BetsyB

I've lost using a pretty formulaic approach: 800-900 calories/day, 80-100 g protein/day, <50 g net carbs/day, good bariatric multivitamin, plenty of fluid, and daily exercise.

I use Nordic Naturals liquid--it has the most DHA+EPA available.

I like the PURE unflavored protein from bariatriceating.com. But using whey protein in cooked foods is definitely an art--you have to temper it so that it doesn't denature, or become clumpy. If the cookbook you have does not explain how to do this, let me know and I will

IMO, the hands-down winner for protein shake taste/quality are the Inspire and PURE proteins from bariatriceating.com. I like the Dutch Chocolate Cake and PURE unflavored.

I was a lifelong diet soda addict, and couldn't really imagine life without it. Banding cured me of that addiction. My doctor is a no-carbonation dude, and I really stuck to his rules/recommendations; he's a smart guy, and what I was doing before certainly wasn't working, so I did it his way. And it worked. I have had a sip of diet soda now and then---sometimes, I need a drink FAST, and one of my kids has one, and I take a sip. It's never caused me to explode or anything dire, but it's not comfortable, and it's no longer appealing. And I save a TON of money now that I'm not buying the stuff.

I haven't read all the responses, so I don't know what kind of turn the thread has taken. But in response to the first post, I have to semi-disagree. It's true that many of us are hungry at first---but as we approach and achieve restriction, the hunger is usually very well-controlled. Yes, I am hungry before meals. I'msupposed to be! You're supposed to be! It's an important signal our bodies are supposed to have! When I eat, the hunger abates. I am never stuffed. In fact, I am never FULL any more. "Full" does not exist any longer, because when I get to that point, I am terribly uncomfortable. But I am satisfied. And I stay that way...until I am appropriately hungry again. Hunger is not the enemy. Uncontrolled hunger is. And the band has 100 percent removed that, for me.

Nah--I really didn't use anything i took with me, other than lip balm.

I ditto the recommendation for Bariatric Eating's PURE unflavored protein. There is a trick to using protein in hot foods--it has to be done in a certain way (basically, heating the protein very slowly), or it denatures, or becomes clumpy.

whoops--duplicate

I needed well more than 7 cc to feel restriction. That said, even before I did, I acted as though I had restriction and followed my doctor's required eating regimen. Much of my loss occurred before I had restriction, but was due to ---yes!--eating less and exercising more. I didn't say, "Why have a band, then?" I realized that in order to lose weight I had to eat less. Whether I was banded or not. Once restriction is achieved, it's easier to lose weight, because hunger is not as big a part of the equation. But I still had to eat less, and the band doesn't do that for me.If I choose the right foods, I am now limited in how much I require to not be hungry (note: I did not say "full."). But "eat less" is not overly simplistic. It is simply the way it is. And if you don't accept that, you will not have the success you hope for. 4 fills, to 7 cc in 2 years---is not adequate. If your doctor is reluctant to fill, I'd look for another. Even small fractions of a cc of saline can have a huge difference. Work hard to get the benefit the band offers--it makes a huge, huge difference.

Don't lose hope. You're approaching the point where tiny fills make a huge difference. As the band gets fuller, fractions of a cc can make a huge difference. I didn't have restriction at 9 cc either. I've had several fills since that point. Each has been small, and each has made a HUGE difference. And I'm not even close to 11 cc. If you hit 11 cc without restriction, I will eat my hat. BUT, know that there IS room above 11 cc, and that your doctor CAN instill more saline, if need be. The manufacturer has guidelines for the leeway they built in to the device. I am sure your doctor knows this---it's a shame he's not being more reassuring to you.

My doctor insists on NOTHING on the wound site for six months. This was sort of distressing to me---until i hit that point, and realized that the only incision I could still see was the port site incision. And at almost a year out, it is very faint. Unless you have a history of scarring, I really would not worry about it at all.

Day 2 after anesthesia is cruddy. Your body will feel lousy as the drugs and anesthesia are metabolized and your body recovers from the mechanical trauma of surgery. You would feel cruddy, no matter what procedure you'd had, or what you were allowed to eat. Don't worry too much about weakness-it's not related to diet at this point. It very well might be related to hydration status, however---your real focus should be on getting adequate Fluid. The rest will fall into place as you start perking up. Your body's been through a lot! You will start to feel better before you know it.

This is a frustrating situation! Yes, you are losing very nicely. But that doesn't tell the whole story. Ideally, a doctor considers not only rate of loss, but the patient's subjective experience. If you're white-knuckling it to lose, then a fill is perfectly appropriate. Both your hunger level AND your rate of loss should be considered when making a fill decision. I would try to gently point this out. "Doctor, I agree; I am losing weight at a rate I'd love to continue. It's not the rate of loss I want to affect; it's my hunger level. I was able to lose two pounds a week before my band, too---and I was very hungry. I still am. Can you please adjust my band so that I can enjoy the benefit it offers? I understand the aim is not to increase my rate of loss. But I would very much like to have the benefit of the tool you installed, and have not yet reached the point where I am experiencing it."

My postop diet was very different from most I see. My doctor has his patients start with pureed Protein on Day 3. After about 10 days, we move to moist Proteins, then eventually solid proteins. Vegetables are not included until about Week 10, if I recall correctly. Fruits are introduced some time later. Then, for the duration of the weight loss stage, that's it: lean protein, nonstarchy veggies, and a fruit a day. It's worked tremendously well for me. After 75% of excess weight is lost, we're "allowed" to reintroduce starches. I have not done so--I don't have the room, and I am not where I want to be, weight-wise, so I am sticking with what works.

I like bandedliving.com

I agree. The decision to fill should be based on a couple of criteria, not just the single criterion of whether you are losing weight. It's critical to factor in your subjective experience (hunger) as well. All of us can lose weight without restriction. But we didn't get banded to do that.

Cast another vote for bariatriceating.com I also very much like the smaller community at bandedliving.com

Bodies are weird, and no one's is just like anyone else's. I have had many, many doctors tell me my calorie counts just couldn't be right. Or roll their eyes when I told them how much I exercised. I've endured being told never, ever to go under 1200 calories/day (when in fact there is no peer-reviewed scientific research to back the theory of "starvation mode" in people who have excess body weight)---and when I've gained on that amount, been told I must have cheated. In fact, my body simply needs far fewer calories. It doesn't give up its fat stores readily. It gains weight very easily. It wasn't until I met my surgeon that I felt believed. And I think that's largely because I really, really lucked out with surgeons--because most would have told me the same thing I'd always heard. From doctors, Weight Watchers leaders, and so on. I eat 800-900 calories a day, and exercise every single day, at least once (and usually twice). I journal faithfully, and my calorie deficits are in a range that supports greater loss than I actually see. This intake/output is verified by BodyBugg. It would be nice if it really were always energy in-energy out. But other factors can influence weight. Another thing to keep in mind is that body weight is only a snapshot---you were in the office for a short time, and will be in the office again soon, and the scale may give an entirely different picture. It simply does not give the whole picture. Are you paying close attention to the sources of your calories? For me, this is really important. I need to aim for 80-100 g protein/day, <50 g carbs (net), and 20%-30% of calories from heart-healthy fats/day. I also only eat carbs that come from nonstarchy veggie, fruit, and legume sources. It makes a HUGE HUGE HUGE difference for me. (I don't get the luxury of cheats like chocolate and wine --- even if my caloric intake is identical on the weeks that I have them and the weeks that I don't, I simply don't lose as well when I do. Counting the calories isn't enough; I have to omit them. Sucks, but it is what it is.) But mostly, keeping things in perspective is what works for me. A four pound loss is really significant. If you continue to lose at that rate, it will add up really quickly. I know how frustrating it is. And it's infuriating to be treated like a "cheater" when you really DO know what you're doing, and how your body responds. Just stick with it. Since you're journaling on fitday, you can keep a good eye on what might need tweaking. (Don't overlook the micronutrients. They can play in, too.)

Thank you It really does happen! It doesn't ever seem to be terribly fast, and sometimes there are little stalls, but over time, the losses really add up. Really, being banded (and really committing to a completely different lifestyle) was the best decision I ever made for myself.

I usually don't give it much of a thought, as long as it's an isolated thing. But I agree, adding a protein drink can bump up calories in a way that still promotes loss.

If there's one thing you'll fast learn, it's that there's no "typical" when it comes to banding; each surgeon has a different set of instructions, it seems. Mine recommends low carb eating, with 65-75 g protein/day. I do better (both in how I lose and how I feel) if I get 80-100 grams of protein/day,

I do both. I journal on FitDay, and will continue to do so; it keeps me aware of what I am putting in my mouth so that I don't slip back into bad habits. And I weigh out portions, too---most of the time, I don't finish what I'm "allotted," so I've become more lax about this. (My body stops me well before I run into trouble, as long as I choose the right foods, which I do.)

I was banded on 1/12/10, and have lost just over 90 pounds. I am just shy of 106 pounds from my highest weight.

This is one for your doctor to address. Mine has his patients begin with pureed proteins three days after surgery. So, pureed chicken would have been "legal" at that point, as would tuna whizzed in the Magic Bullet with a little mayo or yogurt. My diet was gradually advanced from pureed protein ---> soft, moist proteins ---> solid proteins ----> solid proteins + nonstarchy veggies ----> solid proteins + nonstarchy veggies + fruit. And that's it, during the ongoing weight loss phase. (Starches can be gradually reintroduced once 75% of excess weight is lost; I have chosen not to do this because my rate of loss has slowed and, besides, I don't really have room for them. I figure I'll have plenty of time for them once I am in maintenance mode.)