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We are both in the green zone then. I haven't used my card to get smaller portions. I eat half the meal and bring the other half home for lunch the next day. Win Win for me. Great job! Keep it and slow is the key. If you lose it slow you have a better chance of keeping it off.

Being honest here, I drank 2-3 20oz bottles and 2-3 cans every day. Yes I said every day before surgery. I started cutting back and replacing it with Vitamin Water Zero. I have been soda free since March. Occassionally I will take a sip of my hubby's soda but that's about it. I was told the bubbles can stretch the pouch and can be uncomfortable. Not worth finding out.

That's awesome on your weight loss! Don't worry about the fill. If you are doing that well and not hungry you may not get a fill. Usually with the first fill you really don't notice a difference after the first day. At least I didn't. I've had 2 fills and Monday they said I was in the green zone and didn't need a fill this month.

I was banded on May 12th. I had gone to my reg doctor because of the severe knee pain that was so bad I could barely walk. She took xrays and said my knee had no cartilage on one side and that was arthritis. Which is still true but I think the deficiency is the real cause of the severe pain. I will update on my blog after a week on my progress.

I pack a lunch bag everywhere I go. I keep two bottles of Vitamin Water Zero, one of the frozen. I have 100 calorie packs of cheese cubes and snack packs of grapes/apples. Slim Jim meat and cheese for a last resort.

How about a grilled chicken breast? Baked beans? Turkey burger? I have a great recipe for that, very moist if you eat it right away.

Vitamin water Zero is fantastic! No cals, no sugar. The flavor "Rise" is like tang. It is my favorite plus it has a little bit of vitamins in it. Win Win.

Sounds a little like a blood sugar issue. I get that way when my blood sugar is not right. I am diabetic though. I hated the doctor's shakes. They were nasty. I have the GNC lean shakes and added a scoop of Whey protein. Those were good. There is also Myoplex protein drinks. They are in the grocery and come in vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. The strawberry isn't bad. Tastes like strawberry milk.

If you switch to something granier you may give up.

How long after surgery are on you liquids? I was only on them totally for a few days then I was allowed to start adding foods. My pre-op diet was only 2 weeks but because my blood sugar kept dropping too low and I had those symptoms I was allowed some protein each day like a chicken breast.

Anything and everything is possible. Everyone is different. I was told at my 1st fill that I may or may not feel a difference. It would take several fills to get me to the green zone.

Call your doctor's office if you are worried about it. Stressing about it will only make things worse when it is an adjustment phase. Keep a log and see what, when and how much you are eating. You might need to change that up a bit and/or exercise more.

Thanks I will check that. My lapband doc prescribed it and it is the size of a small country and very chalky. There is NO WAY that will go through my band. Thanks for the heads up.

Thanks everyone! Small victories do add up!! And it is the things you normally wouldn't think about like the bathroom.

Junibug...email me anytime. I am curious as to why your first fill is not until August 12th? I know all docs are different but I am going for my 3rd fill tomorrow. If you are hungry it is most likely because you haven't had a fill. I wonder if they added fluid to your band at surgery and that is why no fill for so long? I truly believe it isn't anything you are doing wrong. You desperately need a fill would be my guess. Let me know what you are eating, how often and how much. Maybe we can come up with more filling foods for you to tide you over until your fill. I would be glad to help any way I can.

TK, remember that those are 38 lbs you no longer carry on you and that is a good thing even it if has been a year. The fact that you are ready to get this back in motion is a good thing. Have you been back for a fill lately? A suggestion is to get back to the beginning starting with your doc's office and see if maybe a fill is a good idea. Take another look at what you are eating and how often. After a year and this is your first Pb then that is pretty good. I have learned in my short band life that when I have pain eating I need to take a look at what I am eating and how I am eating. It shouldn't hurt. I understand the whole thing about thinking people think you are lazy for having surgery but they just don't realize how much work it takes to live this life. I would be happy to help you anyway I can. I am no expert but sometimes an outside perspective helps.

Most everyone automatically thinks bananas when it comes to potassium. This website shows more foods that are high in potassium.

High Potassium Foods

Cantelope, melons, raisins, avocados, beans all have higher potassium levels than bananas. Beans are good for the band too. Even yogurt like the greek has more potassium than bananas. I hope this helps and I am glad it was nothing more serious.

Ahh...The 10 Commandments of Lap Band. All very true.

ok I am still considering the "phone food day"! I have never heard of having a food cheat day together on the phone. What you said was so true. I have told this story before, I know someone who had gastric bypass. They have lost quite a bit of weight from where they were. I have however seen them on several occasions purchase a 10" three topping pizza and eat it all. I have seen them at a luncheon get THREE plates of food at once and sit down and eat it all. This was AFTER gastric bypass. You are what you eat and I guess you eat what you are. Fat eats Fat. It's a bad situation all around. I think lapband has saved my life. I have a new outlook and understanding of food. I too have people that look at me differently but not in a good way. No one has mentioned that I look like I have lost weight. I have lost 41lbs so you would think someone would notice a 41lb weight loss. A little disheartening but I am not doing it for them. I get the feeling that they are maybe jealous that I did this. I also think they believe I am lazy and took the easy road by having surgery. These people have no idea how much work we have to do.

I have rice, pasta and bread. I was avoiding it and my nutritionist said we need some carbs for our brain function. Ask your doctor office but nothing is off limits really. The soda is off because of carbonation causes pain/discomfort. I have heard of some that still drink it. Everyone is different. I had a sandwich for lunch. Went down no problem. I had bread with dinner(same skinny sliced bread as lunch) and it got stuck. It's a crap shoot.

My theory is that for so long our bodies adjusted to carrying this massive amount of weight and the muscles stretched to accomodate it. Then we lose weight and they contract in a different direction hence the pain.

I only saw my doctor one time for about 20 min then for a few minutes after surgery. I haven't seen him since and I am okay with that. The office staff is wonderful and they handle everything. I haven't had any issues and if I did they are available 24hrs a day. YMJackson is right. The doctor is only there to do the surgery. His office should be guiding you through the rest. Is there a support group for your area? The hospital has a support group meeting once a month and my surgeon attends every month. I haven't been yet because of my work schedule but I have talked to others that have and it is very helpful. I have had 2 fills and a nutritionist appt at that office and am very happy. I am not concerned if I don't see my doctor. Remember though, every doctor is different on what they want you to do and what plan to follow. It is a very WIDE difference.

Makes perfect sense. I absolutely understand about the stretch marks and itching. There are days when I want to claw my skin off and then it goes away. I get so dry and itchy and then I notice that my wide large stretch marks are not so wide and large anymore.

You are lucky with the hanging skin. I have a lot in the stomach area but I had that prior to surgery. As I have joked before, that is what duct tape is for! Just kidding. Keep it up and keep enjoying the amazing results!

Thanks everyone for the kind words!!

Sandradee, I told everyone in my unit at work, 13 people, plus a few others and I am sure they told people and so on. My family knows. At first I got a lot of comments about the band and what I should or should not be doing. Right after surgery when others would eat they would say things like "oh I'm not inviting you since you have your special food or I won't offer you anything since you have special food to eat." I sat a few down and said "okay, what and where is this special food you speak of?" I had to explain that I can eat absolutely whatever I want I just don't eat as much of it. The key has been for me to stop mentioning the band. I don't talk about it hardly and now everything is back to normal. It will take time and honestly not one has said one word about noticing my weightloss which is a little disheartening but I am not looking for validation so that's okay. Turns out a few are eating 1200 cal a day. I am sure they think I took the easy way out and they are jealous and make comments behind my back that they struggle and I don't. They have no idea how much of a struggle this is at times and also I don't blame them because I would probably say the same thing if I were them. Sad isn't it?

I had a lean protein meal on days when I just couldn't handle it. My surgeon said my liver looked great. No issues at all.

My first month after the band was hell! OMG! My mood swings would have given you whiplash and then I would have knocked you head clean off. I pure mean and nothing less. I am hoping this month won't be that bad. I was in so much pain that I even tried the pain meds I got from surgery and they didn't make a dent in the pain.

Girl, STOP weighing yourself 5 times a day!! I know that is easier said then done but it is just bringing you down. In the past, I could gain 10lbs in a day because of my swelling.

Remember that even when you get the band it won't be a piece of cake. There is work to do and frustrations to work through. You will have good days and bad days. It is not the miracle cure. I have seen some on here with high expectations for the band only to be disappointed to find out that the band really isn't the fast weight loss tool they hoped it would be. There are those that lose the weight quickly but they are the exception not the rule.

As far as the liver, I had thought too that was stupid. The doc came out and said my liver looked good. I said Great I have a skinny liver. Now I say my liver is bikini ready. Seriously, it sucks that you lose weight first in your liver. CRAZY TALK!!

You are doing great. My doctor did the math and said I should lose about 120 lbs over 3 years so if I am expected to lose 40 lbs per year. Don't get into your head that you should be losing tons of weight quickly. If that was the case then you should have had gastric bypass. At least that is what my doctor told me. A loss is a loss no matter what or how much.

Thanks! So true! I no longer feel guilty if I eat more than right after surgery. My body needed it and was telling me that but I wasn't listening because I thought I was supposed to only eat a tiny bit. It was actually a relief to find out I should be eating 1200 cal. My doc also said your body goes into starvation mode if you go without the proper amount of calories it needs to just function. I am losing about 2 lbs a week, maybe a little more so I am happy with that. A loss is a loss.

It was easy wasn't it? I was nervous but we were chatting and the next thing I knew she said she was done. I chose to not peek at all. I am not squeemish with needles but that is freaky.

I'm down 33 lbs. It feels great doesn't it?

Congratulations on your weight loss. We can say we are LOSERS and it's a good thing!!