smwww

SMWWW, I really struggle with how much I should eat. The Dr. said 1 cup of food, but sometimes I can eat a lot more and sometimes I can only eat a few bites. I haven't lost a lot of weight, but I exersice like crazy. I think I am eating too much or not enough?? I use the realize site to track every morsel of food that I put into my mouth. I usually eat between 1000 to 1700 per day.

Woodsy, sound like you are doing the right things. You have lost 34lbs!!!!! That is great!!!! R U having any problems? Be more specific. I would be glad to give you any insight I can.

For instance: The amount of food really depends on the food. It varies for me each day, no day is the same. Even if I eat the same food. I may eat a few spoon fulls/a cup/ or a plate. It really depend on the texture of the food. The key for me is to STOP eating as SOON as I feel a certain feeling in my throat. I have reach my limit then. My calorie intact MAY be 1000-1200 per day. Never more than that really. I try to judge how much calories I take in per day.

I am feeling like it might help me to take some B12 for some extra energy boost in addition to the daily multi-Vitamin and a daily Calcium chew I take. Was wondering if lapband patients are okay to take regular B12 pills and our body will absorb them fine. Versus - I think RNY patients have to take a sublingual B12 , which I think means one they can dissolve under their tongue so the body absorbs it better. If anyone can shed any light on this topic and how many mcg's you take, I would appreciate it. Also any special brand you like? I saw in the store the sublingual B12 were more expensive than the regular ones. Thanks.

The sublingual B12 is a required supplement from my surgeon along with my Multi-Vitamin, calcium, Biotin. Even though, I was told not to take the mult-vitamin and calcium together because the body will not absorb both together well. So I take one in the morning and one at night.

However, he suggest I only take the B12 one to two times a week. This has been a GREAT help for my energy level. I can surely see the difference when I run out of it for a couple of week.

By the way, I used no special brand. I did find a cheaper brand at Walmart (cherry flavor). Shop around.

Banded 12/17/07

Surgery 244.5

Current 184

Goal 165

UPDATE...well, it seems to be getting worse instead of better. It's a real effort to get the Protein in. I've thrown up two out of three dinners recently. The first one, not too bad, but last-night...all. I'm worried about not being able to eat normally (even with excessive chewing). I did have a Protein shake last night and did fine. I have another fill appointment on September 2nd and I am pretty sure I'm going to cancel that. But, on the positive side...I really don't feel hungry and I'm getting great compliments on my weight loss!!

QUESTION: I always use light soy milk (vanilla flavored) to make (mix with) my protein shakes (from the powder)...does anyone use just Water and are they (still) good?

I agree with the fact that you may cancel this coming fill. Don't base your fills on anyone else but what you feel comfortable with. I have only had two fills since my surgery in December. I have lost 60lbs, not as much as other people may have in the same period of time. But I look and feel great. I don't thrown up as often. Probably once a week and that is when I have tried to eat something new and have not judged the right amount or chewed it completely.

I have refused fills even though my insurance is paying for it until December of this year. I really don't want to be no tighter than I am. This is comfortable for me and I am losing weight in the process. I want to lose slowly and give my body time to adjust and give myself time to save money to buy clothes as I lose.

Bottom line, do what is best for YOU and what feel comfortable for YOU. Throwing up as often as it sound you are doing, it not good and I am sure it doesn't feel good either. You may need a slight adjustment. It will not hurt.

Good luck

Banded 12/17/07

244.5S/184C/165G

I am slowly but surely losing. 3lbs down is better than nothing.:frown:

Name_________Start Weight ____Goal____ Lbs lost____Current Weight

*****:smile:********** :wink2:****************:tt2:**********:smile:*****

aJoneen............230.........220.......5..........

Bea1128............220.........199.......5..........

Babs0101...........185.........170.......0..........

blesdbyonmzur......159.........148.......4..........

BTTRFLI1432........221.........210.......6..........

Bunkey1965.........212.........195.......14.........198

Chocolate_Snaps....254.........240.......6..........

Darr5380...........167.........155.......3..........

Epm316.............209.........199.......5..........

erikadawn..........199.........175.......0..........

FloridaGirl........235.........215.......0..........

HeatherO...........172.........155.......13.........159

Heft_Bandit........261.........245.......6..........255

JennyPoo...........169.........159.......5..........

KarenG.............160.........158.......6..........

KathyStrick........305.........290.......0..........

Lapbandfan.........258.........230.......2..........

Leslie2Lose........224.........209.......5..........219

LessNLess..........144.5.......140.......0..........

LilMissBand-Aid....234.4.......225.......6.2........

Lunabeane..........212.........200.......9..........

Luu2008............219.........189.......14.........

Luv2Laugh..........232.........212.......0..........

luvinke............206.........190.......0..........

mamato3............199.........184.......6..........

mcgreen............189.........175.......0..........

mdgarcia31665......225.........200.......0..........

melboyd............266.........256.......5.8........260.2

Missrach...........269.........175.......25.........244

MollyMolly.........192.........182.......2..........

mominlv13..........316.........300.......10.8.......305.2

MSnika3............228.........204.......4..........

MyTurn.............250.........240.......0..........

NANAbanded.........225.........199.......7..........

Ninja..............204.........189.......5..........

NukeChik...........221.........199.......6..........

Ollie..............242.........210.......0..........

Redtulips..........188.........180.......6..........

Renewedhope........174.........155.......5..........

ronni_NC...........243.........220.......0..........

slgandera..........185.........173.......7..........

StartingOver.......220.........205.......15.........

Sunshine2..........187.........170.......8..........179

want_so_bad........170.........155.......0..........

Sades.......(7/16).192.5.......180.......8.6........

Sadie..............220.........199.......6..........

smwww..............189.........179.......3..........186

tp78...............212.........195.......7..........

I am staying on plan today because I am so close to seeing the 170sssss I am excited!!!!! I don't remember ever being 170 nothing. Unless I was younger than 16 at the time.

Banded 12/17/07

244.5S/186C/165G

It is normal to feel tighter in the morning, I can never eat anything except Protein shakes in the am. Swelling occurs at night and this is very normal. I have found that when I feel like I can't eat anymore, if I get up and walk around, that feeling goes away and I can take a few more bites. My brain just can't deal with only eating 3 bites of my dinner and being done, beside, I don't feel that is healthy either. Walking helps alot.

Woodsy, Just be careful that you don't still in up eating the same amount of food that you did pre-surgery. That is a mistake some have made and this will defeat the purpose. But as long as you got it under control you should be fine.:thumbup:

Banded 12/17/07

244.5S/185C/165G

Birmingham, AL

remember that first thing in the morning, you will be tight. cause your stomach swells in the middle of the night so your band will be tighter. it is okay to skip Breakfast because of this.

I am so glad you posted this. I wondered why I was so tight in the mornings. :sad: That is why I started really just drinking a Protein shake or eating yogurt in the morning because anything else would be a problem. I never could understand why it was even hard for me to drink or eat the shake or yogurt. :confused2: Thanks for the insight.:thumbup:

I am staying on plan today because I am really starting to love me more because I am not ashame, uncomfortable or unhappy with my weight anymore.

Sound like you have the restriction you are suppose to have. You are only suppose to be able to eat maybe 3-5 bites. Sound like you are forcing yourself to eat more. When it backs up you are suppose to stop. It will take about 1-2 for that to go through. So you should be satisfied (not full as we grew accustom to) for about 2hrs.

I had to learn this. when I did, I did much better. I learned to work with my band and not against it.

Banded 12/17/07

244.5S/189C/165G

Mommymj1,

You are going to have days like that. Days you totally get off track. The main point is not to have tooooooooo many days like that. I have had those days myself (my weakness chips and chocolate). But I have to say that the band has limited my craving so much. When I do eat these, I am only able to eat very, very little.

Not enough to make a difference, (I have great restriction after only 2 fills) it slows down my weight loss very little. With in a few days after that I lose quite a bit.

The point is when you see yourself getting off track, the next day get right back on track with a vengence!!!!!

So you made a mistake...............we all do. Pick up your feet, dust them off, and keep pushing forward.

I have been told to Vitamin Water was not good for me to drink. I try to stick to my rule of eating my calories and not drinking them. Try some of the Walmart brand sugar free drink mixes that you use to mix with bottle water. They have no calories. Also my doctor recommended the Diet Green Tea as a reward drink to myself ever so often. If it has any calories it is very little, with no carbs.

I wish I could wear a swimsuit. I probably could but it has been so long since I wore one I can't forsee it.

My port I can feel but I cann't see. If yours is very obvious, I see how you may feel. But at least you felt good enough to put on a swimsuit. I hope to at least get there.

Banded 12/17/07

244.5S/189C/165G

Birmingham, AL

Karen that is great. Because you took it off slowly, it will make it much easier to keep off. (I think anyway) I have spoken and seen others who have taken that off in 2months with the by-pass surgery and now when you see them they look as if they never had surgery in the first place.

You will reach your goal soon. Now next goal is to keep up the good work that you have accomplished.

It may be according to what position you are in and where your port is located.

I asked my husband could he feel it when I was (let's say for lack of better words) on top. I could feel it rubbing against him but he could not feel it. Maybe because mine is somewhat in between my ribs so it all felt the same to him.

Name_________Start Weight _____Goal_____lbs lost

*************** :thumbup:**********:thumbup:******:tt2:*****

aJoneen............230.........220.......5.......

Bea1128............220.........199.......5.......

Babs0101...........185.........170.......0.......

blesdbyonmzur......159.........148.......4.......

BTTRFLI1432........221.........210.......6.......

Bunkey1965.........203.........195.......9.......

Chocolate_Snaps....254.........240.......6.......

Darr5380...........167.........155.......3.......

Epm316.............209.........199.......3.......

erikadawn..........199.........175.......0.......

FloridaGirl........235.........215.......0.......

HeatherO...........172(161)....155.......11......

Heft_Bandit........261.........245.......3.3.....

JennyPoo...........169.........159.......5.......

KarenG.............160.........158.......6.......

KathyStrick........305.........290.......0.......

Lapbandfan.........258.........230.......2.......

Leslie2Lose........219.........209.......5.......

LessNLess..........144.5.......140.......0.......

LilMissBand-Aid....234.4.......225.......3.2.....

Lunabeane..........212.........200.......9.......

Luu2008............219.........189.......14......

Luv2Laugh..........232.........212.......0.......

luvinke............206.........190.......0.......

mamato3............199.........184.......6.......

mcgreen............189.........175.......0.......

mdgarcia31665......225.........200.......0.......

melboyd............266.........256.......0.......

MollyMolly.........192.........182.......2.......

mominlv13..........305.8.......300.......10.2....

MSnika3............228.........204.......4.......

NANAbanded.........225.........199.......7.......

Ninja..............204.........189.......5.......

NukeChik...........221.........199.......6.......

Ollie..............242.........210.......0.......

Redtulips..........188.........180.......6.......

Renewedhope........174.........155.......5.......

ronni_NC...........243.........220.......0.......

slgandera..........185.........173.......7.......

StartingOver.......220.........205.......15......

Sunshine2..........187.........170.......2.3.....

want_so_bad........170.........155.......0.......

Sades.......(7/16).192.5.......180.......8.6.....

Sadie..............216.........199.......5.......

smwww..............189.........179.......0......

tp78...............212.........195.......7.......

I guess I am up for the challenge!!!!!!!!!!!

smwww....................189..............179............0...........

I am losing slowly now because I have been cheating alittle. But in 4wks I should be able to lose 8-10lbs. (fingers crossed!!!)

I am staying on plan today because I enjoy the way I feel and look. Thank God for the surgery!!!!

Banded-December 17, 2007

Birmingham, AL

257H/244.5S/189C/165G

I would say drink plenty of Water, excercise and also do your Dr. have you on Biotin. This is a Vitamin for hair, nails and skin. Not only have I notice a difference in my skin but my husband noticed if first. How firm it is and soft and full of moisture it is.

Try different advice to see what will work for you. Something will do the trick and you will feel better about your hands and skin. Enjoy and work with the change of a new you!!!!

I haven't had this problem. But I wanted to know if you have any ideal on how the band broken. Is it just from normal wear and tear of the band?? Will insurance cover the replacement?

By the way, I think you will do just as good on this band as you did with the old one. By the looks of your scale you have done great in one year. I look forward to reaching the goal you have already reached myself.

Banded 12/17/07

Highest/Surgery/Current/Goal

257/244.5/ 189/165

I would suggest you checking with your insurance company. I have federal BCBS it paid for everything (surgery) except for the things you mentioned. I had to pay for psych, consultation, etc. I just totalled around $500 out of pocket. It was worth it.

Surgery Dec 2007

244.5s/195c/165g

I am staying on track today because if 199 made me happy, I can just imagine what 189 would do!!!!

I am staying on track today because the scales finally read 199!!!!!

Banded Dec17, 2007

244.5s/199c/165g

I agree with what has been said. You need to get a second opinion. The band to my knowledge and experience doesn't effect my breathing unless I have overeaten. So I have learned to pay attention to how much I eat. That has helped.

Don't give up, you did this for a reason. Take what everyone has said and see if anything make a difference. The final decision is your of course.

Banded 12/17/07

244.5s/199.5c/165g

Birmingham, AL

I think we all may have gone through this same thing. I know I did, even though I know my husband love me tremendously. The bottom line my husband never suffered from obesity, he was scared of the unknown and fearful that something would go wrong. But he supported my decision despite his remarks of fear for me.

Well 5mths later I have lost 45lbs and looking and feeling better than ever. He is very proud of me and I think he enjoy what he is seeing. I think he think that I could have done this on my own but he is not going to say it because I think he never imagined me looking like I look today after having surgery.

You are doing this for you RIGHT???? If so, believe the rest will be very proud of you and probably a little jealous.

I am staying on track today because I (and others) are finally seeing the shape that I always knew was under all that fat. Looking good...........