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Hello Since the surgery I have become lactose intolerant. And since I worked this out I have stopped taking Protein shakes. I am in a stall and often at a loss for what to eat easily and want to get back on the shakes. However, I am aware that a lot of the lactose free Protein Shakes on the market contain protein which is not easily absorbed or beneficial. I have been looking at soy, pea, and egg white protein powders. Does anyone know what I should be looking for or what I should avoid? Most threads on here discussing protein powders refer to brands which are no good to me as I live in New Zealand and do not have access to the same brands. So I am looking to understand types of protein rather than specific brand recommendations. Thank you! Louise

Everyone stalls no matter what, but it will all work out in the end. Keep believing in your success. It will happen. I had a huge 3 week stall starting at week 5. You may see a stall that will last 1-2 months as you get past month 6. No need to worry. That too shall pass. Keep up the good work!

I agree w fiddleman.. I heard there is a huge stall after 6 month. I am at 7 never had a large stall but i am essentially at goal weight. Chris

Hello everyone! I was hoping to get some of your opinions on something. Let me start with some history. I was banded in 1/08 (love my band) and have lost 39lbs since the surgery. I have been married for 6 years now and am 28 years old. My hubby and I really feel its time to start a family. Right now my weight is still 320lbs :cursing:. I really don't want to have to wait until I get to my goal weight to start trying to have a baby but I also want to have a healthy pregnancy and baby. I'm wondering how much more I should loose before we start trying. Other than being the weight I am, I am a healthy person. I don't have have diabeties or High blood pressure and I'm working out at least 4 days a week for an hour or more. I plan on talking to my doctor about this but I was hopping for some feed back from some people who have been through the same thing. Thanks!!

Ok. I'm having no problems getting my fluids and protein in. I feel like I can sip on soup all day long. Is this normal? I realize that things will probably change when I start puréed in two weeks, but I want to make sure I'm not doing too much

Kind of a loner and don't really reach out much on these kind of things. Feeling a little bit challenged and have been sticking with the diet and doing well. Kind of annoyed with not being able to get back to the gym right away and lift to be honest. Having mild to moderate gas pain but I suppose in due time it'll get better from what I read. I kind of already had this feeling, not in relation to the sleeve, just about life in general, but lately that seems to be changing. exulansis n. the tendency to give up trying to talk about an experience because people are unable to relate to it—whether through envy or pity or simple foreignness—which allows it to drift away from the rest of your life story, until the memory itself feels out of place, almost mythical, wandering restlessly in the fog, no longer even looking for a place to land. Hard to explain without going into the fact I'm a cancer survivor, and that feeling I have is prevalent when it comes to relating to most people and expressing myself. Don't mistake it for a lack of caring or that I'm depressed. it's just that I'm enervated with trying to explain things that are not just simply understood and people think that a heart to heart is going to allow them to experience the sum whole of my life and get it. I am feeling detached a lot lately, you eat and consume one way your whole life and now that's changed. This feeling I'm now having sounds like one describes as withdrawal, I've not the desire to attempt to break the diet and blow out my staples or cause a leak, but that doesn't mean I don't have the acute awareness that I'm having a bit of an existential crisis with the changes. I've been actually talking with family and friends about it, which I was happy to keep this as much to myself as possible. Kind of weird for me to be sharing this much, but I suppose there is a first time for everything or maybe at this point I am ready... I noticed one thing that did improve my bleh was having some bullion (salt) because my BP was disastrously low and the nurse that works for my surgeon agreed. Anytime I stood up I was nearly passing out. I never usually sleep this much either. Never really had depression before, but from the sounds of it I have a lot of the symptoms as well as physiological issues that are causing this general feeling of ennui toward life. Working from home and being in the swing with that has been a good distraction at least. I'm a little moody and it's hard to provide tech support over the phone to idiots, I mean cx... lol Can't wait to get approval to exercise properly again, this waiting and listlessness sucks.

I'm so happy to be out of bandster hell:thumbup:. Wanted to share the good news- had my 2nd fill last week and I'm very proud of my choices (food and getting banded). I'm down about 32lbs and can really see the difference in me. I wanted to share to let others know that bandster hell will pass and keep up your hard work!! Thanks for this great outlet and support, Kristina:wub:

Hey everyone!! Okay so...my journey is going by seemingly more quickly. What was ~supposed~ to happen was to not even see the doctor until next week.. but I was on Facebook this morning and my mom came into the room and asked me how I felt about seeing the doctor tomorrow..which would technically be today seeing as how it's 2am here haha. I was like "Okayy.." So I go for bloodwork in about 6 hours. To be perfectly honest, I am terrified because of my own family history. I'm adopted and I've got a brother a year to the day older than me (Weird, right?? haha!) I was told that he is already a diabetic...at 21. Because we're so close in age, I'm sooo scared that the doctor is gonna tell me that I'm also in the beginning stage of being a diabetic at the age of 20. My mom keeps telling me that it's gonna be fine and chances are pretty enormous that everything's still normal. I swear, my procedure date CANNOT be scheduled soon enough!! So that's what's going on at the moment. I'm still really up in the air about when the right time will be when I tell everyone. I wanted to wait until I got an actual date but knowing my dad and from past experiences, our whole family will know by the time this week is over. I swear, our whole church is gonna be told Sunday. **Sigh** Anyway, I'll update everyone when I find out what the next steps will be!! Love you guys!!

I've had a couple of stalls so far. I have found that what has worked for me is to try and put it out of your mind (easy to say, hard to do - I know!) and to just listen to your body. I found that each time I've been stalled I've also been more hungry than usual. I tried eating a little more (within my doctor's guidelines) and moving more -- that seems to have worked for me. I find that as you get closer to your goal, the scale moves more slowly. One last piece of advice -- focus on what you have lost so far and not on what you still have to lose -- enjoy your progress (and don't be hard on yourself)!

I FINALLY received the call...YAY. I took about three weeks but I got it! I am scheduled for surgery July 21st. .. Soooo very excited - I am actually looking forward to July 7th when I start my two week pre-op diet....I will be just that much closer!!

My surgeon's office told me a month, but it only took about a week. Of course, I have no patience, so I called the insurance company everyday. I have United Healthcare for insurance.

I wish I had your group! I've asked about calories a day because I feel like 700 calories when I'm almost 3 months post op is way too low. Especially if I'm doing an hour of cardio 6 days a week.

6 weeks clears for my regular Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I have been dizzy and weak lately. I'm 4 weeks postop today. I asked my bariatric nurse about it today and she said I may be slightly dehydrated and to keep trying to get in the Water. I was going to go to bed early but I think I'll stay up and keep drinking.

Salad hadn't bothered me post-surgery. I was able to eat two cups easily. All that changed last night with my third fill. I was supposed to have it last week; but had lost too much weight the week before. This time they added quite a bit of fluid, so I was done with my salad after only a couple bites. The tomatoes went down better, but the mushrooms were a definite NO! Everyone is different. I recommend a salad with chicken or other protein in it. Eat most of the protein towards the beginning of the meal. Your body will tell you when you are done. Also, a little hint; I add non-fat milk to my dressing to thin it out. That way it moistens more of the lettuce and makes it easier to eat without adding extra fat and calories.

Has anyone been dizzy if the don't get enough proteins or eaten three meals?

I use the pills for regulating my period as i hv hormonal prob...am also almost 5 weeks post op..since two days i started the pills again my gyno n the surgeons were ok with it

Weight loss often happens in steps down, rather than a continual slope. If I'm constipated that also slows down the weight loss, so keep up your fluids and moving around. It's very common to hit a plateaus around this time. It will pass. I didn't lose anything from 3 to 7 weeks post surgery but now I'm losing 10 lb per month pretty steadily.

I I've decided I want to run a 5k before my surgery which will probably be in a few months. I am very excited for surgery and I want to prove to myself that I can run a 5k. I just finished my 2nd day first week of training. It is such an empowering feeling when your running knowing that your in control of your body and how far you can push yourself. Is there anyone else doing the c25k?

Does anyone else have sleep apnea that has gone away after surgery? I am doing whatever it takes to have this surgery, but I am a bit upset. I just had to go and get a CPAP machine because I have very mild sleep apnea. I'm on the lowest setting the machine has. I can't help but feel that it is just a doctor wanting more money. I was told that the apnea will probably go away after surgery but I still have to have my CPAP machine for these few weeks that I have left before surgery, and right after. Ugh. Wasteful. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I first read about this 5 Day Pouch Test here on Bariatric Pal. So glad I saw this. I ordered the book & downloaded it on my Kindle. I have been in a stall for almost 2 months & it has driven me crazy. One of the things this Test will do is break the carb issue. Carbs are a huge issue for me. I've read over half the book & I am starting the Test tomorrow. I saw my surgeon a couple of weeks ago & she suggested I drink nothing but Protein shakes 1 day a week to help with my stall & to break bad habits. It was after that doctor visit that I saw this information about the Test. I wish anyone trying this Test good luck. I hope everyone doing this will post their results. BTW, I got the book off Amazon. Worth every penny. It was written by a woman that had a gastric bypass a few years ago & has struggled with the same issues as the rest of us. This is a lifetime change in eating habits & we all need all of the help we can get.

My surgeon doesn't have an after hour number. I have a emergency center that does treat lap band patients. I didn't have a problem until I had to take all these pills! I just ate another shrimp. Went down fine. I think I will be ok until my appointment on Tuesday. It's just pretty scary when you can only drink one cup of Water in 5 hours. This week was the first week I had to take any pills in 6 months. All my Vitamins are gummies or liquid. I only took the one Azithromiacin this morning and cut into 4 little pieces. No Sudefed or Ibuprofin today. I think I will live. I just hope the 2 Ibuprofen didn't hurt me. Thanks y'all!

Your doctor is the only one who can help diagnose whether you're having a problem with your band, and what to do about it. Good luck on that score. I wanted to let you know about your weight loss right now. You are NOT on a plateau. When you're in the first few weeks post-op, and on a mostly liquid diet, your system is flushing Water weight. The large weight loss you've experienced is totally normal. But when you start eating "real" food again, your metabolism slows down, and processes that food in a different way than it does a liquid diet. When you're back fully on solids, your weight loss will be even slower - for a few weeks. But if you stick to your daily diet regimen and exercise plan, and let each day look like the day before, after a time your body will reset the metabolism set point, and your weight loss will continue. it isn't a plateau, it's your body adjusting to the changes in diet you're giving it. A big thing you'll want to know and fully understand as you move forward on this journey: Weight loss is rarely linear or constant. Instead of picturing your weight loss as the side of a loading ramp, that slants downward steadily and smoothly, picture the side view of a staircase instead. You'll go along on the horizontal step for a bit, then suddenly drop down to the next lower step. You go along on that step for a bit, then drop down to the next lower step. The length of time on one step will vary, as will the height of the drop to the next lower step. I have my diet and exercise plan set to lose two pounds a week, but that doesn't mean I lose a pound every three and a half days. It means on average, I'm losing two pounds a week. I've been losing about ten pounds a month, but I may go a couple of weeks without losing anything on the scale, then suddenly drop a pound a day for three or four days. It's not consistent, other than to continue moving downward. So as you move forward in your journey, don't get frustrated if you go a week or two without losing anything on the scale. Keep focused and doing what you know you should, and the weight will drop off when it's ready. The biggest issue I've seen is people getting freaked out and start changing up their routine, without giving their bodies a chance to catch up to the steady changes we're pushing on it. Good luck with your journey, and hope your doctor will tell you everything is okay with your band! Dave

Welcome! I am new to all this, too. I had my sleeve surgery on 12/26, am feeling pretty good so far, and have lost 12 lbs. You will do great, and as far as the anesthesia goes, I found that my anesthesiologist was really approachable and answered as many questions as I needed to ask. In fact, I think they even checked in a week beforehand, too. It is a big lifestyle change, but luckily the doctors (or at least mine) have everything divided in to phases, so you progress through your recovery at a manageable pace with the food. One tip I would give is to start sampling some protein drinks ahead of time, so you can buy / order some to have at home before your surgery. Much of the protein the first few weeks comes from those sources, so it needs to be something you like! [emoji4] A few that I have used are Premier protein shakes, Orgain shakes and BiPro protein water, but there are many other kinds, of course! Best of luck to you...it's a pretty amazing journey!

I have been training for 4 months. I finally with the help of my trainer did the grouse grind in vcr bc. I took 1:45 min, thought I would die, but like child birth, am going to try again nextweek. I am really lucky to have a personal trainer (2xweek) and go on my own 4 days a week. Grouse is a 35% grade, 2.9 km up the moutain. also nsv, I went dancing that night, a people that have not seen me since my surgery, did not know me. I feel great!