Bardy

You will do it! I am 2 years out and actually reached my goal weight in the first year! I too started at 232 and am now at 145 and wearing a size 6! I've had my share of difficulties adjusting and suffer occasional heartburn/acid reflux but I'm overall so much happier! If I can do this you can too. You're already doing great! Good luck and keep up the good work!

Plateaus are very tough on us emotionally -- we want to keep seeing the weight come off! I learned a little trick about combining some foods that will tend to break the plateau -- fish, spinach and grapefruit -- not all together haha - but if you bake some salmon or other fish, add a spinach salad or steamed spinach and have a few bites of grapefruit there is something about those foods that will help break a plateau -- try it, it worked for me! Hang in there and don't give up!

I just want to encourage you to go for it! If you keep with the program after you've had the band placed, get counseling to deal with the food issues, etc. you will be successful! I know this because it happened for me! Make sure you have a good surgeon who really knows what they're doing in placing the band for you -- I had an excellent surgeon and have not had any slippage -- of course it is a learning process how to eat with the band -- but you will get there, and the feeling of success and being healthier and being able to buy cute clothes and feel good about yourself is awesome! I was banded on December 3, 2010 and have lost 95 pounds -- I'm at my goal weight of 140 and so happy. I had a complete unfill as I had some issues not being able to eat, but those have been resolved. I have also had challenges with heartburn and acid reflux but am learning how to deal with that as well -- overall it was the BEST decision I have made for my life! Take care and hang in there!!

I like Ensure that has 25 grams of protein to sip on between meals. I also eat half cup portions of tuna salad, or chicken salad, or egg salad for protein. Be careful not to drink liquids following solids -- that can be disastrous. I always drink my fluids first, wait a while and then eat a few bites chewed very carefully. I also like Jamba Juice protein smoothies.

I gotta tell you I am so happy to now be in a size 4! I never have been this size in my life -- the smallest I got was a size 8, which was fine because I'm 5'6" -- but I kept losing with this lapband program and kept shrinking -- I did make the mistake early in my journey of buying different sizes -- went from a 16 to a 12 to 10 to 8 to 6 (which most of my clothes still are) and now some size 4's so I did waste quite a bit of money -- my friends have lucked out some as I gave away some fairly new clothes, haha! But it is so much fun to just pick something up and know it's going to fit! I too need to tone up as I'm rather "loose" but very happy overall.

15 pounds in 3 weeks!! That's awesome! An average loss of 10 lbs a month is awesome. Good for you! Keep up the great work! You can try protein smoothies from Jamba Juice that are awesome too. I also have used a strawberry protein powder blended with frozen fruit and water and it's pretty good -- I get the powder from GNC. I got to my goal in about 9 months and now under and maintaining. You will get there!

You are all doing great with the exercise -- I certainly didn't do as much -- but what I found is that I had to keep calorie intake to more like 900-1,000 a day to really see the weight come off. For me that wasn't too difficult as with the band I can only eat a small handful of food -- trying to stick with protein based meals - tuna, chicken, salmon, etc. I am a year out from being banded December 2010 and have reached my goal -- down a total of 90 pounds. Believe me, although sometimes it feels like it's slow, as long as there is steady loss you will get there! Good luck to all of you! If I can do this at age 55, you youngsters certainly can!

Deb

That is awesome! I know it feels fantastic! But don't buy too many clothes yet cuz you're still shrinking! I made the mistake of starting to buy clothes cuz I was so excited -- bought 14's then 12's then 10's then 8's ... I'm now a 4-6!!! I cannot believe it!! I was banded back in December 2010 so a little over a year later and 90 pounds gone!! Woohoo! It is very exciting for sure!!

Yogurt, protein smoothies, try to stay away from the breads and cereals ... you will get thru it. )

I have had this feeling as well -- It seems I need to stick to smoothies and yogurt in the early morning, have a small meal (no bread) at lunch, and then usually vegetable soup or something similar in the evening. This pattern seems to work for me. Also always small bites and chew a lot -- eat very slowly with all foods. Good luck.

Can you get some fluid removed -- sounds like you're too tight -- shouldn't be that way - talk to your doctor again and get some help. It's awful to have spent so much and be so miserable.

I usually start off in the morning with the low-fat yogurt eaten ver slowly -- seems to do well. Then mid-morning have a little oatmeal. Often I will just have cottage cheese and some fruit for lunch, a protein bar mid afternoon and then fish or very tender chicken and veges for dinner -- I really like the Jack in the Box teriyaki chicken bowl -- but don't eat the rice. Very small portions chewed very carefully -- I find I have to stick to softer foods as well. I can eat the fish part of the sushi but too much rice will get stuck. It's a learning experience for sure.

Sounds like you're band is too tight now -- you should feel restriction but still be able to drink and eat SLOWLY. I think there is a happy medium where you feel restricted but can still eat the very small portions. Also stay away from breads and rice, etc. as they always cause a backup. You can try going back to smoothies for a while until the band settles -- this has worked for me after a fill.

Yep, this has happened to me as well -- last night with salmon -- it was pretty moist and I chewed until pureed but still had the issue -- guess we keep learning what works and what doesn't -- it's nice to know we're not alone going through these trials ... keep up the good work everyone. I often stick with cottage cheese, yogurt, Healthy Choice soups...

Deb

Thanks for your support! I really appreciate it -- it definitely is a journey -- I discovered today that I need to avoid chicken skin at all cost! I love pollo loco chicken and succumbed to the skin and then had a throw up incident - not fun at all ... I will add that to my list of things to avoid for sure!! All the best to you all as well!

I think that sometimes after a fill we are too quick to unfill if we have an experience with throwing up or whatever. I think my best course of action after a fill was to go back to smoothies for a few days and then gradually try small bites and really eat slowly, and wait between bites to make sure everything goes down -- I avoid bread and bread products at all cost and stick with tuna and chicken salads, some soups, very tender chicken and some veges and fruit. It is definitely true that everyone is different - and you need to get to know your body and be careful and deliberate in your choices. I snack on the protein bars between if I feel a little hungry and it really helps. It is definitely a challenge at times to find the right combination. Hang in there!

Deb

April, you have done so great -- losing 80 pounds is FANTASTIC! I too am rather new - just banded on 12/3 -- I haven't had a fill yet so seems I can still eat a little too much, but still have lost about 10 pounds since the surgery. I hope to lose another 65 and feel better as well as look better -- reading your post as well as others encourages me to stay the course and get going with exercise as well as the diet and I know I will get there -- by this time next year I will feel like a new person! This is such a great site to get and give encouragement as we are all in this journey together! Happy New Year!

Deb

Dolly you crack me up! Keep the ideas and recipes coming -- I too liked the cinnamon buns, but looking forward more now to those buns of steel -- it will take a while but we are on the right track! Stay the course, keep the protein up as well -- I sometimes snack on lean deli turkey with a spot of spicey mustard and it hits the spot. Take care and have a wonderful week!

Deb

Dolly you crack me up! Keep that great sense of humor and continue with the great ideas for eats. Remember to get your protein in to help rev up your metabolism. I sometimes snack on soft deli turkey with a little spicey mustard -- fills me up and gets the protein in. I like your vege ideas too. I loved the cinnamon buns too -- but like you would rather get the buns of steel -- we are on our way!

Deb

Yes, I was starving 1 week post op too! I added soft boiled eggs and some soft foods like cottage cheese and non-fat refried beans for just one meal and it really helped. I had my 2 week checkup and he said everything was fine, to keep eating the mushy foods and try to stick to proteins first - be sure to include protein drinks, soups like tomato and french onion. Check with your doctor on starting a couple of mushy soft foods. I'm still hungry this week as well -- won't get a fill until January 15! So just trying to make good choices and limit portions.

I was groggy and had a terrible sore throat -- I guess from the breathing tube -- but started sipping water and eventually up to the bathroom. Sore and gassy and very tired, but not too bad -- slept a lot -- tried to get up and walk around to ease the gas pains -- just take it easy and you will be fine.

Deb

You are awesome Dolly! You deserve to be successful - your son loves you and wants you around for a long time -- value yourself and keep staying the course -- you can do this, we can do this -- even when it gets tough we turn to our wonderful "club" of lapbanders and are reminded of what we need to do to use this tool that was given to us -- we have an extra help to get to a healthier happier life -- we need to respect it and do the work, and our success is within our grasp -- we just need to stay the course! Thanks for always posting and being an encouragement!

Deb

Good luck to you! I had a very positive experience with getting my lapband - very little pain -- mostly just discomfort and gas pains. You will do fine -- keep a positive upbeat attitude as this is a very positive thing you are doing for the rest of your life! Welcome to the club!

Deb

You can do it - just keep going and get it done -- I just got banded 2 weeks ago and have already lost 8 pounds and am feeling hopeful for the first time in years! I was also surprised that all of my doctors and family and my closest friends were all positive and supportive and not judgmental at all -- that was all I needed to keep going and get this done -- good luck to you and I hope to hear more from you as you continue this journey!

Deb

I am so happy for you! It is so wonderful that you are cancer free -- such a blessing! And the weight loss and a great accomplishment and also an encouragement for the rest of us -- I am a newbie - just banded 2 weeks ago, but have lost about 8 pounds already and feeling hopeful for the first time in years. Best wishes to you and your family and have a wonderful Christmas!

Deb