rejuvinated

Not sure if my first response posted so I'll try again. The book has been a boon to my weight loss and motivation. It gives a great explaination on how the band works, and gives amounts and lists of foods to pick from, something I have desperately needed. It's a great reference book

Thanks and I have a great phone app.. My net diary. I can track everything I eat , see how many calories, most importantly protein , an exercise log and calories expended. I love plus all the tips it gives you for motivation and charting your weight loss

Darn the auto correct. Communicate with your spouse!

Meant to say got great inspiration from a message recently. And also meant to say I Greg shaky when I don't get enough protein

I can empathize with some of your weight loss discouragements. I've had a lot of physical, health issues and as a result couldn't follow the plan for food intake or exercise. The weight has crept back on. I'm looking for a job and find myself snacking and after foot surgery I haven't been able to exercise. Got bronchitis, then the flu , then CDiff from too many antibiotics, and then had the surgery. Finally after 3 months of no fluid in the band I got a 2cc fill ( previously ha 9cc in a 10cc band and have never felt full after a meal. That has been s very disappointing part of this band surgery, but something I just have to deal with. Coil use a little more fluid in the band but am holding off because I am self-pay. I got remote stead reading a very inspirational message on this site and found a great weight loss app. I journal EVERYTHING I eat. What a difference this maks for me. I can check how much protein I've had and add something low cal but high in protein. All fish is high so I may have a small can of tuna if I'm starving. For me that's my cue that I need more protein. I keep telling myself mostly what I feel is head hunger and unless I am beginning to have the shaky gingers, I keep myself busy and drink a lot of fluids or have fruit. It's amazing that since I'm tracking what I eat I'm eating much fewer calories and more protein. I get my stitches put tomorrow and can start back at the pool and gym. I think Medicaid covers lap bands. I've had several clients that had the surgery with Medicaid. Being self pay, I have to evaluate quickly whether my band had enough fluid . I pay $100 each fill, and am allowed 2 weeks' range to see if I need another one of if I need dome removed. Raising 3 kids is overwhelming. A husband on disability( mental or physical?) is a real challenge. Honest immunization with him to be more helpful with the kids, housework , and support you emotionally would probably be very helpful. His self esteem and confidence have probably been affected by the disability. If you can 't encourage him to get some help , you can take care of you. Journal your food, if you can't afford the gym , walking is great for 2 reasons : you find time alone to be out in nature, and you lose weight. I hope I don 't come across as preaching to you. Remember , in every situation? There are choices we can make. We have no control over other people, places or things, but we do have control and the choice in how to respond to them. Stay in touch. I care about what you 're going through. By the way, I'm with you on the smoking and am planning to quit today. Just can 't afford the price anymore, financially and health wise .

Remarkable story and I know you sent this for me. Banded 3 yrs ago, and it is a daily struggle to follow a diet plan and amounts to find the foods that will give me the proteins I need. Please, share with me what a typical days menus is for you, your favorite high protein choices, and do you still use the protein powder in between meals?

Thanks.Having trouble finding high protein items. How or where do you get your ideas for meals from?

Amazing story and bot did it motivate me. I'm so sorry for your losses but also so appreciative that you took the time to share your story. I'm curious.. How many calories do you eat a day? I was never instructed to count calories, but rather grams of protein

You're going to do great. It's a pretty quick surgery. Folllow the dr's orders and walk, walk, walk, to get rid of the gas in your abdomen and to just get you moving again. You'll be in my thoughts and prayers. You have made a life-changing decision

I can relate. Never felt I was only able toeat a small amount. After too many fills, resulting for me in esophageal erosion from too much throwing up( I really sabotaged the use of the band) I had all the fluid removed for 3 months and then started over. Now I have only 2 1/2 cc fluid instead of 9! I've accepted I will never feel full( unless I overeat), and accepted that the band is only a tool to weight loss. Now I'm really trying to deal with getting 20gm protein in a small amount at each meal and exercising more. I realized there is mo easy way out of obesity. I didn't gain this weight over a few months, but from living to eat , instead of eating to live. Changing my way of thing about food has been my biggest challenge along with getting the protein. Best of luck to you. I was banded in 2010, lost 40 lbs quickly then gained almost all of it back. This time I'm trying to stay focused on the lifetime changes

What is plication? Apparently it wasn't an option when my band was done

I have sad to say, tried all those programs and they didn't work because I sabotaged all of them. After all I'm a compulsive over eater! I'm trying really hard to eat only 1/2 C but my big question for anyone is please tell me how you get 20 gm protein in 1/2 c portions. Greek yogurt is about 15gm but when we can only eat 1/2 cup, we only get 7gm. Now I've eaten 1/2 cup of yogurt and shouldn't eat anymore for this meal so now how do I get 13 more gms needed for this meal. I'm really stumped. Any suggestions for what you all eat would be a big help, because I'm really frustrated.

You are very lucky to have an insurance company approve your surgery at a young age. You have a really healthy and beautiful life aheadand with probably a greatly improved self worth as you lose your pounds. The gas pains from the surgery were my only problem. Follow exactly as your medical team instruct you. Don't try to "eat whatever you want in spite of the band". I did and wasted 2 years of weight loss and reaching a goal. Stay in touch with the forum. You will get some great support.

I am so sorry you had such an inexcusable injury during anesthesia. You can get your medical records , copy anything you need from the surgery and see a lawyer. The anesthesiologist should have seen you prior to surgery. I'd follow up on this closely as well you know. I hope your voice returns and I remember the dinger Julie Andrews had a similar problem in surgery and had complications with not being able to sing for years

I know how you feel. After almost two years and many band fills I still never felt full and could still eat anything I wanted. Discouraged. Then I had all the fluid removed and a few months later the first full was put back. 4cc ...I could only eat yogurt and liquids. Now with only 2 1/2 cc in I feel so different this time around. I eat only a half cup, and am not hungry for several hours. What a great feeling.

I had the same fear, mostly that the surgery would have complications. I was self-pay because my insurance company does not pay for any type of obesity surgery and that was a lot of money to have saved. The surgery went well, the program didn't and that's because I sabotaged it after losing 40 lbs in 3 months. I then thought I could eat "in spite of the band" and believe me it only cause many problems...throwing up, pain in the stomach, tight bands. I thought I could never find the 'sweet spot" people speak of. I ended up over 3 years having 9cc in my band and still never feeling full. Then, after the flu and taking too much Ibuprophen for body aching , I developed esophageal and stomach ulcers and all the fluid had to be remove to heal the stomach. Now many months later I 've had one fill 2 1/2 cc, and I'm starting over. I had to really listen to my stomach , not my head hunger. I've joined Overeaters Anonymous and understand where the real reason for the need to eat came from. I'm following my diet, exercising and losing weight. Do exactly what your medical team tells you. The band is only a tool, we have to vigilantly do the leg work. Trying to get a minimum of 20 gm of Protein in at each meal and only eating 1/2 a cup of food is a real challenge for me. The rest is doable and I'm so glad I had it done.

Here in Richmond, VA self-pay has to pay $100 for a fill in the office and $200 extra if it's done under Flouroscopy St St mary's Hospital

thanks for the helpful sites

Would love to talk to the person from Richmond, Va. I'm still having difficulty trying to get all my protein in in just 1/2 cup increments, and would love some suggestions. I'm also from Richmond. Who did your surgery and how did it go?

Think I may also be lactose intolerant. Glad you're feeling a little better. Can anyone tell me a legitimate website for protein, calorie amounts of food. I'm having difficulty trying to reach my 20 gms protein in only 1/2 servings. Is there a good list that anyone uses? Also how can I get a weight tracker like the ones I've seen in the Forum?

Hello , I'm new to this forum but wanted to respond to your physical discomfort. I'm so sorry you experienced an Ilius. When I was banded in April 2010 I had no surgical pain but I had so much pain from being bloated that I can identify with what you are going through. Your discomfort is due to the gas use to inflate your abdomen during surgery, since it was done Laproscopically, as I sure you already know. It took a little over 3 weeks to be reabsorbed into my system and I still remember the pain under my rib cage. I did what was instructed, and walked constantly, first around my house, and then slowly outside. Walking prevents blood clots in your legs for instance, but also helps move the gas through the circulatory system as it becomes reabsorbed. I feel you are over the worst of it by now and I wish you the best of luck on your weight loss journey.

At 61 years old, I had the Lap Band procedure 3 years ago and initially lost 40 pounds. Honestly, trying to get the protein gms I need to have in a day in only 1/2 c servings per meal, was extremely frustrating. Initially, I attended all the hospital's support groups here in Richmond,VA and did regular exercise.However I never reached that 'sweet spot" I have heard happens. Then my medical health problems flared up and I was in constant pain from Arthritis and Fibromyalgia and became quickly discouraged. I also, learned how to "eat around the band", or in other words badly sabotaged the efforts I had made. Needless to say, I regained 20 lbs. A few months ago, I had to have all the fluid removed from my band due to esophageal and stomach ulcers( I was never instructed not to ever take NSAIDS), and was pretty discouraged, when I came across The Big Book on the Lap Band . I only wish I had had the book before I ever had the surgery. It has been a life-saver for me. I finally understand. It will work but I have to do the leg work, and keep the intake at 1/2C. Today I just got another fill. I'm at 2 1/2 cc. A far cry from the 9cc I had in before( and could still eat anything)! I had unwittingly stretched my band before. This time, it's like I just had the surgery. Instead of chastising myself for so much wasted time, I'm thrilled to have a great book to follow for FAQ's, recipes, and encouragement. I'm now back in the pool, measuring everything I eat, going to Over Eaters Anonymous(hey we're all compulsive eaters on this site or we wouldn't either had the surgery or are thinking about having it) , and the hospital support group.I 'm really looking forward to the new book being published.

I noticed it's been quite awhile since you were banded. Did you ever get filled to the point that you didn't feel hungry 1 1/2 hrs. after eating a meal?. I was banded 4 months ago, have had 4 fills and am just this week feeling hopeful that the surgery worked. I'm trying really hard to only eat solid food with a yogurt and protein powder 3 hrs later to hold me over. I starting to lose again.