TulipStar

I have a history of eating disorders and I got my surgery, no problem. I didn't have to have a psych exam though, so they didn't really ask.

Wow, i didn't even think about it, I don't think they cut my tubing.

Yeah! That's the way I think you have to feel at first (especially before you have restriction). Can I just tell you that you are cruel for having the word "pizza" in your name?! lol :frown:

Personally, I don't like staying in strange places. I have only had to stay in a hospital once and it was a nightmare!

Everyone is different, but personally, I have to chew to a mush to get it to work properly. If I don't chew to mush, then it gets stuck and I might potentially PB.

Hello September Bandsters! (AKA, Finer Niners) How is everyone doing? I think that most of us should be moving along with our fills. I think I have had 3 fills now and am at 6.1cc's in a 10cc band. I can barely eat anything, which is a great feeling. However, sometimes I still struggle mentally with WANTING to eat something, but I physically can't so I get mad about it :smile: The band is definitely stopping me from cheating!! I just went over the 50lbs mark for weight loss and I am loving it. I have went down 3 clothes sizes and for some strange reason, my shoes are big now (lengthwise). This has been a double-edged sword for me, because I am excited that I am going down sizes, but upset that my baggy clothes look bad on me. My fills have been pretty agressive since I had my revision surgery. I have requested to go in every 3 weeks (they recommend 4) for fills to keep on top of the weight loss. My Dr said that the first 12-18 months is when we see the best weight loss, so to try to get rid of it early or I might struggle getting to my goal weight. That is what I am trying to do. How is everyone else doing?

Whole foods is ok. They have a good produce section. I prefer Central Market...do you have that in Houston? They have good veggies and stuff.

I was lucky to have insurance cover mine.

I would ask your HR rep if there an appeals process to try to get approved?

i voted 1 week, because that's the time that I initially scheduled, but I went back to work after 6 days because I had some clients to meet with from out of town. After I went back on day 6, I worked from home the next 3 days bc I still wasn't quite right.

Hello Shannon! Welcome! Who is your Dr? I only lost 7 lbs on the pre-op diet but my diet was pretty lenient. I was still able to eat real food. I ate a healthy Breakfast, Protein shake for lunch and a healther dinner.

losingjusme, I took it...in a heartbeat. I have taken it before and it works wonders. I don't take it now but I know that I have it if I need it.

I have had 4 fills. My last fill put me up to 6.1 cc's and I definitely am pretty restricted and think it may be my sweet spot. It's hard for me to finish my oatmeal in the morning (I use the pre-measured packets) and I can eat about 1/2 cup of food and that's it. For lunch I had 1/2 cup of chicken salad and I couldn't finish it. My doc said sweet spot is getting full on 3/4 cup of food. I am still going back for a fill in another week bc I want this weight to come off faster!

I burp less now than before I was banded. Weird, huh?

eggs give me a problem now. Which is a shame, bc I used to eat eggs at least 5 days a week pre-banding. I also have the usual probs with bread, chicken and meat.

I would definitely tell them everything. I told them I was on Phen for a few years and I had no probs.

I have thought about it, but I think that is just because I am conditioned to be dieting. Since I have been banded I have thought about doing medifast or another weight loss clinic. I also bought the book "fat flush". I am losing weight just fine, so I need to remind myself that I don't have to do fad diets anymore. With the band, it's like a diet, bc there are only certain things I can eat and the portions are wayyy smaller.

Love this! -Wear a bathing suit -Wear shorts -Wear sleevless shirts (notice how much is about "wearing") -Go scuba diving -Go zip lining (tried to last year, but I was over the weight limit) -cross my legs -go out dancing more often -go out and socialize more often -Run a 5k, then maybe a half marathon The list could go on and on and on....

This happened to me too. I gained 3 lbs. My dr said it was my metabolism.... whatev. I eventually lost it again when I started getting fills.

Do not push it by eating foods you shouldn't! You can do some serious damage to your band. There is a reason they put you on a post-op diet and it is to help the band make a groove in your stomach and heal. You risk serious complications by trying to eat real food. I know how you feel, it is the time known as "bandster hell" where you have little restrction and you want to eat everything. At this point you are going to have to use your willpower. Really, that's it. Also, you have to deal with the fact that you might not have much restriction until you are on your 3rd fill or more. This means that you really have to focus on eating right and not falling back in your old ways. I know that if we had willpower to begin with, we wouldn't be where we were when we got the band. But, that's all that is going to help you. Think of the reasons "WHY" you got the band and this will help you put it in perspective why you want this to work, why you must use some willpower to make it work. It's truly not easy, it's something you must work at.

Hi Moon, I am not from NJ, but just wanted to give you a big welcome!!!

I got 5 cc's for my first fill. I have a 10cc band.

WOW! you are really looking fantastic!! I have lost a lot of weight before (110 lbs) and it took a very long time for my mind to catch up with my body. I think that by the time it did, I started gaining weight back. It was silly things like I would see a booth in a restaurant and think "I can't fit in that" but I fit fine, with extra room. I even saw my reflection in a store window while I was walking down the street and I didn't realize that it was me! Try buying smaller clothes instead of those you think will fit. I have been having a hard problem with this too. I just went on a business trip to Europe and packed pants that I thought were 3 sizes smaller and would still fit, but when I put them on the fell off (literally, just fell off). I ended up having to wear the pair I wore the day before. Just keep snapping pictures of yourself and try to remind yourself that its you now.

You did a wonderful job!! Thanks for mentioning that it's not the easy way out...we know that's what everyone thinks (including my family) so I am going to send them the link to your video!

These are some good suggestions on here. I travel a lot. Mostly to Europe for my current project but last year I spent a lot of time in developing countries in Asia. I always take food with me. I pack food that I know I can eat like Protein bars and oatmeal packets. The oatmeal is great because you can just add bottled Water to it. Also, make sure you are not having any problems with keeping down food at least 1-2 weeks before. Last week I got a fill on Wed, then liquids/mushies for 4 days which meant on Sunday I could eat again. Well, Sunday was the day I left for Europe and I couldn't keep anything down. It was pretty awful PB'ing every single day. So just make sure you can tolerate food well.