Vivinthewoods

Hi tbird, Adding moderate exercise into the equation, the website I went to came up with the following numbers: - "Your basal metabolic rate is 1374 calories per day. Your total energy requirements are 1786 calories per day." My age plays a part in these calculations, so maybe I don't need as many calories - I am an ancient tortoise compared to you young chicks! After our chats here yesterday I did up my cals last night and low and behold when I jumped on the scale this morning I had lost a pound!!! I will try again to talk with the Dr at my next appt. At my post-op visit I asked, "exactly how much protein, cals and liquid should I get a day". He just said 4 - 5 small meals of 200 cals each. Now I'm 6 weeks post-op my needs may have changed. I wish he had a nutritionist on staff. Thanks for all the support -

When I first talked with my PCP about looking into WLS I had high blood pressure and cholesterol, plus my blood sugar was creeping up, so I was close to diabetes. She just ask me to just eat more sensibly - healthy foods and to start vigorous exercise for an hour a day, 5 days a week. I started walking on a treadmill and slowly worked up the time, pace and speed. I steadily lost 37 lbs prior to surgery and my BP, BS and cholesterol were all within normal range. I just felt so much healthier than I did 6 months earlier.

Hi Mel, Thank you for your words of encouragement. I guess I was feeling a little discouraged when reading about other Dec. bandsters with super W/L. Thanks too for all the BMR info - very interesting. You obviously paid attention in class! Don't you just love this website, especially our little Dec gang - I just learn so much from you guys. Cheers:smile2:

Hi Mel, Thanks for your questions. I did not know what my BMR was (I'd never heard of BMR!) but Googled it and calculated my BMR to be 1374. I am eating between 800 - 900 cals a day. I get on the treadmill every day for 30 to 40 mins and walk at an 8 incline (incline scale 1-10) and at 3.8 mpr. This burns 400 to 450 cals. It is a week today since my first fill and I have lost just 3 lbs. and I lost 9 lbs from band date to first fill. Do you think I'm just on the low end of W/L? Do you think that because I lost weight (37 lbs) prior to being banded has anything to do with slow W/L now? I do have an under active thyroid, but my meds actually put me slightly above normal - my PCP said she would keep my dosage a little high to help metabolism and W/L. I don't feel as if I'm starving on my calorie in take, just a bit hungry as it get close for the next meal. I just have a hard time getting my head around the fact that eating more calories will make me loose weight. I appreciate your input and comments.:thumbup:

Hi Curious, You and I are both lucky with our fills - I did not even have a numbing shot and all I felt was a little prick and it was over and done. I am having such a hard time moving the lbs since surgery. I walk on the treadmill every day for about 40 mins and I log everything I eat, so I know my calorie count, but the scales remain the same - I'm just 12 lbs down. My first fill was also 3 ccs, I hope my next one will be the same. Let us know if you feel the restriction once you are back on regular foods.

You are quite normal. You are swollen from your surgery and need to give your body time to heal. Each day you will feel a little better. I started to feel well about 2 weeks after surgery. My tummy took/is taking longer to go down. Hang in there - it will happen for you.

Congrats! It won't be long now, after waiting 4 years. I wish you all the best for your surgery day.

"Love it. They really do find every possible way to milk the consumer don't they!" Elcee - Yes, the hospitals sure do try to sick it to you. Ocotillo - Yes, I will have to pay 20% of the over charge, but I will try for an adjustment. I'll let you know if I'm successful. I'm not knitting any booties yet!!!!!:thumbup:

Now that I am one month post-op, statements and ‘Explanation of Benefits’ have started to arrive from the hospital and my insurance company. Although my insurance covers 80% of my Lap Band surgery, I was intrigued to know what the large amounts money, submitted to the insurance company, were actually for – they are listed on the ‘Explanation of Benefits’ under the nondescript heading of ‘Service’. I called the hospital and asked for an itemized listing of these services, which the hospital provided. Being a non-medical person I do not understand what the majority of items are, but a couple of things did catch my eye. # 1 - on the statement for my pre-op testing there is a double charge for an Electrocardiogram – same date, same service code and same amount of $348.50. # 2 - again on the pre-op testing statement, I see my urine was tested for pregnancy. On the paperwork I filled out I listed all surgeries, which included a tubal ligation done 25 years ago! Due to the fact that I have not become pregnant in the last 25 years, I take this as good proof that the tubal ligation has worked and that it is highly unlikely I would be with child now! This, and the fact that I have been post-menopausal for the last twelve years and I am nearly sixty one years of age, I see as almost certain proof in ruling out the possibility of me being pregnant and yet I was still tested. Cost for this test, $135.00. #3 – if one pregnancy test wasn't enough, there is another charge on the statement (this time on the date of my surgery) for a second pregnancy urine test. This is a completely false charge, as I never gave my urine to any one on that day. In fact, on the day of my surgery I had very little urine at all. This was because I arrived at the hospital before 5:00 a.m. and my surgery was delayed and delayed and I did not go into the O.R. until 7:00 p.m. that evening. As I had had my last drink at 11:00 p.m. the night before and did not get a drink of Water until 10:00 p.m., this meant I went 23 hours with a sip of water passing my lips. I certainly would have remembered giving up a urine sample - they would have had to squeeze it out of me! Another charge of $135.00. To my reckoning that is a total of $618.50 of wrong/unnecessary charges, and that is only on the few things I could figure out what they were. It makes me wonder about all the other items listed on this 4-page statement!!!! I will be calling the hospital and my insurance company tomorrow.

I really feel for you and understand the stress you are feeling over your fills. I was lucky - my first fill was so painless, but my surgeon is very experienced. Please think of us, your fellow December Bandsters as your support group - I'm sure I speak for all of us, that we are here with sympathetic ears and kindly thoughts for you and the difficult time you are having.

Thanks Fanny for those encouraging words, I can't wait to see my 'pouch' go down. Small world - I was in Perth last year; my sister lives a bit further south, in Busselton. I hope you get some cooler temps and rain soon.

I have the same problem. I started walking on a treadmill in May-09 (banded in Dec.) and the weight has come off my thighs. Since being banded I have noticed my boobs are getting smaller, but my tummy area is not moving, in fact since the op it seems harder to pull my tummy and stomach in. Does anyone have this problem? I know I'm just a month post-op, so fingers crossed my belly will go away with time.

My first fill went fine too - doctor just patted my tummy a few times to find the port and then just a tiny pick - that was all I felt. I got 3cc. Then a floroscope and drinking that barium stuff - this is what I was dreading, but it was fine. I thought I would have to drink a big glass of gritty barium, but it was only one small mouthful, about the consistency of Milk of Magnesia, which I saw go straight down into my big stomach and the nurse said that was perfect. I sat and drunk a full bottle of with no problem and then went shopping to the fabric store next to the Doctor's office - how nice of him to move into that location! I have to be on a liquid diet for 3 days and soft food diet for 3 days after that. So glad your fill went well.

But just think about the, "WOW - just look at mom now!" you will be getting. Hang in there with the W/L - it will happen. Hey, I win the prize for the slowest post-surgery weight loss. :thumbup:

Me too! Let me know how yours goes and how many cc's you get. Good luck:thumbup:

Congrats. More power to you as you rev on by into the 200's!!!:smile2:

Welcome Logan, You will find lots of helpful info here and great support as you start your WL journey. Good luck for your surgery.

Yes, my doctor said to expect to be tight first thing in the morning. He wants his patients to drink a protein shake for breakfast from banding to eternity!

Hi Dear D.D's After weeks of not feeling hungry and forcing myself to get 600 cals down, my appetite finally kicked in! I could eat a horse! Like Ara my sweet tooth has also returned - make that a chocolate covered horse! I talked with my PCP this morning, she would like to see me consume 1000 to 1500 cals a day. I'm sure I am getting 1000 now. I'm sure I will be ready for my 1st fill in 10 days time. For those who have had a fill with a fluoroscope, how long was that machine on? Is any other part of your body protected i.e. with a lead apron? I'm concerned about the amount of radiation, as I'm also having a lot of dental work done and having many X-rays with that too. Thanks for any info you may have.

Thank you for being concerned, I appreciate it. I have not seen a nutritionist and don't think my L/B surgeon has one on staff. I did try and get a clear and decisive number from him yesterday on the amount of calories, protein and liquids I should be getting, but the closest I got was, "4-5 small meals about 200 cals each". So I will try to up my intake. I will be seeing my PCP on Monday and will talk with her. Since May she has monitored my weight and advised that I did not go below 1,000 cals, but I found I only lost weight when on 900. I'll let you know what she says. Again, it is sweet of you to write and be concerned; I feel we have a really nice group/little community in the December Delights! Thanks everyone.

Good question, it will be interesting to see what we forms of exercise we are working at. I do 30 -40 mins on the treadmill, I started doing this back in May (2009) and have kept it up. From May to my surgery in Dec I lost 36 lbs. Since surgery I have gradually worked my pace back up and am now walking at my normal speed of 3.6 mph and at a #6 incline (hope to get back up to #10). My PCP would like me to walk for an hour, 5 days a week, but I am more comfortable with 40 mins, but exercise 7 days a week. I also walk my dogs every day (if it is not raining) for 1/2 a mile, but my PCP says that does not count as they are little dogs with short legs!!!!

Thanks for your concern. I feel fine and I'm not feeling hungry. I can't understand why I don't loose more weight!!! I am eating mushies now, but just eat 4 oz of food at a time. I have 1/2 an Atkins shake for breakfast. For lunch today I had a little baked yam, mixed with chicken soup and a bit of mashed broccoli, tonight I'll have an Egg Beaters omelet with a little fat free re-fried beans and I'll finish off the Atkins later in the evening - so I think I am getting some healthy nourishment. I also take 2 multivitamins. Before the surgery I was eating 900 cals a day - I think I just have a screwed up metabolism

Hi Natalia, You and I are in the same boat. I was banded on the 28th and have only lost 8 lbs. I also walk every day (on a treadmill) 30 to 40 mins and burn 300 - 350 cals. I eat about 600 cals a day. So have been disappointed when I read of others with 15 - 25 lb w/l. But I did lose a lot of weight pre-op and I think what is still sticking with me is the nitty-gritty hard core fat. Plus, I do have a thyroid condition which affects my metabolism. Also I'm not a spring chicken. So what I'm trying to say is, there may be many reasons that the lbs. are not coming off as fast as we would like, but you know we will get there in the end. I had my first post-op checkup today and the doc was pleased with my progress, so I decided not to beat myself up over this. I may be a wrinkly old tortoise but I'll get to the finish line, even if it takes a little longer than most! Hang in there.

My son came home from college with a friend in tow, a little dog he rescued from a puppy mill. He could not keep her at college, but knew where two suckers lived (mom & dad)! This poor little dog had been abused, including being burnt along her back. The vet recommended rubbing human scar cream into her hairless back, but said Sassy's hair may never grow back. I rubbed the cream in twice a day and in two weeks Sassy's scars looked better and we could see tiny hairs coming thru. Today you would never know she had such a horrible back. The cream I used is call 'Scar Zone', which I found in the pharmacy dept at the supermarket. So, I highly recommend this cream, but also hope it does not produce hairy bellies!!!!!:smile2:

So pleased you are doing better with the heart burn - that can be so miserable. I have tried the veggi chips (before banding) and liked the flavor and they were a good crunchy snack, but I wonder how well they would 'sit' now. I can't remember the calorie count, but I think they are fried. Hope you continue to feel good.