finallygettingthere

Thank you too for your post. I have only had one fill already, only 1cc, but my NP thought that it should be enough since I was losing weight. I know I was losing because I was being really good and sticking to the diet plan, but I was really struggling without the restriction. I have my second fill this Friday, and I'm hoping that I start to feel some sort of restriction.

Thanks for sharing!

From my understanding, "Bander's Hell" is the month or so after you get your band where some people feel no restriction from their band. They feel that they could pretty much eat anything and the band won't stop them from filling up their new 'pouch'. It's a wee bit frustrating for some as I'm sure you can imagine. Hope that helps.

So I just had my first week long business trip with my new band. I was in meetings all day long, so lunch was catered. I was a bit worried about what was going to be available, so I carried a Muscle Milk Light in my bag just-in-case. The meals were not bad at all. Each day, chicken in some form was offered, and not breaded or fried, and a salad was available and I was able to put on my dressing. I had my little eating computer with me, so I could sneak off after my meal and compute how well I did, and I believe that I did rather well. I was quite proud of myself. Although all week long I drank with my meal (and I'm trying to get myself out of that habit, but that one is difficult). Also, at this point in time, I'm going through the dreaded "Bander's Hell" where I can eat just about anything, and it'll go right down. So I'm not too concerned about the drinking with the meals. The weekend of the Fourth posed its own difficulties, as I'm sure everyone else had to deal with, but I kept things together. I even tried my wife's low-carb pasta salad, albeit just a small portion. Again, finally performing my computations, I kept things in line. Only once did I go above my carb limit during the past week, and that's when I treated myself to a Long Island Iced tea. It surprised me because it was very carbonated. When I made my own, I only put a splash of Coke in mine...and only for color. But, I sipped it slowly and enjoyed it. I didn't have any issues with the carbonation, but that doesn't mean I'm going to go out and enjoy a cold Coke, because I've worked very hard to get myself off of sodas. So...anyone try Pork Rinds as a low-carb snack? Throughout this "Bander's Hell", I've been able to eat everything I've had in my diet without any issues. I've not even thrown up or regurgitated anything (not even had the 'slimes' which I've read about). But I ate a few pork rinds and had a total blockage! It was very panic-inducing the first time it happened. I thought I swallowed a bolus that was just too large, but I was careful. I tried it again the day after, and the same thing happened. Very odd...but I'm going to keep away from pork rinds from now on. This Friday is my first fill. I'm quite anxious for this visit for a few reasons: 1) I'd like to get out of this "Bander's Hell", 2) I'd like to see if I lost any weight since my last weigh-in on June 10, and 3) I really would like a little restriction in my band, as I think it would be too easy to eat too much in my current state...at least until I can get my mind wrapped around just how to eat well, and how much is good for me to maintain my weight loss.

IMHO, this is an excellent and informative read about the lapband. It goes into a great many detail about the surgery, the procedure, pre and post-op expectations, the psych exam, and what to expect and what do to following the surgery. "Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band: Everything You Need to Know Before and After Surgery to Lose Weight Successfully", by Dr. Swell. I got it for my Kindle from Amazon. Has anyone read it? Thoughts? http://www.amazon.com/Weight-Loss-Surgery-Adjustable-Gastric/dp/1600940021/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1308620739&sr=8-1

I'm in the mushy phase, but they didn't put any calorie restrictions on me. I know that I was restricted to about 1000 calories before the operation, but afterwards, they told me it's all about the healing. And 330 calories a day???!!! WOW. That's amazing. One of my fat-free shakes is about 300 using unsweetened almond milk! I'm sure I'll get more restrictions when I go for my first fill, July 8. Good luck to you!

Wow...I made it to week two. Not that I didn't think I'd make it, but it just seemed to have taken a while. Some observations of the surgery: Scars - I have five small 1.5cm cuts which were sealed with the glue. They are healing well. I wash them daily with the surgical scrub I used before the surgery. They no longer hurt when rubbed up against anything. A few are almost totally closed, and a couple are almost there. I think that surgical glue will be there long after I'm totally healed. Mobility - I've been very mobile and active since the fourth day after surgery. I walk daily, and pretty much do everything I can except for picking up anything more than about ten pounds, as per my doctor's instructions. I know I'm a bit more cautious when bending over, because there are some things that area a wee bit sensitive when I do. No real pain, but more of a discomfort in certain spots in my chest. Eating - I seem to fall into that group of "I believe that I can eat anything I want and it won't get stuck", although I don't push that. I make a conscious effort to chew everything completely, and I try to eat everything without fluids, but sometimes I just have to have some water with my meal. Just habit, but I think I'm slowly breaking myself of that habit. I know I'll have to get used to that when they tighten up the band on my first fill. Discomfort - Okay. Here it is. A whole new sensation - I am totally aware of where my port is. I read before that many never know where their port is, or that they cannot feel it. I can. I know exactly where it is, and I know that it is the focus of some of the discomfort when I bend over, and move about too much in the abdominal area. From what others have said, and what I read, that is about normal, and that it will go away. I guess I can comfort myself in the fact that it's easy to find, and there won't be much sticking around with the fill needle when it comes to the fill. Weight Loss - I'm not really sure about this. Although my clothes seem to fit a lot better , but I haven't been back to my doctor's office to weigh myself. I keep a record of everything I eat. I try to keep my calories below 1,400 a day, my carbs below 40, and my fat below 40 as well. My protein is always above 120. I've read that a very high protein diet, especially in men with the lapband significantly reduces the chances of excess skin because of the weight loss. But then again, I don't believe everything I read, so it's taken with a grain of salt. Also, my dietitian states that my protein intake is just fine for someone of my height. I'm quite anxious for my first fill, not just to experience 'the fill', but to find out my true weight loss (as I have used it from the start) has been. Shakes - I'm really getting sick of the three flavors and variations on the themes of strawberry, vanilla and chocolate. A the end of this week, I'm going to explore more flavors. Although I really enjoy the Isopure Fat-Free shakes, especially the Cookies and Cream and Chocolate Mint.

My start weight was 320. In just four weeks, including 2.5 weeks of just protein shakes, I lost 30 pounds prior to surgery. I'm sure it's doable for you, you might have to exercise a great deal of discipline. Good luck!

I was going through some of the recipes on this site, and there are a couple of really good sounding pizza recipes. I'm definitely going to have to try them out. I ended up getting some Veggie Pepperoni and reduced fat cheese to snack on for dinner and that satiated my pizza desire.

That's an awesome recipe idea. Thanks!

It's Friday, and the guys in the office want to order pizza.Wow, what a dilemma since I absolutely LOVE pizza, and haven't had it for abouttwo months. Nope, not even for my infamous 'last supper' before all the liquiddieting. I actually was jonesing for a bacon cheeseburger for my 'last supper'.Boy, did that hit the spot. I can fondly remember it now, and as I type this, I'maware of the creepy smile that is growing on my face. But I digress. Pizza forluch. I already packed my lunch for today. A Muslce Milk Lite (not a favoriteof mine, but I didn't want to bring in the shake mix, and then the CalorieCountdown Milk, and have to wash out my mixing cup and have to remember to takeit home (I'm a guy, I always forget my mixing cups at the office. It'll beSaturday morning, and I'm scouring the house for my mixing cups, when my wifewill remind me that I didn't bring them home so they weren't washed). So it's Muscle Milk, me and a reduced fatstring cheese. Or pizza. Being my Aspie self, I start to methodicallyand logically scour the internet for caloric information on pizza – it's mymission today to make this pizza logically sound like a healthy decision. I'mfocused and decided now, so there's no stopping me. How many carbs, calories, etc.I'm trying to logically fit this piece of pizza into my routine, AND make it a 'healthy'decision. I could just eat the cheese and maybe a pepperoni or two. Maybe I'llbe totally satiated on just half of the cheese and a single pepperoni. Maybejust one bite. With the dough. After all, my port is wide open, and it almostfeels like I don't have a port at all. Sure, I can handle one bite of doughwith the cheese, and I'll have to make sure that my bite counts and get thatpepperoni in there with it. Ah, new updated information from my colleague. It's going tobe a really good pizza from the gourmet place down the road (lots of those herein DC). I'm even more determined now to fit that in to my routine. AND keep ithealthy. So I continue to search, and of course I keep going throughthese forums. I read of how many people have whatever they want, even pizza,within moderation, and making sure that they chew well and get it past theirband. I also read of the people dedicated to the new lifestyle that they havebecome a part of with the band. A turn of a new leaf in their lives. That'swhat it is to me too, I think as I read these. I remind myself that this is alife decision, that I know I took a lot of time, and did a lot of research tomake this decision. That I underwent surgery (and I loathe surgery…not thatanyone really loves it…but I am a firm believer that the body is like a car,once it's at the mechanics to tweak or adjust something, that something willforever squeek, squak , or just not work properly ever again). I know that I'vebeen doing really well, and that I need to reward myself from time to time, toremind me that I am keeping myself on track, not just for myself, but for my family,because that is why I'm doing this. That this is a new lifestyle, and I've gotthe best tools to accomplish this. I'm going to stop at Trader Joe's on the way home and pickup some Veggie Pepperoni, and save enough fat/carbs to allow myself a 'nice'dinner. I'll get that pizza fix I was set on, but I'm going to do it the rightway, the way that I set out to do. I know the veggie pepperoni is pretty decent(at least that's what I believe), I just wonder if the low fat cheese sticksmelt? Maybe even a little 'Skinny Girl Margarhita' and a stop at the bookstore on my way home to treat myself.

<br><br><br>\ <br><br><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">Thanks for the comments! I so totally understand that knowledge is power. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">One reason I keep buying books and asking my doctor questions. But it’s funny, I’ve also found that if you ask ten people a question, you’ll get ten different answers. That not only applies here, but to each of our doctors. So often I’ve seen conflicting information – “I didn’t have to have a liquid diet”, “I did”, “I can eat anything I want in moderation, that’s what my doctor said.”, “I can’t have fruit, breads, rice or cereal” etc. So, yes, you just have to do your own research, take everything in with a grain of salt, but most importantly, know yourself (and your band) </span><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black;mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol; mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings">J</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">I didn’t get banded for just the end result. While it’s going to be nice to be in shape and healthy, but it’s also for the journey, for that’s where we gain the wisdom.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">I totally absorb everything that everyone says on this forum, as well as my own research, and what my doctor says, and am enjoying the journey and especially the new experiences that it brings – seemingly every day!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">Thanks again for your input, I wish you the best of luck, and welcome all<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>your wisdom from your experiences to help me grow in this journey.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">Onto the blog….<o:p></o:p></span></p>