Barb

I talked with my fill Dr. and he agreed to let me do the following. When I get between 150 - 160 we will start taking fill out, .25cc - .5cc. at a time. We will stop when I am able to eat a normal meals. When I reach the point where I can maintain we will stop removing fill and I will consider that my goal weight. I am hoping for about 145, but don't actually have a goal weight set.

That sucks! I am sorry that it happened to you, but I am sure you will all laugh about it in the future.

You may get that little bit of magic when you get a fill that gets you to your sweet spot. Good luck to you and keep your head up, it will work!

I have had perfect restriction since my second fill. I have been able to eat 2 meals and consume right at 1,000 calaries a day as long as I make good food choices which I am happy to say I have been. Yesterday morning, I went and had a 1 hour massage (it was wonderful), came home soaked in the tub, and then fixed my lunch. Unfortunantly, I PB'd after the second bite, so of course that ended that meal. I tried again last night and the same thing happened. I haven't tried anything yet today but I will in an hour or two. I cannot figure out what happened. I have to leave town for work again tomorrow and I want my perfect restriction back. I never have any problems with restriction. Flying doesn't effect me, and I don't see any change during my time each month. Any ideas as to what happened?

Great idea. Thanks for sharing. I am going to try it for luch today!

I cannot do breads, tortillas, bagels.......... In meetings and such where sandwiches or wraps are served I just eat the meat. When I am at home I will sometimes try a bite of bread but I always get stuck.

I think if you are following the Band rules and eat Protein first you are pretty much on a low-carb diet. I eat protein first and if I am still hungry I eat salad or other vegtables next but that rarely happens. It is a very occassional thing if I am able to make it through the protein much less on to the carbs or anything else. I haven't set a goal weight and my Dr. is okay with that. I am hoping that I just know it when I get there.

Wheetsin what is Filo. I have problems with bread so maybe I could try Filo? Big Paul, I am going to try that recipe. That would solve the bread (crust) issue for me. Thanks all!

Hi Jenna, I am glad to hear you had a HAPPY BIRTHDAY. I would love to see some pics......so how about it, post some. I am also happy to report that I have shrunk out of all the clothes I got from you! I should make it to my goal weight before the end of the year. Take care and enjoy 33! Barbara

Are you getting banded in Mexico? If so, some of the Dr.'s give you the choice of brands (e.g. Inamed or Swedish, etc.) Otherwise, I didn't have a choice as to the band size. My Dr. said he wouldn't know that until he got in there and would make the decision on the best size. I have the Inamed 11cm. (it is not the VG).

That is restricition, for me, if I eat any more I will be in pain - even if it is just one more bite. I have now learned that is my "stop sign."

I think that you will find you do not need a diet pill when you get the correct restriction (fill). Since reaching good restriction (it took 2 fills for me) I have never been hungry. I can have 2 meals a day (lunch and dinner) and about 3/4 c. of coffee in the morning and I am fine - never hungry. On occassion I will have a snack, but I could do without it.

1. how long have you been banded? 9 months 2. rate your level of restriction: E A. NONE (fill or no fill you can eat whatever) B. Little (occasionally you will have a hiccup, your eating the same or a little less than pre-op) C. Moderate (have some restriction but not much!) D. Moderate/CLOSE to sweet spot (have good restriction but still need a little more) E. Sweet Spot!!! (perfect restriction) F. Too Tight (need/want a unfill) G. Too Tight (DONT WANT a unfill eating mosty liquids) 3. how long after you wake do you drink your first liquids, are they hot or cold: 1 hour; I can drink about 3/4 c. of coffee. 4. how long after you wake do you eat your first food, is it solid or mushy? At lunch; usually solid if it is mushy, when is your first dense protien solid? 5. does your restriction change throughout the day? C; I can eat solids at lunch and could at Breakfast, I am just not hungry until lunch. I just have to chew well, have very small portions, and NOT drink anything. a. slightly tighter in the AM looser in the PM b. pretty tight most of the day- small SOLID breakfast and lunch, loosen up solid dinner c. pretty tight most of the day- small liquid/mushy breakfast and lunch, loosen up for a small solid dinner d. tight all day, if you dont make sure you are constantly drinking you will get tighter, have to REALLY work at getting food down. loosen up slightly with a careful mostly mushy dinner 6. how often do you PB? On occasion; usually always when I attempt to eat any type of bread. I generally just avoid bread and don't have a problem but sometimes I try it and 90% of the time I PB. Maybe, I will learn someday.<O:p</O:p 7. is it mostly Slime/Saliva or is it the offending food or liquid that comes up? Both 8. why are you PB'ing? I just can't do bread. a. i forget i am banded and try to swallow stuff whole (oops) b. i ate something dry - BREAD! c. i didnt chew good enough d. i chewed good but the texture didnt agree e. i sometimes do with first liquids of the day f. i am eating beyond the pouch capacity

I fly often and haven't had any problems.

I have problems with cold drinks; even water. I have found that if I drink water, etc. at room temperature I don't have a problem. If I drink anything while eating I have problems; in other words, one way to end a meal is to take a drink! I miss drinking cold water, especially on hot days, but my success with working with the band makes it worth it.

I travel 50% of the time and it is usually always by plane so a cooler and such are out of the question. I am always home on the weekends so I never need more than 5 days worth. And honestly I very seldom eat fat-free, reduced-fat, or sugar-free things since I have been banded; I did before the band but now I don't think it makes much difference because my portions are so small. I also put these things in the Ziplock Snack bags so I can save what is left and eat it the next day because I never eat more than half and I don't have to take very much with me. Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars Marathon Bars Planters Peanuts (I get the small pkgs. at Sam's and I keep the ones I get on the flight because they are the perfect size.) Crystal Light Single Serve Packages In resteraunts I usually always order something that is in sauce, or that I can eat with ketchup or salsa. I do not do well with some meats if it is even slightly dry. For the most part I can eat anything with the exception of bread as long as I don't drink any Water (or anything else) while I am eating. I haver had the band for 8 months and nobody even knows I have it. I did worry about the band and all the travel prior to getting it and for the first month or so afterwards but it hasn't ever been an issue.

After my surgery with each day I was able to eat more. By the time I had my first fill I was able to eat just as I had before banding. I didn't get any real restriction until my 2nd fill.

1. Bread - Yes, on occassion but only a small amount 2. Pasta - Yes, but such a small amount it isn't worth it 3. Pop - No, I haven't even tried 4. Tortillas - Yes, easier for me than most breads 5. Salad - Yes 6. Steak - Yes 7. Roast - Yes, but I find there are better meat choices for me. 8. Cereal - Yes 9. Hamburger - Yes, but not all of the bun 10. Pizza - Yes, but only thin crust 11. Apples - Yes, very slowly and chew, chew, chew 12. Chips - Yes, no problem 13. Cheese - Yes 14. Shrimp - Yes, one of my favorites 15. Pop corn - Yes, but very small bites (like one piece at a time) 16. Pretzels - No, I haven't tried

Just a few suggeston that I can offer: (1) Are you going to the interview dressed appropriately? I am sure you are going dressed very nice and very professional but what I mean by appropriate is does it "fit in" with what the others in the company are wearing. You may be surprised at how much that truly matters. An example is if I am interviewing somebody for a sales position where the sales people wear khaki pants and polo shirts and the applicant comes in with a suit and tie it doesn't fit. When the next applicant shows up wearing a nice pair of pants and polo shirt just in appearnace alone they seem to be a better fit. Even though interviewers shouldn't judge on apperance they are human and they do. With that being said I also want to say that you can look nice and be dressed appropraitely at any size. I know that will suprise some of you because you have always been told to dress a certain way for an interview, but in today's world you should dress like the people in the organization with like or similar positions that you are applying for are dressed. There is lots of emphasis being placed on "fit" these days. Make sure you find outfits to interview in that you are comfortable in and make you feel good. If you come in wearing an outfit that you are uncomfortable in it shows, yo may not see it but others do. (2) After you have been told you didn't get the job call and speak with the person who interviewed you. Aske them some specific questions. You can start by thanking them for their time and considering you for the position of ___ and then tell them that you would like to know if you presented yourself well in the interview. Some will answer your questions and others will not or be very vague but it is worth a try. I get numerous calls from applicants whom I have interviewed and not hired asking questions and I never mind answering them. (3) Make sure you place your emphasis during the interview on what you can offer them (the company) and not make it about what you will receive. I know that pay and benefits are important to all of us, but I am looking for an applicant to tell me what they have to offer me not ask me what I have to offer them. Generally when a applicant I am interviewing always focuses on what qualities, experience, etc. they can offer and doesn't just ask about benefits etc. I will tell them about the benefit package at the end of the interview. If the person interviewing you doesn't offer the information leave without asking, you will be able to find out those answers before you accept the job if offered. Many companies also have that information posted on their website. (4) Make sure you have done some homework before the interview you should know some facts about the company, it always amazes me how many people I interview that are clueless as to anything about our organization during the interview. This just tells me that they want a job anywhere, and are not particularly interested in our organization. (5) Always keep eye contact with your interviewer and take time to think a few seconds before you answer questions. You may very well be right that you don't get certain job offers because of weight, discrimination over weight certainly exists. However, there are many factors that you may not even know. Competition is tough these days. In 7 out of 10 interviews I do I will have more than one person that I believe is "right" for the job, so someone with perfectly good skills, experience and education isn't going to get the job. Good luck and don't get discouraged just keep trying. Recent statistics show that a person looking for a job over $36K a year will need to apply for an average of 27 jobs for which they are qualified.

Wow, great pictures of the wildlife. As for your weightloss you have done wonderful. I hope I can have accomplished what you have been able to do in 10 months. Way to go.

I saved every penny I could for three months. I also sold some stock from my e-trade account. I put my airline tickets on my credit card which gave me about 45 days before I had to pay that off. It was worth every cent.

I will be in Little Rock week after next and I will be ready for a fill then. There isn't anyone here at home that will do a fill on a Mexico banded patient so I thought maybe I could find one while I was in Little Rock. I am speaking 2 days for only 1 1/2 hours each day so I could easily get a cab and go get a fill if I can find a good Dr. I am a "BIG BABY" and do not like needles, so I need someone who is understanding in that regard. I passed out twice, once with a TB test and another time just getting bllod drawn.........big bid big wuussss. I have an Inamed band.

Thanks! I returned from Little Rock today and didn't get a fill. My Dr. sent me an e-mail and said I needed to wait two more weeks, until I was six weeks post-op. I guess I will go to Dallas in two weeks. Thanks for the help though.

Happy to hear the good report!

I was very worried about completely giving up Dr. Pepper after I was banded. Actually I was scared that I wouldn't be able to do it. I would drink 2 Diet Dr. Peppers everday (1 for Breakfast) and almost always have one regular Dr. Pepper fountain drink after lunch. I haven't had the slightest desire to have one - diet or regular. In fact, this is the first time I even though about it and that is because my husband is working at home tonight and he just came in and said he was going to 7-11 to get a Coke. My Dr. didn't say I had to give them up all together, but he did say they weren't good for you and keep them to a minimum, and none until I was on regular food.