notateechanow

OH, ok..Me again! :laugh: I'm back to say that some months are definitely better than others. I've had a problem keeping ANY food down for nearly 4 or 5 days now. I'm hoping today is easier. My last fill was back after Thanksgiving, so it's not as if I'm suddenly over-filled, though that can happen.... Just wanted to let you know that even a year and a half after banding, I still struggle with the same things! :drool:

Hope you had a great walk, Brian. Keep moving! I'm fairly confident that you should only be on Clear Liquids for the first two weeks or so....but you really should check anything printed they gave you at the hospital. So broth based Soups that are strained are ok, but tomato isn't ok........Sugar free jell-o, broth, crystal light, and Protein Shakes is all I had for my first 2 weeks..... Good luck! 3 days down, not too many to go! :laugh: Paige

I hope your 10K goes well! I, too, am doing about 20 miles a week. I'm only doing a 5K in May....but hoping to "run" the entire way. I started a 10 week training program 8 weeks ago and I have another 4 before the actual 5K....I can do at least 1.5 miles now without stopping and gasping for air, but now I'd like to finish in less than 35 minutes. Congrats on the size! You must feel fantastic. I have to be honest, though, and admit that once this freaking 5K is over, I'll switch to walking and give up the jogging for good. I would rather walk 5-7 miles than jog 3. I HATE jogging!! I'm still not happy buying clothes. I can't find anything that will accommodate my huge shoulders/arms/ample chest but that doesn't hang off of my ribs and stomach, making it all look maternity. I'm going away in the end of May and just went through my clothes. I have to buy a bathing suit this weekend. No more excuses. I'm desperate. Target here I come!! Keep us posted on how your 10 K goes. May it be a wonderful experience. :drool: Paige

Depending on what else you're consuming, you might want to go with the low sodium in the event you're sensitive to that....but I'm pretty sure they fed me broth in the hospital before I went home! (I remember so clearly getting home and wondering what the heck they told me when I was being discharged---I was in another world and didn't remember ANY of it!) Hope you're feeling ok. Good luck! :drool:

Sandy, Let's face it...we all fear failure. We deal with it differently. I had my surgery less than 6 weeks after going to the info session. I knew NOTHING about this. I had never been on this site, never read any of the information they gave me and didn't want to know what could go wrong. I barely listened when they released me from the hospital. Bottom line? I didn't want to know about issues. I figured if I didn't know, it wouldn't matter. I was afraid that if I knew what was going on, I'd back out and I simply couldn't afford to be a failure at one more attempt. This was my last ditch effort. I think I single-handedly supported the campaign with Fergie with Weight Watchers--by paying and never going. I know I helped put many kids through college by frequenting all of the area take out restaurants! I needed a way out---to give myself control of this and I finally have it. I'm still not where I want to be. I workout completely out of fear---fear that if I don't, I'll fail at this, too. I think it's that fear that keeps me motivated. If the fear is paralyzing, then maybe you should listen to it. If it's just the nervousness type, it's all healthy. You have to do what's right for you, and when the time comes, you'll make the decision! Good luck! :tt2: Paige

It's really common to feel more restriction when you're menstruating. In fact, I'm on nearly all liquids for a day or two before and at least the first day or two of....but it gets better after that. Once you have more restriction, it will become more obvious. I find that I'm also more restricted when I'm stressed out or bloated. I've found exercising to help immensely. In fact, whenever I'm tight, a good 30 minute walk helps. Hope that helps. I've been banded for a little under a year and a half and still have some issues with tightness. It gets easier, though not necessarily predictable. :smile: Paige

Sorry for jumping in on your forum, but I've been struggling with getting in enough protein and am resorting to adding with shakes. I bought 2 canisters of the unflavored Unjury, thinking it would be more versatile and haven't had any luck. The smell is repulsive! I found Designer Whey protein (vanilla) and add it to a shake. Many of these are good if you make them with other things, in a blender. I'd hate to get rid of an entire container of something I didn't like....so I played around. Use the extracts from the baking aisle and add flavor without many calories. I use some pineapple (packed in WATER) ice, vanilla powder, and coconut extract. It's a nuisance to clean up a blender every time, but it sure is more pleasant than trying any other way. Be creative. Add fruit (when you're allowed to have them!) and extracts. It's a good way to get in fruit and protein! Good luck! :thumbdown: Paige

I felt the same way for a really long time. But, I found out I had problems they referred to as "user error"..... in other words, I didn't follow directions as carefully as I should have. I ate too fast, drank while eating, chewed sparingly, and ate all of the wrong things. There has to be a happy medium in terms of having a fill and not having any fill---even a slight fill? I also ran into problems because I wasn't eating enough, so I stopped losing weight. If you carefully journal what you're eating, you can track how many calories work for your body. We're all different. What works for me may not/will not work for you. When you're ready to focus on yourself (unusual for a woman, I know....) you'll figure it all out. Good luck!! :thumbdown:

You really kill me, Jay. I'm so glad you checked in to give me my daily laugh. THANK YOU. As I've said before, but will remind you, I didn't really start to lose weight until about 2 1/2 to 3 months in---after 3 fills...so sit tight, my friend. You may be in for a long ride. I am going to the Faulkner a week from tomorrow night--it's the 2nd Monday of the month, which I think figures to be the 13th. If I'm wrong, I'll let you know. Otherwise, assume I'm right. If you've never been, it's right up in the suite where they have appointments, in the waiting room. It's far smaller than the one at the Brigham...but I can't go to our usual Tuesday group this month. (Truth be told, I might be able to, but it's my birthday and I expect to make plans...though, being single, not sure what or with whom...I just know I'll do something!) I may be a little late as I have class from 4-7 in South Boston. I'm obviously leaving class early, but would at least like to go from 4-5 to make my appearance...but then again, I may bag out entirely. Who knows... PUT DOWN THE PIZZA. Buy A slice if you must, but seriously, you have to make the mental changes. If you rely on the band to do this for you, you're going to be disappointed. It's time to face it....you have to make changes!! You don't have to give up everything you love, but you do have to make concessions. Buy only one slice and be sure to get it to go. Leave the restaurant. Don't sit there and look at more or you'll want more. If you're out, be social. (Not a stretch for you...) Let everyone else chow while you're talking. If you do what you've always done, you're going to get what you've always gotten....eating the same and trying to exercise won't help you either. It will make you healthier, but your diet has got to change. Stick with it, Jay...you'll get there. It isn't easy, but if you wanted easy, you wouldn't have had this thing surgically implanted in your body. You would have stayed fat. Move on and make a full commitment. Do it for yourself!! Hope to see you a week from Monday. :thumbup: Paige

Ok..so here's my initial impression about Unflavored Unjury....it has a very fluffy appearance, much lighter than others I've seen. It doesn't have a strong smell..The container says to mix it in any beverage, so I tried OJ. It just says not to put it into hot beverages. It mixed in well, but definitely thickened the oj. It was all absorbed, unlike the benefiber I typically mix in my OJ. It smelled kinda funky, though, and I can't even describe it.....it's very......unique. It didn't taste bad, but something about it made me gag. :thumbup: Again, it may have been the smell because while it dulled the taste of the OJ, it didn't change it really.... So....next time I'm thinking I'll try mixing it in food, which is why I got the unflavored. I wanted more versatility. I didn't do it in the blender yet, either, which usually makes everything more palatable. It came with a packet of information that suggests that you use 3-5 scoops PER DAY! Not what my good doc would want me to do, no doubt. He wants me to obtain protein predominantly from the foods I'm eating. Not to mention, it reminds me of telling you to wash your hair twice when shampooing. You're just using more of a product and not necessarily reaping any benefits from that. Stay tuned.....this could get interesting. :scared2:

I just ordered 2 containers of the unflavored Unjury to add to my food. I also started playing with my blender more---I'll do a packet of the sugar free carnation with a few icecubes and 8 oz of fat free milk, then dump in a scoop of my vanilla designer whey protein for a whopping total of 33 grams of protein. Unfortunately, it tastes kinda gross. I'll be getting the Unjury by Saturday and will keep you posted. It's a nuisance to buy via mail and it's only 15 servings per container---so if I'm using 2 a day then it's only 7 days!!! We'll see how that goes.....if it helps, I'm all for it. Had the best run of my life today. I finished my 3.2 miles in 35 minutes. I'm sore now, but felt great at the time. Now, if I can do that well on the roads I'll be very happy. I still have a few weeks before the "race"! :smile2:

Mel, One of the best suggestions my friends gave me was to slow down when you're trying to jog for longer. After a few times at a certain speed, I can typically speed up a little, even if for only a few minutes. I think I have to be more vigilant about what I'm eating, not just calories and protein. I haven't had any issues with getting food down lately, so it's kinda been "open season" if you know what I mean......because I haven't had any problems with tolerating food, I've been good about eating salads and eating more veggies, but it makes it easier to eat brownies, french fries, and crap I wouldn't normally eat. I bought 2 containers of Unjury and they should be here tomorrow. I've also decided to start walking on my "days off" from running. In a huge NSV for me, I walked 2.5 miles yesterday at a 4.0 WITHOUT BREAKING A SWEAT!!! Ok, I typically look like I've gone swimming in my clothes when I workout. It felt really good to know my body is finally in good condition. Now I just need to go shopping for some headphones. I accidentally left mine in the gym the other night and someone kept them. Jerk. So it's been quiet for me, but a good time to think.... Keep up the great work!

Thanks!! I am in Week 7 of a 10 week training program for the 5K. I'm currently doing 9 minutes of jogging with 1 minute walking for 30 minutes with a 5 minute warm up and 5 minute cool down. I'm a little stressed because it steps up to 13 minutes of jogging with 2 minutes of walking for 2 intervals next week. I'm just not sure I can handle 13 minutes of jogging at one time....I may have to slow way down to do it. (I'm asthmatic and trying to slowly work through that....) I'm a little frustrated because I haven't lost anything since I started running. I do at least 16-20 miles a week. I park at the opposite end of the parking lot when I go to stores...I take the stairs. I have good restriction, get enough sleep and try to get in enough protein. I think it's time I kick up the protein though and start doing some of that unflavored stuff to make sure I get more....Truth be told, I can't wait til this is over (Mother's Day weekend) because I'm downright exhausted!! I keep waiting for that runner's high to kick in, but it hasn't, and I really don't expect it to! I hate running, I'm sore, and I'm not losing weight, BUT I can really see the difference in my body.......UGH! One workout at a time....

Jay, so happy to hear from you---first you miss the meeting, then you don't keep us posted. Thought maybe you wanted US to think you were dying, too! :cool2: Hope tomorrow makes a difference for you. The thing to remember if you want a fill is #1 YES, you're still hungry after eating the amount we're supposed to eat. #2 No, I haven't lost much weight AND I've been active and #3 No, I'm not feeling much restriction.....that will help you get the fill. :mad2: Will tomorrow be #2 or #3? We all went through what you're going through. We ALL gained or didn't lose weight in that first 2-3 month period. Keep us posted and stay in touch. The other bandsters will be the most sympathetic and helpful to you now......:biggrin:

Congrats!! I'm excited for you!!

Hey there, all! I have been posting, but I find myself posting more to the local groups--people who actually go to my monthly support group. I'm now down 100 pounds--give or take those 2 pounds that seem to show up every so often. My surgeon mentioned a consultation with a plastic surgeon back in January and I've been so fixated on it ever since.....According to the BMI charts, I have another 40 pounds to go. Why would he mention it so prematurely? I have been running 4-5 days a week and haven't lost another ounce since starting 7 weeks ago. I KNOW I should be looking at my food diary more closely and making sure I'm eating enough Protein and Water.....but I'm just so frustrated. I'm at a good restriction--not feeling like I can't eat, but knowing I have specific limits, too. I haven't lost weight since January. (I did drop a quick 40 in 2 months when I moved in the fall....) Any suggestions other than the usual--diet, water, sleep, etc?? I know I'm working out enough for my body. I feel great and I notice the physical difference from running..... Hope you're all well! :thumbup: Paige

I'm so glad you asked!! THIS is why I don't have a "ticker"!!! I haven't set a goal with my surgeon or my nutritionist. In fact, I rarely see either one of them any more. I know that I am supposed to weigh about 167 for a healthy BMI, but also recognize how unrealistic that is. I'm currently about 210 and run at least 20 miles a week with good restriction. I haven't lost weight since January, but see my body transforming. I'm hoping it's just a phase and that my body will finally relent. BUT, back on topic, I'd be curious to know more about how goal weights are set...for the one day I expect to be there! :thumbup:

Ladies, All I can say is that I've been there. I'm about 15 months post-op. and it gets better. It doesn't get better overnight and with every life stress that increases, it does resurface, but I'm free. Finally free. When you arrive in the place where I finally am, you will understand. For the very first time in my 36 years, my life is not dominated by food and it is the lightest I have felt ever---not because of the weight I've lost, but because of the pressure I've relieved. It gets better. I promise. :crying:

I, too, have to hold on when I walk. I think of the trainers from the Biggest Loser yelling at her team to let go of the handles, but I just can't. I hoped my balance would improve after losing weight, but it hasn't. I've now lost 100 pounds since surgery and still need to hold on when I walk. However, running is not an issue for me. Granted, I typically only run at a 5.0 to 5.5 pace, but if my arms are pumping forward and backward, they help me move my legs in the same direction. Give it a try by slowly moving up from your walking pace until you're comfortable. I jogged for 30 second intervals at first and had my hands right above the handles. All it takes is one wipeout for you to be nervous. I've been there. I know exactly how that feels! Give it a try for just a moment. The faster I move, the easier it is for my legs to keep moving and not tangle! Good luck. Keep us posted!!! :smile2:

I can completely relate! I didn't realize how preoccupied I was with food before surgery....I even watched the Food Network constantly after surgery. My now ex-boyfriend called it food porn for me....I started going to the all women's gym and socializing more. It once again re-surfaced for me about a year after surgery when I left my boyfriend and moved out on my own. The best thing I did for myself was to start going to counseling. I had already been going to a support group on a monthly basis and was going to the gym regularly, but for the first time in my life I had this ache that wouldn't go away and I simply couldn't eat it away.....being banded forced me to feel everything that I avoided for so many years. You're definitely NOT alone with this. Lean on your friends. Join a support group. Get counseling if that's an option. Find a healthy replacement behavior. Figure out who you are and where you want to be.....then pursue your new dreams. The most important thing for you to know is that it doesn't go away unless you address it. HOWEVER, it does get better!! I've been living alone now for almost 5 months and now love it. I had 2 rough months, but I'm ok now--actually far better than ok. Good luck. You'll get there, but it takes a while to undo years of a bad habit. :smile2:

You're definitely eating too little! Have you talked to a nutritionist? I found that after tracking what I eat for a week or so, the nutritionist could get an accurate picture of how many calories a day, along with grams of protein I was consuming. You should be consuming at least 6-8 glasses of water a day (around 48-64 oz) without excuse. This will help keep your body hydrated AND regular. It sounds like you can't possibly be getting the right amount of protein, either. I'm surprised that you can eat a croissant and have difficulty with meat. You should be focusing on eating protein first, then veggies, and after that, carbs. It's time you review the information your surgeon should have given you when releasing you from the hospital after surgery. You're not following any of the guidelines intended to help you lose weight in a healthy, consistent manner....if you don't remember what those guidelines are, then you should make an appointment with your dietician/nutritionist. The guidelines were created to help you lose weight in a healthy way. Good luck!

Thanks! Ok...so I haven't lost a single pound since January, but I know I've lost inches. To that Jillian chick on Biggest Loser who says muscle doesn't weigh more than fat....FU! I totally disagree. I can see the difference since my New Year's pics, but the scale doesn't reflect it. You'll all be happy to hear I finally gave in and told my best friend, and my parents that I had surgery. I heard through the grapevine that my mom is worried about me and thinks I'm sick....so I didn't want her to worry any more. My mom was inquisitive, but my dad didn't say much of anything, except to tell my mother NOT to tell one of her really catty friends. He told her that this was a very personal decision and he though she should respect that. I figured I had both of my parents together with me at dinner---rare, because they've been divorced for nearly 10 years. SO, I just did it. My mom did exactly as I worried she would do---"Can you EAT THAT?" to just about everything on my plate. I have to remind myself that she's just curious, not being critical. So....there you have it. My best friend's close friend from high school wrote to me and asked me all about my weight loss and I told her that I had surgery. (I still lie the thin people, but she's heavy) She's now thinking about it. That's another reason I wanted to tell my family. People who I know would benefit from my experience have been asking and I want to share my "secret" with them.....I have a few friends who I think would be good candidates. We'll see. Heidi, I'm so jealous. It's sunny here and supposed to be close to 50 today, but I'm not buying it. Have a fantastic trip! :tt1:

Heidi, Have a fantastic trip! Enjoy every minute of it and have a fruity drink with an umbrella for each of us! :huh2: