ktsped

YEAH! I think I FINALLY FOUND MY NINCH! Advice would be greatly appreciated. I got banded on April 17th 2012. I have lost 39 pounds and to be honest have been struggling. I think I feel like I have finally have an understanding of what I was doing wrong for a few weeks. I am on my 4th fill and just had another one this past Wednesday. However during the last six weeks I only lost 2 pounds. I was not making good choices with my meals and going out to eat ALOT. So now I realize that I must keep to 3 oz of Protein at each meal if I can and make sure my diet is balanced. I have not been eating alot of fruits and veggies because I have had some trouble with them. The most important thing I now understand is how slowly I must eat and to chew 30 times.
This is such a long steady journey but one that I know is so WORTH it! I have never felt better about myself and am halfway to my goal. I am at 204 right now and am going to work hard to get under 200 for the holidays. What a great Christmas present that will be!
My question is I am a teacher and have a difficult time with bringing things for lunch. I have a hard time eating some things and would like to see if anyone has any good ideas of things that are soft and easy to bring for lunch? I appreciate any thoughts or ideas! This forum has been so valueable through this process! Thank you all for your support!

Well just got back from my unfill. I feel SO MUCH BETTER! I am PRAYING that I am getting back on track. These past 2 weeks have been awful...I lost about 8 pounds but this was not anyway to live. The Doctor thinks that I have to really watch my diet. I am still thankful that I did this and am happy with my progress. I just want to start feeling normal again and hit the GREEN ZONE!!!

Thanks all of you for your support and advice! I spoke with my Nutrionist today and I am going in tomorrow morning to get some out. The clincher was last night I was up all night with acid reflex and could not sleep. It was horrible. I think I am making the right choice...it took me almost two hours today to get thru my Protein Shake and I tried a yogurt for lunch and I had a difficult time with that. I am just PRAYING that I will get some relief. This is not anyway to live...I feel lethargic, depressed, frustrated and at times hungry but too scared to eat. I hope everyone agrees...Please pray for me...this is not a great way to feel...thanks!

I agree with hely88 if I were in your shoes, I'd be asking for a slight unfill. I wouldn't be happy that tight at all.
Being as you're not vomiting and are able to eat (though it's not easy), it comes down to personal preference. Some people are happy with super tight bands, others are not. I personally have my band so that I can still eat anything I want just in moderation. Plus, if eating is that much of a chore, the temptation to rely on slider foods is too great and that leads to weight gain.
If you're not happy, then get a slight unfill. Regardless of what anyone here or even a nutritionist says, you're the one the has to live with your band so it needs to fit your needs and lifestyle.

YEAH! I think I FINALLY FOUND MY NINCH! Advice would be greatly appreciated. I got banded on April 17th 2012. I have lost 39 pounds and to be honest have been struggling. I think I feel like I have finally have an understanding of what I was doing wrong for a few weeks. I am on my 4th fill and just had another one this past Wednesday. However during the last six weeks I only lost 2 pounds. I was not making good choices with my meals and going out to eat ALOT. So now I realize that I must keep to 3 oz of Protein at each meal if I can and make sure my diet is balanced. I have not been eating alot of fruits and veggies because I have had some trouble with them. The most important thing I now understand is how slowly I must eat and to chew 30 times.
This is such a long steady journey but one that I know is so WORTH it! I have never felt better about myself and am halfway to my goal. I am at 204 right now and am going to work hard to get under 200 for the holidays. What a great Christmas present that will be!
My question is I am a teacher and have a difficult time with bringing things for lunch. I have a hard time eating some things and would like to see if anyone has any good ideas of things that are soft and easy to bring for lunch? I appreciate any thoughts or ideas! This forum has been so valueable through this process! Thank you all for your support!

Good for you! I have to be honest...I had my surgery on April 16th 2012 and am doing well. I am down two sizes...was in size 20 and now in 16's! Yeah for me! lol...but four months later it is not the size or how much I weigh it is totally how much being overweight affected EVERYTHING in my life! Last summer I broke a beach chair and lied to my husband about it! How pathetic is that! This summer I am sitting on the beach swimming in the Water and actually taking walks on the beach. I have about 30 more pounds to lose but just losing the first 30 pounds has made such a tremendous difference in my life. I wake up feeling better about myself and enjoy exercising now. It was a LONG road and not easy at times but the lap band has made my life so worthwhile! Good luck to you!

Good for you! I have to be honest...I had my surgery on April 16th 2012 and am doing well. I am down two sizes...was in size 20 and now in 16's! Yeah for me! lol...but four months later it is not the size or how much I weigh it is totally how much being overweight affected EVERYTHING in my life! Last summer I broke a beach chair and lied to my husband about it! How pathetic is that! This summer I am sitting on the beach swimming in the Water and actually taking walks on the beach. I have about 30 more pounds to lose but just losing the first 30 pounds has made such a tremendous difference in my life. I wake up feeling better about myself and enjoy exercising now. It was a LONG road and not easy at times but the lap band has made my life so worthwhile! Good luck to you!

Hi everyone...
I had my surgery on April 16th...I am down 27 pounds and have gone down 2 clothes sizes. HOWEVER, I am on my 3rd adjustment and am still not sure if I have restriction. I know its a learning process and it takes time but to be honest I feel like the weight loss is so slow......VERY SLOW!!! Am I doing okay? When did people really start to lose? in between my 2nd and 3rd fill I only lost 2 pounds in 6 weeks...IS THAT NORMAL? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!!!

totally normal...try and stay away from the scale. It will go up and down a lot in the weeks after surgery. Your body needs to heal...

Hi there...I had my surgery on April 16th. I was very emotional because i didn't feel well and did not know what to expect. I cried alot the first few days. Hang in there...it will get easier.

YEAH!! I agree!! I would not have been able to get through the past few weeks without all the help from everyone on here!

YEAH!! I agree!! I would not have been able to get through the past few weeks without all the help from everyone on here!

Hi Everyone...First of all thanks so much for this forum! I could not have made it through the past four weeks without the support and advice from everyone!
I was banded on April 16th, 2012 and can start to begin with my solid regular foods. I am wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to "start" to reintroduce foods. I have been on Protein Shakes and mushy foods for so long I think I need some guidance on how to make the right choices. I am a teacher and bring my lunch to work each day so I need something that is quick and healthy. Before surgery I used to bring a Lean Cuisine fruit and a yogurt. Does anyone have any ideas or advice on how to start our with new foods?
Also, I am happy because I am down 18 pounds! I have my first fill set for May 30th!

I got banded on April 16th. To be honest I don't think I was prepared enough for my recovery. I had a rough few days. Thank god that I had the whole week off...I am just hoping that I am fine for Monday. My recovery finally turned around when I met some great support people on this forum. Thank god for the suggestions I got...here they are (maybe they will help you):
1. GNC Lean shakes...they were the only shakes that agreed with me and that I could keep down. You need the Protein to keep up your energy.
2. sugar free ice pops!!! They were very soothing especially with the sore throat after surgery.
3. I could not handle the broth so I used the light progresso Soups and drained all the veggies and chicken out of them and enjoyed the chicken stock.
4. At night I had a low grade fever...not sure why but it was annoying.
5. If you are given pain medication it can be very tough on your stomach so you may be better off with extra strength Tylenol.
I hope this may help someone else out there. It is going to be a long journey for me but hopefully I am past the worse part of it. I have lost 8 pounds since my surgery.

Today is my second day too. My throat isn't sore but it is very dry and sounds scratchy. Should clear up soon though