shrinkinmom

Hi, I have had the same issues and I notice that my diet makes a big difference. If I stick to a very low carb high protein diet I rarely have any problems with my band. Once I introduce to many carbs especially sugarary foods.or things like soda or alcohol my stomach flares and the reflux returns. It is impossible to be perfect so it does happen from time to time. I think these things may cause reflux with or without the band but it would take place lower in the stomach and may not be as problematic. Try monitoring your diet to see if it helps. Do some reading on foods that cause inflammation in the body and see if avoiding them helps over time. I also try to stick to liquids for a day or two after I had reflux or a bad episode with heaving to give my stomach a chance to calm down. I was banded in 2009 and have not had a change in fill since 2011. I am not willing to give up my band. I lost 120 lbs and have kept it off. I have two family members who both had bypass and both have gained their weight back. The surgery is just a tool if we don't change our attitude towards food no surgery works.

Looking to have the same surgery. Can you share your Doctor's name? I live on Long Island, too. And if not to forward...what was teh ballpark on cost? Thanks Christine

I have this problem as well. I started to think of my first couple of bites "primer bites" Just getting my stomach ready.:thumbdown: I now consciously take a bite of the most solid thing on my plate and chew the hell out of it. Then I wait 3-5 minutes before I start to eat agian. I find that it stops eating from being painful. It really is just the rules: chew really well and eat slow. I just can't stop eating like a fat person. Like it is my last meal and i haven't eaten in a month. Try to really think about that first few bites and rest in between.

beach volleyball

Hi Everyone, I have not been on this site in months. I just wanted to pop in and say hi to my old friends and welcome everyone who is new. How is everyone doing with their bands. I was banded in December. I was doing really well until march and then i stopped losing. I got a fill and it made all the difference. Let me just say Hello rules. I really have to make sure I am following them but it is hard to eat morehtan the 1000 - 1200 calories reccomended now. I have begun losing again. I am just under 40 lbs lost. ONLY 60 to go!!! Anyway, Christine, Fran or Lisa if you happen to read this check in and let me know how you are doing. I am off all summer and could sure use a walking buddy. Talk to you soon, Christine

dry roasted edamame and beef jerky are always in my car. Pack a cooler with ice packs and then you can bring anything you want. chris

Hi Everyone I have not been on this site for weeks. I am so glad that everyone is doing pretty well and having no major complications. I am actually sitting in Syosset hospital waiting for my mother to get out of surgery. She is now a fellow bander, too. I have been doing pretty well. Lcubed, cappy and all the other November and early December bandsters it sounds like we are all in about the same place. I lost 30 lbs as of mid-March. I haven't weighed since but I am going to guess I am down a least another 5 based on how my clothes are fitting. I am in total agreement that they are limiting the live at 5s in Patchogue. Hubby and I were at every one last year. Sometmes witht the kids sometimes without. I live in Sayville and if the Patchoguers plan to get together please count me in. I had dinner with Sue last week and I always find it so motivating. It is so helpful to talk to people who understand what you are going through. Candle - did you say you had a consult with a PS surgeon? I would love to know how it went. I told my hubby to start saving for my 40th B-day present. It is a long way off I hope I can weight that long. LOL Talk to everyone soon. To the recent bandsters -- this is the best thing you ever did and I wish you a quick, happy recovery. Chris

HI everyone both old and new, I have not been on in weeks and I am totally paying for it. I lost 25 lbs and then I got cocky. I thought this is so easy. But now I am struggling. I didn't think have gained anything (i don't get on the scale between drs visits) but I definitely stopped losing at the rate I was. I have an appointment with Dr. Geiss on Wednesday. I will probably get my first fill. Anyway, as always I would be open to getting together for some support. Sue I am still willing to drine inot Nassau. I owe you. Lets pick a date soon. Chris

HI everyone... Wednesday was out for me too. Any other night is fine. This weekend is good too. Maria - I was really worried about the liquids the week before. Honestly it wasn't that bad and I did it through Thanksgiving. You get passed the chewing thing after the first day. (It is kinda like losing you best friend for a while) There is really plenty you can eat so you don't feel hungry. I had a much harder time with the 3 week recovery. I feel like I haven't been on here all week. Miss you guys. I have to tell you that today for the first time I met a peice of chicken I didn't like. It was stuck I mean really stuck. It hurt so bad, I thought I was dying. I pbed for over an hour and could not get it up. Finally success. Wow...I never want to do that again. I haven't even had a fill yet. It was my own fault. I was cutting up chicken for the kids and popped some in my mouth mindlessly. I guess I didn't chew it well enough. It sucked. I don't reccomend it. Chris PS. Me and chicken are no longer friends.

Hi Lisa and Sue Lisa how did your appt go? Did you get the fill you expected? Lets try to get together this weekend. I am free Sunday and I am willing ot come to Nassau. What works for you guys? If the weekend doesn't work...lets do dinner one night next week. I am off the whole week. Chris

HI Lisa and Sue and everyone else... Lisa, it is great to see you back. I have lost 22 lbs so far and I have not yet had a fill. I don't really feel like I nedd one yet. The Dr. said probably next time but if I am still losing at this rate i will try to talk him out of it. Sue--I wanted to let you know that I signed up for the volleyball team I told yo about and I talked my hubby into talking swing lessons with me again. We did it before we got married and it was a lot of fun. Neither one starts until the end of February so I have ot get back to the gym this week. I have been so sick with a sinus and upper respiratory infection. I always find I gain weight when I am sick. I thin b/c I try to comfort myself with food. It has been a battle not to eat the reeses pb cake still in my kitchen. I has it leftover from company on Friday night. Ithink it is going into the garbage today. As always, I am game foe getting together. Lets look at this week or next. If we want to meet in my office Monday, Feb 9th works. We can meet there at 7:00 or maybe we can meet for brunch or lunch next Sunday. What works for everyone? I have to say that if you are finding yourself in a rut or struggling the best thing is to get together with people who are going through the same thing. Each time I have met with a fellow banster ( Sue is the common thread b/c she has been there all three times.) I have come away so focused and in a better mind frame to continue to be successful. It really helps so try to meet with us. Hope to hear from you all soon. <<<Sending skinny vibes>>> Chris

HI Where is everyone? I was wanted to check in. I had my second appt at Geissis office last week. I met with Dr. B. I really like him. He cracks me up. Anyway, I lsot seven more lbs. I was so excited b/c I was nervous about gaining over the Holidays. I didn't get a fill, which I am fine with b/c I don't think I needed one yet. This weather is so depressing. I don't feel like going out and I have totally lost my motivation to go to the gym. I can't wait to be able to be outside. Sending everyone skinny vibes. Chris

Hi Everyone I so agree with Cappy that I can use some support. I know it is short notice but I am off on Monday and would love to get together. Is anyone interested inmeeting Monday AFternoon or evening at the Starbucks in Sayville? I am thinking around 4:00 or later so my hubby can get home to take care of the kiddies. Let me know. Chris

Hello Friends of Betty ( you will have to meet me so I can explain that), I am glad to see some familiar faces back on our thread and would like to welcome the new ones. Fatgirl...congrats. Your surgery will be here before you know it. Once I got my date the time flew bye. I agree with nyc I was back up and moving 3 days after I was home. I had my surgery on a Wednesday and had help with my girls on Thursday and Friday. I went back to work on that Tuesday. To be honest with you the liquid diet before surgery was no problem. You are going to be so excited that you wil do anything they ask. I did my liquids over Thanksgiving and survived. The week after surgery liquids are not a problem b/c you will have all kinds of weird pains and you will be afraid to eat anything. The second week after surgery was really hard. I felt better and I felt hungry and I just really wanted to chew something. It is all doable though. So I think we need to try to meet again soon I find it so motivating to talk to others who are in this same situation and really understand. We have met in 2 places so far...Starbucks in Sayville and at my office in Farmingdale. Both places are good for me and I am also up for any other suggestions. Lets start to throw out some dates. What is easier a weekend or a weeknight? Where do we want to meet? Sending everyone <<<skinny vibes>> Chris

I have read this entire thread. I am so glad to be surrounded by such motivated people. I love that there is a refocusing program that has a finite period of time. I think in my mind that is the major difference between dieting and a 5 day program. I started drinking 2 protien drinks a day yesterday and then having dinner. I am going to do that one more day and then start the 5 day test on day 3. BTW- I am not a scale addicted as a matter of fact I have not weighed myself since my post-op meeting in mid-December. But the jeans that fit before Christmas were definitely tight yesterday. Everyone keep up the good work and Happy New Year.

Hi everyone, Happy New Year! Sue and Cappy--I am so glad to see you back on the site. I had checked in a couple of times and didn't see anyone. I really missed the support. I had a rough Holiday season as well. It is amazing how old habits die hard. I am such a grazer and constantly find myself popping small bites into my mouth mindlessly. I still refuse to get on the scale but the jeans that fit before the Hoidays were a bit tight today when I out them on. DARN! DARN! DARN!. I have my brother's wedding next weekend. I was really hoping not to have to have my dress altered but it is still to tight. On a positive note, I have started to exercise. I finished my first week of the couch to 5K plan. I downloaded this podcasts I found on itunes. I just run or walk to the music and it ques you when to change. I have decided to make it my goal to sign up for the summer run series this summer. I reay hate to workout but I keep thinking about Sue and her tennis playing. I really want to find something I enjoy doing. I am considering playing volleyball. A sport I used to love. Anyway, lets get together ASAP. I really want to share ideas and stories and find out what you gals are doing to get back on track. We can work around Cappy's schedule. Let me know when you are free and where we want to meet. Chris

Hey Lisa It is so great to hear from you. I was wondering what happened to everyone. Boy these holidays came upon us fast. I am feeling so much better and with that has returned my appetite. I have been following the rules and eating a small amount and then reassessing my hunger. I have started to track my calories on Sparkpeople.com I found that I was eating way to little...only 500 calories a day. So I am now up to a more healthy 1000 calories a day. I really have no plan on keeping track forever but I just really needed a handle on how much food I should be eating and getting a clue on how much is really enough. I am very looking forward to have the Holidays behind me. Everyone keep working hard and stay focused. I can't wait to be able to speak to you again after the Holidays. Chris

HI everyone I wanted to drop in and say HI. I have had such a busy week and had not had time to catch up with the boards. Cappy- I know what you mean about old habits dying hard. I am a picker. And even on liquids I find myself chewing on stuff I just popped in my mouth mindlessly. Soomething I really need to get a grip on. I am desperately looking forward to starting mushies next week. This has seemed like enternity. I really think you should meet Sue. She has suh a great story and I have learned a lot about how I want to approach this journey from her. And meeting Lisa the other night as well has really taught me what is expected of me. Hear are a few things that rang a bell with me: 1. The band does not stop you from eating. Only you can do that. There is still an element of willpower involved. 2. Our goal when eating is no longer full. It is just be not hungry. I am trying to continually ask myself ...I'm I hungry? I think I have really lost contact with what hungry feels like. And I am also trying to retrain my brain to understand that satisfied = good, full=too much...never mind stuck or pb. 3. The old tricks of the trade still work. Smaller plates, fork down when eating, low fat, high protien, less fried and processed foods are still the way to be healthy. 4. You do not have to be perfect all the time. If you eat fried food today try to avoid it the rest of the week. I fyou dod it three days in a row then avoid it longer. It will all work out. 5. Most of the time a little taste will do. If you decide to eat something high in fat or calories and surround it with lower calorie healthy food...how much of the bad thing are you really ingesting? Make it the last thing you eat on your plate. 6. Excersize, Excersize, Excersize. DAMN...isn't there an operation to make you look like you excersized when you haven't. 7. Tight does not mean more sucessful. Ok...I am no expert and I am less along in this journey then you are but I am trying to learn from the successful ones. (Sue and Lisa how am I doing?) I know I am going to have a similiar bumpy road as yours. What were we thinking so lose to the Holidays. Lwets jsut keep out expectations realistic and focus best we can. We can get through this together. It was really great to talk to other people who have the band. We all said the other night that we have not exactly advertised it to our friends and family and they wouldn't understand anyway. I would like to meet more of you. Lets pick a date in January. Weekday or weeknight, afternoon or eveneing, lets atalk about what works best. Christine-I haven't forgotten about you and I definitely want to get together and walk I just want to heal a bit more. Lets talk later in the week. Amy--welcome back. I am glad to hear you are getting close. Stick around there is great support here. Chris

Those definitely sound like a gallbladder attack. Eat something really high in fat...it should spark an attack and you can go to the ER. If you have stones they will usually inflame your pancreas and they can tell that from a simple blood test. Can you tell I had that experience?

HI everyone, I wanted to check in and wish everyone having surgery this week good luck. I had my surgery on Dec 3 (Wednesday) I had to stay over night. I spent most of it as drugged as possible. By thursday morning I was moving around pretty well. Yesterday I was up, shower and dressed and felt pretty good but still napped twice during hte day. every time I wake up I feel better. I started full liquids today and I feel pretty gassy. It hurts to burp. Otherwise all is well. I am two weeks full liquids and then two weeks mushy. I go back for my follow up on Dec 17. I will find out how much I lost then b/b I refuse to play the scale game at home. Chris

Hello Everyone I have been happy to see your emails and can't wait to meet you all on Wednesday. So I finally had my surgery. It went really well. I really have to give kudos the Dr. Geiss and the staff at Syosset hospital. It was really a great experience. I got home on Thursday. Today I am up, dressed and moving around. My port site is a little sore but nothing some tylenol isn't taking care of. Today I got to start full liquids but they really didn't taste and good AS I thought they would. OH well only two more weeks. I look forward to getting weighed at Dr. Geiss's on Dec 17. (I refuse to play the scale game at home.) Everyone have a great day. Chris

Hi Everyone... Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. Well tomorrow is my day. I go in at 9:30. Anyone have any last minute advice? Did anyone bring anything to read or do? Any must haves when I get home? I am so excited I didn't even realize I was hungry all today. I am glad people are able to make it on Dec 10. For those of you who will miss us we can try again. Once again anyone who want to come please e-mail me at kelly@sarni.com. I will send you directions and the address I would rather not post my work address on the website. It is in Farmingdale on Route 110 just north of the southern state. Have a great day everyone!!

I ordered the Unjurt powder and I have found it to be pretty good. So much better than Medifast that the nutrionist pushes. (She gets a cut if you order it) I have been adding just a drop of almond extract to the vanilla and chocolate. It reaaly gives is a fuller flavor. I really miss chewing. I have been on protein shakes and soups since last Monday. I thought I was all smart starting 2 days early...Boy am I regretting that. Only 3 more days to surgery...Whew. I heard you are really not hungry afterwards for a while and literally have to force down those shakes.

Hello Everyone.. Thanks so much for your support. I can't believe that my operation is Wednesday. I agree that Thanksgiving was really hard. I made butternut squash Soup for myself. That way I felt like I had something home made, too. I hate liquids. I feel like a newborn that has had to much formula. Fran and Mus...I am glad you are recovering quickly and that you both are feeling good. Fran, do yourself a favor and get rid of your scale. I through the batteries out in mine months ago. Enjoy this journey...the weight will come off. Don't make yourself a slave to the process. This is not a diet it is now the rest of your life. Hi Mzcuty...Welcome to our thread. I promise this is the most friendly and supportive group you can find. I am being banded on the the 3rd by Dr. Geiss so we may pass each other in the hall. Suecarole...I hope you enjoyed your son while he was home. I know I really began to appreciate my mother when I went away to college and our realtionship got the strongest. Amanda--That was so nice of you to go and visit. I can't wait for us to all get together. BTW--We are good to meet at my office on December 10th. The office is on Rt 100 in Farmingdale just north of the southern state. I am thinking around 6:30 - 7:00. I don't want to post the address on the board so anyone who is intereated please email me at kelly@sarni.com. I will give you the address and directions. Chris

It is so great to hear that all of you have come through with great success and for the most part with very little pain. I can't believe that I get my band next week. I started liquids to day. It wasn't that bad but i am worried about being home all weekend. I think it will be challenging. I just want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and a great weekend. Chris