cashley

Well I started really slow. My surgery date was 2/8/06.. I was hungry day one after surgery. I didn't stay on liquids as long as I was supposed to because of my hunger (but I got my doctors permission to move to the next stage). I didn't lose anything during the liquid phase which was soooo discourging. My doctor was really nice and he said since I had started with a lower BMI and because I had a bad history of yo-yo dieting that it could take awhile to start losing. I lost about 6 pounds on my first fill of 1.7 cc on 3/21 .... I lost about 5 more before my second fill on 4/18... since then I've had great restriction though a bit tight for about three weeks and I had to be careful what I ate or I'd PB. I've started losing but still my average is only a bit more then 1.5 pounds per week. I exercise about 30 - 60 minutes 5 days a week with cardio and weights. I know it's kind of slow but I'm not unhappy becasue I'm finally going down and I'm thankful for that. I know that had I not done this I'd be 28 pounds heavier then I was and not 28 pounds lights. I was very discourged in the beginning not losing and hungry all the time and that's why I responded to you. I really depended those first few months upon the help of the people here to guide me though what was normal. I didn't know at that time it was "normal" to be hungrey until you achieved the proper fill level. Some people are lucky and have restriction right away but some don't. I didn't have an unfill since my body seemed to adapt to the fill I had and I'm very comfortable now with what I'm eating and "not eating".

My friends and family are more important then the carpet... I want them to be comfortable how ever they perfer to walk into my home... shoes or no shoes... It just sounds rather stuffy and arrogant to ask people to take off their shoes just to keep your carpet a bit cleaner... hell their feet could be nasty so shoes could be better. I want my guest to feel welcome and comfortable and I don't have a lot of silly rules about "my stuff"... I can always buy more stuff... but I can't "buy" new friends and family. (not the kind I'd want anyway) Also who wants to keep their crap ass carpet forever - it usually goes out of style before it wears out.

No "too full" is when you can't keep food down after a week or so... The day of the fill you get swollen so that's why you could think you are too full when you really aren't. That is why most doctors have you do liquids for a day or two after the fill. So the swelling can go down with out you PB'ing. It takes about a week or more to really know how the fill is going to be...

Exactly... I wouldn't think you'd research or investigate the multple account issue unless it was a problem and people were complaining about "trollish behavior"

Everyone is different. I have 2.8 cc's some people are happy with 1cc... It all depends on your internal workings... That's why it's called a sweet spot, you have to keep getting small comfortable fills until you hit the right spot. My doctor went a bit too fast and I was too full for awhile and that doesn't feel too good.

Penni - it isn't even close to illegal to investigate the IP address of anyone using the internet. And second I wasn't addressing my post to you or any of the moderators personally... but I have been a moderator and a board owner before and most have a simple button to look up the IP if you choose... if this one doesn't my apology. I didn't think you would have time to research each user name except when there is a complaint about a person that "seems like another person" with a different user name. Everyone here was trying to define a troll as a mean person but it's also a regular user that is posing as a new user. My only idea to discourge someone setting up troll accounts was the public outing... It was just an idea if that is a problem... if it's not... disregard the idea.

You should always be able to get water down even a lot of water.... And it's normal to be hungry until you get the sweet spot on your fill... it could take two or three fills... don't get discouraged it takes time. I know it's hard to hear - I was ready to cuss people who told me to just be patient (spelling)... but know I know how true it was.

I think posting nasty post toward someone is wrong no matter if you are using your regular name or a troll account. But I do feel that people who set up troll user accounts just to bash someone is a coward that is scared to say what they want to say under their normal user name. It's so easy for the moderator to tell that an account is set-up using the same IP address and they should be outted for it. Publicly outed in a thread that this person has a troll account and is spouting nasties while hiding behind a different user name. Being nasty here for no reason is wrong... but in addition to being wrong a troll account is childish!

I'd like to add to the defination now that I've had bunches of them.... I think they are the same thing as throwing up but you don't get all the stomach acid and nasty taste. Some people define it like a baby spitting up. To me it's like vomitting but a whole lot less nasty. (And I don't think it rots your teeth as bad) I'd read many definations and stories here but when I had my first one... it wasn't so bad! For me it happens with certain food (like bread & pasta) or when I don't chew properly or eat too fast.

Do you have any tips that work the best for you... maybe you could share them here so we can all learn from them. #1 - I love doritos with dip... also it's weird but they go down the band too easy. So instead of given them up for good I buy a regular size bag and divide them into 13 single size packages so I know not to over eat them. It works for me to get a serving and it's better then the old days when I'd be depressed that I couldn't have more. I'm actually satisfied with just one serving. #2 - I used to get soooo thirsty at resturants and it was hard to not drink. Now I get an iced tea or something delicious or just Water and drink it all before my meal. It normally takes so long for the meal to come that I have time to let my 15 minutes prior go by and then I don't get as thirsty during the meal. I always tell the waitress not to fill up my glass after my meal comes. #3 - I eat Fiber one or raisin bran for Breakfast and it keeps me "regular"

Can we still use "foul language" if we want? (as long as it's not attacking another peson?) I'm only asking because though I rarely use it in a post I've read one or two really funny ones that just wouldn't be the same with fake cus words (Example: StewartS's PB post was just great)

I am a Software Implementation Consultant for Payroll & HR Software.... It is a nice job but I travel a lot and that can be hard on "eating healthy"...

This is funny since i used to love the smell of Krispy Kreme donoughts and I was at place where I could smell them recently and they totally turned my stomach. I thougth I was going to puke from the sicken sweet smell.... I love that side effect... I also love the fact that I can have treats and not over induldge. To me it's a lifestyle change that I can live with forever. If I totally eliminate all junk from my life I can do it for awhile but this way it's not really a temptation since i know I can have some once in awhile in limited quantites. It's what works for me. I didn't give up suger or bread or junk but I'm happy to say I'm not very interested in having any of them very much. In fact I used to be a sweet junkie and now Doritos are what temps me and I'm totally happy with a few chips! I might be in the honeymoon phase also... but I love this band today! I love to have the choice of what I eat...

Ok... just to start this post I want everyone to know I'm not trying to be mean here or judge anyone for the choice to "Not Tell the Truth" about your weight loss but... I just want to tell you my feelings when I was on the other side. I used to always be so happy to see someone suceeding at weight loss... and I guess I was nosy and asked what they were doing. Surely I thought they knew some secret I didn't know. Well when the person would answer with surgery or a diet pill I'd be happy becuase at least I knew they had some help and that was still and option to me. When people just answer "I ate less and exercised more"... well I might be super sensitive but I felt like "crap" cuz I'd tried "eating less and exercising more" many times and always failed. I'd sometimes felt like they were kind of rubbing it in my face... hahaha that's all it took I just ate less. I guess I was looking for the magic bullet. And I think I've found it. I know it's still hard work, still needs dedication and willpower, it still requires some dieting and lots of exercise but it helps so much! I might not want to tell every "skinny" person I meet that I had surgery but anyone else I know that is having the same struggle then I want them to know the truth. Just my 2 cents!

Well the weight came off fast for a few weeks and now it's stuck again. I woke up this morning three pounds heaver then yesterday. I only ate 1100 calories but I know that's too much. It's hard to stick between 600-800 but that's what it takes to lose for me. It's sad to think that I have to go that low... I'm so comfortable with about 1100 calories and know that should work. Anyway it goes 1100 calories shouldn't cause a gain. I just don't know.

Well the weight came off fast for a few weeks and now it's stuck again. I woke up this morning three pounds heaver then yesterday. I only ate 1100 calories but I know that's too much. It's hard to stick between 600-800 but that's what it takes to lose for me. It's sad to think that I have to go that low... I'm so comfortable with about 1100 calories and know that should work. Anyway it goes 1100 calories shouldn't cause a gain. I just don't know.

Aaaarrrgh... me too! For like two weeks now the same pound comes and goes... I'd like it to just go! Janet-I wish I lived close to you all cuz I want to attend one of your lunches... maybe I could attend in sprit?

I say "NO"... I've done all those things before I was banded and I'm being totally honest they didn't work. Mainly I'm sure it was my own fault but I would get discouraged back then, feel deprived and depressed and if I didn't see results in 3 - 6 months then I'd quit. Now I see results (slow but at lease results), I don't feel deprived in fact I feel satisfied with what I eat daily and I'm not depressed, love life and am ready to keep trucking every day toward my goal. To me it's a huge difference... I realize it's just a tool but it's an excellent tool! Edited because maybe I missed your point.... phycological tool maybe yes... but also it's physically made me feel those feelings. The 'statisfaction' in my belly feeds my head!

I agree that the light ones are good and I don't think the calories are too bad. The main thing is they are "liquid Calories" and since we don't get many calories per day it's best to choose High Quality solid food. That being said I also agree that one a week wouldn't be in excess. I had to give up a daily "full cream" latte' habit and it was way easier then I thougt. Something about all that hot think milk makes me a little gaggy now. I still like the frozen coffee drinks and regular coffee with a touch of cream in the morning but it's amazing how my taste changed.

Do you mean if you don't have at least 1000 then you don't lose of if you go over. I'm finding that if I have anywhere between 600 - 800 I lose but if I have a week of 1000 - 1200 I gain. I never realized that my body "wanted - needed" so little calories. I used to think that if I went that low I'd go in to starvation mode and not lose but it seems I was wrong.

Well I guess you're close now for your first fill... It'd be nice if Medicare let the doctors decide when you needed the first fill. Do they control all of them? Like to they have a recommened schedule that your doctor has to follow?

P'Nut - It looks like you have much love and support on this board... even if you are a "Rule Follower".. (just teasin') Don't let grouchy people get you down - keep your chin up and keep on supporting! Thanks for all the support!

I used to do that too... I'd be like "Oh well the day is ruined I might as well eat more good food" and now I do the same as you...

I don't think that's really too much but I do enjoy having a fill so now I really know when to stop. I've learned not to get to the "hard" stop place and now just get a nice comfortable nudge. I have a pretty agressive fill doctor but I'm surpriese that you are three months out and don't have even a small fill.

I've heard about some doctors doing "Cosmetic" Lap banding for anyone with only 40 pounds to loose. I was "stupid" and gained weight just to get my BMI up. After doing that it really took a long time for my weight lose to kick in. And I found out my doctor wouldn't have done the surgery anyway since i was self pay. (The first surgeon I saw wouldn't do it (even self pay) so I gained weight and went to another surgeon. - Later found out he would have done it without my extra weight gain)