Search the Community

Well, I have had lots to say since the day I started talking but never put it in writing before. This should be interesting. Too bad I have to type it all out -I'd rather just talk into the mic like I do with texts on my iPhone! Ok - 6 weeks out of surgery... Week 1, down 7 now THAT's what I'm talking about!! (290) Week 2, down 6 Oh I got this... so easy! (284) Week 3, down 6, More food choices and it's still dropping away. Finally under 283 - that hump from hell I couldn't pass on my own! (279) Week 4, down 2, Hmm, well ok, not great but still a loss. (277) Week 5, down NOTHING! OMG!! Nada, Nyet, Rien!!! how can this be? How can the famous 3-4 month honeymoon phase be over already? I knew this was too good to be true. I'll probably wake up tomorrow and have gained 30 pounds! WTH! Ok, now really bummed. Am I really sticking to the program or do I just think I am? Maybe it's a fluke. Bad scale at gym... It did just get fixed so maybe it's way off. Hope so. Week 6, down NOTHING! Ok now wait a darn minute. Depending on the scale, even gained 2! Although it seems like I'm taking in less than 800 calories a day, I think I need to be even more vigilant. Maybe it's what I'm eating. No more pudding and small pieces of bread. Maybe it's not about what I can tolerate as the doc says, but making better choices? In the first months you're supposed to lose almost no matter what you eat since you're eating so little. Maybe my body is used to the smaller amounts because of my pre-surgery diet and so there's not much impact. Ok, I'm not giving up, I'm getting tough (and mad) at this fat. IT IS GOING!! So for the last 10 days I have had virtually no simple carbs and no sweets. Nothing but protein shakes, cottage cheese, yogurt, cheese stick here and there, and mainly fish with a few veggies. Also did some research on the rules and why they are as such... seems I was taking a few for granted, like the "no drinking with or 30 mins after a meal". Now I realize it's to keep you full longer as well as not wash the nutrients away before they're digested. Good to know. Also, protein and heavier, thicker things stay in the stomach longer than say... all the soup I was eating, so those food should keep me full longer. I have noticed that I get hungry more often, obviously because my stomach empties more quickly. I like the protein shakes but I'm hungry not to long afterward. Hmmm. Need to get with Katie, the nutritionist to make sure I'm doing things right. Eating about 6 times a day but small and full of protein. With -315 or so from the gym, my calorie count is about 500-600 a day. So, why the hell am I not losing? Theories - Maybe my body is used to the smaller amounts because of my pre-surgery diet and so there's not much impact. My body is in shock form the quick 19 pounds loss and is hording the calories fearing starvation? According to Ruth you always gain a pound or two before you lose a big amount. Rather than steady decline, it's a step like scenario, and I'll catch up with a big loss soon? 800 is too low, shoot for higher or your body thinks it's starving. There are apparently many posts on this 4-6 week stall - happens to lots of people so I feel a little better about that. If I stay very much on track, then the laws of physics should apply soon. They have to. In the meantime, it is sure disheartening. I even cried. Feeling like the whole thing was pointless if I have to struggle so hard already. Really, it's the same damn policing work since now I'm going for 800 instead of 1,200. I was hoping that it would be simpler... not such a fight. I knew I'd have to eat well, but I thought I'd have no more hunger pains pulling at me. I thought the sleeve would make it easier to stay within the calorie count of 1,200. I chose 800 to speed things up and make the most out of the first year of tremendous weight loss, since I have so far to go. I wanted 20 in month 1 and 10 per month thereafter, hoping for a loss of 60 and a weight of 237 by the time we go skiing in December. Stay tuned. In the meantime, gotta stay devoted, focused, upbeat, and fierce.

I'm 5 days out and I'm getting a mild cramp when I drink water. Jello, broth, yogurt ect. go down well. I'm drinking slowly and taking small sips, but still get the cramp and a little bit of gas/air comes up. How long does this last? Am I taking in too much? No nausea yet so I've been lucky. Pureed food is looking really good about now but I'm following the plan. I've had absolutely no hunger or maybe I can't tell due to the abdominal pain.

I had my first fill this afternoon by Jessie at Northwest Weight Loss Surgery and was in and out the door in 10 minutes...that included taking my shoes off, weighing-in and getting the fill! (My doctor does not have his patients do the barium/fluoroscope unless absolutely necessary. I don't know if that is trpical of most doctors or not). Amazingly, I did NOT feel a thing! She was done before I even knew she had done the procedure! (I was staring at the ceiling as she instructed me to do, reading the chart overhead.) The person who did my fill is one of the best in the US and wrote the book: [ame=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0595311148/qid=1130296666/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-8191535-1545448?v=glance&s=books]Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding: Achieving Permanent Weight Loss with Minimally Invasive Surgery[/ame] by Jessie H. Ahroni Ph.D. A. R. N. P. After filling me up with 1.5 cc she had me move to her office and drink about 5 ounces of Water before I could leave. I tolerated it well but could definitely tell there was a difference. My restriction has been pretty good so should be even better now! I pb'd this morning for the first time. I was running late so woofed down a few bites of scrambled Egg Beaters...wrong move! Took me 15 minutes to recover (burp..pb...burp...pb...burp) then off to the dentist I went...and of course I was now running late for my appointment...to have even more fun for the day...pb-ing and the dentist!!!! I could only eat a half cup of food for dinner tonight (I've been able to eat quite a bit more then that previously) and I felt satisfied so hopefully will start dropping pounds again. After a 27 pound loss, I went up a couple of pounds...eating too much soft food like cream Soup, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes (I know not the best idea!) and yogurt. I was eating meat and veges too but usually had one or two of the mushies with my meal. I can eat a cup of popcorn...no problem but bread is a no, no. I'm sure learning as I go. What a journey it is!!! I love it!

I am only 5 days out and I have been having tomato soup, tomato bisque, tomato basil soup, beef broth, french onion soup, yesterday I had a soft boiled egg that I chewed to death before swallowing, many protein drinks -- the Lindora type, including the hot chocolates, lots of water, some grape juice, V-8 juice, cranberry juice, and some non-fat yogurt also sucked to liquid. That seemed to help. Keep fluids going in and walk around to get rid of the gas pains. You need to have something every couple of hours. I know, I've been hungry too -- go in a week from Friday for my first check and don't know how I will continue liquids for another whole week! Yikes. Hang in there, as long as you suck and chew to liquid consistency you can have various soups -- just nothing with any real chunks. Hope that helps.

hello...good job i had lapband done jan 12th 6 weeks ago today and ive lost 41 lbs and feel great...the hardest time was the 1st 2 weeks on liquids but you wont even feel hungry......some days i feel more hungry then other days but i have a yogurt or sugar free pudding i seem to find the sugar free popsicles curve my appetite too.....protein shakes are good too when you feel hunger try the atkins chocalate one they seem too fill me faster.i walk every day with weights in my hands because my arms are big......when i started nutrition class last june i was 352 lbs now today im 293..so im trying my hardest to make this work....good luck and keep me posted!!!

I know how you feel. After almost two years and many band fills I still never felt full and could still eat anything I wanted. Discouraged. Then I had all the fluid removed and a few months later the first full was put back. 4cc ...I could only eat yogurt and liquids. Now with only 2 1/2 cc in I feel so different this time around. I eat only a half cup, and am not hungry for several hours. What a great feeling.

Wt 234 Oh, its so hard to get back on track. I did so good with eating on Friday & Saturday, and partially Sunday. Then Sunday night, broke down and had some yummy cheesecake. I brought my lunch to work today so I can stay on the LC Atkins track. I'm basically going to follow the Atkins plan until after I'm banded, then I'll do more of low fat and low carb. Todays menu: Breakfast scrambled egg/cheese 3 slices of thin bacon Lunch Chef salad Snack LC yogurt Dinner Turkey breast green beans I tried to get up at 5:00 am to make it to the gym, just couldnt drag my fat butt out of bed, I went to bed too late last night and I needed my sleep. So, I plan on exercising tonight at the gym. - I MUST get back to exercising!

I started some shopping for pre and post Op yesterday and came home with bags full. I don’t have a pre-op diet, but I’ve decided to do a self-imposed one. I’m drinking protein shakes for breakfast and lunch and then a healthy high protein dinner. According to my NUT and surgeon I’m not supposed to drink protein shakes, EVER, as they are a slider food and go against the bandster rules of eating solid protein. I’m totally on board with that and actually love that their lifetime diet is exactly what I was looking for, healthy food, just a lot less of it…like I keep saying when I see bandsters still drinking several of these shakes daily years out, if I wanted to be on a protein drink diet, then I would have done that, not the band (one of my sisters did this, so did Oprah…they both gained it back). I don’t expect to use protein shakes very often at all, maybe after fills, but I thought it can’t hurt to do this pre-op and I can gather a list of the ones I like. I looked online but soon realized to compare apples to apples was going to take some work on my part. So, I did what I always do, I made a list. The confusing part is if you’re concerned with carbs. With the powdered shakes you need to figure out the grams (they only list percentages) of what is added add to it…like skim milk. Skim milk isn’t low carb, so these powdered ones can quickly become a high carb as well as high protein drink once you add the milk (ie. Unjury). Yeah, you could add water, but bleeech! I bought an assortment to try locally. Some I’ve found hard to find in the stores (ie. low carb Slim Fast). I quickly decided I don’t like the pre-made ones in cans…they have a metallic taste to me (ie. Target Brand). The low carb ones in cardboard cartons haven’t been too bad (ie. Atkins, EAS). You can even buy some powders in huge concrete bags amounts (better be sure you like it first)... I’m back to the stores today (once the snow stops, yes I said snow, several inches...is it April?!) for some low sugar/SF (ie. preserves for yogurt) and low fat/FF items (ie. Refried Beans) to have on hand as well as the GasX and other items suggested post-op. If you have any favorite items, let me know…and if anyone knows where I can get the big containers of plain 0% or 2% Fage Greek Yogurt north of Pittsburgh, I’m offering a reward (my eternal thanks). Product Placement/Marketing?! (that Special Dark Hershey bar is calling my name)...

Hi BioTeacher! Have you ever been testing for Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome or Metabolic Syndrome? Based on what you have experienced I would say that you might be experiencing a difficulty that I have also experienced. I had a hell of a time in the beginning because the band books I was following said to go low fat and low this and that...it wasn't working and I didn't have any restriction for the first 6 months (6 fills). It wasn't until I got a new fill doctor and my 7th and 8th fill that I really started experiencing success. I knew I had PCOS but I didn't realize that if you have any kind of metabolic syndrome that the low fat approaches will not work. This new doc told me that I had to get in enough protein and fiber to kick start and fuel a metabolism that was completely headed in the wrong direction. He said one gram of protein for each half pound of body weight. So basically you can figure out how many grams of protein you need every day by divinding your weight in two. Mine was 230/2 =115 grams per day. Try it and see if it works for you. It did for me. I highly recommend the following items that will help you kick start your metabolism: 1.) Week 1 and 2 - reduce your carb intake to less than 50 grams per day eat only vegetables, meats, cheeses, and low carb shakes or bars with no sugar- gradually work your way up in protein intake by 20-30 grams per day until you are at the amount you should be taking in based on your weight calculation. Put your fork or spoon down in between bites and chew 12-15 times per bite. Don't bother bringing a drink to the table when you're eating...this prevents you filling up on liquid. Steer clear of all sugar in fruits, no yogurt, no processed foods with any sugar, honey, etc. Only splenda or stevia. Also, watch our for cured meats and items with nitrates. These will interfere with your kick start. Get some Atkins shakes, breakfast bars...these really help a lot! Russell Stover makes great low carb candy that will carry you through this so you don't freak out about not having your sweet fix. Have nuts and seeds on hand to give you fiber and energy. 2.) Go see your doctor about another fill. I had to be at 8.1 in a 10cc band before I had any restriction whatsoever. You might be having the same issue. My doc told me that if you are overweight and overeating for most of your life that you can often have stretched the top portion of your stomach as well so it takes more tightening before you get to the sweet spot. IF your current doc is unwilling, consider fillcentersusa.com - I have had great success with the doctor they recommended. He listens and only does fills...so he knows what he is talking about. They have centers all over the country and more added every month. www.fillcentersusa.com 3.) Week 3 and 4 - continue to limit yourself to less than 50 grams of carbs per day...try to go closer to 20 grams if you can...this will really kick start your metabolism and you will start losing weight if you haven't already. Do not eat anything with sugar in it. IF you mess up, get back on the horse and get on with it. You are still eating less than you were before...also if you want a freakin diet coke then have one...depriving yourself will mentally throw off your whole effort. Just don't make it a habit. 4.) After 4 weeks...see where you are. Are you losing? Do you have restriction? IF not, go visit the doc again for another fill. You can ask for one every month until you get where you need to be. Fill Centers has a policy that if they overfill you - then you can come back within 72 hours for an unfill with no charge. Some even have an underfill policy within 72 hours so you don't have to pay again if you aren't happy. After you start losing, you can experiment with adding a few more carbs to see where you stop losing weight. When it stops then back off the carbs a little and you'll find your spot where you can eat some carbs you like without ambushing your loss. This is how I'm doing it. Very little bread and fruit, lots of meat, cheese, vegetables (not so much on the carrots, corn, etc) but green veggies and salads, lots of nuts and seeds and protein shakes.) Also, there are some very high protein shakes out there called NewWhey. www.newwhey.com or at health stores. They are about 4 oz each (three swallows) and they have 40 grams of protein. I put them in the freezer for about 15 minutes and then drink it...you are more than half way done with protein for the day with these. Also, Atkins shakes and bars are very high in protein. Almonds are always good to have around. Let me know how this works for you. I'm very hopeful that you'll be able to enjoy success with your band!

Today is my week out as well. I can't wait until yogurt tomorrow. Other then 3 protein shakes a day I am on clear liquids for 2 weeks, adding yogurt and puddings only tomorrow. Feeling okay other then some tightness in the chest from hernia repair. Planning to return to work next week. Keep up the good work, it will be worth it!!

Years ago I kept having reoccuring yeast infections. The Dr. said that my husband and I kept giving it to each other....so he treated us both and it worked! He also told me to douche with plain yogurt mixed into warm Water. Haven't had an infection in ages. Hope this info is not too out-dated!!!

I was banded on the 20th and having similar experiences to you all. I still have some gas stuck up in my left shoulder, but it's really more irritating than painful. Today though I had sharp, shooting pain in my left ribs. The first time it happened, it caught me off guard and made it hard to get a good breath. As for food...I'm on the full liquid diet until 2 weeks post op. Over the last few days I've had Water, Gatorade, broth, SF Jello, SF pudding and even SF frozen yogurt. I felt really guilty about the frozen yogurt though. I'm down about 7 to 7.5 pounds since surgery. I did not do a pre-surgery diet.

Gen, it went well! 2 small shrimp and a bite of the yogurt I was full and happy lol

Yea, I tried to google it and it said to douche with pure yogurt with no sugar added with live bacteria.

Thj, glad to hear you are okay, and hanging in there. Tpagern, this stage will be over before you know it. Well maybe not that quick, but soon anyway. Anything is better than the pre-op in my opinion. Cream potatoes, yogurts, and eggs never tasted so good! Soft cooked veggies if you are a veggie eater (chewed well). I think the real stuff starts the 5th week? Anything pulverized, or chewed to a puree will go for mushies. Lots of sf drinks in different flavors help pass the day too. High protein helps stave off the hunger. LOTS of protein. You have taken all the first steps to being a more secure person. Look at all you have done for yourself! That takes courage! Go for long walks, and hop on that bike (after dark if that makes you feel better) All this exercise will cut your time nearly in half to reach your goals. I think you are going to be surprised how much easier things are going to get each month. YOU CAN DO IT!! Where is Lo2us?? Are you okay? Lisa, would you mind sharing some of that determination with us? We all need a dose every now and then.

I've always said I could live on bread and chocolate. I keep the Russel Stover's SF chocolates (big variety of fillings and dark or milk) as well as other sweets like SF preserves to put on Greek yogurt, SF maple syrup to go on my morning oatmeal, and SF fudgesicles, popsicles and creamsicles. I have one of those chocolates most nights after dinner and that gives me something to look forward to. I'm about 6 mo. out and a very good yo-yo dieter. I've never gone this long without losing it on sweets big time a lot. I have my moment when head hunger wins, but now I can have a bit and I'm OK...it's the weirdest thing. I've taken the attitude that nothing is ever off limits and I don't feel deprived like I have on other diets. If you're really worried about this, I'd at least discuss RNY with my doc as that would give you the added feedback of dumping that some (not all) get.

Rumor: I haven't had trouble drinking either and feel like i am doing something wrong because i am not only sipping 1 oz per 15 minutes but instead drinking a few ounces at a time when i read on here about people not being able to sip an oz at a time. I am going to chop this up to Water not filling the pouch and just slidding through due to less swelling than some. I get to start Full liquids tomorrow which includes ONLY the following : yogurt, milk, Protein shakes, pudding, soupy grits, and strained cream soup (and clear liquids). I have been on Clear Liquids since Sunday (1 day before surgery). My atkins shake never tasted so good and i am looking forward to some grits tomorrow morning. My only complaints are the tightness, hunger pains, gas, and the diarrhea (TMI). No one told me about the last one. I guess it is a given; liquid in...liquid out. I can wait to start mushies on day 15. It was worth it though. Hope everyone is doing well!

Hi linky, how you going? back home 5 days ago!!! Feeling really good an normal!!! Lost 10kg so far and happy about it!! Still on liquid diet , Protein shakes, optislim Soup ( can only have 1/8 a day!) , plain yogurt ( 1/8 a day) and 1 optislim shake a day. Taking all my Vitamins too... Water not doing so well 600ml a day!!!! I'm 3 weeks out today, my doctor want me on liquid for 4 weeks then gradually start eating food.., I'm scared to eat any thing...I'm enjoying my liquids!!! How you going Lincky? What's your progress ? How is your good intake? Are you able to eat much?

Congrats on being a bandster! My doctor told me not to count the day of surgery, so day one is actually the day after. One thing I have learned while reading these forums is the amount of variation all of the surgeons have for when to start clear fluids, then full fluids progressing to mushy or pureed and then finally regular food. I suggest calling your clinic and asking them, I am surprised they didn't send you home with detailed instructions. I had to spend five days on clear fluids and now am on my fifth day of full fluids (soups, pudding, yogurt), I have one more day then onto mushie pureed!! I am glad you are feeling well!

B- 1 egg w/ 1/4 toasted Thomas Lite Multigrain english muffin & 1 strawberry S- Boiled egg L- 1/4 c. chopped broccoli/cauliflower and swiss cheese w/ Boathouse farms Ranch Yogurt dressing S- 2 oz barbecue babyback ribs D- NACHO's-6 tortillia chips w/ a few tbsp. taco meat, salsa and sour cream Lots of Water w MIO Kelly

yes everyone please keep this going....I know dr's are all over the board about what to eat and when so it also helps to see where ya'll are in your journey....like.... 2 mos out ....or 6 mos out.... then we can kind of see how it all progresses....lets get this going again. I'm only 10 days out but heres my day b- protein shake from v8 strawberry/banana smoothie with 1 1/2 scoops of unflavored powder l- Yoplait greek yogurt d- 1 egg with turkey sausage bits and cheddar cheese.... I'm so sorry about this post... I can't make the spacing and new paragraphs work....idk!

Okay! Thanks Ladies!!! I feel better....I think I'm going to slow it down a bit...and stick to cottage cheese, Greek yogurt and cream soups!!!! Just to play it safe!!!! Keep your fingers crossed!!!!!

@@darima77 I think you DEFINITELY need more water. You should be aiming for 64 grams a day. And don't waste room on crackers and pretzels (I wasn't even allowed those until 3 months post-op). Focus on protein first. Not just shakes, but real food with protein. I assume you are cleared for solid foods now if you are already eating crackers and pretzels? If so, you should be incorporating some meat in there. Here's a general idea of what I was eating at about 40 days post-op: Breakfast: protein shake Morning Snack: string cheese Lunch: 2-3 oz. of meat, usually leftover from dinner Afternoon Snack: Dannon Light & Fit Greek Yogurt (only Greek yogurt I could stand the taste of) Dinner: 2-3 oz. of meat Evening Snack: protein shake With that plan, I was able to get close to my goal of 100 grams of protein a day. The "meat" listed above was usually whatever meat my husband was having with his dinner. Pulled pork in BBQ sauce, meatloaf, shrimp, sausage, indian style chicken prepared int he slow cooker, chili... I usually tried to do ground, pulled, or very tender meats, not just like a steak or piece of grilled chicken. Super dense meats were still hard for me to eat a lot of. So softer meats in some sort of sauce were usually easier.

im not eating much, im craving stuff i cant eat yet, my doctor said NO cabs till 6 monthes, i want yogurt, i want toast, cream soups..but cant have...b4 surgery i wasnt much of meat eater and dont like fish, so hard 2 get proteins in, im trying 2 get water in but can only do about 32 oz, i feel neaseous still alot...i feel pretty weak, get tired really fast, could sleep 12 hours but try not to....so i cant gie u insite on how much is 2 much cause i dont eat much....but by your pics u look great so u r doing something right!!!!

Lol. Yes I though the about that later like what was I thinking, but luckily it was ok. It was actually so refreshing to have something fresh like that, so used to yogurt, Beans, cottage cheese, tuna, eggs. It was a nice change. Sent from my KFSAWI using the BariatricPal App