insubordination

Hehe - great post. I'm a whopper too. Don't worry, you'll start losing when you get more fills.

Missy: Do not change your ticker for a gain. That's not how it works! Those potatoes sound great. Missy - that sucks. Your poor hub. I think the swellng is right. After I PB, I cannot eat much for 24 hours. I think it's because of irritation/swelling in the area. I can't believe they could only get 1cc out. How can that be? NValicia - how frustrating. They should have taken out your gall bladder when they banded you. In a few months, you'll be right as rain. I have a hard time swallowing. Once I had an overfill and the water made strange sounds going down and I had an extremely tight feeling mid-chest. The next morning, it was better, not worse. I've never felt a burning sensation. Can anyone enlighten? Well since most are reporting bad news, everything is fine and dandy with my band. My probs are more the psychological withdrawal from binge eating. I'm certainly learning a lot about my relationship with food and when I want to eat and why. It certainly has very little to do with hunger.

Hmm thanks Molly. I never thought about it that way.

Maybe you are confusing getting stuck with restriction. Your bite size should be half a teaspoon and you need to chew a lot. You can eat more that way but it does take half an hour. I think a plateau is normal Faith. It will pass soon. Get a fill if you think it will help. That's what the band is for.

They can recommend it to you (but they did recommend the surgery that makes them more money) but in the end, it is your body and your choice. I'd hate to think that someone was talked into getting their insides re-arranged if that wasn't what they really wanted (fine, if it is but it should be the individual's choice).

I only weigh when I go to the doctor's. Went yesterday and am still 304, so have lost nothing this week, despite a good fill and exercising. It could be women's fluctuation weight or it could be I weighed in the afternoon rather than the morning or maybe I'm just plateauing. My only problem is that I put an unrealistic (for me) goal for the month. I'll pick my goal a bit more carefully next month to avoid disappointment.

I'm glad you're thinking about it carefully. I jumped right in and only thought about it/researched it for around 4 weeks. I have been banded almost 3 months but I'm quickly learning that, while my weight is going down, my 'issues' are still there and more amplified than ever. I'm really benefitting from seeing a psychologist. Sure, I can't eat much now but why do I still want to. It's been an interesting question.

Congrats on getting your BMI under 50. I do understand how important that is. I used to feel 'I'm made up more of fat that anything else'. I know there is more to a person that fat but still, that's how I felt. Wow! Your BMI's down by 18 or 19 points. I have a question for all of you with an over 50. Do any of you go to the gym? What kind of classes did you start out with? I'm only walking at the moment. I'm a bit apprehensive about the gym. Don't know whether I can handle it. Please don't suggest swimming/aqua. The gym is far less scary to me that being seen in a swimming costume (or whatever you call it in the USA).

Great pics Pamla and Pippz. I must say you both have lost an incredible amount of weight and it's really noticeable in the stomach. Holly, you have done incredibly well too. It's not supposed to go through right away, is it? Just to slowly drip through. Some soft things go straight through. I think food 'get stuck' not only on the banded part but also when you have filled your small pouch. The food backs up into the esophagus. You have to wait it out until it can get into your small pouch. I could be totally wrong of course. That's just what I thought.

I hate the term 'big girl'. I never ate much in public because of the stares. In private is another story.

To Rainer (man you did that last bit quickly!) and 2Bthiagn. That is awesome. Huge milestone. I'm so happy for you. :whoo::clap2::bounce::thumb::cheer2::banana:thumbs_up::P:Banane41:

You look like Lauren Graham. Do you know who that is? I can't believe you're 40. You look much younger than that. Seriously!

Yeeeeeeeeeeah! I'm so happy for you. :banana

You probably don't have much restriction yet CD. You've done it all on your own and you should be bloody pround. What you did was fine, especially for a guy. You would go nuts if you couldn't let loose now and then. You will reach your goal and with the help of the band, you'll keep it off. Rhonda, hopefully this one will do the trick.

Thank goodness that'll be all over soon. I have a business trip in about a month and I have to fly 'coach/economy'. I'll be under 300 by then so I'm sure I'll fit. Just have to get that aisle seat. Luckily, my colleague is very skinny, so I'll be right. It's just the seatbelt thing is always so nervewracking. I don't want to have to ask for an extender in front of my colleague. I haven't flown this airline before. I hate having to think about this stuff.

Go Lorraine. You can do it! I will shortly follow.

Thanks Leemoe 1 hr 15 mins - amazing! In December last year, I had to fly business class because I knew I wouldn't fit in economy/coach. It was so expensive from Sydney to Europe. I am already looking at a holiday in March 2008 (Buenos Aires & on to NYC) and the options seem so much better now that I won't have to fly business class (though it was awesome). The pre-op diet is so difficult. I shudder to think about all the 'I can't do it, I'm fainting, I need carbs' posts I made on here. Good luck guys!

Not sure about that Ange. I guess you should ask your banding Dr for his opinion. I'm so glad they found this problem. A tennis ball!? Please keep us posted. O2B - the dog story was hilarious. They can really help you on your lap band experience. BCrazy, I guess the fullness is different. A bit higher up but definitely still the stomach. It can back up in the mid-lower chest too. I'm not sure why. Maybe it is food waiting to go down? The burping and gurgling starts with a vengeance. It is different for everyone, I'm sure.

Wow! I can't wait to see what you do when you start exercising. Nothing will stop you!

I would not get another fill just yet. I cancelled my appointment. I am happy with my level of my 3rd fill and am dropping 1kg/2.2 pounds/week since I had it (actually more). I think the sweet spot is not feeling hungry and losing a good amount of weight but still being able to eat normal food. A band which is too tight is not good as you will eat mushies and soups which will go straight through the band. I know that as I lose weight, I will lose the 'fat pad' from around my stomach. I will need another fill in the future but for now, any more would be detrimental. Here are some differences I noted since my third fill about two weeks ago: *I never get 'stomach' hunger (provided I don't drink with meals). Maybe if I skip a meal, I will. *I stop eating because I have to. No discipline is involved. No more food will fit in. I know it will hurt me and feel unbearably tight or come back up if I put more in. I get a gurgling/burping too. *I have PB'd twice from not chewing enough. *I have had to reconsider my bite size. *I can't gulp water. It backs up like a funnel. *I won't eat in restaurants at the moment. It's just a waste of money. *I could not eat the diet above. As healthy as it is, it wouldn't fit. 1 cup of food would be the maximum I can eat and it takes a lot longer to eat than it used to. I could only tackle 1/2 peeled apple. I hate me for saying, "That diet is too much food," too. It's going to take some getting used to. My family is disgusted when I say that I can't fit anymore in (but secretly happy for me). I have not lost my interest in food. I'm still having 'head hunger' and binge urges but it's hard to know what to do about it. If I keep busy at work or with weekend activities, it helps. I walk around food/takeaways/supermarkets feeling resentful but then I remember that this is what I wanted. I have what I want, so what am I complaining about? Pippz, I'm glad you explained about the missing fill and the air. Hopefully, that will put some minds at rest. HT, I'm glad you found some answers.

I was just chuckling at the parts (which had nothing to do with you but the 'journalist') which said things like, "You have PCoS," the GP frowned and "You look amazing," he soothed. They really shouldn't quote people when they didn't actually say it. I guess they interview you and turn it into a narrative. Seriously, don't worry about it too much. The photos speak for themselves. You could always write a book instead.

Yes, that's far too much. You should be paying $3000-6000 max if you have private health cover. Are you sure somebody hasn't made a mistake with your quote? There is a yahoo Australia group called 'Central Coast Bandsters', they should be able to help with your enquiry and it's not far from Newcastle. Some of them are probably even from Newcastle. centralcoastbandsters : Central Coast Bandsters ps Your age isn't a problem.

Oh and Susannah, that's a damn good bra. Are you really only half way to your goal?

Yeah, it's written in a silly way [the doctor frowned] and the weights are all wrong but what's clear is that you took control of your health and took your life back. That and the fact you look utterly gorgeous and have an awesome family. I also found it heartening to know that you started by walking 40 minutes a day. That's all I can manage right now, so I'll start with that.

Woot! Was down 4 pounds when I went to the doctor's today. I deserve it because I have finally started exercising. I have revised my goal. I'm officially gunning for Twoterville by the end of the month. I hope I can lose 5.4 pounds in two weeks. I don't want to plateau and be disappointed. That's amazing Libra. Not your weight loss (which is , of course) but the job. Molly, we all go through down stages but I'm confident you come through it with flying colours. Name...............................Starting……....Loss.......Current…....Goal….....ToGo losingjusme..(Christine).........293.............. ..13 .............280...........275............5 tann.............(Tammy)...........211............ ..... 3..............208..........198............10 Josette......(Josette)..............322……......... ..8..............314...........307.............7 RidinMyHDDream..(Carol)......264..................4 ..............260............254............6 FaithMD...............................308......... ........5..............303...........299.......... .6.4 Elisabethsew..(Elisabeth)......275................ .0..............275 ...........265............10 Libra.....(Angela)...................214.......... .......0..............214............208 ............6 glindab.................................282....... .......3.4............278.6..........265.......... .13.6 Inner_me...(Chris)..................295........... .....0..............295............280 ............15 waterlily1072...(Nicole)...........279............ ....0..............279............269............1 0 Rainer...(Lorraine)..................311.......... ......7..............304.............299.......... ..5 staindgal....(Bridget)..............319........... ....5 8...........313.2...........299..........14.2 jbtullis...(Jonathan)................317.......... ........7.............310............299.......... ..11 Insubordination.....................311........... .....6.6...........304.4...........299........... 5.4 Squale.................................334…....... ........9.............325……......310….........15 ShaunECook........................256.2........... .....0...........256.2……......245........11.2