2muchfun

Isn't .08 like 1.5 ozs? You could pee that out or sweat it off with a 1 mile walk? Why are you sweating 1 1/2 ounces of weight? You can gain 5 lbs of fluids simply by eating too much sodium, processed carbs, refined sugar, TOM? The lapband does not guarantee losing weight is a linear path to being skinny. The scale cannot differentiate fat loss from Fluid loss. Your weight can move up or down every day depending on stress, fluid input, food input, TOM, medications and the list goes on.

40 lbs in a month is awesome.

I used 2% milk in my shakes. Who's your doc? I get these emails for support groups around Denver if you want to attend?

Egg drop soup was and still is my fav to go to when I'm on a fluid type diet. Lots of protein and delicious too!

One of the many problems with surgery in Mexico is the lack of instructions. Apparently you were under the belief that the band is placed and immediately you won't be hungry and the weight just falls off? So not true. Until you get enough fills to feel some restriction or satiety, this is just like another diet. In fact, from this point on you may be in Bandster hell and could be even hungrier than before surgery. Welcome to the forum and read and obey your post op instructions. If you don't, you could cause serious damage. Good luck and keep reading here. tmf

I agree. Drink protein shakes and add some meat to those soups. If you're not consuming enough protein, your stomach will pass veggie soups into your GI tract quickly leaving you hungry and feeling nauseated.

Can you be more specific re: "feeling lousy"?

Of all problems that come with the band, pouch dilation is my only concern. Mainly because it seems like it happens without our knowledge? It seems to me that I can get stuck on a few bites of food and I get stuck often. Did you feel any pressure or pain when your pouch was being dilated? tmf

One more? If you drink excessively, you run the risk of getting sick. Hurling your guts out and damaging your band position is a big risk to take. I sometimes have a beer or glass of wine. But it takes very little to give me a buzz now so it would be very easy for me to over-indulge and get sick to boot. tmf

I agree with Ceres but I'd add that you can go about 4 hours between meals without hunger when in the green zone.

When a cup of food keeps you satisfied for 3-5 hours is how I gauge it. Be careful with getting fills so quickly. One of the biggest hurdles we all have to overcome is learning how to eat with the band. It can take months to re-educate our minds. Good luck.

It's hard at this point in your recovery. I wouldn't sweat a few days of not getting enough Protein. Maybe 2 weeks out you can be concerned but right now just give your body what it will take. Don't force Water if you aren't thirsty. Remember, shakes are mostly fluids too. tmf

I know this sounds cliché but, you just gotta want it more than wanting the food. I'd recommend a visit to your nutritionist/dietician. I know mine set me back on my track last year and it did wonders. An honest to god regurgitation of what you're eating will help him/her nail down your problem and could give some great advice on another path? tmf

Many of us have gone through Bandster Hell. I went 4 months and 3 fills before I felt some restriction. Took 6 fills to get to the green zone. I would recommend you take this time to hone your Bandster eating skills at this time. I didn't gain any weight in those 4 months because I concentrated on eating healthy foods. I ate more than the 1 cup of food of course, but I never felt deprived like I did on diets. It never hurts to ask for another fill. All they can say is no right? tmf

We speak of two types of vomiting here. You have two stomachs now. If you are regurgitating from the lower stomach that is vomiting. Your stomach will convulse and force stomach contents up through the small hole called a stoma. Your band is sutured into the lining of your stomach and is still very fragile. So, this type of vomiting is to be avoided at all costs at any time now or later. If you softly regurgitate food in your pouch or esophagus that's called PBing(productive burp). Neither is good especially when your body is still healing but you'll find it a useful tool after you've healed if you're like many of us. tmf

First, losing weight is different from losing fat. Don't think that losing weight is a linear path to being skinny. It just doesn't work that way. Our body weight consists of many parts. Bones, muscle, fat, organs and skin just to mention a few. I can eat a high carb, high sodium meal and gain 5lbs in one day. But it's not fat, it's my body retaining fluids. I can also workout every day, eat only 1200 calories a day. I might lose 2 lbs of fat but I also may have created and built up 2 lbs of muscle and an extra 2 lbs of fluids that my body demands to help repair the damage I've done by breaking down my muscle tissues. If you are into measuring your body, you will notice it shrinking in size but possibly not see it on the scale? tmf

Yikes! 18 fills? Hard to have compassion for the bandsters who've had 2 and complain about being hungry all the time? But, you're a standup guy and offer great advice without judgment.

I always love your subtle approach But, when you're right, you're right!

It's awful to have to wait to get your rocket launched! I know.

Most docs don't do a fluoroscopy before surgery but sounds like your next doc should look at your anatomy a little closer. A fluoroscopy might give them a better understanding of what they could expect? I feel for ya! tmf

What do you consider enough? Our bodies can get by just fine on 800-1000 day.

I prefer to call this "Eating healthy" and not a diet. The word diet brings back memories of being hungry all the time. Deprivation is not a way of life for me. I get hungry every 3-5 hours now. And I eat normal foods. I stay away from processed carbs, refined sugar and high fat foods. That keeps my caloric intake around 1400/day.

Not for me, my doc asks I only have liquids 3-4 hours before a fill. Try a soup to get you by?

I assume you're on the 6 month insurance mandated nutrition program? Sometimes I wonder if these type of obstacles are just a way to wean out prospective surgeries in an attempt to avoid paying for one? If we WLS patients could be successful dieting we wouldn't need WLS right? I don't recall ever hearing of anyone who was denied because they weren't successful with the 6 month nutrition program? It could be possible that should you be successful they may deny coverage because you've shown that you are capable of losing without surgery? IMO, I would do the best you can but don't knock yourself out by starving yourself for the next 5 months. If your nut is intelligent she will just advise you to make intelligent choices for foods you consume? tmf

I know for me I needed 3 fills before I felt the band was working it's magic. You're in Bandster hell now and until you get enough fills to allow you to feel a little restriction this will be just like a diet. Once your band is adjusted properly you may have some stuck episodes but you should be looking for satiety. You could be eating less but it's hard till your band is adjusted. Keep eating healthy foods so you don't gain but go back for fills till your band is giving you enough restriction to feel satisfied longer. Weight Watchers may be good for you at this point but once your band is adjusted you shouldn't need to rely on WW. Once you feel some restriction your appetite may change and so will the foods your band tolerates. You're right on track so far imo. tmf