adagray

I would skip the meat and enjoy the soft sides. Be very careful and really really chew chew chew up everything. The meat may or may not work for you right now, but I just think its better to try meat at home first. You have more control over making sure it is not overcooked and a quality cut. My DH is BBQing steaks for us today and I will eat some, but I bought the meat for us and chose filet mignon. I find even NY steak (which is still a good cut of meat) can have stringy bits that don't work w/the band. Only the best meat for me now! LOL Also, when you try meat for the first time, you will want to cut it up really really small. That's hard to do at a cookout w/hamburgers and hot dogs.

My guess is because you ate extra last night, you probably had more sodium than usual, and maybe retaining Water. Water fluctuations can effect how tight you feel. Some people feel tighter when they are dehydrated, some feel tighter when they are retaining water. I don't really understand it. But, I would just recommend sipping on ice cold water as much as possible today. Try to avoid Hot drinks as they will actually make you feel tighter. The PA at my surgeon's office told me that after I told her about getting almost completely closed up after drinking some hot broth after a fill.

Wow! 10K!!! Well, in this case I'm guessing you belong to a big gym and its a contest with a lot of people. Chances are you are not the first person wanting to join the contest who has had surgery. Maybe check w/the person running the contest. If they don't have a rule against it, then go for it. I'm assuming you don't know the other participants personally and there may be others in the contest who have had surgery too. In my case, it just didn't feel right because it was a small group contest (just our center) w/all the ladies knowing each other. I really doubt any of the others have had weightloss surgery and I am friends w/the franchise owner and didn't want to put her in an awkward position by asking if I could join. But, if its a big gym, I might feel different. BTW, I often wonder if some of the participants on actual 'Biggest Loser Show' have had surgery. Honestly, I kind of hope that they have because then they will have more of a chance of keeping their weight off.

I had to go for a slight unfill after my last fill because I felt too tight. I could still drink Water, but it was a real chore. My doctor has us on Clear Liquids for 72 hours after a fill so I don't know what would've happened if I tried yogurt. But, the water was bad enough... tiny sips, lots of gurgling, and pain if I drank more than just a tiny sip. I'm glad I got a slight unfill. (you can see the details of how much and when in my siggy) For me, though, the time right after a fill is not always the tightest so it made the decision easy to go back. I knew that if I was this tight right after the fill, I might be even tighter a couple weeks after. I don't know why, but that's how it works for me. Right after I had the slight unfill, I was thinking maybe I made a mistake because I felt wide open again. Now, a week and a half later, I have perfect restriction. By the way, what I consider 'perfect restriction' is pretty much being able to eat anything* as long as you chew it very well. But, small meals, 3x a day, no hunger between, no need for snacking in between. And, with no problems getting enough solid Protein or water in. I aim for 20g of solid protein at every meal for 60g+ total per day. * with the exception of bread which has a problem for me from the very beginning

Don't feel bad. If you want to tell people now, I would go ahead and let them know the only reason you didn't tell them before was because of your own self-doubt... you didn't want to advertise something that you weren't sure would even work for you, but now that it has, you want to share. I think most people would understand that and not feel betrayed. But, if you don't REALLY want to tell, don't feel like you have to. I think the hard thing is that you said you've become kind of a proponent or leader of weightloss in your group. For me, I don't think I could do that without full disclosure. I also didn't join 'The Biggest Loser' contest at my Jazzercise center because I felt my band gave me an unfair advantage. I openly tell everyone about my surgery and told the ladies there that's why I wasn't entering the contest. When I said that, there were a couple of them that said 'oh yeah, you better not enter, that wouldn't be fair'. And, I totally understand where they are coming from because although the band isn't doing all the work for me, it is making it possible for me to lose weight faster and easier than I ever have before. Let's face it, none of us would go through the pain and expense of surgery if we didn't believe it would give us a big advantage to finally get the weight off and keep it off for good.

I have gotten to the point of custom ordering drinks. The other night I asked the bartender to make me a mojito, but to use plain water instead of seltzer and half of the simple syrup (sugar syrup) he would normally use. It was awesome yummy. I did not miss the bubbles or extra sugar at all. A lot of places have 'skinny' cocktails on the menu now (made w/artificial sweeteners), but I am avoiding artificial sweeteners.

I guess it depends on how bad your PMS is. Its a big trade-off. For me, I get terrible terrible cramps. I was on a strong Rx NSAID before getting the lapband. After I had surgery and was told no more NSAIDs ever, it really put me in a predicament as to how to deal w/these cramps. My PCP even prescribed percocet (strong pain med) and flexeril (muscle relaxant). Those work well, but they totally knock me out so I can't take them if I have anywhere I need to drive during the day. After a few months of this, I just decided it was ridiculous and I had to try hormonal birth control again. I had tried a low dose pill about a year ago and it made me feel terrible (on edge and moody) so I stopped after three days. This time, I'm trying Nuvaring because it is absolutely the lowest hormone dose you can get (other than the Mirena IUD). I started it just over a week ago and so far, so good. I don't notice any side effects. My scale is up a couple pounds, but honestly I have not been following all the rules all that well this past week either. In any case, even if it means I gain back a few more pounds I have to lose, its worth it to me in the long run to not have those cramps in control of me 1-2 days per month.

Maybe see your PCP to ask about whether it could be your gallbladder. I'm just thinking the bariatric surgeon may only be thinking that it is not the band and assuming you would talk to your PCP then to pursue further what else it could be.

* High BP Medicine (really surprised me because I've been on it for 10+ years and a really high dose) * sleep Apnea (I don't even snore anymore, let alone need a CPAP) * Pre-Diabetes * A huge weight off my shoulders from being constantly worried that my health was spiraling downward uncontrollably The next thing my PCP wants me to do is to do a trial of going off of my high cholesterol medication because she thinks I probably don't need that anymore either. Thanks for posting this. Its a good reminder that this isn't all just about reaching a number on the scale.

Yes, my surgeon does the same thing. It supposedly does reduce the chance of slippage significantly. I think it is becomming more common, but anyone who is not banded yet should ask their surgeon if he/she uses this technique. Knowing what I know now, I would not get banded by a surgeon who does not do this technique and is very experienced w/it. Of course, when I originally picked my surgeon, I didn't even know to ask this question. I just lucked out.

My surgeon recommends 30-20-30. No drinking for 30 minutes before, do not drink while eating and eat for no longer than 20 minutes. Then, no drinking for 30 minutes after. Even within the same office, though, the nutritionists don't totally agree. I've heard that you may be better off stopping drinking only 10 minutes before eating and then try not to drink again for a whole hour afterwards. As w/most band 'rules', I don't think you'll find one that everyone agrees on. You have to do a little trial-and-error yourself. Personally, I have not found that drinking right up to a meal is a problem, but I do usually wait at least an hour after to keep my meal sticking w/me longer.

If you are flying w/your family, I don't see how/why they would ask you to buy an extra seat. You can put a family member on either side so even if you do overflow the seat a bit, your only getting closer w/your own family. LOL At my highest, I was very aware that I overflowed the seat a bit, but I would always seat one of my children next to me, lift the armrest, and share their seat a bit. Afterall, I paid for it!

There is certainly a learning curve w/the band and most of us end up PBing or vomiting a bit as we learn what works and doesn't work w/our bands. But, the normal learning process is that you get stuck on something, PB/vomit, then learn that you have to chew that item better or avoid it. It sounds like your learning process has been you get stuck on something, PB/vomit, oh that's a good way to negate a bad choice, I can eat this all I want and just PB/vomit it later. So, your learning process is going in the wrong direction. I would seek help as others have suggested. Also, if this is primarily happening just after a fill, you might be better off staying on liquids for longer after a fill. My doctor recommends 72 hours on liquids so you don't get in a bad cycle of swelling, PBing, then more swelling which causes more PBing.

I think the only way is to change up your exercise. But, looking at your pic, you look GREAT! Also, keep in mind that if you are working out now and maybe you didn't in the past when you were this weight before, then it could be that you are heavier due to more muscle mass... which is a GOOD thing. So, maybe don't go so much by a number, but how you feel and look right now.

Go ahead and get fitted now to make the bride happy. But, you can always find another seamstress later to alter it some more right before the wedding. I had a similar situation... was on WW and losing a lot. I was like a size 8 when they ordered the dress, but for some bizarre reason they ordered a 14. Then, I was like a size 4 by the time the wedding came around. It was ridiculous how much the dress had to be taken in, but they did it.

My surgeon didn't say 'no dairy', but I was told 'no liquid calories'. And, so I asked about milk and she said no milk because those are liquid calories. As for yogurt and cottage cheese, they're not really the best choice after being banded because they are sliders (meaning they don't stay in your pouch long). And, cheese is high in fat and generally slides right through the band too. So, it could be that your doctor has decided to say no to all dairy because of these reasons. I say just be aware that it is not always the best choice as far as keeping you satisfied for a long time, but I still have it in moderation.

Were the enchiladas made w/corn tortillas or flour tortillas? For me, corn tortillas go down no problem, but flour tortillas can get stuck. Vegie & cheese enchiladas are actually one of my favorite foods since being banded. I get filled up on just a little and never have problems w/them getting stuck. I usually buy the frozen CedarLane organic ones. Even if I eat both, it is still under 400 calories and I think 20g of Protein. If you add a little Fage (greek yogurt that tastes like sour cream), you can boost the protein even more. I don't think you should be scolded for choosing to eat this, especially since it was suggested by your doctor. The great thing about the band is it helps you eat in moderation. And, as long as you are getting in enough protein and following the rules, there doesn't have to be any food that is totally off limits.

It is crazy how wildly different pre and post-op instructions can be from doctor to doctor. My surgeon has her patients do clear liquids for just 3 days post-op and then go straight to real food on day 4 post op. I was eating Christmas dinner w/my family just 8 days after surgery. And, she is a center of excellence too. When I asked one of the PAs why post-op diets are so different she said that most practices do not have a big enough staff to deal w/all the questions and issues that might come up when their patients move to real food. So, they keep them on liquids a long long time because if you never eat, you will never get stuck, you will never have any issues, and you'll never need to call the office. Interesting.

I'm 5'5" and my goal is 149 pounds. I picked that because it is just within the healthy weight range/BMI for my height. And, also because my highest weight was 249 so it makes it an even 100 pounds I need to lose. Honestly, though, I am not that focused on attaining a specific number on the scale. My real goal is to just get to a point where I can physically do everthing I want to be able to do w/ease, feel good about how I look, and can maintain this in a way that does not feel like a struggle. So, more than the number on the scale, I am really focused on embracing exercise and an active lifestyle. If there is any number I am really focused on lately, it is reducing my percentage of body fat. I feel like this will be the key to sustainable weightloss for me because the more muscle you build, the more you can raise your BMR (Base Metabolic Rate) and the easier it is to maintain your weightloss.

I don't journal because it has such a bad association for me, due to so many failed diet attempts on Weight Watchers. But, what I do instead is aim for 400 calories per meal and at least 20g of Protein at each meal. My doctor is one that says to eat only three meals per day, no Snacks, so that makes it easy to keep track in my head (I'm not trying to keep track of small amounts of calories all day). And, I do still pull out my WW scale once in awhile to check that the portion size I think I'm taking is correct. I just have a big aversion to 'tracking' because of all the years and failures on WW. And, I also agree w/the poster who said it can make you obsessive. Instead of listening to my stomach on WW, I would often just keep checking my tracker to see how much more I could eat. And, I would get depressed if I ate too many points in the morning. I would try to save as many as possible for the end of the day so I could really 'splurge'. Really really unhealthy thinking. Not saying it has to be that way, but that is how you can misuse journaling to your detriment.

My surgeon said absolutely no NSAIDs ever. That includes Advil, Ibuprofin, Aleve, Motrin, and a Rx one I used to take for period cramps. When I went to see my PCP about this (because I get terrible terrible cramps), she agreed w/my surgeon's recommendation and gave me a Rx for Percocet (pain med) and Flexeril (muscle relaxant) instead. Percocet is highly addictive, but I only need to take 1-2 per month (just the first day of my period) so she said it is OK. The Percocet works great for the pain. The Flexeril basically just knocks me out which is good for night-time. The only problem is I can't take either of these and drive anywhere. The next thing I'm gonna try is going on Nuvaring to help my cramps. Hopefully the hormones don't bother me too much. We shall see... It can be quite a challenge, though, to find adequate pain relievers other than NSAIDs. It takes some creativity. For muscle aches, I've started just using ice and that works amazingly well. I got a really nice flexible ice-pack that I keep in the freezer and use on my arm regularly now for a tennis elbow injury I have. Honestly, it seems to be working better than anything else I tried.

I bet if you go for somewhere between 7.25 and 7.5, you will be fine. When I was having my episode, I did a lot of reading on the 'Fills' section of these boards (I searched on 'too tight') and it seems like once you get past 6, you maybe shouldn't get full 1cc fills. Honestly, I was surprised the PA gave me 1cc to start with. I was expecting 0.5 and then for her to have me sip Water and go up from there. I guess she did the whole cc to start with because I tolerated 1.25cc so well the last time. Anyway, don't be afraid to get your fill. It is so dependent on so many different things and if you have little restriction right now, you do need it. When I went back for the unfill, the PA also told me that almost every lapband patient will end up getting too tight at least once and come back for an unfill. She said it is part of the process and don't feel bad. We are all trying to get to that perfect spot, but it keeps changing as we lose weight. The good thing is that they didn't charge me for the unfill. I'm not sure of exactly what my office's policy is, but I think if you come back within a certain amount of time because you are too tight, they don't charge you... maybe it is three days (I can't remember). But, for anyone reading this, it might be worth asking your office since that also might play into your decision of whether to wait it out or go for another adjustment.

I just got another 1cc added and am up to 7.5cc in a Lapband APS (10cc capacity). This is the first time after a fill that I'm experiencing water going down slowly. I can only drink one sip at a time and there is a lot of gurgling as it goes down. Does this sound alright? I'm a little concerned just because I've never been this tight before. :thumbup: My doctor says only to drink clear liquids for 72 hours after a fill, though, so I guess I shouldn't worry about it for now. Maybe it will loosen up by the time I am supposed to be able to eat. For those of you who are at your sweet spot, what do you think? Is that a normal feeling for water to go down slow and gurgle???

It was more discomfort than pain. The only time I had pain was after I had some broth (which caused more swelling) and I had to spit my saliva out. If you have ever slimed before, it was like that after I had the broth, but I didn't have anything to PB because I hadn't had solids yet. I was more afraid than anything else really because I felt like I was completely closing up and I didn't know how to make the swelling go down. I finally decided to try taking tiny sips of ice cold Water followed by spitting out my saliva. And, eventually the cold water did bring the swelling down enough that I could sleep and swallow my own saliva. Are your burps big and come freely or do you gurgle and make tiny burps for 5+ minutes after a sip of water? For me, I was gurgling and making tiny burps for 5+ minutes after having just a sip of water. It was the most incredibly annoying thing ever.

Yes, I got a slight unfill yesterday. She took out half (0.5cc) of what she had put in the day before (1.0cc). So, now I'm at 7.0cc. As soon as she did the unfill, I felt completely better and could drink water normally again. Well, I can't guzzle water, but I can drink about 3 oz at one time w/no gurgling or discomfort. I've never been so happy to just be able to drink water freely. She said it was better that I didn't wait it out. I think its a very personal thing and you gotta decide how long you can take being too tight. Even if my swelling would've gone down in one or two days, I just can't spend a whole day or two doing nothing but trying to hydrate myself (painfully). For the time I gave it (24 hours), I just felt stressed out and worried that it would get worse. For me, the time right after a fill is not always the tightest for me. Sometimes, I feel more tight two weeks after. So, that also played into my decision to get back in there and take care of it right away.