drtifg

Hello, Well I haven't posted in a bit because I'm a bit embarassed. Compared to all of you that got banded in the same time frame that I did, you wouldn't even know that I have a band. I think I've lost 3-5 lbs total. In earlier posts I talked about having no restriction basically - I I know I have a problem with placing myself on a "diet" or restriction - that is why I needed help with a band. Anyway - I've been back for two fills (one after 6 weeks and one after 8 weeks) - I'm now finally feeling restriction - definitely foods that won't go down and things that come back up. I'm learning to mentally "want" different things, since I spent all that time trying out all the foods I love while I had no restriction. My problem is now I eat things that go down easily - like Soups but I'm hungry all the time. I can fill up quickly and be hungry 20-30 minutes later! This leaves me to do alot of "grazing", munching on things that go down easily but are bad choices (like chips and mini-cookies) - I've had a bad experience with salad, but maybe it wasn't the salad but the amount? I can't seem to do any meats except fish. So, I'm afraid I still don't have it right. I'm really frustrated with the hungry thing - do you think it's actual hunger or a mental thing because I'm overliffany aware of what I can't have? I feel like I'm constantly thinking about what I can eat, even planning the next days food - I HATE THINKING ABOUT FOOD THIS MUCH! If I stayed full longer, perhaps it would be different. SO, any help or suggestions would be helpful...anyone that can relate would be even nicer...is thre anyone on this board who is not making good progress and is willing to make me feel less like THE ONLY FAILURE?? 2 and a half months and 3 lbs is not good. Tiffany

Thanks for the encouragement.

Hey, I completely understand your frustration - I have had two fills. They amount to about 7 ccs but my doctore seems to be unaware of the total size band I have - he told me the name of the band. But I can go back every 2 weeks. At least you've lost weight - 8 weeks out I've only lost 3 lbs!

Mia (and everyone else) - Thanks for the encouragement - I probably would have lost more weight by now if I trusted the diet plan more - but I'm "too smart for my own good" - so I found out that the diet is "for best results" but that I could eat more than the plan would mhave me believe - kudos to you all that can stick with the plan. I ALWAYS outsmart myself - it is part of my self-defeating/self-destructive attitude I guess. Anyway - have a 2nd fill next MOnday - looking forward to asking him about the size of my band and about a maximum filling since I'm so hard-headed. Looking forward to restriction-heaven!!

Thanks - it's just hard feeling like I don't have any "help" with the band because I'm well aware of my dieting issues before the band and how much I need help. But thanks.

Thank you so much for your comments. I think that it is alot more realistic to hear that you will get to a point of restriction that you need to be prepared for. I have had the problem of being able to eat normally since 1 week post-op. Then 1 day post my first fill. Yes, I test it and try things and everything goes down fine. Most of the responses I have gotten to my concerns are much like SweetPea's comments about "just because you can doesn't mean that you should". I do understand this rationale -HOWEVER, if I could operate on that principle alone, I would not have needed the band! This is where I get frustrated - but hearing that it may take a while but I will feel restriction and I need to be prepared for it or I might end up feeling worse off in the future is good. Also, I'm open to more ways to "psych myself out" - I've been professionally dieating since I was 10 years old. I know all the rules and principles of good nutrition and making smart choices. At 300 lbs, obviously I know how to ignore those rules and I made a committment to work with the band, thinking that the band was going to work for me - not as magic but sure as an internal/physical "tool" to help me STOP at smaller amounts of food - the type of food is up to me (mainly) - yet at this point, all foods and big amounts are open game. I don't know what size bamd I have, but I have 4.5 cc now and I'm failing at the "make yourself eat small meals". In fact, if I go on liguids only, I can still consume 32 ounces or more at any one moment. SIGH! HELP!

Hello everyone - Can you give me a little more advice on the "making better choices" thing? I mean, being REAL, we all know that we should make better choices and eat "right" with or without a band - and most of us could not accomplish this before being banded - but if I was so good at making good choices, I wouldn't have needed to be banded. So, perhaps you could give me some different ways to "psych" myself out since restriction isn't happening? I mean, I test the band - and eventhough I shouldn't I do. It's like I need to know that the band is there and I'm not convinced that it is. I understand that there is always going to be an issue of making good choices, but what about the issue of not being able to eat as much since your stomach is supposedly much smaller. That's the tool part - I'm not talking ice cream vs. yogurt here - I can eat a HORSE as olgi330 stated. PLEASE HELP!!

Hello, I was banded on Feb 15th - one week after surgery I enjoyed a fried pork chop, potato chips and pancakes. Once discovering that these things went down without a problem - I've been on a "eat it now before you can't" quest which is actually worse than before I even considered getting surgery (you know the desperation)! I patiently waited my 6 weeks for a fill, asked for the maximum - got 5 cc's yesterday, and tested it out today. Still hungry, still could eat the pancakes. Something's not right or I'm doomed. I don't post one of those weight loss tickers because I haven't loss any weight. Sigh...:thumbup::frown::frown:

Hello. I'm beginning to feel like my band doesn't work or something. I am 6 weeks post-op and only during the first week post surgery have I felt any eating restrictions. Perhaps my problem is that I'm determined to "test" it - meaning I try foods before the "prescribed diet" says that you can eat them. however, Just like week 2 after surgery and now one day after my first fill (and I asked for the maximum amount!) - I seem to be able to eat anything - I can drink large amounts, and I feel no restrictions. I see on other posts that a great deal of the struggle and putting yourself on restrictions and dieting - however, if I could do that successfully, I wouldn't have needed the surgery!! I suppose I need to go back for more fills, but I do think it is odd that I feel no difference, especially when i see how much of a fill I got compared to other posts - I think that my bad isn't working

I'm confused. Since you don't feel much restriction - how have you managed to lose weight? I haven't lost any! I understand that conceptually I should be sticking to the plan - but if I'm hungry and/or I know I can eat anything, it is challenging and I wonder why did I get the band to being with!! Any advice, tips on ways to start tricking myself? For instance, I've noticed that I'm still big on drinking and eating at the same time, and if I worked on changing this habit, perhaps I would fill up faster?? But as for making right choices - that's a bigger struggle. I guess I thought that the band was going to be a good tool to help me with certain choices like bread and starches - making it hard or impossible to eat them, which would help me tremendously as those are my biggest problem foods.