Blazn

So, in the last 3 weeks I have lost a whopping 1LB!!!!! How discouraging. I have scheduled a fill for next week and I cannot wait!!!! So anyway, I decided to look up what is the best way to be eating.....low carb (which usually means higher in fat) or count calories - like I love lean cuisines - but the carbs add up by the end of the day! So anyway I found this article, and I liked it because it reminded me about some things to do and not to do. Many of you may not need this reminder but I did so I thought I would post it! Lap Band - Have You Wondered What Happens AFTER Lap Band Surgery? By Helen Hecker If you're thinking about or seriously considering lap band surgery, you may want to know what the routine will be like after the surgery. Often just knowing this to begin with will help you make a decision as to whether you want to go ahead with the lap band weight loss surgery or not. Of course you will want to find out the cost of lap band surgery also. These are the usual recommendations that bariatric surgeons or lap band doctors suggest for lap band surgery patients; these also apply to all gastric banding patients: Only eat 4 ounces of food at a time. And if you still feel full after 30 minutes, you may need an adjustment to your lap band. Leftovers should not be eaten - they are often hard to swallow. Reheating any leftovers can dry them out so they can get stuck easier. Don't eat any well done steak or any type of doughy bread. If you haven't lost any weight in the last month - yes this happens - then are you eating too much food? If this is so, then you may need an adjustment. The esophagus doesn't really come alive until noon or so. If you somehow can't tolerate a solid breakfast, then fix a healthy all-fruit smoothie. You can make this with bananas and a combination of fresh and frozen fruits. The adjustment of the band depends on how you feel at night. If you're starving at night, then you may need an adjustment to your lap band. If you find you're vomiting a lot then you need to decide whether you're eating too much food, eating too fast, not waiting between bites or taking big bites, or not chewing your food thoroughly. No one should eat if they are upset or anxious, even more important for lap band procedure patients. Stress in the esophagus makes swallowing difficult. Now if you find you haven't been able to eat a certain food the last three times or so that you tried, then you probably still won't be able to eat the food tomorrow either. Microwaved food can become very "rubbery" and difficult to swallow. Microwaved food is missing many nutrients also. So it's best not to eat any microwaved food. It's important to understand that you can't eat like you did before you had the lap band system surgery. And it's very important to exercise even if you have the lap band. This may seem unusual but it is highly recommended that lap band or gastric banding patients take up a new interest or hobby. A hobby not related to food is best. This will keep you focused on something else other than food. If you can - start a new hobby that is physical like power walking, playing tennis, playing golf, yoga, hiking, joining a health club, dancing, square dancing, playing basketball, etc. Anything that will keep you up and moving and away from sedentary activities like TV, cards, bridge, computer games, etc. Get outside and get charged up by the energy in the air and sun.

I am glad you are going to have things checked out. Please keep us posted and you will be in my prayers.

Fill Center USA in Roswell, GA

1 fill - 3cc in 4cc band

Yes, I have heard of this before. Sometimes, due to stress, irritation to the band, or for many other known and unknown reasons, the band and the stomach it surrounds get irritated. I also think the suggestion about the CVS anti-reflux liquid was a great idea. I think you should call the OCC and see what they say but I also think you should try liquids at least for a week AND take something for reflux. Please keep us posted.

WOOOOOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You look amazing!! What a change already!! Great job!

I heard at one time that a 4cc band could actually be filled to 5cc. Has anyone else heard this? Although it is kinda scarry to think about overfilling your band if you think about breast implants it make a little more sense. When women have implants they may have a 360cc implant filled with 450cc of saline. This happens everyday! Anyway, I just wanted to throw this out there and see if anyone else had heard this.

Ohhhh, I do pray I am the exception to his speculation! We will see.

I've never heard that it is "normal". If that was the norm wouldn't we all have less when we went back for more fills? I have heard that there may not be any problems if there is not as much but on the other hand there may be a leak. Since you only lost .3cc I would not worry about that right now.

Kim, your frustration is not in vain! I would be TICKED!! I was scared to pay the initial Fill Center fees with added up to $550, scared that I would not get enough fill for my money. As I have posted before she gave me 3cc in a 4cc band. At first that scared me. I thought, OMG I only have 1cc left....then what? But thank God I have not needed another fill! I do have a fill scheduled for mid July, but when my weight loss slowed down I just wanted to schedule so Darlene would not be booked up. I will see in the next couple of weeks if I will keep that appointment or not. Since you have already paid the money, I would continue to use this doc. But if you start gaining weight I would call him immediately and DEMAND an additional fill!!! You have done so well to date and I seriously doubt gaining weight will be a problem. I am sorry you are having these frustrations. Please keep us posted.

ALL 3 OF YOU!!!!!

Well both, actually. If I eat too fast or take big bites the food gets stuck. Because of the pain (from the food getting stuck) I stop eating. After a few minutes...I realize I am full. Which is something I always had a problem with pre-band. I would eat until I was full!! Not wait like they tell you to allow your brain to catch up with your belly. But anyway.....just an update. My weight loss has slowed down but I have lost 15lbs since my fill (May 3rd). That's about 2lbs per week. I am going to be on vaca for about a week and will not be able to weigh until next Monday. If I have not lost 2 more lbs by then I think I am going to have my 2nd fill in mid-July. If I continue to lose 2 lbs per week I will hold off. But I will let you guys know!

Michelle, I saw that you got an additional .35cc which took you to 2.35cc. So how was the experience? Hows the restriction? We would love to hear from you....hope you are doing well!

Cathy, I know you had surgery somewhere else...so when will your liquid phase be over?

I don't do good either. I work 12 hour days at a hospital. We are not allowed to have drinks at the nurse's station and are too busy to stay in a break room to drink.....so I don't drink. Before banding the only time I really drank was while eating....well now that's out. So...honestly I probably only take in MAYBE 16oz. per day! I know that is terrible. Sometimes I even get dizzy when I stand up too fast. I know it's those times that I am a little dehydrated which causes orthostatic hypotension. I will work on it....this post has opened my eyes a little! I will set a goal to drink 32 oz. of water tomorrow. I know, I know, I need at least 8 cups of water per day (which is 64 oz.) but I gotta start somewhere!! I will post tomorrow night and let you know how it goes!!

Thanks!!

Ok, so if you are one of those fortunate ones that hates sweets and never gives in...this post is not for you. But if you are one of those people (like me) who just has to have something sweet occasionally, I have a dessert to share. Many of you may already know about these as they have been out for a while now but Weight Watchers Smart Ones makes dessert (like they do meals). Tonight after eating a Smart Ones meal for dinner I had a sweet tooth, so I had one of their Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sundaes. They are delicious!! Nutritional Info: Calories 170 Fat 3g Carbs 32g Protein 3g That's not bad for a dessert. For example, at work today (hospital) they had strawberry shortcake pie which had 497 calories and 15 grams of fat. Wow. Anyway, I just wanted to share these little delights for those that may not know they exist. They have other desserts besides the sundaes. I have also had the Double Fudge Cake which is also delicious. Anyway....try them!!

I am working!!! All weekend!!! 12 hour shifts!!! Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday!!!! Woo-hoo!! (but then I will be off until the next Monday!)

AMEN!! You said all that I was thinking!!