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I believe eggs/scrambled eggs, and airfried seabass were the first two things I ate. I tried ground beef too and it wasn't a good idea, but around the 10 to 12 week mark it improved Eggs aren’t so bad but meat is a killer!!!

Yes, that helps a lot! (Oh and I like your screen name!) That seems to make my plan logical. I don't intend to drink an entire shot, but break it into 10 gram servings in a shot glass I have and take it with the fruit/veggie meal. I was planning to swig it first, but with this advice, I will leave that last bite or two's space and drink it after the meal so that it can work with the fruits and veggies. That was actually the only negative I had heard before, that drinking a large vile of the protein shot at once, most of it would just go right through your system and you'd only get about 20% of benefit. Personally I like the grape flavored shots and I only need the 8 to 10 grams of protein to go along with the non-protein foods. Thanks again. I think I can make this work. I really don't want to live life without at least fresh cantaloupe and ripe nectarines at least once in a while.

My surgeon's rule of thumb for everything was "if it hurts don't do it"... and of course not to drive if I was taking my medication (which I only did for a couple of days). I found that the first time I tried to drive it was uncomfortable, so I asked my mom to take over... BUT I drive a standard car, so I had to use both legs and both arms and it wasn't just brake and gas etc. Since I am short I also have to actually extend my foot to properly reach the clutch and that pulled on my lower abs, which pulled on my incisions. Around day 10 though I had no issues at all pain wise. At that point my drain was also removed which made everything easier lol. I truly think it is individual. If you feel comfortable and you aren't taking any narcotics then go for it. Since our surgery is laproscopic we heal much faster so we can go back to our normal lives much quicker.

It's been 10 days post op and I feel like I have poison ivy on my back. Can't stand it just took two Benadryl. Crushed of course. Anyone else having this problem?

10 lbs in 2.5 weeks ?!! Psssh that is rapid weight loss !! Good job !!!!! My surgeon says to go for 2 lbs a weeks so I think you are doing great !

@ DebbieDeb....wow, eating 1000 calories a day and working out 5-6 days a week....and you're stuck on a plateau.....that's discouraging....I've been at 145 for 7 weeks and I think I'm getting 1500-1700 calories in and I should be at 1200-1400.....I've been grazing too much so I really need to concentrate as I feel I'm slipping into some bad habits and denial. So this week I am really going to work on tracking my food intake. I'm 5 lbs from goal but 10 lbs from where I want to be; surely I can do this. And you can too.....maybe increase your water intake? I'm also going to increase my workout by 15 minutes and see if that helps. Let's check in again next Monday.

Mine is on 12/19 and will need to do a liquid diet 1 week prior. I'm a little nervous as well but I bet you'll do great. Just think, its the beginning of your new life. Good luck. Sent from my LG-H918 using the BariatricPal App

Could be right after Christmas but my personal bet, either January 4th or January 7th 2019. But I would be HAPPY to be proved Wrong!👈👸👉

So today im 3 weeks post op. Im still on pucc line for nutrition. Surgeon said maybe nxt thursday hell take it out. I was down 39 lbs but I have gained 10 since being on this nutrition. Surgeons not concerned. He says its all liquids and once im off theme weight will come off. Im basically starting over. I wasnt able to drink nething until this past weekend. W.o the nutrition id be so dehyrated. Im lucky if im getting 5-10oz fluids in. I was given permission to start trying liquids again. Im good with water, G2 & sf popcicles. Just made some noodles and im drinking the broth.so far so good. I bought some girl scout thin mint creamer for coffee today. I dont drink coffee but I was going to add some to my proteon shakes to see if that helps my stomache tolerate it. So far not hungry or thirsty. Im actually scared to try stuff. Dr said once I tolerate fluids again I can start a few bites of yogurt. Im so scared. Did neone else feel like this??

I am an A type personality. A former athlete and self proclaimed workaholic (okay maybe more than self proclaimed...as I am told regularly that I work too much). I spent a lifetime playing baseball, softball, rugby, indoor soccer and pretty much anything I could sacrifice my body to in the name of winning competitions. My knees started to go as a teenager (first surgery at 14). Now at 43 I have osteoarthritis and I am nearly bone on bone in my right knee. The pain in my knees have progressively started getting worse as one, I quit playing sports about 5 years ago and two...and extra 110+ lbs will do you in too! Its an awful pain. I have paid the trainer and worked out diligently for 2 years with a 258 going down to 213 lbs. During this time I dislocated my right knee a few times (once while walking in the pool!!) and this of course makes for a great setback. Oh...I worked out with a leg brace on but not getting a 1000 calorie per hour burn does not help my A type personality when I only burn 400 in an hour. And lord forbid I only get to burn 250 because my knee has gone out again. *sigh* How did I get overweight? I weighed 160 lbs in 1995 and gave birth in 1996 at 290 lbs! I weighed 330 lbs when I gave birth to my second child in 1998. Gestational Diabetes. I did not have diabetes nor did I carry over diabetes into my life after pregnancy. But I did get down to about 208 and hovered there. As I played more sports (now with another 50 lbs in tow) my arthritis got worse and the weight began to rise. Second, I developed a sugar addiction. I work and dont eat...I come home and I crash/binge eat. This is the mental game I have to change going forward. Eventually I quit playing sports (2008) and easily added 20 more pounds. Here I have remained. Not one person, no matter what your backstory, goes into WLS flippantly. If I could control the sugar and workout without ending up in a knee brace every few months I would have done it! There is a mindset that needs to be achieved and I know I have a joint replacement surgery coming 10 years down the road. So while I have a plan that is 10 years long, I have short term miles stones to achieve right now. I read about people's outcomes and successes after WLS. I realistically understand that my arthritis will still be here and still be painful even after the weight is off. I hope the weight loss eases my knee pain. I know I will be able to relearn the food because I am/will take the time I need (something I never do) and I am committed to each step of this life long change. I am a very assertive person and will take each step as it comes and not worry about all the steps that will come in the future. I just want to focus on what I need to do today and change that. Tomorrow I will focus on the next step and so forth. Oh--I have a killer support group. My family and friends are going to be very helpful and my employees and my bosses are supportive. I am blessed to have these people in my life. For the first time, maybe ever, I am asking for help and I am going to openly receive it. That has been a huge step for me in the past few months. I tend to do everything for myself an not ask for help. Things are changing

Hi: I had my sleeve on 09/06/2016. Obviously stomach capacity was very tight in the beginning and it gradually started loosening. Progressively my stomach capacity now seems to be pretty decent three months out. I am experiencing a bit of a slow down in the speed of weight loss. But keeping at it. Problem is that: 1) I can down 10 to 12 ounces of food no problem if I want to. 2) I can gulp down a Protein shake no issues. 3) I feel like can slowly eat soft mushy food non-stop. II have not tried it yet though. 4) I do feel slight hunger if I have not eaten. ( I work out nearly two hours a day) What have your individual experiences? Is it because I am a male-does gender matter? Please chime in. -J

Michele... You are an amazing woman! The very truth that you have endured through such adversities is your proof! YOU are so empowered by every issues that you faced and WON! You have been on the weight loss journey before so try to see that as a benefit that many don't have.... You did it before, you have the knowledge and tools! Celebrate that your pouch is NOT stretched. I think learning to take time for yourself is all too often, the hardest step for most Moms.... You have many blessings in your life but they all need you in so many different ways! But they need you... So now YOU need to need you! Find some time in your day for you.. I know it is hard.. And it may mean they all must wait 30 minutes for you? I have 4 grown and 10 grandchildren. I work with birthing woman and took care of my invalid Mom.. I HAD to find my turn.. ( also had many of your same health issues) open heart, type 1 diabetes. Herniations in L4-5). I took these issues and saw my amazing strengths... Then at age 64 I did something I never thought I would do.... I went in and had the word BALANCE tattooed to my wrist ( small but MY constant reminder ) LOL I am here for you if your just needing a support for a crazy day! Thinking great thoughts for you.. It will happen again! DYAN from Ohio

Clients often tell me one of their biggest challenges after weight loss surgery is eating slowly. Clients often tell me one of their biggest challenges after weight loss surgery is eating slowly. Eating too quickly means that you are unlikely to chew foods properly. This can cause discomfort, pain and in some cases, regurgitation. To be able to eat a variety of foods comfortably after weight loss surgery, you really need to concentrate while you are eating. The following tips may help you do this: Set aside time for meals and avoid doing other things whilst you are eating. Sit up straight and avoid slouching. Sit at the table rather than the couch. Avoid eating whilst preparing food. Move away from the television or computer. You cannot focus on what you are eating if you are immersed in something else. Avoid playing with your mobile phone or other electronic devices. Avoid getting really hungry. The hungrier you are when you start a meal, the more likely you are to eat quickly, take big bites and not chew properly. Avoid eating with your hands as you will tend to take bigger bites. Use cutlery to cut food into small pieces. The more pieces you need to cut the longer it will take to eat. Avoid eating on the run, or in the car. Put your cutlery down between mouthfuls. Wait until you have swallowed your food before cutting the next piece. Avoid having that next mouthful loaded on your fork ready to go. If you really struggle to slow down, use your cutlery in the opposite hand until the pace of eating feels more natural. Choose a relaxing environment to eat. If the staff room at work is too distracting, head outside to a nearby park. Opt for a quiet café rather than a noisy food court, where you may be tempted to rush. Be especially careful when eating socially, as during conversation it is very easy to become distracted. Eat during a break in conversation. Avoid the tendency to want to keep pace when eating with others. Take notice when you do slow down your eating. Do you feel more satisfied? Do you enjoy your food more? Many people report they enjoy food more after surgery as they eat more slowly, allowing them to really taste the food and savour the flavours. Get in the habit of eating slowly. It could take up to 20 minutes to eat a small meal – between 10 and 20 minutes is a good goal. If there is food left on your plate after this time, discard it. There is a risk of eating too slowly which can turn a meal into grazing, which defeats the purpose of weight loss surgery. Time how long it takes you to eat your next meal. It may just surprise you!

This year is my 10 year anniversary from when I had my RNY. I originally lost 155 lbs and had not felt better in my life! I was addicted to running and working out...which isnt a bad addiction! 18 months after my RNY, I had my Gallbladder removed. 5 years into my weight loss I slipped my SI joint and there began a serious of complications with my lower back! I started a serious of steriod injections in 2009, and began to gain weight. Not too much weight, becuase I was still working out despite doctors orders. Then in 2012, I lost feeling in my left leg and had to have emergency back surgery. I ended up with drop foot and a discectomy in my L4, L5 and S1 joints. After that I felt pretty ok, except i had to learn how to walk normally again. A few months after my back surgery, I ended up in the ER with pain in my stomach and violently throwing up. Again, I had emergency surgery....a obstruction in my intestions. When they went in there, they found my intestines were twisted. I woke up 5 hours after surgery to find out that they couldnt do the surgery laprosopically, and they cut me right open and it was more serious than they thought. So after recovering from that, and all the steriods I have been on over the past few years, I had now gained 50-60 lbs back. Last summer I had to return to a pain specialist for my back, and they discovered they my back pain is now coming from the scar tissue from my back surgery. So here we go again....more steriod injections. Over the past few months, I have learned that I have developed sleep apnea, and now high blood pressure! These 2 things I have NEVER had before in my life! As of today, I have gained 90 lbs of my weight back! Im so overwhelmed. I still cant work out like i used to, because of my drop foot, and I am limited in my activities. I have started drinking diet sodas again...although i still drink my required Water throughout the day. But I just cant seem to break this cycle, and stop the downward spiral! I feel so hopeless, my spirit is broken, I feel lost and afraid! This is affecting my health, my marriage and my quality of life! I see my gastric bypass doctor for my monthly B12 shots, and all they tell me is, keep track of your eating and cut back. YES YES...I KNOW!!!! Easier said than done....especially when you are not depressed! Ive tried the 5 day pouch test, and my doctor has done a upper GI to see if my pouch has stretched and it hasnt. I would love feedback! I just dont know what to do anymore!

My goal is 1200 cal a day too. I was banded on 2-10-11 and have lost 15 lbs since then, 35 lb total since prep diet. I think 1200 is a reasonable amount. Get filled in 2 weeks , so will prob decreae then

I have the same doctor. I love his PA. she is great. Takes her time unlike the Doctor. I was band on May 19 06. I hope you are feeling better. I live in the Humble area. Whar part of town are you from? Have a great Day. Suzanne.

Mine did, but keep in mind that doesn't mean yours will. Some people continue the struggle, just with a little mechanical will power. For me, pre-op, I looked forward to eating. I would get exited if we were going to a buffet and hope they had certain foods. I f we planned a vacation, I would instantly wonder what kind of foods they had. Food helped me pass time - if I was watching tv, I was also eating, regardless of hunger. If I was studying, I had a bowl of chips with me. Etc. Now eating is pretty much a chore. I could count on both hands the times I've truly felt hungry since banding, even when I'm getting ready for bed and haven't yet eaten anything. I'm just not hungry anymore. This has been very liberating, because even though hunger rarely spurred my overeating, it was definitely a factor (OMG - I'm hungry?! I better go eat a lot because that's HORRIBLE!) I call it my shift from "live to eat" into "eat to live" -- I finally get what all the psychos who say that mean. As for cravings, I don't believe in stopping them. I think that denying a craving does more harm than good. If I want something, I have it - only now isntead of having ALL of it, a piece fills me up. If it's something I am craving but I just can't bring myself to give into, I will look for a healthier alternative. I love Peanut Butter. Sometimes I will crave a peanut butter cookie. Sometimes I will have the cookie, but sometimes I'm too tight, or they aren't available, or I have to buy 20 (which means I'm eating 20 or throwing 19 in the trash), so instead I will make my Protein drink with peanut butter in it. When you have a strong craving, and don't do something to address it, IMO most of the time it becomes a bit of an obsession. And when you tell yourself you can't have it, or try t ignore your obsessing, is when you "crack" and binge on it... whereas if you'd just eaten the damn cookie, all would be ok. :smile:

Ok.. I have been trying really hard to get banded, and now I have surgury scheduled for Wed 9/10/08.. i am nervous about the surgury and i know that i will be able to finally get all of my weight off... that I have struggled all my life! What I am scared about besides the surgury (thats always scary) Is when I eat normal foods, all of this food getting stuck, throwing up, pain, not being able to eat and what the heck is PBing?? Sounds scary!! I dont know if I want to eat solids! Not that I ever ate fast and inhaled my food, I try my best to eat slow and eat to mushy! But with yall talking this way about solids getting stuck.. it makes me wanna live off of protien shakes and soft foods FOREVER!! I know, chew your foods well 20-30times take 20-30mins to eat etc.. but its still scarey!! :crying: I dont know.. i think i will end up becoming a picky eater... I do have a question.. for bansters who have been banded for a long time, was able to keep the weight off, and is active.. Once you have reached your goal weight, do they loosen (take saline out) the band, to fit your activity level? I am surprisely active.. and for years maintained my weight, just couldnt seem to lose it and wasnt going to go to bed hungry every night, that is no life.. I dont know I just want to know once reaching goal weight how normal (not over eating) are you able to eat? I am curious.. it seems they always tell you what to expect the 1st.. what about yr 2,3,4,5? Curious...

Sue my suggestion is to get into a face to face support group. My favorite (I currently drop in to 2, and know of a 3rd) is at Mills Penninsula, yes Burlingame CA....It is held the 1st Saturday of every month in a basement meeting room - starts at 10:00am...all WLS patients are welcome and its free...... There are more RNXY then banders, but our ranks are growing. Its a judgment free 1.5 hour session (you can leave early without a problem) where you pick up encouragement, and tips on how to succeed, and maybe best what to expect along the way, at every stage - even years out.....drop in in two weeks... On to your Dr and eating issues...... you have to show backbone with your doc....MAKE him unfill alittle, or better yet do a swallow test...I say test is better because I am currently in the "throwing up" group. Early on (up to first year) I had trouble with healthier choices, and became a chip eater, and starting craving sweets (these were new bad habits), At two years out of need I discovered the benefits of PBing. I had not had a fill in 1.5 years.......By year 3 I was PBing with much greater frequency...now at 3.5 years I cannot eat or drink anything without regurgitating, this includes Beans and soups.... anyday now I will be approved for an upper GI and I fully expect to hear that my band has slipped......but I will just have to wait and see and keep sipping this and that

yes its not the same doctor. the one im talking about is dr.robert l. miles and dr.lee schmitt. they are at 52 medical park east ste. 307 birrmingham, alabama. 35235 if you can add them that wopuld be great. doctor miles done my surgery and about 10 others thats on this board everyweek. you can go to this Alabama Local Lap-Band Support - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum and look at the first thread and see all the people that go to them. thanks jason r

Congratulations on getting your surgery date. It will be here before you know it. I had a 10 day pre-op diet, but it was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Good luck!

I was banded by Dr. Ortiz in Mexico in January 2005. My total weight loss over the next three years was 130 pounds from my highest weight, 110 pounds after banding. My decision to go to Dr. Ortiz was cost - my insurance didn't cover bariatric surgery and I absolutely do not regret my decision. The procedure was still new in US in 2004/2005. I had a surgeon friend who performed my fills "blind" whenever I needed more restriction and we truthfully were "winging" it. I did ultimately have an overfill, but ignored the signs because I loved the weight loss. The price I paid was that I needed an emergency unfill (my surgeon friend moved to another state). I went a year with no/minimal restriction but had actually gotten too thin and needed to gain 15 pounds. I maintained that for about a year, then decided to get a fill. It was then (I only had approximately 2 cc in a 4 cc band) that we figured out something was really wrong because I became severely restricted and had an unfill again. The UGI revealed band slippage. I am waiting until after January 1, 2009 to meet with my new band doctor to decide what to do. I am self-pay because I no longer meet the criteria for bariatric surgery (or do I?). I'm not counting on BCBS to pay for this but I will probably go along with the surgeon's recommendation. I hate going into debt for this, but I hate being fat more. This is my story. Whatever I have had to go through, it was worth it to be thin again. FYI, my mother was one of the first gastric bypass patients in the US in the early 70's. She die four years ago, it did extend her life, but the quality of her life the last 10 years was pitiful. Land Band surgery spoke to my heart. I liked having my stomach and intestines and not dealing with malabsorption, etc. Looking forward to hearing from anyone who identifies with my issues and now problem of band slippage. I did it to myself - stress, overeating and mad vomiting. It still involves being able to control yourself and I wonder if I can do it without being banded. Probably not . . .

Hi Bansters, I am seriously considering getting banded. One area of concern/question is what happens 3,5 10 years out? Once you reach your goal weight do you loosen up the band? Do you eat different? Does life change (from a food intake perspective) once you have reached the goal weight? If so how? I don't see these questions being discussed too much here. It seems like this forum is a place to come when your in the process, but once your "done" you stop talking about it. I hope to hear from some long time vets! Thanks Archer

My skin really itched also. I rub some cortizone-10 onto my skin but not directly on the incisions just all around it. It seems to do the trick.

I am very frustrated. Presurgery, I lost weight and after surgery, I lost weight. When I started back on normal food, no more weight loss. Now, I feel no restriction (except a rare moment) and no weight loss. I had my first fill six weeks in (surgery was Nov. 3). I go back next week. I have 4.5 cc's in a 10 cc band. Is it normal to have nothing happen until you find the right fill?