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That is awesome!! Congratulations on your progress!! 5'4" Starting weight 297 VSG on 7/31/19 Surgery wt: 266 CW 215 GW 135 Sent from my [samsung Galaxy] using BariatricPal mobile app

I have tried a few of them. After surgery my surgeon puts us on a 10-14 day clear liquid diet and in the hospital we will be given Isopure too. It's like $5.50 a glass bottle, which is suppose to be one serving but at first we won't be drinking all that much. I was actually surprised it didn't have that many Vitamins in it, but of course after surgery they suggest the multi-vitamins. I purchased the Optisource chewables and they were like $28.00 from Walgreens - which is only a month supply but the register spit out a $4.00 off next purchase coupon, which will come in handy. The Green Tea with lemon reminds me of wheat grass, which isn't too bad. The Orange I am not that fond of, but I am going to purchase MIO Orange flavored and that will help it. I tried the Grape, which most people seem to deal okay with and I think if I can find a MIO that will go with it, I will try that. It doesn't taste that great, but for the clear phase, after surgery, nothing is going to taste all that great anyhow. My suggestion is to ask your surgeon if they have any small plastic sample bottles and figure out which one you like. It's such a small amount of time you have to be on the clear phase, that I'm sure there will be ways to mask it. I know one thing, I will be looking forward to my Pure Protein 100% whey Protein Frosty Chocolates after the clear liquid phase. I heard to supplement the clear liquid phase that the unjury chicken broth was good, and I have a sample I am going to try this weekend before I start my 3 shake pre-op.

I wonder if it has to do with increased constipation. I was almost never constipated before I started the high protein pre-op diet. Now (10 weeks past surgery) I am ALWAYS constipated - no matter what I try! :(

I am scheduled for surgery at 3:10 this afternoon! Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers and send good vibes my way. Thank you

I found the "petites" at my local grocer and will try to remember to take them...They should work, and they are "citrate". Thanks for all the tips; I bet, like other things I'm finding out about my surgeon nutritionists recommendations, that the citrate is more important for by pass patients than we bandsters. I hate being lumped in with bypass patients....we each have our own set of issues etc. I'm sure they don't want to follow "band rules" anymore than I want to be treated like a bypass recipient! But the petites look like a great solution for now and I'll follow up with my doc when I get my first fill 10/9 (YAY) Thanks to every one of you for your answers, insights, and humor!

:rolleyes2: I had lapband surgery Fri Apr 18th. It will be 2 weeks on Friday. Holy cow. I am already starting to eat regular foods. I chew chew chew really good and the good news is that I get full sooo QUICK, I am just afraid. I know I am still healing and scar tissue is forming. I haven't gotten sick or thrown up which I know is a huge deal not to do at least in the first 2 months. Has anyone else indulged too soon post-op? Was your doctor totally upset? Is anyone out there that had band slippage or had the top part of their pouch stretched out. I feel so disappointed with myself. I was doing well. I was down 10 pounds just one week after surgery. I guess this is the kind of selfishness is what got me to be overweight in the first place. Is there anyone else out there like me?

:crying: I had lapband surgery Fri Apr 18th. It will be 2 weeks on Friday. Holy cow. I am already starting to eat regular foods. I chew chew chew really good and the good news is that I get full sooo QUICK, I am just afraid. I know I am still healing and scar tissue is forming. I haven't gotten sick or thrown up which I know is a huge deal not to do at least in the first 2 months. Has anyone else indulged too soon post-op? Was your doctor totally upset? Is anyone out there that had band slippage or had the top part of their pouch stretched out. I feel so disappointed with myself. I was doing well. I was down 10 pounds just one week after surgery. I guess this is the kind of selfishness is what got me to be overweight in the first place. Is there anyone else out there like me?

Well when I told my surgeon I had lost a lot of weight my senior year of high school and was at 150 (yes that's including a huge weight loss); he said okay so that's your goal. Shrug don't know about that. It's really discouraging for me to have an end weight in mind. Probably becuase I feel like I've worked really really hard for 2 years and still would only be half way there (banded 8/10). Would I personally be happy at 150 sure; though I'm sure I would still be considered overweight. I don't know what I weighed at my largest because I did'nt own a scale. What I can tell you is that I lost a noticable amount of weight(20 pounds?) when my team at work moved to the other side of the building away from the cafe. I started bringing Lean Cuisine for lunch. Fast forward several months; I finally went the doctor about horrible knee pain. He said the weight has to come off; at that point I was 364. I start swimming every day and somewhat watch what I ate; fast forward I have a ministroke, weighed 334 at the hospital. I was 334 at my first consult the day of surgery I was 282; today I am at 256. So you can see why 150 seems like a fantasy to me. You've lost A LOT in a very short time. This battle is largely mental so don't let's other peoples comments make you discouraged. Anyway that was long winded. I think you need to consider what is your body's happy weight. I think everyone has one. I have two sisters 1) always been thin size 8, 2) more of a 12. 2 lost a lot of weight last year in my opinion to much and was downn to 4/6. She is now at like a 10. I would be estatic to a be a 10 but she wants to be thinner. Not a doctor or anything but I don't think her body is a 4 it's a 12 that might consider being a 10. Not sure of your age but for me college was 20 years ago. As we age our bodies work diffently. How realistic is it for you to weight what you did in college?

First congrats on your success. I think that you are doing so well. I too didn't feel restriction for quite some time, but managed to lose an average of 10 lbs a month. I think much of it is in our heads. I still struggle with head hunger (2yrs out). And I still have sweets - just something small everyday so I don't feel I am depriving myself. You are doing fantastic.

WOW! what a ride. Much more than I expected. I am home. Trying to find something to drink that A. does not make my ankles swell. B. tastes tolerable.. I am still on the anitbiotics so I wonder if that is what makes every thing taste bad. Except S/F pudding. Sweet things taste OK. I am wanting something hot so I have been drinking herbal teas. Now, does any one have this swelling problem? Even with low sodium soups? Should I just make my own? seems such a waste as I can eat/drink only 1 or 2 oz at a sitting. The Experience was quite different. I really liked the care I recieved. If you choose Dr. Almanza. I would suggest the option of the hotel. I did not care for the recovery house. Here is why. rooms are small/tiny. no air conditioning. barking dogs outside. one shared bathroom upstairs. food is prepared down stairs for all. When you cannot eat that is hard to deal with. My hubby stayed there the two nights I was in the clinic/hospital. When I was to come out, he got us into the Hotel. I was concerned as I would not have a nurse, but, the fine staff brought me my meds and juices and teas and all was perfect. Hubby got American TV (baseball and football) He could go down stairs and get any food and drink he wanted. American newspapers, with sunday funnies. The Hotel provided free popsicles, soups, yogurts for me. Our room had two queen sized beds all soft and comfy. I had a table to sit and drink my meals, LOL. The hallway was safe/great to walk around for exercize. Walked at 12 and 2 AM one time, and, I got up to three times around before I left. The last night there I felt good enough to get dressed and go down for dinner. The Chef made me special soup, chicken broth blended with mashed potatoes. It tasted yummy. I am sure that is where the sodium overload started, but I loved that soup, all 1/4 cup of the huge bowlful they gave me..God I am still food obsessed, LOL I am sure the staff at the house does all this also. The nurse from the Clinic that did my IV came to the hotel and removed my drain tube. He was so good. (thanks again Edgar) I also had Sevier (on staff at house) come and give me a massage. He is excellent. My back was hurting and my right leg was numb from laying on my back for so long, so, he was a pleasant relief. Could not talk Hubby into massage, heehee. Overall my rating for the experience is an 8. (1 to 10) Here are my reasons for 2 points off. I would have liked to see the hand cleaning stations on the wall inside the rooms. I would have liked the appratias used to come in sealed bags that the nurses opened in front of me. I would have liked the nurses to put on gloves and dispose of them in my room. I wish the cleaning crew would come in after each shower and disinfect. I was lucky to be first both days. I hated (one full point off here) the drive clear across T.J to get the Xray Leak test done. yes, I understand the necessity, I still hated that dam trip.There was a parade outside the lab, so surreal. I know some go shopping and do stuff on their 3rd day, just not for me. I was finally ready on the 5th day. Felt good and upbeat. Finally felt good about what I had done. Met a lady that was escorting two friends having sleeves. (Canadian) She was 7 months out and looks soo cute. She is 5'7 and 165ish, So I have revised my goal to that. It has been so long since I was a "normal" weight I did not have a realistic goal in my head. I was 240 at weigh in, but 245 when I left. All the liquid retension I guess. Dr. Almanza got snippy with me under surgery,....I am a Moley person lots of raised moles. He asked my hubby for permission and they removed 4 from my lower mid section. Love that. Extra stiches, but who cares? Thinking of that,,,, did any of you remove your own stiches? Did that go OK? Gotta do that on the 25th or so.:crying: So, that is my experience. Great, positive and LOVED the staff/people I delt with.. My hubby even liked it. He got to talk with several couples and Dr's about this whole deal and got a MUCH better attitude towards my weight. He is much more supportive in a positive way, for that I am truly grateful. If I need any futher surgery, IE: tummy tuck, etc. I would go back there. But, I would drive straight to the Hotel and be picked up from there. Marriot, TJ. Hope that does not turn anyone off to this deal, it is the best. The nurses I had were so darn caring and good at their jobs. Ricardo was my assigned personal support staff. He spoke very good english and tried very hard to accomdate all my wishes. It all went well for me, hope it does for you where ever you choose to go. Just do not be afraid to get-r-done. Onward and Downward---weightwise:thumbdown::001_tongue:

Im very similar. I had the band for 10 years, maintained my weightloss through vomiting every day all day. Unfilled for 2 years, gained 35 pounds. Have had the sleeve since July 9. Only down 13 pounds, 10 of which was the first 2 weeks. I go to the gym alot, mostly cardio, starting with some boot camp now. My nut says 80-100grms Protein and 50-80 carb. I never go over 50 unless I did alot at the gym. She says dont worry about calories. I do use my fitness pal and stay around 1000. I think my first couple months I was actually grazing and eating more carbs. I have no problems eating anything, even raw vegetables. There is no way in hell I could eat 1/4 cup and be satisfied. with exercising you have to consume more food otherwise your body goes into starvation mode. Now after my last appt I use mfp religiously and have lost 2 pounds. Im a very slow loser and dont have that much to lose to get to my original band weight. I have 25 pounds to lose and I dont care if it takes me 6 months. If I lose a pound a week its better than a 35 pound weight gain. Your diet I think looks like you arent eating enough carbs and calories for 4 days in the gym. I know its hard to believe it.

I have a residents gym in my building but a club H just opened in the ground floor and I took the tour and was sold. They have classes, so much equipment, a sauna and steamroom and a spa! It makes me drag myself there and once I am there, I feel so motivated. I needed to do something to break through a plateau! Its about $100 per month. On a different subject, does anyone know how to edit your ticker? I have lost 10 more pounds since I created it and I cant remember how I did it?

Quinoa with Butternut Squash Gratin 1 20 oz. package peeled and diced butternut squash or a 1-1/2 lb. butternut squash peeled and diced 1 cup organic quinoa 2 cups Water 1 tsp. salt 2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 Tbsp. shallots 1/2 cup egg substitute, such as Egg Beaters 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese 1 slice Italian bread salt and pepper to taste Preheat oven to 400. Spray a 2-quart baking or gratin dish with nonstick cooking spray. If using pre-cut butternut squash, pierce the package a few times with a fork and microwave on high for 3-5 minutes until squash is soft and tender. If using a whole squash, peel and cube it, then put in a ziploc plastic bag and seal. Then pierce a few times with a fork and microwave as directed above. Wash the quinoa in a fine sieve thoroughly (about 5 minutes) until water runs clear. This is very important, as quinoa has a bitter protective coating that can linger even after processing. Transfer squash and quinoa to a large (2 or 3-quart) pot. Add water and salt to pot and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and allow to simmer for 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and the quinoa blooms into little spirals. Remove from heat and let rest. Meanwhile, heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil over medium heat in a small frying pan. Add shallots and cook 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook a minute or two longer, being careful not to let garlic burn. Pour over quinoa and squash mixture, mixing thoroughly. Add egg substitute, 3/4 cup of the cheese, and salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to prepared baking or gratin dish. Pulse bread in a food processor or blender a few times until fine bread crumbs are formed. Sprinkle remaining cheese and bread crumbs over gratin. Drizzle remaining 1 Tbsp. of olive oil on top and bake for 35-45 minutes or until top is golden brown. Serves 8. Per serving: 224 calories, 10 g fat, 14 mg cholesterol, 394 mg sodium, 26 g carbohydrate, 3 g Fiber, 10 g Protein, 153% Vitamin A, 26% Vitamin C, 20% Calcium, 17% Iron

Oh, no no! Sorry. It holds 10 cc's and was empty until 8/25 when my surgeon added 5 cc's. Is it possible to have delayed restriction? Weird.

Hi all. I got my second fill last Wednesday (8/24). I was banded 5/24/11. I now have a total of 4 cc's in my 10 cc band. Here are the answers/advice I am looking for: 1.) Since my surgery I have counted calories and Protein grams. I try and eat around 1100-1200 calories/day and 100 g of protein/day. I am very hungry most days. I don't actually measure a cup or two of food but I am not eating a lot. I do not have any restriction but every once in a while I will get a stuck feel ing (I think). Does this mean the fills are working?!?! I have no other indication that they are. 2.) What exactly is the "stuck" feeling? I get a sharp pain in my upper chest. I have never had sliming or PBing (Thank Goodness!). Is what I am experiencing "being stuck"? 3.) I have only lost 8 lbs since my surgery. I lost 60 prior to surgery and think that I did better without the band. I sometimes wonder if I am not eating enough?!?!? Please let me know if you have any advice or similar stories. I am so confused and frustrated ! Thanks so much!!

this is about me...i had a high starting BMI whomever reads my posts/blogs, please understand i am not bragging...boasting or trying to flatter you all with how wonderful i am....and that i am cured of being super morbid obese...i will never be cured.....my journey to better health is until i take my last breath. i am who i am.....a female in her late 40s..who started out as was as wide she was tall...i am relating to whomever i can..hopefully to the larger BMI people and those who had trouble moving..that was me......key word WAS....i am hoping someone will read/see me and go, you know if that crazy fat chick can, then maybe so can i.. i was at the last resort...i had trouble wiping myself i was scared to lay on the bed for fear it would break and god knows i wasnt going anywhere (people laugh at people like me) and i was/am still scared of someone snapping a pic of me and putting it on fat people shopping at walmart......i was so large, i could not walk...i couldnt not stand more than 5 minutes...i hurt everywhere...i hurt not only inside but outside...i never wanted to wake up in the mornings..... i post to try and reach whomever needs it. i do not want anyone to think i am better than they are because i am NOT. i have a few pm's from people (kinda snarky) in regards to fills.....does she or doesnt she.....(nope i do not....the dr did not put a fill in me with a long needle while awake)..they did a primer at surgery...no idea how much or if it is still in there.i will know when i ever get a fill.....so that is my answer to those who say snarky comments....it is what it is.. and when i do get one (if ever) who knows...sometimes when i read people getting fill after fill and scheduling their first ones day out of surgery, i sometimes wonder what i am (missing)...i am human after all..... but if i do and when i do have a fill...i will NOT be so tight as i can only drink.....to me that is stupid and dangerous..living is not about only being able to drink...that is just not right.....i will not allow myself to fall into that..sure you can and will lose on all liquids.....but its not a healthy way.....dont care what you say...ask your dr and get their answer on living life on liquids... so, i have the plication...similar to the sleeve but NOT the sleeve its a new thing (not a fad) and its early in the stages....the dr did this to me after explaining the situation i was in and with my BMI being a massive 62, he wanted to help me..as i did not want the bypass...my dr wanted me to do that but i was too scared..damn near 350 pounds but still to scared to have something to help me... i remember telling him i would make this band work. he did not look very sure of that...well, nearly 150 pounds lighter, yeah, i said i made it work...I HAD TO...the fact is this about me..this is what i do...day in and day out. i eat to lose weight i eat what i want...when i want which is when i am hungry...read that again i eat when i am HUNGRY i do not diet i do not spend my days counting calories...i know what i eat..i make excellent choices..(you can choose baked over fried, fresh over boxed)...i know what goes into the food (as my hub and me prepare/package/measure it 98% of the time).....i am aware 3500 calories is a pound..i know not to eat more calories then i can burn off..simple math.....and the band/plication HELPS me with the amount by signaling a very full feeling to me......to STOP..... i do not eat something and say i am horrible and that i am a failure and i am weak and i blew it..this is dieting thinking.. i know one meal (of whatever) wont make me gain 10 pounds of actual weight and one excellent healthy meal wont make me lose 10 pounds of actual weight....its a day in and day out process.....until people realize that.....they are stuck in the on going diet round and round process... eat better/healthier foods make choices that are good for you YOU CAN IF YOU WANT if you start saying its xmas and i cant control myself, yeah you can and you could if you wanted..just like me....i have to make those choices also. and i exercise every day..i do it....and get on with it......day in and day out..dont care what you do as long as you do....its up to you to do what you have to do.. i see it this journey from a former 336 pound person...a starting BMI of 62 it was either get bigger or get it done.. and here i am......where are you?

My offer is sincere. It is open to everyone. Knowing you are doing all you can and it still may not change an outcome is a difficult place to be. Are you local to a support group that meets in person? I am sorry about your therapist. I did not see a therapist until a few years ago. I may be a little different from some in that my weight was also driven my metabolic issues. The same thing that helped me stay large (I had an appetite too!) was a metabolic disorder. My sister had the same thing but instead of a damper on her furnace it burned white-hot to the point of doing damage sometimes. I would be at the gym and taking my martial arts classes and maintaining massive amounts of muscle to just be a size whatever (it varied so much) and my little sister would be on 4800 calories a day to maintain a size 0. It followed on like that till I was about 19, when I had about 6-7 years that I maintained a size 14. I got back up to a 16 when I was about 27, which I would miscarraige that year and then my weight skyrocketed and I began to suffer real health problems for the first time ever - sports injuries aside. By the time I was 30 I was as heavy as I have ever been, and diagnosed with diabetes in 2007. Since I have been on a very slow downward pattern again. I was at 272 when I finally decided one last "go" and shortly thereafter decided I needed to admit I needed help. I was attending therapy at this point but amped it up and changed from a "food" therapist to a therapist that focuses on cognative therapy - helping me think for myself. It has done so much good. There were walls in my journey. I crossed a big personal hurdle when I admitted to myself that no matter how fit I had been when I was younger despite my size, that it had left its mark. The miscairrage and weight gain and diabetes and being so large I could not fit in an airline seat without an extender, that between my Husband and I we couldn't share a hammock with a 550 weight limit - it left issues. Doing what I can to fight the good fight - and again only 2+ weeks post op. I have no guarantee I will succeed, either. Strong energy to all who needs it.

By the way, there was a study that got published recently that basically stated that RNY and Lap-band were statistically equal in medium-term weight loss. There wasn't enough data available to analyze long-term weight loss at the time, but the way the numbers looked, Lap-band would probably be superior to RNY for long-term weight loss. The 8-year loss from Lap-band was statistically equal to the 10-year loss from RNY, which leads to the suspicion that 10-year loss from Lap-band would be statistically superior to 10-year loss from RNY. So with that, I chose to have Lap-band because of the following reasons: Ease of reversal Low mortality rate Low severe complication rate No malabsorption Adjustability Good long-term weight loss prospects Not as many "no" foods No dumping syndrome No smelly BMs or gas Healthier weight loss (slow = better chance at keeping it off) No "skeleton look"

Gerbera, sorry to hear about your not-so-fill!! Sounds very painful! :-( although the upside is that when you get the fill done under fluro, you should probably end up w/some good restriction!! (Unlike me!) KAY....I'm struggling right along with you!!! My hunger is back and it feels like my stomach is too! I cant eat any and everything, so It is by sheer willpower I have not eaten the kitchen sink at this point! UGH....I still have 19 more days til my next fill!! OK...so tomorrow I will start a December Bandsters in February Thread! Look for it!

I wish all doc's were like yours. I think if you can prevent pain you should......if it wasn't for the gas pains I'm still going through, the surgery would've been lots easier to deal with.......as it is I'm in pain throughout the day and sometimes at work I hurt so bad I can't even answer the phone........co-workers are a little confused when they see me doubled over one minute and then fine 10 minutes later. I'm tired of "half" explaining what's going on. Of course I researched the prolonged shoulder/gas pain after the fact and I came across a problem some people have with their Phrenic nerve - sometimes this kind of pain lasts for months........and people have to get a revision or removal, etc..... I'm, of course, thinking that this is going to be me. :confused: I'm so glad you didn't have this problem and was just curious about the average number of days.....

I need to get rid of 200 pieces of plus size clothes. I spent a lot of money on the clothes and can not afford to just give them away so I would like to swap them for size 8/10 clothes or something useful. When I say useful I want to leave it open because you would never know what I need. The clothes are primarily from the gap, old navy, lane bryant, torrid, macys and good for a young professional for work or for going out. I really want to move so I'm hoping to get rid of them asap. Shoot me a message and let's make a deal!

I was told I can drink until about 10-15 before eating.

Sorry for the delay! I'm not going to post to ebay or swap sites since I don't have the time to take pics of everything. i would even hire someone to do it if I could. I have tried to sell or barter many times on craigslist and haven't had any luck. I was thinking if someone had their former smaller clothes in size 8-10 we can swap them so that's why I posted here.

Great post, Krista! I was wondering the same thing. I'll be sleeved in mid-June. I really like the powdered drink mixes w/aspartame that I can get from Walmart or Dollar Tree - 10 tubes per box. I have a ton of them and wondered if I can drink them after my surgery. All the best for you in two days!!! Keep us posted!

I'm with you Galthom. I leave the doc's office after a fill tight..........and I don't get tighter over the weeks or months...........What does happen is I decide I want something - that I know I can't have because of the band - but I eat it any ways and boom......problem! Then my tummy is swollen and tender for some time and I have to baby it.......then back to no problems. Banded 11/09 Lost 70 pounds 4 fills for a total of 6 cc in a 10 cc band