vlp1968

Lots of good advice so far. As far as a fill, I think you may need one since you are having a lot of hunger. Are there certain foods you can't keep down? You may need to just cut them out of your diet. Are you eating too fast- large bites, not enough chewing? I would deffinatly go see your doc. and discuss it. Bringing a weeks worth of a food journal would be great. You sound very motivated to get back on track- you can do it!

Very interesting article- thanks for the post.

I lost 107 pounds and have had plastic surgery. I had a tummy tuck and breast augmentation. I am thrilled with the results. I did have a complication with fluid retention- had to be opened back up. However, I would do it again in a heartbeat. Next is a face lift and bat wings lol. I don't believe there is excersise that helps with extra skin, the skin has lost it's elactisity. Wait and see what you are dealing with once you loose the weight. Then find a good surgeon lol.

Hang in there- it took me 3 fills to get any restriction. It will happen. Good luck!

Thanks for your response Brian- it helped. Anyone else have thoughts on weight maintaince? Responses appreciated!

I agree with the above posts. Providing healthy meals for your family will be awsome. Find things they like that fit your plan. It may work to do a meat, veggie and carb. You can cut out the carb and just eat the meat and veggies. I also stick to Wendys and Taco Bell for fast food. Although I don't eat there very often, I think they provide reasonable choices. I get the chili at Wendys or one taco at Taco Bell. Good luck!

It's tough to get motivated to eat right and excersise. I didn't start working out until about 4 months post op. The hardest part was getting started. I joined a gym (I know it's expensive) and began walking at a moderate pace for just 20 minutes. I gradually increased the intensity and duration. I now do 40 minutes. I walk for 1 minute, jog for 4. I also work out with a trainer 3 days a week, we do weights. I understand what your saying about the tv-I highly reccomend you get one. Another option would be to listen to music- I bring my ipod to the gym. As far as eating, like you've said, you know what to do. Get all the junk out of the house. Ellicit the support of your husband. Hopefully if he wants food not on your plan he can eat them outside the house, or at the very least not infront of you. Designate a cabinent for his food- and you don't even go in there. You may want to start out by eating the right foods (low carb, low fat, high protien) even if your portions are larger than is ideal. Once you get in the "mode" then you can reduce your portions. Be sure you are getting all your water in. It will help you feel full and your body will more efficiently burn fat. Set small goals for yourself. Give yourself a small (non food related) reward for each goal you reach. Maybe you like to go to the spa, or you could buy a new piece of clothing or jewlery. The goal doesn't have to be a number of pounds lost. It could be getting in all your water everyday for a week or sticking to your food plan (with no "cheats") for a week. I hope this helps! Keep us posted on how your doing.

They did not check my blood prior to surgery. You need to quit! Not just because of the surgery but because it is so damn unhealthy. I know it's really hard- I used to smoke. It took me several tries to kick the habit for good. If you smoke up until surgery you are risking increased bleeding and I don't know what else, maybe things like high blood pressure. In short, your surgery will certainly have increased risks. Stop and stop now. Chewing gum helped me a bit. Just look at it as you have know choice in the matter, you must stop smoking in order to have a safe surgery. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

All the above posts give great advice. My 2 cents is I started drinking a lot of decaff. coffee. It seems to help me feel satisfied when the meal didn't quite do it. I still struggle with obsessing about food to. I am 14 months post op and have lost all my weight. Good luck!

When my band is tight I burp alot. Sometimes I would feel like I had to vomit but then would burp and feel better. I also have a lot of stomach gurggling. It all gets a little embarrassing but worth the success I have had with the band. I recently had a large unfill and so it's not really happening anymore.

My doctor has been fantastic about squeezing me in when I need an unfill He's even come into the office from the hospital on days he isn't usually there. Tell them it's an emergency. Also, I agree to stick to shakes and water until you get seen. Hopefully those are staying down ok. Let us know what happens.

Glad u are feeling better. I too recently went in for an unfill. I got a large one because I am now maintaining. Boy was I tired of getting sick and having to eat so carefully. I also missed eating breakfast and eating whole wheat bread and whole wheat pasta. I feel so much better and haven't been real hungry. I splurged on some chinese food and didn't like the scale this morning. I will cut back until I loose 3 pounds. I wonder if you even need the pineapple juice. I would try without it and see how it goes. It may be the unfill that did the trick.

I had no restriction until my third fill. Be aware it may take a couple months to get to a sweet spot. It wouldn't hurt to call your doc. and see if you can get in sooner. For now, I suggest you concentrate on eating the right foods (low carb, low fat, high protien). and eating slowly. Your portions may be larger than they will be with restrction but it should keep you from gaining anymore. Excersise is also a key component to weight loss. I highly reccomend you start if you haven't already. Start out slow such as a medium paced walk and gradually increase the duration/intensity. It's so tough to start but it will become second nature very quickly. I can't workout because of plastic surgery, boy do I miss it.

It's drastic, but I do think it may be time to look for a new job. All that exposure to food isn't good for you. You may want to try chewing gum, but be carefull not to swallow it, that wouldnt be good for the band. Having healthy things you can snack on should also help. Good luck

I am not much of a cook either. I eat perdue perfect portion chicken breast- they are a "perfect portion" and come individually wrapped. I just throw the bag in the freezer and take one out at a time. I also pan fry fish with oldbay seasoning- I like catfish. Although not one of my faves I eat tuna once in a while. I also eat marinated lean port loin. They come in several flavors. You just bake it in the oven. I also like hormell canned chili, although I cut that out when I reduced my carb intake. Now that I am maintaining I eat it again. For snacks I like nuts, lowfat cheese sticks, beef jerkey, fruit, cottage cheese, greek yougurt. Hope this helps and best of luck to you! Just remember, high protien, low carb and low fat.

I doubt very much the lapband is causing your rash. I agree it is probably an allergic reaction to the antibiotic they gave you. Sounds pretty bad- I would go to a dermatologist for sure. they will probably prescribe an oral steroid or a much stronger cream than the 1% cortizone you can get over the counter. I have had many skin problems (including several allergic reactions) so I sympathize greatly. Hope it clears up soon!

Sounds like you need to get back to basics: eat at least 60gms of proien drink at least 64oz of water- the more the better start an excersise program- I know it's expensive but maybe you can join a gym or splurge on something like a treadmill for the house. The wii fit is another thought. Journal everything you eat- bring it to your appt. to help your doctor with your fills. Get a fill if need be- from what you said I am guessing you don't have restriction. Keep us posted on how your doing.

That's awsome! Fitting into clothes that used to be to small is such a great feeling! I hardly bought any clothes (literally just one pair of pants and a top) while I was loosing. I had so many sizes in my closet I just had to shop there.

About 6 months after surgery I was taken off all my weight related meds. I have diebeties, high blood pressure and high cholesteral. It was so exciting! I disagree with your doctor that lapband patients don't get off there meds. However, maybe it doesn't happen as fast. Plan to excersise, it helps these conditions and will help you get off your meds sooner. Good luck!

I am pretty darn sure it's not a slip. My doc. said if the band slips suddenly you can't keep anything down. Not even fluids. Do you have an appointment for a fill? Could you call and get in sooner if it's not in the immediate future? Right now I would concentrate on eating the right foods (low carb, low fat, high protien). Your meals may be larger than they will be once you have restriction, but at least it's a great start. Starting a workout program would be great also. It did wonders for me. Start off slow and gradually increase the duration/intensity. Journaling your food intake is probably a good idea as well. It will help you see where your at and you can bring it to the doc. as info to help him/her to know how much to fill you.

Sounds like you may be slightly irritated and need a rest. I would try protien shakes for today- you want to get some nutrition. Hope you feel better soon.

I would worry that the amount your eating, and the carbonation could stretch your pouch. The stomach has a lot of give, so you probably haven't done any damage yet. However, if you keep it up I think you might. Make sure you eat lots of protien to help fill you up. Have a couple of healthy snacks (fruit, nuts, low fat cheese) a day to keep you from getting too hungry. Although you don't have restriction yet, now is the time to start following the band rules as best you can. It gets much easier with restriction.

Well- on the one hand I am happy I got banded because I lost the weight very successfully. l lost 107 pounds in about 10 months. However, I spend more time either being hungry or sick from being overfilled than I would have liked. I have had trouble keeping food down and go into the doc. this afternoon. I am seriously considering a complete unfill. I not only want the vomiting to stop but I want to be able to eat breakfast, eat whole grain bread, brown rice and pasta, eat eggs. I think I will be able to maintain my weight with my band unfilled. I have learned how to eat properly and excersise both cardio and weights. Wish me luck!

You can't excersise intensily yet, but you could start walking. Moving around, even though you don't want to, will actually increase your energy level. It can also start you on a good track when your cleared for excersise. It is such a vital component to weigh loss. Not only do you burn calories while your doing it, you build muscle wich causes your body to burn more calories all day long. Good luck!

I eat, hungry or not. I generally eat pretty rote- shake for breakfast, mid morning snack of friuit and chesse, or nuts or beef jerkey, lean meat and a veggie for lunch, another sanck, more lean meat and veggie for dinner and a sanck before bed. Snacks have been key for me, they keep me from getting too hungry. When I am very hungry is when I make poor choices. I have consistenly lost weight since I started the program. I am currenly maintaining a 107 pounds loss. Hope this helps.