Great Idea - I will do it right now !!

Hi

I am Janet and I am a recovering food addict :wink2:

I was banded 7/17/07 - My starting weight was 250 - I'm 5'4

Today (just over 10 months out) I am 154 - size 8 pants (was 18/20) Medium tops (was 22/24)

I got banded as I wanted to extend the years that I have left on this planet and to do that I knew that I needed to lose weight.

The band has been the tool I needed. For the first time in my life I have been able to achieve this goal (actually getting to my goal weight)

If you want a buddy - support - help - suggestions - Please feel free to call upon me - I will gladly share my journey with you - the journey is still on going and by helping you I will be helping me (staying motivated and accountable) and then one day you can pay it forward and help someone else.

I'm not Janet, but was concerned about your legs especially. These sound like questions for your Dr. or maybe the nurse can answer them. A blood clot can be serious. I'm 2 mos out and still take liquid tylenol. Good luck!

2 months out and taking liquid tylenol for what? pain from the lap band surgery?

HI,

Well, tomorrow it will be two weeks since my banding. This past week I only lost 1 pound and I don't understand it at all. I am drinking the Isopure and my intake equals less than 400 calories a day. I am walking, but not a lot. Shouldn't I have lost more than that? In the two weeks total, I've lost 7 pounds. HELP! I need advice, because I'm really sad.

Love,

Ellen

Awe, Ellen, hang in there! I actually gained my first few days home (think it was from all the stuff they pump into you in the hospital) then I lost good. But then about 2 to 2 1/2 weeks it stalled. I lost barely anything until I got solid foods. didn't make sense to me either. I had bathroom issues, from one extreme (diarrhea) to another (constipation) but once I got solids the losses started happening again and then slowed til I got a fill, then slowed til another fill, you get the picture.

2 months out and taking liquid tylenol for what? pain from the lap band surgery?

No silly, for things like headaches, my bad knees, etc. Just general pain relief. Though today I was out of the liquid and took tablets one at a time no problem. I hardly had no pain from the surgery. Took liquid Tylenol about a day or so. But am now facing another surgery on Friday for my gall bladder so will have to stock up again. :teeth_smile:

HI,

Well, tomorrow it will be two weeks since my banding. This past week I only lost 1 pound and I don't understand it at all. I am drinking the isopure and my intake equals less than 400 calories a day. I am walking, but not a lot. Shouldn't I have lost more than that? In the two weeks total, I've lost 7 pounds. HELP! I need advice, because I'm really sad.

Love,

Ellen

Hang in there Ellen! I gained six lbs from surgery....then lost the six plus now eight. I increased my intake from 500 to 700 and now 800-1000. I am walking 30 min a day. I am 18 days out of surgery and have lost 14lbs. It takes time.....don't get discouraged. :biggrin:

Can't we take tylenol pills if we cut them in half?

Yes, that last recipe does sound good. I went out for dinner Fri night and I had eggplant and it was good. Well these last few days I have been good but I feel like I am slowing down. I didn't walk for two days since it was horribly humid outside but I did get in the pool and tread Water. I feel lazy today. I am bored these last few days. Thats when I want to get into trouble with food. I haven't yet but potato chips have crossed my mind. I don't ever eat them either. Isn't that strange. Everyone else sounds like they are doing good the last few days. I haven't seen your pictures yet Janet. Talk to you all later.

Beckyo

Becky - Take it one day at a time - don't worry about the scale so much - some weeks it may not show a loss but your clothes will feel loser - just stay on your game plan - as long as you do that this does work - I still am so surprised that it has worked.

I have never been a big chip eater myself - but the urge does hit me everynow and then - I buy pringles that are made with the olersar (sp the fake fat stuff) 14 chips for like 70 calories with a little light sour creams -

Hi Janet, I have a couple of questions for you (if you know the answers please).

1.) I was just banded 10 days ago, and my doc said liquid Tylenol if needed (after my 2 day supply of pain meds were out). I have used all of my expensive liquid Tylenol up. My question is, can I take the Tylenol EZ tabs that I have (coated and smaller, supposed to be easier to swallow)? I'm still on liquids otherwise. Is it too much digestion to take the tabs?? I don't have pain now really (but just incase).

2.) I had started another thread about "How do I know if I have a blood clot in my leg after surgery"? I was self-pay with no insurance. I had some slight cramping in my left then right calf a few days ago. Also my legs and feet were swollen off and on, but now they have not been (could have been from high sodium in broth). I've been walking on the treadmill for 30 minutes each day. So do you know how I could tell without an expensive Dr.'s appointment? And when is the chance for them after surgery reduced? Thanks!!!

Getthin.. We are suppose to take the liquid stuff and that's what I do - expecially 10 days out - I would not take the pills you are still healing.

The leg cramps could be lack of potasium (sp) but I am no doctor - so you must call your gp and talk to him or her about that and your swelling - and I would think that if you think you have blood clots that your insurance would cover your doc's visit - you insurance may have excluded lap band but it covers you for other medical problems - this would be a separate problem..

thanks for the good ideas . I had salmon last night and ate slowly -no problems ! I think part of my problem is I am focusing on whats not happening instead of what allready has-----so I 've decided tojust keep my focus each day on what i can do with my schedule , I work nights 12 hours every other day off, and realize this is a time of change that dosen't just happen because I had surgery. I have a long history of stuffing myself to stuff my feelings down and learning to eat slowly and only at mealtimes is real work. T.hank you so much for being here for me to talk to.:smile:

Nancy

You just have to plan - that's it - you take your food for Breakfast - lunch and dinner to work with you - on your days off you cook for the days that you work. That's what I do - I don't work 12 hrs shifts but I am at work at 7 - 7:30 so I plan my breakfast & lunchs for work - I cook on Sunday's for my lunch for the week.

I totally get the eating to stuff down feelings - I think we all do that - I used food to self medicate - eating makes me sleepy - eat - sleep - eat sleep that was my life... Eating fast - ya don't know why we think we have to eat so fast like the food is going to dissappear.. or that it won't be there for the next meal...

Like I always say - this is just as much a mental thing for us - we have the help with the physical - but we gotta work on the mental part to be successful..

The band mades a hard job easier - but we still have to do the work.

HI,

Well, tomorrow it will be two weeks since my banding. This past week I only lost 1 pound and I don't understand it at all. I am drinking the isopure and my intake equals less than 400 calories a day. I am walking, but not a lot. Shouldn't I have lost more than that? In the two weeks total, I've lost 7 pounds. HELP! I need advice, because I'm really sad.Love,

Ellen

Ellen

You need to up those calories - we aren't meant to live on 400 calorie your body is hanging on to the fat as it thinks you are starving - and limiting yourself so much can cause to go back to over eating - you have to find a good balance - eating healthy is about eating not starving yourself - low fat foods - limited refined carbs - lower sugar foods and phyiscal activity - this is the key - we aren't dieting we are learning a new healthy lifetime change in our eating..

Can't we take tylenol pills if we cut them in half?

PJ - I do have the smaller pills and will take them in a pinch if I am out of the liquid stuff - but I make sure I take them on an empty stomach - the liquid stuff works faster.. But for you who are newly banded - you really gotta follow your doc's order - and stick with the liquid stuff..

Hi Janet,

What do you think of the "protein bullets"? A friend of mine mixes hers with Water or crystal light and loves them. I have been reading a lot about them and that they come in 25 gram and 42 gram Protein amounts. I also read that your body can't use more than 20 grams at a time. I really don't know what to believe. I am trying to get in the 60 grams of protein from regular eating but they could come in handy during some hectic days.

I also got a fill on July 25th for 1.75 cc and I don't think it was enough and I may get an additional fill this Friday. I have lost 18 lbs and 14 of it was FAT--I also gained a lb of muscle. The exercise guy was real happy about it. He said you have lost nearly the equivalent of 5 - 5 lbs bags of sugar. Now your body is not lugging around all that sugar. When I thought about what he said it is amazing how that comment makes me feel like I have accomplished more than I thought.

I meant 3 - 5lb bags of sugar.

Hi Janet,

What do you think of the "protein bullets"? A friend of mine mixes hers with Water or crystal light and loves them. I have been reading a lot about them and that they come in 25 gram and 42 gram Protein amounts. I also read that your body can't use more than 20 grams at a time. I really don't know what to believe. I am trying to get in the 60 grams of protein from regular eating but they could come in handy during some hectic days.

I also got a fill on July 25th for 1.75 cc and I don't think it was enough and I may get an additional fill this Friday. I have lost 18 lbs and 14 of it was FAT--I also gained a lb of muscle. The exercise guy was real happy about it. He said you have lost nearly the equivalent of 5 - 5 lbs bags of sugar. Now your body is not lugging around all that sugar. When I thought about what he said it is amazing how that comment makes me feel like I have accomplished more than I thought.

Hi Jill

I never used the protein bullets - My doc's office sells these Protein drinks you add to water (like crystal lite) and they have 15 grms pt for 70 calories - I used those in the beginning - and still have some - but don't use them often. I have read the same thing that the body can only process so much protein at once - I thought it was like 30 grms but like you said they are great when you aren't able to get all your protein in via regular food..

Yep we need to think of our losses in those terms - I use 10 pound bags of potatoes - we all know how heavy those are and how big. I have lost 10 of those - it's funny how we don't think our fat in poundage.. Visualize 1 10 lbs bag of potatoes and 5 lbs bag of sugar and 3 lbs of butter..

You are doing great :thumbup::thumbup:

FYI my biospy came back CLEAR...

Indio - that is great news. You have been in my thoughts, really glad to hear you are okay. Sounds like you had fun in MN, and lots of new tiny clothes to wear. What fun!

FYI my biospy came back CLEAR...

HALLELUJAH! Great news! By the way, say a prayer for all of us down by the Texas Coast. The storm should be in around 1p tomorrow, but I stocked up today on packs of tuna and Water....wouldn't want to sabotage my loss!

FYI my biospy came back CLEAR...

Woo Hoo...great news Janet !!

Hi Everyone. I had surgery yesterday. I'm feeling pretty good, mostly just drowsy, and I have a headache. I was given liquid hydrogoden., not liquid tylenol. No gas pains anywhere yet. Only soreness I have is when I try to turn over in bed, or get up from laying down. I am not hungry at all, normally in the mornings I am starving, I was yesterday morning before surgery. I am forcing myself to drink this Isopure. I have had upset tummy, so I keep that medication on my wrist.

Good Luck everyone who will be banded today.

Pj

Good to have you back, PJ. Sounds like everything went well. I wish you a speedy recovery...

Thanks Joann !!