Dianechef

I have been reading on YahooBandsters & came across this diet that a Dr. tells all his patients to follow & apparently he has a very good success rate. I thought it was interesting. Dr. Foxkin's High Protein Diet for Gastric Banding patients. It is based on a baseball diamond working together. Home plate- is getting banded and then working on getting proper adjustment. First Base- Use an appetite suppressant to relieve hunger and carbohydrate cravings. Use Phentermine or Phendimetrazine. For a month worth it was $23 self-pay. Second Base - It is a high protein/almost no carb diet. He describes it as Atkins minus the salads. He recommends patients stay on the diet until they reach goal weight, which usually takes only 9-12 months. No milk, avoid fruits, veggies, and grains. Be careful of hidden carbs in sauces or breaded products. (Anyone who is commited to a high protein diet has to follow these rules to the letter. It takes 2 to 3 days for the body to switch to fat burning. Consume a lil' carbs and you are back to a glucose burning metabolism and can lose the effect of the 2 or 3 days of fat burning. If you eat good during the week and eat normal on weekends say bye-bye to the drastic results. You can use something like Keto-stics to make sure ketones are present in your urine.) Third Base -Exercise intervention on a daily basis. They recommend Curves, Curves look-alikes, or anything aerobic done for at least 30 minutes per day. No matter what level you are at it is important to just start moving even seated exercise videos can be a great place to start. Using all the above together the next step is Home plate! Home plate - Is reaching your goal. He considers a Home Run getting to a size 9 or smaller for women. (He is known for liking his patients very skinny. He wanted me to shoot for a size 6 but I haven't been that since third grade. I was very happy at a 10/12 when I lost to goal before but we agreed I'd shoot for a size 9. Hell I'd love to get to a 9 or smaller but I don't want to set myself up for disappointment.) He says most patients will lose at least 15 lbs a month with the band adjusted right and following the Foxkin plan. He says even non-bandsters have good luck with it. He also recommends maintaining adequate protein, Vitamin and mineral levels for optimum weight loss -90 or 120 grams protein supplement (unless your doctor thinks you need more) -Vitamin and mineral supplement like the pink bottle from Vita4Life. Although he thought the GNC orange liquid multi-vitamin and mineral supplement (I think I'm going to use the orange Centrum chewables next) -Calcium Citrate 3500-4500mg

Hi funny! Thanks for asking about me. To be honest with you, I am feeling very, very frustrated. I can eat everything, and I mean everything!! I tried some bread yesterday just to see what would happen & it went down without any problems. I tried a tortilla & it went down without any problems!!! Can I scream?!?!?!? :Cry: 4 days ago I could barely choke down a protein shake & now I can eat the house. I want restriction!! I haven't gone off the deep end & eaten any bad foods, but I feel like I'm on a diet & I HATE diets. I just want my band to work with me. I'm seriously considering going back to the fill doc & ask to just get .1 put back in. I tried 2.0, then, 1.8.......maybe 1.9 is the magic number!!! Well, there you have it. You probably wished you never asked! :biggrin1:

Tess - you had a new band placed? What did the doctor say caused your slippage? Please explain! I hope you're doing okay. Sounds like you've been through a lot!!

A Mom always knows there's a problem before there really is. I say go with your gut instincts & worry the heck out of everything!! Your love & concern for her could save her life. Even if there was nothing to worry about - it's better then wondering "what if?" You sound like a very kind, caring mother who loves her daughter more then you can even explain to all of us. I wish you the best & hope everything turns out well. :second:

WOW!! How exciting!! I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures.

Well, my name is Diane, but NO, I am not a chef. I worked for the Pampered Chef for 10 years & Dianechef was what I used for my business e-mail address. Pretty soon, that name just stuck & that's what people called me. I can open up a can of crescent rolls & do just about anything with them, but I really am not an expert cook!!

Well, I am back to being able to eat everything!! Last night we went to dinner at a Mexican Restaurant. I ordered some chicken Tortilla soup & ate it all. It was delicious!! I felt like I was starving! I tasted some of my husbands food & then ate a handful of chips & salsa. Then, everyone wanted dessert. I took one bite like a good bandster. But, I never felt full. I felt NOTHING!! I am getting very frustrated. I want a good restriction & can't seem to find it. I only had .2 taken out & can't believe that it would make this big of a difference. My question is this: Do you all feel a good deal of restriction or do you rely on self-control the most? P'Nut - what does full feel like to you? Maybe I am expecting a different feeling then I am getting. I thought I had a good fill for 2 months & to me if felt like I got a golf ball in my throat aftering eating about a cup or so. Now I'm just not sure anymore.

Mary! Mary! Mary!! Congratulations on those fabulous 80 lbs girl!! You are beautiful & I am so proud of you. Those pictures of your back are really what's showing us your big change. You're getting your waist back. WAHOO!! I can't wait to weigh 180 lbs!! GO PINKMARY!!

I'm back from my unfill. It was wonderful to chug down a whole bottle of water!! She took out .2 so I am at a 1.8. I came home & fixed myself a little bit of tuna salad with 4 crackers. I slowly chewed, chewed, & chewed!!!! I ate the whole thing & feel very full!! Maybe this is the perfect fill for me!! I sure hope so. Heather - I usually get my fills done under floro, but the last 2 were just done manually. I prefer the flouro, but can't afford to travel back to MX everytime. I have often wondered if not using the flouro is part of my problem!! Actually, I'd like to blame it all on bloating every month. I am always fine until that time of the month & then everything is all messed up. By the way, my fill doctor told me today that I can stop the bloating every month if I take a double dose of acetomenaphine the day before my period & the day of my period. She said it makes it much easier on us with the band. I had never heard this, but will definately try it next time!!! P'Nut - YOU ROCK!! You've only been banded 5 months & have lost 68?! I am soooo jealous. If you're still losing weight, I would consider leaving your band just like it is. Talk to your doctor & get his opinion. You are so awesome!!! Telly - I just love you!! You are so inspiring to us all. I can't wait to see your hot, lean body when you hit your goal. All the bike riding is building those mega muscles. You keep me goin' & I NEED IT!!! (Thanks!)

Stop obsessing over this and go get that stupd fill!!! *grins* Actually, if you are able to do this on will power alone, more power to ya!! I am very amazed & impressed if you can!! Getting filled & unfilled isn't any fun. It's also expensive. However, I need it!! If I don't have the proper restriction, I don't lose weight!! It's taken me 10 months to lose the same 60 lbs. you lost in 6 months! You are doing so well P'nut!! I would be asking myself the same questions if I were you. I feel like the more I mess with my band, the more likely I am to have a slip, erosion.....ect. I'm sure it's just in my head. Well, I don't think I've been any help!! But, at leas you know I feel for ya. *hugs*

Good question P'Nut!! We actually talked about that very thing this weekend!!! One of my sisters kept saying - "Diane, make us laugh! I keep waiting for you to do something to make us laugh!" (I use to be the Funny Fat Girl!") They DO treat me differently except it's like they now have more respect for me. It's hard to explain. They always respected me before, but now I don't have to be doing something wild to get attention. I have their attention by just being myself. It's a good thing!! Actually, several of them have also been motivated to lose weight because of me. I was asked lots of questions about what I eat, exercise & how I feel. Nobody wants to be the biggest one in the family! It's a good, friendly type of competition. :nono: I found a picture of one of our previous Girl's Weekend pictures. This was about 3 yrs. ago & I wasn't quite at my heaviest, but I was still the biggest of my sisters.

Before I tell you all my NSV, I thought I'd explain something here for those who don't know me. I grew up in a very wonderful, happy but unusual home. I am not ashamed it of at all, I am very proud!! However, I get a lot of people who can't believe it because it is too uncommon. I have 9 sisters & 1 brother. Yes, that number was a 9!! My sisters are all my best friends & we get along great. My mother was a person who just loved kids. (And yes, I promise my 1 brother is very normal. He had 9 maids who waited on him hand & foot!) Every Mother's Day Weekend, my Mother & all my sisters go to a resort, hang out, get manicures, pedicures, EAT & have a blast. No husbands, no kids....just girls!! We just returned & it was so much fun. For the past 6-7 years I have been the biggest one in my family. Every year I was so concerned about our next meal, what our Snacks were going to be when we could stop & get a Diet Coke. This year I could care less about the food & I am now one of the smallest in the family!! :nono: This was HUGE for me!! Here's a picture taken this weekend of my sisters & Mom!! I am the goofy one in the back with curly hair.

Hi Everyone!! Lots of good things happening here!! GREAT JOB!! High 5!! Tricia, I am right there with you on the borderline of 199 -200. I don't want to see that 2 number again!! I hope this new fill works for you!! I'm not sure what I should do with my fills. I had a pefect fill for a month & then had my obstruction & haven't found a good fill yet. I get so tight & can't eat :speechles & then when I get a little bit taken out it's like I can eat everything!! It's Mother's Day today & I wasn't able to eat the wonderful dinner my husband made for us. :nono: I have been on liquids ever since I had my period last week & it never went back to normal. STRANGE!! I feel like I am being strangled inside. Nothing hurts - it's just uncomfortable!! I am very, very tired of Protein shakes. I am going in tomorrow to get a small unfill & I am crossing my fingers that it will be the perfect restriction. PLEASE!! PLEASE!! I just want to eat real foods again, but feel restricted so I don' overeat. I'm only at a 2.0. My perfect restriction previously was a 2.7. Not sure why it keeps changing? Anyone have this? Am I just weird or what?!?! Tricia, we both get adjustments tomorrow!! I'm crossing my fingers & toes that these will work for us!! GOOD LUCK!!!!

Thank you for starting this thread. I thought I was going to go crazy thinking I was the only one who had this problem!!! I originally had a 2.0 fill & could eat quite a bit. I went in for an adjustment & had 2.7 which was PERFECT!! I had the best restriction & loved it!! 2 months later I retained a lot of Water during my period & could hardly drink anything!!! I was on liquids for a week. After the week of liquids, it started to slowly come back but it was still too tight!! It never went back to the perfect restriction!!! I then had an obstruction with a hot dog & had almost all of it taken out. I was able to eat EVERYTHING!! I managed to maintin during that time thank goodness. 6 weeks later I had 2.0 put back in. It was great for 3 weeks & then along come that time of the month & once again I couldn't eat a thing!! Liquids have been gurgling in my mouth!!!! I still cannot eat real food & it is killing me. I know I need to go get another unfill, but I am so tired of paying out $100 bucks everytime. I am praying it will go down on it's own!!! After reading some posts on fills - this is my opinion: Whenever we retain water, whether it be the time of the month, flying in a plane, having surgery, whatever it may be........it does something to the band. For me it makes my stomach really swell & it has a hard time going back to normal after the fact. It really messes me up big time! I just want a good fill & have it stay there for a very, very long time!! :Banane13: Or,....here's a great idea. I want a pesonal fill assistant who will unfill or fill me everyday depending on how I am when I wake up that morning. This assistant would also do all my laundry, dishes & clean all the bathrooms. Oh, and I would love it if they would also cook all my meals for me & make them perfectly healthy & have all the calories counted for me so I don't have to. What do you think!?!? (Do you think my assistant could exercise for me too?!?!?!?!? PLEASE?!?!?!?!)

Great job Dana!! Doesn't it feel good? You're one your way!! :Banane13:

Hey Jessie! I answered this question in the GFG Club, but thought I'd answer here too for those who care to know. I have tried tanning beds & they only gave me a ton of freckles. I don't want a "real" sun tan from the sun because skin cancer runs in my family. So, I use the new Jergen's Afterglow lotion & it works great! I just make sure to smooth it in real good all over and I LOVE IT!! I even use it on my face. Tricia - your tan looks great!! So natural. You have beautiful skin!!

Thanks P'Nut!! And Cheri, I am going to assume that being on the "I hate you list" is a good thing!!!! Jessie - I have tried tanning booths & all I get is a ton of freckles. They just didn't work. I've started using the Jergen's Afterglow lotion & it works great!! I am usually as white as a ghost. SERIOUS!!! I put it on every 3 days & it keeps me tan! Thanks for noticing!!!

Hi Vines!! I'm not sure there's anything more I can add except to let you know that I am thinking of you & wishing you the best as you go through some very difficult & hard times. Sometimes life just really seems so hard when you get dealt with so many blows at once. As far as a gift for you mother - write down all the wonderful things you love about her. Whether she lives another week or 25 more years, she would always appreciate knowing those things. Even if there's only a handful of things you can think of - she would appreciate it. Hugs to you Vines. You can do this.

Pinkmary - LOL I just figured out what gams where! (Thanks Renebean!) So, if they're actually shanks, then I still have no idea what you're talking about!! ROFL I'm just going to assume you're tellimg me I have nice legs!! So.......THANK YOU MARY!!!! Thank you everyone for all the very nice compliments!! I'm going to look at my legs in a whole new light.

Hi Julie! You look absolutely beautiful & you inspire me. I will never forget when I first joined LBT, I saw a post from you where you posted pictures of you when you hit your year mark. You had your cute hat on & looked so beautiful!! We are about the same height & I really looked to you as what I wanted to be when I hit goal. THANKS!! I am so sorry you're having these issues. I am just wondering about something. You said that your band migrated & that your pouch had a dilitation. Can you explain what a dilitation is?!? Is it kindof like a slip?!? I also retain water during my period & can hardly drink. If I ever get a reduction, I'd like to stay safe. Thanks Julie!!

Hey Heather & Tricia - my legs were the first place I lost weight. I am 5'7 1/2" (gotta have the1/2 in there!) I've always weighed more then I looked!! When I was married I weighed 175 & I really looked like I was much thinner. Not sure what's up or why my body is that way?!? But, I'll take it!!!! PinkMary - I am racking my brain trying to figure out what gams are?!? I'll take it as a compliment!!! ha

David - You will get lots of good advice here. I always have!! YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT!! The first 6 weeks are really for healing. If you happen to lose weight it's a bonus. You won't have any restriction at all until you get a fill. Once that fill happens, your whole band world will change. Promise!! Are you on liquids right now? I didn't read that in your statement. What are you eating? Maybe that will help us if we knew a little more.

Hey Everyone!! Just had to check in here with all my friends!!! I'm not sure I even need to weigh in because you all petty much know my weight!! 199!! 199!! 199!! (You can't tell I'm happy,can you?!?!) :biggrin1: Funny - I am so excited for you to have your apron surgery!! Thanks for posting those pics! My guess is that you'll lose 20 lbs when it's all done. Is there a prize for the person who guesses the closest?!?! Can't wait to see AFTER pictures. Good luck!!! I don't have any tips here for those in a funk. It's definatley NO FUN. I've been there too many times. All I have to say is that I've learned a whole heck of a lot of patience along the way. The scale DOES eventually go down. It's good to have a cry & get it all out! It always makes me feel better. chocolate helps too, but then you feel even worse.....dont' go there!!) P'Nut!! You can change me to the -60 club now. Yeah!! Have a great day everyone!!

Thanks Everyone!! You are are so nice to me!!! I was going through some old pictures & found this one in the stash. Thought I'd post a BEFORE picture so you could compare the OLD me to the NEW me. I didn't like pictures much & this was a rare occasion to actually get me to look! Here's me as the boring mom who always sat next to the food so I could keep nibbling. And then there's the NEW me who love pictures & could care less about the food!!

Telly! You crack me up!! I just love you!!!!!!!! You are right, those smiles were for YOU. My husband was gone & I coaxed my 10 yr. old daughter to take the pictures. She did a pretty good job. It was quite funny because with every outfit she'd say - "Wow Mom! You look good!" She's a great kid.