Tina Ramirez

Hey everyone I haven't posted in a while, but today I posted something on my instagram about not being able to eat during the day and wanted to know if anyone else was in my same boat, turns out a lot of us are the same way so that's why they drink shakes in the morning. And this girl who doesn't even have her band yet told me to stop drinking protein shakes because her doctor told her she will not be taking shakes anymore after two weeks post surgery. I think to myself how the hell are you going to get the protein and calories you need especially two weeks after?? So my question to you all is have any of you heard this or had your doctor tell you to stop drinking shakes? My doctor always stresses me about drinking at least two shakes and to get 60-80 grams of protein a day and at least 1000-1200 calories a day and I could never get that if it wasn't for my shakes. I know every doctor is different but even being on this site I've never heard anyone say anything about no shakes. On a side note I'm 5 months post op and down 73 lbs!!!

Thanks everyone for your advice. I use my protein shakes as meals because otherwise I wouldn't eat. My crazy work hours don't really allow me the time to eat breakfast for lunch. But I'm also not hungry until around 6pm so for me it's very important to have my shakes, I too get 60gs of protein and about 350 cals I wouldn't get if I were to eat. I guess I should mention that I don't eat meat, I never have. Sometimes I'll eat fish or tuna but no chicken no beef. I also juice everyday. My doctor understands I need my liquid calories or else I'll be malnourished. Like I said every doctor is different and no one person ever has the same Lapband experience. What works for me may not work for others, but that's what our band is about, it's a tool to help us all lose weight in a healthy way =)

Oh and if anyone has instagram leave your tag!! Or add me @tinalishhh

Just looking for a friend who knows what I'm going thru. Or anyone else who would want to be text buddies or support buddies??

we should get together!!

So I went in today for my second fill and like the first time it was nothing, didn't even feel it. He wanted to put in 1.3cc's but it was too tight I couldn't pass water so I wended up with a 1.1cc fill today bringing me to a total of 6.1cc's in my 10cc band. Hopefully this will kick start my weight loss again. So for today and tomorrow I'm on protein shakes only then should be good to eat by friday. I'm not really feeling hungry like I thought I would, which is good!

I was banded in dec 2012 so your just a few months ahead of me again feel free to email me as i put above =] and your right its not easy at all but so worth it!!

thank you so much! i've had a few nsv like my shoes are big and slip off my feet and my clothes fit better, I can almost fit into a size 22 i was a 26-28 before and I feel really good and I'm not always tired anymore thats the best one so far!

I'm so excited for my second fill, I've not had any type of restriction in a few weeks and I can't wait to get back on track and start losing weight again. I've been stuck for a few weeks at the same weight and it's been really hard to stay focused when I eat right and track everything and workout everyday for hours. I see my body changing but the scale is not moving. I sure hope this fill will help and get me closer to my green zone

sounds great!! my email is tinar1005@gmail.com email me anytime and we can be support buddies =]

I've only had one fill at 5cc's and at first I felt like I couldn't even eat 1/2 cup of food and now 6 weeks later I'm feeling hungry and like I could eat anything! I go in again this week for another fill and hopefully I'll finally feel restriction again. I've only lost 10 lbs since my fill and I've been working out like crazy and sometimes I feel like I'm doing it all wrong but I know it's such a long process to get into the green zone, Best of luck to everyone!!!

Does anyone take any sort of pre workout supplements? pills? powders other then protein? I've been looking into some of them to really make my workouts count but I'm not to sure how it'll work being banded. Any advice would be great thanks!

b52 you are awesome!! To be that active at 61 years young is such an inspiration. Grownazzkid thanks that's exactly what I was talking about. I've taken those before my band and I know how I react to them I just didn't know if the band would have any type of weird affect. I just wanted something to help me get the best workout possible. I go to the gym everyday do cardio for an hour and do weights but I don't really notice any changes. I have only been banded for 3 months with only 1 fill so I shouldn't get to ahead of myself. Thanks guys!!

Finally after a few weeks at the same weight, the scale moved... down haha I've been stuck at 325 and finally I'm down to 319! I've stepped up my workouts, doing at least an hour of cardio and an hour of weight training and I go to a class here and there. I've really been watching what I eat and track ever calorie or whatever I put in my mouth. I've also watched my sodium intake. I was drinking a lot of gatorade and sports drinks after my workouts but with all the sodium I think it was making me retain water weight, So now it's back to water and my favorite iced tea packets from walmart as well as hot peppermint tea with truvia. If you guys haven't tried truvia try it, it's so much better then splenda. Also they do sell stevia sweetener in the vitamin section which I also use it comes in liquid or powder form. I've only gotten one fill and I think it may be time to get another. After my workouts I get very hungry and sometimes eat a little more then a cup but for the most part I don't eat more then a cup. If i eat to much I start to hiccup and I know to put the food down! It's obviously still an everyday struggle but I take it day by day and try not to weigh myself everyday. Good luck to you all <3

The surgery is usually a one day outpatient procedure and they say you can go back to work in a couple of days or up to a week just depending on how you feel. The surgery usually lasts only a few hours which also depends on how you react to going under, high blood pressure ect.. for my surgery I was there at 10am and left around 5pm I didn't get into surgery til 12pm it was over by 2 and spent a few hours in recovery. I was up and walking around the next day.

It took me 3 months after all the testing was done. I could have had mine approved sooner but I had to have my gallbladder removed first and then heal for a month. But It shouldn't take you to long to be approved. Hopefully its soon =]

Hey everyone, OK so I was banded 12.19.12 and I did very well on my shakes and mushies. I got my first fill 1.30.13 so here are some of my questions that I didn't have at the time of my fill or else I would have asked my doctor. Ok so first off, I always here people say " getting stuck" what does that really mean? Is it food being stuck going thru the band or is it a stuck feeling after you've swallowed? Because I have had a stuck feeling after I've swallowed and it hurt very bad, it came back up once but that was it, I'm guessing it's because I probably did't chew enough... Ok question #2 how do you know when you really have restriction? what does it feel like or what are the clues that you know for sure your restricted? Also what are some food you cannot handle or keep down? I've figured out I cannot eat corn tortillas, It just wasn't happening for me, maybe that falls into the bread section?? I have not tried to eat any bread at all, I do have somewhat of a sensitive stomach due to having my gallbladder removed before my band, I also have no touched red meat at all. I know some of these questions may be stuff I should already know, But all my info has mainly come from this site and of course my doctor. Also when do you know you need to have a fill? For my first fill my doctor put in 5cc and at first I really didn't notice too much of a change, and I don't have that tight feeling some people talk about in the morning, But I am eating about a cup of food and I do stay full for hours, sometimes I'm not even hungry at all but I know not to skip a meal so I'll drink a protein shake instead. Anyway thank you all in advance, I hope some of you older banders can help me figure this all out because support is key and I honestly don't know anyone else who is banded to ask these questions to. And I know everyone is different but any advice would be very much helpful!

room temp pineapple juice really?? Good to know thanks jenc87 but how does that help other then drinking water?

Hey everyone, so I've kinda been stuck at the same weight for the past couple of weeks. I feel as if I've come to a stop. I got my first fill about a week ago and I've been eating right and working out twice a day but I just can't seem to lode another pound and idk what to do... I don't feel like a failure I just feel stuck I've been banded for two and a half months so I know I'm still at the beginning of my weight loss.

Yes I track everything I eat on my fitness pal app. I do have a hypothyroid and I know that can also cause a lot of weight issues and sometimes it takes months for the medication to really start working its just so frustrating but I won't let that stop me I just hope my weight loss starts again. Thanks!!!

I always use my blender ball shake bottle and I have no problem with clumps of powder, Maybe it's the brand your using?

Thank you all so much!! This info really helps =] from what you guys say, I've totally had a stuck episode and it was horrible and I spit it back up after a pb yikes! But now I know I must chew chew chew. Again thanks to everyone. Good luck to you all as well!!

Hey everyone, So I go in on the 30th for my first fill and I'm super excited!!! I'm not so sure what to expect, Is it going to hurt, am I going to feel any different? Also I wanted to get feedback about when most of you really started to notice the most weight loss, A lot of people say around 5 months for after 3 or 4 fills, but I know that everyone is different. If anyone has any advice I'd love it, Thanks!

So I made it thru my first fill just fine, he put in 5cc and so far I don't feel to different but I've just been on liquids. tomorrow I can eat mushies then back to normal by saturday. I know that 5cc sounds like a lot for my first fill and I'm hoping I wont need anymore anytime soon but I guess as soon as I can eat food I'll know how restricted I am

I was banded dec 19,2012 and I lost about 15lbs in my first two weeks, once I started on mushies I still lost another 10lbs. I too have a thyroid problem and I had stopped taking my meds for it and when I went for my normal dr check up I had gained back 10lbs and she told me it was probably because of my thyroid. I got back onto my meds and I lost 12lbs that week. I know you don't want to blame it on your thyroid but it does affect your weight loss so if your on meds for it then take them and see if it helps. Also I was using muscle milk aswell for my shakes but it has a lot of calories and sugar. I went to vitamin world and got there shakes it only has 200 cals 2 g of suhar and 30g of protein per 2 scoops and I just mix it with water. Also drink a lot of water and make sure your walking and trying to work out. I know you have long work days so it's hard to get to the gym. I hope this helps and don't worry you will lose, stay positive =]