phatgirl 2011

I so needed to see this post. I have definitely fallen off the wagon. i recently moved away from home and been going through the motions. Not eating right or enough and not hitting the gym either. Gained back 9lbs in 3 mos! sighhh.. Haven't been to the doc for a fill either. Only have my 1 so feeling very little to no restriction. I'm just so ashamed of myself. My doc was just talking about how she wanted me to speak at a seminar because I was doing so well and not many patients do the Lap Band. I really need to get back on focus and reading these posts was very helpful. Thank you for the advice everyone.

I also have all the games listed above with the addition of Golds Gym Cardio workout which is boxing and soooo awesome! lol also have Just Dance 1 and 2 and Dance on Broadway. MY favorite game is Just Dance 2. I Love to dance. lol can't wait till they come out with the part 3. And on the Just Dance 2 game there's an option called "Just Sweat" for exercise where u can weekly tell them how hard u want to work out. And it tracks your "Sweat" levels and intensity. Thats a great game to try.

I just had my first fill today and my doc filled me 3 ccs. So i'm assuming it's just that doctor. And if it's just for your insurance money then that's just wrong on many levels. smh.

that was so quick with most of you! I went to the seminar in Feb and was banded 5/23.Had a lot of running to do. With low Vitamin levels and scans. But finally was all cleared. Just got my first fill today so i'm on a liquid diet for today. smh.. lol I don't even know how i did it first time around.

goodness, dealing with a fill sounds scary. I haven't had a fill yet, got banded 5/23. I have a drs appt tom. I'm worried.

I go for my first fill tomorrow too! Let me know how you make out! I know I need a good fill, although I know it may take a few to get to that 'sweet spot'

Banded 5/23. and when were u? I have nooo idea if i will be given a fill tomorrow or not but I hope i am cleared for the pool! I swim and do aqua aerobics for exercise so this is something I NEED! lol good luck to you and i will keep u posted.

@ Jerseygirl and NJgirl

These are the reasons I only told my immediate and close family members and about 3 or 4 friends and that was only because about 2 of em had the surgery themselves and the other 2 are thinking about the surgery. I don't want people looking and watching what i eat and whether secretly or openly judging my food and weight loss. It's my business and it's still going to be a battle. I'm fightig it now. I've gained 12 of the 30lbs. i lost! being on solid food of course. smh. But it's a struggle. I'm hoping for my first fill tomorrow. But keeping something like this close to your heart is a better idea.

I seriously cannot thank everyone enough!

I really needed all of the responses. I really liked hearing that I was not the only one going through this. Believe it or not, I seriously think that the one that got me in the right mind set was the one that pissed me off the most. (I'm sure you ALL know which one I am talking about!)

with that being said...one poster said I didn't have to work out outside...and they where right!

I DO have a Wii. And I looked up some of the weight loss games for it, and I am wondering if anybody has any recommendations?!

I read about the Biggest Loser challenge and the reviews are good, anybody have any experience with it?!

thanks again, everyone.

Hey Girl!

I have a wii! and Love the Just Dance series part 1 and 2, the Michael Jackson Experience, The biggest loser game, Golds Gym Dance Workout and Cardio Workout. I tried the Zumba on the Kinect and it was just toooo much for me. I gave up after the warmup.

lol u have a lot of good choices for games here.. also can't forget the wii fit. :-) Good luck to you. I'm sure you'll find what works for you.

I was banded on 5/24. I feel the same way.....is there a band there? I'm always hungry, I feel no restriction. I go for my first fill on 6/20. I couldn't go sooner because I am "healing". I initially lost 15 pounds but have gained 6 back in the past week or so. Very depressing and frustrating! I'm beginning to give up!

I'm soooo happy I'm not the only one! I initially lost 20lbs after the surgery on the liquid diet. i was banded on 5/23 and I have gained back 6lbs since being on mushees for 2 weeks now. I'm about to graduate to solids. This is so scary. I don't want to go backwards.

I have a PS3 and a Wii. I don't have an xbox and I refuse to buy one just for the Kinect! lol But I have played the Kinect and love it. I also love my WIi. I would buy the Kinect for the Dance Central game. I have on my wii, Michael Jackson the Experience game, Just Dance 1 & 2, Dance on Broadway, the Wii Fit, Golds Gym Cardio Workout and Golds' Gym Dance Workout, oh also the Biggest Loser game. I bought all of this when I was frantically working out before I got banded. So, I'd have no excuse when i couldn't make it to the Y. I love them all but my fave games have to be Just Dance 1 & 2. I don't cheat my workout either by just moving my arms. I do everything the proper way. But good luck, a new system is a great and fun way to work out.

I'm so sorry you're not feeling well Weesie. But don't worry that will pass. I'm also supposed to transition to solids today but i've basically been on solids just chewing my food extremely well. Till it was basically mushees which I wouldn't recommend, but its just something I did. I don't do too well with pureed food. The whole "visual" thing put me off. But that gas will pass.

Hope you're feeling better now.

Rachel is right. lol

since no food...liquids was all I got. I was on Clear Liquids for 2 weeks! lol so... and that includes the Protein Shakes. But I couldn't do them. So clear liquids it was. And believe it was hell for two whole weeks! lol But you'll make it and it will be a distant memory a couple of months from now.

I was banded on 5/23 and it's driving me crazy! I wanna hit my pool at the Y! My insicion looks pretty good but I don't wanna hit the pool till I see my doc. and i'll see her next thurs. :-( Enjoy the pool.

Hiya Kimmi

I also don't like the sugar free items except the popsicles. I eat regular Jello pudding. sorry by the taste some things aren't meant to be sugar free! lol JMO.

Good for you.. doesn't sound like you did too bad at all. Me, i've been out of control. I'm supposed to be on mushies till Thurs and move to solids. But i graduated myself to solids and have just been chewing till things were basically liquid. I'm going to have to bring myself back to reality and do this right. I'm going to use you as my inspiration. lol Keep up the good work.

oohhhhhh it's killing me! Was banded 5/23 and I'm anxious to hit the water! that's my daily exercise. It's a chlorinated pool and it's public but I swim at the Y here and how do i miss it so! lol

Who have I told?

Hubby, child, Mom, Dad, mom in law, dad in law, brother, sister in law, Manager at work (because I had to give dr note) and best friend.

Who I wish I would have told?

Hubby, child and best friend. They are the only ones who don't constantly ask "so how much have you lost" all the freaking time. AHHHHH I know the others mean well. BUT this is a slow process and it really annoys me.

Now I just tell them "I don't know and I won't know until my next dr appointment"

~Kris

This is why I only told close family members, and only a cpl of my closest friends. I don't need every time you see me to ask me "how much I lost and am I doing it right and eating right-since someone I know lost... " Which is why i keep it to myself and just say i'm working hard at it because it's true. i am.

Anyone else experience nausea while laying on your stomach? I laid on my stomach, not even fully on it and instantly started to feel tha hot and cold all over feeling so I got up and instantly felt nauseous. Thankfully it went away in a cpl of min or so. Anyone else experience this? Thanks in advance.

I went for my 2 week on thurs and i agree, my incision doesn't look bad at all. none of em. i'm very happy. Now on to my mushees! lol

Hi all...

I'm a may bandster, my name is Amber and I'm in my last month in my twenties. lol I'll be 30 the end of june. Had my surgery done on 5/23 at Montefiore Hosp in the Bronx, NYC. Interested in chatting with like minded people.. hope all have been well and successful with their banding so far.

I've found that putting scrambled eggs and meat, veggies and cheese all together in a freezer bag and cooking them in a pot of boiling Water makes them just right for me. I was having a hard time with eggs too and read a post about doing this several years ago and have been able to enjoy eggs ever since!!

Also.. I have an easy crustless quiche recipe.. it makes a 13X9 pan.. and the ingredients are easily changed to whatever you like.. this is just the stuff I like in it =)

12 eggs, scrambled

3 oz. diced ham

1 med. onion, diced

1 can mushrooms, pieces and stems

1 Tomato, diced

1 green pepper, diced

1 8 oz. bag cheddar cheese, divided

1/2 cup light sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl, saving half of the cheese. Spray pan with cooking spray and pour the mixture in and top with remaining cheese. Bake 30 minutes, or until not jiggly in the center. Let sit for 5 minutes and cut into 12 servings. Enjoy!

HTH,

Kortni

OMG, this sounds super delicious. Can't wait to try this quiche when i get on solids. lol about to graduate to the mushies tomorrow. I can't wait.

Very ambitious of you G. Hope u have great day back and take it easy as much as u can.

Dave, you can't compare food portions post-banding with food portions pre-banding. That's because it's completely different. Once you're healed up and start getting fills, (usually starting about six weeks after surgery), you won't be able to eat like you once did, and you won't want to. The placement of the band at the top of the stomach puts pressure on the Vagus nerve, which controls hunger and production of ghrelin, the chemical that causes hunger pangs. So you'll eat a smaller meal, but the miraculous part is that you'll feel full after a small amount of food. And if you're feeling full, and are not hungry, you can safely stop eating without any problems. It doesn't matter that you only ate a fraction of what you used to, your stomach THINKS it's full. And that is the magic of the band. If you use it right, you can eat less and not feel like you are not eating a typical full meal. Once you get out of the habit of eating "big," you'll be able to focus on eating healthy, and eating smart. And the natural side effect of eating smart is weight loss. Easy, simple, and remarkable weight loss.

You made a comment in your reply to my last post that it's our culture, and that everything is about food. I used to think that, too. Then I learned that holidays are about family. Food is just something we do to have a reason to get together. My family still knows and loves me as much as before. And we still get together. They eat "big," and I eat what I want, until I'm done. I still socialize and enjoy the time together, but the one difference is I eat less than I used to. Oh yeah, and I take up a lot less room at the table.

Okay, you asked about my recovery. I'll try to be brief. Ask me if you want to know more about anything:

I had surgery Monday, December 6, 2010. My doctor did not require a pre-op liquid diet. They put me on high Protein, low carb instead, to try and shrink my liver. I only had to do one day of Clear liquids, on the day before surgery. During the surgery itself I had a hiatal hernia and a ventral hernia repaired, so where most band patients end up with five or six incision sites, I ended up with thirteen. I spent two nights in the hospital because they wanted to monitor my recovery, since mine was so involved. I was discharged on Wednesday, Dec. 8th. I had several weeks of sick time available to me from work, so I opted to take three weeks off work for recovery.

My surgeon required three weeks of liquid diet after surgery. Nothing pureed or creamy. Only Protein shakes, and liquids you can see through. I had no appetite for quite awhile, and managed to get along drinking two ounces of Protein shake every hour from waking up till going to sleep - about 16 hours a day. In between the Protein Shakes I was drinking 64 ounces of Water daily, roughly four ounces per hour for those same 16 hours.

Things went along normally for the first week, until I hit the only speed bump I've had. I discovered I was lactose intolerant, something I never knew. On the Monday one week after surgery I started having "dry heaves," but I wasn't throwing anything up. My body just had the wracking spasms that go with that. After consulting my surgeon (who was about two hours away), I made a trip to the Emergency Room. They gave me a single pill, and the urge to throw up instantly stopped. They found I was dehydrated, and gave me two bags of fluids via IV. After that I was fine. My Nutritionist and I went through trying a number of alternate liquids for Protein shakes, different kinds of milk, soy, whatever, but nothing helped. I finally started drinking ready-to-drink shakes (Muscle Milk Light and/or Premier Protein Shakes, both of which were great, taste good, and filled me up perfectly with no side effects.) They worked great, and from there on out I was fine.

At the three-week mark I went on soft foods for a week, (slider foods, thicker Soups, creamy stuf, and pureed foods.) It was like heaven. Then I did a week working my way back onto solid foods. The first thing I had was Wendy's Chili. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. It was amazing, and remains my "go to" food when I need a high protein meal that's easy to get, tastes great, and is perfectly band-safe.

By the time I was back on solid foods, I felt absolutely normal. I can't feel the band at all, and I was ready for facing life as a bandster.

At six weeks after surgery my hernia repair doctor (who had done his part during the band surgery) cleared me from all restrictions. I'd been on a "light duty" thing, not allowed to lift more than 15 pounds prior to that. On the same day, if I recall things correctly, my surgeon gave me my first fill. It was 3cc's, to go with the 3cc's he put in during the band placement surgery. So I was suddenly at 6cc's in a 14cc band. A month later I got another 2cc fill, which put me at 8cc's. A month after that I got a .5cc fill, putting me at 8.5cc's. And just today I got another .5cc, so I'm now at 9cc's. My surgeon's team and I agree I'm right at my sweet spot now, and I probably won't need any more major fills - just small .1cc or .2cc fills from here on out. My hunger is well under control, and I can go four hours or more without feeling hungry.

You asked about my daily routine. For the last few months it's been pretty consistent: I've chosen to follow a modified South Beach kind of eating plan, with higher protein, lower glycemic carbs. I avoid (note I didn't say "never eat") fried foods, heavy sauces, and Desserts. So when I'm looking for a meal, I will gravitate toward a higher protein option. I eat "real world" food, not "diet food" because I know I have to function in my own life. I eat out in restaurants regularly. I don't drink alcohol, or anything with carbonation. I know some bandsters do, but I choose not to. I don't miss it. I do use artificial sweetener (Splenda, or one of its derivatives) when I want to sweeten something. I do drink coffee, tea, and unflavored iced tea often.

When I wake up, I have a cup of coffee while getting ready for work. In the car while driving to work I have a ready-to-drink Premier Protein shake. (160 calories, 5grams of carbs, 3g sugar, and 30g of protein.) It kick starts my metabolism, and balances my blood sugar. About an hour after getting to work I have what I call a "naked sandwich." It's a Breakfast sandwich without any bread: A fried egg, a sausage patty, and slice of cheese. About 300 calories, and about 20g of protein. I'm good to go till lunch at that point.

For lunch I usually have some solid protein, like a grilled chicken breast, roast beef, steak, pork loin, or similar. I may mix it in a salad, usually with a touch of a vinaigrette dressing. Sometimes I'll get a grilled turkey BLT sandwich, and set the bread aside. I'm fortunate to work at a hospital, and the cafeteria offers a pretty good selection of choices. If the volume of food is fairly large, like a full-sized sandwich, I usually only eat half of it during my lunch break. I take the rest back to my desk as leftovers, and I may or may not eat it as a mid-afternoon snack, if I need it.

When I leave work I go directly to the gym, where I work out for about an hour or so. I usually ride a recumbent bike in the "fat burn" mode, but lately have been gradually adding some weight training.

On my way home I may grab some dinner (like Wendy's Chili or their half-sized Apple Pecan chicken salad. Maybe a Sourdough Chicken Club sandwich from Jack in the Box. Good stuff!) I don't get the "meal deal" at fast food places - so I'm not tempted by French fries or soft drinks, and I usually peel off the bun or bread and set it aside. Later in the evening, if I feel the urge to have a snack, I'll eat a cheese stick or two, or a cup of lowfat yogurt. I don't keep "trigger" foods in my house. No junk food, desserts, chips, or empty calories. And I drink Water all day long. I keep a bottle of it with me at work, in the car, and at the gym, a tall glass with ice water at home, and anytime I'm awake. It really helps.

If I go out to a restaurant for dinner, I try to select something higher in protein, and substitute steamed vegetables for any sort of potatoes. One favorite is at Olive Garden. They have a Steak Toscano. 12 ounces of grilled to order steak. I eat about a third at the restaurant, then take the rest home, where it makes two more meals. It's very filling, and the whole thing is only 400 calories and has 20g of protein.

That's about all there is to it. As you can see, I'm following what works for me. I am NEVER hungry, I get in at least 100g of protein every day. I take my Vitamins and supplements daily, I drink lots of water, and I work out regularly. I was banded five months ago this past Monday, and as of today I've lost 83 pounds, with more to follow. My surgeon says I'm doing exactly what they expect, in terms of weight loss, and they are very encouraged that things are going so well for me.

I hope this gives you some real world tips you can use. I learned what works for me, and I do my own thing in terms of how I eat, and what it means for me to be banded. I don't measure anything, and as I said, I drink with meals. But I eat slowly, I chew thoroughly, and I take small bites. All that is in deference to how the band works. I manage it, but I don't let it manage me. The rest is in the details, sorting out how to make the most of it.

Hope this helps.

Dave

I really like this response and your meals. my diet will hopefully be something like this. I was banded on 5/23 and haven't even been to see my surgeon yet. I can't wait to get out to the Y. You're so inspirational with your story and advice, thanks a lot. I also appreciate it.

Debbie!

Gurl u are not alone. I was banded on 5/23 and went through it myself had the runs up till yesterday due to all Clear Liquids. I recently upgraded my Soup to cream of potatoe and voila all gone. I just mushed the potatoes up really well and i guess it's sticking to me well. Quelled the diarrhea. Hang in there. This will all be worth it in the end. Believe it.

I totally agree with Dave. As a "Morbidly Obese" individual looking at a weight scale only i would maybe "think" something like that depending on your height.. like I would "Kill" to be at your size and stay there. Maybe thats what she's thinking? hm. I don't know but she could have not even been looking at the health reasons. She doesn't know u, I feel she was giving u a left handed compliment like girl you look good and thick! nothing stated negatively. lol but then u never know with people sometimes.