FLORIDAYS

I am no expert..... but It sounds as if you may be too tight.... My Dr says if I cannot tolerate food the day after a fill...its too tight. I can eat 6 oz a food most of the time.

Yes I would do it again.... I have always been able to diet...but getting bored, feeling hungry and sticking with a "diet" has been the problem. With the band... none of these thing occur..... I am eating a small amount of regular food (I am making great choices)and I am satisfied..... not looking for more! The band has been a wonderful experience so far.... however I do think you need to follow your Dr's instruction to a T and eat correctly.....

Love it! Ironic too.... yesterday at brunch with friends (and my 7 week old granddaughter) my friend said to me... gee you have lost 11 of your grandbabies...It took me a second.... then realized what she meant. Pretty surreal when you think about it. Congrats on your success!

My Dr didnt give me a choice. Part of the plan is the Optifast shakes. 2 weeks before surgery I backed my car up in the loading area of the building and they loaded 3 cases of ready to drink chocolate bricks into my car and told me to drink 5 per day, 8 glasses of Water and supplement with reduced sodiam broth and sugar free popsicles. I waved excitedly and drove away.... promising to come back in 2 weeks for my preop weigh in. The first 4 days I wanted to die. It was Thanksgiving weekend, I did a cold turkey on my beloved diet coke not to mention every other comfort food associated with the holiday. I had a headache from hell for 4 days (thanks caffine). But by monday I started adding ice to the shake and getting creative with the blender and it wasnt so bad. I woke up on Tuesday and saw that I really did have ankles which were sadly disguised by water retention. I also jumped on the scale and saw I was losing weight. I knew then it was tolerable.

It really depends on your body and lifestyle. I have a desk job and do minimal exercise (daily 1 mile walking is it so far) To obtain at least a 2 lbs loss every week I need to stay at 1000. My NUT said thats perfectly healthly for me. The first few months I averaged about 800 calories which was a little low but wrked for me until I got to my green zone.

I was banded on December 9, 2010. I have lost 105 lbs including my preop 22 lb weight loss. I am 5'9" tall. On 11/23/2010 I was wearing a size 4x skirt and 3x top. My Bra size was 44 c. I am a true pear shape carrying the bulk of my weight below the waist which lends itself to heavy legs and thighs. Today I have on an 38B bra, XL skirt and a L top... both from Old Navy.... . no more woman's sizes shopping for me. I have no idea what size I will be when I get to my goal..... its still a long way off. I am averaging 10 lbs per month so hopefully by my anniversary date I will be down 50 more lbs. I think maybe then it will actually start sinking in. Having to lose 200 lbs is very overwhelming. However the good news is that I am past the 1/2 way point in 8 months. My Dr didnt sugar coat it... he said at my very first consult that it would take me 2 - 1/2 years. Now he thinks I should be at goal by April 2012 which would be some 16 months.

I take two adult gummy Vitamins.... the cheapest brand seems to be @ Sams or Target. I took the calcium for a month post op but now that I have settled into a good healthy diet I dont feel I need it. I drink 8oz of skim mile per day and eat fat free cottage cheese, fat free cheese and other calcium loaded foods so the Dr said I didnt need the chews.

I dont know anythng quicker than liquid...sorry. I lost 22lb on my liquid diet pre surgery, 2 weeks...great results. Its not really that bad. I had Optifast and after the 5th day I was in a routine.

I weigh myself daily. I know that goes against what the experts say to do.... but My mantra is.... Not weighing myself daily obviously didnt do much for me..... so far, weighing myself daily for the past 7 months has been a life changer!

I have lost 102lbs as of today. In fact at todays Dr. visit I was told I was doing so well that I could now come every other month if I wanted to. I declined! I have 98 lbs to go. I still need the monthly visits. Congratulations to us all!

I cannot tell you the amount of times I have flown in the past 10 yrs without being being buckled up. I know its unsafe and stupid..... but I was always too embarrasssed to ask for an extender. Even my husband offered to get it for me when we traveled together. It amazed me I never got "caught". But I guess I was pretty slick...being strategic in my arm (enter the word purse, book, magazine, blanket) placement so no one noticed. Doesnt say much for the airlines tho. However my defining moment came last summer. August 1 2010. I had to fly to California on business. It was a Southwest flight and while I never ran into this problem before... the guy at the gate told me there was a problem with my ticket and I needed to get out of line. Long story short they werent going to let me fly unless I bought a 2nd seat. I was so devistated. I didnt end up having to purchase a 2nd seat... but they re wrote my ticket like I had 2 seats.... I was the last one on the plane and they stuffed me in the last row..... on that flight and the one going home I had a reserved sign on the seat next to me and an extender provided by the airlines. It was the most embarrassing thing that had happened in 50 years of walking this planet. I knew that day my life would need to change. I was banded in December. I have flown 3 times since then and just last week on a flight to Dallas I almost cried tears of joy when I heard the sweet sound of the seat belt clicking.... and it was mine!

I have no idea wihy this posted twice. sorry

Not sure what you are doing for a pre op diet but I was on a totally liquid diet.... 5 Optifast Protein Shakes. I drank them about 8a, 11a, 2p, 6p and 10p. During the day at work I was fine...just filling the time in between with Water and hot tea. At night watching TV I had 1 or 2 sugar free popsicles. That was my life saver! I wont lie... the first 5 days were very tough. Cold turkey on caffine, carbonation, salts, sugars, fats and solid food in general. Not to mention I started my pre op the day before Thanksgiving. By the time I went to work on Monday I was in a routine and the next 10 days sailed by. Best of luck to you! You can do it!

When I have been stuck it just feels like a brick is lying on my chest. And it either works its way down or comes back up. Usually I can "bring it up" myself and have instant relief but I then go easy with mushies for the rest of the day. You are not even a month out of surgery.... I think that had more to do with it than the eggs but thats my opinion. My Dr was pretty strict.... I wasnt on solid foods (the ones you need a knife and fork to eat) until the 4th week post op. so even thinking about eating from McDonalds at that stage wasnt on my brain. That said I usually have no trouble with eggs now however the very few times I have had anything with grease I have regreted it! One time was 2 bites of hash browns @ IHOP! Bad idea. LOL Best of luck to you! Its a wonderful journey!

I have flown for business 3 times since being banded last december.... havent had any issues....well except the amazing joy of sitting down and hearing the click of the seatbelt and realizing it finally FITS!!!!!! I dont advocate getting unfilled to go on vacation. Since I put the band in as a tool ... why would I undo the benefits and possibly over induldge and lose a week or 2 of my hard work? As for your sweet spot.... I am pretty sure I am close to mine but I can eat more than 3 spoonfulls... usually I get in 3 oz of Protein, 1/2 cup of veggies and 1/4 cup of starch for lunch and dinner. Are you getting all your calories in? Or do I need to rethink my sweet spot?

It's a personal decision. I do not advertise it, but if someone asks, I am happy to discuss how the band is helping me make a lifestyle change but quickly will explain to anyone the band is a tool....it cannot make a decision of what I do an do not put in my mouth. Like some said, most people are uneducated and think it may be drastic the easiy way out. I feel strongly to the contrary... as for me it was the last chance in a lifetime of yoyo dieting. So I am happy to discuss it with people important in my life. As for strangers, co-workers and casual aquaintences... most people do not focus on the HOW or WHY... they focus on the RESULTS... which I am happy to smile and thank them for their compliments.

Just wanted to ask a question to see if any of you have similar experiences. I havent had a fill since April. Been doing fine and felt decent restriction. I am happy with my loss (if thats possible... I always want one more lb. LOL) and in June I didnt feel that I needed a fill. Then about 2 weeks ago I was sure I was going to need a fill and I felt as if I could eat the house.... but since last Monday....I am feeling super restriction and come Friday when I vist the doc I seriously doubt I will get a fill. Not that I am complaining... this is just another first. Is this normal... for the restriction to fluctuate? Thanks in advance for your input... I appreciate it.

I am 7 months post op and have lost 98 lbs. I have had no serious problems and very few day to day issues... mostly I think its becasue I do exactly what my doctor advises. Yes there is discomfort the first 2 weeks and eating liquids and mushies for a month isnt the most enjoyable... but since that first month I havent had any problems.... just successes

actually before this possible episode i thought I was in need of a fill.... my appointment isnt until friday so i will just see how the week goes. thanks

I am almost 7 months out and rice is the one thing that I regret eating every time. No mater how much I chew it.... Hope you are feeling better.... make sure not to rush getting to solids.... I was 4 weeks out of surgery before I was allowed regular food. Your stomach needs time to recover from the trauma of surgery.

my fills are $50, That is either an error or a carry over balance for the surgery maybe?

for about a month after surgery I used Benefiber.... but as I reintroduced solid foods I didnt have the need. If anything.... things look pretty reqular down there... compared to pre band when my diet was high in fat.

97 lbs as of today....almost 7 months post op.

wonderful news..... Kudos to you!!!! I am a few lbs shy of the 100 mark but its in sight.... cant wait to join you!

My Dr has the same thought... however he explained it that as the gas fills the pouch it expands... then deflates. Once or twice isnt an issue.... however repeatly it can cause the band to slip. It may not... but why chance it? I have has 2 diet cokes in 6 months and both were allowed to sit for 20 minutes before I drank them to get some of the carbonation out.... I drank them slowly and didnt have any problem but if I work my way back to pre band days... I'll be drinking 4-8 every day which may not be a good thing.