CalicoskiesNC

I chew Flinstones.

Never use it. I always eat out with others who are happy to take some of my food. I would be terribly embarrassed to share my med info with a card to a server. Just kinda tacky too. It's not any business of the restaurant.

My nutritionist specializes in Bariatric patients. She says that I can chew Tums with each meal and that is fine for calc supp. With the calc carb she says it needs to be separate from your multi vit and also taken with food. My dr agreed with her when I told him. I don't like the taste of any chews and tabs all too big. I do love the tropical Tums tho. I should mention that I eat most of my calc in milk, yogurt and other dairy.

I am asked a series of questions when I am there for a fill/exam. If I say I can't eat meat or bread easily, I won't get a fill. Dr says you should not have stuck epi if you are eating right. Being stuck often is sign of being too tight. Tells me that being too tight will lead to complications. Having reflux is another sign.

Had first fill June 28 and now I have had 3 incidents when moving my right arm where I get severe shoulder pain and my hand tingles for 20-30 min. Very annoying and uncomfortable. I can't say it's related or just coincidence. If I still have pain tomorrow I will call and ask.

My dr uses flouro for every fill. You drink 2 gulps of the barium while they xrAy it going thru your band before the fill. Then he does the fill and you repeat the barium swallow and he xrays again. I got to take home 2 pics of my band in action, before and after. Before my fill my stoma was the size of my thumb, after it's the size of my pinky. About half the size.

I had first fill yesterday, was my 6mo appt. No pain, tiny needle that I almost could not feel. No problem accessing my port at all. Today I have a cramp like pain at my band, but not real uncomfortable. Hopefully that is just my stomach complaining.

I am 5 mo post op and no fills. Flouro shows my band is working just as it should. I can eat anything, but I do need to take smaller bites, chew well and eat slower over all. I also have no problem taking meds like fish oil caps.

My surgeon, PA, and NUT all say that if you get stuck on breads and pasta that it's a sign you are too tight. That's one of the questions on every visit. I don't eat a lot of either because of cals and carbs but I do fine with English muffins, bagels, buns and bread. Only angel food cake has kinda gotten stuck.

TKW, have you had metabolic testing done to verify that you burn 3000 cals daily just living? I am 48 yo, 5'7", 246lb. My resting metabolic rate was 1860. I too work a desk job. I only question as 3000 sounds very high. I shoot for 1200 a day, but almost always go up to 1500-1600. I am almost 5 mo post op. Lost 31 lb so far but it has stalled. I feel no restriction, have had zero fills. Dr does a flouro and says my band is working perfectly and tightening it will only cause me issues that I am not having. I know it's up to me to move more and eat less. I reaffirm to myself everyday. I am just resigned to a slow loss of 3-4 lb a month. I just wish I had some restriction to scare me from eating extra bites. It is very difficult to have people around you thinking the lapband is some magical fat melting device. I have had to explain so many times that it's just a tool and the diet is up to me with some support from my band. It does get frustrating and depressing. I journal and track foods Nd just reaffirm my efforts and confidence to myself daily.

I didn't purée anything. I ate soups and creamy, mushy things. Refried beans, cottage cheese, yogurt, pudding, mashed veggies, cream of wheat. After my 2nd wk I got permission to move to soft mushy well chewed foods like pasta, eggs, baked tato, even chicken and ground beef. Just be sure to eat small well-chewed bites and measure portions so you don't overeat.

I had severe reflux for years pre-band. Took Rx for at least 18 yrs. Since surgery, not one problem. My dr says lapband is very similar to surgical correction for reflux. When I go to dr, first question is about reflux. PA says it's a sign of improper adjustment.

I can't eat it like regular PB but I do like to mix it in things. I really like it stirred into vanilla yogurt. I use about 3 TBL and it makes it thick and tastes like a mousse.

I love MY FITNESS PAL. I use on my iPhone but my girlfriend uses on her Android phone.

I take several. Omega3, 1500mg D3 2000mg 81mg aspirin Lutein 20mg Astaxanthin 4mg B12 2000mg? Calcium (Tums at meals, 1000mg) Biotin (can't remember my, I chew 2tabs) Triamterene (Water pill Rx) Fiber caps 4 daily Everything I take is ok'd with my reg dr, Bariatric dr and Dr Oz

Per my PA's advice I eat 3 small meals and 3 good snacks daily. I am hungry often so this isn't an issue. Hopefully I will have my first fill in March.

I don't do protein shakes or bars. I feel that if I eat properly I will not need meal replacement I do mix Pure unflavored protein powder in my yogurt once a day. I eat 1200 cals a day and I am always at about 75+grams on protein, my scoop of powder is 12g so I really don't need it. I think you should focus more on real foods as they will keep you satiated longer than shakes. I have one bar that I eat for snacks, SOUTH BEACH PROTEIN FIT. It's only 140 cals and I think10g protein. Makes a filling snack. Good luck and I hope you feel better and stronger each day as you recover.

My big motivator is renewing our wedding vows at the Outer Banks, right on the beach. We've been happily married 26yrs. Small motivators are basically looking better in clothing and feeling better. I get $10 at the Apple Store for every 5lb.

Nevermind.

My NUT told me it was acceptable as an occasional snack, but because it lacks nutrients it shouldn't be something I eat everyday. I do eat either homemade (with Presto micro cooker) or Trader Joe's olive oil popcorn.

Dr Oz recommends eating protein 30 min after waking. That doesnt answer your question really. I a hungry when I wake so I eat within the hour. Others are not bk eaters. I do think you should always try to get something nutritious in AM. Even if it's just milk or few spoons of yogurt.

My PA ( I dont see the surgeon anymore, just his PA and nurses) tells me that I should be able to eat anything. Tells me that if I cannot eat bread, meats, Pasta or such without getting stuck, then my band is not adjusted properly. He says the purpose of the band is not to physically restrict you from eating something. Its to provide satiety for longer periods. So far, I am able to eat anything. I had a few problems early on when I still had surgical swelling, but since the swelling has subsided I am able to eat anything.

I was at dr on Jan 25. I didn't get a fill, but I wanted one. I haven't had one yet. I answered all the questions and then he told me I didn't need one. I did the flouro and he showed me my band and said it looks like I do have restriction. I have about 2cc in my band from surgery. I told him I am fighting hunger every hour of the day. He told me there really is not a sweet spot, that its a myth. Told me that willpower is a very big part of it. I am losing weight, about 1 lb a week, and my dr likes it that way. I am feeling a bit depressed. I thought I would get some more help from my band with appetite control. If I could do all this myself, why did I spend all the money and effort on my band? I go back in 6wk, so hopefully I can convince him for a fill.

Based on advice from my dr, PA and NUT I go with 1200 cals daily, and must hit at least 65g protein. Most days I do well, now and then I hit 1400-1500. When I go over, its with good foods: milk, yogurt, cheese, nuts, lunchmeats. I'm losing about 1 lb weekly. I need to exercise more but just cant get a routine established. And arthritis just hurts.

I just went for a band checkup on Jan 25 I have not had any fills yet, have about 2cc in my 10cc band. I answered all the questions about can you eat this and that. I am losing about 1lb weekly. My dr said I do not need a fill. He did a flouro, watched me drink barium and said my band is working perfect where it is. So I asked "but I can eat breads, meats ,fruits all with no problems" and he said that's the way it should be. He says if you cannot not eat foods without getting stuck then that band is to tight. He said too many people think the band's function is to physically stop you from eating foods and this is not correct. He also told me that in his opinion too many bandsters expect the band to be tightened to a point they will never feel hunger or cravings and this just won't happen. Told me that I have to do most of the work and the band will help me. So far so good. He also told me to realize that it will take me 1.5-2 full yrs to lose the 100 lb. Just wanted to say that if you are having so much trouble eating then maybe your band is too full.