NukeChik

My super super goal is 160 lbs. My yay goal would be under 200. I try to follow the rules for Breakfast I will have greek yogurt, oatmeal or a Protein shake. For lunch I will have a sleeve of tuna or a can of chicken (thats the usual) I like to have an apple with my tuna or mandarin oranges, something sweet. For dinner I usually have 4 oz protein (fish or chicken usually) and some veggies. I snack on cheese sticks (about 80-90 calories each) or Quaker mini drizzle cakes (i'm addicted to those). I shoot for exercising 4 times a week for a duration of 45 minutes to an hour. For exercise I mix it up between a Bosu Ball and the treadmill (alternate walking and running).

I'm a tea freak. My fave brand right now is Zhena's Gypsy Tea. Zhena's Gypsy Tea | A Tea for All Your Senses

Jtag, We do have a before pics thread that has a lot of our pre op pics. I've been dragging my feet on posting my pics. I promise I'll get it done soon:cool2:

I really like the chocolate mint ones. They are kinda hard for me to find sometimes, but I love chocolate mint flavored stuff.

I started out on 2 Flinstones a day. Just changed to 1 Centrum chewable a day. They don't taste bad at all, of course I've only been taking them a few days, I might not feel that way when I get to the bottom of the bottle. I also added a Viactiv (I bought the target brand) for calcium. Thanks for the info stefgray on the different calcium types. I had no idea. Thats why I love this place!!

Hey fellow Realizers, I actually emailed some feedback to the Realize site this week about the amount of foods and the inability to place "custom foods" in your food diary. They said they were aware and were working on it, so take that for what its worth. I've had no problems with the band, my band date was Jan 7, 2008...Down a little over 30 lbs... I woke up from surgery hungry :Dancing_wub:. I've had 3 fills, pretty happy with my restriction now... Only time will tell

The only problem foods that I've had are things I shouldn't be eating anyway! French fries: don't even try them any more. Everytime even before my first fill, pain. Crackers: I try and turn them to mush, I guess I probably swallow too much at one time. Shrimp: Too rubbery. Bread: Doesn't like to go down since last fill. Thats okay though I don't need it anyway. No problems with red meat or chicken. If its tough I do like Wheetsin said and try to discreetly spit it out.

I guess I'm the freak of the group:thumbup:. I have the J&J Realize band. No complaints so far...

First of all don't be scared of the pain. It is not even as bad as a bee sting. As far as being afraid of not being able to eat, I would suggest talking to your doctor about that. Every time I get a fill, my surgeon questions me about what I can eat. From what I can tell he uses my answers to decide how much a fill I need. Again, its no big deal, I too was freaking out prior to my first fill. I think I was more nervous about that than the surgery, but again, no bigee!

Laura, Have you ever tried tall size shirts? Eddie Bauer sells all their stuff in tall sizes, maybe you should try one of their shirts. They are made for us tall girls. I really can't wear anything from a "normal" store. Tall size all the way.

I have the realize band. Its 9cc. There are not many differences. The major differences are the anchoring system used for the port and that a low profile port is standard issue. www.realizeband.com

I'm having the same problem. My old clothes are not too big but my smaller clothes are too tight :confused2:. I can either wear something really baggy or tight. Can't wait to be a consistenly smaller size!

It sounds to me like you don't have "true" migraines just really bad headaches. I would go with the excedrin and ask your doc if it is ok to take it because it has aspirin in it. Excedrin also makes a tension formula which has the caffiene, but not the aspirin. I really like the liquid tylenol. It works really fast for my "regular" headaches. The taste is not very appealing though. Have you ever went to a chiropractor for your headaches? It helped with my "regular" headaches. My migraines are hormonal though...

I had a lot of burps up until about a month post op, then nothing. The only time I burp is when something is having a hard time getting through. Every bit of gas I have now goes out the other end.

I assume you haven't been banded yet? My surgeon doesn't do lapband for people that are on regular courses of NSAIDs. Thats not to say that some don't and thats also not to say that my surgeon is wrong and the others are right. NSAIDs are a non-issue for me cuz I'm allergic. So my advice.... Ask your surgeon!

Just to reiterate what wheetsin and Long said. I know its incredibly hard but don't concentrate on weight loss right now... concentrate on healing. I saw any weight that prior to my first fill as a BONUS. Be patient, focus on your Protein and Water intake so you'll heal up nicely. Don't put any "weight" on what the scale says right now.

Monterrey, I didn't have any issues with my 2 week diet because I could have pudding, yogurt and such which I really loved. The first week of Clear liquids was another story though. If I chicken broth and I never meet again I'll be okay with it :bolt:. What stage of the diet does your doc have you on (every doc is different)? If your week 2 is the same as mine I loaded up on pudding, Soups (pacific naturals awesome), ice cream (I know, I know), yogurt, cream of wheat.

That actually happened to me on my first fill (I just got my 3rd fill on Tues (4/1)). He had to take a little out (while I was still there, not later). Needless to say I think that I was just overreacting because it was a "new" feeling. When I took a drink of the Water it kinda gurgled in my chest. I think that my body just reacts quickly, both ways. It is quick to restrict, but then later I don't have any restriction. Hope that helps.

Had my 3rd fill yesterday... Don't know the cc count, my doc doesn't give that out. I expressed my frustration with the elusive sweet spot and ask that he be a little more generous with the fill. I think he was, but only time will tell. I probably shouldn't complain, I do average a little over a pound a week, but feel I've done most of that without the help of my band.

Jim, My doc says the same about moving them quickly through the stoma. He also has the same caution against antibiotics sitting in the pouch.

I agree with Jtag. I would like a goal of like 16-20 workouts (4-5 times a week).

Oh, well, I didn't make it. I'm not going to give excuses, just try to do it this next month. 3rd fill in 4 hours! Restriction please!

Lapband.com - Risk Information Almost all the way down the page... My doc doesn't recommend NSAIDs, they can be used for short term usages, but not what to reach for every time you need some pain relief. Not a big deal with me because I'm allergic to NSAIDs.

I can just see it now, charcoal buttplugs all around!! They go to the "source" of the problem. I guess you could have a hollow chamber in the center with activators and when you farted it could smell like a "spring morning" This is one of the funniest threads I've ever seen BTW:lol: