Christian Bandsters

[Jesusislove 26]

Hi, I am asking for the prayers of the saints. I have surgery on Monday, and I am a little apprehensive because I have never had surgery of any kind. I have lost weight many times with God's help; however, God knows me better than I know myself. I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. I have taken care of a lot of other people, but it is now time to take care of me. Pray for me.

[skinnyjeans 2]

Trell,

You are covered by the blood....

[Little Debbie 1]

Trell

I will mark my calendar to lift you up On Monday. Yea Trell! :sad_smile:

[39forever 0]

Thanks wombat712 -

I am just glad to hear that I am the only one. I tried to find someone out there to tell the truth about how much they were able to eat. I really appreciate your response. Discipline and the power of God will enable me to get where I needed to go....perhaps a little slower than I first anticipated. Those who I have told are expecting drastic results and I don't want to explain it to them but I guess I just have to tell them the truth that this takes time.

Can I ask, how long has it taken you to lose your weight?

[wombat712 2]

39forever: I lost most of my weight in the first 6 months. I tried to eat around 800 calories. Some days less, some days more. Some consider that really low. I couldn't lose weight if I ate over 1,000 calories. I also didn't do any exercise during this time (lazy - I guess). I'm also only 5ft tall so I really don't require as many calories!

I've lost 19# since January 1st and it's fighting coming off now. I now exercise (cardio) at least 3x week. I'm going to start lifting weights now to strengthen.

I know that in the beginning I was wanting to drop the weight FAST!!! This isn't the bypass where that is going to happen :sad_smile: If you can lose 2# a week - count your blessings!! That would get you the 10#month goal that most docs say you can lose.

With all that being said - this experience is so different for each person. Your starting weight, age, height, or if you are male/female is all going to play a role. :scared2:

What I DO know: This site is God sent! The support on here is phenomenal!!! Stay on here - read, post, question, rant & cry, whatever you need to help you through this process!!

{{HUGS}}

Gen (wombat)

[phyllser 3]

Hey my brothers and sisters in Christ!

I need to be REAL for a moment. I love the fact that when we came to Christ we did not have to put on any airs of who we are and what we have done nor what our struggles are. In this forum I pray it's the same.

Well, here is my short story. I got banded over two weeks ago. Things went well however, I found out that same week I was able to eat whatever I wanted and almost as much as I won't. I am a little frustrated. I get my first fill on Monday but I am asking if anyone out there has been able to do the same after surgery. They are right when they say it's only a tool because until I can feel some restriction (because I don’t right now) the Band is not really working for me. I still have hope and I believe that the Lord has directed my foot steps but I am a little discouraged I must admit. I am supposed to be on a purée diet but I find if I chew food really well I don't have an issue. But last night before I watched American Idol I was able to eat 5 Oreos with milk like I was able to do before the surgery!

I guess I am just reaching out to talk to someone who can offer some encouragement.

Thanks -

I haven't been able to get online for a few days, so I just read your post today and I must say, I think I'm going to extend a little

"TOUGH LOVE" your way!

You say you want to be REAL... I'm going to give you some REAL.... and hope you aren't offended!

The Lapband is NOT a magic wand.

It's a tool we've been blessed to have available to us,

but there is a large degree of committment necessary on our part! Diet and exercise are essential.

At two weeks out, you're not yet ready for exercise!

But!! BIG BUT..

... why in the world would you be eating OREOS at two weeks out.... or for that matter, eating Oreos at all??

Did you have an appointment with a nutritionist prior to surgery?

I'm sure you were given guidelines as to what you should be eating. You say you're supposed to be on pureed foods...

I don't think that would include Oreos.

You can "trick" the band, too, and washing them down with milk would be a good way to do that...

that's why we're told not to drink anything after we eat...

my doctor says one hour, some say 30 minutes.

You will have restriction after your first fill,

but probably not as much as you will need.

It takes most of us about three fills before we have sufficient restriction to keep us from getting hungry

and to keep us from eating too much.

Then, as time goes on, you will likely need more adjustments.

I had three in the first few months,

then went six months without one, now I'm having another next week because I don't feel I have enough restriction again.

As we lose weight, the band can become looser

and we need to be adjusted again.

But, really, I know you didn't go through all this to fail.

You must decide to follow the rules if you want to be successful.

Still friends????

Hang in there! It will get better, but it might get worse first!!

[neverB4 2]

I honestly think it goes with what type of pre-op teaching you get in the first place. I went for a 5hr class just to meet with the surgeon's nurse and nutritionist. And I've also joined in one support grp so far. Here is what they're telling us...Yes, the LB is a tool but you CAN cheat it out. I'm being told that you have to work it YOURSELF to get it to work for you later down the road. Both nurse and nutritionist are saying it will take anywhere from 6mos to even a yr before you can truely rely on your band to work for you...the "sweet spot". This is why I have to follow this strict post-op regime......

phase one: clear liqs 1 wk post-op. This includes ONLY 1-2ozs at a time. At least 40gms of protien each day.

phase two: full liqs 2wks. I now begin 2oz for brkfst, lunch and dinner. 40-60 gms of Protein each day. No Snacks...just liqs between meals.

phase three: soft diet 3wks. Still only 2ozs (1/4 cup) for brkfst, lunch, dinner. Same Proteins.

after: this is life maintenance diet...2-4ozs per meal. After a yr or two, you can increase up to a cup of food per meal.

Still...NO drinking with meals 30-45mins before or after. I can eat all things but the bad stuff (fried, greasy foods, sweets. etc.)

I'm a registered nurse so it is knowledge that yea, you may have a band to constrict your stomach a little...BUT, you can still stretch out that little pouch left on top of that band. I read on this forum (other threads) that people are already eating 1-2cups of food just only 3 days after banding, yet they seem surprised they can!!! They're questioning "why" since they now have the lap-band. Well, dahhhhh...... Again, I feel it boils down to what type of education they got beforehand...but all body functions are the same. Just as with gastric by-passes...you can always stretch that tummy more. Which is what you WILL do if you don't limit yourself post-op. hence, the reason you can cheat yourself out of the LB purpose. My post-op diet seems really strict compared to what I'm reading on forums and hearing in the chat rooms. But since I will have to work my band first until I reach my sweet spot, I'm glad my surgeon is this strict!!

I'm looking at my band as my tool to keep me from overeating...EVENTUALLY. So until then, the Lord has given me strength and the knowledge to know I will have to work my hardest for up to a year after my banding to get the results.

[phyllser 3]

I honestly think it goes with what type of pre-op teaching you get in the first place. I went for a 5hr class just to meet with the surgeon's nurse and nutritionist. And I've also joined in one support grp so far. Here is what they're telling us...Yes, the LB is a tool but you CAN cheat it out. I'm being told that you have to work it YOURSELF to get it to work for you later down the road. Both nurse and nutritionist are saying it will take anywhere from 6mos to even a yr before you can truely rely on your band to work for you...the "sweet spot". This is why I have to follow this strict post-op regime......

phase one: clear liqs 1 wk post-op. This includes ONLY 1-2ozs at a time. At least 40gms of protien each day.

phase two: full liqs 2wks. I now begin 2oz for brkfst, lunch and dinner. 40-60 gms of Protein each day. No Snacks...just liqs between meals.

phase three: soft diet 3wks. Still only 2ozs (1/4 cup) for brkfst, lunch, dinner. Same Proteins.

after: this is life maintenance diet...2-4ozs per meal. After a yr or two, you can increase up to a cup of food per meal.

Still...NO drinking with meals 30-45mins before or after. I can eat all things but the bad stuff (fried, greasy foods, sweets. etc.)

I'm a registered nurse so it is knowledge that yea, you may have a band to constrict your stomach a little...BUT, you can still stretch out that little pouch left on top of that band. I read on this forum (other threads) that people are already eating 1-2cups of food just only 3 days after banding, yet they seem surprised they can!!! They're questioning "why" since they now have the lap-band. Well, dahhhhh...... Again, I feel it boils down to what type of education they got beforehand...but all body functions are the same. Just as with gastric by-passes...you can always stretch that tummy more. Which is what you WILL do if you don't limit yourself post-op. hence, the reason you can cheat yourself out of the LB purpose. My post-op diet seems really strict compared to what I'm reading on forums and hearing in the chat rooms. But since I will have to work my band first until I reach my sweet spot, I'm glad my surgeon is this strict!!

I'm looking at my band as my tool to keep me from overeating...EVENTUALLY. So until then, the Lord has given me strength and the knowledge to know I will have to work my hardest for up to a year after my banding to get the results.

AMEN!!

Very well put!

[dbowers 0]

Hello all, had a question. I'm needing some ideas for my pre surgery diet. I'm looking at the Protein Drinks, and bought some fat free yogurt and small 2% cottage cheese servings for Snacks. I start this tomorrow and I'm trying to get a handle on everything. Thanks!:confused2:

[Jesusislove 26]

Hi, everyone thank you for your prayers, they were answered by God. I am doing fine, except for gas pains. Surgery went very well, to God be the Glory.

[neverB4 2]

Trell, glad to hear you're doing great!! May God continue to heal.

[neverB4 2]

dbowers, those do sound like good choices. It's hard for me to offer help for pre-surgery diets because my doc has a strict one. Anything outside of mine, I feel like I'm telling you to cheat...if that makes any sense!! But from doing WW for so long, that's what I would go for if no pre-op diet guidance. God bless!!!

[dbowers 0]

I just got a call that I have to have an Esophagol Menometry because the doctor doing my upper GI last week noticed slow swallowing. I have it tomorrow, and my surgery is Apr 30th. I also have a hiatal hernia and some reflux. I'm a little nervous and hope everything is okay. Have any of you had a problem with this?

[phyllser 3]

I just got a call that I have to have an Esophagol Menometry because the doctor doing my upper GI last week noticed slow swallowing. I have it tomorrow, and my surgery is Apr 30th. I also have a hiatal hernia and some reflux. I'm a little nervous and hope everything is okay. Have any of you had a problem with this?

I wouldn't be concerned. Hiatal hernia and reflux are very common. I had a mild one and reflux, too. It is quite common for Lapband surgeon to repair a hiatal hernia at the time of Lapband surgery. My surgeon did a barium swallow at my pre-op appt and told me I had some weird swallowing action going on, too. I'm sure it'll all be fine! Don't worry!

[simmons775 0]

I'm going through something and I need to ask other Christians about it because I am not a Christian and I do not have the answer. I just found out from my best friend of 17 years that her husband is not very open to the idea of hers and my children spending time together because we do not "believe" and he is afraid that we will be a negative influence on his family. I am appalled at hearing this and very hurt by it. My husbands and my position has always been that we don't believe but we still honor the right for our children to choose whatever they want to believe and we will support them 100%. We just don't think believing is something that should be forced down a person's throat just because of the family they were born into. So my problem with this is that I think from what I do know about Christians is that my friend's husband negative and judgmental attitude towards my family is very un-Christian-like and that he should be ashamed by his behavior. My family is accepting of everyone as long as you walk this earth as a loving and compassionate individual. I don't give a hoot what you believe as long as you are kind. Am I wrong to be hurt by what has been said? Are Christians supposed to stick to their own kind and shun everyone else away?