jmegirl

My first two fills were 3.4cc and 0.8cc. Each only lasted a week or two before I felt little to no restriction again. This 3rd fill (which I got on Friday) was 1.05cc, bringing me to a total of 5.25cc in a 10cc band. Saturday I felt I could chew off my arm, but Sunday I had good restriction and that has continued into today. I'm hoping for much longer than a week or two this time! I think the first few fills only last a week or two. It's not until you get up to 5cc or more that you really start to feel good restriction for a long period of time. My doctor says I'm at the point now where most people say they maintain restriction for more than just a few weeks. I hope so!!!

I have a question about drinking after you eat. If you have a greek yogurt for breakfast (or something similar) do you still wait at least 30mins to drink something? Yogurt, though somewhat thick, still seems like it would go right through the band. So I'm wondering if I should wait to drink something like I would after a normal meal (meat, veggies, etc) or if drinking after a breakfast of greek yogurt is OK?

I'm so sorry to hear that. :biggrin: You and I are similar in age, and so are our dads. I don't think I could handle it if this were my family's situation. Bless you for being so strong! My thoughts are with you, keep us updated!!!

I'm in!!! 15lbs! I'm going to start exercising and I've convinced myself that this will be the push I need! PS - Love the new look!

So, my 3rd fill was Friday morning, bringing me to a total of 5.25cc in a 10cc band. For the remainder of the day Friday I couldn't tell a difference at all. And Saturday I thought I was going to chew off my arm all day, I was that hungry. I went to bad last night (tummy growling) so sure that this was the worst mistake I've ever made and that I would never be a success with my band. :scared2: I woke up this morning after sleeping about 10hrs, and my stomach wasn't growling. I went to lunch at noon and ate less than 1/2 cup of food and I was totally stuffed. I even took 4 or 5 sips of tea during the meal! Here I am, 3hrs later, and still not really hungry. I'm kicking myself for being so hard on myself yesterday. Hopefully this is the beginning of the downward slope for me! My 27th birthday is this Thursday, and I'm going to officially start my work-outs on Friday. I know you ladies probably want to smack me for as much as I've complained, especially when you read that I haven't done a damn bit of exercise since surgery 3 months ago. I'm a horrible, horrible bandster example, that's for sure. You all probably think it's my own fault that I am where I am and I should quit my whining and do something about it. I agree with you! Well, I'm tired of being such a slow loser, and I'm committing TODAY to walking 30mins on that treadmill every day, no excuses. If I do more than 30mins then GREAT but I will do at least 30mins every day!!!! This is a new week! I'm so motivated it's scary!!! :crying:

Amythest, Dee, Mini, Bella - Thank you all so much for your kind words. This is the best support group anyone could ask for. :thumbup: For this week, put me down for zero again. Holding steady is better than a gain! This new fill will do it for me, I have to believe that. For the VD challenge :rose: put me down for 12lbs. We start today and our first weigh-in is next week right? Good luck everyone! And HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY ladies !!! :rose:

Had my 3rd fill today ladies. I'm actually sitting here (FREEZING!) in the Denver airport right now waiting on my flight back to the MUCH WARMER East Coast. My fill today was 1.05cc (strange amount, I know) bringing me to a total of 5.25cc in a 10cc band. I can't tell a difference right now, but I've been in such a bad mood lately about my mediocre weight loss. I mean, I am not even recognizing a huge NSV for me this week. I went to San Diego this week before my Denver trip to visit my best friend, and while there, I went to Lane Bryant shopping and I bought a pair of jeans that was one size smaller than the ones I was wearing - and they fit! I should be happy about this right? Wrong! :cursing: Instead, all I can obsess about is the fact that I've only lost 18lbs in a little more than 3 months and I feel like the biggest failure on the freaking planet. I'm not eating right, I'm not exercising, it's my own damn fault and I still can't manage to do a damn thing to help myself out! You get out of it what you put into it, and all I'm doing is shoving the wrong things in my mouth and sitting on my fat arse! :frown::cursing: *sigh* OK, sorry I just had to vent. :frown:

Dee, my numbers last week were +1 but you've got me down for a loss. Could you change that? Also, today I'm a big fat zero. My fill is next Friday the 13th.

Good luck! We'll all be thinking about you! What causes a port to flip?

Yes, I've had mine about every 3 weeks (give or take) since surgery in November. At least it means I'm not preggers, LOL.

Sucking swamp water! I'm with you there!

I'm +1 this week and in a really bad mood. I'm self-sabotaging and I can't figure out why. :thumbup:

What a wonderful story! That made me smile this morning. You're doing really well, keep up the good work!!!

In case anyone is looking for a fiber supplement, I just picked up these Benefiber drink mix packets. They are individual servings (like the Crystal Light packets) and the Citrus Punch is actually pretty good!! It's a cross between Tang and Sunny D I think, and I was surprised that it blended into the water perfectly, no clumps or powder left at the bottom. Here's a link in case anyone is interested in buying some. I've checked online and there seem to be a few flavors (I think) but Citrus Punch is the only one I've tried thus far. Buy Benefiber Citrus Punch Flavored Stick Pack Online at drugstore.com

Lately I've taken to having a bowl of cereal as a snack after dinner if I feel like snacking. Is it a complete waste of calories? I typically get the good stuff, high fiber and such. Definitely not Captain Crunch or Fruity Pebbles - gosh how I miss those! Since it's cereal in milk, I'm sure the milk just washes the cereal down the hatch and I don't get any real fullness from it. What's your opinion on cereal ladies???

YES! When you're working out you're burning calories, so it stands to reason that you'll get a little more hungry afterwards, and you should be eating more calories to compensate your exercising. Your body needs the fuel! But who am I to talk about exercising? I haven't stepped on the treadmill since surgery. :thumbup:

OK, this is sort of a stupid question... Are you preparing the sf pudding with milk, and then when the pudding is set, mixing in the other ingredients? Or are you mixing the pudding powder into the cool whip with the pineapple???

Aww, you all think I'm just someone who waltzes in here to give you hell and then leave. I'm not going to yell at you, as I've been struggling myself and really there's no point in yelling or giving stern advice on here. We're all adults and will do what we please. I pray that you get back on track, just as I pray that I can get back on track as well.

I'm down -1.2 this week! I love seeing the scale move!!!! WOOHOO!!!!

Hi Heather! Thanks for thinking of me! :tt2: Slow and steady wins the race, isn't that what they say??? Well, my 2nd fill was 2 weeks ago today, and I've lost 4lbs since then. By my standards that is FABULOUS! I'm starting to get hungry faster though, so I know that within a week I'll be ready for another fill. And can I just be honest? This really bites. My surgeon (and my fill doctor, obviously) is in Denver, and I'm in NC. So I'm flying to Denver for every fill, and my next fill is 3 weeks from today. It's expensive, but worth it to me in the long run to have my surgeon be the one I'm getting fills from. I was self-pay and could not afford to go locally. My ticker shows my weight loss from the day of surgery. If you take the average, I've lost about 1.7lbs per week, which is right smack dab in the middle of what I'm supposed to be losing. My surgeon tells me not to be down on myself and tells me I'm doing great. He also reminded me that I'm starting out smaller than a lot of other band patients, and as a result I won't lose as fast as others that started off bigger. I'm OK with that. Losing slowly is healthier. I'm just ready for my clothes to start fitting looser. The only place I can tell I've lost weight is in my face. :crying:

YAY!!! So much for a plateau! You're so excited, you didn't even realize it's Friday and we don't weigh-in until tomorrow.... :tt2: :crying:

Julie, you might not be getting enough calories. Everything I've read says to stay between 1000 and 1200 calories a day, and to never go below that because your body might go into starvation mode and your metabolism could get thrown off, causing your body to hang onto every little pound. Try adding in a protein shake between lunch and dinner, just to get a few hundred extra calories and a little more protein.

Are you getting enough calories each day? Any less than 1000cals per day and your body is not getting the nutrients it needs and goes into starvation mode, at which point it holds onto everything you eat and severely limits weight loss. You have to make sure you get 1000-1300 cals a day.

I'm jealous!

oh my gosh, where are you that your local McD's has broccoli and cheese soup????