it

unconsciously. I can guarantee even a few days of watching this habit results in pounds gone for me.

I find I need bread, rice, Pasta and potato for the bulk that it provides, its what makes my band work really well. I always eat FAR less overall when I include these foods and they most definitely do not affect my weight loss. I probably burn them off as I run so much.

hey gordita, look you are definitely eating the wrong foods. the band is merely a tool not a solution to your choice of food. you have to drink your protein shake to keep u up and goin even if u only have it once a day. have avocado in the house, cottage cheese, 99% lowfat crackers, soups stock up on soups. even lean cuisine when you are really hungry. dont b down on yourself just change wat u put in ur mouth it will make a world of difference good luk.

You can look at what I eat by clicking on the link at the bottom of my signiture.

This is an example of what I typically eat on an average day when not working out.

small glass of soymilk

oatmeal (instant) or egg beaters

yogurt (lowfat)

piece of lowfat cheese

chicken/steamed veggies (lunch)

low fat rice cakes

cottage cheese

beef Jerky

fish with Beans or veggies

1 orange

whole grain cracker (about 15 of them)

piece of cheese

I eat about every 2-3 hours. about 4-5 oz This list is in order. of course I change things up if I am working out which I will eat more for energy needs. I eat often and drink about 80 oz of Water. I am never hungry. good luck.

HELP!This is my first time here or in any forum gegarding the band. I had my band surgery this past January and I have not lost any weight. I truly don't know what to eat!

I can't seem to get this whole band concept down. I eat bad band foods I think. I can eat rice and slice bread and chef-boyardee. I am absolutely addicted to chocolate and cakes. I beed to stop this but I need ideas on what I should be eating. I am depressed because I am a horrible bandster. I don't feel like I ever had surgery!

Please give me some ideas of your meals from bfast to dinner.

Please,please should I eat lettuce, can I eat lettuce?

Your not a bad banster your just learning. If I were you I would see a dietian that can work with you organize a eating plan that is realistic and that you can stick to.

Try planing what your going to eat the day before or plan a week ahead.

My helpful hint is ALWAYS remember to get in 2 1/2 cups of vegies and 2 litres of Water no matter what.

I personally am a HUGE believer in the SouthBeach way of eating.....

lean protien

whole grain carbs

veggies and fresh fruit

read lables and educate yourself on what you are putting in your mouth.

if you have a big sweet/carb addiction it will be hard for you to kick....but I promise you once you get past that you won't want all of it anymore, and when you do decide to eat it it will make u feel like crap (or atleast it does me).

You have come to the right place for support, keep in mind, you are still a band "baby" so to speak, you are in the learning phase and your band is not operating at it's full capacity yet.

I wish you the best of luck, we're hear for all the support you need!

Wow, you are all awesome! I will make this work, it is hard though.

Thanks for all the advice and great ideas!!!

Lagordita, I can relate a lot to what your going through. Especially the "Chocolate and cakes". BUT you know what that is the one thing that I've really not wanted since being banded! AND I was the biggest Choco-holic you've ever seen. And cakes........ get me near a Red Velvet and I started foaming at the mouth!

But I think for me the thing that worked is my telling myself that I Have to change my eating habits or die a very fat/large personn at an early age.

I'm doing a lot better. I've not touched a cigarette, Diet Pepsi or piece of chocolate or cake in weeks. I'm NOT even missing my smokes at all. In fact I'm thrilled that I finally kicked the habit after 34+ years! As far as my Diet Pepsi, oh yes ma'am I still have a craving for one every now and then, but I resist. But the chocolate/cakes/sweets in general cravings are GONE! Go figure.

I still have trouble picking the best foods. I'm still hooked on fried foods (meats). BAD DIANNE! BAD!! But I am getting a little better and I always do eat my protein first.

My worst part of all this is the "Getting off my A$$ and moving part." I'm a couch potato and I know it.

Everyone is different and loose at different rates. I know that being the age that I am that I might have a little harder time than someone in their 20's/30's/even 40's. Take a deep breath, read and learn and always strive to do better. YOU are worth it! :ohmy:

Lagordita, I can relate a lot to what your going through. Especially the "chocolate and cakes". BUT you know what that is the one thing that I've really not wanted since being banded! AND I was the biggest Choco-holic you've ever seen. And cakes........ get me near a Red Velvet and I started foaming at the mouth!

But I think for me the thing that worked is my telling myself that I Have to change my eating habits or die a very fat/large personn at an early age.

I'm doing a lot better. I've not touched a cigarette, Diet Pepsi or piece of chocolate or cake in weeks. I'm NOT even missing my smokes at all. In fact I'm thrilled that I finally kicked the habit after 34+ years! As far as my Diet Pepsi, oh yes ma'am I still have a craving for one every now and then, but I resist. But the chocolate/cakes/sweets in general cravings are GONE! Go figure. :drool:

I still have trouble picking the best foods. I'm still hooked on fried foods (meats). BAD DIANNE! BAD!! But I am getting a little better and I always do eat my Protein first.

My worst part of all this is the "Getting off my A$$ and moving part." I'm a couch potato and I know it.

Everyone is different and loose at different rates. I know that being the age that I am that I might have a little harder time than someone in their 20's/30's/even 40's. Take a deep breath, read and learn and always strive to do better. YOU are worth it!

Thanks Dianne! I am also a couch potato and don't want to be anymore. But I really, really have to try!

My doctor said that I should always eat Protein first then some vege. Protein is what keeps you full for longer period of time. I also love cakes and Cookies, so I would have a small piece of cake or 1 cookie once or twice per week when I really crave them. That way you don't feel being deprived from all the goodies. As for the love of chocolate, you could try fat free sugar free Chocolate Jell-O pudding. They are pretty good that it should take your craving for chocolate away. Protein source includes lean meat, tofu and dairy products. I am not at my sweet spot yet so I do eat large portion. Here is one of my typical day of meals:

Breakfast: usually two eggs and 1/4 cup of fat free cottage cheese.

Snack: sugar free popsicle

Lunch: 5 OZ of meat (fish, chicken, pork) and 3 OZ of vege.

Snack: 1 reduced fat cheese string

Dinner: again 5 OZ meat, 2 Oz of tofu and 1 OZ of vege.

So you weigh your food? I am confused when they say eat a 1/2 cup they mean 4 oz. My day looks like yours with a little more food.

Hi Gordita, hey I know its tuff i just got banded this month and my problem is not being able to eat the bread an tortillas, its killing me. Are you sure u dont need a fill? Maybe thats why are able to eat everything. I wont try beef jerky cause my doctor had a patient eat jerky(not supposed to eat dry meat like breast gets too dry sometimes, and not supposed to re heat or cook meat in microwave) well he had to do urgery to remove the jerky. I heard doritos r bad too this girl on a blog said she hadnt eaten for 4 days and culdnt eat liquids or anything down. Try going to "all the whey" website thats where i ordered bariatri shakes, i got a huge can for like 30 bucks and got chocolate mousse, 8 ouncs of skim milk and stuck some ice in it , its awsome! Dont like the orange though. its so good im gonna start having it more often . I had tried the orange and its gross then finally today tried the chocolate. Also they tell you u can sprinkle it in puddings and yogurts even crystal lite. Just some ideas. They hve tons of flavors. Keep in touch. Goodluck!

I gave up all simple carbs (of course cake and such is okay on "special" occasions) and feel great.

I struggled at first, but now I don't even miss it!

Here is a sample menu:

Fiber One, oatmeal, or Egg beaters for Breakfast

Brie cheese for Snacks (high in fat, but LOVE it!)

Lean meat & veggies for lunch & dinner

A couple Protein shakes throughout the day

Dessert is sugar free Jello with sugar free whipped cream

I track my calories on the dailyplate.com and make sure I eat between 1,000 to 1,200. For some reason, the scale won't move for me if I go under that...

Good Luck!

OMG!!! You have had an incredible amount of weight loss in a pretty short period of time. Congrats! You're my inspiration!

Until last week I too had been struggling with what to eat and how much. My surgeon said a saucer of food was how much I should eat 3 times a day. Well I could fit alot of food on a saucer. I thought I was doing right, but I was not losing at all once I went to solid foods.

One of his office staff came to the montly support group meeting and brought us a menu plan to try for a month. It was set up by their onstaff nutritionist. It's really helped. I've been on that plan for 6 days and I've lost 5lbs.:thumbdown:

I thought I'd share it with you all in case anyone is interested. On this plan I'm allowed to choose 3 meals and 1 snack per day and ONLY eat what's on this list. My doctor's mostly focused on watching fat grams so that's why items are fat free whenever possible.

Breakfast:

1) 2-3 egg whites with 1/2 banana

2) 1 cup cheerios with 1/2 cup skim milk with 6 strawberries

3) 1 cup oatmeal mixed with skim milk or Water

4) egg beaters (or egg whites) with 1 piece of wheat toast (40 calorie bread) - use butter spray and sugar free jelly

5) fat free yogurt with blueberries

6) 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup fat free cottage cheese with peaches

7) 2 slices of turkey bacon with one piece of wheat toast

8) 3/4 cup of corn flakes + 1/2 cup of milk

9) 2/3 cup of light fruit yogurt + 1/4 cup of granola

10) 1 serving of Protein supplement

11) 1 small apple + 1/2 cup of milk

12) 1/2 english muffin + 2 tbsp sugar free strawberry spread

13) 1/4 large whole wheat bagel + 1 oz fat free cream cheese

14) blenderize: 1/2 cup light vanilla yogurt + 1/2 cup berries of choice

15) 1 low-calorie granola bar + 1/2 cup of milk

16) 1 whole grain waffle + 1/4 cup of mixed berries + sugar free syrup

17) 2 egg whites, scrambled

lunch and/or Dinner:

1) tuna fish mixed with pickle relish or mustard (can add fat free mayo too) and 5 fat free crackers and 1/2 apple

2) any Lean Cuisine or Weight Watchers Meal that is 5 or less fat grams per meal

3) deli turkey or deli ham with 5 fat free crackers and 10 grapes

4) salad with grilled chicken or shrimp (only lettuce and veggies) with fat free dressing (or 2 tsps of light dressing)

5) baked potato with 1/2 cup fat free cottage cheese or fat free ranch dressing

6) grilled or baked chicken marinated in BBQ sauce or fat free italian with 1/2 cup brown rice and steamed veggies

7) grilled or baked fish with 1/2 sweet potato and veggies

8) 1 cup whole wheat Pasta with red sauce with chicken or shrimp in the pasta

9) grilled or boiled shrimp with cocktail sauce and veggies

10) vegetable Soup

11) chicken noodle soup

12) 1 tsp tomato sauce, 1/4 oz fat free mozzarella cheese atop 4 whole wheat crackers

13) 1 slice whole grain bread with 1 oz lean ham or 1 oz fat free cheese

14) 3 oz baked chicken + 1/2 cup of green Beans

15) salad: 1/2 cup salad greens, 2 oz grilled chicken, 1/4 cup raw carrots, 1/4 cup raw bell peppers, 2 tsp low calorie vinagrette dressing

16) 1 serving of low calorie beef and vegetable soup + 4 whole wheat crackers

17) 1/2 pita stuffed with 2 oz turkey, lettuce, and tomato

18) 2 oz baked fish + 1/2 cup broccoli

19) 1 medium baked potato + 1 oz grilled chicken, 1 oz cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup chopped tomatoes

20) 2 oz turkey + 1/2 cup mashed sweet potato with 1 tsp of margarine and 1 tsp of cinnamon

21) 1/2 cup refried beans, fat free sour cream, and salsa on a whole wheat tortilla

Snacks: (one a day)

1) any fruit

2) fat free popcorn

3) 100 calorie snack pack (only 1)

4) yogurt

5) turkey or ham slices from deli

6) 1 piece of laughing cow cheese with 5 fat free crackers

7) kiddie size frozen yogurt (sugar free/fat free) from TCBY

8) 1 small peach, plum, apple or orange

9) 1 low fat, no sugar added ice cream sandwich

10) 1/2 cup light yogurt

11) 1 oz fat free cheese with 3 whole wheat crackers

12) 1 low calorie granola bar

13) 1/2 cup vanilla fat free, no sugar added ice cream

14) 1/2 cup sugar free Jello or pudding

15) 17 grapes + 1 oz fat free cheddar cheese

16) 1 small while grain bagel + 1 oz fat free cream cheese

17) 1 no sugar added juice popsicle

18) 1/2 cup etamame (soybeans)

19) 1 small apple with fat free caramel