IMFine

Hey, Kat! Your weight loss is wonderful. Congratulations! I was banded in July and initially lost 15 lbs. After my post-op appt and before my first fill, I gained 5 lbs. Since my first fill, I've gained another 5 lbs. I guess I'm still in bandster hell. I'm optimistic that my second fill on Monday will give me the restriction I need. I hope to lose 40 lbs by Christmas. I love reading all the posts and watching everyone's progress!

Oh, Kathy. Thanks so much for wishing me good luck with my second fill. I really am optimistic about it. As for a food journal...not so much. I'm a full-time dental hygiene student and just finding time to post with y'all is pretty iffy. I appreciate your support and that of all of the Lucky 7s! We ROCK!

Hey, Kathy! Major congrats on your fill. It sounds as if all went very well. Thanks for sharing the info you got during your visit. I get my second fill on Monday and am soooo hoping to get the restriction I need to start losing again. I'm very hopeful! I won't start "date night" until I start losing again! I like the idea, and my motivation will be very high.

It seems that my first fill is not as successful as it felt in the beginning. I get my next one on Monday. I've gained 5 MORE pounds since my first fill a month ago. I eat and never feel full. If I could diet, well, I would have done that without the band. I'm really, REALLY counting on the band to help me control my portion sizes. Not so far! I'm looking forward to my next fill, and hoping that I'll lose these gained pounds. I want to be on track and lose about 40 lbs by Christmas. Is that realistic? Thanks y'all.

Oh, and thanks for the congrats! I had a great day today too. I worked in the yard pretty much all morning and drank Water like there was no end! It all went down fairly smoothly. I then had a quick shower and got down a full 20 oz of Protein shake for lunch. Supper was some tuna salad with salad olives in it. All went well. The tuna salad was slow going down, but again, in about 20 minutes I got down about 3/4 c. I think my fill is just perfect for now! Whew.

Okay Jackie, here it is. The only real carbs in it is in the pizza sauce, but you could substitute with marinara, which may be lower. 1/4 c. part skim ricotta cheese (season with oregano, garlic salt, and onion salt, add in some grated part-skim mozzarella), put this in the bottom of a small oven-safe dish 1/4 c. pizza sauce (I like Boboli) or use low carb marinara sprinkle with mozzarella place as much pepperoni as you want (I use the thinly-sliced Hormel pepperoni slices)--I use about 12 pieces top with freshly grated parmesan cheese Bake at 300 degrees for about 1/2 hour. This tastes so good and has a reasonable amount of carbs (around 25), but this tends to be the only carbs I'll have for the day, if I make it. I usually will eat it for a late lunch/early supper. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! It's like having a cross b/w manicotti and pizza! I just love having something spicy!

I use the Isopure Protein shakes and 20 oz clear fruit-flavored drinks. The shakes have 50 grams of protein and the Fruit Drinks have 40 grams of protein. Neither have carbs, and they're really good. I get them at GNC. They may be available other places, that's just where I get them. They go down really easily.

Yes, Sunny, you did have a sh*tty day. And the bad fill at the doc's office was just a bump in the road. I'm so sorry to hear about Daisy. I know how pets are members of the family, and you mourn their loss as you would a human. Accept that you will grieve and find comfort in your family, including Rocky. Time will pass and you will move on. Daisy will always be with you. Happy memories of her will make you smile at the oddest moments. I like to think of those moments as times when our departed family members are thinking of us too. Strange, but it helps me. Cherish those memories.

Thanks for the warm welcomes! My first fill was no real big deal. My doc wanted to fill me to 6 cc in a 10 cc band. The band comes pre-filled with 3-4 cc, so he added 3 cc; whoa! I felt the restriction immediately. He had me get up and drink some water; it wouldn't go down. It felt like instant major acid reflux. So, he got a bigger syringe (same diameter needle) and removed all of the saline--well, it seems the band came filled with 5 cc and when he added 3 cc it was considerably more than the 6 cc he wanted me to have. So, he just put in an even 6 cc and I go back in a month. I came home and drank some hot chamomile tea and it went down fine. I had my quick and easy Italian dish that's one of my real treats, and was able to eat about 1/2 cup with no problems. It took me about 20 minutes to get it down, but I felt full and stopped. It was great. That was about an hour ago and I'm still feeling fine. So, that's that. No more mystery, and I'm very pleased with the first fill, so far :-)

Thanks to MarcyinAK I found my Lucky # Sevens! I was so happy to be invited to join y'all. I get my first fill today. I'm a little nervous, but excited too. Between surgery and first post-op appt I had lost 15 lbs. At post-op was started on real food, and since I didn't feel any restriction, promptly gained five pounds within the first week. Well, as of this morning I've gotten that five pounds off, and will not be embarrassed to weigh in today :-) Whew! Dodged that bullet. I was feeling like such a failure because I had GAINED weight. I've pretty much been eating anything I want (within reason), just keeping my portions small. I honestly haven't been exercising and have SO many good reasons (NOT). I'm promising myself that I'll start this week. Why not today? Thanks again for having me here. It's great to take a look at other band-its who are at the same general stage as I am.

Thank you NWDaisy. It's good to be able to draw on so many different experiences. It helps put things into perspective. I appreciate you taking the time to post. BTW Flydove, my doc told me I have to wait for my first fill on Aug 20 <sigh>. I'll just continue watching what I eat and see what happens.

I REALLY needed to see this thread today. I had my surgery 7/19/07, post op was 08/06/07. Between surgery and post op I'd lost 15 lbs. One week after my post op and I've GAINED 5 lbs. I was completely devastated when I got on the scale this morning. I feel like such a failure. I've been getting in ALL of my Water and most of my 70 grams of Protein, and I certainly have NOT been pigging out on garbage. I'm taking this very seriously. I'm still disappointed that I've gained weight, but am somewhat relieved to discover that I'm not alone in that. I guess I'm gonna go back to my Protein drinks and start my walking and hopefully won't step on the scales at my doc's office when I go in for my first fill on 08/20/07 and show a weight gain. I would be just too embarrassed. Thank all of you for your honesty and willingness to share all of your experiences. I really, REALLY want my band filled so that I can feel the restriction. I'm anxious for the hungries to go away, and to start losing weight again. Good luck everyone!

Yeah, flydove, I hear you. I think I may see about getting in sooner too. Obviously I've healed okay, if I can eat and GAIN weight. I'm frustrated with myself, and know that the band will work, IF I can get a fill and feel full! I mean, gosh, if I had any self control (and this applies just to me---I'm not putting anyone down, I promise), I wouldn't be obese. My obesity is strictly a self-control issue. Not everyone's obesity is self-control-related. I wish you the very best. I hope you'll let me (us) know what your doc says. I'll post again tomorrow after I get in touch with mine.