GayleTX

Don't give up on it so easily.....our tastes change as we go thru this journey. Did you try mixing it with Chrystal Lite lemonade? Just adding a little to a cold drink will give you a little protein every time and not waste that valuable stuff!!

Many people report that their fills 'kick in' a week or so afterward. It just reaches out and grabs you sometimes. Since you've have an 'episode,' you need to limit your intake to liquids, then mushies for a day or so. And it helps me if those liquids are warm, not cold.....loosens the band and eases the pouch. As for 'avoiding bread and crackers'.....most bandsters can never eat bread very successfully - it wads up, swells and sticks. And eliminating them permanetly will help with the weight loss anyhow. As

This may be a good place to remind people considering surgery in Mexico.....please be sure that there is a doctor in your area that will fill patients who had Mexico surgery. And do it BEFORE you commit to the surgery!! Many people have gotten themselves in an unfortunate situation by not making these arrangements.

Much of it depends on how quickly you can get appointments to jump thru the testing hoops....then how soon the office staff submits it to insurance....then how long it takes the ins. underwriter to review it....then what the surgeon's schedule is (summer vacations, etc. draw things out).

I'm just now getting into 20/22's and am going inside real stores for the first time in years. I'm finding some cute things at JCPenney and Dress Barn and Cato's.

I lost quickly at first, gradually slowed down after a year - now at 14 months I'm still losing but the plateau's are longer. However....I have average 10 pounds a months over the entire period and I'm still losing. Don't fret over the plateau's ....they just happen....doesn't mean it the weight loss has ended!!

The band may be the solution you need.....it is very helpful for people who are volume eaters (whereas the RNY is better for people who are sugar addicts). Now that I am several months out and have learned what I can eat and can't, etc. I sometimes overeat - and then I'm punished by the food backing up into my esophagus - that certainly will keep you from doing it again for a long time!! It is an excellent way to 'reprogram' what your mind and body want to do next time you sit down at the table.

I hope you are getting 80-100 gr. Protein a day and are taking a good quality (not just a Flinstone!!) Vitamin every day. This is important if you are going to maintain muscle and strength and keep your hair. And, yes, I have to make myself eat a lot of days, even after 14 months with the Band. And if I can't face regular food, I use a protein supplement (sometimes a warm drink like cappacino protein in coffee or vanilla cinnamon in hot tea goes down better than a cold shake).

One thing that jumps out at me in your post is the fruit you mention more than once. You say you are keeping your carbs low, but fruit is high in carbs and calories. I agree with tracking your intake......I was astounded when I started tracking mine pre-op - I thought I knew about how much I was eating but I got a surprise! Most of the successful losers I know take in about 100 gr/protein, less than 40 net carbs (no white carbs at all), and a half gallon of Water. Best wishes to you.......

Laura.....I've always heard that was a possibility but never heard of it actually happening!! Thanks for the reminder to the newbies! Monica....you make a good point...we have to learn to do what's right , not just what we are physically are emotionally programmed to do - that's what got us in this mess to begin with! I have learned that one important key to living happily ever after with the Band is to "never get too hungry or too full" - either one of those spells trouble!

<p>I went to one of Dr. Barker's seminar's at Dr. Maese's clinic and came away impressed. However, when I finished my pre-ops with Dr. M., he assigned me to Dr. Benevides. I have a history of heart problems and someone in his office said that was why I got sent to Dr. B....dont' know exactly what that meant, but it worked out very well. Had no problems or complications or pains of any kind.</p>

My fave is the RocknRoll Bar.....tastes much like a PayDay Bar, is very filling, and has 21 grams protein.

And the Hamilton Beach Personal Blender.....$14.....is a real bargain....works great, chops ice well, and holds up forever.

Chickie.....I know the feeling - I get my face slapped every now and then when I say what I am doing and what other 'successful losers' I know are doing to lose. But when people as for advice all I know to share is what has worked well for me. Ree....when is your surgery date? Looks like you've got a jumpstart on losing - that's great!!

A good alternative for the MB is the Hamilton Beach Pesonal Blender - it is $14 and I know a number of people (myself included) that have used their 2-3 times a day for over a year with no problems. As for making juice......just a reminder - fruit and fruit juice is high in sugar/calories/carbs - you really don't need to include them in your weight loss plan. I missed the fruit flavors, so I now use the SF syrups by Torani or DaVinci and add them to my shakes and cottage cheese.

I don't see that Mark said anything cruel or out of line. Maybe because he and I are older and have had a few more life experiences we see things a little differently. Whether the BF's words can be taken as "mean" or not depends on the spirit in which they were said. It may well be that he is doing what many of you are telling Cajun to do.....he may be looking out for himself and his quality of life and future. His life actually is being 'limited' by her disability, and he has to decide if he wants to give up the lifestyle that he wants and deserves because of that. He has a decision to make about his future, too. I spent the last two decades as an obese woman; the last 10 years have been very hard on my whole family because I have been so 'limited' in what I could or would do.....no outdoor activities together (Mama gets too hot)...no long drives together (Mama's back hurts)...no movies/concerts together (Mama can't fit in the seats)...no family reunions (Mama's embarassed to be seen)....Grandma has to go to the nursing home (Mama's too fat to take care of her)....etc etc. You get the picture. It was not just my disability - it was everybody's. Sweetie, I do hope you can find the right solution for you and can get control of your life and your future. I don't agree with Mark that the LapBand is not an option....anything that works is an option at this point.....and I hope you can get what you need soon. Not only for you but for all the people that love you and that you want to include in your future. ((Best wishes))

I, too, was concerned about my blood sugar during the liquid phase.....I'd been diabetic for 20 years. I was amazed when I sailed right through it with no major fluctuations at all. I've learned since that using the protein and eliminating the carbs does wonders for keeping your glucose levels evened out. BTW....within 5 mo. after surgery, I ws completely off all my diabetic meds and my readings are good all the time for the past year now.

I had not slept well for years....chronic insomnia....but fell asleep every time I got in the car or sat down on the couch, even at my desk more than once! I hated the sleep apnea test.....worse than the stress test or the shrink eval!.....but it's the best thing that ever happened for my health (next to the LB, of course!). The very first night I had that contraption on, I slept all night......I couldn't believe it. After that, I couldn't wait to go to bed and grab that ugly thing and cuddle up to it!! But, better than that...it was temporary!! After losing about 50 pounds, I gradually started sleeping without it and now it's packed away in a box. But while I needed it , it was wonderful. And....even better than that.....I talked DH into getting a test and he's now on oxygen and CPAP and sleeps much better.....and so do I because I don't have to listen to him snore any more!! And I also used to lie awake wondering if he was going to start breathing again. It's all been a positive thing at our house. I wish the same for you!!

<p>I have talked with 3 different PS clinics re my panni, and all of them agreed that it was quite acceptable to go ahead and remove it......and I am a long ways from goal. The panni was hanging before I lost any weight, had been for many years......in fact I was approved by insurance for removal of it about 10 years ago but 'life interefered' and never got it done. It's not going away no matter how much I lose. It's quite large, causes back pain and balance probelms, and the insurance co. approved it again in just one week. </p> <p> </p> <p>The surgeon I have selected said that he would remove the panni now, then when I get at goal he will do the second stage and work on the upper abdominal area if I choose to do it. </p> <p> </p> <p>One PS nurse I talked to commented that it was now common to go ahead and remove the panni if it was large, that they had found that it was very motivational for patients to continue losing, and that it made exercise much easier and more productive.</p>

I have been very pleased with the two doctors that I have used througout my experience (see info in siggy below).

I had to write a check for half of the amount I owed when I checked into the hospital. The rest I paid out after the surgery. I'm sure it depends on your doc's/hospital's policy.

No, you don't feel a thing either inside or out. I can't even feel my port, but maybe when I've lost more weight I can. I have 4 heart stents in my body and I don't feel them either....hope the band can keep me from having any more!!

My PCP gave me a script for Protonix and it does help....if I take it before I eat. I've also got it more under control by cutting out the SF dark chocolate, by crushing my arthitis meds (and not taking as many), and my switching to a low-acid coffee. I was getting in bad shape....I never knew reflux could be so painful....I can now understand why it can do permanent damage to the esophagus.

Hmmmmm......I stayed about 2 hours after surgery.......

Mannamy....Herbalife is a good product but they are pretty short on Protein for wls patients.....only 9 grams/serving. There are many really good ones on the market that have 23-35 grams in them. If you have trouble getting in your 80-100 grams/day, you might try some of them later on. Best wishes to you!! Hope your wls journey is a life-changing as mine has been.