sugrbear

It sounds like your in the liquid stages which for many of us is very different, but read your lables, I found the Soups I was using had 7=9 grms of Protein, eggs are high in protein, cheese, yogurt, I only used Protein shakes to supplement when I couldn't get enough in because I was running around town etc. I like walmarts whey vanilla protein pwdr, with frozen fruit, ice and Vitamin Water in a blender as a smoothy, I would just make small ones since I am not big on protein shakes. My dr let us have lentil soup, cream butternut squash, pumpkin soup, all good protein, just watch fat content. When your first healing a little fat won't destroy your journey. Later I found canned boneless salmon made up with a small amount of mayo was another good source of protein, and goes down easier than tuna, that with a slice of cheese was often my lunch when I hit the mushy stage. I was banded March 24 and have lost 60 lbs so far. Remember you can only absorb 20 grms protein at a time, so don't try to take in all 60 in one large sitting, you won't absorb it all. Spread it out. Good luck.

Yes, your retaining liquid, your full of medications, and you are most definately swollen and will be for several days to a few weeks. Please don't stress yourself with the worry of a number on a scale right now. I know it is tempting to jump on the scale, but I would say, have someone hide it for you for at least a week, even two, then get on and be pleasantly surprised! Good luck, get some rest now, your healing for the next few weeks you should have no other concerns right now.

I have found that by not drinking with meals, I take more time to really enjoy my meals, and eat better and savor the flavors of those items. Before I would rush through eventhough I was considered the slowiest eater. I didn't take the time to enjoy the meal, and really eat the meal, It just went down fast. The other positive thing has been by not drinking with meals, my bill when I eat out has dropped even lower with smaller meals and no drinks, which often cost a big chunk of the bill. I don't miss drinks with meals, I don't bring them to the table, I don't order them, I don't even have them bring water to the table. They often think this is strange, and will insist they can bring water, but I just explain, I prefer not to drink with my meals so I can enjoy my meal first, thank you. No one knows I had lapband excpt my husband and few band friends and that response works fine. I think its something you have to set yourself up for, like anything else. tell yourself you can, and set the stage so you can succeed and you will. Good luck,,,

sn0wgirl, I find that for me whether I am following a strict meal plan like the quidelines recommend or I am eating more according to my wishes, which is much healthier, smaller portions, just more variety I still am losing steadily. The more active I am the more I drop, in a week,,so mine seems to be more heavily driven by my physical level of activity, not necessarily in a gym. When I home in Texas I use a gym, but while I have on the east coast for the summer in delaware and pennsylvania I have not worked out at all but am much more physically active with 6 grandkids, running to beach, more activities etc etc,, in texas I have no family or connections so I have to use the gym to have some outside form of exercise and my lose is a little slower there, steady though. I have actually been eating more while away and losing more, will be interesting to see what happens when I return to texas in 2 weeks.

ok, ladies and gents lets remove negative words, like cheating, or bad from our vocabulary,, unless your married and going out with someone your not married to cheating should be band from this forum. We are all different, we eat differently, gain and lose differently, this band works differently for each of us. Because we chose to modify how we follow the "guidelines" we were given does not make us Cheaters. So Stop using those types of words. You are making a recipe for your life, you are taking all the information you are recieiving and deciphering it, mixing it up and using what works for YOU. That is what this is all about. If one thing worked for all of us, trust me we wouldnt need the band, we would have only needed the one and only first diet pill or program that worked for the very first person that used it. RIGHT!! Our Dr's are all giving us what they believe to be the best advice in their opinion and experience, for the most part, but we are not robots, we are taking charge of our lives with this band and need to experiment, which part of this will work for you. What works for me. I know I can tell you many of the things that have worked for me do not work for many of you, WHY? I couldnt tell you except to say, we are different, our mental approach is different, physical and emotional approach. We can all succeed though. Trust your own intelligent minds to guide you and make good choices with good information. YOU CAN DO IT. WE ALL CAN. I was banded in March and have steadily lost since then, with no regrets, no problems, only 3 fills, none since May,, I have been away all summer with no Dr or support system but have been able to use my tools to keep losing, eat what I want and have no bad side affects, I do have friends that are not as fortunate as I am, they cant touch Pasta, I can, They cant eat bread, I can, But they are losing just in a different way, I have to be more careful, because I can eat whatever I want I have to really take care not to over do it. What the Dr gives us is a set of guidelines,, from there just use common sense and you should be fine. Take into account any special medical conditions you may have also, and keep asking questions. Its like making a recipe, you keep trying new ingredients until you get it just right for you. Good luck,, so far I have lost 49lbs, and still losing. Sugarbear

Sue Take a "take charge" approach, Does your Dr do Floruscope xray with his fills? If you believe something is wrong, then document each visit, ask for the xray when you get a fill, so you can see how restricted you are and that everything is in place and in its proper condition. Your nurse may have been new. She may just not be as good as we would like her to be, or as experienced. There may have been a lack of adequate communication. Keep a small notebook each time you go, you track what they are telling you they are puttin in or taking out, any advice, your weight. etc, when you have questions ask to see the Dr, don't settle for the nurse only. We too often forget we paid for the services of the Dr when we come for fills and if you have a good Dr he/she will want to stop in and see you, have your questions ready when you go, and jot down any that come up when you are with the nurse. Stay until you get them answered. Never take an appt that you will have to rush thru or off to something else. This was important to you. Maybe your band is stretched, or maybe its not placed properly,, or maybe your weight loss is just enough to keep losening around the band,, or maybe the nurse is just wrong. The Dr and a xray with your fill would settle the questions you have. Go back and get it cleared up. Good luck Sugarbear

What I am finding the longer I am banded and the more people I meet in groups or that email me, is that once their initial cost is paid or expired if they are on a one year/all visit/fills program they don't want to "pay" for additional visit either so they don't go. I think people are not realizing this is not a one or two shot deal and thats it. It is a life time of maintenance, and follow-up and we should be using these doctors whenever our band life is off kilter. They need to consider the on going cost after the initial cost and plan it into their budgets, flexible spending (many insurance plans that won't pay for the surgery like mine, will let you submit the cost for visits against your flexible spending plans) at the very least for one or two follow-ups each year after goal. Sugrbear:thumbup:

Ok, this may not be as complicated as it is being made out to be, sometimes the simpliest answers are the easiest. The pictures you had taken by your son may not be showing your best most flattering side, angle, lighting etc. I can take a picture of a subject, my daughter who is a much better photographer than I am, better equipment, understands lighting etc, can take the same shot, and you wouldn't think they were taken the same day because hers will look so much better, much true'er, more flattering etc. You know how they say on TV the camera adds 10 lbs, well, so do our cameras especially if pictures are taken on the wrong angle. Depending on the clothing you were wearing that day you may look much larger. I have a friend who has lost over 160lbs, has been at goal for several years. I recently saw pictures someone took of her. In one outfit you could see how great she looked, very flattering, in the 2nd shot the outfit she was wearing made her look so much larger you would have thought it was taken part way thru her weight loss journey not the same day the first picture was taken which is several years after hitting goal. Your numbers tell the real story,, I would say treat yourself to some cool photos at one of those studios where you go and they do you up and know how to angle the shots etc and get your true essence. Have fun with it. You can do it.

Thanks, often I am asked by other bandsters that use the same Dr. to help them as they are about to be banded or newly banded and are not sure they remember all the smart rules. They get confused by all the information they see on these sites especially regarding restrictions. I am always telling them it shouldn't be a negative restriction. They seem to feel if they are not PBing or so tight they can't swallow food they are too loose. You have stated what I tell them all the time so well, I will be printing this and sharing it with them so they can carry it with them and feel rest assured they are heading in the right direction. Thank you again. Sugrbear.

The anti nausea patches do work well, just becareful, people forget to take them off and if you dont they can have the reverse affect and stronger, Julie from Big Brother and Good morning america or something tells the story where she or someone in their group used them on a cruise and forgot to take them off and got really loopy. Even the hospital called me after surgery to make sure I remembered to take mine off after 3 days.

I will say, I live life and enjoy my meals, I don't calorie count but thats partly because I buy foods that are low in calorie to start out, I do make sure my portions are correct, and I try to start with Protein, but I mix my bites making sure I finish all the protein. I have fresh fruit, I have usually 3 meals and a snack, but sometimes its 2 meals and a snack because I am a late night person. I don't drink in caffiene like coffee or soda or tea, but occasional I will bite off a piece of dark chocalate which has caffeine in it and throw the bar back in the freezer til another time. I only use real sugar or honey but about 80% less than I use too, I cant use artifical sweetners so sugar free is out for me since they substitute with splenda etc I have an allergic reaction. I exercise hard 3x week, light 2x week, take off on weekends. I call my Dr office If I am not sure about something and want to make sure I am taking the best course of action. I drink about 20oz Water and 20 oz Vitamin water a day. I take Calcium supplements and some Vitamins but only what I need according to blood workups. I never drink with a meal, when we go out to eat, I don't even let them bring me water. My husband says I am now the cheapest date he's ever had. I have not banned any food from my meal plan. If I want a food, I ask myself, If I really want it. If I do, I try a small amount if Its the first time I have had it since a fill. If it goes down well, I know I can have it again. If it is a healthy good choice, great, If it is a treat, I limited it which so far has not been a problem. This keeps my life good. I am steadily losing, not throwing up, never gotten stuck, had chest pain, PBing, or any negative problems so It must be working. I do eat mostly fresh or frozen foods, in that I do not like pre made foods, so I cook from scratch all the time no matter what it is with the exception of some Soup. So where I know many who use the new mini meals they have now which they like, I just can't do it. I also don't usually use protein shakes. I would rather get my protein by eating more of some food with it in it. I think we all do what works for us and usually it really is what our Dr has helped us figure out. Since many of our Dr's use different methods we are going to see many different responses to this questions.

For anti nasuae I keep a script on hand for generic phenergan which is called promethazine, you get about 20 pills and you can crush them, work quickly they are cheaper than the name brand and they are good for over a year. I think you can get the generic on walmarts 4.00 generic list now. The suppositories work but you don't get as many, they can melt if not kept in a cool place and they expire much faster. Also, Benedryl which you can get in liquid over the counter works very well, for children and adults. I also second the idea on Ginger tea and I use camomile mint tea if it is mild nasuea. I also will soak a cotton ball with alcohol squeeze out, and hold under nose, (careful around eyes) and breath slowly like in the hospital til it passes. Lastly, this winter I went to visit my daughters family who was in the mist of "flu" and on Tamiflu, so my Dr gave me a script to take with me just in case I started with symptoms, I filled it Luckily I didn't need it, but It is good til end of next winter. I used it last winter when I had it and it kept me from getting the worst of the flu, so if you think your getting the actually flu,, get in and get Tamiflu .

yaheard,, the question you really want to ask isn't " Is it true, I really can't ever have pop corn, or potatoe skins etc anymore" but is " do I really need or want pop corn, ice cream, potatoe skins etc " and if the answer is yes,, then remember everything in moderation which for us is very very moderate, and at the right time depending on when you were banded and cautously the first time you try. That would be my advice. When you find those foods you can eat that you thought you couldn't and you love, and you know could be a problem for you remember why you did this and your goal, and moderation. OK Good luck

Jack, I totally agree, My Dr from the beginning said the goal is to be able to eat normally just in smaller portions (much smaller), makeing better choices. He wants us to enjoy our meals and our lives, not feel like we are on some horrible diet or starving or being deprived. And he made me feel like this band was the way to do it successfully. I have only been banded for 2 months, and I only have 1 food that doesnt agree with me after the first time, I gave it a rest and said ok I will find another way to try it and that worked. I can eat anything else. I have had a handful of popcorn, didn't have a taste for it though, had fresh corn on cob the other night. Have had potatoes thinly sliced w/skin, no problem, whole wheat bread, etc. I have yet to get sick, throw up. No sliming, PBing, and I am steadily losing. I watch my portions and my intake. It can be done I believe. I no longer care for certain foods or condiments and that is fine. That is actually fantastic. I also make sure I keep up with my exercising. I have had several newly banded or to be banded who are going to my doctor email me and ask for suggestions to help in the early months because they see so much about people throwing up or too tight or all the stuff they can't eat and then see my post on other sites or meet me at group meetings and hear how I am doing and what is working for me so they want to know more to have a positve experience. I really follow my Dr's guidelines and reread when I need to and ask guestions whenever I go and take the bad information I feel I pick up on the way and ask him about it and learn from it also. So far I feel successful. I am new to this but I believe you have to have a positve attitude because when the rough bumps do hit and I am sure they will, your attitude is at least half the game if not more. Thanks for your post here. Sugrbear