desertpixie

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

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!

Anyone out there based in the Middle East? I am in Dubai and would love to get to know some more people going through this same journey in the area. Reach out! Desertpixie

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

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

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!

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!

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

Hello! It has been a very long time since I came on here, i am giving myself a massive "sort it out" as i have been trying to get through everything with the knowledge I have, thinking I can do this on my own and actually, I don't think I can. So I have come back here to let you know what I have been doing in the hope someone can give me a kick up the arse or maybe share some insight or knowledge as to whether I am on the right track or not. I had my surgery on the 4th Jan, so we're about 5 months in, I started at 97kg and am now at 88/87ish. So 10kg down - i'm pretty happy with this so far as slow and steady is good, but really I think it should be higher than this? Given I have a lapband and all? My end goal is 65, so i have about 30kg to go. Anything under 72kg and I am happy (this was the lightest I got one a previous diet). So far I have had two fills, the first was 3cc the second 2cc. My next one on the 31st My will be 1cc. I am certainly having to watch more and more the foods I eat as I can certainly get a stuck feeling. Sometimes when I eat, it hurts if i haven't chewed enough or its something a bit tough - is this normal? The only thing I am concerned about is the quantity of food I am eating. I always try and measure out where i can a cup full portion. If i go out for a meal and it's full size, I can usually get no more than half way through. I am assuming as the band gets tighter, this will go down and down. My main question is, really could I do more? I am gyming a fair bit and am trying on average to get in 3-4 hours a week. The weight loss I wish could be faster, however I assume once I reach the "green zone" this will speed up. I'm trying not to get impatient! Also, one final question for those in the green zone - what does it feel like so i know what to look out for. I can go for about 4-5 hours in between meals just fine, but is it a feeling of tightness or a feeling of just not hungry at all? Desert pixie

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

I track everything I can and on average it's anywhere between 700 and 1100. I use myfitnesspal and a fitbit. My weight stalled for about 10 weeks and will drop a bit after a fill then plateau. I need to work harder on the quality of the food I eat as I do sometimes still eat poor choices. I try and eat as low carb as possible, eating whole foods where I can. I always thinki can do more, however my biggest concern is I am eating too much. I'm going to drop snacks and try and eat more salads where I can. I suspect with a fill or two more the weight loss will be more consistent. I think for me that's what's missing, no consistent weight loss week after week. Even a lb a week. It's always a kilo or two after a fill, then nothing...

Hey hey! nice to "meet you". Where about's in Saudi are you? I am based in Dubai but originally from the UK.

Hi Pinkylaty - I am also based in Dubai. How did you find the surgery? Would be great to keep in touch with another bandster in Dubai.

I am literally two days into my first week of 'normal' food, following a week of liquids and a week of mushies. I am two-weeks post op, and if I was honest, a bit scared about eating. I keep thinking my stomach will burst, or god knows what...even though that's clearly not the case. In the past, like most of us, I wasn't particularly conscious of the speed I ate, or how big my mouthfuls were but now I am super conscious and I am trying to figure out when and what my body is doing to let me know it's full. At the moment, I think it's gas pain still, but after a meal I get neck and back pain. At the moment it's down my side. I am curious to know how other people can tell they are full. Is it by feeling stuffed, or do you go by how many mouthfuls you can eat, or do you make sure you take at least 20 minutes to eat a meal...I imagine full is full, but being new to this "eating when banded" thing, i'm just wondering if there is a common signal to look out for that's telling me enough is enough or how other people listen to their body telling them they are full?

Of course. One pound of fat is roughly 3,500 calories so its definitely possible if you're putting in good nutrition and exercise.

I've hit a standstill too, although I haven't gained any weight so taking that as a minor win. Reckon the losses will kick in again once I've had a fill and its tightened up a bit

I think my goal reward will be a designer outfit, a Herve leger dress to show off the new body. If I can get half way by July it will be a holiday to Croatia with my friends. Always wanted to do the islands around Hvar. Until then it's magazines or face packs or mani/pedi for every 2 kilo off.

Ok, this grits thing is intriguing me! I found some in Spinneys our supermarket here. Anyone have a good recipe and I'll make some this weekend!