Renee1003

I've found that it depends on the DAY. tonight I tried to eat one scoop of ice cream (sugar free) & could not! One more little bite and I would've been sick. Steak is difficult, don't even want to try again Sadly, salad is very difficult and all fruits & veggies with skins. I don't really eat white bread at all now either I'm 9 months post op and down 55 pounds. I just try to respect the band and it's "mood" Somedays I can eat almost anything and somedays not much. Just try to get your Protein shakes in if ever having a rough band day. Good luck

I do three body pump classes per week and in between those classes I do spin and/or step. Weekends off. I love how strong I feel

I'm 8 months post op and down 47 pounds. Scale didn't move much at all after the first month but I'm working out 4-5 days a week at the gym and clothes are falling off. Wish it were more but it's an amazing loss regardless. Congrats to all of you.

I have been filled about 5 times and some removed 3 times. I'm either in the yellow or red. Never green. Yesterday they did my 5th fill & believe that they got my sweet spot but I don't know yet. I'm sensitive to fills so doc told me 48 hours liquids. Usually Its only 24 hours and 24 hours mushies. I had some very watered down cream of tomato Soup for Vitamins & TASTE. I'm hungry but with this soup it helps greatly. I just pray that I don't have to go back for another "unfill" Usually I can eat a lot or nothing. So we Shall see Good luck

Can you explain to me exactly what you feel when you're restricted? Over eaten ? And/or stuck ......?

Hi all, HOW ARE ALL THE JANUARY 2011 Bandsters making out...? My surgery was 1/18/11 and I lost 20 pounds between post op and week 1 pre op and haven't lost another pound - I've found this to be so extremely difficult considering I have ZERO restriction. I got my first fill on 3/1 and felt NOTHING so I called the doc yesterday and told him that I'm hungrier than ever, I've gained just a few pounds and I could eat whatever I want without restriction and as much of it as I want - and he got me right in - I realize that this is not something the practice would do - it's a fill every 6 weeks no matter what, no excuses, but maybe they saw how little they really DID put in last week so I went in today and had another fill and I'll have my third fill on 4/13. I'm PRAYING to god that I feel a little restriction now. Cause I really don't know what that feels like at all. I'm very anxious to see results - Results make me want to work harder and exercise but thus far - I have been sluggish and bummed about it. I know that I'll be where I need to be one day but I was hoping for just a LITTLE MORE out of this band - if I had the willpower and motivation I would have lost it on my own and I would have KEPT the weight off in the past - HOW ARE ALL OF YOU MAKING OUT? I'd love to hear all your stories - please share. The good, the bad, the ugly --- let's see how the January 2011 Bandsters are making out. Renee

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I'm not doing too good -- what the hell is WRONG with me? I gained 5 pounds I'm down a total of 16 pounds since January 18th and that INCLUDES pre op --- so how sad is that!?!?!??! I had a Protein shake this morning. I'm starting to get very hungry - I may have some cream of wheat - Tonight I'd like to do a fajita in a low carb tortilla or a salad. and Exercise is something that I have not been good at doing. It's all my fault but WHY am I sabotaging it with bad food choices and sometimes cocktails.....? Sorry I'm a downer today Just wish I had a lot more restriction

After a fill my doc puts me on liquids and Protein shakes for the entire remainder of the day. The following day I'm upgraded to mushy/soft foods and the next back on regular. This works perfectly. I just had my first "stuck" ever an hour ago - i thought i was gonna die! haaha! Wasn't funny THEN though and just like that (about 15 mins later) it just STOPPED but I went through all the hell that these posts speak of - ughhh --- I'm doing a Protein shake now. I don't know if I didn't chew thoroughly or if the bite was too big - but either way - it happened and now I feel like I won't soon forget that feeling.

What kind of food journals is everyone using? online or on paper or do you use an app on your phone....? I'm still not sure how many calories I should be eating

The "exception" that my doc made for me yesterday was VERY much appreciated cause TODAY I feel restriction - for the first time -- nothing MAJOR - but something!!!!!! I just ate a 1/2 of Greek yogurt and I'm good --- I COULD eat the other half but why??? They say the first week after a fill is usually good so we'll see after next week where I'm at. My next fill is scheduled for the 2nd week of april --- Really want to be down another 20 pounds by May --- can't imagine that I won't be able to do it - but I also thought I'd be down so much more by NOW. Reading all that you wrote has helped me - let's all stay in touch. Thanks!

thank you everyone! I'm trying out fitness pal - it even had my PROTEIN POWDER listed - and it's Isopure Dutch Choc -- that thing has EVERYthing!!

Hi :smile2: I'm scheduled for surgery in January and I'm just curious how those with hypo-thyroidism are making out with their lap-band...? I know how slowly I lose weight NOW with it - (I also have type II Diabetes controlled by metformin). I'd love to hear from all of you that have this thyroid disorder to see how you're making out or how you've made out... Thanks renee

Tom, You're a beautiful person. Thank you for your encouraging kind post. You hit home for me and I needed it. I was banded 1/18/11 and "feel" unbanded. I have 80 pounds to lose and it might as well be 800!!! Cause THAT'S how far away I feel. Again thank you

Week one was 1/18/11 - 1/25/11 and I dropped about 18 pounds in a week - i had (as instructed by the doc) nothing but Protein shakes and fluids. Week 2 I could eat mushies and didn't drop another pound. Week 3 - i felt ZERO restriction - i'd get fuller faster and I didn't try to eat a Hoagie or anything but I'm not having any problems getting just about anything down and I debated posting this cause I kinda feel like a failure ---- I know these first 6 weeks are about "healing" - I realize that I'm supposed to following the instructions religiously and I know that I'm hurting myself by not doing that --- but what I want to know is........ Has anyone else done anything like this? Ate the wrong foods so soon? ate whole foods so soon? Is there any permanent damage that I could do or could have done? I feel FINE --- feel healthy --- just hungry a LOT So I lost about 20 total and keep gaining and losing 3-5 pounds - I PUT THE scale AWAY cause I have scale issues --- and I'm not really crazy about the weight loss right now - My first fill is 3/1 and I so need it!!!!! I'm just more concerned about why I'm not "able" to follow post op instructions.

Thank you everyone for the great advice and thank you to those that are in my boat that posted and made me feel like I'm not crazy and/or alone. The last two days I felt like I was really BANDED and i couldn't eat much - today things are a little different and much hungrier again - But again, thank you for the words of encouragement. My first fill is in 12 days WHOO hooOO!!!

MEANT TO SAY "CAN" EAT ANYTHING I WANT

Hi all I was banded on 1/18/11 - i've lost about 18 pounds - and I lost it all WEEK ONE and not one pound after! I'm bummed because I feel like I'm "failing" --- here's why: I'm starving! I can't eat just about anything! I have zero restriction and I have that "always hungry" feeling - I start each day saying I'm going to do the right thing and fall off somewhere after lunch or on a good day - closer to dinner! Sounds like life BEFORE LapBand --- well that's the problem - I had my heart set on not being like that ever again - that horrible guilt dieting and scale obsession. I ended up hiding the scale downstairs though I have to wonder if I did any damage to my band by eating whole foods at 3 weeks - and eating more than I should. I KNOW that I shouldn't have but I did.....so now what? I keep saying I'll start exercising this week but haven't yet - I use to work out all the time (a couple years ago) so I know once you start you really get into it but I can't seem to get STARTED. I believe I'm doing what I've always done because I presently feel like I've always felt Anyone know of something magical to say? lol Cause I'd really appreciate a little help

How is everyone doing? I was banded on 1/18/11

If you're planning on being banded in January your either half way thru your 6 month wait or you've just recently met with your surgeon and you're beginning your 3 month wait filled with dr appts and nutrition classes. I have aetna and I only have to wait three months but it'll be filled jam packed w/ dr appts and classes, etc... I went to see a pulmonologist last week and he wants me to get a breathing test, chest x-ray and sleep study. Saw the GI yesterday and my endoscopy is set for 11/5 and my cardiologist is Friday - can't wait to see what HE has in store for me - haha --- I'm actually excited to get this "work up of the stars" --- how many others are thankful for all these tests (cause when else would we get them done??) My BMI is under 40 and my last two years worth of weights was around a 35 but I have diabetes and high triglicerides...hoping that this is acceptable for aetna approval cause I'm gaining and not losing no matter what I do - I presently need to lose 80-90 pounds and there is no way I could do it on my own with the diabetes and hypo-thyroidism. :laugh: I'm curious to know who is getting banded in January (My surgery date is 1/18/11 if approved). I'd love to hear your stories and concerns - anything at all --- just want to put together a group for those that are planning a new life style come January - I can't think of a better new years resolution!!!! :thumbup: ~Renee

I gained 7 pounds in the hospital. Lost that within 2 days and went to lose another 10 in week one!! Crazy. But I'll take it

Good luck honey!! how were the roads?? I'm leaving in an hour. I have a 70 mile commute. UGGHHH. Gotta b there by 10 Lets try to write later if up to it. Best of luck to all the bandsters today!!!

Well....this is it - last day of the pre op diet and I will confess that I've had a few slip up's I am very nervous that I may have done "some sort of damage" but when I really thought about it - my few slips were with proteins that weren't already on my generous list of foods. I made sure I got my 3 protein shakes in per day and tomorrow is the big day. I'm just waiting for the doctors office to call now to give me a time for my surgery. Of COURSE New Jersey is expecting a rain/ice/snow storm --- lol Ugghhh......