Got the shakes....LOL

Okay it has been a few days without Oreos and I am so shaky. No really, I am. I think about them, I have been so close to going and getting me some. I was so proud, the other day I was at Walmart and picked up Oreo Cakesters for my kids and did not even reach for the cookies. BUT I thought about them for the rest of the day and all through today. SERIOUSLY!! What the heck is wrong with me? Those little golden oreos are like my crack.

What's for lunch today? I made Impossible Cheeseburger Pie using the reduced fat Bisquick. Yummy and for me it is band friendly. I am on vacation for two weeks and am worried that being at home will give me the access to eat all day long. Still looking at that fill. If not this week, maybe next week at the latest.

Wish me luck...I have to go back to Walmart for my prescriptions. I know those little gems will be calling my name. NO OREOS!!! Stop torturing me!!

MIA...again

I have been incognito lately. Well not really, just busy. I am struggling this time after the fill. At times it feels like fluid was taken out not put in. Other times I get stuck on almost everything. I have put on weight. Definitely. I thought it was water weight and some of it may be but not all of it. I am weighing getting another fill. I think yesterday I ate non stop all day. I got stuck too, up it came and then I ate again. Bad habit.

I should be happy. This is the first time I have had weight gain since the surgery. I need to step back and re-assess what it is that I need to do to get back on track. Fill or not to fill, the age old question. I am thinking fill because I was able to eat ham. Another meat on my list that is not easy to eat and I use that list to guage my fill needs.

Thanksgiving was uneventful food-wise. I had a little turkey, some mac n cheese, green beans and mashed potatoes. Probably a tablespoon or two of each. I made the mac n cheese with Barrilla Plus pasta. It has 10g of protein in a serving of pasta. Good stuff. No dessert. No snacks. No eggnog. I was really good that day. After that day it went downhill fast. I have been eating non stop all weekend. Not large amounts just eating non stop. A little here, a little there. A little here and there. I am addicted to Golden Oreos. Dipped in milk they are mushy and slide right down so I can eat them non stop as well. I am making myself a promise not to buy them anymore. This could be the cause of the weight gain and this will be the first time I have said no to a food. I have always prided myself in eating whatever I want and not depriving myself of anything but I can't stop eating these cookies. I will eat a whole package by myself in one day. How sad is that?

So I have two culprits. One is the cookies and the other is cappuccino. I haven't had the cappuccinos in a few days but the cookies have been daily. I am thinking the cookies are more so the cause. What do you think?

I am off work until December 12th. My goal is to get myself back on track before going back to work. I am making weekly if not daily goals to accomplish. My first goal is NO COOKIES. I am cutting back my cappuccinos unless I get sleepy. Then I will limit myself to ONE.

I am calling today to get an appointment for a fill. Need to get it done.

Now, I did have an upper GI done a few weeks back. They wanted to have a baseline GI for comparison should I have any problems later on. The upper GI showed good restriction. Really? Cause I don't see it, or feel it. Hmmm....

Helpful Android APP

It is the Protein Counter Plus. Very basic. You add protein to keep track. You can set it to whatever amout you are trying to reach and as you add foods or protein amounts it keeps track and  you can even chart it. It costs $1.99

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.overlaymagic.proteincounterplus&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5vdmVybGF5bWFnaWMucHJvdGVpbmNvdW50ZXJwbHVzIl0.

It is helping me keep track in a fun painless way. Just wanted to share.

New Product

I started using Barilla Plus pasta. It is whole grain and 10g of protein per 2 oz dried (1cup cooked). It tastes really good and is nutritionally sound.

Here is what the website says about it: Protein Quality Counts


The quality of protein in the diet is just as important as getting enough protein. Protein-containing foods are ranked on a "quality index" with egg whites typically considered the gold standard with a ranking of 1.00. A high-quality protein food means that essential amino acids, the building blocks of protein, which must be supplied by food, are readily available in that food. Because PLUS® contains high-quality protein ingredients, such as chickpeas, lentils, and egg whites, it far exceeds whole-wheat and regular pasta in terms of protein quality.

It is a good source of fiber and ALA Omega-3 fatty acids. I make macaroni and cheese for Thanksgiving each year. I am making it with this pasta this year. Even though it will be calorie laden it will have a good source of protein.

Looking for new things to try and reflecting on the old

I have been scouring the nutrition labels and internet to find ways to incorporate more protein in my diet.

I have a few. One is my white chicken chili. Comfort food with lots of beans. I make sure to take beano before I eat the chili. Second is cappuccino. I know you are thinking what the heck? Well, I am partial to Hills Bros White Chocolate Caramel cappuccino. Simply add a scoop of unflavored in each cup you make. Easy peasy way to get in additional protein.

I am trying my hardest to eat solid protein as that fills me up faster and well banders are supposed to eat protein first anyway. Tater Tot casserole is kid friendly and surprisingly band friendly for me. I am adding it to my recipe page.

My surgery was May 12, 2011. In all this time I have had ups and downs. I have learned a lot about myself and my new companion, the Lap Band. I also know that everyone is different and everyone's band is different but the basic rules to abide by are the same for everyone.

One thing I know that as soon as my band is too loose I overeat. I revert right back to pre-surgery days. One would think or hope that after a year and a half that this would be a new habit. It's not, at least not for me. I have to forever keep that in the back of my mind and be diligent when I start to overeat to get a fill immediately. I also know that the band is very fickle. For example, I got a fill about a month ago. I haven't felt any different, in fact, I have gained weight. Then when it was time for my next appointment for a fill, my band acted up and basically said No I don't think so. Suddenly it was tight and I was not able to eat much anymore. The weight has been slowly going back down which I think now was mostly water weight as I was so swollen my shoes didn't fit. That is getting better as I have increased my water and decreased my cappuccino intake.

So needless to say, my band is working again, no need for that fill after all.

Thanksgiving is coming up soon. I am scouring the internet for side dishes to bring that are band friendly and still within Thanksgiving tradition. I don't do well with Turkey and ham so I am going to be relying on the side dishes I guess. Any suggestions?

Ups and Downs and a new recipe

Ok so my weight has been creeping up since my fill. I question : was my fill to blame? I had gained a whopping 15 lbs in a few weeks. I knew some of it at least was bloating because I could feel my feet and hands swollen so I was left with what in the heck was causing this?? I have taken a look at what I eat. Nothing new there. I have at time had different drinks but really could that cause all the swelling and gaining?? I just don't know. So I took steps to change back what I drink. No more Sobe since it has 75mg of sodium per bottle but honestly I don't think that would cause it. Vitamin Water Zero has no sodium, so I am back on that. I was drinking cappuccinos. I am hooked on them. I have a 16 oz travel mug and was drinking two to three a day. Yeah I know...so here's what happened. I got on the scale Sunday morning and weighed in at a whopping 247 lbs. I was down to 234  or so a few weeks ago. On Monday, I weighed the same, so I made a cappuccino in my travel mug at home using a mix rather than stopping on my way to work and grabbing one. I only drank that one. Actually I don't think I drank all of it. I started drinking the vitamin water. For lunch I had a strong craving for Voodoo Chicken from JGumbos. It is a level 4 hot sauce bottles. 5 being the hottest. I slather it in sour cream and cheese to cut the heat. Yeah I know what you are thinking..."she wonders why she is gaining". No really, I have always slathered sour cream and cheese on hot stuff. I have always lost weight. Well because of the heat of the meal, I had a fan on and kept sipping on the water. About an hour after the meal I cracked the bottle of water wide open and guzzled, well as best as a bander can, two bottles of water. Came home and homemade chicken nuggets and more water. Weighed myself before bed. Now listen, I am not obsessed with weighing myself for the sake of weighing myself. I have a scientific reason. For years I was on water pills for swelling. I would gain significant weight during the day and overnight would lose sometimes 10 lbs of water weight. Yep was in the bathroom all night, bladder working overtime. It has become a habit. I know that if the weight I gained during the day does not come off overnight they it is true weight gain or something is wrong if it is swelling. Granted I am no longer taking water pills but it still works that way only on a much smaller level since I have lost so much weight. I normally don't gain/lose 10 lbs in a day anymore.
So back to the story...When I weighed myself before bed Monday night was up to 250 lbs. I cried, literally. I was so pissed off. Went to bed, got up several times in the night for a bathroom break. Woke up this morning and weighed myself...Down to 243 lbs. 7 freakin pounds!! So I still am left to wonder, is this all water weight gain? Will keep ya posted.

My new recipe: Chicken Parmesan Bander Style
Serves 4-6
2 cups diced cooked chicken breast
2 tbsp minced garlic
1 tsp olive oil
salt/pepper to taste
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 Jar of favorite spaghetti sauce
2 cups shredded Italian cheese or mozzarella
1/2 cup Parmesan

Preheat oven to 350.
Saute garlic and Italian seasoning in olive oil. Add diced chicken and toss until warmed and slightly browned. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon chicken mixture in bottom of glass pie plate. Sprinkle with half of the cheese. Pour on sauce then top with remaining cheese. Bake for 20 min or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Enjoy!

It's a first for me...

True weight gain, I think it is here. I got a fill a few weeks ago and have gained weight ever since. I am not eating more, in fact, I am eating less. I have been keeping tabs on it. The only difference is the Sobe's I was drinking but have since stopped. I think some of it is water weight but I know some is not. I am baffled. I am analyzing my food choices which haven't really changed. My clothes aren't any tighter so I really don't know.

I started a facebook page for recipes called Love and Care Recipes to Share. Please like the page and share your recipes.

I made white chicken chili and sausage potato soup this week. Nothing better than some nice comforting soups/chili when the weather is chilly.

No issues at work. My new job is still going very well, not the stress I used to have. I love my job even with the little stresses. I feel so much more productive and part of something more. It's amazing how such a major change in my life has such huge benefits in both my personal and work lives.

Now, here is an issue I know I have. Eating out...I REALLY need to stop. Question is, how to do that without hurting people's feelings? I am going on a stay-cation in a few weeks and have loads of work to get done in that time frame. Maybe I can use that as an excuse to not eat out. I need to stay and work. I just don't know.

There's nothing harder than being between sizes. I am a very loose 20 or a tight 18. Dang it! My goal is to get into a comfortable 18. A work in progress....

How's my dumplin'?

Wow, I made chicken n dumplins in the crockpot for a nice hot comfort food dinner on a cold dreary day. The dinner was perfect and delish. Only problem...I can't eat it. Oh I tried and it got ugly fast! Dumplings are not an option anymore. I got stuck and then started having spasms in my band or stomach or something and heaved for an hour. NEVER AGAIN!!

The weather has turned colder so it is time to dust off my soup/chili recipes. I am on the prowl for more higher protein soups/chilis/stews to make is large batches and freeze to grab and go.

I had the best brisket the other day from Famous Daves so I am also on a journey to find an easy yet perfectly tender brisket recipe.

Well to the nitty gritty...I haven't lost any weight since my fill. I started drinking Sobe waters made with Stevia and actually started gaining a little weight. I think it is water weight as the Sobe has sodium in it whereas my Vitamin Water Zero does not. I am backing off the Sobe for a week and going back to my Vitamin Waters to see if that makes a difference. I have also taken to drinking cappucino every day from Thornton's. That may also be the culprit. I am definitely eating less than before my fill but something is causing the weight gain. Granted it is only a few pounds so that leads me to think water retention.

Does anyone have problems with mood swings? I am all over the place lately. Mood swings in the past have led me to eating and now I don't so the mood issues are stronger. Not sure how to deal with it.

I am sitting here enjoying some wings watching the UL football game. GO CARDS!!

If anyone has some good soup/chili/stew recipes please pass them along.

Still not there

Well the fill I got has not made that much of a difference. I can still eat a lot at time and at other times I barely am able to eat at all.  I am getting frustrated with it. I know it is me and not the band. I know I need to get back to basics and start over.

I am back to eating out again for lunch. I get so tired of that. I did however go to Famous Dave's and got a two meat lunch combo. Brisket and wings with bbq beans and jalapeno mac n cheese. (I usually get two meats in case one meat gets stuck, I can try the other)
I had 2 wings and 2 slices of brisket. 1 tbsp of beans and also mac n cheese. That was lunch. Dinner was 2 hard tacos. Late night I ate more brisket. The next day I ate the rest of the wings. So that lunch lasted me a two days. But that isn't always the case.

I sat here last night trying to understand what I have or haven't been doing correctly with my band. I realized I no longer eat my protein first. Solid protein. I am back to plate grazing. A little of this and a little of that. The hardest part for me is focusing on eating and starting with the solid protein. I can say that I do get the full feeling which I haven't felt in many months. That sensation has been absent for quite some time.
I'm a picky eater but I like real food. I am a meat and potato kind of girl, where not potato anymore but basically I like my meat. I don't like fish at all unless it is deep fried and no longer has any fish-like taste. There are some days I don't eat any veggies at all. I miss that.

I have mixed up my waters and that may be a problem. I usually drink Vitamin Water Zero which has no calories, fat or sodium. I have been drinking Sobe with zero calories, fat, but it does has sodium. It is also made with Stevia like the vitamin water zero. The flavors are awesome. I love the macintosh apple cherry. It is like drinking watery apple juice. It's good. I got a few other new flavors to try. Strawberry Apricot. The coconut is good but is sugar laden.

I need to get my head wrapped around getting back on track. I want to continue going forward and not looking back. I have to say I have been lucky. I have no true weight gain in my entire journey. Unfortunately I haven't had any real weigth loss in the past many months. That needs to change.

Once again, I need to focus on bringing lunch to work. I think that is a key factor. I also need to incorporate more veggies in addition to increasing my protein. I have some things to think about since today is grocery day.

Got my FILL on...

Well, I finally went and did it. I got a fill. It has been a whopping 8 months since I was at the doctor for a fill. This past week and weekend I was able to eat pot roast and then able to eat an entire Western BBQ burger, bun and all from steak n shake. My cue that I need a fill.

I have to say I was not happy getting my fill. The girl that normally does it was there and announced that she will be leaving the practice and this new one will take her spot. The new one has the personality of a rock. She was rude and impersonal. She looked at me like I was lying when I explained why I felt I needed a fill. She said just because I could eat an entire burger does not mean I need a fill. I flat out told her I know my markers and when this can happen I need a fill. She started to argue with me when Laura (my fave that is leaving) spoke up and said look how much weight she has lost, if she says this is her marker then you need to listen to her.

Do you think I was too harsh when I turned to the new one and said: " I am not a band junkie looking to score my next fill. If I was then it wouldn't have been 8 months since my last visit." SERIOUSLY!!!

I also didn't like her giving me the fill. She had to dig around because she kept hitting the edge of the port. I can't imagine why she couldn't get it right considering I can grab my port myself it is that prominent now. Which makes my skin crawl. Well, needless to say, I did get .3cc in my band. I didn't notice any difference at first. I was able to drink normally. I was also eating soft foods for 24hrs and ate those without issue in fact was starving just moments after eating. It wasn't until the next day when I began eating solids again that I noticed the change. We got Qdoba for dinner. I ate 5 bites and was completely full. I ate a little more about 5 hours later. The day after I ate chicken nuggets at home for lunch and only ate 3 and was full. I can definitely see the difference when eating solids. We'll see how long it will last.

They also want me to get an upper GI so they have a standard to go by should my stoma stretch out, they will be able to compare it against the GI. That's Tuesday. I know from prior GI's that I had to drink down barium solution fast. There is NO WAY that will happen this time around. Not looking forward to it.

It never fails, I get a fill and my family doesn't everything within their power to stress me out when I eat. I don't understand that. I keep telling them to stop because I am trying to eat and that just fuels them more and more to keep it up. I swear!!

I haven't lost any real weight in months. Hopefully this will be the push I need to get back on the losing track.