cashley

I had my first fill on 3/21/06 also. I got 1.7 and so far so good. I've eaten a little less today and mostly did liquid and mushies since I don't want to push it. I feel a touch of restriction but not much but I'm sure I'll know better when I get back on full solids.

I've heard of it. The nurse at our support meeting said everytime you fill it up and then remove it's always a little less. She said it's like the sock that gets missing in the dryer. She was joking really but demonstrated it to us.

Wow - I've been Banded for a month and just found this journal area. It's really nice because so many questions I have of others are right here. It's nice to see other people who have been though what you are going though. I'll start this jounal with how I got to this point... I was young in college and thin. I could eat anything I wanted it was great. Of course you don't realize it then. I taught aerobics to put myself though college and had a weight lifter boy friend. What a life. Had I know that would be part of my metibolic issue now I might not have tried so hard then. I busted my butt to stay fit and thin but didn't diet. Soon it got harder and harder. I had to workout more and there just wansnt that much time. I started dieting but it seemed to be a downhill slope. Getting worse each time and harder to lose. I finally tried Phen Fen... It worked - Lost it all - felt great Until they took it off the market. Gained it all back. Nothing worked.... My doctors didn't believe me they said I wasn't working out enough or I was eating too much. I kept journals they didn't want to look at. I finally went to my endo for my hypoglcymia and she said most people don't really have hypoglcymia that it's in their head... she sent me home but first wanted to do a blood test. My suger was in the 50's and they wouldn't let me drive until it reached 70... and she thought it was in my head. She send me to a dietian and she said cut your carbs... it was such BS! I've told a lot of people I was having this surgery and they said but you don't need it you're not that heavy. (Just diet) People don't realize I work my butt off just to stay at 220 and not go higher. Well I workout more then anyone I know, I eat less then many people I know. My mom has diabetes and heart disease. She had a massive heart attack at only 45 years old and had to have by-pass surgery. She's thin for the first time in her life and she didn't diet or change her eating at all. I swear it's hormones... why would my mom's body change so fast and now she eats way more then me. Anyway here I am - tired of fighting the fight and not going anywhere. I'll just cry if this doesn't work becuase I don't mind the work as long as I can at least see some results. It's the weeks after weeks that turn into months after months of staying on a strict diet, working out and not losing. My doctor finally said once - You're body is just "used" to your workout - you'll have to workout harder. (There just isnt that much time in a day)

This stuff may have been posted before (I didn't do a search) because it's just a subject for regular conversation. I've read several people on here who eat their Protein first then their veggies and last the carbs (I think that's the order I've seen) So my question for discussion is how often you get full before you even get to you veggies. I mean I'm glad to be full before veggies and I guess it's a learning process to know how much protein to take on your plate so you can finish at least what you think is going to be needed. I remember reading somewhere when you feel full you should stop and one more bit would be "painful"... Since i'm just recently filled I'm trying to plan my "plate" portions. Like some say 1/2 the plate in veggies 1/4 protein 1/4 carbs. - I know I can't eat that much right now) I'm sure everyone is different and some people might not even follow the protein first rule.

Are you sure it's not a 10cm band? I thought the 11cm banc held 12cc and the 10cm band held 4cc?

That's a good idea to do the "Every 4th Bite" for the veggies... I wasn't actually worried about getting the carbs in I was just using the 1/4 of a plate "idea" I'd heard about before. I wasn't sure where others learned about the Protein first idea... I've never read that before. I've read to keep the carbs low and I've done Atkins for years but never heard to make it first.

Becca - Have you had your surgery yet? I think I read on the other KY thread that you were doing the 6 month dr supervised diet? I'm from Louisville also and had Dr. Lusco do my surgery. I just saw him yesterday for my first fill.

My family jumps down my throat too for taking about it so much... I don't guess they understand how hard it is and how much we just want to talk about it.

I haven't tried steak yet but I can see that this would be a useful technique. I'm sure I may do it on purpose just to taste the steak but don't want it stuck. I think I'll refrain if I'm at Ruth Chris's Steakhouse... since it's so tender I doubt spitting would be reqired and I wouldn't want to get kicked out. BTW - did you all see the Sex in the City episode where Carrie went to LA and her old friend who used to be fat was spitting out his perfectly good steak. It was so funny... she dumped him as a friend because no "Well respected New Yorker would spit out steak"

I agree 100% with the above... I've been on message boards for years and sometimes new threads of the same ole' questions can be annoying but this is about "daily" conversation and not just information. This board is for support so that newbies and oldies alike can share in a common experience. It's not that difficult to skip over post that are annoying. If you do a search and find your answer great.. but if you want to talk to someone about it what are you going to do post at the bottom of a really old thread? It's much nicer to just have a new thread.

I've seen a lot of you post that after the fill you have only liquids for 2 - 3 days. My doctor said I could go back to solids a day or two and to do what I was comfortable with. (I hate vague rules - I tend to break them!) He acted like it wasn't a big deal and it's not like after surgery when you are healing but more of the "getting used to the fill" aspect. Soooo my question are 1. Does every one here do liquids after a fill for the required 2 or 3 days? 2. If the fill doesn't feel to restrictive do you progress yourself to more solids? 3. He scheduled me for another fill (maybe) in 6 weeks but If I don't feel restricted would you call after 2 weeks, 3 weeks or wait the entire 6 weeks? I was filled yesterday and had liquids all day until late when I was staving. I had some mushies. I felt nice and comfortable full but not stuffed or in pain which I thought was good. But today I'm very hungrey and the liquids aren't cutting it. I'm debating mushies again since they didn't hurt yesterday but I feel "guilty" about breaking the liquid rule.

I'm on vacation the first week of April so I don't plan on doing anything until after that. I guess then if I don't feel restricted I'll call him. I bet it's really harder when you go and have to pay for each fill and find that you didn't get enough. I'm getting ready for some lunch now... some yummy mushies!

I finally have a fill but already broke the liquid rule on day one and added some mushies. I don't know why I continue to break the rules. Normally on a diet I don't break the rules usually until week 8 or 9... It's just it seems so hard to do liquids only. I got 1.7cc's in my 4cc band. I feel real hungrey today and have had a protein shake and coffee and water. I'll probably need another fill early but will wait at least 3 weeks since I have a vacation the first week in April. The hard part about the fill was telling the doctor what I felt while I drank water. He wanted to know when the water felt it was going down. Well really I didn't feel anything. I should have told him I didn't really even feel the water stop in my chest like he said it was. That was on full-fill level. Yikes I'm a bit scared I want this to work so bad.

I finally have a fill but already broke the liquid rule on day one and added some mushies. I don't know why I continue to break the rules. Normally on a diet I don't break the rules usually until week 8 or 9... It's just it seems so hard to do liquids only. I got 1.7cc's in my 4cc band. I feel real hungrey today and have had a protein shake and coffee and water. I'll probably need another fill early but will wait at least 3 weeks since I have a vacation the first week in April. The hard part about the fill was telling the doctor what I felt while I drank water. He wanted to know when the water felt it was going down. Well really I didn't feel anything. I should have told him I didn't really even feel the water stop in my chest like he said it was. That was on full-fill level. Yikes I'm a bit scared I want this to work so bad.

I think both are fine. The only issue I beleive would be the hot sauce would make you want to drink. I still use it but put an ice cube in my mouth then spit it out.

The 10 Rules - 1. Eat only three small meals a day 2. Eat slowly and chew thoroughly 3. Stop eathing as soon as you feel full 4. Do not drink while you are eating 5. Do not eat between meals 6. Eat only good quality foods 7. Avoid fibrous foods 8. Drink enough fluids during the day 9. Drink only low-calorie liquids 10.Exercise at least 30 mintues a day

Wow! I didn't realize it was available like that... I should have stocked up. I didn't have any heart damage either and really felt like the extra weight damaged my heart worse. (Actually my doctor convincend me of that fact). I have heart disease in my family but it's caused by obesity and damaged blocked arteries. The Fen didn't cause that type of damage but valve damage. My doctor was convincented that the rick was lower then the benefit for most people. She's still prescribe it if she was allowed. I've tried the Phen and the Meridia but never together. Does it make you gittery?

I had it really bad and though I had read about it wasn't prepared for the Gas Pain most of all the issues. It didn't feel normal and seemed like it took to long to go away. But now it's a distant memory that "doesn't seem that bad"... Though I thought I was dying then.

Wow! You look great and it looks way more fun then my boring computer conventions... I visited your website too... I may need to place and order ~~evil grin~~

The last supper mentality was funny since earlier tonight I told my Mom that I needed something good for dinner since I was getting my fill tomorrow and she said "You've been having your last supper for 8 weeks now and I'm not buying it".... The pain of eating too fast really puts a stop to it quickly. I haven't had a PB yet but plenty of intense hiccups that hurt like hell.... I chew and chew and chew now.

I haven't told my dad at all yet... he's kind of critical of doctors, surgeries, etc... he thinks everything can be done on your own. I've tried to tell him that I no longer felt I could do this on my own. But he always has crazy diet ideas and stuff. I don't think he'd be supporative. He's good on other things but not weight - doesn't understand the probelm. Sorry you're dad told... makes me want to keep my secret longer.

The nurse at my support group (the in-person) group told us to try a little hot tea to open the band a little. She said not to do it just to over eat but to relax the band when it feels to tight in the morning etc.

I'm getting the feeling I'm not being clear at all on here... I'm not disputing the 3500 calories = 1 pound.... but it's only a weight lose for a person if "and only if" you are creating a deficit. Haven't I said that several times?

I didn't say the 3500 calorie deficit didn't equal one pound... I said the math in the post above wasn't correct since it doesn't take into account the BMR. I said it wasn't such simple science to only take what is in and out to equal your defict since you have to take your BMR into account.

If it was such a simple science then the obesity rate wouldn't be so high. 3500/ Calories In-Calories Out doesn't always equal a one pound lose. If that was the case people who stick to a plan and exercise and keep track of their BMR wouldn't stall... wouldn't have weight loss spurts... or weight gains. The fact is there are people who have hormone issues, slow metabolisms, yo-yo'ed dieted... lose at different rates.