desertpixie

That's really good Justwatchme. Really hoping to hear about the nutritionist soon and getting a consultation in the diary. Have started to cut out dairy too to help with the bloat and switch back to 3 meals a day, rather than 6 small ones. Got to take a big review of my eating habits, realising stop signs and getting back to the actual basics of when I first had this done and watched every mouthful and listened to every signal my body gave me. Which is guess is also what got me to the position of obesity in the first place - not listening to my body and not being mindful.

My one rule with alcohol is nothing fizzy. Which coming from someone who loves cocktails and champagne, but most importantly a great G&T - is hard. But since I had the surgery, I've managed to get rid of the carbonated drinks. I usually drink red wine or vodka with apple. Cranberry is out as I have had it so much now it makes me feel nautius (on one occasion I did nearly throw up - painful), not a fan of orange juice either. But my preference is for cocktails. I know I need to work on drinking a lot less myself and I am fine going out in social gatherings and not drinking at all, however I think you have to give yourself some "treats" and not put yourself down if you do drink. Everything in moderation (so boring) but I try and save drinking for the weekend as much as possible and never drink on my own in the house.

Again, also very valid. If that theory is true, I should be wafer thin by now haha! Have made an appointment with the surgeon for a fluoroscopy check, just to triple make sure nothing is wrong is inside - although I doubt it - and one with a dietitian here, just to get their review and input. I am literally half way, it's down hill from here and I just need the wheels to start turning again. I guess if we all had the answers we wouldn't be on this forum in the first place. I think a good 10 days of tracking before the fluoroscopy and I can at least share it with the surgeon. Also adding in more diligence on stopping when satisfied, not eating to a schedule but when hungry and not drinking Water so close to a meal, in case that isn't helping. I think stalling could be the most frustrating thing I have come across!

I do sometimes wonder if I don't eat enough - I think a nutritionist might have some answers perhaps....

Hi kate... I know exactly what you're saying, I have read a lot into nutrition and I measure everything, I track it all on myfitnesspal, I have a fitbit, I use a heart rate monitor etc I think for me, I need to sit down with a nutritionist and work this out. I should probably also cut out the alcohol more so. For example today I have had: Breakfast: Blueberry fruyo yoghurt from fage Midmorning snack: 1 x wholegrain organic rice cake thin kallo with 1 tsp of whole earth organic nut butter Lunch: butternut squash roasted with apple, red grapes, onion and 150g of pork sausage Dinner: 90g steamed salmon with spinach Total, 780 cals, 58g protein 59g carb Yesterday I had: Breakfast: 1/2cup of eat natural gluten free vine cereal and 200ml alpro almond milk Mid morning snack: 1 x boiled egg and 2 x kallo rice cake thins Lunch: homemaid thai chicken skewer Afternoon snack: 10 carrot sticks and 2tbsp of humous Dinner: 90g steamed spinach, steamed rainbow veg ad 1tbsp of fresh pesto, 1 fruyo cherry yoghurt for dessert Total: 1,071 cals, 72 carb 91 protein These are pretty similar, my myfitnesspal is littlemissmo83. There are days I don't track, so maybe I need to be super diligent in the week to assess. How many cals do you aim for? My bmr is currently 1,556 cals at present. Thanks again for your inputs! I know it's boring, but stalls are so frustrating! Soundlogik, I would definitely book yourself in for a fill if you feel it's necessary. It does make a difference, for sure!

So for the last six months, as you can guess, I have stalled. My weight fluctuates anywhere between 80.5kg and 82.5kg - but can I break into 79? My body says "no thanks". Bit of back history, I was banded 4th man last year at 98kg, when I stalled I was about 83/84 - but my 2015 goal is to drop 10kg to 73/74. I have 6.125cc in a 10cc band. My dr said this is the tightest I can ever go, I might need a teeny unfill but see how I get on. That was back in December. I do PB, but this is more down to rushing and not chewing, as I can eat the same foods again when I am diligent with no problem. I eat about 900 - 1000 cals per day, sometimes more if I have a drink of wine. But never through food. I exercise 4 to 5 times a week burning at least 400 - 600 cals ( I use the polar ft4 - highly recommended). I have only ever "vomited" one - with heaving, this was December when I had flu and nothing could physically come up and since then I haven't had any untoward issues. Still same lapband experience as before - I got very paranoid about it being slipped, but I guess I would know if that happened. No pain, no night cough, no gerds. All good. Has anyone got any tips for shaking off a stall. The silver lining is at least I am not going up, right? But to not go down when I know I can lose more is so frustrating - especially with the hard work I am putting in. 2015 I am working on tidying up my eating habits, each month I remove one "bad" thing from my diet or introduce a good one. Jan was getting cheese out my diet, done. Feb switching choc/candy treats to fruit - hard but I definitely chose more wisely now. March is no wheat products. I've booked an appointment with the dr for a fluoroscopy check and possible unfill as I don't want to be too tight - esp if I am eating more soft foods/proteins etc and I keep reading being too tight can cause stalls. I'm thinking about getting a nutritionist in to help and possibly a PT too...also going right back to the beginning of the lapband experience, liquids - soft foods, stage 1 basics...has this worked for anyone to kick start again? Any experience people have had, tips, tricks, suggestions - I am all ears and very grateful. I just want to start seeing some movement again in the right direction... Thanks DP xx

Hi everyone, I just wanted to post as I went to the surgeon today for a barium swallow to make sure everything is fine. It was at 6cc in a 10cc band. He put in another .5cc under fluoroscopy but after looking at the barium going through decided to take out .125 so I am now at 6.375 ish. He said that it's unlikely I can fill it up anymore as it was going through too slowly on 6.5 and to go back in 12 weeks instead of the usual 6. I don't know why but I feel really sad. Is this my green zone? I feel a bit like I've had six months training and now being put out into the great wide bariatric world to crack on. I think part the reason why I feel sad and scared is if this fill doesn't get me to my goal. I have lost 13 kg so far in 7 months and have 10 to my next goal and another ten after that to my final goal. I think I feel a bit like he has said "there's nothing more I can do for you now" which is why I feel sad. I. Probably shouldn't and I'm glad everything is healthy and well inside, that's the ultimate goal, right? Has any one else reached this point in their lapband journey? Would be so curious to hear from others who have and what happened afterwards. Let me know as I feel a bit like a drama queen... Xx

Personally, I think it's me not eating right. If it was a proper slip, I am sure I would have pain regardless and I don't. I guess I'll find out at the fluoroscopy next week. Really need to spend my time when I eat thinking and going right back to the basics. Does the sliming happen much for you, or have you mastered it now?

The best thing I did was buy a food scale and a set of measuring cups. Track everything on myfitnesspal too. It really helps me. On average I never have more than 1cup in one sitting, as the band gets tighter I notice I am eating less each time. In the beginning I didn't weigh anything, but since being ridiculously anal about everything, the scales have moved consistently. Try and focus on eating to the point of satisfied. Six months in and I still haven't mastered it properly, but I am getting there. Satisfied to me, means I am happy to walk away from the meal and I don't feel weighed down, or bloated or stuffed. I would sooner stop than risk sliming or getting stuck or over full. Last night we went to the meat co and I had the most amazing fillet. I love steak and that was my first since having the band. I wanted to eat it all and fast. But I managed 100g, enjoyed every mouthful and gave the other half to a friend. It was win win. Good luck with your band!

General question, since my last fill to 6cc in a 10cc band I have found myself sliming and sometimes bringing back up the food in the pouch (is this a pb?) to alleviate all the slime. It's happened 2 time in the last week. Afterwards I am fine, no pain, can eat foods inc hard Protein when chewed well with no issue. Obviously I don't want to have slipped. I have an appointment next week for a fluoroscopy to check everything is fine. However I am curious how often, if at all, this happens for others? Has my band slipped, or am I just rushing it? Personally, the times it's happened was once on bread and second on chicken. Both if which I have now eliminated from my diet to avoid it happening again. I am assuming you'd seriously know about it if your band had truly slipped? I still feel restriction, am still losing too. The surgeon isn't too worried. Does this happen a lot for others? Thanks in advance x

This is all amazing, thank you. I'm going to order the multipack of quest bars and see how I get on. Also added shredded chicken to my soup today which worked nicely as well. Just made soup again but low carb if I can't do high protein

I have heard loads about Quest bars, but I think they need shipping over to here. Will certainly take a look - I haven't found anywhere in Dubai that sells them yet. Will give the deli meat and cheese idea a go - sounds good. Have been having Fage greek yoghurt pots - which are so tasty too. Do you have any Protein shakes or do you prefer the quest bars? x

Ella! I wanted to pick your brains and find out what recipes you use to up your Protein grams each day? As my band gets tighter I am struggling to get down meats like chicken, beef, pork - I think we've all been there and at the moment it's really fish like salmon and tuna that is getting my grams up of protein. I really don't want to resort to a Protein shake unless it's really the last resort. Although I think it's heading that way. Any recipes or snack ideas for protein would be great. Thanks in advance!

Sorry for the hugely late reply, I've just come back from seeing family at home in the uk. I would say about 3 hours ish at the moment, if I a, use at work, like most people I can forget about it and before you know it half the day is gone. The only thing I would say that has changed recently, as in the last week, is that more us getting stuck. Today, I had some chicken and it got completely blocked so was sick and had to bring it up. It wasn't heavy vomiting it just all came out, but I wondered if traveling and flying affects the band. Perhaps the changes in pressure due to the cabin?

I have a feeling I am getting close to green zone. I think a fill or two more and I'm there. I can go a long while without food but when I do eat I can still eat about a small plate of food. Hopefully not too long now then the fun can begin am on holiday in porthleven, Cornwall back at home and it's been nice getting compliments from people I haven't seen in a long time. Can't wait until they see me at the end of the year when hopefully more is off! Xx