Chrisann

I used the GAS X strips that melt in your mouth, because I had complications after the surgery and couldn't move around too much and that honestly worked for me.

Yep, that means you are probably at the sweet spot or a little too tight. Try to cut the food up smaller and chew, chew, chew slowly. I have been feeling the burn in the chest when I don't pay attention to my eating. When I cut the pieces small and eat slow and chew, I get stuff down. Sometimes I only eat once or twice a day and I am not hungry after that, sometimes not hungry till the end of the next day. I am at 6.1cc's in a 10cc band, I go back to the doc in two weeks, and don't think I am going to ask for a fill this time.

Just try to make smart food choices. Chinese food is not horrendous if you eat veggie and Protein based sauteed Entrees and wonton Soup. I was on a business trip and got stuck in some fast food hell. Just try to be picky. Good luck with everything going on. If you can survive this kind of stress with the band, you can go through anything with the band.

My mother swears that drinking skim milk tightens your skin. The problem is I can't get skim down, I drink 1%. I also was told by my primary care doctor that by losing weight slowly allows the body to catch up to the weight loss, and minimize your loose skin. I was also told to start now with the firming exercises, so I am doing pilates, and yoga with some weight training. I too don't have the finances for plastic surgery down the road, and have no extra funds to even start saving for it. I am afraid of having loose skin too.

If you are allowed solids, get it broiled or boiled, and then flake it. If you eat it in one large piece, it doesn't get chewed up enough, and might cause discomfort. By flaking it, you get to really taste it, and swallow smaller amounts at a time, without filling up too fast.

May 9th! How is everyone progressing? Been super busy at work this week and not feeling too well, so only did my Pilates class Wednesday and walked 3 miles. Other than that nothing out of the ordinary. Class and the walk are 2 hours. My running total at this point is 240 minutes.

NYG, down 90 pounds already??? Congrats on the speedy loss. Wow..... I see the doctor in two weeks, don't think I am getting a fill this time.......

Had a business lunch yesterday with my office, Asian fusion type food, all appetizers, served family style. I sampled a small piece of all the Protein foods, not the carbs, and drank wine too, and never got the full feeling so it was fabulous. Last night, was only able to eat 2 pieces of cheese, and one piece of ham. Ate half of a chicken cutlet today, one mini Snickers, 3 pieces of cheese and 1 serving of non fat ice cream all day. I felt crummy, lethargic and beat all day. Emailed the nutritionist, and she said that if I was under stress, the band tightens up and nothing goes down. Since I have been under stress at work, I guess that is why. But I was nervous all day not being able to eat solid protein so how things change. I swear, I need to get my head screwed on straight.

Wow that stinks. I have a 10cc band and have 6.1 cc's in it now. Banded 12/31/08. My doctor wants me in once a month. I agree with the other posters, see if you can find another fill doctor. ARe you paying for your fills in full?

Try the sugar free fudgesicles too. I only like the real brand name SF fudgesicles and creamsicles, but love the storebrand SF popscicles.

I wouldn't call it the promised land, but I know it starting to work. Sometimes I am now so battling my head hunger. Because when my portions are not controlled, I do think I can eat more, the only thing saving me is that I feel that tightness so I stop immediately. Today I soo wanted French Fries. Someone at work had them with their lunch, and I ate 3 and was full. These were McDonald's fries, so they were thin. But I got the taste of them and then it was over. But my head is still in shock, 3 fries and you are full, whats wrong with you.......

Good job, you have to start somewhere!!!!

I can now officially say I am at my sweet spot and its strange. I am not feeling hunger most of the day. I have iced coffee in the morning, and juice, but the juice is the veggies and fruit I put in my juicer. I eat a small lunch, all Protein, between 1:00-3:00PM yes, it takes 2 hours to get down 4-6oz. For dinner, around 7:00PM, nothing more than 3-4oz food. Around 9PM I try to get in some vegetables, just to get something else in. Thats it for the day. I am not hungry and if I try to eat when I am not, it comes right back up. I am making sure to take my Vitamins, and drink Propel during the day. I am not snacking for the most part. When I do, its nuts or a teaspoon of Peanut Butter. Not sure if this is all ok, but I am feeling fine. Its just weird....

I would call the doctor, especially if its not the same feeling you get from the abdominal exercises. It could be related to your fill. I can feel mine through the skin now, so occasionally I am bumping it on my desk and its tender. But when I feel it with my hands nothing.:confused2:

I started out before surgery as a size 24, so when I went on vacation in March, I bought a size 20 bathing suit. It was way too tight at the time, but I figured by summer I would be in it. Well, I just started to fit into size 20 jeans, not the stretch kind either, and size 20 dress pants. I tried on the suit and its comfortable. Its not bathing suit weather here in NYC for another 6 weeks, so I am hoping I get to wear it before I have to buy another one.

My PCP recommended Dr. Ren, back in June 2007 and that is who I stuck it out for. MY nutritionist consult was beginning of September 2007. My initial consult with Dr. Ren was first week of October 2007 or last week of September, and my first surgery date was in January 2008. It was late December 2007 when my surgery date was changed to December 31, 2007. If you want Fielding, and don't mind the wait, I would stick it out for him. You have to go into surgery feeling confident in your surgeon and if your gut is telling you Fielding, call back and get an appt with him.

Well I am drinking alot more liquids now so I find myself in the bathroom alot, but the BM's are less frequent.

Get a filet mignon, rare to medium and eat slowly, it does go down and is about 4-5oz. If you get the mashed potatoes and veggies, eat in this fashion, one bite meat, then one bite meat again, and one veggie, then one of meat, veggie, and then potato. Repeat this. you will wind up just about finishing the steak and have most of the veggies and almost all the potatoes left. Order Salmon too, guys do that, use the same method to eat. I go to business lunches all the time, and granted I am a woman, but I still hold my own with my companions who don't know about the band. Make sure you don't eat within 4 hours of going out, your pouch will be mostly empty. If I know I have a lunch scheduled for 2pm, I don't try to eat anything in the morning. (Ok, I can't get anything down now, but you get the picture, I hope)

At 6.1cc's in a 10cc band, and I am at that sweet spot. Boy am I at it. I have trouble eating all morning, even when I feel hungry, but then for the first few days after the last fill, I would go hog wild when I could get food down, and then would PB. I am finally at a point where I eat unbelieveably slow and chew when I am finally able to get food down, usually but 1 or 2 in the afternoon. The funny thing, liquids don't go down too well either in the morning, so I am not cheating with soft stuff. The home scale shows 3 pounds down from the last fill on April 18th, so my body is adjusting. I am so not looking for another fill at my next visit, which is still 3 weeks away.

I had some complications and really didn't feel good about the band for about a month after surgery. But looking back, its still the best decision I have ever made for myself, and would do it all over again.

Everyone is different. I needed that full week to recover, and went back to work on the 8th day, and I probably should have taken a few days more. Because I had a hernia repaired, I couldn't lift for or do any core exercises for 4 weeks. I couldn't drive for 10 days, and really took that to heart. I guess since its your mom, and she is coming from out of town, make a visit out of it. Besides, Moms dote on you after surgery. I loved being 40 and having my parents with me after surgery.

Sounds like a plan, the support group at NYU is not so good, and even if we just get together once a month that might be fun.

Sorry, Carvel is a soft serve ice cream chain in the NY area. It was founded by Tom Carvel about 100 years ago. They make these fabulous ice cream cakes with these chocolate crunchies in them. Its an all ice cream cake too, no real cake. Yummy. They now have fat free soft vanilla and chocolate, and its delicious. I eat a small one every other Wednesday.

That was never mentioned to me by my Doctor. I was just told to take two chewable childrens multivitamins with iron everyday.

My best friend was pretty crummy before the surgery, so my parents came with me. Sometimes people have alterior motives for not wanting you to have the surgery. I think its them being selfish. Try to explain to your support person why you are really doing this, and if you have been struggling your whole life, this person should know that. If you are in the NYC area, I will be glad to support your decision and go with you on the day of your surgery.