Sojourner

You did not gain the weight in a short amount of time...and it's not realistic to expect to loose it rapidly either. You are still in the healing stage post op, and priority one now is to heal, and the weight loss will come. You did not mention if you are getting any exercise...for me, no exercise = no weight loss. Even if it is only a walk, get active and try to get your heart rate up at least 3-4 days a week. First fills typically do not provide any restriction...and I've learned that restriction does not mean (at least for me) the complete disappearance of an appetite. Much of the responsibility for my weight loss is tied with my degree of diet compliance. Try to focus on what you have accomplished thus far (you really are off to a good beginning), instead of what you want to accomplish and have not yet done. Along your journey it is important to focus on yourself, as we are individuals and no two bandsters will have identical weight loss journeys. Life with my band has helped me develop a life skill which eluded me for many years...to be patient. Best wishes...

You might want to go easy on the fruit juices...they're like drinking sugar (carbs). If you do use them, dilute them and use in limited quantities only...as per the instructions of the nutritionist who works with my surgeon.

I've not had extra tightness with my band for entire days, however I have noticed a definite relationship between my stress level and the degree of restriction I feel with my band. The more stress I feel, the tighter the band...

Nausea is a symptom of severe dehydration, so you might want to consult with your surgeon ASAP about what is going on and how you are feeling. I did not realize this, and when I attended my first post op appointment and complained of nausea for 3 days, instead of going home after my appointment, I ended up in the ER for IV hydration. Perhaps ice chips would be an option. I still keep a bottle of Water with me at all times and sip from it frequently. I hope you feel better...

What instructions were you given by your surgeon? Are you following them? Are you measuring your portions? Are you drinking with your meals? Do you track all of what you eat? Special K and all processed cereals are very heavy on carbs and severely lacking on Protein. In my experience, eating "white carbs" leads to craving more carbs...and so is a possible reason that you are not feeling satiated for long after a carb loaded meal. Proteins take longer to digest, and will keep you satiated for a longer amount of time after eating. I had to wait for 14 weeks post op for my first fill due to medical complications...you can't rely on fills to keep from eating too much and what you shouldn't. That is not what the band is designed to do. Portion control of the proper and healthy food choices are the cornerstones of weight loss success...along with exercise. Stay with lean proteins and healthy Fiber carbs (fresh fruit, and fresh or steamed veggies). I'm allowed 3 oz of protein and 2 oz of carbs for every meal, and every meal is timed to last only 20 minutes. If your surgeon did not provide you with a list of foods which are allowed, and those to avoid, I would consult with a nutritionist who works with a bariatric patient population. Best wishes...

Like CG said...don't forget the Chapstick! It was the only item I brought to the hospital with me, and I was thankful I had it...

Continue to sip water...repeat...repeat. You "read" like you are off to a good start...

To add to the list of prior posts: Be certain to have all of the prescriptions from your surgeon filled and at home prior to your surgery date. The last thing I would have wanted to do newly post op would be to stop at the pharmacy. Also a "must have" for the hospital is a Chapstick for dried lips...it was the only item I brought to the hospital with me, and I used it several times...and very thankful that I had it! Best wishes as you begin your journey...

Definitely stress "tightens" my band...I notice this particularly when trying to continue to sip Water while I'm driving. I believe this is residual from a serious car accident last year. Sometimes I feel my band is tighter in the morning, though this is rare. On those rare occasions I have found that exercising first thing in the morning helps to loosen things up.

To me this reads as a psychological issue...and your beliefs and thoughts regarding your self concept should be addressed with a mental health professional who works with a bariatric population. Weight does influence your overall health state...so it is essential for your beliefs to become aligned with your weight loss. Best wishes for this side trip along with your journey...

It is accurate, as per research, that those who measure their portions for accuracy are more successful with their weight loss rates. The cup is more accurate than the eye...and historically our "eyes are bigger than our stomachs". What elcee shared is also accurate; your meal is over after 20 minutes. What is left on your plate after 20 minutes becomes "leftovers".

My surgeon delayed my fills 2 times...once because I was still recovering from pancreatitis and the other time because I had surgery scheduled to remove my gall bladder. I don't believe that having respiratory infections and taking antibiotics would interfere with getting a fill...but as in every aspect, surgeon's guidelines do vary...

Ketosis is the marker in your urine which indicates that your body is burning off it's fat during metabolism... What you describe with your mood is not uncommon...we are conditioned to want to see results, daily if possible with weight loss, and that's not realistic. Learn to not get obsessed with your scale, and try not to weigh yourself everyday...it only contributes to unnecessary negative feelings of disappointment and "depression". Small fluctuations in weight are normal. You are in what is commonly described as "bandster hell"...you are still able to essentially eat anything and in quantities greater than you should be. Just because you can eat like you used to do pre op does not mean that you should give yourself permission to do that...and it is all about choices we make as to how compliant we will learn to be with our diet. During this phase, you need to rely on your own will power and develop coping skills to help you manage your portion sizes and hunger control. What works for me is to drink Water or other "free fluids" which do contribute to a feeling of satiation to get me through to the next meal. Distract yourself with a project around your house or get out for some exercise...one of the other posters was correct; exercise generates endorphins in the brain, which helps to elevate and stabilize your mood naturally. It does get easier...after 3 fills I finally have a degree of restriction and I am better able to manage hunger. You have great and wonderful things to look forward to...! In the meantime, celebrate the progress you have made to date, and look forward to your healthier future...

I believe that a healthy marriage relationship needs to incorporate good communication skills and the art of compromise. I've often said that staying married has been the most challenging aspect of my life...we celebrated our 39th anniversary this past June. What often happens is that over time, the people in the relationship change...and many times without even realizing it they have grown apart in their interests and priorities. There may be the development of resentments, which leads to anger, and often the anger causes a disconnect with communication and the motivation to work on the relationship. And just like other valued relationships in life, a marriage does require effort to keep it healthy and viable. Many people look to food to help them cope with stress in life...other's use it to fill an emotional "void" in their lives. Certainly an unhappy marriage would create a sense of "emotional void", as your spouse ideally should be the one who provides you with needed emotional support. Well, we've all experienced what emotional eating does over time...so there is a need to develop a different "skill set" to manage your stress and emotions. For me, I've learned that I need to so something physical...either get in some exercise, leave the house to run errands, wash my car, and when I was younger scrub floors. I've come to understand that food is not my friend...being aware of this is the first major step to developing your additional coping skills...

DO NOT drink with meals...I've never read of a surgeon who advised that it was permissible to drink with your meals. It's not difficult to follow the "no eating for 1 hour after your meal" if you begin your meal feeling properly hydrated. I can tell a major difference after eating if i neglect to drink Water prior to a meal. Follow a few simple rules for designing your meals; My surgeon advised 3 oz of lean Protein, 2 oz of Fiber carb. Small bites, chew every bite well, time your meals to last only 20 minutes. Some surgeon's will vary in their instructions, so if you have questions, contact their staff. I hope your surgeon gave you a list of foods to begin your solid foods diet with...my first menu items were flaky moist fish or dark meat chicken or turkey, and I also made my own chicken and egg salads. My first carbs were nectarines, strawberries and blueberries.

I signed up for their "gold card" which provides you with automatic savings with every product you purchase...it has already paid for itself many times over. I now purchase the 3 pound container, and one container will last me easily over 3 months, though I no longer have a shake every day. While I agree with others that the prices at GNC can be a bit higher, I believe that they are comparable to those of "Unjury" brand. I just don't believe in compromising my health and nutrition for reduced cost...and with their customer friendly return policy your purchase there is really a minimal risk. Best wishes...

Surgeon instructions will vary, and it's best to follow what you were advised to do by your surgeon. The "gold standard" protein is whey isolate protein, considered to be a complete protein because it has all of the amino acids needed for proper nutrition. I was advised that I could choose any Protein shake brand I preferred, the only criteria would be that it needed to contain 100% whey isolate protein. From day 1 to the present, I have used GNC Wheybolic Extreme...1.5 scoops mixed with 1% milk gives you 37g of protein. I was advised also that each shake needed to contain a minimum of 20g of protein. I've found that at least for my tastes (I'm sensitive to smell and aftertaste) the premixed shakes taste like chemicals and don't have the whey protein. The GNC brand doesn't have an odor(at least to me), and there is no aftertaste. Several people on the forum prefer "Unjury" brand, also whey protein. I have never tired that brand...but nutritional value should steer your decision. Best wishes...

I tolerate popcorn well...but again, it's important to read nutrition labels. I can say with honesty that I would be considered to be addicted to kettle corn. However it does have some additional calories in the way of added carbs...which popcorn is to begin with. I would enjoy it in very small amounts...and if you are unable to stay with small amounts, it would be better to avoid except on rare occasions. Other's mileage may vary...

The first time I ever got anything stuck was with a pill...just a couple of days after I was given permission by my surgeon to resume taking them without crushing. I had to wait 2 weeks post op before taking my prescriptions whole again. I was one of the people who did feel some restriction post op with a totally empty band...so taking anything "whole" was not an option for me. Even today, I have to wait a full minute between taking each of my pills which are smaller than they were pre band. I mixed my crushed pills with a teaspoon of apple sauce...not on my "allowed foods list", but better than gagging like I did when I tried to use my Protein shake to mix them with. Every doctor varies in their instructions to their patients. Prior to my band surgery, my PCP changed all of the meds he could to either liquid or soluble tablets. There were only 2 medications which needed to be crushed... Pill crushing does not last forever...but look into the possible availability in either a liquid or soluble form.

OMG...What a courageous little girl! Please keep us posted on her progress...she will be in my prayers.

Ok...not entirely true if you count grated Romano or Parmesan cheese... Missed you all today...

I gave all cheese up...except on the rare occasions when I order chicken Parmesan. I've never been able to manage low fat cheese...

Though I skipped cake on my last birthday (it was just after my surgery), I fully intend to have a bite or 2 next year... We can't be compliant 100% of the time...so enjoy your day and your cake within reason.

Some people, myself included, have strong concerns regarding having parts of their insides rearranged and removed. That was one of the reasons I chose the band. I was the one who was encouraged by both my PCP and bariatric surgeon to do my research and decide on my type of surgery. As others have written, every surgery will come with some risks for complications. Band surgery has a lower mortality rate. Though I have experienced medical complications from my surgery, these were weight loss related and not caused by the band. None of the WLS procedures is a magic bullet that will cause you to shed a hundred pounds...you have to change your relationship with food; understand that you must eat to live and not live to eat. If stress or your emotions are your triggers to overeat, you need to learn a different set of coping skills to manage your life. Turning to food is not an option if you want to be successful with weight loss. You will need to adopt a healthier lifestyle with better food choices and include exercise several times a week in your life. There is much research out there and other sources for information. You should discuss your options with more than 1 physician...as in my experience physicians do have their biases, and a second opinion to consider sort of evens the field. Best wishes as you consider your options...

There are many factors to consider...and only you can make your final decision. The best choice is an informed choice, so I encourage you to do your research thoroughly. Be certain that you understand all of the changes you have to commit to making for a lifetime... There are numerous medical considerations, and be certain to understand that the band is only a weight loss tool. As with other tools, you need to learn how it works, what you need to do to make it work with you, and understand what it will not do. Too many people believe that it will do the work by itself...I can tell you that I have battled daily to remain compliant with my diet to loose every pound I have to date. However, this is a healthier lifestyle, so I really have no complaint. I have no regrets for choosing to have my band surgery...though I had lost significant amounts of weight before and managed to keep it off for 25 years, one's age, medication issues and sluggish metabolism do catch up with you. I was nearly diagnosed as a Type II diabetic...and that was the deciding factor for me. This forum is an excellent place to ask questions and learn a wealth of valid information from individuals who are on their weight loss journey.