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No I dont. I dont believe in Protein as the be all and end all of everything, to me its just one of the macronutrients we need - of the same importance as carbs and fats, not more. I dont count protein grams, I dont eat a ton of protein (probably average out 40 to maybe 60 grams most days for my 5ft 10, 168lb frame) and I have not had hanging skin, nor did I lose my hair. I think a well balanced diet, with plenty of the good fats can help, and taking a Multivitamin supplement is good insurance for everyone. I guess the only thing I could say that has perhaps helped is that I'm an exercise fanatic. I run looooong distances and I lift very heavy weights. I work very hard, at least an hour of really hard stuff most days. No namby pamby walking for me, lol. But I really think its luck of the draw. I also had 3 huge 10 lb babies and never got a single stretchmark, and I did not carry weight on my stomach but more, all over, stretched over a tall body. I also was overweight/ish most of my life, but not severely obese for more than about 4 years. Simple as that.

I'm starting at 10 for the first day, so two sets of 5, and going up 5 per set each day. I don't think that there is any problem splitting them into 3 sets. Once I start hitting higher numbers i will probably start splitting them into more sets. Sent from my iPhone using VST

I was banded 10/28/09, and had my first fill in Feb.2010, I didn't really start losing till March after my second fill. Keep doing what you have been doing, once you get more restriction you will start losing more.

Get your potassium checked. That happened to me and I was admitted to replenish fluids and get 10 bags of potassium.

It is hard to believe it is over. I am doing well but before I get into that I want to try to recap before I forget everything. The night before the surgery I decided to go to bed early since I had to be at the hospital so early the next morning. I was required to be there by 5:30 AM which was riddiculous. I arrived on time with both of my parents and checked in. We waited until they called my name and they took us to a waiting room. One by one people were called back. Hours went by and my name wasn't called. I of course couldn't eat anything, but I felt bad because my parents weren't eating because they didn't want to eat in front of me. I forced them to eat at lunchtime. Yeah... I said lunchtime. I wasn't called back until 11:00 AM. When I got called back they weighed me. I was excited to hear her say that I was 297!!! I had started my pre-op diet at 316 so that meant that I lost 19 pounds. She then took me to a small room with instead of a door there was a curtain. There was a whole line of them down the hall. I was to take everything off and put on the gown and robe. There was also a haircap and socks with skid resistant rubber on the bottom. A nurse came in to start my IV and I was happy that she decided not to do it in my wrist but higher up my forearm. She then asked me lots of questions that I had been asked a bunch of times already. Once she left they let my parents in. An hour had already passed. My poor parents were so tired. I stayed there another two hours and then they came to get me. I had say goodbye to my parents and I walked to another room where they made me lay in a bed. More people came and asked me questions then I got to close my eyes and wait some more. When they came to get me they pushed the entire bed down the hall to the operating room. Once I was there I had to slide over to another bed. They gave me the anesthesia and I was out quickly. I only remember them asking me to take deep breaths once in a while. When I was all done they pushed me to another room to recover. It was similar to the first one that I was in earlier. They put my bed in an almost verticle position and it made me slide down to the rail. I was so uncomfortable. Luckily a nurse later helped me fix it, I just couldn't change the angle at the top of the bed but I at least got to change the ange at the bottom so that I didn't slide out. I really didn't get any rest that night. They were doing my vitals every three hours and I had to walk at those times too. I didn't mind the walking, I just minded the getting up part. My port site hurt when I had to get up and sit back down again. The next morning they had me change clothes and hang out until they were ready to do my upper gi. I got discharged about 9:00 AM. I asked for more pain meds before I left since I was starting to hurt again and I had an hour ride home. Luckily I found a comfortable recliner at Goodwill last week and that is what I have been sitting in since I got home. I was even able to get a good night's sleep last night. I just have to force myself to get up and walk so that I don't get a blood clot. My cats have been great. My little girl kitty really wants to sit on my lap and I have place a pillow on my stomach so that she doesn't jump on me and hurt me. I have to guide her to my shoulder so that she doesn't hurt me. My incisions look pretty good. The port incision is really indented and hurts a lot. The nurse said it was normal. I do feel better than yesterday. I just have to keep drinking water and broth. I would write more but I am now feeling sick. My head is starting to hurt so more later...

Big T, just saw your post and I have a question for you. I'm newly banded and also have the inamed VG band. Is this the one you have? (The Vanguard band is not really called the VG band, so i may be confuused). If you really have the VG which holds 10 cc, my experienced doc told me, and I confirmed with Inamed, tyhat this band needs a first fill of 3.5 cc to simply fill the empty tubing, then a bit more for a real FILL. My doc says that he always gives 4.0-4.5 cc for a total first fill. Is this anytghing close to what you were told? I ve found a lot of docs that don't know a thing about this band, but use it anyway. There is good info on this VG band on Bandsters mssg # 83872. thanks! Renee

Hi. Just wanted to do a quick introduction. I'm 29 and have struggled with my weight my entire life. In the last 2-3 years, I've been at my heaviest (BMI 46). I started researching wls last year, but learned that because of my ulcerative colitis my gastroenterologist would only give me medical clearance for the Lap band -- something my insurance didn't cover. Finally, in April, my insurance started covering it! Anyway, right now, I've gone through all the pre-op appointments and await my surgery on 10-25-2005. I'm so anxious about it -- worrying that I'll get sick beforehand and have to cancel the surgery (insane, I know). I'm so eager to get started. It's great to have this site. My doctor's office does mainly Roux-en-y procedures and I haven't met anyone there yet who has had it done. It's great to have other people that truly understand the procedure to talk to. Thanks!

Good morning I'm new hear. I've been reading comments and I am going through the same. My date was set for August 19, 2013. I also have been eating too much. I feel like crap. I was told if I gain weight they won't do the surgery and I have gain since the first appointment.

I had a sleeve July 2019 due to a lot of issues had a revision to gastric bypass 2/2020 had not had any candy at all in that timeframe. We had a 21st birthday celebration for my daughter and I avoided all cake, soda and other goodies at the party but while cleaning up there was one leftover peanut butter cup left in the candy dish and I rationalized it in my head that well it’s peanut butter and peanut butter is a source of protein (I know I was making excuses to myself to eat it) so I popped it in my mouth and chewed it up. About 5-10 minutes afterward I started feeling sweaty and nauseated (not like I need to vomit just an icky feeling). My family has a history of diabetes (not me personally but my dad and brother are both insulin dependent. Do you think since I had the surgery I better get checked for diabetes? (I don’t plan to try and eat candy again but wasn’t sure if this is a “normal” reaction to introducing sugar to my new body or something else)

I'm 7 days post op and still on liquids. My doc said next week I can start mushies or soft foods. I've lost 10 pounds and am so afraid it's all going to come back on when I enter the real food (mushed as it may be) stage because i cant exercise yet. I have "my fitnesspal" app on my iPad that helps me so much with cal, fat, carbs, calories burned, etc and I'm going to try to keep it around 800-1,000 cal/day. Is that too much? I'd love to hear other people's stories when they transisitioned from liquids to mushies...thanks

Severe calorie restriction will slow our metabolisms temporarily, but it won't shut them down! I don't have the reference here in front of me but I believe that the slow down can be as much as 10% in some people. That's a lot different than "completely shutting down your metabolism" as people would lead you to believe. I have read and I don't know how true this one is... that the slow down continues to last half as long again as the length of time you were restricting calories. That's why it's important to be very controlled when increasing your calories. Also, the more weight you have to lose the less you can eat because we have TONS of fuel just waiting to be converted into energy!

When it's hot outside I make the following: I scoop Protein powder or one container of Greek yogurt I cup of frozen tropical fruit 10-12oz of calorie free liquid 4 ice cubes. Blend the jeepers out of it and enjoy a summertime smoothie--approx. 180cal and 15-24+gr of protein. Yummy and so cooling. Good luck and keep cool. Prayers going up.

Name: elise How far along: 14 weeks Due Date: 10/31 Boy/Girl/Surprise: hoping for a girl, dont know yet Rants: n/a Raves: felin great:thumbup: Anything else: __________

Yep we had to drink protein as soon as we got home from our surgery. They told us it was the single most important thing we had to do. The day of surgery we just had to get as much as we could down in 2 oz portions and then the day after surgery we had to aim for 50-70 grams of protein. That's actually what turned us on to the slim fast shakes. They are only about 10 oz with 20 protein which is really great.

I had my surgery on 10-21 and I still eat too fast sometimes. I take very small bites and I will put my fork down and will actually push my plate away!! I haven't thrown up lately, which is awesome!! I hate throwing up. If you do too, you will learn to slow down.....

I was banded on 8/7/12. I saw my nutritionist on 9/10. I saw her again last night and lost 4.5 pounds in that time. She made a statement like that wasn't enough weight loss. I thought that 1-2 pounds per week was healthy?

Hi! I had my surgery 10/17. I went for my first fill on 11/1 and ever since then I have the should pain. Do you have it?

You'll be fine...I was freaking out too all the way until I saw my surgeons smiling face. Then I was all geared up and ready to go. I was out for like 45 minutes and up in my room in 2hrs. Staring at my husband and family as they asked me a gazillion times if I was alright. Lol. Of course I was and you will be too. see ya on the post op side of this journey ! Mine was 10/10/13 if you're wondering. I'm about 12 days post op.

I'm feeling a million times better today than yesterday. Day 1 post-op was a lot of incision pain, minimal gas pain...I did get up and walk, got full on half a snack-sized popsicle, and got to the grocery store...so I guess I wasn't TOO bad. Today - Day 2 - I've been to the bank, post office, and just got back from a wonderful pedi/mani! I'm low on energy now, though, so I'm sipping some broth and ready to relax! My incision pain is at a 1 or 2 out of 10...gas pain is very minimal...I'm not gonna go run a marathon, but I'm definitely feeling better than yesterday!

I never thought I could do it on my own and KEEP IT OFF!! I'd been yo yo dieting for 30 years! The day of the seminar I weighed 228, I had two months before I was flying back to Dallas for surgery. No "pre-op" two week diet, I had 2 months to lose 10 - 15 lbs, per the doctor's orders. I lost 23, I've NEVER had a problem losing. I'd lost 50 lbs three different times in my life and less amounts more times than I can remember......once I got off the "diet" the weight came back, so no, I never had doubts. Total I've lost about 85 lbs, I've been easily maintaining at or below Dr. Davidson's goal, since Dec 2010. His goal was 150, mine was 145.....I stay between 144 and 147. Not one minute of buyer's remorse and I know there is no way I could have lost this amount and never could I have kept it off. It is life altering!

So, Ive been lurking on these boards forever reading all of your stories and hoping that one day I would get to share my story as well. I looked into the bypass more than a year ago when my doctor suggested it, I was fed up with my wieght, I dont seem to lose weight anymore I go on diet after diet to no avail and come out heavier than i started. I got diagnosed with pre diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension and knew I had to make a change.. Unfortuanately when I started the journey then, I lost insurance and wasnt able to carry through, but I kept believing that one day, maybe, I to, would be a success story. I spent a year researching and making sure this was absolutely the option I wanted to take. Im really excited I have met with a nutritionist, I have a doctors appointment tomorrow, I have my psych eval set up in May and I have called my Cigna insurance spoke with them a couple of times and I have a 3 month waiting period with the dietician. I have always been overwieght since around the age of 10. I remember my doctor talking to my mother about getting me on a diet, and she declined saying it was stress of the loss of grandparents. That stress eating got me to the pleasently plump woman I am today.. The woman who feels like she has gotten to a point of no return. I actually lost a significant amount of weight about 4 years ago, I had gotten tired of it and completely revamped my life I lost 90 lbs! I looked amazing, I loved being alive, I had a whole new love for fittness that I had never thought was possible! I really miss that girl, and Im sure my kids do to. I got pregnant with my twins and the weight came on like no other.. I gained 80 lbs with my twins but actually once i delivered and healed from my vertical c-section them I was only about 30 lbs more than when i started. I of course had a lot of excess skin, something only cosmetic surgery will fix, but I felt good. Unfortunately, the next year and a half of sleepless nights caused my weight to spiral out of control, throw in every stress imaginable with being a mother of 4, working full time, finishing a degree, and LIFE and what do you get, ME! I know that my weight has put a strain on my relationship, I'm to the point that I dont want to leave the house because I feel so ashamed. My kids use to love when I took them on hikes and bike riding, and now it doesnt even seem obtainable. I feel horrible that I have allowed myself to become like this. I always put my children first and did everything for them and their health and making sure they had a good life and everything they could ever want, I just never thought my weight was taking away from them.. but now I know it is. As far as support goes, little to none, but that doesnt stop me I have always been my biggest cheerleader when it comes to getting what I want anyway. My fiance "supports" it but he got angry at me the other day and told me I was being selfish to him and he didnt have anything to look forward to and now i do. I know that when it comes down to it, this decision and my new lifestyle will cause some issues with us, however at this point I feel that I'm doing the right thing for me and my future. I hope that once he sees the changes in me, and starts to see me for the girl I was when he met me, maybe his attitude will change.

That is great!! I was sleeved 9/10 and am down about 39 lbs!! Feel so much better already!

I told myself that I would never post on a blog, I don't know why. Probably because of the reality factor of actually writing my thoughts and feelings for people to see frighten me. Well here goes the official entry. My story: I was a gymnast from the age of five to the age eighteen. I was never the petite type gymnast that you see on tv, I was thicker, and quite muscular. When I quit competing at eighteen I was active for about a year later, I contemplated bodybuilding but that would mean having a body I really didn't want. Soon came my parents divorce, which I was just downright pissed over, not upset, pissed. Along came my knight in shining armor. We were friends in high school and we were instantly inseperable, and very comfortable with eachother. So it was very easy for us to go out to eat. He was a football player and I had a pretty good appetite. Well without being in the gym and working it off they pounds began to creep on. I always thought the reason why was hormonal not what I was eating. Well we got married in 1998, we started having children right away by Sept 1999 we had our first child, I was able to get down to prebaby weight until I was pregnant again, had our second child in 2001, a little bit harder to get to prebaby weight. I joine Weight Watchers a couple of times, tried Atkins, started exercising, got pregnant with our third child, he was born in 2003. Soon after he was born, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's and Hypothyroid Disease. Finally, I thought this is my answer. I will take these little pills and they will help me. DENIAL, I know. Weight Watchers on-line this time. Fourth and final child born early in 2006, and to this date know where close to getting back to the pre-babies weight. That's the long boring background of it all (except for the babies they are far from boring). So here I am 10 days away from surgery. I am so fearful, doubtful, and excited. I had my pre-admission testing done 3 days ago and I've had a knot in my stomach eversince. My doctor only has me on a two day pre-op diet. I start it on Saturday, February 23 with full liquids and on Sunday, February 24 clear liquids,with surgery on Monday February 25th. So here it is, my very long first entry ( I now promise myself that from now on they won't be this long) Here's to a little over a week of nervous behavior!

also should note---i was just banded on june 2nd on 2010 so i am only like 10 days post