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Yep, carbs are now the sworn enemy of the banded--Protein intake is 60-80 grams daily. Don't forget your Flintstones chewable Vitamin and chewable Calcium (or Tums EX). 1/2 to 3/4 cup of food for each meal should fill you up (once you get some fills in), and Water, water, water! (I've just read where you should drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water a day--egads!) Stock up your cans of tuna and chicken, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, eggs, and refried Beans, m'dear! A hearty welcome back!!

There have been many threads concerning this very subject. And yes, I have read where surgeons have begun surgery and determined it too dangerous to try to move their patient's liver. From what I've read, there is then the possibility that the surgeon will do an "open surgery", so instead of four small laproscopic incisions, you are totally cut open. Here's my belief: the surgeon is the leader and must be followed to the letter. The amount of time you are restricted in your eating, drinking is so little in comparison to the rest of your life, why take any chances--he's the professional and getting paid for it! Just keep on track, kiddo, and you'll do just fine...

Head hunger is our worst enemy! Sometimes I think I'm just bored or it's that time of day (during the evening) and it's tough trying to stave it off with a large cup of hot tea. As Jill said, if I eat, say some Wheat Thins, I'll check the box to see what a normal serving is comprised of and then I'll only eat that many--no more! That way, I know just how many calories I've just consumed too. Azchick, you probably haven't had a fill yet, but the amount of food I can eat (and even since surgery) is 1/2 to 3/4 cup for each meal. In fact, at Breakfast I'm tight and can only eat 1/8 to 1/4 cup. After your fill, you should be more in the 1/2 - 1 cup range. Good luck Ebonie--we all face these demons every day!

Yes, it averages 1 to 2 pounds a week. Now sometimes your scale will jump down 3-4 pounds all at once, but then you may plateau (I did for five weeks) for a while. Don't beat yourself up if you don't lose like someone else (you said you're "competitive") because that's not a good thing with the Band. I will read and compare especially those who were banded around my time, but I make sure I don't take it to heart. Getting discouraged won't do anything for you--and you could end up cheating your way back up the scale. Good luck in your travels in Lap Band Land...

Every one of us wondered that before we had surgery--every one!! I could not have lost a pound to save my own life and yet here I am six months later, totally in awe of what this wonderous tool has done for me! I was positive I was the one it would not work for--that my metabolism would not LET it work. I worked out four days a week (still do), thought I was eating somewhat healthy--and then, whalaa! My magic tool came to my aid! This is not to say that you won't have times of hitting a hump in the road (I did once for five long long weeks!) but you will get over it. And it's not to say you won't have hard days--but the end is SO worth the means! The portion-control you will have will absolutely astound you, m'dear! By all means, GO FOR IT--it's the best thing you will ever do for yourself in this lifetime!

Wow, this is like the gazillionth thread on Protein shakes! First, when using powder, make sure you get the whey protein isolate, which is pure and mixes up with a spoon-- whereas whey protein concentrate has to be mixed in a blender and uses lactose as a filler. (and I'm intolerant!:redface: ) Everyone has different tastes--whether you want fruit flavored, chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, caramel--the flavors are endless! But I get my IDS Multi Pro whey (in belgian chocolate--mixed with Water tastes like a chocolate shake!) from Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, books, DVDs & more They have all different flavors, sizes, costs, and some even come with free shipping. I always tell everyone here--I find the canned drinks to be garbage and only good for convenience sake--but again, everyone's tastes are different. Do what's best for you--just make sure it's low carb, bud!! :tongue:

When considering the surgery, the first two things a person should do is (1) investigate what your new life will be like and ask yourself whether you can make the necessary adjustments for it and (2) if you have insurance, go to the insurance website or your provider directory to check if they cover the surgery and investigate where the Bariatric Centers are that are approved by your insurer. They only approve certain doctors and it's their money. So, my advice to you is to pick up the pieces, make sure the insurance WILL cover the surgery and start over again with the approved doctors. Count this time lost as a well learned lesson. Believe me, it will be well worth it...

One of the very hardest things I've had to do with the Band is to learn to throw food away. Man, that's tough... I'll take a certain amount for lunch and feel I have to eat everything in the container (that's why I bought special small containers)--but now I make sure I leave some every day to be thrown away. I think as I lose weight I think it's a get-out-of-jail free card to allow me to eat chocolate and chips and dip again. So I end up kicking myself in the rear and start again the next day. You know, every morning is a new start for ourselves--and I take advantage of it. Don't look back, only forward...

Here's my suggestion to you: Read all you can about Lap Banding, everything. This tool requires a very large amount of discipline. I am just being totally honest with you. Call your Bariatric Center when you feel you are mentally ready to begin the process again.

I had some suits for work that I had totally grown out of (I was too large for them). I never tried them on--I think I thought they would still be too tight and that would totally discourage me--so as you say, they are now almost too big--I've got to hurry up and wear them!! The funniest thing that happened to me was that when I went to get off the leg press at the YMCA, the pocket to my pants caught on a handle and when I walked away, my pants started coming down and I barely :thumbup: knew it! I knew right then I had to find other pants to wear to the gym! (Guess you had to be there!) :crying: And yeah, Jennie, what's up with not losing weight up top?? I thought you were supposed to lose weight in your face and then your chest?? NOT!!

I have an issue I haven't been able to discuss with anyone else but you: You know, forever I have been fat--I can't even bring myself to say "morbidly obese"--never felt really comfortable in public situations, especially when thinner "normal" people were around. Always klutzy with my food--seemed like my built-in "shelf" caught everything! So now I've lost weight and I even went out shopping last Friday with a friend and bought some new wonderful clothes. So why do I still feel "fat"? I'm talking mentally--I can't get over this hump--even when I look in the mirror, it doesn't seem to be me there. And when people say "Wow, you look great", I smile and say "Thanks so much!", but it's surreal, like they are talking to someone else. I really think I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop--for that ole weight to just start rolling back on, just like always. But I know you guys understand exactly where I'm coming from. Surely there are others who feel the same way? :confused2:

Amsderb, I just buy the "original" refried Beans in a can. (I know I tried the fat-free and think I found them to be too dry and mealy). Besides, I put shredded cheese on it before I nuked it, so what the dif??!! You'll find that you can eat so little after banding that carbs become your enemy, Proteins become your BFF, and for fats? Who cares! Proteins is numero uno and what comes with, comes with...:crying:

Me too, Ang (Beans and cottage cheese during "mushies")--I can eat the same thing for days, as long as it's something I like. I threw in some yogurts for lunch to change it up (and sometimes yogurt for breakfast!) Aren't you glad those days are over!!! And I'm sorry for all of you that are going through/have yet to go through it.............:smile:

Oh man, I buy a cottage cheese at our local store that has 0% milkfat with pineapple--now it is super yummy!! I'll do 1/2 cup for lunch...:smile:

My preference is definitely the powders (canned just taste tinny but are great for convenience sake) and the powder I'm stuck on is the IDS Multi Pro in the Belgian chocolate flavor. Here's the stats: <TABLE class=nfTable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=nfServingSize colSpan=3>Serving size: 1 scoop</TD></TR><TR><TD class=nfHeaderRow1 colSpan=3></TD></TR><TR><TD class=nfVariations></TD><TD class=nfVariations></TD><TD class=nfVariations></TD></TR><TR onmouseover="this.bgColor='#D6E3E6'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=nfTableNameA>Calories</TD><TD class=nfValue>106</TD><TD class=nfValue></TD></TR><TR><TD class=nfHeaderRow2 colSpan=3>Amount Per Serving and/or % Daily Value*</TD></TR><TR onmouseover="this.bgColor='#D6E3E6'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=nfTableNameA>Total Fat</TD><TD class=nfValue>less than 1g (0%)</TD><TD class=nfValue></TD></TR><TR onmouseover="this.bgColor='#D6E3E6'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=nfTableNameB>Saturated Fat</TD><TD class=nfValue>less than 1g (0%)</TD><TD class=nfValue></TD></TR><TR onmouseover="this.bgColor='#D6E3E6'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=nfTableNameA>Cholesterol</TD><TD class=nfValue>5mg (0%)</TD><TD class=nfValue></TD></TR><TR onmouseover="this.bgColor='#D6E3E6'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=nfTableNameA>Sodium</TD><TD class=nfValue>12mg (2%)</TD><TD class=nfValue></TD></TR><TR onmouseover="this.bgColor='#D6E3E6'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" bgColor=#d6e3e6><TD class=nfTableNameA>Total Carbohydrate</TD><TD class=nfValue>3g (0%)</TD><TD class=nfValue></TD></TR><TR onmouseover="this.bgColor='#D6E3E6'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=nfTableNameB>Dietary Fiber</TD><TD class=nfValue>0g (0%)</TD><TD class=nfValue></TD></TR><TR onmouseover="this.bgColor='#D6E3E6'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=nfTableNameB>Sugars</TD><TD class=nfValue>1.5g</TD><TD class=nfValue></TD></TR><TR onmouseover="this.bgColor='#D6E3E6'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=nfTableNameA>Protein</TD><TD class=nfValue>23g (47%)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Each one of us is different--so you probably need to explore which one is right for you. My favorite site is Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, books, DVDs & more which has a gazillion flavors and sizes. (Find samples and go from there). Some people like the unjury but I can't get past the smell. It's important to find the one for you--to take good care of your bod...:smile:

I'm beginning to think this was a 'Psychological' Test to see how crazy you could get by eating nothing but meat all day long?!!!! Congrats on passing your "Test", girlfriend!! And get yourself a good salad tomorrow--yummy! :smile:

Hey Altoona, it's Slippery Rock here!!! I had to do exactly the same as you did (I have UPMC) and long about the second month, the girls in my office started giving me grief about how I should be able to lose weight on my own. (And they knew I work out four days a week!) So it got to the place where by the third month, I wasn't telling them about anything that was happening in my "surgery world". :huh2: Their comments did get worse when surgery was coming up, but guess what? Now they are so supportive and they see I'm living a quasi-normal life and can eat most of the same things--just portion controlled!! And they are so happy for me! What I'm saying is you have to live for yourself--and everyone will come around. If they don't, they weren't your real friend in the first place, girl! Good to have you on board...

It's a wild feeling, isn't it?!! When I was trying on clothes on Friday, I tried on a 16P pants and was flabbergasted when I could button and zip them--and this wonderful Medium shirt I saw at Sears last fall was on the reduced rack (with 60% off the reduced price even!) so I took it in the dressing room for a lark. Darned if it didn't fit--and to this minute, I have no clue how...

Thanks everyone. It doesn't straighten out my mind, but I am glad to hear that I'm not the only one who's experienced/experiencing this...!

Yes, yes, and yes!! For example, I had a small sausage patty for Breakfast today and I was just stuffed, believe me!! lunch was 1/2 cup of chicken with noodles and dinner was a small chicken thigh and some Beans. Each time, Christi, I ate until I was feeling like I could not take another bite! Now I have had four fills and I am at a super good restriction--but not to the point of getting stuck every time I eat! This is just awesome--you simply must try it!!! :tongue_smilie:

Things like what has happened to you in this past year just make me so angry! So the creep leaves you, sticks you with everything including a 6-week old baby and then has the audacity to live up the street five minutes from you-----------aaaarrrrgggghhhh! And now the insurance company won't cover your life-affirming/changing surgery and of course you can't get a loan--besides being saddled with everything else, you no longer have the creep's income!! But I AM proud of you because you DIDN'T declare bankruptcy! Is there any chance your insurance WILL cover bypass? I work for a bank and I know how tight things are right now, with this economy it's the worst time to look for unsecured $, I'm sorry to say. Any chance for Mom/Dad/Grandma to come through to help you? Selling something (like HIS car?!!) You KNOW I wish you only the best--keep us informed...

Wheetsin and Angie: I AM HOWLING! It is too true that there's rumors about everything in life--you just have to measure out what you want to believe! :thumbup:

Weight training at the YMCA with treadmill before and after two days a week--then Curves for an aerobic workout (and comraderie with the women) two other days--Perfect for me! That's what everyone's got to do: find out what's perfect for them :eek: (sfeiner has found her place too )!!!

I am now one of the "Other People"--who are constipated all the time! (And believe me, this was NOT the case pre-op!) In fact, I had to go on Metamucil, which actually gives me gas :tt2: so I weighed my options: constipation versus gas--and gas won :eek::biggrin: Sorry, sweetie, but I think your time will also come...

While I was off for the surgery, I did some investigation and found small tupperware bowls that are just perfect for bringing my little lunch to work with me! They are called the "little wonders" bowls and hold 1/2-3/4 cup at a time. After we eat dinner, I take the leftovers and spoon them into a few of these bowls and freeze them. (I have about nine in the freezer at work right now!) Then I just take a few out at a time to have for the next days at work. The cheapest I find are on Ebay--but they are just so slick I had to tell you all!! :ohmy: