CarlaG

I use the GNC Whey Isolate 28 powder. It has 28 grams of protein per scoop (1 scoop per 8 oz. of milk) and is low carb. It is usually on sale for $29.99 and the container makes 24 drinks. I've used the vanilla and the chocolate and thought vanilla was great until I tried the chocolate. After trying the chocolate, I realized the vanilla was very sweet. I too use the gold card but also keep an eye on Rite Aid because sometimes the sale price is better there and they also let you use the gold card. :cursing:

That is so funny! I'm sure now that was your mom because that is the day I went also. And now that I see your new picture, I'm sure that was you too at the store. It is just weird how I keep running into your mom and now you. I wonder what that is about?! Another strange connection is your band date. That is my daughter's birthday...not same year, but December 6th.

Yes that was sad about Ivy. I'm doing fairly well. I was stuck for a while, but seem to be on the move again. I'm down 61 lbs. I was in Farm Fresh about a week or so ago and I thought it might have been you in the store. I was on my way to work so I couldn't stop to ask. Its funny too because I think last time I went for a fill your mom was there again. That is just so strange. Hope you had a good time on your vacation.

Just wanted to tell everyone Happy Thanksgiving! Remember today is a special day that unfortunately involves eating. I'm going to try to stick to plan, but if I don't, it is not the end of the world. I will start all over tomorrow. I am not going to beat myself up about one day. I have lost almost 60 lbs. since my surgery and I couldn't have done that without my band. That is definitely one thing I am thankful for this year!!!

Congratulations! I am almost there myself and can't wait. I started at BMI of 50 and am at 40.2. It really is an awesome feeling!!:w00t:

Today is 7 months and 3 days since my banding. It has taken that amount of time for me to lose almost 55 lbs. I know, compared to some, I am losing slow and sometimes that does get me down but I have to keep in my mind that I didn't gain this weight overnight and I am not going to lose it overnight. But today my daughter and I went shopping. She and I tried on the same shirt and I could almost wear the XL in misses. She thought it looked fine, but I wasn't quite comfortable enough yet to go there. She bought the L and said when I am ready, she will loan me her shirt. I am so chomping at the bit to be out of women's sizes. I cannot wait to be there! Anyhow, my whole point I wanted to get to is that when I started this process my BMI was 50 :eek:. It is now almost into the 30's (40.2) :wink2:! I am so happy that I am getting healthier!!! I am so grateful that I made the choice to do this band for ME! :laugh::smile2::laugh:

Fanny, I cannot wait until I hit Onederland. I was hoping to hit it by January 1st but I'm not sure I'll make it but I am not going to let it get me down. Like someone else said...using slower hopefully will help with my skin snapping back. So far I don't see any loose sagging so I'm going to take that as a good sign. Its funny that the nurse at the hospital when I had my surgery said I had "good Italian skin" which usually snaps right back. I sure hope she is right :smile2: Another positive of my loss so far is I worked around my house all day today cleaning windows, curtains, rehanging curtains, etc and it is now 8 pm and I just finally sat down. 7 months ago I would not have been able to go that long. Thanks everybody for your words of encouragement!

Here are my 2 cents....I struggled for 2 months with my last fill. I kept going back and forth between was I too full or not, should I get a slight unfill or not. Some days I could eat fine and then others I couldn't get egg drop Soup or my Protein Drink down with PBing. Over the last month I couldn't eat 3-4 days a week and only lost 6 lbs. in 6 weeks. I went to my surgeon and he asked if I was in need of a fill because of my slow weight loss. I told him I thought I needed an unfill and explained my situation. He proceeded to take out .5cc and you talk about relief. I wish I had not struggled for those 2 months. I now realize how miserable I was whenever it was time to eat! Don't wait too long if you think you're too full. I wish I hadn't. I've gotten too run down and now have to build myself back up. :bolt:

I have been struggling with my last fill since July and I am so depressed about the whole thing right now. I went to see my surgeon in August thinking I was possibly too tight. He thought I was fine and my weight loss was progressing. Well since last month, I have only lost 7 lbs. I can hardly get any food in. I would say 3 to 4 days a week I cannot eat solid Protein. I either have to stick to Protein Shakes or eat "slider" foods to get in some calories. Sometimes I PB so bad that I don't try to eat or drink anything after that but then on the other days I can eat "normal". Actually, it really still isn't normal because I cannot get in any veggies and/or fruits. If I get in my protein and a small amount of carbs I'm lucky. I know I should be trying the veggies/fruit first before carbs, but the veggies seems to get stuck more. I never feel hungry, but I also don't feel like I feel full when I should. I'm to the point where I am not feeling well. My labs show that I'm now anemic and I'm feeling dizzy and just overall not well. I am disappointed in the whole process right now. I picked the lapband because I didn't want to get nutritionally compromised, but that is exactly what is happening. I'm afraid to get a slight unfill because then I might be able to eat more than I should. Has anyone else had this happen? How did you handle it? I feel like I'm out of control. I can't keep my eating habits consistent because of the finikieness of this band and I don't like that. Any suggestions? :redface:

Just an update....I went to my surgeon today and he removed .5 cc from my band. He said I should feel immediate relief and to go out and have lunch I did just that and was a little nervous with the first bite, but was able to eat just fine. I also had dinner tonight with no problems. What a relief!!!! I hope it stays that way because I feel so much better. I was feeling very blah and dizzy and now feel great that I could actually get in some hard Protein and decent calories. Oh happy day!!!! :confused::biggrin::smile:

I am seeing my surgeon on Wednesday and I am going to ask for an unfill since I am having a little heartburn to sometimes when I eat. To top it all off, I've also injured my leg exercising so now that's at a standstill too! Could this get any worse!

No protein in the ice. It is just normal ice...water only. It helps to keep fluids in. Dehydration was a concern for me because I couldn't get hardly anything in. The Sonic ice is just convenient due to its size. It is just shaped like little balls and it is easy to suck on or chew. It was easy just to have a cup of it with me at all times.

I had a horrible time getting my protein in to begin with. I tried but the protein drinks made my stomach hurt pretty bad. One thing that saved me was Sonic ice (thanks Pat!). You can go to Sonic and they will sell bags of their ice. It is just the right size to suck/chew on. I couldn't do the protein drinks until about 2-3 weeks after surgery and I was so sick of sweet stuff. I cheated a little about 3 days out and got some boneless dark meat, yolkless egg noodles, bullion and boiled it and then put it thru my Magic Bullit and ate that. I couldn't stand sweet. This was a little salty and very thin but satisfying. When I went to see Dr. T after the first week he said it was ok that I couldn't get the protein in. He told me to wait another week and try. After that I was fine. Also have you tried the Special K powders you can add to water? I think they are 5g of protein.

Sue, I too see Dr. T. I went in July for a fill and saw him in August and was doing pretty well. Since then I have only lost about 4 lbs. I know he is going to say something about it, but I really feel like if I get another fill I won't be able to eat at all. He too told me about probably not needing a fill for a while so I'm very confused. I also thought about getting an unfill right after my fill (also my 3rd) and I'm wondering if that is what I need because I think I'm not getting enough calories in. I went for blood work since I am 6 months out and I am now anemic and my vitamin D levels are low so I'm not really sure what he will say about that. I guess I need to decide if I should try a slight unfill for a while or if I need another fill. I do get stuck sometimes and have no hunger at all so I don't really think a fill in the answer

I take them whole. I drink a Protein shake every day and have been since 2 weeks after my surgery. I use the GNC whey Isolate 28 chocolate. I started out with vanilla but like the chocolate a whole lot better. They are not my favorite but I definitely wouldn't get enough protein in without them. As it is I found out today that I am anemic and my Vitamin D levels are low. They did blood work due to being 6 months out so I'm going to have to figure out how to fix those problems. Anyhow, I started noticing hair problems at about 4 months and I'm now seeing new growth, so it shouldn't take to long to fix your problem. Good luck!

Weightisover, I know how you feel. A couple of weeks ago my husband and I went out to dinner with some friends who just moved back to town. They didn't know about my surgery. With my first bite I knew I was stuck. I made my way to the restroom and there was someone in the one stall. We were at a nice restaurant so I suffered until she left so I wouldn't ruin her dinner. About 15 minutes later, I had to go again (still stuck). This time both stalls were occupied. I had to go out behind the restaurant. Thought I was done, but no such luck! For the third time I made my way to the restroom and the only thing that ever came up (besides slime) was a tiny piece of meat about the size of a pencil eraser. Needless to say I didn't eat my dinner and threw away what I brought home. I think that was my first and last visit to a Thai restaurant.:cursing: I find that I get stuck when I haven't eaten in a while (over 4 hours). I've tried to notice if I'm eating too fast but sometimes it doesn't appear to be that. If I don't eat regularly, my stomach cramps up when I finally do eat and that starts the whole PBing process. I have to be very careful to eat at the proper intervals. Anyhow, the whole thing was just very embarrassing. We told our friends what the issue was so now my husband's ex (who is also this person's friend) I'm sure knows about my surgery. It wasn't what I wanted but oh well...life goes on :thumbdown:

Julia, Do you know if you have a hiatal hernia? I too have asthma and always had a cough. When I got my band the doctor also repaired my hiatal hernia (which I didn't know I had). I no longer have a cough. I believe a lot of my coughing was due to the hernia. I also believe that had a lot to do with my sleep apnea because I haven't used my CPAP since right after surgery and my husband no longer hears me snoring. Some would say that is due to weight loss but I stopped using the CPAP literally 2 days after surgery which was before any loss.

I don't know if they make liquid biotin but the pills aren't very big. The ones I take are about the size of a Bufferin. You can look at GNC.com. I know I got Omega 3 chews since they are so big so they may have biotin liquid or chews too. I actually got my biotin from Walmart. I'm taking 2000 mcg a day and wash and condition my hair every other day with the Jason's biotin shampoo and condition from GNC. The hair loss has slowed way down and I'm starting to see new little hairs. Good luck! :thumbdown:

I had my 3rd fill in July but over the last month I have only lost 3 lbs but most of the time I feel like I have restriction. I do notice that I can eat more than when I originally had the fill but I am not feeling any hunger. I also have a tendency to get stuck every few days (don't always PB but sometimes I do). Should I go for another fill? Have any of you experienced this and waited it out? I already feel like I don't eat hardly anything and I'm worried that if I get another fill I will have alot more problem getting stuck. I'm feeling a little depressed right now because I just spoke to the doctor at my visit in August and told him I was shooting for being 199 by January 1. It sure isn't going to happen if it takes a month to lose 3 lbs:frown: