Band_Groupie

Great job Todd...your quick loss is amazing (and your family is beautiful)! -BG

*Post Deleted for Lap Band Book

Congrats on the 50!!! That's such a milestone, YAY! Personally, I don't think the 'before' drinking matters much as long as your pouch is empty...it will go right through. Doc says 15 min. before, but I've read lots of Docs here have completely gotten rid of the 'before' rule. I often drink just a few min. before (I'm always behind on water LOL). Good luck with the fills girls!

Not looking for an argument here; I just need to point out to the OP also that every doc has somewhat different rules, just like they all have different diets to follow (and a little harsh to call others 'dummies' IMO). By all means, do whatever your doc says. My doc is one of the best docs in our city (known for being a leading medical city) and he says the 'carbonation stretching your pouch is a bunch of bunk; no possible way'. He told me once you're banded burping can become uncomfortable for some as there's a stoma that the belch has to now go through to come out, but if the burps don't bother you then carbonation is fine. I'm not a soda drinker, but I've had beer and tonic many times since banding with no problems. If I'd ever seen any evidence that carbonation might hurt anything then I'd be the first one to show others here...I've been on here an other sites for well over a year and I've never run across any evidence...anyone has any I'd honestly love to see it...let's be supportive of following different rules.

Full Liquids are anything you could drink through a straw (protein shakes, smoothies, slim fast, pureed soups, etc.)...they call it full to differentiate between full and clear liquids (broth, clear drinks, etc.).

I took Spinach Dip (with the Knorr veg. soup mix) to a tailgate this weekend and substituted GY for sour cream...no one noticed the difference...yum!

You're not in the zone yet...'starving' is not a word I could even use anymore. Take it as a good thing that you need more fill than some...it means you have a nice thin stoma-less fat around your stoma, right? I'd also suggest you extend the no drinking thing to as close to an hour after meals as you can...I saw a couple of studies they did and even a little water with or after a meal flushes it through much faster than if you wait an hour (time it stayed in the pouch correlated directly with amount of water and when). Also, I don't eat very many 'soft' foods at all, so the solids stick in the pouch longer. You'll get there...another fill!

Great news...we've always known you're a Superstar!!! Great outfit and look at that tiny little vest...and a belt! Too cute! You're an inspiration!!! -BG

Hmmm...maybe a drink to flush it through, but I'm not sure whether to suggest something cold or hot...I'm guessing hot would help it slide through if it's big enough to get stuck? At least you'll know if you drink something right away if it's going to get stuck or not.

Thanks Sweetie! There's lots of great blogs here that helped me and you've now started a great one yourself! Oh, and this site gives me more fits than any other (froze up on me three times today)...I lost blogs several times before I started typing them in Word and then transferring them.

Kathy- I forgot to ask the same thing Arkansas was saying...how are you getting in 1700 cals? I hardly eat anything low fat (except a few sweets, the greek yogurt, and some low fat cottage cheese...and I only have these occassionally) and I eat much more volume than you, but I'm only getting about 1000-1200 cals a day (you're drinking melted sticks of butter and didn't mention it LOL?). I'm tracking again and need to add more fruits/veggies and sometimes protein, so maybe this would up my cals. to get it all in, but still that would be even more volume...

"It's head hunger~ Food is my anti depressant." Good job...you're on your way now! If we all weren't self-medicating with food we wouldn't be here. Here's the good part...remember when I said 'no food is off limits'...well not only is that the hard part, it's also the good part. I've been on a diet for 20 years and I'm sure I've lost over 1000 pounds...I'm a good dieter...I'M NOT ON A DIET! I eat the same things my family does for the most part-minus dessert, but I have other treats...and sometimes I'll eat another leftover if they're having pasta, but not always LOL, you get the picture...other than those I eat like a normal skinny person...small (the former me would call them tiny) portions of normal food. You CAN do this...if this meant going on yet another diet I would NOT have done it. Now get in that sauna, stop eating, or whatever it takes to show your doc you're committed...and if it doesn't work out on Monday, chin up...it's just postponed! I waited a year and I'm sure you've been waiting too. If you want this to happen it will! Keep us posted and good luck! -BG

Sorry, he's right. The Band won't follow the Bander rules for you, keep you from putting the wrong things in your mouth, or keep you from eating too much...only you can do those things and you'll have to in order to lose the weight. It takes a great deal of committment. The only thing the Band will do for you is help take the hunger away between meals. BTW-I started out with a similar BMI and although I've been very successful and committed to many diets in the past, this WL has required even more committment. It was easier for me to follow a diet plan and only eat certain foods...it's much harder to make an entire lifestyle change where no food is off limits...and even harder to have to finally deal with the head hunger and food issues that got me fat to begin with. For me, any WL surgery is like an alcoholic hitting bottom...you have to be ready and committed to make the changes or you'll fail. I'd be asking myself how ready am I to do what it takes? Good luck on your decision...if you decide to do this, we're all here for you and will help you through! -BG

Wow GF...you've been through a lot! I'd love to spent weeks with my Mom...Love the quilts!!! -BG

CONGRATULATIONS Bander! Take those pain meds if you need them, it will help a lot! Sip, Sip, Sip! -BG

Find something to be positive doing...make something, read a banding book, etc. Some depression is normal for a short while. Bandster Hell is hard, but keep in mind we all had to go through it and you wouldn't see so many positive reports here if we didn't think it was all worth it. That horrible hunger you're feeling now...I don't have it anymore. Come here to get those feelings out and keep your chin up, it gets better! -BG

CONGRATULATIONS Bander! Stay ahead on the pain meds and rest up! -BG

CONGRATULATIONS Bander! Sounds like things went great! Ports are in all different places...some have them just under/on their ribs, some even between the breasts. Each doc is different (I was allowed to chose). Heal well! -BG

You are so good at following the rules and don't get me started on cooking all your own food...what dedication...you deserve every pound that comes off! I often think, after I've scarfed down a meal, that I need to slow down much more than I do...not because I'll get stuck, but just because I want to enjoy eating for a longer period of time...even though the hunger goes, the love of good food doesn't. I'm finding I no longer have much tolerance for bland food...if I only get a few bites, it better be tasty! Great blog! -BG

Whacky weight!! Kathy- Today I'm down 2.5 from yesterday and I ate like normal...that puts me up 1.5 from last Friday...OK, 1.5 I can understand. Having the partial hysterectomy I have no clue when I'm cycling, so maybe that's it. Thanks for the support GF! Barbara- You'll have to go out for a long weekend sometime (DH had to take Fri. off for us to go)...college football is fun. Have fun on your mini-vaca...sounds wonderful!!!!!

Who's to say 9 or 9.5 is crazy?! We've all got different anatomy and only you know what you need...some need their bands almost completely full. I'm a little hungry in the mornings, but you should be hungry for breakfast. Sometimes if I go longer than normal between meals I get hungry, but you should be hungry if it's been a long time. As long as I follow the bander rules and eat enough protein I'm NOT hungry between meals (and yes, I've accidently found myself hungry and realized I'd missed lunch). Do I struggle with head hunger...yep...Do I snack sometimes in the evenings...yep (last night I had almonds). If I drink with/too soon after that really effects hunger for me. Hope that helps!

I sat next to a guy who just graduated and was in the PSU Blue Band last year...he was telling us lots of great stories...halftime is the best! OK, I'll bite...what's the '12th Man'? Yeah, still up 4 pounds this morning...incredible...sigh.

I have 2 days of full liquids then ease back to food. You're not likely to get good restriction with the first fill, but that all depends on how aggressive your doc is with fills and your anatomy (some never even need a fill and have restriction). I'd just know you have a chance of only being able to eat a little, but then again, that will be your future Thanksgivings anyway...and yes, I can still eat everything at Thanksgiving...just a tiny bit of each

CONGRATULATIONS Bander! You're doing really well! Keep staying ahead of the pain with your meds and SF preserves with the G. yogurt is my fav. -BG

WELCOME to LBT! If you go through this being aware you can't help but to change your mind as well...and what's better for your self-esteem than feeling better about yourself and your weight! Good luck! -BG