stept04

I tried rice and a small piece of Pasta. I can eat them fine for the very small portion I consumed but I will not eat them again. I do fear that it might get stuck or my pouch might stretch or slip. It truly is up to you and your doctor.

Everyone is different. I can tolerate both. I can tell you that after my fourth fill, I have to be very careful to eat salads slowly, and to chew thoroughly. It is a learning curve that we all go through.

The band can't stretch, however the pouch above it can.
With that said, I've been banded for 18 months and I eat both Pasta and rice regularly. In fact, I had rice for dinner tonight.

People do seem to have issues with rice but I think that's cuz it's difficult to truly chew it. But as for swelling up.... I would think if it's properly cooked not much swelling can happen. Also each bite of food should move past the band in one minute. So if you eat- chewing fully and waiting between each bite, you shouldn't have issues. I've been banded for 7 months and have had stuck episodes but not on rice or Pasta. Usually meat I didn't properly chew.

I have not been losing very fast since being banded I too am hoping this second fill will help with some weight loss. I am at 5.3 cc's and had my second fill last Wednesday. I have a little more restriction than I did I can stay full for about 3 to 4 hours, but I'm hoping to get it to between 4 to 5 hours. Good luck with your fill.
~~~Stephanie

You can try taking a Gas-X they come in strips to disolve in your mouth. If you are still having pain much longer though you should give your doc a call.

The pain in the left shoulder is gas trying to escape. You have to move and walk a lot to rid yourself of it. Mice yours arms a lot too. The pain in your left side is probably port pain. It will go away but if it really bothers you a lot call your doctor. What you describe however is very common post op.

If the bandages got wet I think you should change them. I took a shower on day 2 post op and took my bandages off because they were wet. I put on smaller, dry bandaids and everything was fine.

I was told that once the bandage fell off, to leave it open. But you should check with your doctor on this. He/she is the best to advise.

Some sugar free things will cause my sugar addition to rear its ugly head some don't. Aspartame is good for getting rid of ants as it paralyzes them after the get into it they go back to the next and spread it around and all the ants get paralyzed. I had an ant issue and my landlord told me to spread aspartame around and it worked, no more ants, at least in that spot.
I used SF sometimes such a popsicles as there is not addiction issue for me, but the "No sugar added" fudgesicles are a problem sometimes.

I'm with you. i'm still in my post-op diet and there are still a lot of FF and SF products in my life but as I get back to real food I hope to keep a food approach that is local and as close to the whole ingredient as possible. i'm ready to give up refined sugar and flour - i've already had so little of it in the last month+ and my cravings are almost gone so it seems like a good time to let it go. the chems in FF and SF food make me nervous.
there's also been some studies around our food sources today vs a hundred (or more) years ago - and when we have a craving for something rich, and drink skim milk - we haven't satisfied the craving, and you might find yourself grazy b/c the craving hasn't been met. but if you had just a small amount of whole milk - you might be satisfied.

Well, I agree with not using fat free or no fat products but my coffee and I have to have the Splenda or as a sub stevia. Aspartame is extremely bad for you. My friend was addicted to Diet Coke and she drank a 2 liter bottle daily. She found out she had fibromyalgia and the doctor told her to stop using products that contain aspartame. There is a marked improvement with her health since she stopped using aspartame products. She never had a weight problem but was walking with a cane for years. She now takes walks everyday without the aid of a cane.

Unfortunately, sugar free products are no better than fat free products. Both have a lot of additives to take the place of the sugar or the fat. With sugar free, there a lot of aspertime and other artificial sweeteners.
Truth is, studies have found that sugar free is actually worse for a lot of people than actual sugar or fat free foods. http://www.bellevision.com/belle/index.php?action=health_all&type=234
I'm not saying not to eat sugar free, mind you. I'm only pointing out that fat free (or low fat) isn't necessarily bad nor is it worse than sugar free. Everyone has to figure out what works best for their own metabolism and go with it. If fat free isn't right for you but sugar free is, then definitely stick with it.

Here's a recent post about this very topic...and NEVER, EVER give up!
http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/173709-ahhhthe-mystical-green-zone/

Pattypan comes in yellow, green, and white varieties. The squash is most tender when relatively immature; it is generally served when it is no more than two to three inches in diameter.

It takes everybody a different amount of time to find their sweet spot. In the mean time I just ate my allotted amount of calories which was 1200 calories. For me it has not been easy but I have been able to do it. It is like doing a normal diet, like you don't have the band. I got my second fill and I am now feeling satisfied for about 3 or 4 hrs so that is helping more. I hoping I can get satisfied for 4 to 5 hrs. So maybe by my next fill. It will happen for you too, just hang in there. Sometimes it takes many fills.
~~~Stephanie

It takes everybody a different amount of time to find their sweet spot. In the mean time I just ate my allotted amount of calories which was 1200 calories. For me it has not been easy but I have been able to do it. It is like doing a normal diet, like you don't have the band. I got my second fill and I am now feeling satisfied for about 3 or 4 hrs so that is helping more. I hoping I can get satisfied for 4 to 5 hrs. So maybe by my next fill. It will happen for you too, just hang in there. Sometimes it takes many fills.
~~~Stephanie

It takes everybody a different amount of time to find their sweet spot. In the mean time I just ate my allotted amount of calories which was 1200 calories. For me it has not been easy but I have been able to do it. It is like doing a normal diet, like you don't have the band. I got my second fill and I am now feeling satisfied for about 3 or 4 hrs so that is helping more. I hoping I can get satisfied for 4 to 5 hrs. So maybe by my next fill. It will happen for you too, just hang in there. Sometimes it takes many fills.
~~~Stephanie

It lasts as long as it takes for you to have adequate Fluid in your band. Some people get lucky and never go through it, for others it can last for 6+ plus months.
The best thing you can do is measure your portions and track your calories in the meantime.
Best wishes.

Well, congratulations on your 40 lb weight loss. Ask your doctor what he thinks is right for you.
It's a slow process but if you feel you're doing everything right you might want to consult with your doctor and a nutritionist. Good luck!

Maybe your body is just stabilizing before dropping the next chunk -- less stressful to your body to go in stages. A 40 # loss in a year seems very healthy, now to regroup with docs to get fill right for next round. Pat yourself on the back -- you are doing really well!

tracking your calories is the best way to know absolutley what you are eating but make sure you are absoutley honest about everything you eat... I even track my coffee w/ creamer... you might be surprised how many calories there are in things..even though you are eating way less than you used to it doesn't mean you are getting the proper Protein and calories...I think with a little guidance and changes you will do great..

I agree with SueBee, track everything you eat. It's great your eating less food than you used to but that doesn't necessarily mean less calories. Weight loss boils down to simple math: When you burn more calories than you consume you lose weight. Tracking calories is the easiest way to assure that happens.

Wow!!!! That's great! Don't be so hard on yourself. But also remember you're working out so muscle weighs more!! Keep that in mind. Also try not to weigh yourself every day. You're doing beyond great! Congrats

Are you tracking everything? Are you eating real food or drinking or are you eating sliders. If you are sliming, I would say too tight and you need to get to a point where you can eat real food without sliming. I exercise every day. It is a huge commitment, but it got the weight off (165 pounds) in 14 months. You just have to find the right combination. Have you been seeing your nutritionist? Mine really helped me along with tracking EVERYTHING!