Yvette1026

Just chew them well and eat as normal until you're feeling full. What's the protein content? You don't want to feel so full that you'r'e not hungry enough to eat the protein that you need.

Hysterical... and to lose 50lbs in 3months you're well ahead of schedule so he's right. Frustrating as it can be, he's right. Enjoy the gym.

The squeaky wheel gets the oil, call them EVERY day, and if necessary multiple times a day. You're at the stage where your file is going to get piled up on somebody's desk. Getting covered by every new file going on top of it. Call every day and make them dig it out. Be nice, but to the point, they'll have you approved within the week.

Designer whey is 100 calories per scoop. With the shakes I make (adding 2 scoops, apples, bananas, strawberries and agave nectar and 1/2 of fage greek yogurt and 6oz of skim milk) it makes 44 oz (I split it up between the day or sip all day) and the whole thing is just under 500 calories. So if you divide that into 8oz servings (comes out to 5 and 1/2) that's just around 100 calories per serving. Making your own and using fresh and natural ingredients is always best.

LOL... my first blog on here is about my affair with Ronald and his golden arches... I'm never going back! lol

Be encouraged! You're actually right on track. Yes some people lost extreme amounts of weight in 3 months. HOWEVER, the lapband is designed to help you to lose weight at the rate of 8-10lbs per month. If you've been banded for 3 months and you've lost 28lbs you're RIGHT on track. Continue at this rate (let's say 9lbs a month) So 9lbs a month times 9 remaining months to your bandiversary puts you at losing around 9x9= 81 another 81lbs in a year's time. For a total of 109lbs down? That's amazing results. There will be weeks or months were you don't lose as much or even sometimes *gasp* gain, but be encouraged that you're doing everything necessary to lose the weight for good.

Fill that void with protein or things that stick with you like oatmeal, etc... Only real suggestion I have... I make sure everything I eat has high protein or protein added to it.. Even something like SF jello.. I'll mix in some greek yogurt to give it protein, SF pudding, mix in some protein powder, etc... Keeps hunger at bay.

16lbs is more than you would have lost without the band right? So on the upside you ARE losing. We all are going to lose at different paces so it's important to not compare yourself to others. That being said it's very hard to offer advice without knowing what you're eating. Are you eating in the right order? Are you eating high calorie or high fat foods? Are you snacking? Are you eating enough? Etc.. There's so many aspects that go into this for the weight loss to be successful. Having the band is NOT what makes us lose weight. It's the healthy food and lifestyle choices that we make that makes us lose or gain weight. So without knowing what a typical week's menu is for you, exercise, Water intake, etc.. it would be difficult to provide any real help or suggestions. But don't feel like a failure, remember without failure there's no success. You WILL get to your sweet spot and lose!

So I had pizza last night.. I was craving it.. (I know I know) I blame the $10 for any large pizza email I got from Pizzahut...anyways I got thin crust thinking this would help with bloating...etc.. Eh it's just not the same.. you ever eat something cause you had a craving and then you're like "eh" this isn't what I was expecting." or "this isn't as good as I thought it would be" - yep totally the reaction I had last night. Or maybe it's truly that I just don't care for pizza really, and especially pizza hut.. either way I was just about full after a piece, I started to eat another one and I was done.. which makes me glad I didn't get hand tossed but seriously who wants pizza on a cracker? Ick!

So I had pizza last night.. I was craving it.. (I know I know) I blame the $10 for any large pizza email I got from Pizzahut...anyways I got thin crust thinking this would help with bloating...etc.. Eh it's just not the same.. you ever eat something cause you had a craving and then you're like "eh" this isn't what I was expecting." or "this isn't as good as I thought it would be" - yep totally the reaction I had last night. Or maybe it's truly that I just don't care for pizza really, and especially pizza hut.. either way I was just about full after a piece, I started to eat another one and I was done.. which makes me glad I didn't get hand tossed but seriously who wants pizza on a cracker? Ick!

We're only going to speak the positive into this situation. Good thing they found it and now you can go in and get a brand new band. Best wishes on the entire process and rapid recovery and healing to you!

Good luck!

Let us not forget that my surgeon is a seperate $17K on his own. The 63K is coming from the place I had my surgery at (an out patient surgery center that I spent approximately 3 hours and 49 mins AND had to complain about because of their various issues that needed to be address. Everything they billed they billed as "Hospital incidentals" really??!?!??! incidentals?!??!?! And as for the fill my insurance paid around 700 for my fill, off that one fill I should be good and paid up for a few, especially with them being conservative on the fill, I'm gonna need her to put an extra CC or two in there.. or shoot send me home with my own needle and some saline... Although I'm definitely worth it, I have sticker shock right now.

Eat normally... so if you have steak, salad and potato - you would eat the steak first 4-6oz and then salad and then potato. If you're eating properly, chewing 30 times, waiting 30 to 60 seconds inbetween bites etc you should be full by the time you get to the potato. You can eat regular solid foods, you won't know what your "NO" foods are until you try them. Personally I haven't found any yet. I've been able to eat everything as long as I chew it properly. Although I must admit, cashews were a lil' hard on my tummy, but it could have been the coffee I drank before them (was trying to stay awake on a roadtrip). Just eat sensible balanced meals and you should do just fine.

Not only liquid but fat....when you reach that stage that's when you KNOW it's working

I did lindora years ago... like jr high and then again in college years ago. When I was on it, it was a 3 day fast to jump start your metabolism and then drinks, lots and lots of powdered drinks/soups/etc.. anything you could "just add Water to." The chicken Soup one wasn't horrible... It's the same premise as some of the stricter pre-op diets, high Protein liquids, and more high protein liquids. I believe they have a plan where you do liquids and one meal a day as well if I remember right. The only thing that really sticks out to me about them is going into the office and seeing 20lbs of fat sitting on the bookshelf, SO gross. I think I was scarred for life lol

The price tag on my surgery. Nevermind the $800 for my first fill...That my insurance doesn't seem to be covering all of.. Question though. If it's $150 for a fill with no insurance, how is it $800+ with insurance and I'm responsible for $186 of it. HUH WHAT??? :blink: :thumbup: I think I'm going to have to have a conversation with their billing department because one of these things is not like the other. Or how do you get the surgery cash for 15K yet my insurance is being charge $63,468.64???? How does that add up? I guess I should be ok with it and grateful it's going to my insurance and not me but REALLY?!??!! $63,468.64??!??!?!

:thumbdown: The price tag on my surgery. Nevermind the $800 for my first fill...That my insurance doesn't seem to be covering all of.. Question though. If it's $150 for a fill with no insurance, how is it $800+ with insurance and I'm responsible for $186 of it. HUH WHAT??? :thumbup: :blink: I think I'm going to have to have a conversation with their billing department because one of these things is not like the other. Or how do you get the surgery cash for 15K yet my insurance is being charge $63,468.64???? How does that add up? I guess I should be ok with it and grateful it's going to my insurance and not me but REALLY?!??!! $63,468.64??!??!?!

Congrats, having hit this milestone recently I know first hand how good it feels! Congratulations

That's great! Congratulations...happy surgery day and I hope you experience rapid recovery and healing! God bless!

There's this period people around here tend to call "bandster hell" - I didn't experience this - but it's basically where you're banded and not necessarily losing, still hungry, etc.. I've found that high Protein foods and drinks/smoothies helped me avoid this. If you're eating your Proteins first and then moving on to veggies and starches you should stay fuller longer. The fills aren't how you lose the weight or really curb hunger, it's how you eat. The band just provides you the restriction needed to not overeat at one setting. It's a tool. If you're not making proper food choices you will gain weight, just the same as prior to surgery. If you've moved to soft foods early that's fine as long as you can tolerate them. But you must be careful as to what soft foods you're eating. If you're eating slider foods and softs such as mac n' cheese, ice cream and other things like that you will gain. I'm sure you know most of the above, just putting it out there incase you didn't or for anyone else who may not know.

Glad I could help!

Welcome! And I agree with what sclftn stated. Good luck!

Don't listen to everybody else, everyone is different. I had people telling me it was worse than childbirth. Not having experienced it yet, if that's "worse than childbirth" I'm popping out as many babies as I can lol.. But seriously the gas pain is usually bad for those who don't do as they're told walk, walk and walk some more. Lil' shoulder pain is normal as this seems to be where the gas settles. The burping to me is the worst part of the whole process. You should feel like you had a serious ab workout, and then just the bloated, burpy gas feelings. Severe pain, or even moderate pain wouldn't come to mind. You know how dr's always ask you "On a scale of 1 to 10 how bad is your pain???" I would say 1 to 1.5, at the very absolute worse between pain meds on day 1 and just waking up, I would say a 3. But again, everyone is different. I know my recovery seemed to be very rapid and painless compared to those who had surgery the same day as me. By day 3 I was off pain meds completely and back to normal for the most part. Day 4 I worked, I got tired easier and walking too far for too long was a lil' too much (thank goodness for those electric shopping carts) but other than that that's about the worst of it. Some tips: Surgery day-Day 1: Stay as upright as possible and get up and walk every hour. Even if it's just up and down your hallway. Ideally 200 steps per hour, but as many as you can do. I would suggest sleeping in a recliner and again staying as upright as possible to allow the gas to disburse. Gas-x strips are your friend, however be careful not to take to much as they, much like cold medicine, suppress and not cure what's wrong with you. Fill your lortab prescription before surgery and have it ready to go. I didnt' get nauseated or use any of the nausea medication. I just used the 3 day patch they put behind my ear in surgery. I had no nausea at all. Foodwise you probably won't feel like much. But be sure to get some ice chips, sip Water or have a sf popsicle or two. This will help with the internal swelling as well as keep you hydrated. Day 2: Pain meds, gas-x, stay up right and walk. You should get some broth, Jello or something in you today. Remember to take in water as well... Chances are you won't need the lortab by the end of today, so be sure to have some liquid tylenol on hand. Day 3: You're probably going to wake up hungry, again follow your dr's diet, get your Clear liquids in you and if you can stomach it an Isopure drink or something like that to get your Protein up. (I personally moved to mushies on day 3, but follow YOUR doctor's advice for YOU.) Repeat yesterday's diet of broth, jello, etc.. whatever your dr has instructed. You'll more than likely be able to get around easier, still be a bit burpy but use the gas-x as needed. Again stay as upright as possible and walk walk walk... I spent my first 3 days/nights in a recliner, not a bed. I did not lay down until the night of day 4. The pain medicine after the first day or so is mostly for the shoulder discomfort you'll have from the gas settling... as gross as it is, let it out.. too many gas-x strips as I said will suppress it and it needs to get out. The first 3 days is the worst of it...of course you'll read some horror stories on here but don't let that scare you. As I said everyone is different. Even thought we're all taking the same trip, our journeys are quiet different. This is THE BEST thing I have EVER done for myself. I'm 1 month post-op (had surgery 12/18/09) I've lost 22.8lbs and 7 inches in my waist since surgery and I couldn't be happier....If you include my pre-op weight loss I'm down just over 50lbs in 7 weeks and am 90lbs away from my dr's goal for me. I can't wait for you and everyone else to experience this and know how good it feels. Please don't let some anxiety or someone else's negative experience detour you from doing something so great for yourself. Just remember for every bad story you hear/read, there's 100+ great ones...

I just had my first fill on the 18th and I'm feeling the same as you, I have my next one on the 8th and I'm anxious for it. It's a mind over matter issue at this point.. keep up the good fight.. wait a full minute between bites, chew 30 times and you should get that full feeling again.