beckymein1021

Soozan, your reply struck a chord with me. I am 5'5 and for most of my life also weighed 140. Like you, when I crept up above that, I panicked and dieted until I was back down. No excuse, but getting pregnant is what did it for me. That was my excuse to 'eat for two'; long after the baby was born, I had to keep eating because I was 'nursing' and didn't want the baby to lose any nutrients because I was 'dieting'. Then came baby #2, up over 200, but basically was ok with it. Staying home with 2 babies, thinking about food as my escape (sounds like a cop-out I know), but now my 'baby' turned 20 on the 6th. Time to lose the baby weight and more. Time to take back my life for myself. Here's the thing about the band (IMHO). The band is a 'tool' that will enable me to be strong when my willpower lets me down. I figure that I will do 90% of the 'heavy lifting' myself, but when I get discouraged, down or frustrated, the band will kick in to help me over the hump. I'm just SO thankful to be out of bandster hell and not feel hungry (with my stomach growling 85% of the time) ALL the time, that I'm willing and even anxious for things to continue this way. It is an adjustment getting used to the restriction. I was banded on 10/18 and have not felt any restriction (even after my first fill) until Thanksgiving when I fell into bad habits with the stuffing. NOW I know what 'BP' <Productive Burp=bringing the food back up> and 'sliming' is. I've experienced the pain first hand and yet, after it faded, did the same thing again. It's a learning process. I'm committed to doing this because I know it's the right thing for me and my health and I'm so mad at myself for not doing something sooner and for wasting so much time previously. This time is different. Is it the band or is it me? Does it really matter? Good luck!! -Becky :ranger: P.S. Sorry this is so long!!

On behalf of all us struggling tenacioustens, welcome! We are glad to have you as part of our group. This is a great forum for support, to vent or even to ask questions! Keep us posted how you're doing! -Becky :rain:

Hi Holly, I'm sure you don't have much time to update the list at this time of year, but if you do, please add me: beckymein - Becky - Banded 10/18 Thanks!

ChiennesDad, Good luck tomorrow, you will be glad you did. Just look at all the success stories on here and it's a no-brainer. Take care and let us know how you're doing! -Becky

Hi Arkie, It looks like you and I are on the same schedule...I was banded 10/18, first fill was 11/1 and 2nd fill is scheduled for 12/20. I too was hoping to have lost more weight by now, but it is what it is. Kloverdad: I have had the 'can you eat all that'? and 'chew slowly' and 'wow, that's a lot of food!' comments here at work. It's frustrating and annoying. And as for the bump, I'm in the middle of my bump now. I'm trying to stay positive, drink a lot of Water and find I'm going to bed earlier to fight thinking about/wanting food. I really hope at some point this won't be such a battle and it will get a little easier. Until then, it's nice to get the support here from others going through the same thing. -Becky

Why am I fat? Because I have a love/hate relationship with food. I hate to love it and love to hate it. I love all food, healthy food, unhealthy food, bad food, good food, low-fat food, high-fat food. I love it all and deep down I have this fear that if I don't eat it all NOW, it won't be there when I come back and want/need some more. I could eat tiny portions (before being banded) to the point where people wondered why I was eating so little and what was 'wrong' with me, to portions so huge I absolutely ache and feel physically ill from eating so much. If it was possible to just take a pill and never have to eat again, I'd do it. After all, alcoholics aren't forced to have a drink 3x a day to stay alive! Addiction, compulsion, whatever you want to call it, I've got it. I'm hoping the band (and my next <2nd> fill) will help me find my "sweet spot". Every day is a challenge and a struggle which I will have for the rest of my life.

Carol, don't be discouraged with the lap band process. Remember, it is not a magic wand, we still have to do the hard work of cutting back our calories and even our portions. I know of one woman who has had the lapband for over 2 years and only had 4 fills in that time. She's lost 86 lbs. and kept it off. While it's good and a wonderful tool to have the lapband, we still have to do all the hard stuff. The making good choices, drinking enough water every day. Considering saying 'no thanks' as a major milestone and a WIN. Even progress in small increments is still progress. Don't be discouraged or disappointed in the band. It will do what it's been put there to do, we still have to do the rest. You CAN do this, I know it's hard heading into the holiday season, but we all CAN do this. After all, I keep thinking to myself, nothing tastes as good as thin feels. And if it were easy, we wouldn't be in the shape we're in. Good luck and hang in there!! My money is on you that you're going to get over this 'rough patch' and make it through. Then you can be there for ME when I'm feeling down and discouraged and wonder what the hell I'm doing! Ciao! -Becky

Denise, no worries on the 4 pounds. That would be anything. I find that over the weekend, even if I'm REALLY good and stay on plan, if I don't get all my water in, the scale will go up a few. Which is why I made the decision that regardless of what happens on the weekend, I will NOT weigh on a Monday morning. I weight every week on Thursday. Also, remember when you first were on the liquid diet? I imagine you dropped at least 4-8 lbs. rather quickly. Yup, water weight. And what goes off easily comes back on easily. So if you drink more water and flush that awful fat (and sugar) out of your body, I bet you anything you will see a loss by the end of the week (including that 4 lbs.) Good luck and drink more water!!! :ranger: -Becky

Becky checking in: I was banded on 10/18 and have lost 19.5 lbs. Had first fill (adjustment) on 11/1. Go in for my next fill on 12/20. Here's to us Tenacious TENS!! -Becky

Mike, that sounds like a great reason to me. That's why a lot of people have gone to Mexico as well. Thanks for the clarification. Good luck! Becky :ranger:

Hang in there - I'm getting to the point where my rumbling stomach is becoming my best friend. I take that as a sign that I am burning fat and getting rid of all this excess around me. Then I drink Water to flush it out. Granted, it does keep me running to the loo, but then, that's expending even more calories. I'm not crazy about feeling hungry, but I'm trying to learn to cope with it. This is my new life now and I'm trying to embrace it. Some days are diamonds and some days are stones!! Hang in there, you're not alone!!! Becky :ranger:

WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO I'm off liquids!!! Is mushies still considered Banster )(*$^%? I get mushies for a full week, then I go for my FIRST fill on Thursday. It is really nice to be able to have 'food' again :clap2: Cheers! Becky :ranger:

I'm struggling too, I don't get my first fill until 11/15 and am still on liquids. I am hungry all the time. I'm sick of drinking Slim Fast and would LOVE to be on mushies!!! You guys are in good company!! Becky

I'm scheduled for Thursday, 11/15 (right before Thanksgiving). I don't know whether that's bad or good... Becky

When my stomach gets empty (which it basically has been constantly between liquid Protein shakes), I feel nauseaus. I even start to retch, but there's nothing in my stomach to come up. This worries me because I don't want to dislodge the band or do myself any harm at this time. I'm about 2 weeks post op. Anyone else out there feel this way too? Thanks!

Ok, stupid question here, but I keep seeing 'PBing' and I'm wondering what it stands for. I've figured out it's throwing up, but am just curious what it stands for. Thanks! Becky

BandaCat, the exact same thing happened to me. It was a wonderful weekend, between the two. But, that too passed.

Susan, welcome! Hope you have great success and the support here is wonderful! Becky :ranger:

Katalin.e, once again you have my answer!! Thanks again, that is great to see that card and I'll ask my doctor if he has anything like it as well! Thanks again! Becky

Katalin.e, thanks for answering my question. Living in CA, I can see why people would go to Mexico to get their band, but Belgium seemed pretty far (esp. for the fills?). Thanks! Becky

I'm on the liquid stage, am about 6 days out from being banded. I'm supposed to start mushies next week but am getting nervous after reading about people getting chicken stuck. It sounds painful and now that the hunger is going away, am thinking maybe I should just stick with the liquids... Any thoughts anyone? Thanks. Becky :ranger:

Siriusman, you're the 2nd person I've read who's been banded in Belgium...I'm so curious, why Belgium?? Becky

Tracy, do you not eat chicken anymore?

Thanks everyone for responding and your support!! It really helps a lot! This is all so new to me (as it is for all of us), and I don't want to do stupid things and get stuff stuck. :rolleyes Is anyone eating nuts yet and if so, how is that going?

So you haven't gotten anything stuck yet? How long have you been on mushies?