La_madam

Nykee..It is great you cut your calories way down yesterday , but by looking at your intake yesterday I see hardly NO protein, still lots of liquids. Protein is key to a successful bandster, carbs and liquids will sabatoge you . If you need liquids in the morning try a protein shake instead of juice. Are you drinking with your meals?? That is a NO NO for bandsters. Or do you wait an hour like we are suppossed to to drink after a meal?? Seems like you are making a great attempt and huge kudos to you for it, but remember certain foods work better for bandsters. Try to eat more protein and just see if it makes a difference. I guarantee your hunger will be reduced and so wil lyour cravings

I get it too and always thought it was normal..if not I'm still thrilled to death to have been so successful if this is not restriction and what it feels like . Greg what did your Dr. say about this??

Good Question... I have not exercised much, I have made better food choices and ate fairly decent in the last year and have lost 85 lbs. Others may tell you differently. Everyone has there way of working the band

Vines queen I had the same problem and was worried but once I went to mush and solids it all changed. It is good that you are not tired with too few calories that was a biggy for me I was exhausted when I was under 1000 calories, no energy. Hopefully it will change for you too once you start mushy foods. SOmetimes we dont lose when taking in that lilte bit and our bodies go into starvation mode and conserves every calorie it takes in. It is great you are losing taking in so little!!

Smart Decision Terri, I have to concur with what everyone else has said here.

Hi Tuff Your stats are very similar to what mine were whne I started. I am 5'5 and weighed 265 My goal weight is 160. It has been a little short of a year and Iam down 85 lbs. So glad to read that you have gotten lots of info from LBT during your months of lurking, nice of you to join us. May 20th will be here before you know it Best Wishes to you

Vera, I do not know how I missed this post but just know I am thinking about you and I hope you get all fixed up

Monica it is normal to not lose once you swithch to solids, it takes your body a few days to a week to get used to now having solid foods, you are normal, the same thing happened to me and many othere here . This phase before you get your first fill is for healing only any weight loss during the first 6 weeks is a plus, once you start getting your fills you will notice a difference. Many do say they are not hungry in the morning and starving i nthe afternons and evenings. I usually drink really cold water when I am starving, it seems to tighten me up, maybe try that. Hang in there you will se a difference once you start getting your fills.

The only reason they ask you to quite prior to surgery is becasue of the lungs and going under and also it does help with the healing time afterwards to not be smoking. I did not quit prior to surgery. My Dr. gave me NO instructions to quit and actually my nurtitionalist at Orti'z's office told me to not try after surgery until I reach my goal weight, she said it is hard to try and do both, lose weight and quit smoking. Have you tried the patch or the NEW niccorrette gum it is better tasting then the old kind, I believe it is mint flavored and not so hard ot chew. Good Luck

Thank Guys for the kind words.... you a ll are so sweet! Marie I think thye will be using the same pics I posted here on the before and after pics thread. However Iam going to see Dr. Ortiz first week of Arpil for my year check up. I will take both with me even though he has a copy of them and my digital camera and see if he will take a better after pic since I have lost more wieght from when my last after pic was taken on Feb 11th . You guys are great, thanks for the encouragement and support!

I'd have to concur with this statement

As soon as I get the info I will let you know, they mentioned it would be aired in Southern California to start but could be aired nationally as well.

Monday 3/28 180 -1 lb for me this week

The Easter BUnny caught me yesterday. GRRRRRR!!!! I ate his butt and his ears. LOL!!! So I am staying even on the weight. Didn't gain but didn't lose either.

Nykee..try eating more protein, it will help with hunger and fill you up and keep you full longer. The sugar you are consuming in all of that candy and cookies is only making you want more sugar, the carbs you are eating in those parmessan noodles and cookies is only making you want more carbs. PROTEIN PROTEIN PROTEIN, <Just try it for one day and see what I am talking about. Got to purge your system from all the carbs and sugar, the protein really really works to curb your hunger and keep you satisfied.

It happens to me everytime I make an appointment to go get another fill..all of a sudden I have restriction...when prior to making my appointment I can eat a horse! Strangest thing!

Great Question..I am wondering the same thing but never knew how to word it..I will be waiting for the replies as well on this post!

Esmarelda..I live very close to you. I will email you and set something up so we can meet.

We all have days like this and anyone who tell you otherwise may not being truthful. I have had 3 fills and have great restriction but I still have bad days. I have my weekness.. it is chocolate. I'm human I make mistakes and do not beat myself up about it, tomorrow is a new day and I have this wonderful tool to help me, the good thing about all of this is, pre band I would be gaining when I binge on my chocolate and the scale movin' in the upward position , now when I binge I do not see upward movement with the scale so that I feel is a victory! At nighttime for me, I go as far away from the kitchen as I can get which is here in my room and I bring a 24 oz bottle of ice cold water ( ice cold water tightens me up) I drink all the water brush my teeth and it helps to not want to eat! Yes I may get up and Pee a few times in the night but it is worth it to me knowing I did not give in to my cravings for chocolate. Today is Easter, so I am eating the chocolate , it is everywhere in my house and you know what , I do not even feel guilty. Tomorrow is Monday , a new day and a new week. Some have said they are hungrier in the evenings I believe it to be true, since most bandsters are tight in the mornings and do not eat much during the day could be the reason or another reason is boredom, all day long we are at work, running errands , doing laundry, carpooling, taking care of kids, dogs, doing homework etc.. at night it is our down time, time for our minds to get the best of us. Get your self a hobby. I come to this site and others and read and post to occupy me also. Hang in there and know you are not alone

Vauren the feeling you have in your diaphram, I had also. My doctor told me it was from swelling making it feel like i had something stuck, it did go away at about 3-4 weeks post op. I felt like I always had to burp but couldnt cause it felt like something was stuck or blocking it, so I called Dr. Ortiz and he spoke with me a great lengths telling me not to worry, ity was from the surgery and the swelling and it would go away, he was correct, it did! Hang in there each day gets better and better! Good Luck to you

SOunds like it is official ..sounds like a PB to me. For me, some of my PB's have lasted longer then others, it depends on what I had eaten. Sometimes I have had more pain the other times. Each one has been different, I have had 5 official PB's in 1 year. I have learend though to chew like crazy and eat like a snail, I have not PBed in a while now, cant say I never will again but I am more aware now when I eat and how I eat. Eating and talking doesnt work for me, eating and driving doesnt work for me. You will find what foods work best for you and what situations work best for you. Good Luck

Congratulations on your new band, It is wonderful to hear you had a GREAT experience in Mexico! I too had an awesome experience in Mexico and would not change a thing and would do it over again in Mexico in a heartbeat. Best of Luck to you , I hope you have lots of success

Hi Roxanna Congratulations! I am SO happy to hear you had such an wonderful experience with Dr. Ortiz and his staff. I agree with everything you said in your post 100% He is a very caring Doctor as wel l as his entire staff. I love the fact that you can call him or Dr. Martienz anytime day or night on their cell phones and the actually answer it and take the time to answer any questions you have. You do not get that here in the U.S. It is great to hear that you and Jenna have become band sisters. I still kep in touch with the women I had surgery with, we all have become very good friends. That is awesome you got to videotape the entire thing, I never thought of doing that.Thanks for sharing your story with us and ..I wish you lots of succes with your new band

Happy Easter to everyone!

Sorry to hear what has happened Nancy..Be strong Thinking of you