Sojourner

I use GNC products, and don't understand why your purchase price would be that much. I have used GNC Wheybolic Extreme (only 1.5 scoops powder per shake) since beginning my pre op diet, and have never spent over $100.00. I purchased their Gold Card, and it has paid for itself many times over in savings. What ever product you choose to use, be certain that it contains 100% whey isolate protein, as this is considered to be a complete protein containing all of the amino acids, and meets the nutritional needs of bariatric patients.

Congrats...you are off to a good start! Some people do have some restriction from day 1, even without having any Fluid in their bands. I am one of those people, and I continued to lose weight during the 14 weeks I had to wait for my first fill. Your band does begin to "work" even if you are not able to feel it or feel any restriction from it. Best wishes for a successful journey...

As other posters have already mentioned, you need to get creative with your food preparation, and change things up a bit to keep from getting bored. Portion size is paramount, so be compliant with that...the eye is tricked easily, so I still measure most meals for accuracy. Carbs are hidden everywhere, so you need to be aware of what is actually in the foods you eat. I read nutrition labels for everything before I purchase it, though this is usually for my husband, as I prefer the basic foods that are unprocessed. I love having crustless quiche for Breakfast or lunch...there are so many different veggies you can add so I don't tire of it. I have fresh fruit or a fresh or steamed veggie with every meal. I stay away from all of the starchy veggies, with the occasional sweet potato the only exception. Grilling fish, using different seasonings is easy...and it is simple to make veggie kabobs to grill at the same time. Literally, think out of the box on this. "Lean Cusine" and other box foods are heavy on carbs, and not the healthy kind. They are not designed for bariatric patients. Our nutritional needs are different. There are many acceptable Bandster meals for on the go with a little planning ahead. I have to minimize carbs, because I know that eating unhealthy carbs does lead to cravings which are counterproductive to meeting weight goals. There is a difference in the carbs which naturally occur in fresh fruit and veggies, and those you get in processed products like Pasta. I know that you will find the motivation to recenter your thoughts and get back on track. It can be frustrating, but take a day at a time. Try to focus on how far you have already come towards your goals instead of how far you need to travel.

Post fill, my surgeon wants me to have Protein shakes for proper nutrition. Clear liquids are acceptable, but not required. Remember, you still need proper nutrition, this is not the same as pre op and post op diets. Be certain to get specific instructions from your surgeon for you to follow post fill.

Initially following a fill, your surgeon will give you specific instructions, mine has me stay on a liquid diet for 48 hours, then soft foods for 24 hours. Likely it may take several fills to feel much in the way of restriction, and often people will discover that they can no longer eat foods which they formerly enjoyed. Breads are big offenders with getting stuck. Eating with restriction is a learning curve, and as such is a "trial and error" experience. Hopefully your surgeon provide you a list of allowable foods for every stage of the post op period. I can no longer tolerate bread of any description, or anything stringy, such as fresh pineapple or green Beans. We are individuals, that said, no two of us will have identical weight loss journey's. We all learn as we travel. Best wishes for a successful journey...

I was very sorry to read your post...however yours is not an unsuccessful story...your story is not yet completed. One strong positive is your awareness of your issues with food and a lack of constructive and appropriate coping skills to manage your emotions. You can't resolve issues which you have no awareness of... Yes, you should definitely see a specialist in counseling who is a specialist in working with patients who have eating disorders. Not all therapists specialize in this field, and I believe you would benefit in seeing a specialist. I does read to me that your band may be too tight...you did not mention how much Fluid is in your band, or when the last time was that you had been in to see your surgeon. In the meantime, a Protein shake has way fewer calories and better nutrition than anything from McD's. I'm very sorry you are having these issues...but please take steps to care for yourself and get your issues addressed... Best wishes to feel better...both emotionally and physically...

I guess I would be considered to be "old fashioned" as my perspective is that nursing a child is a priceless window of opportunity which once it is passed, it is gone forever. I also had to postpone my band surgery for over a year due to unforeseen medical conditions, which meant I had to wait longer for my band to be placed, however I did have my surgery when I was finally medically cleared to proceed. My sons came first during those crucial formative years of their lives. I would not have chosen to disrupt that time in our lives. If that meant that I would need to postpone my plans, I would not have hesitated to do so. IMHO...your mileage may vary. Sometimes we set aside out timeline to accommodate others...

What a wonderful way to share your success! Congratulations...an inspiration for all of us...

What others have already posted pretty much tells the story of the philosophical division which exists on this forum when it comes to what amount of carbs you choose to allow for your diet. The above poster has some good points which she references lightly as those who are advocates of a low carb diet are those Bandsters "who have a fear of loosing control or going back to poor eating habits". In my opinion, that is a simplistic view of the unhealthy behaviors which contributed to our obesity. Carb addiction is real; it is as pervasive as an addiction to drugs. If we want to ensure that we do not "relapse" into old maladaptive eating patterns, then we do need to be aware of our "trigger" foods. As others have written, eating starchy carbs will tend to increase craving for carbs. Yes. We do need carbs for our bodies to function optimally, however there are major differences between carrots and while grain Pasta or bread. I am not concerned about reverting back to unhealthy eating patterns, but I understand that I feel better with fresh fruit and vegetables, rather than pasta, rice, or bread of any description. I also understand the risk factors which can place an individual on a "slippery slope" to return to poor eating behaviors. I don't deprive myself of any foods, I have made a conscious choice to embrace a healthier lifestyle. That included an entirely new focus with food choices. And I have not experienced any cravings since my pre op diet began. I attribute this to eliminating all starchy carbs from my diet, and all white carbs. Ultimately, you should discuss with your nutritionist or medical team what their instructions are for acceptable and healthy food choices for you, and adhere to them as best you can. Learning "what works for you" is a trial and error process...we have all been on this learning curve. It's all about the choices you make. Best wishes...

I also am sorry to read that you have been experiencing difficulties with your band. The age of your band does make me wonder what fill capacity it has. The outdated 4cc bands are no longer used in the US because of the rate of post op problems with them. As others have already written, many advances have been made with anesthesia, and informing the anesthesiologist ahead of time of your prior history can avoid issues with this procedure. From what you have written, you do seem to be motivated to move forward with reaching your weight loss goals. And you also have a good grasp of some of the barriers you have faced with your present band. Ultimately, this decision has to be yours. Part of your decision should include what your future will likely include without the loss of excess weight. There are many healthy people who are overweight, yet over time the orthopedic and other medical issues will increase as risk factors. That factor is what made my decision easier for me. Best wishes...

Do have any medication for nausea? If so, use it. If the nausea persists, get in contact with your surgeon or their staff for additional information. Don't forget, you're still in the process of major adjustments with your new way of life and eating. Be certain you are eating slow and chewing every bite 20-30 times. Try to remember to stay properly hydrated. I hope you feel better...fast.

"Bandster Hell" is typical, and does have an end point. Reflecting back, the initial pre op and post op weeks were the most difficult part of this journey for me. Get busy with projects to keep your mind and interest away from your hunger and desire to eat. We all have been there and survived. You will, too! Best wishes for a successful journey...

You will likely need to try several different brands to find one or more that you will like. That's important, as shakes will. Be a part of your life fow awhile. My surgeon advised to only use shakes which have 100% whey isolate Protein, which is considered to be a complete source of protein for bariatric patients. I like GNC products, but there are many others to choose from. I'm certain that other "vets" will chime in with their favorites. Best wishes for a successful journey...

I've also heard such dire predictions from the so called "nay sayers", and also that on average an individual will loose only 66% of their excess weight with the band. My weight loss has also been basically stalled over the past few months, but I do attribute that to the 2 surgeries I have had since December, 2012. I will reach my first "bandiversary" short of my goal, however also 78 lbs less than I was, and much healthier from a clinical standpoint. I have little doubt that I will reach my goal, as I know how to work with my band and how to eat a healthy, band friendly diet. The carb addiction which was a major factor of my weight gain is in the past, and I am vigilant to keep it there. I know from my history, it will be the exercise which will help me reach my goal. It helped me to begin to use a "Fitbit", which helped me see how many calories my activity level that day had burned, and it motivated me to get on track and exercise more regularly. I still lack the patience to participate in "My Fitness Pal", at least I believe that is where you log your foods daily. I just try to stay with basic and unprocessed foods, and that has worked for me. I also believe that motivation for success and maintaining focus on goals are integral parts to successful weight loss. We will all get to where we want to be weight wise, if we are sufficiently motivated to get there!

As this surgery involves a life style change, along with having an awesome tool to use for weight loss, I believe that there is no time like now to begin to change your relationship with food and adopt the guidelines designed for a healthy weight loss journey. Though initially I could easily eat much more than I knew I was supposed to have, I chose not to as in the long run not having healthier habits in place would work against me. I did go through the notorious "Bandster Hell", and I used that time to get into the habit of making certain to drink all of the sf/ff fluids I was supposed to have daily. As is commonly written on the forum-just because you can eat more doesn't mean that you should. We do have to figure out through trial and error what best practices are going to work for each of us, and understand that this weight loss journey is a process and not an event. I did discuss with my surgeon the "green zone" which is also often referred to. He shared that not everyone will get to that "zone", and will power will have to be in place to manage hunger. I still get hungry between meals, and I still use Water as a means to tide me over to the next appropriate mealtime. It is just habit and second nature to me now. Best wishes...

As other posters have mentioned, success with the band for weight loss I'd directly related to your willingness to follow the guidelines and your level of motivation for success. We all have had reasons for choosing WLS. For me, I realized that my weight was slowly but steadily stealing my health, and I was on the glide path to a Type II diabetes diagnosis. WLS to me was an opportunity to regain my health, and to embrace a healthier lifestyle in the process. It's now nearly a year since I had my band placed. This time has not been without medical challenges, but the band did not cause any of them. I will reach my first "bandiversary" short of achieving my goal weight, but on track to get there within the next year. This is not because of poor lifestyle choices, but rather physical limitations which limited my abilities to engage in exercise. Overall, my band and my motivation to work with it through life style changes have, I sincerely believe, added years to my life, and enhanced the quality of my life beyond measure. I would encourage you to do a deep self assessment and really get in touch with your motivations for considering this surgery. Too many people on this forum have shared their anger about a failed experience with their band. But many more have shared their successes. There is a wealth of valid information contained within the threads of the forum. Do some additional reading. Assess what your level of motivation is. Are you being realistic with your expectations? I had to delay having my band placed for over a year after completing my required 6 month supervised diet. I never gave up on my motivation, or my goal to regain my health. I have never looked back, and never had regrets for my decision to have this surgery. Whatever you ultimately choose to do, best wishes...

Count this as a life lesson learned...you can't eat 2 cups of food at a meal with out risking stretching your pouch, which can contribute to still feeling hungry after a meal. We are not supposed to eat until we feel "full", only until our hunger is satiated. Some people never find their"green zone", as per what my surgeon has told me. Throughout this weight loss journey, we need to accept responsibility for our weight loss success. That means we comply with the diet prescribed to us from our surgeon. I experience hunger every day...but instead of eating, I start drinking water and get focused on a project or go for a walk. When you make poor choices to eat when you are not supposed to, you only end up hurting yourself. Our bands are only a tool to help with weight loss, we have to work the program if we want results. I believe it would help to have a good and honest discussion with your surgeon, and get back on track. We have to ask ourselves how badly do we want to regain our health...if you want it enough, you can make it happen. Additional fills are not always the answer.

Protein powders tend to be high on protein content, and low on carbs. The reality is that our brain needs carbs to function properly, so I have always chosen Protein shakes which fit the low carb profile. whey protein is considered to be a complete protein source, as it contains all of the necessary amino acids. Whey protein meets the nutritional needs of bariatric patients. Carbs which are present in good food choices are acceptable ones as long as they are not used in excess. I use 1.5 scoops of GNC Wheybolic Extreme for my protein shakes, and mix it using 1% milk. Everyone's tastes are different, and some companies will send you samples. GNC has a consumer friendly return policy for their products, which is why I prefer them. Best wishes for a successful journey...

I'm not certain what your concerns are...are you experiencing problems with acid reflux? From night 1 post-op I have slept in bed, as I have never slept well anywhere else in the house. If you are experiencing difficulties with reflux, I was advised by my medical team to take all evening medications at least 15 minutes prior to going to bed and laying down. It will be best to get a clarification of these instructions from your surgeon's office.

What were the instructions given to you from your surgeon and medical team? These need to be followed...and if you were not given any information about the size and preferred types of food for a healthy "Bandster" diet, I would contact them for that information. At your stage, my meals consisted of 3oz lean Protein and 2 oz of a healthy non- starch Fiber carb. I don't recall the amount of weight I lost during my first months post op. We are all individuals, and no two Bandsters will experience an identical journey. Best wishes for a successful journey...

Though I did not gain weight during my required 6 month medically supervised diet, I did not lose much either. You did not mention any co-morbidities that you might have. My BMI was not 40 when I was approved for my surgery, however I had 3 serious weight related co-morbidities documented for several years. I was approved for my surgery with my PCP's first letter of medical necessity. Best wishes for your success...it is a long process to get started, but so worth the effort!

I can relate...the other evening as I was rinsing plates and silverware for the dishwasher, the regular sized dinner plate and regular fork that my husband had used seemed huge to me, as I have used a smaller salad plate and smaller dessert fork for over a year now. Sometimes you have to experience these epiphany moments to realize just how far you have come along your journey towards health!

If the Tylenol was responsible for your upset stomach, you would likely be vomiting closer to when you are taking it. Through it all, try to make it a priority to stay properly hydrated, as dehydration does make one nauseous and my require hospitalization if not dealt with in a timely manner. I hope you feel better fast!

As others have mentioned, it is being able to eat your allotted portions (or sometimes less) for your meal, and being able to go for 4-5 hours before feeling hungry again. In discussing this with my surgeon, he shared that not everyone will get to a "green zone", and that program compliance with diet and exercise will need to be part of one's successful weight loss journey. My band seems to have a mind of it's own...some days I can go 4-5 hours without hunger, other days it will be only 2 hours. I can't identify any patterns associated with the "mood swings", I just know that there are days when I have to take more of the responsibility for working with my band to loose weight.