OSuzanna

This was right on for me, it said I should have 1507 calories a day to "maintain", so subtracting approx. 500 calories per day, leaves me a around 1,000 calories and that's what I'm doing and I am losing weight steadily. I don't lose every week, but averaging about 8-9 pounds a month, which is fine by me!!!!

I am quoting off of my "bible": "To expose the area of the upper stomach requires the liver to be physically lifted off the stomach. The liver is often quite large and somewhat immobile in very obese people. This can prove to be a major obstacle in working around the upper part of the stomach. To avoid this situation and make the procedure safer and easier, (my) patients are put on a low fat, low carb diet for three weeks. This pre-op diet can pay off big dividends, because the liver usually shrinks dramatically in a very short time." Now, I'm not saying anyone is obese, but I think Dr. O's pre-op diets are for the same reason.

The last week of my 21 day liquid diet was very hard, it wasn't that I was super hungry, I was just sick and tired of nother but liquids. I bought creamy lowfat yogurts and threw then in the freezer. That really helped, because you get to chew and it's okay because by the time your ready to swallow, it's a "creamy liquid". Also, and this I highly recommend - I mean I so recommend this, that I would tell anybody contemplating this surgery that a 'must have' is a sno-cone machine! I'm eight weeks post op and I still use mine every day - it's my desert. I use either light orange juice (which helps with going to the bathroom!) or Target and Walmart both have sugar free syrups. Good luck, stay true to your band - you won't regret it!

OMG! I loved it, what a great personality she has! And how original to put those items up for bidding on ebay. I really admire her - very smart! I read the whole thing to my husband and he agreed, he thinks what she did is great! I'm sure she isn't expecting to sell those items (actually, she had to take the panties off because their used), her intent was to mortally embarrass (emphasis on the ass!) her "soon to be ex". It only costs about 35 cents to put a listing on ebay, so I think she got a lot for her money!! Thanks for sharing that - It was thoroughly enjoyable.

I feel bad to tell you this because of the small fills you've been getting, but I got my first fill last Saturday at OCC and I got 2.2 cc. Now, I'm not feeling anything yet, but I'm sure it will come. Good luck in your search for a decent fill, you deserve it!!!

Ditto, can't stay away - once in a while I'll even sneak a peak when I'm at work if no one's looking. Yep, I get home we figure out what we're going to do for dinner - I pour myself a small glass of Cabernet - take me, my little glass of wine and my laptop outside to our patio table and there I sit for the rest of the night while DH's butt is parked in front of the TV - never was much of a TV person. I don't always post, but I read everything. Love everybody and appreciate all the help I've gotten from this forum in my lap band journey.

Yes, and this came from our fellow Bandsters, I started eating! I know that sounds bizarre, but I was loud in my complaining about not losing on this forum and I was basically told I wasn't getting enough calories in a day. So I thought what the heck, I'll eat more and I did and I lost - it's weird, it's strange and it's fantastic (my post from earlier today)! Also, really try to keep getting your protein in - I have a thick protein drink for lunch (GNC's 100% Whey Protein mix), I double scoup it and that's my protein for the day. Dinner for me is whatever we are having, but just not as much as I used to.

I got banded shortly before you did, on the 13th of June and I had the same thing happen, I was stuck at 187 for about three solid weeks, just this past week I have finally lost 2 pounds, but my total weight loss so far (starting from weigh in the day of surgery) has only been 18 lbs and I've really been pretty good. But like you, I expected to lose more. BUT and that's a big BUT (no pun intended) I'm still very happy with where I'm at. We just need to let it sink in that this is a slow process and a more healthy one then all the other diets we've been on. Good luck - you'll get there! (p.s. - I'm sending big bucket fulls of MOJO your way!

I think there should be a section in this forum where you can go and get infomation on basic rules like drinking liquids before and after meals, when you can start creamy soups, when you can eat "real" food, etc. Also a glossary with terms like: PB and even DH (I didn't know that stood for Dear Husband for the longest time - Duh!). Anyway just a thought and it's probably been brought up before, but what the heck!

I also heard from someone at the OCC, I can't remember who, 15 minutes before you start eating. In the book I read (Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band) the author, Dr. Robert Sewell, says stop drinking 15 minutes before eating and then nothing to drink for 2 hours after eating. Does anyone have Dr. O's book to see if he says anything in it about when and when not to drink liquids. I'm really curious because out of the entire Lap Band experience this is the one and only thing I have so much trouble with - not drinking during meals.

You know, in our past lives we all thought "starvation" - yeah, that's how we'll lose some weight!! :lb20: Well, with this band I have discovered you have to eat! And you have to eat a good amount (1000 - 1200 Calories) - That's the WEIRD part. :scratch_one-s_head: Last night was my first "real" food day after my first fill this past Saturday, we got some salads from CA Pizza Kitchen (yum, the Thai Crunch and the Chopped Chicken - awesome!) and split them up between the two of us and I was able to eat my entire salad without any problems. I had a little piece of bread also and that went down fine. I wasn't concerned, because I've heard other bandsters talk about being able to eat the same amounts after their first few days after getting a fill, but I still think it's strange because after all the band was tightened (and I got a good fill 2.2 cc). - That's the STRANGE part. This morning I got up - had my coffee, went to the bathroom (I won't get to graphic here) stripped down for my shower and stepped on the scale (of course we always have to be naked when we step on our scales!) and lo and behold I've lost another pound! - That's the FANTASTIC part. I love my band!!!!! I am happy and smiling and it's going to be a beautiful day and I hope you all have a good one too!!!!

You look maaavaaalous!!!!!

Oh, big group hug - we all love our band!!!! Congratulations! p.s. Last year I was out of a job for 13 months (no, I didn't want to work at McDs) and finally one came along - you'll get there - have faith. In life, things always have a way of working out for the best - I truly believe that!

Whatever works - I say go for it! And that comes from a 54 year old!!

Good Luck Jim! Hope it's a good one!!

Here I sit, slurping up my Campbell's Tomato soup on the second of three days of liquids following my first fill by the very charming Dr. Acosta. The good Dr. asked how I was doing and I told him I was doing pretty good and then he spent the next 10 minutes talking about "the rules". Then he asked me to pull up my shirt and unbutton my pants (oh my!) and swabbed my stomach with some brown stuff. Oh wait, back up a minute... he told me to look at the monitor and explained what everything was, pouch and band. I then asked him, "what are those dark lines on either side of the pouch" - he said, "those are the wires from your bra" and then I said, "oh". Anyway, I knew the needle was coming, so I just kept staring at the monitor. Meanwhile, my lovely sister who accompanied me on this trip, was on her cell phone yakking away to our other sister and here she was supposed to be my support to lean on and cry on! All of the sudden she says, "Oh my God, look at that needle! Annette (she says to the other sister on the phone) you should see the sucker - it's huge!". Well, that was real comforting for me. Next thing I know, the needle goes in "ouch" bit of a poke; he wraps some gauze around the needle and tells me to sit up. I sit up and see this huge needle sticking out of my stomach and I look at my sister and she says, "sit still, I want to take a picture - Oh my God, I can't believe how big it is!". Then Dr. Acosta has me take a sip of Barium and shows us how we can see the liquid go through the small pouch and past the band. He then pushes the plunger of the "weapon" so about a third of the liquid goes in and then has me take another sip, we all turn and watch the monitor and then he plunges some more and tells me to take another sip and we all turn and watch the monitor and then we do the whole thing one more time and then I guess he's happy because he says, "okay, that's it" and pulls out the needle - plop, out it comes. He showed me the syringe at what was left in it and told me he put in about a total of 2.2 cc. I may be wrong, but I thought they gave you a shot before putting in the fill needle to sort of numb the area. That didn't happen - is that the norm, do they not give you a numbing shot first? All in all, it was pretty easy, no real pain - just the poke. We walked out and ran into a gal who had gotten banded the same day I did and she was there for her first fill, so that was kind of neat. And then............... we went shopping! Well, tomorrow is going to be a great day, I get to try real food and it's our 36th wedding anniversary. If we go out to dinner, I hope I don't have any problems, but I will remember to CHEW, CHEW, CHEW, CHEW, CHEW...... Oh, and I lost a pound between the morning of the fill and weighing myself this morning - yippee!!!

Yes, get it - it's a great book and they have a chapter for your significant other to read that is very helpful in getting them to understand what your going through.

Ha, I love it!!! I came across the OCC website and emailed them on a Thursday, I got a call back from them that same day and scheduled my surgery for two weeks thereafter, that was it, no hesitation and absolutely no regrets!!!

Okay, I really had a huge laugh at your post, a nice laugh - I went ten days before I finally pooped and my goodness, what a relief when I finally did!!! I keep tooting this, but the Chewable Benefiber works so well for me, I chew about six of them a day (nine is the recommended dose) and I have no problems with regularity now. I can't comment on your periods, because thank God, I'm old and don't have them anymore - seriously, "thank you, God!" I'm seven weeks post surgery and I still have hard lumps under my incision scars. Matter of fact, I posted about this same subject and someone suggested massaging them and using vitamin E oil - I've yet to give this a try, but only because I haven't gotten around to buying the oil. Good luck and keep asking questions, it's the only way you'll get some honest real life answers.

You know I have to agree with Ramona, stick with the three week liquid phase, it's really not that difficult. The first week you don't even feel like eating; the second week you get to go on the creamy soups and that pretty much fills you up. I admit, the last week is a b--ch, but come on, you just spent a bundle on your surgery, why are you going to jeopardize it by eating solids before your supposed to? I'm probably going to get kicked off of this forum for saying this, but if you can't even go the first three weeks, how are you possibly going to make your band succesful? And I'm not holier than thou, I'm in the middle of bandster hell and I have a huge problem with not being able to drink when I have a meal and let me tell you, I'm really struggling with it. This is not a "new diet" we are trying out, this is a major life change. It involved cutting into your body and for most of us, cost a tremendous amount of money; respect those things and give it your all!!! (I'm really sorry if I've angered or insulted any of you, that is not my intention, I guess I just want all newbies to really listen and do what you are told, follow the instructions/rules if you really want to make this band work for you!)

Hey Cathy, glad to hear your feeling your first fill, may it last a long time!! I'm getting my first one this Saturday and I'm looking forward to it, despite some of the problems some of our fellow bandsters have had. That's such a bummer (do people still stay "bummber"?). Have a fantastic vacation - it sounds like the kind of vacation I would love to have - A little house somewhere pretty and for sure with a swimming pool! Relax, Relax, Relax and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!! We'll miss ya!!!

Me too Erin, I'm getting my first fill :lb17: this Saturday and I don't know what I'm supposed to do either. Thanks!!

Yippee - that's awesome - Congratulations!!!! It seems a lot of our significant others didn't embrace the idea of us getting this surgery. I know mine didn't at first, but he came around and now he's my biggest supporter and I'm sure your husband will be also. Way to go, Vix - very cool!!!

( :lb20: :lb1: Yesterday was 7 weeks since banding, I'm at that point where I can eat anything and everything. I'm not motivated at all right now, I'm not exercising, I'm drinking with everything I eat (I've probably stretched the hell out of my band!), I can take big bites and it goes right on through! Thursday was my birthday, I weighed myself that morning and was down 2 lbs to 185 and I thought, "oh, way cool a two pound loss for my b-day, best present I could get". Well.............. this morning - back up to 187!!! I mean it was like giving me a present for the day and then taking it back the next day - SUCKS!!!! I'M GETTING SICK OF ALTERING MY TICKER EVERY FRIGGIN DAY! UP DOWN, UP DOWN, UP DOWN, UP DOWN - SH (POOP) T! I'm being so bad, doing everything I shouldn't be doing - Oh, Lord get back on track - I don't want to screw this up - it cost me to much damn money! Yelling, screaming, stamping my feet (farted ), crying, snot running down my face - got hiccups :lb6: Scene from Moonstruck: Cher slapping Nicholas Cage on the face, "SNAP OUT OF IT!". Somebody go get me a Cymbalta, better get me 3 of them - really need them today! Getting my first fill next Saturday - very hopeful. This coming week I will try the three day liquid protein regime - see if that works. Okay, thanks I feel a little better - think I'll go take a shower, shave my legs, put on some shorts and go shopping (I'll put a shirt on too). Have a great weekend everybody! Suzie

:lb24: :cheerleader: Awesome, I think I can speak for all of us and say it's so encouraging and so motivating (to ourselves) when we break over that ten pound marker - am I making sense? Like when you go from the 200s into the 190s or 180s into the 170s! I'm just trying to get over the mid-way point from the upper 180s into the lower 180s - one day at a time right? Congratulations - keep it up!!!!!