topazz

Same here. I agree that if you don't have much of a weight loss to report, it gets awkward! I really don't like people asking how much because I don't need them keeping the tally in their heads of how much I have lost and trying to figure out how much I weigh!

Hi all! I was banded on Nov 11th and am down 50lbs. It's been a struggle since I have had 3 fills with very little restriction. This last fill has given me a bit of restiction, as I almost had a few stuck episodes, which I never had before. Luckily, everything went down fine, so I jsut have to really remmeber to chew, chew, chew!! So a lot of my loss has been will power, not the band! But I am feeling good. Now that the weather is finally turning warmer, I can get out and walk. It's funny how in the past week or so, so many people have asked if I lost weight or complimented me on how good look . No one really mentioned it at all before. Strange. But I am happy and trying to fight! Just hoping that I win!

Don't be hard on yourself! It's normal! We are training our minds to be stomach hungry, not head hungry. We areall trying to undo a habit that we have lived with so many years, and it just does not get undone in a day!! Trust me, at least once a month I go on a little binge. I have to admit I am not proud, but it's what I do, especially during that "time of the month". I don't gorge and eat a whole pizza, but I do have a chocolate bar, some chips or something I should not have. I find that if I eat around my "treat", then I eat everything else and eventually eat it anyway, thus really messing up! So if I can have my forbidden food once a month, so be it! It's okay! You'll just get back on track, and if it happens again, so be it! Dont be so hard on yourself! You are doing great!

What brands do you use for snacks? The PA at my dr's office said I could use these as a snack. But what should I look for? She mentioned Balance. Do any of you use these?? What should I look for in these bars??

What about Kelloggs Protein bars? They are 190 calories, 10 g of protein, and 25g of carbs. Too much?? The dietary exchages for this bar is Exchange: 1.5 carbohydrate, 1 fat, 1 lean protein.

I got an ID card when I registered with lapband.com. They sent me a printed card stating I have a lap band and it has my dr's name on it. I carry it in my wallet.

Mine is also under my ribs on the left side. I can feel it, but don't see it. It does not bother me. My dr said eventually it will become more noticeable. I don't really mind, It's not like I'll be running around in a bikini...

YAY!!! Congrats!!

This week, I have been complimented like crazy about how I have lost weight!! All of a sudden, BAM!! Everyone is saying something to me. It feels pretty good. However, I was not prepared for the compliments,. People are asking me what I am doing, and it never occurred to me to have an answer. I guess it is a like a dream come true that you are not ready for. I just tell people I cut carbs and eat very differently. But if feels good and is great incentive for me!!

Love this!! I'm in!!!

My dr recommends the Barilla Plus pasta.

This was part of my pre-op diet. Afterwards, I tried to mostly use the Protein shakes, but I still use it from time to time. I like the taste of it. Sometimes I add a scoop of nutella and a banana to make it more filling.

A flipped port is exactly what it means. The port lays flat so that the side that faces outside of the body is where they insert the fill. If it flips, that side faces inside the body and you cannot access it to put in the saline.

I agree! I actually just bought a few new bras, as I went down a band size. What a difference!! FYI, Spanx does a make a full body suit. Have it and like it!

Thanks for your suggestions. I wish I had saved my clothes. We have a small house, so not much storage. I ended up donating most of my old clothing. Kind of wishing I hadn't now! But in the end, I am glad I did for those could use it. My clothing sizes range also. On bottoms, I always got into 14/16 or 18/20's as long as the pants had stretch. I am lucky to have skinny legs. But my upper body is fat and boobs, so I was wearing a 26/28. Now, these days, I wonder what size I am??!!

I did consider Godwill and Consignment, but I feel guilty going there. It is more important for those less fortunate to go there if they need to rather than me, who can afford to go shopping. In these econcomical times, I feel that others may need those stores more than I do right now. SF, I agree with you. I also plan to buy some more snugger fitting clothes, in hopes they will fit down the road. That will definitely buy some time for me to wear them a little longer. I like crop pants a lot, and I can easily wear them until the fall, so I plan to get good time form those. In the meantime, I will do me best to catch sales. I like Kohl's a lot and they hav a great return policy, so if I need to return unworn clothing, I can get something else!

I am feeling a little frustrated myself these days. I have had my 2nd fill with 3 1/2 cc's in my band. I feel nothing at all. I feel like most of my loss is on will power alone. I pretty much anything I want. Sometimes I wonder if it was worth doing the band at all. I go back March 8th for a follow up and hoping they give my more that 1 1/2 cc's like they did the last time. Glad to see everyone here is doing well!!

Hey Jackie!! That is such great news!! Way to go!! You must feel amazing! I am hoping to be in your shoes one day! You know, I still have yet to go into a store to try on clothes. I have been doing online clothes shopping for a long time, as to avoid dealing with stores, and other people while trying on clothes. Maybe I'll set a goal for myself to get into the stores by the end of the summer in time for fall clothes shopping! Keep up the great work!

Yesterday I was thrilled that I lost 2 lbs! This morning I gained almost 4 lbs!!! I almost threw up!! I got on the scale 3 different times and it said the same thing! I did not eat anything I was not supposed to, and ate what I normally do eat!! How could this be? Very discouraged right now!! GRRR!!! Do you think it is because I am having these bathroom and gas pain issues, that I posted about a few days ago? I refuse to change my ticker, as I will fight tooth and nail to get this weight off!!

zen, that was last week!!

Thanks for the advice all. Yes, I am drinking a lot of Water, no less than my normal intake. But maybe with the issues I am having I am retaingin water. I don't know. My BM's are about every other day. As for exercising, I really do not get a chance to as much as I should between work and running after my son. Of course, I'll be obssessed and get on the scale tomorrow and see what is happening! I know I should do it once a week, but I can't help it! It's a sickness!!

RChavez, thanks for the advice. It seems that your issues are similar to mine!! It's a been a few days, and I have been taking the fiber 2x a day(Metamucil) with 2 Duclolax. My doc said to do this for about 10 days. I do feel better, but still feel a bit uncomfortable. Gas pains are mostly gone, but when I have to go, it does get painful. I already do, and always have, drink a lot of Water, but am trying to drink extra to flush out my system. I have to call my doc back after the 10 days and she'll let me know if or waht I have to take next steps. Oh, instead of doing the Metamucil, I wanted to switch to Vitafusion Fiber Gummies. It has the same amount of fiber as in the Metamucil. Could I just take those? I know I need to drink water with those too.

I don't know if anyone has had this, but I need help! I hope this makes sense.... Up until now, things have been fine since surgery. My only issue was bathroom issues, in that I find it hard to go, and when I do it is a struggle. Yesterday, I ate Soup for lunch, and within 10 minutes of finishing, I had excruciating gas pains in my lower abdomen just above the pubic area. I have taken Gas-X, Dulcolax, and Metamucil since yesterday and feel some relief, but still have a lot of pain. When I try to go, I feel horrible pain in the muscle I use when I try to go to the bathroom. Even if I try to relieve the gas, it is painful. I spoke with my surgeon's office and my primary doctor, and both say it is because I do not have enough Fiber in my diet. I drink a lot of Water, so that is not the issue. The surgeom's office assured me the lap band was fine, and they have heard of this happen. What do you think?? Any advice or similar stories???

That is amazing news!! What an incredible feat!! I hope I get to make this same post one day!! Probably not in a year, but hopefully one day! Good for you!!

I found these ideas online. I thought I'd share! *Toast a muffin, spread Laughing Cow cheese on it, add some lettuce, a tomato slice, and a couple slices of turkey bacon for a low point BLT. *put it in a bowl and get it nice and soft. Add in a tiny bit of brown sugar splenda and mix. Spread it on an english muffin or a bagel...It’s like sweetened cream cheese. *Put it in a bowl and add some chopped broccoli thats room temp and season to taste. Spread it on boneless skinless chicken breast that have been flattened. Roll up to resemble chicken cordon blu. seanson chicken and bake OR you roll in egg beaters and crushed garlic melba toast and bake for crispy baked chicken with broccoli and cheese filling..YUMMMYYYYY *steam cauliflower in microwave with small amount of ff chicken broth and garlic salt and pepper. Then add the lcl (flavored is great) and kind of mush it up. It is awesome for 1 point! *sliced open chicken breasts and stuffed them with mushrooms, spinach, and a wedge of garlic & herb laughing cow cheese. * Low-Fat Alfredo Sauce 12 Wedges Laughing Cow Light Cheese 2 Cups Skim Milk 2 Tablespoons Butter Bud Granules 1/4 Cup Kraft Reduced Fat Parmesan Style Grated Topping 1/4 teaspoon Garlic powder In a medium saucepan, combine all of the ingredients and cook over medium low heat until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Serve immediately. Serves: 9 (1/3 cup each) Per Serving: 85 Calories; 3g Fat (39.4% calories from fat); 5g Protein; 7g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; 16mg Cholesterol; 471mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain (Starch); 0 Non-Fat Milk; 0 Other Carbohydrates. Points: 2 *Crab Dip a few wedges of light laughing cow cheese mayo (i use the low fat kind) lemon juice garlic, pepper, salt articokes diced up onion parmasan cheese mix all together, scoop mixture into muffin tins, and sprinkle parmasan cheese on top, pop into 350 oven until tops are browned. *Cauliflower Cheese Soup 14 oz. fat free chicken broth 1 head of cauliflower, split into rough pieces 1/4 cup of minced onion or shallots 2 or 3 wedges of Laughing Cow cheese or 2 or 3 TBSP of low fat cream cheese 1 or 2 cups of fat free milk salt and pepper to taste Sauté onion in a Pam sprayed pot. When soft, add cauliflower chunks and broth. Simmer until cauliflower is soft. Remove from heat and in batches, blend in food processor with fat free milk and cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste. *Stuffed Mushrooms Serving Size : 16 3 cup mushrooms 12 wedges Laughing Cow Cheese — Light – Garlic & Herb flavored 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs Clean mushrooms and remove stems. Chop stems. Unwrap cheeses and place in microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute to soften. Combine crumbs, mushroom stems and cheese. Take spoonfuls and fill mushroom caps. Place mushroom caps filling side up on ungreased cookie sheet. Cook 20 minutes at 400 degrees Farenheit or until stuffing is lightly browned on top. Let cool, then serve. Mushrooms will be juicy. Source: WW Boards / Poster Unknown Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 55 Calories; 3g Fat (52.9% calories from fat); 2g Protein; 4g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; 11mg Cholesterol; 287mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 0 Vegetable; 0 Fat.