this sucks

Also, my drs office has a product called Procal that doesn't cause me any trouble. It's a powder and I mix it up with lactose free milk to boost the protein. You can order Procal on line too.

I like the grape frost and the green one ( can't remember the flavor,silly me, just the colors!). It has kind of a funky thickness, but it's palatable. Just drink a lot of water!

Whey protein can cause you a problem if you are lactose intolerant, but look closely at the labels. A lot of whey protein shakes are lactose free, you just need to double check the labels. I use "Isopure" available at GNC or Meijer. They have 40 g of protein and if you get the zero carb flavors, they only have 160 calories in a large bottle. They are kind of pricey, but you need to have something that isn't going to have you running.well, you know.

I recommend you keep a pair of pants in your "before"size along with the pictures. Nothing makes me feel better than to pull those pants out and see how HUGE they are! An amazing uplifting experience each time. I can now pull them on without even unzipping or anything!

Rkimom. Been on here regularly since the end of August and am back on track. Have lost 14 lbs!

I tried to add you as a friend, but it says that hmd is an invalid name. Are you registered under a different login?

I use Procal protein shakes but add them to milk and add flax seed to the shake. It swells up in the shake and helps to keep me full until lunch time. I agree with the others on the hard cooked eggs idea too. I bake, yes, bake a dozen at a time (bake at 325 for 25 minutes then cool off in cold water) and then I have enough to snack on all week long. I do remove the yolk because it doesn't agree with me, but two egg whites provides only 34 calories and 8 grams of protein. I also use the Dannon Light and Fit Greek yogurt which keeps me happy for a long time, they have only 80 calories and 12 grams of protein.

Hang in there! Just keep doing what you have been told-1 cup meals, exercise, journal-and it will start to happen for you. Your body is still recovering from surgery and please, DON'T let the scale run your life!

Prayers sent... I wish that I had been brave enough at 21 to get this done! I wasted another 35 years of damaging my body before I finally had surgery. Good for her!

I was banded in July 2010 so I honestly don't remember what my first months loss was. As for the cc's in my band, it's ever changing! I think I'm at about 4.5 cc's right now in a 10 cc band. I have had many fills and un-fills over the last 28 months but I no longer worry about finding the elusive "sweet spot" that so many bandsters obsess about. As long as I record what I'm eating and stick around 1200 calories, life is good...

I use My Fitness Pal. I have found a great group of friends on this site who also use it so I have a special support group made up entirely of banded people.

If you still feel stuck this morning, you should definitely call your doctor and get an unfill ASAP. You can cause damage by having something stuck for an extended period of time!

I had surgery in July 2010 and still see my surgeon every six weeks. Even if i don't get a fill, i still have that accountability and can discuss any issues with him. The weight loss center that I went through for all of my pre-surgery visits is also part of my regular follow up and I see the dietitian, exercise physiologist and internist about every two to three months. I was very lucky to get a package deal with them where I only pay for an office visit with the doctor and I don't pay anything to see the other two. I had an office visit yesterday and was given an article that showed that long term aftercare is one of the major factors in long term success and I have to agree!

I learned from a very knowledgable woman-see Jean McMillan above-that you shouldn't waste much time searching for the VERY elusive "Green Zone". I think you should be proud of the weight you have lost so far. That being said, are you honestly recording what you are eating? I was shocked when I started journaling EVERYTHING that I was eating. I use My Fitness Pal-a free app- to journal everything I eat. I had surgery in July of 2010 and my weight loss had stalled. I started honestly recording everything in August and have lost 13 lbs and am now at my lowest weight in over 12 years. My new motto is "if I eat it, I own it".

My weight loss center does a body scan to set your goal weight. It takes all the guesswork out of it because its based on your lean muscle mass, not a height/weight chart. The greatest thing about having the scan was that for the first time in my life, I understood why I couldn't get to 150 like the weight charts told me I should be. I found out that I really do have a large frame (which was my excuse all those years!) and at 5'8" that my target weight is 197. Only 18 lbs away-my goal finally looks like a possibility.

Love this! I'm always searching for new snack options and you just gave me at least 50 to try!

Not true...malabsorption doesn't just occur in bypass. I only say this out of personal experience. At a little over a year out, I started having really odd symptoms that mimicked a stroke. It took many months of testing before my bariatric internist did "micronutrient"testing on my blood. I was deficient in many key vitamins-D, B12, Iron, Magnesium to name a few. I started intensive Vitamin therapy in February and didn't start to fell better until April. According to her, because we have less surface in our gut to absorb the nutrition from food, it's not unheard of to have issues. I know this isn't a response to the gummy vitamin question, but I think it's important that ALL bandsters understand the importance of getting sufficient vitamins in whatever form they can...

I always feel a little queasy after a fill. Not sure why, but since it always happens, it's no longer a surprise. Hang in for the liquids...

In my surgeons words, it can only do one of two things. Either you force it through by drinking or else you pb it up. Also, try moving your left arm up and down in sort of a "chicken dance" kind of movement. Sounds and looks weird, but it helps. Walk around too. Good luck. If you cannot get it to go through, call your doctor. They may have to empty your band to let it pass.

If you have reflux, you really need to get an unfill. The acid can do damage so don't ignore it! There is nothing wrong with getting a slight unfill. Heck, I have had at least six of them and each time I remind myself that I'm a lot better off to have a slightly looser band than to endure being too tight. I cannot seem to get past the 4.5 cc point in a 10 cc band. After over two years, I just try to go with the flow and listen to the signal my band is giving me.