lljpaisley

I like the whole idea of it but my food choices are so limited that i wonder if the points will work for me.

I've been banded since 6/2005, never had reflux or heartburn before surgery and now all of a sudden i have it. I am a year and a half post surgery and now i get it??? I am worried. It is very mild. Reflux maybe one a month. Today i have had heartburn after almost everything even water. Should i be worried?

I am so glad you said that. I am pretty tight and for some reason junk food goes down better than even some liquids. I can explain till i am blue in the face and my friends think i am chosing junk food over other things but i swear, in the mornings, sometimes the only thing that will go down is potato chips. My theory is that chips etc, are totally smashed in the mouth so there is nothing to get stuck. This weekend, i made a wet scrambled egg and had trouble with that for over two hours.

Wow Yeehaw - i am at 167 pounds and i wear a size 14 - no where near an 8!

Thanks everyone. I have to start monitoring what i eat and looking at package nutritional information. I don't think i get enough protein but maybe i am getting more than i think.

My goal was 130 - it was 100 lbs less than my starting weight and it was what i weighed until I hit about 30 years old. Well I am at about 167 pounds now and have been here for about 6 moonths. I am happy although i would be happier if i was like 150. I can't see myself at 130. I am wearing a size 12/14 now. I work out better than i control my eating if you know what i mean. I am more faithful to going to the gym and being active in my lifestyle than staying away from the foods that are high in calories. Maybe that is why my scale isn't moving. I wonder if it is broken!

I am confused. I don't think i eat enough protein in a day. I was banded in june of 2005 (about 18 months ago) and am always trying to find new ways to eat healthy. I could have sworn that the dietitian (who i am no longer seeing) told me about 40 grams a day. I went to another site, a nutrition site, that said a women should get about 7 grams a day. Another site, one about exercise, said you should get about 1 gram per pound of body weight. Big difference! What were you told by your doctor or dietitian?

Well, here is my thought. I work in physical rehab with speech therapists. I told them that since the surgery I have had trouble swallowing my pills, that they seem to get stuck in my throat. They said that they read some research that when part of that system is constricted (like we are with the band) the rest feels constricted. They recommend that I should bring my chin down to my chest in a "chin tuck" to make things go down more easily.

A friend recommended that I try the South Beach Diet rather than weight watchers. I started reading the book and it sounds great except that they recommend only high fiber carbs, not the carbs i love like pasta. I am so limited on my carbs anyway that i don't want to give up the ones that I actually can get down!

I am seriously considering weight watchers - not for the food or the points but for the support and the encouragement. I know we are supposed to get that from lap band support groups but mine meets once a month and it has turned into nothing more than an informational group for the people who are thinking about getting the band. I find myself eating alot of the wrong food and i justify it by saying that nothing "good" goes down easily. I lose about 1 pound every two to three months, I don't want another fill because there are times when even water gurgles for over 30 minutes. I work out at least three times a week if not more. I think i need the "public humiliation" of the weigh in.

This lap band is the best thing ever! Thanks for all of your support

I just have to tell someone this. This morning I got into a pair of pants that have been hanging in my closet for a year! They are cold weather pants and haven't tried them on since about March. Well, I was looking for something to wear, tried them on, and not only did I get them one but they fit perfectly! Yea for me!!! I had to tell you guys cause I knew you would understand. I can't tell my sisters or my friends because they are all struggling with weight loss and won't take the lap band plunge. Yipee!!!!

You know, I have had the band since June 2005. I have my periods of nothing wanting to go down and i certainly have foods that I can't eat. My biggest problem right now isn't with the band but with me. I find that I am eating more junk because it goes down easier than food that is good for me. Anything that totally breaksdown in my mouth - foods like potato chips, pretzels, popcorn - go down with no problem at all. I can't figure out what to eat in the mornings because even yogurt causes a problem. I have to get back to being serious. I also had a few instances of reflux for the first time. I remedied that by taking my nighttime medications much earlier in the evenings. When all is said and done though, i wouldn't trade my band for anything!

I have thought about it. Before i was banded I had read an article about a woman with a lap band who was doing WW. I asked my doctor about it and he said no since i would be going to my own support group. I think that might be the major benefit, the weekly support group and the knowledge that you will be publically weighed!

I've read that in the past they have had trouble with other bagged salads too. I guess this is big enough to get me to buy the lettuce and cut it myself!

WOW - you are down 67 pounds in three months!!!!! I really am a slow loser! Anyway, do keep us informed about what you find out

It's been a year since surgery. I have lost 60 pounds with another 40 to go. I am not convinced that i will ever make my goal weight but that is another story. Anyway, my arms and upper thighs are so flabby right now. I go to the gym, do aerobics and weight training. Personally I don't feel that the skin is gonna adjust. I am losing slowly but consistantly so I think if it was going to adjust it would have done so. Right?

Well I must admit I enjoy the stationary bike in the gym. Does that mean that I don't belong in this thread??? My excuse for not riding outside is that the area has so much traffic - you can't go any distance without hitting a potential deathtrap. when i am in the gym i can go as fast or as hard as i like, the AC is on, and i don't have to wear that annoying helmet!

Well, this is the second month in a row this has happened to me. It is miserable but i try to look on the bright side - i lose a couple of pounds. I do waste a lot of money buying or making food and then i can only take a few bites. My problem is that today is Thursday and my TOM ended sunday and I am still too restricted. I like the idea that someone mentioned about taking the birth control pill that makes you only have your period three times a year.

I just re-read my post from months ago. What a change. I am now filled with 3.5 ccs. I do still eat chicken nuggets but rarely fries and even more rare is burgers. I can do homemade meatload but i fill it with so many condiments and onions that it is very moist! I have had pizza with the very thin crust but have eaten it like 4 times in 12 months.

Ok call me vain but I wish they were better looking. I found some nicer ones but they were expensive. I would like a pretty beaded one with a charm hanging off it that give my information. I am not that crafty to make one. Here's a career for anyone who is interested!

Oh my gosh, I am so glad to hear that I am not alone! The idea of the sour cream cup is great, I now always have a bath towel in the car - big enough to catch everything.

Vinewqueen, I am so glad you said what I think we all are thinking!

You know, just to add my two cents. Instead of the chocolate milk, try carnation instand breakfast. It will give you more nutrients, protein, etc which will be helpful because you are eating so little. I also put in a tablespoon of dry milk powder for extra protein and a squirt of chocolate sauce to make it more chocolatey!

Sorry Tricia, but i chuckled as i read yours. I think that only we could laugh because we have experienced this and realize that is not actually all that big a deal. I don't like to PB in a resturant's bathroom, i don't want the other customers to think it was because of the food. I have no problem though going outside and doing it, even if there is a person or two who can see (but not too close!).