DawnH

I haven't gained any but I am at a dead stop...... I have been at 193 for a couple weeks now. I am being really good with my eating too and recording it on myfitnesspal every time I eat but still the scale has stopped. I get my first fill on Oct. 25th and I hope that makes a difference but I am still not eating big quantities regardless. I eat about 1/2 C of food each meal and 2-3 Snacks a day, usually yogurt or string cheese. I don't know but it seems to be fairly common at this point. I am just tired of 193 staring me in the face. Yesterday it was 193.0 and I was so mad I hadn't lost .02 because then I could have seem 192, lol. Eventually.

Mine feels a sort of 'twinge' every now and then. It sort of hurts but then it isn't shooting pain just sometimes if I move a certain way. I have been sleeping on my stomach or sides for a couple weeks now (banded on the 12th). I started sleeping on my sides with a pillow propped against my stomach. Sex.... we have resumed regular sex for a couple weeks now too.

For those of you on myfitnesspal I am madholcomb on there

My dr. says to snack in between meals, in between bfast and lunch and then another one in the afternoon. Sometimes I will split a protein shake between my am and pm snack. I have been eating either a mini babybel cheese or a string cheese for snack. Sometimes just one of the on the go cottage cheeses too. My first fill is Oct. 25th and I am so ready for some restriction. My dr put in the 14cc band and said it may take more fills than it would with a 10 cc band for me to get to my 'sweet spot'. I sure hope that sweet spot is found sooner than later . I am tired of being 193 lbs and that is what I have been for over week now, grrrr.

I just got the wii fit plus and love it! It has game type exercises that focus on your arms too that are actually a workout. I love Just Dance too we have both and can't wait for 3 to come out. My kids always want to play against me because I always win . I am usually sweating my butt off while they are yelling 'my turn against mom now', lol. I may have to pick up the zumba one. I love zumba!

I take Wellesse Calcium & Vitamin D3 liquid (WalMart), Active Kids Complete chewables with Choline (Walmart), B1 and B12 Sublingual.

You may want to call around to doctors near you because I know a lot of doctors won't do fills for people banded in Mexico. Before you get banded you might want to check if there is a doctor that could see you for aftercare. As far as the protein goes my doctor wants me to shoot for 70 grams of protein a day whether I get it through food (ideally) or need to supplement with a protein shake. I have to eat proteins first, veggies second, and carbs last. Good luck!

Thanks for the tip! I have my first fill on Oct 25th and I am sure I will have an episode or two before I learn what works with the band or what doesn't . Thanks again!

I eat refried beans, my dr. said they are good for Protein but the only thing to watch the quantity because there are a lot of carbs in them but as with everything else, portion is what she said to watch out for. BTW, when I graduated to the mushy stage that was the first thing I ate. I don't know why but I was craving them and she said a lot of people do for some reason.

I went back to the doc 2 weeks out because I was sure something else was wrong with me and me over doing it (having 4 kids how can you not?) is what the doc said was wrong ,lol. So embarrassing to go to the doc because I was over doing it. I am sure in another week you will be feeling tons better. Even with me resting on the couch just trying to give the kids instructions for chores, homework, all that would tense up my ab muscles and it just made healing drag on. Take it easy!

I would say totally normal. Some people heal a lot faster than others. I on the other hand felt pretty crappy for a good 2 weeks. I was in more pain than I thought. I was banded on the 12th of Sept and I just within the last week can say I feel 100% normal but I didn't expect for it to take that long. You pretty much described how I felt. I was stretching this am with my hands above my head and was thinking how nice it was that I could stretch without it hurting. Take your time

Like the above person said we all heal differently and let me tell you I thought I would bounce back a lot quicker than I thought. I called the nurse a couple times thinking there had to be something wrong other than the normal healing process. I just had surgery 9/12 and I just started feeling 100% normal about a week ago. I was definitely not one of those people that could have back at work within a week. Just try to relax and get rest but do your walking too. Good luck!

I may not be the best resource for you as I was just banded Sept. 12th and haven't had my first fill yet BUT I have a 14 cc band and my surgeon told me that it may take a few fills for me to notice a difference in restriction. He said that sometimes with the larger band it takes longer. Not sure what size band you have but if it is the 14cc maybe that could be why? Good luck!

I have 4 kids 12 (91 lbs), 10 (65 lbs.), 6 yr old twins (43 and 41 lbs). All my kids have always been on the skinnier side of things, were little babies and the twins were preemies so they started out tiny. I am just really careful about what Snacks we have in the house. I very RARELY buy Cookies. I do notice I buy more crackers for snack than I need too but I do balance it out with fruit, yogurt, string cheese, etc. My kids love the healthy foods too so I don't have to force them. What does your step-daughters doctor say? I think that you have every right to be concerned about that size because unfortunately other kids will give her a hard time as she gets older. I think maybe you can just do what you can by being careful with what you have in the house as far as snacks, juice, soda (for her at least), etc. It is probably hard if she goes back and forth between households. You can only do what you can. Hopefully for the daughters sake her mom will come around. Is her mom overweight? I have a friend who is obese and her son now is. When our kids were at their house they would constantly feed them. I would tell them, 'my kids JUST ate dinner' or 'they just had a snack 5 mins ago' but my friends mom would say, 'oh, they are just kids and they have babyfat'. Now my friends son is 10 and weighs over 100 lbs. That thought is okay when they are little but baby fat turns into kid fat when they get older than toddlers. Good luck!

I was really light-headed and dizzy when I first started my pre-op too (it was 2 protein shakes a day and one 300-400 cal meal). What I found worked for me was having my 'meal' at lunch time instead of waiting all the way till dinner. I was a huge grouch if I waited till dinner, lol. I would just sip my protein shake while I cooked dinner for the family and I was okay doing it that way. Good luck, it will get easier! I think it has really helped me with the post-op diet too (I am almost 4 weeks out and on soft foods). I still only eat around 800-900 calories a day but even with no restriction in my band yet, well 1 cc at surgery, I am not hungry after only eating small meals. Just remind yourself it is only for a short period of time and you will be getting banded before you know it. Good luck!

I was told not to put anything on the incisions while there is still dermabond on them. I only stuck with the ice which did help.

Mine itched like CRAZY!!!! I would itch everywhere all around them. I would put ice on them and that helped. It drove me insane!

Yeah, I usually stay around 800 calories.

I use myfitnesspal.com too and I go by there guidelines with the exception of lower carbs and higher Protein. I don't eat nearly the amount of carbs that they have for me to eat and I am not having a problem getting in my protein either. It is working for me so far but I don't have my first fill till Oct. 25th though so we shall see after that. I am still losing weight though but not as fast since I am in the mushy stage now and eating more normal food. I don't think I will follow any 'diet' but just make sure the protein goes in first As far as the bday cake goes.... my dr. told me I can't totally restrict myself from things like that so I still need to enjoy life's celebrations. Good luck! Dawn

Crystal light has a Wild Strawberry flavor that has caffeine in it

Need2Lose2- One way I get some protein in is the Knudsen on the go 2% milkfat lowfat cottage cheese. They are individual 4 oz. cups, 90 cal, 6 carbs, 3 grams fat and 12 grams of protein. A lot of protein in only 4 oz Also, I eat 4 oz. chicken salad (I use the swanson's brand) and there is 18 grams of protein there.

Since Aug 12th I have lost 25 lbs. 15 from the pre-op diet and 10 since being banded. I don't have any restriction yet because my surgeon likes to let the stomach heal before putting in a fill so my first fill isn't till Oct. 25th. It has been nice having it as a reminder of how much I went through to get to the point I am at now that I mentally don't want to sabatoge this whole process. So yes, I and enjoying having one even though at this point I am pretty much doing it without the band besides it being a reminder I have followed all my drs. instructions too and have not had any problems since being banded. Good luck!

Everyone is different as other people have said but the no lifting is a must for your abs to heal right. It isn't a matter if you feel like you can handle it or not you can't lift. I am just 3 weeks out and just this week I feel 100% normal, like I did before surgery. I was really tired and exhausted. I didn't realize I would be so sleepy for so long. I hope you can get at least 10 days off. Like DebHart said, just tell them you had a hernia repaired, it is all in the same region