lindabug

Hi all, boy it's been a rough year so far and I've been off my diet a lot. I have gained about 5 lbs I had a fill over a month ago and got very sick so had it removed at that time they removed all of it because I felt so horrible. Went back after getting over being sick and got fill back in but not much so now I'm eating way to much, hungry all the time and miserable. I go back tomorrow for another fill. I have got to get on track again and it's going to take a lot of will power which I feel I have lost, it doesn't help that I have a lot of emotional issues right now. I stay upset all the time and don't know what to do anymore Sorry to be such a downer Kim, I know exactly what you are talking about I've been the same way so much so I could have written that.

Is anyone else experiencing severe mood swings. I am and I'm miserable. One minute I'm fine and the next in tears. It's making me so frustrated not to mention how my family is dealing with it. I just want to be alone all the time

Well it seems like since they changed the website no one is around. I just wanted to say hello to my lb friends. Not much has changed here except, no lose no gain no new fills but I do have another hernia. I am putting off surgery for a while. It is small so just have to be careful. Just wanted to say Merry Christmas everyone!!! Lindabug

Feeling so discouraged I have gained 2 pounds, I honestly don't know what I'm doing wrong but I just am going no where. I can not get a fill because I get stuck to often as it is. Oh well in other Lindabug news my daughters wedding was amazing it was beautiful and hot in Savannah!!! I will post some pics if I can get this darn thing to work! Hope everyone has a great week! Miss my lbpeeps

Hi ladies. KK sorry you are having issues, I know your pain well. I have not lost anything in months go down 2 up 2 back & forth uggg and because I have had a lot of "stuck" issues myself my dr will not do a fill so it's up to be to get back on the band wagon and watch what I eat and exercise which since my hernia operation in Feb I have done very little of it. KK last week for me was like yours this week. I got stuck and everytime I tried anything got sick again I kept saying well maybe I'll lose a few pounds but nope same old scale says same thing . Anyway it got so bad by the 3rd day my husband said GO TO THE DOCTOR!!! I didn't and made it, now this week I am back to normal (whatever that is) I can eat but really have to be more careful. I saw you said something about dumplings and potatoes, I can not eat those at all if I even try it goes bad luckily for me I don't miss potatoes so no biggie but dumplings oh yes I would love to have some. Nothing sticky or gooey works for me, I really only eat meats, salads and occasionally mild mexican food. Nothing spicy since my hernia. I get bored with the same old things but it is what it is. Hang in there. I had hoped to be down more by my daughters wedding but it's Oct 5th so not looking good

UGH, Have no idea what is going on. I haven't had a fill in a long time and just last week I was thinking it was time but didn't set up an appointment. I wasn't losing or gaining and haven't in a while but now suddenly since Tue I can't eat anything but rice cakes!!! Everything is getting stuck!!! I have been so sick the last two days and my throat is now burning. I went to get a frappe' this morning just because I wanted something and what the heck I haven't eaten really in two days but I can't even drink it, it is making me feel stuck again and making the burn worse. I seem to be able to drink hot coffee and that's about it. Haven't heard from you guys in a while, hope you are all doing well and not getting frustrated like me!

UGH, Have no idea what is going on. I haven't had a fill in a long time and just last week I was thinking it was time but didn't set up an appointment. I wasn't losing or gaining and haven't in a while but now suddenly since Tue I can't eat anything but rice cakes!!! Everything is getting stuck!!! I have been so sick the last two days and my throat is now burning. I went to get a frappe' this morning just because I wanted something and what the heck I haven't eaten really in two days but I can't even drink it, it is making me feel stuck again and making the burn worse. I seem to be able to drink hot coffee and that's about it. Haven't heard from you guys in a while, hope you are all doing well and not getting frustrated like me!

Oh wow Kim, I'm glad you were with them also. My cousin had the same issue and said it was excruciating. So glad you are doing well now and on the mend. I hear this is one of those things like my hernia that happens a lot in our situation. My doctor even thinks some of my back pain could be caused by gb problems but I honestly think it's my arthritis in my spine. I have had it for years and it seems to always get worse when it's cold or damp weather. I have been swimming a lot lately and that seems to help a lot. Take care of yourself and keep us updated on how you are doing.

Thanks everyone I think I am going to set up an appt for next week for a fill, I've been putting it off because I have a lot of stuck issues but when I can eat I can eat a lot more than I was. I'm so bad esp when I'm at work at letting myself get to hungry then I pig out. We recently got a pool so I'm trying to swim laps this is the ONLY kind of exercise I like the least bit. That has been frustrating though due to the rain we have been getting everyday almost. I got on the scale and was excited to be down 1 pound but then got on it two days later and was up 3!! I HATE the scale it never seems to move out of the 180's, I've been in them for several months. I really would like to be in the 160's by my daughters wedding maybe even more logically 170 but I just have no energy and feel like it wont happen unless I get my butt moving. It is Oct 5th. Since my hernia surgery in Feb I just seemed to lose my mojo! As for the info above I actually found it here on lbt in the fill info. I was looking to see if I could find some info on whether I should get a fill or not and came across it. It is a good reminder of things I had forgotten. My 1 year anniversary is tomorrow!!! I had hoped to be down more by now but I must say even with the problems I have had I am feeling better and looking better then I was a year ago. I look back at pictures and think My Lord I had no idea!!!! I was living in a fools paradise you might say. I have a question that seems pretty self absorbed, I saw some people recently that I have not seen in a few years NOT ONE said anything about my weight loss and yes it bugged me a lot. I had really hoped at least 1 would say something but no one did and on another note I have some people in my family/friends that I feel are not happy for me at all, they have weight issues themselves and unless I'm asked about it I do not talk about it around them but somehow I feel that my eating habits and weight loss makes them uncomfortable. that makes me sad I would hope they would want the best for me and that I could be an inspiration to them.

Does anyone even come here anymore? In need of support

Some helpful reminder info will come in handy when thinking about fills/adjustments. Great information. I have seen this information before and it is really good. How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted You are losing 1-2 pounds per week. If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week: A. You may need an eating adjustment 1. Are you eating 60 grams of Protein a day 2. Are you eating 25 grams of Fiber 3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories a. Soup can be sign of “soft calorie syndrome” b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram (1) It’s also a stomach irritant c. fruit juice is just sugar Water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? a. Are you avoiding soft foods b. You can’t just eat what’s easy c. cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals 6. Are you eating too much junk a. chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, Cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But don’t avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of Calcium daily 8. Do you always eat the protein first 9. Then the vegetables or fruits a. Five servings a day b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? a. meat or fish (1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards b. Vegetables (1) ½ cup – the size of your fist c. Starch (1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need much (2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, Pasta 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar c. They teach you to like things too sweet d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner than people who don’t 12. Avoid most diet foods a. Real food usually tastes better b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not that great (1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine (2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats a. They may go into permanent storage b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body B. You may need a behavior adjustment 1. Are you eating only when you are hungry? a. If you’re not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait. 2. Are you eating three meals a day? a. With maybe 1 or 2 small Snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away, pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? a. Put the fork down between bites b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? a. Practice water loading between meals b. You won’t be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? a. Sometimes it’s a whisper: not hungry, had enough b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry C. You may need an activity adjustment 1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week? a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physical activity? a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids D. You may need an attitude adjustment 1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising? a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days 3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional issues? a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your eating? b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those emotions? c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor? 4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings? 5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends? 6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically? 7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey? 8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating? a. Obsessive – compulsive thoughts (1) Obsess about something else b. Perfectionism (1) All or none, black and white thinking c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss 9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards? 10. Have you learned how to take a compliment? 11. Are you giving up diet mentality? a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day b. Stop dieting c. Stop depriving yourself d. Stop defining food as “good” and “bad” e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food 12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place? E. You may need a band adjustment 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate portion sizes but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large portions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and having a good mind set. F. You may need your band loosened 1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down 2. You are vomiting too much a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: (1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods (2) Chocolate (3) Caffeine (4) Alcohol (5) Some fruits and vegetables a. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers (6) Peppermint a. Baking soda toothpaste (7) Carbonated drinks e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (1) Tylenol is OK n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider 4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest, especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack. b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise. c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you also have nausea or fever d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention. (Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.) e. If your pain is severe