BANDERS UNITE ! Get to know each other chatter !

[Fattyfattyboomboom]

I know all you ladies knows this but just in case I thought I would put this up it shows fruit and veg portion sizes....I have used this for a long time and print them off ,but know most off by heart now...

5 A DAY fruit and vegetable portion sizes

 

[Fattyfattyboomboom]

here is somemore:

Healthy eating: what constitutes a portion?


this one talks abotu breads, meats, pasta and fruit and veg

 

[Neen]

Thanks for the info Jenn...portion size is my biggest problem still so all the info is excellent x

 

[Fattyfattyboomboom]

I meant to say that since we were mentioning about kids health the other day, I remember a company doing portion pots but for kids so they get the right amount of food and not over sized portions...but I can't remember what they were called...I will see if I can find them.

But seeing as my 5 year old eats about 5 tablespoons of cooked food and even that is a push sometimes, I think that is reasonable for him. 1 per year of life......that is all starch, meat, veg breads all together not just 5 tablespoons of corn or something.

 

[Rache]

RACHEL: ive just gone through your diary - hope you dont mind...i felt like i was reading my own personal diary
i had a terrible experience the day of my operation at heartlands on 1st sept this year, ive had no support from dieticians since op as they all left and new ones havebeen trained...severe post op infection, and th feeling of being alone through this as been terrible...other than this site ive had no support at all.....ive been told today i can hav my 1st fill in 3 weeks time, but cant be seen again until march/april 2011 as they are just too busy...is this normal? after a fill what happens? am i just left to get on with it by myself still???

Candy that's about normal to have to wait so long. The only thing I can say is keep speaking to the dieticians, they still have the support of some of the older staff so keep hammering away, march april next year is a long time, to wait. (I am assuming you have had your initial post op appointment?) I had my appointment with Wendy (who has now gone on maternity) after my op and she was great, really motivational. We had a good chat, i was honest with her and said I hadn't been perfect, and you know what? she said that was fine...... cos lets face it who is perfect?! That was a revelation to me as I was expecting to be reprimanded. We arranged my first goal and she wanted to know where I wanted to be in a couple of years time. (I sooooo want to do a skydive for charity, but you have to be under a certain weight before they will consider you)
Your first fill is an experience, mostly because you've never done anything like it before. I went alone, and it wasn't great I have to say. The next fill I did take a friend with me for support as it does feel lonely doing it all alone (too independant for my own good sometimes)
They do leave you to get on with it pretty much, refer to your handbook as much as possible. If I'm being honest I think it is good to a degree as we have to learn through our own mistakes. what suits one may not suit another so all the advise in the world may not necessarily help, you need to work out what works best for you.
The hardest part is the lack of restriction initially. The reason we go through this whole process is to be able to cut our portion sizes yes? What's the point of all the surgery and painstaking dieting if we still want to eat a massive plate of food? All I can say is please stick with it, time will pass and things will begin to work.

It's taken us all years to achieve the bad habits we have...... why do we beat ourselves up when we don't rid ourselves of them in a couple of weeks?

My second appointment is over 7 months post op, so March/April isn't far off that either. Try and come along to the meeting tomorrow if you can as we all get on great and as it's at the hospital very often the staff are there to speak to with any concerns.
Also an open day letter plopped through my door the other day for this coming saturday. Free parking and talks on offer, also the chance to speak with the team. It's between 10-4 this saturday. it's in the usual diabetic centre.

Rache xxx

 

[Rache]

Blinkin eck that's a long time with no support, if this is the case and they are too busy then they shouldn't really be doing more and more ops if they cannot offer the proper aftercare....bit shocked actually and i'd be far from impressed.

What happens when you ring the dieticians for advice? When i did the mini seminar thing after i'd seen mr super, the dietician told us they come and talk to you before you have your op, they see you so many weeks after and we can ring anytime and they offer a great support and they were there for us and we should contact with any questions and we could go and see them etc..maybe not so true then......i really feel for you xx

That's right they are always on the end of the phone for you, sometimes though it does take a while for them to get back to you which can be frustrating. Life can be full of frustrations, we adapt though and work round them. Use the forum and utilise your new wls friends, we are all here for you xxx

 

[hope2bthina]

ok...I am teetering on what to do....Kelly, I am still with ya on the friday weigh ins...cuz i need to lose as much as I can before D day...

I am just thinking my OH will have a terrible diet...and not look after himself the right way,if he is not made to make good healthy meals....which is what he was doing before I went on the milk diet. Plus we have a budget...and I do worry about the costs....

SO I am not sure if I am going to just do the SW, or just do as I was before, and just use my portion pots to measure out small amounts...and do the normal, stop just before I am full...eat slowly, exercise, and use a small plate to ensure I don't PILE on any foods.
And just cut fats sugars where possible.

I think I could do it. I was doing it.....so I know I can, I just know too my MIL wants to lose weight and she likes having everything portioned out for her and no thought involved in it....but she too is on a limited budget...so we shall see..... I reckon she could use the portion cups too...just not sure she will stick with it. Plus if she actually eats a breakfast like she is mean to and have a lunch instead of fasting all day and eating like a horse at night, she would be much better off.

hello..housework and xmas wrapping and how many posts have been made since i left lol.....

Don't worry i wont be sticking to it 100% i rarely follow a recipe anyway i either add or omit something or change something as one of the kids doesn't like it.....i shall just be getting ideas and also using the portion pots, and trying to use somethings out of the freezer too save costs..as long as we lose some lbs doesn't matter which way we get there..so i'm with you on the friday weigh in

 

[hope2bthina]

That's right they are always on the end of the phone for you, sometimes though it does take a while for them to get back to you which can be frustrating. Life can be full of frustrations, we adapt though and work round them. Use the forum and utilise your new wls friends, we are all here for you xxx

Thanks rache, was bit freaked at the thought of no help at the hospital, if i needed a fill etc xxx

 

[hope2bthina]

I have been looking at the skin, nail and hair supplements do you buy the tabs and crush them? just wondered as the ones in holland and barratt were HUGEEEEEEEEEE

 

[Fattyfattyboomboom]

kelly I have no idea...why do you need to take supplements?

 

[hope2bthina]

not 100% if we do or if it's the bypassers actually i'm sure someone will know. I have read that peoples hair gets thinner. Saying that actually my friend has a band and it needs adjusting and her nails and hair are not good at the mo...i'd hate to have my hair thin out..mind you i have loads of it!

 

[hope2bthina]

Jenn have you only been offered one type of pre op. Just looking through my info book and i have a choice of 5.

1. real food...a very balanced, very low calorie diet, with menu's to follow.
2. Meal replacement products...so slimfast and a meal.
3. vlcd..so eithe the cambridge diet or lighter life
4. 800-1000 cal diet which i can decide but keep starch to a minimum.
5. milk and yogurt..ewww

Not sure which is the lesser of 5 evils lol xx

 

[Neen]

Hiya gals...Kelly usually the bypassers have more of a problem with hair thinning because they can't absorb as much goodness from what they eat as we can.

My hair is fine and I shed a bit but it's always been that way and being so long it just generally sheds anyway.

It's a good idea to have supplements anyway just to make sure and I have chewy ones or you can get disolveable or syrups as well.
I used to split capsules and stir into yogurt etc but got fed up of them ping-ing everywhere!

As for the diet, well would you find it easier not to have to plan too much? In which case slimfast or milk

or would you be able to have self control to handle everyday foods in the smaller portions?
I had a really low fat low carb one given to me so for example I would have

Weetabix with skim milk

Tuna with plain salad (eg no dressing, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers etc) or bowl of ww soup

Chicken breast grilled , with vegetables (maybe grilled tomatoes and green beans etc)

A piece of fruit for a snack

so mine was around 1000 cals if that and very light on starch and sugar

 

[Fattyfattyboomboom]

Jenn have you only been offered one type of pre op. Just looking through my info book and i have a choice of 5.

1. real food...a very balanced, very low calorie diet, with menu's to follow.
2. Meal replacement products...so slimfast and a meal.
3. vlcd..so eithe the cambridge diet or lighter life
4. 800-1000 cal diet which i can decide but keep starch to a minimum.
5. milk and yogurt..ewww



Not sure which is the lesser of 5 evils lol xx

nope just the one I am on now...but I only have to do 2 weeks of it instead of the 4 weeks I am doing now.....

I would be happy to have slimfast and a meal....

 

[Fattyfattyboomboom]

Hiya gals...Kelly usually the bypassers have more of a problem with hair thinning because they can't absorb as much goodness from what they eat as we can.

My hair is fine and I shed a bit but it's always been that way and being so long it just generally sheds anyway.

It's a good idea to have supplements anyway just to make sure and I have chewy ones or you can get disolveable or syrups as well.
I used to split capsules and stir into yogurt etc but got fed up of them ping-ing everywhere!

As for the diet, well would you find it easier not to have to plan too much? In which case slimfast or milk

or would you be able to have self control to handle everyday foods in the smaller portions?
I had a really low fat low carb one given to me so for example I would have

Weetabix with skim milk

Tuna with plain salad (eg no dressing, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers etc) or bowl of ww soup

Chicken breast grilled , with vegetables (maybe grilled tomatoes and green beans etc)

A piece of fruit for a snack

so mine was around 1000 cals if that and very light on starch and sugar

I would love a choice.....shame they are so evil!!!

 

[hope2bthina]

Hiya gals...Kelly usually the bypassers have more of a problem with hair thinning because they can't absorb as much goodness from what they eat as we can.

My hair is fine and I shed a bit but it's always been that way and being so long it just generally sheds anyway.

It's a good idea to have supplements anyway just to make sure and I have chewy ones or you can get disolveable or syrups as well.
I used to split capsules and stir into yogurt etc but got fed up of them ping-ing everywhere!

As for the diet, well would you find it easier not to have to plan too much? In which case slimfast or milk

or would you be able to have self control to handle everyday foods in the smaller portions?
I had a really low fat low carb one given to me so for example I would have

Weetabix with skim milk

Tuna with plain salad (eg no dressing, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers etc) or bowl of ww soup

Chicken breast grilled , with vegetables (maybe grilled tomatoes and green beans etc)

A piece of fruit for a snack

so mine was around 1000 cals if that and very light on starch and sugar

Thanks neen was just a bit worried about my hair..had visions of me wakin up bald.

cambridge and lighter life are a defo no no...tried cd before and i didn't last a day..i was naughty and ate a cucumber.

I'm thinking of doing the slimfast and evening meal with fruit in between to keep hypo's away.

or trying the 800-1000 cals, thing is i'm still going to have to cook for the family although i have stated, when i've had the op and can only drink liquid for 4 weeks i will prep dinner but hubby can cook which he said is fine. will cook after that and just blitz the meat and veg down for me...or my friend will be weaning her baby by then so could always share her food.

The dietician did say we can switch between them if we struggle as long as we stay on track. You all seem so disciplined xx

 

[hope2bthina]

nope just the one I am on now...but I only have to do 2 weeks of it instead of the 4 weeks I am doing now.....

I would be happy to have slimfast and a meal....

I wonder why it is so different really if they all work and do the same job what's the problem. I take my hat off to you for sticking to your pre pre op for so long xx

 

[Neen]

LOL I'm about the most undisciplined cookie monster out there!!! ahem though of course this week I am being good and those naughty weekends are gone !

OMG I cannot believe you said you were bad for eating a cucumber.....cripes

I just posted on a different thread about a really good book I read which taught me a lot about food and what the criminy my brain is doing when it sends me off on a binge attempt etc
I highly recommend you reading it everyone , as it sheds a huge amount of light on why we have these irrational relationships with food and it helps with advice on how to overcome problems.
I am definately going to be reading mine again

You: On a Diet: The Insider's Guide to Easy and Permanent Weight Loss: Amazon.co.uk: Michael F. Roizen, Mehmet C. Oz: Books

I know we have some avid readers on here and I definately think this is worth adding to the list of must have books

 

[Mazza]

I lost a lot of hair around 3 months after my band, it may be more common for bypassers because of malabsorption BUT can be a problem for many people experiencing rapid weight loss. Its not always necessary to take a supplement, foods can help too.

Foods that Affect Hair Growth and Loss

There are many vitamins and nutrients that your body needs in order to produce healthy hair. If any of these are lacking, your hair shafts can become weak resulting in massive shedding, also known as hair loss. Sometimes, simply altering your diet to include healthy foods can decrease the amount of shedding you experience. Some foods you should add to your diet to increase hair health include:

• Fruits—melons, berries, bananas, oranges, apples and many other fruits can supply your body with the proper vitamins to reduce hair loss.
• Vegetables—while all vegetables will provide your hair with additional vitamins, the ones that offer the most benefits are those of the green leafy variety, including spinach, cabbage, etc.
• Dairy—increasing your dairy intake, including milk, eggs and cheese, can increase your hair’s overall health by providing it with the vitamin B-12 as well as protein.
• Lean, healthy meats—this includes chicken, nuts, fish, and organ meats (such as liver). By adding these to your diet, or increasing your intake of these items, you will supply your hair follicles with the vitamins they need for optimal operation and hair growth.
• Water—consuming at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day will help transport the needed nutrients to your hair and help keep your hair strands hydrated and strong.

In general its not enough protein, zinc and iron that cause the problems - HTH x

 

[cah-ching]

evening all. I've been away at the gym. Having a yoghurt ans some dried cranberries mix with blanched almonds (only 5g) to boost my calorie intake . Tried to eat a banana before the gym and the one bite made me vomit badly - the bugger so I put the rest in the fridge (waste not, want not) for tomorrow morning's breakfast. Then I'm upstairs to the shower.

The pain in my bowel has really subsided since I went to the gym .... lets see how I go after my shower

How are you all?