Kime-lou

great job!!

Sound like you are doing great. I am losing 1.5 lbs a week and my doctor says I am right on target. I get about 1250 calories a day. I was told each person is different, so you have to find what works for you. I was eating 800 a day and wasn't losing, my body was holding the fat, once I increased the calories the weight started coming off. I am guessing I will have to reevaluate this every so often with my weight loss, but for now that works. Even though I eat 1250 calories a day I eat healthy foods- good lean protein, fruit and veggies. As long as you are losing I would keep steady. Great job on your success.

I eat peanut butter and apples almost daily. The entire snack is about 150 calories, but it holds me for 4 hours and helps me get my protein in. I use the Jif Natural Low Sodium PB. Some times I will get indigestion from the PB, but I also have so nothing new there. I take a zantac a day and that prevents any issues.

YES! I have had trouble since my surgery, which was June 22nd. I spoke with my surgeon, I take 2 100mg stool softeners a day and that has helped tremendously. I am able to go like normal without getting and upset stomach. I was told this is normal our bodies have been though a lot it can take 6 months or so for it to regulate. I was also told do not use a stimulate laxitive because the body will become dependent. Try the softeners first.

I thought with me eating much less my grocery bill would go down, but it hasn't, but it hasn't gone up either. Instead of buying crap (little debbie / french fries) I buy healthy things - fruit and veggies. I no longer buy any soft drinks, just crystal light flavor packs for water. I am married so I do have to buy for the hubs, but while he isn't banded he opted to adopted the banded life. He eats the same healthy foods I do just in a large quantity, but hey that is a step. We have opted to oust junk foods all together. So I no longer go down the junk isles. I use to buy a lb of sugar monthly, I have purchased one in 4 months now - don't use it any more. I use to buy hamburger, chicken and pork. Now I still buy chicken, but opt for ground turkey instead of beef and still do a little pork sometimes and a lot more fish. We also use eggs instead of meat - I made an awesome veggie quiche last night and it gave us dinner last night and breaksfast for today and tomorrow- that is the way to stretch a buck. I have learned that Mrs. Dash makes fish better grilled and broiled than it was when we ate it fried. So while my bill hasn't gone down, I feel like the quality of food I purchase is better and I like that. Fresh veggies and fruit are great. My hubs has given up high cal yogurt for apple slices and likes it better. So I don't mind that the bill hasn't gone down quality means more than quantity so that is the aim these days. What has being banded done for your grocery bill?

My doc and nutrtionist said no, I have friend who was told it was okay on occassion only if it was light colored. I have tasted a little 7 up once, but it made my belly hurt, so I just live with out soda. I use crystal light to spice up my drinks.

Until you get restriction, it is really up to you to work the Band Diet Plan. Once you start getting restriction, you will not want to eat as much as you once did. I am only starting to get to the point where I feel restriction, I could still eat what I once did, but I choose not to. I hope to get to the green zone soon, but I think I still have a bit to go.

I got stuck for the 1st time today, it was NOT fun. I swear I almost passout it hurt so bad. I was eating a left over peice of chicken that was tender, but I just did not chew enough. I have been so careful to this point for this not to happen and then wham it did. I never got sick, just felt it and had horrible pressure in my stomach, I burped and slimed and finally it passed. Now I feel sore and ache a little and my throat hurts, any one else had those feelings? I don't want to think I messed my band up with one careless mistake.

most insurance companies cover it now, but the pre-op hoops are different with each company. I have BCBS and they cover it as long as your can prove you have had a BMI of 40 or above for at least 2 years. Other companies make you go through a 6 month diet plan over seen by your PC doc. You company can explain more. Good luck!!

Sounds like inflammation in your stomach or possible band erosion. If you are seeing your surgeon they should be able to run some test (upper GI) and find out what is going on. Hope they get to bottom of it and you are feeling better soon.

My life has been a roller coaster since April. My brother had a stroke at 44 that gave me the push to have lapband. I had surgery in June. My Grandmother is on hospice and on her death bed and last night my brother had a heart attack. I have been trying to work this week since school just went back I don't want to take off, but trying to access from a distance if I need to go home and be with my mom with my grandmother getting worse. I was planning on getting up this morning and heading up for the weekend, but my mom called early to tell me my brother had a heart attack during the night and was in Duke in Cardiac ICU. So instead of heading to mom's I headed the 40 min to Duke Hospital to see my brother. It is so hard to eat well and excercise when being down and being on the go. I spent the day at Duke and in morning I plan to drive up to my parents (1.5 hours away) to check on Grams and mom since my brother seems stable. I am to tired and down to want to work out and I want to go back to my comfort foods, but I know I can't. I ate way to many calories yesterday and today and feel bloated and like crap - I have got to get back into the grove tomorrow. The first of the week I was doing great and then all the "stuff" started, it time to get it back on it.

Thankfully, Duke has an awesome cafe. They have hummus and a HUGE salad and fruit bar. There home cook line has calorie counts to help you make a decision. They do have unhealthy options, but they have more healthy options. Great hospital, glad it's so close- it's saved many family members and it's where I had my lapband done. Today I was better on eating and after dinner my hubby and I are going for a walk on the trail behind our house.

Tsign36 your my hero! I don't think I could have not that. I work at a high school. I had surgery on Thursday and didn't go back till Wed. I tried on Tuesday, but I felt like crap and was really dizzy so I ended up leaving early.

A warm towel over you belly area will help ease discomfort and it help with the pain from the gas as well. Also, gas ex stips are great.

Mashed potatoes with cheese was my best friend during this time. Apple sauce was also good- I would freeze it so you kinda have to chew, but it melts by the time it gets to your belly. I would also let my cheerios get soft in milk a bit and eat them, make me feel more normal having Cereal. My nutrtionist ok'd this.

Everyone is different, so it's hard to say. It took me about 5 days to feel like me again, some say it only takes 3. Some say it takes weeks. I believe it depends a lot on your attitude. If you are up beat and you are doing what you are suppose to (not lifting things to heavy, ect) you will bounce back quicker. From everything I have spoken to I would say the average is about 1.5 weeks till you feel normal.

There is a risk with any surgery, but the risk of a high BMI is also death. I was scared to begin with and my husband and I went to seminar, after that we felt much more comfortable. Not to mention they do a lot of test prior to the surgery in order to make sure you are good for sugery. There is risk with everything from driving a car to walking down your steps, the question is are you willing to take the risk?

Yes, I do get constipation - badly. I talked to my surgeon about it. They told me not to use stimulate laxitave. To use the stool softener and to adjust the amount of it. That helps. My doctor said I would likely regulate myself in 6 months to a year. However, if I used the stimulate laxitive it can cause the body to become dependent on it. Talk to you doctor if it's to bad. Our bodies have been through a lot and having to make a lot of adjustments.

I had to make that choice to try again or have surgery. I have had 3 miscarriages in 2 years. I can get pregnant just can't stay pregnant. My doctor and husband felt that it would be best for me to lose weight and then try again. Due to the types of meds or shots they may give me that could cause even more weight gain it is important for me to be at a lower weight to start with so that me and the baby will be safe. I am 31, but my hubs is 39 so I feel like the clock is ticking for us.

You go!!! Great attitude and it will serve you well!!! Keep it up and keep us posted on your progress!

I understand. I have anxiety to, and it go horrible. Mine was centered around driving. My hubs is visually impaired so can't drive, so I have to do all of it. I was getting to the point where I couldn't or was scared to go anywhere. I tried therapy, didn't work for long. Then my doctor did some test and my horomones were off. I am on Paxil now and he said I need to stay on it for a while and get my body back straigh. Since I started it back in Feb I feel a 100 times better. I know a lot of people don't like meds, but I finally feel like myself again. I hated the way I was feeling before it was torture.

I had the same problem. I made it until day 5 and I was dying. I was drinking my protein, but it wasn't raising my surgar level. I was having fainting spells. I called my nutritionist and she told me to try very thin applesauce or plain yogurt - just a little bit - that really helped me. But I would recommend you speak to your doctor or nutritionist about it if it gets to bad.

Even though they say you can eat most all things with the lapband it's just if you should or not, I tell myself I can't. I use to love Cinnabon, when my husband and I went into the mall the other night and walked past cinnabon, I thought YUCK. He was drooling, I have conditioned myself that if I eat that my stomach will hurt really band and I hate stomach aches, so just smelling it turned me off. My BFF had gastric and a cinamon bun kills her, so I just told myself it would do the same for me. Yeah for conditioning.

My hubs and I married 3 years ago Labor Day weekend, so even though our anniversary is Wed, we celebrated this weekend. Rather than going to Cheesecake Factory where we normally go (we got engaged there), we went to Moe's where I knew I could get something with my calorie range that I would like. Then we went into the mall where he got me 2 pairs of Danskos and then we went into a jewlry store where he bought me a new diamond. Totally awesome hubs!! Shoes and diamond a girls two favorite things- he said he was proud of me and he loved me so he wanted me to know it. On top of that I lost 3 lbs this weekend (upped my calories and that made it come off) tired the shock thing. Before heading out with the hubs I put on a fav pair of shorts- pulled them up, zipped them, button them and was like wait - these are hanging off me- I pulled at the bottom of the and they slipped right off. YEAH- I tossed them to the side. This morning I put on a pair of pants that I hadn't worn in 5 years and the fit perfect. Everyone at work has commented today on how good I look!! What a boost. Now at lunch, I heated up a Smart Ones Chicken and Peanut Sauce, I ate the chicken bites first and then started eating the other- well after a few bites I was like wow I just don't want any more. I tossed a 3rd of it. YEAHHHHH!! What a difference a few days can make in attitude. I am sure I will hit another low point, but boy do these high points feel awesome!