LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

Does anyone use unflavored protein powders to boost your protein intake through out the day? Can anyone recommend me a great unflavored protein so I can add to my recipes that are lacking protein?

Here is a trick to eating salad everyday for lunch. Make a few jars on Sunday night and just grab one to bring to work every day. When you're ready to eat, just shake it up. The key is to make sure the dressing and the Leafy greens don't touch.

I need someone to email and interact with. Someone to guide me. I feel so alone in this journey. I am 24 years old. Any takers? My email is Whitney10488@gmail.com

is it normal to feel good restriction even with your first fill ? before I got it I was able to eat anything I felt no restriction after I was fully healed but after my first fill I got a few weeks ago I feel my restriction is really good I get my cup of food in and am satisfied for a while .

I'm one week post op... It takes me about 10min to drink a 10oz protein shake I feel full after but not so full that I'm stuffed (I guess that's how I got here, I always ate till the STUFFED feeling lol) am I drinking too fast or is this fine?

just wanted to know on average how long should you wait between bites to take another? Thanks

OMG please tell me that the gas/ air that u pass with go away!! I am 6 weeks post op and I will just pass gas anytime/ anywhere! Is this part of been banded?

I had surgery in April 2011... my doctor did not tell me what to eat or how. I have been in the blue for so long. Ive lost about 40lbs on my own but want to lose much more! Can anyone help me understand shakes and etc? Do we drink them as a meal and what kind? How do i know whats good? Ive done lots of research and figured out how to eat. Basically high protein and low fats. Any other suggestions? I really need to know is it best to drink shakes and when? Thanks!

Congrats to Me!! I am in Love!! Most Importantly He is In Love With Me Even More!! Happy Friday Love All of You!! New Me!! Slimmer Me!! In Love!!! I Feel Like a 16 Years Old All Over Again!!!

Well, I made it! Tomorrow is my big day. I faced many challenges on my pre-op, fender bender with my new car, traveling with an unpleasant colleague for a week. I only had a few cheats, minor ones, but still. Today I nested, lol, like I'm having a baby tomorrow. Cleaned out my cabinets, got rid of a bunch of stuff and filled them with broths, soups, jello, and protein shakes! Get ready, Get set, GO! 145 here I come!

I'm in love!!

Hey Everyone, Just wanted to get a sense of what this is I am feeling. Now that I have 7.5CC in my band I am starting slightly to fell the difference from one fill to the next. I am praying that the right amount of restriction happens and I start really loosing weight. However I have noticed that after I eat somethings it almost feels as though food is sitting right in the back of my throat. I can eat pretty much anything and it seems to go down but it's a strange feeling. I am not in any pain its more uncomfortable then anything. Almost like there is something sitting on my throat. Sorry its hard to explain but just wondering if anyone else has felt this odd feeling or…

I still am not getting that satisfied feeling:-(I have noticed a very slight difference if I try to eat to thick of a bread, but other than that nothing, and I haven't lost any weight for months:-( my doc says he only goes to 9cc in the 11 cc band! I am going back this month and asking for the other 0.5 cc and hope that that makes the difference.

Any one else being banded on Feb 14th?Just found out today and had to start my liquid diet suddenly!Yay!

I just tried the Unjury shake and i dont like it. It reminds me of the shakes i used when i did the Optifast diet. It leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Can anyone recommend a coupe of others i could try? Sara

How's everyone doing? Any issues? Is it what you thought it would be?

I had a fill about 12 days ago. I was significantly tighter but able to eat a little. This week I am on my period and I am usually tighter the week of my period. Tomorrow is my first day back to normal (off period) but I haven't been able to eat ANYTHING the last day and a half. It takes me a while to even sip a cup of water, but it wasn't THIS tight until just 2 days ago. Anyway....my question...how long would you wait before going to the doc? I have been banded since June and only lost 21 pounds...so I am getting really frustrated and I am really wanting to give this new adjustment time to work some magic. Thoughts?

Can this be happening ?? This chest pain is something else !! . This can't still r the gas???? Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

My last filling was in November and its pretty tight. I've been ok until the last 2 weeks where I've had to keep a cup of water on my bed side and sleep at a propped up angle because ill wake up coughing and choking on spit. What could it be? Also, because I paid out of pocket for the surgery, I'm worried if there is a complication that my insurance won't cover anything I might need to get done to fix it. Any suggestions?

Hi everyone, Banded last year on Jan 27 and love my band. However, the last 2 to 2.5 months my weight loss has stalled and I am at a loss as to why it has. I have lost almost 73 pounds so far and while I am happy with that, I still have quite a ways to go. I feel like I am at the green zone and don't really have much of an appetite. And that might be part of my problem. I work out 5 days a week doing Zumba and boot camp(usually alternating nights). So I work out really hard! My calories consistently seem to hover around 1200 a day. And that is not taking off the calories I have burned off working out. Am I possibley not taking in enough calories with what I am doin…

I'm wanting to add chia seeds to my shakes for their health benefits but I'm wondering if they are safe. Supposedly they swell after you eat them. Could they swell and overfill you?

No One Can Tell Me That They Know How a Drug Addict Feels!! I am Having Such an Addictive Episode Over These Super Bowl Wings!! Its Been Over 45 Days and I Have Successfully Stayed Away From Meat and I am Feeling It Right Now Watching My Family Eat These Wings! Lord Continue to Give Me Strength!!! Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Well, today is a day to getting back to a better me! I'm nervous, excited as u all understand.....can't believe it's finally here! Off I go........

I am so happy I have had this surgery, and that my band is there totally in control.... We had a good sized Superbowl Party yesterday.....Tons and Tons of food, no meals, just a lot of Snacks and food to graze on... After the gym in the am, I had my usual Breakfast smoothie...I then skipped lunch knowing I will be around food later in the day. So, at the party, I started to snack here and there, a shrimp...chicken wing... And to my delight, my Band jumped up and let me know who is in charge.....said NO MORE, Stop or Else!!......unless I want to get stuck in front of all these people......It sent me those classic signals, and I haave learned to "Listen" to my band.…

Today I will do Something I have Never Done Before!! Put Me First!! I will complete All My Weight Loss Goal!!! No Matter What!!! By Eating Healthy!! The Numbers: 20 Represent: God's Number is 20. This is Biblical Fact!! The Number 1 Represent: new openings, beginnings and creation. The Number 3 Represents: 3-Is the number of personal completeness, It therefore represents God. With That Being Said The Year 2013, 13 Is My Year!! No Exceptions!! Love You Happy Monday!!

I had my first fill last Monday (2cc) and I don't feel restricted should I call my doctor?

Hi there, it's great to be here with you all, can't wait to get back to my ideal weight greetings from Iceland

Is there anyone out there that is from New Zealand. I have just joined this website - thanks to another friend who told me about it. I was just wondering if there were any other kiwi's out there. I have just had my banding op on the 8th March 07, so it all rather new for me. Just gone on to the mushy food stage and excited about that. Some normal food that I don't have to drink - YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not sure, but I think she was jealous of the attention some women in costco where paying to me, as I did my shopping women kept stopping me and giving me food. Honest Mistress Band, I didn't even know those women, and they don't mean anything to me, please put the heels away, it is only you and my wife, I promise!

havent had a fill yet. surgery was the 7th of this month.. So my surgeon has me on a "no" carb diet. which i'm horrible at but i've been serious about it lately.. what doesnt make sense to me is that small quantities high in Protein do not fill me up, (even large quantities of protein doesnt) but if i have a small bowl of Cereal or a piece of pizza (bad i know) it fills me up...so i feel like i am eating much higher calorie amounts on a no carb highhh protein diet than i was when i was being more lenient.. i had alot of protein yesterday and i was still hungry all day.. i'm just frustrated... will this change after i have a fill...? also what are your guys' strategies f…

I want to express my gratitude to each of you in this group. It's amazing to me how a group of strangers can form such a bond and such comradery in such a short time. February Bandsters....you are the best! I look forward to taking this journey along side each of you. Whatever support or help I can give to anyone, just ask.

Thank you to all those that reference Emily Bites and Skinny Taste. Never heard of either of those until I jumped on these boards. They have scads of the easiest most delicious sounding recipes. Tonight I took a gander at making Emily's Zucchini Tots. So super duper easy, very low carb and takes no time to make. And guess what? I think they are absolutely delish! Zucchini isn't my favorite veggie (unless it's breaded, fried and served with a side of ranch!), but these are pretty darn tasty. The only thing I did differently from the recipe was to put them under the broiler for a few minutes to really brown them up. Just thought I'd put my two cents in, just in …

Question? What does restriction feel like for you? How do you know when you've reached restriction? Scare that I won't know when I've reached it? Help?

I had my first fill last Monday (2cc) and I don't feel restricted should I call my doctor?

I know we all like the support, ideas, exchanges, etc. But what, specifically, keeps bringing you back here?

This is the best part of being banded so far...Learning to eat slowly and finally pay attention to what I am putting in mouth. I have to chew so slowly that the flavor of the food is broken down. For instance I recently ate a Weight Watchers frozen meal. All I could taste was how processed the food was. It was gross. Now I find myself only wanting "real foods" and appreciating how good they are. For instance I had grilled chicken, black beans and a little bit if rice for lunch today. One of the best meals I've ever had and healthy too.

So, I have not visited these forums in a very long time. But I need some help from my fellow banders. This is my story. I was banded in October 2009. Lost about 80 lbs and felt successful. Then decided to go back to college. My weight fluctuated, down 20 lbs and then up 20 lbs again like a yo-yo. Then this past summer I hit a wall where I couldn't eat anything, nothing stayed down for two weeks. I had to fly home from school and my Dr completely unfilled my band, since I lived 5 states away and wasn't able to come back to have it monitored, this was the best option until I graduated and came home. Now here I am, 7 months later and 35 lbs heavier and feeling like a fai…

NJDanielle27, MandaMom23, FloridaSunshine are getting banded TOMORROW!! Let's wish them all -- Good luck and keep us posted! Here we go!

I AM STILL ON MY POST OP DIET AND I AM CRAVING pizza. ITS MY BIGGEST WEAKNESS. I KNOW I CAN'T EAT IT ALL THE TIME BUT WILL I BE ABLE TO EAT IT SOMETIMES? IS THERE CERTAIN KINDS THAT HAVE BEEN EASIER FOR PEOPLE? IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE THAT IS EASIER TO EAT OR HEALTHIER THAT WILL SATISFY MY CRAVING? THANKS EVERYONE!

I had restriction up until friday. I am still not at my 'green' zone. I felt a little restriction this am but thats it for the last 3 days. Im afraid i have dilated my pouch. I am not vomiting/have reflux. Is this normal? Any input would be appreciated.

Hi there - Just wondering if anyone knows if Linda McPhee still does fills out of Regina for patients? And if not, does anyone have any recommendations in Regina for fills? Not sure if Omni takes patients they didn't do the surgery on, how about Weight Loss Forever? Any help would be great, haven't been adjusted in over 2 years, but am now pregnant and feel like I need to losen up, as it's the first time in my life that I'm losing a pile of weight and don't actually WANT to. Thanks in advance.

I was banded on Nov 1st 2012 I lost 18lbs on pre op diet and since then nothing! People ask me almost EVERY day so have u lost anything how much have u lost and I'm I data every time 18lbs and it's the same people asking I Over and over I have had one fill 5.2 in a 10 cc band I fill like I have no restriction at all I haven't gained weight but I'm def not loosing.... :/ I did this for me! Not for other people I ask me everyday how much I have lost and kinda like people are like I told ya it wouldn't work... Idk what to say to them or why I'm loosing ANYTHING.... ANY advice or motivation I would love thanks

I had a pill get stuck and now it's unstuck but I am still having a time getting fluids down. It seems like they are going down but then just sit there:( Should I try warm water or ice water?? I'm thinking maybe I'm just a lil irritated and is the reason why nothing is working. Please help!

Anyone in Lewistown?

Just a question. Are we going to be crushing our pills (bigger than tictacs) forever after a lapband?

Hello family, how has your journey been so far? I have been in this 1 ½ years and it’s been a struggle with a few complication, I am trying to hang in there but the weight just doesn’t want to let go…. but I also know there is no way in hell that I would have been able to keep the weight off that I have lost without this band. Everyone else seems to have it so easy and have lost so much more than me by now or maybe those are the just post that sticks out lol

So I'm thinking I'm a bit too tight..I can't sit and eat- I have to stand and/or walk around no matter how slow i eat, and in the car, it's even hard to drink anything but small sips of liquids, like it would be painful to take a pre-band sized gulp ( not a huge gulp). Does anyone else have this issue?

Today I had an adjustment appt. and after 7hrs at the hospital they discovered that I have scar tissue growing over my band which is causing it to only fill on one side. I have to have surgery sometime this week to correct it. If I can't keep clear liquids down then I may need to have emergency surgery this weekend. I'm only 9wks post op but feel so discouraged with this set back. Anyone else have this happen?

I was banded 11/19/12 and lost 15 lbs the first month. After my first fill I only lost 1 more and didn't really feel a difference. I went for my second fill today excited to get it and cried all the way home. I had a Physician's Assistant who I did not meet until today and she made me feel like the biggest failure. She told me she doesn't care if I took the day off work and expected a fill because she decides if I need one or not. It has been hard changing my diet and I thought I was trying pretty hard, but for over an hour, this person had nothing but negative feedback. She even compared my loss to others with 4cc's and said they are losing 5 a week! She ended up giving …

I wanted to share with you guys a discussion I had with my S/O tonight. As some of you may or may not know I've been majoring in psych for a few years now with a concentration in Drug and Alcohol addictions, this I have found is more of just addictions in general then adding the "drug and alcohol" label to it. So here is how the conversation went. I am one lucky person to be able to have food in my house that I know I can't eat. No one else in my household has a weight problem and my son is actually always on the fringe of being underweight. So anyway, last time we went to the store I bought some brownie mix for me to make with my son on a snowy day or something and it si…