BetsyB

I played with the same 1.8 pounds for several weeks after my last banding. I totally understand your frustration! Plateaus aren't, usually, a signal that we need to do anything tremendously differently. They just tell us our body's gotten the "message" that huge chunks of us are disappearing, and they need to hang on for dear life. You've lost almost 61 pounds! Your body is taking a breather. That's all. Thing is, it can't hold on to the weight indefinitely. The weight will start coming off again. Hang in there! If you've examined what you're eating and your exercise, and they are consistent with promoting weight loss, the loss will resume. If you can see room for improvement, though, now's a good time to make it. Do you journal your intake someplace like fitday? I lose best with ~100 g protein/day and <50 g net carbs. I also don't believe in starvation mode. I know it's a theory that's used a lot---by "fitness experts" in the media, for example, but the peer-reviewed research does NOT support its existence. It just doesn't. Well before my banding, I discovered, by really paying attention to my journaling, that I lose best at 800-1000 calories/day (with significant exercise). THAT is what drove me to banding; it is a difficult level to achieve and maintain because of hunger, and the band is the tool to deal with that. I'm not suggesting that this is the correct caloric level for you, or the right mix of Protein and carbs. Your journaling will reveal that. I AM suggesting that you dispense with the controversial "shoulds" and do what YOUR body requires. You were losing very well. Chances are, you are in a normal plateau. But if the stall in any way correlates with your statement that you're trying to increase calories to prevent a stall, well---the logical conclusion is not, "I'm in starvation mode," it's, "Wow-adding X calories/day caused a stall!" Certainly, play around to see where you lose the best. But know that the starvation effect is controversial at VERY best. Good luck--I know it's terribly frustrating!

Many people cheat. Most feel hungry and deprived. Most seem to accept that hunger is to be expected, though. It seems as though you've got the mistaken impression that others miraculously aren't hungry, and you are the sole sufferer. This makes you mad. But you couldn't possibly be more wrong. The hunger doesn't go away for anyone during the preop diet. The emotional lability and the intense cravings might, once you start drawing on your glycogen stores (which will NOT happen if you're eating sandwiches and beans). But hunger stays. EVERYONE IS HUNGRY. You are approaching this as though you are special, and need special handling. But you're not. You're one of probably hundreds of patients in your doctor's practice, alone. And all of them ---and almost all of US---have had to follow this diet or something similarly restrictive, and survived. YOU WILL BE HUNGRY. Chances are, you will be hungry for several months after you are banded. Hunger does NOT absolve you of the responsibility to follow the rules laid out for you---now, and postoperatively. If you want to be in the best possible condition for surgery, use this opportunity to get your head on straight. The preop diet is great practice for what is to come. If you cannot manage shakes only, call your doctor to ask for ways to SAFELY modify the preop diet. S/he may allow you to do 2 shakes a day, plus a meal of lean Protein and nonstarchy veggies, for example. Or, s/he may have another regimen to suggest. Instead of looking at this as ungodly torture, it's time to shift your thinking: you are about to be given an amazing gift that will enable you to lose weight you'd given up hope on losing. The things you have been asked to do are difficult, but they are emininently doable. DO THEM.

Spartan's answer was wonderful. I'd just add that it's a good idea to take a bariatric multivitamin.

Congratulations, Bree! That is an awesome accomplishment!

I understand your concerns, and shared them. But I still go out, and still entertain---and still have fun. I don't always eat everything--but that's not really governed by "can't" as much as it is guided by what my body wants and needs. It gets easier!

I do have one. It's a pretty silver bracelet that looks like a "normal" piece of jewelry. I wear the badge on the inside of my wrist. It lists my name, that I have a Realize band, my drug allergies, and my ICE number. If/when I replace it, I will add a line indicating that nasogastric tubes must be inserted with fluoro only. (For simplicity, something like, "No blind NG tubes.") ETA: I got mine from laurenshope.com. They have lots of really pretty ones.

Poo! I didn't make it on to the spreadsheet. Well, y'all have to tolerate me, anyway. (I mean: may I please still participate?) My progress in the challenge is below :thumbup:

No, not too fast. As long as you're really prepared, emotionally and informationally. Do you feel prepared? If not, what do you need still?

Well, health is a consideration--but to be frank, I didn't have comorbidities, so it wasn't my primary motivator. (I do have a very sick husband--and do feel it's important for my kids to have ONE parent who is as healthy as possible, though.) Mostly, it's how I feel in my own skin---and how I look. I want to feel like myself again. I want to look like myself again. I've never really experienced any sort of professional or other discrimination based on weight--at least not that I'm aware of. But I've been very good (well, bad!) at limiting myself. Not any longer, though.

This is different from most surgeries in that your relationship with the surgeon is long-term. You need to be with a group that meets your needs--because you will be relying on them forever. The rate your current group is working, seeing another doctor will not slow down the process markedly. All that said, 6 weeks is on the far low end of wait time for a date. I know you're impatient--we all were! But you will be banded---and soon! good luck :thumbup:

Hi, y'all! Whew! I have a lot of catching up to do. I've been reading when I can, but was so, so overwhelmed with work and life last week. I'm sorry! I think about you all all the time. Things are okay here--just busy. I just finished doctoring a manuscript, and now am back with just my usual workload....whee! I feel free! Weight-wise, I juggled the same 1.8 pounds from my last fill (3 weeks ago) until this past weekend, when it finally started going DOWN. I'm not at the sweet spot yet, but getting close enough that I have to listen to my band much more carefully. Talk about a learning curve! I have not yet fully mastered it! Now I'll go back, read, and re-read so I can properly post ETA: Okay, here goes: Amy--Congratulations on your excellent loss so far! You are doing so, so well! Regarding fills, every time I’ve had a fill, the doctor has used fluoroscopy to assess restriction. For safety purposes, he won’t go beyond a certain level---but that level does provide restriction. The caveat is that it provides restriction right then and there; that means that, two days hence, I may not have it. Chances are, even being taken to the brink of sweet spot at Filling #1 will be ephemeral---you may enjoy restriction for a while, though. Especially since you still have enough to slime (congratulations! LOL) I think it’s kind of a misconception, though, that we have a great deal of input for the first fill. Certainly, we give feedback to the doctor about what we are feeling. But we can’t specify, “I’d like you to fill ‘er up,” or “Take it easy today, doc.” I would wager you’ll go in, and see a line of 100 syringes, all filled with exactly the same amount of saline. For my doctor, that’s 4 ccs. For the first fill, all patients get around that much---or a little less, depending on what fluoro shows. Denise-- I’m so impressed that your diabetes is being nipped in the bud! In terms of future health predictors, this is the biggest big deal I can think of! Congratulations! Your most recent illness sounds horrendous. I’m glad you’re finally on the road to recovery. What a lousy way to lose weight! You mentioned a baby sweater. Are you a knitter? (ETA: Okay, I just saw the frog hat, so I have the answer to that question---TOO CUTE!) I am aching to learn how to knit; I can do the very basics (cast on, knit, purl, cast off), but have never acquired the skills to actually make something. Would you say that the best way to learn is to take classes at a knitting shop? I wonder if there are any in this area---my aunt had one with marvelous, gorgeous, sumptuous wools. Hm. Maybe that will be my career in my dotage. Re: potassium and blood pressure--there’s a complicated cell action-potential explanation I’ll skip (unless you want it!). But potassium is critical to maintaining heart function and blood pressure. Christie--congrats on your great loss! Under 250---awesome!! I’m so sorry you’re sad about your brother’s impending deployment. It must be so hard for you. What is your brother’s name---I’d like to keep him in my prayers. Also, I am an excellent care-package maker---if you ever get the sense he needs a boost, let me know and I will send him goodies. My daughter’s lobster is deploying to Afghanistan soon, too. Abby is crushed and so, so scared. When he enlisted, his mother was beside herself. She’s very, very proud of him, but there is such ambivalence. Those men and women sacrifice so, so much for us. Bob--Are you tired of Farmville yet? Leigha-- Yes, I do think so. I think that the real, hard, using-your-whole-body physical labor can be a better workout than many gym regimens. My body agrees with me, this morning, too! Take your vitamins! They are not like processed food (whatever that means lol)! If they are good-quality bariatric vitamins, they are made to be readily used by the body. Green smoothies are fine, but they address only a portion of the micronutrients we need. (Track on Fitday.com for a while---you’ll be surprised to see what you’re missing out on, even with a good multi! I take my bariatric multi, cal-mag, biotin, selenium, pantothenic acid, CoQ-10, and vitamin D. Why? Because over time, I noticed that even with my multi, and upping veggies, etc, I was missing out on those nutrients. When you reorder protein, consider Bariatric Eating’s PURE unflavored protein. IMO, it “disappears” better than Unjury, and it’s less expensive, too J It’s a bit of both, myth and fact. In most people, the body does an exquisite job of maintaining blood sugar within very tight parameters. If you eat sugar--or foods easily broken down into sugars---the pancreas responds by producing insulin. Insulin “ushers” sugar molecules from the bloodstream into cells, where it is used for energy. In most people this is seamless, and blood sugar is brought back to within normal limits very rapidly. Some people experience reactive hypoglycemia, though. Instead of going back to “normal,” they crash. And that does, indeed set up cravings. For MOST of us, the craving that follows sugar or simple carb consumption is NOT physical---it’s just in our minds. We like the stuff. We miss it when we’re not eating it. Simple as that. Re: your fill decision. I’d hold off, if you think it might make you too tight. It may be a “free” fill, but I bet the Unfill won’t be free! I just moved out of the free-fill zone, too--thank goodness I only have a $30 copay--my doctor charges $250 with fluoro. Bobbie--I’m so sorry you’re on the rollercoaster. Job loss is so stressful; we’ve been there more than once, and it can be so hard to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I hope you get GOOD news very soon! In the meantime, I am so glad you’re making use of resources available to you. Re: calories. I do think their source matters, particularly when stomach space is finite. Right now, I concentrate on protein--because I’m still figuring out how much real estate I have in there, and it’s the most important for cell maintenance and repair. But when I reach goal, I plan to eat a balance of lean protein, veggies, heart-healthy fat, legumes, whole grains, and fruits (the latter two in more moderation than many people, based on my own peculiarities of metabolism). While there are as many opinions about the proper mix of macronutrients as there are people with opinions, I do think the general consensus is that the foods going in should be nutrient-dense rather than junky. (At least most of the time.) Anne--I’ll trade you beautiful New England for Illinois pollen and farm dust. (I live in an area that was, until recently, exurban. Out my front window is a farm; behind me (though not visible) is the usual Generica: Home Depots, Applebees, WalMart, etc. No wonder I have an identity crisis. Congratulations on your losses! You are going to be in SUCH a good place when you have surgery! Hummingbird--I am laughing so hard at your NSV. Hammered shit! That’s the best expression I’ve heard in a long, long time. I totally understand getting the warm fuzzies from other people’s deterioration in appearance. Count me in with the mean-spirited bunch, but there have been times when about all I’ve had going for me is the good genetics that keep me looking younger than many of my peers. (Of course, there IS the fear that it’s just that the fat is plumping out the wrinkles, and I, too, will look like hammered shit when all is said and done LOL! This is why I am already researching plastic surgeons.) Dottie--I think we’re in much the same place, fill-wise. I have days when I think I’m (almost) there, and days when I’m sure I’m not! I hope your fill tomorrow gets you where you need to go. Stacie--I’m so sorry you’re experiencing so much stress. It’s good you’re seeing your doctor on Thursday. I bet you’ll find that as your anxiety diminishes, so does your need to scale-hop as much. Compulsive stuff like that tends to be tied to anxiety… It will get better (((Hugs)))) Karen--it definitely sounds like you need a fill! And TWENTY pounds from goal--you must be ecstatic. Or frustrated, depending on the day! I wonder: I see that you’re very focused on restriction (as we all are!), but also referring to foods you “can” eat. Is it possible that you could substitute others, and reach your goal in a less-frustrating (and maybe more comfortable) manner? I mean, just ‘cause you can eat bread and pizza doesn’t mean you should. Don’t get me wrong--I think all of our lives have room for those foods. But if you’re really pushing to reach goal, maybe they should be reserved for further down the road? Just a thought---worth the paper it (wasn’t) written on! Jacki! OMG--LOOK at you! Awesome. Congratulations on your running! You must be SO proud of yourself! I am in the market for a new bike, too. Lee Anne--welcome! I’m glad you’re joining us! Whew! We're a prolific bunch! Have a great Monday, everyone!

I'm not sure there is a "normal." I have 7.3 cc in an 11 cc band--and am not at restriction yet. Close, but not quite there. The only thing that strikes me as unusual is that your surgeon has not experienced another patient who has needed 8.5 cc.

My doctor does a couple of days of clear liquid, postop, followed by 10 days of purees. Then straight to "real" food---but a very strict regimen.

Has anything else changed? Our bodies can and do change (for example, you can develop lactose intolerance after years of having no problem at all with dairy), but most often, when you have a sudden increase like this, it's due to change: foods (not just veggies), new meds, stress, adding the use of drinking straws back in, and so on. Take a look at the big picture and see if there's something you hadn't thought of that's changed.

The pain you describe after swallowing a bit of a Protein shake is not so much what "full" feels like as what "irritated stoma" feels like. You may experience it again after fills. It happens because the tissue under the band is swollen. As the swelling recedes, that pain will recede. You'll then learn what "full" feels like. However, contrary to: it may take several fills for you to really get a good feeling for restriction and fullness. If your pouch empties into your stomach below rapidly (due to non-restriction), "full" can be very ephemeral and hard to pin down. But you'll get there!

Yep---this is what I do. And I've done it since banding---even when I wasn't even "somewhat satisfied." As I teeter on the edge of restriction, I do achieve fullness (though it passes quicker than I'd like). It's VERY different from my old perception of fullness--if I were to chase that feeling again, given the anatomical changes, I'd be tilting at windmills. In your shoes, I would weigh and measure portions and, starting around halfway through the meal, slow down and really listen to what your body is telling you after each bite you swallow. You are going to get different messages now. You need to learn to recognize them. (You might also want to rethink eating the foods you relied on preop. Really, the goal is NOT to have a perpetually-full stomach. It's to put the proper foods in, in the proper amounts, to promote weight loss. As you get closer to restriction, you'll find that these satisfy you longer than you're currently experiencing.)

Have you been okayed for fruit? I'd try omitting that until shakes are going down reliably. Since you have restriction, remember to sip, sip, sip your shake. Your body won't be able to handle drinking at your old rate. (I wasn't "allowed" to add fruit back until the third month postop---I wonder if the berry's acidity bothered you.)

I've never felt a pop, but found this old thread on the topic: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f84/popping-sensation-stomach-50097/ Still, I think a call to the doctor would be a good idea.

If you look at what many people are advised to eat postop, you'll realize that 4 ounces is not a worrisome amount. Peanut Butter crackers, OTOH, really probably are not your best friend in terms of satiety---refined carbs and things that get mushy and slide right through can trigger hunger. If you're not yet restricted, it's a good idea to aim for foods that stick with you longer, like solid Protein. It sounds like a visit to the doctor for reassurance and fill would be a good idea.

Saboteurs only work if we let them. "No thank you, Ms. Boss." "I brought my lunch today, Ms. Boss." "You go ahead and order, Ms. Boss; but no need to get enough for me--I brought my lunch." "Silly Ms. Boss--I know you must be smart because, after all, you're my boss. But you just can't seem to grasp that I'm not going to eat the stuff you push." (Whoops sorry---the last one just slipped out. I wouldn't recommend using it.) No big talk is necessary. Just firm repetition. Chances are, she's trainable. ETA: Yes, food is the core of many social things. That does not mean those social things are inappropriate (even though it might strike you as gross, the way others eat---eat least while you're focused on it as you develop new habits). It means we have to manage ourselves. When you remember that the real purpose of the social gathering is to enjoy people, you'll find that eating becomes a non-issue. No one cares what's on your plate---and once you get used to your band and its restrictions, you won't be as concerned, either. Yes, this level of control over what you eat can irritate true saboteurs, but for the most part, people just don't pay nearly as much attention to our plates as we think they will. Most food-pushers aren't real saboteurs---they just don't know how to find common ground without including food. When food becomes deemphasized, sometimes you find new common ground. At work, that common ground is obviously---well, work. If your boss wants a stronger connection to you, she will figure out that it's no longer going to be based on an eating buddy foundation.

The kidney pain needs to be investigated--sooner rather than later. It's possible you've picked up an infection that's contributing to your fatigue. Until you get in to see the doctor, be sure to drink plenty of fluids. At three weeks out, I was pretty much back to normal---by then, the postop fatigue had receded.

They used to be among the best-quality proteins available, but it's now known that whey protein isolate is far more reliably bioavailable. You might be better off spending $$ on a low-volume whey protein supplement. The Inspire protein powders from bariatriceating.com can be mixed with just 4 oz. liquid (though they're good mixed with more), are 100% whey protein, and they taste good. They come to around $1.42 per serving (with 25-30 g protein), so they're pretty reasonable, as supplements go, too. ETA: No one really knows how much protein can be absorbed at once. Lots believe our ability to absorb changes widely according to our bodies' needs (much like the absorption of water-soluble vitamins). Most agree that excess---unless you're eating enough calories for it to be stored as fat---doesn't pose any risk. I am among those who aims for LOTS of protein--100 g/day. I do spread it out over the day, but would never achieve that level without supplementation.

The Inspire proteins from bariatriceating.com are WAY better than Unjury, IMO.

Not to be harsh, but you contradict yourself. You say you have no problem sticking with your plan--and then go on to describe how you're deviating from it. Believe me, I understand how hard it is---post-banding is a very hungry period! What is driving you to eat foods that are not on your plan? Why are they even an option? (I don't mean that snarkily--I am wondering whether, for example, you're preparing foods for your family, and find it tempting during those times.) Is it possible to clear your house/environment of foods that pose a "threat" to you? Until you reach restriction, you really do need to rely on willpower. Lots of people will say that it's not a time for weight loss, but I disagree. You can lose weight --- even at the same rate you will when you have restriction. But you have to commit yourself to sticking to the plan, knowing that, as with every other diet you've done in your life, you won't always be satisfied and will be hungry. (The good news is that this time around, it's time-limited!) If you are genuinely hungry, there may be ways to tweak what you're eating, within the plan your doctor provided, to provide more satiety. What are you eating on a typical day? If you post a couple of days' menus, we can offer feedback. If you find that, even by changing things up a little, you're still starving, I'd give the doctor or nutritionist a call to see if there's anything they recommend to get you through this difficult period. It IS a very difficult time---but know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. In answer to your other question, some people experience reduced hunger after the first fill. Most require several fills. I've had three. For the first week or so after the third, I had significant restriction. During the second week, it eased (as swelling reduced)---and the hunger returned. But not at full force. I do feel LOTS less hungry than I did when I had no fill and after the first two---so I'm pretty sure I'm getting close. Fill #4 may take me there. My point is that it's probably realistic for you to expect that you're in this for the long haul---my story isn't much different from that of bazillions of others (who will no doubt chime in. It's likely that it will take a while for you to reach the point where hunger is no longer an issue. Between now and then, just do the best you can with the guidelines you've been given. It's all anyone can ask of you.