Time4Me

It's been quite some time since I have been on here, but figured it was time since I am really not losing. I need ideas for satisfying lunch meals on the go. I seem to be getting very low on energy and I have a 12 hour a day job with no time for low energy. I eat lunch while I am on the run or reading email, etc. so any ideas you have that are easy would be great.

I didn't tell anyone until after I had surgery. I am very open, but didn't want to hear, "why are you doing that?" Once it was done and the weight starting coming off, I didn't care who knew, in fact if anyone asks now...I openly talk about it and encourage anyone to go for it if they have even considered it.

I haven't been here in a while either...101 pounds this morning. Size 20 jeans...whoo hoo!

I drink coffee, but have to admit, my stomach doesn't tolerate it as well as it used to and sometimes it causes me to have horrible heartburn. I have tried to cut back, but my dr. didn't restrict me.

It took a while for mine to come off and my doc said "let it come off on it's own". It will come off when your incisions are healed. If you pick it off it might be too soon and then you will have to go back in to get it sealed back up or you might have a larger, more visible scar.

For me it was a 2 week trip in Disneyworld and the first day my feet swelled up so big I couldn't walk...so, I had to rent a scooter! Talk about EMBARASSING! I got home and had the surgery 1 month later! 10 months later I am down about 95 pounds and feel like a completely different person.

Hi Lisa-I was banded on 9/21/07 and have lost about 95 pounds. I would be happy to answer any questions you have, but in a nutshell...this is the absolute best decision I have ever made in my life and I didn't have any health problems yet!

Good Morning-Hang in there. I was banded on 9/21/07 and fortunately haven't had any of those feelings, except once when I was still recovering in bed and saw a subway commercial of all things! You are at the absolute hardest part of the journey and you will soon be back to eating solid foods. As far as the Protein drinks go...have you tried making your own with the powder? I use GNC whey Protein Powder in vanilla flavor, mix it with about a cup or so of nonfat milk, costco frozen strawberries (about 5) and a banana. I blend it in a blender and honestly can't taste any protein. There isn't a texture to it either, so it just takes like a strawberry banana milkshake. I have to say that I have tried other fruits with it and I don't like it...so you might want to give it a shot if you like strawberries and banana. Good luck and hang in there...it will get better!

Oh Boy! I have had the same problem. It started on June 21st and I have had two attacks since then. I, too, thought I was having a heart attack. I have lost 92 pounds and will be getting my gall bladder out at the end of this month. My dr. said that you try to keep it at bay with eating bland, healthy foods and NOTHING fried. He also said that it can cause you to have emergency surgery where they do a full blown incision instead of laprascopic if you don't get it out before a stone gets stuck. Good luck to you, but I don't think there are alternative options to getting it out.

My rough days, as I said earlier are all self inflicted. 8-). I usually have a rough day when I pick at food all day long and don 't give my body the opportunity to digest it before I put something else in, then I will typically eat dinner and it all comes back up. By the way, none of the foods I am talking about are considered the healthiest for me. On one of these days, i even threw up ice cream! I wouldn't recommend "learning" about your band this way. I would eat 3 small meals a day and maybe a fruit in between as needed and call it good! I have had a fill about every 3-5 weeks since late October through late April. I have lost count of the number. I have a 13 cc band and have 9.2 cc's in currently and was REALLY tight for about 4 weeks after this last fill. (I could eat 2-3 bites and be done) Just as I was ready to go get a bit taken out it started to ease up a bit. It really is easier than anything else I have ever done...and I have done it ALL! You will be fine, I am sorry you had a difficult surgery experience...it really shouldn't have been like that. Here's to a speedy recovery!

I get deathly ill with anesthetic, so I feel your pain. My lapband surgeon was so cautious to make sure I didn't get sick that they gave me several anti nausea medications to insure no throwing up...it was my first surgery that I didn't! I have had my band since September and there are some very rough days, but they are typically self inflicted. There hasn't been one day that I have regretted my decision. I have lost 92 pounds since September 21st and feel GREAT! Keep your chin up and give your band a chance to help you on your journey...hopefully you are over the hard part! Good luck.

I have caffeine daily and it hasn't seemed to slow my weight loss. I agree that it suppresses my appetite! Maybe it's mind over matter. Good luck everyone. This is a great journey!

Hi There Lin2- I had this response completed once and I did something to delete it! A bit of history on me...38 year old female, starting weight 343 pounds, starting size tight 30, 5 feet 2 inches, School District Administrator, surgery on 9/21/07 for $17,000 self pay, current weight 256, current size 22 on my way to 20, no exercise (not proud of this one). I will answer your questions in order. 1. I can't eat any type of bread (a previous bread junkie!), haven't tried soda (they say it can stretch your pouch) {I used to drink 2 diet cokes in the morning before I did anything else}, haven't tried rice, haven't tried steak. 2. I love to eat out. 3. I love dessert and in fact have become more of a sweet addict since the surgery. 4. Discipline isn't an option. You get sick! I have a lot to say on this topic. It's the BEST decision I have ever made in my life. I was on a fast track to death. You might think I was lazy, but the fact of the matter is I have a 12 hour a day job and don't have time to be lazy. Which also means I don't have time to take care of me. I am not going to say it has always been a breeze. If I don't chew well enough, I PB. If I eat too fast, I PB. Sometimes chicken does it to me. I have had NO major issues, other than self inflicted. Good Luck with getting answers to your questions.