BabyGotBack

I just wanted to check in and see how everyone was doing! Happy New Year! I am down 1 more pound??? How can I be losing weigt so fast? I was 185, then after a couple of weeks and the holida eating, I went up to 190. Today I weighed in at 184.5!!!!! Was I really eating that much? I think so! I have not added the exercise yet either. And I am eating a little extra to fill me up, like extra veggies and some lean protein. Last night we went out to dinner with the kids and I had a chicken salad for dinner, plus a couple of my kids frys! I had unsweetened iced tea. I know if I told my mom, she'd say why can't I just dod this on my own. I just can't maintain weight loss. I can sure start a diet good, but then it starts to fizzle out, then those "I can't not celebrate this birthday, anniversary, party, date,etc" excuses to over eat come up and then the yo yo starts again! Audree

Does anyone know if St. Johns Wort or some other natural remedy could work. I like to take only natural homeopathic medications. I have a chinese herbalist I go to, but I am not telling him about the band. He is very into natural things and doesn't like anything un natural. He had me on some shakes called Juvo. They were veggie shakes and he had me on this appetite suppresant called Quick Slim 30. Which I will probably buy after banding. I am not taking anything right now just in case it would think my blood, absolutely no supplements. I was taking some Green Tea pills, but now I am not taking those either just in case. Those Kellogg k20 protein water's have really helped with my appetite and adding veggies and some more protein. Thanks for all you help! Audree

In my searching on the net, I think I found something that said it was for higher bmi patients with a thicker stomach. Do you know this is true? Audree

I found this thread all about the Advanced Platform band http://www.lapbandtalk.com/advanced-platform-lap-t27036.html?t=27036&highlight=Advanced+Platform+band

I just wanted to wish you a Happy New Year Bandiva! I am glad you are doing so well. I am on day three of pre op and it is going good. I went out today and had a chicken salad for dinner. I have lost 4.5 pounds so far. Keep in touch!! Audree

I had a protein shake for breakfast, lean cuisine for lunch and soup. Dinner we went out for new years with our kids. I had a chicken salad and a couple of my daughters fries. I feel bad that I am not 100% on plan, but I am eating way less than usual and healthier. I am making better choices too. HOpe you all have a great New years! Audree

Kathy: Thanks for all the info! I can't believe my day is coming too! You sound like you are doing great! Maybe we can go get a fill togeter sometime. I live right off the 210, not to far from the 15 in Rancho Cucamonga, near Victoria Gardens. It makes me feel so much better to hear others stories, especially with the same doctor. Happy New Year,Audree

I posted this in the lap band complications where Dr. C answers questions. I will check and post his answer here. Audree

Dr. C, there is a patient whose doctor is putting in this new AP band. She said the doctor said that it is softer and will facilitate with faster weight loss. Can you tell us more about this band? Is is available to all,upon request or is it for higher bmi's? It is called Advanced Platform Lap Bands (Allergan Inc.) formerly Inamed Thanks,Audree

bwaydiva: My New Years Resolution is to be able to really do what I resolve to do every year, lose weight, tone up, exercise so have more energy for my husband and kids. With the band, it looks doable now!!!:clap2:

<CENTER>I got this off another thread. It is similar to the Cabbage diet. Someone else said you could use it in your mushies stage and add shredded chicken. I think soup is a good way to get your Protein and veggies, maybe add a little brown rice to it. If anything, it can by used as a plateau buster. Sacred Heart Medical Diet </CENTER>This 7-day eating plan can be used as often as you like. If correctly followed, it will clean out your system of impurities and give you a feeling of well-being. After only 7 days of this process, you will begin to feel lighter by at least 10 pounds and possibly 17 pounds, and experience an abundance of energy. <DL><DT>SOUP: <DD> 1 or 2 cans of stewed tomatoes 3 plus large green onions 1 large can of beef broth (no fat) 1 pkg. Lipton Soup mix (chicken noodle) 1 bunch of celery 2 cans green Beans 2 lbs. Carrots 2 Green Peppers <DT>Season with salt, pepper curry, parsley, if desired, or bouillon, hot or Worcestershire sauce. Cut veggies in small to medium pieces. Cover with Water. Boil fast for 10 minutes. Reduce to simmer and continue to cook until veggies are tender. <DT>This soup can be eaten anytime you are hungry during the week. Eat as much as you want, whenever you want. This soup will not add calories. The more you eat, the more you will lose. You may want to fill a thermos in the morning if you will be away during the day. <DT>DRINKS: <DD> Unsweetened juices Tea (also herbal) coffee Cranberry juice Skim milk Water, water, water <DT>DAY ONE <DD>Any fruit (except bananas). Cantaloupes and watermelon are lower in calories than most other fruits. Eat only soup and fruit today. <DT>DAY TWO <DD>All vegetables. Eat until you are stuffed with fresh raw, cooked or canned veggies. Try to eat green leafy veggies and stay away from dry beans, peas or corn. Eat veggies along with the soup. At dinnertime tonight reward yourself with a big baked potato and butter. Don't eat any fruits through today. <DT>DAY THREE <DD>Eat all the soup, fruit and veggies you want. Do not have a baked potato. If you have eaten as above for three days and not cheated, you should find that you have lost 5-7 pounds. <DT>DAY FOUR <DD>Bananas and skim milk: Eat at least 3 bananas and drink as much milk as you can today, along with the soup. Bananas are high in calories and carbohydrates, as is the milk but on this particular day, your body will need the potassium and carbs. Proteins and Calcium to lessen the cravings for sweets. <DT>DAY FIVE <DD>Beef and tomatoes: you may have 10 to 20 ounces of beef and a can of tomatoes, or as many as 6 tomatoes on this day. Eat the soup at least once today. <DT>DAY SIX <DD>Beef and veggies, eat to your heart's content of the beef and veggies today. You can even have 2-3 steaks if you like with green leafy veggies but no baked potato. Be sure to eat the soup at least once today. <DT>DAY SEVEN <DD>Brown rice, unsweetened fruit juice and veggies, again, be sure to stuff yourself and eat the soup. You can add cooked veggies to your rice if you wish. <DT>By the end of the 7th day, if you have not cheated on this diet, you should have lost 10 to 17 pounds. If you have lost more than 17 pounds, stay off the diet for two days before resuming the diet again. <DT>This diet is fast. The secret lies within the principle that you will burn more calories than you take in. It will flush your system of impurities and give you a feeling of well-being. This diet does not lend itself to drinking any alcoholic beverages at any time. Because of the fat build-up in your system. Go off the diet at least 14 hours before any intake of alcohol. <DT>Due to the variety of digestive systems in individuals, this diet will affect everyone differently. After day three, you will have more energy than when you began, if you do not cheat. After being on the diet for several days, you will find that your bowel movements have changed. Eat a cup of bran or Fiber. Although you can have black coffee with this diet, you may find that you don't need caffeine after the third day. <DT>The basic fat burning soup can be eaten anytime you feel hungry during the seven days. Eat as much as you wish. Remember the more you eat, the more you will lose. You can eat broiled, boiled or baked chicken instead of the beef. Absolutely no skin on the chicken. If you prefer, you can substitute broiled fish for the beef on only one of the beef days. You need the high protein in the beef for the other days. <DT>Continue on the diet as long as you wish and feel the difference both mentally and physically. <DT>DO NOT - DO NOT <DD>No bread, alcohol, carbonated drinks (including diet drinks). Remember, absolutely no fried foods. <DT>DO - DO - DO - DO <DD>Drink plenty - at least 6 to 8 glasses - of water a day, as well as any combination of the following beverages: black coffee, unsweetened Fruit Drinks, cranberry juice and skim milk. <DT>This diet comes from the Sacred Heart Memorial Hospital that is used for overweight heart patients in order to lose weight rapidly</DT></DL>

Hi Edie! I have seen that some people get a pre op diet and some don't. They really vary in strictness. Some do like an Atkins. I was told for one week to eat protein shake for breakfast and a Lean Cuisine for lunch/dinner. I can't get my @$$ to do any form of exercise right now either. I was doing so good, then the kids Thanksgiving vacation threw me off and I have not been back to the gym or anything at all! At least tonight we are just staying home.I don't have any parties to have to face with lots of yummy food. Audree

I am not banded but I have read that it is when you get the proper restriction with a fill. Some people get it without any fill (very few), some people get it with one to three fills. Sometimes it takes 2 weeks or more to feel your fill. Premenstrual times for women and stress make the band tighter. Some people feel more restriction in the morning and after exercise, or drinking cold beverages. Audree

This is from earlier on in this thread. I occasionally post things that I find. Here goes: ‘How to Lose 22lbs or 10kgs in 28 Days Without Starving or Training Like an Olympic Athlete!' By Stephen Smith BSc If you seriously want to lose 22lbs or 10 kilograms in 28 days then you must perform all of the principles exactly as recommended. Unlike the recommendations in my book, ‘Look good, feel great!', where you can pick the principles you want to use and ignore the rest and where you can even modify the principles to suit your lifestyle, these principles must be followed exactly as they are outlined. If you want extraordinary results, then you must be willing to put in an extraordinary effort! I realise that some people may be thinking, ‘But it is impossible to lose 10 kilograms of fat in a month!' I agree- it is! However, the truth is, it is impossible to only lose fat on any type of weight-loss program. You will always lose a combination of fat, Water, stored carbohydrate and some muscle. Furthermore, most people who want to lose 10 kilograms in the first place are generally retaining excess Fluid anyway, so a system that helps get rid of the excess fluid is certainly going to accelerate their results. Perform 30-60 minutes of aerobic exercise morning and night. Yes, you read that correctly, morning and night- 2 sessions a day… every day! No excuses. We're all busy, we all feel tired some mornings, but if you're serious about getting amazing results, then you must be willing to do everything necessary. When we talk about aerobic exercise, we're talking about exercise! Not walking around the shops, doing the gardening or doing housework. It must be exercise, which means your breathing rate increases, your face goes red, you sweat, you get tired- simple! Some examples of aerobic exercise include: walking (pounding the pavement at a brisk pace- not dawdling), cycling (stationary bike is ideal), swimming, rowing, stepper, cross-trainer, aerobic classes, boxing, etc. Use ‘thermogenics'. There are several very effective thermogenic supplementson the market that can accelerate your progress towards your goal. Those containing caffeine, green tea extracts and an extract from a plant called coleus forskohlii are the most effective. They will boost your metabolismand promote the release of fat from the fat stores. ‘Scorch' by MAN Sports is a good example. It contains a combination of 7 powerful herbal ingredients specifically designed to boost your metabolism, burn body fat and increase your energy. Unfortunately though, thermogenics are not ‘magic pills'. You can't expect to take a couple of thermogenic capsules and then go home and eat pizza and drink alcohol and expect to get results. Thermogenics only work when their use is combined with a good nutrition and exercise program. Take 1-2 capsules twice a day; once prior to your morning exercise session and once with your lunch. Don't take them later than 4:00pm in the afternoon because they may keep you awake at night. Before using thermogenics, see your doctor first and obtain their approval. Do not eat anything for 30 minutes after the completion of any exercise. As a result of using the thermogenics combined with the exercise, your metabolism will remain elevated for some time after the exercise session is finished. This means your body will burn fuel at a faster rate than normal. Any exercise causes the body to use carbohydrate (muscle glycogen and blood glucose) as a fuel source. This means that after the exercise is completed the carbohydrate stores in the body are low and the body will be forced to use fat as its fuel. If a meal is eaten immediately after the completion of the exercise session, the blood glucose level will rise, inducing the secretion of insulin from the pancreas. One of the effects of insulin is to stop fat burning in the body. Therefore, wait 30 minutes (but no longer because cortisol will rise) before having your next meal. Perform a weight training workout 2-4 times a week. Lifting weights is the most under-estimated way to lose fat fast! Now, before you start saying, ‘But I don't want to get big muscles!' or ‘I don't want to look like a man!', consider the following. The main purpose of lifting weights when your primary goal is to lose body fat is to preserve the muscle massyou already have. You see, muscle is the ‘engine' within which the fat, or ‘fuel' is burnt and maintaining or even increasing your muscle mass slightly will help ensure your body fat is burnt off efficiently. If you don't lift weights, your body will quite happily lose both fat and muscle as you drop the kilos. Lifting weights forces your body to maintain your muscle mass, therefore keeping your metabolism elevated and turning your body into 24-hour-a-day fat-burning machine! Incidentally, it only takes two 30 minute sessions a week to obtain the muscle preserving benefits of lifting weights. Have 5-6 small meals a day. One of the most common strategies people use to lose weight is to skip meals. Whilst reducing food intake is certainly an effective way to lose weight, having fewer meals is not the way to go. Many overweight people say, ‘I don't know why I'm overweight, I only eat once or twice a day!' Unfortunately, this is exactly why they are overweight. Having a mild calorie restriction is effective because if you consume less calories than you burn each day you will lose weight- simple! However, skipping meals forces the body to invoke its ‘Starvation Mechanism' because it thinks it is entering a famine. As a result, the body slows the metabolism to preserve energy. It also increases cortisol output and cortisol is the most powerful catabolic hormone in the body, which means it goes around the body breaking down lean tissue, particularly muscle. A loss of muscle slows the metabolism even further. Skipping meals also results in an increase in appetite, which forces you to eat larger amounts of food when you do eat. In addition to all these factors, the body also increases the activity of fat-storing enzymes, lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid synthase (FAS), so when you do eat the food gets stored as fat. All of this results from simply skipping meals! By having a small meal every 2-3 hours throughout the day, your metabolism stays elevated and your body will happily burn fat all day long. Unfortunately though, most people are conditioned to having large meals and they automatically assume they will put on weight if they have 5 or 6 meals a day. The fact is, the ideal portion sizes for most people are actually quite small and in order to lose weight fast it is essential that you never feel full from a meal but you do feel satisfied. Also, most people find it difficult to have a meal every 2-3 hours throughout the day because they are so busy with work and/ or family commitments. Here are some suggestions to ensure you get your 5 or 6 meals a day. • Plan and prepare your meals the night before • Use Meal Replacements (protein shakes or bars) • Select foods that are quick and easy to prepare and consume Ensure each meal contains Protein. Protein is a component of all cells and makes up over half the dry weight of the human body. Furthermore, the human body is a dynamic structure, which means it is constantly building up and breaking down tissue. Just imagine a bath full of water. At one end of the bath the plug is pulled out and at the other end the tap is turned on full. The water level in the bath doesn't change but there are ‘new' water molecules entering the bath and ‘old' water molecules leaving the bath all the time. The human body is exactly the same. If the body breaks down more tissue than it builds up, then it is said to be in a catabolic state. This results in the metabolism slowing down due to the loss of muscle tissue. Having a portion of high-quality protein every few hours throughout the day provides the body with a constant supply of amino acids- the building blocks of the body. This prevents the catabolic state, promotes an anabolic state (tissue building) and therefore keeps the metabolism ‘fired-up'. If only carbohydrate or fat is consumed for a meal, for example a piece of fruit (carbohydrate) for the mid-morning meal, then the body will still enter a catabolic state because it doesn't have the building blocks (amino acids) to re-build body tissues. Protein, as its name suggests, is of primary importance. Reduce your intake of high-density carbohydrates. Most high-density carbohydrates like bread, Pasta, rice and cereals cause a rapid rise in blood glucose. This invokes the release of insulin from the pancreas, which in turn stores the glucose. The body stores glucose in the muscles and liver as glycogen and once these sites are full, the remaining glucose gets stored as body fat. Not only this, but insulin also stops the body from mobilising and utilising fat for fuel (burning fat). So if you want to maximise fat loss, you need to keep insulin to a minimum and the best way to do this is by reducing your intake of starchy carbohydrates without cutting them out altogether. Cutting them out totally is a philosophy of many low-carb diets on the market. However, these are very hard to sustain long-term and may lead to nutrient deficiencies. Each day, have a small amount (1-2 serves) of high density carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice, cereals); a moderate amount (2-3 serves) of medium density carbohydrates (starchy vegetables and fruits); and a large amount (5-6 serves) of low density carbohydrates (fibrous vegetables). [For a complete list of carbohydrates, see pages 136-138 of the book, ‘ Look good, feel great! ] Do not have a Treat Day. Since you are expecting an extraordinary result, it is essential that you put in an extraordinary effort. Accordingly, for the next 28 days you must follow the plan exactly as it is outlined without deviating. This means you can't allow yourself to indulge in any ‘forbidden foods'. This also means avoiding alcohol for the entire 28-day period. I know this may be hard for some people but let's face it, it is only for 28 days! By committing to the plan and disciplining yourself to see it through, you are ensuring that the results will follow. Plus, the disciplines you create to help you achieve your physical goal will have a ‘carry-over benefit' to other areas of your life as well. I wish you the greatest success in achieving outstanding results!

Hi Supergenius! I did mess up yesterday at dinner time, but not to bad. Today adding Protein to my Lean Cuisine helped tremendously. I am really sensitive to carbs and they make me feel like a bottomless pit of hunger!!! Someone said to buy the South Beach Diet dinners instead, less carbs, more protein and seems like more food. I am getting hungry right now and I think I will 1st try drinking Water, then eat a little shredded turkey. I took turkey and used it in my new little food processer I bought from WalMart for $14, shredded it with onion and tomato and sauteed it in chicken broth. It is the bomb! I am trying not to rely on my Green T appetite suppresants. The evening are also harder for me. My friend also told me to have some Soup or hot tea. Man, we will get through this!!!! Some people just do an Atkins, more protein as a preop, that is easier to do. Maybe you can do that until your dad leaves. Let me know how it goes! Audree

You may want to check with your doctor, they all seem to say different things. Someone also told me that your doctor may let you eat yogurt in the 2nd week post op. But, I want to ask him first. My friend was banded a year ago and she said the 1st week, you are not hungry due to swelling and discomfort. The 2nd/3rd week, you can, most of us, have cream Soups, Protein drinks, yogurt, Jello, pudding, etc. I also used to take an appetite suppresant my chinese herbalist gave me. They worked really great. If I am too hungry after banding, I will buy some. They are called QuickSlim 30 and you can buy them off the internet also. They have green tea and other really natural ingredients. I don't want to eat what I shouldn't for the first 6 weeks since it raises your chances of slippage and problems. But, I was told to ask your doctor what he will allow if you are just starving after banding. Audree:hungry:

I am not sure, but you may try asking in the lap band complications forum. Dr. C normally answers questions there! Audree

I am not banded yet, but in what I have read, in Dr. Ortiz's book Lap Band for Life and on different boards, the people that do the best, have only 3 meals, do not snack in between, have protien first, then veggies, then fruit, then last if there is room, some carbs. They exercise daily, cardio and weight training. They drink lots of water. I will try to find the link that I found to help accelerate weight loss. Hope this helps! Audree

Did anyone figure this one out yet?

Today has been great so far! I had a protein shake for breakfast. Ended up wearing most of it. It spattered all over my sweater, car, Ruben and the backseat!!!:omg: I also had a Lean Cuisine with a little shredded turkey on the side. The extra protein helped a lot. Someone on one of the threads said that Lean Cuisine has high carbs and carbs make me more hungry. They said to buy the South Beach diet ones since they have more protein. I am also drinking some green tea. I feel satisfied and happy right now. I was feeling a little overwhelmed this morning before lunch. Now, after I ate I feel a lot better. I need to drink my water today. I didn't drink it yesterday and it made it harder. Water truely helps! I weighed in at 185.5, so done 1/2 a pound from yesterday. Breakfast: Protein shake 250 Lunch: Lean Cuisine, Salisbury steak and mash potatoes, 270 calories and 8 grms fat. and 1 cup hot and sour soup Dinner: Red Robin, chicken salad and a few of my daughters fries. I can't believe that this Friday is by band day!!! I leave Thursday evening. My daughter is off this week, so the week will go by fast. I need to go shopping and buy 2 weeks of groceries and convenience foods so I don't feel pressured to cook and won't feel guity I am not cooking. I still need to bring in my elyptical from the garage. I am done with day three of pre op. I am making better choices and eating much, much less than normal.

Today has been great so far! I had a protein shake for breakfast. Ended up wearing most of it. It spattered all over my sweater, car, Ruben and the backseat!!!:omg: I also had a Lean Cuisine with a little shredded turkey on the side. The extra protein helped a lot. Someone on one of the threads said that Lean Cuisine has high carbs and carbs make me more hungry. They said to buy the South Beach diet ones since they have more protein. I am also drinking some green tea. I feel satisfied and happy right now. I was feeling a little overwhelmed this morning before lunch. Now, after I ate I feel a lot better. I need to drink my water today. I didn't drink it yesterday and it made it harder. Water truely helps! I weighed in at 185.5, so done 1/2 a pound from yesterday. Breakfast: Protein shake 250 Lunch: Lean Cuisine, Salisbury steak and mash potatoes, 270 calories and 8 grms fat. and 1 cup hot and sour soup Dinner: Red Robin, chicken salad and a few of my daughters fries. I can't believe that this Friday is by band day!!! I leave Thursday evening. My daughter is off this week, so the week will go by fast. I need to go shopping and buy 2 weeks of groceries and convenience foods so I don't feel pressured to cook and won't feel guity I am not cooking. I still need to bring in my elyptical from the garage. :argue: I am done with day three of pre op. I am making better choices and eating much, much less than normal.

Hi Sheilamj1fan: Does it comes in tubes or is it a scoop? I am on day 3 of pre op. It is hard and I blew it last night, but not too bad. When are you getting your surgery and where? I am getting banded this Friday and I can't believe it!!! Since you are a January bandster, we have a great thread! Also the Lower Bmi group is really great! God Bless,Audree

I just wanted to tell you that I was also banded by Dr. Ortiz on 11/23/2006. The pre-op diet was really, really hard for me as well. It made me so crabby that I'd go home and go to bed early! I It really is good that you have family support since this pre-op diet is tough. I was able to join people out to dinner and breakfast soon after surgery...I just drank my liquid soup or water or coffee. You are going through the toughest time......but you will feel better if you can follow the pre-op diet and stick with it up until surgery. It is a big sense of accomplishment to know that you did all you can to have a safe surgery. You are almost there....... Kathy Thanks for the encouragement! I do find myself myself a lot crabbier and less patient with my little ones. Today is going a lot better! I added more protein, shredded turkey to my lunch. It helped. Can you tell me about how your experience went with Dr. Ortiz? Come and visit me on the lower bmi thread!!! Audree

I get pain in my breasts when I am premenstrual. I am also not banded yet. I also had this type of pain when I first got preganant and there was a surge in my hormone level. So, it could well be the surge in estrogen that is being released from your fat stores. Do you notice it more before and on your period? Audree