I can totally relate. I have been banded 11 days and I am still on a liquid diet. While I am not physically hungry I feel like I am going through a withdrawal of putting food in my mouth! I want to be eating because everyone else is eating not because I'm hungry. I have a week left of liquids only and hoping it goes by quick. Good luck on your journey!

I read your blog and want to share something. I started this journey on June 25, 2010 and surgery day was Dec 31st. I went to my first support group meeting, doctors orders, and a girl was there saying she lost 60lbs. I thought, yeah right, I have never lost that much weight in my life on any diet. Well, Friday was my weigh in day and I lost 59lbs. I have a lot more to loose and I am going to do it and so will you so good luck.

Judy

Welcome to the wonderful world of lap band. I have been banded for almost 7 months now and so far so good. I think the reality of the lap band really set in for me after my first fill. I had some restriction immediately post op but could pretty much eat anything if I chewed it well. After my first fill last December I really begain to realize what having a lap band meant. The one bad habit some of us fall into occassionally is letting the band do all the work. You have to become very in tune with your band. Always remember the band is just a tool, all those feelings and addictive behaviors we had before banding are still there, and believe me they will play with your mind and you can become very creative on how to get food to go down. I sometimes say the lap band is harder than any diet I ever participated in because it forces me to make healthy choices or suffer in the aftermath. My advice is stay away from slidder foods when on solids, a slidder is anything that will go through the band easily and add up the calories and you do not stay full. Stick with the 3 meals as it recommends on the web sites, it is easy to get into the habit of snacking between meals or grazing all day long. Because we can only hold small amounts at each meal if we eat the wrong foods or drink with meals it empties out our pouch and we are hungry. I know it is hard not to drink before, with and immediately after meals but if you don't do this as it recommends it really makes a differience. You stay satisfied longer and less likely to eat between meals. If you do feel the urge to eat between meals, stick with healthy snacks and stay away from carbohydrates. If you like sweets, find a good protein bar you like and that can be your sweet treat. I sometimes consider my gummy calcium chews and vitamins my sweet fix. They are small, I have to take them and I feel like I am getting a treat. A few protein bars that I have found good are the Zone Bars, Biggest Loser, Chocolatey Coconut ( I love german chocolate cake and this reminds me or it) also the Pure Protein Bars. All of these are low carbohydrate bars, I don't buy bars if the are over 200 calories or more than 16-17 gms of carbohydrates. The Prue Protein are very low carb but have sugar alcohols and in some that causes gas. Gas-x is your friend once on solid food, I got tired of the pills and chewables and found some strips that dissolve on your tongue in peppermint and cinniamin. Keep some protein drinks on hand they are great when you are in a hurry, hungry and don't have time to eat. This is a web site that I like for protein drinks. There drinks dissolve well and they dissolve in only 4ozs of liguid. There are recipies for some of them to enjoy them hot in the summer. I love the unflavored, I can add it to soups, drinks, yogurt and just about anything to get my protein. WWW.bariatriceating.com. Good luck on your journey, you will be surprised how many people actually will read your blog and be supportive. Good luck on your journey, remember we didn't get here overnight and it truely is a journey. Remember to celebrate all of your successes and DON't become a slave to your scale, all of us seem to loose inches along with pounds. Good Luck!:bananajump:

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I enjoyed reading your bog and keep writing you are good at it!! Blogging helped me lose my weight.

If you write people will read! They may not comment but they do read!

If you write you will lose! More people who write tend to lose more weight, and keep it off!!

I was banded 2 years ago on June 29,2009. I would do it again. I am very happy

I have even gone back to re-read what I have written two years ago and people will comment because they take the time to read thru what you write. It helps you organize your thoughts and you are able to set goals. You may even follow other bloggers like I have, they become friends.

Writing also helps others who read because what you say may or may not help others identify with themselves. Writing is so healthy for you, when I started out I read and wrote almost everyday on this site. Making a comment to others also validates you, keep it positive and meaningful, you have something to say and you are worth saying it.

I have kept off 110 pounds and I will be having my Nip and Tuck on Monday June 27,2011.

I am scared to death. I know I want this extra skin gone.

Like you said this is a journey and we are all on a path and I have been know to say I am creating my own destiny everyday. Best wishes on your journey. imaluckydog