samomom

I'm 3 weeks post op, not losing a damn pound after the first 5 days and really frustrated. I lost somewhere between 9-11 pounds within the first week of surgery, but it has stopped dead for the past two weeks. I'm trying to be an optimist here and hope that once I get a fill next Tuesday that I'll turn the corner finally and start to lose some pounds. I'd like to not say that this was a f*&$% mistake each morning when I get on the $%^& scale. I ordered a new pair of ski pants and a vest from LL Bean today in sizes not seen on my body in years. I bought the pants in a large which they say is a 14-16 and I wear and 18 easily. I got the vest in an XL which they say is an 18, but it's fitted and I have boobs! I would have normally gone for a 2x and I boldly passed up even the 1X. Do you experienced banders think that I have a real chance of dropping a size by Christmas day? That is a little more than two months. I'm committed, I just hope the band does it's part too. I'm really looking for some positive stories here people. I have to have something to grasp besides sides of my scale which is about to be tossed out my damn window. My goal is to lose 25 pounds by Christmas. ( think happy thoughts, think happy thoughts!)

Yikes! First of all-what a douche bag for trying to talk you out of your choice of procedures. If you feel that he and the new doctor you are seeing aren't intelligent enough then you need to bail. Why the hell will the second doctor not give you a fill after 3 months. That is beyond rediculous. Why the feck did you get the band in the first place if the moron isn't gonna fill it?that's like giving someone a brand new set of flat tires on their car. Won't get you very far. Seems like doctor number two doesn't get it at all. Walk far away and don't look back. When I finally make the first consultation appointment in September, the first doctor I saw was a loser after 10 seconds. He is foreign born and trained and was like a damn used car salesman. He barely made eye contact and spewed facts about the band like he was reading a script. The last thing he said afer his whopping 5 minutes with me was "so, you wanna do it?" like he was looking to close the deal on a his used car. After speaking to the program director I flat out asked him if he would have a family member have surgery with this guy. He was silent. Then I asked who in Los Angeles was the best. He turned me on to another doctor in the practice that is one of the top in the country and has done over 1900 bands since 2001 when they were approved. I am very pleased so far with this doctor. Point being if you don't feel comfortable you don't have to stick with the guy. Its your body. I'm just still amazed that he won't give you a fill after 3 months.

Yeah, I know I have to stay away from the scale. My husband is bugging me about it, the program director told me too. Its just so damn hard to stay away. I won't get on it this week. I promise!

Right now all you need to focus on is hydration. If you stay hydrated this week you will be fine. My doctor said not to stress about anything else until I was ready to down those shakes.

Thanks for the positive stories. While the scale of doom says I'm not doing anything but staying idle, my shorts and pants are loose which is such a great feeling. I was thinking that I should wait to order the clothes in a month or so, but they will be sold out and I want to look at what I need to fit into everyday before Christmas so I can have that extra motivation. It will be so nice not to be as big as a snowman coming down the slopes.

You sound like what I felt like about the same time. The bloating was not fun and the going no where gas just sucked, but it will go away. I'm 3 weeks post op today and I feel totally normal. You might want to try some GasX chewables.

I think the recommendation for everyone is only 25 grams a day. If you can't eat it then buy some Benefiber and add it to your food. It's great because it is a soluble fiber which gels in your stomach but doesn't expand and it is the kind of fiber that absorbs cholesterol so that your body doesn't. It has no taste or grit. a teaspoon in some water, apple sauce, or whatever you are cooking will give you about 5-6 grams. Do that twice a day and your body will thank you.

Yes, but the major difference is that this is in a squeeze bottle and you don't have to roll your head around to get it to work. The pressure of the Water goes much further to get more stuff out of you and is much more effective. I could never understand how the Netti pot was that useful because there is no pressure or decent flow. There is less chance of you getting the water trapped in your ears as well.

Here is my experience with allergies/sinus infections via my 7 year old son. He has major dust mite allergies and gets a sinus infection way too easily. 3 years ago he had 5 antibiotic prescriptions in 4 months to try to get rid of the crap trapped in his sinuses. Finally his doctor said enough meds and had him start with the NeilMed Sinus Rinse. What a freakin lifesaver that has been. After months of useless antibiotics we finally got some physical relief of the problem and literally washed the infected gunk right out of his head. You literally wash out the nasty green mucus and clear the infection out. No nose blowing can get to where the rinse goes. Now when he starts with the snuffling, I go right to the rinse. He hasn't had an antibiotic for an infection in 3 years now. To keep his allergies at bay, we rinse once a week as a preventative measure and do Veramyst nose spray. This is to mitigate the dust mites that you can't ever fight. If we don't keep ahead of them the mucus drains into his chest and makes him cough like mad. Whay do I tell you this? If you know that you are prone to sinus infections and/or have allergies the NeilMed rinse is really a great product to use. I use it my self if I am feeling like my allergies are acting up or I have been around a ton of dust. If you live in a dry winter climate, the best thing you can do is keep your sinuses moist and this will get where no other nose spray can go. I promise if you use it often enough you will cut down on the amount or duration of sinus infections. The rinse is just a simple solution of sea salt and baking soda to make the Water a neutral ph so when you rinse it doesn't burn like pool water. Secondly, the day I had surgery three weeks ago, the awesome nurse I had told me to take some Claratin for nausea. Huh? I though she was nuts, but she said that people who have the band are more suseptable to stomach irritation from mucus draining down to their stomach for some reason. She said that people who don't even know they have post nasal drip from allergies find out the hard way. You can even throw up from the mucus. She had a friend who had a bypass a few years ago who was throwing up and in major pain. They thought the surgery went wrong so she was readmitted one week after surgery and had every test done to see what the cause was. After days of testing they finally told her she had allergies and major post nasal drip that was irritating her stomach so badly that she was throwing up tat much. She took antihistamines and was fine after that. You can find the NeilMed Bottle and packets of rinse solution at most every drug store, Target, etc. It runs around $11.99. Google the company if you want to see what it's all about. I tell everyone who will listen because it really has made such a huge difference in my son's life. I swear I don't own stock in the company!!

Not to be down on you because I don't your your situation, but eating pizza this soon after surgery, let alone 5 slices is not good on many levels. You are supposed to be eating soft foods, mostly Protein and low fat. I couldn't possibly eat 5 slices on a bad day before I was banded. You could really do some damage to your stomach if you are filling it that full epecially with bread. I can't imagine that your doctor would be happy with that for many reasons. I'm not sure if you had any type of consultation with a nutritionist and psychologist pre surgery, but I think you need to talk to someone so they can set you straight as to why you needed the band in the first place and how you now need to work with it. I have been on this board for about 3 weeks now and will be three weeks post op on Tuesday. I know we all come from different backgrounds and have different and similar issues with food. Some of the posts I have read make me sad, confused and left me shaking my head. I don't understand why some people are going straight back to the food that made them so overweight in the first place and then complain about not losing weight. I have a feeling that some people never got told by their doctor that having a band doesn't mean that you can still go McDonald's and just have the Big Mac now and not the Coke and fries. That isn't what this band is for. You have to cut out the junk food, especially the quantity, and realize that you must make a total lifestyle change. Now it's all about healthy foods in small quantities. Please get some help from your doctor to understand the band. I'm not trying to put you down. The mom in me wants you to do this right. We are all in this for the long haul and somewhere along the line we all faulter. I'm no better than anyone else, but I am taking this as serious as a freakin heart attack. My health is more important that food.

You got that right. The stall is absolutely demoralizing and has had me crying off and on for the past 5 hours. I feel like such a f'ing failure right now. How the hell can a body not lose a single fecking ounce when it's been so calorie restricted. I'm giving up on eating. I have had a whopping 55 calories today and I can not bring myself to eat a single bite of food for lunch. I open the freezer to get a veggie chicken patty and just start to cry again. I'm thinking that maybe should have chosen anorexia over this. Its free, less painful and you don't have to worry about food choices. I don't even know if I should bother with getting my first fill. I'm not eating anything anyways and I'm haven't been hungry since surgery except for one afternoon. Back to Macy's I go to return the clothes I had hoped to fit into soon. I regret telling as many people as I did about the surgery. I have them asking how I am doing. Its pathetic to tell them that nothing has happened in two weeks. Then they just give me the look and say " Oh". How embarrassing is that!

I am 16 days post op. I lost 10 pounds in the two days prior to and 5 days after surgery and now I'm stuck. The scale won't budge one centimeter. It has been 11 days with absolutely no loss. I'm no longer swollen, I'm eating very small amounts of Protein and still doing a shake each day to get the 60-80 grams in. I AM NOT cheating with any foods. I am eating turkey, tomato Soup, chicken breast, tuna, tofu, light cheese and hard boiled eggs. I estimate that I am eating maybe 700-900 calories a day. I think my body is in starvation mode and wants to retain every little bit of energy I put into it. Should I throw in another 200-300 calories to give my body a break? I realize that this is a slow process, not something I need to rush. My thoughs are this-if I am putting about 1/4 of the calories into my body than I used to, then physically my body has to be using fat for enegry. My shorts and pants are loose which I know is true fat loss and not just fluids. I get that your body does weird things like shed fat, but not pounds just to annoy us. I'd love to hear from those of you further along this process. At what point did you really start to see the scale move at a decent pace?

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm not known for my patience! I was hoping for even a pound or two down just to give me that extra bit of hope. I feel tired all the time and I know my body is lacking in something to keep me alert, but I don't know what to do. I'm taking vitamins, B supplements, calcium and I'm very hydrated. I would think that my body would be content and was to get rid of some more fat, but alas it does not. I guess it's hard to evict a long time resident. I suppose I need to focus on my mid range goal of another 25 pounds by Christmas Day when we leave for a week of skiing and I have to fit into a new pair of ski pants that I bought a size too small. That is my main focus. My old ski pants aren't flattering, the new ones make my ass look good! Now if they'd just fit around my waist. Perspective- keep everything in perspective. I think I'll go out and get a manicure and go shopping today. I'm treating myself for the past two weeks that I have done well. I did lose 11 pounds after all. Better than gaining.

One of the women who works at my doctors office weighed nearly 600 pounds before she was banded. She said that she has lost 300 pounds in 2 1/2 years. She told me that it is a slow process when you have a lot to lose. Your body has done well so far. I bet if you got a really good exercise program that you stick with and speak to a nutritionist you can get on track to lose another 100 in a year.

I'm 15 days post op. So far I have eaten hard boiled eggs, thin sliced turkey, tofu, cheese, 1 shrimp, Muscle Milk chocolate shakes, refried Beans and a spoonful of Peanut Butter. I ate the peanut butter tonight for some calories, fat and a little more Protein. I was doing the 42 gram protein shots, but those were getting old. If you can stomach them, I think you will be better off. That is more than half of your daily protein right there plus 180 calories. Give yourself a few more days and I bet your stomach will heal up and you wil get an appetite. It's a crazy concept for us to nee dmore calories isn't it!

You should try this probiotic called Culturelle. It's easily found at a drug store or Drugstore.com. It's cheaper online there. What this product does is restore healthy bacteria in your intestine to keep you regular and over the long term it boosts your immune system. My daughter had toddler diarrhea and her gastrointerologist told me to give it to her. It's not some snake oil homeopathic junk. This is trusted by medical doctors. It really works. I am taking it daily now to make sure my intestines healthy and to boost my immune system since I am eating so much less. It comes in capsule form and if you can't swallow, you can just open up the capsule and sprinkle the powder on cold food or drinks. It has no flavor.

You just get some sleep and chill for the next few days. I cried the night of surgery and told my husband that I made a huge mistake. 11 pounds and two weeks later with my shorts sliding off my hips and I'm doing just fine. You will feel better by next Tuesday.

Deep breath..........Restart your whole way of thinking about food. You should be glad that your husband noticed so you have someone to be accountable to. You really should consider some therapy to help you deal with your emotions towards food. We all have our demons when it comes to food or none of would be where we are today. Consider therapy as a part of the total treatment. Too many people consider mental health as a taboo subject and think that they don't need help. It is just one aspect of your goal towards skinny!!! Call your doctor and ask for a list of therapists to talk to. You will feel so much better.

Oh honey, you didn't lose 101 pounds, you got rid of them. You can find things you have lost. When you get rid of something it's like throwing it in the trash never to return. I am so happy for you! I think I am aiming for 100 pound total. I started at 236 and I'm 5'5, so I think I can get to 136. I'm giving myself 1 year to do it. I hope I can be as successful as you have been. Clothes shopping must be awesome.

Yes, but not like others have fessed up to. I am too afraid of screwing up my stomach this early on to blow it with regular foods. I ate hard boiled egg, a tiny, tiny bit of rice in tomato soup which my body didn't process....I'll leave it at that. When I told my doctor yesterday at my two week post op visit he wasn't too bothered, but he is strict about the next two weeks of soft foods with a huge no no towards any starches. I can't eat any Pasta, rice, bread, potatoes for the next year. Right now I am on lots of soft Proteins. I just ate a tiny piece of organic beef meatloaf that had all of these great vegetable purees mixed in. I never would have known had I not actually read the label on the container. I am glad that I am getting some vegetables in because I can't stomach the thought of eating a mushed up pureed vegetable on its own. I like my veggies raw or cooked so they still have texture and a good bite to them. I washed that down with some baby food apples and apricots with added Fiber. Yum yum! One meal at a time,one day at a time.

Yeah, but for the next two weeks he doesn't want me eating foods like broccoli. Just soft foods and the fruit is ok with him. I added the Benefiber to up my Fiber intake. 70 calories and 19 grams of carbs is minimal.

So this guy is just going to send you straight to surgery with no diagnostic imaging?!! What a loser. Go somewhere else. Call around for a general GI surgeon.

That's right. No carbs for a year. No veggies that are grown under ground so no potatoes, carrots(rarely), sweet potatoes, etc. Can't eat bread, Pasta or rice. He is strict, but he is also very successful with his patients. With over 1900 bands placed, I think he is probably on to something. Will I slip, sure, but I didn't risk life and limb during surgery to blow this. It will suck big time, but honestly, these past two weeks with virtually no carbs has been so much easier than I could have ever imagined. I ate carbs like a crack addict smoked his rocks. Without the daily carb crashes I feel great. I have a major sugar aversion right now which is from not eating any. I am happy happy!! One day at a time is how I'll approach this.

I am two weeks post op today. I have been eating hard boiled eggs, sliced turkey, tuna, sesame tofu sticks from Whole Foods deli, Morningstar Farms veggie chicken patty, cheese (Laughing Cow, Havarti, Cheddar), hummus, and shakes. I have been doing a lot of shopping at Whole Foods lately for a variety of reasons. Mainly because it's preservative free and mostly organic which is really important to me because I'm am eating so much less so every bit that passes my lips is super important. You can find a lot of tofu and soy based foods that will change up the borning line up of regular foods. Check out the deli section. They have some great tuna and chicken salads, tofu and other veggie Protein salads and meatloafs(turkey, beef and vegan). If you like Indian food, paneer is a cubed cheese is a really yummy sauce that is a little higher on the fat, but huge on flavor and good protein. I bought three packets at Whole Foods. It's easy to microwave. I'm also making chicken curry with breast meat and slow cooking it so the meat is really tender. It will be hard to eat without my beloved basmati rice, but I can do it. You can cook any kind of chicken in your favorite sauce in a crock pot or on the stove with some veggies. It will be tender and easy on the stomach. The next thing I want to try is some filet mignon. I know, expensive, but worth it. I buy it at costco and it's $5.99 a pound which is cheap! I think next week I'll make my favorite Vietnamese dish called Shaking Beef. It is super tender because it is sliced really thin and stir fried. If you need a good Asian food fix, google Shaking Beef for a super awesome dish. I think that a good pulled pork and beef brisket would be gentle on the stomach as well. I may try some next week once I'm back in the swing of eating. Good luck!

I'm 14 days post op and just saw my doctor this morning. I was on a two week liquid diet and now I'm on soft foods. One thing that he is very strict with is carbs. None, ziltch, nada for a whole year! Yes, a whole year no carbs. He said it will stop up the band, get stuck, make your blood sugar spike and stall weight loss. He did say I could have refried Beans provided that they are fat free and mashed well and lentils. Those are really high Fiber healthy carbs, but I can only have them occasionally. You might want to cut out the potatoes right away. I'm not a fan of this no carb rule being that I am a carb whore!! I love them. I like to say that I'm not fat, it's just the Pasta you're seeing. Carbs will sabotage your weight loss. Keep eating more Protein and drink a shake. The shakes will fill your stomach and give you even more protein. I'm sure you are sick of the shakes like the rest of us, but they give you a good bang for your buck. Even drink some milk. My doctor told me straight up that the next two weeks I'll be hungry so I know I have to deal with it. Today I ate very thinly sliced turkey, tofu, a tiny bit of meatloaf, and one bite of fish. I also had two jars of baby food fruit. I added some Benefiber to the fruit since my body has been virtually fiber free for two weeks. I found that I was eating out of bordem a few times today so I have to be super diligent and keep busy so I don't slip into my bad habits again. Hang in there, take it hour by hour, day by day. I'm reminding myself that this is a slow process so I have to foucs.