JazzyJude

GREAT post Lisa! I love the way you think...and I did pretty close to what you've done. It was all about what I am going to look like that got me started. I just focused on the new me and had bought a cute 'little' simple black dress as my goal. Shelby is correct in making sure you get in your daily proteins ~ which is a major key to this weight loss success. You should be taking in between 60 to 90 grams a day. Again, the same for the water. I used, and still do, protein water in between my regular water drinking (it's atcutally 4 16oz water bottles worth). Many of times, it's the 'mental' hunger and when drinking the water, it goes away and your tummy has 'something' in it. Often, I've drink plain 'hot' water, like drinking hot tea without the tea. My tummy doesn't know better but it's got something warm in it! Mind over matter at times for me. For breakfast and lunch, I did the AmazeRX protein shakes (17 grams), and like Shy, I had salads every day for dinner, along with hard boiled eggs, cheese and rolled up luncheon deli chicken or turkey slices (PROTEINS!). I lost 12.5 lbs on my 2 week preop diet. I've done what CindyLou have done, doing the Atkins induction and it's a great program and again, lots of protein intake. I am going to do this step after my 3 months post op and starting up my hard core exercises. The more protein intake and water you do with an increase exercise program, the more you lose, tone and firm up. Good luck and like Lisa says, stay strong - YOU CAN DO THIS!

That's the beauty of it all ~ whatever your heart desire! If you read other's signature pages, you will see a variety ways...

Oh yes, I thought of this and I am sure everyone else have too. I was told it's not enough nutrionally for us adults and would have to triple the amount to meet our daily requirements and that would put us over the portion control we are trying to achieve. Stick with the post op diet Dr Miranda is giving you and while you talk with her during your preop surgery, ask her and see if she says any other info as well. I just know that we are to use 'adult' food and progress from there.

Ooh...Kristy! I've trained you well! LOL Yes, these options helps without a doubt...! Just be sure to be consistent and do this daily to get the results you want. I didn't do lean cuisine but did the salads and added hard boiled eggs, cheese and had rolled up luncheon deli chicken or turkey slices. Yummy! Contrats Jenn! The surgery is a piece of cake! Good luck and keep us posted on how you are doing after your surgery!

Ah yes...love those yogurts too and still do! I had them in the mornings and did the nutrient soups throughout the day, 1/2 cup at a time, as much as I wanted. Yes, I did the Cream of Potato soup and Cheddar Cheese soup together with some spices and set aside the potato chucks. The last 2 days of creamy soups, I actually mashed down or chewed the dickens out of the potato chucks and I did fine. Like Kristy says, you don't count calories during the first 21 days post op...so go for it. Just remember to get your PROTEINS in! Proteins is the KEY to this weight loss success of yours. You should have between 60 to 90 grams a day. This will help your energy, hunger pangs, dizzyness, headaches, etc. Protein water (Special K2O) helps as well as those whey liquid protein bullets you can get at GNC stores. They have 42 grams per tube and I drink half in the morning and the other half in the afternoon. You can drink it straight up or with Crystal Light, Gatorade, etc. Don't be paranoid. What you are doing is what's call "lifestyle changes" and it's a good thing! You are also trying to be PERFECT and that is NOT a good thing. Relax and enjoy this weight loss journey of yours! You are going to have this band for the rest of your life and you will partner up nicely in due time. BE PREPARED! This is my motto in doing this band journey. You need to sit yourself down and be serious for a moment and get started on the right track. It helps to read through the posts on this forum to give you ideas. Not all would pertain to you but a lesson in learning is good. LISTEN to what everyone is saying and if it interests you, print the post and put it in your binder for future reference. KEEP A DAILY JOURNAL. I can't stress enough for you to keep track of what you are doing and what better to start a journal of your ups and downs? It doesn't have to be fancy. I use a 3-hole lined paper pad I pruchased from Target, like the ones the high schoolers used. I write on the front page, the foods I eat at meal times and snacks, mark off my water intake, write my small, reachable goals and rewirte them as I achieve them, my feelings for the day and what exercises I've done. If this was a good day, I just put a star up on the top corner of the page for future reference. The back page can be to add more info for the day or can be for the next day's journaling. ORGANIZE. Read up and have everything ready ahead of time. Place your binder and journal nearby and keep them up to date. Have a calendar of menu planning and when to get your fill, etc. I know, I know ~ you all think I am crazy to go this far...but heck, it's working for me and, again, I've paid good hard earning money for this surgery so I need to do my best to make it a success for me. Sorry to go off the subject but THIS is what helps me to get through the hard times and to keep stress at a minimum, keeping informed and being prepared is making my band adventure a good one....

Good point...but I don't have to worry about those issues anymore ~ thank goodness! LOL I really believe it was the l5-mile walk, NON stopped, and the extra water I drank the upped the scale.

LOL! Oh I wish I could take that comment gracefully, but since it's way too cold to go out, I do my 5 mile walking INSIDE, with Leslie's in house videos!

....to say the least! LOL I am back at weighing myself on Mondays only, for the time being. I have 10 more days for my 3 months post op and then I am going full force on my exercises. I just can't wait! In the meantime, my body, too, is trying to catch up with the quick weight loss I've done and it had and last week, I weighed in and lost 6 lbs! YES! BUT, this morning I gained 3...which I am sure counts for the walking I've done at 3:00 am and also, drank a 16 oz water bottle. Weight is going to fluctuate no matter what. So I am not really going to go by the scale numbers that much but the inches I am losing and my clothes size! THAT is better than stressing out the numbers on the scale to me!

I am definitely going to try this recipe! I've got friends coming down from Skagsway, Alaska and bring me some fresh salmon! Oh yeah baby!

EXCELLENT post Cara! I have been taking Iceland Health (from Alaska) Omega-3 fish oil capsules for years and this helps me to make sure I get my fair share of nutrients in my system if I neglect to have it in my food intake. Currently, I just had my 2nd fill and I can still take this large capsule daily.

Cara is RIGHT! Remember the reason why you got banded. Alcohol are EMPTY CALORIES and most, high in sugar intake. So do yourself and your band a favor and DON'T drink alcoholic beverages. Stick with water, Crystal Light, tea, etc. Having a good time is all good and YOU CAN HAVE FUN WITHOUT ALCOHOL! IMHO, I would get the fill first thing and go on liquids and see how your band acts. Listen to your body for signs and if something is not right, you have time for an unfill.

I've stayed at all these hotels and they are great. One warning though, I love the Catamaran and you are just across thr street from the ocean but it is a VERY busy intersection and if you are driving, word of caution, you will go crazy looking for parking spot! I, personally, like the Bahia between these 3 hotels. Nice size hotel, wonderful views from your room, walking distance to the ocean/Mission Bay beach, great time walking on the boardwalk/ocean front walk. You're about 10 minutes from the airport, with no traffic. Here is there official website... http://www.bahiahotel.com/ Good luck and enjoy!

Good and like Karenlynn says, go to some kind of group talk and like she says, we are all like this and at times, we need to talk it out and get a reality check. AND, the more you stress out, the tighter your band will feel. Your stomach kind of swell and for some people, hace a tendency to want to eat, instead of not. Take the time to think of yourself and relax and go forward babe. I keep a daily journal of what I eat and add up the calories, mark off my water I drink, write down my small, reachable goals and then rewrite as I achieved them, and what exercises I've done. Maybe this might be something you can do... Keep us posted to let us know how you are doing...have a wonderful new year!!

Great post CindyLou! I've driven in TJ numerous of times as I live right in San Diego...so it's no biggie for me either. But, with all the new laws changes and so forth, I opt to do the bus and taxi and being catered to. HA! Cheap anyways. BUT, I am glad you posted this as others can see what you've experienced and for you waiting only 45 minutes at the border is fantastic. What time was your fill appt? Like Yoyo says, hope you have good restriction, too, and take smaller bites and CHEW, CHEW, CHEW!!

Hi there...I just posted in another for this issue and I am going to say the same to you, as I feel it would benefit you too. BUT, first you need to contact your doctor regarding this. What you are experiencing is not normal like sandielaw says. You should now be comfortable in eating solid foods in proper portion control (about 1/3 of what you use to eat) and not drinking during your meals too. No one ever says that having a lapband is going to be an easy thing to do. You need to start a different approach ~ start over if you have to, as you memtioned. Turn all your negatives into postives. This band DOES work if you work WITH it ~ it's a fabulous tool. You need to commit yourself and focus on the reason for this choice of weight loss procedure. You've spent good, hard earning money for this surgery. Be persistent and consistent and discipline yourself. Be motivated and plan your band journey accordingly and stay on track; focus on the new you. Yes, keep yourself busy as well such as arts and crafts, reading, walking, visiting family and friends, etc. There's a lot of things you can do. What you are now doing is re-organizing/adjusting changes in your lifestyle and it's a good thing! You are saying you a still hungry. Dr. Miranda, nutritionist, recommends to have the Metamucil capsules at 10am and 3pm to help curb your appetite and it works ~ try it. (Note ~ after surgery, I switched to the chewable Fiber Choice for Weight Management - great supplement). It's really hard to 'start' per se. Here you are being told to go on a preop diet to prepare for your band journey and your body is rebelling because it doesn't want the 'restriction' you are trying to do. This preop is very specific to get your body ready and still use some of the rulings for your surgery aftercare, especially the 'protein' part. You are doing a lifestyle change and it's a good thing! Hope this helps and good luck ~ take the time to listen to your body and your band. If in doubt, ALWAYS call your doctor or nutritionist. YOU CAN DO THIS!

Hi sweetie...no one ever says that having a lapband is going to be an easy thing to do. You need to start a different approach ~ start over if you have to. Turn all your negatives into postives. This band DOES work if you work WITH it ~ it's a fabulous tool. You need to commit yourself and focus on the reason for this choice of weight loss procedure. You've spent good, hard earning money for this surgery. Be persistent and consistent and discipline yourself. Be motivated and plan your band journey accordingly and stay on track; focus on the new you. Yes, keep yourself busy as well such as arts and crafts, reading, walking, visiting family and friends, etc. There's a lot of things you can do. What you are now doing is re-organizing/adjusting changes in your lifestyle and it's a good thing! You are saying you a still hungry. Dr. Miranda, nutritionist, recommends to have the Metamucil capsules at 10am and 3pm to help curb your appetite and it works ~ try it. (Note ~ after surgery, I switched to the chewable Fiber Choice for Weight Management). It's really hard to 'start' per se. Here you are being told to go on a preop diet to prepare for your band journey and your body is rebelling because it doesn't want the 'restriction' you are trying to do. This preop is very specific to get your body ready and still use some of the rulings for your surgery aftercare, especially the 'protein' part. You are doing a lifestyle change and it's a good thing! Good luck ~ It's an awesome adventure to experience! YOU CAN DO THIS!

Hi Sarah, OK...I call the white folder we received on surgery day 'discharge paperwork' because it has the surgery aftercare info. It's the same folder Dr. Miranda went over with you on preop day, before your surgery. In my folder, I have a list of phone numbers to contact while in TJ and when I got home, instructions to what to eat plus the calendar, instructional sheet for lapband patients and a statement of success sheet. Among these paperwork, I beleive it says if you have any issues to contact them. Hope this helps you better...

Happy New Year to you too! Whoo hoo! WTG and you SHOULD be proud of yourself! That is 52 lbs GONE FOREVER! This is awesome and you are inspiring me to keep on going forward. I love your upbeat attitude! I am plateauing as well because I've lost a lot of weight quickly and my body needs to catch up with the inches lost to balance my metabolism. After my 3 months post op, I am planning to do hardcore exercises and dancing my bootys off! Keep up the good work and enjoy the WiiFit! You will next be doing the belly dancing! whoo hoo!!

Hi sweetie, Some do and some don't. I've heard some lost as low as only 2 lbs and still had the band surgery. One of the main purpose to lose as much as you can is to reduce the fatty tissues around the liver, which the dr can determine what size band to use on you. I suggest to call Dr. Miranda, our nutritionist. She is awesome and can suggest as to what you need to do. I contacted her myself 'worrying' and she made suggestions and poof! I lost 6 lbs more! One thing that is important is to see if you can lose on your own, follow the diet plant, etc. If you don't lose, they may not do the surgery. So, how important is this weight loss to you? Yes, it's the holiday season, and just about one every month. We can always use the holidays as an excuse. Committ and be determine to be positive about this new adventure of yours. Do whatever it takes to make this a successful adventure, to live our your dream. Be assertive and discripline yourself. YOU CAN DO THIS Sweetheart! We are all here for you to cheer you on...HOO RAH!

Hi Erica, I am not medically trained to give you advice, but I suggest you contact OCC regarding this. I am assuming you've not had any dairy product issues before you were banded? Maybe you just had an off day? Have you tried soymilk? I tried it and it's good ~ used it for cooking, cereals, drinking and even baking with it. Maybe just the Mexican Hot Choc was just too strong for you too soon? I know when I was banded, I was drinking and eating 'bland' food/drinks and when I started back on having spices and herbs, I don't use as much as both dried and fresh can be very overpowering in flavor. This is a learning experience and you may find certain foods may not be for you anymore. It's a trial in error and the band can be so finicky at times!

The ladies are right and if you are concern, call OCC for assistance. You were given discharged paperwork for the 'if in case' issues. If you are following the general guideline of choosing food wisely, cut your food into dime-size pieces, chewing the dickens out of them ~ one bite at a time, and eating slowly then all should be ok. If you are not stressed out and Aunt Flo is not around, then you again should be ok. I suggest to contact OCC for assurance. Obviously something is not right and since we are not medically trained, get the right answers from them. Preparing your foods is very important like Dawn says. Keep your meat moist. After eating, any leftovers goes into a ziplock/container with it's own juice or a bit of water. Dry food have a tendency to get stuck in your throat and since you cannot drink while eating, it will stay where it 'sticks' until enough saliva or other moisture help it along to slide down. Good luck and please let us know what you're doing as this is a learning experience to all.

I am wondering why are you angry? What is making you so angry that you have the need to bark at others? Are you living from day to day with your new weight loss adventure and are you giving yourself enough time to plan around your band? Are you getting the support you need? I learned when I am angry, mad or upset, I analyze as to why I am and who I am angry at. Then I try to calm myself by getting away from the angry situation and find ways to solve the issue. Ahh...truly spoken Amy! LOL...when I was banded in Oct, my thoughts were, "what can I eat?; what do I do?"; and the list goes on. For me, keeping busy with arts and crafts, reading, exercises, etc, helps me be positive and stay away from food. The band is such an amazing adventure in my life and with me, I was being selfish and thinking of me only when I first decided to go forward with the surgery. I was in my own little world and 'organizing' my daily, weekly, monthly, etc...goals, menu plannings, clothes, etc. This band journey is PERFECT FOR SINGLE PEOPLE! So, adjusting this new lifestyle changes with my family and friends' living lifestyle is such a huge challenge for me. It's progressive steps for me and it's easier when people know what you are going through. Now, I am very open with my surgery and the rapport I have with others is a good thing...and the new adjustments I am now making is incorporating with my 'old' ways of things a lot smoothly. It takes time. Like Amy says, once you've made mistakes, learn from it and move on forward. Do not try to analyze it too much, just go with the flow and enjoy the ride! Best to you...

Lisa ~ Hi sweetie! Glad to hear from you but sorry for your issue. IF YOU CANNOT TOLERATE LIQUIDS, CONTACT YOUR FILL DR RIGHT AWAY! This is consider an emergency. At OCC, they give you a half sheet paper titled, "CAUTION: Is your band too Tight?", which says the following: ~ Can't tolerate any solid food ~ Can eat "very small" amounts of solid food (painful and only a little stays down) ~ Can't tolerate liquids (this is an emergeny!) ~ Regurgitation of swallowed foods (PBing) ~ Heartburn ~ Night coughin or choling ~ Repeated Pulmonary Infections (bronchitis, pneumoniaetc) ~ Constant upper abdominal pain worsened by eating or drinking if you experience any of the symptoms above, Contact Us Immediately, they could appear immediately or a long time after a fill or for no apparent reason; if you decide to wait, there is a highter risk of complications. Hope this helps...keep us posted sweetie! We are all concern...((HUGS!))...Jude

Yes, like Cara says, you need to listen to your body and if you are using more willpower than bandpower, time to schedule a fill. My first fill lasted about a week and a half. I got my 2nd fill on Dec 20 and it's a good one so far but not my "sweet spot". Like Cara says, your first fill is to prime you, for your band and yourself to get use to the idea that, "oh, my band is a little tighter, so choose my food wisely, cut into smaller pieces, chew the dickens out of it and eat slowly!". Also, it's important to go on liquids after your fill to jump start another journey of losing weight. For me, I've noticed the difference between my first and currently my second fill ~ is that I now get fuller quicker. So, of course, I am focusing in getting my proteins in FIRST...then go for my veggie/fruit, which I was truly able to have about 2 teaspoons worth of veggie and 2 teaspoons worth of fruit and that was it for me. I love the idea of 'drinking' my veggie down with V8 juice ~ thanks Cara for this tip!!

Since I've been banded in Oct, I can burp on purpose (which I've NEVER been ablr to do before surgery AND if I feel one coming on, I can force it out. Go figure! Since we now have like (2) stomach pouches, the burping/belching will continue, just more of ~ and depends on what we eat, which we are changing as well.