hi got a question

my name is serena and i hadthe rny on 8/25/04 i have lost approx 60 pounds, my questions are this 1. when do the inches come off? 2. is there anyone who has problems taking the daily vitiamans?, i try but throw up with in a few minites, and if someone else has or had that problem what did u do? 3. protein i am not getting much of anything in i live off of crackers and peanut butter. i need some suggestions cause i am haing a hard time reintroducing foods with out throwing them back up. if anyone can give me some insight i would be way gratful o and i am loosing my hair fast thanks god bless serena

for me the inches are already coming off, i have lost over 13 inches already. i measure up and weigh in once a week, and nothing more than that. as far as the vitamins go, i have to take mine with food, as well as my calcium. if i dont, i get queesy, and thats no good. as far as protien goes, cheese, eggs, chicken, tuna... all are pretty good sources. i dont do protien shakes, but i make up for it with milk. i do however, like the carb well and q-smart bars, and have one for a snack, and it helps to boost my protien level. hope this helps :D

Serena, Please call your surgeon. Throwing up alot is not normal. You could have a stricture. You don't want to get malnourished, so please call. Let me know how it goes! *~Amber~*

Hi Serena: I didn't bother taking my measurements, I wish I had but I do find that my clothes are alot looser now. I don't really have any problems with the vitamins other than sometimes I get a pain when I take them that lasts a second or two. I drink one protien drink a day and mostly everything I eat is protien based. I think since you are able the peanut butter and crackers down you probably dont have a stricture. One of the first easiest foods I found was mashed potatoes. Eat very slowly, I find if I eat quickly my food comes back up. Just introduce one new thing at a time and if it doesnt work out wait awhile to try it again. I think I lose more hair than my dog does. I have noticed my hair thinning but thank goodness I have alot. Good luck Patty

Hi Serena, as mentioned earlier, you should talk to your doc's office about you throwing up a lot. Crackers and PB is not enough to keep your body healthy...if you throw up a lot, it may be a stricture and it can be taken care of with an in office procedure to stretch the opening a bit more. Suggestions for protein: I eat string cheese (they're soft and go down very well) and a good/quick snack or fast breakfast. Cottage cheese also a good source of protein, but depends on how you feel about the texture (i particularly don't like the texture, but it's pretty decent taste), chicken, fish, etc, as mentioned as well. why aren't you suppose to have protein drinks? Ask your doc about that since you NEED protein asap. As for the vitamins, I'm okay with swallowing big pills now and take the pill form of most. It is a bit yucky since you get the sensation as it goes down your tummy, but I got SICK of the chewable tastes and just needed something to take quickly and conveniently. take care of yourself! norma g.

Hi Serena, I have the LapBand, but Protein is my issue, I cannot get down something that resembles a milk product. However I have found the best protein powder from Permalean. They have Vanilla, Chocolate and a Berry Flavor (have not tried berry yet). I mix the vanilla with Cream of Wheat cereal so that I can get the protein. I also mix the Chocolate with about 1/4 C of Coffee and the rest is water. Powdered Milk is also a good source of Protein to mix in with something