susansilver

I aks this questions for two reasons.

1. I find it hard to measure 1/2 a pita - is that a cup? 1/2 C? etc.

I am going for my second fill July 18 and wonder if what I am eating is good or should a tighten up a little more.

Typical day for me now:

B - 1 packet weight control oatmeal

L - 1/2 Grilled WW pita stuffed with tuna & 1 slice cheese

2 Tbsp. pea and nut salad

sometimes 1-2 pieces of cut up fruit salad

D - 1 Tbsp brown rice

approx. 1 cup of black bean chicken stir fry with veggies

S - 1 pack 100 calorie Peanut Butter thinsations

So what do you guys think?

Is theatreprincess and alias for Drama Queen??? LOL! Sorry, but most have us have been through preop and we know it's not much fun. Hang in there. I haven't used Optifast but I understand it can be blended with ice to make it more palatable. There are also SF syrups and flavourings you can buy.

Take a deep breath and relax. When is your surgery?

Welcome to bandland! Rest and heal.

Thanks oh yes im going to make it, and show him.

that's the attitude!

I am from Toronto, Canada and we are all self pay over here. Depending where you live Toronto might be closer but it is $16K CDN.

I firmly believe that if you want it bad enough - if you really believe that it is the answer for you - you will do whatever you have to to get it.

Do not listen to negative people. Believe in yourself and if you do then YOU will make it happen!

You know what Mirand - we all have to follow our own path. Yes there are instructions from our clinics, but in the end we have a sense of our bodies to make the minor modifications that suit us best. I started my preop diet about 1 week early, because my eating and binging was out of control. It made it harder, but it was important for me. If you need to do the pre-op at this point in order for you to get control - or feel in control - then you know your body best. It certainly won't hurt you or your band. Good luck!

Nah... nuthin' to worry 'bout us women!

Ellen! Nice to see you! You are rocking on your weight loss!!!

I don't have an fill in me, but couscous is my all time favorite!!!!!! It is soooooo goood. I don't know if I had a fill what it would do, but it seems like it would be fine. BUT that is all individual as you know...good luck. Try it, you might be surprised!!

WOW! You have lost all that weight WITHOUT a fill???? That is amazing. Do you feel restricted at all?

Welcome home Lisa! I live downtown so TLBC was a natural choice for me as well. Do you work? When do you go back?

I have not yet tried any grains like cousous, bulghur etc. Has anyone else tried them and do they have a tendency to get stuck?

What a jerk - although you're right and he probably knew nothing about the procedure.

Were you banded at TLBC ? They said no laxatives, but I had always had to use them before. I think you're right. Can't wait to start full fluids. I've lost a lot of weight on the pre-op diet and also the post -op clear fluids this week-about 25 lbs. Do you think this will all come back when I start eating solids again? I'm enjoying seeing my toes again...

Yes, I was banded at TLBC and called them to get their okay about the laxatives. I lost most of my weight pre and then post op. I gained back about 7 lbs when I started mushies and solids. I was very concerned about it and spoke to Maral at the clinc who reminded me that this is a time for HEALING and the losing weight will come once I start getting fills. She was right, I have lost those 7 lbs and another 2, this after my 1st and 2nd fills. I go for my 3rd fill July 18th and I don't think I will need much, I am almost at my "sweet spot".

Since you are no longer a newbie - come on down and introduce yourself on the Canadian thread. Argon posted the link here for you on her reply.

Yup we women are terrifiying!!! :whoo:

Hi, Susan: (aka shayna punim)

Were you always told " such a shayna punim" during your plump teenage years?? Me, too. But we always knew what the unspoken end of the sentence was. Anyhow, you probably do have a beautiful face, and now the rest of you will match!

Hi Lisa - not too many people know what that means! That was my family nickname since I was a baby but yes, I got that such a shayna punim but....The reason I use it here is because there is a woman from Australia who calls herself Shayna Punim and so I wrote to her about it. She allowed me to use Toronto Shayna Punim. Now you need to add it as well!

About the BMs - watch it. I ended up in emerg at Mt. Sinai with severe abdominal pain. They found that I was completely "backed up" and it took about a week using laxatives and fibre powder to get me back to normal. So I would suggest the powder in your liquids now. Benefibre is very good and stirs up in Water even without any taste at all. Also, The doc I saw there was a bit of a jerk because he was very disdainful of my band! Ignorance!!!

Don't be so hard on yourself! You just had surgery and you need time to heal. As Leslie said - everyone is different. Take your meds, walk when you can and be good to yourself! It will get better!

I take effexor xr but I'm able to open the capsule and take the tiny coated balls inside. wellbutrin did nothing for me, effexor has been a life savor. I was ready to choose effexor over the band if I wasnt able to open it up.

Good luck!

I take effexor as well. I had to open the capsules for the first few days, but it tasted so awful that I just started taking them whole again and I have no problems. I agree that effexor is a life saver. I tried Celexa before it and it did nothing for me.

Not trying to sound negative, but it is important to know that the band won't limit the amount of junk you stuff in your face if you're eating the wrong stuff...the band will have very little, if any, effect on liquids or food that quickly turns to liquid (ice cream, chocolate, etc.).

The band will limit the amount of bulky, solid food that you can eat at a time, if you don't drink while you eat. The sooner you drink after eating, the shorter time you'll have the 'full' feeling, because what you're drinking will help wash the food out of the pouch and down into your stomach faster.

Sorry if I seem pedantic, but I think it is important to look at all aspects of the life change that is required to be successful after banding.

I have to agree with DBAGuy. I have heard of many people who eat around the band and will continue to do so without the emotional support. I have said it other places on this board, but I firmly believe that you have to uncover why you abuse food. That's not to say that you have to do all that before you are banded - I say go ahead but know that you have to work on these issues as well. The band is not a panacea.

Hi Vince - welcome! Another TLBC Bandster here.

I paid $7000 for this band in July 2005 and got down to 154 from 211.

But over the years I have just gone back to my old habits and learned how to eat around the band. I now take in as many calories as I use to when I was 211 pds just in different foods. I think I am mentally ill or something.

I can't stop eating. Even though it hurts so bad.

I have made myself so ill in the past I ended up in the hospital twice with dehydration because even though I get sick when the food stops I just keep eating, spitting up and easting more.

The tissue under the band swells shut and I can't even keep small amounts of Water down.

My surgery was in Mexico and no Dr's will see me here (Utah) I have the fills done (use to anyway) in a hospital radiology dept. but they don't know much about the band, diet etc.

Is there any hope for me? Do I need mental health counseling? Please HELP

I think you do need some counselling - but we all do. We have to learn about the emotional issues underneath why we abuse food. Many addicts use food, drugs, alcohol. gambling etc to displace feelings of hurt, anger, helplessness - it sounds like you have not faced these issues and are determined to continue to abuse because you don't know what else to do. Don't beat yourself up over this - it is your addiction. Get some psychotherapeutic help and find a Dr. or clinic who will see you and in no time, you will be back on track and alot healthier both mentally & physically.

Best of luck - let us know how you are doing.

I personally don't think we say "aboot"... at least I don't ! It's a myth!

Neither do I! (Indignant)

Yeah, cut to another 24 hours later, now im back. I think it might have been the pork, or maybe swelling, who knows. For a while my body was hating me, even liquids at some point were brutal. But now i had a good supper, nice portion, i'm happy. Im glad i put myself through another day of liquids, and didnt call for a defill..because now i feel good. I will wait to see how this fill treats me. So yeah, i now know not to make a hasty decision on the fill, in a few weeks, i might even realise i need more. But only time will tell. Thanks for your support, comments and suggestions.

Glad you're feeeling better!

Hi Lisa, Welcome and congrats on your being banded! I am from Toronto as well - we actually have a whole Canada section further down the page. Some people just hang out there and others (like myself) are all over the board. It's nice to have "homies"!

One other comment is that restriction can change from day to day, and from one time of day to another. I find that I'm quite restricted in the morning and at night, yet pretty wide open at lunch. This is a bit of a problem because it is difficult to tell when I need a fill. But, to answer your question, sometimes I pb at night on a few small bites, but eat a substantial lunch with no problem (other than calories). So I would say yes, it is possible to pb and still need a fill.

Thank you! I thought I was crazy. I am more restricted at beginning of day and night time than in between!

I agree with the others that I PB because I either eat too fast or do not chew well enough. I just had my second fill and I am not yet at my "sweet spot". The PBing I do is because I forget, or do not eat consciously. When I do, I can eat a bit more than a cup of food and then will get that full feeling between my esophagus and my throat and stop. If I ignore that feeling, then I will PB.

Hi Peaches,

I take Effexor and I was able to open the capsules and take the little pills inside on a spoon, swallow them down and chase them with Water of juice. The taste was awful so as soon as I could, I just started taking them whole again, one at a time (I take 3) and slowly. I take 2 other meds for high BP and a birth control pill and usually throw all 6 of them in my mouth, take a swig of Water and off they go. Sometimes I feel them for a bit going down, but I have never PBed on them. Oh yes, I was banded May 2nd so it has been awhile.

Good luck with your surgery!!! Let us know how you did.

Uniqueone,

Stick an "Eh" on the end of every question and you automatically become an honourary Canadian - oh yes and you have to add the letter "u" into many words where an "o" is present.

WELCOME!!!!

My highest weight was 287 when I started WW July 2005 - lost 60+ lbs and gained 40 back - that was when I said enough - I can't continue to gain and lose and gain and gain so I started researching and decided to go with the band.

It is a struggle every day to relearn and rethink. I am finding it a little easier to eat more consciously and less is getting stuck. (Although I did PB some of my Breakfast this morning - I think because I ate too much).

I had posted on the general discussion about how I miss taking big bites and the feeling of my mouth filled with food. To feel almost like I am pigging out, so I have started taking bites that are a bit bigger, chewing, chewing and swallowing a little bit, chewing more swallowing more etc. I find this is helping with my desire to eat more. Ah the things I do to trick this crazy mind!

Location, Location: I am way further east than Vancouver - Ontario in fact and specifically Toronto. Although I have been to Vancouver a couple of times. I have been to Las Vegas once but not to Reno or Lake Tahoe which I hear is spectacular! I am not sure how I would deal with that kind of heat being a Northerner! I would need a personal air conditioner!

So my dear, now that you are Canadian, please continue to join in our little group - just don't suggest any products or stores that can only be found in the US because we get a little tesy about that! LOL!!!!

Hope to hear from you soon,

Susan