DonnaMaria

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

You are blessed with a beautiful family and they give you plenty of exercise. Here are some food ideas:

Keep the snacks out of the house. You and your family will be better off without them every day. Dr. Oz once explained to kids that those foods should only be eaten once in a while.
Nature Valley Peanut Protein bars are hi protein and low carb
Fresh fruit travels well
Rotisserie chicken from the grocery store (no cooking) and microwaved sweet potatoes
whole grain pasta with frozen turkey meatballs and Hunts chunky vegetable pasta sauce $1
Birds Eye huge family size bags of frozen vegetables at Walmart are under $6
cook baby carrots in the microwave to make them a little softer and then refrigerate
add dried vegetable soup mix to plain Greek yogurt for veggie dip. Cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, radishes, baby carrots don't have to be cut up.
reduced fat cheese, baby bells or cheesesticks (I'm from WI)
Sante Fe whole grain tortillas from Sam's club have 8 gm of fiber, 8 gm of protein and 100 calories. I fill them with a variety of veggies and low fat deli meats/cheeses.
Build your own pizza (the kids will love it) with whole wheat pita, Hunts chunky vegetable spaghetti sauce, reduced fat cheese and pre chopped onions and peppers from the produce dept. at the grocery store
sugar free or fat free pudding cups are $1 per 4 pack and travel well
microwave fat free popcorn
grill food
Nuked apples are my family favorite. Cut up and core an apple, leave the skin on, put a couple walnut pieces and a sprinkle of cinnamon and microwave in a bowl for 2 minutes. Almost as good as apple pie.
freeze grapes
add frozen veggies to the mac and cheese. make it with fat free milk and skip the butter.
Jimmy Dean delight breakfast sandwiches (toast the whole wheat bun and nuke the insides) 90 sec. prep
Good luck to you. I am struggling too. Just don't give up. take care, Tri

TopReplyQuoteReport0 Likes

I got new insurance August 1st. I had Oxford prior and had been fighting with them since 2013 trying to get the sleeve. So I called my bariatric coordinator and told her I had BC/BS. She said she would get back to me. On Thursday September 24th I recieved a call from her that I was approved for a revision! You could have knocked me over I was so shocked...

Although I have had a few surgeries due to problems with the band the band doesn't owe me a thing. I lost 85 lbs. that stayed off for the better part of five years. I will almost miss it when it comes out. I am having my surgery January 5th, band out - sleeve in!

The only thing I am truly worried about is the pain. I have a very low tolerance for pain. I am going to try to read up on ways to meditate to relieve pain.

I have been trying to eat healthier. I get HelloFresh once a week. It not only teaches me to cook, it teaches me portion control. I would highly recommend it for someone waiting for thier surgery.

Thanks for reading!

DonnaMaria

Hello all! I can't believe it but, tomorrow is my 3 month surgeriversary! As someone recently posted on their 5-month anniversary post, I am in awe of the results I have gotten and how much I have changed my ways. I am thankful pretty much every day that I was able to have this surgery and can only hope my success continues. I wanted to share some of my victories and things I have learned, so far.

Number-related Victories:

• I am down 73 lbs. since my highest weight ever (2-weeks pre-op, right before liquid diet start).
• I am down 52 lbs. since my surgery.
• I have lost a TOTAL of 35 inches off my body in the last 3 months - most dramatically 10 inches off my waist and 6 off my bust and hips.
• I am officially "just" obese, not "morbidly" or "clinically" so.

Non-scale victories:

• Being able to fit into clothes I haven't worn in about 3-4 years.
• Having so much more stamina when it comes to walking and standing. I went to a rock festival this weekend and had no issues walking and standing for hours at a time! Previously I would get knee and/or lower-back pain.
• Being able to sit Indian-Style again, and being totally comfortable.
• Taking up less "space." I commute on mass transit every day and always felt so awkward when someone couldn't sit next to me on the subway because no one wants to sit next to the "fat lady" taking up 1.5 seats. Now, I'm in my seat just fine.
• Being able to paint my toes and shave my legs without weird maneuvering of my body.
• Not feeling like I may break the chair I sit on if it seems particularly flimsy.
• Feeling more confident getting into booths and chairs at restaurants, and seats in the theater, without the mental prayer of "please let me fit in there!"
• Being able to more easily get in/out of my low-to-the ground car.
• Looking for opportunities to walk more or get more steps in, when pre-op, I was looking for any excuse to NOT walk an extra block, or have to run to the supermarket again, if I forgot something.
• I can sleep through the night without having to wake up to empty my bladder like 4-5 times  a night.
• I actually don't dread when people take pictures of me and put them on Facebook. I used to untag with a quickness as soon as any picture of me was posted.
• My wedding ring finally fits again!
• I have a lot of extra room now when I use my bath sheet after washing! It used to barely close.
• I can bounce right up if I sit on the ground/floor, with little to no struggle.
• SO many, many, many more....

Things I Learned:

• Everyone's journey is different. Don't let the naysayers, especially some in the WLS community, get you down or discourage you because your plan is different than theirs (and my plan was/is pretty different than most). If I follow my medical team's orders, I WILL get results.
• Related to the above - people gain weight for different reasons. What works for me may not work for someone else. That doesn't mean that either strategy is "wrong" but that we each have different ways of coping.
• I am 1000% comfortable eating my current diet for the rest of my life. I do not really miss processed carbs at all and I know that, as I can eat more volume I will only add in things like vegetables. I am eating now how I plan on eating pretty much forever, with adjustments made to total calories and volume.
• To NOT assume something is wrong when nothing is wrong! I have had 0 issues with tolerating food, 0 gas pains, 0 issues with foaming, vomit, or pain post-eating. That is OK! Try NOT to question when nothing is wrong!
• I can stick to measuring and tracking food much better than I thought (90 day streak as of today on MyFitnessPal).
• I need to stay away from some WLS communities that encourage too much "tolerance." When people post pictures of them eating Cheetos and claim they're "on plan," it has a tendency to trigger my cravings.
• My eyes are still bigger than my stomach and I just HAVE to order something small in restaurants. Soup or an on-plan appetizer. I cannot eat more than one.

So, I know this has been a long one, but I am too excited not to share! I especially am grateful that a community like this exists because even if I don't post, I read, and just staying "in touch" with the WLS community as a whole keeps me more accountable. I have gotten some great advice here, and met some truly inspiring people. Can't wait to post another awesome update in 6 months!!!

Well, I just found out today that I need a new band put in. I had been gaining weight and my son asked me one day, "mom do you stilly have a lap band". It suddenly occured to me that I hadn't had any issues with the band at all. No "getting stuck", no "band whoopins". So I went to the dr. and her said I had no fluid in my band. Funny though they are just going to replace it. I pray to God that insurance will authorize it. I am looking forward to having my band back working again. Please pray for my safe surgery and that insurance will cover the new band!

Here is a collection of (stolen) recipes from the other boards that I have pilfered for our holiday cooking pleasure!  Tom I also sent you these in a PM.  Happy Guiltless Noms, People! 

Pumpkin Protein Cheesecake Pudding (Shari's Recipe--Jupiter6)

Recipe is this: box of SF FF Cheesecake pudding, 1/2 cup canned pumpkin, 1/2 scoop protein, 2 cups milk, pumpkin pie spice, splash of SF caramel syrup.  Whisk all together & chill til set.

Makes 5 half cup servings: 130 calories, .1 fat, 12 carbs, 12 protein, 1g fiber

 

   

 PUMPKIN RICOTTA MOUSSE
1/4 cup canned pumpkin (100% pumpkin, NOT the ready made pie filling)
1/4 FF ricotta cheese
1 heaping tablespoon of Splenda Granular
2 tablespoons of vanilla protein powder
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Mix all ingredients together, top with a dollop of SF Cool Whip and enjoy! 

 

   

PK’s Protein Pumpkin Pies

22 Fl oz can pure pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling, PLAIN pumpkin)
6 scoops vanilla protein powder (mine has 130 cals, 23 protein per scoop)
12 oz can evaporated skim milk
6 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar twin brown sugar substitute (or Splenda brown sugar blend if you don’t dump)
1 tbsp cinamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp nutmeg (or substitute pumpkin pie spice for the cinnamon, cloves, ginger, & nutmeg)

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix sugar and spices in a small bowl, set aside. Lightly whip 6 eggs in a large bowl, add in pumpkin and mix thoroughly before sprinkling in sugar mix. Blend protein powder and milk in a separate bowl with a hand mixer, then add to the pumpkin bowl mixing well before filling 18 lightly greased muffin tins. You can also use the paper or foil lined muffin cups. Reduce oven temp and bake at 350 for 10 minutes, reduce heat again to 300 and bake for 40 - 50 minutes. Pies are cooked when a knife is inserted into the middle and comes out clean.

Pumpkin Spice Microwave Cake (this is the illegitimate child of Michelle's &  Shari's recipes lol)

1 egg, beaten (or if you use Egg Beaters, then 1/4 cup of that)

1/4 cup canned pumpkin

3 tbsp Arrowhead Mills Multigrain Pancake Mix (or use whole wheat flour)

2 tbsp SF caramel syrup (DaVinci or Torani)

4 packets Splenda

2 tbsp nuts/berries trail mix, chopped small (mine had almonds, cranberries, raisins, & pumpkin seeds in it--whizzed it up in the mini chopper)

Several good shakes of pumpkin pie spice

2 tbsp SF vanilla or butterscotch pudding mix powder

3 tbsp vanilla soy milk

1 scoop Vanilla Unjury whey protein isolate (or whatever kind you use)

 

Mix dry ingredients-- pour into wet ingredients in a glass measuring cup. Do NOT cook in plastic-- it heats too fast. Cook 3-4 minutes on HIGH. Let it cool, dump it out and slice it-- I'd slice into 3 or 4 slices. (I made 3 thicker ones)
ICING:1 oz RF cream cheese per layer of cake (you make 2 slices of cake, double this, etc.)drop of vanilla extract, splash of caramel DaVinci, a little soy milk until spreadable, Splenda if you like it sweeter.  Mix with a spoon until clumps are gone and spread on a cool cake slice. Tastes better when you let it refrigerate a bit.  If you don't like cream cheese, you can use ricotta cheese, just whiz it up in the food processor a bit to make it smoother.
NUTRITION (this is a rough estimate) PER SLICE (if you make THREE slices!)141 calories2.25 fat13.3 carbs15.4 protein

Michelle (Eggface) has the chocolate & lemon versions of the micro cake on her blog www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.com.  The chocolate one is heaven!  Haven't tried the lemon yet since I've been on a pumpkin kick here lately.  What the heck, here's the chocolate one!

Shelly's 5 Minute Sugar Free Chocolate Cake

1 Egg, beaten
3 Tablespoons Milk (I used Vanilla Soy)
2 Tablespoons Sugar Free Torani Syrup (I use Caramel, recipe calls for White Chocolate---Raspberry is good too for a Black Forest version)
2 Tablespoons Canola Oil
3 Tablespoons Arrowhead Mills Multigrain Pancake Mix
2 Tablespoons Cocoa
1 scoop Chocolate Protein Powder (I used Click, yes I am hooked lol)
Pinch salt
1 Measuring Cup or Microwave Safe Mug
**I also put 2 tbsp of PB2 in mine--it was a chocolate-coffee-caramel-peanutbutter conglomeration but it was still pretty good**

In a measuring cup or microwave safe mug, Mix egg, milk, syrup and oil and combine thoroughly. In a separate bowl, mix pancake mix, pudding mix, cocoa, protein powder and salt. Tip dry into wet and stir till combined.  Nuke in microwave for 2 minutes. Let it sit for three or so minutes (it pulls away from the sides) before tipping the cake onto a plate. Yields 4-5 slices. 

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/NJ/a,messageboard/action,replies/board_id,4833/cat_id,4433/topic_id,3777559/

http://lapband4lifeweightlossjourney.blogspot.com/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/tantrica/

http://www.mostlyrisible.com/

Have you tried the 3 bite rule?  Instead of eating a meal you eat three bites every hour for a couple of days.  The next day you eat 4 bites every couple of hours.  You gradually work your way up to three meals a day.  If you "can't" stop at 3 bites an hour and you just have to keep sneaking in an extra bite then you know your problem, you are indeed overeating.  Some people simply can't stop.  If you can't stop at three bites an hour and justify another bite then you have your problem.  It's not the band but instead something you need to work through.

Also, the sensation of when to stop, you aren't looking for "full" but instead "not hungry".  There is hungry, not hungry, and full.  You don't want full with a band, you want not hungry.  When you are eating a meal you HAVE to go very slow.  It does take time for your Vagus nerve to tell your brain you are satisfied so if you keep eating after you have had enough food it isn't going to work.

When you sit down to eat a meal go verrrry slowly.  Small bites, chew very well, put your fork down, take your time.  Every two bites stop and seriously think it through, are you still hungry?  If so take another bite.  If you are satisfied stop eating.  If you are full you ate too much.