SageTracey

Good advice about eating before you go but you could also consider taking your own foods. I find it is much easier to resist temptation if I already have something in my hand that I can nibble on. That way I don't feel totally out of it while everyone else is eating.

Sounds like a visit to a dr would be in order to check for a yeast infection or similar.

The nutrition side is well covered above but don't forget the importance of exercise. I exercise almost every day - a rest day is now a walking day because I just feel better if I start of the day moving my body. Some days are more intense than others but by finding exercise that I enjoy, it is much easier to maintain my new habit.

It's not just the fill. It's the knowledge, expertise, training that comes with it. I have a detailed discussion with my surgeon every single visit where he learns how I am going, what my issues are etc, and I learn more about living with the band from him. You would have to be crazy to do your own!

Since being banded I have discovered that I love cycling. I commute to work twice a week, 60km round trip, and recently bought my first road bike. Two days after my purchase, a work colleague passed away as a result of cancer. His last weeks at home were made possible by the wonderful support of our local palliative care service. So when I heard that there was a bike ride to raise funds for this great service, I was very quick to sign up, along with my husband. We're not sure what possessed us, but for some crazy reason we signed up for the 120km ride (about 75 miles, I believe)! Husband also bought a road bike and with just a few weeks, we really ramped up the training on them. We both have hybrids and have done plenty of riding, but road bikes are a whole new ball game. Between buying our bikes and today's ride, we have had to learn how to ride road bikes, tried several saddles and worked hard to get some kilometres under our belts. We set off at 8am this morning with the slow 120km riders. There were later start times for the fast 120km, slow and fast 60km riders. The sun shone beautifully all day as we made our way around the first 60km circuit. We quickly fell behind most of the other riders, primarily because my husband still isn't confident going downhill. Initially I was a bit unhappy at such a slow pace (we had agreed to ride together so we could support each other the whole way). I made sure I was drinking regularly, eating frequently, including bananas and cycling power gels. We also got in a nice coffee at the half way mark! Many of the slow 120km group was still at the half way mark when we arrived and the organisers encouraged us all to start our second circuit with the fast 60km group. I'm pleased to say that husband and I held our ground well with this group of fresh riders right up until we had to come down a big hill and again, my husband slowed right down. Although I was initially annoyed by having to slow down to stay with my husband, I quickly realised that he was, in fact, doing me a huge favor, because it meant we were able to pace ourselves and reach the end. Without him, I would almost certainly have gone out too hard and burned out before reaching the end. The last 10km were a bit of a struggle but the exhileration and sense of achievement as we rode across the finish line together was incredible. And we had played our small part in a great event which raised more than $25,000 for our local palliative care service. 18 months ago I struggled to ride five kilometres around town. Now, minus 63kg and with a whole lot more confidence and fitness, the sky is the limit! Pic is of me immediately after we finished.

Liquids in means nothing solid to come out - simple. Have patience, unless you are straining and in pain. Add plenty of stewed, strained fruits and that will help.

Try not to think of this as a diet. To be successful with the band we must make a lifestyle change - that is, a permanent change in our relationship with food and exercise. Diets are temporary, short-term. Your pre-op diet is short term, your post-band life is long term.

Take every single compliment that comes your way and use it to remind yourself just how great you are doing. It takes time and effort to change how we view ourselves and I think that by accepting other people's compliments, I have been able to understand that I am worth them. LOL, last week, when I was feeling particularly good in a new outfit, I even complimented myself!

Don't expect the scales to drop every day. Some days you will even see an increase. It is all perfectly normal. If possible, only weigh yourself once a week at the same time of the day. i.e. my official weigh in is first thing Saturday morning. Anything that happens on the scales in between just doesn't count.

Forgot the stats! Five hours of actual ride time at an average speed of 23.4kmh

Congratulations on deciding to get restarted with the banded lifestyle! There was a book published here in Australia a few years ago called The Clothesline Diet. It was written by a woman who felt the same as you and started out by walking from her house to her clothesline and back. Over time she lost weight, felt better about herself and was able to get out onto the street etc. Best wishes.

I always go for my fills alone. If I don't watch (which I make sure of!), I can usually not even tell when the surgeon has stuck the needle in.

Oops! That comes across as being a bit up myself, doesn't it! Sorry about that. I do make poor food choices from time to time, I know that my weight loss has stalled in the last couple of months because of that.

Fair point about it being my body and I know that I only have to ask to find out how much fill I have. I actually don't care about the number but I do care about and understand the effect of being properly filled and not overfilled. My surgeon and I discuss each time how I am going, how much I eat, how long before I feel hungry again etc. We also discuss and agree on whether I should have a fill or not but generally I bow to his expertise and experience on how much fill. I have had several appointments where I have gone in knowing that I would be refusing a fill but I have never missed a follow up appointment. I believe that is a major factor in long term success with the band - the ongoing relationship between patient and surgeon.

Not too sure how the band could suffer from evaporation as it is a fully sealed unit. But I have heard of bands/tubes that leak so that could be your issue. Why not ask your surgeon if there are any tests he can do to show a leak? That would give you peace of mind. My take on restriction (based on personal experience) is that I feel satisfied on smaller portions of food for longer periods of time. I could eat more if I wanted to, but part of this journey has been about learning to listen to my body so I have stopped eating when I recognise that I am satisfied. My surgeon always asks how long before I get hungry again as part of our decision on whether I need another fill or not. Not sure how many cc's I have but I have had four fills in 18 months - expecting to get another fill in a couple of weeks and hoping to kick start my weight loss again. Currently at 63kg in in 18 months.Would like to lose another 10kg.

I have had the light headedness and it is scary! Like you, I think it was a combination of low blood sugar and a drop in blood pressure

It's difficult to judge how many fills and how much each fill should be because we are all different. We have different starting weights, different goals, different responses to the band and to the effect of each fill. You are right that we have to put effort into this journey, but I disagree with making a blanket statement about not getting all filled up in the first year. That part of it really is an individual journey between each bandster and their medical team.

Get used to it! congratulations. Every time you look in the mirror - say "Wow! I look great!" Soon you will believe it without being surprised. Go on. You deserve it.

a couple of things - sometimes it can take a couple of weeks to feel the effect of a fill, plus it usually takes several fills before you start to feel them and reap the benefits. This means you must just continue to be patient at this stage. Good Luck. Steve paul smith - congratulations on having no PBs (not sure what slime sticks are?) Basically means that you are chewing well enough, taking small enough bites and eating slowly enough. Keep up the good work and you should have no problems.

Just remember that during the liquids phase you are not taking in any solids or bulk so your body has nothing to move.

What about some fresh fruit and vegetables? These are easy to pack and carry from home when you are stuck at work for such long hours.

Flat lemonade (Sprite) always worked when I was a kid. A teaspoonful of sugar makes it go flat instantly, but waiting for it to go flat is also good.

Amazing picture. Stay safe

It's highly unlikely that coughing from a cold will have any negative effect on your band but if you are worried you should speak to your doctor.

I run an annual conference for our customers. Due to the nature of my role, this is often the only time that I actually see them in person and sometimes an individual customer will miss a conference or two, so I only actually see them every two to three years. I am currently running our conference and have had the absolute thrill of about six of them coming up to me to congratulate me on my weight loss and ask how I have done it. One guy even asked if I was the same "Tracey" that ran the conference three years ago because he wasn't sure.