Ruby124

I'm in! I'm in! I don't know what my goal is though. I was trying to hit sixty by the 20th. I think I can do more. It is really falling of now. Put me down for 17 lbs by October 20. That would give me a total of 67 lbs gone in one year if I can do it....At least I'll get close! :thumbup:

Let's see...You were banded in October...I was banded in October...Your name is Don...Mine is Donna.....You started at 268...I started at 267.....You are now 217....I am 217.....Gee, I hope our goals numbers are not alike....LOL!!!!! Somehow, I don't think so....:thumbup:

Julie Ann...You were banded in Oct 2008 & lost 111 lbs already! Holy Mama!! I'm flabbergasted.....You are on a roll! Fantastic!!!!! :thumbup: I think I have had three fills. I lost forty with the first two. I took it slow since I was away so much beginning in April. I celebrated fifty this year and have treated myself to a couple vacations. I went to Alaska for two weeks, Disney for a week, Myrtle Beach for a week...a Blues Cruise to Mexico is coming up this October......that is why mine went a little slower. I got my third fill after the bulk of vacations were done. Now I am dropping again....just in time for my bandiversarry...and, cruise! :thumbup: To all you new gals...you will be in our shoes this time next year! Good on you for making the decision!!

Yea, Nazzy! You are doing great! What an awesome birthday gift to yourself!. I have two things in October to. A cruise...and, my band date. I will be cruising on my band date.......sixty some odd lbs lighter than October 2008:tongue2:

I have lost 50 lbs since early October 2008. My bandiversary is October 20, 2009. I was aiming for 60 lbs but I just might hit 65.....:frown:

Because...some of us are sugarholics. It won't stop with just one Mars bar. How easy is it to eat ice cream. creamy cakes, cheese cakes with the band. To easy. Once sugar gets in a sugarholics system it is hard to stop. Since there are no serious consequences in eating sugary things...like with gastric & dumping...I prefer to keep it out of my system. I suffice with chocolate Protein drinks, chocolate Protein Bars, sf chocolate pudding. That works for me.

OMG! My ticker just came on. This is the first I have seen it on the site. Yea! I just read your tip on the Water. I am going to try it immediately. I know I am not getting near enough water anyway. It can't hurt regardless. What you say just seems to make sense. I can't wait to try it!! Ohh..I'm not tortured. I am going with it. This is the best restriction I have had. Most things are off the table. But...I am fine. Maybe your water tip will help. As I lose the band will be less constricted anyway. I have no trouble getting up in the middle of the night swallowing water. As long as I can get liquids down with no issues I know I am good.

I love you restlessmonkey! Thank you for this tip. I had my fourth fill ten days ago. This is the tightest I have been. I could eat anything before in limited quantities. Now...forget it. My Doc said to eat soft food for a day or two after the fill. Ha! I am now experiencing this tightness right up to dinner time. I am down to a Protein drink....and, some bean soup during the first part of the day. Even cottage cheese gave me trouble at lunch the past two days. I had the soup at 4:00 PM. I just had an omelette with mashed potatoes with no problem. I have done that most nights this week. I know I am not getting near enough Water. I had no idea I was causing myself such issues. You have now motivated me to get more water in. I am a coffee drinker. I know that is not helping. Water, water here I come! I wish I could get my ticker to work.....

Wow! I hope things worked out for you. From what I understand the emergency room can't do a blessed thing for you. They do not remove saline from over-filled bands. I learned that before I had the surgery. I hope something changed there. I just had my 4th fill since October. He only put a half cc in. Why is your Dr. in such a rush. This 4th visit is the tightest I have felt. Prior to this I could eat most anything and still lost 40 lb. I hope things worked out for you, Goddess.

Thanks Julianne...I had a ticker made. Then I could not find where to post the signature. I do not see that anywhere on this board. How to get into my own personal info. Now the darn ticker place isn't accepting the pin I gave them...

How do I make a ticker band, guys? I'm tired of my blah posts... http://

Wow...That is a scary story, Kelly. I wonder if my band has moved. The only test I get after a fill is to drink a cup of Water. I guess it is good to look at your band once in a while even if it feels ok. You never know...:thumbdown: Good luck, Kelly. I hope your band stays in place.

Hey Becky...I am no lapband expert just having had surgery this past October. I will be fifty years old and have dieted most of my life. I just reread that five day pouch test diet plan. It just sounds like good old fashioned common sense to me! It is just getting back to basics if one has let themselves stray with foods that are not condusive to losing weight. Good luck to ya! Never mind those naysayers...

I found mine in a grocery store called Price Choppers. They usually sell for $2.99 per can. They had a week long sale for half price...$1.49 per can. I would go in and wipe them out every day. I must have about 250 cans.... :thumbup: I have also seen them in Health Food or Vitamin shops. I drink one every morning in the car with coffee on the way to work.

I'm happy! I had my first fill December 4. I lost 20 lbs prior to my first fill. Today I got my second fill. I managed to lose 1 lb over the holidays... :thumbup: Yea...I was really good until the 24th. I got back on track around January 3. That is the first time I have lost weight over the holiday. My Doc said most people gain seven lbs over the holiday...that I should be happy. I am! Hey Tyme...Good on you for working the excersise in. That's fantastic. I have been lax in that area. My job is very physical. Heavy, fast paced work. My first day back to work was Jan 5 from Oct 20. I am hoping the added activity of my job and the second fill today really kicks in. I'm ready! Keep up the good work! Nazzy...Have you tried these. I have tried the Mocha, Chocolate, Oreo Creme, & Vanilla. They have 51 grams of protein in a 15 oz can. Two or three grams of sugar depending on flavor. Lots of vitamins.....No after taste that I detect. I like them. Good job everyone getting back on track!

I'm happy! I had my first fill December 4. I lost 20 lbs prior to my first fill. Today I got my second fill. I managed to lose 1 lb over the holidays... Yea...I was really good until the 24th. I got back on track around January 3. That is the first time I have lost weight over the holiday. My Doc said most people gain seven lbs over the holiday...that I should be happy. I am! :thumbup:

That is why I figured let me not rush my fills in December. I will get my second fill on Jan 7. I am looking forward to getting back on track now. Holiday is over. I packed Soups & yogurt & a Protein drink for work. I have some sliced ham & cheese to...sans bread though I can eat it with no problem right now. Funs over...Time to get to work! Nazzy if i had double knee surgery last year I wouldn't be playing games either. I think it is fantastic you are out there walking & strenghthing them! Good luck people!

Yea...That is great Nazzy! We each have to find our own way. I figure in no time out all I will be cut-off from certain foods with each fill...so why rush it. It happening. I probably losy a few more lbs since the fourth. I know I didn't gain. Ohhh...and, FANTASTIC on the walking! You go girl!!! First Holiday Season EVER that has happened! Goo luck everyone... :cry_smile:

I was banded October 20. I have had one fill on December 4. My next fill is Jan 7. The Doc said I have about 3CC in a 10cc band. He said if I did not feel much restriction to come in two weeks after the 4th. That would have been around December 18. I said Fuggetaboutit! It was to close to Christmas. I can eat anything. There is some restriction as far as fullness. Not a lot. I decided to leave myself alone through the holiday. I was excellent up until the Dec 24. If I could eat bread, prime rib, Pasta, turkey, chicken, rice, pancakes without a problem through the holiday why mess with it. I have lost twenty lbs so far. It should have been about 25 by Jan 7 but I am not going to sweat it.

Sharty...How well did you research this surgery? How experienced is your Surgeon? How experienced is your sugeon's staff? Did they give you a set of Lap-band Surgery Discharge Instructions? A list of foods & what to drink or eat depending on what stage of recovery you are in. I had my surgery on 10/20. Only three days after you. There is no way I am allowed a fried egg at this point. There is no way I am allowed noodles...orchicken..at this point. Everything at this point is soft, blended foods like bean soup (Fiber & protein) blended..pea soup blended (both by adding some chicken broth to make it soupier. Creme of wheat..again, leaning toward the softer side. Protein shakes...smoothie drinkable yogurt....NO STRAWS! They will add to your gas problem. Tomorrow I am making mashed turnip. I will put them in the blender to make very spft & smooth. I am making a cauliflower & leek & celery & chicken broth soup tomorrow that will also be blended to a soft consistency. I am only allowed soft foods using the consistency of applesauce as the rule of thumb at this stage. I don't think you would be passed this stage yet. Everything at this stage is blended.

drat...Doubl post!

Hi Ronda.....I am going to write out the instructions I got from my Surgeons office. Hope it helps! Diet Notes When you arrive home on the day of surgery: You can have water, Crystal Light, diet iced tea, chicken broth, and decaffeinated tea. You should drink only 1/2 to 1 ounce of any of these liquids every 20 minutes while you are awake, as tolerated. 3-4 days after surgery: If you do not have any nausea or vomiting from the liquids, then you can start pureed foods. For two weeks after surgery: All food must be pureed no thicker than applesauce. 3rd week after surgery: Eat soft solid food. Every Day: Don't forget to take your protein powder in milk or yogurt every day, starting the day that you get home from the hospital. Eat 4 to 6 mini-meals per day. Make sure that you eat 1 to 2 servings from the milk group and 4 to 6 servings from the protein group each day. Eat slowly! For example, eat 1 ounce of meat, poultry or fish over 10 minutes. Eat 1 ounce of all other foods over 5 minutes. Stop eating if you are full. Do not spend more than 30 minutes eating at one meal. More about liquids: Try to drink 64 ozs. of liquid without caffeine each day. Wait at least 30 minutes after eating before you start drinking. Stop drinking 5 minutes before you eat. Drink slowly and do not use straws. Do not drink carbonated or alcoholic beverages for one month after surgery. When do I follow-up after surgry? You will meet with your Surgeon/Nurse Practitioner 2 to 3 weeks after surgery for your first follow-up visit. You will also see the Nurse Practitioner at 5 to 6 weeks after surgery and then monthly for the first year, every 3 months for the second year and every year thereafter. I hope this helps, Ronda! :thumbup:

First off...Congratulations TymeToGetRyte...Welcome back! I had no idea you could ask for your surgery on DVD. I watched a surgery on youtube the day after my surgery. Sure glad I didn't watch it before hand! :tongue: Per my Dr's order's I was allowed to have pureed foods three to four days after surgery if I was tolerating liquids OK. I never felt nauseous so I went to pureed foods on the fourth day. I just put everything in the blended and hit the button. The pureed bean soup was great after I doctored it like Ronda did...

Hey Ronda....I also have liquid stitches. Is that what they are called? I just noticed the day after surgery I had no bandages. My husband called them liquid stitches. I am dying to hit my hot tub. I know with the other stitches I would not be allowed. I should call and ask about these. It probably is the same rule. My surgery was 10/20. I still have no real appetite. Between the medication & lack of nutrients I have felt pretty light headed. I am going to cut my medication down. I think I can handle that now. I'll take one tsp. tonight before bed..instead of two. One when I get up tomorrow..instead of two. I was very fortunate. Gas was not that bad. My gas was all over the night of my surgery. Mine was trapped in my shoulder blade. It was all gone by 11:00 PM the first night. Thank God! Cause that did hurt! I bought some black bean soups today. I haven't tried it yet. I was trying to find a way to get fiber in. These constipation threads were scaring me...LOL! Thanks for your tips on 'doctoring' up the soup. I would never have thought of all the fun stuff you did. I was gonna add water instead of chicken broth. Yours sounds much more tasty. I love the salsa & sour creme idea. Keep 'em coming. Last night I experienced a sharp pain right under my breast bone on the left side. I had made a home made spaghetti sauce for my honey. I had a few teaspoon fulls. Well, maybe more than a few. There were some tiny, soft chunks of mushroom & onion. The pain hit me at some point after I was done eating it. I read somewhere pain under the breastbone was due to eating to fast, not chewing, eating to much. It lasted for about 30 min..very sharp. I thought to myself..Well, that is what happens when you do not use your baby spoon...:tongue: Tonight when I made his dinner I tried again. This time I used my babyspoon, did not eat as much, probably was more concious of the chewing (This is all so new) and, was fine. I am so looking forward to eating really good quality food in small quantities.

I'm real new to this. I just got banded on 10/20/08. I look at my upper stomach & lower stomach like an hour glass. Maybe this will keep me out of trouble. The sand flows smoothly through the hourglass with no obstruction. If you do not chew your food well enough to flow through the hourglass of your stomach you can get into trouble. Like I said. I have no real experience. This is just my idea of it.