rharriet62

I never had any luck making those things good. However, now I drink the IDS Liquid Whey Protein (the bullet). It comes in a 3oz test tube and is good when it's mixed about half the tube with water and ice. It's like kool aid but is not sweet. It has 42 g or protein per 3 oz tube. I prefer the grape. Not a fan of the trop fruit and have not tried orange yet, but overall, am not a fan of those last two flavors in anything...so it could be me! However, it's a nice break from straight water and a great way to get some extra protein in. You can get them in cases of 12 on massnutrition.com. I just did some searching and that was the cheapest price I could find. About $25 for 12 of them. I paid almost $4 per each at the hospital pharmacy when I tested out one of each of the flavors.

I like Dymatize Elite whey Protein. It mixes up with Water, juice, or milk and I add half a banana for some smoothiness and then ice. It's like a choc shake. 23 grams of protein per scoop. I like the choc and vanilla the best (i can add fresh fruit to flavor it), but don't really care for the other flavors. If you do try it, you can go to their website, but it's about half the price on massnutrition.com. I also like the Protein Bullets by IDS. They are called liquid Whey Protein. Each 3 oz bullet has 42 g of protein. You can do it like a shot but I prefer to mix half a tube with water and ice and sip on it like a kool aid drink. My doc said to drink a lot of water with it because it's a lot of protein for your body at once. The grape is my favorite. Not a fan of trop fruit, but I don't care for those flavors in most things. You can also get them at massnutrition.com. Lots of pharmacies carry them, too. Just not around where I live out in the sticks.

It is SO interesting that you say this! Like you, I would lose 100 lbs in 5 months or less on one of my great diets but could never keep it off. I thought my age (45) was a factor since I've been banded (3.5 years) as to why I wasn't dropping weight super fast. I lift and do tons of cardio (at least 6 hours a week). Recently, tho, I really cut the calories, got to a good level of restriction, and the weight is coming off again...I"m averaging 4 lbs a week and am THRILLED! I have to say, the weight I have lost does NOT come back!!! To me, that is the BEST because if I gained again, I would just be devastated. I guess my point is to follow the band rules...get good restriction, eat your protein first, exercise, and it will work. You just got banded, so give yourself a chance!

I love BL and I have to say, I am sick of Kelly always being so paranoid and whiney. But, love Ali. It's a bummer that there are always men winners, but how can they compete with the higher weights and the rate at which men lose weight? I am wondering if at some point they will have BL Man and BL Woman? That might be fun. I love that show and it inspires me every week!! I even signed up for Jillians workouts and they are good!

Get a fill, and another one, and another one...or how ever many it takes to get good restriction! Go every 10-14 days until you are at the right level. It will start things up for you. The weather is warming up...I live in WY, so I know all about crappy weather. If you don't belong to the gym either join one or commit to do something for exercise. Eat proteins, veggies, and you will get going again! I just recommitted to my band and I've lost 15 lbs recently. YOU CAN DO IT!

i just dont know, i guess it makes me feel uncomfortable. im one that avoids confrontation. Hmmm. I think this is the change that you are experiencing! Did you used to eat so you could stuff your feelings and not confront things that bothered you? Of course, it's amplified right now because it's new! My guess is that everything is all shaken up (it happens to us all) and before it settles in a new place in your head, it's going to be bigger right now. Many people find that once they have help with food issues, other things no longer are OK for them. This is a big adjustment period, but you will find that other things in your life don't stay the same when you get your food under control!!! Explain this to your hubby so he knows! In other words, Leave my damn frogs where they are! HAHAHA. Just kidding.

Let me just say: YOU ARE AMAZING and SO LUCKY! If you don't eat when you are not hungry, the band will work like magic for you. For me, I ate ALL the time. Hungry, not hungry, happy, sad, you name it. It has been a learning curve for me to use my band to help me NOT do that! So, I think you'll have great success. Glad you found the board..you will learn a lot here and get help when you need it!

Well, the age-old rules apply: are you losing weight? Are you hungry often? Can you eat more than usual at meals and snacks? The roast is sort of a clue to me that you need some more restriction. However, I also noticed that you've only had ONE fill and that was recently? Is there a reason for that? You've had your band since July? I'm just curious about this last observation! You only have 10 lbs to lose...WOW! That's just killer!!!

Everyone here offered SUPER ideas for you! I am going to throw this is because last year, I didn't lose much at all (26 lbs all year!). However, I was working out 3 hours a day, 5 days a week. Hmmm. When this year came around, I got super serious about it and I got a Body Bugg. I found that while I was working out hard and burning cals, I was still eating too much! The stat is that people underestimate what they eat by about 40%! That was me, totally. OR, I would eat some soup and it was loaded in sodium and I was always puffy. SO, I would suggest logging all food, weigh and measure food, and talk to your doc about this, too. I wonder if you do need a fill? I would NOT rule it out. Are you full after a small amount and STAY full for quite a while? Or, do you see a pattern of "every day I get hungry at 2 PM and start eating"? That happened to me and I got another great fill and don't have that anymore. Let us know what you decide to do! I would love a follow up!

Hey, CUT YOURSELF SOME SLACK! This is not a magic wave of a wand! LOL. First of all, you have only had one fill! I don't know of anyone who really has restriction after just one or two fills, in general. I agree with the other post about recording calories and measuring food. I have a body bugg and they claim that people underestimate what they eat by as much as 40%! I do it because last year I wasn't doing it, wasn't logging food, etc., and I lost only 26 lbs all year! This year, I'm really committed and the weight is falling off. Do you exercise? That is SO important. It will really help. I exercise 5-6 days a week, but fit in 2-3 and you will see a difference. I don't see how short/tall you are, but I'm 5'8, have been banded 3.5 years, and the rumor is going around my little town that I had "something done" because SUDDENLY I'm SO thin!!! What a riot! SO, I had to lose 125 lbs before "anyone" noticed! It all depends on your body. Take a pix every month and you'll see it in your face among other places. SO, bottom line: give it a chance, give your body a chance to not be freaked out by the change, and kick some booty!!! Good Luck!

I have not been banded as long as you mentioned, but I have been banded 3.5 years (4 years in Sept). The only problem I had was not the fault of the band or anyone. I was on vicodin for pain after getting my rotator cuff repaired last spring and the medication irritated my stomach and band. It was swollen and because I'm an idiot (!) I ignored it for months. Anyway, the solution was simple. I had a complete unfill, let my stomach rest 30 days, and started back on fills. I had 4 fills to get to where I am now (my last fill was about 10 days ago) and I feel great. I'm still losing at a good rate now. I was a slow loser and last year because I was so tight and swollen and miserable, I really didn't lose any weight at all. That is the only problem I've had. I love my band and would do it again with NO reservations!!! I've lost quite a bit of weight and am rejuvenated with this new fill level!

Of course exercise and lifting will give you muscle tone, but you won't see it under all the sagging skin. With such a huge weight loss, you are probably stretched out...I can TOTALLY RELATE! You are so young...do your arms, have your kids, and then get a breast and TT. GO FOR IT!!! You deserve to be HOT! I'm totally going for PS, but have a lot of weight left to lose first.

Yes, the bullets are good. My doc suggested them for days during fills when I'm on clear liquids or just need a shot of protein. She said to be SURE to drink LOTS of water after drinking a bullet or mixing it with water because your body needs extra water to process all that protein at once. Of course, you can split it and do partial shots. Still, drink a lot with it!

I don't know who Dr. Kuri is...is he local to you? I live in Buffalo, WY, and I was banded in Greeley,Colorado by Dr. Johnell. I drive down there for my fills and check ups; it's about 4.5 hours from Buffalo. There is no one in Sheridan, Gillette, or Billings, as far as I know. There are some bariatric surgeons in Billings, but I think they are just doing bypasses. I even have a home in Bozeman, and there is no one there, Missoula, or Great Falls, that I can find. SO, it's to Greeley for me!! I am pretty sure there is a lapband doc in Scottsbluff, NE. Maybe you could go there. I'd also keep checking Rapid City; I would think there should be someone there. By the way, my parents live in Aladdin, too!!! HAHAHA. My sis lives in Spearfish.

Yeah. That's never fun, is it? I think most of us have probably had this happen in public at some point. Once, I had to open my car door at a stop sign! Yeah...not fun...I live in a really small town....the other people probably spread the rumor I was drunk or something! LOL. It happens...sorry it happened to you!

WOW! you are doing SUPER great! You should be so proud of what you've accomplished! NICE! If you don't need a fill, don't get one. You have the right attitude!!! As you lose weight, you may need one in a bit, but it sounds like you are losing VERY quickly!!! That is killer. CONGRATS.

Hi, Since you don't have a ticker, I can't tell what your weight is or how much you were when you started. The larger you are when you start, you obviously have to lose a LOT of weight to get the sizes to move, too. Are you exercising? Exercise will actually have your size go down more...for example, I recently hit an old mark at 242. When I was 242 about 15 years ago, I was just starting to SQUEEZE into an 18. This time around, I'm moving into 16s at this weight. So, I also think age and the change in your body...where you are carrying weight... changes over time. you will lose all over...you'll see!!! By the way, congrats on being halfway to your goal. THAT ROCKS!!!

WOW. That seems crazy! I want some of what you're getting because I only get sterile saline in my band! LOL! I am wondering if it's anxiety? There shouldn't be anything in the fill that would do this to you! INTERESTING to see if it happens to anyone else!

Can you get a fill sooner than the 29th? I would call and find out. It sounds like you need one ASAP! Even without restriction, you are doing great, but I know, I'm like you...Count your calories until your fill and eat as much low cal food like salads as you can to stay full. I would NOT wait 2 more weeks for a fill, tho.

Lapgirl...after THREE years banded, I had to get a total unfill in December to rest my stomach, too. I was scared spitless! I could just imagine the 100+ lbs piling back on after THREE YEARS of working my butt off to get it off. I will admit...I partied like a rock star for about 3 days. I ate out, I drank beer, I ate a hamburger with a bun...yeah...a food fest. After about 3 days, I was like...OK...back in the saddle. I kept vigilant with a food journal and added MORE cardio so I was doing at least 1 hour of cardio EVERY day. It was hard cardio, too, like running. I actually still went up and down about 5 lbs, but now that I'm at a good fill level, it's falling off! Be vigilant and you'll be OK!

Ready is right> Too tight is MISERABLE. It also hurts your stomach lining and makes the band a misery. Ask yourself the questions....are you losing? Are you able to be OK w/o eating every few hours because you are hungry? Are you eating small amounts and are full with that? I have hungry days and full days (for lack of a better description). Like yesterday, I ate 1300 calories and today I am at about 700 and am done for the day. I do that up and down every few days. If you are losing, I'd skip the fill.

I agree with shortgal. It IS normal to feel tighter in the morning and loosen up as the day goes on. HOWEVER, you should not be sliming and PBing so often. That just irritates the band even more. I'm not familiar with the larger band (I have a 4 cc band) but you might have to take out a full CC or more. Doesn't your doc/filler person have training in this to help you make that decision??? If not, I would take out a full CC and let my stomach rest...see how your eating goes, and go back for a .5 cc fill in 3 weeks IF I was doing well. THE WORST thing in the world is that irritated stomach! You will feel SO much better if you get some out!!!

You only have 1cc in a 4 cc band right now, right? You don't have enough restriction. That's the bottom line. It's not your fault! It's that when you start, you go slowly and get fills and see how they do...well, this one didn't cut it, did it? THAT IS NORMAL! DO NOT WAIT until April 29 to go back. Call your doc and get a fill next week. If you wait 10-14 days and don't have restriction, keep going back until you DO have good restriction. I just went thru a complete unfill in Dec and after 30 days started getting filled back up. I'm now at 3 cc in a 4 cc band , but that was FOUR fills every 10-14 days until I got good restriction and the weight is coming right off now!!! REMEMBER...you are NEW at this and it takes time to find your level of restriction, but I guarantee you, you are NOT at a high enough level to feel restriction. You waited long enough to lose weight. Don't wait until the end of April.

Oh Man, I feel for you. I want you to know that this does NOT sound normal. I hate to say it, but the one person was right who said it sounded like your doc is a crook...more interested in money than in your success. Is there another site you can go to to get fills? Will another doc take you on? How much is in your band now and how big of a band do you have? I would DEMAND a fill of decent restriction and do a follow up every 10-14 days until you get the restriction you need. You SHOULD be able to eat 1200 cals or less and it should not be hard to do with the band. The other person was right...that is what the band is all about...to help us control our food intake. Good luck. Please give us a follow up. I'm very interested in knowing what happens.

Within one week of my call, I can get in. Often, they have appts earlier than that, but I have to drive 5 hours one way and can't always take the first available time they have. That was a guarantee they made from the start before I ever had surgery ... and they have lived up to it!!!