DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

You're very wise to get a little unfill, then. I did the same yesterday. I had a 1cc fill on Tuesday and yesterday still couldn't eat solid food so I had .3cc removed. That tiny amount made all the difference in the world. Today I'm eating normally again. Good luck!

I've heard a lot about C25K. Do you like it? Is it just for people who are already into running? I've always wanted to try running but honestly I'd be lucky to jog 60 seconds then collapse.

No definitely not, it takes a lot more than a Protein shake to do that. You're just fine

Excuse me? How do you know anything about me or my self control? What I eat isn't restricted at all because that isn't what the band is supposed to do. I happen to like going 5-6 without any hunger and at this level of restriction I can do that with ease. Let me tell you something, to lose almost 150 pounds in 9 months take a lot of self control, hence why I count calories and am very strict about eating a healthy diet. You may not care if it takes you 5 years to lose 50 pounds but I do. I personally don't care what size bite you take or if you count calories, but I posted that pic to help others who were having problems with food getting stuck. You do whatever you want with your life, I will continue to try to help others here as I have been. Why you seem to think you have clue about me, my motives, or my self control are beyond me. I do, however, highly suggest you start acting like a mature adult not a judgmental child.

How exciting, best wishes for a speedy recovery on Monday!

I do believe now days everyone's band is sewn to their stomach wall to help anchor it in place.

Well I'm the one who posted the picture, and it's not pea sized it's the size of my fingernail. Hence why I put the picture of my finger next to it. As far as "I'd rather have self control than live like this"... I've lost almost 150 pounds in 9 months. I log every single thing I put in my mouth and count every single calorie. Believe me, I have plenty of self control. My weight loss results speak for themselves quite clearly as to my level of self control. You can live however you like, however I like to be able to eat bread, rice, Pasta, and all the stuff so many say they can't eat anymore since then being banded. I can still eat all that, and everything else I enjoy, with the self control to take small bites and stay within bandster portions.

Yeah I don't get that, either. I've never vomited in the almost 9 months I've had the band. I'd probably freak out if I did, being honest. In my opinion, people like that girl you speak of vomiting daily to lose weight has now crossed over to being bulimic. It's a very slippery, dangerous slope.

Granted this is strictly my personal opinion, but I'd totally make the 30 drive to continue seeing him. Good doctors who actually care are becoming more and more rare. When you find one, as you have, I'd hold onto him at all costs. Totally unrelated to Lap Band but I drive an hour to see my neurologist. It sucks for sure, but he's wonderful both as a doctor and as a person so it's worth it to me to make the drive.

I do the same, I just count it into my daily calories. Heck, not even an hour ago I was stuffing a pinata for my son's birthday party tomorrow and I had a mini Peanut Butter cup. It was yummy but I feel no guilt, I just worked it into my daily calories.

Yes it totally possible, mainly because your stomach is still swollen from surgery. I remember only being able to drink half a Protein Shake because if I drank anymore than that I felt downright nauseous. It will get better and soon

I really don't eat anything special, just healthy and small portions. Here's an example what I eat in a day: Breakast- unjury Protein shake Lunch- Tuna mixed with fat free mayo, on a piece of whole wheat bread, topped with low fat cheese. Toasted in the toaster oven. Dinner- 4oz pork chop, 1/4 green Beans, 1/4 homemade mashed potatoes Snack- 1/3 cup low fat cottage cheese I walk about 2 miles a minimum of 5 days a week, every day if I can.

I thought mashed potatoes were heavenly when I finally got into the mushy stage. Mashed sweet potatoes are yummy too. I put some tuna and fat free mayo in the blender and made a kind of "tuna whip" so it would fit into the mushy stage, I thought it was great. Plus, it was loaded in Protein so definitely helped keep the hunger away too. Really, if you can put it into a blender and make it mushy, you can eat it. I've even read people putting some broth and chicken into their blenders to make it mushy. Mushy version of egg salad put through the blender, too.

It's a huge decision and one that will change your life forever. I think you're very wise to question it. In fact, I wish more people would. It's not something that should be rushed into blindly. My best advice is do your homework. Reading these forums is fine and anecdotal evidence is great, but educate yourself on the medical facts of the band too. Learn exactly what the band does, what it doesn't, what the risks are, and what will be required of you. Best wishes to you, whatever you decide is best for you.

You're extremely lucky, it sounds like you have a great surgeon! Congratulations on your weight loss!

It doesn't matter which WLS you choose- Gastric Bypass, Sleeve, or Lap Band- if you're not willing to do the work and change your eating habits for a lifetime, you either won't lose or will soon regain it all. None of the surgeries are a magic fix for fat, they're just tools. I have two friends who had Gastric Bypass within a month of me having Lap Band almost 9 months ago. One has only lost about 25 pounds. The other is down about 50 pounds (she regained some already). Both thought I was nuts for choosing Lap Band and neither bothered to change their diets. They still eat the same junk that got them fat to begin with. I have lost 146 pounds so far and I'm still losing. I've lost twice what they have combined. Not because the Lap Band is better but because I changed my eating habits and work very hard at a healthy lifestyle. My point is, it doesn't matter which you choose, if you aren't willing to do the work you won't succeed.

Aside from the minority of people who have slips by no fault of their own, it seems most are due to slips caused by vomiting and bands that are way too tight. The ones who are vomiting regularly are usually doing so because they're too tight, so again, it's totally avoidable. I know some people probably think I'm a little paranoid, running in for a little unfill just 3 days after a fill, but it's just not worth it to me risk complications from being too tight. I've worked way too hard to get this far to ruin it all with an avoidable slip. That's my logic, anyway.

This will sound gross, but usually when you feel the mucus coughed up but not spit out you've swallowed it. Which is fine, because it's then out of your lungs and will just be digested in your stomach.

Congratulations on your baby!!!

I have had a lot of short term goals. For me, it's the only way to do this and stay on track without being totally overwhelmed by the enormity of it all. My first goal was to get out of the 400's. My next was to hit the 50 pound loss, then 100 pound loss, then get out of the 300's. My current goal is to hit the 150 pound loss mark, which I am 4 pounds from reaching.

Yes that's total normal. The reason is twofold- anesthetic and pain killers can depress your respiratory system, resulting in shallow breaths. The second part is you are tubed during surgery, which is an irritant to your airway. It's very common for your lungs to have a build up of mucus after surgery because of these two things. Coughing that mucus up is how you avoid post op pneumonia. It does hurt but it's important to get that stuff up and out of your lungs. Try hugging a pillow when you cough, it helps lessen the pain.

For me, ignoring those cravings just makes them stronger, especially during PMS week. So, I have something sweet that isn't going to destroy my daily calorie intake. For instance, I love double chocolate sugar free pudding. It's divine. Healthy Choice now makes a frozen Greek yogurt that's really good, too. Skinny Cow makes numerous low calorie treats that are also great to appease a sweet tooth.

The hormone that causes hunger is called Ghrelin. It is produced by the stomach, specifically the top outer portion. It increases before meals and decreases after meals. Because of where the band is placed, it lessens this hormone production thus creating less hunger signals to the brain. Essentially, people who opt for the Sleeve have that portion of their stomach removed entirely. Here's a Wiki article on Ghrelin if you want to read about it more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghrelin Mind you, suppressing that hormone is only part of what the band does. You are correct that by squeezing around the stomach and food rubbing through it, it also plays a part in hunger satiation. It tricks your brain into thinking "Oh I've had tons of food, I'm not hungry". It's amazing how complicated and complex a little band really is