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I really didnt tell anyone but I do see people looking at my tiny portion sizes with a look that I think means they think I lost weght by starving myself. I feel (I know this is partly just my head) that they think I am judging them because they are fat and now I'm not. Ifeel a little uncomfortable eating around people because of that but I prefer that type of uncomfortable to the uncomfortable of being obese or worse, being obese and eating around people! I feel its a good trade so I am just constantly telling myself I dont care what people think or say and hoping to convince myself! That's why I love this site because we all know the situation and have all experienced the same things. Whatever people are saying it comes from THEIR psychological head issues with food...dont get sucked into it, we all have our own to deal with right?

Take care of yourself, Crash, you are fine! Everyone cheats and if youre lucky one day you wont be able to eat more than a couple of bites of BBQ so you wont feel bad about it...start your journey by being nice to yourself!

I do feel as I get closer to goal my face is wrinklier but people always tell me I look younger now...who knows? Its definitely worth it and sometimes I cant believe how my knees etc dont hurt anymore, its sometimes like walking on air. (I am 48)

If you have dairy intolerance, try the soy or hemp protein powders.

Well I eat pretty healthy now but I do eat whatever tempts me occasionally. I dont eat anything low fat or diet or anything like that. I let myself have whatever I want but because my band is pretty tight I can only eat a tiny amount of it. I might have eaten a whole pizza back in my preband life but now I could probably eat a half a slice at most so I dont feel guilty at all. I have never dieted or exercise with this band,,,I think those are a recipe for failure (didnt we fail the diet exercise thing and thats why we got a band?) so I just dont think a reasonable amount of 'guilty pleasure' is a bad thing...moderation!

First give yourself a break! Your band is not filled so its like not having one. In fact, my fill doc says if its less than half full (5cc in a 10cc band) you still dont really have a band. This is bandster Hell when you are not at your sweetspot and you are just trying to diet (if that worked we wouldnt all have bands!). Anyway, give yourself some time, dont compare yourself to others if you can help it and just try to be reasonable in what you eat. When you get to that sweet spot you will see the huge difference having this band can make. A good fill or several will have you eating tiny meals and losing weight but that may be a while from now. A year from now you will be laughing about these current struggles. For me, the band has been a freaking miracle because I want to overeat but just cant! You will get lots of support here...best wishes!

It is interesting that you put your ring size...I have had to get three new (but cheap) wedding rings as I have lost weight and the next one I get will be a nice one and it will be the last! I also got rid of a lot of shoes that were too loose...good luck, its all downhill from here!

I really dont know why you would take your DH or anyone to the appointment. The decisions to be made are between you and your surgeon. I can see taking him if it was to discuss something like cancer treatment but for elective cosmetic surgery? I dont think most men even want to be involved in that...its a little like shopping for lingerie or handbags....leave him home!

If you are not losing weight, you are either ingesting too many calories (get a fill) or not burning enough calories. it is as simple as that and you know you need to make a change. I am not an exerciser so I vote for the fill. Good luck.... PS Weight watchers actually caused me to gain weight...they allow a lot more calories than I need to lose weight.

I understand how you feel and I totally disagree with your doc about the band feeling the same level of restriction all the time...let me guess, he doesnt have a band, right? My band fits just like my wedding ring...tight in the morning (fluid shifts around while we sleep) and loose at night. I think most people here would agree. A lot of people have this and of course dont like it because the night snacking is made easier...I keep mine tight and really can only have liquids before noon but could eat quite a bit around 8 or later at night...hang in there!

Love the post...keep on!

You need to be healthy and have a long life to take care of your child and set a good nutritional example for that child. Let yourself off the hook for the 'cheating' foods, we have all done that! Just hang in there and remember that child and what you want to give him or her...a healthy Mom!

Mine and my banded friend's started falling out about three moths after we got our bands, lasted about 2 or 3 months and then started to come back. My friend had her gallbladder out about a year later and the exact same thing happened...dont worry about it.

So glad to hear you are cancer free! You have been through a lot and handled it really well. I agree that nutrition is key and I guess I never thought I would say this but other than a few rare indulgences I am now eating to live long and healthy! I think the band has changed my tastes or maybe its just the good feeling of fitting into a size 6 instead of 16! Well keep on and thanks, as always for all the help you have given to all of us!

Dear Dawn, well good luck I think a fill is just what you need. I had been stuck at about ten pounds from my normal BMI goal and it seemed nothing changed for a few months. I got a tiny fill (only 0.3cc) and in the two weeks since I have lost four pounds! I live in Pismo Beach which is on the coast about halfway between LA and SF. It was a 4-5 hour drive to get fills and I hated the traffic so I found a fill doc in Santa Barbara which is only an hour and a half for me...

Well good luck...I really do believe this is all about the fills and the right amount of fill makes it easy. I simply cannot eat very much and I need it to be that way. I dont have to diet or exercise (have done that in the past and just never could keep it up!) and I am now 7 pounds from goal of 70 pounds...I have lost 90% of what is called excess weight! I self payed for my band (15,000) and now I pay 190$ for a fill but it is all well worth it (I have losy insurance!). Keep on struggling along...thats all you can do. It must be much harder to find fills etc over there...here (especially in California)this is on all the billboards like Botox and tummy tuck surgeons etc.

My fill doc says if you have half or less than half volume of fill (5cc in 10cc band or less) it is like you do not have a band. I did not feel full or restricted (cant eat more than a cup) until I got to 6.7cc in 10cc band.Right now I can not eat a half sandwich or even a full slice of pizza without feeling miserably full...good luck and sorry to hear you had to have a second Surgery! Hope you are fully recovered now.

So sorry for you loss...they give us so much and ask so little. Seven looks like a Maine Coon and the seven toes indicate that she is a descendant of the Hemmingway line...good feet for walking on top of the snow! You gave her a wonderful life...she was a lucky cat...

Great blog...I agree. Sometimes I feel self conscious in front of other people because I eat such tiny portions but I figure its better then the self-consciousness I felt when I was fat! I know I could have (and probably did) eaten a whole pizza back in the day but now I can only eat about a half a slice and very carefully...I love my band!

I am 2+ years out and I still get the left shoulder pain when I do something bad! And I STILL think I have injured my shoulder until I figure it out! Ha!

Soooooo frustrating, I really feel for you. After I went through a few calls with those 'people' it came down to I had to gain 19 pounds to even be considered to be covered...I had no comorbs...anyway I ended up self paying 14K but two years later I would do it again and even pay double! I probably saved that money on food becuase I now eat very tiny portions...LOL! Good luck and hang in there!

Great to hear from you...I am on the fence about getting some PS when I get to goal. i Have 7 pounds to normal BMI and I think things are moving along because I just got a tiny fill. The main thing is I have lousy insurance so I just dont know if I want to spend the cash...plus I am scared of the pain! (I self payed for my band) anyway PLEASE keep us posted on your recovery and results...inquiring minds need to know!!! Diane