kansascase

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I hope this comes to an end soon.

Hey guys, I am running into trouble. I had my surgery on June 4th and have had 1 fill. I am about due for my second one but I find that I can eat too much and I am fighting hunger. I've followed the Protein rules and discovered that Fiber does help to keep you full. I think I am also in a plateau. It has been a couple of weeks since I lost anything. I added a few carbs to my diet - was trying not to eat any but I needed some fiber. I still limited my carbs. I don't believe that I am overreating but nothing is coming off. I've tried to incorporate some of the South Beach products as they are full of nutrients, high protein, low carb and fiber and that is pretty much what my nutritionist recommended. What is going on and how do I break this? I've been tempted to try something like Dexatrim or some other over the counter product. I am not too happy right now and wonder if I have done something wrong. I've been on a lot of diets in my life but I expected that this lap band would be a great tool and I just don't seem to be getting much assistance from it.:cursing:

String cheese. It is a protein and filling and about 80 calories. It is a snack I use to fight evening hunger.

I can't say that I have ever worried about that. I am of the opinion that the doctor has done his job and that his sutures will hold unless there are unusual circumstances. You know that your body will heal and fortify those stitches long before they are dissolved. I wouldn't worry about doing anything except heavy lifting which can cause a hernia.

I am not to do Snacks unless they are Protein snacks. My instructions are not to drink during a meal and no liquids for 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after. I have found if I can do this, my pouch stays full longer and I am less hungry. The protein also helps to keep me satisfied longer. During a meal, I am good for 3-6 hours depending on what I eat. I have found that Beans (refried and kidney) really do keep you full. My string cheese "snacks" also help a lot between meals.

I eat a lot of cottage cheese. I can eat about 4-6 ounces per meal. The nutritionist recommends 2-4 ounces 3 times a day. So, basically I am on 90 percent Protein and 10 percent complex carbs. My calorie count is probably somewhere between 600-800 right now. I use protein supplements and Multivitamins, B complex, Calcium and D Vitamin. I eat a lot of string cheese for Snacks. I eat eggs, yogurt, deli turkey slices, cheese, chicken, and I have added a whole grain Cereal to try to get more fiber. I eat Beans - refried and kidney, sausage, bacon, chili, Soups, broccoli, Protein Bars, fish and hamburgers without the bread. I use to keep a journal daily - now I just jot down notes. You are certainly eating better than I am and I need to eat more to prevent my body from shutting down the weight loss. My problem is that I am short and I cannot eat as many calories as others can. Normally, I probably can't have more than 1200 calories per day. If so, I will gain weight. It is a little depressing but that is just the way it is. If I go exercise crazy I can eat more and I have done that but it is a lot of work and maintenance - we are talking Richard Simmons. Lots of luck to you.

I haven't found a good fiber alternative - I've tried Fiber One, Metamucil, and Milk of Magnesia. These do not work for me. Some of them can even cause a lot of gas pain. Now, Crystal Light has a fiber mix to add to Water. There is a recipe called Fruitlax that contains prunes, dates, orange juice and prune juice - thought I would try that as the recommended about does not exceed 4 TBS. I have researched and purchased some of the high Protein, low carb and high fiber bars. I found a lot of fiber in some of those bars from Atkins. How much food do you have to eat to get 90 mgs? I can't eat much per meal and what are you eating?

I think you have your answer - 65 gms of protein. I find that it is hard to get that without a supplement.

According to my nutritionist you should about 50-60 mg per day spread out in 3 meals. I am to eat 2-4 ounces per "meal." 90 percent of the food I eat should be Protein and the other 10 percent complex carbohydrates. The protein is extremely hard to get. It was recommended that I use a product called New whey. It has 42 gm of protein in a 3.1 ounce vial. Basically, from my perspective this is very similiar to the Atkins diet. The protein helps curb the hunger and is absolutely necessary for the functioning of your body. The complex carbs stay in your pouch longer which also helps with hunger. I count protein and carbs. I have discovered an issue with this diet though. I was also instructed to take quite a few Vitamins - well, those vitamins and this protein diet really have very little fiber and that is not good. Even with all the Water and exercise I had a problem. Fortunately, Crystal Light has a product that contains fiber - yeah. I don't yet know how well it will work. I talked to the doctor about this and about the recommendations that I was given and basically he said that I would have to find a solution that works for me. His recommendations produced so much gas that I was in pain. I have found some answers on the internet including one natural recipe that includes prunes and dates. Of course, both of these are rather high in carbs and calories - but you only use 1-4 Tbs a day - "Fruitlax." Anyway, hope that above helps. This is what was recommended to me. It would be a good idea to touch base with your doctor to find out what exactly how much protein he wants you to have. All the doctors seem to be a bit different.

Did you talk to a nurse in the doctor's office that you need a fill? I don't understand why they can't do it during your August appointment. What does it take - 5-10 minutes. I would be quite angry too! I feel for you. I think I would consider finding another doctor. I don't know if you could get in any sooner but at least you might find a doctor that can be a bit more flexible and willing to work with you.

I, too looked at other posibilities than the lap band. My reasons for choosing this option were due to the information I was provided by the Bariatric Group and two friends that had the bypass. Both of the people that had the bypass wished they had gotten the band. I will tell you that after the bypass surgery, you will be extremely sick and in pain. One of my friends said they would rather die than go through that first week again. One of my friends with the bypass has now joined Weight Watchers - she is having trouble keeping the weight off. She also has problems with vomiting. The people who had the bypass can't have it undone - they have to live with it. That is not true with the band. Also, since they cut out an important part of the small intestine - the part that absorbs foods and Vitamins and minerals. Even with the lap band you have to take vitamins, etc. but the bypass people have to be very careful. I was not ready to make such a drastic decision - mortality rates are higher as well. Of course, you will have to decided for yourself but I suspect the difference in weight loss is not as signicant as you think. It takes longer to lose weight with the lap band, but I suspect it is just about as much overall. Choose whatever tool you think you can live with. If the lap band doesn't work well for me or I have problems, I can get the gastric bypass done. I was banded on June 4th and I am quite satisfied with my weight loss and "living with the band."

I don't count calories - I count Protein grams and carbs. My doctor and dietician put me on a high protein/low carb diet - 90 percent of the food I eat per day is protein - 10 percent is complex carbs. For all practical purposes on this diet, you aren't hungry because you can snack on something that is protein. Calories are just not an issue. I was banded on June 4th and had my first fill July 9th - yesterday. At about week 3 I started to have trouble with appetite. My fill wasn't determined by whether I was losing weight but my appetite and a loosening of the band due to weight loss. After surgery, I was instructed to eat between 2-4 ounces per meal. At about 4 weeks, I could eat about 6 ounces before feeling full - never got to the point where I could eat 8 ounces. Actually, the 1000 calories per day is probably healthy. But, I suspect that I eat less when my band is properly filled. I may not be able to eat 500 calories today which is not a problem as I have no appetite.