honk

No, I would'nt have waited. I'd already had a stroke at 39, doctors could not definitively say it was because of my weight but they could'nt rule it out either. I get a bit obsessive about things and once I make my mind up I have to go forward. In regards to doctors going into bariactrics: I had a resident come to one of my preop appointments and there were four that came to talk with me the day after before I was discharged.

Costco has packages of cooked chicken breast strips in the refrigurated section. They come in a dual package so I put one in the freezer. Wayyyy cheaper than the ones in reg. grocery store.

At restaurants I do have a glass of water before ordering. Normally it takes at least 30 minutes before you get the food so I don't think there is really a problem. I let the waitstaff fill the glass and then don't drink it. That way they don't ask why you dont want any more water.

Did you doctor say to have crackers at this point? My mushie/soft phase did not include anything crunchie. I know crackers when chewed get mushie. I was to eat Tuna or chicken by itself. I know that does'nt sound like a lot of food; but that's why many people complain about being hungry until they start getting fills. During the soft phase I would have "creamy soups" (tomato, sweet red pepper, squash,) and an hour later have Tuna or chicken mixed with low fat laughing cow cheese.

Not really a magic answer for your problem but I would recommend measuring at least your protein. Get a digital food scale (one that you can zero out after putting the plate down). Put your food on a lunch size plate, rather then a reg. dinner plate. When the food is gone you're done eating. Tough I know! After 2-3 hours when you are hungry you could have an oz of chicken breast; or a cheese stick, or perhaps a warm drink. It took me 5 fills before I started to have restriction. Others have needed fewer fills. In my opinion this is a diet until you get restriction; which means stopping eating when you still want to eat.

I think Mucinex is a large tablet vs time relesae capsule correct? If so you could try drinking hot water to try and desolve it quicker.

Your post really struck me because I noticed something similar. Last time I lost weight circa 2000 I bought a suit from the Talbots outlet near their headquarters. FABULOUS deals to be had there. Anyway. This suit must have been close to fitting but I never lost enough to wear it. It was one of the few things that made it through my move. I tried it on the other day and the jacket I could probalbly wear now but the skirt is too tight though I can zip it (it's a straight skirt and I am a pair shaped person!). I know that I weight a lot more now than when I bought that suit. Yes, I was exercising then (like a fiend twice a day!) including weight training. Though at the time I was doing more machine cardio vs swimming. Also I am more protein focused this time around.

Yes, I do seem hungrier at night like 10:00-11. Depending on when you ate dinner it could be that your pouch is indeed now empty. Though not sure if it is partially mental becuase when you have breakfast or lunch you say to yourself only a few more hours before you can eat again. At night you don't really have that crutch. Two ideas I have for you would be a solid protein like chicken breast strips with mustard; or a hot beverage like decaf coffee, sugar free hot cider, or sugar free hot cocoa.

Super dry skin! I don't think the chlorine helps either.

Once I got to solids I had hummus with baby carrots. Watch out for carrots though I had my two stuck episodes ever from not chewing them enough. I would'nt say I was a low carb person but I no longer keep cracker or chip of any kind including low fat ones in my house. Lots of calories for very little nutritian. If you can coun't out 7 cracker or chips and stop you would probably be okay; I just cant/won't

I would tell your friend that being banded helps you eat like your average thin person. Sure some thin people each either a lot of food/and or choose high cal/fat foods; but usually thin people eat smaller portions and healthier foods.

After I a fill I have 24 hours of full liquids and 24 of soft foods. When I go 5+ hours without eating my stomach does rumble but I think that is to be expected.

I don't know if I would call myself a "Veteran Banster" since I am only 5 months post surgery; but I have also been reading this board for a year. It's not that I mind answering the same question multiple times. Actually I worry that people are tired of my responding and giving the same answers. If they don't mind reading my answers I don't mind them asking. While I appreciate that some people have certain experiences; in general most people will have a "standardized" experience. You know the saying "Your milage may vary". It frustrating when someone who has isolated experiences post them as standard. I can say that post op I had discomfort from the port incision but other that no incision pain and no gas pain. But that is just my experience; I'm not going to tell people if you have pain or gas that there is a problem. I think a group such as this is meant to offer a view of how differnet people are reacting to the surgery. It's not going to be all sunshine and roses; and prebansters want to know what they are getting themselves into (I did). I think is fine to post opinions but there is no reason to be mean spirited or concidencing.

I started back at the gym on the treadmill day four after surgery; gradually increased time and incline. At 2 weeks I was aloud to resume swimming.

It depends on how you define cheating. Since you can drink water; anything that is liquid will slide right down what I call the funnel and into the large stomach. That shake from McDonalds won't stay up in the pouch area for 5 hours even though it has 600 calories.

I have a 11 CC band and have had 5 fills now at 9.4 CC's. After my last fill I started to feel restriction. Not perfect yet, but better.

My sister swam everyday. While you might be able to do really intense cardio now I don't see how you could run from the 6 month on.

Pure Whey Isolate is a good source of Protein that your body can easily digest. All protein is not created equal. I find Vitamin Shoppe has better prices than GNC (no I don't work for them). Try to find someone who really knows the products. You have to look carefully because Isolate is a more expensive protein and some products are 60% isolate and 40% whey something else. So be prepared that a 100% isolate will be more expensive. I highly recommend the Hamilton Beech personal blender. You drink out of the blender cup so you don't have to wash two things. $15 at Walmart, KMart. I also froze fat free milk into milk cubes and blended them in; gives the shake a texture more like a real ice cream shake.

Mine called for foods like low fat cottage cheese and low fat ricotta, egg whites,

Well when I told my surgeon I had lost a lot of weight my senior year of high school and was at 150 (yes that's including a huge weight loss); he said okay so that's your goal. Shrug don't know about that. It's really discouraging for me to have an end weight in mind. Probably becuase I feel like I've worked really really hard for 2 years and still would only be half way there (banded 8/10). Would I personally be happy at 150 sure; though I'm sure I would still be considered overweight. I don't know what I weighed at my largest because I did'nt own a scale. What I can tell you is that I lost a noticable amount of weight(20 pounds?) when my team at work moved to the other side of the building away from the cafe. I started bringing Lean Cuisine for lunch. Fast forward several months; I finally went the doctor about horrible knee pain. He said the weight has to come off; at that point I was 364. I start swimming every day and somewhat watch what I ate; fast forward I have a ministroke, weighed 334 at the hospital. I was 334 at my first consult the day of surgery I was 282; today I am at 256. So you can see why 150 seems like a fantasy to me. You've lost A LOT in a very short time. This battle is largely mental so don't let's other peoples comments make you discouraged. Anyway that was long winded. I think you need to consider what is your body's happy weight. I think everyone has one. I have two sisters 1) always been thin size 8, 2) more of a 12. 2 lost a lot of weight last year in my opinion to much and was downn to 4/6. She is now at like a 10. I would be estatic to a be a 10 but she wants to be thinner. Not a doctor or anything but I don't think her body is a 4 it's a 12 that might consider being a 10. Not sure of your age but for me college was 20 years ago. As we age our bodies work diffently. How realistic is it for you to weight what you did in college?

Please move political discussions to the non band related sections of this board. Thanks

I am a very boring lunch person (I work from home and don't do a lot of cooking. For Lunch I take Romaine lettuce leaves (3) line the spine with chicken breast, spread low fat laughing cow cheese, squeeze on mustard. Basically makeing a wrap with the lettuce instead of bread. I have a veggie on the side.

I add half a scoop of vanilla whey isolate to a container of Chobani fat free fruited yoghurt everyday for breakfast. Mix, mix, mix and it completely disolves.

If your doctor approved it I think that's fine. I agree it's important to ensure you are getting enough protein in 60-80 g, 3 oz per meal. Half of this battle is emotional. If you feel supported and are using WW online as a tool what's the harm?

Seems way too high in fat with only 20g of protein. Premier RTD at Costco is 160 cal, 30 g protein.