Lillyanne_M

Is it happening at "that time" of the month? I always get tight when I'm retaining water- which is usually around that time- but not always. If I go a little crazy with the carbs I retain water then too and have noticed I have been tight. The next time it happens, you might want to try going back to protein drinks for the day (or two) and see if you start shedding some water and things loosen up. Like Jay said, warm liquids help too- I always have to have something warm in the mornings when I'm tight before I can eat. I hope this helps.

I am always tight when I am retaining water- especially during my period- and I know alcohol commonly causes water retention. That would be my assumption if it happened to me anyway. It should resolve itself in a day or two.

They don't get it, sigh. BUT YOU ARE FANTASTIC!!!!! Congratulations!!!!!!!! I'm so proud of you!

Graham crackers, marshmallows, fruit juice and bananas?? I'm sorry, these foods should not be included on a Lap-band diet, and most likely any bariatric surgeon would agree. Most bandsters are told not to eat any refined carbs or high sugar fruits for a reason. MANY bandsters are sugar addicts, but once they get through the sugar-detox they can stay off sugar pretty easily. These recipes could undo all of that progress and cause a relapse. In reply to the gentleman who said we need simple carbs after a workout, I say they are not necessary. I drink a very low carb Protein powder shake after my workouts (without Cookies and candy in them) and am doing just fine. Even if that were the case, not everyone drinking shakes has just had a strenuous workout. This is not advice any bandster should follow.

Thanks :thumbup: I thought about it, but my band is kind of on a very fine line between almost no restriction and way too much. I don't PB more than once a week, but it sure sucks when I do! Sliming is the worst. My problem is that even though the band keeps me from eating too much at one meal, it doesn't keep me from eating a bunch of small meals throughout the day, which is where the calories come from. I'm doing good now- I'm staying at or below 1000 cal a day and I think I'll get to goal before the end of the year (fingers crossed!) What happened with your first band?

22 months post-op and doing pretty good. I still have 30 pounds to go. I did have to have my port sewn back down because it came loose and flipped, but no problems with the band itself. I am at maximum restriction, meaning as full as i can get and still eat. I can't eat anything solid before about 11 am, and then I still have to be careful at lunch. By dinnertime, I'm fine, but there are things I can't eat at all, including: -any beef unless it's ground or super super tender like fillet mignon -plain chicken breast - bread, unless it's toasted and in the later part of the day - I usually stick to whole wheat crackers if I want something like that. -pasta - sometimes gets stuck, sometimes not (I usually just avoid it) -rice sometimes yes, sometimes no (ditto) Also, I'm really tight in the week before my monthlies, so I have to watch it then, too. Sometimes it really sucks - especially when I have to hop up and run to the bathroom to PB in the middle of a meal - but if this is what I have to do to be thinner, I'll do it.

Also, one thing that's worked really well for me is to give up sugar completely. I don't get those terrible carbohydrate afternoon cravings anymore. It took 4 or 5 days of withdrawal, nervousness, crankiness and bad cravings, but once I got past that, it was so much better. I just always felt a little out of control with the sugar thing.

I was stuck for 7 months! I'd gain and lose the same 4-5 pounds. I have about 30 lbs to goal, so that's really frustrating. Finally I decided to go back to Weight Watchers and record absolutely EVERYTHING I eat. Also, I did a one week full liquids diet to jump start me. The scale has started to move again and I'm doing really well. :tongue2:

Has anyone been to Dr. Shuster in Hollywood, FL for plastic surgery? Happy? Results? Thanks!

If you pour the soda back and forth between 2 glasses until the fizz is gone, you get rid of the bubbles. I do this with a very occasional bottle of hard cider or Light Mike's Hard Lemonade. I wouldn't do that with Coke, though. Flat Coke is the worst! I'm a big fan of the minute maid sugar-free drinks in a can. They're not carbonated, but they're really good. Especially the raspberry flavored one.

My diet was first Clear Liquids - anything you can see through without sugar in it (so no fruit juice). Nutrition stores like GNC have a ready-to-drink clear liquid Protein drink called Isopure. Popcicles, Jello. Next was liquids, Protein shakes, milk, yogurt smoothies with no added sugar, blended soups. Make sure everything is pretty thin. Even some protein shakes are a little too thick. Just add more Water. Next was mushies - pureed meats are ok if mixed with some mayo (chicken salad), fat free refried Beans, thinned with a little water, puddings, yogurts, soups with beans for Proteins, but make sure you can mash the beans with a fork. vanilla egg custard from Bariatriceating.com is a great recipe. Check out BariatricEating.com Health & Nutrition - Bariatric recipes. Also, sugar free pumpkin pie, made in individual ramekins without the crust is really good. My favorite mushie lately is Hormel canned tamales. I know, they don't sound that good, but I really like them with a little light sour cream. And they're a great lunch when I'm feeling tight because they're soft and the meat in them is ground up really well. Hope this helps.

My doc said no soda, because the carbonation expands in the pouch. I gave it up completely. However, once in a while, I have a carbonated Mike's Hard Lemonade (light of course, only 90 cals per bottle). What I do is pour it from a bottle into a glass, then pour it out into another glass and keep doing that back and forth until it loses some of the bubbles. Then I put it back in the bottle and drink it - 'cause it makes me feel more normal that way - or something.

Hey! That happens to me too! My shoes fit fine and it only happens on the elliptical and only if I go for more than 1/2 hour. When I do an hour, my toes really hurt. If you find out why, let me know! :yikes:

You can do it! I remember the first time I sat down in one of our dining room chairs and realized the arms of the chair were not squeezing my hips. I almost cried. You'll get to where you want to be and everything you have to do now will be completely and totally worth it. I have faith in you!