Slow Loser with Problems!

Hi Lap Banders,

I came across a post back in 2007 when a member addressed someone about weight loss slowing down.

I have done some research and I figure that I am not following all of the rules that I once did. I was banded on 11/21/08 and at that time weighed 290 pounds. I currently weigh between 234 and 237 any given day. I am proud of losing 56 - 53 pounds respectively but am concerned that I am staying at this weight for so long without losing. I think I am going on 2 months standing still. I have had two fills and due another on July 6, 2009. My goal is to lose another 57 pounds.

I jog daily and I can honestly point to my eating habits as the problem. I have a couple of issues here that I thought you might be able to share some insight from your personal experiences.

(1) I can not eat in the morning at all (except a protein drink) or at lunch other than soups. I was told to stay away from soup but I try to get black bean or some kind of bean soup. If you are supposed to eat several times a day and avoid liquid proteins then what are my options.

(2) I have a hard time drinking water (because I don't crave it) even though I DO NOT drink soda. I like fruit juice or something but no soda. How can I increase my water intake.

(3) Also when I drink water, I feel so uncomfortably full because by that time, I am thirsty and tend to drink faster or I have just worked out and drink faster.

(4) Foods are a problem for me. I have an ok time with soft fish but I get bored with that and that leads to convenient soft foods like dips and cheese and ice cream or stuff high in salt like spaghetti sauce. Probably not the healthiest.

(5) Why is my stomach so tight in the morning and noon. I only have a good time period to eat which is around 5 -8. After that I am tight again. Even then i have problems with real food.

I know I have to get back on track but I feel like there isn't a lot of options for me on the food front that are protein packed AND healthy and if my stomach is so tight how do you eat?

I am scared I have done something to my band and am a little concerned. Are there any signs or am I just normal?

I appreciate it if you have time to answer.

Thank you so much.

STEPH.

To start things off I will start witht the water thing. Try crystal light. That is my best friend, 5 calories and it is delicious. The problem with drinking fruit juice is it has a great deal of sugar, and carbs, basically empty calories. You can find many in light which is useful. You want to be careful because you do not want to drink all of your calories.

Next you are probably more tight in the morning as most are because your stomach has not been working all night. Basically you need to wake your stomach up. Try yogurt, cottage cheese, oatmeal, something with protein.

You are eating things that are easy to go down which leads to the problem of having our stomachs be "asleep". You should be trying things that are high in protein.

Next you said yourself that you are eating things that are bad and high in salt, avoid that. You will not lose weight if that is all you are eating. Get in with a nutritionist, meet with your surgeon, but avoid things with empty calories.

Also you said you are eating mostly between 5-8 pm. Studies show this is unhealty because your metabolism slows at night. Try and stop eating by 5 or 6 pm at night, not always possible, I know.

Lastly, stay positive. You have been successful thus far and deserve to enjoy this period in your life. Keep your head up and ood luck.

__________________
~Jenny~





Surgery- NOVEMBER 14,2008 Dr.Haag

My doctor told me if the band is "tight" in the morning to drink hot tea to get it feeling normal again.

You sound a little too tight. You probably aren't pbing because you are sticking to soft foods, but if you call and get a small unfill (many times .5ccs out is all that is needed) you will probably be able to eat healthier foods, including some hard proteins. Please consider it. You will probably feel much better.

__________________
Approved 06/26/08; Pre-0p 07/03/08 No pre-op diet required; Banded 07/14/08
11cc band; 1st fill 1cc 8/20/08 2nd fill 1cc 11/17/08 for a total of 2ccs

Turkey Day Challenge

May I suggest you try this? Try getting at least 64 oz of water each day for a few days and see if your issues number 1, 4 and 5 don't resolve?
Get 4 16 oz bottles and drink one over say an hour, space them out, but get it in. By day 3 you shouldn't be having the "tight in the morning and noon" issues.

I say this because I have a friend who posts on here who was really struggling with similar issues. I offhandedly asked my surgeon "Why is the band tight sometimes and not others" and he offhandedly answered "hydration. When you are hydrated things seem to to through more easily. When you aren't your band seems tight".

I happily shared that with her; she was miserable and felt she couldn't eat most things part of the time, other times could eat too much, sliders went down too easy etc. She was quite unhappy with her band and experience at that point.

She said it my info changed her band life. I am really good about drinking the water and do NOT have the "tight now not later" issues...

Could be my surgeon is right? They are sometimes.

Just try staying hydrated with water for a couple days and see if it helps you. It may not; that may not be causing your issue. But superficially you sound like a classic case.

Don't GULP the water; think trickle hose not flood :)

Good luck!

__________________

PCM 7/3/08 Seminar 7/10/08
Upper Gi, Psych,Nutrition, Surgeon 7/25
Tricare Approved 7/31
1st surgery 8/11 thick liver no band
Banded 8/29/08!!! BY:
Dr. Sonny Cavazos, Texas Bariatric