Ellisa

Good question, Sue. I'm also one who falls off the wagon frequently, but find that when I eat protein, low carb veggies, berries, dairy, and whole grains I lose weight more easily. And those foods tend to help me stay satisfied longer. I'm actually doing weight watchers currently, and it's easier to stay satisfied and keep within my points if I eat lower carb foods.

I've been lurking around here for a couple of weeks. Congrats on your successful surgery. It's been exciting reading about your journey. I haven't read every single post, so if this has already been mentioned forgive me. Here's something that future plastics patients might find useful. In June 2008, my DH had his "tummy tuck" after losing 170 lbs. and most of that in the stomach area. We attended an informational session at a lab-band support group. One of the people who had had surgery suggested renting an electric recliner/lift chair. We checked into it and found we could rent one for $125 per month, delivered. That was money well spent! I believe you can use your medical flex spend money for this (we didn't probably because it was already spent on deductables, etc.). DH slept in it until able to lay in bed. The place we rented from couldn't pick it up on time, so he got a free week or more. We would gladly have rented it longer if he'd needed it. I keep lerking in the plastics posts b/c I've lost nearly 100 lbs and most of that in hips and legs. Unfortunately insurance doesn't cover plastics for that area, that I' aware of... but I keep hoping someone will post that insurance will cover those of us with dragging "mud flaps" that are as difficult to deal with as hanging tummies. LOL

Will look forward to update. Congrats on your fantastic weight loss!

Well Corliss, Maybe we can get it on track. I left a low carb forum because the anti WLS folks kept ranting on the forums for low carbers , so I came back here, because since I'm following a low carb regime at my doctor's office's recommendation I thought this would be the place. I try not to think I'm smarter than my doctor. ;D I think some people confuse low carb with NO carb. Too bad.

If I eat the recommended protein ( for example 2 - 3 oz meat/poultry/seafood or an egg per meal) with veggies, berries, or whatever else there's room for, I don't have to count the calories. The portions are small enough due to having the band to keep the calorie count down. If I don't eat the recommended protein I will be hungry in a couple of hours and can easily over eat on calories because the more easily digested foods don't hang around long. Potatoes, candy, real milk shakes, you can do some real damage with that stuff. Meat and eggs? 80 - 150 calories (along with low carb veggies, because I love them; that's why) keeps me satisfied for about 4 hours. That's my experience. Everyone is different of course.

I'm supposed to wait an hour after meals, but the day of my fill it's clear liquid, the next day full liquid, then soft. I usually am not that strict, but I'm very easy on the band the day of my fill.

I like them better than other low carb protein shakes. They are very handy in a pinch. I drank a lot of them during my 2 week pre surgery diet. I'd rather have real food, but there are times that they are useful.

ShereeKim, You should not be having that much trouble with meats and vomiting. Have you discussed it with your doctor? A typical low carb day for me: Breakfast :scrambled egg with cheese OR yogart with berries Lunch: grilled chicken salad with ranch or an "unwich" from Jimmy John's (a lettuce wrapped sub). Supper: lean meat, fish, or poultry with low carb veggies I also have 2 Snacks which might consist of flax seed muffins, or low carb cheese cake, or yogart and berries.

I thought this forum was for those who are low carbing to encourage each other. For those who believe white flour and sugar are essential to good health, enjoy it. I'm not going to go to your high carb forums and tell you that diabetes is difficult to control with that type of diet. Nor will I go there and tell you that I don't personally know one person who has kidney disease/stones due to low carbing (I didn't say they don't exist, I just haven't personally met one). But I know plenty who have had stones who don't low carb including my close relatives, (and I've never had a stone). So when they worry about my kidneys I laugh sweetly and tell them that it diet is the cause, I'd be terrified to eat their diet after seeing the pain they have. And I know plenty of people whose kidneys are a mess due to not controlling their blood sugar. Dialysis isn't pretty. I was recently given a low carb diet by my dietitian to follow for a month while my band has to be unfilled. I'm following Atkins because the plan I was given didn't allow enough vegetables and berries for my taste. The dietitian thought she was giving me a higher carb diet, bless her heart. I've lost 5 lbs this week. And I'm almost 2 years post band. My Atkins (on-going weight loss phase) menu allows me to get the nutrients I need without wasting space on empty calories that I don't need. Now if I were an athlete at goal weight, I'd be looking to add calories. But in my case I've got plenty stored in reserve as fat that I need to deplete. Ah when I was young, I really did need those empty calories, my metabolism and activity level required them, I didn't have extra fat. But alas, I don't need them today.

I follow the Atkins on-going weight loss (that's after the first two weeks of "induction" which is the more strict level). The book recommends whole grains and lower carb fruits and veggies. I eat those things and relish them. The only things I try to avoid are the starchy/sugary foods as recommended by Atkins. I just don't get why some people think it's dangerous. Are there people who take the plan to extreme? Yes, it that Atkins? No.

I'm on an Atkins-like low carb plan. The only reduction/elimination to my carb intake is white flour products, sugar, rice, white potatoes. I don't need the empty calories. And no longer have room for them in my tummy. I need the nutrients in the lower carb veggies, berries, and Protein. Obviously since my portions are smaller, it can't be called "high" protein by anyone's standards. Much lower than most people's "normal" diet. I don't understand the danger of not eating starchy sugary foods, but I'm no expert.

I'm on a low carb diet as well currently eating below 20 net carbs per day (subtract fiber). Interestingly I did Atkins (not the induction plan but the on-going weight loss plan) for 2 years at one point and all of my chemistry and vitals improved (though they were in the normal range to begin with). Of course it was difficult to maintain and once off the wagon I regained all I had lost. With friends. The nice thing about the band, when I go off plan, I don't gain and so it's easier to get back on track because I don't have that discouragement of gaining 10 lbs in a weekend. LOL When I compared what I ate "normally" (choke choke) my fat intake actually went down low carbing. No fried cheese sticks, no bread to put butter on... you get the picture. And my Protein was about the same (pre-band Atkins). The only thing I try to avoid is sugar and simple/starchy carbs (white flour, potatoes, rice, pasta). I eat far more healthy veggies and I also eat regular dairy products (not low fat), eggs, berries, pumpkin, flax seed meal, and other lower carb items. Of course my portions are much smaller with the band, so that makes getting my protein in (recommended above 60 by my dietitian) a little tougher with my band. But the veggies seem to go down very well. I also take a daily Vitamin and Calcium supliment which I probably needed more when I was... ah hem, eating "normally." I don't like shakes or bars (flavor/texture thing). I will rarely drink a low carb slim fast for "emergency" situations, but I don't drink them on a daily or even weekly basis. I've drank maybe 4 in a year. Is my fat-to-carb ratio high? Yes, but if I were eating the same number of servings of starchy/sugary foods as I used to, the ratio would be very low, even with the reduced portion size. I have great labs, blood pressure is normal, sugar normal. And have all my life even at my heaviest. Let's not forget genetics. Moderation, moderation, moderation, it really is the key... If I could only follow that advice all the time.

Sorry I don't have any advice or insight, looking for some myself. I'm also having issues. Right now the band has been emptied for a month to see if the prolapse will resolve. Eating low carb diet to try to not gain the ton of weight I know I can before possible refilling next month. If it doesn't resolve, we go from there to see if it needs to be repositioned or whatever. I have Anthem BC/BS of Ohio which paid most of the cost of WLS but will not cover fills. If there's an issue that has to be resolved surgically does anyone know if insurance will cover? Also if it has to be removed will they pay to have it put back before I regain all the weight?

I was banded 1 year ago December. Lost about 80 lbs. I'm planning a vacation soon, and haven't gone swimming in years; okay decades. I carried most of my weight in the hips and thighs so the legs are... well, oh my. Anyway, anyone else with this issue? I want to swim in a pool, but can't handle the thought of these thighs being bare. Is there some kind of garment? I don't know, like a heavy footless pantyhose type thing that won't end up in shreds, that could be worn under a swim suit? Something somewhat (fair) skin colored?

Hmmm, I guess I'll have to go shopping, it's been so long since I bought a swim suit, I really don't have any idea what's out there.

Oh, it's definitely MY problem. I can't stand seeing them! Thanks for the encouragement; the shorts thing, maybe, but the last time (decades ago) when I was in a pool, shorts weren't allowed, even over a swim suit. Made no sense since guys' swim wear is shorts with a safety net.

I go to Dr. Curry. Last week I went to a seminar at his office with relatives who are planning to be banded; I thought he said he is no longer able to take patients who were banded elsewhere because he is so busy with his own patients. But... it doesn't hurt to ask.

Thanks for the reply. The person interested said her credit wasn't very good. I don't know if she is planning on going to Dr. C but probably could get the information from them or whoever she goes to.

Asking for someone else as I was banded last year. But what is Care Credit and how does one apply?

Don't go back to liquids. They don't stay in the stomach very long. That's just for healing. Go back to the plan your surgeon recommended and try to stick to it. The fill will help out a lot. But stay in tune with your body. After a month if you need another fill, get it. The band won't work well if it's not tight enough.

The above posters are right on. Take your body measurements too. Sometimes when you aren't losing lbs. you are still losing inches. I don't lose a lb. a week or whatever, I tend to lose several lbs. at once, but go for a few weeks without losing anything. Taking my measurements has helped to keep from being discouraged. I was so disappointed in my weight loss last month because my scales were just sitting there, but the day before I was to go for my fill I was down 5 lbs.; and by the docs scale the next day I was down 6 lbs. from 4 weeks before. I tend to hold some Fluid so I think that accounts for not seeing the gradual weekly weight loss.

Kacee, Thanks for posting. Sometimes we can lose balance one way or the other. Each of us know where we fell before banding and what we need to do now. But it's so easy to go overboard one way or the other. I'm a firm believer that guilt regarding food needs to be abolished somehow. I haven't figured out how to do that. Anyone else? DH and I have always eaten a more healthy diet with occasional treats (for us treats could be things like lasagna), we were basically low carbers (protein, veggies, berries, nuts, whole grains) anyway. Unfortunately with low carb alone, "basically" doesnt get it. We have many lbs of "basically" to prove it. LOL With the band, we eat the way we ate before but our portions are much smaller of everything, "basically" works now. So knowing my issue wasn't so much food choices as portion control, I haven't been able to shake the guilty feeling because I feel full (therefore in my mind I over ate). And because that full feeling lasts so long I imagine I must have REALLY over eaten. I know that's riduculous, but it's (the guilt) there just the same. Everyone gained weight for different reasons, emotional eaters, junk food junkies, and so forth all have their own brand of guilt. And I can fall into more than one category given differen circumstances. A little while ago had 3/4 C of S/F tomato basil Soup. I'm feeling stuffed. And a little panic just ran though me. I had to stop and say... whoa, since I've only had 300 calories including Breakfast, a protien snack, and the soup. What different journeys we all have. Keeps it interesting. But I love seeing what works for others and pondering different information, some of which might help me.

It's where I'd like my fill to stay before it "settles." I can comfortably hold 1/2 to 3/4 C and it makes me feel that way for at least 3 hours. I've been fortunate, so far there is nothing I can't eat as long as it's chewed well enough. I would not want to be any tighter than that. But I'm still at the tweaking stage, so when I've had my previous two fills they were perfect for a little over a week, then as the swelling went down I gradually could eat more and wanted to eat more often. Only will power kept me from over doing it. My last fill was Wednesday. We'll see how long this one lasts. I like having my appointments 4 weeks apart, because by the end of that time I'm really sure that it's time to go back for more. Restriction seems to be different at different times (of the day/month/depending on what I'm eating). I don't want to be too tight.

You are on your way! Being somewhat nervous just means you are being realistic. Congrats!