DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

It doesn't matter if liquids are measured by cup or ounces, either way it's the same. There are 8 ounces in a cup, so no matter which you measure it it's still requires a measuring cup and the result will come out the same. If you're talking 4oz of meat, it has to be weighed. If you're talking 4oz of milk, it's a measuring cup and will be a 1/2 cup.

Ounces is measure of weight, so you'd use a food scale. Cups is a measure of volume, so you'd use a measuring cup. Hope that helps.

You say you "crave the full sensation in your stomach". You also say you are vomiting daily and are now bulimic. You also say because of this, you vomit daily for years. With all due respect, your "warning" isn't relevant to others unless they too are bulimic and striving for a "full feeling" in their stomach that the band doesn't provide. The whole purpose of the band is to feel satisfied and suppress the appetite. Not to feel the bloated full feeling of over-eating. Being bulimic would raise your risk of a slip as well as potentially damage throat as well as your stomach, which would explain the pain you describe as well. Many have maintained their weight loss for years, and the majority of the people who've not lost weight or regained it will admit it's their own mistakes that led to it. The band isn't a magic bullet. It's a tool, and if you don't use the tool the way it's intended it will fail or even break. I say this with all sincerity and concern: I strongly suggest you seek a counselor for your eating disorder. That is a much bigger concern than weight loss.

I use Lose It, both on the web and on an app on my phone. The app and website sync together, too so you can update on either. I love it, here's a link: http://www.loseit.com/

I use whole grain pasta and have no problems with it. I just cut it up really small, chew until it's mush, and eat very slowly.

Everyone's body metabolizes things differently. Some do low carbs, some do no carbs, and some do significant carbs. Really the only way you'll know what works for you is by trial and error. I eat more carbs than Protein daily, however I eat good carbs. I won't eat any white carbs (rice, bread). I only buy whole grain Pasta and bread and brown rice. I also won't buy carbs with the words "enriched" or "bleached" on the label. For me, it works. You'll have to see what works for you by simply trying it for a week or two and seeing what happens. Best wishes!

No, because if there was a slippage severe enough to cause internal bleeding, it would be dark brown and tarry by the time it passed through the digestive system. The fact it's bright red means it's new blood, which means the source is closer to the end of your digestive trail. (likely anus, possibly colon)

Wow, congratulations! Your story is amazing (and you look beautiful, btw!). It's incredibly inspirational to read your journey and success. Thank you so much for sharing it!

Rice, Pasta, and bread all tend to "swell" in the stomach so you have to take extra care when eating them. My advice is to take tiny bites, like the size you'd feed to a toddler, and chew until it's absolute mush. Also, pause between bites and give yourself time to digest. It's a learning experience. I have been stuck a couple times but never gave up on the foods I love (like bread). I can eat anything I just have to be very careful to chew like crazy and eat slowly.

My BMI was 72, which is really really high. I had no problems and have been doing well at losing weight in the 4 months since I was banded.

This is the same statistics I have read. 2-9% isn't high at all, in fact it's a very small percentage. Especially when you take into consideration those with erosion due to their own poor choices.

Honestly, I didn't slow down the way I should until I hit the Green Zone and found out (the hard way) that taking small bites and chewing like crazy was no longer optional. I learned to slow down pretty quick after a couple painful stuck episodes. I find eating EVERYTHING with a fork helps. I even eat sandwiches with a fork so I don't get too big a bite on accident. I try to make my bites the size you'd feed to a toddler- very small. This all helps me to really slow down and be aware of what I'm doing.

I couldn't agree with you more. At the risk of making a couple people mad, it astounds me the number of people who go into this surgery without a clue what to expect or what to do (or not do). People are responsible for their own education and it blows my mind how many apparently go into being banded completely ignorant to the facts. I would never in a million years have any surgery, let alone bariatric surgery, blind to the facts. Yet that is exactly what many do. Or as you said, they know what they're supposed to be doing (or not do) then do just the opposite anyway. A great example is the woman who shared a room with me at the hospital when I was banded. She was having a band replacement. Why? Because she drank soda regularly and prolapsed her band by doing so. She also gained back 40 pounds. This women knew what she should be doing yet chose not to so she ended up with major complications. If people would just take responsibility for their own education before surgery, and listen to the instructions of their surgeon after, I guarantee the number of complications from Lap-Band would drop dramatically.

About how many calories a day are you consuming? Are you getting in at least 60g of Protein a day? Also, do you have good restriction yet? I definitely wouldn't be skipping appointments or fills due to embarrassment. You're learning as you go and have nothing to be embarrassed about. If anything, you need to keep your appointment more than ever so they can help you figure out what you need to do/change to lose weight more consistently.

Have you had any fills yet? Do you have any restriction?

Congratulations!!

You've only been banded since April 24th. That's 6 days. Most people don't start losing until after they get a fill or two and have some restriction. The first month after surgery is for healing only not losing. My advice is to put away the scale for a month and give yourself time to heal.

I think the problem is, those of us coasting along happily don't feel the urgency and need to post a thread. Plus, a lot of people seek out these message boards only for problems then disappear again once they get the responses they're looking for. Btw, statistically speaking, only between 18-26% of people have complications. Of those, at least half of those complications are self created (drinking carbonated beverages, eating around the band, severe over-eating, etc) For what it's worth, I LOVE my band. I've already lost 82 pounds in just under 4 months. I've never thrown up, I can eat anything I want, and I feel better than I have in many years. Being banded is by far the best thing I've ever done for myself.

3 months post op I'd lost 65 pounds. I'm currently just shy of 4 months post op and am down 82 pounds.

My reasons Because I have Multiple Sclerosis and I need all the physical advantage I can get to fight it So I don't get diabetes So I don't get high blood pressure So I can live long enough to be a grandma someday So my kids won't have the "fat mom" anymore So I can sit in any chair without worrying if I'll fit, or worse, if it can hold me So I can sit in a booth at a restaurant So I won't avoid public places because I can't take everyone staring at me So maybe I'll get a shred of self esteem back

Honestly, it all depends on your dedication to change. If you are committed to changing your eating habits and adapting a healthy lifestyle, as well as following up with your surgeon and getting fills so you have good restriction, then you can lose as much as you feel you need to. Now, if you get the band and still eat foods that are high calorie, high fat, and unhealthy you're not going to lose. The band is a tool not a magic bullet, we still have to do the work So really, how much you loose is totally dependent on you. I've talked to people on here that have lost 100, 200, or even more weight successfully and are now at their goal weight. Personally, I've lost 82 pounds in 4 months so far, so I am thrilled with my band.

You're only 5 days post op, it's normal to be feeling kinda bad. You just had surgery and you're only beginning the healing process. You have to give it time. As someone above stated, I'd give it at least 6 months otherwise you'll have gone through this surgery for nothing.

Here is a link to the 5 day pouch test. Not only is it a good way to get back into the Lap-Band groove, but mentally it can help you get back to where you were when you were first banded. Have a look. http://5daypouchtest.com/plan/theplan.html I would also strongly suggest asking a nutrionist exactly what you should be eating. If everyone here responds, you'll hear different advice from just about every person. Why? Because every nutrionist and surgeon have their own ideas what works. A good example, a previous poster stated not to eat more than 60g of carbs, but my nutrionist told me not to not to eat more than 125g of carbs. Obviously, that's a big difference, but neither one is "right" or "wrong", just different approaches to weight loss. Get with your nutrionist and then follow up with your surgeon and consistently get fills until you have good restriction. If you want to lose the weight, it's really your only choice. Best wishes to you.

I get a big lump in my throat and my chest gets all tight. Very often I end up sliming like crazy too (that's when your mouth fills with saliva)

I am in the Green Zone and the only time eating hurts is if I take too big a bite or don't chew enough. Otherwise, no, it doesn't hurt. I do know it takes me close to a week for my stomach to go back to normal after a fill. It's very touchy for that first 5-7 days after. If I were you, I'd give a full week from your fill date and if you're still having the same problem, give you surgeon a call and see what he says.