BetsyB

I've lost using a pretty formulaic approach: 800-900 calories/day, 80-100 g protein/day, <50 g net carbs/day, good bariatric multivitamin, plenty of fluid, and daily exercise.

I use Nordic Naturals liquid--it has the most DHA+EPA available.

I like the PURE unflavored protein from bariatriceating.com. But using whey protein in cooked foods is definitely an art--you have to temper it so that it doesn't denature, or become clumpy. If the cookbook you have does not explain how to do this, let me know and I will

IMO, the hands-down winner for protein shake taste/quality are the Inspire and PURE proteins from bariatriceating.com. I like the Dutch Chocolate Cake and PURE unflavored.

I was a lifelong diet soda addict, and couldn't really imagine life without it. Banding cured me of that addiction. My doctor is a no-carbonation dude, and I really stuck to his rules/recommendations; he's a smart guy, and what I was doing before certainly wasn't working, so I did it his way. And it worked. I have had a sip of diet soda now and then---sometimes, I need a drink FAST, and one of my kids has one, and I take a sip. It's never caused me to explode or anything dire, but it's not comfortable, and it's no longer appealing. And I save a TON of money now that I'm not buying the stuff.

I haven't read all the responses, so I don't know what kind of turn the thread has taken. But in response to the first post, I have to semi-disagree. It's true that many of us are hungry at first---but as we approach and achieve restriction, the hunger is usually very well-controlled. Yes, I am hungry before meals. I'msupposed to be! You're supposed to be! It's an important signal our bodies are supposed to have! When I eat, the hunger abates. I am never stuffed. In fact, I am never FULL any more. "Full" does not exist any longer, because when I get to that point, I am terribly uncomfortable. But I am satisfied. And I stay that way...until I am appropriately hungry again. Hunger is not the enemy. Uncontrolled hunger is. And the band has 100 percent removed that, for me.

Nah--I really didn't use anything i took with me, other than lip balm.

I ditto the recommendation for Bariatric Eating's PURE unflavored protein. There is a trick to using protein in hot foods--it has to be done in a certain way (basically, heating the protein very slowly), or it denatures, or becomes clumpy.

whoops--duplicate

I needed well more than 7 cc to feel restriction. That said, even before I did, I acted as though I had restriction and followed my doctor's required eating regimen. Much of my loss occurred before I had restriction, but was due to ---yes!--eating less and exercising more. I didn't say, "Why have a band, then?" I realized that in order to lose weight I had to eat less. Whether I was banded or not. Once restriction is achieved, it's easier to lose weight, because hunger is not as big a part of the equation. But I still had to eat less, and the band doesn't do that for me.If I choose the right foods, I am now limited in how much I require to not be hungry (note: I did not say "full."). But "eat less" is not overly simplistic. It is simply the way it is. And if you don't accept that, you will not have the success you hope for. 4 fills, to 7 cc in 2 years---is not adequate. If your doctor is reluctant to fill, I'd look for another. Even small fractions of a cc of saline can have a huge difference. Work hard to get the benefit the band offers--it makes a huge, huge difference.

Don't lose hope. You're approaching the point where tiny fills make a huge difference. As the band gets fuller, fractions of a cc can make a huge difference. I didn't have restriction at 9 cc either. I've had several fills since that point. Each has been small, and each has made a HUGE difference. And I'm not even close to 11 cc. If you hit 11 cc without restriction, I will eat my hat. BUT, know that there IS room above 11 cc, and that your doctor CAN instill more saline, if need be. The manufacturer has guidelines for the leeway they built in to the device. I am sure your doctor knows this---it's a shame he's not being more reassuring to you.

My doctor insists on NOTHING on the wound site for six months. This was sort of distressing to me---until i hit that point, and realized that the only incision I could still see was the port site incision. And at almost a year out, it is very faint. Unless you have a history of scarring, I really would not worry about it at all.

Day 2 after anesthesia is cruddy. Your body will feel lousy as the drugs and anesthesia are metabolized and your body recovers from the mechanical trauma of surgery. You would feel cruddy, no matter what procedure you'd had, or what you were allowed to eat. Don't worry too much about weakness-it's not related to diet at this point. It very well might be related to hydration status, however---your real focus should be on getting adequate Fluid. The rest will fall into place as you start perking up. Your body's been through a lot! You will start to feel better before you know it.

This is a frustrating situation! Yes, you are losing very nicely. But that doesn't tell the whole story. Ideally, a doctor considers not only rate of loss, but the patient's subjective experience. If you're white-knuckling it to lose, then a fill is perfectly appropriate. Both your hunger level AND your rate of loss should be considered when making a fill decision. I would try to gently point this out. "Doctor, I agree; I am losing weight at a rate I'd love to continue. It's not the rate of loss I want to affect; it's my hunger level. I was able to lose two pounds a week before my band, too---and I was very hungry. I still am. Can you please adjust my band so that I can enjoy the benefit it offers? I understand the aim is not to increase my rate of loss. But I would very much like to have the benefit of the tool you installed, and have not yet reached the point where I am experiencing it."

My postop diet was very different from most I see. My doctor has his patients start with pureed Protein on Day 3. After about 10 days, we move to moist Proteins, then eventually solid proteins. Vegetables are not included until about Week 10, if I recall correctly. Fruits are introduced some time later. Then, for the duration of the weight loss stage, that's it: lean protein, nonstarchy veggies, and a fruit a day. It's worked tremendously well for me. After 75% of excess weight is lost, we're "allowed" to reintroduce starches. I have not done so--I don't have the room, and I am not where I want to be, weight-wise, so I am sticking with what works.