new_me_2008

Im jealous! I am on fill 3 and could probably eat what I want but am trying to be good. Fill 4 coming up next week.

Hi everyone. I was banded on 10/08 so I am coming up on my 3 month bandiversary. I love it. I wish I would have done it sooner. That said, I also wish the weight loss was a little faster. I am on fill 3 at this point with 6cc in a 10cc band. I am down 23 pounds which is great for me as this is right where I would normally fall off the diet bandwagon and be back to gaining. If I look back, I have been able to enjoy the holidays, never had a PB and didnt ever go a week and gain - WHAT MORE COULD I ASK FOR! In addition, fills are no big deal at all. I love this thread! AudricIan- I am sooo happy to hear that you are working through this with your DH - this is great news, you must feel so relieved. My DH told me a few days ago that he has never seen me so 'alive' - I am sure that your hubby will notice all of the new benefits of your weight loss and be so happy for you in the end. Congrats.

Me too! My husband told me that I am addicted - better LBT than the ice cream, Pasta and other things that I used to be addicted to at night!

Laura - that is what I am looking forward to. I have had 3 fills (6cc in a 10cc band) and although I can not eat as much - I am never really full - I make myself stop eating to avoid a PB. I have to admit that the more 'real' Protein I eat, at the first part of the meal, the more full I feel.

I play as well and was playing doubles 4 weeks out. I did not tell anyone - just said that I had a "procedure" and that I needed to take it easy. Most people just say things like "Are you OK?" I never took the bait, just answered, "I am fine thanks" and that was that. Still just my husband, mother and a close friend are the only ones who know.

You will know much more when you are about 3-4 weeks post surgery. That is the time you will have the band with relatively nothing inside. It varies for each person. I am actually on my 3rd fill and although the restriction is getting more, I am still not at my sweet spot. I am actually trying to take note of where the perfect maintenance spot will be for me (that will probably change over time but thought this was better than just draining completely.) BTW, I can eat everything I want as well - just smaller portions. pizza, rice, etc.....this is probably why my weight loss has been slower than I would have liked. Good Luck.

Don't panic - you will have this type of situation until you have the correct fill level. I lost alot in the first few week then it has been slow going since then, but I have never gained, so that it is good. You could try to journal to make sure you are not eating too many calories but in general, it will be 'bandster hell" until that fill occurs. BTW, I have had my third fill and still not at the sweet spot.

Sheila - thanks for the note - I just had my 3rd fill and I still feel like I can eat. I am doing good and have never gained from one appt to the next but still it is gong slow. I am filled to 6cc in a new ap 10cc band - my dr lets me come every two weeks and tells me to start my meal with Protein. I still LOVE this band!

I am at 22.5 as well. I just had my 3rd fill. Wish it was faster but it is MUCH better than gaining!

Good news for me. I am holding steady at 199.5 which is great considering the holiday and even though I did not eat much - I sure did DRINK!!!! I had my third fill on 12/27, so I am hoping that I can get a few more pounds off by 1/1/08.

I am almost 90 days out and I am down 22 pounds. THis is nice but was hoping for more. AudricIan- keep your chin up - I had my third fill today (now at 6ccs in a 10cc band) and I am hoping for restriction. I have only had one painful experience (eating too fast and too much) but no sliming. Having the surgery in early Oct and still being able to eat more than I would like is very frustrating but I keep telling myself that at least I have not gained weight which is what always happens to me during the holidays. I almost told a friend after some wine on XMAS eve and was so glad that I didnt. I feel for you.

grace - congrats to you - I have followed your threads and am so happy that you havesurpassed your goal!

I just found the best chicken ever. It is from trader joes and it is shredded BBQ chicken. It can be found in the refridgerator section and it is delicious! The best part is the nutrition information - for a 1/4 cup serving it is just 70 calories, 1 g fat, 7 carbs and 7 protein!! My family has the chicken on toasted buns but I just eat it in a small bowl. It is shredded very finely so I think it would even be good for the mushie phase! Enjoy!

Debbie - Ive got a question for you. You said that you lost 9 pounds in 3 weeks which is fantastic and your doctor gave you a fill anyway. How would you describe your level of of restriction BEFORE this fill today? I am trying to figure out if I am close to restriction as I am on my second fill and it feels different than my first but not by much. Also, were you worried about getting 'overfilled' ? Thanks for your advice

I saw the Lloyds brand as well when I was at the store and read the label and it seems to be very similar (only 70 calories for 1/4 cup.) Cant beat it !

tomecia - I love that post - hilarious and soooooo true - I hope I never lay on a bed again (unless it is to squeeze into a size 4!)

Thanks everyone. Loving - good job! Laura - I feel your pain. I looked at the scale today and I have been working toward this mini-goal for sometime and thought that I would jump off in pure delight. Not so much. I immediately looked at the rest of the scale (I have the dr type scale with the 'block' that you slide across the numbers) and thought to my self "good god you have a loooooooong way to go to get to goal - I have to go all the way down the damn thing! I know it is doable but damn it seems like it will be hard! Love the band!

I am self pay and I finally realized that I was letting my self down constantly. I would say, "when I get to 200 pounds I am going to serious" then 200 would come and go, only to be replaced by another number. I have some disposable income so I would just keep buying and buying clothes so that I never got uncomfortable. (now this comes in handy as I am not having to buy new things as I make my way down the scale.) The last straw for me was a business trip where I was miserable in the airlines' center seat. I was so miserable for 4 hours straight with nothing to take my mind off of the reality. I will never forget it. Once I landed, I called my husband and told him what I was going to do. Two weeks later I was banded and I just wish I would have been smarter, sooner. Love the band!!!

I finally made it!! I finally got my bodybugg to work properly and that gave me the incentive to get my butt moving. I needed it and as a result the scale was 199.8 this morning. So, close to 200 but I will take it - I have not seen the scale start with a 1 since 2001! Wow, what a great holiday gift!

Just a word to the wise - I got my bodybugg right after thanksgiving and have been wearing it ever since. I had my meeting with my coach yesterday and it turns out that the bug was not working properly (and I did not even know it) - so make time to talk with your coach early on to avoid any problems.

I love gum too and my dr warned me against it, but out of habit I was chewing on some and then remembered what the dr said and I looked like the biggest idiot - I could not get the gum out of my mouth fast enough and I was at work (in my cube farm) I am sure that it was hysterical. That incident broke me of the habit - I need to switch to mints or something.

Glad to hear things are getting better. Hey - you even came up with a way to battle head hunger - posting on LBT. I need to try that!

Sorry - it is the trader joes brand! UGH.

trader joes BBQ shredded chicken - sooooo good and only 70 calories per serving (1/4 cup) and 7 g of protein!

good job and congratulations - I cant wait until my family notices! over 100 pounds gone - what an inspiration