simsuss

Seven years ago I lost 80 pounds on my own and was at my personal goal. Then I was diagnosed with cancer. I fell apart and put all the weight back on plus some. Today I am cancer free and I am working on getting the weight off again with the help of the lap band. We have to learn from the past and look forward to the future. Good luck to the both of us.

I think you need to exercise. I hate to exercise as well but I do know that will help you to get over your plateau. They also say that if you change around what you eat that helps too. It is horrible to not see the pounds come off when you are working so hard. Hang in there!

I chose the lap band because it was considered the safest of all the surgeries. You also have the option of being adjusted if needed. However, I seriously considered the gastric sleeve as well because there isn't a foreign thing inside of you and there are no adjustments to be made. My doctor felt the lap band was better for me because I have heartburn issues. Gastric bypass has a malabsorption issue that I am not comfortable with at all. I am happy with the lap band but I still had heartburn issues that had to be worked out. Just remember that at the end of the day, it is going to be about the food choices you make and the lap band will prevent you from eating too much.

I love Greek yogurt, roccata cheese and cottage cheese which are high in protein. If you are hungry, try to get all your protein in. It should help with the hunger,

I was banded on December 28th. I had a problem with heartburn so I had to go back on Nexium. I was not happy about that but it made such a big difference. The doctor and nurses insisted it was the way I was eating but as soon as I started back on the Nexium I was able to eat and drink without discomfort.. I eat about 4 to 5 ounces of food at each meal and then I stop. i am never really hungry and I am never really full. At the end of the day, it is all about about the eating choices we make. It is still a diet but you just can't eat as much as before. I have lost 29 pounds pre-op and 33 pounds post-op for a total of 62 pounds. Good luck to all of the lap banders both pre and post surgery. It is nice to stay in touch on this website.

If you go to the Bariatric Choice website there are lots of protein-rich selections. My favorites are the soups and hot chocolate. Whenever I feel that I didn't get enough protein from my meals, I just have one of these.

I was banded five weeks ago and have not had any issues until now. This morning I woke up and felt like I had the symptoms of low blood sugar. I didn't start to feel better until I drank my protein shake. Even after that I felt crappy all day. I think I had a bit of a panic attack as well which did not help anything. I am not diabetic and never had this issue before. Has this happened to anyone else? As always, I welcome everyone's comments. Thanks.

I was on shakes for two weeks. 3 a day. I like the EAS chocolate carb control ready to drink protein shakes. It seems like a long time but when you go onto food it tastes so good.

I had pain in my neck, back and shoulders. It is gas pain. My doctor said it could take up to two weeks to clear up. I tried to walk around as much as possible. It helps move the gas out.

I am almost one month out and I am not hungry at all. Because I am not hungry I do not know when to stop eating because I don't feel full. I try to eat 3 oz. food at a meal but it takes so long (I wait about two minutes between bites). I also get a little heartburn sometimes after drinking or eating. Has this happened to anyone else? As always, your comments are very helpful. Thanks.

Every doctor does it differently. The first 5 days was one oz. water to be sipped over 20 minutes. Next two weeks were 3 protein shakes a day plus 64 oz. water. Two weeks after that mushies. Two weeks later and for the rest of the time have one shake a day and high protein food with low carbs. I think they all come down to the same thing. Letting your stomach heal and sticking to protein. Don't go crazy with it. Just follow your doctor's instructions.

Thanks for all the information. No more white meat for me. I will try chicken thighs, which I prefer anyway, in a couple of weeks. I have no desire for chicken right now at all after that episode. Laughing Cow low fat cheese in the microwave...interesting. Going to try that as wall. Thanks everyone!

I had a large hernia and I was having a lot of heartburn because of it. It was fixed during surgery and now I am off of all meds. I have one extra little scar but the recovery is the same.