Poodles

I wanted to bump this up to see if anyone knows the "correct" portions we are suppose to eat as bandsters. I remember something about 1 cup total, but want to see what others have been told.

When I went for an unfill, they said that even Water can cause dialation of the pouch if you are too full. Now I have a bulge and am wondering what is a "small portion" does anyone have ideal portion sizes? Should I go with the standard 4 oz Protein, 1/2 cup cooked veg, 1 cup raw veg? I want my pouch to shrink!!!!!!

Well, I am not a doctor, but I have survived a "lower abdominal, midline, incisional hernia" Basically it was a hernia where my c-section scar was. I did not know it was there until I had my appendix out, then they waited for me to heal from that surgery, and cut me open again for the hernia repair. (then I had the lapband surgery a month later, 3 surgeries in 3 months). Now, although I did not feel any pain for the hernia, I picked up a microwave recently and my port started to hurt. I picked it up and rested it on my tummy while moving it from a chair to a table. Then I noticed a weird "zing" of pain. I figure I pulled a stitch on my port. After a while (about a month), it went away. Some people with hernias see it protruding from the outside. Some people have pain, and others don't. But I bet they would have to do a laproscapy (sp?) to find something. Good luck hun, hope you feel better in the new year!!!

Barbara honey, I feel your pain. I felt like a total failure going in knowing full well I was too tight. It seems like a step back to have stuff taken out, but then again, they don't know how it feels. I have actually eaten properly the past few days. No trying to sneak in "easy" food. I have had meatloaf, and pork loin, salad, and NO PAIN!!! I have stuck to the Atkins plan and feel great (although I would kill or die for something sweet). The water weight loss has come off and I feel lighter. Have not been on the scale, I figure I need to work on head issues and relearn my band. That is my main focus. Please do take things slowly, I tried an egg and it did not work, but what the hay, I can eat MEAT!!! Poor ME, I have to have tenderloin for the rest of my life !!! Tomorrow, I am going to try chicken! Slowly, of course. You know the only one that can determine what is right for you is you. You can always get more put back in, or more taken out. That is the beauty of the band. Now for a question: Do you guys/gals measure your food before you eat? If so, what should you measure out? I have just been eating until full, but with a stretched pouch I wonder if I should do that. Thanks for the help!

At my last appointment the lady explained to me this way: if you are too tight, and eat something that inflames the band, you will become tighter. Then it will heal and loosen up again until you upset it again. Then it becomes a vicious cycle. If you retain Water, you will be more restricted. When I told her my way of eating (coffee in am, little lunch, eat alot at dinner, but always a lot of mushie type stuff) she told me that I was too full. When she looked at my images she decided that removing .4 cc's would be best. Now I feel wide open, but when I eat I feel no pain. Give me a week and it may change, it may change with each thing I try, but at least we can have it adjusted to fit our needs. Fickle, yes. But what works for you (1.6 in 4cc band) may not work for me (.8 in 4cc band). That is the beauty of the thing.

At my last fill, the lady told me that it does not evaporate in everyone, and that if you don't have a leak it will not go away. I have also read on the board that you can go a little over what the band size is to allow for what is in the tube. I also was retold the band rules. I don't know if you eat mushies often, but they are a no no with the band. Solid foods only. No Soup, mashed anything, etc... I told the lady that I wanted to start Atkins again, and she recommended the South Beach approach to go along with the band. (I am going to stick with Atkins, it works for me.) And she also mentioned that devil word (exercise). Now, I in no way claim to be an expert. I am just passing on the information that I have read/heard about. Good Luck!

My resolutions: 1. Spend lots of time with my hubby/son. 2. Re-Learn my band and try to lose weight. 3. Take my meds daily on set schedule instead of when I remember them. (**doh**) Now I would put exercise in here, but I do that every year, so this year I won't put it on the list and see if I get off my butt and do it. Reverse psychology this year. :love:

Oh yes, I would have liked to see more weight off. And I SHOULD have gone back sooner. I just could not tell if it was how the band was suppose to work or not. As I was bawling in the office, I told the lady "if I knew it was going to hurt so badly, I would have never gotten the thing." Then she told me it was not suppose to do that. Stupid me, I should have listened to others before it went this long. Well now I am on day 4 of Atkins, and day 4 with my unfill. Here is what I have had yesterday. Please tell me if this is good/bad/ok. This is the first time in 4 months I have been able to tolerate solids, so I think I am enjoying it way too much. Brunch: 6 swedish meatballs (3 oz total) (around 11 am) Lupper: 3 oz pork tenderloin and 1/2 cup low carb Pasta with sauce (around 3) YUMMY!!! snack: whey shake with SF English Toffee syrup, really craving sweets now Dinner: 1/3 cup guacamole, 1 thick slice roast beef from deli counter (around 7) Snack: Iced coffee Just can't tell you how good it feels to not choke on a whey shake in the am. I could not believe that meatballs went down... and they were good! This morning I had a 1/4 cup of cottage cheese... and it was good too. No pain, and I am full!!!! Six months with the band, and I have to relearn everything. Man, I am slow. :love:

Welcome to the thread Lady! Well day 3 on Atkins, and day 3 with my unfill. I want sweets in the worst way, but have done my best to stay away. Have found sweet iced coffee (with splenda of course) helps. Here is what I have had today. Please tell me if this is good/bad/ok. This is the first time in 4 months I have been able to tolerate solids, so I think I am enjoying it way too much. Brunch: 6 swedish meatballs (3 oz total) (around 11 am) Lupper: 3 oz pork tenderloin and 1/2 cup low carb pasta with sauce (around 3) YUMMY!!! snack: Whey shake with English Toffee syrup, really craving sweets now Dinner: 1/3 cup guacamole, 1 thick slice roast beef from deli counter (around 7) Snack: Iced coffee Now that I look at it, it does not look that bad. I am full, but really wanting something sweet. May have another coffee before bed, decaf of course. Tomorrow I should be home free on Atkins. Just can't tell you how good it feels to not choke on a whey shake in the am. I could not believe that meatballs went down... and they were good!

Oh Barbara ***hugs*** I hope all goes well with everything. My dad was sent home with six months to live, and he showed them. Multiply that six by seven and you get the picture. Doctors just guess, you know. No one knows but the big man himself, and he ain't talkin'. I feel so much better already with .4 cc's removed. My breakfast shake did not "pool" and then go down, so I was very happy with that. I have been on mushies today, still a little sore. Don't know if I will stay with mushies tomorrow or try some solids for breakfast. Will sip some coffee and see how that goes down first. Then cottage cheese here I come! Hope your unfill goes well too. The new year will bring new hope for us all, I am sure.

I have eaten those little peeled citrus pieces in a can with no problem. Taste great mixed into a vanilla shake.

I use pudding sometimes too, but have found a bite or two on my meds and it gets small enough to chase down with some tea. Metformin is salty, Benecar is ok, my Cymbalta, I just open the capsule and take. Have had no problems with it. After a fill, I will mix with pudding or yogurt. Have even been known to use sour cream in a pinch...

Well, I went for my fill today. They ended up taking out .4 cc's. Said that I was really tight. My pouch is a little distended, but they said that will go back down. I asked why it was distended and they said that drinking water with that much restriction could stretch it, so I should not feel bad about it. Told me to never wait this long between fills, especially being that restricted. I have lost 4 lbs since August. Guess that is something. I met with the patient councelor and she gave me a ton of advice. Mostly that the band is NOT suppose to hurt. We are meant to eat REAL meat. Not the stuff put thru the blender. My instructions are to be on liquids today, mushies tomorrow, and SOLID foods the next day. Blenders are a no no for me, I need to get a filet mignon and try that in the pm (poor me), and if that hurts I may need to get more removed. I have the medium band, which was tight in the first place. The counselor said I might have needed the big band, so the band itself is tight, and with a little fill I should be fine. Told me not to judge myself based on fill level, because everyone is different. She has been banded several years so she knows what I am going thru. Fill level goal is to not hurt and to not let too much go thru. Eat solid foods (no more spoons) and don't drink during meals (which I haven't been doing anyway). Going to post some of this in the fill section. Someone somewhere is going thru the same thing, and being overfilled is a pain in more ways than one.

I think they do. Will ask tomorrow for sure...

I just pulled out my Atkins book and read something that might help. It says if you find yourself craving carbs to increase your fat/protein and minimize simple carbs. It also says to keep Snacks in your purse, like nuts to help that draw to the Mickey D's...

To me the SF candy just gets the pump ready for the real stuff. Cold Turkey girls... I mean it. Just eat cold turkey. :love:

It is kinda funny how this topic reached my conversations today. I gave my family an Atkins kit I found online, one to each household. My brother, who has been on Atkins for two months now plans on cheating on Christmas. He has the pie ready to go down. I told him he needs to forget eating the whole pie and go for a little slice if he could do nothing at all. He says that with him it is all or nothing. I have found it to be the same with me. I tried to explain to him that it is a carb addiction and basically put it like this: If a cocaine addict is to be reformed, they must go cold turkey. No one tells them to take a little hit three times a day to survive. With a carb addict it is the same, we need to stay away from the carbs to be reformed, because one hit will turn into a whole pie, just like one hit for the cocaine addict will turn into many. He basically, just said I was crazy. Then I told him about being on Atkins for 3 years with no slips, then one day I was off (my last meal syndrome before the band), now I find it hard to stay on Atkins for more than 3 days. (Primarily because my band will not allow me to eat my favorite Atkins receipes, and partly because carbs have taken over my life again.) The addiction has taken hold. As a female, I have found that the Schwartzbein Principle diet is better for me because of its mix of Vitamins. It has been found that females will go off low carb faster than males (or so her book says) because of a lack of vitamins we need, like B vitamins, E, etc... This lack of vitamins causes a binge cycle for us. So we need to look at both the physical need for some foods as well as the mental. As Jack stated, simple carbs are our crack. We just have to find a way to live without it.

Don't think you want them to happen too much, may cause a slip or something. Just try to avoid them. Chew Chew Chew...

To my FAVORITE man with a beard... Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays/Seasons Greetings and all the other politically correct ways of saying have a great holiday. :love: ***wonder if Jack will let me sit in his lap???***

Just had to start the threads for the men... Love you Jack. You are so cute. Say the letter I love to hear.... What is a pirates favorite letter of the alphabet????? Type me something profound Jackie Baby...

Well, guess I am a Grinch too. I survived my get together without being pushed out of the bandster closet. Told everyone I was going on Atkins on the 26th, so maybe with a new fill, I will be set to go down the scale in the new year. Will be glad when it is all said and done too!!!

I have decided to go back to my Lord of the Rings type thinking. Carbs are the "Precious" thing I obsess over, and that will surely kill 'us'. I am Gollum in so many ways when you substitute a cookie for a gold ring. It is something that you must choose to let go of, or jump in the lava after... Yes I know I am weird, but I did really well when I put a sign on my fridge that read: "Adjust with all the strength and will power you possess." Second line read: "My Precious." Think I may need to make a new sign for the new year. I wish everyone renewing strength and power this holiday season. Jesus was born to save us, not to kill us with sugar. :love: Thank you for all of the support. I truly appreciate each and every one of my LBT friends.

Well today I went shopping for my Christmas get together, and I did something out of the ordinary. I actually went looking for healthy things to offer my guests. I now have to offer my family: SF Spiced Cider, Caramel Apples with Sprinkles (Better than pie), A variety of Nuts, Chocolate covered frozen bananas (again better than pudding), A variety of dried fruits, trail mix, and diet sodas. Now, since my family only gets together for desserts, these should be a little helpful. Figure we will let the kids make the apples, so they can put the sprinkles on them. That should be fun. I found Sugar Free English Toffee Syrup to add to my coffee, and have officially jumped back on the low carb band wagon. Figure the stomach bug has helped me figure out some things. That and the fact that everyone else has beat me on the scale... and I have some catching up to do. I actually thought about not coming back to the boards, because I have done so poorly, but really appreciate everyones support. Now, if I can just convince myself to get up off my butt and exercise it will be all the better. Really, kinda kicking myself for not going to get my fill today as planned. But, I don't think I would have remained in the closet if I had. (My family still does not know.) Guess the slow weight loss helps with that. Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday. And, just for my information can someone post a good day and bad day of food list. Good day being when you can eat, and bad day being when you can not eat. That may help me to see what I need to do. Thanks all!!! Regarding Triggers: Bad days at work, too much sugar, and Mother Nature (TOM) all trigger me.

When I was newly married, I had a miscarraige. When I could not get pregnant again, we tried to adopt but found the cost too high to afford. When we got pregnant with my son, we almost lost him. When we had him we were so happy to see that little face and could not understand how anyone would not want to bring a life into the world. It does not matter to me who raises the child, as long as it is loved and cared for. There are idiots out there that do not need children. Selfish, stupid people have no business holding a life in their hands. Unfortunately, these same selfish, stupid idiots do not think about the others out there that would love that precious baby. Like myself, and my husband. We have since lost another baby, and I cry when I think of the two babies that will be lost to me forever. Babies that I wanted. Now there is no hope for another child in my life besides adoption. Will there be any babies to adopt if people keep killing them???? Overpopulation, abortion, whatever. If your "higher power" deems you worthy to have a baby, to keep or find a home for, you should treasure that gift. This whole thread makes me sad.

Hello All!!! I am baaaaack!!! In my new house now!!! TV/Internet hooked up!!! Yeah!!! I just got over the stomach bug from HELL, could not keep anything down but whey protein shakes. Even the phenegren did not help. My back is killing me too, so I feel your pain. I have not been able to eat much today without pbing, so I am going to stick with shakes the next few days. I was not going to post tonight, because I am doing horrible on my diet. My six months have come and gone, and I am only 27 lbs down. I feel like a total failure. But only have myself and holidays to blame. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and now the MONTH for Christmas crap. I am such a lap band loser that I even put off my fill until December 26th so that I would know what to expect over the holidays at parties. (tight in the morning, little lunch, drink warm water, eat soft things at party, etc) Since my sick episode, I thought, well this is the time to get on atkins, but two seconds after I woke up this morning I drank a cappacino and thought "doh". But I have been good the rest of the day, so I will be good this evening and start fresh tomorrow. I just have one more week until my next fill, and then I will need to relearn my band. I would love to be able to eat meat... not ground or blended... real meat... but don't know if that will ever happen again. Will let you guys/gals know how things are going after my fill. Glad to see everyone doing so well. :love: Now off to find Jack...