Marebeth1

Hi Alan, I was banded on Sept 13th, I've lost 14 lbs since the day of surgery and when I weighed at the doctors on Sept 28. Then I've stalled when I went on pureed foods. I am doing everything right but i haven't been able to do much exercising - just some walking. I've had more pain than others I read about. I can't say it is just that I lost because of surgery. I lost 13 lbs since mid-August pre-op and 40 lbs in the last couple of years. So this weight is not Water weight. Been stucked at 238 since Sept 28. Went to my primary care on Friday and I still weigh the same. I've been sick so I could say that might contribute but I'm frustrated regardless. I am getting between 600-900 calories per day and I am in ketosis so I should be dropping weight. I hope this kicks back in soon.

When were you banded? Recently? I got banded on Sept 13 and my doctor doesn't do the first fill for 2 months. My pouch is only 1-2 oz and I'm so scared I'm drinking too much and stretching it. What is the normal amount of a fill for 1st timers?

Hi Joe, Congrats on the biggest step of your life change. I was in the hospital 3 days. Your mouth is dry from the pain meds, you are nauseated and might get dizzy because of the pain meds because you have nothing in your stomach. They should get you something for nausea. Yes walk when you can. Each time I walked I got nauseated but kept going. Ask then nurse for one of the sponge sticks to wipe your mouth often. Ice chips help too. I just went to my 2 week post op and lost 14 lbs - so see what you have to look forward to. Make sure you drink a lot of fluids and get your Protein in and you will do fine. My recover was slow but everyone is different so listen to your own body and pace yourself. Best of Blessings to you!

Jmar- I looked at Persia futures - my first thought is iPhone speller - don't ya love it!! I have done that and got some crazy word combos. As for the bloatedness - Are you taking Prevacid for acid in the stomach? It will help - my hubby forgot to give it to me, and so did I - two days later I had so much air and burping then I took it and it calmed down. I go to my doctor tomorrow for my first post-op - I'm going to talk to him about my hernia too and about the Fiber. My only struggle now is getting enough fluids in my daily count. My doctor says 48-64oz of fluids and I am getting to 36-40 and no more. I keeping trying to work at it, get busy and lag on it. Think I'll try unjury down the road - I got so much now I'm set for a month or more.That Peach sounds great!!!

Yummy chocolate banana Protein Drink made today - In a 20oz Blender Bottle: 8 oz Milk 8 oz Ice 2 scoops nectar Chocolate Truffle Protein Mix 1 - 2oz Dan-O-Dino Dannon Banana Yogurt (put 2 of these for more banana taste) b shake or put in your Magic Bullet!! I don't know if a Magic Bullet will do 20 oz but you can do a smaller if you want

I had a Festival of Last Meals! Went to my pre-op Aug 28 - weighed 255. Had to go to Dallas for 5 days and stayed with a friend. Every morning I had an Atkins Protein Drink and drank Water all afternoon. We went out to eat every night to places like Applebees, Chili's, mexican food, etc. and I ordered healthier items from the menu. At the airport I got trail mix since I won't be able to eat nuts or seeds for a long time. Got back home 5 days before surgery. I stuck to the same plan....Atkins drink in the AM and 1 meal later in the day. My SPECIAL dinner request - RED LOBSTER - I love their lobster pizza appetizer and my hubby ordered an extra skewer of grilled shrimp for me....no rice or Pasta. But I did indulge myself in those cheesy biscuits!! Two days before surgery we went to Breakfast and had a family style meal with famous Apple pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs. My portion of the apple pancake was the size of a piece of pie. That night I drank an Atkins drink. Next day - day before surgery I did the "clean out" then right before surgery I weighed 252 - YES I actually LOST 3 lbs during my festival of last meals. I know it was the Atkins, water and keeping my portions small. This has been a 4 year journey from the first Lap Band appt. I chose not to do it then, a year later broke my back. Then started a year ago again but now is my time. I started out weighing 302 and day of surgery was 252. I'm proud of that. I go Sept 28th, tomorrow, for my 1st post-op and my goal is to break under 240. Think I'm there!!

I went to the Mr. LapBandTalk under Post op and he has a chart about the Green Zone and it sounds to me like you are in the Red Zone and possibly need to have some fill removed so you can eat without it getting stuck. If you read his chart it states that if you band is too full your food will get stuck and your weight will stall. I would encourage you to buy a pedometer or stepper. Wear it and it will calculate how many steps you are taking every day. Once you know where you are, you can know what you need to do. They say to shoot for 10,000 steps a day. But if you wear the pedometer and your first day say 4000 steps, start from there. Try to increase a 1000 steps the first week, then add 1000 steps each new week until you get to 10,000. That's what happened to me and what I did. Don't give up, what you have done so far is better than where you were. BTW, I just got band on Sept 13, 2011, one year after you. My journey for lap band started at the doctor 4 years ago. I started at 302 and I went back to the doctor again a year ago and finally had surgery 2 weeks ago and weighed 252. I go on Wed for my 2 weeks post op. I'm excited to see what I weigh. Another suggestion - go back and see what you were doing when you were losing - backtrack - start back doing the liquids and Protein shakes - cut down the calories and carbs and exercise more. It will re-kick your fat burning machine inside. Plateaus happen and our bodies need a jolt to reset them.

I went to the Mr. LapBandTalk under Post op and he has a chart about the Green Zone and it sounds to me like you are in the Red Zone and possibly need to have some fill removed so you can eat without it getting stuck. If you read his chart it states that if you band is too full your food will get stuck and your weight will stall. I would encourage you to buy a pedometer or stepper. Wear it and it will calculate how many steps you are taking every day. Once you know where you are, you can know what you need to do. They say to shoot for 10,000 steps a day. But if you wear the pedometer and your first day say 4000 steps, start from there. Try to increase a 1000 steps the first week, then add 1000 steps each new week until you get to 10,000. That's what happened to me and what I did. Don't give up, what you have done so far is better than where you were.

If it bubbles, good chance it's carbonated. Sorry I've had so many posts - I'm only getting on here 1x a day now

Need2lose - you are on the same 2-2-2 plan I am on. I start on pureed foods on Wed or Thurs this week after my doctor's appt. Tomorrow is 2 weeks.

They are probably ok as long as there is NO carbonation like most sodas. Carbons will cause air and gas and probably not so good for that tiny little opening of the lap band.

Congrats on getting to the gym! The 1st of the month I'm going back to 24 hr fitness. Just not ready yet - I am walking to the park, go to sit down for a few minutes and rest - then head back to the house. I am in a 2 story and am trying to do more stairs every day. Are you planning on going to the gym every day?

Tan-ya - I can't believe your doctor said pain and nausea rarely occurs. Last pain meds I took was last Friday - 10 days after surgery. I am still have tolerable pain in the center of my tummy just to the right of the larger incision. But I had a hernia repair too so it could come from that (from what I read from others who had hernias). Surely if you are having pain in the hospital your doctor will send a RX to the hospital pharmacy for you before you are released. Nausea happens from the pain meds cause your stomach is empty. I would suggest going to Walmart and getting some Atkins Protein Drinks - ready made in box (4 pack) - the Vanilla is good. Put them in your fridge so their cold and ready to go. If you have a Sam's Club card they have Atkins in a 12 pack. It's worth having it when you feel bad and want something quick. Make some sugar free jello the night before surgery so it's ready for you too. I found this tiny little Dan-o-lino Dannon mini yogurts - about 2 oz sizes - all smooth. I mix crushed pills in them and follow with some water afterwards. Some of my meds taste really bad!! Be sure and buy something for constipation. I had Miralax from when I broke my back - it's a little pricier but it worked after 3 doses. You'll want to wait about a week after surgery if you don't go on your own. I have had to take it as long as I'm taking pain meds because they are constipating. I hope this helps?

LOL, Yes Dr. Mohamed Ali is his name. Not the boxer! HAHA. I only knew him as Dr. Ali all this time, not knowing his first name. He's a gem and I really like UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento and they are a "teaching" hospital too. I go on Wednesday for my 2 week post-op appt and get my staples out! Day of surgery I weighed 252 and my goal is to be 239 and it looks like I will be below that on Wednesday. I started my lap band journey 4 years ago at 302 but never had the surgery. I have no regrets and plan to enjoy every eating stage even though I hate pureed or soft mashed foods - I am planning to find things I like that are healthy. Think I will still keep the Protein drinks in my diet to insure I get my protein counts.

I too had a haital hernia repair with the lap band on Sept 13th, 2011. Like you all - NO REGRETS - If it wasn't for that, I would have the hernia repaired. I go back to my doctor on the 28th to take the staples out and weigh. That is 2 weeks post-op and my goal was to hit below 240 (252 on day of surgery) and right now I am at 237. I have had a couple of set backs because I have done too much. I have a history of asthma and in the hospital I couldn't breathe because of the horrible pain near my lungs. I read where people with just lap band seem to get better faster so I am thinking the pain must be coming from the hernia repair. Did any of you have difficulty coughing? That junk from the anesthesia settled in my lungs and I have now been sick for a few days strangling on coughing that junk up. It took me 8 days before I had a BM....2 days taking Miralax 3 times. It's because of the pain meds and your tummy was empty for surgery. I put almost a full cap of Miralax in my Protein drink. It doesn't taste or is nasty. Another thing I did was mix my Protein Drink with fat free milk. Since milk is a solid food in the stomach....it moves it all down!! I would like to know where to buy the unjury Protein Mixes??? Do you have a website or store? I'll have to say I have NO prob whatsoever with the Protein drinks and so glad to find some bandsters with the same. Best of Luck to all of you!!!