nursejen28

You could have a VERY serious issue...I assume this is not your first period and it sounds like the pain is beyond normal menstrual cramping. Severe abdominal pain is considered a medical emergency regardless of lap band or IUD placement. If your stomach hurts so bad you can barely breathe you need to go to the ER or call your physician immediately...This may not even be lab band related abdominal pain is often a sign of gull bladder problems or appendix issues...Don't mean to sound harsh but I did not want to say anything and something bad happen, a few days could be to late Take care of yourself!

It takes a long time to really understand what "hungry" really is. I think for some of us we will never really know. If you are on clear liquids and are post op or pre op you are defiantly going to feel hungry! You are not eating anything!!! Try some hot tea, I like chi-tea it has some flavor and anything hot Helped me when I was on liquids.

I felt the same way before my surgery! I was always able to loose weight the problem is I could never keep it off! This tool has not only helped me loose weight but allowed me to maintain weight loss. Although I am not at my goal after 5 years I have kept 70+pounds off for the last 2, and to be honest have not tried very hard for those last 2 years. I don't regret this decision!

It is always the smell of protein powders that get me! When I was required to drink the powder I would mix it in a cold bottle of water then shake really well. Prior to surgery I would just down it without thinking about it to much. Since the bottle of water has a small hole the smell did not reach my nose as much . I will tell you that in my opinion Muscle milk light is one of the worst I have tried!!! As far as powders go Publix Greenwize brand vanilla is my favorite.

Adkins also has some pre-made coffee shakes a little higher in fat then I would like but they make a great meal replacement for me when I am traveling!

Even people that are not overweight have days when they don't make the best food choices. My sister has been thin her whole life, she also a devoted runner. She eats healthy most of the time but does allow splurges every once and a while. I know I am going to also struggle and have a splurge and I am trying not to beat myself up over it when it happens. My struggle like you is getting myself back on track when I "slip up". I am going to start to try and not think of these as slip ups any more, we are human beings and will have an occasional off day from our nutrition and excerise. What I am batteling is to not let one day of bad choices turn into months, weeks, years, of eating like I am never going to see a piece of fried chicken or cake again. God gave me this wonderful body and I am doing my best to care for it and make myself healthy and strong. It is not easy but with his grace and support from each other we can do it!

I travel for work so i eat out a lot. I have finally gotten myself back on track so would love to hear your ideas on what you get when you are eating out and are sticking to the plan. Thanks in advance!

I agree I am going to try to stay out by packing a cooler and bringing with me but when I fly I can not. Also I frequently have Business dinners/lunches so I frequently have no choice. I guess it sounds like I will be having chicken and fish!

My surgeon told me to eat every 3-4 hours while awake I really struggle with this but try to do my best...in between meals I usually have a shake, or string cheese, Greek yougurt I try to keep my snacks protein based.

It has been a long road that is for sure. I was banded in 2008 at 29 years old, I can not remember a time when I would describe myself as “skinny”. I attended my first weight watchers meeting at the age of 13. I was always “the big girl”. My starting weight with this journey was 291 pounds, I currently weigh 213. For the first 2 years after I was banded I followed the program the way I should have allowing a few slips here and there for special occasions. The 3rd year I was a little more lax but maintained my weight loss and fluctuated between 200 and 210. The last 2 years have been a disaster as far as my food choices. I am very lucky that I have not gained more than I have but want to get myself in-check! I started to notice that my size 16 pants are becoming to tight and I need to do something NOW before I am back in a 24 where I started!!! So today is the first day of a liquid diet, if I could do it before I had the band for 3 weeks I can do it for a couple of days now. My band needs a chance to rest, even though I have pretty good restriction I want to feel like I am starting from the beginning again. And my goal weight is much closer than it was at 291 lbs! I have been thinking all day what I want my goal weight to be and I think I have settled on 165. I know I can loose 48 lbs, I did that a few times over the years without the band. So here I go, today is a fresh start. I can’t wait to feel successful again!

I would call your doctor, you must be able to keep liquids down or you could end up VERY sick! He may have to take out the 1/2cc that was put in and wait a few weeks to try again.

I have a before and during posted on my profile. You look awesome keep up the great work!

I'm in the same boat as well, banded may 2008 291 was my heigh weight got to 199 for like a minute and a half...last two years have a new job and I travel was 213 last Saturday...did the 5 day pouch test started on Sunday and am now back on regular foods I can't wait to weigh in tomorrow...I also started back exercising today so hopefully I am back on track. You can do it, it is not uncommon to fall off the band wagon it's getting back on that's important!

Not sure if you have had children or not but I remember asking what does it feel like when the baby kicks and people would say "you will know" same goes for restriction...I think it is a different feeling for everyone. I have had my band for 5 years and it took several fills before I really knew what it felt like but the first time I felt it I knew exactly what it was!

I am with you on going out to eat and everyone does not think you like your meal! I always feel like everyone Is thinking I am a closet eater because I do not look like someone who would only eat a few bites, lol! But if I was 80 lbs bigger where I use to be and pigging out everyone would be thinking good loard look at that big girl put away the food. But I am starting to get to the point where I don't give a crap what other people think about me, I don't care if they think I should eat more, less...weigh more or less...I want to be comfortable in my own skin that is what this is all about! I loved your post, keep up the great work!

Thank you Lady. Getting back on this website has helped so much! I am feeling great today and am still 100% motivated

I made it through my 3rd day of liquids and started on some soft foods today. Don't feel good today, I have a bad headache but not hungry because I feel bad...I know the headache is related to low carbs and not as much caffeine as I have given up diet sodas as well and have not had one since Saturday. This to shall pass I have been through carb/caffeine withdrawal more than once !

Not sure if there is another post like this or not but I wanted to know if anyone wants to do weekly weigh in's with me? I weigh on Saturdays and this past Saturday I was 213. I will post again this coming Saturday with hopefully a smaller number!

I have been banded for 5 years so I certainly know about the ups and downs. One thing that helped me be successful was to be "accountable" to the scale and to other people. Weighing in at my surgeons office always kept me accountable. I know there will be plateaus believe me I have seen my share . It is more about the accountably that others are expecting me to share my ups and downs so we can get through them together. Thanks for your post!

It is such a journey going through this. 5 years later I am still a food addict but never regret getting my band! It has helped me so much. Even though I am not at goal yet I have lost almost 80 lbs and kept it off for over 3 years I would never have been able to do that on my own. You will succeed if you set your mind to it! The first few months after the band were the hardest for me but once you find that sweet spot and have good restriction it gets much easier, hang in there it gets easier!

Thank yo all so much for all the support. I made it through another day and it is bedtime now! Today was much easier since I had to work it kept my mind off food. One more day of liquids and then I can start my "mushy" phase, I have never been so excited to have tuna fish, lol!

Well I made it through day one with only liquids! Here I come day 2

Yes I felt VERY hungry! I was banded over 5 years ago and there are some things I forget but being hungry is not one of them lol. Lots of protein shakes and hot drinks like coffee, sugar free hot chocolate, tea, helped me. I actually have started a liquid diet today to get myself back on track so I am feeling your hunger, lol. We can do it! It gets better I promise, especially when you start to grow out of the "skinny" clothes in your closet

So here is a brief re-cap of my story...I was banded on 5/14/08 and my high weight was 291, as of this morning I weigh 213. I still don't know what my goal weight is but I know I am not there yet! I am going to start the 5 day pouch test today as I want to feel like I am starting over from the beginning and make myself accountable again for everything that goes into my mouth!!! When I started my journey I was so motivated, for 2 years I had no soda, very little sugar (birthdays, holidays only) but have slowly gotten off track. I can remember reading posts like this when I was first starting out and thinking to myself who in the world would put themselves through all of this only to "cheat" there way around the band and eat chips, candy, soda, etc....Well I totally sympathize and understand now, real life takes over and again I am making myself and my health first priority! Please if there are any of you out there that have similar stories and have gotten back on track let me know what you did to be successful!