RestlessMonkey

Ultimately, do what your surgeon tells you...follow HIS advice (not nutritionist, but the surgeon) However here's a link to the official lap band web site describing the intent of "the green zone". Maybe that will help you figure it out: Lapband.com - LAP-BAND® System Adjustments - Weight Loss Management That's the "poster" all over my doc's office...the goal we all aim for.

I couldn't eat any Protein after my last fill until I realized I wasn't chewing it well, and my bites were too big. I've heard some use baby spoons...that's too cutesy for me but I do take a bite, then half it with my fork or spoon, and THEN put it in my chubby little mouth, and that helps a lot. If you really can't eat most protein regardless of methodology, though, I'd say ask your surgeon. For me, that's too tight. I went into this expecting to lose 1-2 pounds a week (knew it would take me a couple years to get where I was going) and expected to be able to eat anything. That was what I wanted, so that's what I am aiming for (and that's what I have right now) BUT we're all different; I personally couldn't live on only fish. For one thing, we're land locked and it isn't fresh LOL I guess if you want to restrict food groups, the band will work for that, but to me that's more punitive than helpful or healthy. (like the old diets where you ate only cabbage or drank liquid Protein etc)

Welcome! And some advice...go ahead and start exercising now...just walking for 30 min a day will do it. I am WAY older than you (54) shorter (5'5") fatter (weigh 369 ish) and I can walk ... so I know you can. I started out not being able to do much...back cramped, short winded, miserable...but it adds up. You can get into shape faster than you think. You don't have to be "athletic" yet...just move. You'll thank yourself! :smile: Good luck!

Oh man....I can so address this, because I was supposed to do the preop diet for three weeks and mine was almost exactly like yours, except I had shakes for breakfast and lunch, and the lean Protein for dinner (with up to 1 cup of low carb veggies...no peas, for example). I "cheated" (I'd done atkins before so I had more chicken, I ate beef, I used butter on my veggies, i had some cheese etc) and lost 15 pounds and did NOT get the band because my liver was too thick! So i did EXACTLY what my doc told me for 2 1/2 more weeks. I didn't expect to lose too much since I'd already lost 15...WRONG I lost 17 pounds in that 2 1/2 weeks and got my band that time. SO....do exactly what your doctor says. Yes it's long, but worth it. If you HAVE to eat something more, call and ask him what if anything you can have. My doc told me I could have 2-3 Protein Shakes a day so sometimes I used that 3rd one as a snack (during the time I did what he said to do). Trust me....coming to in recovery and being told by the nurse "you didn't get the band dear your liver was too big" is something no one should ever have to face. Do what your doc says. Time will pass and you'll be glad you did.

Your husband aside, I guess it just depends. In my surgeon's office is a chart about the "green zone" (what's called the sweet spot on this board) and it's what my surgeon has, from day ONE, told me to aim for...that is the ability to eat ANYTHING but in much smaller portions. You should be able to eat meat as long as you cut it in small bites and chew it well. IF you are doing that...small bites (dime sized or so) chewed to mush (for me that's about 40 chews..yes I've counted, had to do something while I was chewing!) and still can't eat any chicken or beef or pork, then yes you are too tight. The point of the band is portion control, not restricting food groups. Eating like you are, you're not likely to be getting adequate Protein in your diet, and life isn't lived on Protein Bars. If you are following the rules scrupulously and can only eat soft "slider" foods as you describe, I'd suggest you call your surgeon's office on Monday and discuss with him. While some people LIKE the tight restriction you have, it can be dangerous (GERD for example) and isn't really a healthy way to eat long term. Your surgeon can direct you better than I can, or your husband, or anyone here! :smile: And yes as you lose it should loosen a little,. but that can take a while. You don't want to let where you are now go on too long.

Well, to me it's all tied. Being this fat makes me unable to do a lot of things and to me, that's all part of "health". Getting short winded when I walk from the house to our mail box, for example (and no, it's not miles uphill both ways LOL). While I don't (thank God) have Diabetes, arthritis, etc etc YET...I could feel them breathing down my neck. I'm 54, don't want to wear a bikini and not really that interested in looking "hot". But I want to be able to wander around Walt Disney world all day, or fly without wondering if I'll buckle the belt, or be able to fit in a booth in a restaurant. All those things are 'health" to me because they are restricted by my obesity. So wanting to be "normal" is health related, to me. When I was younger, however, had this surgery been out, you bet I'd have done it in an INSTANT just be be more slim and adorable! I don't think we have to have "lofty" motivations to get this done and be successful.

Before good restriction....NO. After good restriction...YES If it is a food that is problematic. Took a while to knock that into my thick skull (it's my heritage! LOL) but I've found that, oddly, now that I FINALLY have restriction 7 months post op, it HURTS to eat some foods (like roast, or steak, or chicken) unless I take small bites and chew to mush. Instead of finding the small bite thing punitive and miserable, though, I don't mind it because it means I can EAT that good roast or sizzling steak that I want. Of course, I don't eat much of it, but I'm happy. I've found it doesn't take a side of beef to satisfy me any more. So don't sweat it. Until you have restriction it won't really matter and once you have restriction it will help, so it won't be so hard to do.

Dizziness can be a sign of many things...some benign, some not. Call your doctor, especially since you've been dizzy this long. Don't waste your time posting here...it's your health in question!

You can do it! Just stay at the doc's office a little longer...take a book to read, a bottle of water, hang out in the waiting room and see how you feel. That way if you are too tight you'll be right where you need to be, to get it taken care of. :smile:

Lynmcg, once your diet is advanced, just carefully try everything. I've got pretty good restriction and don't have any food that's off limits as long as I chew it well and take small bites (and that includes chicken and white bread) So don't assume you can't eat something unless you try it yourself first! Just follow your doc's orders on food progression, follow the directions on chewing well, and you'll do fine. Until you have restriction you probably won't have any issues anyway (most people don't). Until your band is tightened enough you won't really know it's there. Good luck!

The problem with weight loss is you have to sustain it. So unless you want to take the "pill" forever, then don't. Further you lose well with the band and honestly if you wanted to lose faster, you could do bypass. It may not be "as" safe as the band, but then neither are many of the pills out there. Just my thoughts....

You need to make sure the policy you are purchasing covers lap band. Not all do. And yes, insurance is horridly expensive. People fuss about their coverage and don't really know, I don't think, how much it costs employers. It's insane. A good broker will be able to tell you what's covered and what isn't, or do more for you than "give you the books"...I know because I was responsible for insurance for my company for 20 years. They can do more for you than just a cost comparison.

I agree you should ask your surgeon.

You'll need to check with your surgeon. You will have lifting restriction for at least 2 weeks, maybe longer. THe limit ranges from 10-15 pounds. I know the kiddos need to be picked up etc but it's really important that you not strain while you're healing. Your surgeon can give you some coping tips, too.

Here's a link to an article...it can last up to 5 weeks and is caused by trauma to the diaphragm...not gas (which abates in a few days)....which is moot anyway because whatever the reason, it hurts! :smile: SpringerLink - Journal Article

I took it slow and my hair fell out...but that doesn't mean taking it slow is a bad thing. You can certainly ask your surgeon, and some are aggressive, but from what I've read (not a doc) aggressive fills are more likely to cause trouble down the road. It has taken me 5 fills and a LONG time to finally get restriction, but my doc said he feels it's the best way to do things and that he's setting me up for long term success. That doesn't mean I don't wish it had happened earlier, but he IS the one with the experience, not me. However, you should ask your surgeon what his policy is and express your concerns to him. My doc had no problem discussing with me why he believes in going slowly etc...

The broker is making money by selling you the policy. Get him to give you a comparison, including which cover WLS. If he won't, find another broker.

It can go away within a few days or linger for weeks, unfortunately. It's "referred" pain from your diaphragm and there isn't too much you can do about it. Personally I had my husband rub my neck and it relieved the cramped muscles. Some people use heating pads but they didn't work for me. Mine just hurt when I exercised and breathed deeply so fortunately it was transitory. Hang in there....hopefully yours will pass quickly!

Good luck! :ohmy:

Honestly I'd think it would have to be a good bit of weight loss, unless you did something to make you lose it just around your stomach. Losing CAN cause the band to loosen, but as I understand it, it takes a few months (or more) not just 2 weeks. You're safest, though, to ask your surgeon. :ohmy:

Sorry you're frustrated but you're safer and smarter to find another doc rather than self medicate. You'll run out of drugs taking extra anyway (or you should...) I know it's frustrating but you don't want to mess with the endocrine system. If a PA is reluctant to change it that should tell you something.

If you'd like, send me a PM and I can talk with you about anesthesia and how it feels. I'm a nursing student (graduate in May YAY!) and a person who's been through 3 surgeries, so I can maybe help alleviate some of your fears.

It was easy. I've had dental appts. that were worse. I had little pain, I recovered fast. The preop tests were nothing, either. (I had upper GI, ecg, blood drawn, chest x-ray, and an abdominal ultrasound, plus the psych consult. Easy breezy all) It's your call...a life of health for a little discomfort...to me it was a no-brainer.

i don't know, but I do know our nutritionist said if we eat pasta (and rice) to make sure it's very well done so it won't swell once we eat it and make us fuller than we intend. It makes sense since pasta keeps absorbing liquid even after we cook it....

I am another one who dieted about a million times...very successfully...then quit eating rubber cheese or only baked chicken and POW gained it all back plus another 20 pounds or so. Each time. Diets do NOT work for me. The band works because I eat "normally" but less and lose weight. As I lose weight I am more active and do more and exercise and eat less and lose more weight. It's a great cycle. While there are successful bandsters who weigh and count and chart and journal, that is not me. And that's the beauty of the band; you make it work for you. I lost 2.8 pounds the last week and i had some birthday cake (love that icing!) I had pizza (couldn't finish even 1 piece but I had it and enjoyed it and it was plenty) and even bean and cheese nachos. Also had a rib eye steak and a baked potatoe one night. OF course I only ate about 3 oz of steak and 1/2 of the potato, but I was happy, it was delicious. See? You have to be ready emotionally, though. If you aren't there, don't force yourself!