sekinj

Hey! I got my lap-band installed more than a year ago on 8/30/2010. The surgeon I had been going to is no longer availalble, and I'm having trouble finding a good doctor in the area for my continued care and fills. I've lost 50 pounds so far, but have stalled the last several months and am looking for someone who takes an interest in helping me lose the weight ALL the way to my goal. I live in the Dallas area, more on the North side. Any suggestions???

I usually love my restriction, but this morning I forgot my normal Protein drink for Breakfast and I've been hungry ever since. I went to Wendy's and got a hamburger, and I just want to eat it all. I don't want it to take 2 hours to eat it with little mouse bites, I want to take HUGE bites and gobble it all up NOW!! Maybe I just to keep my Protein shakes on hand...

My surgeon tells me to eat as soon as I get hungry. My surgeon places and fills the band so that it will restrict food intake. He wants me to eat frequent small meals. Everytime I go in he asks what volume of food I can eat at one sitting with the goal being less than one cup. Once I got to that restriction, the weight started falling off with no counting calories, no weighing food, no feeling of starving, and no exercise (although I'm trying to get into the habit). The only thing I do is make sure I have more than 60 g or protein a day. I don't feel guilty, I don't feel like I'm on a diet, I just eat what I want when I'm hungry. It just happens to be in very small bites and very slowly. I've stopped craving sugars all together. This has made me greatly enjoy meals with my husband and friends because I have more time for conversation instead of just shoveling food into my mouth. If I do have sliming episodes, I go back on liquids for the day and stop trying to force it. I love my band, and I wish everyone on this forum was a patient of MY surgeon, because he has SO much experience and I really feel like he uses the band as the tool it was intended to be.

I just thought I would clarify a little. I don't count calories, or deny myself anything I want to eat, so the problem yesterday was not guilt or mentally not wanting to eat the hamburger. I cannot eat a hamburger, because I physically cannot eat the hamburger. My band is so tight that I will get stuck if I eat too fast or take too big of bites. That is how my surgeon says my band is supposed to work. If I try to defeat the band, I throw up. This has resulted in a greatly decreased desire for food, and even my taste buds have changed. However, yesterday when I originally posted this I was Protein deficient, so I wanted to gobble beef. I ended up eating about half the burger, but it took over 2 hours...

Anyone know of a smaller lap-band forum? This one is just too huge with too many new topics all the time...

my band is 10cc, and I have 8 cc in it. It feels pretty tight. I can usually eat one 1/4 cup meal and then another 1/2 or 3/4 cup meal at the end of the day.... small bites, and even then some stuff goes down wrong... like I said, I usually love it, but I think I'm just craving protein right now.

August is a long time away. How much protein have you been intaking?

I'm at 8 cc and was very tight right after my fill on11/17. I could only drink liquids. I then could eat about 1/4c for a few weeks, and now I can eat probably 1/2 cup. My next appointment is next Thursday. The doc might want to put more in, but I can't imagine being able to tolerate more than .25 more right now, but then when I lose more weight and the band loosens up... maybe then. But as you can see in my signature my doc is pretty aggressive with the fills which I appreciate.

I don't worry about calories at all. The only thing My dietician told me to think about before going to bed at night is if I have had my 60 g of protien. If I am low on protein, I just drink another EAS AdvantEdge shake and am good to go I thought about it a few days ago and I really had no idea how many calories I eat in a day. Since I only eat about 1/4 c at eat meal, I can't imagine that it is very many.

I was banded on 8/30/10 and have lost 20 pounds so far It seems to be slowly but surely melting away....

If you can get liquids down, then it is not an emergency. I was like that as well after my latest fill. It is tough at first, especially if you are TRYING to eat solids. Instead, just do the liquids (be sure to drink protein shakes) for at least 3 days (if you can, do the full week like the doc ordered, but it is hard), then try something like mashed potatoes or my favorite malt-o-meal. be sure to eat and drink very slowly. Just try to stick it out until the 18th. I'm sure it will get better for you LONG before then. It did for me!! I was tight like that, but did the liquids and then mushies, and now can eat about 1/4 c of solids. I'm also very steadily losing a little weight everyday So let the scale encourage you!! Hopefully it will give you some good numbers for your extra effort

Neither! I got banded so I wouldn't have to angonize over all that crap. My doc fills my band until I can eat less than one cup per meal, and I stay satisfied for 3 to 4 hours. He emphasizes exercise everyday and other habits that should be lifelong. The only thing I try to keep track of is protein to make sure I get my 60g. I couldn't even guess at how many calories I eat in a day.

I drink those. It really doesn't have many calories at all. 160 for the whole bottle and zero carb as well. I think this is the best Protein drink. They handed it to me when I left the hospital, plus it is a clear protein so you can drink it even when you are sick, or going in for a check up or fill. I get a variety case of 12 bottles from GNC for $50. If anyone knows a cheaper way to get them, that would be cool.

Hey, I'm going to start trying to eat with chopsticks in order to eat slower and take smaller bites. I can only eat about 1/4 cup at a time, so its hard to get all my Protein unless I eat very slowly. Anyone else have ideas for eating slower?

My chopstick grip isn't strong enough to pick up large bites. I only pick up small bites, and the time/skill required to "catch" the small bite makes me eat slower.

I can't use my hiccups as a soft stop because they are delayed and only start after I am done eating. I guess I could wait 5 minutes between bites, but that is kind of hard. I'm continueally looking for other soft stops to pay attention to though.

I get hiccups after almost every meal. They usually start about 5 minutes after I stop eating. I know that it would be trouble to eat any more. If they are particularly violent, I know I ate too much.

I've seen several people mention they have had to go back into surgery to get a slipped band repaired. I was wondering if anyone would like to share what symptoms they experienced with a slipped band? I'm going in today for an unfill because I've been ill and throwing up so have started to get worried about it. In case it slips, I'd like to know what symptoms to look for. Thank you in advance for sharing!!

My fill on Wednesday was pretty tight, so I'm still going to take in mostly liquids today. Just working on my protein drinks so that I get all my protein. I might take a few bites of real food later in the day and see how it goes...

mine is right in the middle , a couple inches below my bra line.

For Breakfast I had my usual EAS chocolate AdvantEDGE Protein drink and a sugar free Red Bull. Then I went in for my fill. For lunch I am having Isopure zero carb grape Protein Drink Water for a snack... then probably another EAS shake for dinner So, liquids only today because of my fill. It feels pretty tight, so I think it will be good once the swelling goes down.

I had a burger and fries from Dairy Queen one week after surgery... but that certainly wasn't the greatest idea I'd ever had...

The one that stares at you from the plate and says, "Please don't leave me alone! I am so small, I will fit! I swear I won't cause you any trouble." Besides, wouldn't it be wasteful to throw it out!?! It's just one bite!! :sneaky:

Yum Yum!! I eat almost exclusively Protein with a chocolate shake in the morning, cheese for Snacks, and chicken, turkey and steak for meals. Protein is my favorite flavor!! :thumbup: What's your favorite type of protein? Mine: Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese!! :thumbup:

I have (0) zero "don't eat" things on my list. Everything in moderation! (except protein :thumbup:)