Julie*

Michelle- Yes, that is exactly what is happening to me too. It's great on the weeks that I drop weight but it sure stinks to wait for those weeks. Nanster: Fingers crossed that you found your sweet spot. Pat: Do you think you're eating too much and the food is too far up in your esophagus? I know if I eat too much I feel like food is just sitting there and it doesn't feel good at all.

Hi Everyone~ Well, I had my first sliming experience tonight and it was awful. I leaned over the sink gurgling and burping for an hour as my 5 year old asked if she needed to call 911. Anyway, it went down finally but I am sore and tired. What a nightmare- I think I was getting too cocky since nothing like this had happened before. Stacey: How tall are you? You have lost an incredible amount of weight.

Well, I had my first experience tonight and was just coming to post about it when I saw this thread. I never actually PB'd b/c whatever was stuck finally slid through. But, I had an hour of severe pain (as bad as labor, seriously) and lots of mucus, slime and bubbles. Now, I just feel exhausted and my chest hurts. The sad thing is that I was having a bean burrito with lite sour cream- I eat them quite often but took to big of a bite.

My mother had similar issues when she started going through menopause. It was like she went off the deep end. She got some help from her gynocologist and it made a big difference. Good luck.

Good Morning~ Donna: Congrats on your first fill. My first fill was .5cc in my 10cm band. So far it's working for me. I have found that I don't want to be TOO restricted. I've decided that I'm going to take it really slow with my fills. I am losing weight a bit slower but I don't want to be in a situation where I can barely eat. I'm trying hard to work on the behavioral issues behind my eating as well. I see a psychologist weekly and I think it's really helping. I guess I need to read Angels and Demons and The DaVinci Code. I've had them on my nightstand forever but haven't picked them up. It sounds like pretty easy reading though so they should be good summer books. Have a good day friends,

I lost weight on the liquid stage. I was on it for 10 days pre-op and lost 10 pounds. After surgery I was on Clear Liquids for 4 days and then full liquids for another 10 days and lost another 5 pounds. I would say that it has to do with what type of liquids you are drinking and how much. I would have 1 slim fast at each meal and then just have diet drinks in between. I was really trying hard to shrink my liver. Good luck!

My doc does them with fluoro too but just told me that any other fills I need can be done in the office b/c my port is located in such a great spot. I didn't realize that was one of the reasons that they are done under fluoro.

How about this? I live in Vermont and they are building 2 bedroom townhouses now for almost a million. I'm not sure where these people work though? LOL http://www.realtor.com/Prop/1052154359?lnksrc=00045

Stacey: That is awesome news! Tamryn: Hang in there. I spent a month there and then I dropped 5 pounds in a week. Our bodies do strange things don't they? Well, my fill seems to be working for me. I only had .5cc put in and I feel alot of restriction 4 days later. I am only eating mushies right now and it's amazing to me how different I feel. I don't have another appt for 3 months and hope to show my surgeon some good steady weight loss during that time.

I lost 10 pounds on my pre-op diet and that was a 10 day liquid diet as well. My surgeon told me that my liver looked fabulous and he can always tell who has adhered to the diet and who hasn't. That sure gave me some motivation on those tough liquid days. good luck to you!

I have had the same problem all of my life. Now what I do is remind myself that I'm going to slow down before I even get started. I have found too that I can't sit with the tv or a magazine anymore- I just have to focus on eating and taking my time. It sure is a learning curve. Also, you may want to eat before you get so hungry that you are wolfing everything down. Would a big glass of Water or something before your meal help?

Hi Everyone~ I finally had my first fill today. He put .5cc in the band. I was happy that it didn't hurt at all- just felt weird. Thankfully, he has changed his mind about 2 more weeks of liquids and told me to do liquids for 2 days, mushies for 2 days, soft foods for 2 days and then go from there. I forgot how HARD liquids are though and tonight has been rough. Tammy: No, I don't think you are secretly hoping for an early ending. I think that our bodies are wired for instant feedback. Overeating before the band = good feelings at first and then the yucky feelings come later. Without the instant negative feedback it's hard to change our behavior. Now with the band overeating = slime, feeling awful, or PBing so the instant feedback is to stop. I hope that makes sense and I'm sorry that your co-workers heart attack was so rough for you. I always think it's good though to talk about this stuff- it's the best way to make changes. I'm very proud of our group! Julie

Good Morning~ Cozzi: I have 100 pounds more to lose. I'm hoping my first fill next week will jump things into action. Michelle: My Mother's Day was pretty good. My little munchkins made me cards and my husband took us out to TGI Fridays for dinner and got me the new Bruce Springsteen CD. I have noticed that when I eat too much I feel this pain around my stomach area. I think it's what they mean when you go past the soft stop. Anyway, last night I tried to really pay attention to it at dinner and stopped before I got there. The only problem is that I was hungry 1.5 hours later at home. I really hope this fill fixes that but I am not looking forward to the liquids especially over Memorial Day weekend when we are away.

You look so great! Thanks for the inspiration.

Hi Everyone- Tammy: Hang in there. I also think it's natural to think about food during a crisis. I know that I sure do! Cozzie: I am noticing the same thing about eating with other people. Last night I went out to dinner and didn't stop soon enough and spent the rest of the meal really uncomfortable. The other day I took a huge gulp of iced tea at lunch with my co-workers after eating my salad and almost gagged. It's such a strange feeling sometimes. Hope everyone else is doing well!

Hi- My doctor wanted us to lose 10% of our weight before he would operate. Once he explained it to me I didn't think he was crazy at all. So, 10% for you would be 38 pounds which I guess I don't think is that unreasonable. You said that you retain alot of fluid- would a diuretic for a short amt of time help you lose that Water weight so that you qualify for the surgery? I also agree that a 2nd opinion is in order but I think that since he has your complete medical history and we don't that his reasoning of wanting you to wake up after surgery sounds valid and caring to me. Sadly, it sounds like he just didn't explain it in a caring tone. Good luck to you- Most of us have had to do liquid diets and I bet that would help you drop the weight that you need to lose.

Hi Everyone- I had my appt yesterday afternoon and my fill is scheduled for Monday, May 22nd. He does them under fluoro and only schedules them every Monday. Here's the hard part- he told me that I have to do 4 days of Clear liquids and then 10 days of full liquids after my fill. I haven't heard of any of you having to do that- Obviously, I am going to listen to him and it will jump start more weight loss but it's going to be rough that's for sure! Welcome other new February members- It's wonderful to see how many of us there are. Julie

Hi Everyone- Back from Florida and Disney World. We had a wonderful trip- The good news is that I didn't gain any weight but I also haven't lost anything now in about 3 weeks. I have a check up tomorrow and am going to ask for my first fill. I am able to eat most foods now and am really only relying on will power to stop so I figure it is certainly time. I will back tomorrow to catch up but wanted to pop in.

Well friends, I am off to Disney World until May 7th with DH and the kiddos. Have a great week and wish me luck on my first vacation banded.

Yes, Janet I would totally be interested. Sounds like fun to me.

Good Morning Everyone- Sunta: Wow, that sounds like heaven to me especially since I can eat alot right now. I can't wait for my first fill in a couple of weeks. Michele: Have you been exercising? I find that I could eat 4 calories a day but if I don't get my heart pumping then the scale doesn't move. I have been playing with the same few pounds for awhile now too. Stacey: I hope you hear today what's going on so they can fix you right up. Tammy: WTG on standing while you're doing your filing. That is just awesome. Have a great day everyone,

Stacey: Are they sure it's a bladder infection and not something else? If it gets worse I would head to the ER for a full work up. JanetC: I absolutely think that our body hangs onto set points with our weight. I am 251 right now and this is one of mine I believe b/c I was this weight for a couple of years. Once I jump this hurdle I think my next one will be at 220 because I sat there for a couple of years too. Have a good night. DH wants to pop in a movie.

Good Morning- Well the exercise is paying off because the scale finally moved over one pound! YAY! I feel like I need to break this first barrier of 250 because that was the weight I was at when I got pregnant with my daughter. Hi JanetC- Yup, no chocolate yet for me. Thankfully it's out of the house now so it's not calling my name. THough I am picky with my chocolate and only like certain kinds. The exercise is going well. I am on day 7 day of exercising every day and have a blister to show for it. I have to say though since I started exercising I have felt my mood increase tremendously and I take lexapro for anxiety. Hopefully losing the weight and feeling better will help me to continue and not self-sabatoge along the way. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAMMY! Hope it was a great one. Stacey: Since you love pasta so much have you tried the whole grain kind in the organic section at your grocery store? It's more expensive but really good for you and has the fiber you need. It's all I've bought for years now. My nutritionist does not recommend low/no carb diets for any of her weight loss patients. She believes it's unrealistic for too long and then results in binging. Just her opinion but I am starting to agree. My body does not feel good w/o any grains. Ok, off for a bikini wax and a pedicure. The kids are at my parent's house for the day, DH is at work so I am going to pamper myself and get ready for our trip.

I read this book a long time ago and really didn't like it at all. Looking back, I am sure it struck a chord with me so I should probably read it again. I remember though not really liking the main character that much. I am amazed though that it was written by a man.

Hi Everybody- I'm here but have just been busy. My daughter had her kindergarten spring concert tonight and it was so cute. She looked so proud and happy up on the stage. Pat: That is a huge accomplishment to stop eating when it tastes so good. I have been working on it too but it's hard. Stacey: Hope you're feeling better. Can you believe that I haven't slimed anything at all yet? I am so nervous for it to happen. I figure it's because I don't have a fill yet. Today I walked for an hour and it felt great. My scale seems to be stuck but I feel my clothes fitting better so I'll take it.