vlp1968

You are right, I was told carbonation stretches the pouch. I think a drink once in a while is fine. It would be good to factor it into your calories for the day. In mixed drihks I would avoid regular soda and juice. They both have lots of carbs and calories. Have fun.

You are doing great! Focus on the fact your in a smaller size, that means your shrinking! Seems like you are doing all the right things, the scale will reward you at some point, I hope it's sooner rather than later. I know lots of doctors advice against it, but I have always included snacks in my daily intake. I snack on low fat cheese, nuts (1/4 c) and berries. On those days your hungrier, I would go ahead and have a snack. I think you are probably buiding muscle due to all your excersise, muscle takes up less room on the body. Loosing fat but gaining muscle will cause you to shrink, but not for the scale to go down. Measuring yourself might be helpfull. That way you will have concrete numbers to compare, it will just be inches on your body rather than pounds on the scale.

Yes, I excersise 4-5 times a week, I am now up to 45 minutes on the treadmill. I warm up for 5 minutes, walk 1 minute, jog for 4 for 35, cool down for 5. It's called interval training and is suppossed to burn more that than staying at the intense part the whole time. I think the workouts are 1 key to my success, the othe is diet I eat very lean protien and non starchy veggies for meals. I snack on nuts (1/4 cup), low fat cheese and berries. I believe the low carb/ low fat/ high protien diet was key to my success. Thanks for asking and I hope it helps. Everyone needs to do what works for them, this is just what worked for me. The very basic is if you burn more calories than you take in, you will loose weight. Best wishes.

Try not to obsess about the scale, natural fucuations happen. Keep doing what your doing and it will pay off for sure. If you have pretty good restriction, a fill may not be necessary. Keep track of what you eat and how long you stay full so you and your doctor can decide what to do.

I would call your doc.s office. They should have an answering service, since its Sat. They can contact your doctor and hopefully he will prescribe something stronger for the pain. Everybody has a different pain tolerance, I don't think it means there is something wrong. However, it is probably a good idea to get checked out next week. Hope you feel better soon!

Personally, I don't think the fact you are consistanly loosing means you don't need a fill. My doc, gave ne fills even when I was loosing weight fairly quickly. I explained how much I was eating and what my hunger was like. You may want to keep some sort of journal and bring it with you. Good luck!

Hi there, 18 months out is kind of a milestone for me. I go to a "Vetrans" support group. The vets sit at a table and those less than 18 months sit around it. For the first hour it's just the vets, than they open it up to the whole group. The June meeting will be my first one at the table. I have done well with the band, lost 107 pounds in about 10 months. Right now, I keep my band very loose. I want to be able to eat Breakfast, whole grain breads and Pasta. I am still struggling with 5 pounds I gained. I was "bad" for almost 2 weeks. Not again, it just wasn't worth it. Hope you all are well and look forward to hearing your stories.

I too do decaf coffee during the day. It's nice to have something, I strongly advice you to give up the bread, I have found that way back on carbs really helps weight loss. I eat lots of lean meats and veggitabls. Nuts (1/4 cup) and low fat cheese for a snack. Until you get restriction, your portions may be larger than when you get it. Focus on eating the right foods- low carb, low fat, high protien. Good luck!

I know it feels like you should have lost more, but 8 pounds in 11 days is great! That is a rate of more than 4 pounds a week. I agree with the above post, try and stay off the scale for now. When I was loosing I weighed in once a week and recorded it. You don't want to be discouraged by the scale. If you are doing the right things, the scale will eventually show it. Congrats on your surgery!

It's MHO that there is really nothing that can be done about excess skin short of plastic surgery. What your skin does depends on age, if you have been pregnant, years of up and down weight, genetics. I was left with hanging skin around my stomach, face and arms. My boobs also deflated, to the point where they were pretty much just skin, and drooped. I have had a tummy tuck/boob job and a face lift. I am thrilled with the results. Taking a little break and then will get my arms done, probably at the end of the summer. Congrats on your impending surgery and best wishes.

I would call your doc.'s office and see if they can squeeze you in. Like said above, maybe he will see you inbetween surgeries or after. I think you need a slight unfill. In the mean time, I have found watered down shakes stay down when I have been too tight after a fill. Hope you feel better soon.

I don't think chicken broth has many calories. It's a clear liquid, no cream or anything in it. I think yoiu did just fine. Best wishes.

I have been too tight, and hesitated to go in for an unfill thinking it was swelling and not wanting to be hungry. Once I "sucked it up" and went in for an unfill I felt much better. I even still had restriction. I suffered longe than necessary. If your still having trouble Friday I would call for sure. Hope you feel bette soon.

I agree, part of it is lots of wate weight. I wouldn't worry, your loss is bound to slow down. I think you are doing just fine.

Increased excersise is a great way to get those last pounds off. I have a personal trainer and love it. She really keeps me on track. Since I go the gym to meet with her, it's like ok, I might as well do cardio while I'm here. She also makes sure I am doing the proper form and using the right amount of weight. I think you are right, it's an investment in yourself. Do it!

2 pounds is something to celebrate! Good job. You are doing great. You seem to be preparing in your mind for when you have restriction, I think that is really good.

What a milestone! Keep up the good work!

While I was loosing I only weighed in once a week, and recorded it. Now that I am maintaining, I weigh myself every day, keeping within a 2 pound range, if I go above that I know it's time to make an adjustment. Just what works for me. Recently I have been struggleing with a 5 pound gain, the daily flucuations have driven me crazy. However, I know if I keep doing the right things the damn scale will move. I finally lost a pound after about a 4 day stall. I have toyed with the idea of stopping the daily weigh ins, especially when I have a few pounds to loose, but I just can't help it. I have become a scale whore! lol

What you are going through is perfectly normal. Your doc. is having you wait quite a long time for a fill. I got my first one 6 weeks out. Every doc. is different. Hang in there! Have you started excersising? It has so many benefits and really helps weight loss. It is so tough to get started, but for me it has become a matter of routine. I was about 4 months post op before I hit the gym. As far as eating, I suggest you concentrate on eating the right things (low carb, low fat, high protien) even if your portions are larger than they will be once you have restriction. Best wishes!

For me, recovery was easy. I didn't even have the gas many talk about. I am lucky in that I have a pretty high pain tolerance. I did take the pain meds for 2-3 days, I figured why be uncomfortable. Everyone is different. A week off sounds about right, just in case. If you have a very physical job you may need even longer. If that is the case, I would talk to your surgeon about it. He/she may want to see you and give you clearance to go back to work. Congrats on your impending surgery! You will do great.

Are you excersising? If not, I highly reccomend you start. It has so many benefits, just one being weight loss. Sometimes I do liquids (high protien shakes) for a day or 2 to get back on track. I believe strongly in a high protein, low carb, low fat diet. Make sure you are getting in plenty of fluids, at least 64 oz. a day. You can do it! Good luck!

I totally agree- the idea is to get smaller right? You are shrinking and that is the goal. You are doing just fine. Try not to get on the scale everyday, the daily flucuations will drive you crazy. When I was loosing I weighed in once a week and recorded it. Well, I did "cheat" a few times, but not very often. Congrats on your surgery!

Bring chapstick, you won't be allowed fluids until they do an exray and make sure everything is where it should be. Your lips will get very dry. Also, a pillow for the ride home, to put between you and the seatbelt. Congrats on your impending surgery, you will do great!

For me, three fills gave me some restriction. Seems like I have read on here that 3 fills does it for a lot of people. I sure hope it is the magic number for you! Best wishes.

Sorry you are having such a tough time. That's great you reached out- a huge first step. Are you keeping junk in the house? If you are, I highly reccomend you get rid of it. If it's not there, you can't eat it. If you keep it in the house for others, they don't need it either. I agree that maybe you should go in for a fill. You will just have to get over being ashamed and do it. The band is not doing it's job if you are able to overeat. I hope your doctor is a good one, one who won't put you down, but reach out to help you. Is there a support group you can go to? Are you in any kind of therapy? These things may help with the emotional side of eating. Excersise would be great. It has so many benefits, just one being weight loss. Start out slow and gradually increase your duration/intensity. It is so tough to start (took me about 4 months postop before I hit the gym) but will become a matter of routine. I haven't grown to love it, but it always feels good when I'm done. Hope all this helps and keep us posted on how your doing. Best wishes!