stept04

I keep my calories under 1200 a day. My breakfast is usually oatmeal and egg, lunch is maybe yogurt and granola, dinner I always stick to 4 oz Protein, 1/2 cup vegi's, and 1/2 cup carbs. Then I may have a sugar-free Popsicle if I need a snack sometime.

~~~Stephanie

Hi I was in the same boat. I bought a whole case of the orange and I should have tried them first but the doc recommended them so I bought them they are awful. I had to give mine away to someone too. I'm in Fort Worth so I can't help, or I'd given you the persons name. Good luck

~~~Stephanie

It took me awhile to figure head hunger out. It wasn't until I got my second feel that I started to notice what feeling satisfied felt like. Once I knew that then I understood what head hunger was. It is like mis73 said. You'll actually be satisfied but still feel like you want something to eat even though your not hungry.

~~~Stephanie

I kept having trouble with my food getting stuck on the way down even if I watched my bite size or chewed well. Well come to find out I was eating to fast I needed to be waiting in between bites before I took another one. I got an app for my phone called eat slower and it let's me time my bites I have not had a problem with getting stuck since. Good luck

~~~Stephanie

I think it is not a good idea to stay to tight. I want to say I read that it can cause pressure where the band is and cause like a sore or something like that. Forgive me for not being more specific, but it just seems I read it was not a good thing to let happen especially for a long length of time. Wish I could have been more help but maybe someone else will chyme in, I just don't think it is a good idea to let it go, and you should definitely make sure you check it out more before making a decision to wait

~~~Stephanie

My insurance is covering my fills, but if I was to pay out of pocket it would be $150.00 a fill. They use a fluoroscope and they numb the area first, I'm sure that is considered in the price. I have Champ VA for my insurance. I've had no problem with them paying for my fills.

~~~Stephanie

You look great, good luck with the rest .

~~~Stephanie

I have vomited several times since surgery 7 weeks ago and my band has not slipped, but it is not recommended to ever vomit. I am just now getting the hang of eating right. PBing is like a baby burp, it is where you burp and a little bit of food comes back up in the back of your mouth. Vomiting is well you know everything comes back up. Hope that helps a little.

~~~Stephanie

I have a drinking bottle I got from Wall-Mart and it holds 8 glasses of Water, I put crystal light in mine and keep it with me all the time putting ice as I go. I start first thing in the morning and don't stop till around dinner, that is when I'm normally empty. I just constantly keep drinking on it. Sometimes I have to admit I don't get in all in but for the most part I do, and I don't worry about the days I don't.

~~~Stephanie

PS>> I use the crystal light that has energy I don't know if that make a difference or not, but it does provide more energy.

I have pain on my right side next to my port it is a stabbing pain but only last a couple of minutes but stays sore after. I was banded 7 weeks ago I called the nurse and she said it could do that off and on for a few months, she said to see the doc if it becomes unbearable. Good luck

~~~Stephanie

I have not been losing very fast since being banded I too am hoping this second fill will help with some weight loss. I am at 5.3 cc's and had my second fill last Wednesday. I have a little more restriction than I did I can stay full for about 3 to 4 hours, but I'm hoping to get it to between 4 to 5 hours. Good luck with your fill.

~~~Stephanie

My pre-op diet started a week before surgery. I could have 3 to 4 Protein Meal Replacement shakes, 1 Protein Bar, and then Clear liquids like broth, Jello, and crystal light stuff like that. I am surprised they have not given you a guideline, maybe you could call and ask them to be more specific because it is going to be important, the usual reason for a pre-op diet is to shrink the liver if the liver is to large when they get in there they may not be able to do the surgery. This is not meant to scare you just inform you. The bottom line though is do whatever your doctor says

~~~Stephanie.

It takes everybody a different amount of time to find their sweet spot. In the mean time I just ate my allotted amount of calories which was 1200 calories. For me it has not been easy but I have been able to do it. It is like doing a normal diet, like you don't have the band. I got my second fill and I am now feeling satisfied for about 3 or 4 hrs so that is helping more. I hoping I can get satisfied for 4 to 5 hrs. So maybe by my next fill. It will happen for you too, just hang in there. Sometimes it takes many fills.

~~~Stephanie

What is pattypan squash?

~~~Stephanie

I was really nervous before my surgery too, I was having second thoughts and afraid it wouldn't work for me all kinds of things and I couldn't shut it off I even posted in here about it. But I found out that it was normal for a lot of people to be nervous or have second thoughts. It came and went for a little while and then it passed and I moved on and had the surgery. I believe I was nervous about the surgery the day before. Don't worry I don't know what your fears are but I'm sure everything will work out. Like suebee01 says keep your eye on the prize.

~~~Stephanie

Hey Steph...I'm going to be 55 next month and want to lose around 120 lbs. I've lost 73 already and have done no exercise at all because of the severe arthritis. I go into the pool three days a week but it's to try to move and strengthen the knee, not to burn calories. I've no idea why I'm so successful...I'm not doing anything different than anyone else who's following the rules. I thought the same thing as you....how long would it take to lose the weight at my age and without exercising. I'm just grateful that it has come off so quickly...I need a full knee replacement and wasn't able to have the surgery till I lost a significant amount of weight. I met that goal a couple of weeks ago and will have the surgery in the fall I hope. How are you doing? I see from your ticker that you are down 18 lbs. That's pretty good considering you had surgery fairly recently.

I am doing good thanks for asking. Thanks for the comment on my weight, they said at the doc's office I was doing real well too, but I guess I've been hard on myself. I should have lost more, stuff like that. I've just learned how to recognize satiety so that should help me out some too. I feel pretty good right now, thanks

~~~Stephanie

Everyone is different. For me I was banded May 28th, and I have lost 18 pounds so far that is with pre and post-op. It is possible for you to lose what you want to, people have, but it is also possible to follow all the rules and not lose it. You'll just have to see how your body reacts to your new situation. Good luck

~~~Stephanie

I don't know how much I had per fill, but I've only had 2 and I am at 5.3. I don't know if that can help you, but if it can cool.

~~~Stephanie

I'm 47 and have over 100 pounds to lose. It is good to hear you have achieved that. I have been somewhat concerned about my age and how slow my metabolism might be because of my age. I have been worried I would not be able to achieve a 100 pound loss. So hearing that you have is promising. Do you think age has had anything to do with how fast or slow you lost? Did you think you had to exercise more than a younger person might of had to? Or did you have to eat fewer calories for your age compared to someone say around 25 or 30? Sorry for so many questions, just curious. Congratulations by the way. and Happy B-Day.

~~~Stephanie

Mine took 1 hour, and I had a small hernia repair too.

~~~Stephanie

http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html Try reading this and see if it helps you understand restriction some, it helped me.

~~~Stephanie

I don't know about your insurance, but a lot of insurances will pay if it is considered medically necessary by your doctor. All you should have to do to find out is to give your insurance a call and ask. Good luck

~~~Sephanie

I am 8 weeks out from surgery and I think the light bulb just went off. I've been waiting for something to happen as far as my appetite I've been expecting a big sensation of some sort so that I wouldn't eat as much and I would lose weight. But I think it just hit me I think I just figured out what it is to be satisfied, which is a big thing because I was getting really discouraged even though it is still early, I wasn't fairing to well. Anyway I expected to fill full and not be able to eat even though I've read it a hundred times in here about being satisfied I still was not getting it, but now that I've had my second fill plus something hit me, I understand the sensation of being satisfied. I realized I still have to make the choice to not eat and I had not been doing that I was staying within my calorie range but it was hard because I still thought I was hungry in between, but now I've realized it was head hunger and that I was experiencing satiety, but it wasn't registering because I was not recognizing it. Once I started recognizing it it has been easier to not listen to the head hunger. I did not realize that eating would still be a choice and the band would just make it easier by making me feel satisfied. I know I've read it in here but it just hit me. Sorry I don't think I made much sense, but I had to get it out of my head. I don't know yet if I'm in my green zone yet, but I do now know what satiety feels like and what head hunger is, thank god and everyone in here because it was a post that I was reading when it hit me. Do you think I got it

~~~Stephanie

High Protein levels in the body cause the body to go into ketosis which is just fat burning. I do believe it causes bad breath so that could be the problem I don't know for sure though just a thought you could look into it.

~~~Stephanie

I guess I should give you he name of the book uh . Choose To Lose The 7-Day Carb Cycle Solution by Chris Powell. Sorry

~~~Stephanie