trapped inside

Sue, Where did you find the one minute timers? That sounds like a pretty good idea?

Awsome, Jack. Thank you.

I only have mild restriction but if I eat the wrong food or eat too quickly, I get stuck. I have noticed quite a few times that I can be walking around with this terribly uncomfortable feeling of being stuck and I'm thinking about what I can eat next. What?! Am I insane?! I'm stuck because I'm engaging in some bad habit (such as soft bread or rice, eating too fast, eating after I am full) and I can't wait to eat the next fattening, artery clogging, sloth making mouthful. Before the band, I didn't really think that I was an emotional eater. Going through the process of approval made me consider certain things. The psych doctor asked me if I hid my eating. No, of coarse not. Then I realized that I wait til my husband leaves before I have that bowl of ice cream etc. I noticed that if I questioned myself about if I should eat something that sometimes I would hurry up and eat it as if I was afraid I would talk myself out of it. When I got mad I would eat. When I don't want to think, I eat. Its harder to think about uncomfortable things when you are shoving food into your mouth. I have a lot of uncomfortable things to think about. Things from the past that don't matter to anyone but sure hold me back. Insecure feelngs of not being good enough. Now I just lost my job and my daughter won't let me see my newborn grandson because of some stupid insignificant fight we had. I thought about going to see a counselor to share some of this but I know that I will cry and then I will feel ashamed and weak for crying. It aint easy being green. I was beginning to have some pride about my exercise efforts since my lap band. Now I realize this huge area I need to work on that is probably more important than exercise. I know this probably seems indulgent to be taking up space but I thought there might be other people out there who haven't admitted to themselves that theres more of a problem than eating too much and exercising too little.

My husband says he wants to lose weight but all he wants to do is eat, drink, and be merry. He'll go on a diet and lose 8-10 lbs, stop dieting and then a couple weeks later he's gained it all back. I can't get him off the couch and if I say something he gets mad or sulks. I married him knowing he was heavy. I'm not trying to insist that he loses weight, I'm just worried about him being so young and so inactive. I want to change my lifestyle to be more active because I know its good for my weight, my health, and my mood. I don't want us to grow apart. Any advice...?

Well I had my third fill March 18th and I'm down a total of 26 lbs and 2 dress sizes. It doesn't seem like much but it is so much more than I probably could have done on my own. I'm reminding myself that I'm keeping the weight off this time. This time last year I vacationed at the beach. I love the beach but I was miserable much of the time because I was disgusted with myself. Nothing fit. When I walked on the beach, which I love, I was sure people were staring and talking about me. Probably not but at the time I felt like it. I made an emergency run to the local Wal Mart to buy some larger clothes and had a terrible time finding anything decent. I ended up buying a pair of koolots (how do you spell that?!) which were really tight. They are so loose now that I can pull them down without unbuttoning them. I think I will keep them as a momento.

Pammie, I'm feeling your pain. We wait so long to get the band (Oh, if I could just get the band...) then we wait to get the first fill (When I get my first fill I will start losing weight!) Its definitely not a quick fix nor the "easy way out." I hope you are exercising at least for your health and self esteem if not for weight loss.

I'm so jealous! I was banded Oct 07 and have had three fills. I have to be careful to chew but I can still eat! I'm hungry if I eat less than 2000 calories/day.

How long are you staying full?

I am apple shaped also with the big waist. I found a pair of pants in my "skinny" closet that still had the tags on them. I tried them on and they fit pretty good. I noticed one of the tags said something about a 1" expandable waistline. It made all the difference. I'm going to keep looking for this expandable waistline. They were Dockers for women.

dustout, never heard of the advanced performance band. My doctor told me I could come back in six weeks for another fill but she's booked out for 8weeks. Grrr. Good luck!

dustout, I am generally satisfied for 3-4 hours which is pretty good since I use to eat about every 1 1/2 hours before lap band. How long are you staying satisfied before getting hungry again?

My fills are only 0.5 each time and I feel restriction for about a week. I lose about 4 lbs and then nothing til my next fill. Its very frustrating.

I definitely like the elliptical better than the treadmill. I burn more calories for the same amount of time. I can close my eyes and not worry about losing my balance and falling off. I have both at home. The treadmill is a nice one and I rarely use it. The elliptical is a cheap model, probably pain the $179 or less. It is really rickety and I don't like it. I use the one at the gym. I only kept this one in case (When!) I lose a lot of weight and then maybe it wont seem so rickety with less body weight on it.

Rkj123, You were banded on the same day I was, 10/29/07. You seem to be doing great. Your doctor seems a lot more agressive with fills than mine. I've had two fills and have lost only 20 lbs. I'm seeing my doctor today but last time she only gave me 0.5 ml in 10 ml band. How big is your band?

I also get the horrible left shoulder pain. The only thing that relieves it is to LOWER it. I slump so that my opposite shoulder is higher and the pain goes away within a minute. I thought gas pain should be gone after a week or two after surgery but I don't know how else to explain this.

If you haven't lost any weight in 1 1/2 months then its time for a fill. Don't forget to exercise or add activity every day. How many cc's is your band?

Hi Fenton, Everyone is different, I am BMI 38 and was able to sleep on my side that night with the help of a pillow. Thats what I would suggest for you. And remember to move slowly when turning in the night. It was ouchy for me the first month but I was also a stomach sleeper. Do you have to consult with a dietician? That would be your best bet for keeping on top of the constipation problem. Start drinking more water now. Good luck in your journey!

Hmm. Check with your doctor. With my restriction, if I eat too quickly I will get the slightest pain in my throat as a early warning. If I continue to eat it turns into "chest pain" and ultimately a "productive burp" where I can bring up a little bit of food and lots of air.

I was banded Oct 29th and have not lost any weight since two weeks post op. I have had only one fill and can't get in to see the doctor until Feb 14th. I am discouraged but I have renewed convicition to work with this tool because I do have some restriction, I probably eat about 20% less food. I just can't figure out why i'm not losing. I did very well through December but its just so darn cold out right now and I get bored on the treadmill. It does help to hear from other people going through the same thing. Thanks all.

Well thank you, all of you! I've been feeling terrible about my lack of weight loss and beginning to have those doubts about if I should have had the surgery, should have had the bypass instead... I've had one fill and am starting to gain weight back, not lose it. I can't get in to the doctor for another month. I went ahead and broke down and bought the bigger size jeans that I should have bought 6 months ago but refused to. I'm telling myself that I didn't gain this weight over night so I need to be patient. I went to Dick's Sporting Goods store today and allowed myself to look at the pretty "little girl" workout clothes, the ones that always made me feel alienated from the human race because there was no way I could ever wear them. Sorry for the run on... I told myself that I would be back in one year and I would be buying them. I watched the people climb the rock wall, I want to do that! Instead of standing around and moping while I was waiting for my husband, I walked up the escalator, then down etc. This will happen for me and for all of us. I'm so glad you guys are out there for me. Thanks.

My first fill was Dec 18th 2007. I haven't lost any weight but have cheated quite a bit with holiday food. I'm trying to get back on track now. I was able to tell I had restriction right away. Not that I filled up quickly, because I can still eat quite a bit, but I get "chest Pain" if I eat too quickly. Remember to chew!Chew!chew! My appt was at 1:30 and my doctor instructed me to have a light breakfast and no lunch. My fill was done under "fluoro" so the doctor could watch me swallow the barium and watch the restriction. Afterwards I had to stay for 5-10 minutes to demonstrate that I could drink a glass of water without difficulties. Don't be impatient. It took a long time to get to this point and you ARE going in the right direction. Happy new year!

It looks like its been a year since you posted and i'm wondering how you all are doing. I started with a bmi of 38. i was banded 10/29/07 and have only lost 12 pounds in two months. I had my first fill on 12/18 and i feel some restriction but can still eat a lot. Its just scarier to eat because i never know when something is going to get stuck and give me pain. Please take a moment and write back with your progress. thanks

I have only lost 13 lbs and that was within the first 10 days! I just can't seem to budge the scale and I feel so embarrassed when people ask me how much weight I've lost. My first fill was the 18th of December and I do feel some restriction but I am also still finding myself staring at the open pantry or refrigerator. I don't see my doctor for another 4 weeks and then another fill would be two weeks from that. Even if I could lose a pound a week, I swear I would be happy.

Well once again I feel like I'm bring up the rear of the pack. My first fill is tomorrow dec 18th. I currently feel some restriction in the morning and can eat a light lunch but then the hungries kick in until bedtime. So maybe this first fill will help a bit.

I lost 13 lbs in the month after my surgery. 12 lbs of it was immediate and I had to work for the other pound. My first fill is Dec. 18th.