mommalee

I save some of my calories for a bed time snack. I usually eat fatfree, sugar -free pudding or ice cream. Its my bedtime snack! I cant sleep if I am hungry.....

I know you can have too few calories and that can wreak havoc with your metabolism! You need to consume 1200 calories a day- Minimum! Half those calories should be protein. You also need a little 'good' fat each day, such as a slice of avacado or a tbs of olive oil, etc.

Boy, I didnt know you could lose a fill. How do you know you lost one? I was doing fine until Friday and I was suddenly ravenous! It was wierd. I consumed at least 1800 calories that day but couldnt help it--I felt like I was starving. I had a fill on Tuesday and am back to my normal 1200 calories and feeling like the band is doing its thing. Still, it was sure strange to have that 'out of control hunger feeling' hit me so suddenly. I wonder if its a hormonal change. By the way, if I eat less than 1200 calories I find that the weight doesnt want to come off. I exercise by doing swimming aerobics 3X a week. I hope to add walking but right now my feet are being fitted for special supports as my dr. found out I have a wierd tendon problem because of an extra bone in each foot. If the supports dont work it will mean surgery-ugh! :sick A really good structured diet to follow is the Duke University diet. They have a book out now and I would recommend it for those wondering what to eat each day. You may not be able to eat ALL the foods with the band but most of them are eatable if you chew well. I am losing about a pound a week now, slow- but it is steady! Since my surgery on May 3, I have lost 23 lbs.--4 lbs pre- op and the rest after-mostly in the first few weeks. I just hope I can maintain losing the 1 lb a week but even if it slows down to 1 or 2 lb a month its a heck of a lot better than gaining! Starting weight: 257 Current weight: 234

I was just reading the last few posts and want to say that I am truly sorry to hear the troubles some of you are having with weight loss--or lack thereof! I am following the rules and keeping my calorie intake at 1200 and so far its coming off, slow but steady. If it werent coming off or quit coming off I would be soooo depressed. Anyway, I sure hope that you all find some answers to what is going on with your bodies.... On a lighter note, I revisited the May bandster thread (I got my band on May 3rd) and after reading some of the posts I got a little bummed when I saw a lot of people banded after me had lost twice as much as I have! Dont think I will be going there anymore--just gonna stick with the 'Slow Losers' where I feel more at home....ha:)

Hi there! I came across this 'Slow Loser' thread and would love to 'join' your group. I am not a fast loser by any means and just being able to relate to others like me is fantastic. I had my surgery on May 3, 2007. The first 15 lbs came off fairly fast--then slowed way down. I know from past experience that my weight loss will be slow from here on out but I paid 20,000.00 to get this band and I am determined to make it work for me. Knowing that others are slow losers--(even with diet and exercise) is a real encouragement.....I am so glad I 'found' you!:clap2:

It sounds like you had a rough beginning but everyone is different so dont feel like you're behind!! I used an excellent bariatric center here and they made sure I knew exactly what I needed to do and needed to expect. They got me started in the hospital and had me on liquids right after surgery--1 oz every 15 minutes all day when I was awake. The next day I started sugar free pudding and protien drink--same thing. They didnt send me home until they knew I was keeping it down okay. I have been careful to go slow and to burp between sips if neccessary. (Air bubbles can cause pain if they pass through your new opening.) Also I have Water by my bedside to sip at night after I get up to use the bathroom, etc. I wish you the very best for your new journey

You should be able to hold one ounce of fluid at a time. Try slowly sipping an ounce every 15 minutes, DONT use a straw, make sure fluids are room temp (not real cold or real hot). you need 48-64 oz fluid a day. Your protien drink and Water and Clear Liquids all count toward that goal. Keep track of each ounce you drink. Dont worry about Vitamins right now, just concentrate on drinking the ounce of fluid every 15 min. Also, you should be urinating every couple of hrs or so and that will show you are getting enough fluids.

I appreciate the advice and I am making a list. GAs-X, liquid tylenol, NOT TOO much post op food, (I am glad for that because I was prepared to buy tons of it!). I have been going to a water aerobics class and concentrating on my waist muscles when we do water sit ups, scissors etc. I will see the nurtritionist on Tues so will get to start the pre-op diet. I am truly on the path to a fit trim new me!

Hi there, I am getting banded the second week of May. I am so glad to have this opportunity to get off the excess weight I have been lugging around for the last 18 years! I am going through the Southern Oregon Bariatrics Center, located in Medford Oregon. My surgeon is Dr. Castillo and they just started doing the lap band surgeries in Feb. 2007. My insurance doesnt cover the cost so its a real sacrifice to come up with the money, but I know it will be worth every penny.....Any pre-op advice, encouragement, questions, etc., are welcome!