honk

In the US there is a larger focus on Protein. One fact about protein is that it takes longer for the body to digest protein thus a meal higher in protein will keep you from feeling hungry for a longer period. A carbs based food will spike your blood sugar and is digested faster than protein. 3 oz of chicken breast will keep you full longer than a portion of Pasta or rice. Usually the concern with coffee is the caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant and some say it will cause you to eat more food. My doctor does not really care about coffee as long as I drink it black with no sugar; which I do but use Splendra (fake sugar). Caffeine is also a diuretic (which will dehydrate you; so you should drink a cup of Water for every cup of coffee. Liver reduction! Conventional wisdom in the US is to have a protein based diet to force the body to burn fat in the liver. Since the body burns carbs first, protein, then fat if you cut out the carbs it will be more likely to burn fat.

Banded 8/10 no regrets! My biggest reason for getting banded is that only about 5 % who lose large amounts of weight without WLS keep if off long term. Those are terrible odds. Could the fact that I Iost 100 pounds preop have affected my speed of loss post op possibly. There are those who will say my 70 lbs lost is a disappointment. Do I wish I have lost more? Sure. But I do eat very conservatively and do 1.5-2.5 hrs of cardio 7 days a week. Not sure what more I could do. Knock on wood no PB episodes, and very limited stuck episodes. Took 6 month to get restriction wish that had been faster. I do plan my meals more now; but I still am not much of a cook (Roasted chicken from costco is my best friend). Buying and keeping a Protein Bar in the car; so that you aren't forced to eat a hamburger for lunch is not that much of a trial. For me the point of the band is not regaining the weight. So far I have been watching my food and exercising now since 10/08. This is the longest that I've stuck with a healthy life style. The most important thing with the band is working with it not against. The band will never stop you from eating ice cream, candy or even crackers. Anything that will melt in your mouth will go right through the band. Once healed make sure you are eating solid Protein, veggies and gasp even fruit. Solid foods give you satiation.

To bad the trolls are out in full force.

The band won't help you feel full until you've had enough fills. If it's been more than 3 weeks since your last fill I would get another. I did not get restiction until 10.6 CC's

I also would plan on eating the plane food. One high fat meal won't derail your weight loss. And don't bother with a low fat/salt option; I did that once and it was HORRIBLE. Bringing a couple low cal protein bars as a back up plan. A couple apples and some string cheese would be good as well.

Are you trying to use selzer to make your self belch? I'd say most doctors tell you to AVOID carbination. Also when was your surgery? Are you supposed to be on liquids only? If so soup with stars is not a liquid.

My insurance paid for everything but I think the total surgery and one night in the hospital was like $12,000. I think the doctor wanted 3,000 and they paid him 2,000.

FYI Slimfast is very low in protein for the calorie count. Premier brand protein shakes are only 160 cals for 30 g of protein sold in the US not sure if you are in the UK or not. I checked the Muller website and they do have a low fat Greek version. I highly recommend the Greek because it is so much higher in protein. Again you can add sugar free syrups or splendra to it. I'm not a milk drinker so a Liter of milk might just kill me. Even before banding I did'nt drink milk. Digestive Bicuits that's another story! LOVE THEM.

I can eat bead I choose not to.

In my opinion if a doctor has a "program fee" find a new doctor. Insurance pays them more than enough!

With the band I can eat a small portion of real food and only have enough "room" for a small amount of dessert. I agree with previous poster I don't waste my calories on cheap dessert/candy. If I'm spending my calories I want bang for my buck! While a lot of my ethnic Greek food is super healthy some of it is NOT. If I'm going to a family party and my aunt is making pasticho (Greek mac and cheese) or my mother baklava or spanokopita (spinach pie); I eat with no guilt because I know it's something I do 1-2 a year.

Yes it can damage your stomach to eat solids. STOP. I am not recommending anything but there are many unhealthy foods that can liquify in your mouth that would be a better option than a hamburger at this stage.

I agree with Mis73. Just because you can eat something does'nt mean you should. I love and can eat breat but I choose not to. I make sandwiches out of romaine lettuce leaves instead of bread. As to salads for me they are more of a slider. Are you weighing your Protein? My doctor says 3 oz of solid protein per meal. You probably won't ever feel full on a cup of soup. Soups is a slider. Will pass right through the pouch.

I did not get restriction until 10.6 CC's in a 11 CC band.

Personally I would send a meeting request and reserve a conference room so this meeting will be private. I would tell him that you are very uncomfortable with him policing your eating habits. That you do your very best to eat healthy and if you end up having to eat a unhealthy meal on RARE occation; it is not his place to comment. Also that he does not know how you will eat when you get home to make up for a higher calorie lunch. If after you have this meeting he continues to comment on your eating habits go to HR. What he is doing is bullying you. Tell them you've spoken to him privately and he is continuing to harrass you. It is their job to deal with work place bullying. Trust me an HR generalist/manager does not want you going to their boss (HR Director/or VP) because they've failed to deal with work place bullying. I had a boss that would comment about everyones lunch. She was a vegetarian and no matter how healthy your lunch was she would say gross/disgusting there's meat in there! She would have vegan soup for lunch that had 35 calories and make sure EVERYONE knew about it. She also however would talk endlessly about her alcohol fueled orgies on the weekend! NOT kidding. I had several thin coworkers comment to me how annoyed they were about the way she commented about everyones food habits, yet she was a high functioning alcoholic. Oh and by the way she would go to the company store at the other end of the building and buy cookies and eat them when she thought no one could see her. Priceless. This is why I don't tell coworkers that I've had WLS. You can be guarenteed that every though I have skinless chicken breast and raw veggies (no dips/dressings) everyday for lunch; the day I have a 1 inch square piece of birthday cake someone will comment about it. For other readers esp. if you work in an enviroment with HR you boss does not need to know what surgery you are having. That is the beauty of HIPPA. A manager does not have the right to determine what medical proceders, ordered by a doctor are neccesary. The notes my doctor gives just say the gastro/intestinal dept; says nothing about WLS. I had a coworker have breast reduction surgery and was out on disability for 6 weeks. Some might argue the company should not have paid her to be off 6 weeks after breast reduction. Clearly WLS is more health oriented that that.

Emotion l eating is a serious issue. When I get that urge to eat for no reason other than being upset I ask myself " Are you hungry enough to eat a full meal?" Most off the time the answer is no. I live alone so I don't have to worry about other peoples food habits/desires. I just don't keep my food triggers in the house: chocolate, candy, ice cream (though not my favorite), cracker (my favorite), low fat chips, low fat rice cakes, crunchies off any kind, bread (Oh how I love buttered toast!). I go to restaurants with friends. I either look for a healthier option or ask to substitute a low fat veggie instead of mashed potato or french fries. I also eat VERY CONSERVATIVELY the day of the restaurant visit and VERY CONSERVATIVELY the day AFTER to balance out my calorie budget. Treat those restaurant visits as a treat and not something you do everyday or even once a week. I try to think of my food consumption as a calorie budget. If you have a lot of calories one meal modify other meals to ensure you aren't consuming too many calories.

It could be your food choices. I find that my stools are pretty loose unless I eat high fat foods.

Most of the people on this site have the band. You may want to search out a sleeve support group. That said their is a Preg. section on this board where you could ask specific questions.

No, could you give more details? Greek yogurt has a lot more protein (twice) than regular kind. What are the carb levels your allowed? There are sugar free syrups (found in the coffee isle) if you are not allowed fruit in your yogurt. You probably would need to add splendra to plain Greek yogurt since it is pretty sour.

No:((( I have genetically bad feet. I think I am the only woman in America who does'nt like shoe shopping. They never fit. My easyspirit walking sneakers are 8.5 WW. Most other brands I have to go to 9 or 9 1/2 W. My dad took WW and my grandmother WWW. I've lost 170 pounds so you'd think I'd see thinner feet by now.

I would'nt give up on chicken. How big was the bite? How well did you chew it? How dry was the chicken? Do you have any chewable papaya pills? They aid digestion. If you have a stuck episode chew several of them which may help digest/move the food through the pouch.

I agree with Elcee. I would have though he would let you heal from a bad stuck episode before giving you another fill. Personally knock on wood I've had VERY FEW stuck episodes. It is not normal or good for you to keep a band so tight that you have lots of stuck episodes.

About 4 inches to the left of the sternum and about 2 inches betlow the rib cage when sitting down.

I was super worried about this because 11 months prior to lap band sugery I had a stroke. My surgery was actually delayed by 7 plus months because the blood clot in my brain was not completly dissolved. I believe I got a lovenox shot in the hospital and then went back on my blood thinner pills after surgery for about another 2 months. Knock on wood no new clots.

Agree with previous posters. Keep in mind as you loose weight you will also loose fat on the stomach. As that fat goes away you will then need fills to tighten the band around the stomach. As also mentioned are you exercising? Most doctors say minimum of 30 minutes a day 7 days a week.