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I have had some hunger at night, I'm still on the full liquid diet. I'm going to be glad when I eat protein again. Chicken, pork... I'm getting tired of jello, broth and Popsicles.

I have an overall pain reduction in my body of about 70-80 % this was before significant weight even came off, and I think it is due to the dietary (protein Protein protein) changes. yes, this can really help. can't promise, but I can give you some hope.

Heck, I'm 3 years out and I had to do 2 weeks of Protein drinks preop and 4 weeks postop. They usually put you on a preop diet to help shrink your liver. Because most peeps that are overweight have fatty liver. And they pre op diet helps shrink the liver so the Surgeon can move it out of the way easier. Without causeing bleeding etc.

It's a stall. I'm in one too. They're frustrating as all hell but unavoidable. Our bodies are adjusting and need a break from losing. I'm at Week 18 and have been stalled 3 weeks. I'm eating the right foods and calories, enough protein, enough water, enough exercise but still no loss yet. Hanging in there.

I am 3 1/2 months out & still have a hard time with fruits & veggies. I have very minimal restrictions, but cant seem to eat much after I eat my protein! Now I take a supplement instead & know I am getting my servings in.

Hello post-ops!! Congrats to everyone!! Keep up the great job!! I'm a November 24, 2013 WLS. Seeking advise on what worked for you, did you get weak/fatigue and hair loss, Any suggestions!? My progress: WLS 11/14/13 5'7 Female 47yrs old. HW 268 size tight 20 SW 266 size 18 CW 233 size 14 GW 165 I'm averaging 2 lbs per week, no exercise due to knee injury/pain. Doctor is happy with my progress. I am too, my battle is to have enough energy to function upon getting up to get ready to drive to work and get through the day. Issues I've been experiencing feeling tired, fatigue and exhausted. I eat all my water/ meals/proteins/vitamins/biotin/omega fish oil and average 600 to 900 calories daily, try to eat more to get energy levels up, helps some days. I'm 3 months as of Friday 2/14/14 and I've started losing globs of hair especially after I shampoo. So I'm washing every other day. I was expecting this may happen, but so emotionally distressing and nerve wrecking to see it come out so much so quickly. I'm totally freaked out. Praying it slows down soon. Anyone else feeling exhausted and losing your hair?? When goes the hair loss stop?? Is it growing back??!

I started my two week pre-op diet yesterday. Surgery is on the 4th. I'm excited but NERVOUS. On my diet, the doc says I can have two Protein Shakes a day and a "sensible meal" all to be under 1000. Yesterday was TOUGH. Today at work has been super hard too. Does it get easier? I have a "friend" telling me to cheat. I dont want to, I'm scared enough of surgery!! Any suggestions? How did you guys get through it?

It was not too bad getting the fill. Kind of a big needle but it was numbed up. I ate jello, Ice Tea and protein shake today along with my water. No problems with my band! She probed a bit before hitting the port. That was with Flouroscopy! Drank the Barium (not alot) Only got .5 CC

Congratulations!!! Wow!!! I wanna be like you when I grow up lol! I keep thinking I'm going to eventually soon stop losing weight... I can't help it. Did you ever fell that way? Were you very serious with your diet and had a lot of Protein and all your Water?

Hi Chuck, congrats to the both of you for being banded. If your doctor allows protein shakes I would definitely try and drink a couple a day. I use GNCs protein shakes and they have 25 grams of protein for 250 calories. Hope this helps. Good luck. Julie

Thank you all for your responses! I was actually driving perfectly today, lol I seem to be healing rather well... now I am about to transition back to the protein shakes and start on baby foods... as for sex... I can't pay attention to my body because it would already want it! lolz... but how badly would it be?

Your surgeon should give you a list. If I were you, I would stick to the higher Protein options first rather than the higher carb ones.

I'm pretty sure it's a combination...but mostly a deprivation of carbs that shrinks the liver. I mean...if you fasted for two weeks, your liver, among other things, would shrink. It's just that most foods fall into two catagories or a combination of the two...carbs and Protein. I know it stinks...I hated my pre-op diet...but here I am 9 months later and it's all a distant memory. Hang in there...it's worth it

I used almond milk in all of mine. It was listed as an option in my paper work though.

Does sound typical once inflammation is completely gone you have more space for food However Watch the type of foods you're eating more of. Carb heavy and hidden sugar foods make you hungrier for seemingly no reason at all (but there is a scientific reason) If you've reached your macro limits try sauteed low carb vegetables (mostly cruciferous) , broth or tea. It takes some practice and balance especially when you can eat much more, I finally understand why teams push protein first... (9 month later 😓)

I had a problem the first couple of weeks out with the Protein shakes. They felt so heavy to me and were making me sick but it does pass. I get unflavored and some flavored protein powders from Nashua Nutrition which you can order online. When I had trouble with drinking I broke it down to 1oz at a time. The whole cup intimidated me. I got little medicine cups and used 1oz at a time. It helped a little until I could tolerate more. I too also experience "pockets" of depression. I was scared going into the surgery bc I suffered years Go from depression so I made sure I was prepared and ready should I experience it again. I felt it helped to talk to others who had the surgery. When I had a moment where I wanted to cry, I did but moved on. I didn't dwell on it. I allowed myself to feel those emotions but then I went back to my list of why I wanted this surgery. I know it can be hard but focus on why you did this. Talk to someone and get out for a walk. It really does help or at least it did for me. I also made a pact with myself that I would allow myself to weigh myself 2x a week. Every Sunday I record my weight to keep track and another day just to get an idea. I don't want to live by the scale and feel like I have to see that number daily. Good luck, stay strong, you're doing great.

I have been forcing myself. I take small sips and continue to drink until I am finished. I had two shakes which equals 60 grams. We just have to do what we have to do. We need to have the protein to coat the vitamins. I am here to give you encouragement.

I've read that u stall between 2 and 4 weeks because your water and protein intake isn't as high as it should be. Once you are able to get ALL required protien and water in u will break the stall

Hey Panda, I am a runner. I have been running for the last 17 years of my life. So a 4mile walk is nothing for me. One would think with all of the running that I do, I wouldn't need this surgery -- but I did. My starting weight was 225lbs, and I am down to 214 in a matter of days. (I haven't been able to get the weight off in YEARS!) I am sooo excited for my journey to see where I will end. My goal is around 130-135. Per my doc, I can walk~walk~walk~as much as possible. The more walking -- the less gas I will have. I figure, by 3 weeks I will be back to running again (as long as there is no pain). I can do up to 10 lbs of weights. I am restricted from elipitcal machines, or any machine that could pull the stiches loose for 1 month. I feel great! Unfortunately, I have sooo many chores, etc to do around my house -- so when I got back home, I didn't stop moving. Woke up extremely tired today to come back to work. Ohh about that Protein, I am only 5\6 days out. I am just trying to get my liquids in at this time. My body isn't accepting the protein just yet. I have been drinking "G" (Gatorade) - Recovery (it has protein in it). I also have protein shots. When I take the shots (and this is TMI people - turn your heads.lol); it gives me the runs. So, until I go on thick protein, I will stay away from the shots for now. Fluids are going down like a champ. It hurt at first, but ever day is better and better. Not so much pain. Panda, keep me posted on your results and how you're doing. I would love to share as we move forward. Take Care Sleeve2B

Protein powder. Costco has decent ones and reasonable prices. Sugar free popsicles. Yogurt, depending on your plan. Cream soup or something that can be blended.

I am trying very hard to get all my fluids in, and I struggle with plain water. I've tried adding lemon, frozen fruit, etc, but I'm looking for other options to mix it up. What are your favorite water enhancing drops (i.e., Mio, Crystal Light)?

Hi, I had a Gastric band fitted 9 years ago before the technology was even proven or not to which i had a huge amount of health issues which resulted in me be so deficient in a multitude of different Vitaminsthat my only option was to have the band removed in order to have a baby as my body was shutting down. I have since given birth back in January to a perfect little baby boy I went from 70 KG to 146 KG in 9 months as my body was so starved of any nutrients it went in to a state of shock when i could eat and stored everything i ate even a small light meal during the Morning, noon and night time sickness my body stored and kept hold of everything and the Dr has said that this was quite normal because of the circumstances and the shock i put my body through. That said i am now experiencing more issues i had a Gastric Sleeve in order to loose the weight but still be able to eat small portions so i could loose some of the weight but still remain healthy and i have to admit i have lost 31 KG Since giving birth but a lot of this was Water retention i came out of hospital almost 15KG lighter already so i feel that the operation cost me an absolute fortune but has been a complete waste of both time and money. I feel in a way cheated that it simply is not working at all i now exercise 4 hrs per week high intensity classes as well from circuits to Spinning and still nothing i would ideally like to loose another 24kg and it simply is not moving i do not crave chocolate at all so tend to eat berries and fruit and can barely eat bread so if i do eat a Soup at lunch time i have less than half a slice of bread i mainly eat chicken and steak with some sort of vegetable by way of salad or sauteed in some olive oil and chili etc... but even then the portion is less than a 4yrs old, i calculated my calorie intake daily to be in the region of 500-750 in total inclusive of Hot Drinks. i was depressed after giving birth as all of my friends gave birth and came back out in their skinny jeans and i had to wear my maternity clothes up until i had to go and buy some new clothes last month. I don't actually know what to do now as i am simply not losing the weight and i am desperate i do not want to be the fat girl picking up her kid in the playground i hate it i feel uncomfortable and conscience everywhere i go i do not go out of the house unless it is to visit or meet people that i knew when i was pregnant i have not seen any of my friends that i knew before i fell pregnant because i am to conscience that they are all judging me for being that girl that put on all the weight and ate like a pig and it simply is not the case i have tried everything over the past few months from slimming world to calorie and fate counting and i am even about to try slimming pills which i have had sent over from Thailand as i am that desperate at the moment. Anybody's helps would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,

Any guys using MyFitnessPal? I just started a couple of days ago, and definitely do not think I'm getting in enough calories. I struggle to get over 400-500 along with all my Water. I'm eating very Protein dense, clearing about 60G a day on average. Any other guys using this app so I can see what you're eating would be a big help! My username is RickyReality on there, and also on Instagram @ VSG_Rich

Weight loss rates will all be around 1-2 lbs/week on the average, since your body is only able to burn so many calories a week. Initially, weight loss will be faster because your body burns glycogen instead of fat, which has lower energy density (it takes more grams glycogen to produce a given amount of energy than it would fat) and you lose a lot of Water in the process. Counting calories is crucial during the initial weeks/months of lap band until proper restriction is achieved. At that point, many people stop and rely on the band to do the work, others keep logging to keep overall control of their intake (most of us gained their weight by simply not paying attention). I usually log everything in Daily Plate, but dinners like yesterday's are impossible...two coworkers and I were at a Tapas restaurant and ordered 6 different small plates to share (if turned out too much food). All complex dishes with unknown ingredients and I had a bite of each....how to log? I've never done weight watchers, but from what I understand, the counting there never becomes optional. Lastly, there seem to be quite a few people who are afraid of being too tight (higher restriction levels often associated with long-term side effects) and intentionally or not stop before reaching the green zone. Some of them still have some restriction , but overall the weight loss is done by counting cals/carbs etc I say, do whatever works for you :-)

I can appreciate your frustration because we just had major surgery and are anxious for results. This may not be the popular thing to say but I think we all need to have a little patience with ourselves. It is unrealistic to think we can lose 10 lbs the first week and keep doing that week after week. Our bodies do not know how to read a scale. I also don't think a dr. should ever get "annoyed" or "mad" if you are not making significant progress after just 4 weeks. We are healing, our bodies are adjusting to the trauma of surgery. This is a marathon it is not a sprint. I have lost 11 lbs in 2 weeks and don't for a minute expect that to continue. I know I am on the road to better health, weight loss is just an extra benefit to keep me motivated. I know we all feel that way so try not to let the scale ruin your motivation. You are eating healthier, learning to count calories, protein and excersising. You have already begun to win this life long battle with food that many of us have fought. The weight loss is just our reward and it will come in time. Just my honest opinion. Hang in there!! :thumbup: