Graycie

I've had four fills since my op. And with the last fill I feel I've reached my 'sweat' spot. I'm full after five to ten bites and I'm not craving. Actually lost the 'cravings' awhile ago (believe it was fill 3). Can go to bed without having that dessert I usually had the last 10 years. I had a liquid shake today for lunch and could only drink 3/4's of it! Just before my last fill a week ago I was up and down 5 pounds for about 3 weeks. Since the fill I've dropped another 3 pounds. I'm at my lowest weight in over 10 years. I've cleaned out my closet and got rid of all my size 18's, 20s and 22s and higher. I'm determined not to keep anything over 18 and when I get down to 14 I'll get rid of all my 16s. Someone at work actually called me SVELTE! I haven't been considered svelte since my early 30s! And I still have about 80 pounds to go!

It took over a week for me, closer to two weeks. I read somewhere in this forum that walking helps a lot to reduce the gas. Of course I read that afterwards so didn't get a chance to try it. BTW, my pain was intense in the shoulder.

A nurse suggested that I use a pillow. Hold it close to your stomach area when you are about to sneeze or laugh. It helps.

I was told they would fall off by themselves, but that apparently wasn't happening. So I finally pulled mine off after 3 weeks.

At least you don't have a jerk for a husband/boyfriend like I do. I didn't tell my boyfriend I got banded (we have a long distance relationship). I have told him I lost 27 pounds since Feb. His response? "How much more do you have to lose? 400?" and then he laughs. I've lost a lot of respect for him....and he's lost me. Can't wait to show him the new me in 6 months!

Prior to banding (3/21), I heard that many banders felt satisfied eating less. That's why I got banded. I want to feel satisfied with less food. So back in Feb. I started practicing the new eating habits. Smaller portions, eating off dessert plates, no Water with meal, small bites, and putting fork down between bites. Just by doing this I lost 10 pounds in a month. But being banded is more than portion control. For years I ate till I was stuffed. Every meal...ate till stuffed. I have forgotten what it means to eat till I was satisfied. I don't know what that means! I have to re-learn what it means to be full. Do you know it takes 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain you are full? Usually by then I was beached on the couch watching tv. And since being banded I am slowly learning about food, about bad habits and about listening to my body. I admit there have been times when I knew I ate just a little too much. All in all tho, I think I'm doing pretty good at following the program. I continue to lose and I am definitely eating a lot less than I use to. I make a conscious decision to push my plate away (with food still on it!) and I feel good doing it! And as I wait 10 to 15 minutes later I know it was the right decision cause I feel satisfied! So there is more to being banded than thinking it is a miracle cure for being overweight. It is a program, just like any other weight loss program. Approaching banding with the idea you can continue eating exactly like you did prior to being banded is setting you up for failure. You need a different mind set. You need to follow the program (liquids/mushy/healthy and small portions). And exercise. How many of you are exercising? I am not doing as good in that area as I should. I've made a decision that starting today I was going to get more active. My yard needs raking. Why hire someone when I could get a good workout doing that? So I raked three bags of leaves. Yippee!! I need to repaint some walls....again, a good workout. And soon it will be lawn mowing, gutter cleaning, window cleaning, etc. (can u tell I live alone?). I made a committment when I said yes to banding. I am not going to tempt the band and find out if I can stuff myself. I am going to learn to be satisfied with smaller portions of good healthy food. And when I get tempted to try out that delicious chocolate cake at Bennigins, I'll take my Mom, buy it and have one bite and let her eat the rest and feel satisfied! This is working for me!

I haven't tried the vanilla yet. Bet it would be good with Silk Vanilla! And to mix in powdered pudding....who'da thought? Good idea! Can't wait to try it with pastachio! Claification on my past post: I mix in sugar free chocolate icecream, or fudgsicles not fudge. I actually never liked fudge, yet I love chocolate. Odd that.

I bought whey Protein in chocolate in the largest size at Walmart. I mix it with Chocolate low fat Silk milk, a few ice cubes and sometimes a banana or strawberries in a blender. I make a blender full for the entire day. And for special treat I may add sugar free Chocolate fudge for a real thick one for lunch. Since my dietician wants me to eat every 3 hours (6 am, 9am, noon, 3pm and 6pm), I have the shake at 6am, 9am and 3pm. It holds me over for mushy at noon and 6pm. And sometimes just a small 4 ounce around 8 or 9pm holds me over during those gotta have something sweet after dinner times. And tonight I stopped at my favorite mexican restaurant and got a bowl of their chicken with rice soup and a bag of their tortilla chips to go and when I got home I blended it in the blender with some tortilla chips. Then heat and serve with 1/2 an avocado, and I'm in heaven! I could only eat about 4 ounces of it so it turns a bowl of soup into three meals!

I have a very very bad case of turkey neck. For years I always wondered how some that were heavier could have such beautiful necks. Then I noticed my father....I got his turkey neck...and his legs....and his hands....figures. Has anyone gotten plastic surgery for turkey neck covered by insurance?

I am afraid to admit it, but I had a lot of discomfort the first week and a half. I had to use a pillow on each side of me because of the pain. I did use the pain pills, but they make you constipated, so I only took them when I couldn't take the discomfort. One piece of advice: keep a pillow around for those times you sneeze or laugh very hard. My first sneeze about did me in. Hold the pillow firmly to your stomach when you sneeze or laugh. My co-workers make me laugh a lot...so I'd laugh then ouch, then laugh, then ouch. They got a kick out of it. My third week my port hurt. That was cause I was sitting too much (my job requires a lot of sitting at computer). When you sit your put a lot of pressure on your stomach area. I now get up every 30 to 60 minutes and walk around. Helped a lot! I feel I'm eating more than I should, yet I continue to lose! I'm amazed! My dietician put me on a 3 meals a day with two Snacks. So I eat every 3 hours. Still in the mush stage. And if I have something that isn't mushy (tortilla chips - soaked in chicken broth) I chew, chew, chew! Found if I don't chew enough, there's a lot of discomfort, especially around my port and on my left side. I am definitely eating a lot less than I use to. Today had cottage cheese, salsa and avocado! It was delish. Tomorrow I have french onion Soup....can't wait! I love the Protein shakes and they really really help curb my appetite. I have them for Breakfast and mid morning snack and sometimes my mid afternoon snack. Put in blender, add icecubes and a little fruit and it's wonderful. And if you have it for a meal add a little sugar free low calorie scoop of chocolate icecream. Ymmm! When I'm on regular food again, I'm going to continue with the Protein Shakes. I like them that much! And I have not exercised much yet....walking a lot more and have lots of yard work (raking, planting, etc.). I'm also actually considering the gym at work - going in real early in morning before the rush. I think getting banded is one of the best decision I have ever made, second only to me quitting smoking over 15 years ago! Banded: 3/21/08

Thanks mia31771. I was having my cream of wheat Breakfast while reading your response. It was one of those envelopes of the instant. Couldn't eat all of it. Pre-band that didn't happen very often. I rarely left anything on the plate. For three months prior to banding I ate off a desert plate, rarely taking seconds. I've been eating healthy for several years now with little affect on my weight. No butter, no soda, lots of fish and chicken (skinless) and veggies, no fried foods. I gave up fast foods a long time ago. That was never my problem. Portions were my issue. Eating slower and off desert plate helped take off 10 pounds prior to banding. That was a nice bonus, but I know that I would not be able to continue eating like this forever and I would eventually regain the weight plus some. What others posted is true....if I could control my eating I would not have banded. I am hoping the band does what I could not...tell me I'm full or face the consequences! I was also told that some felt satisified with less food. I so want to have that experience! That's why I was happy when I craved pizza and was satisfied with the one bite! So I'll continue eating mushy foods for another three weeks. At least my grocery bill has gone down!

Lapbanded 3/21/08 and still have the five strips covering the incisions. I know not to pull them off, but how long before they fall off? My shirts are rubbing against them and at times they 'catch' which is a not so nice feeling.

My first slime was cause I didn't cut my meds in half and they got stuck. Very uncomfortable. Haven't had a second one yet.