Strgln2B Me

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I went in for surgery on 4/29 and made it through a-okay! I came home the same day and was up, walking, talking, and visiting with family later that evening. I'm so happy that I've done this! I go for my post op appt on 5/5. So far I've lost about 38lbs from my highest. I'm trying to stay on the right path with this band and not fall off course but pretty soon I'll have help... My DH is scheduled to be banded on 6/3! YAY US!! I'm so happy that we'll be going through this together!

I figured I'd post this here so I wouldn't have to look back through all the posts on the board to find it.
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Remember, a properly stocked bariatric kitchen starts with a good grocery shopping list. Use the list of suggestions below to stock your bariatric kitchen.

A well stocked bariatric kitchen has the proper tools at hand:

• Measuring spoons and cups
• Food scale
• Individual food storage containers of various small sizes
• Ice cube trays for freezing small portions
• Snack size zipper lock bags
• Plastic eating utensils for travel/work

A well stocked pantry has:

• Canned tuna (or pouches) in water, canned lump crabmeat
• Canned chicken
• Seasoning blends (i.e. Mrs. Dash)
• Apple cider and/or balsamic vinegar
• Artificial sweetener (i.e. Splenda, Equal, Stevia, Sweet n’ Low)
• Light or low-fat mayo, mustard
• Low calorie, low-fat salad dressings for seasoning and marinating
• Individual sizes of packaged fruit packed in juice
• Canned vegetables
• Canned diced tomatoes, jarred tomato sauce, salsa
• Canned beans/legumes (garbanzo, kidney, black, red, fat-free refried)
• Low sodium broths and soup bases (chicken, beef, vegetable, seafood)
• Whole grain, high fiber, high protein pasta
• High fiber, protein rich hot cereal packets (i.e. oatmeal, multigrain, farina, oat bran, etc.)
• High fiber, high protein cold cereal
• Whole grain crackers (such as WASA, Ry-Vita, Kashi, low-fat Triscuits)
• Crystal Light, Diet Snapple and other low calorie beverages or powder mixes
• Carnation Instant Breakfast, no sugar added
• Pre-made diet gelatin cups, diet pudding cups

A well stocked bariatric freezer has:

• Individually frozen shrimp in a bag
• Skinless chicken breasts or tenderloins
• Lean chopped meat frozen in small snack size zipper top bags
• Sugar-free ice pops, sugar-free fudge pops
• Bags of frozen fruit pieces (no sugar added) for smoothies and snacking, either bought already frozen, or freeze your own sliced banana, berries or grapes to add to yogurt or cereal

A well stocked bariatric refrigerator has:

• Pre-washed and cut fruits and vegetables (try the supermarket salad bar for variety)
• Yogurt and yogurt smoothies (small containers, low-fat, artificially sweetened)
• Part-skim ricotta cheese
• Low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese (small containers)
• Low-fat cheese wedges/mozzarella “string cheese” sticks (i.e. Laughing Cow brand, Polly-O brand)
• Pre-shredded low-fat cheese blends to boost flavor and protein of foods
• Deli sliced turkey, ham or chicken breast
• Fresh eggs, hard boiled eggs and egg substitutes
• Pre-cooked grilled chicken or turkey strips
• Skim and 1% milk
• Assorted pre-washed and cut salad green blends
• Low-calorie salad dressing/spray dressings
• Imitation Butter in spray form (such as I Can’t Believe it’s Not Butter)

Be creative…

Need some creative, healthy easy combinations for meals or snacks? The challenge is to keep food choices creative and flavorful; inspiring your taste buds is crucial in order to keep you interested in healthier food choices.

• Romaine lettuce leaf wrapped around 2 slices deli turkey with mustard or low-fat salad dressing
• 4 oz. fat-free yogurt with 2 oz. fresh berries and 1 Tbsp. fiber rich cereal
• Part skim mozzarella stick wrapped in sun-dried tomato slice or roasted red pepper (not packed in oil)
• 2 oz. seared tuna steak with low-fat dill sauce (fat-free yogurt, capers, dill and lemon juice)
• Laughing Cow low-fat cheese wedge spread on multigrain WASA cracker
• 2 oz. fat-free milk, 2 oz. fat-free yogurt, 2 oz. fruit of choice a few ice cubes, sprinkle sweetener to desired taste and pulse in blender.
• Freeze half of small banana or 10 frozen grapes
• Hot cereal (one packet) mixed with water or skim milk, artificial sweetener and fresh fruit. Or try hot cereal add vanilla extract, artificial sweetener and cinnamon.
• 3 oz. grilled chicken over salad greens and low-calorie dressing of choice, lemon juice or balsamic vinegar.

I went for my new patient consultation last Wednesday and set up a date for 4/29/08. It seems like ever since then though I've been eating like there's no tomorrow. I guess it's a mental thing. I'm really looking forward to it and I'm hoping I do well. I'm also nervous though. We also found out that my DH was approved for his surgery too!! Yea!! We'll be doing this together.

Last week was my fifth month for the Dr. supervised diet. I've done okay (lost 15 lbs YAY!) but I would've liked to have done better. I thought I would but didn't so I have one more month to go. When I went to the Dr. last week the nurse practioner and I set a goal to lose 8 lbs by next month. She originally just wanted 5, I wanted 10, so we compromised at 8. I think I can do it. It's just that last month (Sept) I just really slacked off. I didn't do my walking, water, nothing. I "rewarded" myself for having done so well the previous four months. Not a good idea! I just knew when I went back that I would've gained 5lbs back but I didn't. I actually lost one pound. Very surprising. I'm not sure I maintained. I think I lost cuz at one point I was down another 10 lbs but then gained 9lbs back. Whatever- I'll just have to really be on my game this month. I plan on it too! NO MORE REWARDS FOR ME!! Take that rewards!