Rachel412

I don't think we can really weigh all the positives and negatives fairly since most of us chose the band... the biggest thing to me is with the band you lose slower, and you're very much still in control of your loss. Whether that's a good or bad thing... I guess that depends how you feel about them!

I'm still doing it all by myself, even though I have the band. It hasn't gotten to the point that it stops me from eating what I want to eat- I am still making the conscious choice to eat certain foods and not others, and to control my portions. I can still eat just like before if I want to. So don't beat yourself up!

editing because I answered this without weighing this morning, assuming the scale wouldn't move- and then I realized it did! 238, 2 pounds down. Happy friday everyone!

So far it seems like 50/50 to me. 2 times I was HUNGRY after the fill (including today), 2 times not in the least. But at least you've got company... it's weird, isn't it?

I'm with everyone else Elliptical, go for walks- you want low impact, low bounce! Take it easy for now, ok?

I'm sorry you're in such pain I hope the hysterectomy makes a big difference for you.

Unless you get stuck on it, you'll still be able to have it- just not as often, and not in the quantities you had it pre-band.

liquids in = liquids out. Once you start back on solids it'll get better.

I'm so glad that my doctor fills every 2 weeks if needed. I feel like I'm close, but not there yet... and I REALLY want to be there! My doc says that they like patients to be losing 2-3 pounds a week when they've had surgery recently. I've lost 3 pounds in the last 2 weeks, so 1.5 a week... Also, I'm hoping they can take a look at my port. The whole area has been painful lately and I'm starting to worry that I may have flipped it. Ugh, I hope not!

I really hope this is it for you, Wheeler! These bands can be so finicky...

I am so sorry There ARE people out there who have lost 200+ pounds with the band. I wish the surgeon would give you the benefit of the doubt.

If you can't tell if it's hunger or just rumbling, it's just rumbling I'm assuming you're newly banded? When your hunger comes back, it feels just like the hunger you've known all your life. It's weird to hear your stomach grumbling like crazy, but really, it's not hunger yet.

Yes, it's possible that you've got a noodle stuck in your stoma- try drinking warm liquids to see if you can flush it down. Yes, this is one of the reasons you're supposed to be on liquids only right now. There's also the possibility that you could pop the stitches around your band by eating solids now, but that's not too likely with a noodle

I just buy my own protein powder and make them with milk. My doctor's office didn't sell them, but you shouldn't have to use the ones they sell.

Isn't it funny how that happens? If I'm at a restaurant and they put Water in front of me, I drink it while I'm eating without even thinking about it. My husband has to point it out to me.

Ooooh. I had one in the hospital, but not once I got home... lucky!

I'll tell you that the nutritionist warned me about a lot of foods but as of yet, I haven't come across one thing I CAN'T eat. That may change as I get more fills. On the other hand, I know that I am very much a carb addict, so for me to lose weight, I had to cut way, way back on my carb intake. The reason I say this is: you may not believe it, but after a while you really won't crave, or miss, the breads you're so addicted to now. Yes, garlic bread still looks good to me and I can have some if I really want it, but it doesn't much seem worth it anymore. I've switched from having sandwiches on rolls to making them on a low-carb, high Protein wrap. Instead of regular crackers, I eat whole grain flatbreads with protein and seeds and stuff in them. Instead of having regular chips I get soy chips. Popcorn- I still avoid it as I'm paranoid about having a kernel skin get stuck in my stoma. Cereal... it's my big trigger food so I have a little Kashi in my yogurt.

It looks pretty good, but I'd say that you need to space your protein out through the day. Our bodies can't process more than 20 or 25g of protein at a time. The rest of what you consume gets pee-d out and could be rough on your kidneys. I'd stop putting the whole scoop in the muscle milk. I know when I was on full liquids I was told to do 3 protein shakes a day and supplement in-between with other foods. Good luck!

I have the same thing most days- deli turkey and cheese on a low-carb wrap. For a side I'll have cocoa or cinnamon almonds. Sometimes I'll add veggies and hummus, sometimes I'll have cottage cheese that I scoop up with soy chips... but it's easy to pack and easy to grab.

Restriction without a fill is normal after surgery. You might lose that restriction as your swelling goes down, or you might not! We do have bandsters here who have no fills and are doing an amazing job with just an empty band, so you may be one of the lucky ones

I finally got to do my first WA class this morning, and man... you guys were right. It's a lot more work than I was expecting! The class is 45 minutes and all done with the float-y dumbells. Lots of kicking, jumping, lifting. I really underestimated how much work it would be. It was a GREAT workout and I moved parts of my body that arthritis just won't let me move when I'm on land. The weirdest part was getting out of the pool when it was over, it felt like I was gaining weight as I climbed the steps and I almost had problems walking on the pool deck. Amazing how the Water takes so much pressure off of you. Thank you to everyone here who told me that it was a good workout and a good choice for me. The class was big- maybe 20 women? And I'd say half of them were young- there were some really fit women in there, too. I wasn't too young and I was actually probably one of the biggest there (hard to tell since we were all under water ).

Low carb works very well with the band. I stay under 100g of carbs a day, so not low enough for ketosis, but low enough to curb cravings and to help me get weight off. Generally bandsters are told to avoid carbs anyway, so it's not too different than what my nutritionist recommended. Some people have problems with certain meats... I'm almost 3 months out and haven't had problems with any food yet. As for the "high fat" portion of Atkins, well, I guess you'd have to speak to a nutritionist. I find I eat less fats now since I'm no longer using bread and Pasta as a fat delivery vehicle.

Well I'm usually one to give nice, kind, encouraging responses, but this time I won't... knock it off. Seriously. YES, you can cause damage and hurt yourself. This surgery is all about willpower and if you're not going to start following the rules now, how do you expect to be able to follow them later? Do what your surgeon tells you to do. Yes it's hard but it was hard for ALL of us.

And how long after either of these meals do you feel hungry again?

Sounds nice doesn't it? I'd love that- IF I wasn't also constantly getting stuck or PBing or sliming. If all of that comes with feeling STUFFED, I think I'd rather stay on the loose side...