bogiesmom

POINTS® Tracker entries Thursday, April 15, 2010 Morning 1 tall Hot Beverages Brewed Coffee 0 1 Tbsp sugar 1 2 fl oz Coffee Extras Half & Half Creamer 2 1 cup(s) cooked instant oatmeal 2 1/8 cup(s) trail mix 2 Subtotal 7 Midday 3/4 serving(s) Lean Cuisine Chicken Ranch Flatbread Melt 5 1 serving(s) Trader Joe's Peanut Butter Filed Pretzel Pieces 3 1 item(s) 2% reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese stick 2 Subtotal 10 Evening 1 1/2 serving(s) Kirkland Pacifc Wild Mahi Mahi 3 2 serving(s) Kirkland Normandy Vegetable Blend 0.5 Subtotal 3.5 Food POINTS values total used 20.5 Food POINTS values remaining 1.5

Hi Chad, I have a question for your regarding pictures for gallery. If I want to take pictures of my progress to-date, how much clothing can I take off? Will bra and underwear be okay?

I am soo happy for you and I feel like crying tears of joy with you!!! I am at 8cc in the 11cc band myself and I know what you mean about feeling it now. Unlike my first 3 fills that i got every month, I think this one is going to be around for awhile before I actually need another fill!! I think I am more happy about the thought of not having to go back for another fill for several months then I am about the restriction

I was never a steak eater so therefore I do not miss it, but then again there is not really anything I do miss.

Weight Watchers have a great iTouch/iPhone app that tracks: Points Excercise Points Calculator Dining Out Guide Grocery/Brand Name Guide Also The Daily Plate iPhone/iTouch app is great too!

Hi Janice, The site you are refering to is for thedailyplate.com, which is by livestrong.com, Lance Armstrong's orginization. I agree with you that this site is AWESOME for tracking, however, I have to warn everyone to watch out when tracking excercise on this site due to it being extremely liberal in terms of giving you calories burned. If you are going to track you excercise then cut it in half to be on the safe side. For example, if you jog for 60 minutes put in that you only jogged for 30 minutes instead. I have found that when I tracked the exact amount of exercise I did it was giving me too many calories burned and I was not loosing. i have a feeling it is due to the site only being able to generalize calories burned since we are all different. Here is the direct link to mydailyplate: http://www.livestrong.com/myplate/ or http://www.thedailyplate.com/

POINTS® Tracker entries Wednesday, April 14, 2010 Morning 1 tall Beverages Brewed Coffee 0 1 Tbsp sugar 1 2 Tbsp Coffee-Mate French Vanilla Liquid Creamer 1.5 6 oz Light Orange Cream Yogurt 2 Subtotal 4.5 Midday 1 1/2 serving(s) Tasty Bite Steamable White Basmati Rice 5 1 serving(s) Chicken Tikka Masala 4 Subtotal 9 Evening 1/3 breast(s) cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast 2 2 serving(s) Kirkland Normandy Vegetable Blend 0.5 Subtotal 2.5 Anytime 1 serving(s) Trader Joe's Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Pieces 3 Subtotal 3 Food POINTS values total used 19 Food POINTS values remaining 3 Activity 30 min elliptical trainer, moderate intensity 2 Activity POINTS values earned 2

It was at the time, I felt like I was going crazy. After I learned about the "set-point" theory about 2 months later though the light bulb went on and i was like, "OHHHHHHH! That's what happened to me in January!" Since then i hit another set-point at 165 but took it soooo much better since I knew it was what it was, just a little vacation due to my body celebrating at that comfy weight. I knew sooner or later the celebration would be over and I would start moving again.

WW POINTS® Tracker entries Tuesday, April 13, 2010 Morning 1 cup(s) cooked instant oatmeal 2 1 tall Beverages Brewed Coffee 0 1 Tbsp sugar 1 2 Tbsp Coffee-Mate French Vanilla Liquid Creamer 1.5 1/8 cup(s) trail mix 2 Subtotal 6.5 Midday 1/2 cup(s) store-bought tuna salad 5 1 cup(s) cooked multi-colored rotini 4 Subtotal 9 Evening No entries for this meal time. Subtotal 0 Anytime No entries for this meal time. Subtotal 0 Food POINTS values total used 15.5 Food POINTS values remaining 6.5

Yah, sorry to burst your bubble but honestly the weight will come off but at a much slower pace now. After liquids I have been averaging a pound a week for 4 months straight and i am on my 4th fill with great restriction. I do weight watchers and excercise for 30 minutes a day/4-5 times a week. I can live with a pound a week (52 pounds in a year). BTW, the month of January was a complete plateau for me where I did not loose anything for 28 days straight. I was at 172 pounds in January and it turns out that was a "set-point" for my body, which was a weight that I had been at previously in my life for a long stretch of time.

Angie, I so know what you mean. I have not eaten fast food in over 4 months and what a difference! I do not even go out to dinner! I just can't justify the cost and just figure why loose my parking spot and go thru the troble of going out if i really cant eat? The things i buy too have changed. A lot more fish (tilapia & mahi mahi) in the freezer and I actually bought a 6 pound bag of frozen mixed veggies from Costco this weekend for the first time in my life!!!! The 6 pound bag was $5.59!!! So proud of myself for that one. I also bought a bag of frozen boneless, skinless cheicken breasts from Costco for the very first time and now am kicking myself in the butt for not doing that sooner as they go a long way (since i can barely get through a half of one) are easy to cook (I LOVE George Foreman) and are the most tender, juicy ones I have ever tasted! The main thing that i have noticed in the last week though is that the majority of the stuff I buy for the fridge is going bad and I have to toss it!!! I probably have wasted about $40.00 in perishable food this week I mention this becuase I now realize that I seriously have to adjust my shopping habits to fit the amount of food I am able to consume. You would think the 17 year old kid would help me out here but he likes junk I do not like and I noticed he too has kind of slowed down on the food lately (shocker). Another thing that I have noticed is that my tastes have changed dramatically! My meat consuption has dropped down to minor due to not really being able to eat it and I find myself gravitating towards vegitarian things like cottage cheese w/ raisins & split pea soup for dinner. I used to love creamy soups but strangly enough, as of the liquids phase of the post-op diet my taste buds hate creamy soups now and prefere vegetable based soups. I also find myself grabbing tangelos at work (work orders from Vons to stock the kitchen) for a snack to the point that I went ahead and bought some for home!!! I NEVER buy fruit but these tangelos are beautiful to the point of being irresistable! I noticed that a tangelo goes down like a freakin steak! It takes me forever to eat one and after I do I feel extremely full. I NEVER ate fruit before the band.

WW POINTS® Tracker entries Monday, April 12, 2010 Morning 2 tsp sugar substitute 0.5 1/8 cup(s) trail mix 2 1 tall Beverages Brewed Coffee 0 2 Tbsp Coffee-Mate French Vanilla Liquid Creamer 1.5 1 cup(s) cooked instant oatmeal 2 Subtotal 6 Midday 1 serving(s) 1 Cup Cooked Basmati White Rice 3 1 1/3 serving(s) Chicken Tikka Masala 5 Subtotal 8 Evening 1 serving(s) Progresso Split Pea Soup 3 1 cup(s) Low-Fat 2% Milkfat Small Curd Cottage Cheese 4.5 1 oz Raisins 2 Subtotal 9.5 Anytime 1 large tangelo 1 Subtotal 1 Food POINTS values total used 24.5 Food POINTS values remaining 0

Great idea Angie!! I am going to start incorporating this myself!

WW POINTS® Tracker entries Friday, April 09, 2010 Morning 2 Tbsp Coffee-Mate French Vanilla Liquid Creamer 1.5 1 Tbsp sugar 1 1 tsp coffee, instant or regular, powder 0 Subtotal 2.5 Midday 2 1/2 cup(s) greek salad with dressing 7.5 Subtotal 7.5 Evening 1/2 cup(s) Low-Fat 2% Milkfat Small Curd Cottage Cheese 2 1 item(s) cooked chicken fillet 3 1 cup(s) Rice Chex 2 2/3 cup(s) 2% reduced fat milk 2 Subtotal 9 Food POINTS values total used 19 Food POINTS values remaining 3 Activity 30 min yoga 1 Activity POINTS values earned 1

I ate semi-mushies the first few days and did not give up liquids completely for some meals. For example, I was still doing soups for lunch or dinner. My "first" meal?? Split Pea Soup from Whole Foods I gradually intoduced solids over the course of a week.

OMG!!! Someone who plans & shops ahead of time just like I did BEFORE surgery ?!?!?! Here is "the list:" A list for those on liquids that I found has worked for me. I am greatful that this stage has given me the oppertunity to find new things I now can't live without 1. Active Lifestyle Gellatin Cups - loaded with 4 grams of fiber per serving! Flavors are better than Jell-O! 2. Mishima Miso Soup poweder mix - comes in individual packets that you just mix with hot water! Only 35 calories a pop. (counts as a clear) 3. Cool Whip Lite or Cool Whip Free (great with the Jell-O. Feels like you are cheating when you are not) 4. Nestle Rich Hot Cocoa Powder with Caramel - A liquid Candy Bar! 5. Bigelow Vanilla Chai Tea Bags - A box of 20 (Try with a dash of skim milk and you would think you paid $3.5 for a cup at Starbucks!) (counts as a clear) 6. Campbell's Soup At Hand "Blended Vegetable Medley" 7. Imagine Organic Creamy Tomato Soup (comes in a rectangle carton) 8. Yonique Low Fat Yogurt Drinks (Pina Colada is awesome) 9. Lifeway Lowfat flavored Kefir (found this at Whole Foods) 9. Slim Fast Optima Shakes (The only protein shake I like) 10. Benefiber individual Drink Powder (like Cystal Light except 3 grams of fiber per pouch - sold in the Metamucil Aisle. Flavors are awesome. Mix with bottled water.) (counts as a clear) 11. Original V8 - I love this at room temp or heated on the stove as a soup. 12. Naked Fruit Smoothies (variety pack of 10, 10 ounce bottles found at Costco for $5.99. I use these for breakfast!) 13. Applesauce cups (mix it up by buying flavors like peach or strawberry) 14. V8 Splash 15. Special K Vitamin Water (Counts as a clear) 16. Popsicles (counts as a clear) 17. Vegetable, chicken, or beef broths (counts as a clear)

Mandy ... you make me feel bad saying that you "only" lost a pound this week, being that I have only lost a pound a week for the last 5 months I lost another pound this week ... was kind of excited about it until I read your post and now the negative voices are going off in my head again Anyway, down a total of 24 pounds thus far. Amy, your body has reached a "set point." Do you remember another time in your life when you were at or about this weight for awhile? switching things up may help but honestly you just have to give your body time to hang out here for awhile. Your body is telling you that is is very happy and comfortable at this weight and you just got to give the body enough time to get over the glee factor I have had 2 "set points" so far. One at 172 and one at 165. I remember that time in my life at 172 very well and that "plateau" last 28 days for me.

WW POINTS® Tracker entries Thursday, April 08, 2010 Morning 1 packet(s) Instant Oatmeal Peaches & Cream 2 1/3 cup(s) cooked instant oatmeal 0.5 2 Tbsp Coffee-Mate French Vanilla Liquid Creamer 1.5 1 tsp coffee, instant or regular, powder 0 1 Tbsp sugar 1 Subtotal 5 Midday 1 1/2 fillet(s) cooked mahi mahi fillet(s) 5.5 1 cup(s) cooked asparagus 0 1/2 item(s) Mild cheddar cheese sticks 1.5 Subtotal 7 Evening No entries for this meal time. Subtotal 0 Anytime No entries for this meal time. Subtotal 0 Food POINTS values total used 12 Food POINTS values remaining 10

You are very welcome Afterthought although I cant take any credit for the content since I am just the "messenger." I will keep posting articles from Hungry-Girl.com (or any other source for that matter) that I come across and that I think would be helpful to us bandsters! Since you are looking for more information on foods to avoid and foods to sub out I would highly recommend signing up for the www.hungry-girl.com daily email notifications as they are extremely helpful!

"Calling all Olive Gardeners! (By that we mean "people who frequent the Olive Garden," not "people who harvest olives.") We've got a round-up of what to eat at OG... and what to avoid like the Parmesan-topped plague! Appetizers Pasta e Fagioli PER SERVING (1 serving): 130 calories, 2.5g fat, 680mg sodium, 17g carbs, 6g fiber -- POINTS® value 2* Here we have a totally authentic, spoonable Italian starter. With beans, ground beef, pasta, and tomatoes in a flavorful broth, it's a super-satisfying option with very impressive stats. Starter Shocker!!! Grilled Chicken Flatbread PER SERVING (1 order): 760 calories, 44g fat, 1,500mg sodium, 47g carbs, 5g fiber -- POINTS® value 18* "Grilled chicken" makes everything sound guilt-free, and surely "flatbread" seems innocent enough. But this is basically a four-cornered chicken Alfredo pizza. You do not need to START a meal with this creamy and carby catastrophe. PLEASE. Now back to the sane appetizer selections... Mussels di Napoli PER SERVING (1 order): 180 calories, 8g fat, 1,770mg sodium, 13g carbs, 0g fiber -- POINTS® value 4* Despite the words "butter" and "wine" in the description, this is a total no-guilt find. That's because the mussels are simmered -- not saturated -- in the stuff. Paired up with a bowl of soup, this would make a nice light meal! Minestrone Soup PER SERVING (1 serving): 100 calories, 1g fat, 1,020mg sodium, 18g carbs, 3g fiber -- POINTS® value 1* One of the most guilt-free items on the menu. Plus, you definitely get that "I'm having an Italian dinner" feeling when you start your meal with a bowl of it. EMERGENCY INTERRUPTION: SCARY SALAD SIGHTING! We don't know what they're putting in that seemingly light salad dressing that comes on the Garden-Fresh Salad, but we disapprove. One serving of the bottomless staple salad with dressing has 350 calories and 26g fat (POINTS® value 9*)! Don't worry -- we've got your back. Request a portion sans salad dressing, and you'll shave off 230 calories and 22.5g fat. Ditch the croutons, and you'll be down to a slim 70 calories and 1.5g fat (POINTS® value 1*). Then ask for one of these dressings on the side: Low Fat Italian or Low Fat Parmesan-Peppercorn. That's more like it... Deceptive Entrées Alert These meals aren't the heaviest on the menu, but they DEFINITELY sound lighter than they are. Do not be fooled... Garlic-Herb Chicken con Broccoli PER SERVING (1 dinner entrée): 960 calories, 41g fat, 2,180mg sodium, 90g carbs, 12g fiber -- POINTS® value 22* Oh, come on! It's not "con formaggio" (with cheese), it's "con BROCCOLI." One would assume a dish with this name is low in calories... but one would be wrong. Creamy sauce and pasta sink it. BOO. Grilled Shrimp Caprese PER SERVING (1 dinner entrée): 900 calories, 40g fat, 3,490mg sodium, 82g carbs, 0g fiber -- POINTS® value 21* Not only does this name call out the grilled nature of the shrimp -- usually a GOOD thing -- but it also name-drops a salad we love: the Caprese. However, these shrimp are buried under pasta, cheese, and a garlic-butter sauce. No amount of tomatoes and fresh herbs can save this dish. And that sodium, ACK! EMERGENCY INTERRUPTION: BREAKING BREADSTICK NEWS! You know those baskets of breadsticks that just keep showing up at your table? Well, one breadstick has 150 calories and 2g fat (POINTS® value 3*)... and that's just the buttery stick itself. (Who doesn't dunk?!) The Alfredo dipping sauce has 380 calories and 35g fat per dish, and a dish of the marinara has 70 calories and 2.5g fat. We recommend avoiding this stuff, unless you have an implausible amount of self-control. Otherwise, you're likely to inhale 500 calories before your beverage hits the table. If your friends are cool with it, ask the waiter not to bring the bread. Mmmmm-azing Meals! Parmesan Crusted Tilapia PER SERVING (1 dinner entrée): 590 calories, 25g fat, 910mg sodium, 42g carbs, 6g fiber -- POINTS® value 13* It may be higher in fat than we'd like, but it's still lighter than most of the other menu items. Plus, it has protein, pasta, AND veggies. Maybe go for double vegetables and no pasta? Just a thought... Linguine alla Marinara PER SERVING (1 dinner entrée): 430 calories, 6g fat, 900mg sodium, 76g carbs, 9g fiber -- POINTS® value 8* If a trip to an Italian eatery isn't complete without pasta, this is the safest option. Slurp your noodles and bask in the tomatoey goodness without guilt. Mmmmm! Also worth noting? Every other straight-up pasta plate on the dinner menu has 17 - 75g fat. Ewww! Venetian Apricot Chicken PER SERVING (1 dinner entrée): 380 calories, 4g fat, 1,420mg sodium, 32g carbs, 8g fiber -- POINTS® value 7* We've sung this entrée's praises before, but you can always use a reminder. This meal RULES; it's sweet 'n saucy chicken served with a bunch of veggies. HOORAY! Herb-Grilled Salmon PER SERVING (1 dinner entrée): 510 calories, 26g fat, 760mg sodium, 5g carbs, 2g fiber -- POINTS® value 12* It may not seem super "Italian," but salmon is a) good for you, and not something that comes with carby pasta, at least in this case. Those are two BIG reasons we like this dish. P.S. The high-ish fat count is mostly due to the fish itself, and it's the GOOD kind of fat. (Three cheers for omega 3s!) Lunchtime Find! Grilled Chicken Spiedini PER SERVING (1 lunch entrée): 460 calories, 13g fat, 1,180mg sodium, 26g carbs, 7g fiber -- POINTS® value 9* We have no idea why this one's limited to the lunch menu -- we're big fans nonetheless. In fact, we're drooling just ogling its photo. Herb-marinated chicken is served skewer style and accompanied by potatoes and grilled veggies. Yum time! Dessert After-Dinner Shock! Torta di Chocolate No Sugar Added PER SERVING (1 dessert): 800 calories, 51g fat, 125mg sodium, 75g carbs, 4g fiber -- POINTS® value 19* Do not -- we repeat, DO NOT -- be blindsided by the "No Sugar Added" classification. Like all of the Garden's desserts, this thing is a fat-packed calorie bomb ready to explode. If you really wanna split something decadent with your fellow table-dwellers, the Tiramisu is the lowest-calorie choice, with 510 cals and 32g fat (POINTS® value 12*). Or do what we do: Have coffee and then eat a chocolate VitaTop when you get home! After-Dinner Delight! Specialty Hot Coffees PER SERVING (1 beverage): 0 - 220 calories, 0 - 8g fat, 10 - 85mg sodium, 0 - 43g carbs, fiber n.a. -- POINTS® value 0 - 5* Don't roll your eyes at us! This isn't boring java. OG's got some seriously schmancy sipping options. No-cal choices include Lavazza Espresso and Caffè la Toscana Coffee. Have a Caffè Latte, Caffè Mocha, or Cappuccino for 130 - 180 calories, or go ahead and splurge on the Caramel Hazelnut Macchiato for 220 cals and 4.5g fat. That's indulgence done right. P.S. Even though it's not on the menu, see if they'll serve you a beauteous bowl of berries. (We've seen you use them as garnishes, Olive Garden! We KNOW they're back there!) HG FYI! Why no sugar and protein counts, you ask? Olive Garden doesn't provide them. That's why!"

Judy, Seriously, is it that bad? I have been burping from day one post-op and although it is embarassing I wouldnt call it troublesome. Is there anything medically wrong with burping too much? I was under the impression that medically speaking it is no big deal. Can someone chime in?

I am so glad I got this in my daily HG email update this morning! I finally found a catagory description that defines me and my lifestyle. "HG, I have been hearing a term lately that confuses me. What exactly is a "flexitarian"? "Flex" Perplexed Dear Perplexed, GREAT question. The answer is simple. A "flexitarian" is a person who primarily follows a vegetarian diet but occasionally eats meat. "Flexys" typically reduce their meat intake but do NOT eliminate it altogether. There are no hard-and-fast rules for how much meat they consume; it's just a casual, day-by-day thing for many of them. I love this concept A LOT. It allows you to eat mostly veggie stuff but gives you the flexibility (hence the name!) to eat meat if you want to. Totally cool! Most of the flexitarians I know (and I have met quite a few lately) tend to eat really healthfully and are super happy with their decision to limit meat consumption. If you want to learn more about this type of eating, definitely check out a book called The Flexitarian Diet: The Mostly Vegetarian Way to Lose Weight, Be Healthier, Prevent Disease, and Add Years to Your Life, by registered dietitian Dawn Jackson Blatner. Dawn is really cool and smart, and she's also a pal of mine. When we met recently on a trip to Italy, she told me all about her flexitarian ways. I was really intrigued and, since then, have been hearing a lot about flexitarianism. Check it out!"