Sunshyne068

I wear the Spanx "higher power brief" that is a panty that goes all the way to the bra line. Its not so restrictive that I cant breathe and feel uncomfortable, but I DO feel more restriction (in my band) when I wear it.

Judy what's your email? I have some recipes .... sheppard's pie is good. Chicken casserole, meatloaf, etc.

Judy have you tried slow cooking your meat in broth, gravy, or sauce? I sometimes put meat in the oven at 280 degrees for 2-3 hours and let it cook super slow. That makes it tender and the sauce or gravy you cook with it will help it go down. Try dark meat chicken, its more tender and less dry than white meat.

Thanks ladies I really appreciate your support!!!

shy2012 mine still havent come in the mail. I went back to the groupon site and saw the "fine print" .... it says something like 6-8 wks for delivery ... uggggggg

Try to do a liquid diet for at least two of the 6 weeks ... that should keep the pounds down.

great story! congrats on the new love life and new renewed healthy life. The next 50 lbs will come off with your continued motivation!!!

Thanks so much Lauren!

I did not have any acid reflux problems until AFTER I got the band ... I believe (for me) it came from eating like I did before the band - quantity. If I stop eating when I get the tony signal from my bad to stop, I dont get reflux. If I keep eating and try to finish my plate, I get reflux. If I overeat, I get SEVERE reflux and it feels horrible. Your issue could be eating too much, OR it could be that your band is too tight. If you take 1-2 small well-chewed bites, and youre still having reflux, then your band might be too tight. I would suggest a small unfill, or eat less if that quantity of food is the problem.

You should totally log your food so you know how many calories, and grams of Protein and fat youre taking in. That way you can know what NOT to do (as far as calorie level, etc) if you're gaining weight. Stay away from the sliders (milk shakes, etc) unless its a low calorie Protein shake. My doctor advised me to stay around 1000 cals a day, but I eat between 1100 and 1250 each day and Im loosing. But I workout 3x a week also. My sample menu: Breakfast - light yogurt or protein shake, sometimes both Snack - if I only had yogurt for breakfast, then I do some protein shake lunch - Soup and salad lunch (1 cup each), or chicken salad (.75 cup) or half a cheeseburger, sugar free pudding Mid Day Snack - veggie chips, banana, or some other fruit dinner - 1.5 cup chicken pot pie, or some low calorie Pasta dish 1.5 cup (e.g. seafood salad, pasta and marinara sauce with melted cheese, etc) Dessert - low calorie popcicle, or low calorie frozen yogurt bar, or 1/3 cup ice cream

hey march buddies .... this is off topic but I need your support on this - Hi all. I got my Realize band on 3/9/12 and I have been big all of my life. I tried to make the best of it and pursue plus sized modeling. I've been nominated as Plus Model of the YEAR!!! (I hope this is the last yr I'll be a plus model) I need your votes to win this thing. Please go to http://fashionawards...ng-ballot-730pm and vote for me (questions 13 and 14) - select "Sydney Wyatt"!!! Email address is optional. LOVE YOU GUYS!

Judy don't worry about the gym. If you can walk around the house or around your area, just walk. Its a great basic non-strenous exercise that can help so much. I hope you're doing better with your band. Is it still very much tight? I suggest that if this week you still are having problems with any soft meat proteins, try to get a tiny unfill, maybe 0.2 to 0.5 cc ... Stress does impact the band. I did an obstacle race yesterday and I was sooooooo stressed and tired, I felt like my band almost closed all the way up. I couldnt even breath and the tightness in my chest was scarey. This morning I feel so much better. Almost back to normal but I know Im tighter than before I did the race.

Well, now that Im 2 months post op I guess its good to revisit this thread .... What's working for me is journaling ... I use my fitness pal ... if i don't journal then my calories will get away from me. I try to stay under 1200 calories a day ... sometimes less. Its very hard as I only have 4.25 cc in an 11cc band. I exercise a lot more than I ever did before. I try to walk/jog a few miles a week. I also know that I need to stay away from alochol, even if its only 2 small drinks. Alcohol slows my weight loss and even makes me gain weight. I also don't count my grams of Protein a day. If i have too much protein, I gain or stall. Lastly, Im reading a book called "The Beck Diet" ... its helping work on my addiction to food and overeating. Its like $10 on Amazon.

Judy dont try to force yourself to eat if youre feeling too tight. Start you meal with a hot cup of tea to try and loosen you up.

Judy are you chewing everything up to the consistency of applesause? If you cant get solid proteins down, try protein shakes until you go back to the doctor. You might be in need of a small unfill.

stick to liquids for a couple of days to let things settle down before you go back on regular foods. i hope the next fill isnt so traumatic

Im 2 months post-op, and I was havnig horrible pain in the lower right side of my stomach. Well I thought I had appendicitis, but an ultrasound reveals ovarian cysts and Fluid in my fallopian tube(s). Im freaking out. Im only 28, have no children, and I had the surgery to reach a healthy weight and increase fertility. i looked online and the fluid in the tubes can sometimes be the result of abdominal surgery ....... GASP .... seriously? The pain Im feeling is only inches below my port site .... is this a coincidence? Anyone else had fluid in their tubes and still successfully had a baby???

Tracie how did the test go? My obgyn says i have fluid in my tube(s) so Im curious about blockages and whatnot.

The stomach swells when the band is tightened. if you can get liquids down then I think you will be ok. the swelling subsides after 2-3 days

I re-read this thread every now and then to keep me motivated, and let me know that I am not failing because the pounds arent dropping off. Ive only had 2 fills and i dont think im at an "effective fill" level yet.

congrats!!!!!! Keep up the good work and keep us posted - we need your inspiration

MWest how much weight have you lost so far without a fill?

OMG I know the feeling about vacation. Horseback riding limit is 260 lbs ... and I LOVE horse riding!

Newme - have you tried a liquid diet for a day or 2? i've heard that gets people back in gear as far as overeatings and losing weight. I know when Im forced to do the 2 day liquid diet after a fill the weight just drops off for that whole week. Neekoal - im so sorry to hear about the flipped port!!! i've read on the boards here that its a simple procedure and that youre in and out. do you have a lap band or a realize band?

​​I got my "2nd fill today" - and I use quotes because I went in, told Dr. that I extremely hungry when I come in from work (or any time after 3pm) and I told him that sometimes I get really bad acid reflux if I overeat .... he told me that I might be OVERFULL!!!! I almost passed out when he said that. I have only had 1 fill, so this morning I was at 3.5cc in an 11cc band. After my 1st fill I lost 4 lbs (I suspect from swelling). Then once I was able to eat regularly again I gained 2 lbs (for a net loss of 2 lbs in 2 weeks = 1 lb/week). I'm hungry between meals, I'm hungry like every 2 hours, and I have only been stuck once (3 days after my last fill when I was still swollen). Ive never thrown up and I dont eat mostly slider foods to make it by ... I was so confused as to why he would think I was overfull. My appointment was originally for 1cc fill, and he only gave me a 0.25cc fill .... he told me that I could come and get another fill if I was still feeling like I needed more, but he told me that from his experience it sounded like I didn't need a fill at all .... WHAT GIVES?? Im just a little frustrated because I'm reading online that one you get to the green zone your appetite and hunger pangs are much more in check and its easier to stick to the calorie guidelines, and the weight finally comes off at ~ 2 lbs a week .... I just really want to get to that place, sorry for the rant