Missy05.29.12

So excited about my progress...especially since my goal was 50 pounds in 6 months! So far, I am loving my band!!!

I am 3 months post op and my face has been breaking out like crazy for about 3 weeks. Has this happened to anyone else?

I am 3 months post op and have lost 42 pounds. I am very excited about my progress, however I have noticed my hair thinning some. More hair in my brush, more hair in the shower... Anyone dealing with the same? If so , how are you dealing with it? How quick do you see an improvement? Thanks!

Help!!! Got my 3rd fill yesterday putting 6cc in my band. I was able to drink Water and a Protein shake last night. This morning had 3 drinks of coffee and I had a horrible stuck episode...although I never got sick. I called my doctors office and they had me come in. They took 1/2cc. Can a 1/2 cc really make that much difference? If at 6 cc liquids could not pass through, how will be able to pass with 5.5cc? I'm struggling with this. Also, I suppose to wait until Saturday to try and eat (3 days), but I am nervous to wait. What if I get stuck again when i try and eat...and it is the weekend? What will I do? I won't be able to get an unfill until Monday. Should I try something tomorrow afternoon? Or should I wait? Help!!!

I drink coffee almost everyday. I find that I have a much better day with my lapband/eating when I start with coffee. I either drink regular coffee with an equal and skim milk or I have a Skinny vanilla Latte from Starbucks. A grande has 130 calories, 0 fat, and 12 grams of Protein. Love it! If you are craving a sweet coffee loaded with sugar get the skinny vanilla latte and add an equal. You can get it hot or cold. I opt for the hot because that is what helps my band.., I hope this helps!

Until last week I have had absolutely no problems. After my first fill (3 cc) I had pretty good restriction (at least in my opinion). I had lost 15 pounds in 4 weeks...and was feeling and doing great. Went in for my next appointment and had 1 cc added. The first 4 days were fine. No problems. Then all of a sudden I started having stuck episodes (no PBing though...thank goodness). After each time I felt lots of pain in my chest, gurgling in my throat, and became sweaty. After sitting, walking, taking off my bra (sorry, TMI), waiting...some times I could continue with a little more consumption...sometimes I was not able to eat...I hurt so bad I would not risk trying to put anything else in my mouth. I'm so confused. Sometimes I am great, sometimes not...but I never had any issues before my second fill. Do I need an unfill? Is it possible I hit my sweet spot with my very first fill and my second was too much? I'm so confused... Help!!!

I love it. I tried it 2 weeks post op and it was tough on me. I have been just working on endurance and doing week one for a couple of weeks. Today I tackled week two and it almost seemed to easy. I guess I could have been pushing some more, but I have been traveling for work a lot recently and was scared to move on while our of town (didn't want to fall out by myself, LOL). I am super pumped do it again tomorrow...and have finally decided that I can start looking for at 5k runs. Time for some goals :-)

Are there unsalted pistachios?

Boars head has a great low sodium turkey. Great source of Protein, low calorie, and low fat.

Starting weight 250.5 Current weight 219.5 Loss/starting weight = 31/250.5 = 12.4% Loss/desired loss = 31/100 = 31% Banded May 29, 2012 (5.5 weeks) I kind of like the second way better because I know eventually I will reach 100%. Both ways are informative...but something about 100% keeps me focused and motivated :-)

I feel like I am making pretty good progress...sometimes wishing it would go a little faster...but progress is progress. May 22 = 250.5 pounds (Pre-surgery diet) May 29 = 235 (surgery date) June 5 = 230 (one week post-op) July 4 = 220 Total lost = 30 pounds since May 22 :-)

Wondering how others are doing that we're banded on May 29 (or close to). Just curious...not to compare...because I am damn happy with my progress. It has not been easy, but I knew it wouldn't be. I'm actually glad it is something I have to work for. I feel more accomplished that I am constantly battling what to eat, how much to eat, and working out. So far, the Lap Band has just been a tool, which is what I wanted! I have bad days just like everyone else, but I focus on all the good days.

Okay...this has happened to me twice in the last couple of days. The first time I thought it was what I ate, but now I know differently. Here is what is happening...I stop eating when I'm full and then the "full" feeling continues to build and build after I am done eating and then I am miserable...in pain miserable. Serious pain. The amount of food I am eating is not a lot. I went back and read my paper work from my doctors office and nutritionist and it says stop eating when you are no longer hungry, not when you feel full. Can someone help explain this to me? I am pretty sure this is where I am going wrong... Am I crazy that I do not know the difference??? Help!!!

I have been out of town for 4 days and did great...until last night. I ordered room service (Soup and salad) and they included a roll. My will power went out the window. I ate the outside part of the roll that was a little crunchier to avoid the doughy part. I just have not felt great since...kinda full, kind of uncomfortable. But, my stomach will start growling as I get hungry. However, when I eat three or four bites and a feel like I ate a whole freaking watermelon. I just took some gas x in hopes that it will help and I have tried drinking a hot liquid....I'm wondering what is going on and what I should do...and if anyone else has had this happen??? Ugh!!! After being do good and working out like crazy in the hotel gym, I gave in to a roll?????

I was traveling today and it ended up taking longer than expected so I was not prepared and I had no time to stop to sit and eat. I panicked...until I remembered that Chick-Fil-A now serves grilled chicken nuggets on the kids menu. I ordered 6 grilled chicken nuggets, fruit, and an unsweetened tea (for later) and it was awesome!!! The chicken probably had more salt than I would have used if i had cooked it at home, but it was still a much better choice than some other options. Chicken = 110 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, & 20 grams of Protein Fruit = 65 calories & 0 fat Talking about saving the day! I could have had a major cheat situation but I avoided it!!! Next time I will be more prepared, but this low fat, low calorie option did the trick today :-)

I am glad it is helpful! Just an FYI, I did pay the extra 57 cents to get the medium fruit, but you also have the option of apple sauce. I was very content afterwards. Not hungry and it was yummy enough to make me forget about the fries I did not buy! If you really wanted to add more Protein you could get the 1% milk to drink. I did not because I only like milk when it is super cold and since I knew I could not drink it right away I went with the unsweetened tea that would still be good when i was ready to drink it. They also have yummy diet lemonade. Okay...I have said enough. Gotta keep celebrating even the smallest little things...keeps me motivated. Thanks for humoring me

I'm almost 4 weeks post op and feeling great. I exercise regularly (3.5 miles 5-6 days a week & weights 3 days a week) which really keeps my energy up. My starting weight Pre-op was 250.5. After 1 week Pre-op diet, I was 235. One week post op, 225. Two week post op, 228 (wk I started adding mushies) Three week post op, 230. Ugh! Had first fill of 3 CCs at 3 weeks. I was required to do 3 days of liquids, now 3 days of soft foods, and then "normal." I was so discouraged by my weight gain before, I am working hard to avoid it this time. I made some poor choices when I could finally eat, not this time. Today, I am 3.5 weeks post op, weight 222.5. I'm very excited!!! Doing the liquids for days really jumped started everything. I lost 8 pounds in 4 days! Craziness!!! To help continue this weight loss trend (although I know it will slow back down) I have started a recording everything in a food journal. I need people's help! How many grams of fat do you eat a day? Calories? Carbs? My doctor recommends 60-70 grams of Protein, not sure about the others. Thanks for your help!

How long do you stay on liquids after a fill???

Just wondering if anyone felt restriction after their first fill? If not, at what point did you start feeling restriction? How many fills? How many CCs? How many months did it take to get there? My first fill was 30 minutes ago and he put 3 CCs in my band? Is 3 a pretty average amount for a fill? Thanks...sorry for so many questions...but really appreciate everyone's input.

Little nervous...but excited.

Just wondering if and when people started eating lettuce? And if so, what kind? Any give you problems? Thinking about a lettuce wrap in place of a sandwich...

I was banded on 5/29/12 as well :-) :-) I started walking about 11 days post op. I started at 1.5 miles and have built up to 3.5 to 4 miles a day 5 days a week. I will be pushing for 6 days this week. I also use 3 pound hand weights while walking too...but not every time. I worked out with light weights on my legs tonight. I go for my 3 week check up and my first fill on Wesnesday. I'm hoping to get cleared to start jogging because I want to start the couch to 5k program and run a 5k in October. I know this is optimistic, but I need goals to keep me focused and a buddy will help even more :-) Good luck!!!

Thanks for the input... BTW...by lettuce wraps meant using lettuce instead of a bread product.

I'm crushed. I am so disappointed. I was banded on 5/29/12 and lost 15 pounds pre-op and had lost 10 pounds post-op in the first 10 days after surgery. As I transitioned to mushies and soft food I was very conscious of what I ate because I had read on this forum that some people gain weight during this phase. I also added excersice to my daily routine. I have been walking between 2 to 3.5 miles for the last 6 days...and the walking trail includes lots of hills. After all of that, I had still gained back 3 pounds. I am at a loss...I know this is suppose to be a slow process, but I am not ready to see the scale go up. Plus, I keep seeing other people loosing big numbers their first month post-op and I just don't get it. Ugh! Maybe liquids were not so bad after all.

Warning TMI...Okay, I am two weeks post op and was going to the bathroom every two or three days...and still am...except two days ago it was very hard and did not move freely. I am drinking lots of Water and exercising and things have not gotten better. I am on day 2 of Miralax but nothing so far. The box said it could take 1 to 3 days, but I'm petrified of things not moving along. I ate Fiber enriched oatmeal and some watermelon..not sure what else to do or when to get worried. Help!!! This is so Embarrssing and not fun to deal with. I feel like I should go back on liquids because I am scared to eat???