xavier

You are going to do great! I was just like you and now I am cruising along and just wish I could have done it sooner...the first year was a big struggle to adjust to a whole new life but now its very easy and I dont think about it much! Let me know if I can help at all!

Unfortunatly I live about 5 hours from my doc so I never went but I think I know a lot about nutrition....(havent we all been on so many diets we are experts? LOL!). Seriously the protein first and get half your ideal weight in grams every day...ideal weight 140 so 70 grams a day....the rest is easy once you are in the green zone because after you eat the protein you are usually too full to get into any carb trouble! I dont eat meat only fish so I eat a lot of fish, beans, nuts, and cheese for protein. I am an old dog here and I still have a Premier Protein from Costco almost every morning so I start with 30 grams...Let me know if there is any thing I can do for you!!!

I ate lot of those soups that come in cartons rather than a can. they are great and you an put your protein powder in them (I use GNC unflavored)...I love the butternut squash and the roasted red pepper.

I always have cheese and little ziplocs of nuts in my purse. Good protein and keeps you full along time.

You can do it, friend! I had all the same wishes and I still cant believe how my life has changed! Since you are new and if you have time take a look at the blog The sweet Spot http://bandgroupiethesweetspot.blogspot.com/2008/11/11708-secret-word-knows.html I recommend reading it from the first day. This lady is a normal Mom who lost 100 pounds in a year and never dieted or exercised...she will have you laughing to tears and prepare you for every little thing you are going to experience....best of luck, you will get lots of support here (try to disregard the unhappy few)...Diane

You will loosen up a bit as you lose weight. I had three green zones which I lost as I lost weight and had to get a bit more fill...anyway I have no foods whatsoever that I cant eat...but I just have to be extra mindful with things like bread and rice...

I would give it a try. I have heard so much bad and horrendously outdated advice here from dieticians and nutritionists I doubt a non banded one could be worse.

PS: I am assuming your fills are free and doc makes money doing surgery not doing fills...you got a bad doc there who isnt concerned for your aftercare...might be worth 100 or 200 bucks per fill to cut and run.

A. start looking for a new doc B. ask for them to call you for any cancellation opening C. Make all your appointments at the shortest intervals possible now for the next 8 months

Wow! if you do this to please others I think you are guaranteed to fail. If you dont do it because others prefer you to stay fat or think you will be seen as having cheated by having weight loss surgery I think you are guaranteed to fail! This is something you do for you, your family, your children...get your head in the game!

First you need a fill and you should already know what is in your band and if its still in there and might have leaked out. Two, I hope no one told you this would be easy and that you wouldnt have to change your ways. For your long term health you need a decent doc who can get you to the green zone and get use out of your band. I had my first green zone at 6cc in a 10 cc band which was three fills. I lost weight and it loosened and I plateaued. I got another fill to 7.7cc and lost more weight. I plateaued again at 155 with 145 being goal for first normal BMI. I got a 0.3cc fill which I thought was too tiny to matter but I got to 140 in about 6 weeks. I have never exercised or dieted but I do eat protein first and very few carbs. The only meat I eat is fish. I can only eat about 1/2 cup or maybe 3/4 cup of any food at atime. I eat any time I am hungry and that might be six times a day. I am too tight in the morning so I have a Premier Protein which starts my day with 30 grams of protein. PLEASE...get a good doc to help you use this band! (you have not failed at all unless you quit)

That seems like very little food so you should be losing unless it is just a plateau...a week or two. I wonder if you may be eating a little more than that and not know it...we all tell ourselves some little lies about how much we eat! I think you should try writing down every thing you eat for a week or two and just take a look at it. I eat quite a bit more than that and maintain my weight easily without doing any exercise...probably it is just a plateau.

First, I would advise you lay it all out for your doc and see what he or she says. I think a slip is from a lot of vomiting and yes, that might e from being too tight but probably mostly from just not eating and chewing carefully. My doc sews all this bands in place and has never had a slip.

I have never had fluoro and apparently dont need it. I would just ask for the nurse who did access your port by name and bring her a treat as a thank you (this works amazingly well and much better than complaining). I did this when I was having to get blood drawn routinely and there was only one nurse who could do it in a couple of sticks instead of ten! A tray of caramel apples for the whole staff assured me I would always get her! Nurses are often very underappreciated and a small gesture can get you what you want!

My story is I eat less and exercise more...its the truth! The rest is seriously no ones business.

PS: Salad dressing with vinegar in it causes it because vinegar IS acid!

I take Protonix, which is prescribed. You have to take the Prilosec every day for at least a week for it to start working...its not like Tums where it just neutralizes acid when it hits your stomach...it actually decreases your body's ability to make the acid...but you might need an unfill...do what your doc says!

I think you are fine! I lost at about a rate of 6 pounds a month and I am now a steady size six whose weight does not fluctuate at all...others lost faster but from where I am sitting now I dont care and also I feel I adjusted really well to a lifestyle I can live with forever! Good Luck!

yes i think they are a bit defensive because they had less ability to change their habits and required a more risky surgery...

Unless you are diabetic sugar is just not that bad for you, especially compared to all the fake chemical stuff! I use Agave nectar in ice tea only because it dissolves in quickly but it is supposed to have a low glycemic index...

My doc just had me lose 10 pounds and I actually lost 8...no specific diet. Just do what your doc says...

HB! This is the best gift you can give yourself...I am 48 and was obese for almost two decades! My daughter is 17 so calling it baby weight was getting ridiculous! This was the best thing I ever did (i did have to self pay) and I wish I could have done it sooner. The first year was a crazy struggle of adjustment but these days its easy! Best of luck!

This is not a race...it is small changes you can maintain life long...if you could do a meal plan (sounds like a diet) you probably wouldnt have needed weight loss surgery. Just get the fills you need until you are satisfied on tiny portions and be mindful of what and how you eat. I lost my weight slowly but I think it is because of that that I know I can keep it off...I never dieted and I just eat small meals protein first...

Well good luck with all your tests but please dont hate on the cheaters...we all got to the point of needing weight loss surgery for the same reason...we cheat on diets! Also wait to pass judgement until you have walked a mile (a year?!) in our (banded) moccasins!

First tell the whole thing to your doc and see what he or she recommends! But yes even people with empty bands get stuck (wrong foods or eating without being aware of chewing etc)...to feel full and satisfied on tiny meals you need to be at your sweet spot...but you have to change ALL the behaviors that get you stuck. Some people continue to get stuck so they dont get enough fills for good restriction as an excuse to fail...be sure that is not you.