Marimaru

I don't think the card really has to be something official. Obesity Help has a bunch of templates to make your own cards. I've never used them, and I've never asked for a discount. I guess I kind of feel like there are plenty people who don't eat that much at a meal and they don't ask for a discount either. Lots of places will do half portions just for the asking regardless of the reason too. Usually I just bring the leftover home for later. I often get "Is everything ok?" One waitress asked so many times my fiance finally explained everything to her when I was away from the table, lol.

I think it's another ridiculous example of how people who've never had an extra pound to lose think they have any idea what it's like to be obese. As for the alternate warning labels, I fully agree. I don't like most of the stuff out there these days, there just isn't enough material attached to it.

It's great to see you around! Do you have any estimated dates on surgery for your tumor or anything? Honestly, thinking about your situation, and how frustrated I would be is one of the things that keeps me going as one of your turtles.

frankly, I don't care what's in style. If I see it in a store and I like, and buy it, I'll wear it until it wears out, whether it goes "out of style" or not. The clothes I've made for myself were never really anything in any kind of style, but I liked them so I wore them. That was in high school when I had more confidence, and I hope to get back to that place soon. Don't like the micro mini skirts that start 4 inches below the navel and have 5 inches of material before they stop... but that's in style, right? I don't really like the super low cut jeans either, but I do like the ones that don't cut you off in the middle, slighly lower cut. If leggings are back, I certainly wont be wearing them. I haven't seen the 80's resurface here yet, but I don't doubt it's coming... which is amazing, because the 80's is not really known for 'good looking' clothing. I remember one time my Aunt said I should cut my hair because short hair was in. I laughed at her, lol. Anywho, I'm about being comfortable and looking good, so the things that do that together are best.

I do the same thing as Malice X Girl sometimes, but not every time I eat. If I have to go to the bathroom more than once during a meal, my family knows I'm having trouble. She could be too tight, she could be eating too fast, she could be taking too big of bites, or she could be eating things that just aren't going to agree with her band. If she wont come here, and wont get help anywhere else, maybe you could try and coach her a little if you see any of the eating behaviors... "Mom, I just wanted to mention, you might not have quite so much trouble if you took smaller bites"... you know?

My stomach is pretty loud (shoulda heard it yesterday, sheesh), but I don't have the reflux issues. It sounds like reflux to me... you should probably get it checked out. I have heard of reflux being symptoms for lots of things, but most basically it could be a symptom of being a bit too tight. How sudden was it that this started? Hope you get some relief!

I think you could probably do it both ways... sometimes just say "I really appreciate it, but if I take that home it just wont get eaten, and I don't want to waste it" and other times, just take it and toss it or whatever... maybe you can ween her down, you know? That way, you don't always have to fill up your trash cans with all the extra food, and at the same time, she doesn't get too upset because you "never want her cooking" or something like that....

I'm glad you are going to talk to your surgeon about the issue. I think you shouldn't hesitate to seek some kind of therapy as well. It's really helpful when you can find a counselor that is right for you. Good luck, and keep us posted.

Jack, thank you for that explaination. I always thought the spasm thing was just something I had to take a bite and sit through before I could finish my meal... I'll try it your way and see what comes of it I agree with most of the other posters that you need a rest of some kind... be it liquids for a few days, or a small unfill. You should NOT be throwing up all the time, and your doctor should not allow it to continue. One way or the other, you need some relief. I'd be inclined to get a complete unfill for a couple of weeks just for the rest for your stomach. Feel better.

Well, I've just managed to pass the halfway mark. After 2 and a half years, I am just under half way to goal. Frankly, I'm thrilled. I've gone through the depression of being a slow loser, but the more I think about it, the less I care. Yes, it's frustrating as hell to not be losing at times, my average is about a half a pound a week, which is something, and it's downward, not upward. This is the philosophy that I have come to that helps me not go crazy; if I'm not losing, I'm not gaining, and when I start losing again, I get to pick up where I left off, instead of having gained it all back plus more that I then I have to lose. Keep in mind also, as slow as it might feel sometimes, 1 to 2 lbs a week is average... not slow. Any faster than that, is faster than doctors really want people to lose, faster than what "they" say is healthy. Half a pound a week is slower than average, but I'll take what I can get.

I think I have about 1.3 cc's in my band, and that was taken down from 1.7 I think. I go through periods of time where I feel like I could use a little tweak, and then I spend a week on liquids becaues I'm too tight for anything else (also known as the 6 bites a day diet, if I insist on eating solids). Being the way it is, I'm afraid to get a fill for the days that I am so tight. It seems to work okay though. Even when I'm not losing, I'm not gaining, and when I start losing again, I pick up right where I left off. But get that unfill and get some fluids in you!!

Actually, the "amount" bandsters eat seems to vary, but really you are doing well if you are eating a cup to a cup and a half at a time of healthy food. A serving of meat is 3 oz (about the size of a deck of cards), 1/2 cup of veggies, and then maybe a carb or starch if you have room after you get the meat and veggies in. If you can't eat meat, how are you getting your protien in? What are your meals like? I do think it's possible that you aren't eating enough. That may add to the muscle condition that you have. Yes, if you eat less than your body needs, you will lose weight, but a good portion of it will be muscle, and that's never good. Most of the health sites out there say that women should eat between 1200 to 1500 calories a day, and most doctors I've talked to say certainly not less than 1000 calories a day. Fitday.com is a great site for counting calories and tracking your intake. Believe me, I understand your frustration. I went through a period where I was too tight, and nearly anything solid made me PB, and I wasn't losing any weight. I was living on Soup. I got just a teeny, tiny unfil, and lost 5 or 10 lbs right away.

A long while back I realized that when I sit in the tub, I don't touch both sides. The other night I realized that when I sit in the tub I don't touch EITHER side if I'm just sitting in the middle. Yay! My engagement ring is pretty loose now. Not so loose that I am afraid it will fall off, but it spins around all the time. I'm pretty sure I'll at least need to get it resized before the wedding (in June). This is kind of an SV, but yesterday I realized that I'm closer to my goal weight than my highest way (just a little more than halfway there!) I can't wear 18's (jeans) anymore. I think I'm officially in the 16's for sure. I bought a dress for the company Christmas party, and I actually thought I looked pretty good in it.

I'm 2 and a half years out (for reference). I felt this when I was first banded, as I moved in new ways that my port wasn't used to. Like, getting out of the car fast, instead of super careful, or bending over to pick something up, or just sitting in a wierd position... that pain will go away as the muscles get used to having the port and the stitches there.

depends on how tight you are and how big the pills are. The only ones I have had to crush are HUGE pills. I can't take the ginormous pills that vitamins come in, so I have a liquid for that. My birth control and welbutrin pills I take every single morning without issues (and I am TIGHT in the mornings)

It's very normal to lose the restriction when the swelling for surgery goes down, and just as common that the first fill(s) don't seem to do anything.

I think I graduated right around the time that Emo was becoming a big thing, but it seems to me that it's kind of a branch off of the goth crowd....

Regarding your friend, they are starting to band lower and lower bmi patients... I think that in the future it wont be so hard to get the surgery in the future, if you can prove that you've had a struggle with weight loss, and you are afraid of gaining back (or gaining more back, as the case may be. I'm not ignored as much as I used to be, and people smile at me more. I work with my family, so it's nothing work related, mostly stranger related. As for the overweight friends... I have one friend in particular who I don't see often in the first place, but I've seen her twice since my surgery, and she doesn't want to talk about it. It's fine with me, but she's about 350 lbs, and has worked at Curves for 4 years and keeps saying that's how she's going to lose weight... I'm afraid she's thinking of her weight problem like it's 15 lbs, not the 100+ that it is... you know? But she doesn't want to hear anything about it, so I don't say anything.

I am more comfortable sitting very straight, or standing up when I eat. Slouching just doesn't work. I think you need to spend some time regulating your meals... you might find that if you try and eat a bit more normally (even if it's some Soup when you're too tight for solids), you wont feel like you have to eat everything in sight when you open up... you know?

I don't think your doctors are trying to minimize your fear or panic... but I think they want to deal with those things when your brain has had some of the much needed nutrition that it requires. Build up if you have to. Add a small chicken breast strip, or can of tuna to your routine, then a slice of cheese, or something. Build it up slowly, I don't think you have to dive it and start eating normally 'tomorrow', you know? But you definately need to get some nutrients to your body. It's likely that your loss will stall, and you will fluctuate some, but that's gonna be your muscles building themselves back up, etc. You'll need to give that time to settle. I hope you get to feeling better!!

You've also lost 40 lbs in 6 months, which your body is gonna have to get used to. You'll prolly bounce a little bit, and then start losing again.

Keep in mind that average weight loss is 1 to 2 lbs per week. That is supposed to include plateaus and stalls, etc. So... you are way ahead of the curve. I don't blame you for wanting to get off as much as you can as quickly as you can, but, I would say work the fill you have until it slows way down. Also, I don't think that one weekend of poor eating made you gain 2.5 lbs of fat. You're probably just retaining some extra water, and it'll go back down in the next couple of days.

My fill doctor says liquids for 24 hours, then whatever. I usually take it slow, just to learn my new restriction.

I told an ex I was having it done, and he insisted that he knew 4 people who'd died having it done. I about went blue in the face trying to explain to him that it was nothing like the RNY. I really, really hate hearing "wow, you ate a lot for you, huh?" I know what I ate, and I know what I'm supposed to eat, thankyouverymuch. Or, having someone ask how your bypass went, explaining that you had the band, not the bypass, and then they say "well it's basically the same thing, right?" blarg.

There are a few different sizes of bands, and for the most part, your doc is supposed to have different sizes available during your surgery, so that they can fit the one they think is best for you once they can see your stomach. But, you'll have to ask your doctor specifically how they decide that. Some doctors fit only one kind of band, some do it based on BMI, though I think the first method I described above makes the mose sense.