Vex

I made this soup last night for supper. It has helped me maintain what little sanity I have left, 12 days after surgery and still in the full liquids phase, now that I am hungry and near-desperate for "real foods." Also, I have a big sweet tooth, but have wearied of so many sweet protein shakes, sweet yogurt drinks, sweet popsicles and juices. So coming up with good, savory soups has been really important during this stage for me.

baked potato soup

4 baking potatoes (about 2 1/2 pounds)

2/3 cup all-purpose flour (about 3 ounces)

6 cups 2% milk

1 cup (4 ounces) reduced-fat shredded extrasharp cheddar cheese, divided

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (I had ground white pepper so that's what I used)

1 cup reduced-fat sour cream

3/4 cup chopped green onions, divided (I omitted)

6 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled (I omitted)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Pierce potatoes with a fork, bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour or until tender. Cool. Peel potatoes, coarsely mash.

(I didn't want to take the time to do this. I peeled and quartered the potatoes, and boiled them on the stovetop in well-salted water. This also made them a lot moister and, I think, easier to mash into oblivion. However, I think this recipe would work awesome with leftover baked potatoes from a previous evening or, for bandsters, on a night when they are baking potatoes for their families.)

2. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Place flour in a large Dutch oven; gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk until blended. Cook over medium heat until thick and bubbly, about 8 minutes. Add mashed potatoes, 3/4 cup cheese, salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, stirring until cheese melts. Remove from heat.

3. Stir in sour cream and 1/2 cup onions. Cook over low heat 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated (do not boil). Ladle 1 1/2 cups soup into each of 8 bowls. Sprinkle each serving with 1 1/2 teaspoons cheese, 1 1/2 teaspoons onions, and about 1 tablespoon bacon. Garnish with cracked pepper.

Yield: 8 servings

(I made a half-recipe as my boyfriend does not care for soup. I had it for dinner last night and lunch today and I haven't even eaten a whole serving yet.)

Calories: 329 (30% from fat)

Fat: 10.8 g (sat 5.9 g, mono 3.5 g, poly 0.7 g)

Carb: 44.5 g

Protein: 13.6 g

Fiber: 2.8 g

Chol: 38 mg

Iron: 1.1 mg

Sodium: 587 mg

Calc: 407 mg

Stolen from September 2007 Cooking Light issue, page 140.

How funny! We were at the table next to you sort of diagonally. That is so funny, I wish I had known at the time that you guys were fellow ATL-ers!

I got some soy protein powder at Walmart yesterday, but after I got home I saw that it has like 170 calories per scoop and says something about "bulking up" on the container. That's kinda scary! Lol. I'm trying to un-bulk! #-o

~Lauren

Yikes! Do you have any skinny acquaintances that you hate? Put that powder in an empty Slimfast container or something and give it away. Then buy some Unjury.

I am a huge, huge, huge Unjury fan now! I had 1 scoop of the chocolate Unjury mixed with 8 oz. of 2% milk (all that was available at work-- normally I go for 1%), and it was ridiculously tasty. Very much like a chocolate malted milkshake. I highly recommend it! And its been 3 hours and I'm not even really hungry yet.

So where do you get the protein powder? At GNC? I've always avoided going in that place for all the meat-head guys I always see in there, lol. I've been eating a lot of campbells condensed soups. It takes me a day to eat a whole can, and then I have one slim fast too at some point during the day, usually for breakfast. I need to come up with something else, I'm getting sick of the slim fasts. I need to go buy a blender today (I seem to throw them away or lose them every time I move), get some fruit, start experimenting.

Hey, Vex, did your boyfriend go to Mexico with you? Do you have blond hair and he wears glasses? If so, I think we were at the restaurant at the same time in the hotel. If not, then nevermind, lol. I probably left on your surgery day, I think. The 22nd? We left for the airport while everyone was in the lobby waiting for Mrs. Ortiz. I hope all's going well for you!

~Lauren

I ordered it from their website. I went to GNC and they didn't have it. In fact, I tried several other kinds of protein drinks from GNC and were really disappointed with them.

Yes! That was us! Me with blonde hair and glasses, him with dark hair and glasses! Did you see us eating our Last Meal at Rivoli?! Ha!

Ah, well, I think you're in good hands at the OCC then, because they explained to me (its all a bit fuzzy now though) that they use the latest type of anaesthesia. Its very light. They explained it to me that you go under two minutes before surgery, and come out two minutes after. Its so light they say that some people can remember watching the clock on the wall!

In any case, I do remember being groggy, but since you are staying overnight at the clinic, all you have to do is lie in bed and nap it off. They have nice private rooms with TVs and telephones right at your fingertips. You only need to get up for the bathroom, and the nurses can and will help you with that. It was really the least trouble I've had with anaesthesia, and I've had my wisdom teeth out (about 5 years ago) and my tonsils out (2 years ago) to compare it to.

I really truly think it will go better than you imagine it will!

Mae,

Thanks for the link to your blog! I just read a good bit of it! Excellent info! I'm getting a little nervous even though I know it will be ok. I also have some trouble with anethisia (sp) so that's the part I least look forward to.

I'm going to keep up with your blog and maybee I will be able to figure out how to post!

Sarah

Don't sweat the anaesthesia too much-- you get to talk to the surgeons and the anaesthesiologist before you go in for surgery. Let him know about your past experiences and I'm sure he'll take that into consideration. My anaesthesia problem was not as bad this time as it was 2 years ago when I had my tonsils out. What's your issue-- nausea also?

So how much weight have we lost so far? For me I'm out almost a month and have lost 20. I've stalled the last week, but have heard that that is normal. I can't wait for normal, chewy food.

Since I started the pre-op diet on August 15th, I've lost 13.6 lbs! That's a pound a day. Totally insane. I know its going to taper off soon, especially as I get my appetite back and start eating solid foods, but for now, I'm thrilled. Yay!

I am at the very beginning of my second week (day 8) and I've been fearing the hunger you guys are talking about. Mostly, I've been head hungry (I begged my boyfriend to let me LICK a Reese's mini he had and I SWORE I'd give it back-- he wouldn't let me). Physical hunger has been really minimal, because the 1/2 cup servings of soups, protein shakes, etc. have been leaving me STUFFED for about 2-3 hours afterwards.

I did want to recommend Unjury though. Yesterday I made my first Unjury smoothie. It came out more like a malted strawberry milkshake because of the Unjury, and that sucker was HUGE. I had to work very hard all day to get the whole thing-- just one!-- down.

Recipe:

1 small very berry juice box (6 oz) - 100 cals

~8 frozen strawberries - 31 cals

heaping tablespoon of Splenda - 0 cals

1 scoop of unflavored Unjury (20 g of protein!) - 80 cals

Blend! I made the mistake of blending the Unjury with the the other ingredients-- it makes it VERY fluffy. Today I'm going to do the same thing, but stir the Unjury in gently after everything else is blended.

Anyway, try it. I swear you won't be hungry after!

Hi- my surgery is scheduled for Sep 5th. I would love some buddies to keep in touch with that are getting banded around the same time. I am currently at 228 and would like to lose about 90lbs. Feel free to email me directly.

Sarah

Hi Sarah!

I've recently been banded, but I felt compelled to respond since the day I started my pre-op diet (7 days before surgery), I weighed 229! I have set a first goal of losing 80 lbs but I am eventually hoping for 90 or more total. I'm 5'2".

Are you getting banded with Dr. Ortiz? He's awesome! I have a blog if you want to read about my experiences thus far (bottom of my sig).

Good luck!

Mae

I second LaurenLeigh's assessment of the restaurants at the Lucerna. We had (great shame in admitting this) calamari fritte and coconut shrimp at Rivoli as our "last meal" and it was pretty good. Heh, or maybe it just seemed so after a week of heinous protein shake torture. But later, my boyfriend tried a couple different things at the regular restaurant and they were all just kinda "eh". I did have the chicken consomme at the regular restaurant on the day after surgery and enjoyed it. It was hearty and flavorful. I wonder if they make it on-site.

That's incredible Vex, you should be proud.

Thanks, CLynn, I am! And Dr. Miranda was not at all perturbed that I didn't make it to 12. She weighed me, noted out loud that I'd lost 8, and said, "very good," before moving on.

In case you guys are curious, I'm down 7.2 lbs on my vicious, torturous pre-op liquid diet! Better than half but I've only got 3 more days before my surgery. I'm white-knuckling it through these last days and hoping for 10 lbs (out of my prescribed 12).

Total: 8.4 lbs in 7 days. I hope its enough!

Margo,

Remember there is anywhere from 4-6 pounds of food in the system that will work its way thru plus the water weight. The important part of the diet is calorie deficiency. My restricting calories to 600-800 a day your body will begin to eat the viceral fat and thats the main goal...

Tom

In case you guys are curious, I'm down 7.2 lbs on my vicious, torturous pre-op liquid diet! Better than half but I've only got 3 more days before my surgery. I'm white-knuckling it through these last days and hoping for 10 lbs (out of my prescribed 12).

Hello,

my name is quinzetta and I will be relocating to GA next April or May from Boston, MA. I am scheduled to have the lab band surgery 9/12 of this year and I am wondering if there are surgeons that will be able to perform my fills following my relocation to GA? Are there any success stories for the surgery in Atlanta that wish to share?

Hi! I'm in Atlanta, and I'm getting banded next week. I am planning to use Fill Centers USA for my fills. I've heard good things about Darlene Zebley; she has recently opened up a location in Roswell, which is a northern suburb of Atlanta.

I am also considering (undecided) joining the Emory Bariatrics support group for lap banded patients. They accept patients who were not banded at Emory for the support group-- I can't say for sure if they will accept patients for fills, though. Emory is located in Decatur, which is an intown neighborhood in Atlanta.

Hi guys! I just found this web site. I am scheduled to fly out on Thursday for lap band in Mexico. I was wondering if anyone has used Dr Acevez. PLEASE let me know how your experience was.

Thanks!

Elizabeth

I can't say that I have; I am scheduled with Dr. Ortiz for this coming Wednesday. Have you, perchance, discovered LapBandTalk.com yet? They have several threads there with patients of Dr. Acevez. If I recall, he gets rave reviews:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f11/mexico-doctor-32778/

I'm right there too, Vex. This is tough. I had a BAD day yesterday. Strayed from the diet a little at lunch and by the end of the day I was WAY off track. I'm not sure what's going to happen when I get to OCC. I think my scale is weird. It's only a couple years old and I put a new battery in it right before I started this, but it seems to jump around a lot. Oh well, I'm doing my best, probably will have lost about 10 of the 12 when I get there. That's what I'm figuring. I'm thinking like Tom on this one, it IS a business, and I'm all paid up, so I doubt they are going to hand me back my 8k and send me packing because of 2 pounds, if I'm otherwise healthy for the operation.

I'm like you Vex, I HATE to disappoint people, just thinking about that makes me stressed (which makes me want to eat, henceforth the cycle ...). If I get scolded, I'll be crushed.

~Lauren

I haven't strayed... yet. Its only been 2 and a half days, though. I have to spend most of tomorrow (1 p.m. - evening) at a friend's party/barbeque. Its celebrating a very big accomplishment for him, so bowing out is not an option. But, oh lord, just the thought of all that yummy food spread out over a huge table is making me sad.

Good luck with the rest of your pre-op diet, Lauren. Please PM me IMMEDIATELY if Dr. Miranda scolds you. Heehee. I'm kidding... sorta.

Vex

Just relax....remember all scales aren't created equal, so a few pounds one way or another she isn't going to be mad, just maintain you lost the twelve, if her scales show less by pound or two who would know. Not saying to cheat, just relax, also remember OCC is a business, as long as it's healthy to operate, they will. Again the whole point is being in calorie deficiency and not caloric surplus for the liver to shrink.

Thanks for the advice, Tom. I like the "my scale at home TOTALLY says I lost 12!" part. I also weigh myself first thing in the morning before dressing. So in the car yesterday on they way home, crying on my boyfriend's shoulder, I wailed, "I so should have lied on the paperwork and said I was 10 lbs heavier! Oh yeah and put on all of my winter coats before weighing, too!"

I got a laugh for that one but I was serious.

Oh my god, this pre-op diet is so freaking hard. I am doing the 7-day all-shakes version for multiple reasons, and I'm only on my third day. I am exhausted constantly. I cried on the drive home from work yesterday. I can't run and I can barely walk my dog. I ate an entire jar of (calorie free) pickles for supper last night and that just gave me a tummy ache.

I have lost 3.6 lbs and have 8.4 lbs to go. I am really afraid I'm not going to lose all 12 lbs Dr. Miranda told me to lose. I'm one of those people that hates angering/disappointing people so I'm not even so much worried about the surgery as I am Dr. Miranda being mad I didn't lose all 12.

Ah, well. Two days down, five more to go. I surely won't die. But probably my friends and family will be wishing I did by the end!

I am exactly one week from my surgery and I am a nervous wreck! I keep thinking "Am I doing the right thing? What if I die and my babies grow up without a mom? Am I being selfish by risking my life in this way?" Of course then I walk by and catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and think, "Oh that's right, I'm a bowling ball with legs."

Anyone have any tips on things that I should bring on my trip that I might not think of, or anything that I should NOT bring? Any advise would be great!

Thanks,

Nervous Nellie (a.k.a. Lauren)

I'm pre-op, too, so I don't have anything to suggest.

But I am getting nervous too, and keep reminding myself that the risks of this surgery, which are minimal, PALE in comparison to the risks we take:

1. by continuing to be obese and developing those so-called "lifestyle" diseases

2. every time we get in a car we take a larger risk with our life, but do it out of convenience anyway

3. by raising our kids with the hopelessness of unchecked obesity in their futures

4. isn't pregnancy and childbirth more risky?

And what is life without risks? Nothing I'd like to live, for sure.

Vex Here is the deal.

Some of the very first fat the body consumes is viceral fat which is mainly found around the vital organs and more so around the liver. By losing 10-12 pounds you greatly reduce that fat making putting the band on much easier ( 15 min surgery) versus a much more difficult time and hence harder recovery. ( At least that has what I have ben told, I'm no DOC)

If staying on the one protien shake and the salads aren't doable for one week, you may need to rethink your options. I say that because I didn't do well on it amd have tested the band for the last year. Yes, I I have lost 70 pounds, but it was at great pains trying to eat more than I should. And if it weren't for excerise ( I ran a 1/2 marathon today), my weight loss would have been much lower since I haven't given up the easy foods( candy-chocolate) and occasional soda.

Good Luck..

Tom

Thanks Tom. I am certainly going to try-- I've had much longer stretches with unpleasant diets-- but I crunched the numbers and I don't see how, even if I follow the instructions perfectly, I can lose 12 lbs in that short of a time. I mean, for the 7-day diet, thats a caloric deficit of 6,000 calories a day. My calculations of calories burned exercising plus my basal metabolic rate minus food calories consumed (even thought that last number is less than 700) is nothing close to approaching 6,000. Even if I double my workouts. See what I mean?

I'm not worried about being able to follow her instructions, I am just worried I won't be able to accomplish the 12-lb goal. I'm already down two, so that's encouraging, but its not 12 yet.

Margo

Hi Vex, I went to your blog and the one thing you said about maintaining weight loss made all the sense in the world to me. I too thought "why am I having this surgery?" I lost 40 lbs in the last 6 months but have already gained 10 of it back. So I will lose the 10 lbs before surgery and see you in TJ my banding is on 21st so we may pass in the halls.

Hi Mistymoon!

I have been exactly where you are; I've white-knuckled myself to a 33-lb loss and then watched, dismayed, as it all creeped back on. Usually something will happen to knock me off of my workout routine, and then I start eating "comfort" foods to feel better, and then the laxer I get with the working out and eating habits the worse I feel about myself, and then I'm eating because I'm depressed.

The last time: I spent all of 2006 running with a half-marathon training group. Towards the end of the year, I was easily banging out 20+ miles a week, plus eating relatively healthy and controlling portions with little problem. Then, a pulled a tendon (ouch!) in a 10-mile race. That kept me from running a couple more races I'd had lined up, and made me depressed. I couldn't run and walking hurt; my eating habits started to slide because the lack of progress was depressing me. Just as soon as my tendon healed up and I started running again (much slower and shorter distances-- also very discouraging), I had a nasty bout of strep that lasted two weeks. My doc gave me some antibiotics which I had an allergic reaction to and I was blessed with four weeks of hives over my entire body, which made me miserable just sitting still in one place. She gave me steroids to make the hives go away and POOF! Magically, 25 of those 33 lbs were now back.

I know exactly what to do to lose weight but maintaining it is so difficult. I don't think there is anything so frustrating as spending a whole year expending that kind of effort and watching it creep back on in what amounted to several weeks.

With the lap band, I'm hoping for the following:

1. A tool to make portion-control less of a "white-knuckle" experience,

2. A tool that will help me see faster progress,

3. A preventative to easy slide into weight gain after a significant loss, and

4. I can't lie: a major investment that will give me renewed optimism and an $8500 reason not to cheat.

I am in need of help with wieght loss or lack of it at this point. I am supposed to lose 30 pounds by Aug 20th to be able to have surgery. I have been eating 2 shakes and salad each day since July 24th. Everyone talks about losing a pound a day and how easy it is. I have only lost 12 pounds so far and have not cheated one time . I quit smoking and I am exercising. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do. I will not be able to have the surgery according to Dr. Miranda but she has not been clear about what I am to do to lose the weight by the 20th. She said I should have another shake. Am losing hope quickly. Any suggestions woud be greatly appreciated.

Mellow

I have similar worries, Mellow. I have been given a lower weight loss goal but I also have less time. She actually told you that if you didn't lose all 30 lbs that you wouldn't be able to have the surgery? I've worried because I've been trying hard to lose weight over the last couple months, and although my diet hasn't been as strict as the protein shakes diet it is, I'm still concerned about not being able to make that goal.

I started a similar thread ("Pre-Op Diet Instructions") and have had a few people respond reassuringly.

Thanks Pammie!

I have a sort-of related question.

I'm having my surgery with Dr. Ortiz in 12 days.

The last time I was under general anaesthesia was two years ago, to have my tonsils removed. The worst part of the whole experience was waking up from the anaesthesia, with my body freaking out and having no idea where I was or what was going on.

My boyfriend is going with me to Tijuana. Will the docs allow him to be in the room when I wake up?

Thanks, Clynn & Tom.

I guess I'm worried because I have been trying. I run 4 days a week (SLOWLY), walking my dog 1 - 2 miles a day on top of that, and I have been counting calories for the last several weeks, etc. I know I'm not going to see a miraculous weight loss in 12 days.

I want to-- and will!-- do my level best. I just am afraid I'll fly out there and get in trouble.

I am hoping that Dr. Miranda is just trying to discourage that "last meal" mentality.

I am getting my lap band in 13 days. Which means my pre-op appointment is in 12 days.

So I made my appointment with OCC only two days ago, and have been busily filling out paperwork, getting my deposit paid, etc. Dr. Miranda emailed me today with instructions to do either the 7-day or 12-day diet, and that my goal was to lose 12 lbs. before my surgery.

Twelve pounds?!

If I could lose 12 lbs. in 7 days-- heck or even 12-- I wouldn't be doing this at all. I mean, I intend to stick to the diet and do my level best, but I know I won't lose that much.

Oh, and I did email Dr. Miranda for more instructions and was told to "stop worrying and start dieting," with an assurance that OCC patients lose 1 lb. per day. I am not so sure.

What will happen if I go to my pre-op testing and I've only lost, say, 3 lbs.?