BarbaraG

Grrrr. I WAS down to 249 for 3 days and today I'm 251! And I was GOOD! So to be totally honest (as much as it hurts) I have lost nothing. Next week....!!!

I need to get one again. Beans? DO tell!

Hi All Just wondering if anyone has used a pressure cooker to help tenderize meat? I haven't used one in years (and sold mine at a garage sale ) but I see them on sale from time to time. BarbaraG

Thanks, Shirley for the website. I'd seen it before but your timing was perfect - I needed to see it again. They really go out of their way to think of everything we need to be successful - don't they?!

Hi You didn't say what your surgery date is in June - I was banded 6/21 and have been struggling to loose too. I've had 2 fills and now have 6cc in an 11cc band. I can feel a small amount of restriction which is helping the feelings of hunger, but my weight loss has been s.l.o.w! I've lost 21lbs since the surgery, most lost the 1st week. But my doc is not unhappy with my progress. I have an appointment the end of the month for another fill so I'm hoping I hit my sweet spot then. I've been trying to keep my fluids up and plenty of Protein (60 gms) both with meats and Protein drinks. I think I just need to be sure to keep my calories up to 1000 - 12000 and just be patient... sigh. I need to get more exercise, and while my knees have been improving so my walking is increasing, I still have arthritis pain that restricts how much I can do. With time, that will improve too. I'm older so I suspect my age has something to do with it too. I have to recognize I have lost weight and while it's slow, I'm getting there one day at a time! Maybe we just need to do the right things and just be patient with ourselves! HTH

Fran has given excellent advice. I remember feeling so hungry I was ready to gnaw my own arm off! But my mantra during the liquid phase was, "This too shall pass" and then I found something else to do to distract me from myself. I made it, as so many before me made it. I reminded myself I made a commitment - to myself - that if I did this surgery, I'd do whatever I was told, cause my way did not work. Even if I hated what I had to do. And you're at the stage I hated the most! You're doing the right thing - vent here! We certainly understand! And the good news is - it does get better!

Congratulations! Get in to see your Doc ASAP. My son and DIL gave us our 1st Band Baby a year ago last May and she's the joy of our hearts!

I have not had any trouble really for years until I got banded! I was in to see my gastroenterologist today for the results of my colonoscopy (All Clear! Yay!) and asked him about this. He says he recommends all who have been banded or any other WLS consume Water soluble Fiber daily. His personal OTC choice is Benefiber. I was able to get Wally World's own brand at a significant savings today. Just passing (no pun intended) this along for anyone else who has a similar struggle. BTW, Dr.Xie says we should all consume more fiber - as he says, "So much fiber, a tree grow out of your anus!". Hows that for a picture? :lol:

I realize this thread is quite old but it's one that caught my eye. I have not had any trouble really for years until I got banded! I was in to see my gastroenterologist for the results of my colonoscopy (All Clear! Yay!) and asked him about this. He says he recommends all who have been banded or any other WLS consume Water soluble Fiber. His personal OTC choice is Benefiber. I was able to get Wally World's own brand at a significant savings today. BTW, Dr.Xie says we should all consume more fiber - as he says, "So much fiber, a tree grow out of your anus!". Hows that for a picture? :lol:

I realize this thread is quite old but it's one that caught my eye. I have not had any trouble really for years until I got banded! I was in to see my gastroenterologist for the results of my colonoscopy (All Clear! Yay!) and asked him about this. He says he recommends all who have been banded or any other WLS consume Water soluble Fiber. His personal OTC choice is Benefiber. I was able to get Wally World's own brand at a significant savings today. BTW, Dr.Xie says we should all consume more fiber - as he says, "So much fiber, a tree grow out of your anus!". Hows that for a picture? :lol:

Happy Bandiversary! What a difference a year can make. Looking forward to celebrating mine next year and doing as well as you have! Congratulations!

I had trouble too for the 1st couple weeks. Now, every once in a while it bothers me but I adjust my belly and it's ok. HTH

I had my 2nd fill last Weds and I could feel a difference (I'm now 6cc) but it wasn't until I was back to eating regular food that I could really notice the difference. Finally, I have some restriction but I'm not at my sweet spot just yet. The restriction I have really helps and I find I don't think about food so much now. That alone is a big deal for me!

FWIW - I've had 2 fills w my Realize Band and absolutely no problems at all and I'm up to 6ccs

That's exactly what happened to me! I got so discouraged! After the big post op drop in weight it seems like such a let down! :blink:But I made a commitment and leaned on the support here. So many have had this and much tougher problems and are really helpful. I got my 2nd fill last week and I can finally feel some resistance so I'm finally on the move again. Now I need to exercise more...

I didn't get nervous at all until I was wheeled into the operating room. Then I took a few deep breaths and thought, 'This too shall pass'. And it did. I'm less than 2 months out from surgery, 18 lbs lighter, and feel great! The surgery was really not bad at all. The worst problem was gas pain in my shoulder but I had medication that helped. I had enough for 3 days and took less than half of it. I can eat pretty much anything I want to but I choose not to. I choose to eat healthy. I choose, repeat CHOOSE to eat healthy. And I feel great! My 2nd fill has made a big difference and I hope my 3rd will be the sweet spot. I have no regrets. HTH

Before the surgery, only my husband and (adult) children knew. After I told only a couple closest friends. I held no-one to secrecy as I am a Pastor's wife and as such live in the proverbial "gold fish bowl". I simply said we are not keeping it a secret but we're also not publicizing it. If someone asks, I tell the truth. So far, I've had total support, at least to my face! LOL!

Good for you! A new day is coming and you should feel proud of yourself for the courage it take s to stand up and say, "ENOUGH!" My procedure was really not bad at all. After delivering 2 babies via C-section, it was a walk in the park! There was some post surgery pain from the gas and my shoulder hurt pretty bad. I was given pain meds but never finished them - in a couple days I felt pretty darn good! I was given the option to go home or stay over as I had some trouble getting my oxygen levels up afterwards but I wanted to go home. I slept in the lounge chair and was just fine the next AM. Everyone's story is different. I'm in my mid 50's and expected to have a tougher time of it - not so. I sailed through with flying colors. Just tell yourself this: "This too, shall pass" It was my mantra for the liquid phase!

Whoo-hoo! Congrats! Once I made my decision, I felt like a huge weight was lifted off my chest.

I struggle with night eating too. Hubby is a pastor so our hours are wonky at best. Late nights are the time we have together and we both have a habit of snacking. Now that I'm banded, I am fighting with all I have to try to get off the vicious cycle. The 1st thing I did was get rid of all junk food. If hubby wants junk, he has to go get it and eat it himself. And it has to contain gluten. (I have Celiac Disease - gluten makes me VERY sick). If it isn't in the house, I can't eat it! I keep sugar free Popsicles in the freezer for weak moments as well as fresh veggies. And I drink, drink, drink! I may not do this perfectly, but I'm getting better every day! HTH Oh and I make sure to get plenty of Protein each day - it really does help!

Whoo-hoo! Congratulations! The best compliments are from those who don't know your journey - the others are nice but I can 'write them off' as my friends trying to be supportive. You can't write this off, Girlfriend!

I started having trouble with chicken after my 1st fill - no more chicken wings for me! With this 2nd fill, it's worse! I have to pre-chop it up on my plate and eat only a tiny piece at a time and chew the dickens out of it. I know I can use a sauce or salsa, but I honestly prefer it without. Plus it really s.l.o.w.s me down - something I need to practice a lot! If things go down easily, I tend to eat too quickly. And I really love chicken! So I guess I said all that to say I use the negative to enhance the positive. Does that make sense? BTW, my daughter in law who has been banded for over 2 years struggles with chicken too - FWIW.

Absolutely. Best thing I've done for myself in years!

I had my 1st fill 3 weeks after my surgery. I was scheduled for 4 weeks but I had to go in due to infected surgical sites (I am allergic to dissolvable stitches - go figure) so they gave me my 1st 4cc fill (I have an 11cc band) I had the second 3 weeks later (last Weds) for 2 cc due to a scheduling mistake by the office staff. Doc had no problem with giving me a fill (2cc) since I was doing well otherwise and recognized I was not feeling any restriction. This fill I can feel restriction, but primarily with drier foods (no sauce or juices). I have another fill scheduled for the last day of the month and I'm hoping that will be my sweet spot. I do find now that I'm just over 1/2 way filled it is easier. Much better now that I have some resistance. Don't know if this helps but every 3 weeks is not unreasonable in my estimation as you have time to adjust to normal food in between but I'm not your doc and don't know your body's issues. My doc may simply be more aggressive in the 1st couple months than others as long as we do well. FWIW