mandi78

Hi Missy. You are probably ok but I would definitely go back to liquids until your doc says its ok to move on to mushies. This is a very important time for ensuring that your band doesn't slip in the future and following your surgeons post op diet is crucial. So get back on the liquids and follow dr's orders. Good luck and congrats.

It's on a lot during the week but the new episodes come on Sunday nights. I bet you could catch all the reruns though. Try this. TLC :: TV Listings :: I Can Make You Thin with Paul McKenna I'm not sure what time zone the times listed are for though.

Has anyone been watching "I Can Make You Thin" on TLC? I have recorded them all on the DVR and just watched the first one tonight. The things he says really make sense and I'm looking forward to watching the next 2 which are how to deal w/ emotional eating and how to deal w/ cravings. Those are my 2 biggest struggles.

Well, I actually am in a support group for women with eating disorders. Most are compulsive/emotional eaters like me, a couple are bulimic. One is also a fellow bandster. I found out there is also a support group for those who've had bariatric surgery but I emailed 3 different people in the group about it and could not get a response or when I did, it was a very vague response. Some of the stuff they mentioned doing in the group sounded really fun. I don't know why they wouldn't get back with me. Anyway, I'm just going to keep trying and not give up....keep going to my group and individual therapy, reading all the self help books I have accumulated over the years and have never finished, trying to make better choices when I do want something to snack on (like sugar free pudding or Popsicles instead of oreos and doritoes). I'LL NEVER GIVE UP!!!! "What Lies Behind Us and What Lies Before Us Are Tiny Matters Compared to What Lies Within Us" —Ralph Waldo Emerson

Every time I buy unhealthy food (chips, cookies, whatever) I tell myself I’m not buying this stuff anymore but it’s like I don’t even know what I’m doing, I just go nuts putting the stuff in the basket and when I get home, I realize what I’ve done and I’m so mad at myself. It’s ridiculous. When I do try to eat right, my food obsessed co-workers make it very difficult. I get very angry and pissed off at them because they are eating what I want to eat and they can’t just eat it, they have to talk about it for hours on end as well. I am so irritable and cranky and miserable when I try to eat healthy that it just doesn’t seem worth it. And I just love it how all these books and weight loss experts say “go for a walk, call a friend, take a bath to keep your mind off eating”. Well, guess what? I can’t fit in the bathtub, when I try to walk, everything hurts and I have very few friends…..all of which remind me of how limited and pathetic I am and makes me want to eat even more.

I am six months out and still having a lot of gas. Mainly that feeling that my stomach, abdomen or side has a big air bubble in it. Does anyone else have this that is 6 or more months out? Is it normal? Thanks.

Dr B did my surgery. I feel that he is one of the best in the business and completely trusted him in doing my surgery. I feel that he is a highly qualified and competent lap band surgeon.

Hi Patricia, my surgeon told me it was normal to feel the pressure in your chest area after surgery. As far as the lightheadedness, I'm not sure about that. I would call your surgeon in the morning just to be sure.

I agree with Lulu. At 4 ccs, I didn't even know I had a band. I'm just now getting restriction at 8.3 ccs.

Its been 2 weeks since my most recent fill. Most of my PBs aren't that bad. One lurch and it comes up usually. I did have a really bad one with eggs on Saturday. Eggs are the devil.

Is it still happening? It could be related to your vagus nerve. Read this. Vagus nerve - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I just now got to my sweet spot with my most recent fill on Monday. Just be glad you reached yours before 5 months out. LOL Don't worry, you're doing great!

Tell her it's personal and not something you are comfortable discussing.

I have 7.7 ccs in mine and while I do have restriction, I feel that I still need more. For instance, I wake up a lot of mornings STARVING. According to a book they gave me at my fill center, you should not be hungry in the mornings when you are at proper restriction. I will be getting my 6th fill on Monday.

I was just wondering how many CCs you have in your small AP band and if you feel that you are at the right amount of restriction. I have 7.7 ccs and feel that I still don't have proper restriction. Anyone this high or higher before you felt proper restriction? I can eat a lot of things that most bandsters cant eat....sandwich with white bread, thick crust pizza, pasta, rice, tortillas, etc. I know I'm not supposed to eat these things but knowing that I can makes it that much harder not to. Thanks.

Bloo-Reading your post was like reading my own. I had surgery on September 27th and I have only lost about 26 pounds, 1/2 of which I lost on my pre-op diet. I am eating around my band, drinking with meals, and eating almost as much as pre-banding. I'm at 7.7 ccs and I wonder if I will ever get to the point that others get to.....where restriction simply won't allow me to eat like this. I can eat almost anything except a hamburger or sandwich with a lot of bread. I can even eat thick crust pizza if I chew well and drink which I do and I know I'm not supposed to. I ate an entire box of macaroni and cheese for supper tonight. I don't know why I do this to myself. It's a cycle, eat, feel guilty, eat to feel better, feel guilty again. I know it is head hunger and emotional eating. I am in therapy with a therapist who specializes in eating disorders and she also hosts a support group that I attend. In the meantime, I just keep hoping the next fill will be "the one". Good luck to us both. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk with someone who is going through the same thing. P.S. I can't stick to the liquid diet post-fills either.

I ate a protein bar for breakfast this morning and was STARVING less than 2 hours later. Do protein bars keep you all full? I know I have good restriction now and I didn't drink after I ate it. I'm just wondering what the deal was. It was one of those slim fast protein meal bars.

I'm supposed to do 2 days of liquids followed by 2 days of mushies but I usually don't make it. I'm planning to start Atkins with you guys this weekend....after Valentines Day....I got some of those stuffed chicken breasts at Wal Mart you've all been raving about. I can't wait to try them.

Redgirl-One of my new favorite breakfasts is greek yogurt with fruit and Grape Nuts Trail Mix Crunch cereal mixed in. It's very good.

If you were at your optimal restriction level, would you be able to take a drink after every couple of bites and eat as much as you did pre-band? I know, I know, we aren't supposed to drink with meals. I'm having a very hard time emotionally right now and I am eating around my band. I am wondering if it is completely due to the drinking (and eating junk that goes down easily) or if I'm still not at my sweet spot or a combination of the three. I have never pb'd or vomited once since I was banded in September but the past few weeks, I have been drinking a lot with my meals so that I can eat more. Any advice, suggestions?

Yes, it is a 10 cc band. I'm pretty sure I've determined the problem is what I'm eating....and not eating. I'm eating junk and like Karen said, that washes through fine. When I'm eating protein like I'm supposed to and try to drink, it does hurt. I'm going to start trying to do better. Thanks for all your responses. I'm just having some emotional issues right now and a grilled chicken breast is not as comforting as mac and cheese, mexican food, etc. I'm working with a therapist who deals with eating disorders and working on myself. Thanks again.

It used to hurt like a bitch....after my 4th fill. Now, it doesn't any more. Does that mean I've stretched my pouch or messed something up? Because seriously, there are a lot of times when I can eat almost as much as I did before surgery and I've had 5 fills w/ 7.7 ccs in a small ap band.

Amy, I know how you feel. This is why I'm not even sure if starting Atkins is the right thing for me. I know I have to do something though. I am not losing at all and my habits are very destructive. I'm not following bandster guidelines at all. I'm just hoping and praying that I have not already stretched my pouch or messed up something regarding my stomach or my band.

Whew.....well, I spent all day (off and on) reading this thread. I was banded in September and am not pleased with my progress at all. I have nobody to blame but myself. I am a big emotional/stress eater and though I was in therapy for almost 2 years before I had surgery, but I guess it was not enough. I am now back in individual and group therapy. However, I know that a big part of my problem is also my sugar/carb addiction. I did very well on my very low carb pre-op diet because I got off the sugar/carbs. Now, I'm back on sugar/carbs full fledge and I drink with my meals so I can eat more and I'm just basically eating around my band. I'm very disappointed in myself and I have some serious changes to make. I think low carbing will help me because it will help reduce my appetite and cravings. Anyway, enough of my rambling. I really want to do this. I have a few questions if you all don't mind. Georgia girl--What does the lightly salted dry roasted edamame taste like? Those who workout, has low carbing kept you from being able to work out as long/hard as you did before low carbing? I am very proud of myself in that I have been working out religiously for a month now and I am able to do 45-60 minutes of cardio plus some weights (not a whole lot) about 4 times per week. I do not want to lose my stamina and endurance. I know in the past when I have tried to eat low carb or even cut my calories, it makes a big difference in how good and long I can workout. Well, I'm sure I'll have more questions. I'm thinking of starting Friday because I know for me, in the past, days 2 and 3 have always been the worst and that would put those days being Saturday and Sunday so I could just sleep all day if need be.

I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm so discouraged. I am on my 3rd fill and have not lost a pound in 2 months (since about 2 weeks after surgery). I eat so much less and better foods (most of the time) but I am still not losing. I get full a lot faster but I do still get hungry a few hours later (to the point of feeling sick if I don't eat). I wake up in the morning and my stomach is growling and cramping like I haven't eaten for days. I don't know what the deal is but I am so frustrated. I feel like this is going to be another failed weight loss attempt. And they are no help at the aftercare center. They just say "don't get frustrated, you are just getting started" but I see people on here who had surgery the same time as me or after and they have lost 35-50+ pounds and I'm not even at 25 yet. I have been trying to count points (weight watchers) to see just how much I am taking in but I am still very hungry most of the day when I only eat my allotted number of points. I am drinking plenty of Water and getting in my Protein. I see people who can just drink a Protein shake for Breakfast and be fine and I tried that the other day and I wound up eating a banana 2 hours later and was still starving and sick feeling by lunch. Any suggestions or is anyone else having this problem?