Sunwyse

Well, I'm 2 weeks out and I've decided to start studying for a new career. I have always been interested in alternative health, so am going to study a western herbalist course. Anyway, I've entered a competition to help me cover the costs and would really appreciate others helping me out. Winners are decided on the number of votes you get. So, if you can spare a few minutes to go and vote for me, I'd really appreciate it. If you don't want to, then I understand :eek: To vote, simply click on one of the numbers from 1-5 that appears under the picture. ING DIRECT My Dream Is... - Home

Congratulations on staying fairly close to the weightloss total all that time. That is awesome and you should pat yourself on the back for that. Where do you think the fear of getting the fill is coming from? Is it before you went too fast last time? Will you be seeing the same person for fills this time around? Maybe you could speak with them about your concerns. I imagine it would all be on your file, so maybe they could slow down the rate you have fills this time? Or you could do that yourself. Instead of getting one every 2 weeks, leave it for a month, or if it was every month, make it every 6 weeks this time. You can do it, you've learnt from the past. As for the fear of getting to goal, that is perfectly understandable. We all get so focused on the goal, a lot of us stop to ask 'what then'. What will you do once you get there? Well, you can decide once you are there if you are happy with it being goal or if you still want to lose a bit more. You can go out and Celebrate, go to a day spa or something. You could maybe decide to change careers even! One life change deserves another and all that. Many of us have done the diet thing before. You get to goal, then you are 'off the diet', right? That usually means going to back to eating like you did before the diet, which means putting the weight back on. But that doesn't have to happen this time because you have the band to help you. Really, the best thing to do is make that appointment and go in. If it freaks you out, then you don't have to go ahead with the fill, but at least you will have made a move and broken the stand-off you are doing with yourself right now.

Bottom line, yes you can lose more. Its really up to you. As for the doctor, either give him a sharp talking to and tell him to get on board with you and your plans, or get a new doctor. I'd be getting the new doctor anyway. It sounds like the 50 lbs he's talking about are what his other patients have lost so far Only having done 30-ish operations isn't all that much to go on. If he doesn't like doing LBs, then why on earth does he offer them?

I would imagine after all the trying to eat and not being successful, the area around the band is feeling a little sorry for itself. Its probably swollen a bit and just needs to be rested. Your idea of liquids for a while sounds like a good one.

You will hun, that's just over a month after you op, so all will be good.

Hey Damo, you flight out today. Am thinking of you. Good luck mate, but I don't think you'll need it.

I'm one week out from banding and I've found I cannot have yoghurt. I used to practically live on the stuff! At first I tried added milk to make it a runny drink, then last night I tried a different brand and a bit thicker. Same reaction both times, I feel like my stomach is on fire and have pain all night. Has anybody else had this experience, either with yoghurt or anything else? What foods have now become a problem?

For many of us, the first experiences after getting the band don't seem to be as fantastic as we had hoped. The first weeks or even months for some, are a time of great change and we can be in more dejection than blissful states of mind. I thought it would be great to have a place we can come to and find others who are going through the same thing and get that support we need to keep us going. For me, the band has been a rollercoaster ride since I got it done 11 days ago. I've had days where I've felt like I could take on the world and days where the band has been fighting me (or me it?) and I've wanted to rip it out. Last night was the worst. I was in pain and in tears. I felt like someone had stuck a knife in my chest. After waking this morning, I realise it was my fault, but I wasn't to know that an ice cold milk shake would be a limitation before this. Today I feel much better and I'm finding following rules on how much to eat, though itsn't exactly filling, is at least pain free. I'm going to perservere with this until it gets to a point where I too am blissfully happy about the decision I made. Want to join me?

I can relate to the baby story. I was waiting in a queue while shopping and turned around to 'talk' to an 11 month old in a pram behind me. When I got to the check out, the girl (about 17) said "Oh well you won't have to wait long" when I asked her what she meant, she pointed to my stomach and said "you'll have one of your own soon". I grabbed my tummy and shook it "uh uh, its all fat". She was so embarrassed.

I get thrush almost every time, but for me its psychological. I don't 'allow' myself to be properly prepared for entry, if you get my drift. Basically, it all happens when I'm still too dry. Haven't had sex in over 2 years (yes I have a partner), and to be honest, I don't miss it at all. Have you thought about changing positions? The one you use most might be causing some kind of irritation, too much pressure to the area, whatever. Sorry I'm not more help.

lol @ green. Weight is never the cause of anything (depression, low self-esteem, etc), weight is almost always a symptom of something else going on under the surface. I second what Fanny said, seeing someone for couselling might be the best thing.

*groanz* don't tell me that. In the past, the belly has always been the thing to go last, it just never wants to leave - and now it has even more reason to stick around???

You go girl!! Love the guilt thing. They just don't realise when they nag, its like they are trying to control us and of course, when someone tries to control you, you will rebel.

Lex, first of all, the band slowly leaches Fluid out over time, which is why we have to go back every 6 months for a tiny top up. Secondly, it sounds like you have some issues there that you haven't addressed. Self sabotage is not nice. We all do it at times, but its important to start looking at the reasons why underneath everything. When you get excited about the idea of exercising but it doesn't turn into actually doing it, what's going on in your head? What sort of self talk are you giving yourself? Often its subconscious stuff going on and its the hardest to address. What else have you tried to do to help with the stress besides eat? I know you know this, but the band won't change us, we have to change ourselves. Have you thought about seeing a counsellor to try and get to the hard of these issues?

Fanny, the comments from family are nasty at times, but most of the time they are meant to be loving concern. Our parents can only parent us the way they were parented. If they were brought up with parents who showed concern and love by nagging or making humiliating comments, then they will do the same. Its only today really, that we have so much information out there to educate people on better ways to do things.

If men don't live fat women, then how do you explain all those men who will only date BBWs? Just because one man who happens to be your father doesn't like fat women, doesn't mean all men are the same! Kimmy, sorry but your mum is a bitch. I hope you give her as good as she gives you at xmas. Not in a nasty way, just a way that says you won't be taking her emotional abuse anymore - because that's what it is.

The amount of medication right for you depends on a lot of variables, your weight is one of them. Lose enough weight and it will through that balance out, meaning your medication won't be working properly. Going into a manic episode most likely means you are now having too much medication. Definitely give your doc a call. I've not been diagnosed with BP, but with SAD, which is fairly similar to BP. It just means my episodes are controlled by weather. This year was a tough one for me and I was mood swinging at one point, almost daily. I will be going to see a psyche soon, to see if I'm not BP after all.

Interesting point Anne. In Australia, the usual plan is to have Clear Liquids 24 hours after surgery, then full liquids for 2 weeks (give or take a day or 2), then mushies for 2 weeks. The reason given is the band is still new, eating proper food too soon can disturb it and lead to slippages. Also, the stitches around the band holing it in place, need time to heal. Eating proper foods leads the stomach to working hard at digestion, which can cause them to pull away. I don't know the figures, but it appears the US has a lot more slippage problem than Australia.

I know. I was cooking for my partner the whole time I was on liquids. It didn't seem to bother me though. Just remember, it won't last and you are doing this for yourself. You are doing something to make a positive change in your life.

Just worked this out today. Its not a 'don't take another bite' more a 'dam woman! you took too much'. I get a stabbing pain in the centre of my chest, then it goes right under my right breast and feels like someone has stuck a knife in there. Then I basically have it for about the next hour. Fun, huh?

I pity the men you know Dr justice, or maybe you are one of them?? Sex is great, sex is good, but its not the be all and end all of existence. I think people have gotten a bit off track here. The OP asked how long to wait. If someone is waiting longer than *you* think they should, then its your problem not there's.

Catherine, you are doing well. I read on your blog 12 pounds. That's great!! I've lost just under 8 in 4 weeks, but I'm still happy because I have PCOS, so to be losing anything is a real bonus for me. You will get there.

In Australia, we don't have to do a 6 month diet, we just have to do the 2 week Optifast diet before surgery. I stuck to that for 1 week, in the second week, I had to add extra foods and even bread because I was almost passing out at work. I do a very physically demanding job. The operation went well and I now have my band. It was primed during surgery, so I came out with restriction. Its a strange feeling that I'm still learning to work with, but I can tell you this, yes the band does restrict me. If I have too much - and at times 1/2 cup is too much - I get a stabbing pain in the centre of my chest and it goes right under my right breast. I can also feel it in my back. It feels like trying to walk around with a knife stuck in me for about an hour. I'm only 11 days out but I can tell you, the band definitely is making a difference already. I don't even crave coke anymore. I used to live on the stuff! Now I can pour it out for others and I have no interest.

Once you get home you can have any thing that will fit up a straw. I kept taking the Optifast - had to make each shake in 2 stages, about 35 minutes a part. I also had gatorade, fruit juice, milk drinks and custard - lots of custard. To start with, I would add milk so it ended up pretty much like a milk drink, but a couple of days out from mushy stage, I just left it as is, sort of a transition. coffee was good too and I made my own Soups. I would cook up some veg and chicken, then stick the whole lot in the blender until baby food consistency. Then I pushed it all through a sieve and only had the liquid. I kept the pulp in the freezer and now I can have it at this stage You will do fine. Just remember to take it really slowly.

Teri, have you tried toasting the bread so its not as doughy?