TampaJohn

i felt like i had been in a kife fight for the first 2 days, on the third day i felt alot better, and the forth day i felt great

I was banded about 2 months ago, and was fine for the first few weeks, then i cheated and ate some solids. That pain you described is what i had, for 4 days, virtually non stop - but i went back on liquids and it finally went away. Now, when i eat too fast, dont chew enough, or dring cold liquids while eating i get those same pains. If i eat slowly, chew enough, and dont drink with my food i have no pain at all!

Andrea, my nutritionist told me that if you consume below 800 calories a day your body thinks it is being starved and "holds on" to fat. You can eat too much AND you can eat too little - I suggest you do some calorie tracking to make sure you are in that 1000 to 1200 a day range and the pounds will start melting again.

I was banded about 2 months ago and just went home to see my family over the holidays. I too was unsure how people would react. But let me tell you, i have been absolutely amazed how many "closet" gastric bypass people i have met in my travels. When people ask (and they all do because it is impossible not to notice my 50+ pound weight loss) i am right up front and tell them i had weight loss surgery. When they ask me why i chose such a radical route my response is "the alternative was to die from my obesity"..When i tell them my blood pressure and blood sugar are now perfect, and i no longer am taking any prescription drugs they are amazed and the congratulations i get are equally amazing. My children have thanked me on behalf of my grandchildren. I have run into some obese people who can not fathom living on three 4-oz meals a day. I did this because I have tried and failed so many time at keeping off weight that I have lost. I figured out i am really good at doing what I have to do, and reallllllly bad at doing what i should do. This turns diet control into a "have to". My advice is be honest. Your honesty may help others find their way to this amazing, life saving, life changing decision.