xavier

Oh, the dreaded town crier...theres one in or attached to every family! {Proceed with caution...I think I would not tell! Sorry Mom!

I buy the Premier Protein drinks at Cosco. They are 130 calories and 30 grams of protein and they taste great. Cosco has choc and vanilla and you can order the strawberry. They are delicious and I think it is $30 for a case of 18. (way more expensive to order but its worth it sometimes for a new flavor) I have one every day and I have been banded for 2.5 years. (maintenance normal BMI these days and finding it easy)

EVERYONE feels that way after surgery...its like you went thru ll that but you got nothing out of it! Its called bandster Hell! It can last a few months until you get restriction (usually at least half the capacity of your band) so its just the worst part. Later you'll be laughing about it but its not too fnny now! I always recommend reading the blog of band_groupie from the very beginning becuase she really takes you through all that and you'll be laughing and maybe crying with her about it. Like me she is at normal BMI and has not dieted or exercised. I found her blog very helpful!

Ok, I LOVE that band groupie...I am a groupie of hers! I am in maintenance also (normal BMI 145 for me, now 140 and a size 6) and I also have never dieted or exercised...if I could have done that I wouldnt have needed a band! I still eat all regular food and some bad food, and some cocktails etc but just in smaller amounts! Looking back I really struggled with not drinking with meals and I shouldnt have worried about it...now I cant drink with meals or I get too full and cant eat enough! There are a ton of people on this site who, in my opinion, are just struggling to diet and exercise and even if they are losing weight I always wonder if they can keep it up for life...unlikely. The changes I have made are not drastic and I am used to them...

I fell like for me the more I went all over this site and the more I participated in it, the more i was "in the game" and focused on my band. Also I feel like a lot of the health professionals we are all interacting with dont really understand the band all that well, because they just dont actually have one!

If you are not telling your parents because they will be critical or just not supportive then I think you are doing the right thing...I havent told more than two people because its very personal and I dont want the negative comments. BUT... if you are not telling them because you want to spare them the worry I'll just say one thing: Would it be ok if they or another family member did the same to you? Like if your Mom was having a small surgery (all surgeries have risk) and didnt want to worry you so didnt tell.

You will get lots of support and the brutal truth here...welcome!

Agree 100% with Jacqui!

If you have gone from shakes to real food that is your answer. Liquid food unless medically necessary is not good or realistic for your body. Jumpstarting your weight loss is also not a good idea as we are all in this for the long haul and by that I mean the entire rest of our lives! We need to make small changes in small steps that we can live with forever. The diet mentality of your dietician is completely counterproductive and unrealistic. You just need to eat smaller portions and focus on feeling satisfied and making some better choices that you can live with forever, not a drastic silly thing like shakes which makes everyone hungry and ready to overeat when they come off of it...some of these dieticians are using knowledge from decades ago!

RULE # 1: DO NOT engage in a conversation, dialog, or argument about your choices. Whatever the person says just nod and smile. As soon as you start defending your choice you have invited the other person to make their counterpoint.When they say , "why cant you do what this lady did?" just smile and say "Oh, I dont know " and STOP talking. They will tire of it if you dont participate. With this type or speed of weight loss lots of people want to be in your business about it and it seems it mostly stems from THEIR weight issues and isnt even about you. Good luck...dont participate in the conversation and there wont be a conversation!!!

Well TT is tummy tuck! I set my goal for 145 which was the first normal BMI. After that I naturally drifted down another five pounds which was good because I didnt want to be on that borderline of gaining a pound and officially being overweight again. I am happy here and wear a consistent size 6 at Gap or Loft. I never really dieted or exercised and my weight loss was quite slow.

Why drain it completely instead of just taking out a couple of ccs? You are back to the beginning I guess and I dont know how long it will take to get back some good restriction but this is going to be hard! Get off the scale and be nice to yourself...when your band is less than half filled (according to my doc) its like you just dont have a band there to help you!

I think walking at an easy pace is good. I had pretty bad knee and low back pain due to arthritis and now I have no knee pain at all (yay!) but my back is still the same...weird, huh? Anyway I walk my dog whether my back hurts or not and it doesnt seem to make any difference.

I guess I really cant imagine why you would puree ground beef. (for a craving?)Beef of any kind, let alone ground (cheapest icky stuff in there) is not needed nor is it good for you. There are many better sources of soft protein.

Go back to liquids only and call your doc!

I dont work out and never have except in short bursts to try to lose weight in the past! I just cant keep it up for a lifetime other than a few walks with my fat dog. OK, I admitted it, I dont exercise and yes, my weight loss was slow but from where I'm sitting now it doesnt matter. I dont diet either but I have continued to lose weight even past my goal. I LOVE my band!

Mainly its having my head clear of nearly all the bad thoughts about food and weight. I can just live my life.

When you don't leave home without a ziploc bag in your purse!

Calm down and relax! This is for the rest of your life so if it goes slow thats ok. Just hang in there till you get enough fills to limit what you eat! Good luck.

I had the same feelings and even now I still do! I take my size 6 jeans out of the dryer and they look so small I think they shrunk and I get scared to try them on. I am afraid they wont even go up my thighs...then I force myself to put them on and they are loose as ever! Weird! You are doing great!!

I am wondering if anyone's band and new lifestyle has helped them change things for the kids? I am guessing a lot of people on here have kids who are also on the road to obesity and I wonder if the lifestyle of the band is helping them make changes for their kids...anyone? (i have a skinny vegan daughter so she probably influences me more than the other way!)

I'm impressed and it really seems like you can do it! I still have a glass of wine (ok, sometimes two!) every evening to keep me from snacking...it has helped me get to and past my normal BMI goal...good luck!! Keep us posted!!

Agree about the diet thing and yes, take what works for you. I have never counted calories or eaten any low fat or low calorie or fake sugar foods but I do focus very closely on the protein first thing....otherwise I wont have room for it!

I agree 100%! and all the times I gave up I gained back what I lost and more!!! Thats why I never dieted through this whole thing...

Three days a week of exercise is ENOUGH!!! I dont think you have to become a exercise nut to lose weight with the band. I tried not to make any changes I couldnt keep up for life...who can go to the gym nearly every day their whole life? This is not a race to lose weight nor is it a crazy extreme diet/exercise regimen! (havent we done that many times over in the past and not stuck with it?) This lap band is a lifestyle for your lifetime...moderation!