yarddawg72

All - I have found over the last five months that my weight loss stalls every once in awhile. I have gone for like 3 weeks without loosing. It is important to realize that at times, you body is dropping inches and keeping weight for a bit. We do need to make sure we get enough protein and enough calories. We each have a different level of optimum calories and protein. I have found it best to absolutely cut out all carbs wherever possible. I switched to soy protein and it seems to work better for me. With exercise, your body needs more calories or it will go into store mode. I usually do not measure my calories so much as my protein intake, 70 to 75 grams for me. When you start getting fills, things will pick up faster as you begin to feel restriction. I have gone a little extreme since my banding, or so my friends tell me. They call me protein man and the carb nazi. be sure to talk to your doctor, after all you paid him a ton of money to help you through this. This is one the best things we could have done and it is soooooo worth the struggles to see the pounds and inches melting away.

Hey there TK, Sometimes when I don't get enough calories, my body starts to store everything instead of burn. I have gone through a few stalls and almost always it seems I ate less or started to work out harder and needed a few more calories. Not too many of course, but even 100 calories seems to keep the fire burning so to speak. I too was warned about carnation and ensure. I use soy protein powder with only 6 grams of sugar or less. It seems like any sugar at all, and my body goes back to its old habits, burn the sugar and store the rest. It is a learning process for all of us. Always talk to your Dr. and see what he/she has to say. Adnd Frog is right sometimes you are getting smaller but not loosing. Good to record measurements when you record your weight too. Keep your chin up, you'll start puree foods soon and it will be a bit easier, although you will still take a protein shake or two a day. I need right around 70 grams or so but everyone's different.

You are doing good from the sounds of it. The gas will go away faster the more you walk. I had to sip fluid and protein shake like every 15 minutes, even used a timer to keep track. The pain meds will help a lot too. If you find a comfortable position to lay, remember it. The measuring cup/spoon will be your good friend for a few days. Soon enough you will feel better and the drinking will get easier. If the whey protein does not work for you, try some soy protein, works wonders for me. Keep your chin up and get ready to watch the weight come off :-)

It does get better, you will be on "normal food" soon enough. Keep up the pace and get as much fluid and protein as you can. I actually switched to soy protein cause the whey stuff made me nauseous.

the gas will go away with the walking, no quick fix for that. I just tried to drink as much fluid as I could, didn't get 64oz. kind of hard at first. I had to resort to literally drink one ounce every 15 minutes. Used a timer and everything. Just keep sipping.

I don't think you stretch the pouch with one episode. I ate too fast at Thanksgiving and felt the same way, my whole body felt bad. I watched my intake for a couple days and still felt restriction. It just hit me that I was full but I had already taken like 10 bites past that. A big attention grabber, huh? It will get better, I think we all do it once. Hey kids don't believe its hot till they burn themselves right?

Well I started back to work after 3 days. I had to stop the pain meds to do that though and I was miserable. As long as you don't do any lifting work should be okay, if you can take the pain meds and work DO IT. Just don't try to lift anything or run or anything, sitting and walking are okay though.

Hi Susie, Kevin from Madera, CA here. My advice: start saying good-bye to all your favorite foods one by one. This will smooth the blow to your system. I dropped the shakes and frappacinos little by little. Bread was tough but it is the worst for the band from what I've heard. You'll be surprised that you will loose some weight even B4 the band. After surgery you will hurt a bit, take your pain meds, they help. Don't try to be a hero and go back to work after two days like me, not worth it. You will have to sip fluids and protein shakes, I had to switch to soy protein cause the whey stuff made me nausious. Within a few days the drinking will get easier and the weight will start to come off slowly. Usually your doctor will move you to puree after 10 days to 2 wks. You will iss food a little but not as much as you enjoy loosing weight. You start to feel better even before you look better. Keep your chin up and get ready to do some smiling.

Seems strange to wait 3 months for a fill. Anyway, I have to remind myself of the right foods too... ALOT. I try to get my protein up to at least 60 grams in as few calories as possible. I drink at least one protein shake and eat one protein bar per day. I do not eat vegies or fruit very often since I take vitamins every stinking day. I am doing well with 6cc in the band but I do slip up on reese's PB cups and garlic bread ocasionally. If I need a treat I go for the McD's ice cream cone, it has less sugar and carbs than the other shakes and stuff. Eating is no fun anymore but losing the weight is fun enough. Keep up to fight!!

My doctor has me lay down, put my feet together and raise my legs up about 12 inches. This pops the port right out at him. He also usually pulls out the old fluid to make sure how much is in there, that way he can tell if there is any problem (leaking or missed the spot). Never had the scope thingy.

your family will change their minds after you start losing the weight. Really after the band you are a little sore. I did not think about food much cause my stomach hurt (feels like you did way too many sit-ups). I had to go to soy protein cause the whey stuff almost made me throw up. And yes it is difficult to avoid your favorite foods but it gets easier. After a few days you'll feel better and can get down more protein and water and you feel even better. Just keep telling yourself that this was the right thing to do. When the scale starts moving down and you see those old familiar (and smaller) numbers, you will feel even better. Keep your chin up and stretch those face muscles. You'll need them for all the smiling that is soon to come.

Laurie you could try a workout video that you can do at home. I have been using one called "walk away the pounds". it starts off slow and works you up to 1 mile then 2 miles then 3 miles. each one has a warm up, fat burn, and cool down period. it takes about 15 minutes for 1 mile, 30 minutes for 2 mile, and 50 minutes for 3 mile. I work full time and go to college full time and have a family as well so, I do whichever I have time for. Hope this helps. Best of luck to you! Kevin

also remember that the "list" is a basic guide. I found lots of protein filled items that my doctor had not heard of. Just keep adapting your body to the new way of eating. you will look good soon enough but you will feel good sooner. :-)

I too was able to have the protein water. I had to coax the protein shakes down ounce by ounce in the beginning. I think for the first week it just important to get as much water and protein as you can handle. I didn't strees about exact amounts so much as making sure i got SOME. This will all get better over the next week or so. Hang in there.

After my surgery and post-op recovery I started moving around a little. About 6 weeks after, i began a little more exercise and notice my back was hurting. It is the area right at the base of my shoulder blades, almost even with where my band would seem to be. It hurts pretty bad when I twist and turn or stand up straight. The other day I tried to bowl and OMG I thought I broke something. The weird thing is , my wife had her surgery in December and she is noticing back pain in the same area.