emjay

Alot of us WISH we had your problem! Seriously though...if you feel like you are eating and exercising sensibly and that is the "magic" number that is easy for you to maintain, I wouldn't give what others say a second thought. What is most important is how you feel and if you are maintaining a healthy lifestyle and relationship with food and exercise. I have to agree with you that many people aren't used to seeing you of normal weight and think it's too much (that you've lost). Don't worry about what other people say...it's really none of their business and every bit of yours. Don't allow other people's opinions to determine what you feel is your appropriate weight. At your stats, it doesn't sound like your anorexic or anything. Just rejoice in the fact that you were able to take the weight off and live a healthier and happier life free of the shackles of obesity. Be PROUD of yourself! :rolleyes2:

I start almost every day out with a Protein shake since I tend to be tighter in the mornings and wasn't much of a Breakfast eater anyway. For lunch, I may do a Lean Cuisine, Smart Ones, or Healthy Choice entree. Or just leftovers from the night before. Sometimes it's just a greek yogurt with homemade trail mix together (Kashi Go Lean Cereal, raisins, dry roasted peanuts, choc chips). For dinner, some roasted chicken, cottage cheese, and a little fruit. If I need a snack for any reason, a small piece of fruit, homemade trail mix, sf pudding, cottage cheese, wasa crackers with flavored cream cheese, or a few soy chips. I always keep a small snack in case of emergencies in my purse or at work so it's easier to make healthier choices if needed. You sound like a "planner" which is great! I'm more whimsical when it comes to what I want to eat. You will do great! Good luck and you'll be on your way in no time!

After being on diet after diet and losing and gaining back hundreds of pounds my decision was based on what I could personally live with. I wasn't comfortable with bypass or the sleeve because of the anatomical changes that seemed far drastic than the band. It took me a long time to decide on WLS as the right choice because I knew when I put my mind to it, I could lose the weight and get back in the "normal" BMI range. The problem is, it didn't last long. I could never stay at any particular weight for any length of time. The physical deprivation after a period of time and the powerlessness I felt when I was gaining and couldn't stop myself was more than I was willing to bear. The band for me seemed like the best choice because it would physically help me control the amount I was eating if I could control the type of food I was choosing to consume. I was willing to do my part. The lap band to me personally seemed the least drastic to me and the only one I was willing to consider.

You have me thinking that the weather could have something to do with it also. I live 40 miles north of Dayton OH and I can tell within the last week that my band is much tighter than is has been. I'm scheduled for a fill Saturday and it will be a small one if any. The tightness seems to effect me more in the mornings than any other time, however, the first real food of the day I have I must eat very slowly as it feels very slow going down. Our weather has been very similar to yours with the ratcheting up of the humidity and temperature. I can't blame it on "Aunt Flo" right now so I guess it does make some sense. When I has heavier, my ankles would tend to swell up due to the hot/humid weather. I guess our stomachs can too. :bored:

[quote=lapbandgirl2009;1257668 I am trying to focus on eating the right thing and as far and fruit and veggies. Should I only have one piece of fruit and one veggie? I am having 2 fruits at least and 2 veggies if even more sometimes. So maybe that is a factor? I know that when I workout sometimes I will get headaches so if I eat a little more then it goes away. I sounds to me like you're doing fine on the fruits and veggies. Just don't forget to get your Protein in first. Also, your headaches could be a sign that you need more to eat or possibly drink (remember to hydrate). I not in the medical field, but I know I get headaches if I don't eat or drink regularly. It doesn't have to be much, just enough to make you feel better. You sound like you're doing really well and making a sincere effort. We all want the weight to come off "now", but it normally takes alot longer to take it off than put it on! Keep up the good work!

Lapbandgirl2009 - congratulations on your weight loss! You're doing great! It may seem slow but it sounds like you are doing all the right things. You may be a slow-loser or your body is re-adjusting to all the changes you've made recently. I agree with you on the number of calories to consume in a day. My doc's office recommends 1100-1300 calories per day and be consistent (not 2000 calories 1 day and 500 the next). Your body being in starvation mode can wreak havoc with your system and is something that isn't sustainable in the long run. I can't imagine living the rest of my life that way. I can't say I count my calories because I feel I've done that enough in my life, either calories or carbs, and I think if I pay the most attention to getting my Protein in and the scale is moving, that's enough for me. Being only a couple of months out from surgery, you still may not be properly adjusted, although it sounds like your loss is due to your "willpower" at this point. I wouldn't put too much emphasis on the numbers right now. What you are doing is commendable and you will succeed. Make sure you are drinking enough liquids to keep your system up to speed and best of luck to you! :thumbup:

Ahhh....I remember that well. That shoulder pain was a doosy to get rid of. I had it for almost a month before it fully subsided. What worked for me the best was liquid ibuprofen and a moist heating pad. The heat helped to take the edge off. I even brought it to work! The gas pains and the pre- and post-op diet were the worst of the journey so far. Believe me - it does get much better. You may want to try moving your arms in a circle also as long as walking - okay maybe not at the same time, someone might think you have some serious issues! Someone also told me to sleep on the side that you have the pain also to try and get rid of it quicker. Sorry you're going thru that. It's not fun at all... :smile2:

It's been interesting to read all the posts from the 'bunnies. Weight - I'm down exactly 30 lbs from the day of my initial consult of 03/19/09. 17 lbs post-surgery. Slow but fairly steady. My weight tends to fluctuate depending on "Aunt Flo's" visits. Fills - I've had 3 fills to date for a total of 3.7 cc's. Another fill scheduled for Saturday. Restriction - I have some, and feel I'm pretty close to my sweet spot. Can eat about 9-11 oz of food at each meal. I get hungry after 3 hours, but try and keep good Snacks on hand if I need to quell the hunger. Rules - I do pretty well during the week. I do not like to follow rules since I feel this is a lifetime of good decisions I have to make. I don't drink with my meals and wait at least an hour after eating. I get plenty of Protein and have found I don't crave or go after the types of foods I would have eaten pre-band. Anything Else - I'm happy I had the surgery no doubt. I definitely eat healthier (most of the time). I don't keep junk food in the house and even ice cream is no longer something I gravitate towards. I keep homemade trail mix around in case of the munchies (Kashi Go-Lean Cereal, dry roasted peanuts, choc chips and raisins). I give my best to all my fellow bunny bandsters! :smile2:

I was banded in April and have had 3 fills (total 3.7 cc's) to date. My nurse and I both feel I'm getting pretty close to restriction and I feel tight in the mornings and gurgle in my throat alot. I hesitate to get much more restriction and have trouble with liquids and most solid foods. Right now, I'm able to eat a Lean Cuisine, Health Choice or Smart Ones entree and be fine for lunch. Usually 9-11 oz of food. It does seem to really make a difference if you drink during your meals. I try and wait at least an hour if not longer before I start to drink something again. If it is going to be too long between meals due to my schedule, I always try and keep some homemade "trail" mix or pudding on hand to tie me over. Remember, it's not just the quantity of food, but the quality too. The frozen Entrees are more for convenience than anything, but at least many are a good Protein source and have portion control built in. It definitely sounds like you need a fill to me. I could eat alot more after my first fill than I can now. And it depends on the food itself as to how much I can eat. Whether it's solid or "soft". The band can be a really fickle thing. :smile2:

Once in a while I may take a sip of Water with my meal if I feel like the food is extremely dry. It has been an adjustment to not drink with my meals, however, I hate being hungry more, so I am starting to get used to it. My hubby's physician recommended that he not drink with his meals either due to reflux. He's not banded, but has problems with alot of mucus (like sliming) and reflux. I figure if that helps to alleviate the reflux issue, I'm all for it. I don't have any reflux issues and don't hope to, but if not drinking with a meal will help, that's what I'll do.

The best way I found out is to eat 4-5 small meals a day. My doctor's office recommended that to me if the 3 meals a day didn't suffice until proper restriction. They really wanted you to only eat 3 meals a day, but if you are migrating towards the wrong food choices and are getting hungry only after a couple of hours, then spreading your meals out would help. Also, make sure that you do not drink anything for at least an hour after eating so you are not pushing the food thru your stomach and don't drink with your meal. Not that you don't know that, but worth mentioning. Otherwise, try and keep yourself busy so that your mind isn't always on being hungry and drink plenty of Water. It does help! Good luck! I'm still not at my proper restriction, but getting close! It does get easier! :sad:

For a snack, I make up a little band-friendly "trail mix". 1 part dry-roasted peanuts, 1 part chocolate chips, 3 to 4 parts Kashi Go-Lean cereal. Makes a nice snack you can throw in a baggie in your purse. This cereal has 14 grams of protein per cup and 40% of the recommended daily fiber. The nuts are additional protein and the chips, well, you need a little sweetness. I usually put some in my purse in case I'm eating a late dinner to tie me over. Also, the Wasa brand crackers (light Rye) are a nice snack with a thin layer of flavored cream cheese and are very low in calories.

I started really gaining weight in college and then yo-yo dieted for the past 20+ years. I also was a self-pay and everything happened really fast. I'm actually glad about that - not just because I was able to start the process so quickly, but mentally I think it helped me to stay motivated. You can see when I was banded on my signature and the weight is coming off at the pace the doc said it would. Don't get discouraged is you don't start to lose weight initially because it may take a long time to get to your proper restriction. You will have to be a little more mindful of what and how much you are eating until that time. I'm extremely pleased with the results so far. No complications, home by noon the same day, and very easy "fill" days so far. I have been very fortunate that I haven't PB'ed or slimed, but I am able to tell right away if I need to slow down eating because the food feels like it just sits there for a minute or two. Poke around on this forum and you will get alot of the answers you are looking for. It's a wonderful site for support and encouragement from people who've "been there". Good luck to you!! :wink:

The pre-op and post-op all liquid diet is the most difficult part of the lap band process. For me it was 21 days of nothing but liquids. Looking back, I'm amazed that I was able to get through it. Many bandsters are also trying to "detoxify" from caffeine, sugar, smoking, and other things that can interfere with your weight loss which can further compound the issue. I gave up my caffeine and limited my sugar intake the week prior to going on the liquid diet and I think it helped me alot. I was a Diet Coke fanatic for 25+ years, so to get away from soda was quite a change of mindset. The biggest motivator for me was to keep the ultimate goal in mind. I wanted the surgery terribly after gaining and losing tremendous amounts of weight over the years and knew this was my best chance for success. I will tell you now I don't regret it for a minute because I know I would be 50-60 lbs heavier than I am now if I hadn't of started this journey.

3 weeks and 1 day from initial consult. It could have been 2 weeks and 1 day but I was not available on the surgery date. I was self-pay which makes a BIG difference in the amount of time you have to wait. I couldn't be more pleased!

It took me awhile to find the post, but here were the instructions from his physician. DIET INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE NEXT TWO MONTHS AFTER EACH LAP BAND ADJUSTMENT First two weeks: non-carbonated, diet beverages (Crystal Light, Water, other drinks with low or no calories) plus two Protein shakes per day.. Second two weeks: non-carbonated, diet beverages (Crystal Light, water, and other drinks with low or no calories) plus two Protein Shakes per day, plus three 60 cc Soup meals per day as follows: make a can of soup according to directions. When it is ready to serve, ladle some of into a strainer and let the water pass through to the sink. Put 60 cc of the meat and noodles or meat and vegetables, measured, into a serving dish for your meal. Eat three of these meals per day in addition to the clear liquids and protein shakes. Third two weeks: non-carbonated, diet beverages (Crystal Light, wat~r, other drinks with low or no calories) plus two protein shakes per day, plus three soft meals per day, 60 cc per meal. Soft meals will include yogurt, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, Peanut Butter, etc. Fourth two weeks: non-carbonated, diet beverages (Crystal Light, water, and other drinks with low or no calories) plus two protein shakes per day, plus three protein per day, 60 cc per meal. Protein meals to consist of tender meat, fish, or eggs. DO NOT HAVING ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: CARBONATED BEVERAGES, BREAD, RICE, Pasta, NOODLES, POTATOES, OR ANY OTHER food CONTAINING CARBOHYDRATES, ONCE THE FOURTH TWO WEEKS HAVE STARTED. Repeat this same schedule every time you have an adjustment to the~ band. All I can say is....WHAT?????:blushing:

Christy712 - Everyone above has given you good advice on what to do. This approach IMO, with someone with a weight issue, is NOT what you need. Personally, I don't need to feel belittled or like a failure because I gained weight before getting the proper restriction. I would go to another physician because I agree this jackass would not change for you. I think it is also VERY IMPORTANT to, either in person or in writing, explain exactly why you are or considering to go to another physician for your fills and support. Be professional about it, but direct. Sometimes a doc's ego needs to be put in check when they are out of line and many are too afraid to say anything. Don't be. Support is a key ingredient for success with the lap band and to be honest, the people on this forum provide me with the incentive I need to continue this journey. I'm afraid that if you begin to dread seeing this physician, you will not get the proper follow-up care and start to backslide. You need to have a good relationship with the physician/nurse or whoever is continuing to provide you care for the best chance for success. I wish you well.

My doc recommends liquids for a few hours or soft foods for the rest of the day, and the reason as mentioned in a previous post was due to swelling. Some people seem to have no trouble eating right after a fill, and some can't even think about eating after a fill. Personally, I eat a few hours before a fill and then stay on liquids or soft foods for the rest of the day. After that, if I feel I can eat whatever, I begin with a regular diet. If you want to hear a fill "horror" story, ask JayTee. His doc's requirements after a fill are unreal!

I don't think that seems unreasonable. I'm a little over 2 months out from surgery and had 3 fills to date and am at 3.7 cc's in a 10cc band. I can go back every 2 weeks if I feel I need it. The nurse and I both agreed that I'm pretty close to my sweet spot so 1 or 2 more times ought to do it for awhile. The center that I go does gradual fills to avoid complications from too much restriction. Good luck getting to your sweet spot! :wink2:

Go see your doctor. Tell him about what has been going on and the timeline of when you had surgery and your first fill. The doc may even want you to see a therapist to get more focused on YOU and your weight loss. Family health problems can sideline anyone, because they become the first priority. It's important to see your physician and have him evaluate your status. He/she may want to check to make sure the band is still properly positioned and may even do a fill. In the end, it will have to be how well you commit to the band lifestyle that determines your success. Doesn't it just bug you when people think having surgery is the easy way out? We all know it's a struggle. I really hope you are able to get back on track and lose the weight. It's time for the focus to be on you...even though family crisis may be come up from time to time, you will have to remember that it's important to take care of yourself first. It's easy to forget that.

I had surgery on a Friday morning and was back to work Monday morning. A little sore, but if you can get up and walk around every hour or so it helps. Didn't have any issues other than terrible gas pains in my shoulders and upper chest for a couple of weeks but incision-wise, very little soreness. Best of luck and success!

Deekel - If I were you and didn't have any support outside of your husband...I wouldn't tell ANYBODY else. Only you and your husband have to know. If someone asks why you are only eating small portions or certain foods, just tell them you are watching what you eat. Nothing more. Is it really any of their business? You take alot of pressure off yourself if you limit the amount of people that you tell. I made the mistake of telling some people I shouldn't have and now when I go somewhere, I feel that's what their gossiping about. But I'm old enough to not really give a sh*t most of the time. If you have a supportive husband, that may be all you need. You have many people here on this forum that can help you at any time. This is about YOU. If you're ready, you can make this a personal journey and decide to tell them a few years down the road or never. The choice is yours. Some people have a way to make you feel really poorly about your decision to have surgery. Like it's the easy way out or you're a failure. Don't give them that power. Their ignorance about the lap band doesn't need to sabotage your success.

Wow...I can relate to every one of these posts. Live in a small town, work for a small business, and everyone KNOWS your business. Whenever I take off work my boss has to ask what I'm doing, and told him. Only missed 1 day and that was for surgery and consult. I told a couple of family members and now every time I see one they always ask how I'm doing, if I'm losing weight, and a few ask questions that can really irritate. You know, the stupid ones like "well if you just ate that way before you had surgery, you would lose the same amount". Ugh.... But I know (most of them) mean well, a few may be even interested in getting it done themselves, so I try to keep a positive attitude and not bite their heads off. If I can be a positive influence on someone, then so be it and I'll feel good about that. I have a lot of faith in the lap band and it's doing what it's supposed to be doing for me. Let's all show them that this was well worth the money, pain, aggravation, frustration, and will power (to get thru pre-op and post-op) and be the people we should be - free from the prison of obesity. :confused:

BKNY30 - you sound like you have alot of questions and are very anxious about your decision to have the surgery. If your insurance paid for your surgery I'm sure you had to go thru quite an ordeal to even get approved. So don't even think about not following thru with allowing the band to work for you. I've been banded about 2 months now with 3 fills to date and have never had a PB or "sliming" (your mouth seems to create alot of saliva fast that you don't want to swallow). There is alot of great information on this site from fellow bandsters, some veterans, and many who are a "work in progress". View this as a journey...where at the end of the journey the possibilities are, well, endless. Myself, when I wasn't on some crazy diet or another, I was a potato chip/chip dip and pizza girl. Most of what I ate was junk. You know that saying "you are what you eat?" Well, to some degree, that is true. For others, heredity can be a b*tch. You are at a stage that is the absolute hardest part of the program...the pre- and post-op diet. Just remember to drink lots of fluids, eat slowing, chew well, and eat your Proteins. Stop eating when you no longer feel hungry and do what the doc tells you to as far as your post-op diet. You will need to be committed to having a band. You can and will have alot of success with the lap band if you follow the guidelines. You will feel better, look better and hopefully live longer because of the choice you made. Be proud of that. It's work, no doubt about it. But the payoff will be priceless! I wish you the very best! :thumbdown:

MetalRocker - you will do fine. Many people gain weight after surgery and before their first fill. My doc likes to do fills gradually, so it can take several fills to get to your "sweet spot" where your losing 1-2 lbs a week. We all want to see results NOW. Many of us want instant gratification. That's part of our problem. If your doc gradually increases your fills, you may not lose much in the first few months, but once you feel restriction, your weight will drop. ps. as far as the flatulence problem. I hear you! I never had an issue before, but it seems to subside after awhile. Took a couple of months for me though! You are in "bandster hell" as someone mentioned before. Work your way thru it by trying to make the right food choices. Concentrate on getting your Protein first, then fill up on your fruits and veggies and whole grains. Stick to 3 meals a day and drink lots of Water or no-calorie beverages. Best of luck to you and I wish you all the success you deserve! :ihih: