MSan914

I have always been able to eat popcorn..............never has gotten stuck........and sadly there has been no restriction with the amount...so I impose my own amount...getting the kiddie size!

I was HORRIBLE -- very difficult to keep on a low calorie diet. I was able to eat LARGE portions of everything, NO restriction what so ever. It was all will power and the FAITH that one day I would have restriction. I did NOT stay on a low calorie diet, I do NOT have good will power. BUT I did/have lost about 1 pound a week, average. And my PCP doctor and the LapBand Surgeon are happy with that. I have restriction now and am losing about 2 pounds a week. I have gained muscle with my exercise (kickboxing and taekwondo) - so my weight loss isn't what I would have liked. But I have gone from a size 22 to a comfortable size 10. My goal size is an 8. So I don't think too much about the POUNDS but more thoughts on the SIZE of clothes I can wear. When I look in the mirror I see the same me -- I don't see a difference - except for some of the sagging skin.

GO FOR IT!!! I had a crush on one of my male friends when I was younger.......and NEVER NEVER said anything. To this day I think we could have made a great couple....yet we are both married to other people and have good marriages. We remain friends - and I have found out, through his sister, that he had a crush on me, too! But never thought that I liked him!!

Chillax - keeping trying to get through to your doc's office. In the meantime - have you tried GasX strips? I had (and have read that many others also have this) bad pains, related to gas/air due to the surgery. The GasX strips helped me lots! Congrats and Good Luck - I was banded in April 2009....and didn't get much restiriction until Feb 2010.

I like the Nectar -- but also am an UNJURY fan - chocolate UNJURY with 1/2 frozen banana, milk and flax seed makes a great shake!

I am 11 months post-op and FINALLY have restriction. I was ABLE to eat large portions until last week - Now, I can say that I tried NOT to eat the large portions. But I could - and sometimes DID. But I still lost weight - due to exercise and the large portion was still smaller than the amount I had eaten prior to being banded. Now - I can eat 1/2c to 1c of food - and then THAT IS IT. My body (the band) sends a very strong message - that it is FULL.

YES -- but with no bun. Lot's of steak, burgers, chicken............all is good for me.

I am surprised that your surgeon's office hasn't given this information to you yet.....I suggest you call the office and ask them for printed information on what they want/recommend you to eat post-op. My surgeon's office gives each patient a large binder with lots of information. One section is all about the first few weeks after surgery, what to expect, what to eat, and info like that. The nurtirtionist told me how much Protein per day I should be consuming. My FAVORITE Protein Drink is Premier Protein ready-to-drink drinks from costco. Good Luck!!!

I have and use a Magic Bullet, an immersion blender and a VitaMix blender. The VitaMix is great for large quantity drinks/smoothies and to make Soups from scratch. The Magic Bullet is excellent for ice crushed drinks. I like the immersion blender for frothing drinks or mixing puddings.

GOOD LUCK!! I SOOOO wish I had the motivation to do exercises at my home by myself -- I joined a Taekwondo/Karate school that does a Warrior X-Fit class 3 times a week --- and I LOVE that!!

My last fill was done by the new NP in the office -- I didn't feel anything because they numb the area first. But I had a nice size bruise afterwards.........I have my appt next week for a fill. I am going to mention it to the Doctor, as an FYI -- IT was only bruising - so I don't see it as a big problem to me.

The Premier Protein ready-to-drink shakes are 30grams of protein -- and taste good. Also I like the unjury powder - 20+ grams per serving. I like the chocolate mixed with skim milk and a frozen banana. The strawberry mixed with crystal light and some frozen strawberries is yummy. I use a MAGIC BULLET to mix/blend the protein powders. I try to get 2 Protein drinks a day - assuring my protein intake. But that also is approx 300 of my daily calories. So be careful with that too. GOOD LUCK!!

I bought some of the FULL bars --- they are suppose to give you a FULL feeling making you actually eat less at a meal. They haven't worked for me --- I am trying to get rid of them at work. They appear/taste like Puffed Wheat.

ElfiePoo -- what brand/recipe is your Low Calorie / Low Carb PROTEIN shakes?

I had back surgery in 2001 spinal fusion -- so I don't think I could do a spinning (stationary bike, sort of) class. I do TaeKwonDo and Warrior X-Fit 5 nights a week - I find that a great workout for me. Cardio, calestenics, restitence bands.....and the group really PUSH each other to do well. I sweat like crazy....we make fun that my workout station is beachfront property ... :thumbup: (from all the sweat..)

Hi LaDawn - My surgeon is conservative with fills and therefore I have not had any restriction or pouch to worry about until most recently. What size band do you have and how/when have your fills been? Just curious. I have noticed with others banded around the same time as me - the ones that have had more FILLS have lost more weight... You have done great with the weight loss - keep it going. I have reduced portion sizes now that I have some restriction, and yes, my surgeon and NP did tell me not to overdue the portions - or it WOULD stretch the pouch. They didn't give me an ounce amount - but said 1/2 to 1 cup of food at a time. CONGRATS on your success!!:wink:

Hello - I am 9months post op also --- and have a positive experience with my band. I have been one that had exercised some - and I ate healthy foods..... just WAY WAY too much of them!! I can NOT ever feel the BAND. I can feel my port if I press on my stomach -- but can not feel it unless I do that. I have had LITTLE to NO restriction since surgery. And I have had to use will power to limit my portions. Which has been hell - -they refer to it as BANDSTER HELL. I have taken a serious approach to my exercise - and joined a TaeKwonDo place -- so I get the Karate lessons 4x a week and also get a cardio-fit class 3x a week. That has really kick started my weight loss recently. So I should be seeing some bigger losses soon. Don't think that you will ONLY be able to eat small portions - as that is NOT true for everyone. Take a look through the many many areas of this web site and you will find many different experiences with their bands. I normally now eat - 1 ready to drink Protein shake around 8am one 6oz container of greek yugurt around 10:30am lunch around 1pm Lunch is usually Soup (1/2 can), or leftovers from dinner portion is about 1cup maybe a little more. snack around 4pm - cheese stick or Jello Dinner is around 6pm Steak, burger, fish or chicken - 4-6oz portion FRESH Veggie or salad -- cottage chees Throughout the day I drink Water, crystal light or sugar free KOOL AID.... it is very helpful to drink 64oz of Fluid a day. Good Luck on your journeys -- I wish you well!! and I highly suggest to take a look at the many many areas of this website to find information and other people's stories!

I had my 6th fill this week -- and I am almost 9 months POST-OP.....not at my sweet spot yet............. :biggrin: I am getting .25cc on my fills now ---- geeze!!

I just returned from a fill appt with my surgeon. I got my fill -- yea!!! hoping to reach my sweet spot soon!! I had told her that it seems like I can still eat large portions - and that bothered me. She said I need to use the will power on eating smaller portions. She told me that she had recently been to a conference that showed lapband patients who had been eating too large of portions...and not only stretched their pouches but ALSO stretched their esophagus...ouch!! Some patients with a stretched pouch/esophagus may have to get their bands removed...which I do not want to happen. Just sharing info ---

Egg yolks are high in fat and contain no Protein - try to stick to the egg whites, if you can, that is where the protein is. My FAVORITE ready-to-drink Protein shakes are chocolate PREMIER shakes...I get mine at costco (similar, but better than Sam's Club) 160 cals, 30g of protein and 1g of sugar. For powder I like the Believe - Ice Cream Cookie flavor and also the unjury chocolate. CHOBANI greek yogurt comes in flavors, Peach, strawberry and Blueberry. I get them at my local grocery store or at CostCo. 14g of protein in 6oz containers, 140 cals I add raw spinach in with my shakes, to get some extra Vitamins and minerals. I have a VitaMix blender -- BEST ONE EVER!!! Great for smoothies, Soups, etc. I stay away from chicken - it gets stuck. But LOVE the fishes, and beef.... though!! GOOD LUCK!

What you are going through -- I went through for about 5 1/5 months!! hang in there - Drink as much as you want of the liquids....don't deprive yourself of broth, crystal light, etc. My surgeon has ALWAYS done the fills and wants 24-48 hrs and then regular foods after that. Fills are always on a Wed morning - and she wants solids eaten that Friday morning. She always does it like that because she has office hours on Friday mornings and wants patients to be able to come into the office if they are TOO restricted (She says sometimes patients can ONLY take liquids = too tight and they need an un-fill). HANG IN THERE --- you have been doing great (by the weight loss you've listed!!) :w00t: This isn't easy --- but possible.:thumbup:

I ate some carrot sticks yesterday --- and they got stuck.... WEIRD.... that carrots are something that would get stuck. After about 10-15 minutes of severe pain - it all came right back up ---

Happy Me -- yes, it is way too early for you to be thinking about being in your sweet spot. I was banded April 2009 --- and still have LIMITED restriction. And I am definitely NOT in any sweet spot yet. Hang in there -- you will need to use your will power for quite a while -- depending on your surgeons comfort level with fill amounts (mine is conservative). hang in there -- good luck!

I have gotten "stuck" a couple of times since my last fill. Still NOT at any sweet spot though I am HAPPY when it comes back up -- it tells me I didn't eat it right, and MAYBE it was an amount I shouldn't be eating. Yes -it does hurt though.

Yes pain after "getting stuck" or "PBing" happens.... My question is why you would go to eating apple sauce? That is usually high sugar and no Protein....I usually go back to Protein shakes, greek yougurt, cottage cheese...things like that.