sarahNT

:help:I have only been banded for about 3 1/2 weeks and I was wondering if anyone else had trouble at first with drinking water during meals or shortly after. I have always been a big water drinker and it is very hard for me. Is this normal????? I feel like I know nothing about this thing I have done to myself.

I just learned about the papaya enzyme the other night. It really works. They are chewable and taste good. They help break down the food that is stuck. I am so glad I know about this. I have been banded for over a year and a half and I am just finding out about them. Go to Walmart and buy them ASAP!

Would someone please explain what the papaya enzyme does?

Hey guys. I was just telling someone today that I don't know a single person in Tallahassee who is banded. I am glad that someone started this thread. I have been banded for a little over a year and have done pretty well with it. Although I have not lost anything in the last couple of months. I believe this is due to stress and lack of band restriction. I am trying now to refocus my energy on eating right and jump starting my weight loss. BTW there is a bariatric weight loss support group meeting in November if anyone is interested.

Paulax - The changes that I have made are....obviously I eat less (much much less); I am trying to be more active, for example when someone says lets play beach volley ball I say I'm in; I am thinking about starting ballroom dancing in January; I joined a gym, but I hate it so I am not sure if I'll continue.

I was banded on 9/24/07. I have lost 35lbs so far. I would like to know what you guys have done to lose your weight besides just being banded. I have not really been exercising or counting calories. I just eat until I feel restriction and then I am full for hours. I want to make the most of this tool and would like to know what you all have done.

Should we really be calling it cheating? I believe that I should be able to eat anything (within reason) without feeling guilty. The key is to eat a small amount, like you did. If I had wanted to go on a diet and deprive myself I would have continued with weight watchers. Instead I chose the lapband tool so that I could finally become the thin person I should be, without constantly saying "no I can't, I'm on a diet." To me, this is not a diet this is truly a life stlye of minimalism. I say great job!! Keep making those smart decisions.

I am 25 and was banded 09/24/07. It was one of the best decisions of my life. I hated who I had become but now I am a different person. I never wanted to go out. I never wanted to try new things. I was depressed and had given up. Now I have so much energy. I want to try new things, for example last weekend I drove a four wheeler (never would have before the band). It has been emotional. I have lost some of my focus at school and am having to re-define me. It is true that no matter how much reading and researching you do about the band you won't know what is like until you get it done. I am still struggling with what I should and should not be eating. I have not had any pain associated with the band (thank God) but I still have guilty feelings about food. The thing is that this whole process is just as much a mental journey as it is physical. You will not regret having the surgery and having while you are still young means that you have more life to live as the new healthy, thin and active you!! Good Luck!!!

I know how you feel. I hated going to new places because I wasn't sure what kind of chairs they had. Would I be able to fit? I was always concerned about whether or not I was too big for a chair or a whatever. I am about two months post op and now I don't worry so much about it. In fact those chairs with arms (which I hated too) are not too small for me anymore. My point is that there is hope. After your surgery you will feel great, like you can do anything. And you will look back on your worst fat day ever and smile b/c things are different and you will never be that person again. Believe me I get it. You are not alone. Good luck on your surgery day. I love the new me, so I know you will love the new you!!!!

I had my first fill on Monday. He only put in 1cc and I don't feel that different. I can still eat like I did before the fill but I am full for hours so I guess it is doing good. My nurse couldn't find my port at first either. She had to get the doc to come in a do it. They poked me three times. It didn't hurt but did feel weird, they were pushing pretty hard. I have a big purple bruise. It's all worth it for sure! ~ S

I love pumpkin pie! Thanks for this I am going to try it this weekend!!

beth, sorry I've been away. I use ... List Price $26.99 Sale Price $19.99 Optimum Nutrition 100% Any Whey Protein(Unflavor) 1.35 Pound powder Serving Size: 1 SCOOP from Vitamin Shop, it has 30 servings. It says "virtually tasteless" but it does have a slight vanilla flavor so with OJ it tastes like a thin smoothie. Works for me anyway.

I have been adding flavorless protien powder to OJ in the mornings before I go to school. I sip that all day and then maybe have a piece of cheese for a snack. I stay full, which is great b/c I get so busy. I am hoping that I am getting enough nutrients. I feel great. After adding more protien to my diet I am losing more.

The other night I made bell pepper pizza. It was so good and I didn't miss the crust. I cut a bell pepper in fours and put them in the microwave for about 30 secs. to soften them up. Then I spooned on some pizza sauce, some chopped up Boca sausage, and some cheese. Then I added 2 pepperonies on top. I put this in the oven on about 425 for a few minutes. It was so good. I wasn't sure it would work (I just thought of it out of pizza desperation) but it did and I am so glad to have a pizza alternative. With this you just count the calories/fat/protein listed on the packages.

I was wondering if getting a fill is painful. I am going in on the 30th and hoping to get a fill then.

Sebsternooni, you are not supposed to drink during meals, that is true. The problem is that it is a hard habit to break. I was just wondering if anybody else was having the same difficulty as me. The tip about having a glass of ice and only sipping the amount that melts is a good one.

I was banded on the 24th. I have done pretty good so far. I had not seen any loss for the last two weeks until I weighed today and saw a loss of 4 more lbs. I was worried but now I am laughing at myself.

This has made me feel alot better. I usually sip just a little, but I was feeling so guilty about it. The ice thing is a really good idea. I am going to try it! Thanks!!

I was banded on 9/24. before I had the surgery I thought I knew all about it. Now that I am in the middle of it I feel like I don't know anything. I lost about 20lbs the first week or so and now its been about 3 1/2 weeks and I have lost nothing else. I go to the Dr on the 30th and I am thinking I will get a fill. The truth is I am wondering if I am doing everything right.

I was also banded on 9/24 and I understand what you are going through. I am glad I had the surgery and I am looking forward to my smaller self. It is hard (don't let anybody tell you that you took the easy way out!) but worth it. I am glad to hear that you have lost 19lbs already I have lost around 20. When my family eats food that I love it is hard and I almost want to cry but then I tell myself that the chinese food will be there in a few weeks when I can eat it (even if it is just a little bit of it). Right now I am looking forward to mashed potatoes. Hang in there. Don't do anything to disturb the band. Last night I tried sleepy time peppermint tea with splenda and it was very filling. It was good to taste something sweet. Stay strong it won't last forever!

I have been waiting to be banded for 10 months. Finally last week I had my surgery. It has been 7 days and I am so glad it's done. I was a little sore at first and the liquid diet is hard at times. I feel pretty good now, just a little soreness on my left side (I hope that is normal). I go back to the Dr. in 2 days and hopefully will move up to full liquids. The truth is recovery has not been that bad and whenever something is hard--like not being able to bend over to pick up something or other people eating in front of me -- I just think about how I will look and feel in a few months. This is one of the best decisions of my life and I can't wait to start living!

I was banded 7 days ago. It really wasn't bad at all. I was sore, like I had done too many crunches, the first few days and now I have just a little soreness on my left side. I have been on a clear liquid diet since last monday and at times it has been hard but all in all not that bad. I have lost 20lbs. I would do it all over again and I am looking forward to my new self. Good luck! It is so worth it! Sarah