vlp1968

I am not much of a cook either. I eat perdue perfect portion chicken breast- they are a "perfect portion" and come individually wrapped. I just throw the bag in the freezer and take one out at a time. I also pan fry fish with oldbay seasoning- I like catfish. Although not one of my faves I eat tuna once in a while. I also eat marinated lean port loin. They come in several flavors. You just bake it in the oven. I also like hormell canned chili, although I cut that out when I reduced my carb intake. Now that I am maintaining I eat it again. For snacks I like nuts, lowfat cheese sticks, beef jerkey, fruit, cottage cheese, greek yougurt. Hope this helps and best of luck to you! Just remember, high protien, low carb and low fat.

I doubt very much the lapband is causing your rash. I agree it is probably an allergic reaction to the antibiotic they gave you. Sounds pretty bad- I would go to a dermatologist for sure. they will probably prescribe an oral steroid or a much stronger cream than the 1% cortizone you can get over the counter. I have had many skin problems (including several allergic reactions) so I sympathize greatly. Hope it clears up soon!

Sounds like you need to get back to basics: eat at least 60gms of proien drink at least 64oz of water- the more the better start an excersise program- I know it's expensive but maybe you can join a gym or splurge on something like a treadmill for the house. The wii fit is another thought. Journal everything you eat- bring it to your appt. to help your doctor with your fills. Get a fill if need be- from what you said I am guessing you don't have restriction. Keep us posted on how your doing.

That's awsome! Fitting into clothes that used to be to small is such a great feeling! I hardly bought any clothes (literally just one pair of pants and a top) while I was loosing. I had so many sizes in my closet I just had to shop there.

About 6 months after surgery I was taken off all my weight related meds. I have diebeties, high blood pressure and high cholesteral. It was so exciting! I disagree with your doctor that lapband patients don't get off there meds. However, maybe it doesn't happen as fast. Plan to excersise, it helps these conditions and will help you get off your meds sooner. Good luck!

I am pretty darn sure it's not a slip. My doc. said if the band slips suddenly you can't keep anything down. Not even fluids. Do you have an appointment for a fill? Could you call and get in sooner if it's not in the immediate future? Right now I would concentrate on eating the right foods (low carb, low fat, high protien). Your meals may be larger than they will be once you have restriction, but at least it's a great start. Starting a workout program would be great also. It did wonders for me. Start off slow and gradually increase the duration/intensity. Journaling your food intake is probably a good idea as well. It will help you see where your at and you can bring it to the doc. as info to help him/her to know how much to fill you.

Sounds like you may be slightly irritated and need a rest. I would try protien shakes for today- you want to get some nutrition. Hope you feel better soon.

I would worry that the amount your eating, and the carbonation could stretch your pouch. The stomach has a lot of give, so you probably haven't done any damage yet. However, if you keep it up I think you might. Make sure you eat lots of protien to help fill you up. Have a couple of healthy snacks (fruit, nuts, low fat cheese) a day to keep you from getting too hungry. Although you don't have restriction yet, now is the time to start following the band rules as best you can. It gets much easier with restriction.

Well- on the one hand I am happy I got banded because I lost the weight very successfully. l lost 107 pounds in about 10 months. However, I spend more time either being hungry or sick from being overfilled than I would have liked. I have had trouble keeping food down and go into the doc. this afternoon. I am seriously considering a complete unfill. I not only want the vomiting to stop but I want to be able to eat breakfast, eat whole grain bread, brown rice and pasta, eat eggs. I think I will be able to maintain my weight with my band unfilled. I have learned how to eat properly and excersise both cardio and weights. Wish me luck!

You can't excersise intensily yet, but you could start walking. Moving around, even though you don't want to, will actually increase your energy level. It can also start you on a good track when your cleared for excersise. It is such a vital component to weigh loss. Not only do you burn calories while your doing it, you build muscle wich causes your body to burn more calories all day long. Good luck!

I eat, hungry or not. I generally eat pretty rote- shake for breakfast, mid morning snack of friuit and chesse, or nuts or beef jerkey, lean meat and a veggie for lunch, another sanck, more lean meat and veggie for dinner and a sanck before bed. Snacks have been key for me, they keep me from getting too hungry. When I am very hungry is when I make poor choices. I have consistenly lost weight since I started the program. I am currenly maintaining a 107 pounds loss. Hope this helps.

I think there is a fine line between carefull planning of mealsand snacks thoughout the day and obbsession. I plan in the morning what I will eat for the day, and even the approximate times, depending on what I have going on in that day. I find snacks really help me from getting too hungry and then making bad choices. I would seek out a counselor that focuses on food issues. A counselor should be able to get to the root of why you overeat and help change your relationship with food. All this blaming your doing is not helpfull. You are being way to hard on yourself. Spending hours beating yourself up about something that's already done is not productive, It will only make you anxious and deppressed and you will want to eat more. Good luck and keep us posted on how your doing.

I agree with the above posts, get in to see your doctor asap. My doc is great about squeezing me in when I need an unfill. Tell them it's an emergency. It's not normal for solids to consistently come back up. don't worry about being hungry after an unfill. For me that never happened, the took a litte out and I was then at a good place in terms of hunger and food staying down. Good luck!

I wouldn't worry about a 2 pounds gain. I'ts probably just a natural flucuation in weight that happens to everybody. It probably is water weight. It should come back off now that your home and into your regualar routine. Please don't let it discourage you!

I think you just have to accept that your not going to get a lot of support from your friend. I am sure she is angry with herself for gaining, and jealous of you for loosing. Look to others for encouragement, maybe family. Like already said, keep doing what your doing and be a good example for your friend. As long as she is not sabotoging you ( that I would discuss with her for sure) I think you should just let things be. Best wishes in your journey, keep up the good work!

Excersise lots of water Snack- don't let yourself get too hungry, that's when your likely to make poor choices.

Over the course of a little over a year of being banded I have experienced nausea and vomiting when the band is too tight. It isn't vomiting as you know it. The discomfort is in the chest. After a bit of coughing the offending food spits up. There is no heaving or anything. Afterwards I feel fine. I don't think it's anything to be to worried about. If it happens, don't hesitate to go in for an unfill. Good luck!

If you have the ok from your doctor, I would start an excersise program. It made all the difference for me in my weight loss journey. Start slow and gradually increase duration and/or intensity.

In my opinion Atkins is too high in fat. I ate low carb but also low fat when I was loosing. I lost 107 pounds in about 10 months. Now that I am maintaining I pretty much follow south beach. It allows for healthy carbs (whole grains, fruit, beans) and healthy fats (such as salmon, nuts, avacado). I highly reccomend getting the book. I believe it to be a healthy well balanced diet. Good luck!

I was banded about 13 months ago. I was very successful, loosing 107 pounds. I feel like the band helped some, but it sure took a lot of work on my part. I am frustrated now that I can't eat bread, rice and pasta. I also thow up 3 or 4 times a week. Seems to happen out of the blue. I am thinking about getting a complete unfill. I don't feel like the band is doing much, either I get sick or I feel like I could eat way more than I let myself. What do you think?

By having a hard time since your fill I guess you mean you are not tolerating foods well. Sounds like you may be too tight. I would talk to your doctor for sure. It's been 2 weeks. any swelling should have subsided by now. I have put of fills and been miserable longer than neccessary. As far as doing an unfill yourself, I think that's a terrible idea. I know your headed into the medical proffession- but your not a doctor yet. Don't use yourself as a guinne pig! Also, how will you know how much to take out? In short, I would highly reccomend seeing your doctor and probably getting a small unfill. You'll be amazed at what a difference even a very small unfill can make. If they tell you you can't get in before your trip, explain that it is an emergency. That's always worked with my doc. Best wishes!

ddgalarza- That is just great you aren't gaining weight with evertthing you've been through. That is a great accomplishment. You must be doing some things right. Are you working out? If not I would start. It has done wonders for my weight loss. I think you know what you need to do-it's just a matter of doing it. Go back to journaling your food and limiting your portions. I used to count calories and protien. Sticking to 800-1100 cals and at least 60 grams of protien.

I would talk to your doc. If they did put fluid in during surgery, you may need to have some taken out. You sound like your just a little to tight. Have you had any vomiting? Hope you feel better soon.

That is so exciting! During this time you can get used to some of the "band rules". I am thinking of taking small bites and chewing very well. If your doc. gives you a preop diet-follow it carefully. Good luck!

I have been maintaing a 107 pound weight loss for about 3 months. I eat pretty much the same foods I did before. I have added good carbs (brown rice, corn, beans). I ate very low carb during the weight loss phase. I also added one more snack to my day. I continue to workout which I think is essential for me to keep the weight off.