SpideyMom

Wow, Linda, that's cool!

I hear ya, Linda! I just ignore the little fluctuations because they usually are gone in a day or two. Who knows how much Water our body is retaining that day, perhaps we had more sodium one day than the last, maybe it's just a little glitch in the scale (ever weigh a 2nd time and it's a different number?), etc. And one day, you'll get on the scale, and it will show something like 3 lbs. lost when you just ate pizza. Go figure! Look at the big picture. I have to remind myself of the same darn thing. You are doing fabulous. :wink2:

Thanks, Mac! :wink2: Here's to three's a charm restriction! :nanahump:

Congratulations everyone! Great job all around! :nanahump::wink2: Patience .... patience... patience... I need it! I lost one pound this week, bringing me to the big 5-0! I'm really excited about that, but I definitely see my weight loss slowing. I got a third fill on Wednesday, but I don't feel like it is very much restriction. I'm also worried, because I have often gotten to this exact point and then -- no more. I've got a feeling of defeat before it actually happens. I know, stupid. Patience, patience, patience. :Banane56:

Ugh! Isn't it frustrating? :tongue2: I knew going into this that the diet and lifestyle changes would be really hard, but I didn't expect the fills to be so annoying.

I just got back from my third fill, with a different doctor because my surgeon was on vacation. This doc wasn't as experienced, and he ended up having to stick me 4 times before he got the needle in the port. He said he gave me 0.5 cc, but now I'm beginning to wonder if he gave me anything! (There was some confusion as to how much was actually in my band to begin with, so I think he may have gotten the numbers mixed up.) I just don't feel any kind of restriction. :tongue2: I made a double Protein shake this morning, thinking I'd have half for breakfast after the fill, half for lunch. Well, I ended up drinking the whole thing for breakfast because I was still hungry after the first half! Usually I feel something. BTW, Maclynn, I asked him about eating when not hungry, and he said you can either eat a little something to stay on a schedule, or you can skip that meal and go to the next. I personally like the idea of listening to your body's signals.

Thanks, Mac! Another thing I have done when I've had very late nights and I've only gotten two meals in and not enough Protein and calories is have a bedtime Protein Shake. I mix my own Sugar Free Chocolate shake and add a little crushed ice, mix it in the blender till smooth, and it is fabulous. It's easy to get down, and it's full of goodness. HTH!

I wouldn't worry too much about being off a normal eating schedule, Maclynn. That happens to me sometimes, depending on what I eat. Sometimes I eat a really late breakfast, which throws everything out of whack. Take today for instance. I still haven't eaten lunch! (But I am just about to go fix it now.) It's after 3 p.m. EST. I just go by my body's signals because for most/all of my life I ignored them. It's all a learning process for me! Keep your chin up, Mac! You're doing great! :huh2:

Maclynn, you probably do have a 10 cc band. I have not heard of a 9cc band. I have a 10cc Allergan, and my surgeon said he never fills above 9ccs. So, I'm guessing that's the same with your doc. Sarah, I just replied to you on another thread, but I seriously think you need a small unfill. If you are vomiting and PBing that much, you are too tight and could do damage. Please call your doctor and let him know what is going on!

Hey, Sarah, I'm afraid you need to have a small unfill. Sounds like you are way too tight if you are vomiting that much. You are describing all the warning signs my surgeon & nurse have described to me as reasons to call immediately (even on weekends & at night). You don't want to damage your esophagus, your stomach, or your band! Too much vomiting could cause a lot of swelling in your stomach, and you'd have to have your band completely unfilled until the swelling went down. (At least that's what they told me!) So, don't hesitate. It's not worth the pain you're going through, and certainly not worth jeopardizing the good work you've already done!

Sarah, I am right there with ya, hon. I'm about to change my screen name to StinkyMom. I posted about this same thing about a month ago. It's awful! The best thing I have found so far is Listerine Strips. They are sugar-free and 0 cals, and they coat your mouth and last a long time. Better than mints. Plus they're really handy to carry in your purse or pocket. HTH!

I'm late checking in also, but as of last Friday, I had only lost one pound for the week. I'm scheduled for my 3rd fill this week. However, I'm excited to report that as of yesterday, I had lost an additional pound, to make a total of 50 lbs lost! YAY!!! Congrats to Rachael, also, for hitting the big 5-0! Congrats, everyone!!! :biggrin:

Thanks, luluc and TrueDiva! I think I need to wrap my brain around trying to cut back. And you are right, TrueDiva, the foods do make a difference, I know! I stay away from the sliders. I gave up sugar when I got banded, so that cuts out a large majority of slider foods, thank God! But when I can eat a cup of salad with a 1/2 cup of chicken breast on top, and just get comfortably full, I definitely think it is time for a fill. I truly appreciate all of your responses -- the help is great!!! BBL. :laugh: Thanks!! PS - I also like that "Tide Me Over" mix in powder. That helps me get through from meal to meal!

Thanks, KC. :thumbup: I'm truly committed to this, so I want to learn from as many resources as I can! My doctor says no snacks between meals, so I've been following that religiously, and the hunger between meals is terrible if I don't get all the way full at my meal. I will be so glad to get in that green zone and stay there for more than two weeks.

2911, I'm glad you asked, because I have been wondering the same thing for quite awhile now. I wonder if I'm doing something really wrong. I have only had two fills, and really need a third b/c I don't have restriction. I am hungry between meals, and at my meals I can eat up to 1 and 1/2 cups of food. Please don't bash me for that. I'm not overeating -- just eating till full! I would love it if what you are posting is because of being at that sweet spot! Thanks!!!

Wha? No fair! He should have asked you how much you were eating at one sitting and whether you were hungry between meals. Those are also indicators of needing a fill, not just weight loss. I've been doing well on my weight loss (but not 5 lbs a week, mind you!), but when I went for my last fill, they specifically said, even though you are doing well with your total weight loss, we don't want you hungry all the time. Well, chin up! You're doing fantabulous!!

Hallelujah! It's great to hear from you! I'm sorry to hear about the funeral. :wub: If you don't feel any restriction after another week, I would call your doctor. Mine told me to call after 2 weeks if I didn't feel restriction. I contacted my nurse yesterday to make an appt. for my 3rd fill because once again I can eat at least 1 1/2 cups at a sitting and be hungry 2-3 hours later. We have to take a proactive approach for our bodies, 'cuz no one else will! How much do you get at each fill? I only get 0.5 cc. :thumbup:

Wow, two weeks of fluids only? That's harsh! It will definitely have an impact on your weight loss, though! Good luck and keep your chin up! All doctors are different.

Fantastic, NOLAR and hdmdavid! Keep up the great work!!! :biggrin:

Hooray! So glad to hear the good news! :biggrin:

Someone else needs to post an NSV, or it's going to look like I'm real thread hog! :thumbup: But, I can't resist posting one more: My bathing suit is getting loose! OMG! I've never had that happen in my life! Oh, and here's an odd thing: I got into a two pairs of 16W pants this week! :thumbup: But... I still can't fit into any size 18 regulars I have. Huh?

Oh, Linda, I'm sorry to hear this. I was wondering how you were doing on your business trip. I have found that walking helps me when I'm stuck. I found that tip on this forum somewhere. Also, I always have with me Papaya Enzyme tablets. Chew a few of those when you are stuck and they will help the food dissolve. . . especially meat. You can get them at Target, Walmart, most drugstores, etc. It's about $4.99 for a bottle. And they taste yummy! Also, many people tend to be more swollen in the morning than later in the day. My surgeon's asst. said it happens because of lying down asleep overnight. I know that is very true for me. I cannot eat first thing in the morning. I often wait a few hours. HTH!

Hooray, hooray for all of us losers! LOL I this week.

I also forget about that! I've yo-yo'd all my life, that I think my friends and family just look at my weight loss as, oh, there she goes again...wonder when she'll gain it back. I really can't even imagine what life will be like as a thin person -- forever! How exciting!!!:thumbup:

As far as I understand, Cathy, the fill just tightens the band, so the hole just gets smaller. That way, the food stays in your small stomach/pouch and fills you up faster. :thumbup: