FLORIDAYS

Yes I track... on my Droid phone with the calorie counter free ap which is also fatsecret.com Its a wonderful tool!!!

Benefiber makes packets of tasteless powder (looks like the crystal light powder you add to water) which add fiber to your diet. I had the same issue about after the surgery and started on these and had great success!

I that exact conversation with my Dr the other day when he denied me my first fill because a cup of food is holding me for 4 hrs at a time and I am losing. He said its not dieting I said.... technically it is. I am not eating a cup of anything I want. I am eating a cup of healthy low calorie food. But he said that its just about watching your caloric intake. I said... call it whatever you want. LOL Its dieting!

I havent ever put this down in writing... but here goes. My mother was a yo yo dieter. She was always trying some diet or another. She had me on the same crazy diets as she was from age 12 on. I am 5'9" and was a size 14 in high school. Lost weight in college then gained then lost then gained and continued the process until last year I decided I was DONE! I never got to an ideal weight and was always 40-50lbs over weight. I "carry it well" and "you have such a pretty face" have been said to me more times then I care to think about. Being tall has its advantages as I have always dressed well and "disguised" it. But in theory I have been overweight most of my life. I remember Mother got "thin" for several years in the early 90s. Then somewhere in the late 90s it crept back on and while she talked about it all the time I think she figured she was too old to worry about it. My mother died in 1999 at aged 78 and like your Dad I believe many of her problems stemmed from her being overweight. That was my wake up call. I do not want to end up spending the last year of my life bedridden being a burden on people because I am fat and have compounded problems. I don't want to have to have a "larger" blood pressure cuff, a extended wheelchair, a big girl bed @ the hospital, 4 people needed to turn me over...... I was blessed with Mother's fat genes and I would lose 60-70lbs and get bored with a diet and forget about it. It would come back on +30lbs! At aged 30 I went from 302 to 170 and figured I was home free. And I would have been if I would have paid attention to myself. That was in 1990. Fast forward to 2009 and I was right back where I started plus 60! It crept on at a rate of 15 lbs a year or so and I never stopped it. When I would think about it I would diet…for a while and get lazy or bored and stop. The next year I would do the same thing…. Mother's death was followed by several months of airline travel for work to which I had to ask for an extender for the seat belt for the first time in my life. That is just about the most humiliating thing ever! Then an annual vacation in Jamaica to which I was acutely aware that the chairs in the dining room must have warped since the year before since they seemed awfully tight!!! That was last summer. I spent a year thinking about it…I turned 50 and still didn't do anything serious about it. Then in a not so glorious moment, I realized I wasn't having as many intimate moments with my husband, I was constantly making excuses not to do things which would require walking great distances and to top it off my husband told me he was worried about my health. I knew health actually meant weight…. Since my health was amazingly ok. For now! Wake up call. I started putting 2 and 2 together. The light went off. You are 50 years old, your husband verbalized for the first time that he was worried about your weight, your mother died due to complications cause by obesity…. Its time for a change!!! THAT is what led me to look for a permanent solution and I believe I have found it. This 3oz of plastic inside of me will be a permanent reminder of a temporary feeling…. the desire for Food! I believe in order for this or any diet to work I need to get my mind focuses on the point that food is just fuel. . Food is fuel which will keep me going until the next meal. And I don't need 12oz of fuel. 3-6oz of fuel is all I need. I can enjoy it but its just fuel. And so far… 5 weeks post op I am doing well… not that I didn't think I could… but now I not only have the desire… I actually believe this will work because once I reach my 150 lbs goal I will have the mindset to keep it off. And if I dont... my trusty Band will remind me!!!

My Dr says 1000 calories a day is healthy in my case. I will be honest to tell you I am having a hard time consuming that many calories and I havent had a fill yet since I had such a good loss the first month post op.

I was exactly the same way.... and although I am less than 2 months out from when I began this new way of life... I still miss diet coke but usually its just when I see someone else drinking it! I dont miss it as much as I worried about missing it.... if that makes sense.

I am new to the band but My Dr cautions about being to restricted. He said that leads to way worse problems down the road. However, if you are really hungry after 1 cup of food I would speak to him or the nutritionist about what you are eating. Basically My Dr says that if I am truly starving and cannot make it 3-4 hours on 1 cup of food then I may need a fill. In fact I am dying for a fill to "see how it feels" but since I am making it 4 hours on a cup of food... he said I am not ready yet.

My doctor had me on liquids for 2 weeks post op.... Clear Liquids for week 1 and thicker liquids for week 2 (tomato juice, creamy Soup etc) pudding wasnt until week 3. Remember that your stomach is still very swollen and even pudding or cool whip may irritate it. I had horrible gas pains and was thankful for Maalox. Try it... it may work for you. And don't worry... this too shall pass.

I was banded on a Thursday. I very uncomfortable on Friday and couldnt have taken care of anyone. Saturday was better but I didnt do much of anything. Sunday the same. Tried to go to work on Monday and made it a 1/2 day. Tuesday I worked from home and was back FT on Wednesday. I felt like mysef about a week after that. I am older than you and havent chased after kids in some time but I would say it would have been at least 4-5 days before I would have wanted to attempt it. Its going to depend on you... maybe have a back up plan in place in case you dont feel up to it. Just a suggestion.

My Dr suggested no exercise other than walking (to which I am not doing regularily yet) for the first 3 months.... I am 1 month post op and have lost 47 lbs. I have a long way to go and plan on begining an excercise program in a few months where hopefully it will help me to lose even more weight than if I didnt exercise! And on a side note my mother was basically bed ridden the last year of her life. She was overweight but just being on a regulated diet she dropped 50 lbs. So in my opinion to say people cant lose weight without excerise is just simply not true. Its all about the calorie intake.

I have an employee who was 500lbs... did the Bypass and has had 10 surgeries since then. His health is horrible. My BMI was 52 and I have been banded about 1 month. Its now 48. I have lost 47 lbs since 11/23/10. My Dr is thrilled. So am I but know I have a long way to go. I am tall.... 5'9" and carry my weight mostly below the waist so that may have had a bearing on his decision but he never batted an eye about doing the surgery. I looked into Mexico..... as I too was self pay. It was 6-7k depending on who I went to. My hubby sat down and did the math... Trip to San Diego for 2 = $600-$800 minimum Fills by a local Dr... if you can find one are over $150 each in my area / if I even 2 fills a year over a period of 10 years that is $3000!!! Depending on your age that could add up Pre surg liquid diet would be a few hundred complications after surgery ... unkown pricing My Dr / hospital offered a flat rate of 10k which includes the pre op diet and visits, the surgery, fills and visits for 3 months post up and $50 fills forever after that. I put 5k down and am paying $208 per month to the hospital for 2 yrs interest free! My doctor is 5 minutes from my office and the nutritionist is a phone call away. In my mind I there was no discussion.... I think if I lived in SoCal I may have ventured to Mexico but honestly I remember saying the day after surgery... I am SO glad I dont have to get on a plane right now! LOL

I am convinced that the gas they put in you to blow up the stomach during surgery weighs something.... And while its hard... try not to weigh yourself until you go to the Dr next... You are normal...don't worry!

A gal I met @ the Dr. office who was banded the same day as I was is going thru the same thing. Its so weird how it greatly differs from one to another. Sounds like your first fill is just around the corner then the weight will start dropping off.

Had my first Dr since my post op visit this morning. I fully expected to get my first fill and the Dr said he advised against it. I have lost 20 lbs in the 4 weeks since my 1 week post op and 47 lbs todate since 11/23 (pre surg liquid). I lost 20 lbs since my post op appointment. 47 all together to date. The Dr said he didn’t want to do a fill because I am satisfied after a meal of 4-6 oz of food and I had a decent loss. I suggested I had to eat a snack mid day to tie me over for dinner but that it was usually my fruit or sugar / fat free pudding from lunch and he said that was fine. He said there is no reason to do a fill this time since the band seems to be working for me as is. More than likely he would do it next month depending on how I do this month. I am a little disappointed for some reason which sounds unfounded now after talking to him……. But I guess I am doing well and need to be happy with the loss. Maybe I just wonder if I could lose more with a fill. Have you had this exerience?

My Dr recomended Viactiv... and they were pretty pricey so I found some at Target under their own brand at a reasonable price.... they also taste like tootsie rolls. Congrats on your find.!

Thanks CC and JM... your posts make me feel better.... Of course as we all are I am on a mission to be successful and dont want anything to stand in the way! Now if I could lose this weight at the rate of 20 lbs a month I would be done by Labor Day!!! But I know it will slow down...as it should. I am greatful to have a place like this forum to discuss topic others will never understand.

Apple juice may fill you up a little more... and its considered clear....

Its not laughable at all! My dietician suggested it.... I didnt try it... I was happy to drink V8 juice, eat mashed carrots and peas but if it works for you... go for it!

SInce posting on this site I have noticed that every Dr seems to vary a little with their advice, rules and treatment plans... so I have decided to stick with what my Dr. says unless I find its not working then discuss it with him and go from there. I stuck to the food intake plan without a misstep and today I am heading to my 1 month post op appointment down almost 50 lbs since 11/24/10 where I hope to get my first fill. Pre Surg diet - Optifast shakes, Water, tea, sugar free popsicles Surg to 1 week = clear liquids 2 weeks post op = thicker liquids 3 weeks post op = mushie foods 4 weeks post op= soft to regular diet 5 weeks and beyond: 1 serving = 1/4 cup ... total daily intake is listed below: 3 vegtables 2 fruits 3 starch 3 fats 5 oz meat

I am newly banded. The Dr / hospital was running a special if you had the surgery done by the end of 2010 so I paid 5k down and $208 per month (no interest) for the next 2 years which comes out to 10k. By the time I am finished losing and paying I am sure it will be cheaper but thats life. When I bought my first VCR it was $400... now its extinct, my first digital camera was over $200... now its $89.....the list goes on and on. But I have no regrets just as I will not have any ill feelings if the price drops for the surgery. I made my decision, considered the cost vs the cost of my life and decided it was well worth it.

I am still new to this whole process but so far I can feel it.... but my hubby said he cant.

minus the milk... the Cookies would be about 1200 calories....give or take. I was looking up some stuff I used to eat and I never imagined how many calories were in 10 Hooters wings or in a DQ Blizzard..... yikes no wonder I gained weight.

Yes it is! wow!!!

Not sure where you live but I found that Publix carries their Greenwise brand of an organic wheat cracker that resembles a wheat thin but its 8 calories per cracker and good for you! I had 5 today topped with 1.5 oz of tuna. Mmmmmm To protect from over indulging I only bring 5 crackers in my lunch bag... not the whole box.

Thats why I keep track of everything I put in my mouth. Everyone needs to do what works for them..... but I just ate 5 organic whole wheat crackers for 25 calories with my 2 oz of tuna and 2 oz of fat free cottage cheese for well under 200 calories. I simplify my life by just bringing 5 crackers in my lunch bag so there wont be any temptation. Just curious did she eat 700 calories of crackers in one day?