Kime-lou

I have heard that the fluid can evaporate over time, so you may need to go in and have some added. No matter if that's it or not it won't hurt to go in and for them to check it out.

It varies with each person and each month. I lose anywhere from 10 to 4 in a month. I eat between 1000 and 1200. I do choose to count calories it helps me stay accountable (myfitnesspal). It also varies based on excercise, on days that I am highly active (cutting grass, doing yard work ect) I might eat more - 1300. If you look at what your BMR is - how many calories your body needs just to do basics, so how many calories you would burn if you just laid in bed all day- for me it's around 1600 so I must keep it below that in order to lose. However, if I go to low my metabolism will stall and I won't lose either, so it's a balance and everyone has to find their own.

We only waited 4 days. Frankly I am just as bad as my hubs is about it. We were just careful not to be to rough as to cause damage to the healing.

Could be your port, or could be scar tissue. I had the same problem and the area hurt when I moved some ways, I was worried so I went to the doctor. They told me it was scar tissue and it would go away in time. It is still there a bit, but it doesn't hurt anymore unless I do major ab exercise.

I know the rules, I know to chew, chew and chew some more; but my momentary memory lapse has made a lasting impression. I sat down tonight to dinner with the hubs, I had my baked chicken breast with a spoon of green Beans and a spoon of baked sweet potato with cinnamon on it. I cut my chicken into small pieces and put one in, and bang before it even reached my band I thought OH CRAP I didn't chew that good enough. Yup, in a few seconds sliming and pain, oh the pain. I got up and walked the pain was intense I thought I would pass out. It only lasted about 10 min, but dear Lord it was horrible. I finally felt it drop through the band - what an odd feeling. Now I ache and my throat even hurts. I have heard people say go to liquids for a day and some say mushies. What have you all done after a stuck episode? I can say I am really not interested in eating anything solid for a while.

That just looks gross, why in the world would any one want to do that to themselves.

Can't say I have felt that. I am sure it moves when we stretch, but I haven't noticed. That question would likely be best posed to your doctor.

Happy for you!! As long as your doctor and nutritionist are okay with it is fine.

Doctors require certain diets for certain people based on what they need. Each person is different, so it is best to stick with what your doctor determined best for you. I didn't have to do the liquid diet before but others in my group did, for me it was due to my size and my eating habits to begin with. The doctor knows best so put your trust in him or her.

At 4 weeks I was allowed to start the elliptical and at 6-8 weeks I could start doing ab excercises.

Are you back on solids? I think I started back to eating my special k around 1.5-2 months out. I went to my nutritinist last week and told her I was eating special k for Breakfast with 1% milk, she said that was fine. During the week I have to be at work so early I don't have time for eggs. Protien shakes for some reason give me indigestion, so I eat my cereal, I just CHEW!! On the weekends I eat a scrambled or over easy egg.

Normal. I find that happens a lot and it means it's time for a fill. I get fills every 4 weeks. The way the doctor explained it to me is that you lose weight around your stomach muscle therefore you stomach's belt (lapband) needs to be tightened again. Just don't go over you cup of food and stick it out until your next fill, if that is to far away call the doctors office and get it moved up. It may also help to eat more high Protein and high Fiber foods right now to help you stay full longer.

I started just walking. When the walking got easier I started doing the elliptical and OMG jogging. I was never able to jog before with feeling like I would die. Now I can jog a half mile before really getting winded (I am asthma). I hope one day to be able to job miles!! Also, you may want to add some strength training - nothing major. When I first started with that I had hand weights and I would just stand in the living room and watch tv and do excercises with those, once that got easy I moved up to my husband's total gym which is kicking my butt.

CG is correct we shouldn't eat more just because we can. With that said if you notice that you are getting the same satisfied feeling or that you get hungry quicker than before you likely need a fill. When it gets closer to time for a fill again I notice I get hungrier quicker on my small meals than I did before and when I go in I need a fill. My doctor says that is from losing fat around the stomach- the belt around the stomach has to be tightened.

Before I had surgery my doctor had me sign an agreement that I would follow the lapband rules, I would come in for follow up care with him and come to all my fill appointments, and I would follow up with my nutritionist. He made it clear the only way I would be successful is if I followed these guidelines. I really love my "team" I always get answers quick, they make you feel totally comfortable and they really seem to care about their patients as a whole not just in weight loss. If you find a surgeon whose team is like that it is awesome. I just can't understand how some docs do the sugery and are like ok, I am done you go do your thing. Totally shocking, that doctor needs to be relieved of his surgical licencse.

I also use myfitnesspal and boy does it help me. I feel like I am more accoutable with using that app. I log everything I eat and I log my excercise and I can see if at the end of the day I am at a positive or negative and I can also look at reports of my progress for the month. I never could get into weight watchers, but for some reason myfitnesspal clicked for me and works. I think the bottom like is find what works for you to keep you accontable and do it, no matter if it's weight watchers or myfitnesspal or something else. As long as you are holding yourself accountable for what you are taking in it is a good thing.

Nope never had any problems. I always go home and work out afterwards and then cook dinner for my hubs and I have my shake.

My doctor does all fills under floroscopy. I stand and they find my port, stick the needle in, then they look at my band and stomach after they have added fluid. I drink some yucky stuff and they see how fast it flows through, if it goes to fast they add more, to slow they take some out. Not a big deal.

Amazing!! What a wonderful feeling that must be.

I love this time of year. The leaves changing, the cooler temps, fresh mountain apples, warm cider....I could go on and on. This time of year I use to do a lot of cooking- apple pie and cakes, chili- warm comfort foods. Not to mention the holidays are coming which mean lots of cooking. When the temps begin to drop I seem to start craving. I am counting my calories to make sure I don't go nuts and make sure I am getting my protein. I fear this time of year will be the most difficult due to the cravings. I love cooking and baking, but I don't want to do it to much. The closest family we have is over an hour away and honestly we don't don't have a ton for friends in the area (only been in Raleigh for 3 years). We have a few good friends that I will bake and give things to, but I feel guilty now doing that. All these friends at least one in the couple has weight issues and I don't want to make their health worse so I just don't bake. On occassion I will bake something and send it with my hubs to work- the guys he works with love to eat and can afford to. I have found some healthy recipes for chili which I totally plan to try, but I have to say I will miss my corn bread to go along with it. For those long time banders what are some go to comfort foods that won't ruin your calories intake for the day? I not only want to change my eating habits, but the foods I share with family and friends I want to be tasty and healthy so maybe it will rub off on them.

I had 4 also. I am 3 months post op and all are healed, but I still have a little pain around the long one that I think is from the scar tissue beneath the skin.

I do feel good and my clothes are looser. When I go to weigh at these appointments I always make sure to have on light weight clothes. I just really like when I go to the doctor for them to see the lower weight, because that is what they base my success on.

On Tuesday this week I went to my nutritionist and I had lost a total of 35 lbs since the 1st time I saw her. She went over my food journal and calorie counts. Gave me some pointers, but all in all said I was doing wonderful and she couldn't have hoped for a better turn out. Needless to say I was pleased and happy. So today is Thursday of the same week and I had a fill. So I wasn't worried when I was weight. WTH, I am up 3 lbs since Tuesday. WHAT??? My calorie counts have been well below my BMR- right about 1200. It's not my time of the month. So how in the heck I am up 3lbs in two days. I know I shouldn't be freaked out because out bodies fluctuate day to day, but geez!! I had finally hit 209 - single digit 200's- only 9 more lbs till my 1st major goal. But now I am up. I feel defeated. Mind you I didn't and won't do what I use to do, which is go out and binge. I don't have a desire to do that anymore, I want to do the opposite, not eat anything, but that isn't healthy either. My hubs says shake it off I will be back down by the weekend, but I don't feel confindent. I track each morsel that enters my mouth and I work out. I am far more active now than I have been in years and I sleep better, so what in the world. I know it's only 3 lbs I need to chill out. But I needed to vent. I am back in my office now and I have no one to talk to about how I am feeling. I am on liquids for the remainder of the day so maybe that will help. Any suggestions for my bander friends out there?

If the problem continues I would ask for a chest x-ray, you could have pneumonia, it is common after surgeries with intubation.

I am always scare of surgery, I hate being put to sleep. However, I knew I needed this so I tried no to dwell on the what if's. I have tried diets over and over with no long term success, so the benefits out weighed the risk. I felt confident in my surgeon and I was going to a top rated hosptial to have it done. I think everyone gets cold feet to an extent before hand. Take a deep breath and weigh the pros and cons it you have more pro, let it go and move forward with surgery; if you have more con you likely are ready for surgery. Good luck to you!!