TucsonAnnie

I use lapband.com and can't find a help button. Is anyone here using that website for their measurement tracking? I did my measurements right before surgery, entered them on that site, but didn't write them down in a notebook. Now it appears there has been too much time passed and I can't see back farther than three months! Has anyone else found how to see back to day one? The weight loss goes all the way back, so I didn't think the measurements wouldn't. I could have a fit! I can't remember my original measurements, which is why I logged them at the website. Does anyone know if there is help available from that site? I have called the 800 number, but they said they don't do website/tech problems.

I have been a couch potato, only walking a little here and there. My weight plateaued. I have just recently started using my clubhouse workout facility and in a week I dropped four pounds. I suppose I'm going to have to listen to common reason and work out. My big thing is conquering the elliptical machine. Today I should be up to 20 minutes at level one. When I get to 30, which I think will take a couple of weeks, I will go to level two. I am doing it slowly so I don't kill myself or get bored. I mix up my workout by doing the nautilus machines (rower, leg press, chest press) and have 5lb weights for my arms at home. I used to be a treadmill fan, especially because at my top weight it was all I could do. Tried three minutes on the elliptical and about fainted. Now I am finding the elliptical almost- I can't believe I am saying this- FUN and I really like how my knees and ankles aren't getting pounded! Good luck finding YOUR fun workout. I didn't believe it was possible, but for me, it is!

.

Thanks everyone- I think I am going to head for the GNC and try some new things. Obviously my daily Dr. recommended Centrum isn't enough, and I will definitely look for something other than whey protein.

Aaaaaaack! I am shedding, not seriously, but enough. I get my Protein. Will this ever stop? I am SO freakin' SICK of drinking Protein shakes. I HATE milk and milk products, and I have choked it all down since my banding. I just can't do it anymore. Today I about gagged trying to drink my daily dose of shakes. The last one went down the drain. I don't want to do it anymore. I hate meat and I would rather just get my protein that way- BUT - I am drinking my shakes AND eating meat and I am shedding. I am so frustrated. I am afraid if I stop the shakes I will lose more hair, but I am also afraid to throw up b/c my doc warns against it. I wish I could afford hypnotherapy to get over my milkophobia. Yuck. Boob juice. I can hardly think about it. Anyone else have any positive ideas? Anyone else been in my shoes? I was banded November 11th, and doing well, except for this issue.

Great post- I saved that link to my favorites It does seem when I eat more, I lose more. I have been eating like a two year old ( quantity wise) for the last few weeks, and I'm not losing weight. I used that calculator and now I think I understand why!

This past week we had our first out of towner come to stay with us. We did a lot of touristy things, which meant I did sit down restaurants for the first time since October. I hear ya about the drink thing. After the first time I just ordered a Water to get the server to leave me alone. Once I had to explain I had a lap band to shut someone up. Uncomfortable. I also couldn't believe the weirdness of just asking for a plate. We went to restaurants where the portions are HUGE and I wasn't doing it. Just a 1/2 cup amount of my husband's meal and I am done- and he still had leftovers. I had to tell one waitress I was post op and that worked - that time. One steakhouse we didn't go at all, because the menu states there is a $6.95 charge for a plate. Not being cheap, but that's ridiculous for three bites of a steak and a spoonful of Beans. If I am ever out of town and a buffet is the only choice, I'm going to stay behind with a headache! From now on, if I have to go to a restaurant, I am calling ahead to speak with management, and ask if their servers are trained to spot bandsters- or at least leave it alone when a customer says no thank you. Hopefully, I won't have to go to a restaurant again anytime soon!

This topic - the responses show how different we all are. Wow. I have been eating by the clock on my workdays, just so I don't get jittery or faint. I don't eat much at those times, just maybe a s/f yogurt or a piece of cheese. My work lunch is a 4oz container of the last night's dinner leftovers. I do feel a litle hunger once in a great while this way- instead of the terrible starving feeling at the beginning. My hunger isn't bad at all now. Yesterday was a first for me. I felt a little grumble in the morning, ate my litte bitty Breakfast, then a tiny mouthful of a snack while running errands. The only reason I ate dinner was because I don't want my metabolism to drop. I also don't want do to a freak out and scarf food because I feel like my blood sugar is crashing. So I suppose I should eat when I am hungry, but watch the clock too. Maybe you can find a balance like that as well. It's certainly not easy, is it?

_delete_ error!

Wow. Someone read my post and hit me with a negative mark, maybe they were just trolling, maybe they didn't like that I agreed with Cleo's mom. Maybe they were just being spiteful because they are one of the hateful posters. I don't know, but it's not cool. I just keep thinking about the post that reminds me that a child could be on this forum and we would never know it. Think good thoughts everyone - Karma happens!

I wish I knew. I am drowning in medical bills. My husband had major surgery a month prior to my banding - and we ended up with copayments to so many doctors my head is spinning. I am also trying to keep up with paying for my new year deductible along with the cost of my fills that I didn't know weren't included. (I knew some fills would be out of pocket, but I misunderstood and thought three fills would be covered in the global period. Wow, I was so wrong.) In short, I need to consolidate thousands of dollars. All medical. If anyone reading this knows of a company that does loans for medical bills, please let me know. I want to get all caught up, and fast! I hope I dont, but I might need some cosmetic surgery next year and there are loans available for those types of procedures (at a premium) but is there anything out there for just plain old medical bills? My online search is not turning up anything.

I understand! I hit plateaus. It makes me crazy. IT IS SO FRUSTRATING. But we will get past it. I don't get depressed because I figure during the plateau periods, it gives my skin time to adjust. I feel saggy enough already. I would rather lose a pound a week - or plateau for a while - than go through the cost and pain of cosmetic surgery. You will get there- you will. You are in charge!

Quit with the politics already. Please.

Right on, Cleo's Mom! I have only posted a few times because of all the awful things I read here, and I figured about as much. When I see something hateful or spiteful, I click the red minus button. I wish more people would.

When I asked my doc (yesterday) about the 1/2 cup vs. 4oz thing she explained we were working on volume (1/2 cup) not weight because she is guarding against stretching and slippage. She said I was doing a good job following her book of rules. I did get a fill so I am not feeling so deprived. Now I am allowed up to one cup of food, or less if I feel fullness. I tried a cup of soft food tonight, and I feel better. It stuck with me. I still don't feel full, but I'm not going over her allowed amount.

Wow. No wonder I'm hungry all the time. All I get is 4oz (1/2 cup) for a meal. 3 times a day. My doctor says that's all I should ever eat. It's working but I am miserable.

Good question. I'm going to ask my doc at my next appointment. I use a measuring cup, regardless of weight. I'm afraid of stretching. I try to keep the 5 hour rule, but most of the time it's just not possible. I eat a lot of popsicles. I actually look forward to those Protein shakes now, and I hate milk.

Thanks! I have been a very, very good patient. I keep to my four ounce meals. I don't cheat. Okay, I nibbled on a few Cookies over the week of Christmas, but other than that, I eat per the doctor's orders. I don't eat bread, Pasta or sugar now. For meals, I eat Protein first and my veggie "sides" are just a few tablespoons. The doc has me on chewable Centrum and Calcium +D to make up the difference. I am also required to drink 24 oz of Protein shake per day, about 60-70 grams of protein is the goal, but I probably don't meet it. I'm not shedding, so all is probably well. I'm only exercising a little, mostly little walks, a little bit o'weights, nothing major. I like simple pilates. As I lose more, I'll exercise more. Especially if I hit a long plateau. Secret weapons: s/f popsicles, s/f yogurt and canned Soup. Not perfect, but it works for me. I made a bathroom rug out of my pants that don't fit anymore. It's working. I am SO happy and wish everyone such good luck.

After my first fill, I was ravenous. I was so disappointed, as I had starved through two weeks of preop liquids, and went crazy from hunger two weeks postop. My second fill helped a little bit, but I never feel full. I feel empty. I'm hoping I get some satisfaction at my next fill. I feel your frustration. Many of us are told that the band will help with hunger, then when it doesn't turn out that way, we are left to our misery until we can make it to our next fill. You are not alone.

Uggggggh. I haven't been this nauseated since I don't know when. I was banded in November, sticking to the doc's orders and otherwise doing well. I probably drink to much liquid at once. Can I make myself sick that way? All I drink is Water, my Protein shake, no-cal koolaid, and an occasional V8, maybe a cup of coffee in the morning, depending. I'm not prone to nausea. I don't think I have a leak in my band. It's happened a couple of times before,for a little while, but tonight is the worst. Today I had my morning water, cup of coffee and shake. lunch I had my mushy bbq (4oz, bland, chewed well) and the rest of the afternoon I finished 16oz of water and couldn't manage the rest of my allotted shakes for the day. I just finished 12oz of water that I have been sipping on for two hours. I am nauseated, no food stuck. I don't think I am ill. My questions are- does anyone else have nausea this far out? Since I drank my shake too quickly, could I have made myself sick? ( I couldn't have chugged back more than six ounces of my shake. ) Can drinking too much too fast cause stretching? I am just feeling yucky like I could burp up water right now. I'll survive, but would really like to know if anyone out there has experienced this kind of thing.

I went on leave one day before surgery to prep and set up my postop house, then I took two workdays and then two full workweeks off. My work is at a desk, so it wasn't so much the sitting that I was worried about. It was the incision sites that I didn't want to deal with. Even going back at ten days postop, my work clothes rubbed me wrong, and dealing with the postop diet was inconvenient, to say the least. Trying to get back to work to save my leave time was a mistake, I really needed a few more days to get back into the swing of things. In retrospect, I should have worked half-days the 3rd week. I still had some minor pain, and the stress or driving, finding parking, packing lunch properly and wearing loose clothing at my waistline was a drag. Don't push yourself, be realistic. I'm glad I could stay home and avoid the jerks who came to work sick while I was out. I missed a major cough fest. Ouch. Who needs that postop? Be kind to yourself. Work up to it. Don't go back to work unless you have to. Get a pedicure. Visit old friends and relatives. Walk in the park. Relax and enjoy. It's the beginning of a healthier you.

My doctor says 4oz, and only 4oz, and if I feel full before the 4oz is finished - stop eating. I have had two fills, and now rarely get hungry, but never feel full. I'm scared of rupture and/or band slippage so 4oz is where I will stay. I have also been told to keep my 4oz meals 5 hours apart, with no fluids 20 minutes before or 60- 90 minutes after - and that is extremely difficult for me. Between work and normal life, the five-hour rule is causing me to skip meals. I do drink my Protein shakes as directed, but if I do, then I may not get my meals in. It's not fun, but I am getting used to it. Stuffing is over. No way am I going to risk injury, or failure. It's so hard, I know, but Larraine is right- stick to what the Doctor ordered.

Hello everyone! I have been watching this forum since before my banding, and finally decided to join in. It looks like a helpful tool, and the people here seem supportive. I was banded in November, and am doing well. I have a lot of questions and a lot to share- so onward and forward! Here we go!