Search the Community

hi, sharon it's true what the they say, you, have to becareful, with your eatting , and chew,alot, and small portions, use a baby spoon, for a while ,when your home, that will help you to eat small amount , i have a few,and my daugther wants them for her ,kids lol . one egg scrambled, 1 breakfast sausage,...and other morning,1 half a dollar size pancake, w/1oz cottage cheese,.. or 2oz. cearal w/ 2oz.low1% fat milk,chew well, or1/2 of banana or less in your 4oz. protein shake,you do the math. or farina 4oz. or oat meal 4oz. lunch: ham and cheese sandwhich just cut out the crust.and weight, to 3oz.total.and 1oz potato salad. chew well, is not much in size but, i hope you get the idear.. variety...and is normal food. some thing you are familar with for now, until, you make really changes, and dareing to start changing you food ,choses, dinner: meat loaf 3oz. mashed potato 1oz. or steak 2oz. and 1oz.pork and bean w/1oz rice.. and if you can tolerate some of the foods too, is a trail and error, also, so you need to be careful, in what you eat, because, at one time you could eat, every thing and now, you mite not be able to.. so please, becareful, you mite feel tight or pain. just stop eatting.. it can happen with any kind of foods, any kind, even the ones you like most and love to eat....but.. all in all you'll love your band and your energy, and getting out, and feeling great... enjoy.. margie ------------------------------------ margie 295/257.8/-37 band 4/5/04 bx ny. move to pa. STILL AMAZE AT THE BEAUTY OF IT ALL...

Remember that not everyone gets tight when they fly, but I know there are a number of threads/posts where people say they do. I can't speak for everyone, but I think the stress of travel adds to normal altitude tightness. Did I pack everything? Do I have all my documents and gear? etc. To answer your question, I don't "feel" anything. I just notice that I can't eat much solid food flying day and for much of the day after. I'm usually back to normal by evening the second day. I stick to soups, protein drinks and soft foods until the swelling goes down and the band loosens up. You have so many new and exciting things to look forward to! Best wishes on your upcoming wedding and your banding. You'll have to share a wedding photo with all of us! Oh, and a trip to Spain sounds WONDERFUL too! My hubby and I are headed off diving in 3 weeks, but nothing as exciting as Spain! In my pre-band days, I was using 21-22 pounds of weight. Last trip (in the summer) I was using 16 pounds. I am most sure I"ll be able to drop another pound. After this trip I've got to get some new gear, and a thicker suit - BRRRR!

I'm kind of in a whirl the last few days/weeks. I have been meaning to start exercising intensely every day and focusing on eating my veggies to get my blood, heart and body as ready physiologically as I can for surgery. For whatever reason, my body has kindof "shifted" for the worse and my food cravings and addiction-like feelings towards food have gotten more and more toxic. I walked 3 miles on Saturday (outside--prob'ly shouldn't have done that with the pollen) and I was DYING!!! My ankles have been SO puffy after each day of work. The 10 pounds I gained to qualify for the insurance have come with a vengence and I guess I got those the hard way, because they are HERE to STAY it feels like! And with them--heartburn out of my mind, breathless at the slightest exertion, and a "free for all" feeling of eating "my last" filet mignon, soft pretzels upon soft pretzels, cookie dough, mint chocolate shakes before the surgery. I feel so afraid that I will fail at this surgery and what it takes to make it successful. I feel almost clingy to my crazy eating habits that have taken me to this place. This week is a crazy week. Today I have my thyroid doctor (typical checkup), tomorrow the appointment with the lawyer to do my will/trust/power of attorney, Wednesday I have my OBGYN yearly appt and then the PCP pre-op appointment. June 2nd is the PREOP with my surgeon. Today I really want to focus on my goals for the next three weeks and really try to take back the reins for this getting myself ready for surgery.

Today was the big day, it is day 15 since I was banded and I am allowed to have soft food, but at least I am out of the liquid stage. It is my mom's birthday and her favorite food is chinese.. so of course we ordered. I had steamed moo shu chicken with sauce on the side. I was very sparing with the sause and ate about 1/4 and just decided that was probably enough I didn't want to push it! However, it went down really well.. since I do not have a fill yet I was wondering if it would limit me at all and it didn't at first, but also did not feel full... because i was chewing very well and going very slow. However, I got home and about six hours later I wanted to try a little more. I start heating up about another 1/4 and i of course take a fork and put some in my mouth and my boyfriend asks me a question so I swallowed it real quick.to answer him.. I wasnt thinking ... and than it happened .... it got stuck and it all came up a few seconds later! It might sound werid, but I was like wow .. great.. my band is there and it works some what before a fills.. my question is .. i lost 20lbs during the first two weeks .. while on the first two weeks of the post opp diet.. will i start to gain all the weight back ?... even if I am staying away from carbs and do only one meal a day with shakes for two other meals??? I am nervous because after eatting a little I do not feel full.. I feel like I can keep eatting if I really wanted by chewing well and eatting slow????

You to find a way to track what you're consuming. If you're putting everything you eat into, say, myfitnesspal it will tell you how much Protein you're getting. There are other apps but I'm not familiar with them. The fluids look good but I think you're supposed to be getting 48oz to 64oz. You don't need to do 30mins. If you're doing 5 everyday that's great, keep that up. Some reality here: there's no way after sleeve surgery you're consuming as much as you did before surgery. Like everyone else, you are probably in a calorie deficit everyday. The weight will come off, but it may be super slow if you're not getting enough calories or other reasons. Something needs to be tweaked and your surgeon's office is the best place to ask. I wish I had answers for you.

NeverBeTheSameAgain i "think" losing 10 lbs in a month is good (average) - so you are on track w/8 1/2 lbs gone i have heard also that if you are slightly "bigger" the weight comes off quicker and easier not necessarily true but remember - we're all different we all lose weight in a different time period never, never, ever compare your weight loss with someone else I'm sure you are doing everything right eating vvvvery slowly getting in all your Water, not drinking during meals waiting 45-60 minutes after you eat before you drink again chewing into small "shreds" of pieces as long as you are following all the rules - its almost impossible not to lose weight you are on such a small caloric intake maybe still on puree'??? being sad takes more energy try and smile (easier said than done) i can see in your lovely face you will succeed good luck kathy "God Grant Me Patience, Just Hurry Up About It!!"

I knew I was in the Green Zone because things got very easy, the band began to work as advertised.......coming out of the struggles of Bandster Hell into a healthy lifestyle, with steady weight loss and no hunger/cravings....

Weight loss is difficult when you drink everyday... gotta work on that!

I am just stopping by to introduce myself. I am very excited to have found this forum. I have not been banded yet but have begun the journey. I was just approved for surgery today after having my psychological exam. My next step is to meet with the surgeon. I have not officially heard if I have been approved for insurance but I meet I criteria, so I am hoping there will be no surprises there. I started this process 3 years ago only to find out that insurance would cover RYN but not the band. After the disappointing news I tried 1 more time really hard to lose weight and had lost 35 lbs, took me about a year, then started slowly gaining it back again. Fed up with the yo yo once more I called my insurance. Since then they have approved the band. Originally I had started the process with Dr. Malley in Kansas City, but when I started looking into it again he was 4 months out before I could even start seeing him so I did some research and decided to go with Dr. Hoehn. So far everything has been great and I am happy with that choice.:tongue:

Well as of today I am down 18 lbs since surgery...I'm thinking that is pretty good seeing how Tuesday will be 3 weeks since my banding. I have done fairly well with sticking to how and what I am to eat. Still need to take in more fluid and protein but everyday gets better. I was finally able to sleep in my own bed after about a week due to I was still so sore where my incisions are. I had a few days were I over did it with getting out and about that I would feel sick and nauseated the rest of the day. I guess its called sliming. I would get all sick feeling and my mouth would water like I was gonna be sick but never would. Other than that I have been fine. Went for my 10 day check up and doc said everything was healing well and my weight loss was good. He started me on solids but told me to take it slow. So for the past week I have been on them with very little issues. I haven't started exercising yet. Will try walking this week and gradually increase it from there.

Congrats on your success!! I too am slower with my weight loss than it seems other people are, but your story gives me hope that I'll get there! Thank you for sharing

Menu: 7/5 Breakfast: Nothing Lunch: Grilled chicken wings w/ grilled zucchini squash and low carb/sugarfree cole slaw. Snack: Peanuts Dinner: Leftovers grilled chicken wings w/ grilled zucchini squash and low carb/sugarfree cole slaw Exercise: Walking/Running 3 1/2 miles Weights Be blessed!

Well only "7 Days" and the Band will be on! So far so good. I'm also a Type II Diabetic, and the past week my levels have been on Point, from 80-108 and I cut my Lantus (Insulin) down 80%!!! Do I smell a Needle Free Future?! I went to my PCP to get my Final Clearance this morning, all the Paperwork stuff. They took my Weight, I'm down almost 14lbs!!! I didn't believe it, so I weighed myself on two other scales there, but that's what it said. I really can't see a difference tho. I just have never felt this good about anything I've ever done, I mean done just for me. And I'm actually following through with it. But I have to say this Forum is what's getting me through. I have gained a lot of knowledge from you all, so thank you so much! Your Friend, Rocko~~:welldoneclap:

A lot of factors go into how much weight you will lose and how fast. Not the least of which is how you body adjusts to the band. Some bandsters start off quick and never slow down until they reach goal (those are usually the ones who feel restriction right away and don't require too many adjustments). Others lose a lot at first then settle to a slower pace (these are probably people who follow the post surgery rules very well but when the swelling goes down they experience bandsters hell and get real hungry, they test the boundaries of what they can eat, they feel no real restriction until after a few adjustments). Then there are the few who see no or little loss of weight, even after several adjustments (these are those who feel no restriction, it really is difficult for them to lose weight). Then there are all the other people who don't fall into any mold at all -- those are probably the majority of us. I have a graphic by my desk depicting the story about the tortoise and the hare. I've always considered myself the tortoise. It will take me longer to lose the weight but I will get there and enjoy my journey. My sister was always the hare. She could lose weight so fast it made my head spin. Well, the hare is now over 400 lbs and will finally be getting the lap-band. She'll still probably lose weight faster than me but hopefully this time it will stay off. Your personal lap-band journey will be your own story. How fast or slow you lose weight is up to you and your band. Never compare yourself to anyone else because your body is different and your mind is different. Where you are in your life journey is also different than anyone here. The important thing is that you've chosen to take this journey. Your bags are packed and you are about ready to fire up the car. What you'll see and experience and how long it takes is a mystery, but your destination is not. You will get to where you are going.

Hello, I am scheduled to have my lap band surgery this upcoming Tuesday and am feeling a bit anxious. I was wondering if anyone could give me any words of wisdom about what to expect after the surgery, particulary the first few weeks when diet seems to be very limited. I would like to drop 75 lbs. but my doctor tells me 50 is more realistic, can anyone comment on this? It's always been my feeling that dieting, like anything else in life, gives you what you put into it. If all guidelines are followed I'm assuming greater weight loss is possible, for those of you living with the band, any feedback would be most appreciated. Thanks! Raenee

(Reuters) - One night when Lynn McAfee was 5 years old, her psychologically troubled mother left her at the side of a road as punishment for a now forgotten infraction.In the minutes before her mother's car returned, the terrified girl looked toward the nearby houses on the suburban Philadelphia street and wondered if she should walk over and ask for help."But I didn't," said McAfee, 62, who is now the director of medical advocacy for the Council on Size and Weight Discrimination. "I didn't think anyone would want a fat child."The stigmatization of obesity begins in preschool: Children as young as 3 tell scientists studying the phenomenon that overweight people are mean, stupid, ugly and have few friends. It intensifies in adulthood, when substantial numbers of Americans say obese people are self-indulgent, lazy and unable to control their appetites. And it translates into poorer job prospects for the obese compared with their slim peers.It may be the nation's last, accepted form of prejudice. But the stigmatization of obesity has repercussions beyond the pain it inflicts on its targets: It threatens to impede efforts to fight the obesity epidemic."As long as we have this belief that obese people are lazy and lacking in discipline, it will be hard to get support for policies that change the environment, which are likely to have a much larger impact than trying to change individuals," said psychologist Rebecca Puhl of the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.That barrier to action is becoming clearer as the nation grapples with the costs of having two-thirds of adults overweight or obese. This week, an influential health panel proposed changes to an obesity-promoting environment, from farm policies to zoning, trying to shift the debate away from personal blame.A new Reuters/Ipsos online poll of 1,143 adults from May 7 to 10 captures some of the prejudicial attitudes. Asked to identify the main cause of the epidemic, 61 percent chose "personal choices about eating and exercising"; 19 percent chose the actions of food manufacturers and the fast-food industry. The poll is accurate to within 3.6 percentage points. Because of the methods used to collect the data, accuracy is measured using a statistical measure called a credibility interval.Reflecting the belief that the obese have only themselves to blame, 49 percent of respondents favored allowing insurers to charge obese people more for health insurance.Poll respondents also showed broad support for efforts that target the food industry: 56 percent wanted to limit advertising of unhealthy food or taxing sugared soda, 77 percent were in favor of calorie counts at restaurants and sport arenas. But an all-out ban on fast-food restaurants? America loves its Big Macs: Only 21 percent said yes.EFFECTS OF THE STIGMAOne effect of the obesity stigma is that discrimination on the basis of weight is legal. Michigan is the only state that prohibits it, along with a few towns and cities. Everywhere else, it is legal to deny people jobs or refuse to rent them an apartment if they are obese. The fact that two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese has not led to bans on such discrimination.That does not surprise McAfee, who weighs about 500 pounds. "Studies show that fat people are even more prejudiced against fat people" than thin people are, she said.Even respected leaders such as New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, seen as a potential running mate for Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, are not spared the mockery.Christie's girth was the target of fat jokes at the White House Correspondents' dinner last month, though he shrugged them off."When you're overweight, fair or unfair, there's going to be those who make really awful comments about you and there are going to be people who make jokes about it. That's the way it goes," Christie told reporters.The stigma also hurts the efforts of America's 73 million obese adults and 12 million obese children to get back to a healthy weight: Targets of stigma often fall into depression or withdraw socially. Both make overeating, binge eating, and a sedentary existence more likely, studies show.Sophie Lewis and her colleagues at Monash University in Australia interviewed hundreds of obese adults who were the target of such comments as "look at that fat lady!" when out in public. As a result, found Lewis, obese people are less likely to exercise by walking outdoors.Even healthcare professionals hold negative attitudes about the obese, studies show. Physicians often spend less time with an obese patient, for instance, and do not counsel them about a healthy lifestyle, perhaps believing it would fall on deaf ears.Doctors and nurses who telegraph negative attitudes toward the obese can keep them from seeking treatment for diabetes, found a study led by Elizabeth Teixeira of Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions in Philadelphia."Patients are afraid of hearing, 'you're fat,' or 'just lose weight,' as if it were that easy," said Teixeira, a nurse practitioner specializing in diabetes. "I've had patients tell me they delay seeking care, even having their blood pressure or glucose checked, because they don't want to be lectured."A 2010 study by scientists at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore found that the fatter a patient, the more likely a doctor is to assume he or she is not taking medications as prescribed. That, other studies have shown, can keep physicians from prescribing needed meds, assuming they won't be taken.Taking all that data into account, it may not be surprising how reluctant people are to call themselves obese. In the Reuters/Ipsos poll, 14 percent of respondents said they are obese. Based on their self-reported height and weight, 26 percent are obese according to U.S. guidelines.SHIFTING THE DEBATEThe belief that obesity reflects personal decisions implies that the solution, too, should be personal: Eat less, move more. But as the Institute of Medicine argued this week, the most effective way to combat obesity is to change the environment.For average American adults, willpower is no match for "an environment in which we are constantly bombarded by food and food cues," said David Kessler, former head of the Food and Drug Administration and author of the 2009 book, "The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite." "Lecturing people doesn't work."The IOM recommended building sidewalks to make it easier for people to walk, banning sugary drinks from schools and requiring 60 minutes of daily exercise in grades K-12, reducing portion sizes in schools and restaurants, and making low-cal choices widely available and as affordable as super-sized ice cream cones. Most important, it concluded, was changing the "messaging," including the ubiquitous marketing of calorie-dense food.Fat stigma makes those ideas ripe for attack by an industry that says how much to eat and move reflects individual choice. The restaurant- and food-industry-funded Center for Consumer Freedom called the IOM "arrogant and absurd" for suggesting "that Americans are too stupid to make their own food choices." By proposing to keep unhealthy, calorie-dense food out of school lunch programs, it said, "food nannies" like the IOM are "flatly arguing against consumers having any choice in their snacks and meals."In the Reuters/Ipsos poll, respondents were almost evenly split over "government intervention" to reduce obesity, with 52 percent supporting it and 48 percent opposing it. There was greater support for specific steps, with 87 percent in favor of requiring 30 minutes per day of exercise in school.ROOTS OF THE STIGMAPsychologist Chris Crandall of the University of Kansas has found that young adults who stigmatize obesity tend to be more ideologically conservative, favoring traditional sex roles and capital punishment, his studies found."Particularly in America, self-determination and individual choice is a fundamental value," he said. "We blame people for everything that happens to them - being poor, being obese. It's the ‘just world' idea that people get what they deserve."The stigma is less pronounced in countries such as India, Mexico and Turkey, whose cultures assign more collective responsibility for personal outcomes, Crandall found. His studies, going back to the 1990s, surveyed hundreds of people worldwide about how closely they associate obesity with adjectives such as lazy and stupid.Americans also stand out in their conviction that hard work and determination lead to success, while failure is due to lack of effort."Being thin has come to symbolize such important values as being disciplined and in control," said Yale's Puhl. The converse: If someone is not thin, he must be lacking in those virtues.Indeed, some Americans value thinness more than life itself. In a 2007 study, 24 percent of women and 17 percent of men said they would trade three or more years of life to be svelte.Yet despite the rising personal stakes, a growing body of research shows just how hard it is for the average person to keep the pounds off.Just before speaking to Reuters, McAfee had exercised for an hour in her Florida pool and had a salad for lunch."I work out, I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, and I'm still not thin," she said. "So please stop beating the crap out of me: It's completely counterproductive."(Additional reporting by Edith Honan; Editing by Michele Gershberg and Prudence Crowther)

I totally get you, I did the same thing for about almost two Weeks but it finally started up again after I looked at what I was eating. I had been allowing myself two Lindt truffles each night and realized that when I started that I stopped dropping weight even though it wasn't much in the way of calories but I think the sugar and fat were the culprit. I stopped while also chiding myself on trying to revert to old habits and the pounds started coming off again. Now I'm 34 days out and down the same in pounds but two days ago stalled out again but I think this time its just a natural body recovering period because I have really been careful about what I'm eating. I think when we lose so much weight in a short amount of time its natural for our bodies to take time outs and re normalize. Even though those stalls make us doubt everything we just put ourselves through I think they are a normal thing.

Well I made it through that. I have lost 17lbs and I was surprized. I hadn't weighed for two weeks prior. I had a 255 goal and weighed in at 254!!! I can feel a difference with 2cc's in my 4cc band. I can't wait to pull this weight off.... The local for this fill was a little painful but not bad. I didn't pay a cent at Hamilton Diagnostic. They filed insurance for me... Cyall:cool:

1 kg after a 62 pound loss is hardly anything to get stressed about. There are so many variables, and unless you have consumed (or not burned) in excess of 7500 calories in that week it is highly unlikely to be weight in the form of body fat. You need an excess of approx 3,500 calories to gain 1 pound of body fat.

I've been biting my tongue about this, but I can't hold it in any longer. I hate that expression with the passion of a thousand fiery nuns! Maybe a million nuns. That's because every time I join a diet program, the people in it and the leaders say that. And then half the people drop out before they make goal and the rest gain their weight back. The truth is that food not only tastes great, it fills emotional needs. So in the short run, it often tastes better than being thin (an abstract concept that is far in the future for many) feels. My own motto is: I can do anything for 1 day. Or sometimes it's I can do anything for 2 hours or even 1 hour because that's all the willpower I have at that particular moment. I plan to use this motto a lot during the liquid and mushy stages.

....astronauts. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_space_travelers_by_name Remember, it's not the pull of gravity that matters, it's the composition of the mass.

At first, nothing much. You won't be able to eat much of anything so you will continue to lose weight. However, months after surgery you will find that you can now eat more. That's when problems can develop if you eat too many carbs or junk. I'll be a year out of surgery on the 12th and I still incorporate the shakes. I like them. I found the best one for me is Body Fortress that you can buy at Walmart, chocolate and vanilla. The strawberry ones are gross. They help me keep my Protein requirements.

I noticed in a few other thread that there are quite a few twin moms on here. I have b/g twins and they are 3yr old. I was just wondering how you are all doing with your bands? My tummy never tightened back up after having my twins, so I'm a little nervous as to losing weight, will I just "deflate" more? Do you have any other kids? I have a 7,6,5,and twin 3's.

You can do your best to emulate a post surgical full foods diet, 6 meals a day, focusing on proteins first, and everything else second. Cut all added sugars, coffee, soda. Make sure you are getting over 64oz of water a day. You start doing that now and not only will it be easier later, but you'll be dropping weight like you need to. Also, start exercising now as well, at least 6 hour of focused exercise. Learn to not drink while you are eating and waiting 30 mins before and after eating before drinking again.

Hi all, Today marks 5 months since I had an emergency operation to remove my lap-band due to over-restriction resulting in a pouch dilation. I pleaded with my surgeon not to take it out. When they put me under I still thought they were just going to re-adjust it. When I woke I was told it was removed. I vomited and cried with the shock. My recovery was incredibly slow and far more painful than the initial operation to have it put in. Since that time I have been working hard not to gain any weight. Exercising, watching my intake etc, but just talking about it gets me upset. My surgeon and the clinic gave me no support and denied all responsibility, blaming it on me. I want to reach out to other people in sililar situations to discuss coping mechanisms and look on our experiences together with a positive edge. It has been a real challenge for me and I'm sure I'm not alone. I know there have been many great things happened as a result of having a band for 11 months, losing weight, gaining confidence, taking up sports etc, but I still find it hard to 'get over' the horrible experience of having my band taken out against my will. All advice, stories, and general support are welcomed and appreciated. Thank you