2muchfun

All my best friends gave me similar advice. "Just do what I do", as if my situation and genetics are just like theirs. People who are thin or can lose weight easily don't understand so don't seek their advice unless you want negative responses. Even my wife questioned my decision for two years before surgery. Now she's a believer, but before, no. And she's a healthcare professional. HAHA, the shrink I had to go to for BCBS approval told me I didn't need surgery and that her good friend had WLS and lost a ton of weight but put it all back on. The shrink wanted me to go on this P90X BS and come back to her office 3 times a week at $190 a visit. Kiss my what? tmf

Most every bandster has this happen. Minor cases are when you are too tight or, eat too fast, don't chew enough, large bites of food, beef, dry chicken etc. You'll feel pressure in your pouch and may PB(productive burp), or slime, or spit up or vomit mildly. It usually passes in 5-20 minutes. It can be painfull but mostly it's nauseating and very uncomfortable. tmf

Shutup!! 16 lbs is incredible. I would have loved to lose 16 lbs the first month. I only lost 12 lbs the first 4 months. I'm beyond that now. But I have to tell you that you are probably average. But, you probably will never lose like this again as from here on out it should only be 4-8 lbs per month so do a happy dance! tmf

Don't worry, be happy! Our bodies can hold a lot of extra fluids. Depends on how much sodium and carbs we consume. For example: My wife accepted a dinner invite to a cooking school where we were taught how to cook our own culinary delight. There were 12 people in this class and we prepared a salad(lots of olive oil in the vinagrette), baked halibut(smothered in butter, salt, spices) and then we made donuts, glazed with a blackberry jam we made. Of course there was the obligatory anti-pasto with garlic bread, smoked salmon, cream cheese etc. Lots of salt, oils, wine and sugar galore. I caved. First time I've eaten like this since the holidays. I gained 3.5 lbs overnight. That was Sunday night and on Monday I was 3.5 lbs heavier. This morning, I'm back to where I was Sunday morning. So, the point is, food, meds, stress, can all manipulate our body mechanics and metabolism. 1.5 lbs in 5 days is nothing. You probably ate something with a high salt content. It will pass. Don't sweat the small setbacks and as time goes by you'll lose that weight. tmf

So, I went to our city rec center today to play some racquetball with an old friend. I had to give it up several years ago because my knees suck and they just couldn't handle the quick starts and stops. I had to renew my ID card. The gal asked me if I wanted to take a new picture and I said naw, I'm good with the one I have on my old ID. She said, "You should, you lost a lot of weight". WOO HOO! Gotta love it! tmf

No picture. Maybe in 20 more lbs. tmf

Need a lot more information Famous1? How much are you losing? When were you banded? Are you in a plateau and how long? What are you eating? How much exercise? You seem to have lost a lot of weight so far? How did you do that? tmf

Don't believe everything you read. I read something like this today and to me it was hearsay. One person does not make an epedimic and a reason to worry. tmf

I have no idea where this "Complications" thread is but that's just silly. There are complications to anything. Walking across the street, riding a bike, mowing your lawn. There are risks all around us and obese people are at a much higher risk to "complications" and even death. I seriously doubt that in the last decade anyone has been killed by a band. People have died from other risk factors. tmf

Go to youtube and search lapband fills. Lots of videos of folks having fills. It's no big deal.

I've been hanging around here for years and thought I knew it all but after surgery, I found I didn't know squat. This forum should be a requirement for all bandsters. It's certainly answered and validated so many of my questions and concerns. Welcome and I look forward to your participation. tmf

I've always noticed the restriction as soon as i was allowed to eat solids. Maybe 2-3 days. Just remember that with each fill you may have to re-learn your eating skills and hone them to work with your band. It can take several weeks to make that adjustment. tmf

I probably could have stoppped at 5 but went back for #6. I'm in the green zone and hope to stay there for a while. tmf

I agree with Fantasy. There's a Soup package in the grocery store for "Egg Drop Soup". It's really just broth with an egg added to it. So you get some Protein and the broth which is a little thicker than normal broth but it would be considered a liquid. imo I continued to use it after the liquid stage and added bean sprouts, diced chicken meat, sriracha and green onions for a nice gentle meal that came in handy for the days following a fill. tmf

Lassie, sure you can use the dark meat. I like dark meat during my meal but I use the white meat to make the chicken salad. You could reverse that but just be aware that dark meat has a higher fat content and go easy. tmf

I love costco rotisserie chicken. It's usually bigger than the regular chicken in a grocery store. But, I too do the same. I add curry to mine but I'm going to try the paprika cuz I love paprika. I also use plain lowfat yogurt in place of the sour cream. I don't puree anything anymore but I mince it good. The dark chicken that's left over makes an easy meal once you're beyond the mushie stage and can eat solids. Good Post! tmf

Only 30 lbs? Now you're just braggin! tmf

'So i'm going to take this fustration & start working out more on the weekends and try to squeeze in extra time in the mornings before work . Thanks TMF.... I needed that. ' I think that this weight loss thing is 20% fitness and 80% diet. You can't out-train bad eating habits. Just remember that. I know how hard it is, a lifetime of poor eating habits and bad food choices doesn't go away overnight. I still crave cheeseburgers and chicken fried steak. And I'm going to have those when I reach my goal. But when I do, it won't be a giant plate with the food hanging over the sides. It will be in total moderation. tmf

How about, what if I don't do it? tmf

Need more info? Are you vomitting, PBing? What are you eating? How much have you lost? Restriction? tmf

I googled bariatric doctors in Chicago and got a ton of hits. I've found that some patients love their doctors and after I went to their seminars, I didn't like that doctor as much or, their staff totally sucked. The bariatric industry is riddled with lousy support staffs. It seems like it's a requirement in the medical professions. Find 3-6 bariatric doctors and visit their websites. Call or make a reservation for one of their seminars. Go to as many as you can. You'll get a better idea of who they are and if you are comfortable with the doc and the staff. tmf

I like what Jenjaw had to say. I too have been a lifelong dieter and I think I know the nutrition rules and how my body works with and reacts to the food I consume. My nutritionist really helped me to get over a hump back in March so i agree, sit down with your nutritionist. And, of course you can meet your goals but no one is going to do it for you. Your band is a tool and if you don't use it as it's designed, then you're on your own and it's just another diet. And we all know how well diets work without the tool. tmf

Oh yeah, the knees are better(but not great) and with another 40 lbs lost, maybe tennis is back in my future. tmf

So, why do you think you aren't losing? Slider foods, sugar/sweets, ice cream, restriction? Calories per day? tmf

Yummmmm! I love cheeseburgers. Haven't dared to have one in a few months but Maybe next year? Manly food!