MamaJava

Yep! Stands for "Dear Husband" or "Darling Husband"

No...I read here that the OP wanted to know only about quantity and stretching her pouch, which is stated exactly in her original post. She said she didn't care about calories.

You also have a very old band. Things may be quite different for you as well. If you weren't one of the folks in "shock" that the OP ate 3 eggs, then my post shouldn't bother you, should it? I think 3 eggs is a fine choice during the healing phase...I was trying to offer the OP a differentiating view than the ones where everybody was belittling her for having 3 eggs. Next time, you might not wanna get so offended. Sure, I'll let you know how I'm doing in 4 years on a band that is completely different than yours. How would that help to prove your point? Doesn't matter how long you've been banded or how experienced you are...from what I've learned, all bandsters are different and no 2 bandings are alike. After all, bands are much improved now. You have an old band style if you were banded 4 years ago. See what I'm saying? Sure, we can all offer advice and tell tales of our own personal experiences, but to jump down my throat like you are holier-than-thou just because you (as you put it) "have the inside scoop", well, that's not very productive, nor is it very mature. I could sit here and say that I know it all just because I was banded by the best Band Surgeon in the country (and quite possibly according to his stats and teaching status, the top Band Surgeon in the world), but I won't do that because I'm here to offer a point of view...not to play a game. Also, do you think it was really wise or healthy of you to not eat for a whole 4 months (as you stated in your post) just because you wanted to lose weight? Didn't you say this was all about GOOD CHOICES? We've all learned that sort of behavior is very destructive and not a good choice at all. I also believe the OP never said she didn't want an honest opinion. And I'm not the OP...so I'm not sure how that portion of your post even applies to anything.

Since I'm assuming the OP has not had a fill yet, then how on earth is 3 eggs and a couple bites of tuna going to stretch her pouch? Some of you are acting like she's insane, and you're so freaked out about the amount of food she can consume. I haven't had a fill yet either. I'm still on the mushy stage. While maybe some of you had restriction at that time, many of us don't. My stomach is still usually growling after 2 scrambled eggs. I have a hard time believing that one "slip up" (if you can even call this a slip up for the OP since it seems like a fine amount of food for the mushy stage) will stretch a pouch. It took us a long time to stretch our stomachs as we became obese. So if you are worried about that one meal, then cut back on the next one. Don't live in fear of stretching a pouch...especially when you haven't even had a fill yet. My doc said there's really no pouch there until you get filled...and as long as you are eating the right foods for healing, then you aren't doing any permanent damage...the healing foods slip through very easily.

I'm 10 days post-op and have some serious health food cravings. I've never been a sweet or junk food eater anyway, but I was a carb & fat addict. Anyway, I want veggies. Crunchy, raw veggies with hummus (sp?). I'm also craving fish, chicken, corned beef as far as meats go (all lean and broiled or grilled of course). I really would love some broiled seafood, a fruit salad or a huge chicken Caesar salad. Is there something behind this? I'm still on full liquids and I'm really doing okay with it. I just get cravings, but I'm really surprised at how healthy my cravings are! That's not like me. Usually I'd drool over burgers and fries, cheese-covered enchiladas and deep-fried chicken gizzards...but I'm shocked at what's happening. Is this something that is typical with the band? Do some folks totally lose their desire for the bad stuff once they are banded? I hope so...this will make my journey so successful if I can stick with eating what I'm craving now. :welldoneclap:

WendyRae, darling! Remember me? We were banded on the same day. I'm right there with you. We are 2 weeks out. I've only lost 12-13 (depending on what my scale decides to say that day) and it just won't budge. I have learned through these boards that the weight loss should not be the main issue right now. We have to heal first and life really begins after we begin receiving fills. I'm not allowed my first fill until February 18...which is 6 weeks post-op. I can't wait! I'm hungry and I'm frustrated and it's really, really tough. Luckily I can start soft foods this coming Friday cuz at this point I'm sick of purees. I worry because today I was so hungry that I know I had 2 cups of purees, which is too much I guess. I finally felt satisfied, and that scares me. People on these boards say we aren't supposed to be eating more than 1/2 cup to 1 cup of food...but that's so tough with no restriction. Hang in there. If you need to talk more, you know how to get ahold of me again. Do you have your first fill scheduled yet? We can go through that together, too.

I wasn't trying to be helpful when I called it a joke. We all view things differently, and yes I do think 3 weeks of liquids is pretty extreme when some docs don't feel it is necessary at all. Is it hell? Eh. Not really hell. There is much worse that could be going on in our lives. It sucks pretty bad, and it's tough, but again I'm the type of gal who's just too afraid to venture away from what my doc tells me to do. Hopefully the OP will fall back into that mentality and get back on track and stick to the rules. Best of luck to ya, OP. It's only a brief moment in time when you look at the grand scope of life. You'll survive it, as most band patients do.

I voted middle. Mine is 1/2 way between my ribcage & belly button, but slightly off center of the midline...to my right, but still definitely middle.

I have a really hard time believing that any real damage would be done. I mean if you look at the drastic difference in post-surgical "healing" diets, they are all so drastically different. I read all the time where folks are told to begin soft foods 1 week post-op. There are others who are on Clear Liquids for 2 weeks post-op. Others are on full liquids for 2 weeks post-op (like me) then move to puree for 2 weeks, then soft foods for 1 week. If some patients are allowed to begin soft & regular foods only 1 or 2 weeks out, then why are they not destroying their bands? If the healing diets are different for everybody, then whose bands are gonna be destroyed? Whose docs are right? Whose docs are wrong? Obviously those who are allowed to begin soft foods only 1 week post-op are fine and they haven't destroyed anything...so I'm not so sure these super-long "healing" diets are really even necessary. In fact, I think they are a joke. HOWEVER...with that being said...I'm too afraid to break my docs rules. I don't think the healing diet I'm on is really necessary...not when I hear of other lap patients eating normally 2 weeks out and having no ill effects from it whatsoever. But, I'm not a doctor and just because I think this diet is a big joke, doesn't mean I'm gonna go against it either. I'm not sure why it varies so much from doctor to doctor, but it does. I guess just stick with what you've been told and don't push it. I highly doubt you'd do any damage, but that's just my medical background. I'm not your doctor.

So I've been reading these boards and how most lap band patients (well, at least the ones who are losing weight) are eating between 800-1,000 calories per day. I've been tracking my daily menus and today I've had it up to my eyeballs in confusion. I've had Breakfast, mid-morn snack, lunch, afternoon snack so far. I've not even had dinner yet. I'm already at 1,075 calories and 85 g. of protein! I know the Protein is good since my goal is 59 g. per day...but how in the heck do some of you low-cal eaters make it through each day on such low calories? I'm eating very little food and I'm making really, really good choices (my Nutritionist agreed)...so why am I not losing weight and why am I so hungry that whenever people stand and talk to me they morph into a giant turkey drumstick??? I am really, really hungry. How are you all eating so very few calories? What are your menus like? Is it because I've not been filled yet? How would having a fill at this point make me suddenly begin to lose weight? I'm eating exactly how the center told me to eat...so it's not gonna change much when I get my band filled...except by that point I'll be on soft & regular foods and my calories might rise. That will make this even harder...right? Here's today's menu (remember I haven't had dinner yet) BREAKFAST: 1 cup Weight Control Quaker oatmeal, banana bread flavor - made with Water SNACK: 1 cup 1% milk 30g. Pro Complex chocolate Protein powder LUNCH: 1 cup white bean Soup (homemade) with ham (pureed, no other added fats) 1 Dannon Light & Fit yogurt smoothie - strawberry (7 oz.) SNACK: 1 medium banana, pureed ***TOTALS: 1,076 calories / 85 g. protein So how is it that with 40 minutes of workout per day added into the mix am I not losing any weight? I lost 13 pounds immediately after surgery and I'm stuck. I'm not cheating. I'm not eating foods that I shouldn't. I'm really into this, and I'm getting horribly frustrated. I stick to about 1 cup of food per meal and that does fill me up, but then I'm hungry (drooling) 1 hour later. I am getting about 72 oz of fluids each day so I'm okay in that department as well. Right now I'm freaking out and afraid to eat anything the rest of the day cuz I'm already over 1,000 calories. Why isn't my body burning anything like it should be? Going from 4,000 calories (or more) per day as an obese woman down to 1,000-1,300 calories per day with exercise I should be losing steadily and constantly. What else can I eat today without totally ruining my calories and going too high? I'm very, very angry at my body right now. Any words of advice for someone who thinks she may have made the biggest mistake of her life in getting this band?

It depends on what band you have, and the max capacity of cc's that it holds. For example, I have the Realize Johnson & Johnson band and it is a 9 cc maximum band. For that band, my doctors first fills are usually between 1 to 2.5 cc's. My friend has the same band as me. She just had her first fill on the day of my surgery and she got 2.5 cc's for her first fill on a 9 cc band. You need to know what your band cc size is, and then the rest depends on your personal doctor. Nobody here is really gonna be able to tell you.

The rules from my doctor are no carbonation for 6 months after surgery. After that, if you can handle it, then the occasional carbonated beverage isn't gonna hurt unless you personally are unable to tolerate it. They said the reason we are supposed to avoid caffeine is because it makes you hungry. That's it. I was a Coca-cola girl also. I won't touch it while my stomach is still healing. However, if I ever eat a slice of pizza again in my life, or even tacos, I gotta have a Coke with them. So maybe I'll share one with somebody and sip slowly to see if I can tolerate it. I've never been one to guzzle sodas all day long so it's not too big of a deal to me.

Thanks everybody for your advice! My facility made it very, VERY clear that we are only going to be successful by eating 6 small meals per day. They definitely see the most weight loss with that method...it keeps the metabolism up. That is also what most diet centers recommend also...so I'm not worried about that part of what I'm doing. I'll just wait and see what happens. My Protein shake is low in calories, so that's not an issue. I guess I've just seen most band patient's weight come off immediately during this "eating for healing" phase, so that's why I'm upset. If it's this hard right now I can't imagine it getting any easier. I'll just wait for my fill and I hope I'm one of the people who gets a successful first fill.

I wouldn't eat between meals if it weren't for the fact that the facility told me lap patients should be eating 6 small meals per day. I guess maybe that's where I'm going wrong?

joyaddison: go ahead and send me a message and we'll talk further! Glad to see you're going to the "best of the best" as far as band docs go! Seriously...he really is.

Nevermind my last post...I see that the first list on page #1 still has my name on it...just the last few posts didn't. It's all good now!

Ummm....looks like the wrong list got copied at some point because I've suddenly fallen off the list...so here I am adding myself back on. Make sure you copy the last corrected and updated list when adding new names, please! NAME ... Start Weight ... Goal ... Current Weight ... To Go Allaboutme ...... 238 ...... 165 ....... 211 ......... 46 Allison925 ...... 175 ...... 145 ....... 175 ......... 30 Angie4b1g ....... 237.8 .... 205 ....... 237.8 ....... 32.8 Ariel ........... 199 ...... 169 ....... 199 ......... 30 babs0101 ........ 216 ...... 190 ....... 216 ......... 26 Bigbaby ......... 207 ...... 167 ....... 207 ......... 40.0 CQQlgirl ........ 220 ...... 195 ....... 220 ......... 25 Foofy ........... 244 ...... 199 ....... 244 ......... 45 Georgia Girl .... 275 ...... 237 ....... 272 ......... 35 Hazeleyegrl1 .... 233 ...... 200 ....... 225.5 ....... 25.5 Hungryforchange . 225 ...... 190 ....... 225 ......... 35 ivyrose325 ...... 342 ...... 215 ....... 261 ......... 46 Jeni 85 ......... 214.4 .... 184 ....... 214.4 ....... 30.4 Jfran ........... 181 ...... 145 ....... 181. ........ 36<o:p></o:p> Legster ......... 216 ...... 174 ....... 216 ......... 42 Luluc ........... 166 ...... 135 ....... 166 ......... 31 MamaJava ........ 283 ...... 233 ....... 283 ......... 50 Mamato3 ......... 242 ...... 199 ....... 242 ......... 43 Mary-2b150 ...... 225 ...... 150 ....... 193 ......... 43 Nadean .......... 204.6 .... 160 ....... 204.6 ....... 44.6 Nhanson ......... 226 ...... 196 ....... 226 ......... 30 Rainer .......... 256 ...... 216 ....... 256 ......... 40 Redtulips3 ...... 245 ...... 199 ....... 245 ......... 46 Smithem1 ........ 240.6 .... 190 ....... 240.6 ....... 50.6 Stacy73 ......... 226.4 .... 194 ....... 226.4 ....... 32.4 Starryeyed ...... 280 ...... 199 ....... 237 ......... 38 Suzzzie ......... 297 ...... 243 ....... 294 ......... 51 <u1:p></u1:p>Wombat712 ....... 152.8 .... 120 ....... 152.8 ....... 32.8

I was immediately placed on full liquids the first day post-op and so getting in my Protein has been no problem since I just drink a shake made w/ protein powder 2 times a day. If you are on clears only, then I'm not sure that you need to worry about it until you are on your full liquids or puree stage. As far as the Vitamins go, I simply chew one children's Target brand Vitamin (just like Flintstones) in the morning, and then one more at night with dinner. Most bandsters I know just chew a children's complete multivitamin like me. I think it's easiest, and that was preferred & recommended by my nutritionist.

I've added myself into the mix and I placed myself in alphabetically. I'm in!!! I'm only 2 weeks post-op so my summer goal is gonna be a big one! NAME ... Start Weight ... Goal ... Current Weight ... To Go Allaboutme ...... 238 ...... 165 ....... 211 ......... 46 Allison925 ...... 175 ...... 145 ....... 175 ......... 30 Angie4b1g ....... 237.8 .... 205 ....... 237.8 ....... 32.8 Ariel ........... 199 ...... 169 ....... 199 ......... 30 babs0101 ........ 216 ...... 190 ....... 216 ......... 26 Bigbaby ......... 207 ...... 167 ....... 207 ......... 40.0 CQQlgirl ........ 220 ...... 195 ....... 220 ......... 25 Foofy ........... 244 ...... 199 ....... 244 ......... 45 Georgia Girl .... 275 ...... 237 ....... 272 ......... 35 Hazeleyegrl1 .... 233 ...... 200 ....... 226.5 ....... 26.5 Hungryforchange . 225 ...... 190 ....... 225 ......... 35 ivyrose325 ...... 242 ...... 215 ....... 261 ......... 46 Jeni 85 ......... 214.4 .... 184 ....... 214.4 ....... 30.4 Jfran ........... 181 ...... 145 ....... 181. ........ 36<o:p></o:p> Legster ......... 216 ...... 174 ....... 216 ......... 42 Luluc ........... 166 ...... 135 ....... 166 ......... 31 MamaJava......... 283 ...... 233 ....... 283 ......... 50 Mamato3 ......... 242 ...... 199 ....... 242 ......... 43 Mary-2b150 ...... 225 ...... 150 ....... 193 ......... 43 Nadean .......... 204.6 .... 160 ....... 204.6 ....... 44.6 Nhanson ......... 226 ...... 196 ....... 226 ......... 30 Rainer .......... 256 ...... 216 ....... 256 ......... 40 Redtulips3 ...... 245 ...... 199 ....... 245 ......... 46 Smithem1 ........ 240.6 .... 190 ....... 240.6 ....... 50.6 Stacy73 ......... 226.4 .... 194 ....... 226.4 ....... 32.4 Starryeyed ...... 280 ...... 199 ....... 237 ......... 38 Suzzzie ......... 297 ...... 243 ....... 294 ......... 51 <u1:p></u1:p>Wombat712 ....... 152.8 .... 120 ....... 152.8 ....... 32.8 <!-- google_ad_section_end --> __________________

Here is a response I posted today in the forum regarding a fellow bandsters question about emotional changes encountered after banding. I think what I wrote makes a lot of sense and I'm really proud of this post. Plus, it just kinda came out. I didn't even know what I was writing as I was typing it. I got done and got a little teary-eyed over it. I think I've finally had my revelation and I put it into words for the world to see. Enjoy... ********************************************************** Of course that makes sense! For many of us, we are overweight because food is an addiction. Much like a heroine addict or someone addicted to cigarettes. It's in the same class of addictions. One is not better than another...they are all the same in that they all engross a person physically AND emotionally. We become addicts for mental reasons, not physical ones. I've been rather emotional since getting my band. I am entering an epiphany of sorts, where I can clearly see now where I went wrong in the past. I immediately turned to food (I always denied that I was an emotionally addicted eater). The reason I can see it so clearly now is that the first thing I do when I'm upset or confused or angry...is walk to the kitchen and begin pacing because there isn't much I can have anymore. Before, I would walk in there and build a huge pile of nachos, toss them in the oven and then soak my sorrows in glory as I ate the whole thing. Now that I'm medically and physically unable to do those things, I find myself almost lost...but please note that I said almost. I'm only 2 weeks post-op and this is by far the greatest and most severe life-changing event I've ever gone through. Even more so than having my children! That's saying a lot. That proves to me and shows me that having this surgery was THE RIGHT decision for me. Otherwise, I would have eaten myself into an early grave. Now I must find other things to turn to during moments of my emotional roller coaster. This is a long road for so many reasons. I have to change my whole way of thinking. I have to now learn to love myself more than food. I have to figure out another way to channel my emotional energy when the going gets tough. I can do it. I'd be so proud if I could one day call myself an exercise addict! It's true. Find a counselor or therapist to help you get through it. I don't have one right now, because I really feel like I have a handle on things. I even stopped taking my antidepressants before my surgery. I wanted to feel every emotional moment of this journey and maybe there are days when I really should be taking my Zoloft still...but I'm glad I decided to drop them the way that I did. Not everybody is the same and not everybody is as nuts as I am to be able to say that they are GLAD they are riding this emotional roller coaster. I really am happy about it. It means things are on the move...things are changing...I'm changing inside and outside...even when the scale doesn't say so, it's okay, because I know better. Best of luck...you are not alone. **************************************************************** Of course I also must track my food for today: BREAKFAST: 1 cup Weight Control banana bread oatmeal (made w/ water) = (320 calories, 14 g. protein) SNACK:

Here is a response I posted today in the forum regarding a fellow bandsters question about emotional changes encountered after banding. I think what I wrote makes a lot of sense and I'm really proud of this post. Plus, it just kinda came out. I didn't even know what I was writing as I was typing it. I got done and got a little teary-eyed over it. I think I've finally had my revelation and I put it into words for the world to see. Enjoy... ********************************************************** Of course that makes sense! For many of us, we are overweight because food is an addiction. Much like a heroine addict or someone addicted to cigarettes. It's in the same class of addictions. One is not better than another...they are all the same in that they all engross a person physically AND emotionally. We become addicts for mental reasons, not physical ones. I've been rather emotional since getting my band. I am entering an epiphany of sorts, where I can clearly see now where I went wrong in the past. I immediately turned to food (I always denied that I was an emotionally addicted eater). The reason I can see it so clearly now is that the first thing I do when I'm upset or confused or angry...is walk to the kitchen and begin pacing because there isn't much I can have anymore. Before, I would walk in there and build a huge pile of nachos, toss them in the oven and then soak my sorrows in glory as I ate the whole thing. Now that I'm medically and physically unable to do those things, I find myself almost lost...but please note that I said almost. I'm only 2 weeks post-op and this is by far the greatest and most severe life-changing event I've ever gone through. Even more so than having my children! That's saying a lot. That proves to me and shows me that having this surgery was THE RIGHT decision for me. Otherwise, I would have eaten myself into an early grave. Now I must find other things to turn to during moments of my emotional roller coaster. This is a long road for so many reasons. I have to change my whole way of thinking. I have to now learn to love myself more than food. I have to figure out another way to channel my emotional energy when the going gets tough. I can do it. I'd be so proud if I could one day call myself an exercise addict! It's true. Find a counselor or therapist to help you get through it. I don't have one right now, because I really feel like I have a handle on things. I even stopped taking my antidepressants before my surgery. I wanted to feel every emotional moment of this journey and maybe there are days when I really should be taking my Zoloft still...but I'm glad I decided to drop them the way that I did. Not everybody is the same and not everybody is as nuts as I am to be able to say that they are GLAD they are riding this emotional roller coaster. I really am happy about it. It means things are on the move...things are changing...I'm changing inside and outside...even when the scale doesn't say so, it's okay, because I know better. Best of luck...you are not alone. **************************************************************** Of course I also must track my food for today: BREAKFAST: 1 cup Weight Control banana bread oatmeal (made w/ water) = (320 calories, 14 g. protein) SNACK:

Of course that makes sense! For many of us, we are overweight because food is an addiction. Much like a heroine addict or someone addicted to cigarettes. It's in the same class of addictions. One is not better than another...they are all the same in that they all engross a person physically AND emotionally. We become addicts for mental reasons, not physical ones. I've been rather emotional since getting my band. I am entering an epiphany of sorts, where I can clearly see now where I went wrong in the past. I immediately turned to food (I always denied that I was an emotionally addicted eater). The reason I can see it so clearly now is that the first thing I do when I'm upset or confused or angry...is walk to the kitchen and begin pacing because there isn't much I can have anymore. Before, I would walk in there and build a huge pile of nachos, toss them in the oven and then soak my sorrows in glory as I ate the whole thing. Now that I'm medically and physically unable to do those things, I find myself almost lost...but please note that I said almost. I'm only 2 weeks post-op and this is by far the greatest and most severe life-changing event I've ever gone through. Even more so than having my children! That's saying a lot. That proves to me and shows me that having this surgery was THE RIGHT decision for me. Otherwise, I would have eaten myself into an early grave. Now I must find other things to turn to during moments of my emotional roller coaster. This is a long road for so many reasons. I have to change my whole way of thinking. I have to now learn to love myself more than food. I have to figure out another way to channel my emotional energy when the going gets tough. I can do it. I'd be so proud if I could one day call myself an exercise addict! It's true. Find a counselor or therapist to help you get through it. I don't have one right now, because I really feel like I have a handle on things. I even stopped taking my antidepressants before my surgery. I wanted to feel every emotional moment of this journey and maybe there are days when I really should be taking my Zoloft still...but I'm glad I decided to drop them the way that I did. Not everybody is the same and not everybody is as nuts as I am to be able to say that they are GLAD they are riding this emotional roller coaster. I really am happy about it. It means things are on the move...things are changing...I'm changing inside and outside...even when the scale doesn't say so, it's okay, because I know better. Best of luck...you are not alone.

Oatmeal has always been one of the greatest weight loss/management foods for me...always. Now that I'm banded I'm SO glad that I can tolerate it thusfar now that I've begun my puree stage. I prefer regular flavor with a few dashes of cinnamon & 1 packet of Splenda. Or, if I'm in a really big hurry, I just add some hot water to the Weight Control kind (Cinnamon & Banana Bread flavors are the best) and that gives me some added protein. I stay full for a couple hours on it. Oatmeal is really a perfect food in so many ways.

I've bid on a couple Bodybuggs on ebay in hopes of getting one that is affordable enough for me to buy. How on earth did you all afford this little thing? Sorry to intrude...it's just so expensive. Is there a great deal on it somewhere that I'm totally missing?

If I were to go as far as to say I was having "excruciating" pain, then something is not right. I would definitely go to the doc ASAP. I was sleeping comfortably on my side with a pillow under my stomach on day #2 post-op. I still have some tenderness at the port site, but otherwise everything is totally back to normal and I'm only 2 weeks post-op. Your pain at this point should not even be close to excruciating...not 4 1/2 weeks post-op.