citygirl4616

Oh how I miss my complex carbs! I was definitely an addict, and now that I have the band, I cannot give in to my cravings for Pasta, bread, rice, or cake at all. I used to be able to eat an entire pound of pasta in one sitting! I would almost get a "high" from it. Now when I try to eat those foods, they immediately get stuck. The good news is I can still eat a baked potato, corn, lima Beans, avocados, and most starchy vegetable. I can even eat the occasional crunchy cookie or cracker. I still crave the "bad" carbs that used to get me in trouble. Thank goodness the band stops me from indulging, and keeps me on track with the healthier carbs!

Hi...I am definitely feeling a little less alone after reading this post. I am about 3 months post-op, and have lost about 35#. I have made peace with the fact I am a slow loser. My biggest concern is inadvertantly causing myself to fail, and not allowing myself to use the band in the best way possible. Here is what I mean. I have very good restriction, yet I lose a pound or two, then nothing for a week. This has been my cycle for the past 10 weeks. I am still fighting to change my eating habits. I find myself eating foods I crave (Pasta, rice, bread) when I am feeling stressed or tired (my old eating habit). Needless to say, these are not band-friendly foods. I get that stuck feeling, then I have no room for healthy, nutritious food. When are my new eating habits going to kick in on autopilot? When will I not want to turn to food for comfort? I know if I did not have my surgery, I would not be down 35 pounds right now, I would probably be at an all time high. The lapband is such a wonderful tool for the physical portion of the weight loss, but the emotional part even harder!

I usually think it is too personal to ask someone how much weight they have lost. It is very nosey. The exceptions for me are my close family, who are incredibly supportive, and are not asking in any judgmental way; and my personal trainer, who stares at my body for 60 minutes a week, and is trying very hard to help me lose the weight. When anyone else asks, I feel like it is none of their business. Keep in mind, I have only told my family about my surgery, none of my friends know. Some will say, "wow..you look really great." Thanks! Others say, "You look great..have you lost weight?" Yes! Thanks for noticing. I am also OK with, "You've lost weight..how did you do it?" Well, I eat less, and exercise more. Personally...I feel a line is crossed when someone says, "Have you lost weight? HOW MUCH?" . My answer is always the same. I say, "A few sizes...." Then I change the subject. Is always works. The questioner gets the picture. If they ask again, they get the same answer! I am grateful for them noticing, but asking for poundage is a bit much in my book!

Congrats!!!!! I will lose 2-3 pounds, then nothing for a week. Then another 2-3 pounds, then nothing for a week. Very odd, since I eat pretty much the same, and do the same exercise. I am down about 35 pounds(1/3 of my extra weight), and I am in no rush.

Yuck! I had my first PB last week. I have had food stuck before, but it always worked its way down...not up! It was a terrible feeling. More like vomiting to me. The hardest thing about being banded for me, is learning to change the speed which I eat. I am still eating way too fast! Also, not chewing enough. That is what causes my food to get stuck...every time! Ouch! So painful! New mantra..."Eat slow...chew, chew, chew! Eat slow....chew, chew, chew!"

I haven't had a piece of bread in 2 months (since my pre-op diet), and I was craving some. I was out to Breakfast, and ordered some eggs, and a fluffy, warm biscuit came with my breakfast. Hmmmm..I wonder if I could try a few bites? I've been so good with my eating. I took a little bit of margarine, spread it on the hot biscuit, and slowly took a bite. Yay..no problem. Took 2 - 3 more bites..still OK. Took a 4th bite...OH NO! Massive tightening in the chest! I felt like a just swallowed a lead ball, and it was in my chest and swelling. I waited a few minutes, and it just wasn't moving through. I took a few sips of Water, and I think that made it worse. I then got the loudest, most painful case of hiccups EVER! I had to ask for a take-out box for my breakfast, quickly pay, and rush to my car. The hiccups lasted 10 minutes, and must have helped the bread go through, b/c 15 minutes later or so, I was feeling much better. Guess I won't be trying any kind of bread again in the near future! Ouch!:drool:

Any kind of protein is going to help with hunger. Of course...protein shakes are the best. Some other high protein, soft foods are cottage cheese, yogurt, ricotta cheese, scrambled eggs (any kind of egg really), egg drop soup, egg salad, tuna salad, flaky fish. Don't fret too much about the weight loss. Your body is healing right now. You WILL start losing again, but it may not be until you get an adjustment (or two, or three). In the meantime, eat plenty of protein to help your body heal, and to stay full, and drink lots of water. You are doing just fine!

1 - The pain you are feeling is pretty common. You just had major abdominal surgery. Give your body some time to heal. It took a good 6-7 weeks before I felt that all of the soreness and tenderness went away. 2 - I was told I could do any exercise at 2 weeks post-op as long as I didn't feel like I was straining myself (but no abdominal exercises). I have been taking spinning on and off for years, and there is no way I could have taken a spin class before the 6 week post-op mark. Spinning is way to strenuous on your core muscles to try while still recuperating. I was able to walk and do yoga. Don't push yourself right now. 3 - Congratulations on your weight loss! Most people experience a slow down in weight loss in the weeks immediately after surgery. This is a time for your body to be healing, not necessarily losing weight. I know you don't want to hear that now, but almost everyone goes through it until they reach the proper fill level in the band. I lost 17 pounds after surgery, then gained 2 pounds back before my first adjustment! Once I got my adjustment (I was lucky, and got good restriction after just one fill), I started losing again...slowly, but I'm not in a rush. Be patient. The weight will start dropping again. Good luck!

It didn't take me long to realize that I needed something to replace eating as the primary "stress reliever" in my life. There was nothing better to me, after a long, hard day, than coming home to a huge plate of Pasta, garlic bread, a glass of wine, and a few Cookies for dessert. The effect on me was like a drug....calm, serene, almost a trance-like "high". Now, after a long, hard day..what am I to do? The first few times I was OK. This is my new life. I had my healthy, small meal, and felt virtuous, and went about my night. By the 4th, or 5th time this happened, I realized I needed a replacement for my "food-induced high". I found a few things worked. Preparing a nice dinner for my family was very soothing to me. Just working with the food was comforting to me. Also, a nice, hot bath works wonders! I make a whole spa night of it! Facial, body scrub, mani and pedi, deep conditioners, lotions..the works! It takes up the whole night, it is very relaxing, and I feel great afterward. I also like renting a good DVD. I make myself a cup of skim milk hot cocoa, and settle down with a good movie. I am sure I will continue to find new things to help me get through those tough days.

Just answer honestly. They are not looking for reasons to deny you, it sounds like they are asking good questions for you to think about. Your eating habits are going to have to change dramatically after surgery, so it's a good idea to have your patterns identified beforehand, so a plan can be in place BEFORE the day of surgery.

Have you considered seeing a psychiatrist for this, rather than your internist? I know many internists will prescribe anti-depressants, and anti-anxieties, but you would probably benefit from more of a specialist that can work with you to find the right combination of medications that will work for you. Finding the right medication combination, with some good therapy, will bring you much closer to the relief you need. I think a psychiatrist will better be able to help you meet you needs.

My gas is in the form of terrible internal gas pains. Like the really cramping kind. They almost always come after I have eaten too fast (still a bad habit of mine), or I have eaten a little too much. None of the OTC gas meds work, so I have to suffer in silence. Sometimes, I am almost doubled over! Does anyone else get those kind of gas pains?

I have been on Nexium for about 3 years for acid reflux. My doctor said usually the band clears up acid reflux (although sometimes it makes it worse..you never know). Wondering what people with acid reflux have experienced after the lap-band surgery. Was anyone able to get relief from acid reflux after getting banded? Did you stop your meds to see what would happen? Anyone get worse? Stay the same?

I am at a point in my weight loss where my old clothes are looking big and baggy. I want some new clothes, but am assuming they will only fit for a couple of months. What a waste of money! What do you do? But just a few inexpensive pieces and wear them all the time? Get your old clothes altered? I don't have a ton of money to spend on clothes right now, but I want to look nice, and show off my new figure a bit.

I just weight in with my surgeon at my follow up appointments. I only met with the nutritionist once, and she never weighed me.

I was banded on 1/10, and have always been able to feel my port. Even my hubby once in a while will touch my abdomen, and check out my port. Very weird, but very normal!

I have a 4cc band, and got about 3cc in my first fill. So far, this seems to be good restriction for me. I have heard that as you lose weight, the band may loosen, so maybe I will need more of a fill later, but for now, I am content.

Great thread! I have been wondering how other Jan. bandsters have been doing. Even though my weight loss has been slow, I am fine with it. I had my first fill 2 1/2 weeks ago, and got very good restriction with the one adjustment. I think I have lost 4 or 5 pounds since the fill. Before the fill, I had no restriction, and was gaining weight! Now, in the mornings, the band is super tight. Breakfast is Carnation Instant Breakfast, or yogurt. lunch is "iffy". Some days I can eat a small salad with chicken, some days it has to be a soft food like cottage cheese. By 3pm, I am able to eat almost anything, in small quantities. I always allow myself a nice dinner...just a small one. I cannot eat any type of bread yet, but maybe one day. I have to get going with my exercise. I have been active, but not regularly working out. I play tennis twice a week, and work out with a trainer once a week. I also do yoga once a week, but I need to add more cardio. I belong to a great gym, that has awesome classes and equipment, so I have no excuse not to go. I am very happy with the lapband, and for the first time in my life, I am optimistic about meeting my goal weight and getting healthy.

I try to make a large batch of chicken cutlets once a week. Then I have them on hand, in the fridge, all week long, and they only need to be heated. Each week I try a new preparation, and each day of the week, I grab a cutlet for a quick meal. Plain, chopped up w/ mayo., thrown on a salad, w/ some salsa, etc.

Tried a bagel chip today. Took the tiniest bite, and chewed 20 times. YOW! Didn't go down well. Felt like I was eating rocks! Tried 2 more bites..no luck. I still have to try some light toast.

I was on Meridia for almost a year. I think I lost about 20 pounds. It is an appetite suppresant, and for me, it worked pretty well. The problem was, my eating has always been emotional. If I had the urge to binge, I would either not take the pill, or just eat, even if I wasn't hungry. That is why my weight loss stopped at 20 pounds. It was too easy for me to "cheat". Just like any diet, Meridia requires willpower, proper nutrition and exercise. Good luck!

I consider myself tight in the morning, but I mean I cannot eat solid foods until lunchtime. I can definitely sip water. Sometimes I can drink a half a cup of coffee. If I am hungry, I'll have yogurt or Carnation Instant Breakfast. I cannot eat eggs or fruit or cereal. If you can't drink water, I would imagine you're too tight (I wake up thirsty!).

I think that is the standard way the operation is performed now. It was shown that by stitching the stomach, up, and over the band, the chance of the band slipping drops dramatically.

I should have clarified. I am probably one of the few people who got major restriction with just one fill. Shortgal is right...for most people it takes several fills before you get some good restriction. Didn't mean to be misleading....