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Try sucking ice chips - for me they work far better than warm liquids when you are stuck like that. Makes sense really - you put ice on bruises, sprains, strains etc to reduce swelling not a heat pack.

Cocoa that sounds just like my room.

And the weight lifting will help you get nice defined arm muscles!

Drinking normal liquid can make a stuck episode worse but the soda trick can help to dislodge the food. It is not intended to help the food down it is intended to help bring it up! It is not something your Dr will tell you it is a trick that a lot of experienced bandsters use. Which would you rather:- Being stuck for hours maybe days in pain waiting for the offending object to go down or guzzling soda which may bring the stuck item up really quickly and give you instant relief. Remember whilst the surgeons may be the experts on the technical and medical aspects of the band they do not have the experience of living with it on a day to day basis(unless they themselves have been banded). There are lots of things that you can learn from an experienced bandster that a Dr won't tell you.

Well I hit my goal weight today and am wondering what now.It was a bit of a let down - no bells, whistles, fireworks etc. That's probably because I have been feeling pretty good about myself for a while anyway and I don't think I look much different to how I looked a month or two ago. So what do I do? Do I set a new goal? Concentrate on maintaining or what. it's very confusing to say the least!

Thats's unreal. I can't believe you have to pay tax on something you win. Takes the joy out of winning doesn't it? It is also very discriminatory as what happens if you cannot afford to pay the tax? This would mean only the rich would benefit , poor people wouldn't be able to afford to win anything.

6 -7 hours between meals is a heck of a long time. Although the 3 meal per day regime with no Snacks in between may be ideal most surgeons recognise that it is very hard and can be unachievable. Mine has no problem with me having a snack inbetween so long as it is something healthy. Plan your snack so that you do not grab the nearest unhealthy high fat thing that you can find. Trying to become tight enough that you can go 6 - 7 hours without food often leads to being so tight that you can't eat proper solids and then you resort to high cal sliders that fill you up for even less time and end up gaining weight. Much better to have a planned snack if needed.

I am sure that there is fluid in there. 1.5ml is a very small amount of fill(depending on the size of your band) and for the majority of people is not enough to give restriction. I am surprised that you have only been back to your Dr for fills twice. At this stage your appointments should be far more regular. You need to work with your Dr to optimise the efficiency of the band.

See what married bliss does to you? Sad isn't it? It is a requirement of most insurers that you go on a Dr supervised diet first. They need to see that you are committed to the process and are not just looking at it as a quick fix. I think you should go and see your normal GP and discuss this issue with him/her.Then attend an information seminar - this will give you a far better idea of what being banded is like. For me meeting other people that are banded has been the best support that I could ever have. Reading stuff on the internet does not compare to discussing it with other experienced people face to face. It also sounds as though you have a problem with head hunger. i.e you eat even though you know you are not hungry. The band does not stop this. You may need to see a person that specialises in eating issues to assist you with this. The band is not supposed to be removed unless there are problems. Theoretically you can have one for life. HTH

I have been told that if you are stuck you should guzzle coke or similar really quickly. Just make sure you are in the bathroom as apparently it unblocks and brings everything up really quickly. I haven't been game to try this yet.

you don't say where you live so it is hard to know what foods are available. When I have a chocolate craving I eat something like a Nestle diet chocolate mousse. Low cal and it satisfies the craving. Once in a while I will have real chocolate but not every day like I used to preband. This is something where you have to depend on your willpower(or won't power) as the band doesn't stop you eating chocolate!

I was also going to ask if you were pregnant. Maybe you have a bit of reflux? Maybe you need some fill out. If you can't face coffee maybe you can try some warm herbal tea. It should still wake up your band and I am sure that certain ones are supposed to help nausea. Not an expert but probably something with ginger in? Might be worth a try.

In Australia we don't low carb and we have just as much success with the band as in the US.We are advised to eat a healthy, balanced diet that includes all food groups. I eat things like a poached egg on toast for Breakfast - far more satisfying than just eggs or egg whites or whatever. lunch might be tuna, salad and some wholewheat ryvita or similar crackers. Sometimes a toasted sandwich etc. dinner is Protein + veg + some kind of carb. I choose wholewheat options whenever I can. I have always preferred the taste of multigrain bread over white bread.I eat potatoes and rice but in small quantities etc. For a snack I might have fruit with some greek yogurt and a spoonful of natural untoasted muesli. I find this way of eating easy to stick to and satisfying. it means I am eating the same foods as everyone else and not cooking 2 different meals. I do not do protein shakes or supplements and have had no issues with things such as hair loss. Carbs are not the villians that they are often made out to be. Most of them have a protein content as well and among other things they help keep you regular. I don't see why you shouldn't include healthy carbs in your eating plan and still be successful.

it sounds like you have acid reflux which is a common symptom of having a too tight band. I suggest you go back to your Dr and get some fill taken out. Do not ignore it as it can be dangerous and lead to all sorts of problems.

I don't remember saying that I was opposed to all killing but I do have a problem with killing for "sport" or fun.

While we are at it why don't we just add humans too? If the reasons above are sufficient justification for being able to hunt for fun then I think humans fit the criteria. They are a nuisance and plenty of them are pretty mean too. Humans have done more damage to the environment than anything else. Yep that is definitely true and as a result they are taking over land and resources meant for other species. They cull(fancy name for kill) elephants and other animals when their numbers get to great.

Being able to eat 4 cups of food doesn't mean you don't have restriction. It all depends on what the food is and over what period. E.g most people could probably manage 4 cups of icecream or yogurt or Soup or similar if they tried. Especially if it is eaten slowly.these foods are all sliders , go down easily etc. Most people would struggle to eat 4 cups of a proper solid Protein e.g beef/chicken/fish along with some vegetables and a small portion of carbs. ideally you should eat a meal over 20 - 30 min. If you take longer than that you will be able to eat more as the food will have started to pass through the band. So before you blame the band you need to look at a couple of things:- What are you eating? How long is it taking you to eat? Are you cheating the band by drinking fluids to help the food go down easier? It has been said many times that the band is only a tool. It cannot do everything for you. You are the one that still decides ultimately what you are going to put in your mouth. But if you are doing the right thing and the band is not helping then you need to go back to your Dr and discuss your problems and hopefully sort them out. Maybe you need more fill.You didn't say what kind of band you have. if it is a Realize band then typically more fill is required to reach restriction than with a lap band. You may have a leak - has this been checked. Good luck - hope you sort this out and get back on the road to losing really soon.

You should be making sure that you are doing your part.Following the rules, making healthy choices, exercising etc etc.6.75ml at your stage is not conservative but the total fill level needed to reach restriction is different for everyone. Some people have far less(I have +/- 3ml) some need far more. The type of band also seems to affect this - if it is a Realise band then typically more fill is needed to reach restriction. Make an appointment with your Dr and discuss your lack of progress and how to handle it. He may also need to check to make sure you don't have a leak or anything like that.You may need to see the nutritionist for help with healthy choices.

I'd love to do it but my nearest classes are 40km away (one of the downsides to living in a small country town).I've just started a Bollywood dancing class instead. Its great fun but also very fast and hysterically funny when you are as unco as I am!

Wish I could offer you some help but I know nothing about this. I hope you manage to sort this out and hopefully things are not as bad as they sound. All the best

My Dr told me that as the gas isn't in your stomach those kinds of preparations won't work. A good Dr should remove most of the gas before they stitch you up. The prescription pain meds that they give you will sort the gas pain out. I know some people swear they work so maybe there is a placebo effect! I didn't really have gas pains after surgery and the little bit of pain i did have was easily sorted out with the prescription meds.

Yep I would say that as much as you vow to never do it it will happen to you at some stage. For most people more than once. But as the others have said its nothing like vomiting. Vomiting hurts, you feel awful, it tastes gross etc etc. When you PB sometimes its easy, sometimes there is more effort but it is nothing like vomiting. No vile tasting bile. In fact the food tastes the same coming up as it did going down! When I was first told that I didn't believe it but its true.

Yep I saw this as well and was impressed. For once it was a positive report!

You already seem to know what you are doing wrong. I am concerned though that you have said that you have difficulty with solid foods. It sounds as though you are too tight.Slimfast, liquids, other sliders go down easily but do not satisfy you and if this is all you are able to eat you are not using the band properly. Go back to your Dr, get some fill taken out so that you can eat solid foods again.These should satisfy and fill you up for longer and you should start losing weight again. Just remember to follow the rest of the rules e.g no drinking with meals etc. This combined with giving up junk food and exercising should see you become successful. Good luck

Keeping my fingers crossed. They do say 3rd time lucky don't they.