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Hello, I have been reading a lot of the messages people are posting and it has jump started me to work on losing my last 3 pounds before I can schedule my surgery !! I began my quest in April. I have everything in place except these last three pounds. I am using the protein shake for breakfast and lunch and a light dinner. Hopefully that will do the trick.

I am not sure how to do this posting and all so I'm giving this a try. I hope I did this right and someone is able to read this...

Hi, I read your post from April that you said you were diagnosed with Anemia. I was just diagnosed with anemia as well as protein deficiency. What happened when you saw the GI MD, is everything ok now? Thanks!

Hi nazzy, I'm sorry I'm just getting back to you, but I've been away from my computer for awhile. I wasn't sure how to add friends either, but I think I might have been able to send you a friend request. I went under my "friends" screen and chose the option for "edit friends". Hopefully, it'll work, and you can add me to your list too.

I hope all is going well for you. I have my first fill tomorrow, and so far I've lost 25 pounds!! I'm so thrilled. ~kiz

I walked 2 times a day in the hospital, because I was bored. I am doing protein drinks and soy milk. It is hard getting the water in though, how about you?

Hello!

I did very well, I am home, trying to take in all the protein and water. I am glad the surgery part is over.

i'm a smoker too and there's not a single doctor in the world that won't tell you to stop immediately. i'm trying my best to stay busy and not smoke out of boredom (its hardest when I'm on the phone or driving). do you smoke in your house? if so, wash your walls and shampoo the carpet, wash the linens. once the house is clean and doesn't smell like smoke anymore, stop smoking in it. if you actually have to make an effort to get up and go outside and find a spot that isn't too sunny you will slow down alot!

as for the diet, i put myself on the pre op diet for a whole week before i even had to and have lost 8.5 lbs in less than 2 weeks. i'm doing very high protein, no carbs, no sodas, no fruit (natural sugar) and about a gallon or more of water a day. start walking even if its 15 minutes a day at least you are moving. i'm only up to 30 minutes a day and each day i take one of my three dogs so they are benefiting as well. keep in touch and let me know if any of these worked for you. and best of luck with all your goals!

Renee'

I love that quote - protein shots. Funny!

Hello,

Thanks for the note, things are going well. I have had my first fill and it went fine. I am excited to see where the next one gets me. I learned the formula for protein that helped a lot. I hope all is well for you too. I have lost over 36lbs so far, so I am happy. Keep in touch and good luck!

Hello! I have been doing pretty good with the water but I'm having a tough time getting all of my protein in. When do you go back to work? I'm only scheduled off for one week but I wish it were two. I'm still a little weak. I go for my one week follow-up tomorrow. I'll keep you posted.

Hi, Cappy, I'm on day 2 of this diet, i feel a little lightheaded today....I bought some protein drinks yesterday I wanted to try them out before the surgery. Thank goodness i did..there were a few dry heaves involved ( i'm glad i didn't try them when i had the band on). I've been drinking ensure...butter pecan, its no Dominoes pizza.....but at least i can handle it. It takes me a while to drink it....which is kind of a good thing, it prepares me for how i'm going to drink when i have the band...small sips. I hope your having luck on your pre-op diet. If you know of any good protein drinks please pass it along.

Take Care!

Hi Darlene,

I seen your post and wanted to say hi. I am also sick of the protein shakes and was excited yesterday when I actually consumed a whole cup of tomato soup. Today when I woke up I felt kind of well sort of hungry and had a protein shake, tea and by 12 I had a cup of chicken and stars soup and a popcicle. I was so excited I was planning my next meal but I just can't do it.

Hey doodlebug11, how are you? I am 9 days out from having my bad placed. The pre Op diet is not fun but I am making it through fine. Since my surgeon has me on a strict liquid diet, I have learned creative ways with little. I added some spicy V8 to my broth and called it dinner. Jello has become my lunch and I sip water tainted with the liquid Protein bullets all day long. I feel good now but the first week was tough. Looking forward the banding on March 25th- Ligheterload

I wish these things were so limited in space....maybe we need to use the private message option, there is no limit! Try not to worry about the fill. I know every doctor does it somewhat differently, but I am sure he will use a local to anesthetize the skin area. Just don't watch while it is happening and you should be okay! So you are watching videos on youtube on fills?! Who knew! ha ha! Since taking it easy and resting, my port is much better. I can feel mine too, but not as much as I thought. They used a low profile port on me, so maybe that's why. I hope you have a great week and can't wait to hear more about how you are doing!!

Take care,

Shelley

Hi Sommer,

Dr's appt went well. One of my incisions needed draining,but otherwise good. He said I could start mushies! I told him about the potatoes and he said, good that as long as I can tolerate it, try new stuff out and find what works. I have done well on real food and feel 100% better! I only drink about protein shake a day now. Yuk! I did get some good vitamins and that has helped too. The swelling has down alot, but sometimes I still prefer to keep my pants off of my belly area! I hope that gets better, the low rider is getting crazy! ha ha! How did your appointment go? Can't wait to hear. : )~

Wow that's good! So I weighed myself this morning and I'm back down to 226.4 So that brings me back to my 21lbs loss. Let's see If I can actually keep it off now. As for your little cheat, refried beans were your protein, the quacamole was your veggie/fruit (avacados are fruits right lol) and sour cream is dairy...so as I see it you were staying within the four food groups he he... (thats how you justify it lol). Ikow that I shouldn't be rushing this but I want to be at my sweet spot now. I hate that I'm able to eat more now. I'm so impatient. lol. Did you have a good weekend?

i think i am actually steady at 20 lbs lost now i think the reason why is because i did make sure i got more protein, and the treadmill has helped. but i bet as i progress onto more solid food some weight will come back. plus, i cheated (a little). i ate some refried beans but w/ guacamole n sour cream ahh well, what ya gonna do? lol

The pre-op diet/fast with 20 grs of protein is to shrink and defat the liver. Shrinking the liver helps make the stomach more accessable for banding.

I'm home from the hospital. All went well, but I had a liver biopsy done at the same time as the LapBand, so right now I feel like someone stomped on my stomach. I have Hepatitis C, and being right there to place the LapBand provided an opportunity to get some real-time photos of my liver.

JB

I choose not to tell my family/friends either until after I had the procedure. I just didn't want to hear anyone say "You don't need the band." Although I was in the 230s and wore sz18, I looked smaller. I knew in my heart of heart that I needed to do something drastic to loose the weight and I knew the lapband was a viable option for me. Plus, I had the support of my husband and that was all that mattered.

You have to know what's best for you and go for it. It's been almost 2 months since I was banded. I've lost 18 lbs. I feel great. I'm soooooooooo happy with my decision. Wishing you all the best.

Dionne

I'm moving on to the mushy stage and the only suggestion I've had for vegetables was for green beans, and I hate green beans. Does anyone know of another option?

sounds like you're doing well. i'm good... i went to the movie tonight with a friend and about half way into the movie, i got a pain in my shoulder that would not go away until i was home and laying down again... i wonder if some of my sitting pain is due to the fact that i'm so short? who knows... i'm really doing good other than random pains.

i still have to remind myself to eat, i have always had the problem of waiting until i'm starving to eat... like today, even though i got up and moving around 8 am, i didn't have my first protein shake or anything to eat until 4 pm... why i wait, is beyond me. i guess i will need to make an appointment with the nutritionist.

anyway, glad you have the extra time off, my 2 week follow up is the 13th also, but i'm scheduled to go back to work on the 14th. we'll see if i'm ready or not! :-)

have a great day!

Thanks!!!! I really try to watch what I eat. I log all my food in sparkpeople.com. I eat very little the week after a fill and then as my restriction goes away, I start to eat more. I get fills every month and that works for me. I usually eat coffee and sf creamer for breakfast and some light/ff yogurt. Lunch is cottage cheese, some deli sliced turkey meat and some fruit. Dinner is a lean cuisine or some type of protein and veggies--think fish or chicken. I don't eat sweets and I try to keep it low carb/low fat/high protein. I also work out 3-6 times per week doing at least 30 min of cardio on the elliptical machine and doing strength training on the weights 2-3 times per week. I've lost 68 pounds since the pre-op diet and surgery on December 1st, 2008. Let me know if I can answer any questions and good luck. You're doing great!

:scared2:I am having the surgery on April 10, 2009. A hair loss is one of my issues too. I was told to make sure I get in my 70 to 80 grams of protein and I will be okay.

MyMy,

Hey I have the guidelines posted in my blog. You can find it Here. My Bandster Guidelines..... - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum

Liquid caloried just run right through the band. If you eat solid food you stay satisfied longer without being hungry. That is how the band worked. That is why you should drink with your meals. It washes the food out of the pouch and you hungry faster. You should wait at least 30 minutes before you drink. I started getting lazy with that rule and I noticed that my hunger was coming much sooner. I will occasionally have a protein drink for a snack to tide me over an hour or so until supper. It is very rare that I have a protein drink and I can expect to be hungery in a few hours.

Food early in the moring gets your metabolism started early in the day.

Hang in there and you might need a fill. Just listen to your stomach to find out. Some days are just harder than others.

He actually told me something completely different than the instructions. Nikki or Rachel (can't remember which one) told me to just follow the instructions. So for the day of surgery, it was just clear liquids. Day 1-4 was broth, jello, tomato juice, milk, cofee.. I think on the second full day he said to add protein shakes back in. Day 5-14 will be mushies/pureed..anything through a straw basically. I think after that 14 days, you can start introducing soft foods first, and then solids. To be honest it was hard to even think about drinking anything the day of and the next 2 days after that. So tomorrow I get to start mushies. Yogurts, puddings, creamy soups, pureed foods. I am supposed to go back to work on Monday. I sit at a desk all day, so hopefully over the weekend I will feel even better. How is your pre-op going? Are you self-pay or did you have insurance? Rachel

I'm sitting at 146-150... I definitely the food issues... I eat normally malt o meal, poptarts or dry cereal for bkfast. Lunch is normally rolled up lunch meat with spicy mustard and cheese. Dinner is anything really... My husband travels so if he's not home I don't cook unless I have to. It is normally something easy for my kids... I eat protein bars or yogurt bars during snack time. I'm one of those rare people that eat 6 meals a day. I eat about every two to three hours. I was working out five days a week and have really slacked off this past month with the holidays going on. Now it's hard to get motivated to get back in gear. I'm losing a lot of my muscle and my skin is starting to sag really bad... so I've been trying here lately to at least get my protein in! That's probably why I'm stuck right now!