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terilynn, I'm so sorry your precious little one is facing this, and I know it's going to be very hard on you. I'll keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

Sue, that's GREAT news!!! I'm so happy for you. Don't be embarrassed about the weight gain. If we could control our weight on our own, I'm just sure none of us would be having surgery. I know I wouldn't have spent $13,500 out of pocket either.

That's great to know luluc. I know from family members who are have used the both the liquid and the pills, that they strongly recommend the pills. I'm glad to know that when time comes for me, that I have the option, with the approval of my doctor. Abby thanks for your advice too. It's very helpful.

I know the pills are supposed to be much better than the liquid stuff, but are they small enough for the band. By the time I need a colonoscopy, I shouldn't have much if any fill in my band. Even though I'm a few years away from needing the test, this has crossed my mind. Have you taken the pills, since you were banded, luluc? Did you have to crush them or anything? ~Thanks

Cleo's mom, I can hear your hunger pangs! yikes My schedule: Day of surgery, clear liquids. Week one, full liquids. Weeks 2 & 3 mushies. Week 4+ regular foods.

I am so sorry to hear your news JWRN. I hope the doctors are able to get the MRSA under control quickly and that you're sent home healthy and with your band. ~Sending prayers your way. On a side note: One of the self-pay patients in my group was going for GBS. She jokingly said that she was planning to stay in the hospital all four days she was paying for. The nurse said that, in all honesty, you want to go home as soon as you're physically able, because most infections are spread in the hospital, let alone that most people rest more comfortably at home.

Hi Stormy, and welcome to LBT. I've gotten so much invaluable info here. There's so many questions that come up, and you can't always ask your doctor. This is such a great resource. My first mushy was egg salad (which was really just a smashed egg with a bit of mustard, ff salad dressing, and pepper), but I savored every bite. I'll never have an egg that tastes so good again. lol

Hi Jet, and welcome to LBT. Have you met with your doctor's nutritionist, or do you have an appointment pending? I had very detailed lists of what I needed to have on hand pre and post op. Doctors vary widely on their dietary requirements. I'd be happy to let you know what my diet entailed, but chances are it would be completely different from your doctor would recommend.

Give it a little more time, you've just had your surgery. Once you can start some light cardio, it's amazing what losing weight does for your endurance. Someone just took a 20 lb weight off my back. :tongue2: It does take some time to heal from the surgery, before you start feeling yourself again.

We've replaced yo-yo dieting with yo-yo font settings. Give me font issues any day. My yo-yo dieting days are over! lol

My surgery was a month ago, and even in this short amount of time, I feel like I'm getting my life back. Right now, my goal is to regain my stamina. I'm walking/jogging faster than I've been able to in years. I'm on our elliptical everyday, for at least 40 mins. Pre-surgery, 30 mins three times a week was such a struggle. Now, I feel like I have a new lease on life. I haven't gone down a size yet, but my slacks are all baggy, and baggy feels so much better than skin tight. I'm very optimistic about my future weight loss, but right now, I'm basking in my new found level of energy.

I would also venture to say that must of us who have reached the obesity designation has yo-yo'd dieted along the way. Once obese, I'm in total support of someone having WLS as a viable option to become healthy. This isn't about some ideal of beauty; it's about our health and quality of life. Having a nice figure is a fringe benefit.

Fall weather is almost here, at least where I live, and it got me to thinking about my summer clothes. I've been wearing the same size for two years, and I was bound and determined to not go up to next size, regardless of how uncomfortable my clothes had become. I was also having trouble buying new clothes in that size because, well, mine had most probably stretched at the seams a little, so finding replacements was becoming increasingly difficult. So, farewell, old faithful clothes. I'll not be seeing you next summer!!

Hi, and welcome to the forum! Make sure you understand the pre-op and post-op diet requirements that you should receive from your doctor or nutritionist, and keep all your paperwork in a file or notebook. I got a ton of stuff, and once I got it all organized, I felt so much more in control.

Hi Chrissy. You'll find a lot of great info on this site. I'm a pretty new bandster, but it's been an amazing tool for me so far. I feel like I have a new lease on life. I wish you all the best on your road to good health!

Kymmie, you know your triggers. Would you be able to eat a very small piece and a bit of ice cream without falling off the wagon, so to speak? Personally, if I had the surgery in May, I would have a small piece and take an extra walk later in the day. However, at my support group, one woman who is several years out said she could never have a piece of cake because she's afraid she'd loose control. Judge yourself on your discipline for sweets, and either way, enjoy yourself, and be thankful you won't be cleaning up after the party. haha Happy Birthday to your son too!!

I'm so sorry! I hope you're feeling better, now that you're getting medical treatment. Sending you {{{HUGS}}}. :girl_hug:

Becky, is sounds like you might be working on ending some old bad habits. I was a grazer too, so I know how tempting it is to eat a little nibble here and there, and then at the end of the day, you could kick yourself. My biggest help is drinking lots of Water, in addition to SF drinks to ward off the munchies. Luckily, you noticed right away that you were having grazing issues. If you find yourself tempted again, maybe you should journal what you're eating, to hold yourself accountable. Sometimes, just knowing that you're going to have to write those extras down is enough to stop the grazing.

Gabrielle, if I were you, I would RUN not walk to your doctor's office and get some help. You're only two weeks post-op, and you are doing your healing stomach harm, let alone, the fact that you're eating is already out of control. Don't be ashamed, and worried about what they'll think of you. Look, none of us got to the state of being obese on garden salads, but you have to get help NOW, or you're going to damage your stomach. Stretching your pouch is not even your biggest concern right now, you may be jeopardizing your health.

Way to go, bemused!! You're off to a great start with a great attitude. My two hurdles on the pre-op was the second day (that was the first and only day I felt a lot of hunger) and the first weekend (which happened to coincide with Labor Day). After that, the time flew. I wish you the best of luck!!!

Here's a post I just wrote a few mins ago to somebody else, that had almost an identical question: "I was worried about the same thing, because in my nutrition class, they had a plastic egg to represent our pouch, and said we shouldn't eat more than 1/2 cup of food. I don't have a fill yet, and I've pretty much stuck to the 1/2 cup servings for my meals, but a couple of times I've eaten around one cup. I asked about this at my last appointment, and they wanted me to add a high Protein snack so I'm sure not to get hungry, but they said without a fill, most of the food I'm eating is going straight through the band, and I shouldn't worry that I might stretch the pouch, within reason. I'm not saying to eat until you puke, but, I wouldn't worry too much, since you didn't get to that point. My, "within reason limit", is sticking to 1/2 cup most meals, but if I want a small salad or a few extra veggies/fruit, I'm not going to worry as long as I'm under one cup. However, you're less than two weeks out, and your stomach isn't close to being healed yet. Not to make you feel worse, but what did you eat? I hope it was a mushy, and not something that's hard to digest. I know I couldn't even finish a small container of SF Jello in one setting at a week, due to swelling. Just be careful about the healing process. Some doctors still have their patients on liquids at your stage, so consider this your wake-up call that this was serious surgery, and not to overdo it. Measure, measure, measure, and don't go over your doctor's recommendations!!"

Newbeginnings, you are definitely NOT a "freak"! I have a close friend who has more than the top fill in a Vanguard Lap Band, and she doesn't have good restriction either. You are not alone. I don't know why this happens, if it's the placement or the anatomy, but, sadly, it does happen. I just wanted to comment on the size of the Realize Band. It's a 9cc band. I went to a seminar by a Realize Band rep, and he said that you can get a bit more fluid that 9cc's and it's not going to burst, but, I went to this seminar, pre-band days, and I forget the exact amount he said it could hold. Also, I've read lots of posts from people on here, that needed just a final small tweak to get good restriction. Hopefully, you're there now. Good luck!!

Becky, I was worried about the same thing, because in my nutrition class, they had a plastic egg to represent our pouch, and said we shouldn't eat more than 1/2 cup of food. I don't have a fill yet, and I've pretty much stuck to the 1/2 cup servings for my meals, but a couple of times I've eaten around one cup. I asked about this at my last appointment, and they wanted me to add a high Protein snack so I'm sure not to get hungry, but they said without a fill, most of the food I'm eating is going straight through the band, and I shouldn't worry that I might stretch the pouch, within reason. I'm not saying to eat until you puke, but, I wouldn't worry too much, since you didn't get to that point. My, "within reason limit", is sticking to 1/2 cup most meals, but if I want a small salad or a few extra veggies/fruit, I'm not going to worry as long as I'm under one cup. However, Becky, you're less than two weeks out, and your stomach isn't close to being healed yet. Not to make you feel worse, but what did you eat? I hope it was a mushy, and not something that's hard to digest. I know I couldn't even finish a small container of SF Jello in one setting at a week, due to swelling. Just be careful about the healing process. Some doctors still have their patients on liquids at your stage, so consider this your wake-up call that this was serious surgery, and not to overdo it. Measure, measure, measure, and don't go over your doctor's recommendations!! Hey, we all fall down, so just brush yourself off, and get back in the fight!!!

Hi Cat, and welcome to the forum! I'm in the "thin to thirty" crowd. I wouldn't consider myself a breeder (lol), but that's when my weight started creeping on....at first. Then it was an avalanche. Even now, it takes me by surprise when I accidental see my reflection in a store window, for instance, because I just can't believe how big I've gotten. I hope, in a year, my reflection will startle me, because I won't be able to believe how thin I've gotten. :tongue: