Summerrain

You poor thing. You may want to go on liquids and mushies for a few days to settle everything inside then start again and take bites as big as your fingernail and just as importantly wait a minute after swallowing. Hope you feel better soon.

First fill at three weeks then every two weeks for me.

Beautiful!! Great work on the weight loss

Ty goldenlife, I tend to babble on a bit at times but if one of my posts motivates just one person then that makes me happy. Personally this forum has motivated me and the success stories bring a happy tearr to my eye. I hope to be posting in the success section some day.

You've done we'll! Yoghurt with no bits in it was part of my liquid phase.

If you work out that the hunger is real hunger and not head hunger then that is an indication you may need a small fill. Best person to discuss all youre feeling is your fill person, based on what you tell them they will advise you if you need more fill.

Take it one day at a time, keep yourself busy and distracted. Start journaling everything you eat, make it a must you do some form of exercise each day even if only ten mins to start of with. At the end if the day feel good about that day then worry about the next day. Baby steps!

OUCH!!!! It sits there like a rock, I start burping, get this tightness in my chest, lots of sliming, if it goes through the band eventually it hurts so bad, if it doesn't want to go through the band and wants to come up, it projectile vomits out of me. Has happened twice and I've learnt my lesson well. Chew chew chew and if you realise the bite is too big spit it out. What's worse is afterwards it aggravates everything for a few days.

Congrats!!!

Yay so happy for you!

Yes!! Until I hit the green zone. Now I no longer have that urge to want to munch after dinner. It's normal what you're feeling until you get to the green zone.

By the time I finally made the decision to get the lapband I was so depressed about my weight. It took me a whole year and many more failed attempts at dieting in that year. I desperately needed help. I had no problems loosing, my problem was keeping it off because of the constant hunger I felt and getting discouraged when the scales wouldn't budge and I'd be like to hell wiith it all and put all that weight back on plus some. I was becoming more and more of a recluse, avoiding social situations, making excuses for canceling on people. It took a hell of a lot of courage to get myself to the first appointment with my surgeon, I even was tempted to cancel because I was so ashamed of myself, I even cried at that appointment. My appointment was an hour long and he went through the whole process of the lapband and asked me about my dieting history. When he said to me you're a perfect candidate for lapband I could have flown over the desk and hugged him. I knew the lapband was what I needed to help remove that constant hunger and give me control back. I left his office that afternoon confident that this is what was going to help me gain my life back. From the first day of my prep op diet, a whole month of Optifast, I told myself every day you can do this, you're going to learn to live again and enjoy life. Was I 100% compliant on my optifast stage, no I wasn't. But I did make a healthier choice the few times I ate. Have I been 100% compliant since being banded, no I haven't, but if I have eaten something that wasn't so healthy I didn't beat myself up, I enjoyed the small unhealthy choice and got in with it. Three months ago today I was banded. I can honestly say every day has been a learning curve, I stick to my new diet 95% of the time, I allow myself my chocolate treat when needed but that's fine, it's part of my new healthy lifestyle change. I no longer crave the junk I used to gorge on, I actually crave fresh healthy foods. I've eaten the odd donut or chocolate chip cookie and it didn't taste that great. I am regaining my life again day by day, I'm growing in confidence, my days of full blown depression are in the past, I'm in control of what goes into my mouth. Wanting all these things helps me stay on track every day now. I'm not that 166 kilo heavy weight I was months ago, I'm a 137.5 heavy weight as of this morning. I'm no longer in a cloud of darkness, I no longer always wear black to hide my fat body, not that it hid it that well, I wake up every morning in color now, if that makes sense, and I dress in colors now. food once made me the person I hated so much. Now food is under my control, thanks to this wonderful tool. All the above positives is what helps me stay on track.

Good on you for standing your ground. The lapband has worked for so many, it's up to us to make the changes and use it as the tool it's intended to be used as. Sure some people do all the right things and they have complications but its a risk we all take for a healthier life. The guy that had a soda problem then it's his own fault for not being successful. I like your attitude and you have informed yourself and know what's ahead if you. I wish you the best with the whole process!

Stress tightens my band but I'm not that restricted at the moment that it causes me issues, I actually feel it tightening around my tummy, I'm just extra careful when I get stressed and to be honest I feel no hunger at all till my stress disappears.

Green zone for me is not waking up hungry. First meal of the day for me is anywhere between 10 am and 11 am, I don't feel hungry for five to six hours, 2nd meal is my dinner, my night time snacking urge has completely disappeared and the scales are going down each day. I am satisfied between 1/2 cup to one cup of food per meal. Because of this I am really strict on making good healthy choices for my meals so I get my protein in first and either salad or vegetables second. Two litres of water per day. My restriction level is comfortable, I can pretty much eat everything provided I take small enough bites. My restriction is at a good level also to accommodate the varying fluctuations the band is finicky for eg ttom, stress etc because when I get stressed my little friend decides to get a bit tighter on me. The biggest thing I've noticed I'm no longer obsessed with food every minute of the day, only when it's meal times. Another thing I've noticed is if I don't go to the grocery store with a shopping list then I would come out empty handed as nothing in the supermarket or food courts no longer have me drooling over everything. I'm finally in control of food and not the other way around like it was pre banding. Fingers crossed I stay this way for a while before needing a top up.

As others have said we are all different. Depends too does he have a larger band requiring more fill than you if you have a smaller band to get to green zone? Not saying you don't buy do you take really small bites? I have 6.5mls in my band which holds 12mls, I'm in the green zone and have decent restriction. Provided I take teeny bites and chew well I don't have a problem with any foods so far including bread and steak. Your question is not a dumb question, the band isn't one size fits all.

I'm sorry to hear your mum is stressing you out, stress and the lapband don't go hand in hand. Take her to one of your appointments, let her ask questions also, maybe that will help her to understand the process a bit better. Sounds like you are being polite and patient with her and are doing the best you can to make her understand. If she continues to be the way she is then as far as I'm concerned she is being selfish and narrow minded. You don't needed the added stress. It may have to come to you saying to her I've tried explaining things to you but you seem to refuse to either listen to what I'm saying, your attitude is upsetting me so this subject is taboo between us. I know harsh but might be a necessary step so you can focus on your healing and new journey. In my experience stress tightens my lapband and if I'm too stressed my doctor won't give me fills. Good luck with it all and I truly hope your mum makes the effort to educate herself with this new journey you are facing.

It's referred pain from gas being trapped in the diaphragm area. I found that walking helped a lot and also laying flat on my back for about ten minutes and deep breathing then getting up and walking again. It should settle in a week or two or hopefully quicker.

Only part if the chicken I can eat us the thigh fillets and they have to be moist when cooked. The breast part I find is far too dry for me no matter how I cook it.

I love your positivity. It is important to stay hydrated even during heavy exercising. I have no problems drinking 2 litres plus a day of Water. If you are sweating so much you may need to replace some of the minerals etc you are sweating out too. Nothing like a good sweating session to get the metabolism going!

Looking fantastic!! Amazing how you can see a difference with photos side by side.

Just look at your husband and say "really do you have to make those noises in public" !

Yay!!! Well done!!! I'm 4 pounds away from hitting 300 pounds and hope to be there by the end of this week. Bring on the 200's!!!