juliegeraci

Congrats. You are doing fabulous. Keep up the good work.

I eat a protein shake in the a.m. Tuna salad for lunch Yogurt for a snack or some almonds Protein with a vegie for dinner.

You are doing very well. Congrats.

Yes, you can definitely feel the liquids go down. Especially if you are healing, swelled or tightly filled.

Congrats on your decision to be banded. I would just hang out here and ask as many questions as you can.

My question is after I get my fill and can be on a "normal" diet what foods should I avoid eating? When I say avoid I mean what foods could get stuck or cause problems with the band. That is good that you know not to eat ice cream and stuff that goes down easy. After my fills my doctor has me do 24 hours of liquids and 24 hours mushies then back to solids. You probably will still have to stay away from scrambled eggs. I can't do them either. Make sure you cut your meat the size of a pencil eraser. If you do that you will be fine. chicken doesn't go down as nicely as meat.

Congrats. It is normal to be nervous.

Correction, starting weight 238, goal 237 10 lbs

Please include me in the challenge. Starting weight 248 goal 10 lbs.

Don't be afraid to go into your surgeon's office. I would make an appointment and be brutally honest with him. YOu definitely need to get a fill if you are overeating or are frequently hungry. You can do this. Just recommit yourself.

Things will change for you after your fill, It may take a couple of adjustments to get you optimal fill level restriction. Good luck.

It sounds like you need a fill. You shouldn't be able to eat a whole sandwich.

I would go in for another fill and stop washing things down. That will really help you to feel full longer.

Cheryl, glad everything is okay with you. Congrats.

Yes, I lost 40 lbs on my own and my weight loss had stalled. That is why I went with the band. It hasn't been easy as I have only lost 40 lbs in 9 months but at least I haven't gained any back. That is the beauty of the band. I think your results will be good. Especially with weight gain.

Good for you. Creamy soups saved my life during that stage. They are really filling. Congrats on your weight loss to date.

Yogurt, apple sauce and creamy soups., The soups seem to fill me the best. Cream of broccoli goes down really easily and so does cream of celery. Good luck.

You're doing great. Just stick to the diet and your weight loss will continue. Congrats.

I moved to creamy soups and that helped. I just avoided any of the stuff that was in there like chicken. My doctor said I could eat anything that could get through a straw. Hopefully he will move you on to creamy liquids or mushie stage soon. Good luck.

Hi Doug, if you are still hungry it is okay to get another fill. That should help with the hunger. 1 cc isn't very much. What size band do you have?

You'll be able to eat a cheeseburger again when you go to solids. I can only eat a little under a 1/2 of a McDonalds cheeseburger now. Way less than I use to.

Does the "full" or satiation sensation happen now if it didn't before? Or is it just that distended-gut-holy-crap-I-ate-a-lot feeling happening more quickly? It definitely happens. I've had 5 fills so I'm not exactly sure how it will be for you just being banded. With me I definitely get a full sensation or start to hickup when I am full. Is stomach hunger less intense or more manageable after the band? Way more manageable. Especially the hunger. I am never hungry. I can eat Breakfast at noon. I mean, how much to you guys eat in a meal? I'm having trouble imagining what portions sizes look like on the band... Would one of those little McDonalds Cheeseburgers be a big (if unhealthy) portion size? I can eat 1/2 of a McDonalds cheese burger. No more than that. I can eat 1/4 of a sandwich, no more. I can eat about 3/4 cup of cottage cheese or a yogurt. You get full faster. But my chocolate addiction was in full-force, perhaps even stronger! LOL. The darker the better, sugar content/sweetness was irrelevant. I was even trying to score real cocoa Beans to brew into a coffee-like death-drink! LOL. So I'm ready for that to happen all over again, but maybe the band is different? You can still have head hunger with the band. You have to be careful not to overindulge. Chocolate goes down too easy so that will be your red light food. Did your tastes change drastically as the weight came off? I just don't want to eat as much. I love food still but my craving have diminished to nothing. Its great. (With the weight back on and my insulin resistance back up? Potatoes, white bread and Pasta started tasting good again... *sigh*) Yes, I love potatoes and rice. I just can't eat too much of them. They are filling.

Can you still have an occational piece of chocolate? Yes, chocolate goes down fine. You just have to make wise decisions. Can you still have a glass of wine or a margarita?Yes, you can. Is dumping syndrome a problem with this surgery?No, but PB is. Productive Burp. It is just like vomitting. It happens if you eat too fast or too much at once. What is the average time it takes to get to your goal weight? -I have seen that about 6 months out most people seem to be really close to the half-way mark.The doctor stats are 30% weight loss the first year. It seems much higher then that though. 1-2 lbs a week but some lose faster. Up to 2 years to reach goal. Slower than bypass. How close to your goal weight does your actual weight settle at? -I mean I would LOVE to be 145 again, but I just don't think that is realistic.. I figure 155-165 is probably where I will end up.Not sure, its up to your body. Is excess skin an issue with the lap-band as it is with the gastric bypass? Is there anything I can do to make this surgery happen a little faster? (Get any other needed apointments or labs out of the way, etc.) I dont want to wait 2 months... I tend to get discouraged waiting to long.I have heard stories of plastic surgery. It depends on each individuals body. I know I'll need a tummy tuck for sure. How hard is it for you to cook for your family and incoporate your new "diet" into that?Easy., You can eat everything, just in smaller portions. Hope this helps. Good luck.

That sounds great. I think I'll get one tomorrow. I also have an espresso machine at home. As a matter of fact I am sipping a non fat latte over ice as I type. The espresso is from Starbucks. I bought a pound of it.

You are eating too much food. I would go in for a fill if I were you. I eat 800-1000k calories a day. This is my daily intake: Protein shake Tuna fish salad 100 calorie popcorn Protein and vegie for dinner yogurt in between. If you can eat 1 pieces of pizza you need a fill. Good luck.