lisacaron

Hi ms Kat Measuring is a big key. As bandsters we should really be eating 1 cup at each meal. For me portion was and is a big roadblock to weight loss. You may need a fill or 2 or 3 to get to the point where one cup is enough. Also the foods you have listed...can be high in sodium and sugar depending on the product, and can cause Water retention and too much sugar actually can cause a weight gain. Bulk up on the solid Protein, alot of the items you listed are slider foods that go through so easily we can over eat them. It takes time to figure out what works for you and what doesn't. It can be frustrating I know but you will get there

Try putting an ice pack on the site that is hurting you. It will really help to reduce the swelling and ease the feeling of burning. If you find that the wound is red or hot to the touch please call your doctor. Feel better!

I'm with Sandy, Premier Protein had the highest amount of protein 30g for lowest amount of calories and they taste pretty good and have a good texture.

Cam- The pain pills can contribute to the constipation problem. I know they do that to me, see if you can try switching to Tylenol instead even for one or two doses. Warm decaf tea helps move things along, as well as a heating pad to help move that gas out. Go slow with the walking but keep doing it. Short slow walks are better then longer marathon walks right now. Protein is essential for hair and nail growth so stick with your shakes but also get some Water in to help with the constipation. Try the warm decaf tea. I also take a Biotin 5000mcg supplement every day for hair and nails. They have them in dissoluble pills that pretty much just melt in your mouth. Good luck and feel better!!

Zingy that's an awesome story! I have clothes that used to fit me years ago when I was thinner and as I was cleaning out some of the storage (finally) I was shocked to find those clothes fit me! So now all my "larger" size items I am bagging up and donating. So happy to be able to give them away and know I will never have to see that size on clothes again and looking forward to the next round of clean out when these hit the donation pile

I'm sure you can. I take pills every day. Take one at a time and be sure it's gone through. Feel better!

My Nut told us there is a ratio of how much protein to eat based on body weight. .4x your weight gives you the approx amount of what you should be eating every day.

Sparkle, let me first say your amazing! You are going through something that can be so painful and so personal. The way you are feeling is totally normal. Your body has been through so much in such a very short time. Your emotions are bound to be all over the place, and your hormones are also a bit out of sorts right now. Give yourself a little break, it's OK! Yes it really is OK. Take a deep breath, and think for a moment about where you want to go from here. When you are sure, go back and see your surgeon. You may need/want a bit of fill to give you that feeling of restriction again, and then go slow getting back into a routine. Let your body tell you when it's ready. Get out of your head for a bit and let your heart and mind catch up to your body and things will balance out for you again my friend. Exercise body strengthening exercises, walking, running, and stretching can be a good way to help take your mind off things, but incorporate them as you are ready to. It's not a race, it's the rest of your life. {{BIG HUG}}

They actually sound kind of low in Protein. What are the calories in each and then combined? I used premiere protein, it's 30 grams of protein and about 160 calories per serving.

Toot your horn darlin! I have the same issue, the hubby does too. We are eating better and taking care of ourselves and it's a symphony of healthy eating. Public toots are at your own risk though on those occasions it's beno or gas-ex or a quick trip to the restroom for a tune up.

Once Twice sometimes Three times for this lady! Depends on how many vegies and H2O I have in the day. Being full of SH*T is not for me

Cheese Cheese Cheesy Cheese Cheese. Yes please!

Hot tea...let cool till warm Steer clear of dairy if you can help it that contributes to the bloating and gas. Sometimes early band patients have issues with lactose. I did. Taking a probiotic helped me, you can also try lactase if you find that you have an issue with dairy. Hope your feeling better fast!

OK no baby punching ladies! Hunger is normal, some of us get it back right away and others are just LUCKY in my opinion. Hubby and I were banded together and he was watching a ball game thinking of nothing not caring to even think of food and I jumped off the couch and yelled shut this thing off! I could smell the hot wings they were advertising through the TV!! He's like how can you even think of food? I said cause I am HUNGRY!!! I might go out and find a COW to eat! OK irrational but it was true! This is the hardest part. I've heard it called Bandster hell! Suck it up...stay away from TV and smells of yummy things and next week you can throw them in the blender and get at least a "taste" of normal again Best wishes ladies!!! Stay strong your doing GREAT!

My surgeon advised against any kind of fiber supplement. Maybe because I have band with plication...but they feel it's better to increase water and natural fiber like Vegies than to risk fiber products not dissolving and causing a build up and thus a blockage.

Southy I think you may be right on about that! This year as the holidays come up the hubby and I are planning to cook and make some band friendly fare for our table as well as the traditional items for the rest of the bunch and us to enjoy. We will probably be doing most of the cooking and cleaning and keeping so busy we won't be picking or stuffing ourselves just enjoying time together and time with family and friends. This might be a good time to start getting some band friendly recipe ideas together!! Thanks for the post, ya got me thinking!

I hear ya! Try heating pad and some decaf tea. There is something in the tea that really helps move that gas

Ooo Good news! I am starting up a plastic surgery fund for myself! Just in case!

Runt glad your doing better with your band. Don't give up the beginning is a really big adjustment and food intolerance that you may never have had before can be part of it. For me it was/is Broccoli. I love it, but it no longer loves me. Hurts my belly something awful cramps and bloating and such. So I only eat sparingly if it's mixed in and I don't want to seem too rude picking it out.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Now if the Genie bra came with three wishes for $20.....OK I won't go there I agree with CG. You need an open mind and to be realistic. All those things are aids to help ease discomfort right after surgery and they help that's very true. What will see you through to the other side is having a good mindset going into it. There's going to be some rough pavement ahead, and if you are aware and can slow down you won't be so shocked when things get bumpy. You'll go with flow and now soon you will find your groove and really ROCK your band! (OK I'm feeling very musical today!)

Love those hugs and kisses and love from the little ones. Those are the best pain killers around! Your doing amazingly well. I know you are going to keep doing well, and continue to inspire others along the way!! Thanks for letting me be a part of your journey! Bandista...love it...Project Me, I'll be looking for that blog coming soon!

Hmm yeah I wouldn't take an anti-diarrhea OTC medication. They are not the best thing to take. Yes there is a virus going around but sometimes after a fill when we are on liquid diet for a few days...that can cause a more loose movement. I would be sure you actually have a virus before you screw with your digestion by taking an OTC medication. I sometimes have a loose crampy feeling after a fill as my tummy adjusts to it and the diet stabilizes. It's not from being tight as much as it is adjusting to the change in the digestive track.

The thing I find with hunger, is that if you are picking on food between meals you never truly are "hungry". We don't want to eat to the point of fullness, but it is helpful to know when you are hungry and need to eat vs. well I'm not full and I could have something...but not really hungry feeling. When we pick between meals unless we are planning for mini meals through out the day and keeping track of the calories for each it's going to give us harder time losing weight. My Hubby had an eating too fast issue also. He used to inhale food. Being a military guy, he was used to having to consume his food in rapid fire, before the next crisis hit. This habit was hard to break, even after he retired from the Military after 25 years habit was well rooted. Food does not have a taste or texture when you inhale it, he never knew if he was full until he was so full he couldn't move. That first plate would be gone before everyone was seated at the table so needless to say it was a hard lesson to learn to slow it down. Now he eats when he feels hungry and sets up a space in a food designated area, sits down with little to NO distraction and concentrates for that 15-20 minutes on eating. Tasting and appreciating the smell, texture, and presentation of the meal. All those things can help you slow down and appreciate the nourishment you are giving your body. I too have also worked on those same habits, and there are days when time does not allow us such luxury. Those days I will try a Protein bar, or a shake that can be nourishment in a hurry until I can take that meal time to enjoy my food rather then choke it down

I agree. It's not that far away. I know you feel that you have made your decision and now you want to move ahead and this feels like a road block. You are still moving forward. When the hubby and I made our decision it was January and it took us till May to actually be banded. We both have 2 combined top notch health insurance companies and none of them were denying us, it just took us that long to get all our testing and paper work done pre-op. So get started on all that, and then in January you are that much further ahead of the game. Also you have all of us peeps out here in bandland to keep bouncing off of. Don't stress, just keep moving forward