warmmorningsun

I hit my 2 year anniversary on 6/7 but was at the beach I'm down 65 lbs, still about 100 lbs from goal. Not from lack of ability of the band, but from lack of focus from me. I still am not disappointed because I feel so much better and know this tool is available too. I am getting back on task as of tomorrow!

Suefwd - forget the past two years and start fresh and clean. Like you just had the band placed...you were driven to make the choice of having the band placed for a reason - what was that reason? Make that your focal point and move forward - don't look back. Everyone gave you a few options for care and for fills - why don't you call today and post how that went for you? Kathy - I'm sorry - it sounds like you've had your hands full the last few weeks. I have a 6 year old and purposely don't think about what will happen when she's 17 yo or older! I hope things slow down for you and you're able to regain peace of mind. SOcal - thanks for posting your diet, I did check into a few daily diets - turns out my routine is an issue - I routinely make choices that add more calories that I was counting - so back to basics! Hope everyone has a wonderful day and can enjoy it!

So Cal - I'm sorry, I'm guilty of looking at your pic and thinking "she looks really good" and not posting it. I thought the suit fit well. I hope your embarrasment goes away, I should have posted!

Hi everyone! I know you've all probably covered this before, but would any of you mind giving me a run down of your average diet for a day? What do you eat, how much of it can you eat, what time of day, etc? I'm trying to come up with a little formula to fall back on, does that make sense?

I don't know if this helps, but I am on antidepressant meds and others and I was able to take them - but they were really small. Does your meds have a long half life? Depending on what it is, you may be able to skirt a few days. Mine had a very short half life, so wasn't an option for me. But my antidepressant was a capsule that I opened, and the others were small. The only other med I had didn't have a liquid version, so I had to go to a compounding pharmacy and they were able to make it liquid for me. Hope that might help.

My career is in HR and my current employer pays for WLS. Although I've never interviewed anyone who outright has asked if WLS is paid for, it's VERY common for people to ask about our benefits and also to ask what types of services are covered. I've also had some ask if they could review some of the detail of our healthcare benefits. It makes complete sense to me - benefits are sometimes a make or break aspect of accepting a job. So I guess in my mind it's not all that farfetched to choose an employer based on whether they cover that benefit.

Not to discourage, but I just finished a 1 year plateau! The thing is, I didn't realize that I needed a fill, and I truly wasn't following bandster eating rules (protein first, not drinking while eating, get 80g protein a day...those were the rules given to me). I got a very very small fill (.1) and realized that the rules were what I needed and I started losing again. Hope that might help!

Is it at all an option to find a job that has insurance that covers the surgery? I know that may seem far-fetched but I also know that feeling you have of nothing else is working, this is my hope of being able to lose weight and be healthy. I was also self pay, and was fortunate to be able to do so, but I do think if I weren't I might have considered looking for a job that covered the surgery. Please forgive me if it's not realistic for your situation...

I am kind of confused right now about whether I'm too full, not full enough, etc. In the am, I have a hard time having something solid to eat unless I drink warm tea first. But then I can eat. At lunch, with the exception of maybe chicken, I can eat pretty much anything. Easily a cup. Same with dinner. I occasionally get that "golf ball" feeling, which made me think I was too full...but now I'm starting to think maybe it's just that I'm not chewing enough? I occasionally have a PB, almost always related to eating chicken. Or eating fast. So my question(s)...am I at the sweet spot? What is the sweet spot to you (how do you feel when you eat, How much can you eat, do you ever feel hungry, How much weight do you lose)? Thanks for feedback!

Hi all, I saw this and wanted to add my 2 cents...I've been banded almost 2 years and just figured this out myself! I know, not smart :tt1: I've been leading a non-bandster lifestyle and have done nothing to use the tool I was so graciously given. (well, so graciously purchased...anyway....). During my last visit with my MD I had an epiphany. We talked about my food choices, and he said something to me that for some reason I've never really considered. He told me that I should not be eating the things that are easy for me to eat. I should challenge myself to eat the things that are difficult to eat, and then I'd lose weight. That clicked for me because suddenly I understood why I wasn't losing weight on potato soup, chocolate, milkshakes, etc. (Okay, maybe I understood that before, but for me it was a light going off in my head). I have finally, after a year, started to lose again! All because I"m forcing myself to eat hard protein (turkey, chicken, fish, cheese) and I'm absolutely not drinking with meals but waiting a half hour after my meals. I suddenly get what this band is meant to do! I didn't make any other changes at all. So I wanted to share my epiphany, wish everyone well, and to remind everyone to eat hard proteins first and drink 1/2 hour after! Oh, and to let those of you who have been banded for a while like me know that it's never too late :frown:<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

Cathy, that's awesome! Good for you, that's an incredible amount of weight. I feel like I've coasted on ice cream, soft foods, and chocolate for a year. But I will say that I"ve not exercised either, and the fact that you continue to lose makes me optimistic for myself too! I know that the MD didn't really tell me anything that I wasn't told before I even got the band, but it was like I was lulled into the easy way around the band. The funny thing is that I was PBing all over the place by drinking even with the soft foods, and since I've eliminated drinking with meals, I haven't PB'ed even once. I just feel like I'm starting off from the beginning again and I'm excited about my band again. Thanks for sharing with me the info you did, and great great great job on the weight loss. You rock!

I don't have the answer to your question, but I wanted you to know that I read it and wanted to tell you that my MD instructed me to wait 18 months after banding because he said that amount of time is needed for the port to become firmly "stitched", and any sooner might compromise it.

Hi all, it's been sooo long since I've updated. So much happening. The gist of it is that I've been leading a non-bandster lifestyle and have done nothing to use the tool I was so graciously given. (well, so graciously purchased...anyway....). In January, I went back to my surgeon and commited to getting back on the wagon. The amazing thing was that as much food as I ate indiscriminately, I didn't regain my weight (give or take 2 lbs that came and went over and over). So I went from 1.5 to 2.0 in my band. And was waaaaaaaay too tight. I had it loosened down to 1.7 and had exactly 3 days before I caught probably the worst stomach virus I've ever had in my life. I had to go in to have them take everything out because I was so swollen I couldn't swallow spit. I ended up in the hospital for dehydration for 2 days (you wouldn't believe how sick I was). My surgeon made me wait for 2 weeks after before he filled me again, and he put in 1.0 (he wanted to ease up on this). During this visit I had an epiphany. We talked about my food choices, and he said something to me that for some reason I've never really considered. He told me that I should not be eating the things that are easy for me to eat. I should challenge myself to eat the things that are difficult to eat, and then I'd lose weight. That clicked for me because suddenly I understood why I wasn't losing weight on potato soup, chocolate, milkshakes, etc. (Okay, maybe I understood that before, but for me it was a light going off in my head). I ended up having to go back for the 1.5 fill (back to where I started) but from the standpoint of weightloss, the scale started to move down again! All because I"m forcing myself to eat hard protein (turkey, chicken, fish, cheese) and I'm absolutely not drinking with meals but waiting a half hour after my meals. I suddenly get what this band is meant to do! So I wanted to share my epiphany, wish everyone well, apologize for being absent for so long, and to remind everyone to eat hard proteins first and drink 1/2 hour after!

Hi everyone, it's been a loooong time since I logged in; I had to have a complete unfill and stayed that way for a while due to what seemed to be a slip. It readjusted itself, and I got a 1 cc fill (4cc band) after about 2 months of unfill. It was too tight! So I just had some let out and I think I'm finally okay. I'm hoping to kick this into gear and loose more weight. Just dropping in to say hi!

Hi all, not reporting much - 1.4 lb lost that can only be claimed because TOM has passed. I'm trying today to have a good diet and exercise day and am hoping to continue this momentum past 24 hours! It's good to read and catch up with everyone's progress. Still waiting on my bodybugg cindy, it is supposed to be in tomorrow!

Just my two cents...think about the reasons you chose band vs. RnY; are the reasons still there? Still feel strongly about them? If you have changed your mind about any of it, pretend the band doesn't even exist inside of you right now and approach it like you're having surgery for the first time. Go through pros/cons, etc. It's hard to say you've experienced what it's like to be banded because you've had such difficult and different experiences. It's good that he's given you a rest - you can think without being influenced by complications, etc. Whatever you choose, I wish you luck! And how fortunate that your insurance will cover either - that's such a nice benefit. Let us know?

Hey, sorry for the delay in responding. My understanding is that the watch gives you realtime information, vs. the bug alone which give you info after the fact. so if you dont plug info in until later in the day ou don't get info until then. i'm thinking if i know what calories i've burned as i go, maybe ill have time during the day to up the calories burned, etc. li'm sorry for the typo's my keyboard is on the fritz and i need to get another tomorrow.

I almost choked paying that amount of money; but I thought a) I spent a LOT more on the band It was (kind of) a deal with the watch/digital display c) I'm impulsive and I've done worse I'll let you know!

I did it! Bit the Bugg! There's a bodybugg and digital display for $400 on ebay and I just bought it; there's one more like that, and another without the boddybugg for $350. No excuse any more!

Cindy, do you know whether you receive the watch when you purchase it too? Or if you have to purchase separately? I've been looking at pricing too, and can't find where the watch is an option to buy (or add on)?

Hi all - I've been bad - 2 cokes, handful of m&m's, but the rest was shrimp, chicken, and beef from PF Chang's. So not bad in the protein dept, bad in the no-sweets department and water drinking goal (I've had zip). I am going to walk a mile this afternoon to hopefully walk the M&M's off. Have any of you noticed any type of trends on weight loss and gain? in other words - if you skip water drinking, you gain, or if you don't eat enough protein, etc? Just curious. I am having a hard time finding a rhyme or reason to when I gain vs. lose. I keep altering my weight by the same 2 lbs and I can't figure out what causes it SPECIFICALLY

Okay, I'm going to plan for tomorrow. I'm going to focus strictly on walking tomorrow evening and eating protein only. Today I didn't eat all that bad...except for the three handfuls of m&m's! I swear they chase me.... So that's the goal: one day goal only - go walking and eat protein only. Thanks for the companionship guys!

hi hi hi all i'm so distressed and yet relieved to see we're all struggling. my goal today is just to get the hell away from sweets (excuse language please). I will focus on proteins, no sweets, and having water. that's it, I have to do this! I swear, I feel out of control like I used to before the band. Do you guys do the negative self talk? I think I should check out the link above and see if that helps. sorry if this is depressing, im just feeling a little low this morning.

Thanks to all (I especially love the virtual kick in the ass...laughed out loud - literally) I spent about an hour last night reviewing the basics: chew and chew and chew and no drinking before and after meals and water and milk only and exercise and no crap eating and protein first. In the past, when I have to get out of a rut I get super anal and set some structure (I'm at heart a very unstructured person - go figure?) So I broke it down: the mechanics of the band and the food choices of the band. Mechanics are how to band the right way: chewing chewing chewing, no drinking 1/2 hour before, during or one hour after meals, exercise. Food Choices: Protein first, no carbonated drinks, water 8 glasses a day, no CRAP EATING! I think the reason I had to get the complete unfill and the reason I'm 'suddenly' okay at 1cc is that I ignored these 'rules'. I'm so fortunate I didn't do more damage. SO I'm biting off two rules now instead of them all (in my mind). Mental Manipulation Thanks again to all. I'm sure I'm not cured, just feeling a little more in control this morning.

HELP! Need some support/kicks in the ass/ideas About a month and a half ago I had to have a complete unfill - I had esophageal spasms, etc. and ended up having to get it all out. I ate like a pig for two weeks, and got refilled again July 31. Well, during that time that I ate like crazy I gained 6 lbs. Not bad I guess. THe problem is that I got my fill of 1.0 (I was at 2.5) and I haven't been able to stop the crappy eating. It's like I started it and can't stop. It's not been an issue of not being filled enough (I have plenty of restriction, trust me - I can't believe I was ever at 2.5). I just eat crap all day. Sweet tea (my absolute biggest downfall), regular cokes, m&m's, chips and salsa, etc. It's not that I'm eating a lot of all of it; just that it's all I"m eating. I haven't exercised in so long. I think I got so complacent because I lost my first 50 lbs with very little effort. And now I feel like I'm on borrowed time before these M&M's become a permanent fixture on my ass (sorry, I'm just being honest). The days I DO eat right, I see no change. I know it's unrealistic to expect overnight change...so... I need a kick in the ass; A routine; some structure; anyone know where the "banster rules"? I need to start from scratch I think? S:help:ome advice on how to get away from these cokes and sweet tea? HELP!!!!