vlp1968

I don't think chicken broth has many calories. It's a clear liquid, no cream or anything in it. I think yoiu did just fine. Best wishes.

I have been too tight, and hesitated to go in for an unfill thinking it was swelling and not wanting to be hungry. Once I "sucked it up" and went in for an unfill I felt much better. I even still had restriction. I suffered longe than necessary. If your still having trouble Friday I would call for sure. Hope you feel bette soon.

I agree, part of it is lots of wate weight. I wouldn't worry, your loss is bound to slow down. I think you are doing just fine.

Increased excersise is a great way to get those last pounds off. I have a personal trainer and love it. She really keeps me on track. Since I go the gym to meet with her, it's like ok, I might as well do cardio while I'm here. She also makes sure I am doing the proper form and using the right amount of weight. I think you are right, it's an investment in yourself. Do it!

2 pounds is something to celebrate! Good job. You are doing great. You seem to be preparing in your mind for when you have restriction, I think that is really good.

What a milestone! Keep up the good work!

While I was loosing I only weighed in once a week, and recorded it. Now that I am maintaining, I weigh myself every day, keeping within a 2 pound range, if I go above that I know it's time to make an adjustment. Just what works for me. Recently I have been struggleing with a 5 pound gain, the daily flucuations have driven me crazy. However, I know if I keep doing the right things the damn scale will move. I finally lost a pound after about a 4 day stall. I have toyed with the idea of stopping the daily weigh ins, especially when I have a few pounds to loose, but I just can't help it. I have become a scale whore! lol

What you are going through is perfectly normal. Your doc. is having you wait quite a long time for a fill. I got my first one 6 weeks out. Every doc. is different. Hang in there! Have you started excersising? It has so many benefits and really helps weight loss. It is so tough to get started, but for me it has become a matter of routine. I was about 4 months post op before I hit the gym. As far as eating, I suggest you concentrate on eating the right things (low carb, low fat, high protien) even if your portions are larger than they will be once you have restriction. Best wishes!

For me, recovery was easy. I didn't even have the gas many talk about. I am lucky in that I have a pretty high pain tolerance. I did take the pain meds for 2-3 days, I figured why be uncomfortable. Everyone is different. A week off sounds about right, just in case. If you have a very physical job you may need even longer. If that is the case, I would talk to your surgeon about it. He/she may want to see you and give you clearance to go back to work. Congrats on your impending surgery! You will do great.

Are you excersising? If not, I highly reccomend you start. It has so many benefits, just one being weight loss. Sometimes I do liquids (high protien shakes) for a day or 2 to get back on track. I believe strongly in a high protein, low carb, low fat diet. Make sure you are getting in plenty of fluids, at least 64 oz. a day. You can do it! Good luck!

I totally agree- the idea is to get smaller right? You are shrinking and that is the goal. You are doing just fine. Try not to get on the scale everyday, the daily flucuations will drive you crazy. When I was loosing I weighed in once a week and recorded it. Well, I did "cheat" a few times, but not very often. Congrats on your surgery!

Bring chapstick, you won't be allowed fluids until they do an exray and make sure everything is where it should be. Your lips will get very dry. Also, a pillow for the ride home, to put between you and the seatbelt. Congrats on your impending surgery, you will do great!

For me, three fills gave me some restriction. Seems like I have read on here that 3 fills does it for a lot of people. I sure hope it is the magic number for you! Best wishes.

Sorry you are having such a tough time. That's great you reached out- a huge first step. Are you keeping junk in the house? If you are, I highly reccomend you get rid of it. If it's not there, you can't eat it. If you keep it in the house for others, they don't need it either. I agree that maybe you should go in for a fill. You will just have to get over being ashamed and do it. The band is not doing it's job if you are able to overeat. I hope your doctor is a good one, one who won't put you down, but reach out to help you. Is there a support group you can go to? Are you in any kind of therapy? These things may help with the emotional side of eating. Excersise would be great. It has so many benefits, just one being weight loss. Start out slow and gradually increase your duration/intensity. It is so tough to start (took me about 4 months postop before I hit the gym) but will become a matter of routine. I haven't grown to love it, but it always feels good when I'm done. Hope all this helps and keep us posted on how your doing. Best wishes!

It took me 3 fills to feel restriction. For now, I would concentrate on eating the right foods, (low carb, low fat) even if your portions are larger than they will be once you have restriction. I also reccomend starting an excersise program once you are cleared by your doc. It has so many benefits, just one being weight loss. Hang in there, restriction will come. Best wishes!

I agree about the sugar, and it has lots of calories and carbs. If you really want prunes, I would eat the actual fruit instead of drinking the juice. However, I would stay away from both. If you eat dried fruit, I think too many calories and carbs slide down too fast.

Getting into a routine with your eating is a great idea. I don't eat exactly the same, but do have a limited menu. I eat lots of lean protien and veggies. eggs for breakfast, maybe with some lite sausage. I love perdue perfect portions chicken and marinated pork loin. I also eat flavored chicken sausage and lots of fish. I snack on nuts (1/4 cup) and cheese sticks. For fruit I eat berries, they are lower in carbs than other fruit. I buy them frozen since they are cheaper, and it's just me so I have trouble finishing a container before they start to go bad. Good luck!

As said above, Oysters should be just fine, as long as they are not fried. I am pretty sure they are high protien and certainly don't have fat or carbs. So actually they fit right into a good diet in terms of loosing weight. I would watch the bloody mary- empty calories and may make you less inhibited and therefore more likely to eat something you shouldn't. I suggest only 1 and factor in the calories. Enjoy!

I think it is so important to keep the "junk" out of the house. Very good advice.

Thanks, a very interesting article. I think my success was due to eating a designated amount and then stopping. That and regular work outs.

You are in what is known as bandster hell. The time inbetween surgery and when you get restriction. You lost a lot of weight the first 2 weeks, your body may be compensating. Overal your looking at about 3.5 pounds a week, which is awsome! Once your cleared by your surgeon to excersise I highly reccomend it. Start out slow and gradually increase your duration/intensity. There are so many benefits to working out, not just that it speeds up weight loss. It is so tough to get started, took me about 3-4 months postop. Now it's a matter of routine, although I haven't grown to love it. You are doing great! Keep up the good work.

For sure tommorow is another day, an opportunity to make bette choices. Good choices will be easier once you have restriction. It took me 3 fills to feel any restriction. For now, I would focus on eating the right things (I reccomend high protien, low fat, low carb) even if your portions are larger than they will be once you have restriction. Excersise is also something think about once your doctor gives you the ok. Start out slow and gradually increase your duration/intensity. I found it really tough to start, took me about 3-4 months post op, but it has now become a matter of routine. Some days it actually feels good. Hope this helps. Take care.

When I was tighter than I am now (I have lost all my weight and choose to keep the band pretty loose) I had a protien shake for breakfast. The band loosened up enough by lunch time to eat. However, since you seem to be experiencing discomfort all day, I would go in for a slight unfill. Just a little removed can make a world of difference. I am self pay as well, and I know it's expensive. I let that stop me in the past and suffered longer than I should have. I always sucked up the drive and the expense eventually. Hope you feel better soon!

Here's my advice- be sure you are working up a bit of a sweat when you workout. In my opinion if you don't, your really not working hard enough to get the results you want. Are you eating low carb, low fat? That has really worked for me, I lost 107 pounds in about 10 months. I also second the idea of getting a trainer. It really does help keep you motivated. I do weights with a trainer 3 days a week. Also, the more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism is. Hope all this helps. Take care.

You are doing great! You have lost just about 5 pounds a week! That is awsome. I highly reccomend excersise. That's great your walking to work. It took me 3-4 months after surgery to get to the gym. It really does help with weight loss and so many other benefits. Keep up the good work!