peaches9

A lot of what is put into our bands depends on the FAT PAD that is on our stomach... I was a lower BMI person when I got the band therefore it took 5 cc's at my first fill to get any restriction. As you lose weight, the fat pad shrinks thereby loosening the band and you'll feel loose restriction and need another fill. I also have 8.25cc's in my band presently and I think I could still use a little fill... perhaps .25 or .50 I am waiting on the RN to call me back about this. I also heard (can't rembmer the source) that our French MIDBand they list as a 10cc but in effect holds 13cc's... I know really confusing eh?

Dear Gretal; No one feels restricted after just 1 fill. It takes a series of fills over months to get to that restricted zone.. Some refer to as their "sweet spot" Where yu can only eat 1 - 1.5 cups of food at a meal... 800-1000 cals per day.. Bread should get stuck, pizza , Pasta... doughy stuff ya know... if you ARE able to eat the above foods then you probably are NOT restricted enough and need another fill. I was banded in July and had my 1st fill Aug 29 5 cc's. then a couple weeks later I got 2 cc's, then later .75 cc, then last week .50 cc.. so total in 8.25cc's in a 10 cc band. Be patient, and get appts to get more fills.

Ignore what she says... she is to be prayed for

The 'breeders' should be encouraged by dollar bonus's to get Tubiligation. It makes me nuts when no one gives up their unplanned pregnancies for adoption anymore. I have so many friends who desperatly want children and can't have them naturally. Some have gone overseas to China and Russia to get infants, and paid for the priveledge. And yes, people receiving Welfare SHOULD do some type of work... even if its only folding laundry at hospitals, volunteer work something where they can gain self-esteem and work ethics... then... get back into the workforce where everyone belongs. just my 2 cents

O.k. I've been reading this and now I am jumping in... I love Va-J-J... thought it was funny on Greys and on Oprah, whoever thought of it first is irrelavant to me. And I prefer "Ta-ta's", mine being particularity "Beaudatious" as in "a beaudatious set of ta-ta's" (from An Officer and a Gentleman) now for the male parts.... its your "Johnson" or your "package" Don't you gals all look at the 'package' when you are checking out guys???? C'ammon

I am SO GLAD that you girls didn't have to pay for the revision because of the flipped ports. That would really be unkind of the surgeon to charge for that... it should be included as well as replacement of the band should that ever be necessary. My port is not flat either, kinda sitting slightly on its side but the Nurse seems to be able to access it with one quick poke.. So I will count my blessings. Losing weight again since my last fill so I am happy. Good luck to you all.

Here's a couple of suggestions; 1) Stairs, climb up and down for 10 mins. then increase as you are able... this can be a CARDIO workout. 2) LUNGES; do lunges walking back and forth in your house, you WILL work up a sweat and is CARDIO and leg strengthening. Follow with Sit ups and Leg Raises. Do this for 30 minutes. 3) Scrub FLOORS and WINDOWS by hand, don't use a mop. Get down on the floor on all fours and you'd be surprised how aerobic this can be too. 4) There are usually YOGA or excersise programs on television too. Advantages of w/o at home? You don't have to find a parking spot at the Gym. You don't have to go buy some fancy-schmancy leotard garb that only the "barbies" look good in. Nobody has to see you sweaty and red faced You don't have to pay for a personal trainer.... Now here's the challenge... can anyone else think of any other advantages that I have not mentioned???? cammon you know you wanna :cool:

I LOVE cabbage rolls but alas they were not for me.... at least the night I tried them... so I peeled off the cabbage and just ate the inside meat/rice combo... that was fine. Also one of my fav. foods since banding is Ham salad... well the last time I ate it... PB'd big time... don't know what's up with that! Last night for dinner I had chicken breast cut up tiny with onions/celery/mayo and it was fine... Trial and error I guess. I promised my nutritionist that I'd give up Choc. for a week! Instead when I want something sweet I will have 5 prunes as a healthy substitute... so far, so good.

Your W/L is awesome... plateau breaking//// hummmm... I needed to drink MORE Water, cheat the band less, and excersise more. I also had to reevaluate my portions... I was sneeking in a bit too much. Good luck with the arms and boobs!!

Try eating your Boca Burger alone, cut up into tiny peices and chew, chew... You don't need the bread or the bun. If you HAVE to have something to HOLD the burger in try the romain lettuce leaves that fold... we have them here in Canada so I am sure they must have them in the states. If something is hurting and stuck, I think it is best to PB it and move on... just my H.O. Good luck lovey

Optifast Our doctors differ slightly in the pre-op diet. The GOAL is to shrink the fatty liver so that the surgeons have less to 'work around' remember that the stomach lies under the liver... and that the liver is a very large organ. So now you know why it is important. If the optifast is nasty try MY doctors pre-op diet. Non-fat or 1% Cottage cheese, non fat sugar free yogurt, now of these things you don't have to weight or measure, if your hungry eat it... I especially liked Cottagecheese mixed with sweetner of choice and cinnamon... pretty good. another bandster said he got through it by mixing MUSTARD with his cottage cheese (I havn't tried it) and Yogurt, well I've always liked it... I went to Toronto Lap Band Centre and Dr. Yau has done 1000's of these proceedures in Canada and this is the diet we all followed. If we really rebelled then the Nutritionist would let us have broiled chicken breast(no fat in prep.) and green salads in addition to the yogurt and cot. cheese I hope this helps and that the time you wait for your surg goes quickly... Hang in there, you'll be so happy on day of surg when you are down those BONUS lbs. Trust me

Hey Doddie; I think you are looking at my overall number of 64 lost... Since banding I've lost 24 (JUl 11th)... I am getting more pleased with my progress as I weighed myself today and yest. and was down a tad each time. I wish I wasn't in the mindset that if the scale is down its a good day.... argh!! it is such a trap. So I took the advise of another bandster that I met at Tlbc and she said (she's lost 75lbs) take your measurements regularily and forget the scale. So I did this morning and I couldn't beleive my waist measurement!!! 38" it was at 45" at one point so I have made significant progress.. even my neck measurement has changed. I need to focus on the NSV's more than the weight. My mini goal for this wk is NO chocolate.... if I really need something sweet, I'll have 5 prunes instead = 94 cals and is good source of fibre (but not too much hee,hee) Have a great day

Hi Jenn; The fill is very quick, Nancy is a pro and you don't feel a thing. I was just at the clinic today for my 4th fill (Banded 11 July) the only thing that slows you down is staying after for a bit to drink 500ml of water.... once that goes down o.k. you are free to leave. My first fill, drinking the Water was a 'different' sensation... not bad, just different... you could kind of 'feel' the water gurgle as it went down.. Oh and remember take TINY sips at first... like a teaspoon of water... gone are the days of gulping down your drink. Good luck and welcome to bandland and a thinner you!@

I've been catching up on posts and just re=read thru all of yours. You W/L is excellent whay-t-go girl!!! Your tips and suggestions are right on the money I had my 4th fill today and don't feel any more restriction, weird eh? she only gave me .50 cc

Hello Dini, Chim,Indio and sorry if I forgot others names!!! I have been missing in action too. I guess once the initial bloom is off the rose we get busy with our 'regular' lives and don't post as often. Everyones weight seems to be going down so well. I am still ONLY 23 since surgery... I am really "p" ssed off.... how cum I am not losing more? Raining here, maybe I'm just feeling blah

Good morning Cindy and Rose; I live in Wasaga Beach, so not too bad a trip for fills. I am thinking I want a 4th... I have had 5cc, 2cc, .75 cc's so far, but I feel I am loosening up again. I am going to try and STOP weighing myself... it is so depressing.

I am hoping that someone paid better attention during the show yesterday. I am VERY interested in the GREEN DRINK that Dr. Oz suggested on Oprah's show. I remember some of the ingredients and quantities but not all... did anyone write it down...??? Please help! I'd like to start making this everyday. In a Blender mix: 1 lemon, 1 apple, Spinach ( I can't remember how much?) Celery (?) any other ingredients?

I went out and bought a Hamilton Beech Juicer $37.77 at Walmart(Canada). DH actually drank a juice this a.m.... said he liked it... then I made Curried Veggie Soup fromthe leftover sludge( its got all the fibre in it) YUM

WOW you must have updated your Picture GF.... you look awesome! ANd your W/loss is supurb. Peaches

YEAH! you go SusanSilver: I am glad you are feeling better about your journey! We will all need to come here and 'let it all out' that's what we're here for... Each of us will have HIGHS and "lows" along this trek... You are NEVER alone. ((((hugs))))

O.k. Ladies, I am the official GUINEA PIG I made it in my blender, then strained... as I don't have a Juicer ...yet. I really liked it. I put in 2 apples to make it a tad sweeter as I am not used to drinking veggies and wanted to like it. It is very FRESH tasting just like Oprah said when she tried it. MY tweek was that I added a titch of sweetner too. and it was tasty. The left over MUSH in the strainer I put into a Meatball Curry that I made for dinner... DH lovedthe curry but wouldn't 'touch' the green stuff in the glass that I suggested he drink LOL. It is a very healthy way to get your Vitamins from a RAW food source. But having a JUICER machine would make it way more convenient. I don't know about everyone else but I am NOT getting in my 5 servings of fruits and veggies per day. I eat my protien first like the bandclinic suggests. But this drink I could have between meals, drink in the car like my protien shake... and save the solids for lunch and dinner. jmho Have a great day everyone!

Super! Thanks everyone for the responses... off to the grocery store to buy ingredients

What's in Dr. Oz's green drink? <LI class=bulletli>Spinach <LI class=bulletli>Apple <LI class=bulletli>Parsley <LI class=bulletli>Ginger <LI class=bulletli>Cucumber <LI class=bulletli>Celery Lemon Oprah takes a sip and is pleasantly surprised. "It's a glass of fresh," she says. Dr. Oz's second drink might not be as pleasant, but it's still important—a shot of cod liver oil. "First of all, cod liver oil has the right kind of Vitamin D in it—vitamin D3. That's why people who live in the north lands who don't get any sun at all can still survive. It's got the healthy fats that you want in it," Dr. Oz says.

Where do you live? You will love the TLBC clinic and staff they are top notch!!! I have had my 3rd fill and getting good restriction now. Best of luck in your journey

Hi Doddie; I am curious, how many fills have you had and what has your weight loss increments been like between each?? Your total loss to date is amazing!! :confused: