oldiebutgoodie2

Floridays and Tracie, you guys are amazing! Keep up the awesome work! Congrats!

Hi, again. Asked my dr. about the tyroid and weight loss. She said basically the same as Jayres14-- thyroid is not affected by weight loss. It is a hormonal thing. My dr. also said that I'll probably be taking the thyroid med forever, too.

Very cool! Wish I had your psychologist! You sound like you are doing amazing! Super congrats!!

Great idea! Thanks! AMAZING weight loss in 6 months, by the way!! Super congrats!!

I love your outlook, and your saying at the end! :-)

Texas, I just remembered something... I was feeling like you about a month after surgery, and was eating very little, and had so little energy, I had to sit and rest after I came up the front steps. My dr. had me track my blood pressure for 5 days (as it was way low all of a sudden!). She ended up changing all my meds, and taking 3 away. I also went from 400-500 calories a day to 800, and then I almost immediately felt better, and I started losing again! You may have different reasons for your body reacting the way it is, but I'm suggesting you ask your dr. for a total blood test, and go from there. And I would immediately get in more calories and Protein. I was soooo feeling like you at the time. Please don't give up. Please see your dr. This is just a bump in the road you will look back on and be thankful you got past it so successfully. Super good luck to you. Things will get better. But you've got to start by seeing what is going on with your body. Please report back on how you are doing.

I know you will! Super congrats on your accomplishment so far! Keep up the good work!

Yeah!! Super congrats!! Keep up the good work!!

But be careful with the children's menu-- it's usually fried/high carb stuff! I find the "fit" section, or going by the nutritional info, the safest bet. But I like your idea of getting the to-go box right away! I noticed you are a newbie to the site! Welcome! When were you banded? How are you doing? Super good luck to you! This site has been a great support system for me! Hope it is for you, too!

So how was your birthday dinner? Hope it was happy, and tasty! Most restaurant chains are now mandated to list the calories for each meal. It has been a great help to me. I often also ask for their nutritional information sheet, as it also lists the Protein. I go for the lowest calorie/highest protein stuff, which is usually fish, but sometimes chicken or veggie burger. But if I go to a mexican restaurant, I usually get a taco salad with chicken, and eat maybe half of it.

I love your outlook! Keep up the good work!

3-M, I so hear you about being able to eat anything! I am over 4 months out and still feel that way (2 fills). Guess it's part of the process to get us to rely on our old methods of losing (I count calories), but thanks to lap band info, I now also make sure I consume at least 80 grams Protein a day. I really think the protein is what is making the difference from other diets I have been on. I go to the dr. on Monday and I hope my 3rd fill finally helps me to feel full (the new "full", ie., satisfied) with less quantity! This is still the best thing I have done for myself, ever! So something about the band IS helping. Good luck to you.

As my Mom always said, this too shall pass. I have done the same as you. But I started a new day, readjusted my thinking, concentrated on getting 80 grams of Protein a day (to keep the hunger feelings at bay), and I felt better, way more positive. Those few extra lbs eventually came off, and I got back on track. This is a long and mostly super rewarding journey. Super good luck to you.

Love your smiley faces clicking the coffee cups! Where can I get stuff like that? And by the way, super congrats on your weight loss!!!

Well, for what is it worth, I am jealous that you can't even eat half a sandwich! :-) I'm not there yet regarding intake restriction from the band. So in the meantime, I am totally aided by making sure I eat 80 grams of Protein a day (it keeps me satisfied for several hours between meals), and writing down every calorie I put in my mouth. SEEING it in black and white really helps. And as you already know, getting the sabotage foods out of the house is helpful! Just last night, I would have gone for it, had it been in the house! Good luck to you! You can do it!

With 77 lbs lost already, you have obviously done something right before going to this counselor. I agree with you that following a diet plan and having to plan meals days and weeks ahead of time doesn't work for me. But everyone is different. What HAVE you done to lose 77 lbs?! I can always use pointers! So far, what is working for me, is making sure I consume 80 grams of Protein per day, and stay under 1100 calories per day (I still write everything down, or I forget some of the stuff I've eaten! I make or buy a lot of high protein/low calorie stuff, then divide it up into individual servings and freeze them. Gives me variety, and easy meals! If I go out to eat, I look for the low cal/high protein stuff, and usually divide it in half immediately, and take the second half home for another meal. Super good luck to your continued success!

I'm at 4.25 cc's, and can also eat anything (have had 2 fills). What has helped me from the beginning is making sure I have 80 grams Protein per day, and I also count calories (I'm a little over 4 months from surgery and eat 900-1100 calories per day). What I have learned from this experience is that my dr.'s philosophy is more about eating differently, rather than relying solely on the band to eat less. So she is very conservative on fills, I guess to get us used to making better food choices, and eating less, eating slower, etc etc. But what has help me to do this, and what makes it different than any other diet I've been on, is the 80 grams protein intake per day that she insists on. I'm still looking forward to that green zone, but til then, lots of protein has been my savior! Good luck to you!

OMG! Sounds like you have the same pre-surgery jitters I had! But not to worry! If you start out following your dr. guidelines closely, by the time you get to eating 1/2 cup to one cup at a time, you are already so many lbs lighter, you are motivated to look for the foods that are highest in Protein and lowest in calories. That has been the ticket for me anyway. I am still not in the "green zone," ie., where you eat less cause of the band making you feel "full," but the added protein in my diet (80 grams a day) is my savior for now. Super good luck to you. And keep checking in on this website. It has been so helpful for me.

My doctor was adament about no carbonated beverages, but only mentioned no caffeine at the beginning. I think it has something to do with stimulating hunger or something. Ironically, I seem to be drinking less coffee since being banded. But coffee consumption per se doesn't seem to affect my weight loss. But I do keep track of the calories from the cream/milk I add to the coffee.

About a month after surgery, I was taken off 3 of my 4 high blood pressure meds, and the dr. dropped my cholesterol med in half. But my thyroid med stayed the same. Interesting-- I didn't think losing weight would change the thyroid. Thanks for the question, as I am going to my regular dr. tomorrow for a three-month check up. I'll ask the question and get back to you on that!

I had pain in my stomach when doing certain movements, like getting out of bed, sitting up and down, too! But it wasn't excruciating. I'd definitely call your dr. tomorrow a.m. to ask if what you are feeling is normal. They blow lots of air into your stomach area so they can see what they are doing (causing gas pain), but the operation itself also has pain side effects, especially if you had a hiatal (sp) hernia repair while they were in there. Weirdly, you may also get pain in your shoulder! Apparently, the gas/air pain sometimes travels to that area and sits around for a few days! Cold and hot compresses, and pain meds, help! Super good luck to you. It is SO worth that first week of uncomfortableness, and that first month of liquids/softs. I am now a little over 4 months from my surgery, and like childbirth, I have so forgotten the initial painful/uncomfortable beginnings. The lap band/weight loss/off meds journey has already changed my life in so many positive ways! Hang in there. But do call your dr. tomorrow morning if you are still experiencing extreme pain.

Just wanted to let you know that I went to Chilpolte today and got a burrito bowl! I ate half of it (yum!) and will have the other half tomorrow! Thanks again for the great idea for taste/protein/calories choice!

Wow! That is fantastic! Thanks for the suggestion!

thank you!

Onetoughcookie, you are da bomb! What you did took lots of guts! Super congrats! This website has been my rock. Super good luck to you! And again, you are amazing!