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Okayyyyy ... broomt, I don't understand why you would want to keep this person as your trainer after he hurt your feelings like that, unless of course when he said: "telling me the surgeon was only interested in making money ..." so he is training you for free, right? I didn't think so. or when he said: " and not my health and that I am cheating" cheating what/who? Diabetes? High blood pressure? Arthritis? sleep apnea? etc., etc., etc. " and won't feel as good about myself." Do you REALLY think you won't feel good about yourself when you are 100 lbs lighter? When you are buying clothes 10 sizes smaller? When you are finally keeping the weight off -- forever!!????!! Your trainer sounds like a real prince --- NOT! Trust me, he is not the only crayon in the box ... get a new and supportive trainer. You must be one of the kindest people on this earth. The email you wrote was so civil and kind. I'm menopausal, the me that "may" have been able to write an email similar to that ... she is LONG gone! LOL I would have ripped him a new one!! Sorry, my hormones are making me crazy! All the best to you! ~Fran

It sounds like you're under the impression that when people PB that there is nausea involved. On the contrary, whenever food comes up due to me eating too fast or too much, I don't feel naseous at all. The food just comes up ... and out. No feeling of sickness, it hasn't even been digested. My pouch is full and my esophagus does not allow the food to sit and wait until my pouch can handle more. Many have nausea from the anesthetics after surgery. I wasted money buying the prescription my doc gave me because by the time I got home the next day I had zero nausea. I also only took Tylenol while in the hospital because morphine makes me sick. Hang in there, you'll be just fine. As everyone said, tell the people at the hospital about your aversion to nausea and they'll fix you up. Good luck. ~fran

MSan914, you said a mouthful ... and all of it true! How are earth do doctors, nurses, etc. think that "will power" is a tool that those of us that are "morbidly obese" (though I prefer "chronically overweight" can effectively use??? I didn't have will power before surgery and I don't have will power now! What I do have, like you, is a desire to lose weight. So, like you, I exercise. I have slowly made changes to my diet, making it much heathier than ever. But, last week when there was cake for staff appreciation ... no will power ... well, I didn't eat a piece of the first cake that was sent to the office, but I caved the next day when someone brought in my favorite cake! LOL I had a small piece and was satisfied. It didn't take will power, it was a gradual change that I had made in my life -- I don't have to eat a lot to be satisfied. I think it is absurd that a doc would give fills so small that it takes a year for you to feel restriction, but it happens. (Fortunately, my doc was not one of those). Congratulations for making it through! To the newbies ... patience is the pits, but the alternative it a lot of frustration, which translates into wasted energy. This is the band life, and if you are not one of the lucky ones (took 7 long months for me!) that feels restriction without a fill or with only a fill or two, you will have to work on other areas (i.e., changing your diet, getting more Water, and exercising regularly) until you are at your "sweet spot". Hang in there, it's coming. You are NOT a failure, banish the thought! Good luck to all! ~Fran

I was banded when I was 53 and coming up on 2 years soon. I am a slow loser. When I started out I didn't exercise much ... back surgery in 2004 and spinal stenosis currently. I now walk 2.5 miles every morning before work and 3 miles on Saturday mornings. I look like a different person! Best thing I EVER did for myself. Slow loser or not, I don't regret getting the lap band for on second! I am healthier than I have been in 30 years. I wish I had done this at 50 ... or even younger. Good luck to you! ~Fran

I know how you feel Jennifer. A several years ago I went to my then PCP, I was so miserable with my weight that I wanted something, ANYTHING to help (i.e., diet pills or whatever). This woman looked me in the face and told me that I needed to push away from the table. Here's the kicker: SHE WAS ABOUT 100-150 LBS OVERWEIGHT!!! As I looked at "Jabba the Hut" sitting there telling ME that I need to push away fromt he table I got so angry I wanted to explode ... but, at the time I was also so miserable, and feeling so bad about myself because of my weight I just hurried out of her office and cried in my car. I NEVER saw her again! Good luck to you with your surgery. Give some thought to finding a new PCP. I know it's hard to change. My current PCP is a real sweety, but I don't think he is very thorough ... so I am going to find a new doc, even though I don't want to. ~Fran

Dave is right, a surgical binder just might do the trick. You can purchase one at CVS Pharmacy or probably any pharmacy. My ortho gave me a back brace yesterday because I have been increasing my power walks and having back pain (back surgery 2004), and it was great support when I walked yesterday afternoon and this morning. Hope it helps. ~Fran

I am a slow loser but I would do it again in a heart beat. My life has changed dramatically in wonderful ways ... getting to those changes have sometimes been painful (i.e., facing my food issues and working to conquer them -- still working on it). Do I PB? Yes. That has much to do with my food issues. I find that when I am well hydrated and I don't try to eat more than my pouch can handle, I don't PB. I am learning one day at a time. I went from a size 26 to a size 14/16. It wasn't a fast process, but it happened and I continue to lose so I am happy. Lap band is not for everyone, but I am so thankful that it IS for me. All the best to you on your journey. ~fran

Ditto: the above posts. It is truly sad when those that lose quickly are smug. I am a slow loser and once I came to accept this I started pulling out the positives of being a slow loser. For me they are: 1. The usual ... the longer it takes to come off, the longer it will stay off 2. I am older so I have less elasticity in my skin; as a result the slower I lose, the less sagging skin ... gives me time to tone as much as possible. 3. As I lose slowly I am learning so much about my relationship with food and slowly I am able to let go of bad eating habits and take on new, good ones. 4. I had back sugery in 2004 and I have spinal stenosis (arthritis of the spine) which means I cannot do strenuous exercise. I am though, learning just how far I can go with exercise, and I am strengthening my back muscles in the process. This is a really good thing. 5. I am learning to stay out of others' heads and to keep positive thoughts in my own head. I don't think about whether others think that I should have lost more weight by now, because when I get in their heads and think "what must they think of me and my slow weight loss", it brings me down. How on earth is that going to help me reach my goal. So, I work on concentrating on me and my journey. The bottom line is that I am a slow loser. I do what I can to continue the weight loss and I try not to let it get me down. Drasan you are losing, that is soooo much better than before the band, isn't it? It took me 7 months to get to real restriction so I know how you feel. Don't let these people get you down. Hang in there, you will get to your goal weight ... we both will! Good luck to all of us "slow losers"! ~Fran

Like JAM2YOU said ... if you're having an endoscopy ... they won't let you and you shouldn't ... drive yourself home. I had an endoscopy a couple of years ago, my sis drove ... I don't even remember the drive home. I went straight to bed when I got there and slept for hours. LOL I have a low tolerance for drugs. Even Tylenol makes me a little drowsy. ~fran

You're right, walking does work .. it just takes sooooo long. At least for me it does, hence the carb cutting. I don't know about you but my legs are getting really thin while my upper body fat is holding on for dear life! It's not that I am not losing on top, it's just taking a long time to see progress. I have spinal stenosis so I have to be careful about upper body exercise as well. So, while I am walking I move my arms util they are reaching for the sky. I figure any movement in my upper body will help. We can do this, Shirley ... no matter what our bodies say! LOL Good luck next Thursday. ~Fran

Oh Shirley, nooooo! Such a long drive and the surgeon wasn't there?!?!?! I'm sorry. I haven't had to drive that far but I waited 3 hours for my surgeon to get out of surgery to get a fill once. It's just not fun. I hope your next appointment goes smoothly. I am currently stepping up my weight loss regimen hoping to get my "turtle" moving too. I cut my carbs drastically starting this past Monday. It's been a roller coaster but I am trying to shake things up to get the scale moving again. I also have stepped up my walking by doing 2 1/2 miles in the morning and another couple of miles at lunch. The problem with that is my back (surgery in 2004), I am having problems. I will see my ortho on Tuesday to make sure I haven't done any damage. You have done a great job losing so far and I'm sure it will continue. Good luck, Shirley! ~Fran

It sounds like you have all the equipment you need, just not the motivation. I totally get it! You have many more options than I do. Lucky you! It took me a loooonnnng time to get going with the exercise consistently. I have medical problems (back surgery, spinal stenosis) so my choices are limited (although I tried Zumba and it was great, but I was bedridden for a couple of days afterward -- hurt my back ). I walk 2 1/2 miles M-F before going to work. I get up at 5:15 and I am at the park by 5:45. On the weekend, now that the weather is nice, I do 3 miles at the Marina on Saturday mornings. It took some doing to get me there. My weight loss was slow so I had to make up my mind that I really wanted to do something about it. Once I had it in my head that I was willing to do it, voila! I HATE to miss a day. Oh, and I MUST have my iPod playing when I walk ... that's a deal breaker. No iPod, no walk. LOL If I had an xbox at my disposal (there is one in my house but it belongs to my 20 yr old nephew/son - I raised him, and he doesn't like to share), I would get the "kinnect" (sp?) and go to town! Eventually I will buy one, just not in my current budget. Anyway, I suggest you experiment with different things and then find what's right and fun for you. But first, make up your mind that you want to see changes in your weight loss. You are going to be soooo proud of yourself once you get going! Good luck. ~Fran

Ok Shirley, it's after 12 here in L.A. so it's after 3 in Michigan, right? What's the good news on your new surgeon? We're all rooting for you! ~fran

Dave, you have THE best attitude! Good going, because that was surely a "backhanded" compliment. LOL ~F

Wonderful news Z! Good to know you are feeling better! ~Fran

Of course you're not being unreasonable, it's YOUR body, not the docs! If your doc really won't fill you once you are at 160 lbs, you will merely have to work it out -- AND YOU CAN! Only you know at what weight you will be comfortable. These doctors make me crazy trying to make all the decisions for WLS patients. Your body, your life, your weight loss! You are doing a great job, don't let anyone hinder you from reaching YOUR goal. ~Fran

My breakfast is a Protein drink in the morning (3 grams per scoop of protein and 7 grams per cup of soy milk). lunch yesterday was tuna with egg and mayo. My snack was celery and creamy Peanut Butter. For dinner I had a salad with chicken. The same breakfast and snack today. Lunch will be different ... I just don't know what yet. I am grumpy today, but not feeling great so I am calm. Couldn't finish my walk this morning -- my back was killing me. I am feeling better now so I will probably do a couple of miles during my lunch break, then come back and eat. I am making a big effort to drink lots of Water. Cutting my carbs is stressing me out so I am having trouble swallowing. I know it is stress because I was fine before. Geeezzz I hate when I behave this way, getting in my own way! I'm sure a nice walk at lunch with help. I'm sure that if I would stop kicking and screaming like a 3 year old this would be much easier. It will get better. @spoiltmom: thanks for the tip about natural calm magnesium. I can do this! ~Fran

tnt: You had surgery TODAY, of course you are in pain. I totally agree that the liquid pain meds are the pits. I took Darovcet pills instead. Nothing much helped the gas pain in my left shoulder. I didn't even know it was gas pain. I thought the doctors had laid me on my side too long during surgery. LOL Use the Gas-X and walk if you can, as suggested here. I hear it helps. I assume from your post that you had the out-patient surgery so you are home instead of in a hospital bed being waited on hand and foot. Being in that much pain and at home without a doctor on hand must be scary as well. It gets better. Walking is a sure cure for moving the gas out of your body, so if you are not in too much pain, give it a go. It will get better. Ask your doc for a different pain med. Take some extra strength Tylenol or something until you can speak to your doc's office. Whatever it takes to help with the incision pain, because you can't heal if you can't rest. Take care of yourself. It WILL get better. In a few months you will look back at this post and not even remember the pain. ~Fran

I can attest to the "bank account" thing! But it's a great feeling so enjoy it. I would rather buy new clothes than food these days. Never thought I'd say that!

Congratulations! I did that in my closet until the old clothes got too big ... then I went SHOPPING! I now love to shop! This weekend I bought a pair of yoga pants, they are suppose to be "fitted". I got them at Target, so I thought, hmmmm I think I'd better get an XL to be sure hey fit, and are long enough. Well, wouldn't you know it ... they are NOT fitted at all!! At least not on me! YAY! They are still wearable but just loose. So, next time I'll get a L. I whine regularly that I am not happy with the numbers on my scale. But every time I buy new clothes it's a smaller size. I need to stop complaining and just keep exercising! Again, congratulations ... but look out, it won't be long before that batch of clothes will be too big! ~Fran

Thanks Melody. I think I mght have to add this book to my Nook this weekend. It is now 5 p.m. and I have to stay late at work ... just another 30 mins or so, but I am already jonesing for carbs!! I keep telling myself: just for today ... leave the carbs alone!!! It's not that I haven't had any carbs at all today, I had about 10 carbs with Breakfast and maybe 20 between lunch and Snacks. Still, I am craving carbs already! I hate when that happens! I will keep trying ... so far, so good. But when the sun goes down ... ~F

Hi Melody, Interesting topic. I don't recall, are you diabetic? I was diagnosed Type2 in January 2007 or 2008. About 3 months after my lap band surgery I was off all meds (at the time I was taking 500 mg Metformin 2x a day). I check my blood sugar from time to time and it is food -- usually between 80 and 106. After reading your post, I can't help but wonder if, even though I am off my meds, I would still be considered insulin resistant, and thus in need of magnesium. I wonder this because seeing the numbers drop on the scale continues to be a slow process for me. And, the hardest place for me to lose, which is common for diabetics, is in the belly. My legs, however, are turning into twigs! All that said I will tell you that this morning I began, yet again, down the "low carb road". So far so good ... but who knows what casualties lie ahead. LOL I will have to check out Dr. Bernstein's book. ~fran

Glad to hear that this has been resolved and that you are on the mend. Have a safe trip. ~Fran

Okay ... I don't know if this will work but what if yo ordered Boost or Ensure or something from Amazon.com - the "2-day" delivery. I have no clue if it's possible to get that kind of delivery in India ... but I can't see why not. True, my limited (i.e., zero) knowledge of India's postal, UPS or FedEx availability might make my suggestion null and void, but ... it's sounds like you are miserable and I just want to help if at all possible. I do agree that if you are spitting up blood, it's time to find a hospital - fast. Good luck. Keep us posted. ~Fran

Yes. Protein helps curb your appetite and since we as bandsters are eating less, it helps us get from one meal to the next. Also, the more active you are (i.e., exercise), the more protein you need. Protein also helps protect and repair cells, so during the healing process it is crucial.