simsuss

Seven years ago I lost 80 pounds on my own and was at my personal goal. Then I was diagnosed with cancer. I fell apart and put all the weight back on plus some. Today I am cancer free and I am working on getting the weight off again with the help of the lap band. We have to learn from the past and look forward to the future. Good luck to the both of us.

I think you need to exercise. I hate to exercise as well but I do know that will help you to get over your plateau. They also say that if you change around what you eat that helps too. It is horrible to not see the pounds come off when you are working so hard. Hang in there!

I chose the lap band because it was considered the safest of all the surgeries. You also have the option of being adjusted if needed. However, I seriously considered the gastric sleeve as well because there isn't a foreign thing inside of you and there are no adjustments to be made. My doctor felt the lap band was better for me because I have heartburn issues. Gastric bypass has a malabsorption issue that I am not comfortable with at all. I am happy with the lap band but I still had heartburn issues that had to be worked out. Just remember that at the end of the day, it is going to be about the food choices you make and the lap band will prevent you from eating too much.

I love Greek yogurt, roccata cheese and cottage cheese which are high in protein. If you are hungry, try to get all your protein in. It should help with the hunger,

I was banded on December 28th. I had a problem with heartburn so I had to go back on Nexium. I was not happy about that but it made such a big difference. The doctor and nurses insisted it was the way I was eating but as soon as I started back on the Nexium I was able to eat and drink without discomfort.. I eat about 4 to 5 ounces of food at each meal and then I stop. i am never really hungry and I am never really full. At the end of the day, it is all about about the eating choices we make. It is still a diet but you just can't eat as much as before. I have lost 29 pounds pre-op and 33 pounds post-op for a total of 62 pounds. Good luck to all of the lap banders both pre and post surgery. It is nice to stay in touch on this website.

If you go to the Bariatric Choice website there are lots of protein-rich selections. My favorites are the soups and hot chocolate. Whenever I feel that I didn't get enough protein from my meals, I just have one of these.

I was banded five weeks ago and have not had any issues until now. This morning I woke up and felt like I had the symptoms of low blood sugar. I didn't start to feel better until I drank my protein shake. Even after that I felt crappy all day. I think I had a bit of a panic attack as well which did not help anything. I am not diabetic and never had this issue before. Has this happened to anyone else? As always, I welcome everyone's comments. Thanks.

I am almost one month out and I am not hungry at all. Because I am not hungry I do not know when to stop eating because I don't feel full. I try to eat 3 oz. food at a meal but it takes so long (I wait about two minutes between bites). I also get a little heartburn sometimes after drinking or eating. Has this happened to anyone else? As always, your comments are very helpful. Thanks.

I was on shakes for two weeks. 3 a day. I like the EAS chocolate carb control ready to drink protein shakes. It seems like a long time but when you go onto food it tastes so good.

I had pain in my neck, back and shoulders. It is gas pain. My doctor said it could take up to two weeks to clear up. I tried to walk around as much as possible. It helps move the gas out.

Every doctor does it differently. The first 5 days was one oz. water to be sipped over 20 minutes. Next two weeks were 3 protein shakes a day plus 64 oz. water. Two weeks after that mushies. Two weeks later and for the rest of the time have one shake a day and high protein food with low carbs. I think they all come down to the same thing. Letting your stomach heal and sticking to protein. Don't go crazy with it. Just follow your doctor's instructions.

I am almost four weeks out and I tried chopped up mushed chicken. I put it in the chopper and added some tomato sauce for wetness. Well...it did not agree with me. I ended up throwing part of it up. Not to be descriptive but it was partially digested. Not directly back up as some banders described. I also had heartburn all night and had to take some malox. That was the first time since the surgery. I had a hernia fixed and have not have heartburn since that night. Was the chicken too heavy for me? Did I eat too much? I only ate 3 oz. Anyone else have that experience? I am on mushy foods and the nutritionist said that it was OK to eat as long as it is the consistance of flaked tuna fish. As always, your comments are very helpful. Thanks.

Thanks for all the information. No more white meat for me. I will try chicken thighs, which I prefer anyway, in a couple of weeks. I have no desire for chicken right now at all after that episode. Laughing Cow low fat cheese in the microwave...interesting. Going to try that as wall. Thanks everyone!

I had a large hernia and I was having a lot of heartburn because of it. It was fixed during surgery and now I am off of all meds. I have one extra little scar but the recovery is the same.

My doctor uses the Lap Band unless we request the Realize Band.

What would you suggest as good carbs to add to our lap band diets?

My doctor is pretty strict about eating and it is on the list to have fish. Just flake it up to the consistency of tuna fish. I am only 4 weeks out and I had it a few times. Remember to make it wet. I take yogurt and mix spices in it with a little water. I put it in a squirt bottle and leave it in the fridge overnight. You can put it on the fish for wetness and it gives it a nice taste along with the extra protein.

I was banded almost 4 weeks ago. I saved so much money on food. No fast food, no going out to eat and buying very little at the grocery store. Pretty soon you will lots of money to put in your gas tank. Hope all is going well for you.

Maybe now it is your mission to help others that are going through the same journey that you did. I know for me it is very comforting to be able to talk with people who have had success with their bands. If I have a problem or just a question, there is someone there to talk to. I'm so happy for you that things are going well. I hope I can reach that same place. P.S. Why get a fill if you don't need one? You know what they say..."if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Or "don't fix it if it ain't broke" not sure which way the say goes but they both mean the same thing.

I was banded on December 28th. I felt like you did about having the gastric bypass. It seemed very extreme to me. If we are not happy with the band we can always change to the other surgeries or have it removed. So far I am feeling well with no problems. Let's hope is stays this way. Good luck to you and keep us posted.

I am allowed to use this as a substitute once a day for the protein shakes. How wonderful! Just wanted to share it with all of you. Has anyone else used anything besides protein shakes as a meal replacement?

My doctor says I can drink right up until the time I eat and a half hour after I eat.

I too have Empire BCBS and I was approved after one letter. They have no requirements. Just do the tests, submit the papers and there you go.

I drink EAS Carrb Control chocolate and it is very good. I would like to know if there are other ones that people really like. I tried Muscle Milk light and did not like it. I look forward to your comments. Thanks.

I had a hiatial hernia which was causing me to have acid reflux. It was fixed during surgery and the acid reflux was gone. What a pleasure not to take Nexium. Just an added bonus to the surgery.