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Hey doodlebug11, how are you? I am 9 days out from having my bad placed. The pre Op diet is not fun but I am making it through fine. Since my surgeon has me on a strict liquid diet, I have learned creative ways with little. I added some spicy V8 to my broth and called it dinner. Jello has become my lunch and I sip water tainted with the liquid Protein bullets all day long. I feel good now but the first week was tough. Looking forward the banding on March 25th- Ligheterload

I wish these things were so limited in space....maybe we need to use the private message option, there is no limit! Try not to worry about the fill. I know every doctor does it somewhat differently, but I am sure he will use a local to anesthetize the skin area. Just don't watch while it is happening and you should be okay! So you are watching videos on youtube on fills?! Who knew! ha ha! Since taking it easy and resting, my port is much better. I can feel mine too, but not as much as I thought. They used a low profile port on me, so maybe that's why. I hope you have a great week and can't wait to hear more about how you are doing!!

Take care,

Shelley

Hi Sommer,

Dr's appt went well. One of my incisions needed draining,but otherwise good. He said I could start mushies! I told him about the potatoes and he said, good that as long as I can tolerate it, try new stuff out and find what works. I have done well on real food and feel 100% better! I only drink about protein shake a day now. Yuk! I did get some good vitamins and that has helped too. The swelling has down alot, but sometimes I still prefer to keep my pants off of my belly area! I hope that gets better, the low rider is getting crazy! ha ha! How did your appointment go? Can't wait to hear. : )~

Wow that's good! So I weighed myself this morning and I'm back down to 226.4 So that brings me back to my 21lbs loss. Let's see If I can actually keep it off now. As for your little cheat, refried beans were your protein, the quacamole was your veggie/fruit (avacados are fruits right lol) and sour cream is dairy...so as I see it you were staying within the four food groups he he... (thats how you justify it lol). Ikow that I shouldn't be rushing this but I want to be at my sweet spot now. I hate that I'm able to eat more now. I'm so impatient. lol. Did you have a good weekend?

i think i am actually steady at 20 lbs lost now i think the reason why is because i did make sure i got more protein, and the treadmill has helped. but i bet as i progress onto more solid food some weight will come back. plus, i cheated (a little). i ate some refried beans but w/ guacamole n sour cream ahh well, what ya gonna do? lol

The pre-op diet/fast with 20 grs of protein is to shrink and defat the liver. Shrinking the liver helps make the stomach more accessable for banding.

I'm home from the hospital. All went well, but I had a liver biopsy done at the same time as the LapBand, so right now I feel like someone stomped on my stomach. I have Hepatitis C, and being right there to place the LapBand provided an opportunity to get some real-time photos of my liver.

JB

I choose not to tell my family/friends either until after I had the procedure. I just didn't want to hear anyone say "You don't need the band." Although I was in the 230s and wore sz18, I looked smaller. I knew in my heart of heart that I needed to do something drastic to loose the weight and I knew the lapband was a viable option for me. Plus, I had the support of my husband and that was all that mattered.

You have to know what's best for you and go for it. It's been almost 2 months since I was banded. I've lost 18 lbs. I feel great. I'm soooooooooo happy with my decision. Wishing you all the best.

Dionne

I'm moving on to the mushy stage and the only suggestion I've had for vegetables was for green beans, and I hate green beans. Does anyone know of another option?

sounds like you're doing well. i'm good... i went to the movie tonight with a friend and about half way into the movie, i got a pain in my shoulder that would not go away until i was home and laying down again... i wonder if some of my sitting pain is due to the fact that i'm so short? who knows... i'm really doing good other than random pains.

i still have to remind myself to eat, i have always had the problem of waiting until i'm starving to eat... like today, even though i got up and moving around 8 am, i didn't have my first protein shake or anything to eat until 4 pm... why i wait, is beyond me. i guess i will need to make an appointment with the nutritionist.

anyway, glad you have the extra time off, my 2 week follow up is the 13th also, but i'm scheduled to go back to work on the 14th. we'll see if i'm ready or not! :-)

have a great day!

Thanks!!!! I really try to watch what I eat. I log all my food in sparkpeople.com. I eat very little the week after a fill and then as my restriction goes away, I start to eat more. I get fills every month and that works for me. I usually eat coffee and sf creamer for breakfast and some light/ff yogurt. Lunch is cottage cheese, some deli sliced turkey meat and some fruit. Dinner is a lean cuisine or some type of protein and veggies--think fish or chicken. I don't eat sweets and I try to keep it low carb/low fat/high protein. I also work out 3-6 times per week doing at least 30 min of cardio on the elliptical machine and doing strength training on the weights 2-3 times per week. I've lost 68 pounds since the pre-op diet and surgery on December 1st, 2008. Let me know if I can answer any questions and good luck. You're doing great!

:scared2:I am having the surgery on April 10, 2009. A hair loss is one of my issues too. I was told to make sure I get in my 70 to 80 grams of protein and I will be okay.

MyMy,

Hey I have the guidelines posted in my blog. You can find it Here. My Bandster Guidelines..... - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum

Liquid caloried just run right through the band. If you eat solid food you stay satisfied longer without being hungry. That is how the band worked. That is why you should drink with your meals. It washes the food out of the pouch and you hungry faster. You should wait at least 30 minutes before you drink. I started getting lazy with that rule and I noticed that my hunger was coming much sooner. I will occasionally have a protein drink for a snack to tide me over an hour or so until supper. It is very rare that I have a protein drink and I can expect to be hungery in a few hours.

Food early in the moring gets your metabolism started early in the day.

Hang in there and you might need a fill. Just listen to your stomach to find out. Some days are just harder than others.

He actually told me something completely different than the instructions. Nikki or Rachel (can't remember which one) told me to just follow the instructions. So for the day of surgery, it was just clear liquids. Day 1-4 was broth, jello, tomato juice, milk, cofee.. I think on the second full day he said to add protein shakes back in. Day 5-14 will be mushies/pureed..anything through a straw basically. I think after that 14 days, you can start introducing soft foods first, and then solids. To be honest it was hard to even think about drinking anything the day of and the next 2 days after that. So tomorrow I get to start mushies. Yogurts, puddings, creamy soups, pureed foods. I am supposed to go back to work on Monday. I sit at a desk all day, so hopefully over the weekend I will feel even better. How is your pre-op going? Are you self-pay or did you have insurance? Rachel

I'm sitting at 146-150... I definitely the food issues... I eat normally malt o meal, poptarts or dry cereal for bkfast. Lunch is normally rolled up lunch meat with spicy mustard and cheese. Dinner is anything really... My husband travels so if he's not home I don't cook unless I have to. It is normally something easy for my kids... I eat protein bars or yogurt bars during snack time. I'm one of those rare people that eat 6 meals a day. I eat about every two to three hours. I was working out five days a week and have really slacked off this past month with the holidays going on. Now it's hard to get motivated to get back in gear. I'm losing a lot of my muscle and my skin is starting to sag really bad... so I've been trying here lately to at least get my protein in! That's probably why I'm stuck right now!

I'm not great! I'm stuck! I cant lose anything right now. I have gone back to doing protein shakes twice a day and nothing! Absolutely nothing! I want to scream...... seriously!

Hi. No, not banded until possibly mid-March. My last consultation is on January 21st. Trying to work on portion control now so it's not a shock to my body. LOL! I'm also trying to wrap my head around the pre-op and post-op liquid phases...whoah! All in all, I'm excited and inching toward getting ready for this change. I'm ready to use this tool to help get my health back in order.

Off to make my protein shake now. I try to have one of those a couple of mornings a week to get me going! Blessings to your day and thanks for being an inspiration on this journey!

I have been getting all the protein and fluids I need, if not more. I have two protein supplements a day. One can of soup at hand, two sugar free puddings, and a sugar free jello and fudgcicle. I am definitely pigging out! I am getting about 800 calories a day. I need to walk more. I really appreciate your prayers! That is so sweet of you! I had my surgery on the 28th, 6 days ago. I do feel a bit better each day. I am making the blues go away!

I go back to work on Monday. Thank you for all the support!!!

How is your protein intake and your fluids. Those were both key in my recovery. You should be getting 60-80 grams of protein a day and 64 oz of fluids. I had to force myself and sometimes still do. Also, I walk and walk and walk. I walked every day, outside, and still am. I'd say after about 10 days I was better, blueswise. Now I'm almost normal 16 days out. I forget, when was your surgery? How long ago? Not too long, if I recall. I layed around alot and watched dvds. Let me know how you are and I'll pray some more. Can't hurt. Take care. Hugs to you...

part 2

I'll keep losing because its not even close to the calories I used to take in & this just keeps me tied over. I'm in no race to lose weight, I'm trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. So if it doesn't melt off like Dr.Oh wants it too, I'm ok with that. I want to do this healthy. And his crash diet is so not that. I guess he has a poor reputation w/nutrionists in the area because he's not concerned w/nutrion, just weight loss. That can be dangerous. I found out his "nutrionists" at St. Francis aren't all certified, they are ex-patients of his. =O I know right! So be careful how far you take this liquid thing. Use your best judgement. But don't eat any meats!! Or even fish yet! Soft soft foods only. You don't want you stomach working hard to digest foods or the band can slip. Eat as much protein in fat free greek yogurts & fat free cottage cheese. It might help you feel human again.

Part 2

And I did it again yesterday. LOL I've got to get things done for my household and it drives me crazy no to. But I promised I'd take it easy the rest of the week.

So I've been eatting little bits, this a.m. I had 1 egg & 1 small piece of toast w/low fat p.butter. That was 10g of protein right there. I just chew chew chew. We're not "restricted" right now so we can eat. Just be careful that it's not more than 1/4 cup at one time and as low fat & low calorie as possible. I had such a great meeting with my nutrionist, she helped me realize I can do this on my own, it will be really hard but I only have 3 weeks until my 1st fill. I too am trying to get my protein from food and not just the protein shakes. Today I'm going to make it a big effort.

I'm sorry you don't like yogurt/cottage chesse. That could give you a lot of protein! Try mixing your shakes with almond milk. Freeze some almond milk that way you make a small smoothie w/protein to get 20g when you can't eat it.

Good for you as well! I go for my first fill on the 30th of December! Hope i can make it through the holidays without gaining any. I really have no cravings. I am however finding it very difficult to get all my protein in during the day. I know this is a learing process so i should be more patient. From what i have heard, it seems that the first fill will not provide a lot of restriction for very long. It seems that maybe the 3 or so fill is when we will really see the weight come off. Who knows only time will tell. Merry Christmas and a VERY Happy New Year to you and your new body!!!!!

Hi happy2lose I see you where banded 4 days after me and are doing so well. Can you give me some good protein ideas (meats) what do you eat daily

Thanks for the words of encouragement! I have found that if I get the unflavored protein powder(I love Unjury) I can put it in soup, mashed potatoes,yogurt etc.It has absolutely no taste and I know that I am getting the protein that I am missing from the foods I can eat. We are all in this together...If I can offer help and support to you say the word!

Salty1986

Hey, generally for breakfast I make sure to focus on my protein whether it be a boiled egg, a protein shake (I have an AWESOME recipe if you want it), then I fill my big jug with water flavored with squeezed limes, I may only eat a few bits of something for lunch. again I make sure I get protein like a piece of chicken (lunch is usually quick for me so I never get a lot) then for dinner I eat my veggies and a meat. By dinner time its always like I can eat more so tend to eat almost a whole cup of food. OH for snacks I eat like veggie chips so that Im getting my veggies in as well. Hope this helps you some...then if I want a snack like something sweet usually I have plenty of calories left over so I eat something sweet at least 2-3days per week. I keep up with my food intake on myfitnesspal.com! GOOD LUCK youve done awesome!!!!!

Oh one thing that I think has been helping me these past few weeks is Ive boosted up my cardio (and trust me I dont exercise much):smile2:

I was banded in november 2008 and I have only lost 30 pounds and that makes me depress very depress. I try to get my protein in but it is really hard for me to do that. do you have any ideas hit me up if you do..