Kime-lou

It was explained to me that if you drink while you eat, your food will be pushed through your band quicker and you will get hungery quicker. I know a lot of people who only followed that rule for the first little while and the thing about not drinking soft drinks, but they seem to be having more problems now. I prefer to stick to the rules.

Some people expect to much. I feel like as long as you are headed in the right direction you are doing well. My doctor told me that 4-6 lbs a month is great. Just be proud that it is going down !!!

Peach mango ice tea (crystal light), whole wheat pita pockets because I actually like sandwhichs, they are low cal, have some protein and only a half is perfect for me.

The elliptical shouldn't hurt anything, I use mine all the time. Just don't do any weight lifting for a few days. Try warming a towel and laying it across your chest it will help ease the pain. For me a Sport Bra helps when I pull muscles in that area- the girls pull less on the muscle. I have pulled muscles several times since I started weight training on the total gym. When I do I wait till the pain starts to ease up then I hop back on and take it easy the first time and usually I do fine. Don't stop doing anything that will work the muscle, that will cause more problems in the future. Just try not to over work it and inflame it more. If you doctor oks it advil will help get rid of the inflammation faster. My doctor says it is ok to take it as long as it is not an every day thing.

Congrats and good luck!! I was banded the same day as you and also have lost 34 lbs since surgery. Unfortuanately, I am not pregnant. I had 3 miscarriage prior to surgery and we are hoping that we can try again next summer and get lucky this time. Congrats again awesome news!

You are great!! A wonderful attitude.

Try liquids for a few days. It is possible it is indigestion, which can lead to problems. If it were me, I would try taking a tums when I get that feeling and see if it helps any, if it does- bingo. If that is what it is contact your doctor, you may need reflux meds. Remember reflux can cause a slip. Good luck!!

Welcome to lapband hell! Your body has healed and you are hungry again, it happened to me. I am still not in the green zone so I have to watch myself carefully not to over do it. Compared to some I haven't lost much, but I feel better and I think 34 lbs in 3 months is pretty good. Try, Try, Try to limit your self. Drink, Drink, Drink to help with the hunger. Sometimes when think I am really hungry I will sit down with a cup of cold green tea (crystal light) drink it and it will help curb the hunger until it's time for me to eat again. This is not an easy time in your journey, and no one can tell you how long it will last because every one is different. Just take it one hour at a time and stick to the basics and you will make it.

I am 3 months post op and have lost 34 lbs. I have never been much of a sweet eater, I main overate at meals. The only time I have ever craved sweets is around my monthly. After surgery things tasted to sweet and turned me off, but now the cravings have returned. It's that time of the month and I want something sweet and decadent so bad. I use to cave and go get a red velvet cupcake or a piece of cheesecake, but I feel that is totally off limits now. I have managed to refuse the craving for 3 days now, but it is killing me. I even passed up a piece of cake yesterday at work because I know I shouldn't eat it. How do you all deal with cravings? Need a little support and advice.

I would think it's more likely that you need a fill again. I have never had restriction in the mornings, but I don't think I have hit my green zone yet. I am losing weight - total of 34 since June 22nd, so I am still happy with it. My doctor did say that as I loose weight I lose weight inside around my stomach so the "belt" has to be tightened. I would call and go in, if they do you fills with floro then they will know for sure.

Thanks Missy for that explination, it makes since. I never really knew the answer to this either.

I've found that while I still get hungry around the same times a day, I am satisfied with less when I do eat. With more fills it will get easier. Plus remember that if you are starting to workout you will likely build muscle and the start with you either gain or don't lose due to the fact that muscle weighs more that fat. Also remember with the working out make sure you are drinking enough, especially since you are cross training.

I have heard people call lapband life numerous things - diet, life style change, easy, hard, ect. I think most people who have had lapband would say lapband is not easy, but is it horrible NO! For me this isn't a diet and not exactly a life style change it is a change in state of mind. Before I never really thought about what I was putting in my mouth. My only thought was this is going to taste good or I want it. Now I think about how good or bad what I am eating is for me and am I hungry. Before it was never really about being hungry, I didn't realize that until now, it was about avalibility and desire. As a kid I grew up on a farm when we went in for lunch we were told to clean our plate because we wouldn't have food avalible later so you ate it no matter if you were hungry or not. Maybe that was where my food issues began, maybe not, regardless the issue began. Now I must change my state of mind. I am the worlds best at excuses and justification. I can argue forever on why I can't exercise tonight or justify why I deserve a cupcake. However, I must switch that up. I need to justify why I need to exercise and make excuses why I can't eat that cupcake. Thank the Lord, I have an amazing support system in my husband. When I want to make excuses to not exercise he kicks my butt in gear because he loves me and wants me to be successful, for me. I am changing my state of mind where food and excercise come in. While I am 31 I am an old fashion southern girl and life always revolved around food and sweet tea. I have to change that state of mind - no more fried chicken, no more sugar sweet tea. That doesn't mean I won't ever have it again, but it will not be on the regular rotation that is was at one time. For years I have worked where you eat quick or you may not eat. I learned to eat quickly. Now my band has taught me to eat slow, if I don't it hurts. I chew, chew, chew instead of swollowing whole. My state of mind has changed. Since June 22nd when I received my band my whole state of mind has changed. I always wanted to be sucessful with this, but worried I wouldn't be because of my old state of mind. Now that my state of mind has changed and continues to evolve the more I become sure that I will be successful, not because my weight is going down, not because I opted to diet, not because I work out but because of my state of mind. I am proud of my weightloss yes, but I am more proud of the change of my state of mind because I developed my old ways over 31 years, but now I am evolving and my state of mind changing for the healthier. I completely feel better, not just physcially, but mentally and emotionally to. It's not just the confindence that I have now, but the the clear head, the lower stress, the comfort. I feel better because I am not over eating and miserable after a meal. The Lapband State of Mind is pretty darn good!! Hope you will join me in the Lapband State of Mind

It is great you are tracking your calories and realize it's a problem. Exercise is very important- do whatever you can do, even if it's just walking. The more you do the more you will be able to do. Also, you say you don't feel satisfied- is it head hungry or real hunger. For all of us we experience the head hunger and have to realize that it's not real and go do something else to forget about it. For me I have to keep the sweets out of my house. No cake, no ice cream - I don't have will power on bad days. My mom even knows when I go home DO NOT try and send sweets home with me. Also, are you getting enough Protein? If you aren't that can make you hunger worse. You need to track that as well. chicken, ground turkey, tuna, broiled or grilled fish are all great sources of protein. Always eat that first and eat SLOW- it's not a race. liquid calories are horrible! The best thing to do is drink WATER! If you need flavor there are great ones in propel, crystal lite and many more. If you like tea there are even tea flavors. I love it. I am addicted to crystal light peach mango green tea. You can do this, you are doing this. Look how far you have come. I was banded a month before you and haven't lost that much yet. You are doing good, don't sabatage yourself now. Go back to the basics- each day is a new day make this one great!

I recently purchase a pack of whole wheat pita pockets, they are round and if you slice them in half they make a little pocket. Once half is less calories than a slice of whole what toast and taste great. I have been making myself and my hubs sandwiches with these. My hubs like to put laughing cow chipolte cheese and ham in one and heat heat for a hot ham and cheese - low cal and high protein. I had an peanut butter and banana pita - got my protein and my fruit in. The pitas are so thin, it gives you just enough bread to feel like it's a sandwich, but not so much it gets stuck. These pita's are great for stuffing with deli slices and cheese, chicken or tuna salad, PB and banana or even a scrabled egg and cheese for morning breakfast. We are loving these things- if you have tried them but like a sandwhich or need an easy holder for chicken or tuna salad while you are on the go you gotta try them. What lapband friendly items have you found that are awesome?

My hubs and I are New Balance folks. We have a New Balance store in our area and we go there. They measure your foot, check where you put the most weight and recommend what would work for you. We walk on a trail at night about 2-3 miles and bike ride 6 miles with these - never had a problem with them.

great job!!

Sound like you are doing great. I am losing 1.5 lbs a week and my doctor says I am right on target. I get about 1250 calories a day. I was told each person is different, so you have to find what works for you. I was eating 800 a day and wasn't losing, my body was holding the fat, once I increased the calories the weight started coming off. I am guessing I will have to reevaluate this every so often with my weight loss, but for now that works. Even though I eat 1250 calories a day I eat healthy foods- good lean protein, fruit and veggies. As long as you are losing I would keep steady. Great job on your success.

I eat peanut butter and apples almost daily. The entire snack is about 150 calories, but it holds me for 4 hours and helps me get my protein in. I use the Jif Natural Low Sodium PB. Some times I will get indigestion from the PB, but I also have so nothing new there. I take a zantac a day and that prevents any issues.

YES! I have had trouble since my surgery, which was June 22nd. I spoke with my surgeon, I take 2 100mg stool softeners a day and that has helped tremendously. I am able to go like normal without getting and upset stomach. I was told this is normal our bodies have been though a lot it can take 6 months or so for it to regulate. I was also told do not use a stimulate laxitive because the body will become dependent. Try the softeners first.

I thought with me eating much less my grocery bill would go down, but it hasn't, but it hasn't gone up either. Instead of buying crap (little debbie / french fries) I buy healthy things - fruit and veggies. I no longer buy any soft drinks, just crystal light flavor packs for water. I am married so I do have to buy for the hubs, but while he isn't banded he opted to adopted the banded life. He eats the same healthy foods I do just in a large quantity, but hey that is a step. We have opted to oust junk foods all together. So I no longer go down the junk isles. I use to buy a lb of sugar monthly, I have purchased one in 4 months now - don't use it any more. I use to buy hamburger, chicken and pork. Now I still buy chicken, but opt for ground turkey instead of beef and still do a little pork sometimes and a lot more fish. We also use eggs instead of meat - I made an awesome veggie quiche last night and it gave us dinner last night and breaksfast for today and tomorrow- that is the way to stretch a buck. I have learned that Mrs. Dash makes fish better grilled and broiled than it was when we ate it fried. So while my bill hasn't gone down, I feel like the quality of food I purchase is better and I like that. Fresh veggies and fruit are great. My hubs has given up high cal yogurt for apple slices and likes it better. So I don't mind that the bill hasn't gone down quality means more than quantity so that is the aim these days. What has being banded done for your grocery bill?

My doc and nutrtionist said no, I have friend who was told it was okay on occassion only if it was light colored. I have tasted a little 7 up once, but it made my belly hurt, so I just live with out soda. I use crystal light to spice up my drinks.

Until you get restriction, it is really up to you to work the Band Diet Plan. Once you start getting restriction, you will not want to eat as much as you once did. I am only starting to get to the point where I feel restriction, I could still eat what I once did, but I choose not to. I hope to get to the green zone soon, but I think I still have a bit to go.

I got stuck for the 1st time today, it was NOT fun. I swear I almost passout it hurt so bad. I was eating a left over peice of chicken that was tender, but I just did not chew enough. I have been so careful to this point for this not to happen and then wham it did. I never got sick, just felt it and had horrible pressure in my stomach, I burped and slimed and finally it passed. Now I feel sore and ache a little and my throat hurts, any one else had those feelings? I don't want to think I messed my band up with one careless mistake.

most insurance companies cover it now, but the pre-op hoops are different with each company. I have BCBS and they cover it as long as your can prove you have had a BMI of 40 or above for at least 2 years. Other companies make you go through a 6 month diet plan over seen by your PC doc. You company can explain more. Good luck!!