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Dave~ How are you feeling? The strength of Prilosec that I have is once per 24 hours. Another thing that really helps my stomach is to suck on a regular old peppermint candy, the red and white swirly kind. I also chew a couple TUMS to help my stomach if needed. It's funny how I have had so many stomach issues considering that prior to be being banded I hadn't vomited since 1988 and had a cast Iron stomach! Now I can be filled too much easily, get stuck, stomach lining swellls, get reflux, vomit more... and the whole thing goes to hell in a hand basket, lol. I am cautiously staying right where I am regarding fills. I never want to be too tight again! Whether we have lost 130 or 30 pounds I think we are all winning at this game of life and weight loss/maintenance!! I am proud of everyone!!! Joan

I like the Naturade Total Soy powder from Sam's Club. I buy the chocolate and vanilla and mix my shakes with milk, which brings the Protein total to 23 grams. My surgeon recommends continuing w/ one shake a day since it can be difficult to get all the necessary protein and nutrients in each day plus many peoples bands are too tight to eat much for Breakfast. I have a shake almost every morning. Good luck! Joan

Hello, Joan checking in at 189.8, up .4. Dang TOM! Hopefully, planning to be down next week. Congratulations to everyone this week who lost and or made positive changes in the right direction! Joan

Have you tried the Prilosec? I have had so many stomach issues since getting banded. Once things are irritated the pouch lining is swollen and needs to settle down. I think you're wise to call and see your MD next week. You look fabulous and I bet you feel fabulous, too! Congratulations! I'll post an updated photo when I reach the 50# mark. Joan

I'd suggest that you either drink warm/hot water several times a day and before meals and or that you drink a small amount of pineapple juice before meals. Both of these ideas were recommended to me by my lap band NP. Also, Prilosec has helped me a lot with my stomach issues, also recommended by my NP. Great job on the exercise! I can't relate about taking my shirt off because that is not something I'll do in public ever again, anyway, LOL! I went back to work after not seeing most people since school got out June 1st. It was wonderful to receive SO many compliments! Joan

The weight loss has definetly improved my health! 1) sleep apnea seems to be gone. I haven't used my cpap in a couple weeks, I sleep great, dream and my husband says I no longer snore. I go for a follow up appt. 8/22. 2) was borderline high BP, BP today was 110/70. 3) foot pain,( plantars fascitis) is gone 4) knee pain/swelling is gone 5) swollen ankles in the evening are gone 6) general aches and pains are gone 7) my fasting blood sugar was prediabetic, I had my labs drawn Monday and I bet my blood sugar is now normal 8) carpal tunnel is basically gone I feel remodeled! Joan

How much do you weigh now? Best wishes with your new band! Joan

You look incredibly happy, healthy and beautiful! Congratulations to you! Joan(RN too)

My best advice is to not compare your results to other bandsters. I have lost slower than most but am losing faster than I ever did pre-band AND I will keep it off. I am 50, perimenopausal as well as hypothyroid. I have worked at eating adequate protein and overall nutrition on a daily basis. Take your vitamins. Drink your water, stay away from sliders and find exercises you enjoy. I mix up my exercise, walking, hiking, pool aerobics, weights and cardio at the gym, tapes, whatever I feel like. Best wishes to you! Joan

I think you should sip hot tea or water this evening until you feel better. Prilosec has helped me a lot, I have been taking one daily to help control stomach inflammation. Try these things, have liquids only tomorrow and see how you feel. You may need a slight deflate, time will tell. Sucking on peppermint candy also helps me as well as the hot drinks. Hang in there! Joan

Good Morning, Joan weighing in at 189.4, down 5 # from last week. It's neat to be out of the 190's. I almost weigh my driver's license weight of 185, lol. Larry~ You can weigh on Fridays and post on Mondays if you'd like. I just always start the monthly challenges on the first and follow with weekly weigh ins on that day of the week. Thanks again for doing our stats! Off to do pool aerobics. Joan

Hello, I am back from camp and had a wonderful time! Remember to weigh in tomorrow, Monday. I hope this was a good work for everyone and that the next week will be too. Larry~ Too funny on your weight posting of 100# less. That's what I call positive thinking! Joan

Hey Heather! Have you been attending a lap band support group? I think some therapy sessions would benefit you. I never can go 6 hours without hunger but am slowly losing. I wouldn't base getting a fill on your hunger at 6 hours. When is your next follow up appointment? It seems like you have had a lot to adjust to and maybe you just need a little time. I also burp a lot! Luckily it is without others noticing, lol. Hang in there, get back to basics and the weight will start coming off again! Joan

Welcome to The Freedom Challenge! This is a fun, motivating, stress free way to set personal goals for the month. Please complete the template below, weigh- in each Friday, July 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th. Larry wiil do our stats. THANKS Larry! I hope you join us, Joan Copy and Paste this template: Name, real or screen~ Age~ Weight on July1st~ Goal Weight for July 29th~ Exercise Goal for July~ Dietary Goal for July~ Personal Goal for July~ Date Banded~ Total Weight Loss Since Banding~

Name, real or screen~ Joan Age~ 50 Weight on August 1st~ 194.8 Goal Weight for August 29th~ 188 Exercise Goal for August~ at least 3X a week Dietary Goal for August~ don't buy my favorite ice cream for home Personal Goal for August~ walk in the open space once a week Date Banded~ 12/2/2010 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~ 31# I am leaving out of town today to a YMCA summer camp for a week. I work (camp nurse) and my son and his friend attend for free. I will not have internet access while I am away. Have a great week and I'll check back in next Saturday! Joan

Sometimes I'll have a shake or cottage cheese and apple sauce in the PM if I don't think I have had enough calories or protein for the day. Joan

Hello and TGIF! Joan weighing in at 193.4. Didn't meet my total weight loss for the month goal, I lost a total of 3.4# this month. I really think my new scale weighs a bit heavier than my old one did, really, lol! It looks like this was a pretty good month for most of us. I will post the August Challenge now. Hope to see you there! Joan

I think expecting to feel full is not a good indicator of the need to eat more or not. I don't feel full but more like a feeling of being done, that I have had enough to eat. I don't think I ever feel full like I did pre-band, my full signal is just not the same, LOL! Joan

I was having this same problem and spoke with the NP yesterday. She said to take Prilosec each day for 7-10 days, to have full liquids for a couple days and to limit spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol for a week. The Prilosec has made a HUGE difference. I haven't had any heartburn since I started taking it a couple days ago. She said the stomach lining in the pouch can become irritated and these changes can help it settle down. Good luck! Joan

I eat as much protein as I need to feel satisfied when I am having those hungry times. Joan

I eat from what is available at a party. I don't eat bread but will have a small amount of just about anything else. Last week we had a baked potato bar potluck at work. I ate 1/4 of a potato with cheese and bacon on it. A small serving of tossed salad and a small piece of cheesecake. I love watching everyone else shoving HUGE amounts of food into their mouths! Joan

Tomorrow is our last weigh in for the July challenge! Please join us for the August challenge, titled "The End of Summer Challenge" You can sign up tomorrow. I hope you were succesful meeting some or all of your goals this month! Joan

After the Prilosec last PM I still had a wicked cough while trying to sleep BUT no heartburn at all today. I spoke w/ the NP at my lap band center and she suggested I take the Prilosec daily for 7-10 days and that I go to full liquids for a few days as well as avoid caffeine, spicy foods and alcohol. Joan

I have had 2 deflates in the past few weeks and am currently at 5cc in a 10cc band. I am eating nice, small meals, my appetite is minimal and I am losing at a steady rate of 2# a week or so. I have been having heartburn off and on each day and coughing at night. I take TUMS several times a day and an acid reducer pill at night. Sometimes I need to sleep sitting up to control the cough and heartburn. Do you all think I need another deflate? I called my surgeon's office and someone will call me back in the AM. I am leaning towards another small deflate. Thanks for your input! Joan