Totallytater

Sounds about right to me (for the morning anyway). I suggest drinking one or two high protein shakes (with low carb content) for breakfast. That way you will get a good slug of protein in the morning. You should be able to eat a little more at lunch and a little more than that at supper. I am so tight in the mornings that I have a hard time getting a protein shake down. But later on I can eat just fine, sometimes maybe even a cup of food- but generally just about 1/2 cup of food at a time. But I think that is what we should be eating - about 1/2 cup of food at a time.

I can't eat too much regular foods but I sure can down some ice cream and milkshakes. Why can't I stop myself? Please give me some encouragement and some ideas for substitutions.

As your body gets used to the band you will have lots of gas pains, constipation pains, and soreness around the port site and in the belly. These pains come and go. As long as you can eat and as long as the incisions don't look inflamed you are probably fine.

Don't forget about Dr. Kirshenbaum in Colorado. Just under $10,000 and includes free fills for 3 months, then fills are just $15. His office is only about 15 minutes from a major airport (DEN) so flights are pretty reasonable from most places. And he is FANTASTIC!!!

88 pounds lost!!! But I lost 50 of it before the band.

I just drink water 99% of the time now. Occasionally I will drink a flat coke or an iced tea sweetened with splenda. I used to be addicted to diet drinks until I learned that your body's insulin response is about the same to a diet drink as it is to a sugared drink. Apparently you can't fool mother nature. Your body knows it is a delicious sweet drink and it treats it as such, just as if it had sugar in it. Who knew?

If you have to pay out of pocket, try Dr. Kirshenbaum in Colorado for under $10,000. He is a great surgeon at a super price.

Hi Myra. I love my lap band. It was an easy surgery and recovery. And although I have not lost weight quickly, it has been steady. Most importantly, I don't struggle just to "not" gain any more. I don't work that hard, and still lose a little. Good luck to you.

You are not that heavy at all. Depending on your height and age, you should be fine. I started at 305 and have lost 85 and the only thing I'm sure I will have to have plastic surgery on is my arms. My boobs could use it probably, and a maybe on my tummy.

I like Slim Fast Low Carb. 20 grams protein with 2 grams net carb.

I drove on the 3rd day after surgery and was just fine.

Hi. I flew to Denver because my insurance excluded so I needed a reasonable cash price. The band is great. Good luck to you!

I only told my immediate family. No friends and no coworkers.

Lee stretch boot cuts from Walmart or KMart are awesome. They actually look good on me and they are much, much cheaper than Lane Bryant.

I love the Slim Fast Low Carb. They are TASTY!!

I just take my finger and brush the back of the roof of my mouth and the offending item and slime balls comes up. It is quick and easy.

I have PCOS, but always had regular periods. After the band, my periods have gone haywire. Or is it that I'm just 40 years old now?

The worst thing for me is eating out with my friends, since none of them know about the surgery. I used to clean my plate- practically licking it clean. Now I can only eat 1/5 or 1/6 or 1/7 of my plate. I find myself trying to pack more food in so I will look "normal" to them. I also often find myself overdoing it, and having to go to the bathroom, sticking my finger down my throat and throwing up a few slime balls. I like it when we can go to a restaurant that has a soup and salad combo. The soup is easy to slide down and the salad slides down well in all of that greasy dressing. It actually looks like I eat a normal portion when I eat this. Luckily we only eat out once each week or every other week.

I wouldn't want to lose 100 pounds in 6 months anyway. EVERYONE would know you had it done because who can lose weight that fast unless they're dying of cancer or something? And most of the people I know that have had gastric bypass have "the look". That emaciated look, that starving look, that saggy look. The lap banders I know don't look that way. They look healthy.

Another vote for Slimfast Low Carb in chocolate. High protein, low carbs and YUMMY! It tastes so good, like a good chocolate milkshake. And it is very easy to obtain at Walmart.

I agree that the first 24 hours is ROUGH!!! I flew from NC to Denver to get mine. I was up in terrible pain the night of the surgery and was supposed to fly out the next morning. I told my sister (who traveled for the surgery with me) that there was no way I could fly the next morning. I begged her to delay the flight one day until I could feel better. But as it turned out, the morning after surgery I hobbled in and took a shower and I was feeling just well enough to be wheeled through the airport in a wheelchair and to barely make it on the plane home. But a few days later, I was feeling like a champ.

No, it doesn't hurt but it feels weird. The needle kinda makes a "pop" when it goes into the port, but doesn't hurt. You are laying down when they put the needle in. Then they have you sit up with the needle sticking out of you. They inject some saline into it and then have you take swallows of water to see how long it takes for the water to pass through the band. They add and remove the fill until the amount of time it takes to pass through seems right to the doctor. Then they pop the syringe back out. Nothing to it, but definitely weird sitting there with a big syringe sticking out of you.

I tried chocolate and unflavored unjury and it all has a funny smell. I can't stomach things with a funny smell.

I flew from NC to Colorado for Dr. Kirshenbaum for under $10,000. He is so great, he would be worth twice the price. I also fly back and forth to Denver for my $15 fills. Also very worth it.