Corrigan

Hi Roseann, you should have an appointment with a nutritionist during your indoctrination. They'll tell you just what you need to get. Your list sounds pretty complete as it is. The only thing you might add is vitamin B12 (sublingual). My program may not be the same as yours, so what I needed may not be what you need. If for some reason you don't get a list of stuff you need, we'll be happy to provide you with what our program suggested. I think you'll be surprised just how fast you'll be out and about.

A number of people have been banded for a year or more with no fills. So It just depends on the individual. There are some that have had 7 or 8 fills and still aren't at restriction. A lot of it depends on the resolve of the individual. I was banded a month before you and haven't had a fill yet, but I'm still losing. Of course the band, by itself, won't make you lose weight. Anyone can eat around the band, so we need to follow our surgeon and nutritionist's instructions.

In a number of posts lately, opinions have been expressed that some people are gaining or at least not losing weight due to a lack of carbs in their diet. I've spent the better part of my spare time for the past three days trying to find any scientific proof of this theory. All I could come up with was a discredited study from some years ago. If any one has proof that this theory has some basis in fact, could you please present it on this forum so we might have a new reason for lack of weight loss.

Why not start with 6 hrs a week (two hours a day, three times a week) to start and work up from there? If you start too strong it gets boring quickly and is hard to stay with it.

Ester, there are people on this forum who have lost over 200 lbs. It all depends how bad you want to lose. The complication rate for the Lap band is less than any other weight loss surgery. I've only been banded for two months and have lost over 50 lbs. with no fills. You can lose 70 lbs by next summer, with a little effort

You know that when you eat much less your energy level drops for a while. The vitamin B12 is a big help for me. This is the time of year when we have to cut and split wood and I had a rough time for a while, but now I'm back in the swing of things. Most of us have a 3-4 week period of malaise, when we don't even want to get off the couch. Just give it some time. Good luck.

You must have married a jackass. I can understand two people gettig mad at each other, but to abandon your kids is absolutely unforgivable. You sound like you've gotten things back together, best of luck to you and the kids.

Eat a little cottage cheese if you feel you're not getting enough protein. You can buy protein isolate on line or at a health food store, sprinkle it on food or broth.

Hi Judy, how great to hear a post from someone with a positive attitude. keep it up.

I didn't start this thread to be argumentitive, just the opposite, this is really some thing I'd like to know, I'd like to know how long this effect lasts. I've raised animals most of my life and when you feed them a lot they get fat and when you don't they get skinny. Maybe this is simplistic, but that's my understanding. I'm no scientist, hell, I'm barely a liberal arts major, so many scientific consepts evade me, but I'm trying. In all fairness, I found this today along with proof that it's accurate. Starvation mode theory can be created on a low calorie diet that is high in carbohydrates. The immune system needs amino acids which Protein is broken down to. If you don't get enough protein guess where your body gets it from? It gets it from the muscle in your body. This slows down your metabolic rate. Viola Your starvation mode. But it doesn't prevent weight loss, just trades fat for muscle.

You're not the first to experience that. All that you can do is reread your diet instructions and try to follow them. I haven't had a fill and as long as I don't have hunger problems, I won't have one. If you can just hold until your next fills, you'll reach a point where only a little food will satisfy you. Until then you'll have to reach down deep, and do the best you can. Just because you can doesn't mean you should!

Many people choose to keep their weight loss surgery to themselves for various reasons. In the end, it's your business, just like any other medical condition, you have an absolute right to privacy.

The face is often the first place weight loss is noticeable.

You can do it, but you'll have to go back to the beginning and start over. There is a program called "The 5 day pouch test" that takes you back to the start of your weight loss program and day by day, walks you through the steps you began with. It's not difficult, it's free and it does seem to work, IF you are willing to grit your teeth and follow, what you know is correct, your surgeons and nutritionist's instructions. This is mostly a mental exercise, you have to work at it. You have to make sure you really want to lose weight and then do it. I know there are all sorts of problems that interfere with losing, but you just have to get over them. Start today, do it now if your health is important to you. Good luck and I hope you make it.

Cedars-Sinai is the best in SoCal, but it's a difficult drive from Hesperia. There is one in Orange county, a couple others in LA, and two in San Diego. I went to Cedars and recommend it highly. If you send me an email, I can give you more info. I'm about 35 miles from you.

There is a program on this site and on Google called The five day band test, that a number of people, several in your situation, have used to get started after a while off. I hope you try it.

It sounds like your stoma was swollen and the swelling has gone down. It seems fairly common. Glad you're feeling better.

"Kids say the darndest things! "

I just had an appointment with my surgeon and although we decided I didn't need a fill, I did watch a shot of barium go through my stoma and into my stomach, neat to watch.

0n your plate you should have Protein (fish, meat) which you should eat first. Then veggies next, then any carbs. You can take up to 30 min. to eat. Any liquid counts, even the liquid in your yogurt. That's about what I eat plus I eat a high protein energy bar or yogurt during the day. I'm losing about 3 lbs a week, and if you're sticking to the diet you describe, you will too. After your Dr visit, come back and let us know how you made out. The information I gave is from the Cedars-Sinai hand outs.

I'm not going to ask the nature of your romance business : . )

It sounds like you're doing fine, with the exception of protein. You need 600 to 800 grams a day. You can buy protein isolate, which is pure protein, on line or in a health food store to mix into soup or broth (mix it with cold water first), or you can buy protein drinks, or tubes in Walmart. I prefer Costco's Muscle Milk powder (vanilla) best, some hate it, so you're just going to have to experiment. I hope your surgical program told you all this, they should have. If you have any more questions, just ask. You'll find this a very helpful group.

Some doctors begin fills at 4 weeks and some at 6 or longer, I guess it depends on who you see. Not everyone has had fills (I haven't) and are losing weight just fine. There are a lot of variables. I'd guess that you're healed well enough for a fill. Try it and see if there are any problems, if so you can always have some taken out.

For her it's really a simple procedure, all she has to do is show up, they do all the rest. You should probably practice wringing your hands and pacing. Surgery should take 30 minutes to an hour, then an hour or two in recovery. Don't bring books, maybe an iPod if she's really into music. She won't be able to eat or drink for a few hours, so no pizza or coke. Depending on your facility, she may stay overnight or go home the same day. If you have a choice, try for the overnight. Everyone wants to go home ASAP, but I like the security of an O/N stay. Best of luck to you both. Oh, don't forget to take slippers and PJs. The hospital gowns are quite revealing.

Congratulations on your weight loss! Gas is the bane of all new Lap band patients (and some not so new). GasX strips help and some like the chews. Swallowing air doesn't usually bother banders, but, of course, it can. Maybe keeping downwind?