niki

I think that's all in the head of those who are used to seeing us on a daily basis, even if we're not exactly «thin» in their heads they still hang on to the picture of the «old us» they used to know and they are suddenly confronted with a new image that starts having little to do with the old image - kind of confusing, hein??? In any case, I consider that such a decision is strictly reserved for me and my doctor to take, no one else. hang in there! niki

Why on Earth should you have your band removed??? unless something goes wrong (slippage, etc, etc) you are supposed to keep your band, aren't you? I have my band for over two years, I'm still far from my goal, but I don't even want to think about something so dreadful as having my band removed! The band's staying!!! niki

Maybe it's time to start discovering the enchantment of other drinks: water, natural juices, herbal tea, green tea, etc. Coke, diet or regular, can be rahter addictive (I say this from my own experience...). I still have a sip every now and then, but try at least to have it flat. I had champagne last night (FIL birthday party) but just one flute, not 2 or 3 like I used to, and no harm done. I'll be doing extra 30'mins. at the gym this afternoon. niki

Hey Nicole, Don't worry about spending six months or more without seeing a band doctor (many doctors, like mine, don't like to do aggressive fills and they rather wait 5, 6 or more months between fills). That's one of the big advantages of the band, as long has everything is going well (you'll surely know when something is wrong with your band, can't miss it) the worse that can happen is that you're not loosing as much as you would expect and that could mean you need another fill. But no harm will come to you or your band if you don't visit your doc or get a fill on a regular basis (you'll just feel the need to eat a bigger portion and that means you'll have to restrain yourself from eating all you want to). If you're feeling some restriction, and from what you say it looks that you do, things should be fine. Yes, it is normal to feel more restricted in the am period. Most bandsters are exactly the same. With me, morning and lunch are fine, but at night all hell breaks loose and seems that everything goes down soooo well. You should avoid eating only soft food. Your stomach needs solid food, but remember to take your time and chew, chew, and chew some more before swallowing it. Don't drink when you're eating. I think that every now and then it's ok to have some soda (there's a whole big discussion whether it's OK or not, and that applies to all carbonated drinks). I take a bit of diet coke every now and then, but generally, I try to avoid it. Water, tea, herbal tea, natural juices, those are perfectly ok. Take some time in doing some research here at LBT. You'll find some great advices from other more experienced bandsters. Jack is right! You're a lucky girl with all that wonderful fish you have in Alaska! try to make the most of it. lots of luck, niki

Even for experienced bandsters it's difficult and you'll soon notice that if you do some research here at LBT. Everybody reacts differently to the band and each one of us probably will tell you a different story. I have my band for 2 years, I've had 6 fills (I've got a 10cc band and I'm currently with 8cc) and I can still eat too much in each portion. I've been loosing at a very slow pace (not even 20 pounds...) and i still got a long way to go. haven't reached my «sweet spot» yet, I can eat everything, nothing gets stuck: bread, pizza, Pasta, chicken breast - you name it! This has been a long, hard fight for me. It's quite frustrating when you see so many people saying that the band is working wonderfully for them, that's not my case, I have to do a tremendous effort in doing the right food choices, I go to the gym 4 or 5 times/week, I drink lots of Water between meals, etc. It's just the way my body and my band work by themselves, it takes time, it takes effort, but at least I'm loosing (even if at turple pace) and not getting it back, and that's already a victory. I'll get there, I know I will, even if it takes longer than most other bandsters. Hang in there. niki

I eat tons of salad everyday, all different kinds of lettuce and other greens (fresh and boiled) and never had any problem. As long as I chew it really well, everything goes down well (too well as a matter of fact, I have to keep myself focused on doing correct food choices or I'd be able to eat all the wrong stuff). niki

I have no problem with lobster (yummm), crab, chicken breast, pasta, bread, ... - you name it! everything goes down perfectly, just make sure you chew it very, very well. I've had 6 fills in over 2,5years I've been banded. Every now and then, on special occasions, I have a little Diet coke (try to have it flat because carbonation is not good for your pouch). niki

Yes, it definitely growls and make funny noises, particularly each time after I have a fill (had six fills during these 2 years since I've been banded) I think it has something to do with the stomach adapting itself to its new reality of living with the band around it. Drinking water usually takes care of it. niki

A girdle??? I would be more scared of damaging my band than saying no to a close friend. if she's really your friend and if she knows about your surgery, she'll surely understand that you'll still recovering and that you do need to take things slowly. There must be tons of other people able to play an active role on that wedding and if your friend doesn't understand or care about your health, maybe you should try to point her out what your priorities are right now. You're already doing a lot by attending the ceremony. If you do insist on going, try wearing something loose and comfortable. trust me, your incisions are still too fresh and your whole body is still healing and trying to adapt to the band. Don't put yourself at risk because of a wedding ceremony.

Your body is definitely trying to tell you something. Maybe you're pushing yourself too hard - why not cut exercise for once a day? If you're sleeping enough, maybe there are some nutrients missing from your daily diet, you should have it checked out with some nutritionist. What about vitamins? Most docs usually recommend it.

I wouldn't start worrying too much in advance. I've been banded for 2 years and never had a PB, threw up or got anything stuck. I can eat it all: bread, pasta, chicken breast, you name it! just be careful in taking small bites and chewing really well. Chew, chew, and chew some more. Eat small portions and take your time eating your meal. If you're stressed out, don't eat, wait till you're calm, food and stress don't go along well. You'll be fine. niki

Gosh, how I understand you! I'be been banded for over 2 years and this has been a constant fight against weight and it has not been easy at all. I'm still far from my goal and it's a everyday battle and I keep telling myself that this will go on and on, without ever ending. Some people have a problem with alcohol, others with smoking, others with drugs, mine is with sugar and all the bad stuff that's wrong for my body. But I still believe this band is the best thing I've ever done for myself and it's been a long hard process. I'm doing the best I can right now, but I know that there's still more I can do and I'll get there and I can't go back. There's no way I'm giving up and allow myself to go back to what I used to be. Hang in there, you came a long way, for some people like us, even with the band, we'll still have to put out an extra mile for it to work out. niki

I have been loosing at a very slow pace and my doc keeps telling me that's excellent to avoid sagging loose skin. Weight lifting does help to improve skin condition (I'm not working on volume or trying to get big muscles, just on definition and toning up) and I can notice a slight difference on arms, stomach and thighs. I know stretch marks will never come off but I can live well with that. Sometime later and after I've reached my goal (I'm still quite far) I intend to have my boobs done. Genetics and skin type play a major role on your skin bouncing back or not, independently on all the creams and lotions you use or all the gallons of water you drink, or all the exercise you do. Evidently it's also up to us to give all the extra help we can for a good skin and muscle condition. niki

I do hope to be able to keep my band for life, if I don't it means that something went wrong and it had to be removed. What port bump??? I've been banded for over 2 years and my port doesn't show, I know it's there because I can feel it under my skin when I touch it. It doesn't hurt. As a matter of fact, most of the time I don't even remember I have a band. Eating small portions, making correct food choices, chewing slowly and calmly, etc - all these procedures are already working on auto-pilot in my daily routine. I do have scars, my skin reacts badly to scarring, but what the hell, I rather have my small scar than being obese the rest of my life.

I've been banded in January 2006 and only told a very limited number of people: husband, parents, in-laws, sister and co-worker - I would rather not, but still, I tought I had to tell them as it wouldn't be much considerate to keep them in the dark. Anyway, I've always looked at the band as something very private and I don't feel the need to share it with lots of people. Besides, being a truly slow loser, nobody can tell much, the weight loss has not been something dramatic, it goes off very, very slowly and it easily goes on the account of going to the gym 4 times a week and paying attention to what I eat. Of course that if by chance I meet someone with obesity problems and the subject comes up, I'll gladly give out and share all information possible on the matter.

That's great! congratulations! what type of exercise are you doing in the gym? niki

Did you talk to your doc about this? I don't think that having a smoothie for lunch is enough... you should be having some solid food, your stomach needs it, your band needs it, your body needs it, on the long run a soft food diet doesn't work out. niki

Banded for 2 years and no obsession here. Didn't even tell the majority of my friends and still go eating out with them without any problem. Eating correctly is now a second nature and I automatically pick up the menu and choose stuff I know I should be ok with (never had any PBing problem, but God forbids if it happens in a restaurant...). At home I basically eat the same I used to, just in smaller quantity and trying to stay away from those things I know aren't good for my health. And then I chew, chew and chew some more, no drinking at meals, this goes on auto-pilot, no effort. niki

I usually take those big jelly capsules of fish oil/Omega 3 and never had any problem. Try putting one of those in a glass of water and watch how they become all soft. Even with other pills, if they are big and hard, as long as I take a big full glass of water or tea, they never got stuck. niki

Hi DAA, I guess we're very similar because I've started out as well at a low BMI of 35. After lots of reading and research I concluded that low BMIs do tend to loose at a slower pace and that's for sure what happens with me, I'm such a slow loser. I know I make correct food choices (most of the time) and I go to the gym 4 times a week, so it seems this will be a long journey for us both, but no reason to despair. We'll get there, eventually... best of luck, niki

8cc in a 10cc band. Had 6 fills during the past 2 years I've been banded. niki

Most doctors recommend you should stay on liquid diet for the next few days after a fill. Go easy and don't mess around with your stomach after a fill. Liquids on the first 48 hrs and purée/mushy food on the following, before going back to solid food. niki

Yes, I would definitely stay with liquids for the next few days. Don't mess with your stomach after having a fill, give it some few days to rest quietly. Stick to liquids, broth, soup, smoothies, liquid yogurt, and similar. You'll soon feel better. niki

It is true that most bandsters feel more restriction in the morning period than at night. I keep saying my doc everytime I go for another fill (I'm in my 6th fill and still not found that «sweet spot»)that the band is fine in the morning period but at night wolves come out and I really have to fight hard agains that urge to eat all those «wrong» foods I enjoyed so much... It's very frustrating and this band of mine requires lots of effort and willpower. I've had long plateaus (those times when you become stable and don't loose despite you're doing all the correct things you're supposed to) but even so, I know from my experience of more than 2 years with the band that not loosing weight does not necessarily mean that you need to go for another fill. Sometimes, our body just likes to play tricks on us. Don't despair, there's nothing worse than being too tight and not being able to swallow your own spit! niki

I had my first fill only 3 months after surgery. My doc is rather conservative when doing fills (had 6 fills in 2 years, I am now with 8cc in a 10cc band). Don't be in a hurry, take baby steps, allow some time for your stomach and body to heal properly. niki