♕ajtexas♕

I would suggest a couple of things: 1. weigh/measure your food. Your eyes are not that good at sizes (at least mine aren't). 2. log everything you put in your mouth 3. log your exercise 4. log your Water intake This will show you where you need to change. chances are you are eating more calories that you think.... Remember Protein first, then veggies, then carbs. Are you doing this? Loosing those last few pounds is extremely hard and frustrating. Just don't give up! It will be worth it!!!

Girlfriend I hear you! Love what you say, and all I can say in reply is "if only we could band our head". One of the hardest parts of this journey is the mental part. our emotions and brain can really throw us for a loop. Keep posting I love reading your stuff!!!!

Love sushi. I eat it without a problem.

Thank you for sharing your story. I am so glad you are on the road to recovery and wish you the best of luck in your new life. The band changed my life completely and thank God every day for the second chance I was given.

They say we didn’t gain all our weight overnight and therefore we shouldn’t expect to lose all the weight overnight. And as we get closer to our goal it gets harder and harder. It becomes a very frustrating thing. Then when we finally reach our idea weight, we have to maintain that weight FOR LIFE! No relaxing allowed. Because it will creep back on bit by bit. That is where I am at, I let my eyes do my measuring and bit by bit the sizes kept getting bigger….. Then I let myself make some not so good choices. Oh I can have a little of this and a little of that, I’m not trying to lose weight, just maintaining so it won’t hurt….. Guess what, I am pushing that five pound threshold that my doctor said I should keep. Yep up five pounds from my goal. Oh, I could sit here and say I don’t understand. I haven’t changed my eating or my exercise. But I did change things (slightly). A little bigger size of this and that. Extra treat here and there. Skipping on this exercise or that. It all adds up and at the end of the day I have gained five pounds over the last month. Now what, cry in my Wheaties? Nope, I get my a s s back on track. Weigh my food, eat my protein first, drink my water and exercise every day. And guess what, I will have to do this for the rest of my life. So for anyone thinking that the Band (or any WLS for that matter) is a quick fix, guess again! It takes change and lots of it, and it takes a lifetime commitment. I’m in it for life and bit by bit I will get these five pounds back off.

I bought myself a new water bottle this weekend. My previous bottles were inexpensive bottles. Never really liked any of them. I have been looking for a water bottle that had a few features that seem to be hard to find. 1. No straw – a bottle that you pour the water out of (or sip into your mouth). 2. Double lined – I don’t like ice in my water but I like it cold. 3. Cap that doesn’t leak – I want to be able to put the bottle in a bag and not worry if it will tip over and leak over everything. 4. Holds a good amount of water – about 20 – 24 ounces preferred. Well hubby & I were at Academy Sports this weekend and I found this water bottle. It meets all the elements I was looking for. It holds 24 ounces of liquid, double lined, nice mouth piece and the lid snaps closed (no leaks). Today was the first day of full use and I filled it 7 times (7 x 24 = 168 ounces). Holly Toledo I must be floating. I drank 168 ounces of water today. Ok, I know the newness will wear off and I’ll be back to my 80-100 ounces, but hey I like my new tool (& you know my thoughts on tools). There have been a few threads recently about water & dehydration that make me want to say I hated water when I got the band almost 18 months ago, never thought I could get in 68 ounces a day. Not possible. And today I drank that twice! How? By not giving up, by getting a tool that I like (Yea, the Longhorn encourages me!). By mixing up my water with lemons, limes or flavor packages. I go through phases, some days its plain water others I want my water flavored. I’m currently on a fruit punch kick. Really like the Tropical Punch flavor packs by HEB. Could be something totally different tomorrow. Point is when I’m bored with something I change it. Water can be so darn boring alone, but when you have a great tool like my UT bottle anything is possible. PS - yes it was over the budget but WTF I’m worth it! I get an awesome bottle and show my UT spirit all in one tool!

I am known for my Peanut Butter & greek yogurt... 4 oz plain or vanilla greek yogurt 1 oz (tablespoon) creamy peanut butter 1 package of spenda (optional) Tastes like the inside of a Reese peanut butter cup. I've gotten a few bandsters addicted to this.

Take to your doctor or pharmacist about the large pill. If the pill is the size of your pinky nail then it should be fine, but if you can get it in liquid even better. I still take blood pressure and allergy meds daily without a problem.

Sounds like you are right on plan and doing great. Keep it up. I was just trying to point out that getting stuck isn't what you want to achieve. Use the band as a tool to change your lifestyle, that is what worked for me and many others here. Best of luck to you.

Oh yea, just ask my husband (not just the sex part)..... The other day I bent down to get something out of the corner cupboard in the kitchen, had to swat way down & reach. When I stood up hubby said, "You couldn't of don't that a year ago." Oh so true. I am more active in the garden, I take stairs all the time now, Yes I have way more energy! I love my band!

Okay, why does everyone what to feel a stuck episode???? Trust me you don't! Getting stuck means that you took too big a bite, didn't chew enough, and/or are too tight. It is not fun and you don't want to experience that if you don't have to. Your band is working if you can go 3-4 hours without feeling hungry. If 1/2 - 1 cup of food fills you up. If you are loosing inches/weight. I have been banded almost 18 months and yes I have gotten stuck, but I learned really quick that I didn't want to feel that again. I can eat anything and everything. I make choices that are best for me. My band is a tool that helps with my portion sizes and hunger. It doesn't make my food choices, I make my food choices. Sorry if this sounds harsh but getting stuck doesn't mean the band is there and working, it means you are pushing the envelope.

Vomiting once probably is ok. Continues vomiting I would say call your doctor for some anti nausea medicine. If you are struggling with solid food the yes go to mushy or liquids. Your band will let you know if it is irritated.... But I am not a medical professional, this is just my thought. Best advise is always to call your doctor.

Trust me it can creep back on very quietly!

Drinking Water is important on a few counts. First when you are thirsty your brain gets the same signal as when you are hungry, so you have to ask am I thirsty or hungry (I'm usually thirsty). Second my band gets tighter if I get dehydrated. So I try very hard to avoid that. Lol I now drink about 100 ounces a day but when I started this journey almost 18 months ago I was like you unable to get in my water. I keep a water bottle in my hand all day long and sip sip sip. I also flavor it when I'm sick of water. My last advice would be to change your mind set. If you think you can't do something you won't. Just keep trying and you'll get there. And it will help. Best of luck.

Can you say successful? You are doing great. Keep doing what you are doing and you will be a great success. Congrats!

NSV is non scale victory. Something changes due to your weight loss. Crossing your legs, sitting in a chair and your hips don't rub the sides. Things like that. PB is productive burp. When you eat too big a bit, don't chew enough and/or eat too fast you salivate and spit up similar to a baby spitting up. Those are the 2 used a lot. Congrats on your surgery and good luck.

The band is a tool and will only work if used correctly, we know this and state it daily. We have another very important tool, our doctor. He (or she) is the one we trusted to cut up our insides. But this tool doesn’t stop there, we pay them for our after care. I’m not talking just for the post op diets. I’m talking months and years of after care, whether it is fills or just checking in or complications we need this tool as much as we need our bands. So why would we not use this tool? Why are we afraid to call the doctor? Why don’t we want to go back to the doctor? Who loses out when we don’t use this tool? The doctor doesn’t. He’s off helping other patients who are using their tool. We lose! We keep spiraling out of control, gaining weight, feeling like we failed, and hating the band. I use my tools to the fullest capacity! I lost 80 pounds in 10 months and have maintained my weight for the last 7 months. And, I still see my doctor once a month. Why? Because I am using my tool. I often don’t get a fill, I weigh in, ask any questions I may have and say hello to everyone. I am there so much that all the staff know me by name. They may get sick of seeing me, but hey I pay for this tool and by golly I’m going to use it. So, if you are struggling and you haven’t seen your doctor in a while, pick up the phone and make an appointment. Use your tool! If you don’t you are only hurting yourself.

You know I will do anything to encourage & support you (& my fellow bandsters). Love ya too!

I agree with you, Missy. There are many reasons for obesity as there are many different diet options out there. Doctors have different views and they are constantly changing. Low carb dieting like many other diets (Adkins for one) have been called fad diets by many. Really all diets are fads in one way or another. Does that make them bad or a waste of time? No if you choose a diet plan that you like and are successful at it, do it. Do what works for you. BTW, the plan that works for me is low carbs. Guess I like that fad, lol.

I did the same thing when I started on full liquids, drank that first protein shake too fast and felt sick. Called my doctor in a panic and they said slow down just sip the shakes. I'll never forget the panic I felt, lol.

It's great that you are starting to change your lifestyle and eat like a bandster. The only advise I have is eat your Protein, don't drink it. Yes you will have to do protein shakes during the pre & post diets and after fills, but not on a daily bases. Eating a high protein diet is healthy as log as you are also getting your veggies in. FYI - Mis73 uses the app Lose it & really likes it. Good luck to you!

I was tired, tired of not being able to walk up a couple of stairs without being out of breath, tired of sitting on the couch just eating, tired of taking so many frigging pills, tired of hating myself and feeling depressed. My a ha moment was driving to work one day and I heard a commercial for True Results and the band. I looked into it and here I am, happy and healthy!

All you have to do is come to Texas and pick them.....