pamela3782

I just hit my 70lb yesterday. I was sleeved 11/9! It feels awesome! Keep up the great work! So exciting

Sent from my XT1254 using BariatricPal mobile app

Have you tried the 5 day pouch test? It is possible that you have stretched your pouch out and are eating more than you should be. That could be part of why you are not losing. If you have 10ccs in a 12cc band you should be feeling a pretty great deal of restriction.
Day 1 & 2-The first two days are all liquids. You can have as many low-carb Protein Shakes as you like to satisfy hunger or cravings. In addition drink at least six 8-ounce glasses of Water each day. The purpose of all liquids is to break any snacking, grazing or processed carbohydrate habits. In addition the liquids will work to cleanse your system and prepare you for the following three days. Try to reduce your caffeine intake as well, but do not stop caffeine cold turkey or you will feel sick and frustrated potentially losing the desire to continue with the pouch test. It is very important to drink a minimum of 64 ounces of water each day. This will prevent dehydration, will help curb cravings and will flush your body of toxins and fat. Sufficient water intake improves kidney function and cell processes.
Day 3: Soft proteins- The next three days you get to eat as much as you want as often as you want! But there's a catch: it has to be solid Protein and you only get 15 minutes each time you sit down to eat. No drinking 30 minutes before or after meals and no drinking with your food. A dry pouch will hold your soft protein longer helping your to feel full and fed longer. Protein Recommendations: canned fish ( tuna or salmon) mixed with lemon and seasoned with salt and pepper, eggs cooked as desired seasoned with salt pepper and/or salsa, fresh soft fish (tilapia, sole, orange roughy), baked or grilled, and lightly seasoned. This starts your program with "soft" protein. Measure your portion (1 cup volume or 4-6 ounces weight) and eat only until you feel full, not overfull. Remember, no water for 30 minutes before or after you meal, and no fluids with your meal. We are going back to the beginning and fluids will prevent you from feeling the pouch. If you need to add a moist condiment ( Miracle Whip or mayonnaise) to the canned fish I understand, but keep it to a minimum so the meat is not too moist. One reason we lose the sense of tightness in our pouch is that we eat "slider foods" -foods that are too moist and do not stay in the pouch very long, they slide right through the stoma. Cottage cheese is a good protein and you can include it on Day 3. To firm it up a bit you could add a chopped hard cooked egg to your cottage cheese. And yes, during the liquid phase chicken boullion with added protein is great.
Day 4 Firm Protein- Protein Recommendations: ground meat (beef, turkey, lamb) cooked dry and lightly seasoned, shellfish, scallops, lobster steamed and seasoned only with lemon, salmon or halibut steaks, grilled and lightly seasoned. By now you should be experiencing that familiar tightness that will reassure you that your pouch is working. Remember to drink plenty of water between meals. Take some time to meditate and rediscover the wonder of your pouch. Often we don't like that uncomfortable tightness of the pouch, which is why we gradually move toward slider foods that don't make us uncomfortable. It is always my preference to eat moist protein so I don't get uncomfortable, but doing so allows me to consume more than I should. Rediscovering the pouch with this 5-day plan reminds me of how the tool really works. I hope by now you are rediscovering your tool and enjoying the hope and excitement because your pouch still works.
Day 5 Solid Protein- Remember to chew chew chew. Measure your portion (4-6 ounces) and eat only until you feel your pouch tighten. Remember, only 15 minutes per meal, so you'll have to work fast to chew your food completely. By now you should be out of any carb cycle you were in and perhaps you have lost a pound or two. You will have new confidence in your pouch and your ability to work the tool for your health and emotional well being. Don't go hungry! Remember, you can eat as often as you want as long as it is solid protein, consumed without liquids and measured in 4-6 ounce portions.

I didn't right away but my breakdown was at day 3. In all honesty days 2 and 3 were the worst for me. By day 5 I felt good and by day 8 I felt fairly back to normal. I'm 6 months out now and think its the best decision I've ever made. Give it time, you will adjust. Good luck hun

This is a great tool! You still have to be "ready" to use it as a tool and not expect to wake up thin! Our minds do not change just the size of our stomachs. I have lost 64 since May and 70 from my highest weight and I had not been able to wrap my head around dieting and weight loss for many years before my surgery! Best of luck to you and don't forget the excercise I have really enjoyed that part and never thought I would!

Just out of curiosity, is this topic just to see who sides with what or can something actually be done about the "adult room" option? Also if there is something that can be done, does that mean that absolutely nothing sexual or adult related can be spoken about in the main chat day or night time? If not then your just drawing attention to an already ridiculous bunch of drama. The whole thing feels like high school. It's very obvious that there are some very strong opinions on both sides and I'm not saying that either side is right or wrong however the cat scratching and name calling doesn't solve ANYTHING. I get it, it's not a perfect world and you're not always going to get what you want HOWEVER I know that each and every person that is involved in chat is mature enough to handle the situations privately. Being nasty and slanderous in chat in front of a new comer in my eyes is just as bad. I'm not trying to start anything I just wondered exactly what this is supposed to do. Just some more food for thought, when the chat room is empty at night and they see everyone else in the adult room is there going to be someone willing to take shifts just to help out these new comers? Don't get me wrong we are always more than willing to help whoever needs it I just don't want the easily offended to miss out on the help they need. Like you had said it is international.

Just out of curiosity, is this topic just to see who sides with what or can something actually be done about the "adult room" option? Also if there is something that can be done, does that mean that absolutely nothing sexual or adult related can be spoken about in the main chat day or night time? If not then your just drawing attention to an already ridiculous bunch of drama. The whole thing feels like high school. It's very obvious that there are some very strong opinions on both sides and I'm not saying that either side is right or wrong however the cat scratching and name calling doesn't solve ANYTHING. I get it, it's not a perfect world and you're not always going to get what you want HOWEVER I know that each and every person that is involved in chat is mature enough to handle the situations privately. Being nasty and slanderous in chat in front of a new comer in my eyes is just as bad. I'm not trying to start anything I just wondered exactly what this is supposed to do. Just some more food for thought, when the chat room is empty at night and they see everyone else in the adult room is there going to be someone willing to take shifts just to help out these new comers? Don't get me wrong we are always more than willing to help whoever needs it I just don't want the easily offended to miss out on the help they need. Like you had said it is international.

Just out of curiosity, is this topic just to see who sides with what or can something actually be done about the "adult room" option? Also if there is something that can be done, does that mean that absolutely nothing sexual or adult related can be spoken about in the main chat day or night time? If not then your just drawing attention to an already ridiculous bunch of drama. The whole thing feels like high school. It's very obvious that there are some very strong opinions on both sides and I'm not saying that either side is right or wrong however the cat scratching and name calling doesn't solve ANYTHING. I get it, it's not a perfect world and you're not always going to get what you want HOWEVER I know that each and every person that is involved in chat is mature enough to handle the situations privately. Being nasty and slanderous in chat in front of a new comer in my eyes is just as bad. I'm not trying to start anything I just wondered exactly what this is supposed to do. Just some more food for thought, when the chat room is empty at night and they see everyone else in the adult room is there going to be someone willing to take shifts just to help out these new comers? Don't get me wrong we are always more than willing to help whoever needs it I just don't want the easily offended to miss out on the help they need. Like you had said it is international.

Twas the night before surgery ...315ish:cry



5 months into bandland, Christmas of 04'...-50ish:)

I cant tell you how much the lap band has changed my life!

My surgery was on April 15th. I didn't have a specific pre-op diet however I was required to lose between 10-25 lbs so there was some dieting involved. I see a lot of people had to do a liquid diet but I just watched what I was putting in my mouth and was quite successful. I dropped 12 lbs in a week and a half. Hope that makes you feel a bit more at ease. Good luck with your surgery and if you have any questions feel free to message me.

~Pam

My doctor had told me instead of trying to eat really doughy bread (white bread, Bagels, italian bread ect) try to toast it, it gives it a different texture. Also small bites chewing VERY well. Once you realize how really chewed bread actually feels in your mouth (texture too) you may not miss it as much as you think you might. When food isn't chewed thoroughly, it tastes different. That is something you will realize over time. Some tastes are more of a habit than an addiction. I'm sooo jealous! I can't eat solids for another 3 weeks! Good luck with it all.

Remember that non scale victories are good too. All though you may not be losing, by getting more exercise you are going to be gaining muscle. I'm pretty new to this but like Dave said sometimes uping your calorie intake may kick start the losing process again.. Good luck!!

So I had my surgery on 4/15 and the last 3 or 4 days I have been REALLY emotional. I have a lot going on with my family and my marriage stress wise. I have always been a detached person when it comes to showing my emotions to most people and I have some pretty thick skin so not much gets to me but these past few days I have been crying at the drop of a hat. I feel like I don't have any control over what is happening around me when usually I'm at the top of my game.

Has anyone else felt an emotional change like this shortly after surgery? What did you do to change it? Did you end up getting a grip on yourself again?

Thanks in advance for any advice

~Pam

I just had Dr. Rich do my surgery on Friday......one word..........AMAZING! I have never seen a doctor care so much for his patients. He is thorough but is the nicest guy. I had my surgery done at Good Sam and I can't say enough about the staff. They had me sooooooo at ease. The nurses were all terrific, the anesthesiologist was incredible, and the other surgeons (who I can't remember because I was under) must have been fantastic because my recovery has gone without a hitch. The nurses at good sam even called me the next day to ask how I was doing.

I wish you the best of luck (Not that you'll need it with Dr. Rich). Please keep me posted on your progress and let me know how everything went. If you have any other questions please feel free to message me

~Pam

I'm glad today is easier for you and I know that occasionally you will tend to have minor slip ups but please keep in mind that although you have lost 5.5 in two days even with going over in calories (please don't get me wrong that it great!) you should still try to stay under the 800. The doctor tells you how to make it work for a reason. I KNOW it's really hard right now and the liquid diet post op may seem incredibly drastic at times as well but just keep remembering its all for the greater good in the long run.
As an overweight woman myself I have made food an excuse. A lot of times I said I was hungry but in all fairness I wasn't. I was just use to eating. I've realized now that I was flat out lying to MYSELF and the only person that gets hurt is me. You will come to realize a lot of the times the "hunger" is in your head. If you feel yourself getting hungry besides at normal meal times, drink a glass of Water or crystal light. If you can drink that and then 20 minutes later still feel hungry, eat something small. Also, eat slowly and chew thoroughly. It's something you will need practice with anyway so it will get you use to it. It takes a full 20 minutes for your brain to recognize being full so if you are a fast eater by the time you actually feel full, you're actually stuffed. Good luck with everything and if you ever need to talk feel free to message me.
~Pam

Hi Tracey,

I'm glad you came to this site to get your information. You can read all you want but there's nothing like someones personal experiences. I'll try to answer your questions as best as I can.....

Question 1: Once you are banded the ask you to drink AT LEAST 64 oz. of Water per day. At first the drinking will have to be fairly slow however once the stomach swelling goes down from surgery liquids will go down more easily.

Question 2: They say to make your meals last for at least 20 minutes. You will need to take smaller bites and you will need to chew your food thoroughly. Like Ash said chew each bite 25-45 times. If something is not breaking down in your mouth after that amount of time it's not the best idea to ingest a lot of it if any. Getting "stuck" is not fun. It is very uncomfortable and you want to avoid that feeling as much as possible. The reasoning behind the 20 minutes is because it takes the brain 20 minutes to realize that you are full and only the top part of the stomach can detect that. That is why the band is placed so high.

Question 3: Every stage of your banding process will be different. 4 oz. is standard at the beginning but the pouch will stretch and you will eventually be able to eat a bit more. The top portion of your stomach is a harder part to stretch so your going to feel it when it does. bread may be a problem so you may want to eat the burger without or instead of bread put it between 2 large pieces of lettuce. You are going to be asked to eat your Proteins first when you eat.

Question 4: I personally can't feel the band when I move but if I push in on my stomach I can feel the port. I can also feel it when I am laying down but I do still have swelling.

Question 5: Most people don't have an issue when getting sick but everybody is different. I know that slippage can be a result of that but its highly unlikely.

Question 6: Some people have problems with Pasta, others don't. Like I had mentioned earlier starches are harder to process and you should always put your Protein first. Granted there are going to be meals that you will have minimal Protein but you have to make that change to not do that as often.

This is just as much a mental change as a physical change. If you don't go in to this with the right mind frame I suggest you wait. You will have to make sacrifices because the band is not a quick fix. It is a tool and you REALLY have to work hard at what you do. Counting calories, burning calories through exercise, getting in your protein (usually 50 grams a day for a woman) drinking Water, planning meals, and taking control of your emotions and finding out what triggered you to get to where you are now and figuring out how to fix it so you don't go back. It is a huge lifestyle change but it can also change your life for the better. The band doesn't work for you, you work for it.

Good luck with your decision

~Pam

I would definitely find a new doctor....

Mine was Dr. Richard Pucci. He is one of three doctors in his practice (Advanced Laparoscopic Specialists LLC) and they are all brothers. Extremely nice people. They are in Suffern NY 845-368-1500, Goshen NY 845-775-7505, Ridgewood NJ 201-447-2808, and Oradell NJ 201-262-4800. Not sure where you are located but if you are near any of those locations they are highly recommended.

Hope this helps and good luck!

~Pam

Being stuck is a pretty painful situation to be in. It is when your food gets stuck above your band and is having trouble flowing through. It feels like you have food lodged in your esophagus and make you feel like you may vomit and it can make it difficult to breathe. In some cases you do vomit. If and when this happens drink warm beverages. It also helps to take papaya enzyme. This could happen because you....

A. Don't chew your food thoroughly- you are supposed to chew each bite 20-30 times
B. Eating to fast- a meal should last at least 20 minutes. It helps when you count your chewing and putting your fork down between bites
C. your food is to dry or dense- some people have a problem with cold meat and dense meats like steak or beef. If you take the time to chew many of these issues can be avoided.
D. Your band is too tight and some of the saline needs to be taken out.

Hope this helps and good luck

I had my surgery on 4/15 and have been going through the same thing with the lack of interest with food however Rachel is right, my stomach is growling all of the time. I've learned the difference between being really hungry and just dealing with the growling. I've also come to realize that a lot of the "hunger" i thought I was feeling was in my head. The transition from liquids to mushies and now to more solid foods has somewhat left me feeling guilty when I eat. I tend to put off eating even more because of that. Hopefully once i get my first fill that will change as well. Just remember that when you ate the food that tasted so good, by the time you can actually eat more solid foods, your stomach has shrunk so you will get fuller faster.

I too am a week away from surgery and the answer to your question is YES! My original surgery date was April 27th and the called me a few days ago and asked me if I could do it on the 15th. Although it is only a difference of 12 days I went into panic mode!!! I took a day to really mull it over and then thought about all of the goals I have set for myself by getting this surgery and that helped me work through my moment of craziness. My advice to you is to get a pen and piece of paper and write down everything that you plan to accomplish with your surgery. The possibilities are endless and I'm fairly sure you will be as excited as I am now.
now I'm not saying that all of these will pertain because I don't know your individual situation but here are a few off of my list:
-being able to walk into any store I want to and pick out clothing that I like instead of just what fits
-not being so socially awkward (ie. food shopping, going out to dinner, going to the beach, going to a bar ect.)
-being a healthy person without such great risks due to being overweight
-the positive compliments you will receive from people
That's just to name a few. I wish you all the success in the world and if you ever need to talk feel free to message me. It's only up from here!!!