Sleeved12/29

Barb, You stats are great. :thumbup:Did you lose any of your weight pre-band? What are you eating for lunch and dinner to stay full? I can't eat 1st thing in the morning. I'm tight 'til around 10am. I'm up at 5am & at work by 7am. Then in the evenings, I'm hungry. You're doing great! Beth

What a great post! Thank you for sharing your wonderful family with us. Your stats are fantastic!

I guess we are a support group....we do have an addiction..it's called food. I too lost a lot of weight on MediFast but had to stop the diet because it's soy based and it just about did me in. I gained all the weight back plus 20 more. We are here for one another...we should never pass blame...just support and ideas whenever possible.

First, I want to say I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your father. I know how stressful that can be. I think 12lbs post op is great. I was banded 11/18 and am down total of 24, 6 from pre-op and 18 post-op. I went in a few weeks ago to see the nutritionist. I was complaining about the loss slowing down once I hit solid foods. My surgeon popped his head in & said if I wanted to lose 100lbs in 3 months I should've had bypass. He stressed that the band is a tool....not a fix all. I'm exercising almost every day. I only lost one pound last week BUT at least I didn't gain one lb. My clothes are fitting better. I feel better. I'm totally off metformin for diabetes. Please be patient and give it time....I consider my band to be my new little friend.

Molly went to the rainbow bridge this morning around 11:45am. The vet gave her a sedative, then the cather and she was gone in seconds. Never opened her eyes. She went very peacefully. I think the stress has tightend my band today. I had stress hunger today and was afraid I'd eat my way into a coma but my band was very tight and just a piece of lunch meat got caught. I'm really glad I didn't get a fill yesterday. My other furbaby, Gretzky, is a little sad but we think he knew Molly would not be coming home. He's a bonecancer survivor. Thank you all for listening to my running on...I'm just at a loss right now...she was with us for 16 years.

I decided against getting a fill today. Just too much going on here right now. I'm going to call his office and make an appointment for one next week or the week after. Regarding portion size: no more than 3oz beginning with protein. When I asked about calories, he said 1,000 to 1,200 max. He asked if I was exercising and I told him yes. He said I could "treat" myself a few days a week with 1,200 but should stay in the 1,000 range. I told him I was not hungry in the morning and he said I should not go more than 12-14 hours with out food...mostly due to the diabetes WHICH was in the NORMAL range on my blood work last week. He was very happy about that and said I should go back on the Zocor since my numbers were high. LDL was 177. Over all was 268. He also lifted all my restrictions so I can finally run the vacuum cleaner. Hubby just hits and misses (mostly misses). I've lost 24 lbs over all. I'm happy with that but have noticed my portions are getting larger. He also stressed I should begin now chewing my food...said it should take up to 30mintues to eat a meal or I'm eating way to fast.

Thank you everyone. I know we are doing the right thing. It's so very hard.

Teri, I am so sorry for your loss. We are going through the very same thing. Our 16yr old boxer mix has been going down hill these past few weeks. Now she can't walk and is having mini seizures. We are taking her to our holistic vet tomorrow at 11:40am. Our 18yr and his best friend want one more nite with their four legged best friend. I have cried the past few days. She has been a wonderful family member. She was always so gentle with our son....they grew up together. I have another fur baby. He is a cancer survivor. He was amputated Nov '07 and through prayer and holistic meds, he is on the sofa beside me. I will keep you and yours in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep our family in yours. This is so very hard. My band has been very tight these past few days and I don't even have a fill. I think it's my emotions. I belong to a dogs with bone cancer support group. Whenever a pup passes, we call it going to the rainbow bridge where pain is no more. Your fur baby will welcome my Molly there tomorrow. They will both be pain free and happy. They know we love them...even though it's very difficult to let go.

Hi Pat, I see my surgeon today at 4:15.When I asked him during the last visit if I'd be getting a fill, he said we would see how things are progressing. He said some of his patients do not need fills for 2-3 months. I'm very restricted in the mornings. I've lost 24lbs (6 were pre-diet) and I'm happy with that. I wasn't at first but will take each pound as it comes. I'll let you know if he gives me a fill today. We had a quiet Christmas. Our 16yr old dog is not doing well. Our 18yr old son has begged us to hold off putting her down as he thought she would pass in her sleep. That's not gonna happen so we are scheduled to meet the vet tomorrow at 11:40. My band is really tight today. I've cried most of the morning. I guess stess does play a big part in all of this.

My nutirtionsit (sp) said the same thing. Exercise does help a lot. I was walking on the treadmill at first but have been doing my Walk Away the Pounds tapes now. Once I can use my upper arms, I plan on dusting off my Gizelle and walking on it as well. I was banded 11/18 and I still feel a little restricted. If I eat too fast...it gets stuck. I can't eat when I first get up in the mornings. My weight loss has slowed down but I'm still losing. I've lost 24lbs total...18 since surgery & I'll take it. My surgeon told me that if I wanted to lose 100lbs in 3 months I should have considered bypass. Hang in there everyone...it will get better. I DID eat a few Cookies and didn't feel all that guilty. Why? Because it was a few instead of a few hundred. My nutritionist also said if I lose 2lbs a week, it will be over 100lbs lost when my 1yr band-a-versary comes around. WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER!!!!!:tongue_smilie:

My surgeon told me no weights or ab exercises for 6 weeks. He said that area needs to heal. I have Tony Little's Gazelle and wanted to begin using it since I'll be 4 weeks out tomorrow....Can you believe it 11/18 bandsters???? He told me no 'til after he sees me 12/29. He is allowing me to do my Walk Away The Pounds tapes as long as I don't do any AB exercises. I also had a hernia repaired during surgery. The treadmill is so boring to me...even if it's in front of the tv in the basement. I've been stuck at 22lbs and hope it starts up again soon. Tomorrow I start real food....I'm elated and nervous at the same time...how does everyone else feel?

Well, I stopped taking Lexapro after surgery. I stopped my Metformin & Zocor per my surgeon and just forgot it during recovery. Saturday my hubby asked me if I'd stopped my "happy pills"...I was ashamed to tell him I had. He could tell...my anxiety is horrible.. I went back to work today and came home wound up and extremely tired. Popped open the bottle and down the 10mg went. I also have an appointment with my primary care next week for blood work. I'll discuss it with him at that time....I too gained 30lbs when I started taking the meds. BUT I'm not sure if it was really the meds or losing my mother to ALS & having an unruly teen...still have the teen

I just returned from a visit with the nutritonist. I asked her about over eating....she said at this stage, until a fill...eat until you are satisfied...you are still healing. I haven't had a protein shake in a week. I purchased a "Magic Bullet" before surgery. Most things go in it. I mush chicken and fish. I was also told it is very important to eat every 4 hours whether you are hungry or not. I've made several different dishes that are high in protein and satisfy me. She also told me NOT to starve myself. We need to eat in order to heal.

Trishcruise....awesome weight loss!!! I'm only down 21.5. I'm walking on the treadmill from 30-40 minutes everyday. Tomorrow will make 1 week of mushies. I really thought I'd be down 25 by now. I'm not hungry. I make myself eat every 4hrs...just finished cream of brocolli soup. What have you been eating?

Heather, Your stats are great! I very scared about the "normal food" stage. I tend to eat fast...especially when I'm working on something. I got a cube of 2% cheese stuck the other day because I put 1 in my mouth chewed it up...popped another in BUT didn't chew it as well. I just started to hiccup...it was scarey. I'm craving cesar salad and a steak. I really don't have any carb cravings yet....

Hi 11/18 banders! I'm feeling better everyday. I've been increasing my time on the treadmill...am now up to 40 minutes. I began mushie stage Tuesday evening. I can home and ate 1/2 lf cottage cheese. I spoke to the nutrisionist on Thursday because I just can't stand the smell of the shakes. She said as long as I'm getting 50g of protein via food, I'm ok. I bought a Bullet before surgery. Best thing I ever bought. I've "mushed" chicken with broth, and even hamburger w/broth. It was heaven. Didn't look like much but sure tasted great. I'm down 20.5 and am happy with that. Is anyone taking Urso Forte? My surgeon gave me a script for 6months. Something to do with my gallbladder. They are horse pills....have to crush them and put in apples sauce or pudding...very nasty. Good luck everyone....we should try to keep in touch. :thumbup:

Thank you for sharing your story!! You look great.

I know how everyone feels! Tomorrow marks two weeks and I'm only down 19lbs (6 from pre-diet lean & green). I've been walking on the treadmill 30 minutes a day plus walking. My surgeon told me no lifting weights for 4 wks due to the hernia repair. Mushie stage starts tomorrow and I don't want to over due it. I see Dr Singh tomorrow. Hope he's happy with the loss. I love Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds tapes so I hope I can get back to them soon as well. I really thought I'd be down at least 20 by down. I went almost a week w/o a BM, now I'm every other day. I've been drinking my water as well.

I was banded 11/18 and I will tell you to get up as much as you can and walk. I did laps around the downstairs of the house....5-7 minutes every hour that I was awake. A nurse in the hospital gave me really good advice. She bundled up a blanket and put it against my tummy. She told me to place the blanket against my tummy anytime I got up & down from bed or had to cough or sneeze....it worked wonders. I remember my father & brother had teddy bears to hold against their abdomen after their bypass surgeries....try it. Good luck!!

Ginny, Regarding diabetes, I know just what you mean. My A1C came back diabetic in June.....that was the straw. I tried documenting everything that went into my mouth and still didn't lose but a few pounds. I guess diabetes "scared me straight". Dr Singh took me off all my diabetes meds after surgery, my PCP wants to see me in a month. My blood sugar has been pretty normal since I left the hospital. Everyday I feel better....more in control. I researched lap band for two years but just couldn't make that final move....well, diabetes made my decision for me. When do you begin the mushie stage? I see Dr Singh this Tuesday and hope to move to the next level. I'm not hungry, just tired of liquids and the smell of protein shakes still turns my stomach upside down....

Knitting is my passion. My grandmother taught me when I was very young. I knitted thru my teens & twenties then stopped. In '05 I suddenly had the urge to pick it up again...everyone around me was knitting winter scarfs. I dug my needles out of my sewing room and have been addicted ever since....even got tennis elbow from knitting at home & working on computer at work. I guess I kinda got addicted.....didn't want to exercise, cook or socialize much....just wanted to knit in my down time from work. Our son was also playing travel ice hockey at the time & my projects would go with me. I'd sit in the car 'til game time. Good luck....it is a wonderful past time you can knit for causes. I've knitted prayer shawls for women with breast cancer & a woman who lost her brother to cancer. You can knit for our troops and preemies.

I can't believe this time last week I was in the OR. I feel fine from the banding....but I still have a lot of pressure from the hernia repair. I'm still sleeping in our recliner. My left shoulder also throbbs at times. Dr Singh said that is not from gas but from the hernia repair. I will say my tummy is beginning the gurgle more when I'm hungry. I strongly suggest purchasing the bullet.....it has been wonderful....hubby likes it to.... Is anyone having trouble getting all their protein in every day? We were told 50 grams per day for females & 63 for males. I was using the Nectur vanilla for my pre-surgery diet but can't stand the smell of it right now. I'm having major problems with smells...especially sweet smells. Hubby and I went out yesterday and purchased unflavored protein powder and the Nectur bullets....I hope they aren't sweet.

Isn't it great?? The extra attention form the hubby!! Mine even lotioned my feet today....We've been married almost 25 yrs and he's been great....much better than when our son was born 18 yrs ago.

Good luck to all banders who will be banded this week. I will have my one week band-a-versary tomorrow. So far, so good. The only pain I have is from the hernia. I'm forcing myself to eat....just not that hungry. I'm still sleeping in the recliner because being flat on my back still hurts a lot. It's difficult to believe but this time last week I was a bundle of nerves....now I'm home, posting on the computer, sitting in the recliner in front of the fireplace, loving life...... On another note...... I feel like a real dummy BUT how do I post my stats via ticker factory...please help!!!

Good Morning fellow November bandsters!!! Everyday I'm feeling so much better! I ended up spending the nite and glad I did. Dr Singh found a high anal hernia during surgery. He was able to repair it. ALL of my pain has been from the hernia repair. I was so scared before going under....the anastastia is the worst for me. How is everyone else doing? I can't believe it will be a week this Tuesday. Anyone else had hernia repair during banding? Would love to hear from you!!! BTW....how can I add the counter & sparkles?