cheryl2586

Looking great! Just think how you will feel in 52 more pounds.

First of all when you are on a high protein diet only a few of those pounds that you are losing are actually water. The rest is fat. People assume from past dieting that the first 20lbs is water weight which is plain malarky. If you are consuming a lot of protein it is burning your fat and the water is flushing it out of your system so tell them the next time they say that, that I said its plain bull S**t

Working in the hospital I see wounds all the time and I think it will be just fine. These things have to heal from the inside out. Glad you didnt get an infection. I hope one day to do mine if I cant then oh well I will continue to wear my spanks when I go out lol. Looking good.

I have read so many times that people "Can eat more then they should" with their band. But let me tell you what is going to happen if you continue to eat more then you should. 1) Your pouch is going to dilate and cause problems 2) over eating and food backing up in to the esophagus is going to cause your esophagus to expand and make it slow down when pushing the food through the pouch. 3) Cause band erosion. Every single time you over eat, you are forcing your band into the stomach wall and causing pressure. This pressure will continue until it cause the band to wear in to your stomach. Once erosion happens you can say good bye to your band. Just because you can eat more then a cup of food does not mean you should. Eat what your supposed to and then if you are hungry a few hour later then eat again but do not over eat. All of these things can be avoided if you just do what you are supposed too. Stop over eating. There is no need to anymore. If you want your band then follow the rules if you don't then continue on your binging over eating ways and you will surely lose it.

Yes we all have/are hungry at some point during band life. Whether it be during bandster hell or when needing a fill we all get hungry. I'm not selling nothing here but telling you what works for me during these crisis. Yes I love to feel hunger pains as I have never felt them my whole adult life, however sometimes being severely hungry makes you eat fast and those of us that have been banded for a long time knows what happens when we eat fast. Stuck, pain, puke, slime but not necessarily in that order. When hoodia first came out, I guess it really went crazy about a year after I was banded, I tried it. I buy the hoodia super thin from GNC and no other. They said it would take about a week to work but I stuck it out and what a difference it made when I was struggling with hunger. It tricks your brain in to thinking you are full (exactly what the band is supposed to do when you are in the green) and helps with hunger. Again I am not selling anything just telling you what has worked for me when I was in severe crisis. Sometimes we all need something to help even with the band. Most of you don't want to be hungry and this may or may not help you but it has helped me many times especially when I could was able to get a fill for a while. I have a very sensitive stomach and it really hates a fill. There are no side affects either so that was a plus to go with my other supplements as I do take chromium, biotin, and b-6 for my hair. Its just a suggestion for those of you who are struggling with hunger.

The day I had surgery the nurse that took care of me even said you are not that big why didnt you just do it yourself. Ummmmm 287lbs of anything is big. I was big, still feel big even though I am 166 but I am less big then I was then lol. Tell them it is your decision and no one else's. They are probably just mad because they didn't think of it first lol

People do get the band over the bypass but it depends on what kind of medical issues you are having.

You can do it. I think your hunger issue is because you stopped getting enough fills to curb your hunger. You are making an effort. We all have to do what is right for us. I did ideal protein for a couple months when I was stuck and I lost 50lbs thus needing my gallbladder removed for rapid weight loss however sometimes we all need a jump start and if weight watchers helps you then so be it. Do it.

39 here in Jacksonville and I hate it. Ready to move back to Fort Lauderdale if this keeps up

I would agree that most lap band surgeons and myself want you to consume high protein. Protein is what makes you burn fat. I only log my food in to spark people because I dont always eat enough for sure and some days I go over on calories depending. But all in all I have always stuck to a high protein diet and vegetables and fruit as my carbs. If I eat any other carbs I gain weight. I try to stick to the higher protein of 90 to 100 grams a day. Works/worked for me since the beginning.

You also could have a UTI. Sometimes you don't have common symptoms but I would check both. You can get dip sticks from any pharmacy and if you dip your urine and it shows luekocytes then you might have a UTI. I get crazy stomach symptoms when I have one.

Sometimes fills take a while to kick in. I would ask for a slight unfill it might be what you need.

Elcee the only reason doctors suggest a cup of food is so that people will not over eat. Even though the pouch empties in a minute if you eat fast you can fill it up to the point of it stretching. Meat is harder to pass through the band and takes longer then a minute and exactly why I do not eat meat often because it is miserable to say the least going down. Most people do not eat slow even with the band. Its just one habit that is hard to break to slow down. You can over eat and cause your pouch to dilate absolutely and that is why so many have to have their bands emptied because of the pouch and esophagus dilating from over eating.

You may or may not lose weight post op until about the 6 to 8 week mark. Remember that after surgery is not about weight loss but about healing. If you get that in your head then you wont be disappointed if you dont lose any weight in the beginning.

Well B-52 for you that might be true and yes I am uncomfortable when I eat too much however it is not impossible to over eat with the band. You said yourself during one holiday party you grazed constantly and you were miserable. You can over eat with the band if you want too. It might make you miserable but the only thing the band is supposed to do is signal your brain that you are full for 4 to 5 hours as it presses on the nerve. Because the food does not stay in the pouch for more then a minute before digestion occurs. It might take you all day but you can surely eat a ton of food if you wanted too.

Have you had any fills yet? If so it seems you may be too tight.

The band will never stop you from eating food. Its only job is to keep you from being hungry for 4 to 5 hours on a cup of food. You should not be eating 2 cups of food because you are going to not only stretch out your pouch but can also cause your esophagus to dilate and then you will end up with an unfill. You need to be mindful of what you are eating and how much.

You look great Donna

I find it hard to believe that so many lap band patients do not follow their doctors instructions. You are given post op instructions of liquids and upgrading your diet slowly for a reason. You band is stitched to the stomach and eating before you are supposed to YES CAN BE HARMFUL. When you eat the stomach has to work and churn and move and if you are filling it with food before you are supposed to then you are not giving your surgery sites time to heal. Its not just about your incisions but about the band placement too. Why risk it because you are hungry? Why take matters in to your own hands and eat what you want when you want then down the road you will be the first person complaining the band failed me. Any doctor gives you instructions for your health. Do you not take your routine medications like they were prescribed? Would you not take insulin or high blood pressure medication just because you didnt feel like it? Heck no you wouldn't. So why take a chance with the band? A month out of your life is not going to kill you to be hungry. Just do what you are told to do then you won't have to be asking did I do something to hurt my band.

First of all congrats on your decision. It is not impossible to gain weight in the beginning. Your body is adjusting to the calorie deficit. I do not think eating protein every 20 minutes is right. By now you should be on mushy foods which means 3 to four ounces 3 times a day and that is all. If you are eating every 20 minutes you will gain weight.

You look great

Greek yogurt, Quaker weight control oatmeal, scrambled eggs, hard boiled eggs, protein bar

You shouldnt have to do liquids for an unfill but your doctor should have sent you home with instructions

Making your own taste much better then store bought anyday