123crod

I like Muscle Milk Light too. I also by the pre-mixed at Sams. I also like Slimfast Low Carb it is good too. Cheri

I take prenatal vitiams as I read in a LapBand book that the surgeon who wrote the book put both men and woman on these so I am giving them a try, so far so good. Cheri

When my weight stalled I had to start low carb, NOT no carb but pretty low carb to get the scale to move. Cheri

A therapist should listen and help you work through any problems you have and come to your own conclusion as to what you should do. You do not have to be crazy to see one. It is the smart people who seek out help when they need it. Also not all overweight people need to see one, people are overweight because of all types of reasons. Cheri Cheri

Hang in there it will get better soon. I am 15 months out and down 80 lbs. I think one of the secrets of success is having a support system. My doctor had a support group but it was too far and not at a good time for me to go, so I met some people on these boards and we started our own support group. We meet once a month and talk by phone or e-mail the rest of the time. We are all getting ready to go to a WLS Conference in Houston next week, we are all rooming together. It will be so much fun! Find you a support group in your area it will make such a difference. I would love to talk to you. I met someone on these boards before I had surgery and we e-mailed all the time. She ended up not being able to have surgery due to heart problems but we still talk all the time 15 months later. You can private message me or e-mail me at crodriguez17@comcast.net if you want to talk. Cheri Cheri

I am 15 months out and down 80 lbs. I would love to be your buddy. But I am much older than you you might want a buddy closer to your age? You have a good surgery date you should be on mushies by Thanksgiving right? Mash potatoes were my favorite mushie to eat. I do not eat them anymore because of the carbs but did during mushie stage. If you want to talk private message me or e-mail me at crodriguez17@comcast.net. I will turn 50 next week and have one 29 year old son and a great daughter-in-law and 2 little Grandbabies and I get to see them all the time. Let me know if you want to talk. Cheri

No regrets here. 15 months out - down 80 lbs Cheri

I was selfpay and even if you have insurance that covers it, you are still paying monthly payments for the insurance so either way it cost all of us to do this. Cheri

Call your surgeon, either something is wrong (prefill) or you might just have tough it out up for a few more days or a week. Did that sound rude? Did not mean to it is just how I see it. After having surgery some people are going to take longer to heal and feel better. If you can make it through the hard part it get so much easier later. But you have to be able to get liquids down for sure if not call doctor right away. Hope you feel better soon. Cheri

I would suggest that you see another therapist just about this issue and get a second opinion. I see a therapist and she know me inside and out as I have been very honest about all things we have discussed. I would trust her opinion in my situation . . I think it all depends on how honest you have been and how educated he/she is on WLS. But like everyone else says it is your body and your mind and I think people can do anything they really want to do. If you are able to understand the rules and willing to follow them I say go for it, just make sure you educate yourself as much as you can not just reading but go to a couple of support group meetings and meet people who are living the Band life. Cheri

Ok you all have to give it time, it is a slow process, but will happen really soon. Do not be discouraged hang in there follow the rules, work out, drink your Water. I have lost 80 lbs and still losing slowly. You can make it. Even if you can eat more you have to stop yourself at what the Dr told you. Do not try to see how much you really can eat, just eat your portion size and then stop. Pretty easy! Cheri

I was on the pill and nobody told me to stop taking them. And I am 49 on the pill and still had to take a pregnancy test at hospital.

I am 15 months post opt and at about 3 months after surgery I started to be so tired I could not stay awake to work (I work at home) or when my Grandbabies were here I find myself falling asleep, which could not go on. I went to Dr. he ran blood test and everything was okay. I am now 15 months out and still on the weekends I can sleep for hours and hours. During the day I have to drink coffee to stay awake to work or the 2 days my Grandbabies are here. I now have lost 80 lbs and had my Dr change my antidepressant from Lexapro high dose to Zoloft lowest dose and that have made it easier to stay awake. On the weekend I still can sleep for hours. My Dr. thinks that changing the foods I was eating to new foods since surgery has caused the tiredness, he said even the fact that it was larger volumes of food before to much smaller amounts of food now could make a difference. I still exercise everyday or every other day. But I stay tired all the time. I started a week ago taking prenatal vitamins because in a book I read this Dr. gave all his Lapband people men and women prenatal vitamins. I am hoping it helps some. Also if you take certain meds like antidepressants you should stay away from grapefruit and grapefruit juice as it makes your meds stronger than they should be. I also suffer from anxiety so drinking coffee with caffine is not good for me but I have to make a living and a 14 month and 4 year old running around the house while grandma sleeps is not a good thing. Cheri

I just had .2ccs removed after trying to hold on to it for 7 months a little too tight. It makes a world of difference, get a small amount taken out and if you still have trouble have a tiny bit more taken out. Cheri

I have seen commercials too! Look forward to your story. Wish you best of luck!! Cheri

I can lose it no problem....... just can not maintain it. In a couple of years it returns. Cheri

Good attitude! I never had that attitude when I am heavy I get more depressed and close myself off from people. Now that I have dropped 80lbs. I am just starting to come out of the shell I have been hiding away in. Cheri

Try drinking some hot coffee or hot tea before you eat. It tends to open your band some. Cheri

Try making your own protien shake. I used to use Greek yogurt and a scoop of Protein powder and some frozen fruit and blend it all up . . . it is so good. You can also use any other yogurt that is high in protein. Cheri

I am 15 months out and down 80 lbs. I think you need to give up the idea of feeling "full" just eat the amount you know you should and eat the foods you know you should forget about the full feeling it never comes for some people. You just have to stop when you know you have eaten the right amount and your body will start to be happy with that portion size. I only have 3.8ccs now in my 10cc - just had .2ccs removed today. Everyone does not need a lot of fill. You may be waiting for a feeling that you will never have. Cheri Cheri

CA7696 - I think you are just trying to be a good friend. Friends should be able to talk to each other about all kinds of things. Maybe you can lead by example and they will see your progress and want the same. Cheri

15 months out, 80lbs down, no trouble eating popcorn.

I think people should not be looking for the fills to stop all your eating patterns. I have been banded for 15 months today and have lost 80 lbs so far. Today I had to go have some fill removed, just .2ccs. I now have 3.8 ccs in my 10cc band and that is all I can handle. I think people concentrate too much on the amount of fill they have, some of it has to be self-discipline and forcing yourself to change your eating habits. Some of you have more in your first fill than I have in 15 months. Finding out what is behind the head hunger is the best thing you can do for yourself. Cheri

Need some prayer for my son Robert, God needs to open a door for him at work. God has always been faithful to hear our prayers. My husband and I could not have raised this young man without having a relationship with Christ. So if you have a few moments I ask you to say a prayer for him, that God's will, will be done in his life and whatever job is God's will, will happen. Thanks so much!! Cheri

09Freedom, So sorry you are having such trouble. I have throwup since I was first banded. So far no slip and I hope it never does. For some reason my “stuck” never goes down it always comes up since the beginning. I am finally getting to a point where it WILL go down if I wait it out. I think my gag reflex just happens too easy and that is why it comes up. I have not had a fill since February, but had to go low carb (not no carb) to continue losing weight. Cheri