Makulafamy

I read this thread and I dont think anyone else has asked (if you answered this already sorry :thumbup: But why do you only have 2.5ccs in your band? I am 3 months out and getting ready to go back for my 4th fill. You for sure dont have restriction right now, so you are just relying on will power. My doc covered everything for 90 days, so you can bet after my first fill and I didnt get restriction, I called and got another appt. I went in for 3 fills in about 4 weeks. It was free and my doctor agreed that I didnt have restriction. I will be interested to hear what your doc says. Dont be too down yet. Your band just isnt living up to its full potential yet bc it not very full! Amy

There are TONS on the web. You can use Daily Plate, among many others. These sites will track all of your food nutrients and will do your exercising too.

Blair-here is the deal-e-o. If there is one thing my doc and his staff did not do a good job with, that was informing me that until I reach restriction...basically we are on our own. I thought that after I was banded, I would feel different when I ate or drank. It took me 3 fills before I could feel anything. I am currently at 6.5ccs in a 10-12cc band. You are totally in bandster hell right now, and yes...its basically up to you and your willpower to hang on until the band starts doing its job. You should fill pretty topped off after about a cup of food. For example, I can ALMOST finish a chicken breast. But once I start to feel my band, if I push it and try to finish the whole thing...its going to come back up. Just keep talking to your doc about how much and what you can eat. I called my doc every week to get in for a fill until I actually felt something. Thats what I (and my insurance) are paying him for! LOL. Also, I feel the same pressure with trying to prove to people the band was worth it. I feel that they think it should be falling off me as well...but most people dont know the difference between this and RnY...and they dont know that we still have to work at it. So, dont give too much thought to that. My doctor made me chant "1-2 pounds a week" last time i was there bc I was bummed I hadnt lost more! Eventually we will look back on this and say damn...I cant believe I've lost this much weight!

he could be a good source of Protein...do you have a grill? lol...kidding. Dont eat Fido. Not enough protein. This too shall pass! Soon you will be months post-op and pounds and pounds lighter.

Sometimes mine says that. Look for blank white space before or after the lines you are trying to add. Like at the end of your last sentence, hit the delete key to see if you have hit enter. I dont know if that makes sense. In otherwords, it may look like you dont have anything there, but you may have hit return, or have "html code" that is messing you up.

LOL...you know "old" people have thin friends and go out and want to drink too! I am getting ready to turn 20-10 (aka 30) in Sept. But you can still drink. Just not things like beer. Anything that is bubbly and has carbonation has a potential to stretch your stomach back out....and if you are going to do that...what's the point of going through all this. I am 3 months post op next week. I had a martini last week. So pick a cocktail. I tend to drink even less now though, bc I dont want to drink my calories. I would rather eat them and get some sort of nutrition from them....so if I go out with people who are drinking and getting drunk...I think which is more important to me? Drinking or losing weight? I choose the second option, drink one cocktail and then stick to Water. Once you progress past mushies, you will find plenty of options to keep others from wondering whats up. Most restraunts have Soups, and if not...maybe a bean dip or artichoke dip? If I am going somewhere where I think food might be an issue, I try to see if I can find a menu for the place and scope it out before I go out in a group. Hope some of that helps! You are doing great! Keep it up--Amy

I felt the same way about 5-7 days after surgery. I was supposed to be on liquids for 2 weeks, but I called my doc and he told me I could slowly try full liquids and mushies and I was instantly better. I believe a couple of things are happening (but I am only a doctor in my mind). Bloodsugar and for me...not enough calories! I was only taking in about 350 calories a day...and we need more than that to have energy. I was aloud to have juice right after surgery. They tell you just to avoid the ones that are real acidic (so like oj, until you know your body can handle those). My suggestion is to call your doc and see what they think. --Amy

I was totally going to say 7 layer bean dip. Refried Beans, sour cream, gauco, salsa, black olives, chives, and shredded cheese. I made this for a party when I was post-op about 3 weeks. Its simple and yummy! Take a bag of Fritos for those who can eat them.

Welcome to bandland! Pretty soon you will be an official bandster. I am from Pensacola...so NW Florida. Its pretty good that for your pre-op diet you get to have food! I had 2 weeks of just liquids (as did lots of people on here). You will start to crave for every food commericial on TV...and during this phase of pre-op and even a little post-op, it will seem like there are a million of them For me, the pre-surg diet was not the hardest part of my journey. It's tough, but the weight loss that comes with it is a nice perk. After your surgery and after you have healed...the time before you get your first fill (or your second or third) was the hardest time for me. This is called bandster hell, and I was not prepared for it. So I wanted to give you a heads up (not to scare you but so you dont get disappointed). Most of us go through a period after surgery where we can still eat anything we want...bc we dont have proper restriction yet. During this time you have to rely on willpower and your memory (meaning why you did this in the first place). After you start to get your fills and your band starts working with you...things get much better. Walk walk walk! Even the night after your surgery. Walking will help with gas and blood clots. Then, start walking to help you keep losing. I started in Jan when I was banded and did my first 5k several weeks ago. I was 327 pounds when I started...so if I can do it, anyone can! Keep in mind the band is a tool for us. Not the "miracle cure". Be open with your doctor afterwards. Call if you have questions, get in to see him/her. My doc has been great! This forum and all the people on here will be wonderful as well. I have a blog, as do lots of other bandsters, and I have "met" some wonderful people this way. Usually you can find the link for the blogs in peoples signatures on their posts. Holler if you need anything. Again...WELCOME! I dont regret a minute of this journey! Amy

I am at a pretty good restriction. I think I could use just a tad more...but... Here is a great example. Last night for dinner I had about 1/2 a cup of pork sirloin and 3/4 mashed potatoes. I was not hungry after I ate that. Like everyone else says, you dont get that "oh my gosh I am so full I am going to burst" feeling anymore, but once I have eaten the right amount with my restriction I am satisfied and not hungry. I am still physically hungry after Breakfast and lunch, but that's just bc I choose to eat small amounts to keep losing until I find my sweet spot. To answer the other question about when do you know to stop? Well, the other night I had this wonderful chicken breast with ham, cheese, and tomatoe on top. About halfway through my chicken I could feel my body telling me to give it a few minutes. I ignored. Then, with about 1/4 of the chicken breast left, I could feel that my pouch was full...there was a slight feeling of being uncomfy...not really a pain, but a pressure. I again just wanted to finish my chicken (must clean plate when meal is yummy mentality), so I forced it down. 5 minutes later my body forced it back up. Lesson learned.

Sure, PBing is productive burp. Its different than throwing up. For me, if I eat too fast or something get stuck...it take about 5 minutes before I PB. Its almost like your slobber cant go down, and it starts filling up your throat until you "produce" it back up...usually in a slimy foamy form thats really stretchy! Gross huh? Up towards the top of the screen is a link to the FAQ's. There is a dictionary of terms you will read on here. That helped me when I was first starting! I asked my doc if he had a theory about people saying they are tighter in the morning. He says he hears that a lot but does not have a medical explanation. Hope that helps.. Amy

hahhaahaha....thats a good one! :sneaky:

Crishell-Good job for refocusing and getting back on the BANDwagon! lol... You lost a good amount before, and now that you have gotten some of that stuff out of your system, you will lose more! See you in onederland (someday down the road for me!)--amy

Well that was a tease! Tell us more about your journey! And...welcome to the site! Amy

Up at the top of the screen, in the "banner" you will see a list of choices like: User CP Invite Your Friends Chat FAQ... Click on FAQ and there will be a link in there that says Abbreviations. That should answer your questions! Amy:thumbup:

Hey Kim, I will be 20-10 in September and started this journey at 327 pounds! I did not have to do the 6 months supervised diet THANK GOD! I did get a good deal of info about having children after, and you will find many ladies on here that are preggo or have had children. From what I have read they just empty the band and then everything works as normal. During my psych eval they told me that many women get who thought they couldnt keep pregnant find it very easy! Good luck on your journey and let me know if I can help you! AMY

Happy Sunday everyone. I wanted to share my story so maybe others can not experience the same thing. I am on my third fill, 6.5 ccs in a 10-12cc band. I went to Walmart for some groceries. Boyfriend wanted some chicken from the deli. I hadnt eaten since 11am and it was nearly 7pm. So, I figured I would get me some popcorn chicken. Seriously, they are the size of a penny. They come in this cup, with a little flip lid. I thought I would try few on my way to the checkout. Big MISTAKE! I ate 3. I knew I was in trouble. It just sat there. Then it started to hurt. I started to take deep breaths. The sweat started to bead on my forehead. Seriously, the lady in front of the couple in front of me had so much in her cart, that it took two carts to hold the groceries bagged...and they had to call for help. I started to panic. Did I ditch my cart and go throw up in Walmart's bathroom? I ruled that out. I probably stood in line for 10 minutes. Breathing. Sweating. Cursing my stupidity in my head. I checked out and started walking towards the car. At this point I was looking for a place to throw up. Bushes? No, I could make it to my car. I threw the stuff in my trunk, grabbed an empty bag out of my trunk, opened my door, sat down behing my wheel and threw up in the bag. Horrible. I made it home, threw up in the yard. Threw up for a few hours off and on. After this was all said and done, I took a tiny sip of Water...threw that up too! I was really nervous at this point. So, I decided if I woke up on Saturday morning and still couldnt swallow water, I would go to the ER. I woke up fine yesterday. Had yogurt for Breakfast and then Boyfriend and I went out to eat for an early dinner. I had a cup of Soup and some of Traceys hamburger meat. Everything appears to be fine! Lesson? NO POPCORN CHICKEN OR TRYING NEW THINGS IN PUBLIC. :thumbup: