MamaMichelle

I just updated mine about an hour ago with no issues, did you get yours working? Lori told me they have been doing some updates to the boards so the webmaster might have been tweaking that section when you were trying to update it!!

Well Thanks girls!

Lol thanks sweetie, I actually weighed this morning and I am down to 205, which is 42lbs lost... just haven't updated my ticker!

I actually went to a place called "sweet tomato" it's a salad buffet where I used to eat 2 plates of salad (lol thinking I was eating healthy) All I could eat was 1/4 cup (maybe 6-8 bites) of Caesar salad. Not really that exciting I know but it was what I was craving!

Great Job Cindy!! =D> You are doing so well, even after "bandster hell" you're already in ONDERLAND!! I'm sure this fill will have you back on track in no time!!

Wow Annie- Thanks for sharing your story, it is a sobering reminder that some times things do go wrong. Hopefully since it was the surgeon's fault they are covering the cost of your medical bills, it is a good thing they were able to act quickly and save your life. I notice you are new to our forum so I am assuming Dr. Ortiz was NOT your surgeon especially since my girl Kimmie was banded the same day by Dr. Ortiz and she would mention something as serious as that! No worries we have bandsters posting here from all over the US and Canada and many choose to have the surgery closer to home. After such a scary encounter I imagine I would feel that God (or some other higher power) felt that my life was worth saving and that I was meant to have the band and that I would be successful in my weight loss journey after such a harrowing start! I hope you feel the same way!! Get better soon, and let us know if we can do anything for you!

Sounds grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat!! I have been doing the Optifast and it's been working well but it is a little pricey!! I checked out GNC.com and saw that it's on sale: 1lb bag for $11.99 2lb tub for $19.99 5lb tub for $37.99 I am assuming you got the small/bag size can I ask how many scoops that includes?

Here's a link to the Food Detox post http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?showtopic=5489 (in case the threads end up on different pages or something)

I don't think you should ever want to feel "stuffed" I would aim for "pleasantly satisfied" after a meal!! Here's a great article about how to tell if you are perfectly filled I posted in another thread but it's applicable here and it has some great info!! Adjustments How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted You are losing 1-2 pounds per week. If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week: A. You may need an eating adjustment 1. Are you eating 60 grams of protein a day 2. Are you eating 25 grams of fiber 3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories a. Soup can be sign of soft calorie syndrome b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories 7 calories per gram (1) Its also a stomach irritant c. Fruit juice is just sugar water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? a. Are you avoiding soft foods b. You cant just eat what's easy c. Cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals 6. Are you eating too much junk a. Chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But dont avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of calcium daily 8. Do you always eat the protein first 9. Then the vegetables or fruits a. Five servings a day b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? a. Meat or fish (1) 3 ounces the size of a deck of cards b. Vegetables (1) ½ cup the size of your fist c. Starch (1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you dont need much (2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, pasta 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar c. They teach you to like things too sweet d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner than people who dont 12. Avoid most diet foods a. Real food usually tastes better b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not that great (1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine (2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats a. They may go into permanent storage b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body B. You may need a behavior adjustment 1. Are you eating only when you are hungry? a. If youre not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait. 2. Are you eating three meals a day? a. With maybe 1 or 2 small snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away, pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? a. Put the fork down between bites b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? a. Practice water loading between meals b. You wont be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? a. Sometimes its a whisper: not hungry, had enough b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry C. You may need an activity adjustment 1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week? a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physical activity? a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids D. You may need an attitude adjustment 1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising? a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days 3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional issues? a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your eating? b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those emotions? c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor? 4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings? 5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends? 6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically? 7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey? 8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating? a. Obsessive compulsive thoughts (1) Obsess about something else b. Perfectionism (1) All or none, black and white thinking c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss 9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards? 10. Have you learned how to take a compliment? 11. Are you giving up diet mentality? a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day b. Stop dieting c. Stop depriving yourself d. Stop defining food as good and bad e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food 12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place? E. You may need a band adjustment 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate portion sizes but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large portions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and having a good mind set. F. You may need your band loosened 1. There are times when you cant get fluids down 2. You are vomiting too much a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: (1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods (2) Chocolate (3) Caffeine/Alcohol (4) Some fruits and vegetables such as; oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers (5) Peppermint a. Baking soda toothpaste e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (1) Tylenol is OK n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider 4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest, especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack. b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise. c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you also have nausea or fever d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention. e. If your pain is severe (Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.) This was written by Jessie H. Ahroni, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., C.D.E., B.C.-A.D.M.

Happy to help, I know most of it is common knowledge but sometimes you need things spelled out in black and white to help refocus you. I have this list on my fridge so anytime I want to open it up and "graze" I make myself read a few lines and ask myself "What do I REALLY want" usually the answer isn't food so I make another choice, get some water, if I'm bored I log on here or grab a book, it really helps keep me in line!!

First off, you aren't alone! Lot's of people struggle with the post op phase.. Read the Food Detox post a few posts below it should help you rationalize that the liquid op isn't just meant to torture you there's a good reason for it and it's not just so your band can heal. This is where you have to get your head on straight and learn to eat to live and not live to eat!

I think food detox is a good description, but it's not just a detox for you!! I found that during those 3 weeks not only was I training myself to watch my husband and others eat whatever they wanted while I sipped my shakes... but it was also a detox for my husband! He had become so used to asking me if I want anything to eat if he was going out, or would usually scarf down food as quickly as I did but since I couldn't eat solids for the 3 weeks or had to eat slowly starting week 4 he was able to take that time to adjust his mindset that he shouldn't offer me food unless I said I was hungry or that I would be taking 30 min to eat a meal so he had to slow down also... You hear all about "bandster hell" where people are so hungry and others get so tired of liquids they are chewing and spitting out foods but if you take the time to relearn what it "really" feels like to be hungry and recognize that your band will prevent you from making many of the bad choices you used to make it really isn't that bad of a time! Good Luck!

First off Mackenzie- I U! As far as I know the Barium is the liquid you have to swallow to do the Fluro, that's what shows up on the screen... Are you asking if you should do the Fluro or not?

I don't believe I have ever seen an exact number of days you should wait, it's all about water retention and swelling so if you feel the bloating is gone 2-3 days after aunt flo has left then you should be fine. On the same token if you are bloated for a week before you start your period I would go a few days before for the PMS bloating kicks in!

Don't be worried about the fast weight loss, remember it's not just fat you're losing you were pumped full of Gas and IV fluids during surgery which added a few lbs to you. Everyone is different but a big loss while on the liquid phase is great, that way if you gain a few lbs back once you get onto solid foods and the swelling has gone down (when you're less restricted) you won't be freaked out by gaining a few lbs back! Your body knows what it's doing so just follow the post-op diet, make sure you are getting enough calories (so your body doesn't go into starvation mode and your weight loss totally stalls) and focus on healing. You girls are doing great!

Thanks sweetie, I try to contribute what I can here (without annoying everyone or being a "post ho") lol... But I do update my blog every other day with the good stuff and the bad stuff that is happening with me in my adventures in bandland! As for your dress, GO FOR IT!! I could hardly slide that dress over my hips the night before my surgery so who cares if you can zip it yet!! Then take some pics... you don't have to show it to anyone, I took a set of pics in a bikini and it was pretty horrifying lol, but come this time next year when I am rocking that same swimsuit it will be great to have pics to see how far I have come!!

Fills are such a personal thing for everyone.. For some people they may need only 2 fills in their lifetime others may need 3 or 4 fills every year till they get to their goal weight!! I have yet to have my first fill (only 2 weeks to go) but from everything I've read and everyone I've talked to there is no universal magic number. The first condition to consider is the size of your band, more specifically how many cc's of saline can it hold? The 2 main types are the smaller 4cc band and the larger 10cc (also called VG band). So let's say you get a 2cc fill well that is 50% of the capacity of the smaller band but only 20% of the capacity of the VG band. That doesn't ALWAYS mean that you will need more fills with the VG band, there are some people who are really restricted with 2cc's out of a 10cc band and others that can eat anything they want with 7cc's in a 10cc band. Here's a great article about how to tell if you are perfectly filled: Adjustments How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted You are losing 1-2 pounds per week. If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week: A. You may need an eating adjustment 1. Are you eating 60 grams of protein a day 2. Are you eating 25 grams of fiber 3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories a. Soup can be sign of “soft calorie syndrome” b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram (1) It’s also a stomach irritant c. Fruit juice is just sugar water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? a. Are you avoiding soft foods b. You can’t just eat what's easy c. Cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals 6. Are you eating too much junk a. Chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But don’t avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of calcium daily 8. Do you always eat the protein first 9. Then the vegetables or fruits a. Five servings a day b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? a. Meat or fish (1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards b. Vegetables (1) ½ cup – the size of your fist c. Starch (1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need much (2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, pasta 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar c. They teach you to like things too sweet d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner than people who don’t 12. Avoid most diet foods a. Real food usually tastes better b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not that great (1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine (2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats a. They may go into permanent storage b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body B. You may need a behavior adjustment 1. Are you eating only when you are hungry? a. If you’re not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait. 2. Are you eating three meals a day? a. With maybe 1 or 2 small snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away, pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? a. Put the fork down between bites b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? a. Practice water loading between meals b. You won’t be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? a. Sometimes it’s a whisper: not hungry, had enough b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry C. You may need an activity adjustment 1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week? a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physical activity? a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids D. You may need an attitude adjustment 1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising? a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days 3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional issues? a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your eating? b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those emotions? c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor? 4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings? 5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends? 6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically? 7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey? 8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating? a. Obsessive – compulsive thoughts (1) Obsess about something else b. Perfectionism (1) All or none, black and white thinking c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss 9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards? 10. Have you learned how to take a compliment? 11. Are you giving up diet mentality? a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day b. Stop dieting c. Stop depriving yourself d. Stop defining food as “good” and “bad” e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food 12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place? E. You may need a band adjustment 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate portion sizes but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large portions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and having a good mind set. F. You may need your band loosened 1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down 2. You are vomiting too much a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: (1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods (2) Chocolate (3) Caffeine/Alcohol (4) Some fruits and vegetables such as; oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers (5) Peppermint a. Baking soda toothpaste e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (1) Tylenol is OK n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider 4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest, especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack. b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise. c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you also have nausea or fever d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention. e. If your pain is severe (Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.) This was written by Jessie H. Ahroni, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., C.D.E., B.C.-A.D.M.

Sadly many people may need 3-4 fills in their first year before hitting that "sweet spot" of perfect restriction.. The best thing you can do is try no to let it get you down or start thinking "this band will never work for me" and neglect getting another fill, I have read so many stories on other boards about people just giving up, for some of them it takes a year of kicking themselves in the behind before they take the steps to tweak their tool!

Welcome Lynne!! You have found a wonderfully supportive and fun board!! Sounds like you've had some struggles already so the surgery this week should be a breeze after that lol... Most of us were banded by Dr. Ortiz in Mexico and were self pay but it's great to have someone that can shed some light on the insurance approval process as I'm sure there are a few members here who would love to know how you were able to finally convince them!

I think 800 calories should be fine for the first week, I wouldn't continue that much past a week because that's when your body goes into starvation mode and then it will hold on to every calorie you consume and your weight loss will stall!!

Sounds like a good plan, let us know how it goes!

I did the optifast shakes, either 5 shakes per day (at 160 cal each that is only 800 calories each day) or I would do 2 shakes a day with a lean cuisine. I started the pre op well before the 2 weeks required, so I had a 8 weeks total to lose the 21lbs!

Sounds great how many Calories and Carbohydrates per scoop?

I knew my ears were burning, lol. Thanks Hanna you are such a sweetie- I have been far from perfect especially this week I thought that I this would be the first week that I didn't lose any weight but I did end up dropping 1 little pound this week so yea for me... Only 1 more lb before I hit the 40lb mark!

I have yet to have my first fill (only 10 days away) but I believe a few of the veteran bandsters have mentioned that it sometimes takes a week or so to actually feel the restriction kick in. So if you get a 2nd fill so soon and then they kick in a little later does you might be too tight and then have to pay for another trip to get an unfill!