Katy Castro

Since surgery (6.8.10) I have eaten only 4 oz of food three times a day. I don't snack at all. There are some that won't be satisfied with the amount of food their surgeon suggests post-op until they have reached good restriction. And if that's the case for you, I'd recommend that you add a Protein shake or something light and healthy that will satisfy your hunger but won't increase your calorie intake too much. And certainly talk to your surgeon about what they suggest to fulfill the hunger. If you're doing OK eating the amount you're supposed to eat, go with that. And if you're unsure of how much food you should be eating, ask your surgeon. Each of us seem to have different rules and our portion sizes are different based on where our surgeon places the band. While I've got a 4 oz pouch, others may have a 2 oz or 6 oz. Again, it's all about placement.

Good luck! I hope you get the result you're looking for.

You may have some swelling after your fill which is contributing to the tightness feeling. I would strongly suggest that if this prolongs for more than 24 hours you get back to the doctor and get an unfill. Perhaps this time, you just went beyond that "sweet spot" and need a bit of what was placed in this time removed. Throwing up is not normal after a fill (I've had 5 fills and 1 partial unfill). Sip on your Water and see how a Protein shake feels. If you can't get that down, go back. If you have acid reflux, go back. Those are signs that you are too tight.

Sounds like it's serious conversation time with him. I would remind him of the support he offered pre-op. And I'd attempt to cover what his insecurities are about your weight loss. It's not at all uncommon for our partners to feel as though we're going to "get hot and leave them." So remind him of all the reasons that you love him. Tell him why you want to do this for YOU, your health, and how that will make you a better person for him. And if you can find a common ground with all of that, ask for his support again. Tell him specifically what is a problem for you and see if he can go back to the support that he gave pre-op. Also, try to make him an accountability partner. Make sure he knows what the rules are from your surgeon like how much you should be eating, what your Protein requirements are, and what your calorie range is. And then tell him what you've done for the day including your workout routine. Sharing MORE of this journey with him may help to include him in the changes rather than leaving him feeling like he's not part of the loop, not important in your new lifestyle changes, and while you're doing this for you, helps him as well. I wish you all the luck in the world!

That's awesome... a fun NSV! Congratulations.

Most post-ops that I have met can eat 60 to 80g of carbs per day. However, a lot of us are carb sensitive and find that our weight loss is better if we keep carbs to a minimum. I avoid them as much as possible and rarely have more than 20g of carbs per day... usually less. For now, I'd focus on getting in Protein and veggies. When you figure out what works best for your body, you'll know where you should be with carbs. And if you choose to eat carbs and find that they do not interfere with your weight loss, remember to go for complex carbs. As my surgeon told us "if it's white, it's not right."

Awesome! I've joined the team. When looking for it though, I noticed that some of the teams had Facebook groups and some didn't.... I think we should have one too. For me it would be major accountability!!!

I filmed my first fill, if you'd like to see it: http://www.thebandinme.com/2010/07/28/lap-band-fill-adjustment/ With that fill it was the only time I was numbed prior to getting the fill... and it doesn't make a difference either way to me. It's very simple. After your fill your surgeon or their PA will give you instructions on what to do. Typically it's liquids for 24 to 48 hours, then soft foods for 24 to 48 hours, and then introducing solid foods back in. I think you'll find that it's a quick and easy process. Good Luck!!!

Congratulations and best of luck with your surgery. If you're interested in sharing your journey (assuming because you've started a blog), consider the YouTube community. There are A LOT of banders that make weekly videos on YouTube. Could be something you're interested in.

Congratulations! Not much longer to wait. Advice? Take a pillow with you for the ride home... you'll want it to cover your tummy if there's any bumps in the road. Also a heating pad is great for helping to break up the gas. Remember to walk, walk, walk, and sip, sip, sip. And walking doesn't have to be much. Most days I paced in my bedroom or walked around my apartment building. Easy stuff. ) Good luck!

I'd return the scale if it's not working. I use the Weight Watchers scale by Conair and love it.

My surgeon reminded of us of "water in and Water out" during our pre-op phase. If you feel like you're constipated I certainly get something to help. I've heard a lot of post-ops recommend Milk of Magnesia.

The size of your band is based on how much fat is around your stomach (internally). If you have a lot of fat around your stomach and a small band, you might have some problems with being too tight.

That's definitely something that happens for some people after surgery. However, I would not advance off of liquids unless you have gotten permission to do so from your doctor. The thing is, your stomach needs time to heal. And though you may think nothing of it, it's possible to do damage because you have chosen to eat something rather than drink. Before you do it, please call your surgeon and discuss it with them.

I was going to ask if you eat slider foods and then you mentioned soup. How do you feel if you eat 4 oz of dense protein? Try chicken or tuna. Are you still barely satisfied then? Soup is like being on a liquid diet and wouldn't be something that I'd expect you to get full with.