GayleTX

You not only CAN....you MUST drink.....minimum of 64 oz/day....coffee doesn't count since it's a diauretic. Protein supplement drinks count toward your Fluid intake. Carbonated drinks are a forever no-no; juice is not a good choice because of the high sugar/calories. You need to quit drinking a few minutes before your meal, do not drink any at all with your meal, then wait for an hour after your meal to drink again. Drinking with or right after eating washes the food out of our pouch and you are hungry again much too soon. Do you know if you qualify for surgery? Most doctors require a BMI of 40 and I'm estimating yours is about 35 (209 lbs/5'4").

The key for surviving for me was finding good protein drinks.....the kind made for bariatric patients, not athletes (and not slimfast or off the shelf stuff). The good powders (Matrix, IDS, Nectar) can be made into good hot drinks and cold drinks and shakes. They satisfy, give you energy, and meet the liquid requirements. They, along with broth and the usual liquid diet stuff, work well together. You can do it!!

I don't mean to be discouraging, but since you asked.....you're going to be miserable. I was much smaller than you when I quit flying because of the expense and humiliation. Can you afford the difference between the coach ticket and the cost of a first class ticket? That beats buying two coach tickets and still being miserble...and maybe you can swing it without making an issue of it with your company. Call customer service and talk with them.

The hardest thing to comprehend before surgery is that food becomes a much less driving force....you don't suffer! I've had 2 fills and plan to have another soon (I'm 9 mo out). I have been very compliant with the rules....no carbonation, no bad carbs (white ones....potatoes, rice, Pasta, corn), no bread, no fried foods. That sounds pretty limited (because it is!) but when you are banded you just don't care that much after a few weeks. Cutting the bad carbs out does away with the cravings (keeps the blood sugar level). I eat a lot of dishes made from ground beef - chili, the inside parts of taco's, burrito's, meatloaf, casseroles - eggs, tuna/chicken salad, avacado's, peanuts/almonds, broccili cheese soup, baked fish and chicken w/sauces, grilled steak (if it's med. rare and juicy), creamed spinach, green Beans, eggplant parmasan, etc I track all my intake on www.fitday.com and it helps tremendously! I don't count calories but I keep an eye on them....I mostly count carbs and stay under 40/50 (if I get on a stall I drop lower for a few days) and I make sure I get at least 80/100 grams of Protein each day. The biggest problem I have with calories is getting enough. If I don't get at least a 1000 a day for a few days I stall out. But you just don't get very hungry so it's an effort to get in the calories without getting too many carbs so it's important to track it and keep yourself honest. As for protein....probably more than half of my protein comes from a high quality protein supplements (made for bariatric patients, not body builders/athletes). There ae some wonderful ones on the market but you have to hunt for them and experiment with them. IDS and nectar and Matrix are good brands and I use them both as warm and cold drinks (the warm ones can rival Starbucks). For a snack, I eat Revival soy chips and cheese dip....taste too good to be legal but they are! There are also some great Protein Bars but since the carb content is a little high in them I use them only for a Meal Replacement not a snack. Everybody has to develop their own menu and you can eat good stuff but it's important to play by the rules.... the band is just step one in the process, the eating and good sense afterward is what makes it work.

Does your surgeon know that your PCP is wanting to put you on a diet pill??!! If you are using your band properly and eating properly, you are going to lose weight.....our days of pills and 'dieting' are over!

Beauty of the band.....it's there waiting for you when you are ready! You need to get a fill soon as you can and you'll be good to go again!!

Some docs say no bigger than an M&M (guess they figure most of us can relate to that example!).

these would make cute wls bracelets.

If you are still having cravings, I have to ask - what are you eating? If you are eating white carbs, you are increasing your cravings. By cutting them completely out,your cravings will decrease in a few days....makes life much easier!! (white carbs=starches (corn, potatoes, white bread, flour, gravies, pasta, etc). Good solid protein goes in the pouch first, then good carbs (greens, etc) and white carbs are off limits. There is a lot more to making this band work than just the band.

I've heard over and again....leftover and reheateds are almost impossible for most bandsters...something to do with the texture. I've been okay reheating chili but everything else...ugh!! And, yes, bands are temperamental....tight in the morning, tight during stress, etc. Aren't we glad we took 'the easy way out' as so many people tell us?? Dang!!

Are you using any kind of a protein supplement? They were (and contineu to be) a godsend for me. They keep up your strength, satisfy the cravings, and help kick the hunger. You need about a 100 grams of protein a day and 1/2 gal of water....by using a good liquid protein you can help meet both goals. There are some very good tasting ones on the market....but you have to hunt for them. Be sure you get a powder that's made for bariatric patients, not weight lifters!! Nectar is a good brand, so is Matrix and IDS.....both hot and cold drinks.

Toqu.....you are a relative lightweight so you are going to lose at a slower rate than some of us heavier bandsters. However, I know you must be frustrated. If you would like to share what you are doing as far as eating/drinking/moving maybe we can offer suggestions to help you get the scales moving!!

I think the dress sizes have something to do with our height, also the way the garment is cut. I've lost 103 lbs in 8 months; gone from a 28 to a 22 which doesn't feel like much of a change....but I'm short and big in the middle. I've got a long row ahead of me!

I took tenuate a few years ago (10?) and it was very helpful wth no side effects.

My surgeon warned me against vomiting and urged me to be very careful and not vomit if at all possible, that it could cause problems. Sounds like your swelling may have gone down since you are getting hungry. Just sip all you can, be sure you take a high quality, lo carb Protein supplement (made for bariatric patients, not body builders)...that will help quell the hunger. Until you get a fill you won't have any restrictons and will be hungry....in fact it may take 2 or 3 fills. Aftercare and fills are a major part of the success of the band....I'm sorry your doctor doesn't know much about that part. You do need to keep in close touch with a couple of good boards that have experienced wls patients on them to answer your questions. There are some very professional and knowledable people on www.bariatriceating.com so tune in there.

And did she say what planet she was from?

Hello, Matt......good to hear from you and to hear a success story! You must feel great about your success! Keep up the good work!

I've heard many say that it smetimes takes a week or so for the fil to be felt....don't ask why, that's just what they say!! I have a 10 cc band, have had 2 fills but haven't had one since july....all of a sudden I am getting seriously hungry so I know I need a fill.

My dr. required 6 weeks before first fill, then the fill doctor said he would do one every 3 weeks. My first two were 3 weeks apart but I haven't had another (been 4 mo.) but I think I'm ready again.....beginning to feel empty and hungry sometimes.

TODAY.....just 8 months after surgery.....I weigh 100 pounds less than I did last March. That sounds so incredible to me!! I've got on and off the scale 3 times in the past hour since I got up this morning!! I know the 'first 100" is the easiest, but now that I'm beginning to believe this can work (lol) I think I might just make the second 100. And if i should not lose another pound after today (and I still think that every morning when I weigh that this pound is the last)....it's all been worth it. I'm smaller than I've been in a couple of decades and healthier than I've been in about 3 decades. What more could I ask?

Best wishes to you, Elizabeth!!

You are only a few days out so I assume you are in the mushies stage. Most mushies are high in carbs but that's all right at this point....you've got to eat and you've got to eat mushies, so don't worry about your calorie intake or the carbs right now. When you get to the 'real dea' stage, you'll want to cut out all white carbs (Pasta, potatoes, white bread, corn) and keep your carb count down. Right now, just concentrate on getting well, healing your tummy, getting your fluids, getting in the Protein you can, and not damaging yourself with things you don't need right now. Best wishes!!

1/4 cup is ridiculous....forget that statement wherever it came from. cher...have you a fill yet? If not, you are probably able to eat as much as ever after you original swelling goes down from inserting the band. You may have to have 2-3 fills to get enough restriction to really cut down on the amount you eat.....therefore, it's up to you until then. As you cut out the white carbs (they are evil) your appetite will decrease, though, and you won't be miserable. (Please go to the Control bar and add your info on your date of surgery, etc so that posters who reply can give more specific answers to inquiries.) Thanks and good luck to you!!

Can't feel a thing! Maybe when I get a little thinner I can feel my port but right now I can't. It is a strange feeling, all right!

Good possibility it is caused by gas....lots of 'mushy' food cause gas (for instance, potatoes). Try TOM's suggestions and some GasX ....hopefully that will help.