Melissannde

Current: Complete Oxford English Dictionary + A tire + human brain. Next up: losing an average man. Final goal: Two bloodhounds and 10 dozen eggs.

Nate, I can't speak for others, but the reason I count calories is that, at least in the beginning of this journey, I had very little Fluid in my band. I was able to eat as much as an unbanded person. I did the calorie count to help me. I was never ever given a range to achieve by my doctor. He only said 3oz of Protein, 1/2 cup of veggies. Keep the protein lean as possible. No butter or sauce on the veggies. No liquid calories. Try to avoid high glycemic carbs (white bread, white rice, potatoes, corn, etc.) NOW, 21 months out, I am beginning to get to the point that I can only eat between 1/2 to 1 cup of food per meal, and I'm beginning to see that I could ease up on the calorie count as I can't eat too much volume. Yes, it's taken me this long to get here. I don't like having a very tight band. Everyone is different and what works for one person, might not work for another. Since watching calories works for me.. I'm running with it. I don't beat myself up if I go over or under.. just try to do better. Glad that you are having success with your method. Hurray for all of us who are losing.

I wouldn't worry about stretching your pouch by eating after 4 hours. It is HIGHLY unlikely that you still have food in there after that amount of time, even if you aren't feeling hungry. It's not the physical presence of food that makes us feel satiated, it's the stimulation of the vagus nerve. I usually eat about every 4 to 5 hours. Like someone else said, if they don't feed themselves at that time, they become ravenous. Getting too hungry can lead to first bite syndrome which can lead to being stuck and other unpleasant things. I'd rather eat a little. Congrats on the 3lbs a week. I remember those days. My loss has slowed quite a bit now, but it's still coming off.

I think I'd schedule an appt with the nutritionist that works with your doctor, because that IS confusing to not be allowed milk, yet non fat cottage cheese is allowed? The only thing I can think of is that perhaps the doctor is trying to steer you away from liquid calories. Yet a serving or two of non fat milk per day is often OK with other doctors to help us get our Calcium in. Every single bariatric doctor is going to have slightly different ideas on how their patients should eat post-op. And not all plans will work with all patients. Seriously I'd go back and get clarification. Good Luck. Glad you're getting to move to more solid food soon. I was back on regular food by two weeks. I can't imagine doing liquids for a month.

Thanks. I don't know that I did anything unusual other than follow the rules set out by my doctor. I weigh and measure my food. (3oz lean Protein, 1/2 cup veggies) 3x a day.. sometimes I'd have a 4th meal if I was awake that long. I waited 30 minutes on either side of my meals to drink. I drink very very low calorie fluids (Water or crystal lite or such). I didn't eat out at a restaurant until I was very comfortable in knowing what a 3oz & 1/2 cup portion looked like. I measure EVERYTHING.. even the powdered milk I put in my coffee. I found some kind of exercise I liked and I did it almost daily. At first it was just walking my dogs. Everyday just a little bit further until I was easily walking a mile. It took a year for me to get ready to join a gym. Now I go to the gym 5 days a week. I found online support groups since my doctor is an hour drive away and I don't like driving at night. My favorite is at: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SmartBandsters/ but also look at yahoo groups for DFWBandsters, SmarterBandsters, Bandbuddies I got Judith Beck's Diet Solution book & workbook to help me with behavior modification regarding eating. I follow MOST of these guidelines MOST of the time, except I rarely drink that much milk. I use nonfat dry milk in my coffee instead. And my doctor says 3 3oz servings of protein instead of 2 3 or 4 oz. ::shrug:: not a huge difference. These are not guidelines from my doctor, but from Jessie Ahroni, who is an RN, PhD, working in bariatrics. She's published a book on lapbanding and is banded herself.. 12 years. Lost her excess weight in about a year and is now successfully maintaining. * No liquid calories [except 2 servings of non fat milk (2 x 8 oz = 16 oz/day)] (16 grams of protein) * No soft foods * Two 3-4 ounce servings of protein/day (2 X 21-28 = 42-56 grams of protein) * Always eat the protein first, then the vegetables * Avoid bread, Pasta, rice, potatoes and other starchy foods * 20-25 grams of Fiber a day (Examples: bran Cereal, fruits, vegetables, beans) * Eat only three small meals a day with maybe one small planned snack * Eat slowly and chew thoroughly * Stop eating as soon as you feel full * Do not drink while you are eating * Do not eat between meals except for a planned snack * Eat only good quality foods * Avoid tough stringy foods * Drink plenty of liquids during the day (48-64 ounces) between meals * Drink only low calorie liquids * Avoid carbonated beverages * Exercise at least 30 minutes per day Good luck on your journey and thanks for the kind words. I still have 40 or so lbs to go and they are going to be the slowest to come off.. but even if I NEVER lose another lb (and that won't happen.. I have faith) I'm thrilled with my band. Life is much better at just a little over 200lbs than it was at pushing 400.

Go to both websites and look at the differences. Each one is going to be biased towards their own product of course, but you can still get the information. The realize band has a lower profile port, but it's not stitched down (forget how it's held in place). If your doctor is offering both.. ask him/her if they were banding a family member, which one would they use and why. I think I recall reading somewhere that the realize band can take a bit more fluid to get the patient to the green zone.

I know (from the internet) some other people who were banded by Dr. Simpson and they REALLY like him. He also has a philosophy of banding that I really like. That the band isn't about physical restriction, it's about controlling hunger. My doc was kinda in the middle.. he required an EKG, but not an EDG. No pre-op diet, only Clear liquids the day before surgery. What might be more important in the long run is what the aftercare / support groups are like. Can you make a visit to each one and see how they fit with you and your schedule? How do you "mesh" with their nurses & office staff? Do they do the fills themselves or is that in the hands of a PA, NP, RN, LVN? Do they use fluoro for fills? UGI and bloodwork at one year out? ETC. Just some things to consider.

you really need to take smaller bites and chew chew chew to avoid throwing up. Regurgitation isn't good for the band. If you're having lots of issues with being stuck, try drinking something warm (tea, coffee) before your meal. That can help loosen the band just a tad.

You should call your doctor and ask about a New Years Eve drink, but in general, you are right.. no beer, no champagne, no fizzy drinks. My doctor says one 6oz glass of wine or one 2oz mixed drink is allowable on occasion. But to keep in mind it's empty calories and will slow our weight loss. Another bariatric professional I know says alcohol consumption can affect your weight loss for up to 3 days afterwards. Also alcohol lowers our inhibitions and can allow us to make poorer choices, both in food and other matters. Again, since you are so recently banded, call your doc's office. They shouldn't mind at all answering a quick question like this.

Bear in mind that many folks who have the band and are doing well are NOT on these boards. They're out living life and doing well. I've been banded 21 months, no complications so far and lost 170 lbs. I still have some to go, but even if I never lose another lb, I'm thrilled with my band. I also take very good care of my band, I rarely overeat (not perfect.. lol), I don't take NSAIDS (aspirin, ibuprofen, etc.), I don't drink carbonation. I try not to keep it very tight.. just enough to control my hunger, not so tight that it's physically restricting. Yes, it's worth the post-op discomfort. Yes, it's worth the learning curve on how to eat with the band. Almost everyone has moments of doubt before the surgery. This is normal. You'd be strange if you weren't at least a little apprehensive. Hope this helps

I don't use coffeemate at home. I use non fat dry powdered milk.. 2 tbspn is 30 cal. OR fat free evaporated milk (25 cal) OR FF half/half (20 cal). Can't remember what I was last surprised with.. sorry.

According to a bariatric nurse that I know, these are symptoms of a dilated pouch and/or slip: Being able to eat more, weight gain or failure to lose, not feeling full, heartburn, and reflux. I'd consider these signs as over a period of time, not just one occurrence. I've had all of these (except weight gain) at one time or another, but not night after night or day after day. If I had the signs for more than a few days, I'd call my doctor. Relax. Follow MOST of the rules MOST of the time and things should be OK.

I wouldn't say that doc's rarely leave anything in the band. I know several doctors who put in "starter" fills during surgery. I came out of surgery with 3cc's already in mine. To the OP: It's ok, you probably haven't caused major harm with one variation from the plan. Call your doctor tomorrow and confess what you did. They might possibly advance your diet sooner. If they don't advance you, try very hard to follow what you're supposed to be doing to allow the band to seat well. Although it doesn't seem like it now, when you eventually look back at this it will seem like such a short time.

It doesn't sound like being stuck to me. Being stuck is pretty much while you're eating or very shortly afterwards. I think pain an hour after eating is something else going on.. I'm thinking perhaps Gallbladder, if you still have yours. Glad you plan to call your doctor. hope you feel better soon. (I very infrequently have GB attacks, last one was July 4.. I avoid high fat foods because of them. I don't want another surgery.)

It's highly unlikely that you've caused your band to slip by one episode of eating what you shouldn't. But take your symptoms seriously and get back on your post-op eating regimen.. follow your doctor's orders as closely as you can. I know it's not easy, but if weight loss were easy, there would be few obese people. Hang in there. You can do this.

I understand how you feel about getting an unfill and then feeling too loose. I had that happen this spring. I pushed through it by pushing extra Water and extra very low calorie fluids, popsicles and extra exercise. I know it's not easy, but it's doable. And if it's your TOM, it's likely not weight from fat you're seeing on the scale, but water retention. Pushing fluids will actually help that. When we're dehydrated our bodies retain Fluid ... if we taken in enough, the body can let the extra go. Take your measurements now and then again next month. When my weight loss is slow, sometimes I'm reshaping. As to exercise, what do you do? Find something that you enjoy doing so you will stick with it. It can be anything from walking to biking to swimming (indoor pool this time of year I hope..lol) to going to a gym to squaredancing to zumba, etc., etc., etc. Anything that gets you up and moving. I exercise pretty intensely almost daily, but I worked up to that. About a year ago all I was doing for exercise was walking my dogs.. Hang in there...

I eat what I want.. but I now want healthier foods. I still love fried things, but I don't eat them routinely now, but I will "sample" them. For example, DH and I go out to eat, he orders fried shrimp. I'll have one off of his plate. I know another very successful bandster and she says she allows herself 3 (tiny) bites of anything. If she can't stop at 3, she doesn't get to eat it next time.

I now realize that I celebrated my first 100 by joining a gym. I didn't think about it at the time, but the two coincide.

I'm not exactly coordinated either.. but I do Zumba at my gym and enjoy it. If I can't get the steps I either jog in place or make up my own. There's one routine one of the instructors has been teaching for probably 6 months or more and I STILL can't get that one routine.. I just keep trying and do my best. No one is there to judge (or they shouldn't be..it's not dancing with the stars LOL). They're there to have fun and get in shape. I'm also interested in Zumba for the Wii though.. for days that the Gym is just impossible.

Let's see.. the first 7 months all I did for exercise was walk my dogs.. for about a mile or more per day. I also parked far away from stores and walked shopping carts all the way back to the stores instead of using the corrals. I don't walk my dogs as far these days, but I still park far away and return carts. 21 months out from surgery now and I do Body Pump (for strength & toning, not body building), Step Aerobics, Yoga, Pilates, RPM (about the same as Spinning) and Zumba. I should start running, but am a bit leary of it.

I agree with the Lemon-drop Martini suggestion. I have them leave off the sugar around the rim.

You can also try drinking lots of water and other very low calorie (5 to 10) fluids like Crystal lite. It won't work a long time, but it will help tide you over a little until the next "feeding time".

I'm so sorry to hear you have BC. I have an inkling of what you are going through as I am a uterine cancer survivor. Prayers for peace, healing, early stage and no recurrence being offered.

Melly, What is your definition of feeling full? I ask because I don't feel full the same way as I used to pre-banding. I feel "satisfied". If I ate till I was full, I'd probably be overeating. I weigh out my Protein, measure my veggies and eat that and get up from the table and go do something else. IF I'm still hungry 20 minutes later, I'm allowed more low calorie veggies (provided they're not drowning in butter or other high calorie sauce). I do know what you mean about people having different responses to Fluid levels. There's another gal I know, banded by the same doc as me, same band size.. she's got very good appetite dimming at 2cc's and I'm good (but beginning to need more) at 5.5cc. I dropped weight like mad because my food choices changed so drastically after surgery. Pre, I ate fried foods and nachos and pizza and hamburgers, etc. Since banding my choices are lean and green. I'm not saying your choices aren't the same..just explaining my loss rate. Also bear in mind that those who seem to be losing really fast may have also started at a much higher weight than you. The bigger you are, the faster you (can) lose. Asking your doc (or whoever does the fills) to draw back all that's in the band isn't a half-bad idea. Hang in there, even if you're losing slower than you like, you're still losing.

No, saw it on Dr. Phil. Book has arrived, it's OK, but a little lacking IMO. I think I expected more recipes and better layout. Haven't looked at DVD yet. NOW DH said to me last night "How much do you want me to lose" SHEESH. I told him it wasn't my weight loss, it's his and he can do it when ready, or not at all. This man is so difficult to communicate with.. anytime I talk about something more than 2 minutes he thinks I'm pushing him. Comes from him having a very pushy Mom. You'd think he'd learn after nearly 30 years of marriage that I'm not his mother.. LOL Anyhoo.. Good point about the book is that it has suggestions on how to modify the cycles for different cultural tastes. Also has suggestions for dealing with PMS on the plan.