Musiclover

I don't have trouble with anything on that list. I can't eat very much bread and I have trouble with dry protein like a plain piece of chicken or prawns with no sauce. If they are in a pasta dish with sauce then I am fine as long as I have very small bites.

So the truth comes out, I haven't been exercising since being banded. Pre-band I used to run a couple of times a week but after the surgery I just fell off the exercise wagon. I always tell myself that chasing after my 2 little boys is enough but I know that to lose this last 10 pounds I need to get moving. So in the January sales we bought a treadmill and I have started running again. I like to run right before lunch as this inspires me to eat a healthy lunch and not waste the effort but I am noticing that I can hardly eat a bite, my band has closed right up. I pb'd salad the other day and I took very small bites and chewed the heck out of it. Very unusual. I'm wondering if anyone else experiences this, should I have a protein shake for my meal after a workout?

Love your pic 'erinmohr', very cool. I am almost 8 months banded and I still struggle with hunger/full as a lot of this is mental for me. When I go to parties I always reach for the smaller plate and once I eat what is on it I never go back for more. I try to reassure myself that there is always another day of good food and this isn't the 'last' of anything.

I have only had one fill (in the early summer) and I have lost 40 pounds so far (another 10-15 to go) and I haven't booked my next fill yet. I eat 1/3-1/2 of what I ate before and I still have problems with pb'ing unless I am careful, especially around the TOM. I am not a big exerciser and I think rather than another fill I will just have to start going to the gym to lose the rest of my weight.

Congratulations 'mynewlife', you are doing so well. Yesterday, B-Yogurt L-Organic mac and cheese - about 1/2 cup Snack- a couple of pieces of dark chocolate D-Ceasar salad and 1 small pc of thin crust pizza, I can't eat regular pizza anymore but if the crust is paper thin then I am fine. Today, B-Yogurt L-1/2 a grilled cheese and a cup of tomato soup. D-haven't decided yet. I have bought some lovely baby squash at Costco the other day so maybe I'll saute those and make some chicken to go with it.

Yesterday, B-Activia Snack-rice crackers and laughing cow light L-Baked beans (small can) on a piece of whole wheat toast, only ate half of small can of beans. Bread not going down well today. Snack-3 or 4 chips, didn't go down well so I only ate a couple. It is TOM so I am craving salt but my band always tightens up then so it saves me. D-5 hot wings. Went to the theater to see Australia, got there late so no time for snack line, saved again. Movie was great, food would have just been a distraction.

So I needed a new dress length jacket as my last one was wayyy too big (yes I did get an inordinate amount of enjoyment typing that) and since 'thy cups runneth over' and losing 40 pounds has not changed this much, I usually lean towards a large but there was only medium and since it was on clearance I gave it a try and...low and behold it fit! I wanted to do the 'I just made the touchdown of my career in the superbowl' dance but it seemed inappropriate in the Superstore aisle so I just put it in my cart with a smile. This week I have felt the need to share this experience with my 'skinny' friends...I am wondering....am I falling into the 'size matters' set? Anybody else dealing with this new found need to share one's victories? How are your friends handling it?

That's nice Lisa, I am 17+ years in and still trying to get dh to pick up his clothes off the floor. Got any tips? Just kidding, I have no complaints actually, he is my biggest supporter. I love those SB protein shakes, I am hoping we get a Starbucks in our little town soon. I get one whenever I get into the closest big town (only 10 minutes away but I have small children so I tend to stay close to home) so here's hoping...I have read you travel a bit, what do you recommend for eating on the run?

Will look up his card and get the info to you asap, likely tomorrow sometime.

I had a yogurt for breakfast then two poached eggs with a few hash browns for lunch (I rarely eat eggs so I feel no guilt over having two) and for dinner I had a small caesar salad and 2-3 ounces of steak (cut up into very, very tiny pieces). It was a good day, I ate everything very slowly and chewed well and didn't have any pb problems. I eat a little richer on the weekends than during the week but it was all very yummy.

I usually stock up on the Special K protein packets when I go to the States or if a friend is going I get them to bring some back. I really like the pink lemonade. I will try the one from Shoppers, does it taste good?

I am 5'4" and Dr. Miranda gave me a suggested weight of 162 but I thought that was the weight we could be just by having the band. I have already passed that number and definitely still need to lose more but I realize that I can't just rely on the band at this point and need to exercise more.

I think that is really good advice JazzyJude. Kristy, you have obviously done very well with your pre-op diet so far and as long as you don't feel that having a meal will make you 'fall off the wagon' as it were, I think you should have a small meal and eat with your family. I agree that the small plate makes a big difference. Most people have appetizer plates out at a party and those are the ones I gravitate towards and keep everything on one level, no piling food on top of other food.

Sounds good to me mlgpdx. Last time my weight was stuck I ate a handful of almonds every day for a week and lost 2 pounds the next week. Maybe a coincidence but I think I wasn't getting enough protein and my body was hanging on to what it had. Since I worked again today I put a big pot of soup in the crock pot this morning. Nordic potato, I try not to eat a lot of soup as it can slip through our band and cause us to overeat but as long as I feel comfortable with portion control and sticking to my portion and not doing seconds, I reckon it is ok. This time of year I crave a good winter soup. Glad to hear you like the post. I love to hear what people are eating too.

Okay so just got off work and now time to make dinner. I'm going to do my lighter version of nachos. Ground turkey cooked with taco seasoning, multi grain tortilla chips and 2 percent cheese melted till it is all ooey gooey. It is getting cold here now and we all feel like comfort food so hopefully this will do the trick. I don't find I can eat very many tortilla chips with my band but I feel very satisfied after having half or so of an appetizer plate worth.

Me too Nicole. When I started the lap band process I was adamant that I was doing it because I didn't want to be on a diet for the rest of my life and so I almost always eat the same food as I make for the family. Like you I just eat less, I try to eat 1/2 or 1/3 of what I ate before. Haven't decided what to make for dinner tonight yet. I work today so it will probably be something quick and easy.

Thanks Lisa, the last couple of months have been pretty slow but still losing, I haven't had another fill because I still have pb troubles and I just don't like that very much. For some reason I have a hard time with wing drumlets. They used to be my fave part of the wing but now I can only eat the wing part, funny how we are all different. My popcorn diet worked well tonight as my 3 year old was the keeper of the popcorn and while he let his 5year old brother have as much as he wanted I had to snatch a few bites only to have him yell 'stop eating my popcorn Mom' as loud as he could during the movie. Try that one for portion control - ha. Lets keep it going...how about tomorrow night?

So tonight I am taking the boys to go see Bolt so my dinner will probably be popcorn that I steal from them . What about everybody else?

When I get something stuck I usually wait for 5 minutes or so and try to relax and if that doesn't do the trick I get a cup of hot tea and take a few sips. This usually relaxes my band so I can finish my meal. I always take a minute to analyze whether or not I was eating too fast or if I am just full and shouldn't eat any more once the food passes.

Congratulations on all your hard work. It was worth it because you look absolutely amazing!

The first visit is $400 then it is $80 after that. Dr. Woodhead doesn't use fluoroscopy, he put 2cc in for my first fill and I'm still pretty good with that, it was 2 months ago and I still find sometimes I can barely eat anything.

Hi Mama Michelle, I am the same height as you (though 10 years older) and so my goal weight was about the same (145) because I wanted to be in the 'normal' bmi range. I am currently 162 and definitely NOT just skin and bones (size 10) so I have to wonder if the trainer's suggested goal weight is on the ball. I think it is healthy to be more focused on a size than a weight because as you mentioned, who will complain with a size 4 no matter what one's weight is. Let us know what else your trainer says as I am really curious about this. You look great by the way, all your hard work has paid off.

Hi Taz, I live in the Okanagan and had my surgery at the OCC. I go to Ladner/Delta for fills (though I have only had one so far) but I am trying to find someone closer. I found this forum great when I first had my surgery (and it still is) but I have joined the BC-WLS support group on yahoo forums, it is mostly folks that have done gastric bypass in Victoria but there is a few lap band people on there and it is a very supportive group for those dealing with other issues besides post-op.

I agree Kim. Every year we go to a music festival in Seattle called Bumbershoot, it is over 74 acres of music, arts, comedy and all the associated stuff. Last year I was 32 pounds heavier and after 3 days my legs felt like they were going to fall off. This year I ran around trying to catch all the bands and then danced my butt off for the good ones and after 3 days I was tired but not crippled like last year. Woo hoo.

I was banded April 29th and I have lost 30 pounds in just under 3 and a half months...average loss of just over 9 pounds a month.