Oregondaisy

I am very lucky that I don't have to work full time. I go to the gym in the mornings and go to work in the afternoons. I know there is no way I would be as diligent if I had to work full time.

That has happened to me before. The dr. thought I had a leak and gave me a huge fill. I was completely miserable for one weekend, until I could go back on Monday to have some taken out. Since then, my dr. has told me this happens to a lot of people and he has decided that the saline dissipates.(whatever than means, evaportates perhaps?)

The all illusive sweet spot is not all that easy to find. And it's not that easy to keep. Every time you lose weight, you're losing fat around your stomach which loosens the band. Then you need another fill. Once you get close to goal, the fills will last a lot longer.

Maybe someone will see how to spell success!

Most people who are diabetic are able to get off all medications. I am positive this surgery was the best thing in the world for me. If you are anything like me, you have lost weight and gained it all back a few times. Complications are rare. I never felt bad about not being able to do it on my own. I tried for years to do it on my own. I was exercising hard for almost 3 years 5-6 days a week at the gym and not losing weight. I was thrilled when I decided to get the band and wished I had found out about it sooner. The lap band helps with hunger. That's the whole reason for the band. It sits on the nerve on our stomachs that tells our brain we are full. You won't be dehydrated. You can drink water. In fact, we are encouraged to drink as much water as we can. The reason we are supposed to be on liquids for however your doctor wants ( mine was 4 weeks) is because the stomach moves when it is digesting food. They don't want it moving, while the band is healing on the stomach. It's very important to follow your doctor's post op diet to avoid complications years down the road. The liquid diet is not for losing weight. It's so everything can heal inside.

Yeah, I would like to have a normal bmi too. I am 55 though, and the more weight I lose, the worse my face looks.I didn't have any wrinkles when my face was fat. It's a sad trade off! :eek::thumbup:

Yea, I don't go overboard on the sugar free stuff. I hate aspertame. It's really not good for us and unfortunately, it's in way too much stuff. I do the sugar free fudgsicles because I am a chocolate addict and sometimes I just have to have something chocolate!

It looks like not one of us measures our food. Tonight I am going out to dinner. This is a fish place. They let me order how many pieces of fish I want for $1 per piece. I usually order 4 pieces. I don't order any side dishes or garlic toast-I just eat the fish. sometimes I can eat all four and sometimes, I end up bringing one or two home. The band is fickle. It has a mind of it's own.

Where do you get this dry roasted endamame? I keep hearing about it. I don't know what it is, but I want something to snack on that's not a bad choice. I see a lot of people eating it and I don't know what it is or where to find it. What part of the grocery store is it in?

I am glad I got hooked on the gym long before I got banded. I joined 4 years ago in an attempt to lose weight. I didn't lose weight, but I discovered I felt so much better when I go to the gym. There are days that I just drag myself there. I have to really talk myself into going. But when I leave, I feel fantastic and I am really glad I went. When I don't go to the gym, I am grumpy and depressed. Those endorphins make a huge difference in how I feel.

I agree. The only way to get rid of carb cravings is not to eat them. If I eat carbs, I just want more carbs. Your doctor will know whether or not you need a fill. If you feel full and satisfied, you may not need one. If you are getting hungry quickly after eating, you need a fill.

That is a very good question. I have been wondering the same thing myself. I thought originally that I would be thrilled to weigh 145. I am only 5'2" I chose that weight from looking at old pictures of myself. I know what I weighed in that picture and I thought I looked pretty good. Now that I am only 5 lbs away from it, I am wondering if I will keep losing. 145 is still overweight for someone 5'2" The only thing I can conclude is that I will keep eating the way I have been and see whether or not I keep losing or just maintain when I get to 145.

I lose best on 1,000 calories a day. Everyone is different though. You could always add a protein drink in there if you need more calories.

I don't keep anything junky in the house either. If I am going to have a snack, it's usually a sugar free popsicle or sugar free fudgesicle. There are getting to be more and more low calorie things to snack on when the head hunger is raging.

Josephine, how do you know how much muscle you have gained? I have been weight training now for 4 years and with a trainer since last July. I can feel a lot of muscle in my legs, but it would be nice to know in lbs how much muscle I have gained.

It does get really hard as we get older. Our metabolism slows down and it does get depressing.

Yes I eat hard Protein and I am doing fine. I am 5 lbs from my goal now, and I am avoiding going over to my friend's house that always offers me brownies, Cookies, cake, candy etc. The funny part is she wants to get banded. I told her she would never lose weight even with the band the way she eats.

I definitely have the opposite problem. I have to make sure to eat my high fiber cereal and still have to add extra fiber in it. It's a big problem, not getting enough fiber!

Get the book The Beck Diet Solution. I got it at Amazon.com for $9. It has helped me a lot. It's not a diet. It helps with emotional eating.

I have to agree with Chickie. I don't measure my food either. I just know how much to eat and I stop if I feel full. Sometimes I eat a chicken leg and thigh, sometimes I can only eat the leg. Sometimes I can eat a chicken breast, and sometimes I can only eat part of one. I am sure I am of no help.

No, you are fine. Water would go right through the band. Band slippage usually comes from having too much fill and doing a lot of throwing up.

Yep, pb stands for productive burp. It's sometimes just like that. You burp and food comes with it. I have had some actual throwing up that lasted for hours when I was too tight. Being too tight is not a good thing!

I have never regretted getting banded. There were times when I had food stuck that I thought I hated my band. Then I remembered I love my band and I just need to chew more. How could I not love my band, going from a size 24 to a size 12?

I don't really have a problem with wanting to eat once I am full. I seem to want to eat as little as possible. I really hate that feeling of being too full. I haven't pbed in a really long time and I hardly ever get food stuck anymore. It's really nice. I have finally learned to chew enough, and eat slow. It took me long enough! Carol, it's good to see you. It won't be long now and I will see you in person again!

Okay, somebody pm me with who has a new custom user title. You know how I hate to be out of the loop. I would suppose it's like being a band practitioner. I am very upset. I don't like skittles so how will I ever fart rainbows. Do you think M&M's would work?