tambonzjo

I haven't been on this site in years. I have had my band for 7 years and have not had a fill in years. I have been doing really good up until a year and a half ago. Long story short, my boss thought i was ADD (I am not) and made me start taking Adderall. I went from 140 to 128. I am 5'7". I kept taking that drug to keep my job despite the fact that people said I looked really bad. However, I have changed jobs now and no longer take that medication. Yeah! But now I am gaining too much weight back. I am scared. I weighed 152 this morning. My brain is on overload due to lots going on in my life and I need help with my diet. Please can anyone give me advice? I have no health insurance now so I can't afford to go back to see my doctor.....I would love to hear from you!

Smelling it works for me. I have been banded for 7 years and going some places are sheer torture still. But I have learned, if I can just take a good whiff of it, I am satisfied. Coke and Pepsi too. I just smell them (yes I get funny looks sometimes..lol) They aren't worth consuming and being skinny is much better. Good luck! You aren't in this alone...we are ALL there!

Jean, Gabapentin 300 mg is $24.00 for 30 days at the pharmacy around the corner so it is affordable. It went generic years ago and can't be sampled. My previous boss had called an internal medicine doctor's FIANCE and had me worked in. The IM doctor asked if I thought I was ADD and I told him I didn't think so. I am just friendly and have never met a stranger...LOL! Well he wanted to try me out on Adderal XR, then changed it to Adderal and kept increasing the dose until I was so wired that I couldn't see straight. Really, I am ok. I just can't figure why I am gaining weight. Monday I will start the 5 day pouch test. Then regroup from there.

I don't do protein shakes because of their taste. I have found that Boltman Farms Vanilla Chai Tea tastes like eggnog and is really good. The have them at most grocery stores by either the juices or produce.

Oh no...I am too old to have kids. Never had them. I have eight animals that i chase around!!

MIs, I work for a neurologist and it works great. I am on the lowest dose of Gabapentin. It keeps my legs calm and it does help me sleep at night. I am gonna do the 5 day pouch test. Thank you so much! Rhonda, Yes, I turned psycho too. But I am not ADD. The doctor didn't like my bubbly attitude. I was the office manager and it was ok before I helped him open a new practice. But then he changed his tune and wanted more of a B*@%+. He thought this would help. NOT! LOL! I didn't tell anyone about it until my friends sat me down for an "intervention". I was that bad. Anyway, that is the past. I am moving on. right?

I have a bunch of Medium scrubs!! Three trash bags full!

JJ&E, sometimes you do what you have to do to keep a job. I was taking 60 mg. a day. I ate every 2-3 days, and slept about an hour a night. My roommate didn't know that he put me on this. She thought I was doing Coke or Speed. I finally told her and my boyfriend what was going on before I lost them both. They were furious! They still think I should sue him. One friend told me I am not the same person I used to be. She said he "broke me". BTW, my former boss is a dermatologist. LOL!!

I am not really over eating and really don't think I need a fill. I think starting over would be a good start for now. I can't do cereal with milk. It's that whole liquid/solid combination that won't go down. Plus it is so dang hot here in Texas I really don't get out and exercise much but that will change tonight. I really appreciate the feedback from everyone! Keep it coming! I promise not to be a stranger around here anymore and will upload some photos tonight.

Your right, I don't want to hear that...LOL!! I guess I can try to go back to protein shakes and see how if that works and eat more vegitables. I started a new medication just over a month ago and edema could be a side effect. I have noticed some swelling in my feet. I am taking Gabapentin 300 mg for RLS. I didn't have any health problems prior to my band except RLS (restless leg syndrome) and unfortunately it didn't go away.

I have had my band for 7 years now and have never avoided caffeine. Sodas are a strict no-no for me. Just listen to your head and your body and you will be fine.

Congrats with your decision on the band! I haven't been on here for a while but it was the best decision I have ever made. Be afraid of the band. I don't say that to scare you but respect it and what it can do to help you. It is a tool. You will love it and hate it at the same time. Let it help you with you weight loss. I have lost just over 100 pounds with mine. I am glad you are in the "mind set" for it. You have to be there for it to work. What kind of work do you do? To me, the best protein shake is actually at Walmart. Boltman Farms is sold next to the vegitables already to drink. It is a vanilla chai tea. It tastes like eggnog. Watch how much you drink of it, it will fill you up quickly. Watch the calorie count also... Does this help? Tammy

Does anyone else have this problem? After losing 102 pounds, I still see myself as a big girl. I don't feel as if I need to lose weight, the band will watch over me for that. But I also don't know who I am anymore. I feel lost within my self. It is hard to explain... I broke up with my boyfriend friday night and told him I need some time for me and to find myself. (There were ALOT more issues than that, but it gave me an out). I just want to know if anyone else feels "lost"... Thanks! Also will someone help me update my pictures? I have new ones but do't know how to do it....

Tonya, I had no idea there was a book out called Weightloss Surgery for Dummies. I will get it tommorrow. Thank you so much for the information and advice. I am was able to update my avitar....I figured that out myself...LOL !! BTW, I went to spend a birthday gift card at Kohl's tonight and have now gone down to a size 6 jean!!!! No idea when I have been this small before..You are right, I did keep and old pair of sweats from my big days...a 22/24. Gonna try to wear them....anyone got a big belt?

I hear you!! I am struggling also with myself. I hope someone will comment and help us!

One other thing to watch, I cannot eat in the morning or do anything cold (milk, water, etc.) Hits my band and flys back up. I can only do hot liquids in the am. You will have to see what works best for you. I have been banded just under two years and learn more about the band and my body almost daily. Good luck and please keep us informed

If you see that maybe the problem is eating too big of bites, suggest that she try using baby/small child flatware. It will prevent her from eating too much per bite. Break out your old ones from you were a child! I still have problems occasionally myself and keep a set of the plastic disposable ones in my purse just in case I need a "slap on the wrist" Good luck!

Gabi, You have gotten some great advice here..all I can add is that when I eat and start to get full, I hiccup two or three times...I know then I am full. My boyfriend, who had gastric bypass, his nose starts to run when he is full and so we both know when to stop. Don't tempt yourself to drink when eating. either don't order anything to drink or order Water and put it on the other side of the table. With your current fill, or what I have experienced, drinking while I eat only compacts the food down over the hole...I will get sick then...I learned this real quick.

Just read your post...how are you doing now?

Now that I have lost 102 pounds, I have the same guys who wouldn't give me the time of day when I was a size 22/24, now want to go out with me....and my answer? Screw them! If they didn't want me for me then just because I was heavy, but now I am ok to date cause I am thin? I don't want them. They didn't want me for me then and I sure don't want them now!!!

Hey! Add me to that list now!!! 102!!!!!

I sure am glad I stumbled on to this post. I have been banded for a year and a half ande have lost 96 pounds. Everything has been great until about the past week. I have had acid reflux since I was four years old and was thrilled when it went away when I got the band. Now a year and a half later, I am getting a burning sensation when I eat like acid and PB daily if not 3 or 4 times a day. My eating habits have been crap lately since I am the caretaker of my mom who had a right hip replacement 9-18-06. I finally brought her home on this past Monday. She has had me hopping thru hoops 15 hours a day to please her...but anyway. After reading this post I am afraid. Everything I eat burns. The amounts I eat have dropped in almost half. Suggestions? I will get ahold of Dr. Benavides Monday am....thank you for this post even though you have open my eyes to the ignorance of the band in hospitals...

I will look for you...I am wearing a white tank top with black workout pants. Gotta go finish getting ready! See you there!

Sophie, I rarely think about food myself anymore. You just get to the point after all the years and years of eating, now you see the weight come off with the help of the band and you don't really want to eat. But you must!! I keep reminding myself of this daily! BTW a great (and great tasting) Protein drink is at Walmart next to the packaged fruits call Boltman Farms. Get the vanilla Chai Tea...or something like that...LOL! It tastes like eggnog but the small bottle has 19 grams of protein. Just be careful of the sugar intake on this. I always keep this in mind for "Plan B" if my day isn't working out like it should.. Hey! Who's got the Broccolli Chees Soup recipe????? Bring it on!!

Ok, is everyone ready for Saturday? Where do we want to meet to walk together?