happy2lose

Are you getting in at least 64 oz. of Water? You may be retaining Fluid and need to drink more water to overcome this. My doctor prescribed Lasix for me. I take it everyday with potassium. I do tend to retain fluid around time for my period which I then take double the dose as instructed by my doctor.

When you are working out you are building lean muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat. I'm sure you are losing fat but not noticing on the scale right away but you are losing inches. It does take the scale about a week to catch up with the fat loss when working out. Besides this, you will become more tone and physically fit working out. If you haven't taken your measurements yet, I suggest you do so that you will see the difference in how many inches lost. I workout at Curves for 45 minutes 5 times per week burning approx. 500 calories with each workout. I also ride my bicycle on the weekends (weather permitting) with a goal to burn at minimum 1500 calories. 3 times per week I workout with 2- 5 pound weights to help tone the underneath and back of my arms. I do 50 crunches 2 to 3 times per week as well as leg lifts. I can see a big difference in my thighs from working out. They are becoming less flabby and more firm. My arms have also become very tone although I have that dreaded skin hanging when I lift my arms, this is why I workout with weights at home. Could I have lost the 90 pounds without working out??? Yes, probably, but I would not have been physically fit. My goal is to be healthy and fit.

I wear one when I work out. Then my droopy skin from my lower belly doesn't flop around. It makes me sweat more too. At 9 days post-op most people feel back to normal anyway so the support band may not have helped as much as you think or maybe it did, who knows. Glad you're feeling better either way!

Yay! Congratulations!

For me, not at all. With the weight loss sex is getting better and better with each pound I shed.

Hang in there, it does get better. Soon you will be asking yourself why you didn't get banded sooner.

Hang in there, it does get better :thumbup:

Any food including bean soup at the liquid only stage is NOT A GOOD IDEA!

It is always best to follow your own surgeon's protocol. This being said, food (even soft or mushie) causes the stomach to churn in order to digest which is bad for your band that has not yet healed in place. If your surgeon tells you it is alright to have the soup or the egg then I would say go for it, if not, I wouldn't advise it. Just because everything seems fine now doesn't mean you wont have a problem later on from ingesting food too soon. The hunger you are experiencing now is what is referred to as "bandster hell". All of us banded people have been through this and experienced the raging hunger you are experiencing. Make sure you drink lots of Water. It will help a little with the hunger. Otherwise, change your focus....go for a long walk or clean out a cupboard or closet in your home. I prefer the long walk because it will speed up your weight loss. Best of luck to you, remember, this hunger is only temporary and once you start getting fills the hunger will deminish.

Stay on Clear Liquids for about 24 hours then move on to full liquids and see how you feel. It is a mad vicious cycle once you are stuck if you keep trying to eat and don't let the swelling go down you will keep aggravating it and getting stuck repeatedly. I think you will feel much better in a couple of days if you just stick with clear liquids for today and maybe even liquid Protein drinks tomorrow. This will also help your weight loss for the week.:thumbup:

Were you just recently banded?

It's my understanding that only patients with a BMI over 40 have to do a pre-op/liver shrinking diet. I'm not sure I understand your question about the port. The port does not fill up with air. It also sounds like you may be talking about a single incision surgery which I know nothing about.

Welcome! This board is a great source of information.

My band tightness fluctuates a lot! There are many things that can make your band feel tighter. Here are the ones I have experienced: 1. If I don't drink enough Water, the next day I am tight. 2. I have sinus problems and sinus drainage makes the stomach swell around the band. 3. PMSing will cause the band to feel tight. 4. Stress will cause the band to feel tight. 5. A stuck episode will cause stomach swelling making the band feel tight. I have had fills scheduled a few different times that I have had to cancel because of the above. Also, remember that if you have a stuck episode, don't try to eat again until the next day. Finish the day with fluids to give the stomach swelling time to go down.

My only regret is not getting banded years ago.

Yes, you can have alcohol on occasion. I find it does interfere with weightloss though. I am so happy to have my band. I have tried and failed at losing weight more times then I can count. The band has made losing easier because I don't feel like I'm starving.

Ruthie, First of all, even if it was the easy way out, which it isn't, why would it matter how you got there just so long as you get there? Secondly, I can tell you that I have had to work my ass off to lose the 88 pounds I've lost thus far. I work out everyday at the gym and I ride my bicycle several times per week depending on my schedule and the weather permitting. I burned 1,900 calories riding my bike this weekend which included a lot of uphill. The only thing the band helps with is that we aren't starving to death while losing the weight. I wouldn't be where I am now without my band! Send your friend my way, I'll set her straight. In the meantime, you should do whatever you need to do in order to get healthier and prolong your lifespan.

I personally would skip the baked potato. Too many carbs for my choosing.

Perhaps you need a fill. But you are satisfied for 5 hours after a meal...that's great! You can have a hard boiled egg or some kind of protein snack. Be careful with refried beans. Most restaurants use lard in the refried beans which would defeat the purpose of eating high protein, low fat. I would ask first before eating them if they use lard.

Sorry, I just noticed that you listed the nearby restaurants. McDonald's has good salads with grilled chicken breast. Order the low cal balsamic vinegarette dressing.

Since you are in bandster hell I recommend you focus more on eating solid Protein. It will sustain you longer and give you more energy. El Pollo Loco is a good place to eat when fast food is your only choice. Perhaps a chicken breast with salsa or they have a really good salad that has chicken breast on it. Just be careful not to add too much dressing to the salad. Carl's Jr. has a few new salads on the menu that are also good and low calorie and come with chicken.

I too have hypothyroidism and hashimoto's thyroiditis. I was banded in April 09 and have been pretty successful at losing weight with my band. I have found that without daily exercise, I do not lose. Therefore, I try to burn at least 800 calories per day.

My doc instructed me that after a stuck episode to always finish out that day with fluids only.

Since your husband sounds like such a great guy, he should feel relieved to know that you are going to be healthier and probably live a much longer and greater quality of life and you will also be there longer for your 3 children. That should be enough reason for him to look forward to your weightloss. It sounds like maybe he should find a way to deal with his insecurity.