2muchfun

Losing weight vs losing fat can be two different things. I know we all say I've lost weight and that's almost always good. But I think we all strive to lose fat so don't be surprised if you lose fat but don't lose weight right away. Especially if you ramp up your workout routine. This is how you will lose weight and if you eat band friendly foods and you can manipulate the band so it's doing it's job, you should lose weight. 1 lb lost is equal to 3500 burned calories. You will probably burn 2000 calories a day by sitting, standing breathing. Exercise a little bit and you can burn an extra 200 calories a day. So, you're burning 2200 calories a day. Eat only 1200 calories a day and you will have burned 1000 calories more than you consumed. In one week you will have burned 7000 more calories than you consumed. 7000/3500=2 lbs lost. It's not science but it's pretty darn close. Good luck. tmf .

sugar free & Fat Free tmf

You're in bandster hell and will be till you get that last fill that gives you enough restriction to enter the green zone. If you don't want to gain weight you will have to eat nutritious foods. "It's still just a diet till there's restriction" tmf

I'd like to see that study? I tried to google it and only got studies that contradict your statement. I'm not trying to argue with you but 2250 per week is about 3 lbs per month. Most bandsters only lose 4-6 lbs a month so this loss of "fat" would account for more than 50% of our fat loss. Your post seems to contradict most every study or weight loss guru opinion I've ever read. Although I do agree that you don't need exercise to lose weight. I just believe that a good diet and a strong exercise program are essential to long lasting and effective weight loss. I'm glad your plan works for you but for me and most people I've ever known it would be a no go. tmf

Once your band gives you adequate restriction so that you are satiated at meals and you are losing weight, you are in the green zone. tmf

Once your band gives you adequate restriction so that you are satiated at meals and you are losing weight, you are in the green zone. tmf

Great Post Tylee! tmf

LOL..I answer to TNT too Carbonation hasn't really affected my band. I only drink one. I think most docs try to discourage bandsters from drinking carbonated beverages because so many are addicted to pop and they don't want to feed that addiction. And, of course, the carbonation can expand your pouch but one soda or beer occasionally won't affect anything. tmf

That's quite a request? One of our regular posters wrote a 500+ page book about this. Buy her book, you won't regret it. http://jean-onthebandwagon.blogspot.com/ In the meantime, here's a manual from a doctor in Atlanta. http://www.peachtreebariatrics.com/docs/Gastric-Band-Patient-Manual.pdf tmf

This is so true. I'm grazing, but I'm grazing on cucumbers, radishes, grape tomatoes maybe a small bite of cold chicken(large bites anger the she-band). tmf

Spicey food has never been a problem for me. Booze, yes. One glass of wine or a bottle of beer and I'm a lush. tmf

I get it. I'm the cook in the house and it's so hard not to graze while I'm preparing dinner. tmf

I vote that you repost this story every day. I love success stories especially successful love stories. tmf

OK, one more and we have a basketball team! For what it's worth, I understand the nerves and there will be much to learn and there will be times when you are frustrated and angry, but 6 months from now, you will love the step you are taking tomorrow. tmf

I agree with Pandora. meats, especially chicken, reheated are an enemy of my band. She(she because I deserve it) doesn't like them. I pay for it if I disobey my band. Someone a few days ago said that with chicken she would add some chicken wing sauce to the chicken and it went down easier. There are some low cal, low carb wing sauces out there that are very good. Also, salsa is a good lubricant for some foods and it too is low carb, low cal. tmf

A word of advice. Be very careful at parties. Party foods look and smell great. I was one of those party goers who spent most of the night as close to the food as possible. I love wings, chips, quacamole, ham rolls, salads, Pasta salads and the list goes on and on. But I know if I tried to eat some of the stuff I used to eat, I'd be sliming and very uncomfortable. I'd head straight for a bathroom and spend 10 minutes spitting up slime till the bad food choice moved through. Be careful, you don't want to embarrass yourself. tmf

Sure sounds like Bandster Hell to me? Bandster Hell definition: The surgeon puts very little saline in your band at surgery because the next 30 days are a time of healing so the less saline, the less restriction. Usually 2-3 weeks out you seem to be very hungry, and for some of us, hungrier than pre surgery. There may not be any restriction so the bandster can eat as they did before surgery. And unless he/she can find a way to eat nutritious food and stay away from candy you will gain weight. For me, BH lasted 4 months until fill #3 gave me some restriction. I lost 12 lbs the first 2 weeks and not a pound gained or lost the next 4 months. Now is a time for you to start to learn how to eat with the band. Start by making better food choices. Food scales are inexpensive, buy one. 4 oz of chicken would fit in the palm of your hand. Go online and sign up for myfitnesspal and track your food. If you don't track this stuff or understand food measurements you could be in big trouble. The band is a tool but it requires a lot of work and understanding on your part. tmf

There are several phases of your journey. Let's just rule out the first 30-45 days as you wil have to eat what your doctor or nutritionist has detailed for you I assume? You will be in "bandster hell" for a month or more if you are like most of us. You can eat whatever you want but you better eat less of it if you want to lose weight. Once you get that fill that moves you into the "Green Zone" you can still eat whatever you want or whatever your band will tolerate. No one can tell you what you can eat because we are all different and there really is no norm or standard for people who have the band. About the only food that we many of us find hard to eat is dry chicken, steak or pork. That's why the nutritionists dwell on gettig enough Protein. You will develop this love/hate relationship with your band and only you will communcate with your band. Your band relationship will be unique to just you. As one other forum member put it, you will be an expert with your own band. Good luck, hope to see your posts again soon. tmf

Oh, OK. I just thought you were braggin'. I know I would if I lost 24 lbs in 30 days. Woo Hoo! tmf

Sometimes, if the band is too tight, the extra pressure of foods expanding the pouch and pushing through the stoma can irritate your stomach right at the band site causing some edema which would cause you to be tighter, but it is odd that it's happening so far out from your fill? tmf

I just posted on an earlier thread how I too have a difficult time eating enough food to satisfy my nutrition needs. I get stuck easily. Of course, I'm still struggling with the smaller bites, eating slower and chewing. But there are some days(and days in a row) that I get stuck a lot. It's usually just 15 minutes but it's uncomfortable. So, I'm going in this Thursday for a very small unfill. BTW-I do feel like I'm in the green zone, but it's a very dark green. I'm losing 6-8 lbs a month but there are too many times it's just not fun. tmf

I'm one of the few who find this topic to be moot. I sip a little with my meals and sometimes I'll drink right after a meal. It's not like I'm drinking and then discover that, hey, I'm still hungry and start eating all over. I think the point is that if you drink, it empties your pouch quicker and can waylay that satisfaction trigger we all seek so desperately. That doesn't work on me. When I'm eating, I know when I'm full and I stop. Drinking a few minutes later has no effect on my satiety. BTW-I sip here and there because some days my band is so tight I can't eat many foods without getting stuck, so I follow my food with a sip. I still eat much less and it's the only way I can get the nutrition I need. Cazzy pointed out on an earlier thread this: "the trick is with this band, is to become your own expert". I totally agree. Once you get to the point that you have this relationship with your band, then you know what works and what doesn't. Hope this helps tmf

"the trick is with this band, is to become your own expert" That is so well said. I see so many posts from people wanting to know what to do and what the norm is, but there is no norm and we all have to be an expert with our own tool/band. I know that I've formed an intimate relationship with mine and sometimes I want to slap her(she, because I deserve it) sometimes and other times give her a big hug. tmf

You're in bandster hell. You'll be there till you find the green zone. And yes, it sucks but most of us were there early in our journey. tmf

Mrs 2012 and Lassie. Chill out girls. This is a marathon, not a 100 yd dash. Both of you have lost scads of weight already. Why so grumpy? I know I'm not alone when I say that I lost about 12 lbs the first 2 weeks and then nothing for 4 months. Now I've lost 38 lbs total. I've read so many others this happened to. You have to get to the green zone before you really start to lose fat unless you do some extreme dieting. It takes time. No need to worry or be concerned. And I didn't feel anything till fill #3 and didn't find the green zone till #6. So, no, you don't have to feel anything by fill #2. Lassie, you lost 24 lbs the first month. Congrats and why are you upset? When have you ever lost 24 lbs in one month? And you have the tool to keep it off now? tmf