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Well, it is week 3 and I have decided to name my band. I thought Caligula was an appropriate name it actually means "little boot" but I thought it was fairly appro for my "little band". So Caligula and I are moving on. It has been slow go since the banding I have only lost 14 lbs. I know in the past I would have been exstatic with 14 lbs in 3 weeks but no more. I want it all. I know I need to be patient. Even my doctor said I would not see a significant amount of loss until after my first fill which is in 3 weeks. He wants me to fully heal first. Anyway Caligula and I are moving on. I went back to work yesterday after 3 weeks. I was ready for a nap by 2:00. But I trudged on and sat through a 3 hour meeting and put in my 8+ hours. Today will be better. :thumbup: I love my job:wub:, but today all the big bosses will be in a meeting and I will not have to listen about how terrible it was while I was gone. I guess that would explain the daily phone calls desperately seeking advice. Oh well, I'm back. It was easier to work all day and then I was not consumed with the thought of what I was going to eat next. When I was home once the house work was done. All I did was contemplate my next bowl of soup. Although I did create some very unusual recipes. Spaghetti soup was a craving satisfier. But it was just soup because I blended it. Yep. Noodles and all. But yesterday teh time went by really fast and I was too busy just to think about food so I am really looking forward to being back at work assisting Caligula and I on this adventure. So until later. Chin up, we can do this together!!!:smile:

My problem is that I am still eating too fast ugh

Recovery is pretty fast actually, I had my surgery in Detroit and live in SF bay area, I flew there and stayed 1 day after surgery then flew home next day. Its really easy just had to have lap pillow to put between me and the seat belt. as far as throwing up, its been 3 yrs in April since my surgery and i have not thrown up once, with me it goes other end and feel sick but only for a little bit till i'm done with the dumping. However everyone is different. I know my best friend had Gastric Bypass (not lapband) over a yr ago and she is like me has not thrown up once. When your band is to tight, if you eat to big a bite it will feel like it is stuck, when this happens i have to stand up, Take a deep breath and hold it, so i expand the opening a little so it can fall in (I get hickups when its to tight and eat to fast or to big of a bite). Everyone is different in how much they lose and how fast, depends on if your eating right, getting exercise, drinking enough Water ect. Once you are ready to start introducing normal foods again, I was told and have not eaten any Rice, Peanuts (but other nuts are fine) Corn, or bread unless toasted. No Carbonated beverages of any kind. Rice, Peanuts and bread can clog over the opening of the stomach as they mash up together, Corn can also block the hole as the skin doesn't really break down. Carbonation stretches the stomach making it easier to eat more and regain your weight. Hope this helps. and Good Luck with your Surgery and your Weight Loss!

I am 65 and had no problems after my surgery at all. Took no pain pills and was at full function the next day. Getting " stickies" is awful but usually is because of something I've done wrong. Such as eating too fast, eating food which is too dry, or not chewing really well. I have lost 68 lbs total and am happy with that. I've never felt better.

I had the sleeve because I didn't want to risk complications that can happen with the bypass. My surgery was October 17th. I never experienced gerd before but did have it rather severely for the first 2 weeks and strangely it was worse when drinking water. That has thankfully passed. I have a high BMI but I'm ok with not losing quite as fast as with bypass. Maybe it will help with lose skin. I am determined to lose all my excess weight, not the 65-70% average predicted.

Here is what you should do: 1. Keep following your program 2. Stay. Off. The. Scale! Your body is going to go through pauses, adjustments, stalls, stutters, and worse throughout the weight loss process. If fourteen pounds in two weeks is going to be a "slow start" for you and make you anxious and feel like you are failing, you need to stay away from the scale, because I have news for you: I doubt you will ever lose 14 lbs in 2 weeks again. It won't be predictable, it won't be steady, it will probably never feel like it is fast enough. It is perfectly okay to just weigh in at your doctor's office as long as you are confident that you are following your program correctly.

Please whatever you do do not cheat. It's important for you to stay on your liquid diet. When we are over weight, our liver becomes fat and being on the liquid diet it defats the liver which makes it easier to operate. If you cheat and don't lose the weight and when the surgeon sees inside that your liver is still fat, they will close you up and send you home. Yes it's tough to do the liquid diet but it's doable. You can do it. Stay strong and you have 7 more days...I promise you time will go by fast. Good luck and God bless!

food Items With 1000+ Calories White Castle chocolate shake - Large (Louisville region) Calories: 1680 Nathan's Fish N chips Calories: 1537 Carl's Jr. Double Six Dollar Burger Calories: 1520 Hardee's Monster Thickburger Calories: 1420 Dairy Queen Large Choc. Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard Calories: 1320 Hardee's Double Bacon cheese Thickburger Calories: 1300 Dairy Queen Large Chocolate Malt Calories: 1300 Nathan's chicken Tender Platter Calories: 1300 Jack In The Box OREO Cookie Ice Cream Shake (24oz) Calories: 1290 Dairy Queen Chicken Strip Basket (6 piece) Calories: 1270 Hardee's Double Thickburger Calories: 1250 Burger King TRIPLE WHOPPER Sandwich With Cheese Calories: 1230 Jack In The Box Chocolate Ice Cream Shake (24oz) Calories: 1230 White Castle Chocolate Shake - Large (New Jersey region) Calories: 1230 Hardee's Big Country Breakfast Platter - Breaded Pork Chop Calories: 1220 Jack In The Box strawberry Ice Cream Shake (24oz) Calories: 1220 Jack In The Box Egg Nog Shake (24oz) Calories: 1210 Nathan's FRENCH FRIES (SUPER SIZE) Calories: 1188 White Castle vanilla Shake - Large (New Jersey region) Calories: 1180 Del Taco Macho Beef Burrito Calories: 1170 McDonald's Chocolate Triple Thick Shake (32oz) Calories: 1160 Hardee's Big Country Breakfast Platter - Country Steak Calories: 1150 McDonald's Deluxe Breakfast (Large Size Biscuit) w/o Syrup & Margarine Calories: 1140 Carl's Jr. Guacamole Bacon Six Dollar Burger Calories: 1140 Hardee's Big Country Breakfast Platter - Chicken Calories: 1140 White Castle Vanilla Shake - Large (Cincinnati region) Calories: 1140 Burger King TRIPLE WHOPPER Sandwich Calories: 1130 White Castle Chicken Rings (20) Calories: 1130 White Castle Chocolate Shake - Large (Cincinnati region) Calories: 1130 Carl's Jr. Western Bacon Six Dollar Burger Calories: 1130 Dairy Queen Large Chocolate Shake Calories: 1130 Jack In The Box Bacon 'n' Cheese Ciabatta Burger Calories: 1120 Jack In The Box Sirloin Bacon 'n' Cheese Burger Calories: 1120 McDonald's Vanilla Triple Thick Shake (32oz) Calories: 1110 McDonald's Strawberry Triple Thick Shake (32oz) Calories: 1110 Del Taco Macho Nachos Calories: 1100 Jack In The Box Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger Calories: 1090 White Castle Fish Nibblers - Sack Calories: 1090 White Castle Strawberry Shake - Large (Minneapolis region) Calories: 1090 White Castle Vanilla Shake - Large (Nashville region) Calories: 1090 White Castle Chocolate Shake - Large (Nashville region) Calories: 1090 McDonald's Deluxe Breakfast (Reg. Size Biscuit) w/o Syrup & Margarine Calories: 1070 Jack In The Box Sirloin Cheese Burger Calories: 1070 Carl's Jr. Bacon Cheese Six Dollar Burger Calories: 1070 Hardee's Six Dollar Burger Calories: 1060 Hardee's Big Country Breakfast Platter - Sausage Calories: 1060 Del Taco Macho Combo Burrito Calories: 1050 Jack In The Box Vanilla Ice Cream Shake (24oz) Calories: 1050 Dairy Queen Large Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Blizzard Calories: 1050 Del Taco Macho Bacon & Egg Burrito Calories: 1030 Dairy Queen FlameThrower GrillBurger (1/2lb) Calories: 1030 Dairy Queen Chicken Strip Basket (4 piece) Calories: 1030 Dairy Queen Medium Choc. Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard Calories: 1030 Hardee's Grilled Sourdough Thickburger Calories: 1030 White Castle Chocolate Shake - Large (New York region) Calories: 1020 White Castle Strawberry Shake - Large (Columbus & Detroit regions) Calories: 1010 Jack In The Box Ultimate Cheeseburger Calories: 1010 Sonic Peanut Butter Shake - Large (20oz) Calories: 1010 Carl's Jr. Original Six Dollar Burger Calories: 1010 Burger King BK Quad Stacker Calories: 1000 Arby's Meatball Toasted Sub Calories: 1000 Dairy Queen Large Oreo Cookies Blizzard Calories: 1000 Boston Market Boston Sirloin Dip Carver Calories: 1000 Fast Food Items With 900-999 Calories Burger King DOUBLE WHOPPER Sandwich with Cheese Calories: 990 Sonic Chocolate Cream Pie Shake - Large (20 oz) Calories: 990 Dairy Queen Large Strawberry CheeseQuake Blizzard Calories: 990 White Castle Vanilla Shake - Large (New York region) Calories: 990 Wendy's Triple w/Everything and Cheese Calories: 980 Sonic Super Sonic Cheeseburger (with mayo) Calories: 980 Hardee's Big Country Breakfast Platter - Bacon Calories: 980 White Castle Onion Chips - Sack Calories: 980 Carl's Jr. Double Western Bacon Cheeseburger Calories: 970 Hardee's Big Country Breakfast Platter - Country Ham Calories: 970 Arby's Sausage Gravy Biscuit Calories: 961 Burger King OREO Sundae Shake - Chocolate - Medium Calories: 960 Burger King Chocolate Milk Shake - Large Calories: 950 White Castle Chocolate Shake - Large (St Louis region) Calories: 950 Jack In The Box Sourdough Ultimate Cheeseburger Calories: 950 Nathan's Chicken Breast Platter Calories: 943 Boston Market Boston Meatloaf Carver Calories: 940 Sonic FRITOS Chili Pie Calories: 940 Sonic Peanut Butter Fudge Shake-Large (20oz) Calories: 940 Burger King OREO Sundae Shake - Strawberry - Medium Calories: 940 White Castle Vanilla Shake - Large (Minneapolis region) Calories: 940 Carl's Jr. Super Star (with cheese) Calories: 930 Del Taco Macho Chicken Burrito Calories: 930 Burger King Strawberry Milk Shake - Large Calories: 930 Sonic Chicken Strip dinner (4) Calories: 930 Sonic Strawberry Cream Pie Shake - Large (20 oz) Calories: 930 Hardee's Thickburger Calories: 910 Hardee's Bacon Cheese Thickburger Calories: 910 Jack In The Box OREO Cookie Ice Cream Shake - 16oz Calories: 910 Burger King DOUBLE WHOPPER Sandwich Calories: 900 Sonic Super Sonic Cheeseburger (with ketchup) Calories: 900 Sonic M&M's Sonic Blast - Large (20oz) Calories: 900 Dairy Queen Medium Chocolate Malt Calories: 900 Fast Food Items With 800-899 Calories Sonic Super Sonic Cheeseburger (with mustard) Calories: 890 Sonic Super Sonic Jalapeno Cheeseburger Calories: 890 pizza Hut meat Lover's 6" Personal Pan Pizza (whole pizza) Calories: 890 White Castle Chocolate Shake - Large (Columbus & Detroit regions) Calories: 890 White Castle Chocolate Shake - Medium (New Jersey region) Calories: 890 Jack In The Box Strawberry Ice Cream Shake (16oz) Calories: 880 Jack In The Box Chocolate Ice Cream Shake (16oz) Calories: 880 KFC Chicken and Biscuit Bowl Calories: 870 Sonic Butterfinger Sonic Blast - Large (20oz) Calories: 870 Sonic Hot Fudge Shake - Large (20oz) Calories: 870 Jack In The Box Egg Nog Shake (16oz) Calories: 870 Jack In The Box Single Bacon n' Cheese Ciabatta Burger Calories: 870 Nathan's SUPER BURGER Calories: 863 Subway Double Meatball Marinara Calories: 860 White Castle Chocolate Shake - Medium (Nashville region) Calories: 860 White Castle Vanilla Shake - Large (Columbus & Detroit regions) Calories: 860 White Castle Vanilla Shake - Medium (New Jersey region) Calories: 860 Sonic banana Cream Pie Shake - Large (20oz) Calories: 860 Nathan's BURGER WITH CHEESE Calories: 850 White Castle Chocolate Shake - Large (Indianapolis region) Calories: 850 Sonic Coconut Cream Pie Shake - Large (20oz) Calories: 850 Arby's Mozzarella Sticks - Large (8) Calories: 849 Arby's Chicken Parmesan Toasted Sub Calories: 843 Taco Bell Fiesta Taco salad Calories: 840 White Castle Mozzarella Cheese Sticks (10) Calories: 840 White Castle Vanilla Shake - Medium (Cincinnati region) Calories: 840 White Castle Strawberry Shake - Large (Cincinnati region) Calories: 840 Dairy Queen Mocha MooLatte (24oz) Calories: 840 Dairy Queen Caramel MooLatte (24oz) Calories: 840 Sonic Chocolate Malt - Large (20oz) Calories: 840 Sonic Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Sonic Blast - Large (20oz) Calories: 840 Arby's Roast Turkey Ranch & Bacon Sandwich Calories: 834 Wendy's Baconator Calories: 830 Carl's Jr. Philly Cheesesteak Burger Calories: 830 Carl's Jr. Breakfast Burger Calories: 830 Jack In The Box Fish & Chips (Large) Calories: 830 Subway 8" Pizza (Sausage) Calories: 830 Burger King OREO Sundae Shake - Vanilla - Medium Calories: 830 White Castle Strawberry Shake - Large (Chicago region) Calories: 830 White Castle Chocolate Shake - Medium (Cincinnati region) Calories: 830 Arby's Classic Italian Toasted Sub Calories: 828 Arby's Onion Petals - Large Calories: 828 Dairy Queen GrillBurger™ with Cheese (1/2lb) Calories: 820 Carl's Jr. Loaded Breakfast Burrito Calories: 820 Burger King Vanilla Milk Shake - Large Calories: 820 White Castle Chocolate Shake - Large (Chicago region) Calories: 820 Del Taco Shredded Beef Combo Burrito Calories: 815 Sonic Chocolate Shake - Large (20oz) Calories: 810 White Castle Chocolate Shake - Medium (Louisville region) Calories: 810 Dairy Queen Large Banana Split Blizzard Calories: 810 Burger King BK Triple Stacker Calories: 800 Dunkin Donuts Sausage Egg Cheese Biscuit Sandwich Calories: 800 Hardee's Big Chicken Fillet Sandwich Calories: 800 A&W Original Bacon Double Cheeseburger Calories: 800 Taco Bell Chicken Fiesta Taco Salad Calories: 800 Fast Food Items With 700-799 Calories Burger King TENDERCRISP Chicken Sandwich Calories: 790 McDonald's Big Breakfast (Large Size Biscuit) Calories: 790 Subway 8" Pizza (Pepperoni) Calories: 790 Jack In The Box Vanilla Ice Cream Shake - 16oz Calories: 790 Jack In The Box Sirloin Steak & Egg Burrito (no salsa) Calories: 790 Jack In The Box Sirloin Steak & Egg Burrito with Fire Roasted Tomato Salsa Calories: 790 White Castle Strawberry Shake - Medium (Minneapolis region) Calories: 790 White Castle Vanilla Shake - Medium (Nashville region) Calories: 790 White Castle Homestyle Onion Rings - Sack Calories: 790 Sonic Oreo Sonic Blast - Large (20oz) Calories: 790 Chick-Fil-A Hand-Spun Milkshake (Cookies & Cream) Calories: 790 Dairy Queen Medium Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Blizzard Calories: 790 Carl's Jr. OREO Cookie Malt Calories: 790 Nathan's CHEESESTEAK (SUPREME) Calories: 786 Del Taco Shredded Beef Breakfast Burrito Calories: 785 Del Taco Deluxe Taco Salad Calories: 780 Hardee's Loaded Breakfast Burrito Calories: 780 Hardee's Chocolate Malt (Hand-Dipped) Calories: 780 Sonic Strawberry Malt - Large (20oz) Calories: 780 Sonic Bacon Cheeseburger Calories: 780 Sonic Java Chiller, Chocolate/Caramel (20oz) Calories: 780 Dairy Queen DQ Ultimate Burger Calories: 780 Dairy Queen FlameThrower GrillBurger (1/4lb) Calories: 780 Dairy Queen Medium Chocolate Shake Calories: 780 Carl's Jr. Vanilla Malt Calories: 780 Carl's Jr. Chocolate Malt Calories: 780 Boston Market Pastry Top Chicken Pot Pie Calories: 780 Arby's Ultimate BLT Sandwich Calories: 779 Arby's Roast Beef & Swiss Sandwich Calories: 777 Hardee's Strawberry Malt (Hand-Dipped) Calories: 775 KFC Chicken Pot Pie Calories: 770 Hardee's Loaded Biscuit 'N' Gravy Breakfast Bowl Calories: 770 Hardee's Vanilla Malt (Hand-Dipped) Calories: 770 Jack In The Box Sirloin Steak 'n' Cheddar Ciabatta Calories: 770 Taco Bell Nachos BellGrande Calories: 770 Dairy Queen French Vanilla MooLatte (24oz) Calories: 770 McDonald's Chocolate Triple Thick Shake (21oz) Calories: 770 Carl's Jr. Strawberry Malt Calories: 770 Boston Market Boston Turkey Carver Calories: 770 Boston Market Boston Turkey Dip Carver Calories: 770 Arby's Chicken Salad w/ Pecans Sandwich Calories: 769 Burger King WHOPPER Sandwich with Cheese Calories: 760 Sonic pineapple Malt - Large (20oz) Calories: 760 Sonic Java Chiller, Caramel (20oz) Calories: 760 Sonic Java Chiller, Chocolate (20oz) Calories: 760 Chick-Fil-A Hand-Spun Milkshake (Chocolate) Calories: 760 Dunkin Donuts Pastrami Supreme Sandwich Calories: 760 Nathan's FRENCH FRIES (LARGE) Calories: 758 Jack In The Box Chipotle Chicken Ciabatta with Spicy Crispy Chicken Calories: 750 Jack In The Box Sampler Trio Calories: 750 Sonic Java Chiller, Caramel/Hazelnut (20oz) Calories: 750 Sonic Java Chiller, Hazelnut (20oz) Calories: 750 Sonic Strawberry Shake - Large (20oz) Calories: 750 Sonic Java Chiller, Chocolate/Hazelnut (20oz) Calories: 750 Subway Footlong Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Calories: 750 Nathan's ONION RINGS (LARGE) Calories: 744 Nathan's CHEESESTEAK (ORIGINAL) Calories: 740 KFC Famous Bowls (Mashed Potato with Gravy) Calories: 740 McDonald's Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese Calories: 740 McDonald's Strawberry Triple Thick Shake (21oz) Calories: 740 McDonald's Vanilla Triple Thick Shake (21oz) Calories: 740 White Castle Chocolate Shake - Medium (New York region) Calories: 740 Subway 8" Pizza (Cheese & Veggies) Calories: 740 Dairy Queen Brownie Earthquake Calories: 740 A&W Reese's Polar Swirl (medium) Calories: 740 Jack In The Box Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit Calories: 740 Sonic Chicken Club Toaster Sandwich Calories: 740 Del Taco Deluxe Chicken Salad Calories: 740 Arby's Philly Beef Toasted Sub Calories: 739 Burger King Enormous omelet Sandwich Calories: 730 Chick-Fil-A Hand-Spun Milkshake (Strawberry) Calories: 730 White Castle Strawberry Shake - Medium (Columbus & Detroit regions) Calories: 730 Sonic Pineapple Shake - Large (20oz) Calories: 730 Dairy Queen Large French Fries Calories: 730 Dairy Queen DQ Homestyle Bacon Double Cheeseburger Calories: 730 Dairy Queen Medium Strawberry CheeseQuake Blizzard Calories: 730 Arby's Roast Turkey & Swiss Sandwich Calories: 725 Nathan's Chicken Tender Sandwich Calories: 724 McDonald's Big Breakfast (Regular Size Biscuit) Calories: 720 Hardee's Mushroom 'N' Swiss Thickburger Calories: 720 Dunkin Donuts Tropical Fruit smoothie (Large) Calories: 720 White Castle Vanilla Shake - Medium (New York region) Calories: 720 Dairy Queen Small Choc. Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard Calories: 720 A&W Papa Burger Calories: 720 A&W Original Double Cheeseburger Calories: 720 A&W Vanilla Milkshake (medium) Calories: 720 Jack In The Box Bacon Cheddar Potato Wedges Calories: 720 Sonic Cheeseburger (with mayo) Calories: 720 Sonic Dixie cheeseburger Calories: 720 Sonic Tater Tots w/chili & cheese (SONIC Size) Calories: 720 Carl's Jr. Jalapeno Burger Calories: 720 Carl's Jr. Bacon Swiss Crispy Chicken Sandwich Calories: 720 Carl's Jr. OREO Cookie Shake Calories: 720 Subway Double Chicken Bacon Ranch Calories: 710 Hardee's Monster Biscuit Calories: 710 Hardee's Vanilla Shake (Hand-Dipped) (regular) Calories: 710 A&W M&M Polar Swirl (medium) Calories: 710 Jack In The Box Sourdough Jack Calories: 710 Pizza Hut Supreme 6" Personal Pan Pizza (whole pizza) Calories: 710 Del Taco Deluxe Chili Cheese Fries Calories: 710 Sonic Banana Malt - Large (20oz) Calories: 710 Jack In The Box Ciabatta Breakfast Sandwich Calories: 710 Dairy Queen Peanut Buster Parfait Calories: 710 Dairy Queen Cappuccino MooLatte (24oz) Calories: 710 Carl's Jr. Western Bacon Cheeseburger Calories: 710 Carl's Jr. Chicken Breast Strips (5 pieces) Calories: 710 Carl's Jr. Vanilla Shake Calories: 710 Carl's Jr. Chocolate Shake Calories: 710 Arby's Loaded Potato Bites - Large (10) Calories: 707 Nathan's BACON CHEESEBURGER Calories: 706 Arby's Roast Ham & Swiss Sandwich Calories: 705 Wendy's Double w/Everything and Cheese Calories: 700 Arby's Roast Turkey Ranch & Bacon Wrap Calories: 700 Hardee's Chocolate Shake (Hand-Dipped) (regular) Calories: 700 Hardee's Strawberry Shake (Hand-Dipped) (regular) Calories: 700 A&W Chocolate Milkshake (medium) Calories: 700 Jack In The Box Jack's Spicy Chicken with Cheese Calories: 700 White Castle French Fries - Sack Calories: 700 Sonic Vanilla Malt - Large (20oz) Calories: 700 Carl's Jr. Strawberry Shake Calories: 700 Boston Market Boston Chicken Carver Calories: 700

And @clk that opinion only matters if you've ha gastric bypass. We haven't had intestine removed any intestine, so the absorption isn't at ALL like them. We CAN drink. Just not that fast...

Can you explain what you feel when you are kinda stuck?? i have had 2 feels and go for a third next week but just the past few days i have been feeling uncomfortable almost every meal. my chest gets tight and it hurts. Almost feels like contractions because it goes away for a few seconds and comes back. I've slimed a few times and food came back up once. Now I'm feeling sore. Anyway this just started happening all if the sudden. I might be eating too fast but am alarmed because this all came suddenly. Hoping I haven't had a band slip or something bad. Maybe I'm paranoid... my last fill was a month ago wondering if it just took a few weeks to kick in. Ugh Idk. But can't call Dr until Monday so wanted some opinions

I've had my band for almost 13 years and i love it! I had my surgery in March 2008 and lost from 200lbs down to 140lbs at 5'2" which i maintained ever since (including through 2 pregnancies and a few fluctuation along the way. In the past year i have made some more habit changes that led me to drop another 20ish pounds leaving me at about 120-125lbs at 5'2" with a BMI of around 22. I wouldn't recommend planning to have the band removed after a year for 3 main reasons: 1) It's a surgery and going in expecting to have 2 surgeries within a year doesn't sound like the best idea (but that's between you and your husband and the doctor) 2) The band is CRUCIAL TO MY ABILITY TO MAINTAIN MY WEIGHT - for me personally, the lap band (and weight loss surgery in general) has always been about maintenance. I had yo-yo dieted my whole life and wanted off that roller coaster. In fact, i knew i could lose the weight (even if it wouldn't be easy) but why bother if i was just going to gain it back like i had ALL THE OTHER TIMES BEFORE. That hurt more than anything and i just couldn't do it again. And i was right, the band has been EVERYTHING to me in my maintenance journey! I would never have been able to do this without it and the habits it allowed me to build...which leads me to #3 3) HABIT CHANGE TAKES TIME - your husband needs to give himself the time to adjust to his new lifestyle both during his losing period and after. One of the advantages of not losing weight at epically fast speeds is that your body and more importantly mind have a chance to adjust with you! In order for your new habits to stick, you need to give them time to develop and teach yourself that you can conquer the inevitable bumps in the road. There is nothing wrong with not wanting to permanently change your anatomy and some people like that the band is not permanent. But it is no small life change. For me it has been THE BEST DECISION I EVER MADE. Happy to talk to you more about it if you ever need any support or perspective! There are still a lot of us successful veteran bandsters out here who might have some useful perspectives if you are considering a gastric band. Hope that helps some!

Well, so far the only food I can't eat because of PB pain, is sushi. I think it was the rice more than the fish, and the fact that I was eating it too fast and in too big of bites the day my first fill (can we say "DUH"?) Now, as for "forbidden" foods, I have a big list of those, because they go down waaaay too easy: chips, chocolate, ice cream, doritos, corn chips, popcorn (although I do eat it, I make sure it's without butter and I only order a small), nuts, crackers, cheese (I eat this too but really try to limit it), fried Snacks of any kind (I am a huge fan of Indian food and they have these evil fried snack with potatos and mixed nuts, or sesame sticks and fried corn flakes, or fried puffed rice with coconut and peanuts. It all goes down so fast and easy I have to really avoid it at all costs). I have eaten all of these foods, but am trying to stay as far away from them as possible. Basically I am trying to stay away from anything that's too calorie-dense. It's not worth it. Today at lunch, my co-worker ordered a huge brownie hot fudge sunday and invited all of us to share it. I took one bite and that was it. Why sabotage all my efforts for 20 seconds of pleasure? Just not worth it, in my opinion.

Maybe the key works here are "went," "walked," and "ran." They are past tense. Exercise has got to be part of your daily lifestyle now. By this time you should have incorporated an hour of exercise each day into your life. Then you have to look at your carb intake. I'll bet it has slipped upward. Are you still logging all your food? If not, it would be good to go back to logging and measuring. Honestly, the research says that the most weight loss is achieved by those who follow the eating plan AND exercise. The exercise won't move the scale on its own, but it does build lean muscle tissue which has a higher metabolic rate than fat. Another tool is to explore is intermittent fasting or limiting your daily caloric intake to only 6-8 hours per day. This can be a very powerful tool, as it puts your system into a different metabolic pathway that helps burn fat. There are extensive conversations in the intermittent fasting thread about what others are doing. You also need to make sure you are getting your fluids in, and getting quality sleep. They are essential for weight loss. It's about going back to the basics and tightening things up, as well as adding some new tools. 5'9" at 200 pounds gives you a BMI of 30, which is still in the moderately obese category. The thicker fat on your abdomen will go with more weight loss. To reach the upper end of "normal" BMI you need to get down to around 162-164. You've done an amazing job so far. Restart the engine and take it through the final stretch!

It's tough when we lead hectic lives. I completely understand, but I've tried to go through even some of the fast food options that fit the bill a little better for me. If you need to grab quick and easy, try hitting the Taco Bell "healthier" options such as the chicken soft taco with no sour cream or ranch sauce. Some Taco Bells offer a grilled chicken taco with a corn tortilla opposed to the flour which will cut calories, and up the Protein. Even if you get the flour tortilla the chicken option is better than their beef as they use the lowest quality, highest fat ground beef of all the mexican drive thru. Try to cut condiments such as ranch, and mayo, choose mustard, or salsa. I went through some of the most popular fast food/drive-thru menus published online to give me an idea of what is the "better" options available. Most of these establishments have the nutrition facts right on the web so it's a bit easier to sift through what will work better for us. I purchase Butterball ground turkey that is 93% lean, but when I really look at the calorie, protein and cholesterol counts of both turkey and lean beef, they are pretty much identical. And, let's be honest, ground turkey tastes like cardboard. I know it's supposed to be the better alternative, but when I cook with it, I only use it in casseroles, and things that pretty much disguise the cardboardy taste. My husband and son are the furthest thing from picky, but even they aren't huge fans of ground turkey. I prefer venison and bison, but venison is hard to come by in Florida unless we go hunting, and that's nearly impossible here, and ground bison is outlandishly expensive. I only buy ground turkey when I have a coupon for it. For the hot dogs, the turkey franks are a better alternative with less fat, and calories. For me, I forget to eat still, and honestly I run myself too thin sometimes, and have to grab something easy. This is the salad I grab at Panera Bread, I can only eat part of it. If I eat most of the chicken, I can only eat 1/3 of the lettuce, I can eat more of the lettuce if I skimp on the chicken, it just depends on my mood. In my losing stage, this is exactly how I ordered it. No dressing, didn't eat the corn, and here's the nutritional comparison. Losing stage take off the dressing and the corn, and see just how many calories, fat and carbs are cut. Panera Bread - Nutrition Calculator I also LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the chicken cuba hot panini, I cut the mayo, and only eat 1/2 of focaccia bread. That cuts over 1/3 the calories, and A LOT of the fat. I can only eat 1/2 of this sandwich, and I pretty much peel off half of the ham off my half I eat for lunch. I don't think they allow substitutions on the hot paninis for bread choices, but their other sandwiches can be subbed for a better bread choice. Here's the nutrition facts for that sandwich. Panera Bread - Nutrition Calculator I love the nutrition calculator that Panera provides because I can pull stuff off of and see exactly what I'm getting. You can add substitutions, and play with it to make it "better" for us. I'm just trying to give you some ideas on what I do when in a pinch. Of course, being prepared and making stuff at home is the best choice because you control exactly what goes in. But, for real life situations, and hectic schedules, just making some tweaks in menu choices can really help cut the stats on convenience foods. If you're still losing, being active, working out, your calories are probably okay. Just try to watch your fat and carbs, and feed your body "right" and it will reward you.

Hello All.... I'm trying so hard to eat and exercise like I'm suppose to. Its not easy. Thankfully I do like the Slim Fast and Boost drinks along with Crystal Lite Lemonade. My downfall was/is drinking while eating. I've stopped doing that and some of the weight is coming off. One ounce at a time. :tt1:

CJUiler, did you drink some kind of low carb shake or where you eatting food? I've done well on the adkins diet in the past, but I was afraid I wouldnt see results fast enough

I've done a lot of concept II rowing over the years (my wife got me into it), but it really picked as part of cross fit workouts, after 1 year from surgery. I like fast rowing at 1:20 min /500 m split (almost as much as I like fast running - sub 5 min mile times) and like all the benefits that come with it. Definitely rowing is something you can do post op, but do wait until your stomach is mostly healed so you don't damage something. Personally I have a concept II model b (a dinosaur, but built like a tank) at home and like to row 1-2 hours on it. When at cross fit, I would either row to warm up orI would row for max calories or max meters in x amount of time. All out sprinting and usually part of a larger am rap (as many rounds as possible) workout that has other things like pushups, pullups, double unders etc. Keep on rowing!

are you sipping your shakes? being swollen, you need to not drink too fast, doing so can make you feel icky..just a thought.. def stick to your dr's guidelines..cheating on diets is what got most of us needing weight loss surgery..

I too am confused. I get food stuck, I am always hungery. I have had 4 fills. Do I need another fill or two to not be hungry? I am assuming food is gettng stuck because I am eating too fast and not chewing good enough..is that the case?

One month today. Down 21 lbs. Hard to believe. Even w/ the lap band I didn't get this close to goal. One month thoughts: It was rough the first two days post-op I am glad I chose to stay in the Hospital vice go to a recovery house. I get too sick after anesthesia. Glad to have the 24/7 care. Money well spent. Clear liquids got old fast, Jello made w/Isopure 40mg bottles saved me w/my protein intake. Full liquids sugar-free pudding made w/injury protein got me thru the full. I found out I didn't like most of the samples I ordered. Ended up ordering a jug-o-Syntha-6 Chocolate peanut butter. (it will be nice when I can blend a banana it.) Injury protien was the only other one I could stand (Even my 30 mg from Costco I don't like so much anymore-been heating them up @ work seems to make them more doable) Bought a "bullet" LOVE IT!!! Taking the blender out each time I make a protein shake is PIA. Blending it in the bullet makes it taste so much better than just shaking it in a bottle. I put the empty cup in the dishwasher. Tried to eat some Egg Foo Young. Was like a rock in my stomach. Felt like it was never going to leave! Didn't feel nauseous just very uncomfortable. (Flashbacks of the lap band nausea then the vomiting so glad I got that thing out of my body!!!!) Now I am scared to move off of soft/mushies. In case you are reading this and wonder is it worth it. He** YES!!!! I would not have been able to do it w/o this board. I know there has been some controversy lately. Don't let that deter you from getting help and encouragement here. Dee

HI EVERYONE, TO START I'M 39 YRS OLD MY HIGHEST WEIGHT WAS 251, I WAS BANDED IN 2007 MY PRE-SURGICAL WEIGHT WAS 238. MY LOWEST WITH THE BAND WAS 209, THE BAND CAUSED SO MANY PROBLEMS FOR ME. FAST FORWARD I HAD A HITAL HERNIA REPAIR, BAND REMOVAL AND THE SLEEVE. I WAS 232 PRE-OP AND CURRENTLY I'M TWO WEEKS POST OP AND 220 AS OF FRIDAY. I CANNOT WAIT TO JOIN LIFE AGAIN I'M A NURSE SO WORK HAS BECOME THE DEFINITION OF WHO I AM BECAUSE OTHER THAN WIFE AND MOM I THOUGHT IT WAS ALL I HAD GOING FOR ME. MY LIFE OUTSIDE OF WORK HAS BECOME SO SEDITARY. THE TV HAS BECOME MY FRIEND, AFTER MY MOM/WIFE STUFF IS DONE. I CANNOT WAIT TO JOIN LIFE SINCE MY SURGERY. HAVE MY OWN WEEKEND ANDVENTURE INSTEAD OF LIVING THROUGH MY FRIENDS ADVENTURES. I FEEL LIKE I'M RAMBLING BUT IT IS JUST HOW I FEEL. I WANT TO LEARN TO RUN SO I HOPE TO START WITH MY TREADMILL AND EVENTUALLY TAKE MY FLUFFY CARCASS OUTSIDE TO FACE THE WORLD. I HAVE THE BEST FAMILY IN THE WORLD SO VERY SUPPORTIVE I JUST HOPE WE CAN LEARN TO DO OTHER THINGS OUTSIDE THE HOUSE SO WE CAN BECOME MORE A PART OF LIFE AND LESS APART OF THE SEDITARY WORLD WE HAVE CREATED FOR OURSELVES.

Someone said yesterday that there a lots of videos on Youtube for chair exercise and free! Feel better fast and hope nothing is broken!!

I cannot take a bite of food without hubbie standing over me; "you're eating too fast";" I hope that is the right consistency"';"that is not what the information says you should be doing". WTF AM SUPPOSED TO DO. If he could, I would be eating from an eye dropper. This is what I have had today. 1/2 c of coffee over 30 minutes time; it was way too cold by the time I got to the "good to the last drop". Had such a small amount of chicken broth, it was bearely visiable in the bowl. I wish I had some of those little pill cups they use in the hospital to put my rations in. If my sister in laws call one more time and ask; Is she hungry??? What did she eat today??? You mean she had a drop of chicken broth and a spoon of Jello and she is not hungry??? I had my band on the 27th. The day surgery turned out to be 4 days and 4 nights in the hospital. They had to repair a hytial hernia. It was as big as the grand canyon, but then of course big girls do not have henias the size of a leak in a bike tire. We go for the grand canyon. My doctor said if he had hollered into it, there would have been an echo. Well, excuse me. Because of the trama of the grand canyon getting repaired, the swelling caused my band to slip. And this was DAY 1. Nothing would go past the band. DAY 2 they tried to get past the band twice and nothing. We are stuck. Well by this point, I am pucking up the most funky stuff that has ever been inside a human being. DAY THREE ; 2.5 hours of surgery to find out WTF is going on. When I woke, I felt like I had been hit by an 18 wheeler. DAY FOUR; I go down for a barium swallow test and God Almight, I hit a grand slam home run. Everything is moving right along. HOWEVER, because of the trama, I must spend the night in the hospital once more. DAY FIVE; Nurse comes in and tells me that my potassium is too low and they cannot let me go home once more. I looked Nurse Ratchet in the eye and I said "Like Hell. Whatever you are going to give me, I will take it at home." Two hours later, Nurse Ratchet informs me that they were successful in bringing up my levels. If I had the strength, I would dance. So, then i was sitting there waiting for hubby to arrive and my dand gum IV starts beeping. I call Nurse Ratchet. She informs me she will be right in. After 15 minutes of waiting and listening to the beep, beep, beep, I get up, unplug the IV from the wall and start down the hall, all the time pushing this beeping IV pole and trying my best to hold the open in the back gown across my big #$%. Oh, did I add that I was bawling. The nurses are sitting at my destination writting in charts, IGNORING ME!!!! Finally one of them come up to me and says "May I Help you???". She fixes the problem and I return to my ward. Fifteen minutes, the IV starts beeping again. I buzz for the nurse and they assured me they would be right in. Fifteen minutes passes. I get up, unplugg the IV again and disconect it from my arm. I take the beeping IV and set it in the hallway and close the door. So, I guess I told them who was the boss. When hubby got there, he went to see the director of nursing and she came up to see me. After she left my room, hubby went to the nursing station for a cup of coffee and he told me the director had the nurses in an office, and she was waving her arms so much, she looked like a line judge at the Super Bowl. So, is it any wonder I had a nuclear fusion. I hope when I get to be 130 pounds, this will be funny. LinkBacks Enabled by vBSEO 3.0.0 _uacct = "UA-1855937-1";urchinTracker();

My surgeon has me doing Medi-Fast for 2 weeks prior to surgery. This is what he has his patients on and has not had a problem as long as patient takes as prescribed.

We have to find humor where we can. Who ever thought I would be laughing about this. When he told me I was taking too big bites, I WAS USING A BABY SPOON. Since my meltdown, he has backed off alot. I told him that i would be the first to know if I was eating too fast, taking too big of a bite. And oh, how, just how can I take a big bite of watered down cream of wheat. Anyway, we seem to have chilled for now. Now, our daughter has thrown a crisis at us. So cream of wheat is no longer the issue!!!! Thanks for the encouragement.