Summerrain

You're still healing, you are going to be sore a bit longer, keep active as you're doing and walking that helps so much with recovery. Why don't you and your wife sit down and have a heart to heart tell her how you feel, you've made a huge step being banded and now it's just going to take time to work it, it's not going to happen overnight. If you have little kids be careful lifting then at this stage. The soreness, gurgling, emotional up and downs are all normal at this stage, as each day goes by things will get better and easier and before you know it six months has gone by and you're well on your way to becoming the superman. Just hang in there and communicate with your spouse, that's what couples do.

I am one of those banded people where I have been told its fine to drink with meals, not the gulping type of drinking but the sipping kind when needed and of course you need to be sure the food has passed through the band before drinking liquid. I drink whilst eating if I need to and at twenty minutes or less these days I get the satiety feeling and I stop, I'm down nearly 100 pounds in ten months and in all that time the liquid has not washed food right through the pouch because the food does not sit in your pouch longer than a minute. Also it did not affect my satiety at all. My satiety limit hit me at twenty mins with or without drinking, this I have also tested.

B52 have you never heard of dieticians telling people with weight problems to slow down their eating? The reason this advice has been given out for years is because when you slow your eating down then you actually can listen to your body and read the signals that we are satiated, we don't need anymore food, why do you think we all got fat? It's because we either wolf down our meals in a matter of minutes and in that time we overshoot the satiety signal. By the time that hits , which takes that twenty minutes, we have over eaten, or we just ignore the fact that we are not hungry and keep eating because its an like an addiction we have with food. Yes the band is placed around the top of the stomach where these nerve endings are and as we get fills the band gets tighter and if filled correctly those nerve endings are constantly telling your brain you are not hungry. Now I personally am at a good level of restriction and there are days that I don't feel any hunger, then there are some days that I do get hungry at meal times, don't ask me why but that's how my body is. I don't have my band that tight that I struggle to eat my solid foods and have to rely on Protein drinks, shakes, supplements etc to get my daily nutrition in. I eat my nutrition. I can't do those shakes and supplements, they personally make me nauseous. If I wanted to I could graze all day long also and believe me i have done that but that doesn't work with me because I can certainly pack in the calories grazing all day long. I've watched normal weight people eat and they don't wolf their food down, they take their time and once their hunger has gone they stop eating. At home I used to gobble my food down so quickly BUT whenever I used to go out to restaurants with friends because of the chatting whilst eating I'd slow down and 9 times out of 10 I couldn't finish my meal because I was no longer hungry and I stopped. Unfortunanley I didn't follow that practice at home as I'm one of those people that is an emotional eater and every emotion under the sun turned me too food along with my bout of severe depression. The band now takes away my obsession with food, there are days I don't even think about food because with the help of the band and nearly ten months being banded I've been slowly able to mentally retrain my relationship with food. Also men and women are different because of hormones and food cravings etc and yes even with the band we still get those cravings. Unless you have those fluctuations with hormones you will never understand what it's like. And yes my leading pioneer lapband surgeon here in Australia did tell me about why we need to take twenty minutes and no more to eat our meals. At twenty minutes it's enough time for the brain and stomach nerves to communicate and to say you've had enough stop eating. As you said the band does that for some of us all day long and for some of us most of the time. We are all different and we don't all have the same result.

You have no fills so yes your opening is wide open just like prrior to banding. I got my first fill three weeks after being banded but it really didn't do much. Took four months to get to greenzone. Some people are lucky and with just the band or very small fills they are in greenzone. Two to three cups per sitting is way too much especially if you are wanting to loose. I remember that stage and nights were bad as I was so hungry but I ate my portion sometimes a touch more and kept myself busy or got on my treadmill and walked. This is the time to start getting into practice for when you're in greenzone, count calories, portion control ( whichever you do try sticking to it). Does it take twenty minutes to eat your meal? At that point you need to stop because even in slim people that is the time it takes for the nerves in your stomach opening and your brain to communicate to say you're no longer hungry. When you say satisfied do you meal till you're full or till your hunger is no longer present? Till you're near or at greenzone you're going to have to muster every bit of willpower you can to stick with your 1 cup of food per meal and no more. Maybe have some Snacks so you don't get so hungry at dinner but make those snacks Protein snacks. Also does every meal consist manly of protein ( it will keep you fuller longer)?

NYC what you're feeling is normal. Ill outline how I was once I got my date for surgery. Surgery date was 2nd July 2012, one month before I had to do Optifast replacement meal three times a day and 2 cups of vegetables for dinner. The last week leading up to my liquid diet I went into pannick mode also and ate anything and everything as if it was my last meal. In that one week I put on 4 pounds and was totally disgusted with myself and felt horrible. 2nd June 2012 I started my liquid diet, I was determined from that day to stick to it so I could shrink my liver for my operation. During that time I wasn't 100% compliant, maybe 90% compliant. Did it mean I wasn't ready for surgery? Nope it meant a four week liquid diet was the hardest thing I've had to do. If I did eat something it was either Protein or fruit. My op day arrived and I had dropped 22 pounds, surgeon was happy enough and I had my lapband put into me. Once I had my lapband and was in the healing stage I stuck to my rules 100% as I didn't go through what I did to not follow rules and have something go wrong. Once my hunger returned ( about 3 weeks post op) I made sure I kept extra busy so I wouldn't eat, that was hard too but I worked on myself mentally each day. Fifty years of bad habits are not going to disappear overnight, it takes time but with sheer will and determination it can be done. As I type this I'm a few pounds away from loosing 100 pounds since I began my journey (10 months). The mental side of things has been a challenge but every hurdle and struggle has been so well worth it. I've been in the greenzone since my fifth month of being banded. To this day I can still struggle to keeping to my portions allowed per day because its the head thing and not actual hunger I'm feeling so I keep myself busy every day and that helps. So please take a deep breath, don't see this stage you're on as never being able to eat food again. You will and nothing is going to be off limits, it will all be about healthier choices and having small indulgences from time to time and getting yourself active. Once you see that scale go down and you see yourself shrinking that should be enough encouragement to keep going and getting mentally stronger every day. If you don't try your hardest now six months or twelve months down the track you'll wish you had done it earlier. The beginning is tough but all so worth it.

Sorry to hear you're going through stress Donna. As you've worked out stress affects the band. Until you get those stress levels under control you'll feel like not eating. Now I know you've been told breakfast is the most important meal of the day but I personally am never hungry for breakfast these days so I don't eat it. I've been told to only eat when hungry and not the traditional breakfast lunch and dinner. Whilst you're feeling like this it's important you take your Vitamins religiously especially if you're not eating at least two to three meals per day. I've had weeks of high stress and it affected my band, at times there were days I'd only drink because I was just not hungry. Once my stress was gone I was back to normal. Sending you good vibes from down under.

As Donna said yes you can loose with no exercise but you will have to be extremely strict with portion/ calories (depending which one you use), also with no exercise weightloss will be slower. Exercise is also a great boost to your metabolism and overall well being. If you can start of with ten minutes of walking and eventually build it up. Also if you exercise you build muscle and that muscle is great for burning fat. I only walk, an hour a day, longer on weekends and I find that for whatever reason If haven't been able to walk my loss slows right down. Also keep in mind if you do some form of exercise once all that fat melts away you'll have some nice toning once you're at goal.

Just keep in mind also that stomach growling is not always a hunger signal. See your fill person and discuss with them what's going on, sounds like you need a fill. I can still eat bread but there is no way I can eat more than half a sandwich being in greenzone.

All normal and like the above poster said could take a few weeks to settle. I'm 9 months banded and because of the amount of weight I've lost in my stomach area I now have constant aching where my port is stitched in ( very normal for some). I'd rather that discomfort though than how big I was. My doctor said it may or may not settle which is common with a lot of people.

I've vomitted once since being banded ( not band related) and having the restriction I have it was the most excruciating pain I've ever felt. As the others have said stick to liquids for a day or two to let the irritation/swelling go down. When I had my episode it was about four days before I could eat again I had so much swelling.

Just got back from my appointment and after a lengthy discussion with my fill doctor she decided to put in .2 cc. I'm still losing weight and have always weighed in with a loss at my monthly appointments but based on me now wanting to snack inbetween meals ( I didn't) I was given a very small fill to stay on top of my band.

Have you lost around your tummy area? That could be the reason for feeling less restriction. I'm going in for a slight fill on Wednesday as I'm in the same situation as you at the moment. I'm still sticking to my portion sizes but am finding I'm looking for something to eat in between meals and not lasting the four or five hours as I have been in the past.

It might be that your body is in ketosis.

Woohoo you are looking fantastic!!! Congratulations on your loss so far!!!

Your friends are being immature and hurtful. It's your choice to decide if it bothers you if others eat in front if you or not. I'd tell them how they are hurting you and if they really care and are genuine friends they will listen.

Does anyone know another way to get potassium to avoid the calories from orange juice? Yes, tablets. Here in Australia I know of one called slow k. My mum takes it every day because she is on diuretics and that strips her potassium levels.

14cc here also

VENT AWAY, first of all congrats on your fantastic weighloss. Sounds like you're doing all the right things and yes as everyone has already posted fluctuations are a pain and normal part of weightloss. We eat so little and exercise so we expect and should be loosing every single day but unfortunately our bodies don't always do what they are supposed to. Just stay strong and keep at it and you will be rewarded every week. Just last week my weight went up 6 pounds over a three day period, I had only had two meals per day over those three days so there is no way it was fat weight, it was Water weight, it's been really hot here and this heat has played havoc with my body and scales. This week it's all come off again plus an extra pound. I also weigh every day but only record an official weight every Monday. You will be very emotional at this part of your new journey, I'm pretty sure the majority of us were. I remember I'd cry over the most ridiculous things. So vent away, the majority of us understand this process!

My first week was liquid, second week soft/ mushie, third week solids. You will see from all the posts we are given very many different post op diets to follow. I was banded 2nd July 2012 and starting solids on my third week has not harmed me nor has it made my band slip. I followed my surgeons instructions to the letter. I stuck to my portions, I don't count calories. I also got my first fill at three weeks. If you're struggling call your surgeon/ nutritionist and let them know, that's what they are there for. This stage you're on is hard but doable. You just have to find that strength within you to do the right thing for yourself. I'm nine months banded, I don't count calories, I drink with my meals if I need to ( as instructed by my surgeon and nutritionist) and I'm down 92 pounds in nine months. I've lost every single week from my preop diet ( one month). Some weeks more some weeks less. Right at the beginning when I started to feel hungry again I just kept myself extra busy or got out of the house or even got on my treadmill and walked. Just hang in there it will get easier once you start getting your fills. There are lots of changes you'll need to make and you can't do it over night but as the weeks go by you will and before you know it all your hard work will be so worth it.

Yum I love sushi and have it at least once a week, sometimes I buy it other times I make my own. I just take very small bites and chew well, have got stuck once or twice but it was my own fault for taking to big a bite, now I cut it up very small as I eat. Terry that recipe sounds delicious, hopefully I can get that hot sauce here and I'm going to make it over the weekend.

I personally wouldn't do it, we got the band to help us eat less and make healthier choices. It's about making these healthier changes for life and to also become more active. Stalls in weightloss are a natural part if the weightloss process, if we keep eating right and exercise eventually the weight starts to come off again. I had the lapband as a last resort and to stop 30 years of yo-yo dieting. I will never go on any diets again but continue to make the healthier choices. I still have treats but in moderation. Everything in moderation is the key.

To be honest I have not had one Protein drink since preop, had to do a month of Optifast, they make me gag and I hate the taste. I never have used protein powders, I get all my protein from food. I wasn't too fussy whilst on the liquid stage, I just made sure I stayed hydrated and started taking a liquid Multivitamin till I could take tablets. Once I got onto the mushie stage then solids then I concentrated on the right protein amounts. As advised by my nutritionist and surgeon I am to eat my protein not drink it. I've had hair loss but that is a normal process for some with big weightlosss, that only lasted about six weeks and not due to lack of protein but a normal thing that often occurs with big changes to the body. I religiously take a multivitamin every day and every meal I have protein and either salad or vegetables sometimes carbs.

Yay remember take it easy and make sure you remember to take smaller bites now if you haven't developed that habit yet. Best wishes to you and great success with this journey!

Ty for your responses, I do use IE and keep my computer maintained as I also run my business with it. I have no problems with any other programs or sites just the lapband one. 2muchfun ill do what you advised also and ill also try Firefox.