shortgal

Just to clarify, the green beans are supposed to be heated NOT the tuna! I meant it's easy to add veggies to any protein you are having at a meal, by opening a frozen bag or a can and heating them. I said this b/c Suz doesn't want to cook! Remember if the band is too tight, many people have said on the forum that they did NOT lose weight until they got a SLIGHT unfill. If you cannot eat solid protein fairly regularly then you should consider that your band might be too tight. Suz, you don't have to eat tuna if you don't like tuna, you just have to find other solid protein that you do like. It can't be hard to grill a piece of chicken. buy a bunch of chicken pieces, separate and freeze them and then take one out. You shouldn't have to live on cereal and shakes everyday.

It hurts when people that know us well can't be supportive, because we would like to have their support but really unless they have had a weight problem it might be hard for them to understand. I love when people say, just exercise more. Well, I usually say, let's strap one hundred extra pounds on your body and then see how easy it is to go for a walk. I'll bet they'd give up fast. Do they really think we'd be cut open if we thought we could do this without help? Do they think we haven't tried other methods? why is it Ok to get boob jobs, but not ok to have WLS? Why is lasik ok for vision? Why don't they all just wear glasses? Why is it not OK that we ask the medical community to help us with a medical condition? Is is any different than taking medication for high blood pressure or cholesterol. I think it will take time for some people to accept WLS and really who cares what they think. I knew I had to do something and I did. That is good enough for me and will just have to be ok for them, too. It's not your friends body, it's yours.

Are you eating very slowly? That might help. You're not having carbonated drinks, right?

The more I tried to eliminate my fiber foods, the more I could see that would not work long term for me, so I've added a high fiber, high protein cereal for b'fast ( Kashi go Lean) and add a fiber one bar a few times a week. Sometimes I have a piece of whole grain bread. I stay within my calories, but sacrificing fiber for extra protein was not working for me. I also eat berries once or twice a week.

Congrats! What an accomplishment! I know how incredible it is to see a number on the scale that hasn't been seen in a loooonnnnng time! :tt2:

April: There is a whole section on the forum for PS. People that are scheduled to have it or have recently had it, post their experience and some with B & A photos.

If you're taking vitamins with iron in them that will bind you and Calcium supplements can too. I read the best calcium to take to counteract that, is one with magnesium.

Janet, I think the recommended amount is 25 gms daily. There is a whole grain bread with double fiber in it. I tried the benefiber a while ago and it helped but wasn't enough. The fiber one bar has a lot more in it. The one I get is oats and cinnamon and has 9gm of fiber. My kashi has 10gms of fiber, plus some Protein. The bar tastes like it's all held together with marshmallow fluff. There are also protein type bars with high fiber in them. I'm good with Water, three to four 16 oz bottles a day, plus a cup or two of tea. I had to find a solution to not going often enough. It's not good for your colon for the waste to sit there too long. I'l have to check out the flax seed and see how much fiber in that.

Yeah wedding is late Sept. Lucky, you're at goal, I won't be, but anything closer is all good. you know it's all about finding a dress. That has always been stressful in the past. My daughter's married 6 years in June. She's not ready for babies :tt2:

Janet, I'm a girl that needs her fiber. I use the Fiber one bars ( 140 c), one every other day and I eat Kashi Go Lean cereal 3/4c for b'fast. Once in a while I have a piece of whole grain bread. That's working for me.

Denise, You've proven that even slow losers ( with a not so good metabolism) can reach goal! No excuses we can use! Congrats!

Well you do have "average" weight loss, but seems you are disappointed and would like to lose more. Suggestions: Do you track your calories? Do you exercise? Do you eat Protein first? Have you had fills? Do you have restriction? Do you wait one hour after eating before drinking. Those are the basic things to look at.

I was a little nervous about salads so I held off for a couple months. when I saw the PA at the Dr's office, she said she has them ( she's banded) and that I should try. I did and I can eat them. I guess how tight your band is will determine if they go down.

It might hurt now, but a four inch incision is nothing for great thighs later!! :blushing:

The PCP doesn't have to write it. Someone in her office can do it and she signs it. Did your surgeon give you a "format letter" that you can give to her to just copy the format and insert your name and your medical conditions? I worked in a PCP office ( 8 years) and all the Dr would say is "I need a letter for blank and here's what she has" and we took it from there. Here's my suggestion: I would write a small note to the Dr. reminding her that you have been a patient in her office for over eight years and appreciate the good care she's given you and this letter is part of the "care" you need, yoou know blah, blah. And then fax it to the office. Dr.s write letters for patients that can't do jury duty,for patients that have to bring something on a plane, like diabetic meds etc. They do this stuff all the time. Yeah, it's a pain and yeah they don't get paid to do it, but it's just part of the job. then I would follow up the letter you faxed, with a phone call to the office 2 days later and speak with the staff and explain and then ask when your letter might be ready. And get the name of the person you talked to on the phone. Second suggestion, have someone at the surgeon's call your PCP and have them ask the DR. for the letter.

Suz, I eat cereal, once a day (bfast) a high Fiber, higher protein type and only 3/4 c with 1/2 c skim milk. What size serving are you having when you eat the cereal? And how many protein drinks a day? How many calories in each one? Everything you are having all day long might be going through your band too quickly. If you are eating the same food every day, cereal and Protein shakes, how hard can it be to write those calories down, just so you know. If solid protein is that hard to get down then you might be too tight. You don't have to cook every meal to get protein in. Supermarkets have whole roasted chickens, there are frozen Entrees like lean cuisines or WW meals, healthly choice brands, canned tuna, add a can of green Beans (that you warm in the micro) and you have a meal. Many people can eat some carbs if the portion is controlled, but as a diabetic, you need to watch those more than others. Good Luck, I hope you'll try a few new things to get on a losing track again.

My hands are covering my ears and I am humming,(la, la, lah) so I can't hear those words in my mind. LOL! Sure we will lose more weight in the beginning and then weight loss will be slower and steadier after that, but I sure hope it doesn't stop at the six month mark. Heck, I'm not even at my sweet spot yet! Is your Dr. lumping GBP patients with banders?

Wow, you sound like you're doing well. What kind of incision do you have for the thighs? Or maybe you can't see them yet? We'll be watching for those photos!

Janet, Yeah but it's a DRY heat! LMAO! My daughter lives in Vegas and I never visit her in summer, she comes home instead, but she always complains about the humidity when she does. Being a "shortie" my goal is 140 and I'll stil be overweight, but maintaining less than that at my age? I'll be happy if I can maintain 150! Like you, I'll evaluate when I get closer.

I had no fears of the surgery, but boy, did I fear it wouldn't work. Well I have put that fear aside, my band IS working. Last time I lost thirty pounds it took 10 months and was REALLY hard. Now I have lost almost 40 pounds in half that time and it was easier than the last time, pre band and I'm not even at my sweet spot yet!:glare:

Welcome! My advice is to follow your Dr's recommended pre and post op diets carefully. Get your fills when you need them and expect that sometimes weight loss will be slow. Your band will not do all the work, you'll have to help it. Learning to understand the difference between real hunger and "head" hunger takes time. And last, exercise helps. Good Luck on your surgery.

My dr. recommends "full" liquids for two days after a fill. Did your office specify "clear" or "full"? If not, can you call them to find out what type of liquids? To me, a smoothie is a full liquid, not a clear.

Denise, What does your Dr. recommend for maintenance, now that you're at goal? Do they suggest a slight unfill? If you're eating 1000 to lose, what do they suggest for maintaining? Your calorie intake is like mine so I wonder what it will be like later.

I've had some swelling around my band after fills, that has lasted 1 to 4 days and then loosened up a bit, so you might get looser. I would keep the Appt for Friday, but then cancel it if you don't need it. Maybe taking half out of what they put in, if it doesn't loosen up. It's not good for you or the band to be too tight.

Yes, Pinkie AKA, heartme AKA, Iamwiththeband AKA, Love777Pink!!!! Gee, nobody could get suspended faster than she could! I have finally added exercise. After that long winter, I am now back walking on a walking path near our home. I've been doing 3 miles in just under an hour and there are several good inclines along the way. I'll have to start getting out earlier in the day, though, it's getting hot! You will definitely lose all your weight before your one year anniversay. That is fabulous. I'm not setting any goals on that just yet, still waiting for better restriction. Right now it's just whispering to me ( after five months) and now that I'm older and a little hard of hearing (LOL) i'd like it to speak up a bit! Waiting for next fill until I return from vacation, (May 5th) I feared being too tight while away. Hopefully, this will be THE one. Still using my old WW skills like you and it's working well for me. I guess all those weekly fees weren't wasted after all.