rharriet62

It's very common to have a no-restriction feeling with only one fill. I am just coming back from having a total unfill in Dec and I've had 2 fills (third one later this week--thank God) and I feel very little restriction. I'm at 2.3 in a 4cc band. Sometimes it can take me up to a week to get feelings of restriction after a fill. I think you sound normal.

Hi, You can work the muscles in the quads and get tighter. I like to do Sumo Squats. Place your feet a bit wider than hip distance apart. Hold one dumbbell from the bigger side with the other side pointing down to the floor. I use about 25-35 lbs, but I've been doing this for a long time. Then, with your back straight, bend knees into a squat position. The weight will lower, but make sure your are not leaning forward or sliding your arms down (purposely reaching to the floor), then squeeze the legs and glutes and up to straight position. Do about 3 sets of 10-15 of these and you will feel it. When it gets too easy, add more weight.

That's interesting! I wonder if it's a food allergy? My son gets this type of symptom when he eats oranges, but he has never tested positive for an "orange" allergy. His allergist suggested he was sensitive to it. Have you tried something new in your diet? I'd at least talk to my doc about it. I don't think it's that weird!

Hi, I get a Brazilian every month. If you do it regularly, like monthly, and don't shave in between, it's not bad. BUT, the first 5-6 times are the worst and each one gets better. Acutally, the most painful part is the top area. As you move down the area, it gets less and less painful until it doesn't really hurt at all in the butt crack (sorry to be so graphic!). HAHA. Go to a real waxing place. A WAX like brain surgery should be done by a professional. Never try it on your own!!! TOTALLY WORTH IT! Hubby loves it more than I do!!!

In TWO months you lost 27 lbs! THAT IS AWESOME! I only lost 26 lbs LAST YEAR! OK..that being said...give yourself a break. You have not even started getting filled yet. You will feel better when you get 2-4 fills and start feeling it. One thing I do is look up Atkins or South Beach recipes online and then change ingredients to keep them lower in fat. I eat a lot of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, ground chix or turkey BREAST (if you get the meat it will often be full of fat), salads, veggies. As for things that are bad for you...it will get better when you get some restriction. I also like to get sugar free things like fudge bars (40 cals each) and eat them for dessert at night. You just have to get creative and start looking for things that are low in sugar and fat. YOU CAN DO IT!!!

You cannot get the Bugg wet. If you swim or shower, you have to take it off. I am hoping that some day they make it water proof. However, for now, you can't get it wet. You CAN do any other exercise in it and sweat in it. I work out all the time and it gets sweaty. If I swim, I take it off. You can then go into the system online and it will say "we detected the device was off body for "X" minutes. Then, you can select the activity you were doing while it was off and it estimates your calories burned. I love my Bugg and would get one and just manually put in the stuff you do while the bugg is off. It has SO helped me stay on track and get back on the losing path! Hope this answers your questions! Rose

YOU ARE NORMAL!!! Two fills is not a lot, and only YOU know if you are feeling restriction. This is a TOOL so use your tool and get another fill. After two weeks, most docs will know you've given it a try and it's just not enough. I'd say go for it!!! I got an unfill and am on my way back up. I got my second fill last Monday and know already I need another fill...I'm going back next week to get one! I say call and make the appt!!!!

I agree with Wheetsin. I'm 3.5 years out and although I had to have an unfill in Dec (and am now refilling) I think you have to make the decisions. Remember that your device will adsorb some of the fluid over time. I think mine averages about .1 cc every 6 mos or so you do lose some restriction because of that. Getting your fill level checked might be a good start to cleaning up your eating. It's so hard, but worth it. I just went thru another motivation phase by getting the unfill and got recommitted to my band and a clean eating lifestyle. It's helped me start losing again!

Hi, My doc's office set 203 as a goal weight for me and then I think she said last time it's 196! Whatever. Anyway, my point is that the philosophy at their office is that that amount of excess weight lost is a success. I drew 185 out of the air for no other reason than to set a goal I thought I might be able to get to. I have never weighed that amount (well, flying by going up, I did) but I've always been super fat, so I have no clue! Some people think that is still too much for me to weigh (I'm 5'8) but I am going to re-eval WHEN I get there and decide then. I think every person just has to meet a goal they feel good about and know they can maintain reasonably. I'm not there yet, but am really pushing hard this year to hit it!

WestCoast...love your reply! HAHA! Seriously, when things in my life go to hell, my OLD thoughts come back about SCREW this...I'm going to eat whatever...and then I have to STOP and think about WHO am I hurting??? Yep. Only me. No one else gives a crap if I'm fat or not. ONLY ME. SO, while work sucks, you can put yourself first in your life. It's back to the gym tomorrow and tonight, it's making some healthy meals and Snacks so the fridge and your lunch is ready to go for the rest of week. YOU ARE WORTH IT! Your knees will thank you for it. AND, I'd keep my eye out for a better job...and don't sell yourself short. GO FOR IT!

Hi! Yep! Go for it! Walk at a brisk pace and then jog for a bit and interval back and forth during your workout. It will help you get a great sweat up and I found that when I started running, I also started walking faster during my walking phases. You can either measure it by the numbers on a treadmill or just do it based on how you feel...how out of breath you are. I know for me, when I add in running, I lose at a better rate. GO FOR IT!

Hi, I have not gained weight back, but am re-filling after an unfill since Dec. My point is that since I got a body bugg, I have been logging my food faithfully and accurately. I discovered that i was such a "slow loser" all last year because I was eating WAY more than I thought I was. Like you, I was working out 2-3 hours a day 5 days a week and was not losing (less than 1/4 lb a week as an average). Since I've been logging my food, it has been a huge wake up call. I was eating too much sugar and just too many calories. I suggest you make sure you are at the proper fill level and start logging down EVERY thing you eat and weigh and measure everything. Do it online or in a notebook. ALSO, at the risk of sounding like an advertisement, if you can, get a body bugg. It gave me an idea of how much I had to move to burn the number of calories per day to offset my eating. I also learned that while I was lifting hard 4 days a week...that just didn't burn a lot of calories in my body. Now, I go to the gym with a whole new mentality because I can see the calories I burn and number of steps I'm taking. It has really helped me get back to losing...it's definitely worth the cost, esp. since you already have your band!!! Good luck!!

In two weeks, you can adjust to a fill and decide if you need another one. Since it's only your second fill, I'd book another one so you can build up to some restirction. I'm in the same situation...I had a complete unfill and have had two fills...the last one a week ago...and I'm going to schedule this week to get my third fill next week because I don't have much restriction at 2.3 ccs. You know by the amount you can eat and how much restriction you feel if you need one. Rose

I can totally sympathize with you! I had an unfill in Dec and just got my second fill ... going back up. Like you, I've been almost 2 months "white knuckling" it just going on willpower!!! It sucks! I just got my second fill up to 2.3 on Monday and it really didn't help. I, too, and counting the days (10) until I can go back for another fill. In fact, today, I just ate...said screw it... and even tho I didn't work toward my dieting goal, I just ate. Tomorrow will be another day! Like you, I've lost weight, but I'm going to be easier on myself until I get up to a fill where I feel restriction. I think you are doing great and just have to cut yourself some slack until you get filled up. 800-1200 is virtually impossible longterm when you don't have no restriction. I exercise 1 hour of cardio a day to burn about 800 cals so I can actually eat closer to 1600 a day. It makes it a lot easier. Be kind to yourself and count the days until your third fill!!! Go back in the 2 week timeframe, in my opinion! Good luck!

Sometimes, I go thru the "first bite syndrome," which is my name for what you are describing. You can sit for a bit and then you feel like you can eat again. I think that is pretty normal for many people at a certain fill level. It does sound like you need a fill, too, tho, in my opinion. Sure signs are eating more at once and slow down in losing weight...seems like you have both. Be sure to tell your doctor about the first bite syndrome. I'd go for the fill if I were you!

I just sort of give myself the pep talk that I've done SO well, that ONE day of bad eating isn't going to sabotage all my efforts. Regroup and do a bit more exercise the next day and focus on only healthy foods. Just remember ... it's a PROCESS and a learning curve. All people have bad eating days...I think that's part of life. It's what you do on the majority of other days that will really make the difference! Now if you are having lots of bad eating days, it sounds like an overhaul is in order! LOL.

WOW! That's fantastic! I'm a long way from that point, but would love to know what it's like for you...how you do it??? NICE! Congrats!

I can rarely eat pasta. rice sometimes does the same thing. I think it swells in your pouch or something. I just figured it was one of the foods I was passionate about and so now...giving it up. I probably ate enough pasta pre-band to last me a lifetime anyway!

My doc always says clear liquids the day of a fill and full liquids the second day and regular diet the third day. Um...I never follow that rule. Maybe it's that I'm over 3 years out and think I have it figured out or I'm just a rebel. I have never had any problems in all this time. I think you just have to go slowly and take it easy. Every person is different.

I love Shimmy on Fit TV! I TiVo it and do it when I feel like doing something fun or when my body bugg says I need to burn some more cals and I've already worked out that day. It's fun. I have never had any trouble with my port or band or anything doing it. I did fling a glass of water across the living room during a veil sweep, tho! LOL!

I love the elliptical and vary it with treadmill, weight lifting, pilates, and running. You could do some interval stuff. I have several good sprint intervals and intensity intervals I could PM you if you email me. What I have found is that your body (at least MY body) gets used to a machine in a few weeks and so I have to vary intensity often...like daily...keep switching it up...so that I can get some good workouts in. I usually keep my pace about 135-170 steps per minute (vary that up and down) and go for 60 mins. I can get in 4.5 miles if I keep up that pace. According to my body bugg, I can burn between 650-800 cals in that hour at that pace, so it's totally worth it for me! If you want those programs that I copied from a fitness mag, just email me: rharriet@gmail.com. Rose

It is also fun to do intervals. Warm up for about 5 mins. Then, increase your speed for 2-3 mins, increase speed 3-4 mins, increase spped 4-5 mins, etc., and then move back down at the same intervals until you cool down. Another thing I like to do is warm up, walk at a fast clip for 5 mins, run for 1, walk for 4, run for 1.5 mins, walk for 3, run for 2 mins; etc. continue with this to shake it up and keep pushing your fitness level. You can also do this with inclines at a fast walk...moving it all the way up to the highest incline and then backing down. Tough! Have fun! Rose

I'd take a day or two to really SLOW down, CHEW well, don't drink and eat, and cut your food into tiny pieces. STOP before you are full and think about it before eating one more bite...if you are still vomiting, call your doc's office. Being too tight is miserable! I am just coming back after a complete unfill and being too full is not fun and is counterproductive to losing weight. Try the test and see what happens!

Perhaps stuck or ate too much at once. Remember in the mornings, you will usually be tighter. It might have been the "one bite too much" syndrome.

DO it if it's comfortable. It takes a bit to get to that point, but do it if it doesn't hurt.