Melissannde

Lauren, excellent. That's the same list I was directing her to at Smartbandsters!! Jessie Ahroni, author of the article, is well versed in bands and is banded herself.

My nurses say about a cup of food is right for bandsters. My doctor says 3oz of Protein and 1/2 cup of low carb veggies. I don't know if I can post it here, but if you'll join the SmartBandsters group at yahoo.com, in the file section there is an article in the FAQ's titled "How to tell if you are Perfectly Adjusted". It should help you a bit. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SmartBandsters When I go in to see my bariatric professionals, I take in about a weeks worth of my food/exercise journal and also make notes on how I felt .. this helps the nurses see how I'm doing and if I need more or less Fluid. Good luck on your decision.

You can also order PB2 (powdered peanut butter) from Netrition.com I get Peanut Butter flavored zero calorie DaVinci Syrup there too. Put some of the peanut butter syrup and some s/f chocolate syrup in my coffee.. tastes like I'm drinking a reeses cup. yummmmmmmmm

Did your surgeon or the nutritionist or dietician give you any guidelines on how much to eat? At the bariatric practice I use, we're told we should be eating 3oz of Protein and 1/2 cup of veggies per meal. When we finish that, we should be through. Get up and leave the table and find something else to do. IF IF IF we are still hungry after 20 minutes, we can have extra low carb veggies. There will always be days that you can eat more. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. I know it's not easy. If it was easy, no one would be obese. I started to have very very slow weight loss (compared to the beginning of my journey anyhow) this past spring. I finally started taking my measurements monthly. While the scale is taking its own sweet time about moving downwards, I am seeing inches come off. This might help you too. It's been said that "the band is fickle". Sometimes it will feel tighter and other times looser with no apparent rhyme or reason. Sounds like this is what is happening to you. Hang in there.. follow most of the rules most of the time and you should continue to lose.

You say you're afraid you started eating solids too early. Are you following the guidelines your doctor gave you? It's important to do that to let your band seat in a good position. Give your doctor's office a call and talk your eating & food choices over with one of the nurses. Don't panic though, the previous responder is correct, it's highly unlikely you've caused damage with only one pb (productive burping) session.

I've been doing Zumba a few times a week for a while... and I'm by no means skinny. Gyms and exercise classes are not just for skinny folks. If you find a gym that has that attitude.. change gyms!! Zumba is lots of fun. And depending on the instructor and the type of Zumba class you take, the intensity can vary greatly. There's regular Zumba, Zumba Gold (designed for lower impact), Aqua Zumba (Zumba done in the pool), etc. I'm like Hynita, I modify the steps to what I can comfortably do.. and as I get stronger, I try to do more. When the instructor Jumps, I usually jog or march in place. When they do a side step with twisting the knees.. I just side step and don't twist. The important part is to move the body and have fun!! One of the instructors where I go has even bought hip scarves with the little coins on them for one of the songs which is from "Sumdog Millionaire" "Jai-Ho (You are my Destiny " The scarf meets in the middle on the other gals, but not me. Oh well, I'll use that as a NSV when it does meet!! This isn't the class I attend, but it's the same choreography that my instructor uses: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r43YzeBfWug LOVE this routine. I encourage you to go and give it a try.. it's so much fun. Like the Zumba site says.. Ditch the Workout, Join the Party! (I still workout too though.. lol).

DH has ordered the book & DVD. He's not banded (and doesn't really qualify for banding), but wants to lose some. He wants to start it after the first of the year. Bad idea I think, to wait.. but it's his weight loss, not mine. What little I could read of the book online seems sensible. We'll see.

In general, most days this is my schedule: 6am coffee & start taking vitamins 7am Breakfast of Overnight oatmeal with apples & 1 turkey sausage link (I have this almost every day, other meals are varied) 8am out the door to the gym 8:30 to 10am.. exercise class.. type and length of time varies depending on the day of the week. 10am .. Run errands or go home 12 to 1pm lunch Lunchtime vitamins 1pm till 4pm: housework, computer, nap (if really tired) 4pm: snack if hungry, 4:30 start supper 6pm Supper, evening vitamins 7pm clean up after supper 8pm hot tea, bedtime snack if desired 10pm bed

Nope. I had only a 1 day of Clear liquids the day before my surgery. And I'll tell you an unofficial unscientific observation. Those of us who don't have to do a pre-op diet for weeks, tend to lose a little faster after the surgery. This is something I've noticed in talking to other bandsters over the past year & a half and I've had my observation confirmed by nurses who work in the bariatric field. If you really are concerned.. call your doc's office and ask.

I'm not Elfie, but hope you don't mind if I respond. I've been banded for well over a year and I still have good appetite control. I think the year window you've heard mentioned for good appetite dimming and weight loss is more applicable to RNY (bypass) patients. I had a WLS nurse who kept telling me I was past the "honeymoon" stage. I vehemently disagree with her. I don't believe in the honeymoon stage when it comes to banding. JMO.. YMMV.

You might check the prices at netrition.com they do charge for shipping, but it is a flat rate.. order 1 or order 20,... same charge.

Tracei, I'm glad you're making steps towards a better and healthier life. However, this is a lapband forum. You'll get much more support on a forum that is more focused on the bypass. I'd suggest Obesityhelp.com, they have forums for all kinds of WLS's. Best of luck to you!

I chew gum. Sugar-free versions. I've not swallowed my gum since I was a child and don't plan to start. Been banded 21 months.. still haven't swallowed gum. I'll take the risk because gum satisfies my desire to chew without adding calories. YMMV.

Yep.. it's boggy to me too. Hopefully they'll continue to tweak the site and it will get better. Or else we'll just get used to it.. LOL

All my family is too far away to get together with for TG.. so we're just doing it here at home. My 21 & 23 y/o's help with the cooking and dh keeps the dishwasher going. We modify the dishes a little.. adding extra veggies to the dressing, using low fat or non fat items where appropriate. We had oyster stew for a light lunch and TG dinner will be cajun smoked turkey, green bean casserole, spinach magdaline, baked sweet potatoes, cornbread dressing, and pumpkin souffle (basically a pumpkin pie w/o a crust). I'm planning on just eating small portions. For some exercise I've been dancing to the radio while cooking.. much to the amusement of my ds and dogs. LOL I wanted to do a turkey trot, but too far to drive and still come home & cook.

Thanks. It's not quite as smooth as the older version (loads slower for me), but it does give a preview. I'm impressed that someone responded. Thanks again. Happy Thanksgiving everyone .... enjoy, but don't over do it. I'm trying to make myself go walk or run.. not too motivated.. LOL

I don't see ads, I have an ad-blocker installed. What I HATE is that there's no longer previews of the posts when you hover over the topic titles ... I relied heavily on that to see if I really wanted to open the thread. If anyone in charge is reading this...Fix that please!!

I really don't like the term restriction. I much prefer to express what the band does as "appetite suppression". That is what is supposed to happen, you are able to eat a small meal (my doctor suggests 3oz of a Protein, 1/2 cup low carb veggies.. other docs may have other guidelines) and remain satisfied, not full.. there's a difference.. for a minimum of 3 hours, preferably 4 or more. Sounds like you are in a good place for you for now. Way to go!

Overnight Oatmeal Tools needed: 1 crockpot 1 bowl or mug (that will hold at least 16oz) that will fit inside of crockpot. Ingredients: Steelcut Oatmeal (must be steelcut, not rolled, not quick) Water cooking oil spray (optional) Spray inside of bowl with cooking oil spray. This isn't strictly necessary, but makes cleanup easier later. Measure 1/4 cup of steelcut oats into oiled bowl. Measure 1 cup water into bowl. Place bowl of water & oatmeal into crockpot. Place lid on crockpot and turn on low. Go to bed. after 6 to 8 to 10 hours (it's very forgiving..lol) turn off crockpot and take off lid. Let bowl cool a little while you fix your coffee & take Vitamins. When it's cool enough to handle, take it out of the crockpot and add desired flavorings (see additional optional ingredients below). Enjoy!! Other optional ingredients: 1/4 apple or 1/4 to 1/2 cup s/f applesauce cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice to taste. 1 tbspn chopped walnuts 1 tbspn powdered milk or skim milk or fat free evaporated milk dash salt low/no calorie sweetner of your choice to taste. P.S. recently heard that cinnamon helps to control blood sugar.. yeah for cinnamon in my oatmeal!! P.P.S. I usually also have a turkey sausage link with this. Between the oatmeal & sausage, I'm usually good for at least 4 to 5 hours and often longer. However, I'm at a pretty good fill level for me. Your experience may be different.

I came out of surgery (20 months ago) with about 3cc's already in my band. 6 weeks later I got a 1cc fill. All the others since then have been .5cc or less. I am currently at approx 5.5 cc's and have pretty good appetite suppression most of the time. last fill was in Sept & .2cc's.. debating on whether I'll need more in Dec.

B: Overnight oatmeal with 1/4 chopped apple, cinnamon & 1 tbspn powdered milk. 1 turkey sausage link. Midmorning snack: 3/4 grapefruit (hairdresser ate the other 1/4.. lol) L: 3oz Bacon wrapped turkey filet, 1/2 cup baked squash, 1/2 grapefruit D: Not sure yet.. either 3oz baked chicken & veggies or 3oz meatloaf & veggies. Possible other Snacks are: 1/2 grapefruit, cottage cheese or greek yogurt.

I've tried the

I think the realize band comes in 11 & 14 cc sizes. The lapband standard is 10 cc and I think the lapband large is 14 (not sure on that). 7 cc's is where most people start feeling good appetite suppression with the smaller realize band. Just be really careful since he filled you so fast to stick to the 48 hours of liquids, then progress slowly as tolerated or per doc's instructions. Keep in mind that sometimes fills will get TIGHTER after they've been in place a while. No one understands why this happens, but it does. If you start having any pain with eating, call your doctor. It would worry me to have such a big fill at once, since my very largest has been 1cc, but I also know that we're all different and not everyone needs to be taken up as slowly as I have been. Good luck and congrats on getting your first fill!! How exciting for you!

Once I got past the immediate post-op phase, I've eaten real food every day. I probably eat more "real" food now than I did before banding. Not in quantity.. but in QUALITY. Now that I eat smaller amounts, what I put in my mouth is only good stuff. No more junky, empty calories. I eat good Protein, freshly cooked veggies and tiny amounts of Fiber. Protein, Produce & Fiber. AKA Lean & Green. :blushing: I think you'll find that you will enjoy food more after surgery, and learn to savor every bite. You won't be shoveling it in any longer. It will be take a bite, put the fork down and immerse yourself in the sensation of the food. The texture, the flavor, what does it remind you of, etc. No more mindless hand to mouth eating. My dh & I go out to eat about once a week now and have a great time. I'm a cheap date, I get 2 and sometimes 3 meals out of one order. Last weekend I ordered beef, chicken & shrimp fajitas. DH got my tortillas. I ate some of the meat and a bite or two of the Beans at the restaurant, took the rest home. Late that night before bed (4 hours later), I had a tiny bit more. The next day I finished the leftovers for lunch. When someone invites you over, you say Great, what time and can I bring something? If you worry or suspect that you might not be able to eat what is being offered, you take something to the event that you know you can, and that others will like too. Worst comes to worst, there are Protein Bars and drinks that you can stick in your purse or jacket pocket or leave in your car. Eating just the meat and no bun is a good idea. So many people do the low carb thing these days, no one will think a thing about it. I bet there are people all around you who are banded and you don't know it, because they are out there living life and having a great time and no longer focused on food. You most likely will be like that too, once banded. :w00t:

I understand you're hungry, but eating soft foods before your doctor ok's it could be dangerous to your band. The reason they keep us on liquids for a period of time is to reduce the peristalsis (wave like motion) of the stomach to allow the band to heal in a good position. You really need to consult your doctor. He/she may ok it for you to move on up on the eating schedule, but none of us can say it's OK. I truly understand and am not trying to come across as scolding. I made some mistakes in my early banding days and have been lucky not to pay any severe consequences. Call your doc tomorrow and ask for help on the hunger issue. That's one of the many things we pay them for.. to support us through this.