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Thanks Sassie - I know it's only been 2 weeks and I need to be patient, it's that at times it's frustrating. I decided to do what I could do and not stress over it anymore -- I can tell, now, that everyday it is getting better. Thank goodness!

Okay all, as most of you know, my surgery was on 6/12. That was 2 weeks ago this past Friday. I am still struggling to get in all my Protein and fluids. Did anyone else - or is anyone else- still getting a feeling of everything getting 'stuck' - even fluids (inasmuch as that is all I am on at this time) - right about the spot between your boobs? I don't understand how things get stuck when they are liquid ... however, it happens. Sometimes, when I have that stuck feeling and I brush my teeth, I start to gag. Almost like you might do if you were pregnant -- WHICH I AM NOT. Then I get very nauseaus and break out in a cold sweat and have to lay down with a fan on me until it passes. I'm just wondering if something is wrong with me or if others have/had this issue. I'm afraid the gagging will cause a leak, aside from the fact that it hurts and is no fun. Thanks for your input/advice.

I am two months out tomorrow--I can eat about three or four bites of whatever--about 1/4 of a hamburger is a good example I don't measure my food anymore--I just know three or four bites is it--I drink pretty much normal now--your tummy will let you know if you are drinking too fast--but, all in all, I am pretty much normal now--just don't eat much!!!

Thank you all for the replies! I will try the protein shake thing. I still haven't added that to my diet yet. Here is hoping this works. I am kind of excited to see what I weigh in at when I go to the gym. I try to weigh myself only once a week. Praying for the best!

I've lost almost 15 lbs in 2 weeks. I drink a protein shake for breakfast, one for lunch and lean protien and veggies and a salad for dinner. No carbs! Except for the fruit I have in my protein shake sometimes. If I'm feeling really hungry, sometimes I'll have eggs and bacon for breakfast. Or cheese and turkey for a snack. You can do it! The first week is hard but after that it's super easy! Good luck!

I am 5 weeks post op and am finding myself in a similar boat. I just don't really like anything anymore. I almost gagged with tuna, and enjoyed it before. I mix unflavored protein powder with my yogurt, retried beans, pudding, etc to get my protein in.

I had my surgery on January 13th, prior to the surgery I had lost 13 pounds on my own, after the surgery I lost an additional 35 for a total of 48 pounds. that was over 3 months ago, I have no lost a single point since. I know I have heard of stalls but three months? I am so discouraged right now and having such a hard time dealing with it all. I met with my dr in june when it first started and he said we would talk about it at my next visit which is not until September 9th but by then it will be over 3 1/2 months and no weight loss. I have tried more food, less food, Protein shakes...then no Protein Shakes. I go to the gym 4 - 5 times a week I just don't know what to do

I don't make it a habit of pawing through my own emesis, btw, I just was surprised to find solids in the bag after 3+ weeks of nothing solid.

I was sleeved on Dec 2, 2013 and started exercising when they gave me the all clear. I walk 30 minutes on the treadmill at a good clip 5 days a week, some weight machines and this ab machine and I'm down 50lbs! Just walk .. 30 minutes. Does the trick!

Hello this is my first post so hello to all who may read this. I figured I would start here and introduce myself. I am Cinni and I have my first appointment with a surgeon in two weeks time to see if I can get myself on the public list here in Australia. I have been considering a Lap band for a while now but always told myself it was far to drastic and that if I was going to go to those lenghts then surely I could just stick to a damn diet. :thumbup::thumbup::frown::eek: Well I am now between a rock and a hard place (I feel) as diets just don't work for me. :confused3::frown::incazzato: I feel I am now faced on one hand surgery which I am petrified of and on the other hand life shortening illnesses. My health is ok now but I can see it is slipping away and problems are rearing their ugly head due to obesity. I googled this forum and hope to become fully informed before I see the surgeon and decide to have the lap band. If I get on the public waiting list it could be a year before it gets done so at least I can do some research and grow some courage. Cinni

I've found that the Target version of Spanx just doesn't hold up as well. I bought a set, and they ripped within a few weeks. It could just be that I'm too rough on them, but I far prefer the more expensive ones. They turn out to be a better investment IMHO.

Hm - I have 2 views on this. I don't think doctors should guilt their patients. It is part of the cycle of compulsive overeating and isn't productive. So you should talk to your doc about that. Its good to have constructive criticism. But just making a patient feel bad is counterproductive. As far as doing your part, the above poster is right. Its apparent that you must be cutting calories as you have lost. However, its easy to predict what you will lose based upon your calorie deficit. If you have a deficit of 3500 calories a week, you'll lose 1 pound a week. You can tweek that number via exercise and daily calorie intake. So if you're goal is to lose 2 pounds a week, arrange it so you'll have a 7000 calorie deficit and you will lose 2 pounds a week (if you weigh weekly, it won't be 2 pounds everytime since the scale fluctuates, but if you average your loss over a period of 6-8 weeks, it will come out roughly be 2 pounds a week). It sounds like right now you have a calorie deficit of 1700-1900 calories a week (if you're losing roughly 2 pounds a month). Eat fewer calories (track this on some place like fitday.com...you'll be surprised how much you're actually consuming) and exercise more and you'll lose weight. If there are other factors (head issues, compulsive eating etc), its definitely worth it to talk to someone about it. I've found that the band doesn't help me with my head issues surrounding food - that's 100% on me.

Does temporary restriction mean you are closer to the real thing? After my second fill, I had great restriction for about a week then it went away. I have another fill scheduled for Wednesday and I was wondering "Am I getting to restriction?" Thanks!

I feel so bad I did my first week good with fluids and this week has been hard I ate beans and soups but I also ate a piece of hotdog and three chips , eggs . I am supposed to be on mashed food I gain two pounds I only been banded 10 days . From the 14 of August to the 21st I was doing good I hope I didn't make my band bigger! I am not strong enough to do this I thought I was my first fill is September 13 what to do ?????

Hi... put this day behind you and start tomorrow as a new day. Did you only have to do liquids for 1 week? Were you give a post op menu plan to follow. I know each doctor is different. My Post Op plan was... Week 1 - Clear Fluids Week 2 - Full Fluids Week 3 - Mushie Foods Week 4 - Solid to "Normal foods" Try and take it one day at a time... but remember your still healing and some people don't lose until they get a fill. Each person is different. Don't worry about the 2 lbs. You just had surgery and your body needs time heal and adjust. If you have access to a support group I strongly suggest you try and go to a group meeting. I found support from other bandsters to be very helpful (and still do) especially in the beginning. Hang in there... it does get better and easier. Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 160 lbs

Good for you!! I'm post-op 3 weeks and feel great!!! Keep us posted on your recovery. Remember: walk, walk, walk!

Hi Maria, My experience with Anthem was wonderful. Never did I think I would say such a thing about an insurance company but they were truely wonderful. It took my surgeons office quite a while to send the paperwork over to them but they finally got it on 12/23 and when I called on 12/28 (not realizing they had recieved it already) they said I had been approved on 12/24. So it took them 1 day to approve me. I have no co-morbids and had a starting BMI of 51... it is now 42. I dealt with Anthem out of Maine. I hope that helps!! Good luck next week you must be excited!!!

Hi! I was wondering did you have a hard time with Anthem? I have them too and will be visiting the surgeon next week on the 20th. Just wondering Maria

Welcome. Without knowing what you are doing it is hard to give suggestions. I recommend that if you are unhappy with where you are that you make an appointment with your NUT to talk about your goals. In the meantime, go back to basics. Follow your program. Track your food. Make sure you are reaching your Protein target every day. Get at least 64 oz of Fluid every day. Take your Vitamins and supplements as directed. Avoid starches, added sugars, and fried foods. Exercise. Embrace the Stall http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

Welcome!! And what great progress you have made so far! A stall since November must really be frustrating. How many calories / Protein grams / carb grams / fat grams are you having daily? Have you contacted your NUT to see if they can help? It seems most folks either realize they have been grazing, taking in too many carbs or just need to actually up their protein to kick it in to gear. Also I have seen people try liquids (protein shakes) for a few days to kick the stall out. Give us a better idea of what you are doing currently and maybe we can help.

The first four days are the worst after the fourth day I was fine I am doing a two-week liquid diet no food after the first week is over it really doesn't phase you at all it's like you're just used to it I won't lie the second week I got low on energy I'm on my second week now and I just don't feel like doing anything around my house although I do force myself I'm excited for it to just come and be over with Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm 2 1/2 months post op and he been a weight stall for weeks (down 43lbs) but I wanted to start working out to maybe jump start losing again. What are some things you guys do? I'm looking for ideas and wanted to know where my heart rate should be and things like that.

I started walking every day after getting home and eventually got back into the gym. I started gradually increasing the speed on the treadmill to where I have now gotten to the point of actually running. I will do the elliptical machine also. In all I will do about 45-60 minutes of "cardio" exercise a day. I may now have to try the spin class thanks mamamareli for the idea on that one. I have also been cleared as of this week to start lifting weights again.

I had my six-week follow up with my local doctor yesterday – to say I’m happy is an understatement. Although I’ve complained about my weight loss in other posts and lamented about being a slow loser, I am happy with the way things are going. I don’t use my doctor’s numbers to track my weight because it’s inconsistent – they weigh with clothes on, sometimes shoes on (depends on the nurse), I wore heavy jeans yesterday compared to lighter capris the last time, etc. I use my Thursday weigh-ins on my home scale to track my loss. So, I’m down almost 41.8 pounds from my high weight and 24 since surgery. Wow! Writing that is surreal. My body fat has been decreased by 5% already and while I have lost some lean muscle mass, it’s not a concern right now, I just shouldn’t lose any more. Even more than the numbers, I can see physical differences in myself. Why do my fingers seem longer? OK, it’s that they no longer look like pork sausages that were masquerading as fingers! My shoes fit differently now and as a side benefit, I can actually reach down and tie them and not look like I’m steer wrestling trying to lift my right foot up to my left knee. I have a jaw line – you can actually define where my head ends and my neck begins. When I was driving down the road the other day, it felt like the seat was pushed further back than normal. It’s not like my legs grew…there was just more room between my belly and the steering wheel! I noticed the vanity in the bathroom the other day while brushing my teeth – I was standing closer to the sink, again, because my belly wasn’t in the way. I cross my legs (like a lady) all the time now, BECAUSE I CAN! There are many subtle, but very real changes that are happening to my body and I’m trying to bask in each and every one of them. This has been an amazing journey so far and it’s only the beginning. There will be lows, but there will also be lots of good things happening, too! I’m noticing some other changes as well. I feel more comfortable around other people. It is easier for me to strike up a conversation with a stranger. I used to be a fairly outgoing and chatty person. Since starting to gain weight about 15 years, I slowly became an introvert to the point where I would avoid talking to people I have known for years. I would pretend I didn’t see someone in the grocery store so I wouldn’t have to stop and talk to them. I would sit in the outfield during my son’s baseball games rather than the stands or by the other parents because I didn’t want to be around people. My social circle has been reduced to my family. In the past few weeks, that has changed. I’m slowly coming out of my shell. I caught myself smiling yesterday morning when I was walking into the hospital and a couple of people I crossed paths with smiled back and said “Hello.” I felt like they were reacting to me smiling and not having, what I assume was an “I’m pissed off at the world so go screw yourself” look I used to have. I discussed my diet with the doc as well. A few weeks ago I started to restrict my carbs because I thought it was the right thing to do. We always hear “carbs are bad” and I restricted mine down to between 20 and 30 per day. What I didn’t immediately connect was my very low energy level to the carb restriction. I didn’t feel good and I blamed it on coming down with a cold. I would come home from the gym and be completely exhausted and take a 60-minute nap. Understandably…I wasn’t giving my body enough fuel to get through the workout. I now realize carbs are an important part of our diet and they aren’t necessarily evil. Bad carbs (refined sugars and flours) are bad. Complex carbs like those found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains are great carbs and a necessary part of your diet. Once I increased my carbs to about 50/day, I started feeling so much better and have that increased energy that so many speak of after weight loss surgery. Increasing my carbs hasn’t changed my overall calorie count by much. I’m still taking in between 800-900 calories a day (on hard workout days I can go over 900 because I am truly hungry). I’m increasing my carbs by adding ¼ cup of fruit to my shakes, adding 1-2 tablespoons of refried Beans, or part of a Carb Balance tortilla to a meal. It’s amazing how different I feel now compared to a few days ago. Also looking forward, I now have no restrictions to my diet – that’s terrifying. I had the security the past 6 weeks of “I can’t have that because it’s not on my plan.” This is where that discipline comes in, right?!?! So, here are some of the high points from the meeting with the doctor yesterday: · Weight loss is good, more importantly, the 5% body fat reduction and minimal loss in lean muscle mass · Blood pressure is lower – 117/82. It hasn’t been that low in years. · Diet looking forward – no restrictions on what to eat; min 80 grams of Protein daily and 50 grams of carbs should be OK. · hair loss – I’m noticing some shedding (*gasp*). She OK’d Biotin and 1 gram of folic acid daily. There is so much debate on whether anything works, but I’m willing to try (she said the most important thing was the protein). · Real coffee is now approved, but only one cup per day. This makes me happy. I had to pinky promise I wouldn’t go back to my old habit of 3-5 cups per day. Honestly, I don't think I can fit more than one cup of coffee in a day! · Exercise - no limitations and start strength training as to not lose more lean muscle mass. · Constipation – ahhh the pooping (you know I wasn’t going to get thru an entire post with out a comment on the poo). I’ve been taking Colace and that’s the only thing that has helped. Per doc's orders, I need to cut back to one per day, then stop entirely. Doc wants Metamucil and more Fiber in my diet for a more natural approach. I wish everyone a very, very Happy New Year. 2014 is going to be a great year for us! Be safe!

Banded April 15 and have lostr 28 pounds, I've been stalled for 3 weeks and don't exercise coz I don't have time and no interest in it, I think about exercise and feel sleepy!! I'm due a first fill monday will I start losing again or must I exercise