TerriDoodle

I'm new at this fill stuff so I need some help deciding about when to get my 2nd fill. I can get my next fill as early as May 25th. But I have a couple of long weekend vacations coming up back to back shortly after that and don't want to be having trouble. I only had my 1st fill a week ago. Right now I am averaging 1000-1200 cals/day, having no problems at all. I've lost 1# this week, but also started working with a trainer so the scale is probably not an accurate indicator. I do want to be pretty aggressive during these first 6 months but don't want to have problems during my vacations either....especially because they're group vacations with friends, none of which know I am banded. any advice?

Yeah, that's the way I was leaning....better to be safe than sorry. Thanks Carlene!

I voted for Vegas because I love it there! DH would have plenty to keep him busy and would happily join me. Houston would be my second choice because that's where I live! The Galleria area would be perfect because there's tremendous shopping and restaurants in the area. Keep in mind that the best months would be Oct, Nov, Feb, Mar or April. The weather is usally quite nice then...a nice break for snowbirds! It's also a major air traffic hub which keeps airfares low.

Has anyone heard from Kat??? I'm getting a little worried....4 days since she posted.

when I was at about your stage I posted a poll here asking "Would you do it again?"....out of almost 200 votes 92% said they'd do it again! That's a pretty darn good percentage, don't you think? I've only been banded since April 4th, but from this vantage I can tell you that it is an amazing difference in the way I eat and I couldn't be happier with the amount of control that the band helps me to maintain. Most days I eat about 1000 calories a day. On days when I really feel like I've "pigged out" and go count my calories, it turns out I've usually had maybe 1400! compare that to pre=band days when that figure would have been 2500-3000! Like tonight, for instance. We went to one of the finest restaurants in town to Celebrate an early mother's day. I had a glass of wine, 1/2 of a small filet mignon, about 4 bites of sauteed spinach, 2 bites of bread and 4 bites of bananas foster. That is about 1/4 to 1/3 what I normally would have eaten. I never could have managed that kind of control before. Never. What you are going thru is perfectly normal and we have all gone thru the same thoughts and emotions. You are so not alone there!

Stacey- you sound like me...so I think it's just a little too early to tell until you see whether or not you're going to loose weight with this much restriction. You DO want to eat normally, just not too hungry between meals or eating a whole lot at each sitting. So just enjoy it and obey the rules and see how you do in the next 3-4 weeks. If you lose weight, why get another fill?

Lunasa - still having issue with DH?? Are you okay?

Have you recently had acrylic nails?? Those totally ruined my natural nails after I had them removed...took months for my nails to recover and in the meantime I had a heck of a time with splitting, peelng and tearing. I think that menopause is also not nice to our nails. Here's some good info from the Mayo Clinic about nail health: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nails/WO00020

I suggest keeping track of your calories and exercise at www.fitday.com or www.thedailyplate.com. You might be surprised to see how much you are consuming and don't realize it. I think most people's targets arre 1000-1200 calories/day...some have to drop to 800...some have to increase to 1400. Healthy carbs only and try to keep them below 75grams. If you want to lose weight, sometimes (unfortunately) you have to get a bit more scientific about it and experiment to see what combination works for you. dont get in ruts with your food, change it up constantly and see if that helps. Sorry....probably not the answer you were hoping for...but that's just the way it is. Best of luck to you all!

By the way, folks....I am SOOOOOOOO sore from working with the trainer that I can barely brush my teeth!! The worst part about it is that I can't take Advil--my wonder drug!! I'm about to go buy a bunch o' infant drops if I have to!! I am miserable! Tear that box open right there in the drug store and gulp it all down! Can you just see that?! Bad news...I have another appt. in an hour. :faint:

JENN!!! You're NOT doing anything wrong!! You've already answered your own question! 2# of water weight is all it is! My weight fluctuates 2-3# a day!! Remember a while back I posted my weight chart? Remember what it looked like? Looks like a childs drawing of the Himalayas! I absolutely guarantee you that if you drink your water it will be gone by tomorrow or the next day and you may even see a new number! Especially with warmer weathr coming on, you need to get used to seeing your weight fluctuate this way. There is no need to add this kind of stress to your life by worrying about a measley 2#....learn to roll with it. What a bummer about the HOme Depot thing. Didn't they know your situation going in? Jeez. Retail!! My son works at a grocery store and I swear they would work him to death if they could. Hello?? He's a student!! I'm about to go down there myself and kick some a**. Sorry, Jenn. I know you're trying so hard to keep it all together. Keep breathing and think positive. OK Violets! Let's all really keep Jenn in our thoughts today and send her to the perfect job. Please take a minute to pray, meditate or visualize (or whatever you do) that this situation is resolved for her greatest good.

I can't get in...!!! Getting an error msg.

Laura - I think the exercise she's talking about is like a cat arching its back.... Arch your back, drop your head down, round your shoulders and hold your tummy in real tight while you inhale. Hold it for about 5 seconds then relax and straighten your back. Repeat this about 10 times. It IS also a yoga exercise, BTW. I see there's 6 members on the thread now....anyone wanna go chat?

AWESOME NEWS, JUDY!!! So happy for you guys!!! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

That's the first thing that popped into my head, too, Laura. Sorry, Michelle hate to rain on your parade!! I wonder if you shifted the band around by doing that??? Probaby not, but that would concern me. Laura - you crack me up!! "Ok, I lied...I have more stuff to ramble about..." LOL You said you dont' know why you're nauseous...but did you wait a 1/2 - 1 hour before drinking those glasses of tea at lunch, right on top of your food??

Well, of course everyone is different! But I was filled a week ago (1.5cc) and have not had any problems with eating or drinking at all. I drink all day long....big ol' gulps! My DD doesn't like anything that's mixed together...especially if she can't identify the ingredients!! (and she's southern as they come!) My DS eats one thing at a time, until it's gone, then on to the next thing. My DH eats like it's a contest to see who can finish first. I, myself, am perfectly normal!

If solid food is supposed to sit in your pouch for 3-4 hours, then why is it OK to drink an hour after eating, but not during? The drink will push food thru the band right? I'm confused.

Pamela, Thanks for the vote of confidence! Things are going real well with my fill that I had a week ago. Not too tight, not too loose, can eat without problems and losing a bit of weight...well, we'll continue to see about that last part....but I have no complaints so far. My calories are at about 1000/day. Right on target. Oh, and my meals are holding me for 3-4 hours, just like they're supposed to!

Actually, it's NOT "harder to eat but only just a little". I thought the same thing too, but actually it's a RELIEF to be able to feel so satisfied with about 1/3 of the food you used to eat at a normal meal!! I think it's pretty darn cool! :biggrin1: "Shrinking Violets" is the group of bandsters that were banded in the month of April...it's just our name. Your welcome to come visit our thread...it's always hopping!

....I am going to NOT be the fattest woman in the room anymore.

Lots of encouraging things going on!! Way to go girls!!!!!! I also got into a fave pair of jeans I haven't worn in 2 years. We are all obviously making progress....bandster hell or NO bandster hell!! AWESOME!! Keeping track of your calories is really essential, i believe. It helps to keep you accountable and in control. Whenever I've stopped keeping track you can bet money that is the time I started gaining. So good for all of you who are doing so! www.fitday.com and www.dailyplate.com are both excellent. I like fitday's nutrition reporting for keeping track of all aspects of nutrition, but I like dailyplate's wide variety of brand-name listings. KITY - yes, the trainer is fairly expensive....$40/30-min session. So right now I'm paying $180/month for gym & training. BUT, it will be vital in keeping me motivated and accountable. These are my two biggest issues with staying on track. Keep in mind that I'm also self-pay for surgery which is an incredible investment as well....so I'm just trying to walk the walk...y'know? All new patterns. This is a new life and I have new priorities and I MEAN IT THIS TIME DAMMIT!!!! My goals from the beginning have been to be FIT and TRIM and for once in my life I AM GOING TO REACH THIS GOAL. NO IF'S AND'S OR BUT'S. JUST WATCH ME! I am woman, hear me ROAR!!

I think this is an excellent idea and brings up a very good point. I don't care of people go at it all day long in RNR, but I would love to have a way to 'hide' the threads from newbies who come here for support and information about the lap band.

Michelle - How old are your kids? Man, you have had a TOUGH week! PS - I'm really proud of all of you who can share your personal stories....they're not always easy to share. You help all of us when you help yourselves in that way because we can all relate. Brings up stuff for us we had forgotten long, long ago. Thank you.

Laura, FYI, I was on those for quite a while...twice in my life actually. You will find that you build up a tolerance to them within a couple of months. After a while (for me, anyway) they seemed like they started having the opposite effect. So take advantage while you can, because it won't last forever. BTW, the second time I took them, many years later, they didn't work at all. So it's like a permanent tolerance that you build up, one that is not helped by 'drying out' for awhile.

Who would have ever thought we would take such pleasure in such small things?! May it continue!