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Hi Shasta1

I feel much better now that I have lost over 100 pounds in 1 year. I started looking into weight loss surgery over 10 years ago but my insurance would never cover it. Once I had a BMI over 50 they finally did. I was 5'6" and 375 pounds. I still hired beliteweight.com to get me through all the red tape with bc/bs insurance. There was a lot more of a wait for the gastric bi-pass surgery. I was in a hurry and opted for the gastric lap band. I was chicken for the drastic bi-pass. There was less of a wait for the band. I could always opt for the bi-pass later if the band didn't work. They put me on a liquid protein diet for 3-4 weeks prior to surgery to shrink my liver.

The lap band and gastric bypass has a diet to stick with so it is not easy and dieting free as I thought it would be. I automatically eat smaller portions of what I did eat before. It is a lot like the South Beach one with mostly protein, vegetables, low carbs and no "slider foods".

toosywoots

The protein shake I'm using is called wheybolic 60 - I get it from GNC & mix one pack with 12oz of water. It has 60 grams of protein in it so that's all I have to drink during the day...and I love that! It doesn't taste terrible...certainly wouldn't be my first choice if they left it up to me, but all things considered it's not so bad. I'm having a hard time sticking to the "diet." I have actually taken several bites of stuff I'm not suppose to have which makes me wanna kick my self in the a$$...I gotta get control of these cravings! How are you doing with the diet? What week are you on now? What are you eating?

Have you called your doctor? You seem to be in much more pain than I am. How many incisions did you get? I have one through the belly button and 2 others - 1 at port site and the other is higher. My gas has subsided and I haven't had to take pain medication since Tues, the day after surgery. Everyone has a different tolerance for pain - mine is very high. I have had so many operations that this one was a walk in the park.

I have a 4 oz protein shake in the morning for breakfast - about 13.5 grams of protein and a cup of decaf with 2 tablespoons of Coffee Mate. For lunch I have been having 1/2 an Isopure (20 grams protein) and a cup of cream soup - 2 gp. Yesterday I was hungry so I added a jello cup. Last night's dinner was another cup of cream soup (the 2nd part of the can) and the rest of the Isopure and an ice pop. I had coffee in the evening as part of my water in take.

So how are you doing today? Are you maintaining your diet alright? I am so sick of soup and protein shakes. I can't wait until next Friday to eat some real food.

Let me know how you are doing.

Hi there! I'm so glad you messaged me! I'm excited for you. My surgery went super easy. I had a small hiatal hernia repair as well. I took the Lortab for 2 days and stopped, no problem. Clear liquids sucked, but I found a product called Protein Water by Designer. Here's the link, http://www.designerwhey.com/protein-water/

Mentally has been kind of hard..post op depression but it's better and low energy but I know it will change. I'm doing much better now! Let me know if you have any questions and also how it goes!

Sundie :smile:

HI! I'm 8 days out and still have some pain in my port site but am feeling better. My problem is i am starving!!! i do the protein shakes and liquid and am seeing the Dr. in 2 days (Monday) the nutritionist i talked to says hang in thier till then but it has been so hard, i am allowing myself creamed soups instead of broth and hope that is ok, I just feel like i'm never going to enjoy a meal again in my life.... tell me it gets better!!!!!!

Thanks for the advice. It's been a big help. I went today to get the lab workup for the surgery. And all the surgerical information. I will be going to the store this weekend to stack up on protein shakes, popsicles and jello, and snapple drinks. I think my biggest hurdle may be trying to get through the 2week liquid diet before the surgery. I'm sure the outcome will be worth it. Thanks again for the advice and continual sucess to you.

What type of chips are you eating? I really love to eat crunchy foods so I started eating soy chips. One thing about eating the soy chip, I start to get an unpleasant taste in my mouth. I appreciate the advice to turn up the protein shakes. I am really praying this first fill give me more restriction so I feel more satisfied throughout the day. How did you feel with your first fill? Did it give you the edge you needed to achieve more weight lost? I am praying it gives me that edge.

dont feel bad. ive had my band for 7mo. now and have lost 56lbs. i dont use calorie. i cup potion control of 1cup per meal. i take a protein drink 4 breakfast. i really look at the sugar intake. i try to keep it 2g. which is hard cause all drinks are about 40g. lol. dilute drinks with water. Hope this helps. Good Luck!!! dont get discourage. ive been losing weight slow. in 10lbs. periodically. and im down 56lbs.

I wish you all the best and success in your journey. I try to always remain positive but this isn't a perfect world therefore there are times when you need to be "real" and know it isn't always going to be easy. Since my last post, that "chicken bone" feeling has subsided (knock on wood) and hopefully will stay that way. That was an awful feeling to have. Hopefully now I can get some of this protein crap in me for I feel weak as hell not having anything inside of me. Keep me posted on you and I will pray for you! (I'm still not quite sure how to add friends on here so if you do, add me....I would be honored!) Talk to you again soon!!!!

Have you thought about drinking the protein drinks twice a day to prepare yourself for the band? My surgeon suggested I do that and you will lose weight doing it too.

I'm happy since the fill. It's so nice to not have uncontrolled hunger! I had the same challenge as you when I started 3x per day. The protein was tough to get. Salmon and shrimp worked great for me. Brlynike has a great recipe on one of her blogs. It's very healthy and tasted great. Seafood is full of protein. Good luck! I'm going on vacation and wish you the best as you return to work on Monday. Enjoy the weekend gal!

I have a 2 week diet too. I have 4 protein shakes 64 oz of calorie free liquid and for dinner 3-4 oz of grilled chicken, tuna, or pork loin, 2 cups of raw greens and 1 tomato. I start my pre-op diet on the 4th. I am evenly distributed too. I would not like 4 weeks of liquid only.

Hi suzie! im doing alright... just struggling to find time to get some REAL food into me... busy with tafe and work im finding myself living off tuna and protein shakes!!!

i was banded on the 24/06 so just over a month... ive lost 9.5 kgs so far... Dr Stephen Watson was my surgeon but Dr Bowater does my fills. any other questions... let me know

During my pre op diet, I would drink 3-4 shakes and then I was allowed a 5 ounce piece of meat/protein plus 2 cups of veggies.

It is rare that I eat bread, not that it gets stuck..it just fills me up too fast and I can't get my protein in.

Exercise: I walk and exercise in my pool daily. This helps tremendously. I know when it rains for days I can really feel it.

For my meals..As I said I eat everything but I eat very small portions..never more than a cup but usually about 3/4 of a cup per meal. The only thing I really splurge on is the popsicles..probably 4-5 a day. I have a 3 year old and we eat them all afternoon/evening.

If I have a cravining I found that if I satisfy the craving instead of trying everying to avoid it I realized that I only wanted maybe 2 bites of the craving and I was satisified. If I tried to avoid it I ate everything in the house and still ended up eating the craving..just think of all the wasted calories!

Another thing when I eat is that I eat until I am satisified not until I am full.

I hope this has helped!! Take care!

Hi everyone! I am doing well! I have minimal pain! Thank goodness! I have virtually no gas pains just some pain and soreness where the port is. I haven't slept well because it is difficult to sleep on my side from the pain but I doze. Overall this is a walk in the park compared to my 3 previous c-sections! I have been moving around as much as possible. I have been sipping my water and had only 1 protein shake today. I am NOT hungry at all. I am unsure if I am supposed to eat (drink) if I am not hungry. I know my body needs the calories to help heal but just a little confused about that. Any ideas?

hi pam, everyone is different and what works for me might not work for you. As a nurse i see where u coming from with being tired after work all i want to do is take a bath and go to bed. I work 12 hrs shifts so when i work i do not work out but the days that im off i hit the gym. Do you have a gym memebership? the band alone is not going to workout if u dont excersice believe me i been there! start by walking 30 min a day and do light wts with time u can increase your intensity and time. right now im doing a lot of cardio and wts to tone up. Drink a lot of water i drink 3 to 4 32 oz bottles a day and dont forget ur protein and vitamins. it takes a lot of patience to get there but YOU CAN DO IT!!!! my main motivation are my kids! but when u can wear things that u were not able to before it feels sooo good! also looking at other people who had success with the band is a motivation

livi

shibalover I dont think I over did anything. I work out a few times a week and get my heart pumping for an hour at a time and before I had restriction I dieted and watched my calories but now I have restriction and am eating whatever I make my family but I just cant eat very much of it LOL. Ive come to relize I want to do this for life not like a diet. I dont get all my protein in most days but I try and I eat everything but the band helps with the amount. The only tip I have thats a for sure thing is DONT snack because the band wont help with that. I could eat a whole bag of reese cups if I want. so I stay far far away LOL I try not to have that junk in the house. It really is an awesome tool

I wish I were 250!!! Congrats to you! So far the weight has just been falling off. I eat mostly proteins, I do have carbs but no breads, sweets, sodas, or anything like that. Oh, and no crackers, chips, popcorn - you know, any of the things I would eat like, daily. LOL. I've been going to the gym maybe 3 times a week. But today I was beating myself up because the stupid scale said I went up 2 f'ing pounds. I'm still working on my emotional baggage that I carry!!! Take it easy Sister!

Hi, I'm Sarah. We have surgery scheduled for the same day. 8/9/10! I'm not on a pre-op diet yet. For one week prior to surgery I'll be on 2 protein shakes and a Lean cuisine/ day calories not to exceed 873. They want me to lose 5-10 pounds that week mostly to shrink my liver. I will do my pre-op labs and EKG this week.

Best of luck to you!

What protein shake are you on? I am having the EAS lowcarb drink and thank GOD I only have four more days because it really is starting to make me sick. LOL Can't wait to start real soft foods. Hope I don't over do it since there is no restriction right now since the band isn't inflated at all yet.

Have you lost weight? Right now I am down 11lbs.

I go in for my first fill on Monday the 13th. I am glad to get it done because it is too easy to just eat like I used to, I mean the quantity of each meal. It almost seems like I was able to loose when I was drinking protein shakes and no food and now the weight loss has slowed considerably. I still try to only drink a shake for breakfast and add frozen fruit to the blender. It does help to read that other May banders losses are comparable to mine.

Hope you get your fill soon.

The 29th? How fabulous! Good for you!! Yes, I am on a pre-op diet and I hate it. <> Liquids for 14 days! YIKES!! I have a good protein supplement and I am following the rules---it's not so hard to do...I just miss CHEWING! LOL I have found that I have zero energy at the end of the day. When I get home from work and have my 'dinner,' all I want to do is sit on the couch and go to bed early. I hope it gets better---I've been reading where people say the first 4 days are the roughest. How about you? Do you have to do liquids or just high protein?

Ack!! Sorry Mrs Smith, I just noticed your question in my notices about unflavored protein powder.

The only unflavored protein powder have found so far in Unjury (UNJURY is Medical Quality Whey Protein Isolate. Best Tasting Whey Protein Powder. Most Trusted Whey Protein Powder Supplement. Taste the difference)

I haven't tried too many though. I love Optifast and have been sticking with it.