Jenn Cooper

I'm 13 weeks out and I have some food and eating questions. So far I've lost 30lbs (so excited!!) but the last month I've had little help from the band. I was due for my second fill (which I discussed on another thread) but that was cancelled until my office finds a new surgery center. It looks like it will be another month for my fill. I don't feel like I need a huge fill but I'm definitely noticing changes. My major concern is portion size. A lot of people say they eat about a cup of food. I'm confused because my surgeon wants me to eat 3-4 oz of protein a veggie and a starch only if I still feel hungry. That seems like more than one cup of food?? For example, yesterday I had 3 oz of grilled chicken, 1/2 cup of steamed broccoli and 2 bites of potatoes. Does a cup if food mean packed?? I don't want to over stress but I don't want to over eat either. Do you follow this while not all the way restricted? I'm hungry more often so I'm having to eat a snack in between lunch and dinner but I still can't handle anything more than coffee for breakfast. That's why I think I just need a small fill. My next question is about sliders. What are they exactly? The only thing I eat that I feel goes down differently is mashed potatoes. I can only eat 2 bites and I feel so full with them. I've had low sugar ice cream 2 times since surgery but could only eat 3/4 cup (before I could have eaten to whole dang thing). I want to avoid sliders especially during the waiting for green zone time!

This question is for other women banders. I've read a lot of women feel tightness during the time of month. This is opposite for me. The week before I feel SO hungry all the time. I'm also able to eat a lot more. It is obviously hormonal but I would think I would feel more restriction from swelling and bloating. The week after is when I feel restriction again. Has anyone else experienced this? Is it likely head hungry from hormones. In the past I usually gain several lbs in the week of so I'm not surprised I'm feeling this way. Was hoping I would feel tighter though:( my last and first fill was during that time as well so I think I'm going to avoid fills during that time so I don't get a false feeling of being loose and then get over filled

You definitely need to see your doctor and more than likely have another study done if your pressures feel too high. Is it a comfort issue with your mask or the pressures? My son has central apnea from brain cancer. Does the same thing to your body just from a different cause. His pressures are 20/7 which are extremely high. But after spending 2 months trying to get him comfortable with it (he's only 7) the doctor finally found a mask that makes his pressures tolerable. I swear we went through 6 different masks. We found one that is comfortable, doesn't leave blisters and he can sleep on his side. Have you tried the nasal only masks. They let my son try them but since he's a kid he was allowing too much air to escape out of his mouth. But again his pressures are high. It was comfortable and allowed him to sleep on his side though!

Thanks for all the good info. I don't feel like I've had any foods yet that I feel are sliders to me?? I've inly felt that some foods are more difficult to go down than others. Mashed potatoes are a huge filler for me! Weird. I'm definitely going to stick with my surgeons suggestions on portion control. I feel like it's working for me and fits my personality as well. It's good to hear that there are others that follow this method as well though!

I'm new to this site so I thought I would share my learning experience this far! My surgery was on 4/17/14 so I'm 13 weeks out. I had my first fill at the end of May but didn't need a lot at that time. I felt great with small portions and not feeling hungry very often at all! I have lost 29 pounds so far (started at 205 and now at 176). I was thinking wow, I must be one of the lucky ones who won't require a ton of fills. My surgeon suggested I wait in my second fill because I was feeling good, able to tolerate normal proteins but getting full on small portions and not having annoying hunger issues! Well, that all ended about 3 1/2 weeks ago. It's like all of a sudden a switch was flipped and I'm hungry all the time and I could eat much more if I allowed myself to (which I have a few times) I feel like I'm dieting again:( I'm scheduled for a fill in 2 days and that can't come soon enough! I've still managed to loose a couple pounds in these few weeks but that's mostly from will power and exercise. Has anyone else experiences this sudden change? The only thing that is different is I get these light headed feelings that come and go. I'm due for labs next week as well to check my vitamin needs. I really hope this fill will do the trick. I was feeling so good and now horrible. My surgeon does all his fills under fluoro so that's good!

I was banded at 205lbs in April 17,2014. Most of my family thinks I'm crazy because I chose the band to loose 75lbs but none of them have had to deal with the weight fluctuations like I have! My insurance covered my surgery with a BMI of 36 because I have a weight related disease. I have lost 30lbs so far and don't regret my band at all. It's the weight loss pace I wanted and I'm glad it's working for me. I lost 90lbs 2 years ago but gained it al back during pregnancy. So more than anything I hope I can keep weight off with the band:)

Love your post! I'm exactly 3 months out:) I still have a lot to learn but I'm enjoying the journey so far as well.

Aliciafl2015 I'm so excited for you finally getting a date! Whoo hoo! That doesn't surprise me about them responding now. I've reached out to others as well so I'm hoping someone will take me too. I just can't wait any longer for them to keep stringing me along through this process. Fills are the whole purpose of the band! Good luck on Tuesday and let me know how you're doing and if you need anything. I'm 13 weeks out. Still learning too:) Good Luck

Does anybody have any advise on how to make it through in between fills? I was scheduled for my second fill tomorrow. I was suppose to have it a month ago but my son was in the hospital and wasn't able to do one then. I'm 13 weeks post surgery and so far I've lost 29 lbs. I'm very happy with my weight loss but for the past 3 weeks I've noticed a huge change in my band. I've been able to eat more and I'm hungry often. My surgeon said he expected me to be swollen for a while after surgery because I also had 2 hernia repairs with the band. Anyway, I just found out that my fill has been cancelled because my surgeon is changing surgery centers! It looks like I won't be getting my second fill until mid August:( I'm worried I will stall or even worse, gain weight by then. What tips to make it through the infamous bansters hell??? I don't think I will need a huge fill because my portions are still much smaller so I think I can continue loosing weight if I try some good old fashioned self control. Problem is.... Self control!

LoseIt4ever... I'm starting to feel the same about not knowing it's there at times. I'm getting to be hungry a lot more, and actual hunger not head hunger! Let me know how your fill goes! It took me about 3 days to feel my first fill but then about a month later all good restricted feeling went away! This part just takes time I guess. I'm looking into a different practice. Same surgeon but his private practice. My fill was cancelled at the center I go to and they have no idea when I will get one! I don't think I can wait until they figure all that out:(

Aliciafl2014 did you go through Oband? That's where I had mine done and I had the same thing with my fill being cancelled because of the new surgery center. I LOVE Dr Wizman but I have had some concerns about everyone else. You can pm me if you would like to. If I could do it al over, I would go to Dr Wizmans practice Margate. He's one of the best surgeons down here but I've heard so many great things about the practice there vs. Oband. I did get my surgery quickly through Oband but they're raking my insurance over the coals with crazy billing and your customer service concerns are absolutely right. Hope that helps

Thanks everyone! I just have to keep chugging and doing what I'm doing. I'm proud of my loss so far considering my band isn't adjusted! I'm still learning and I think I will practice a lot of calming strategies to keep the stress down too. I don't want my band to be another diet stresser...that's why I chose it!

I'm lovemycooperboys I was a very active MFP user last year but since I've had the band in April, I haven't logged much. I will definitely log now that I know other banders are out there!

I was never given a calorie limit either. My surgeon and nut both suggest the practical plate portion control methods. They said to use a small plate (like a salad plate, I use my kids' plates because they're even smaller) and to put mostly protein then veggies and a small portion of starches if I'm still hungry. They said to make sure I don't fill the plate so full either! Solid proteins the size of my palm, half that in veggies and a quarter of that in starches or fruit. I can't eat breakfast because my band is tight in the morning so I stick with coffee until lunch time. Since I don't eat breakfast I usually have a snack in between lunch and dinner. When I do put my calories in fitness pal to check my protein, using this method I stay within 1000 calories. I tolerate normal textured proteins well since my band isn't fully adjusted so I only have protein shakes every other day. I like protein bars instead because the shakes don't keep my hunger in control. I also stick with low carb options. I can tolerate bread for a sandwich at lunch time but only do that every couple days and use whole wheat or low carb wraps. I'm exactly 3 months out and I've lost 29lbs so far. I need an adjustment but won't have that until Aug. I'm just now starting exercise. I spend 3 days in the pool doing therapy with my disabled son and the. Do 2 days on the the elliptical. I'm going to make a push to do the elliptical 4 days to keep me going until my adjustment! Hope that helps! I'm new too so still a lot of learning here too

Yes I'm in Broward. I'm kind of devastated because my fill appointment was cancelled because he is searching for a new surgery center! Looks like it will be mid August before I can get a fill:( At least I see them next week so hopefully they can help get me through until my fill!

Tomdelo... I LOVE Dr Wizman! He's been amazing through this whole process and he gets great results! I was at the May meeting but I haven't been since because my son has been in and out if the hospital. I'm so excited for my fill. I've been paying very close attention to how long I get hungry in between meals and I definitely get hungry sooner than I was. I still can't eat breakfast very well but after lunch I'm hungry very quickly! I love that he does all fills with fluoro because it helps you get where you need to be quicker but safer too! Good luck:)