newdicarlo

OK, so I probably won't make another 10 pound loss in two weeks, but I just broke another plateau, so I'm hoping for at least another 5...I've done 18 since June 1 and that's with a week at the beach, a couple weekends out of town...

My sister is someone who can see and feel things really well. She has a guardian angel who sometimes sits at her kitchen table and has helped her in dire situations. For example, my sis was just out of college and on her way to a job interview. She was running an errand and when she went back to her car it wouldn't start. She tried for a few minutes and was beginning to get upset because she was going to be late for the interview. No one was around and all of a sudden this little Indian woman was at her window and leaned over and said "put your foot on the gas and turn the key". It started. And my sis got the job. The other thing she told me was that when her daughter was a baby (about 5 months old) she would wake up every night around the same time and scream. A couple of times sis woke up right before and felt something next to her bed. One night she woke up and reached out and felt a space of freezing cold air. it moved and she felt the end of her bed go down like someone was sitting on it and her husband was in the bed right next to her! Then it left the bed and woke up the baby again! The next time it happened she felt the cold air again and yelled at it to "leave my baby alone! we can't to anything for you, get out of our house!" and suddenly the two shelves in her closet fell to the floor. She and her hubby can tell this story and it gives you chills! But her baby didn't wake up screaming anymore either... And the last story she told me was that when she was in college she would wake up in the middle of the night and all her closet lights would be on and she could see someone standing in the corner. she would get up to turn the lights in the main room on and the lights in the closet would go off and the person would be gone...She had her own room in an apartment, and when she would go to bed obviously all the lights were off... Her stories scared me for so long, I would get scared just laying in bed. I didn't get over it for a couple years. I was just afraid that I had the same "gift" she had and didn't know it yet...I do NOT want to see any spirits or ghosts!

Salad. I realized it last night when I ate a BBQ chicken salad (homemade) and matched what my husband ate...the night before I was stuck after three bites of pork steak. Guess I need to slow down on the roughage! I try to avoid the cakes, cookies, etc. altogether but sometimes I'll have a bite here or there. And I have a scoop of frozen yogurt with fresh berries if everyone else is indulging in mint chocolate chip--but that's only if I feel hungry and like I need something. I also found pasta like spaghetti is a slider for me so I try not to have pasta very often. I at least will eat the sauce or meat first so that I get my protein in.

GNC's 100% Whey powder was the first I tried, and it is good. However, they also have "Wheybolic Extreme 60" which absorbs better and has less calories and carbs per scoop. They taste the same and it is a little more pricey, but they usually have "buy one, get one half off" deals, and you can save an extra 20% the first week of the month if you have a GNC discount card. Just my two cents...

it's amazing to look at all these great numbers! I'm down a few more and have quite a few to go, but it's exciting to see the right numbers go down and the right numbers go up for a change!

Remember turkey too! I get thick-sliced rotisserie turkey breast from the deli, wrap it around a piece of swiss and dip it in balsamic vinegar for a quick snack. I also make my own "protein shots" with a sugarfree pudding cup and add a scoop of chocolate protein powder. You can do this with yogurt too. Also, edamame (soybeans) are high in protein, as are beans like a previous poster stated. Another favorite snack is apple slices dipped in peanut butter...mmmm....

The title says it all--how long does it take you to feel any restriction with a fill?

I"m so frustrated, I've been on a plateau and have only lost one pound in the last three weeks. I"m eating between 1100-1500 cals a day and exercise for 40 minutes 5-6 times a week...

I was banded on 3/2 and have lost about 55 pounds. I exercise 4-6 times a week for about 40-45 minutes at a time. I've been noticing in the last couple weeks that I am really tired in the late afternoon and evening. I'm getting 8-10 hours of sleep a night and work from home Monday-Friday. I eat 1100-1500 calories a day. I could lay my head down right now and take a nap! Has anyone else experienced this? What could it be? I should have more energy with the weight loss and did at first but not anymore...what's the deal? :smile2:

I lost 16 pounds in the week-long pre-op diet. I was banded on March 3 and have lost 54 pounds altogether (so 38 since banded). I seem to lose for a couple weeks and then plateau for a couple weeks. I'm just coming off a plateau now and hope to lose 5-7 pounds in the next couple weeks. I do have quite a bit of restriction though, with only 3.6 cc's in my band and hope to hit my sweet spot with the next fill. I'm noticing those plateaus during my "monthly visitor" and notice that I eat more during that time too. I just keep exercising, really watch what I'm putting in my mouth and try to keep my mind off the scale. About the time I get really frustrated is when the plateau seems to end.

when doing laundry and cleaning your house can no longer be deemed "exercise"...

2 more gone forever! My dresser drawers are slowly getting emptier...anyone in need of size 24 and a few 22 shorts and crop pants (mostly jean material)? I've got a ton of stuff and would like to give it to someone who needs it...

5 pounds down for me! :thumbup:

Water is really hard on a sensitive tummy. I'd suggest what I use for my kiddos who get the awful bug. Start off with one tablespoon of Gatorade or Pedialyte or Sprite with no carbonation (stir it until it's flat). Every 15 minutes take a tablespoon. If you can do this and keep it down for two hours, you can increase the amount a little bit. Once you feel like eating, start with the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast and yogurt). Only a couple spoonfuls of one of these at a time until you determine if you can handle it. Hopefully it will pass in a day or two, I'm sorry you are so sick, I hate hate hate the stomach flu! :bored:

within the last week or so my son found my shoulder bones! I was rocking him before bed (he's three) and he actually moved off my shoulder to my chest because it hurt his head where he was laying on my shoulder. the next night he did it again and said it was "too bony" (quoting me from the night before)...who'da thunk it?

Something in another post sparked my curiosity about protein shakes having an ingredient that did not help you to lose weight but rather to plateau or even gain. In checking out my GNC protein (Wheybolic Extreme 60, three scoops for 60 grams, 280 cals, I use one scoop) which I was informed was closest in makeup to Isopure but less expensive, the bag states clearly "not for weight reduction"--ACK! My Dr has never recommended protein, but I was using it in a shake in the morning because of being more restricted at that time and just for that protein boost when I'm not eating my protein. So what now? Is this not true for bandsters? I'm wondering if this is why I plateau every month before a fill. Or that could just be my paranoia...help!

Chantal03--that doesn't sound stupid--my Father-in-law was just told he need to have all his bottom teeth pulled because they are rotting. Guess what he drinks every day? you got it, 3-5 cans of Mt Dew. he already has dentures on his top teeth...GROSS. I think you have a good point--there is more to giving up Mt Dew than just caffeine and sugar, it is an addiction, just like some people with Diet Coke. The point is, lapbandtalker, you are trying. You already are doing something by cutting it 1/2 with Diet, slowly add more diet until you are there all the way. you are getting the caffeine, but not the sugar. Then when you can start replacing drinks one at a time--just like you'd do with a baby going from formula to whole milk. maybe you still have 5 drinks a day, but make one of them Crystal light or water. Then a few days later, go to two, etc.

Me too please! I tried the Google spreadsheet, but had to sign in, so I'm copying and pasting here.... Name................Start........Current........Goal....To Go Capitolchick.........215.............215..............200.. ..15 Chocolate_Snaps..219.............219..............199......20 JasonR................314.............289..............289.....25 Kaninag..............210..............210..............190.....20 Aluv82...............281..............281..............235.....45 LibbyJane...........264..............264..............240....24 newdicarlo..........236..............236..............208....28

I was banded on March 2, 2009 and have lost about 45 pounds. I'm still around 235-240. I've been walking about 5 times a week for the last 8 weeks or so, and have increased from 20 minutes to about 35-45 per session (mostly flat areas with some hills) . I am losing weight and feeling good, my legs and tush are definitely more muscular and I'm also working my arms with freeweights 3-4 times a week. My question is--everyone says cardio, cardio, cardio to get rid of belly fat--am I doing the right thing? Should I be doing something different? I want this spare tire to shrink!

My Dr. starts with 4 cc in a 10 cc band for the first fill--and boy I wanted it, I was eating everything in sight and wanted good restriction to get this thing going! And guess what? it was too tight. I had to get an unfill an hour later because I was sliming and had immediate heartburn. I was so destroyed when the doc took out half--so now I only had 2 cc's of restriction. But that was April 15, and I've lost 10 pounds since then! So when everyone says "it's different for everyone", they are not kidding, it really is different for everyone as to when and how much it will take for you to get good restriction.

I just had my first fill last Wednesday, 2 cc's in a 10 cc Lapband. The Dr put in 4 cc's and I was too tight so he took out half, much to my dismay, because I wanted good restriction. Since weighing myself last Wednesday and weighing again this morning, I'm down 5 pounds! Pretty good, but I'm really watching what I'm eating, walking 4-5 times a week and holding back at meals. How much do you typically lose after a fill? is it continuous?

Oh no Rachaele1! Please don't feel that way! I think most of us truly understand how you feel--that's why this time is called Bandster Hell--they really aren't kidding! it is a hellish time. I only lost a couple pounds from the day of my surgery to the day of my first fill--6 weeks later. I was banded on March 2 and weighed in at 261 and went to my Dr on March 10 for a checkup and weighed 257. My first fill on April 15? Still at 257! I also expected to feel immediate results--and was so convinced I was doing something wrong. The day before my fill ate an entire sub from Jimmy John's, the whole thing! My Dr's nurse said to "eat until you are full, you may gain, but that's OK, this time is for healing and you shouldn't expect to lose--if you do, it's a bonus!" She was telling me that if you can eat a chicken breast, great, if you can eat the whole chicken, it's OK, just to tell them so that when you do get restriction, they can fill your band appropriately. I also wanted a "big fill" and guess what--my Dr. filled me to 4 cc in a 10 cc band and it was too tight! He took out half leaving me with only 2 cc--I was so disappointed--but, I do have restriction. I've lost 5-6 pounds since then and I'm doing what you are doing--lots of protein, watching what I'm eating, and I'm also walking for 30 minutes 4-5 days a week. I promise, it WILL happen, just give it some time, take a step back, re-evaluate and convince yourself--you have the drive, you just need the band to function properly and until you start getting fills, there is no restriction at all. Hang in there! You are doing all the right things! :rolleyes2:

Thanks for the replies. Maybe I didn't state my question clear enough. I understand the band is a tool, I need to work at it, etc., I guess my question is probably better phrased: Do you find that you lose weight faster right after getting a fill and then it evens out until the next fill?

No, it is not normal. I just had my first fill Wed. April 15 and the Dr. put in 4 cc's and made me drink water immediately afterwards. I was sliming and felt like I had heartburn. I went back into his office and the MD took took out 2 cc's. I immediately felt better and was worried I would have no restriction. At first, I didn't, but after a day or two, I do have restriction. I had a few bites of cereal and couldn't finish a protein shake I had made for breakfast just this morning. If you can't get anything down and are feeling like you have something in your chest, that is not normal and you need an unfill.

Hi there--what exactly are you looking for? The best malls are West County and the Galleria for clothes and mall-type stores. The St. Louis Mills has some outlet stores with good baby clothes outlets. These are all in the "suburbs" of St. Louis and easily reached by highways. Good luck!