Kime-lou

Really try to do soft foods - you can hurt your self and your band if you don't. The burping is likely just to much air in your gi track. Are you drinking soda? (most doctors say this is a no no) Are drinking from a straw- this adds air? Are you eating fast? All these things can cause extra air in your gi system.

Thanks for sharing. I am doing 30-45 on the elliptical and my knee kills me, but I do have an old injury so I am not sure that pain will ever go away.

Congrats and thanks for the post give me hope for when I try this summer.

Plateaus suck!! My doctor told me that plateaus are expect part of this journey and not to get discouraged, that even the most complient patient will hit some sort of plateau at some point. I hit one that last a little over a month- my doctor said it was normal and he never worries until the plateau has lasted over 3 months, then it is unusual. Sometime simple changes like adding carbs back or cutting them out will break the plateau. Some time upping or even downing exercise can break it. Just look at what you can change up to see if you can break it.

scrambled egg with milk added to it before cooking keeps it soft and light. Canned tuna, refried beans (add a little cheese and salsa- yummy), soft cooked veggies, SF pudding.

I stay around 1200 calories and have been doing cardio about 4 days a week.

Greek yougurt is good. I just posted a fritata recipe on my blog that is awesome and good left over - you could make that at night and have breakfast for 4 days.

Remember that when you are working out a lot you build muscle and muscle weighs more than fat, so you could be losing fat and gaining muscle and the scales not changing.

Enjoy the lovely sleep- so peaceful.

I only waited about 4 days. We were gentle, but I felt good and wasn't in terrible pain so. Doctor said as long as I felt up to it, just be careful not to get to vigerous.

It depends on your insurance, but for me this is how it happened. Seminar March 31, 2012 1st Doctors Appt. May 3, 2012 (had to schedule around work) Had all the test done over the next 3 weeks (I called and schedule myself to work it best around my schedule) Approved by insurance June 4th Pre-op June 12th Surgery June 22nd I could have gotten it doen the 2nd week in June, but again I had to accomodate my office.

Yes, it happens. I am 6 months post-op and I have only had 1 period. I have been to the gyn and he says it's normal. Take a preg test just to be sure something odd didn't happen and if that is neg don't worry about it.

This was an awesome dinner. It comes in about 250 calories a serving with 16.5 grams of protein. Ingrediant: 1 large potatoe sliced thinly (you many not use all of it) 1 large onion diced 2 teaspoons of garlic minced 1 box of frozen defrosted and drained chopped spinach 4 eggs 1 cup of skim milk 1/4 cup of sh. cheese salt and pepper to taste 3 table spoons olive oil Heat oven to 350 - place a cookie sheet inside Slice potatoes evenly and thinly - coat with 1 TBS of olive oil - dash of salt and pepper Remove cookie sheet from oven and place a layer of potatoes on the sheet- bake for about 10-12 min (you want the potato just tender) In a skillet add 2 TBS of olive oil- diced onion, minced garlic. Cook until onion is almost done, then add drained spinach and mix well. In a bowl mix 4 eggs, 1 cup milk, cheese- add salt and pepper to taste. When potatoes are just tender remove from oven and place in the bottom of a Pam sprayed casserole bowl (I used a large corningware round bowl). Just cover the bottom with potatoe for the crust. Pour egg and spinach mixture over top. Bake for 30 min or until center is set. This was so good. It make 4 portions so I have left over for my lunch today or I could have had it for breakfast. You can also play with the recipe adding different seasoning to the potatoes or add salsa, mushrooms, peppers- almost anything to the mix. Bottom line it was good, filling, and low cal.

Great. I have started my family on one day a week meatless. I do more than that, but it's hard to get the hubs on board.

Pure protein is pretty good. Slim fast protein shakes are good if you want a drink - if gotten extra cold it's like a frothy milk shake. I also like the nut trail mixes from target- they make a good snack- just portion them out a head of time in little snack bags. Greek yogurts are great for snacks to.

It's been 6 months since my lapband surgery and my life has chaged. I have lost 49 pounds (244 to 195), I feel better, my asthma is better, my blood pressure is perfect, I have gone down 2 sizes (20/22 to a 14/16). I feel more aware of my life, I am more aware of what goes into my body. I eat better less processed foods, I don't have the GI issues I use to have because of it. When I walk into the mall, a resturant, a store, even work I don't feel as huge as I use to. Friday I went to the grocery store and then today the hubs and I went out to Best Buy. I see women and men walking around looking like they are in pain being so large, riding the carts and I so want to be like an evangelist and tell them there is help. You can lose that weight that is holding you back. Most people would take offense to that though, but it's true. I so wish I would have taken step years ago to do this and get control of my life. I as so thankful that I had the surgery now rather than waiting until I hit 300 or 400 or more pounds because that is were I was headed. I am 5'2 and at 244 I was already looking as big around as I was tall any more weight would have been horrid on me. I realized last spring that if I didn't do something then that my Christmas I would likely be seeing 300 on the scales, it was time to take control. While I haven't been the perfect patient I haven't been the worst either. I still eat carbs, I still eat some processed stuff, I still eat pizza- I just eat much less. The hubs and I use to order a large pizza and an order of breadsticks and eat it all in one sitting. Now we order 1 small pizza and on occassion have left overs. When I use to cook rice I'd cook 2 cups now I cook 1/2 cup and still have some left. Food last a lot longer in our house. The thing a lot of people who fail at any weight loss surgery fail to realize is that the surgery it's self will not make you lose weight. If you want to you can eat around the band (slidders) or stretch your stomach back with the other surgeries. A commitment must be made to make a change in eating habits and follow through it. Just last weekend I saw a lady who had gastric bypass 3 years ago, to begin with she lost 100 lbs, now she has gain that back plus some. She said the surgery was useless and that it doesn't help. But, the large plate of food and the half of a 2 liter I saw her consume that night showed me why she failed. She refused to commit to the process. She either wasn't ready or didn't understand her what her part was in the process. I am ready, I am committed to the process. While I may not be perfect, I will eat less and move more forever more. I want to succeed. I am proud of the 49 lbs I have said goodbye to and I will not see them again. I am committed, I want this. Weight loss surgery isn't for everyone, it's only for the committed!!

I like many of these othes use myfitnesspal. Many things you would eat are already on there, but if you like to cook like me you can plug your own recipes in there and get the calorie count save it and add it whenever you need to. This really opened my eyes to how calorie loaded some of my recipes were so I played with ingredients until I got it down. These programs make counting easy- there are apps for android and iPhone's so you can track anywhere anytime.

I would say fill your doctor in on what foods are on the no no list. I can eat everything on that list as long as I CHEW well and eat SLOW. From what I understand you shouldn't have this much trouble.

Yes, but beware it tends to be a slider so you get calories with getting the long term satisfication you can get from Protein sources. Lapband isn't a diet you can eat whatever you want, just make smart choices. So if you want popcorn eat it, just count it.

Very worth it. You feel like you have been hit by a truck for a few days, but once those complients start flying it is well worth every ache and main and then when the pants sizes go down - really worth while.

Over the holidays I ate more than I should and things that were the healiest (gained around 2 lbs which is gone again now). I am back to my pre-holiday weight 197. My last fill was mid Nov. I am finding right now I am getting hungry on my 1 cup (I am doing like I should now) before the 3-4 hours is up. I am not talking head hunger, I am talking I am shaking and nauseated hunger. I had my sugar tested - neg. Yes, I have called my surgeon, appt. Tuesday. My question for you all is..... can I have dialated my band with out knowing it by eating 1.5 cups at a time? I have had no major stuck spells and no vomiting spells. I do still have times where if I don't chew well enough I get tightness and a little pb'ing but it disapates quickly. I have an appointment on Tuesday, I am just wondering is my band ok or is it just time for another fill?

It seems that with weight loss surgery we have ups and downs in weight and mood. Before Christmas my weight got down to 197, then went up over the holidays, now it back down to 198. I expected as much. I enjoyed my holiday and I don't regret or fret over it. Even before the holidays though my weight would flucuate day to day and the last two months I had only lost a total of 3 lbs even though I was doing as instructed. I have been banded for 6 months and am right around the 50 lbs lost mark. Don't get me wrong I am so glad that the 50 lbs is gone, but I really thought I would have lost more by this point. Some people have lost much more weight in this time frame, why haven't I? Time to take a good hard look at myself...... Am I really sticking to the rules? Do I only eat 1 cup of food at a meal? Honestly, the answer is no. Sometimes it is likely to be about 1.5 cups. Do I get 64 or more oz of water in each day? Again, no. During the work week I drink 80-90 oz, but on the weekends when I am busy cleaning house, running around on errons, going to see friends I often don't drink water like I should. Do I get 60+ grams of protein in a day? Most likely no. I try, really I do. I start my day with 20 grams in a protein shake and have greek yogurt with 12 grams for a snack, so I get close, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand granades. Do I workout 3 or more times a week? Not lately, not since October. Life got crazy in October with the death of my Grandmother. I have been working more, getting ready for the holiday's, traveling, helping my mom deal with my Grandmother's estate, helping my mother deal with her own health issues. I have let the work outs slide, and I know I have got to get back to it. So, bottom line is, my band isn't the issue, my surgeon isn't the issue, I am the issue. I have got to get on the ball and meet goals each day not just sometimes. I do have good intentions and I try hard, but fall short and it's time that it end. I am not sure how much I would have lost if I would have followed each and every rule to a T and I won't know. However, I am happy and proud of what I have lost and I am working to change my ways and be more complient. I feel ashamed that I have fallen short, but not admitting it doesn't make it not so. I want each day to be a gold star day. I get down and out because I haven't lost as much as I wish I had, but I only have myself to blame, yet what is blaming myself going to do. I must let it go realize that I must make some changes, make them and move forward. It's time to stop wanting and start making it reality.

Great job- don't hurt your self. I hit the elliptical to hard the other night and pulled a calf muscle- sucks.

I have had a horrid cold after being banded. The coughing for me caused swelling around my band and I had difficulty eating for a few days - did a liquid and mushy diet. When you have a bad fit it does feel a little owey around the port, but that is normal due to the muscle being disturbed. If it gets to bad call the doctor.

General rule of thumb- bubbles bad. I doubt you did any major damage to your band in one night, I just would not recommend making this a habit. Not only does beer contain carbonation it also has a lot of calories. The hard stuff without the bubbles takes less to give you a buzz so you don't get the carbonation and you take in less calories. Like someone said above wine can be enjoyed. New Year's Eve I had a glass of wine while my friends toasted with champagn. I figured out that it takes far less to give me a buzz now than it did when I was 50 lbs heavier.