need2lose2

Hi. I was banded in Sept 2011. Started out at 224 lbs and am now 210. That's right, i havent lost much weight in the 2+ yrs that i've had the band. I have an 11 cc band and already have 10.2 cc filled. I don't think i need to be filled anymore because i do feel restriction after a small amount of food but it doesn't last long and i am able to eat more within 5-10 minutes of feeling the restriction. I admit i havent been making such great food choices all the time but it seems easier to get down the foods that are not so good for me, than the foods i'm supposed to be eating. I have no problems with bread, bagels, pasta, etc but i do have to eat slowly. I've kind of given up here......

I see people who i know have gotten the band and they look wonderful. And, i'm still struggling after 2 years. So? What do you eat on a regular day?

terrydumont46, thank you for that important advice. I will try that with my first bite.

Thank you for all your advice. It's good to be able to talk to pple who do understand. Can i ask what all of you eat for your meals and snacks? Maybe i can get some ideas to help me. I do bore easily so i am not the type who can eat the same things every day.

I agree. I can't eat leftovers most times and i don't always have the time to cook fresh. I don't eat fish so i'm pretty much down to eggs, chicken, beef, tofu, and beans for protein. There are also times when i can't get down salads or even some fruits (which is why i don't think i need another fill). I just feel like most of the healthier eating i used to do before the band doesn't go down with the band so i end up eating other bad stuff that will go down. Don't apologize for preaching. I preach to myself too! I know i shouldn't be eating half the things i eat. I definately have to be more careful with my choices and exercise more. I know that. I just thought it would be easier with the band.

Thanks to all who have responded. I appreciate all your comments. Not many pple know i have the band so i don't have much support. I've been going back and forth in my mind trying to decide if i'm too tight, if i need more, or if i should just leave it the way it is. I hear the argument about my maybe being too tight since i can't get much chicken or meat down but i have no problems getting down egg omelettes, Beans, and vegetarian tofu patties. And, if i was too tight, i don't think i'd be able to get down bagels (obviously slowly), and other similar foods that i shouldn't be able to get down. But, then again, i do vomit once in a while if i'm eating too fast or if the food is too dry (chicken, for example) I struggle with this decision every day because it costs me a lot of money to go to the surgeon....unfortunately, i have a very high deductible with this new insurance we got and i have to pay my own way for quite a while till i reach it. Going to see the nutritionist would be a waste of hard working money because she'd just give me another diet plan that i am not happy following....and even when i did follow it, i was still hungry, or could still eat more. One of you mentioned that i am probably not hungry after i feel restriction but rather that i eat for other reasons. I will admit that sometimes that is indeed true. But, other times, if i stop when i feel restriction, within the hour my stomach will be grumbling (like i said, it's not always, but there are times it does that). That's why i'm confused about how it works. I know i have to get in my Protein but on the other hand, i'm told to stop eating when feeling restriction....and then the food leaves the pouch pretty soon where i can eat more.....the only difference i feel with the band is knowing i must eat very slow, but i do finish my portions eventually (almost the same portions that i had before the band but getting through it much slower) I think i need to stay where i am with regards to the band fills until i can figure it all out before having to spend so much money on fills or unfills.

Seems like we're all in the same boat. Unfortunately, most of the soft foods that are being served are not diet friendly.......

You're not kidding! I was at a sit down dinner a few weeks ago. I passed on the appetizer but i did eat Soup because i was hungry and knew it would not sit in the pouch so that i could have some of the main dish. I opted for the grilled chicken. After a few bites, i felt tight. Tried some Water (i know it was not a good idea). Then i started salivating and swallowing a lot....my classic sign that i need to vomit. I excused myself and went in search of the ladies room which, of course, was crowded! Frantically, (while swallowing loads of saliva) i ran out the door of the catering hall and thankfully found a small alleyway i could slip into. As i turned into it, it all just spurted out. Now that was a scary situation and i vowed never to eat any solid foods at a function. Last week we went to another dinner and it's exactly what i did. I ate all the mushy and soft foods (soup, mashed potatoes, sweet potato fries, veggie souffle, cake, sorbet) and didn't touch the grilled chicken or sauteed green Beans. Kind of counterintuitive for the band diet, isn't it? lol

Tell me about it! After 6 fills i have 9.5 cc in an 11 cc band. I still don't feel much restriction except for when i start eating too fast. It's even more frustrating when the 'bad foods' will go down no problem, and then an appropriate food will get stuck. Cake, cookies, cereal, granola bars, pasta, pizza etc etc will go down but sometimes grilled chicken, and fruits will get stuck and vomited up. It's crazy!!

We're pretty much in the same boat. i was banded Sept 2011 and while i initially lost 15 lbs, i've gained it all back. I have 9.5 in my 11cc band. I am definately able to gulp my drinks with no backup. When i eat, there are times when i do feel that tightening but once it goes away, i can eat large amounts. Then there are times with other foods where i get so stuck that i need to vomit (but it's only if i eat too fast with my first few bites). I know part of it is my fault as i'm not always eating the right foods, but i just don't feel any motivation when those foods can go down. It's frustrating when i end up getting stuck with chicken and need to vomit it up, but a brownie will go down just fine! Seems hypocritical, no? LOL

I agree with you. It's very frustrating. I've not lost anything in the last 8 months and i was so excited to get the band. I start off with eating the right foods but then i am still able to eat more, so i get seconds. When i weigh myself every week i'm so discouraged that i start eating the wrong foods as well. I'm afraid i may have stretched my pouch which is probably why i'm not feeling much restriction except when eating my first few bites. The doc isn't concerned just yet but as i get up there in cc's, we'll have to look into that possibility. On a good note, i am exercising and getting in all my protein as well as liquids.

That's what i thought. When i put the food in my mouth, it goes down. The band should be stopping that extra head hunger food but it doesn't.

jim1967, thanks for the link. See, that's where i get very confused about what the band is supposed to do. Even with head hunger, shouldn't the band stop you from eating senseless? You say you have an internal conversation with yourself and having to decide whether what you feel is head hunger or actual hunger but i thought that no matter what, the band would stop me from eating once the pouch was filled.

I'm definately with you there. I've got 9.5cc in an 11cc band and aside from the first few bites at every meal, i don't feel the restriction i'm supposed to feel cuz i can eat large portions. I'm feeling very frustrated. Yes, i've vomited a few times but only because the first few bites were too fast, NOT because i ate too much. My nutritionist explained that when i'm at the sweet spot, i should be able to get through my alloted meal but then feel like i can't eat another bite. I've not felt that way yet. I remember during preop classes, we were shown a plastic medicine cup and told that we were only going to be able to eat that amount (about 1/2 cup) at a sitting. NOT

i am starting off with what my nutritionist allows me to have each meal but then i go eat other stuff cuz i'm not full.... not sure what's going on; i have an appt in 5 weeks for another fill; i dont want to make it any earlier cuz i want to give this fill some more time and see if there are any changes. If my pouch has stretched, they will have to remove all the fluid, wait a few months and then start again. I don't know if i can handle yet another 6 months to a year of this waiting for the band to work. I'm just hoping that i get to my sweet spot soon........

I am in the same situation. I have 9.5 in an 11cc band and while i do feel restriction while i eat, i feel that it passes real quickly and i can pretty eat lots more. My last fill (to get to 9.5cc) was monday and i don't feel any different. Don't know what feeling full feels like anymore because i'm able to finish pretty large portions of food and then some. I havent lost anything in the meantime and it's getting very frustrating.

I asked the PA that question yesterday. Some days i can eat a meal with no problem while other days when i eat the same meal, i have to go slower. She explained that no meal is the same even if you're eating the same thing. You may be chewing more one time over the other, or the consistency of the food is a bit different, or the bites may not be the same, etc etc.

I currently have 9.5 in my 11cc band. Yep, it's pretty up there. The PA is not that concerned and explains that every single person is different. While one can have 4 cc in the band and be tight, the next person can have 10cc be tight there. So, we'll see what happens after my fill yesterday. If i eat too fast, i get stuck but if i eat slowly, i can pretty much get through a meal and then some. My nut says it's possible my pouch is stretched but it will only be a concern if i get filled to the band's capacity. G-D, i really hope it's not that. I mean it's not like i've been great with following protocol but i will be so upset if i have to start all over and have the band emptied.

I thought that the fills had to be every 6 weeks because the PA always said "see you in 6 weeks". But then, when i had an appt with the nut, she asked why i waited so long between fills if i knew i needed more fluid! So, when i felt i needed more, i called for an appt. Obviously it couldn't be in the same week because i need to be on liquids for 2 days then graduate to soft foods and then to regular food. They would want you to give it at minimum 2 weeks to see if you get good restriction. I definately hear you when it comes to feeling full. I eat all of the foods that my nut allowed and i never feel full. It is why i went in today for another fill after being there 2 weeks ago. I now have 9.5cc and am hoping that this will be the time when i feel full after a small meal and will finally start losing weight!

Hi all. I was banded 9/19/11. After surgery i lost 15lbs and then when i was able to eat food, well, i gained it back and then some. It's been 8 months and i've been hovering within a 5 lb range. So, basically, i have not lost a stitch with the band. I've been going in for fills periodically. I feel restriction and have vomited mostly when i ate too fast. I went for a fill this morning and am hoping i'll feel a difference and will finally feel the restriction and fullness and start losting! It's very frustrating. As far as telling anyone. The only people who know are my parents, sister and husband. I find that there is a general negative reaction and jealousy to those who have had weight loss surgery. I was at a get together the other night and an aquaintance who was standing next to me leaned into me while pointing at another acquaintance saying "there's another one who joined band land". And it was said with such a sneer!! And, this person is thin, so it didn't come from jealousy over weight. People generally see surgery as a cop out and don't realize how terribly difficult it is and how much work is involved in doing the right things. That is why i have not told anyone. Now, i havent shown significant weight loss at all so no one suspects, but at some point, when i do lost weight, it should be interesting. Nowadays, with more exposure about weight loss surgery and with more people getting the band, others are very skeptical when they see a person who struggled to lose weight for so many years and is suddenly thinner and keeping it off.

It just doesn't make any sense, does it? Why would all those unhealthy foods (even though they are solid) go down but the Proteins get stuck?? I always thought the band would help me get full faster regardless of the food that goes down (i'm referring to solid foods). I honestly never dreamed it wouldn't be the case. Why are you having Fluid taken out? Sorry, i didn't get your reason. Is it because you're not able to get all your protein in? Last night i had 4oz of grilled chicken with steamed broccoli and bit a of homemade lowfat cole slaw and i felt no restriction. I was surprised because i expected to have at least some restriction....hmm, wondering if the chicken was too wet from the bites of creamy cole slaw? Anyway, i didn't feel full so i had some quinoa that i had prepared for the family as a side. Had some watermelon about an hour later. I made an appt for monday for another fill. Part of me wants to get tighter so that i stop overeating. The other part of me is so scared of being too tight that i can't eat anything.... Today for Breakfast i had an egg white omelette with cheese on toasted whole wheat bread with tomato slices on the side. I cut it into 4's so that i remember to take small bites. In the past 2 weeks since my last fill i was able to get through 2 of those parts and had to wait about 1/2 hour to eat the other 2 parts of the sandwich. This morning, i ate all 4 pieces without feeling restriction (of course i was eating very slowly and took tiny bites). For lunch i had spinach pirogies (ate 6 of them) with cottage cheese and a salad with white Beans. I felt satisfied after that but i can't say i was stuffed. I stopped eating when i emptied the plate. Just had a Protein Bar for snack. Not sure what i'm having for dinner yet......

I was banded Sept 19, 2011. While i lost some weight postop, i gained it all back when i started eating. I am currently at 8.5cc in an 11cc band. After 7-1/2 months i've not lost much (really, it's insignificant). I've tried so hard to follow protocol and the menu my nutritionist gave me but it's very hard. I was never much of a protein eater and when i eat a meal with no carbs, i feel very depressed and i find myself looking for food. I know planning my meals is the key but it's hard enough to cook and plan meals for the family, so often times i'm not getting my alotted protein and am looking for the carbs. I'm also having a problem finding that balance between being hungry and eating too much that it causes me to vomit. This usually happens during dinner. (not every though) What's even more frustrating and confusing is that i feel restriction when eating solid protein....healthy foods, but when it comes to certain carbs (ones not allowed to have), well, let's just say i can get through an entire bag of cheddar flavored rice cake minis with no problems whatsoever. Sometimes i'm ready to give up.

Thank you! You're right, if i was able to follow exact advice of the doc, i wouldn't need the band. This was why i was so depressed while on the eating plan that the nutritionist gave me. If i was able to eat like that all the time, i wouldnt have needed the band! It's frustrating. I agree, i think i'm overthinking by trying to follow what i'm told and am then frustrated and unhappy and just go off the plan to eat stuff i'm not supposed to eat. Thanks for your encouragement. I'm hoping to have some success soon.

The Balance bars (omg, the mint chocolate is DIVINE) are on sale at Shoprite this week (5 for $5). I think i'm going to call for another fill appt. While i've done better with my eating, i still feel like i could eat more after having my alloted portions.... The one good thing that i have been doing is exercising. I do a toning workout dvd in the mornings and then my hubby and i walk at night. I'm hoping that at least some of the extra calories i eat will be burned off from exercise but i do lead a somewhat sedentary life the rest of the time.

Thank you pugsx3. I'm feeling much better. If i was losing weight, all this wouldn't be an issue and i'd just be doing what works for me. It's because i was gaining weight that i had to see the nutritionist to get an eating plan in order. I just don't do well with strict menus. If i did, i wouldn't need the band. kwim? I have a few Balance Protein bars and will test out each of those flavors. The store didn't have any Zone bars so i'll check another store a different time.