Joyce in VA

Atlanta, Just make sure you are not eating around the band. Doing that we can take in a huge amount of calories and not lose the weight. When you eat the meat are you staying full?

When were you banded? July 6, 2005 - Lebanon, VA What was your weight ON DAY OF SURGERY? 206 What is your weight now? 190 What size do you wear? 16 How tall are you? 5'4" <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Does anyone out there keep up with their fat grams per day or just the protein? I am trying to get it figured out and need to know what all I need to keep up with. When I do the food journal on Fit Day and do the pie chart it shows a lot of my daily food intake is coming from fat grams, about half. The other half is coming from protein. So does anyone know if we have to count them or what? Thanks.

You will know the port is there for the next 2 or 3 weeks. It really does not hurt but you will know it's there. Mine hurt some for a week or so then just when you move a certain way or when you go over a bump when in the car. I kind of feel like it shakes it if that makes any sense.

Carrie, If you are one week post op maybe you are adding creamed soups to your diet too soon. I did protein drinks for 2 weeks before I started adding other things. My doctor said anything that goes through a straw but I did the 3 protein drinks, coffee, water, and maybe some broth in between if I wanted something. Take it easy for another week. When you start adding things back go slow. My dr. said to take a small bite, wait a couple of minutes to see if it was gonna bother you. So far I only have trouble out of bread and rice. Took a bite and it hurt so I decided I did not need it.

I think one small yogurt helps me. I try to eat one everyday and so far no problems.

I have hypothyrodism and am on Synthyroid. My doctor said he did not want me to go into the surgery without it being under control. Other than that he said it was fine. He wants to see me 8 weeks after the surgery to do blood work because as I lose weight he will have to reduce my medicine. As far as my surgeon, he had no problem with it as long as I was on medicine and not having a problem.

Slim Fast has a low carb drink out now. It's not too bad.

I too had a BMI of 35.4 and felt the same as you. Maybe if I tried harder to lose the weight maybe I would not need the surgery. Then I would think about 2 years of weight watchers to lose 25 lbs. and gained it back. In addition I tried hundreds of diet and diet pills. I was a self pay and do not regret it so far. I am glad I can eat only a small amount and feel satisfied. I too think the weight you have when you first go is the important one. Good luck with your decision.

I have had my band 4 weeks and when I eat a piece of meat I find I usually can not hold anythiing more. I am full, not stuffed. I try to quit eating before feeling stuffed. I don't want to PB. I have not had a fill yet and I know that will change everything. So far I am able to control my eating with just the band. I am following the band rules. I did try a hamburger with the bun and it hurt going down so I ate just the meat. Same with rice. Maybe I did not chew enough. Not sure so I will just avoid those things. Don't need them anyway. Try to get your protein first then you may find you really are satisfied. Sometimes I want things just because I do, not from hunger. If you want salt I think the prezel sticks were fine as long as you chewed well and it did not hurt you. My doctor said to take a couple of bites and wait a few minutes to see if it was going to bother you. If not it was fine.

I am 52 and have been married almost 30 years (October). I too knew my husband was the one right off the bat. No children. We have a chow named Nicki and a minature horse named Sugarbear. I love crafts and spending time with two great neices.

Can you have protein shakes. You need some protein to take away the hunger. It sure helped fill me up. If I had to stay on clear liquids I think I would have been hungry too. I was allowed liquids for 2 weeks then mushies.

BeautifulTina, Sounds like you are doing fine. Even better than I did but I am quite a bit older. Glad to hear you are up and about. Don't rush yourself. Be good to yourself and take your time to let your body heal.

Hello Everybody, Swirlgril posted a question about what we do to reward ourself when we reach goals. In non-food ways. Anyway there was a couple of banders who mentioned trips so I though a thread about neat trips for rewards would be a fun thread. So anyone out there who has been to some neat places post it here and let the rest of us know. Then we can dream and maybe keep ourselves motivate. In the meantime we can each save for our own special trip. If you have a link or a special picture include it so we can look at the place. Joyce

Lisa, We went to Anchorage, Alaska, several years ago and I would love to go back. We were there in late June and the weather was great. I love it and would love to go back and go further up in Alaksa and see more.

Dani and Colleen, Try Carnation Instant Breakfast (Blue Box). If you are drinking a lot of other drinks like broth ir soups don't worry about not getting in all your water. I didn't either but I made sure I was getting enough liquids in not to dehydrate. Hope you are better today.

You can also use Carnation Instant Breakfast (Blue Box). By the time you add milk to it the protein amount is pretty good. Not as good as some of the instant drinks. You can also add non-fat dry milk to increase the protein amount.

Micki, I think you will feel much better after the third day. I did. Are you taking pain medication? The pain in your neck, back and shoulders is probably gas from the surgery. Walk as much as you can. Take gas-x. I could have protein shakes on the 3rd day. Every doctor is different as to what they tell you to drink. I think your pain is normal and should let up very soon although you will be sore especially around the port area. Hope this helps to ease you mind. I had trouble sleeping because I had to sleep on my back for the first few nights and that was not my habit. When I could start turning over I slept much better.

Helen, My doctor told me the biggest thing that makes the band and the gb fail is what we drink. We can take in a termendous amount of calories simply by drinking the wrong things. So make up your mind and quit the regular pop, sweet tea, alcholic beverages and milkshakes. Then remember that foods that don't need to be chewed are eating around the band. Good luck to you. You can do it.

I haven't had a fill yet and really don't feel like I need one. I find that I need to quit eating before I feel full. It seems that I feel the fullness a little while after I finish. eating. Especially the evening meal. Maybe I haven't learned to judge it yet and am not used to eating such small amounts.

I haven't thought about rewards for reaching goals but it is a great idea. I think a neat trip would be in order. I loved the link to Galaiee and California. What are some other neat places you guys have been to or want to go to?

Mercedes, Go to the ticker factory and design your ticker. Then you copy the first set of instructions. Come back to this board and go to your signature. Paste what you copied. Then save your signature. It won't work until you save it. Then try to preview it and it should show your ticker. As far as soft foods verses other foods. First of all soft foods are ones that don't really have to be chewed, like ice cream. They are usually high calorie foods and will go right through. So they will not stay in the stoma very long so you will be hungry sooner. That is why you should eat your Protein first then the vegetables. They have to be chewed and will not go right through therefore they stay longer and keep you from being hungry. Eating soft foods is considered eating around the band and will keep you from losing weight. I hope this makes sense. I am sure there are a lot of lap banders out there that could explain it better.

Just watched the webcast video. It was great. It sure explained a lot of what went on. I loved it. If any one has trouble getting it to download you go over to the side and click on webcast help. You have to have the real one player before it will play. This will test your computer and tell you what you have. The real one player is free.

Dani, I don't know about everybody else but that does not sound like enough liquids. I did not have any trouble drinking but I have always been big on drinking alot of Water and coffee. Try drinking something warm first thing in the morning. If you don't like coffee try some warm broth and see if that helps. You will get dehydrated if you are not very careful. By today you should be able to drink pretty easy I would think. Try the broth. Let me know how you do.

I too used Milk of Magnesia. It sure helped get things going again. You need to be drinking to help also. Good luck.