I just posted to someone else, this is a phase of the surgery, jut like being tired and not eating all of what you should eat. We go through phases in this process. I should know, being four almost five years out. Tired, not hungry and plateau are phases. These should go away with time. Our body is adjusting to the amount of food that we are not eating anymore. Kind of like a starvation mode. Remember the protein, take your vitamins and continue to exercise. This phase will soon be over. Smile, remember that you have crossed the hardest point, the decision, and eye the goal. Cheers

Hey Bridget: Thank the Lord above that you have never thrown up! UGH! Just always listen to what your surgeon says! It is for your own good! I am one of these people that always has to "prove it" to myself to see if its true I really admire you! Your schedule is a tough one! I think your friend will be protein bars and protein shakes when you are on the run. Your schedule will make it difficult to get in 5 meals a day, but this is what I would do if I were you. Remember, this is just a suggestion! First thing I would do is go get yourself a " magic bullet" blender. It chops ice, and everything great, and it mixes the protein drinks like crazy. My surgery was 2/6/2007, and I am on solid foods now, and basically this is what I do. The surgeon I went to has a full staff, with nutrtionists, chefs, psycologist, and a nutrition store, and support groups before surgery & after. They have given us so much information! I had the RNY, so I am a little different to, but the diet shouldn't be that different, I just don't absorb as well as the lab band people do. For breakfast, since you are taking medicine, a hard boiled egg would be great with a 1/4 of a small apple, orange or bananna. I drink a protein shake. I get my protein powder from www.allthewhey.com. It doesn't smell at all, and it tastes so great. & 25 gms. of protein. They have all kinds of flavors, and I haven't hit one yet I don't like. They have a variety pack you can try so you can pick out what you like, don't like, etc. I make my protein drink with skim milk, and that gives me 11 more gms of protein. On the weekends I do the egg and fruit thing. After you walk, and drink your water, and wait the appropriate amount of time, you should eat your second meal. You could eat your tuna & a veggie, or cottage cheese and something, or Yogurt and fruit, etc. Water, water water!! When I got off at 1:15 I would eat a protein bar. It's quick, and easy, I like the "Pure Protein" brand, and wait a little, and drink some water!!! You've had 3 meals so far, and when you get home, it's super time! pick 2 ounces of protein of your choice and a veggie! 4th meal down! Don't forget the water! Then, before you slip off to bed, I would eat a yogurt, or fat free, sugar free pudding cup, or cheese w/saltines, etc. And some more water after you have waited the appropriate amount of time. Then, wake up, and start it all over again! You sound like you are doing great. I have a 3 year old, and a 6 year old, and the buses are in such bad repair that I don't put my son on the bus, but I thank you, because that is a job that is soooo important! You are the first face they see in the morning, and it sets off their whole day, much less driving all of those screaming babies safely to school is quite hard! I don't know how you do it! I am home all this evening, and I would be happy to talk to you if you have any other questions. Just click on my name and go to my profile, and send me a message (near my ugly picture!), and I will e-mail you back my phone #.

Hey Bridget! I know, it is really hard with all of the measuring, but what I do, is I have a 1/4 cup measuring cup, (beause my nut (nutrionist), said to do it by volume, not by weight). However, since you are out and about, it may be helpful to prepare your lunch ahead of time and pack it with you. (It's a pain, but it's what I do, and is so much better than hurting and throwing up because I ate too much for the pouch to handle.) With that being said, to answer your question, when I have eaten an orange or an apple, it usually is about half of a medium sized orange or apple. I can eat a whole bananna if it is small. I really had a fit with this at first, but after awhile of measuring, I can eyeball it a little easier now, but if I am at home, I still measure because my eyeballs tend of grow the portion sizes. (eyes are bigger than the pouch! lol.) Feel free to email me any time if you have more questions. And it looks like you are a school bus driver, so thanks so much for helping get our little ones back and forth safely every day! Terri

DEAR TERRI, I WAS READING YOUR DIET, AND CAN YOU TELL ME. WHAT IS 2 oz OF FRUIT? IS THAT ONE APPLE, ONE ORANGE??? THE REASON I ASK, IS I DRIVE A BUS FOR A LIVING, AND I'M NOT GOING AROUND WITH A SCALE IN HAND, SO I WONDERED BEING YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE, YOU MIGHT KNOW JUST BY LOOKING. THANKS FOR ANY HELP. BRIDGET K. .................LAPBAND FEB. 12, 2007

i'm exactly where you are. i had surgery on 2/17 and am stuck at 38lbs for the last week. what the heck? i need to use fitday.com, but it's such a pain in the neck to input all those numbers. i am an OT and work in the schools and next week is the spring break. i hope to go to the gym everyday if i can! or at least more than i am now. i hope that gets me over this hump! i dont understand how you lose inches if you're not losing weight? my excerise isn't different. kim