honk

Not really the answer you were looking for but a thought. The last time I lost a large amount of weight I experimented with making my own frozen yoghurt. I have one of those small ice cream makers. Keep in mind this was years before Greek Yoghurt. In order to make the yoghurt thicker I would strain it through a cheese cloth. Now with Greek yoghurt you would'nt need to do that. You might consider buying Fat Free vanilla Greek yoghurt and adding in splendra (greek yoghurt is super sour!). It would be high in Protein. You could also add in additional Protein powder. Another thought. I make Protein shakes as follows: 2 milk cubes (fat free milk frozen into ice cubes), 2/3 cup fat free milk, couple ice cubes, protein powder, suger/fat free pudding powder, Davinchi suger free syrups (found coffee isle); splendra. You can also add 1/3 frozen fruit. Mix in Hamilton Beach personal blender. Very much like a "frappe" (ice cream based milkshake)

I am five months out and recently I have definatly been losing hair. I have started taking Biotin to try and fight the loss.

Yes, doctors are all different. I was on a low cal/fat diet presurgery and was losing weight. My doctor said well you could loose more weight on this special 500 cal. a day diet. Hmmmmm. I lost no weight and I think i was alergic to the shakes. His nurse said to go back on my own diet. I ended up losing 50 pounds presurgery. The week before surgery I did protein shakes for breakfast and dinner and a low cal/fat lunch. I did go out to lunch the day before surgery and had nice meal but Mom and I shared one plate; so I did'nt really eat that much.

It's not really the insurance it's the hospital. After reading stories similiar to the one above; I specifically asked when I went to meet with the Anesthesiologist. He said that every person who provides care at my hospital are employees of the hospital; and they all take the same insurance. Some hospitals contract out the anesthesiology departments. Sooooo that means the anesthesiologist is basically a separate company than your surgeon. I think that is the most rediculous thing EVER. You should'nt have to ask ever person at the hospital "Do you take my insurance?"

My doctor okay's regular coffee. The Nutritionist said to consider Reg for breakfast and Decaf the rest of the day. I drink it black with Splendra. It's cold here in NE and I like to have hot drinks. And I keep my house pretty cold and work from home.

I only get week like that if I do not eat for a LONG period of time. I would see if your doctor put an liquid in the band during surgery. You clearly are not getting enough nutritian. If necessary have someone drive you to the doctors. If you can't walk to the bathroom you should'nt be behind the wheel of a car!

My doctor said I could have regular coffee. The Nut. was concerned about dehydration. She recommended having reg. coffee for Breakfast and then switch to decaf. I buy davinchi suger free syrups which makes coffee more exciting. As mentioned earlier the big issue is whether you can drink it black and use artifical sweeteners; or us cream and suger.

Lovenox thins in a different manner than coumadin. I am not a nurse but I think there is some kind of chemical difference. Getting to a theraputic level with coumadin can take about 5 days. I think somehow coumadin is stronger and there is a higher risk of hemeraging after a surgery. They give lovenox to prevent bloodclots post surgery and then move you onto coumadin after a few days. I came off coumadin a few weeks prior to surgery, had lovenox at the hospital and then went back to Coumadin after surgery. Have to say it's a hassle going to the doctors office weekly until they get the coumadin to the perfect level. And the take one pill today and half a pill tomorrow.

Did you rub the area after the shot? I've heard that can lead to pain when doing injected blood thinners. Are you doing them in the belly? Did you get a bruise. Some people get bruises even when administored by the nurse. I never got bruises personally.

Mine went something like this 4CCS, 2, 1, 1, 1.4. I am starting to get restriction and have set up an appointment on Monday for my next. When my cobra ends I have to go to the State's high risk insurance pool. They don't cover any bariactric services so I want to be as close to restrictiona as possible so I don't have to pay for fills!

You can tighten the muscles in the a stomach area but you can't lose weight specifically in one area. I have lost that little roll in the lower abdomen but still have a belly (above the belly button) that sticks out. Kind of looks like a cliff. Long term I don't see myself having a tummy tuck but lipo.....

My mother used to salt oranges and apples when I was a kid.

Melzie, I totally understand that you are budgeting you calories. I think you need to have a conversation with your husband about that and perhaps even go over exactly what you ate in any given day and how many calories there were. In you husbands defense while the fat free coolwhip was approved it gives the illusion of eating dessert less than two week after having weight loss surgery. I'm not saying it's fair just stating the fact. On day 6 of my clear liquid diet I strained chicken noodle soup for the stock; a misicule piece of cooked carrot made it to the cup. When I "ate" it I mushed it with my tongue and savored the living days lights out of it! I told my mother how WONDERFUL it tasted and she said "Should you have eaten that? Would you jepordized everything now!" And that was a piece of cooked carrot!

Your weight loss is great! I agree with other posters that Starbucks is 1) expensive, 2) you can make your own shake with more Protein less suger. If you can't make a shake a work; you could buy a ready to drink protein which still would be cheaper. Premier RTD at costco is like $1.39 per container. Also a little concerned about the olives, they have good fat but are very high in salt.

I agree with with previous poster if you chew to much it defeats the purpose of the band. Everything will slide right through. BUTTT don't chew raw carrots enough and you are in serios trouble! I agree about my natural way of eating is half a chew and it's gone. I had to take a mindful eating class pre surgery and they had us eat one raisen and really savor it. At times I stop myself and say remember to enjoy each mouthful. This is'nt a race. I have to admit the whole "chew chew chew" thing gets on my nerves.

I was able to drink as much liquid as I wanted post surgery.

For your first week back could you pull service desk duty? And perhaps use a tall stool? Even it you had to supply it yourself? You know in Europe retail people dont stand at the register they sit!

Since you are already consuming liquid calories I don't think you should go back to the post surgery diet. I totally hear you about TOM tighness. Outside that time I think you need to decide on Protein options and then think about veggies/fruits that you will eat. I am a chicken person so I mostly eat chicken and some fish. Liquid calories are just passing right through and not keeping you full; leading to you "pick" on things probably carbs and or high fat/cal foods.

When I walk at the track I bring a bottle of water and leave it on the side.

Are you allowed to have protein shakes? If so I would have broth and then an hour later have the shake. If you are still hungry I would have more broth/stock instead of eating other things. Are they solids? You really need to stay on liquids until you doctor approves moving on. "Eating" every few hours should help with both head and physical hunger.

I am five months out and am down 25. I religously measure out my protein try to eat healthy and exercise 7 days a week. I'm just now starting to get restriction and yes am a little frustrated. I had been on a strict diet 8 months prior to surgery so I don't know if that is why I'm a slow loser.

I had been on my own diet for several months; when my doctor said if you do this medical liquid diet you'll loose 1 pounds a day. Well I spent over $200 on it and I did not loose any weight in 5 days. This was on 500 cal. a day and doing an hour of vigorous cardio dailey, and I weighed 310 pounds! I went back to the nurse and she agreed I should go back on my own diet. Oh and I think I was alergic to the shakes they made the back of my throat numb. Which is classic sympton for food allergies (my brother has life threatening food allergies so I know all about those.). So yes it is possible to be on a strict liquid diet and not loose weight. I am NOT saying to take things into your own hands. Always speak with your doctor regarding concerns.

As another poster mentioned at least it was Protein. That said no I would'nt call the doctors but you need to rededicate yourself. Getting banded is at least 50% mental. The band will NOT help you for several months with serving sizes until you get restriction. It also does'nt stop you from eating non diety foods and during the weight loss mode you should really be making diet like food choices, for example grilled chicken not fried. I not being mean; I figure you came on here to get reinforcement that you need to follow doctors orders. I highly recommend going to YouTube and watching real life LAPBand surgeries. There is no blood so it's not gross. It does however really knock home how important it is to follow the post surgery diet because you stomach has stiches holding the band in place. Until those "anchors" are healed your stomach can not be moving around to digest food.

Are you familar with Healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts? They are offered by most employers (Esp 100 employees or more). The way they work is that you decide how much money you want to put aside for medical expense in a year that your insurance will not cover. This money is taken out of your check PRETAX; and goes into this account. Today most programs give you a Visa/Mastercard that you use to pay for medical care of supplies not covered by insurance. It's important to calculate how much money you will need because once the money is put into this account you can't take it back! Since it is pretax they won't refund it to you. You should be able to use this account to pay for visits to a Bariactric Doctor or fills etc; and would save you whatever you tax burden in at least 25%.

During mushie stage I would take fat free greek yoghurt with fruit(higher in protein), chobani, put it in a tupperware and use a stick mixer on it. The consistance was a a very airy pudding consistancy. After weeks of broth and tomato soup it was like HEAVEN! I am a big fan of low fat laughing cow cheese. During mushies I used it instead of mayo with canned chicken or tuna. Now that I am on solids I make chicken sandwiches as follows: Romaine lettuce leaf, spread lf laughing cow down the spine, add chicken breast, squeeze on mustard, sometimes cut up halves grape tomatos. I totally remember how hard liquid and mushie stages were. Believe me. I understand you may have eaten the laughing cow cheese for the texture or the flavor. I think however you would have felt more full, and perhaps more emotionally satisfied with a 8 oz of low fat soup for the same 100 calories. I'm not being judgemental just trying to provide options. Even now after fills when I am on liquids/mushies I add Mrs Dash salt free chicken flavor seasonings before heating up the soup. HUGE difference.