Niecey

I'm so glad I to find out I'm not the only one. I was banded last September and was doing great. Then I got a "good" fill and now I don't know if I'm too tight. I have not lost weight since Christmas because I have a lot of problems eating anything so I resort to the easy/bad foods. I sit down to eat with my family and I don't know if I'm trying to keep up unconsciously with their pace but then I get stuck and once I get stuck, forget it, I have to just forget about eating. Then about 20-30 minutes later when everyone is done I can go and slowly eat by myself. It sucks because get stressed from what I can or can't eat and the stress makes it so much worse. The other day at work I had just finished lunch (at my desk) and it got busy and stressful. I had to run to the bathroom to PB because I just tighten up so much the food I already had down just wouldn't stay there. Let me know if you find someone that has experience with this. I just don't know what I'm doing wrong. And I don't have to worry about drinking with eating because I absolutely cannot or it will mess up the food I managed to keep down. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I had the surgery but I just miss "healthy" foods I can no longer eat and eating the same stuff and some days even that isn't easy. Does it get any better?? Niecey

Way to go!!! Niecey

Hi everyone, I went to the doc afraid to get another fill but after we talked the nurse decided I could get a 0.2 fill. So far it's ok. Nothing has changed on what I can eat but I definitely notice I get full and it stays with me longer. I have to say reading these posts, I am just now at 42 learning how "normal" people eat. I have always had a weight problem and everyone in my family was overweight. In high school I would lose weight and my diet consisted of starving until I came home after school and then eating 1 or 2 bowls of Captain crunch mixed with cool whip. Yep, I said it! Then a few hours later there was dinner and of course eat until your stuffed because every other fat person at the table was pigging out and there may be none left for you. Was that too harsh?? Back then dexatrim was the drug of choice to kill the hunger. Healthy, healthy. My downfall is ice cream. I know I have to really concentrate on the proteins because they definitely keep me full and I lose the cravings. Good luck to everyone, stay strong. Niecey

Well things have gotten a little better. I think I just have not slowed down enough. Maybe because I wasn't taking the time to eat so very slowly. I think if I really work on it and if the eating doesn't work, walk about for a little while and come back to it in 10-15 minutes. I think the reason I'm hungry is because I really didn't eat anything. Which is probably why I resorted to sweet things because it's easier and then I feel like I've ate something. I didn't realized chicken was a difficult thing. It makes sense though. What does anyone else eat for protein? Hamburger, sausage and filet mignon work well. Filet mignon...so much for saving money LOL. Niecey

I'm a little frustrated. I don't know if that is the word to use or not. I have not lost weight in a month. I know that this was due to the holidays and I quickly found out that sweets went down very easy. So I'm trying to get back on track. I'm confused about the "sweet spot" though. I really thought I was "there" but I don't know here lately. I have trouble eating a lot things like bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, etc. even chicken is hard. So you would think I'm too tight but I don't think so. I can drink with no problems at all, as long as it's not right after I eat. I'm definitely tighter in the morning. Eating things like hamburger or sausage is much easier than any other protein. So what is my problem??? Here in the last week I feel hungry a lot. I still have the same problems eating, often PB because I went too fast or something but still feel hungry. I know I'm probably doing something wrong. I go to the doc in a week and I'm afraid to ask for another fill. Any suggestions???? Niecey

Maybe you can help me. I was banded about 4 months ago. I have lost 50 lbs of the 135 I need to lose. I have had 3 fills and each time I felt the restriction. With the first 2 after a few weeks I could feel the restriction go away. The last fill was 2 months ago and I was sure I was at my sweet spot. Now I haven't lost weight in a month. I know it was the holidays and all the sweet things that melt in your mouth. So now I want to get back on track but I feel hungry a lot. Can I still need another fill when I have so much restriction? I cannot eat in the a.m., there is absolutey no bread, rice or pasta. Anything dense like chicken is tough. Help please, something is changing but I'm confused where I'm at. Niecey

So now we are starting to lose some real weight and everyone's starting to notice. Do you think we should post some before and during pictures??? Niecey

Everyone is doing great. Add me to the list...49 lbs in 3 months. Isn't that wild??? If I didn't have the band I would have already failed by now and put all the weight back and more. I'm so so glad those days are over.

45 lbs since surgery. I can't remember if that was surgery date or with the pre-op diet but I'm counting every pound. :wink: Niecey

Hi everyone, I had a lot of reading to do to catch up. Work has been extremely busy, my girls are in a play (12 days of Christmas), anyway I've been offline for a while. dal - my skinny clothes are getting lose too. It's crazy. teri - I'm glad you didn't need surgery. I read that and felt bad. If I had to have surgery again I would be really bummed out. Glad it worked out. Here is something funny about clothes and sizes...so my jeans are getting baggy (size 24, some 22s). Eventually I start fitting into all my "skinny jeans". My skinny jeans are at least 10 years old. You know the "skinny legs" are back in style now. Anyway, I'm so happy with myself. So what size do you think I am???....A size 22. So all my excitement is gone. It just goes to show you we have become a fat nation that even the manufacturers have adapted to making us "feel" better that they have made our clothes bigger but labeled the same sizes. So I'll see what size I am when I decide to brave the store and try on clothes. I have lost 41 pounds now. I went to a Girl Scout function yesterday and there were people I hadn't seen in a long time. They were like "OMG you have lost so much weight, how did you do it?" I didn't lie but didn't tell the whole truth. I just said I'm eating a lot less and doing the treadmill. It wasn't lying. It will be interesting to see my sister and brother's reaction when they come down for Thanksgiving. So I have gone for 3 fills now and have 6.4 cc in a 10 cc band. I will tell you I knew I was almost there at 2 fills because I could eat 1 c of food and I would be hungry again in about 2 hours. The weekend before I got my 3rd fill I got sick. Sore throat, stuffed up nose, etc. I started noticing food was feeling "stuck" sooner or something was going on. I realized because of all the drainage that was causing a little problem. So when I went in for my 3rd fill she asked if I should wait until the cold was over. I said no because I didn't feel like taking another 45 minute drive a week or 2 later. So I get my fill. I have to tell you I've had to struggle with the drainage this week. I have problems even drinking in the morning. I can only get a sausage patty down around 10 or 11. Lunch is only a meatball or a chicken leg. I've PB'd but it's mostly all phlegm. Sorry to be gross. I have to be really conscious of it. For instance, I had a crystal lite in the car. My girls and I were driving. I started sliming. I was stuck at a light and could feel it coming up. I had to pull off to the side to get rid of it. By dinner time I could have some soup. I'm really trying to make sure I keep hydrated. I don't want to have any taken out because I know it's drainage. I think I am right where I need to be. And if I needed anymore of a fill I wouldn't take it. I hope everyone else is doing well. Don't get discouraged about cheating or weight not going down. It just means you are not filled enough yet. The band is doing this for me. Remember that is why we all got it in the first place. Take care. Niecey

What is a breath cannister? And where can I get one? Niecey

Yaaayyyy! Congrats. I'm very happy for you. Keep in touch and let me know how you are doing. Dec 1 is good because that will give you time to recoup before Xmas. I'm so glad you got approved. Niecey

Well I haven't lost too much more weight but I need to take measurements because I definitely know my tight pants 2 weeks ago are now baggy. Yayyy!! Also I don't think I will ever be able to eat a sandwich or any type of bread again. I almost thought of going back to the doc to take some out but I've just been deciding that I just need to take it really slow and there are a lot of things I cannot have. The hardest part is when I am having difficulties with getting the protein down and not saying screw it and pop some chocolate in my mouth. Also it is hard eating lunch at work. I'm talking on the phone and then I forget to slow down. The people I work with know when I'm having a hard time and if they didn't know about the lapband before they would by now. I just have to think ahead about what I'm going to eat. I have to eat slow and of course chew, chew, chew. I cannot really eat a meal until noon but that is ok. I hope everyone else is doing well. Niecey

Anx Awaiting, How long has it been since they received it? Only counting Mon-Friday? Niecey

Yes that is very normal. By the time I had my first fill I don't think I felt like I had any restriction at all. I was almost to that point after the first fill, the 2nd fill seems to have definitely put the restriction there. Now I am back to losing the weight. Niecey

Yeah, I wonder about this PBing (productive burping)...It's not really that is it? More like a Vurp (vomit burp) right? Sorry to be gross. niecey

Ok so I have to tell everyone this...I went for my 2nd fill this past Tuesday as I posted before. 48 hours on liquids and then I could start eating again. NO WAY can I eat like I did 5 days again. Wow is there restriction. Maybe too much but I'm staying with it for now. There is no way I can eat bread, crackers or anything dry. I was amazed at the difference. Before I could eat (actually measure it) 1 to 1 1/2 cups of food and be satisfied. About 1-2 hours later I was hungry again. Yesterday I hardly ate anything and was never hungry. I have to be very very careful when I eat because I've been PBing alot. I cannot eat anything in the a.m. til about 1100 so I need to get more protein shakes to at least get my protein. Then I can eat like taco meat because it's small and wet and I still have to chew for a really long time. I tried to eat some pizza for dinner, not the crust just the topping. I couldn't handle the melted cheese. So later that night I made 2 scrambled eggs with miracle whip (I know it sounds gross). I have never chewed a scrambled egg before but I did last night. I can drink liquids but not fast. Like I said maybe I'm too tight but I'm trying it for now because it really has increased my weight loss. My DH being a smart aleck...I said to him, oh I'm having problems eating. He said "Can you eat?" I said "No". He said, "sounds like it's working". He's so cute. :cursing:. Anyway if your hungry just be patient it really works. :w00t: Niecey

No I didn't get a paper on a free pedometer. I'll have to ask next time. I did get a card to bring into restaurants that allows you to eat children's meals. I think ultimately it's up to the restaurant on whether they will honor it. About Goodwill...check and see, our Goodwill every first Saturday of each month has a 50% off everything sale. Niecey

Hey everyone, I went for my second fill today. I found out I have the Lap Band brand and it's an Alergen. It holds 10ccs. I now have 5.4ccs and I think I'm pretty close to that "sweet spot". The weight seems to be coming off slowly but they said 1-3 pounds per week is a good pace, so I seem to be right in line. Finally 30 pounds gone FOREVER!!! For a week I did not lose anything but I found that I was snacking on the bad stuff after meals because I was still hungry. Hopefully this fill will help carry me over until the next meal. Neicey

Hi, My first time here. I was wondering if anyone has dealt with BCBS of NJ. I am going through the 6 month diet period. My doctor has already wrote the letter of recommendation saying I'm pre-diabetic, my family history, my weight history, etc. etc. I think the only exception is that you have to be morbidly obese which I am by about one pound. I hope I don't lose one pound and then the insurance deny me because now I am no longer morbidly obese. I hope I don't go through all this and then they deny me. Any advice would be great. Niecey

Awesome, just what I needed. I haven't lost any weight in a week but I feel my clothes getting loose. Thanx. D

Have your doctor or you write a letter appealing the decision. Have them also include phrases like "medically necessary" and "fast review". The whole reason you want the band is because you cannot LOSE weight. I actually gained when I was doing my 6 month diet. If I would have lost even 5 lbs, I would have dropped under 40 BMI which was the "golden number". It's a pain in the butt, but you have to be persistant and Oh so patient. See if your HR person can talk to the insurance rep to find out exactly why you were denied. It my help. It did for me because I could never get a straight answer out of BCBS of NJ myself. Good luck. Niecey

Yeahhh, nayray. Welcome to Band Land!!! :w00t::w00t::eek:

Ok here is my post, so I can start losing again. I lost a few pounds after my first fill and then that was it. Thanks to Janine, I really like that www.sparkspeople.com website. It's like the Biggest Loser website but it's FREE. And I have a question for you...how do you know when you need another fill? I'm good as long as I chew a really long time. Then when I start to feel a hint of the heaviness coming on I stop eating. But a few hours later I'm hungry again. So does that mean I'm not at the sweet spot yet? How many calories is everyone taking in per day? I think unless I am under 1000 cal per day I will not lose weight. Which I guess makes sense as to why I was having problems losing weight before the band. A few years ago my husband and I had bought a tread mill. In one years time my DH lost 100 pounds and I had lost 5 lbs. It was so frustrating. Well I'm glad to have the band to help me with this now but I think I really have to keep the calories way down to have any results. Niecey

I have BCBS of NJ. I do not want to give you bad news but you will have a hard time getting approved. My BMI was 40 (40 was the magic number for my plan) and I had no comorbidities at first. They then had me do a 6 month approved diet. It took me one year to be approved and during that year I become diabetic so that may have been the thing to finally push it over the edge. I'm sorry to say it was very tough. Maybe though this surgery is becoming more widely excepted and proven and maybe things will be easier than what I went through. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions. Niecey