Apples2

JJ...hopefully it well be the last time they have to go in and drain. In the long run it will all be worth it. It's a loooong process from what I hear. Any surgery takes a lot out of a person for awhile. What you have done is MAJOR and takes a lot of patience. Here's to fast healing!!!!!!!

I miss running. I admire those that can. Was on the track team in college but started to develop blood clots with my first pregnancy and they continued for years. Do walk 4-5 miles a day though. I have incorporated two Snacks into my daily food plan even though it is against my doc's rules. I like where I am at with my weight, don't want to go any lower. Jachut...thanks for your input. I need to lighten up a bit on being so stidgent (sp?) with following my doc's food plan to get more cals in.

I find it in the same section as regular yogurt. I'm hooked on it and always make sure I have enough in the house. I live 65 miles from Walmart so have to stock up for at least two weeks at a time. I believe it has a longer shelf life than the regular yogurt. The brand name is Oikos. Takes just a little getting used to...kind of tangy but find a syrup you like with the soynuts (if you choose to). I love, love, love it with banana, English Toffee or Caramel syrups.

Denise...I get mine at Walmart. They don't seem to stock much of it but I get enough for two weeks at a time. I like the plain. They also have vanilla but I find there's not much taste to it and higher in cals. It is so nice and thick and yet easy to get down in the morning. Seems to hold me till noon. Like I said, I put SF syrup and soynuts in it and sometimes Kashi Cereal. There's 90 cals in the plain, 15g protien (more when I add the nuts) and 6g carbs. I see from other posts that you are struggling with acid reflux at night and not much restriction during the day. The night time reflux thing is worrisome. That would be so aggravating! Hope you find out what it going on with your band soon so you can feel at ease again.

Thanks for the input, Denise. I am a big fan of Greek yogurt. I put soynuts and SF syrup in it. I can tolerate fruit and will see if I can get at least 2 servings of that a day.

Thanks for your input, Restless. I, of course, had a fatty liver b/4 surgery and thought the numbers would go back to normal now that I am at goal. No such luck. I'll try not to worry about it until I get rechecked.

Got retested today and got a call from the clinic with results. The nurse said my numbers were in the "somewhat normal" range. A +1 instead of a +4. Good to go. Get liver rechecked in Dec. Does anyone know if a ALT of 89 and AST of 78 is extreme? Would appreciate an answer on this. Thanks

Thanks for your response, Aubrie. I have not had a gallbladder for 15 yrs. My urine is clear and I get a lot of liquids. I don't feel any symptoms at all. I went in today for another test and should get the results in a couple of days. Hoping it is all clear. Keeping my fingers crossed that the first test was off because of my diet.

My shopping cart does not automatically steer itself straight for the Plus size section of a department store anymore. I still get the feeling that I should not be in the "normal" size section. Weird, huh?

I am 5'7" and weighed 242#. Wore a 3X top and 18-20 slacks. I am now 135# and wear a medium top and size 6 jeans. Took me awhile to move down a size when I first started losing. I think it was around 30# when I finally moved to a 2X top.

Thanks to both of you for taking the time to answer. It will put my mind at ease until I retake the test. I figured the ketosis was due to the high protein/little carbs diet. I am not diabetic and don't worry about that. As far as the bilirubin, I was surprised. My liver tests were also slightly elevated at the time with an ALT of 89 and AST of 78. Could that have something to do with it?

Had a urine test b/4 a hernia surgery a few weeks ago. Got a call from my doc today stating that the test was abnormal with ketones and some bilirubin in the urine. Is there anyone out there that can explain to me how this happens? I plan on going in the next couple of days for a retest. Could it be the fact that I am eating mostly protein (and fruit and veggies) and that's why? I am worried and would appreciate some insight on this. Thanks

I'm close to 53yrs old so I went with a charcoal liner and a thin line. Most give you a free touch up if you are not satisfied with the outcome. I did my touch up but did not go darker, just a touch thicker on the top. After I posted I was hoping you didn't think that I felt you NEEDED it. Just suggested as a convenience.

I lost 54# b/4 surgery. Had BCBS. They took my weight of initial visit with surgeon.

Hit goal a few weeks ago. Really struggling with switching up my diet to maintenance. My doc says 1/2 cup 3x daily...no Snacks. That just isn't going to work with me. I stuck to that plan during weight loss but I just feel like I won't get enough calories in to maintain. I guess the way I feel about the only 3xdaily plan is: it's my body and if I can maintain my weight and still have snacks besides my meals, I will introduce at least one if not two snacks throughout the day (snacks staying within the 1/2 cup amount). Just wanted to start a thread to ask persons that are now maintaining their weight to give me a view of what your daily nutrition plan is. Thanks in advance for the the time taken to help.

JJ. Just saw your b/4 and after. Amazing. You are so pretty. I LOVE your cheeks. Just a thought for you...permanent makeup is an option if you would just as soon not put it on every day. I had my upper and lower eyeliner done and also had eyelash extensions for under $500. I do wear foundation once in awhile. I have a job where I sometimes need to jump out of bed and be a certain place in a very short period of time. Love just throwing on some clothes, running a brush through my hair and heading out!

Forgot to add. I think people react differently when it comes to surgery. 15 yrs ago, at the age of 38, I had gallbladder surgery and because of complications I ended up in the hospital for over a month. My hair turned completely white during that time period. I went right from the hospital to the beauty salon for a good dye job.

No hair loss for me. Have been banded for 4 months and started the weight loss process last Nov. I do make sure I get the required protien each day and take Biotin and vitamin E each day. Not sure if it helps or not but take it just in case.

It's not like you said "You can park those boots under my bed any time!". It's pretty sad that we have to be so overly careful in the work place. But, the way I feel about it is that it is better to make no comments than have harassment run rampant as it did not too many years ago.:biggrin:

Katie...good for you for being proactive and doing what you need to do for yourself. At least you recognize what is going on and are able to name it. Take care, sweet girl, and all the best.

I have never posted b/4 and after. Not sure if that's my bag. Maybe someday but thanks for asking.

Thanks Linkoop...yeh, I pretty much stuck to my doc's plan. 1/2cup 3x daily. I did treat myself once in awhile though. As far as the skin...I lucked out on that one. When I started this process I thought for sure I would need a TT because I carried soooooooooooo much weight through my middle. I think that watching that I got the required Protein helped not to lose muscle mass and also carried me through this process with excess energy. My tummy is flat and I don't have the dreaded excess back flab. My arms don't keep waving when I have stopped. A lot of this depends on genetics, I believe. Wishing you luck with is process. As I stated above, the best resource to keep a person motivated and educated is this board.

Hi Cappy...want to wish you happiness and a successful lapband journey. If you read a second post by me above, I lost over 50# b/4 being banded. Had to do the 6 mo. medically supervised diet and decided to just start with the weight loss at that time. As far as obstacles go...making the decision to do the LB is one big obstacle in itself. It's a huge decision. When a person comes to the realization that once that LB is in your body, your way of eating and your life changes forever. It is all such a positive change though. About the only advice that I can give is to follow ALL of your doc's orders when it comes to eating, follow-ups, etc. Do not sabotage your good intentions by eating "slider foods", not exercising. It's all up to you to make things work. One of the best resources for support that I found was this board. I was very lucky to not run into any obstacles physically. I guess the one thing I would have done different is to have gotten another fill about a month ago to have a little more restriction. (I have a fear of being too full. This comes from many years of dealing with acid reflux. I had a haital hernia repair at time of surgery and have not had acid reflux since). If I would have gotten that fill, I would have been a little more satisfied with my 1/2 cup 3x daily. I am getting that fill soon. I do exercise on a daily basis whether it be a 4-5 mile walk daily or just working out with a dvd. I did not join a gym (mostly because we are 15 miles from any town). To answer your question about how this journey was for me...it's work but there are so many positives along the way, i.e.: the increased energy, the way a person feel about their accomplishments...this all outweighs the work that needs to be done. The only other things I have to add is that I KNOW that this is the best thing I have ever done for myself. I will be 53 in about a month and I feel better than I did at 19 yrs of age.

Hey...made goal this morning. 106# gone. I feel so good, have so much energy and the cloud of obesity has blown away. I love my band.:regular_smile:

I'm going to jump in here with my own personal experience and how my surgeon guides his patients through the weight loss process. Doc says to shoot for 62g /daily with occasional carb treats. Throughout my weight loss process, I made sure that MOST days I ingested the required amount of protein and allowed the treats at least once a week or on special occasions. Did not want to deal with deprivation as I did with every other diet I had tried in the past. On those days that I did not meet the required intake, I did not try to make up for it in the following days. Just saw it as normal. I was 135# throughout my 20's and 30's. I had more flab then than I do now at 137# and at the age of almost forty f'...n fifty three. I do believe in the theory that ingesting protein and few carbs during the weight loss process does help with the loss of muscle mass. Also, I believe that getting enough protein does help with having added energy thus making it easier to get through the weight loss process. Does that help SNT?:laugh: