marys

I'd like to 'join' too! As you can see from my tickerfactory signautre i am definitely a slow loser = i'm losing more like 1lb a month - maddening. Thanks to all for this thread as it's nice to know i'm not alone. my bf keeps telling me - it's not a race, if you lose 25lbs a year, thats good. i know i know i just want it faster. i only exercsie 1-3 times a week so i know that hampers my progress so iknow its 'my fault' etc - it's just nice to know there are others out there.

Hi, thanks for quick response and I'm with you - no way can i take meds without something to drink. These pills aren't huge - they are about the size of a dime and thin but not coated and woulldn't go down dry. However, you did give me a good idea and maybe i could mash them in yogurt, so thanks much.

Bandedmama and others - what an eye opening thread and first - bandedmama - I'm glad you are feeling better. I'm newly banded and have recently realized that obesity is a diesease (imo) and without the band I would never have a chance of losing and more imp keeping it off - cuz sure i've lost the weight before but always gained it back. Even now, whenever i can get away with it (due to band fickleness, my cheating, that time of month) if i can eat more, I will. Along with a host of other bad habits i realize now they don't go away - so if I was to lose my band or get unfiilled I would be in the same boat as you. Sad, but true, I hope that after 5 years some habits would be ingrained but i'm not betting on it now - i hope i can keep the band forever for that is my last hope/chance. Good luck to all. mary

Also wanted to say hi and welcome - this IS a great group. I was banded in Nov 05 with Ortiz in Mexico and we are about the same ht/wt. I am 5'2 and aiming for 130 - right now I am 166 and finally losing again. I live in Ut now but came from 12 years in DC - a Big change from CA but an exciting, diverse city - good luck with all your life changes - your positive attittude will help you. Being banded is an interesting and obviously life changing event and I've found the support and information on this board invaluable - esp since I had surgery outof the country and really no local support. I wish I had done this when I was 25 - congratus and good luck!

Anything dry is bad news for me but i pb'd early on with yogurt! Too big a bite of anything can get stuck (it seems). I am one bandster that can eat anything just about if i take rat sized nibbles (not even bites) and chew to nothing. But again - if chewed to 'liquid' if too much in a swallow - trouble will happen. I read somewhere that the appropriate size bite is about the size of a dime. I also have found that if I pb it is usually the first bite and is becuz i am over hungry, talking or distracted, etc. I try to start every meal with a little prayer now - i guess more of a meditation, thankful for my food and reminding myself to go extra slow, etc. This band has been the hardest thing for me but I refuse to fail and i also refuse to buy another diet product, pill, go on another 'diet' etc. I've spent my last pennies on weight loss and if this doesn't work I will have it unfilled or taken out and be happy fat. I truly mean it.

Hi barb I just saw your post and was wondering if you might have swelled your stomach with the pb and just needed more time to recover. My doc had told me to go on liquids for 24 hours after EVERY PB. And, no i don't do that - i usually wait one meal too UNLESS it was bad then I do wait. Even if we don't feel the swelling - a pb does cause it.

I had surgery in Nov 05 with Dr Ortiz and was and am very pleased with his skill, his team, the facility, etc. I think he has a 'special' now but i paid 9500 and airfare. There are many good docs in mexico but i chose him because of proximity, skill, experience, length of practice, 'success' rate, etc.

Hello Everyone - Well, I'm a few days from my 6 month anniversary and feeling pretty negative about all things band! Sitting here post pb from trying to eat a big breakfast with toast. Hey, the last two days anything has gone down in big quantitites - it's pre-period and it's like no band but this am -all is back to normal - whatever that is. Yes, I've lost almost 10 lbs since my fill in January but not a pound more and I can't imagine being tighter. I have realized why I'm fat and what all my bad habits are but i can't change them - even with the band- I am hopeless, really and it's sad because a lot of other bandsters look at me semi disgusted because I'm lower BMI and 'only' have to lose 50lbs but believe me, I'm a #$$% up as the next obese person - in fact, i feel worse - and I truly thought I could do this but today i don't think so. In fact, I'm feeling like it won't work for me. Thanks for listening.

You are so right and thanks for taking time to answer! I see you are a Dr. Ortiz patient too - just love him and his staff. Yes, I am researching a fill and starting back on fiday.com. My weight is dropping 1lb a day of the 5 i gained during pre menstrual chaos and 3 to go to get back where i was. I hope to get a fill by mid june, start exercising again (just been doing very minimal walking) and get some poundage off.

Thanks and you are right, I am not blaming the band - I blame me 100% although I'm still unsure i'm filled right. Big Paul is right - I read and printed out his post. While i knew the band wasn't a miracle i thought it would have a little magic - lol. Eating for hunger was always the last reason i would eat so while the band slows me down it hasn't ever really filled me up like i hoped. i still obsess about food all day but now i also obsess about pbing and making it through a meal without pain or discomfort. I still battle head hunger and mindless eating which the band never claimed to help with.

Thanks to all for thoughts - encouragement - smiles. I ate three pieces of toast with butter and SUGAR last night and candy - typical pre period cravings out of control. Believe it or not the band did help as this could have been worse but definitely know i need a fill - can eat a LOT more now and sad, but true, if I can, I will.

I recenlty read on another group that gasx doesn't really help with the type of gas you are trying to get rid of (from surgery) however, i had gas pains on and off for MONTHS AFTERWARD AND gasx was my best friend. What also helped (walking didn't do it for me as i walked for hours) - but my guy finally started gently rubbing my shoulder/back where i felt the gas and gently rocking me back and forth (kind of hard to explain). It would make me burp and fart (sorry) for quite some time and we had many laughs over this. hang in there as it will go away.

the longest i've been yet with no pb incident has been almost two weeks and i was so happy. short lived happiness as it happened a few times recently. I really have to nibble and not bite as my bites are always way too big. I divide the food in my mouth and try to swallow in segments but one big swallow and it's major pain. I feel like the only bandster who doesnt know if i need a fill or not - i keep thinking no pb is a sign but probably not - otherwise my band is so fickle who knows? Period week I can eat a horse, some days less, my weight loss is SLOW and hasn't really moved down - stuck around 166-169 and frustration is setting in. It's 6 months post band and trying to focus on successes - at least i'm not buying every new diet product and pill out there.

Hey, I'm 6 months -banded 11.18.05 and am down to 168 or so which is a measley 10lbs or so since my fill in January. I was on vacation for two weeks and stayed the same so that's a first and I'm really understanding why i'm fat and what I need to change to change but am very dissapointed with my loss overall. But, I'm lower bmi and want to get 50 off total so i'm willing to wait a bit - BUT if I'm not down at least 25 by the end of the year I will be mad as hell. I try to keep my calories to 1200-1500 and exercise 3 days a week. This is tough.

First, this has been a very helpful thread to me - I still struggle to know if I'm properly restricted as yesterday I ate a huge rueben sandwich - 1/2 at lunch (it took me 25-35 minutes) and I ate the other half for dinner in the same amount of time. I probably could have stopped at 1/4 sandwich but I don't blame my band for that. I am still somewhat new. I'm talking microscopic bites too. Anyway my new question...Over the past few weeks I've noticed I feel like a small ball is stuck in the back of my throat and I noticed it's usually after eating. Could this be slippage or overeating. Normally I get a big burp to tell me I'm full and i admit to eating a bit past satiety but not to stuffing. It's not really painful - just wierd. thanks! mary

hi - I'm definitely at home here - have only lost about 10lbs since banding in november of 2005! Really that's since my fill in January. I do think I may need another but I still pb and can't imagine being tighter. I'm on vacation now with no scale and eating out a lot but trying to keep it together. I am frustrated although I try to stay positive. I'm living for the day i get 20 off as maybe someone with notice and i can fit into about 100 outfits. Now I'm squeezin into 2 pairs of pants every day and I hope this is all worth it.

Just a note to thank everyone for their comments and hugs (and hits on the head). I realize I am my own worst enemy sometimes and am trying to be a bit kinder and patient with myself. I AM making progress and am so grateful for everyone at lapbandtalk for their help and support!

I know the band is a great teacher but my stubborness is amazing me - I set three rules that would help me not pb and I continually break them - they are: Do Not Eat Standing Up If over hungry - drink or eat extra slowly - don't shovel it in Do Not Eat anything in the morning before coffee/opening up I just broke #2 and am suffering from trying to eat a filet of fish sandwich which is no good for me either but I have to try everything!!!! Why am I such a hard head? Even with painful, negative consequences I continue to make the same mistakes. And I pray this will give me even more empathy toward others struggling with addictions/trying to break any bad habit - jeez it's tough but maybe I just need the tough love - any suggestions, knock on the head, etc are appreciated.

I sure won't come down on someone for eating pizza cuz I have been there BUT i will say be careful because you are pushing the limits and you WILL most likely 'suffer' the consequences and those can be QUITE severe as you probably have read about. Your internal healing is really important - you may not 'feel' it but your stomach has to work really hard to digest pizza - something the docs want you to avoid as much as possilbe while healing. Think of your stomach like a cut finger - even after it stops bleeding and is bandaged, it takes a while before fully healed - you can bang it on something and it may bleed again, etc. Good Luck

Hello, I find my tolerance is really low (and it was pretty low to start with) with the band although I enjoy an occassional glass of wine with no probs. Had a huge bad episode with an irish coffee (probably from having it too soon after a PB) which was DUMB but I'm still a newbie and learning mostly thru hard knocks. Had a margarita (sip or two) and just found i didn't like it or want it and didn't even come close to finishing it. It's also somewhat of a challenge when following the no drinking with or after meals 'rule'. Alcohol is also an irritant to the stomach so I don't like to do to much of it and it definitely slows/stops weight loss for the week!

Welcome and congratulations - I know you must be so excited and maybe a bit nervous - but it is all normal as you will see as you read other posts/other topics. I was banded in Nov 2005 and this site is great - very helpful no matter what stage of the process one is in - right now I am at the first fill - how can I live with this thing stage so I'm happy to be here with others that have lots of experience. Best of luck to you and keep us posted!

Just a reminder - EVERY SINGLE pound lost is something to celebrate but I do agree - we all need to recommit at times to get the fill and make the changes needed for the band to work.

Yeah - I was banded on November 18, 2005 with the wonderful, kind Dr. Ortiz - have lost about 15 total (about 7 since first fill) and am starting to love my band - I would like to have more weight off but it's the first time in my life I have hope that I can be a normal eater/thin person for life. I also met three other women having surgery the same day that are now my 'band sisters' as well as many other people (here too) that have come into my life because of the band. November 2005 bandsters rock - we are almost at 6 months - just think where we'll be in a year!

You go dannygirl - we all wish you luck!! Ok - Why am I Fat? Well, the Band makes some things much clearerand these are some of them.... I am very sensitive to hunger and many times confuse it with thirst I eat when I'm not hungry and don't stop when I'm full I eat fast and don't chew my food I always clean my plate Full to me means uncomfortable/stuffed I always eat seconds or more I can eat an entire large dominoes pizza, bags of cookies/chips I love fast food/starchy foods/processed foods I sneak food, I lie about food, I've hid food, I love drive thru's I love food, I hate food, I think about food/weight/body 24 hours a day Mother is toothpick; dad is normal size, brother had gastric bypass (400-196) and his son is about 400lbs; sis on JennyCraig -overweight relatives - italian background - entire family loves to eat. The band is changing many of the physical things - thank goodness - I have a LONG way to go though on the emotiona eating stuff but its much clearer to me now wny I am fat - I knew I had 'some' bad habits but I never felt like I ate all that much - boy, was i kidding myself. While I hate to admit it, I also feel like obesity is a disease.

I have pb mostly from not chewing food/swallowing too big a bite and it usually happens when i take a bite standing up. Most meals when I'm focused I'm ok - but it's that piece of food when I get home to tide me over until the meal or eating while I'm preparing my meal. I've only thrown up a few times - mostlly it sits there until it goes down but the throw up is the worst - i hurt for a day or so and try to stay on liquids until the swelling goes down. It's scary and I wish i would quit doing it - i seem to repeat my mistakes even with this negative reinforcement - the BAND.