endingyoyo

For the first month or so post op, I could feel my port when I bent over. Hard to explain the feeling, kind of a pulling, but not really. In any case, it is totally normal and went away at 4 weeks or so. I can't feel it al all now (unless I'm digging for it!)

Don't be down on yourself!!! 60 lbs is a huge success and something to be extreme proud of. I'm not sure how much more you have to lose, but know if you keep it up, the weight WILL come off!

I keep hearing that with lap band, you lose about 60% of your excess body weight. Is that if you only use the band to control your eating versus adding exercise? I see so many wonderful success stories on these boards that clearly have exceeded 60%!!

The only people I've told that I've had lap band is my husband, parents and brother. I don't want to be judged and I certainly don't want your comments. As I was eating lunch today, I got the comment of 'I thought you had Lap band.' 'No kidding, you're really putting it down.' I had egg salad (1 egg, 2egg whites), 1/4 avocado and 1oz Cracker Barrel cheese. Get offs back! I'm cranky, rant over.

If it works for you, go for it!

Cheese at room temperature tastes so much better that cold cheese, especially with sting cheese and babybel. You could also put it in the microwave for a few seconds.

Here are some foods that I'm really enjoying right now. What are some that are working for you? Breakfast: - 1/2 C Cottage cheese with Splenda and Cinnamon Lunch: - Oscar Meyer 98% Fat Free hot dogs (cooked in the microwave is fine) - salad with grilled shrimp, candied pecans, fruit, goat cheese - Turkey sandwich (no bread, use lettuce as the 'wrap') with light mayo, cucumbers, caramelized onions, cheese Dinner: - 4 oz chicken (cooked in Pam), put 1/2 T bacon crumbles and 2 T 2% cheese and broil until melted - Portabella mushroom with some Protein (crumbled turkey sausage is great), Pasta sauce and 2% cheese baked for about 20 minutes - Hormell, individually wrapped pork chops seasoned and cooked in Pam - Sauteed summer squash, zucchini, onions and mushrooms, topped with filet and crumbled Gorgonzola cheese Snacks: - Turkey Pepperoni with sliced up string cheese - bake for a few minutes until the cheese is melted - Mix and melt 1 Laughing Cow Cheese with pineapple Salsa, spread on Turkey and roll up - Pita Crisps (just came out, Keebler) with Sharp Cheddar Alouette Cheese - Cucumbers with salmon cream cheese or Alouette Cheese, sprinkled with candied pecans Your turn! :-)

I hear (and have read) that many are tight in the morning. How tight is tight? I'm fine without eating until lunch, but what about drinking? What time do you loosen up?

When people ask me how much more I want to lose, I say 'I'm not sure, but I'll know when I get there!' Gets them off my back :-)

I chew until I don't feel like there are solids left. Often I'll take a bit, chew, swallow part of it, chew, swallow the rest. I agree with the above poster. If you can gulp your drinks, then you are fine. You're not doing damage and you'll know if your sips are too big. As far as bite sizes, it could vary based on the type of food you are eating. For example, I try to cut Protein down to the size of my ring finger or pinky finger nail. If a softer food, I go larger (a nickel or so). Good luck!

Refried Beans with 2% cheese melted on top Greek Yogurt (Dannon Light & Fit Cherry Greek is great!) Babybel Cheese Avocado Cottage Cheese with Splenda and cinnamon Egg, chicken, tuna salad Ricotta cheese with Splenda and vanilla Fat free pudding Jello with fat free whipped cream Good luck!

Having a fill that quickly after surgery isn't that common. I'd assume you are still swollen from surgery. Hopefully in the next few days the swelling will go down, you'll loosen up and things will fall into place. Good luck!!

You look awesome! Congratulations! Such an inspiration!!!

I was able to drink water, but I could feel it going down and that it was just sneaking by. I'm much better now and looking forward to lunch! :-)

I got a fill on Monday (.5 cc, taking me up to 8.5). I had liquids on Monday, mushies on Tuesday and regular food on Wednesday. Breakfast was ricotta cheese and lunch was filet. No problems. For dinner, I was on the road and stopped at Wendy's. I got a small chili, but grabbed a few fries from my son, which got stuck and I threw up what I call 'a jellyfish'. Since then, no matter what I eat, it gets stuck. So much so that Water hurts going down tonight. Thoughts on whether I'm too tight or could I be swollen, give myself a rest and go on liquids for a bit? After I threw up, I, almost immediately, ate again. Ugh, I'm out of town for a week and can't get to to doctor!

Just an update - I think I was swollen and eating kept irritating it. Plus, I don't think my bites were small enough, which added to the problem. I'm feeling better now. I'm not able to eat first thing on the morning, but that's to be expected. All in learning and do worth it!!

Thanks! I appreciate the feedback. Liquids it is. :-)

Thanks! I appreciate the feedback. Liquids it is. :-)

I've always had this problem, banded or not. I'd eat, even if I wasn't hungry for fear of being hungry later (God for bid!!! :-) The first thing that I've done is stop looking at the clock when it comes to eating. Eat when I'm hungry...for all meals. And if that means Breakfast is at 10, lunch at 3 and dinner at 10, then that's what it is. I still cook meals at normal times for the family and whether I'm eating or not, I sit with them. I just remind myself that I can eat later if I'm hungry. I prepare myself a plate, cover it with tin foil and leave it on the stove. If I don't do that, I feel that it's too much work to pull everything out and heat it up separately or, for some reason I feel guilty, so I skip it. Then I do go to bed hungry and that's not setting me up for success. I read somewhere on here that we had surgery on our stomachs, not our brains. It's so true but a little change in habit (and its not even a hard one because its not even like your hungry), is all it takes. Good luck!!!!

Hi all! Banded on May 8th and I'm down 36 (including pre-op diet). I have 8.5 cc's in a 14 cc band. My last fill was on Monday so I'm hoping I'm in a good place now. I have gotten stuck a few times and threw up a 'jellyfish!' Good times. Still leaning what I can and can't eat. ???³

My doctor allows me to eat prior. He also puts me on liquids for the rest of the day. If they didn't say anything, I'd guess you're fine to eat.

Any suggestions for Breakfast, other than the typical eggs and Greek yogurt? I was banded on 5/8/13 and haven't had much restriction until now. I was eating less, but didn't have any issues with what I ate or how large my bites were. Well this morning, my first solid meal after my fill, I had my typical light English Muffin with 1 T Peanut Butter and I learned QUICKLY what being stuck feels like. I'm not sure if the culprit was the English Muffin or the size of my bites but I'm not will to find out! I get sick of eggs quickly and would love suggestions. :-)

Still trying to figure out what's 'normal' with the band and I'm looking for thoughts on whether a fill makes sense. I have an appointment tomorrow and plan on talking to the doctor but would love your thoughts. I've been struggling with losing weight since surgery - I lost the majority of my weight (20 lbs) when I was on liquids and it has pretty much stopped I started eating food (7 lbs in 8 weeks). I've joined Weight Watchers to ensure that I'm eating the right things and keeping my calories in check. I'm eating about 25 Points + (around 1, 300) calories a day, I drink 100+ oz of Water (propel, crystal light, MiO) and walk about 2 miles a day, 3x per week. I am definitely eating less food than I did pre surgery and feel satisfied after eating, however: - I have to watch every bite that goes into my mouth to stay around 1,300 calories. If I eat something that's not a great choice, my calories fly up fast since I'm still eater larger portions - I don't have any trouble eating. I don't have to chew my food well and I don't have trouble with any foods, including bread, rice and meat - I eat Breakfast around 9:00 (example: Light English Muffin with 1 T Peanut Butter), lunch around 12:00 - 1:00 (Sauteed onions in Pam, 3 oz steak strips with 1/2 oz Gorgonzola cheese, Light & Fit Greek Yogurt, Green Beans), Snack 3:30 (6 Pita chips Cracks, 2 T Hummus, String Cheese), Dinner: 6:30 - 7:00 (10 Shrimp, Veggies and about 1/4 cup rice), Snack 9:00 (Protein Bar) Is this the way it should be or should I be eating less? I feel like I'm eating a lot...and I feel like I'm on a diet because I have to watch everything that's going in my mouth. Thoughts???

Thanks everyone - great ideas!

Thanks so much for your feedback! I went for my appointment today and got a fill. My doctor felt that over the past month, I've been dieting, not taking advantage of the band. Liquids today, mushies tomorrow and solids on Saturday, so we'll see!