What the BLEEEEP am I doing wrong?!?

MamaJava · 01-19-2008, 04:37 PM

So I've been reading these boards and how most LAP-BAND^® patients (well, at least the ones who are losing weight) are eating between 800-1,000 calories per day. I've been tracking my daily menus and today I've had it up to my eyeballs in confusion. I've had breakfast, mid-morn snack, lunch, afternoon snack so far. I've not even had dinner yet. I'm already at 1,075 calories and 85 g. of protein! I know the protein is good since my goal is 59 g. per day...but how in the heck do some of you low-cal eaters make it through each day on such low calories? I'm eating very little food and I'm making really, really good choices (my Nutritionist agreed)...so why am I not losing weight and why am I so hungry that whenever people stand and talk to me they morph into a giant turkey drumstick??? I am really, really hungry. How are you all eating so very few calories? What are your menus like?

Is it because I've not been filled yet? How would having a fill at this point make me suddenly begin to lose weight? I'm eating exactly how the center told me to eat...so it's not gonna change much when I get my band filled...except by that point I'll be on soft & regular foods and my calories might rise. That will make this even harder...right?

Here's today's menu (remember I haven't had dinner yet)
BREAKFAST:
1 cup Weight Control Quaker oatmeal, banana bread flavor - made with water

SNACK:
1 cup 1% milk
30g. Pro Complex chocolate protein powder

LUNCH:
1 cup white bean soup (homemade) with ham (pureed, no other added fats)
1 Dannon Light & Fit yogurt smoothie - strawberry (7 oz.)

SNACK:
1 medium banana, pureed

***TOTALS: 1,076 calories / 85 g. protein

So how is it that with 40 minutes of workout per day added into the mix am I not losing any weight? I lost 13 pounds immediately after surgery and I'm stuck. I'm not cheating. I'm not eating foods that I shouldn't. I'm really into this, and I'm getting horribly frustrated. I stick to about 1 cup of food per meal and that does fill me up, but then I'm hungry (drooling) 1 hour later. I am getting about 72 oz of fluids each day so I'm okay in that department as well. Right now I'm freaking out and afraid to eat anything the rest of the day cuz I'm already over 1,000 calories. Why isn't my body burning anything like it should be? Going from 4,000 calories (or more) per day as an obese woman down to 1,000-1,300 calories per day with exercise I should be losing steadily and constantly. What else can I eat today without totally ruining my calories and going too high?

I'm very, very angry at my body right now. Any words of advice for someone who thinks she may have made the biggest mistake of her life in getting this band?

victoria52 · 01-19-2008, 04:53 PM

Okay, first off. I didn't eat at all in between meals. I too, am one of those who eats between 670 and 850 calories a day. A typical day for me might have been 1 egg (scrambled in microwave-no butter) 1 or 2 slices turkey bacon (also cooked in microwave), 1 thin thin slice cheese. For lunch (at work) a protein shake (I preferred Unjury, chocolate).At dinner, green beans (canned & seasoned with a bouillion cube), 4 oz baked fish (talapia, or salmon) and maybe steamed broccoli. Never drink water or anything with meals. I drink no closer than 1.5hrs before or after meals. I also drink 1-2 cups coffee per day with Equal. Sometimes at nite will have sugar free hot chocolate.

ladytuscanny · 01-19-2008, 04:57 PM

how many calories are you supposed to be eating for your body size to lose weight. I have learned that if you don'e eat that proper amount your body won't allow you to lose weight. (Sucks don't it). BTW, i'm afraid that will happen to me too.

Fran

MamaJava · 01-19-2008, 04:58 PM

I wouldn't eat between meals if it weren't for the fact that the facility told me lap patients should be eating 6 small meals per day. I guess maybe that's where I'm going wrong?

victoria52 · 01-19-2008, 05:03 PM

You have to follow what they say, the Drs. I was just instructed--no in between meals, it's hard but it gets easier.

hijabigirl1973 · 01-19-2008, 05:07 PM

I'm assuming since you were just banded a couple of weeks ago you haven't had a fill? Right now is time for you to heal and not as much about losing the weight. Just be patient and when you start getting your fills things will get better.

AT1155 · 01-19-2008, 10:17 PM

i know all doc's will tell you different but mine told me to make sure that i didnt eat anything between meals..........he said that all i need is 3 small meals a day.......but i would just talk to your doctor about it...good luck....things will get better.

ladytuscanny · 01-20-2008, 12:08 AM

my guide lines say 6 4oz meals a day, 60 grams of protein, and 48 oz of water in addition to what we are taking in for nourishment.

ronwifey · 01-20-2008, 12:13 AM

Hi, at the seminar this morning the Dr. told us it is VERY important NOT to eat in between meals. I know different Dr.s want different things but I wouldn't even thrown my 2 cents in to this thread if the Dr. this morning didn't say over and over again that the sucess of LAP-BAND^® is how you eat or don't eat afterwards.

I could see how you are frustrated, hang in there and you are doing great so far.

Lucy54 · 01-20-2008, 12:30 AM

I was slow to loose at first, too. I lost 8 pounds the week of surgery, and then went 3 weeks before loosing 4 more pounds. I think my metabolism was different. Just stick to the diet. I do a shake in the morning with 20-25 gm of protein, and a shake later in the day with protein. I eat yogurt or soft fish or whatever sounds good when I'm hungry but stay at 1000 cals or I don't loose weight. But, since my restriction at 4 weeks, I can't overeat. Good luck, hang in there.

pammycakes · 01-20-2008, 12:41 AM

Mama how long have you gone without losing any weight? With me I have a week or so every month beginning just before my period starts where I dont lose anything at all. Was frustrating for me at first but I have gotten use to it and look forward to when the lbs start to come off again after my water weight is gone.

jjsmiles · 01-20-2008, 12:46 AM

I am not sure about your protein drink - how many calories does it end up being? I am thinking that along with your skim milk, you are likely consuming 200-300 calories just with one glass of liquid.

My weight loss clinic indicates that you can have three meals and three snacks and actually encourages it, in order to get all the fruits and vegetables you need as part of a healthy diet. What they do not encourage is drinking your calories (with the exception of milk for calcium). I was told to not use protein drinks as part of my regular diet, as they will go directly through the band as soon as you drink it and you will not have the sensation of being full that the band can give you.

It looks like you are able to tolerate and eat and drink a variety of things, so you don't need to rely on the protein shakes to get your nutrients. Maybe try not drinking them for a while and concentrate on your calories being actual food.

jjsmiles · 01-20-2008, 12:53 AM

Ok - I just read your post again and realized that you were just banded on January 4, 2008. I think you need to go back to basics and remember when you were told that post surgery time was for healing and not for weight loss. You are likely not experiencing any restriction at this point and are entering the time period called "bandster hell". Most of us have experienced it. As you recover from the surgery, it is important that you get all your nutrients and eat a healthy diet. If you lose weight, great, but many people do not, until they start getting restriction through fills in their band. It may not be realistic for you to stick to 1000 calories per day with not restriction.

Have some patience and take care of yourself.

Joanna240 · 01-20-2008, 12:55 AM

What are your carbs in relation to the calories? I'm starting to believe that some of us are very carb sensitive and even with LAP-BAND^® will have to stay on a healthy LowCal/LowCarb diet for the rest of our lives.

You may want to try different food choices and keep the carb intake to 30 grams a day. What you eat needs to stay in the single digits for carbs.
George Stella - Stella Style Community

"1 cup of food per meal and that does fill me up, but then I'm hungry (drooling) 1 hour later." The low-carbers would say that your carb intake is waaaay too high and that's why you are hungry an hour later.

There are lots of low-carb fruits and veggies but banana's are high, milk is somewhat high. The yogurt is high unless it's a low-carb yogurt.

I've been addicted to carbs for many years and I think I've just worn out my body with them. I've got to shock my system into not having carbs - like detox.

I was just banded on 1/16/08 and I'm reading low-carb books while I'm laying around recovering. Doing fairly well but right now I feel like I have a cement block in the upper part of my stomach, sure hope that "big knot" feeling goes away? it goes away right?

MamaJava · 01-20-2008, 09:19 AM

Thanks everybody for your advice! My facility made it very, VERY clear that we are only going to be successful by eating 6 small meals per day. They definitely see the most weight loss with that method...it keeps the metabolism up. That is also what most diet centers recommend also...so I'm not worried about that part of what I'm doing.

I'll just wait and see what happens. My protein shake is low in calories, so that's not an issue. I guess I've just seen most band patient's weight come off immediately during this "eating for healing" phase, so that's why I'm upset. If it's this hard right now I can't imagine it getting any easier. I'll just wait for my fill and I hope I'm one of the people who gets a successful first fill.