DizzyLizzy

I only have .5cc and really have no restriction at all. I can tell the band is there because I'm not scarfing food down and will feel satisfied soon enough as long as I eat slowly, but if I'm in a rush I can put food away! I've still been doing well, though, which is why my doctor wouldn't give me another fill. I lost 11lbs in a month and their goal for me is only 2lbs a week. He did say if I don't lose, I could come in for a fill before my next scheduled appointment, but I lost 2lbs last week, so looks like I'm going to have to wait. I count calories in and out and as long as I plan my meals out for the day, I'm good at getting my 1000 - 1200 calories, 75g Protein, and under 100 carbs a day. It's the weekends I find that I struggle with because nothing is ever planned. But I did do better this weekend...didn't give in to the big Breakfast my husband fixed or the McDonald's he brought home, lol! And I work out 4 days a week now, at least 45 minutes and burn at least 400 calories each workout. So, I'm ok with no restriction at this point. Just glad to not have the problems of getting stuck, etc because I did experience that in the weeks after surgery due to the swelling I still had. I'll just keep on trucking along!

Wow, BT, that's awesome! I don't know how long you have been working on getting that 100lbs off, but I know the feeling. I worked at it for 2 1/2 years and couldn't do it, so good job!!! You'll probably get your band and just melt away! And good job everyone else. It's important to remember, if you slip up, everyday is a new day to make it better than the last! Have an awesome day!

LOL, when I get into my music, I really get into it! Makes workouts more fun and less of a chore!

Hey friends! I'm still working with my .5cc in my band, but I guess it's going ok. I saw 292 this morning, down 4lbs from last Friday! I'm not going to log it though, I'll do it this evening fully clothed after dinner..maybe 294 then. I forgot to weigh myself last night...imagine that! But, I did make my goal of 4 workouts this past week, Sat, Sun, Tue, and Fri! Did the whole kit and kaboodle - mile walk, weight lifting, and a little booty shaking for some extra cardio. 60 minutes total with my stretching. And I was back at it again this morning, so I think I can manage to keep this up! AND...the pants I just bought last Friday that fit fine are now a bit loose! Yay! Have a good day everyone!

Not yet, my exercise guy that works for my surgeon doesn't want me doing ab work until 3 months out, just to be sure I don't stress the muscle around the port. But I do notice that sometimes after working out, or even bowling, I'll be sore around my port for about a day. He said it's because if you're properly supporting your upper body when doing physical activity, you're still slightly working your abs. And with the way I switch and "be-bop" around when I walk on the treadmill to music, I'm not surprised at how sore I get there, lol! But he said it's ok as long as the soreness does eventually go away. If when I go back in 3 weeks, my exercise guy gives me to ab work to do, I'll share. But as they say, before you begin any exercise regimine, check with your doctor.

Oh, I forgot to mention, the ones I have are "New-Whey" Protein shots and they have 42g protein per shot. I don't know if all that extra protein is what made it more thick and not so tastey. But, each shot also has almost 200 calories, so I wouldn't use them too often, unless you have really good restriction and can afford to take in those extra calories in liquid form.

I take in 1000 - 1200 calories a day and I get about 75 - 80g protien a day. Sometimes more sometimes less. I take biotin 5000mg and B-12 everyday, but I was doing that long before I even thought about lapband. Since surgery, surprisingly, my hair is growing faster and thicker than before. Could be from all the protein, but I also stopped putting chemicals (such as relaxers and hair dye) in my hair as well, so that may be helping.

Hey y'all! Hope everyone is doing well! Does anybody else actually "feel" lighter? Like when I workout and get up off the floor after stretching, I actually just get up instead of the one knee up, ok, brace self, grunt, push, grunt some more, etc, lol. And when I do my lap around the office (it's a pretty big office) I go so fast (compared to before) I feel like going "zoooommm!". Anybody else feeling that way? Feels good! Off to workout...zoooommm! :-)

I think they taste weird. Right after surgery, I spazzed out wondering how I was going to get enough protien in on fluids only and bought a BOX, had 24. I couldn't even get through a whole tube it was so thick and gross and super sweet to me. Tried to finish the tube the next day and just the smell grossed me out. I haven't had one since...all 23 of them are still sitting in the pantry.

I was banded 12.22.09. I told my boss because my surgeon is 3 hours away, so there no taking an extended lunch for appointment – I wanted her to be aware of why I was taking so much time off. Well, the time comes to plan the holiday party for our group, which just so happened to be scheduled for while I was on my liquid pre-op diet during office hours. So, in one of our meetings, which only 5 of us were in the meeting, they were discussing where/what to eat and look at me, so of course I’m like, “I really don’t care”. I go ahead and spill it about the surgery because I know questions would be asked as to why I wasn’t eating at the party, or why I didn’t come. So, I’ve only told 4 people here about it..who all knows by now because I know at least two like to gossip. Well really 3 if I count my boss because when I was pregnant with my son, I only told my boss at the time, which is now her boss, and he told her (just to let his reports know that they’d have to make arrangements for my maternity leave..even though I wasn’t due for another 7 months!) but she comes up to me and says, “Tom told me you were pregnant, congratulations, and I hope you don’t mind me telling a few others because I knew you wouldn’t since you’re so quiet!” Umm, ok, I had only been there about 6 months anyway so it’s not like I had gotten really chummy with anyone there yet, but anyhoo, that was 6 years ago…now to my current issue… So, the people that I told about the surgery here, well sit in cubicles in the same area. And the older lady’s daughter had gastric bypass several years back so she thinks she is Jesus when it comes to knowing about weight loss surgery. Anyhoo, I brought in some home made beef stew for lunch yesterday and ate at my desk, and one of them says “ooh, who got that good smelling food? I know it can’t be Liz!” What, because I had lap band all I can eat is stinking dog food? So I say, “yeah, I CAN eat regular food.” And she says, “Well, I though all you could have is protein stuff.” DUH, beef has protein, but I still have to eat fruits, veggies, and other stuff too! Then today, one of the others, while another person who I didn’t tell was standing there asks “Hey, can you have jelly beans?” I said, “Yeah, I can HAVE anything I want, but I don’t want any, thanks. “ So of course the other girl who I didn’t tell is looking funny, so I’m sure if the other didn’t tell already, she did today. And the other day, one had a donut or something and she tried to cover it up, like I was just some starved monster and was going to snatch it from her. And when we all went out for lunch the other day, they were like, so what are you gonna eat, can you have this, can you have that? They seem to think that I’m just supposed to drink protein shakes all day long and starve. It’s just getting on my nerves and I am now wishing I didn’t tell anyone outside of family. I almost just want to get another job where nobody knows so I don’t have to hear stuff like this from these idiots. Just had to vent! I hate stupid people. :smile2:

I don't really care if people know or not. Even if I never told anyone and someone asked what I was doing to lose weight, I would have been honest and told them I had surgery. But, what I don't appreciate is 1. them telling others if they have when I told them that I have only told family and I was only telling them because of the timing of the holiday party and I knew they would ask anyway, and 2. them acting like I'm some freak who can not be anywhere near food because I can't control myself and can no longer eat real good food! I've explained the process to them, how it works, mentioned to them several times that I can eat real food, just not as much, but it seems to go in one ear and out the other. Especially the one who's daughter had gastric bypass, she had a lot of complications and apparently can't eat anything, so she thinks I'm the same way. There is always someone in the office on a diet and it was known they were on a diet and I have never seen any of them behave towards the people who are dieting the way they are behaving with me. That's what pisses me off the most. It's like, oh she had to go to the extreme of having surgery so we must be very delicate with her. NO! Treat me like a regular person! I don't have this problem with my family or friends, just these morons at work!

Good! Let me know what they do for you in case I need to light a fire under my doc’s butt if TOM doesn’t take a break soon. They just told me to increase my Iron supplement for now. I think TOM is gone (crossing my fingers) as there was nothing there this morning. But I thought that it was over yesterday and it started again later, so I don’t know. But it is not nearly as bad as it was a few days ago. Still irritating as heck, and not knowing when it’s going to stop and start is a bummer. My hubby and I were wanting to plan a weekend get away next week, but I’m afraid to make reservations because TOM may show up unannounced again!

Good job! Everybody is different and everybody's body reacts differently. I bet in addition to different doctors having different treatment plans, they probably have a different plan for each of their patients based on what they learned about them pre-op! So, I think the most important thing is to be open and honest with your doctor (and yourself) about what you are and are not doing in regards to eating and exercise. I think in addition to watching portion size, it’s also important to count calories. If I didn’t start counting calories, I would have had no idea that the food I typically ate, even in small portions, was horrible and there were just as satisfying alternatives that are better. For instance, for breakfast, I would gear towards maybe a Sausage McMuffin with egg. One of those is not huge, even for those with restriction could probably go down ok with some good chewing. But that sucker has 450 calories, 30g carbs, and only 21g protein! A better choice with what I've found to be just as satisfying, a ham and cheese omelet on low carb tortilla - 235 calories, 12g carbs, and 25g protein! Even other things as simple as yogurt, Yoplait light vs. Yoplait thick and creamy or regular pudding vs sugar free pudding, both the same amount of food, but a difference of almost 100 calories. That’s the main reason I do keep track of what I eat, it just helps me to make better choices. I'm not melting away, but I'm ok with that now because I know I'm doing the best I can making good food choices and better eating habits. The weight will come off in time. I've already lost over 20lbs in 2 months when it took me 30 months to lose 80lbs on my own, so I think I'm doing pretty darn good with my band!

Yes! And I'm on birth control pills too, my periods since surgery have started while taking my active pills! My periods since I've been on birth control are normally very light and last only 2-3 days, if I have a period at all. Hardly ever had cramps but this time the cramps were killer. My primary care doctor and surgeon said that it was due to the weight loss...that estrogen is stored in fat cells and when you lose weight the estrogen is released and causes you to "shed your lining" in other words, bleed. They also said that overweight women usually have a thicker build up of the uterine lining, so this excess bleeding may be the shedding of what has built up all this time. They did blood work to check my Iron (I've always been anemic) and it has caused my iron levels to be lower. They are also going to check to make sure my blood is clotting properly (which I'm guessing it is since they drew blood and I hardly bled at the draw site). I don't know what they could do to stop it other than maybe put me on some hormone therapy or stronger BCP, but they just got the blood work today so I should know in the next couple of days what they are going to do, if anything. You should let your doctor know you're having a problem so they can check everything out. Good luck!

TOM and I have been fighting for nearly 3 weeks straight and TOM is hanging tough. It's our 3rd battle in less than 2 months and this time TOM came out swinging! But, I've lost more weight in the weeks TOM has been hanging around than not so TOM may have actually helped me there. But, I still hate TOM because he's just annoying and mean! My husband hates him too!

Yes, I get hungry sometimes. But that usually on the weekends when I fail to plan my meals. My doc & dietician advises to eat 6 times a day, 3 meals and 3 snacks, no more than a 1/2 cup of food at a time. So, that's pretty much every two hours, and when I do that I'm never hungry. Eating that way is supposed to keep your metabolism and energy up and ward off cravings for junk. On the weekends I usually forget to eat when I'm supposed to and then sometimes trying to find a quick meal, will make poor food choices. But even then, even with my small fill, I still get satisfied more quickly than before I had the band. But, if temptation strikes, I can still eat, which is where I could get in trouble not being restricted. I know every doctor has a different thing, but since my doctor doesn't want me eating more than a 1/2 cup at a time, it would be impossible for me to get in good nutrition eating only 1/2 cup 3 times a day. I don't want to go too low in calories because it lowers your metabolism and I was taking in only 600 - 800 calories during my liquid pre-op and I felt totally drained and really loopy, and I'm fortunate to have the problems of getting stuck and such right now, so my doctor (and I) don't want to be too restricted. I'd prefer to up my calorie intake and excersice to burn it off to get the net effect and keep my metabolism up. It's working for me right now, but who knows, that could change at any given time! My body has already proven to have a mind of its own! And my doctor did say if I don't lose 4lbs over the next two weeks, I can come in for a fill then instead of waiting for my next appointment in 4 weeks, so it's not like he's totally holding out on me. He justs wants to do it the right way, and if I'm losing at a good rate without feeling totally tortured, then I'm doing good. As much as I'd like to melt away like many others are, I knew going into this to get the best long term results I'd have to put forth some sort of effort, so I'm going with his plan until I can't anymore.

I have never been a dieter either. I too got the band because I didn't want to do a drastic diet and end up being a yo yo dieter. But, I am in a sense, now dieting. I've only had 1 fill (.5cc) when I went back for my 2nd my doc wouldn't give me one because I lost more than the 2lbs a week they expect. So, since I have no restriction, I am actually basically dieting. I can feel the band and it helps me to say, ok, you’ve had enough more so than before banding. But I can still pig out if I wanted. But I spent a lot of money on my band, so that too helps to keep me in check with my eating. I count my calories, and I "try" to watch what I eat. I'm not so strict on myself now because I was really going all out on the super low carb stuff, and it drove me nuts. I use Calorie Count. Some things I have to estimate, because they don't exactly have it in there, but I still find it useful. Especially when I use the analysis tool and find a day where I've done good with all three (calories, protien, & carbs) so I can try to repeat what I ate that day in the future. I get between 1000 - 1200 cals, 80g protien and under 100g carbs a day, I try to stay closer to the 1000. Somedays I do bad and get over 1300, usually on days when I didn’t plan ahead. And I've been eating pretty much the same for about 6 weeks now, but my weight didn't start to come off until 3 weeks ago. I think your weight loss is fine. We've lost the same and I've been banded a week longer. But I would advise tracking if you can, because I know for me, when I have a not so good day eating, the proof is there and it helps me to get back on track. And when I have a good day, I try to repeat what I ate that day in the future. Makes meal planning easier. But, at the same time, if you do decide to count calories, don’t get in your head just because I only took in this many calories I should lose this much, because it doesn’t always work like that. Ideally it should, but I am proof that it doesn’t.

Yes, I snack. My dietitcian says told me to eat 6 times a day (3 meals and 3 snacks) and total 1000 - 1200 calories a day. More calories than that reduces weighloss and she says less calories that reduces metabolism which also reduces weight loss. My Snacks are a stick of low fat cheese, a protine shake slighly frozen so it's thick, sugar free pudding, or Yoplait light. If I want a crunchy snack, I bought these soy high protien snacks from Newlifestylediet.com. I find it easier to eat better during the week, maybe because I have to plan everything out ahead of time. But on weekends, I kind of go with the flow and get myself into trouble. Just today, couldn't figure out what to eat because I'm just tired of food anyway, didn't eat, got hungry and then ended up overeating and eating poorly, and now I feel like crap. I need to apply the planned 6 feedings that I do during the week on the weekends too! When I eat 6 times every couple of hours I'm never hungry!

Thank you. Things finally seem to be moving! I only have .5ccs. He said I have a smaller band, so they wouldn't put as much in anyway, but that seems like not so much. I can tell the band is there, I know before the fill, my stomach would actually growl every two hours and that's not happening. But, I can still eat a lot if I wanted to. In fact, a week after my fill I had 3 peices of Long John Silvers fish with no problem in less than 15 minutes. I didn't feel sick physically, just mentally because I know that was BAD! But, I just sat there and ate it without even thinking about it, so that's what I'm worried about...it could easily happen again. BUT, even though my next appt isn't for another month, he did say if I start feeling hungry badly or am not losing anything I can drop in in 2 weeks for a fill. But that's a 3 1/2 drive and at least half the day, if not all, off from work, so I wish he could have just done it then. BUT (lots of BUTS) I am glad that I don't have the problems with getting stuck and such, so I guess I'll go with it and just stick to my scheduled feedings (like a baby, lol) Have to right!

Oh thank heavens, my 5 year old boy is healthy weight! (sarcasm) He's the same height as that little girl and weighs 1 pound less. And looking at their chart they say 17kgs at that height is healthy!?!? That's like 37lbs. My goodness is my boy was 37lbs he'd look like a skeleton, he's aready very thin! That's ridiculous!

I've never been a yo yo dieter...never really been on a diet at all until I started seeing my lapband surgeon. My prior weight loss had been mostly due to increasing activity and very slight food modification, never anything drastic. Never tried the fad diets. Well, I tried some OTC pill, but after a week it made me feel weird so I stopped them immediately. I never was a dieter because I didn't want to become a yo yo dieter. I think my weight issue is highly related to hormones. I've been fat since preschool, but most of my drastic weight gain in short periods have been after I had kids and I started birth control and now most of my weigh loss post band occured when I started this extended menstrual cycle! Which may attribute to why women have more trouble losing weight. Damn hormones. Just a thought.

No fill today...boo! Doc said I did so well losing 11 lbs this past month that I don't need one. I only have .5 in my band.

This is just a calculation and doesn't always relate to real life. For instance my calculation is that I need 2887 to maintain my weight. And that was using the multiplier for light activity, when really I'm more on along the lines of moderate. I take in on average 1000 - 1100 calories a day. Even if I ate 1200 calories a day, I am supposed to lose over 3lbs a week based on the calculation. That would be nice, but that definitely has not happend for me!