fluffycat

I have good restriction and I definitely know when I am full. It feels the same way as being full before the lap band. What makes you push away from the table after Thanksgiving? What makes you stop eating? You must have experienced that miserable feeling we all get when we eat too much. Its the same way after the lapband. You have to push away from the table and stop. You can still make yourself feel miserable if you eat too much. However, now the portions are much smaller than before the lapband. Thank goodness every meal is not Thanksgiving. We all tend to overeat at times--just don't make it a Thanksgiving dinner at every meal. Then you will stretch out the pouch. Consistently overeating to the point of feeling miserable. By the way, the full feeling is not the same as being stuck. If food is stuck in the pouch, its downright painful. Just put the fork down because it won't pass or get any better. It must come back up. Sometimes the food will pass. but now I know if it will pass or come back up because of the type of food. Dense meat (chicken, pork, etc) will have to come back up. And I chew it to death!

I have good restriction and I definitely know when I am full. It feels the same way as being full before the lap band. What makes you push away from the table after Thanksgiving? What makes you stop eating? You must have experienced that miserable feeling we all get when we eat too much. Its the same way after the lapband. You have to push away from the table and stop. You can still make yourself feel miserable if you eat too much. However, now the portions are much smaller than before the lapband. Thank goodness every meal is not Thanksgiving. We all tend to overeat at times--just don't make it a Thanksgiving dinner at every meal. Then you will stretch out the pouch. Consistently overeating to the point of feeling miserable. By the way, the full feeling is not the same as being stuck. If food is stuck in the pouch, its downright painful. Just put the fork down because it won't pass or get any better. It must come back up. Sometimes the food will pass. but now I know if it will pass or come back up because of the type of food. Dense meat (chicken, pork, etc) will have to come back up. And I chew it to death!

Why am I fat? Lazy--plain & simple. Weight management takes dedication, commitment and discipline. All of my weakest attributes. Oh, and I really, really do like food -- fixing it, smelling it, eating it, etc.

I got a 4 cc band in May 2008. I have had one fill of 1.4cc and am definitely restricted. It is a learning process. Your doctor will have the best answers.

You all are too funny. I enjoy reading this thread even though it doesn't concern me at all. I have always had a big round butt. So tell me girls, after weight loss does it go away; aka flat? Or is that a personal body shape thing. I can picture a hanging tummy flap but a sagging butt I can not.

this has been an interesting week getting used to my first fill. This morning I could feel the tightness of the band in my body. That's wierd. I was hungry during the night but after getting up I wasn't. I'm really not that hungry any more. I still want to eat though. Dinner time is bad for me. That band won't let anything thru. Afternoons seem to be the best time for me to eat.

What's up with weight loss and gall bladder surgery. I see that so much on the forums. Are they related somehow?

Just curious, were you a runner before lapband? How and at what point did you get started on a running routine? A whole marathon is so far out in my wildest dreams!

I had my 1st fill on Saturday and it has taken some getting used to. I have been so stuck twice that I had to upchuck the food. I now know the difference in being stuck (the pain in the chest does not go away) and being too full. (The pain in the chest will subside) When I get that feeling I have to walk away--stop eating--not another bite, no water, nothing. If it doesn't pass in about 15 minutes, I know to hang over the sink and bring it up. But the good news is that I am chewing now like never before. I don't randomly swallow--I chew some more, and more, and more--then swallow. I have to think about it. I feel like Pavlov's dog--relearning new tricks with positive and negative reinforcement.

I'm one of those people who will have to eat the sweet. But I fight it off as long as possible before giving in. sometimes I actually forget the craving. If it won't go away, I indulge in a mini bar. That's enough for me to satisfy the craving.

To drop 90 pounds in 4 months sounds like a lot to me!

Wow. You are very inspiring. and to pose in a bathing suit. You motivate me to stay on track!

I have some of those. I don't like them because the high-waisted ones tend to roll. and the leg ones roll also. maybe I am still too fat. And those stays can poke you in the ribs. To pull that down to pee and then pull it back up burns so many calories!! I would rather exercise!

here's a funny. got stuck on chicken and decided to turn myself upside down to dislodge it. Don't laugh--it worked! but that same small piece of chicken eventually went right back down and plugged me up again. Bottom line is this--there is a difference in being full and having chest pain and another thing to be plugged and have chest pain. If you are plugged--it will have to come back up. It's the only way. I am learning this the hard way.

93 pounds in less than a year! That's fantastic!!!! I would love to see the before and after pics. They keep me so motivated.

I had my 1st fill on Saturday morning. My doctor recommended 1cc but she gave me 1.4cc and I think that was just right. I can't eat as much. I can't tolerate chicken at all no matter how much I chew it up. OMG its hard to get used to this banded feeling. I really have to slow down. And even without being filled and not really trying, I still lost 3 pounds. My goal is 1 or 2 lbs per week.

Chris, I live close to the last segment of the Wonderwood bridge. They had it almost finish and then -- voila -- they disappeared. Some equipment has been left but no one is around anymore. Of course all the lanes have not been opened. Maybe its just too hot here right now for road work?

I live in Jax but was banded in MX. I am going to the Moultrie fill center. My problem is, other than this website, I don't have a support group, nutritionalist, etc. I don't see anyone regularly but I have read where you all have scheduled appointments every few weeks. Is there a support group in Jax I can go to? free of charge would really help out. Thanks

I researched the fill center in Moultrie and am going for my 1st visit this Saturday. I have heard good things about Darlene Zebley. Here's the thing though--she works in Atlanta also and is only available 2 Saturdays each month in Moultrie. How do you schedule that when you don't know how the fill is going to be? After reading the forum threads, I realize many people get fills regularly--every couple of weeks. Moultrie is a 3 hour drive from Jacksonville so i hope i don't have to go often. It was the best solution for the price that i could come up with.

My doctor from MX spelled out exactly how much to fill each time. I guess he sympathizes with us self-pays.

Momlambert, How do you put 4.2 cc in a 4 cc band? Also, if you have had 15 fills--is that like a quarter cc each time? Is that worth it to you and the doctor to do so little at a time? My doctor said to do 1 cc the1st time and then .5 each time after that.

I have a question for y'all. My lapband has not kicked in yet (i haven't had a fill yet). So when I "diet" and get really hungry, my body gets weak and light headed. You know how ketosis feels when you stand up too quickly and your head swims? So if your lapband restricts how much you eat--don't you still get that ketosis feeling? Today at work I broke out in a cold sweat--it was uncontrollable and embarassing. I am through menopause. I felt so hungry. Don't you still get those feelings if you cut calories down to 1000/day?

I too love to read the posts but don't reply much. the other night i was reading a PS journey of 2 ladies on here and could not believe the ordeal. One was cut 360 degrees! the whole way around her body. they talked of drains, being out of work for weeks, the pain, and recovery time. unbelievable. much moer involved than a lapband.

I am so looking forward to my fill!!! Hopefully, I will go back to what I was like after surgery. No hunger desires! Didn't want to eat, didn't think about eating. Now that was great.

I read an article recently about American "cuisine." I thought about the lap band because I had these foreign students all month and they treat all the host families to their native foods at an International Faire. The article asked what represents American food? the consensus was Burgers & fries, Barbeque, Apple pie, fried chicken, and chocolate chip cookies. The writer goes on to say we could have had the monopoly on fast food but we chose to export it to the rest of the world. Is it no wonder we struggle with weight and diet issues? At least misery enjoys company--now the rest of the world can join our plight!