imaluckydog

Hi I had NO restriction after the first fill. I could eat anything I wanted too and how much I wanted too even. Try not to give in and feed that appetite. REMEMBER why we had this done. It was not until 4 to 5 days after my second fill I had any feeling of restriction. It is different for most people. I had a third fill and I have been struggling as far as being able to eat what ever I want now. I am never hungry and need to force myself to get the food into me. I think I have enough restriction. I did not get my fourth fill about two weeks ago. I feel my port and have since the beginning. It has become a part of me now. Best wishes to your on your journey. imaluckydog Kathy

I hear you and I want you to know this has happened to many of us on this site... You are not alone. I did not make it out of the table and did it into a cloth napkin to the horror of the others around me. If I get the hiccups it is a sure sign to stop and think about where the rest room is. I have gotten to know my body signs but it takes some time to figure it out. Everyone is different. I never sit on the inside ever now. Best wishes and hope it all works out for you. imaluckydog

Always, Always, Happy when I read your blog BG Thanks for the insight and help tonight. I always read something that makes me feel good. I love the picture, the little place where the hobbits live that last picture makes me so Happy. I have been dancing there for sure. No, not with the STARS LOL, but on my own in the privacy of my own little living room and around the first floor but it does work for me and gets me movin'. I jump around and pray no one can see thru the curtains. If you find what gives you pleasure like ...... Arkansabandster..... So proud of you and that Black belt you go kiddo. For me it is all about the music, nice and loud and I sing too. But shhhhh do not tell Simon Cowell I'm not that good. Have a great night. Love Kathy imaluckydog

NICE BG, Told you it would fall off!!! You look simply MARVELOUS... I ate too quickly tonight and I am paying for it now. I should call it an early night and be done with this day. Thank goodness for the ENZYMES. They help me so much. I have not had a day like this one in a very long time. Must be my turn. I am lighter and happier than I was before banding. I hope my little tummy feels better soon. That is what I get for eating pizza with tomato, spinach and garlic, four bites of it and I am done for. imaluckydog who is in pain at the moment. Best wishes everyone

" need to get back-to-basics and work hard at following all my bandster rules and tracking everything (pain in the butt compared to just drinking shakes, but it means learning the lessons I need to in order to know how to keep the weight off, so I'm chosing the hard way); I’m tracking meal volume, weighing everything, calories, nutrition goals in each food group, fiber, water amounts and timing, meds., supplements, and behavior/diet changes for the heartburn. " BG Ok, I have been making a food list on paper everyday by my computer, tracking if you will. I write down everything I put in my mouth. I have already run a pen dry. I think this is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I add up the calories and grams of protein. I am getting 60 grams or more of protein a day. I have between 1,300 and 1,700 calories. My average is 1,450 a day. I do not drink those yucky protein drinks I am glad I did not have my last fill because I did not want to drink for two days after. I LOVE to eat. I eat real natural unprocessed food. I must say breakfast is slow going but I get it all in before 11 AM and then lunch starts at 12 noon and today I was not able to eat it all so I found myself eating the other half of my lunch around 2 today. I really need to try to get dinner in me before 7:30 or I get the heart burn as well. I do not eat any processed food. That is the hard part. I eat no preservatives. Food is all fresh and prepared with healthy methods. I have used many a recipe From these and other web sites. I also switch up my exercise. I exercise 3 days one week and four days the next and I have even taken a few days off. I am so proud of you Band Groupie you have been my inspiration from the very start when you told me to create my own destiny. This is HARD!! You are NOT kidding...There is no way around what we have chosen to do for ourselves. There is no giving up or abandoning the ship now!! When the alarm goes off in the AM I start drinking H20. That has helped to get all the water in. My hand has a cup, glass or water container attached to it. I think I drink about a gallon of water a day. If I am not eating something I am yup you guessed it in the ladies room LOL I love your blog and you have helped me so much. I know those pounds will fall off in no time. Best wishes imaluckydog I LOVE YOU Kathy

Hi I have lost 68 pounds since I was banded in June and I still do not see myself in the mirror. I went from a size 24 to a size 16 in what seemed like over night. People call me hey skinny and I turn around to look and see who is behind me. My head has just not caught up with my body! I feel so much lighter when I walk down stairs and it is not one at a time anymore. I am lighter on my toes and my spirit is truly lighter. I smile when I wake up and when I go to bed. I find there is not enough hours is a day to do all I want to do. I love to blog and that just about says it all. So here is to HAPPY blogging. Best wishes my friend. imaluckydog

I feel the same as the three ladies before me have said! It was two weeks before I felt better. I wanted to die for sure. I knew I made the BEST decision I could ever make it has saved my LIFE. The pain will pass and you will feel better. Some of us have more pain than others. Others heal faster too. You have made this choice for a reason so hang on and take care of yourself. This is the time for you to heal, follow the rules and in a few days all will be WELL. Best wishes imaluckydog

Yes I tried last night and it did not load either. I also had problems. Bummer huh

Hi, Best wishes to you on your journey. Yes, I can swallow pills. If they are those extra large ones I just cut them in half I can tolerate them with no problem. I am also on High Blood pressure meds. I have had two normal reading so next time I go back to the Dr.'s if I have another low reading I may be able to get off them. I will be so excited about that. I do not think you metabolize any differently. But the amount of food you eat will decrease significantly. You will need to eat more slowly and chew, chew, chew to beat the band. That is so you will not get stuck. I was banded in June and have lost 68 pounds so far. I feel really good about myself these days. The processes is sort of long and all the appointments seem to drag out. Find a good Dr. and you are all set. Now that I think about it I find it hard to believe I have come this far in this short a time. Good Luck. imaluckydog Kathy

I was a lucky person who got to go early that is I got my surgery a month early. Because someone was not able to have their surgery. I was also in a psych meeting where a person shared that his Dr. told him because he did not lose the weight he was supposed to his date was postponed. To see a grown man cry was so hard. I tell you if you really want this, FOLLOW THE RULES. BG is so correct the band does not make the choices you do! This has not been easy peasy lemon squeazy for me, I am still learning everyday. We do not want you to fail we want to be here to support you, keep blogging it helps so much. It keeps my paws out of the cookie jar. Best wishes imaluckydog YOU can do it.....

This is the BEST! What wonderful news. It is such a great feeling. I am having those feel good ones all the time lately. You look GREAT. You are such an inspiration, thank you. I love reading your blogs. Best wishes. imaluckydog Kathy

The game looks like So much fun thanks for sharing the good times. Do not let the gain take up any more space in your head. That is just the way things are. You are so strong with this tool and it does work. The body will hold onto fluid like a job. It will be gone in no time. I still have no desire to buy a scale yet. I do feel my body heavier on some days and I eat all the same foods. I can tell by my rings and how they fit. You have been such a wonderful support to me. I just want to say thank you. I always love reading your blog. Have a great day. imaluckydog Kathy

Band Groupie you are the best! I have appreciated all of your support along the way. This is wonderful news. Life is so much more fun now. I am so busy doing things I have not done in years. I am in a more normal size body and I have the Band to thank and myself for getting me at this point. Best wishes to you. imaluckydog

You have a good attitude keep it up. I am not going to lie the journey is challenging I must say. But to get to where I am today was well worth the small effort I had to do to get here. For the Protein drinks I have tried the all and I like the ones you can get a any grocery store. I think the ones I like are called ESA Myoplex Lite with 20 grams of Protein. They come in lots of flavors. Also GNC has many drinks that is a health food and over the counter vitamin store. Best wishes imaluckydog

I did not find the change that hard. I am never hungry. I feel so much better. You will feel better too. It seems so long ago I was going thru the same preparations. I guess everyone goes thru some sort of work up before LB. I am 19 weeks out and have lost 68 wonderful pounds :-) I could not have done this any other way. Given my history. Best wishes to you. imaluckydog

Best wishes you will do well. Have a great day. imaluckydog

Keep busy and do things that take your mind off what you think is bothering you. Blog more it helps. Best Wishes imaluckydog

Best wishes. Take it slow and easy I need a good two weeks to feel myself. But I did feel much better in a day or two. If you follow band rules all will be well. Congratulations imaluckydog

I am tight enough I must say. Yesterday, I went for my fourth fill and asked NOT to have it. LOL I feel I am snug enough! I miss eating. Yes, I do. I can eat a small breakfast. I love my iced coffee in the morning so switching to hot is not going to happen. Even if I could feel more loose. I never have been a breakfast fan, so a little breakfast is fine for me. I am not hungry EVER. I need to force myself to eat. Lunch is about a half a cup of chili, or stew or eggplant parm, veggie quiche, egg, chicken salad all of which I make myself and protein packed. That is not a lot of food. I do drink water but probably not enough. I never drink anything with a meal. Dinner tonight was about four bites of a real crabmeat sub (no I do not eat the bread). I gave half of the sandwich to my husband. That made him so happy. I ate 6 potato chips and after about 30 minutes I was able to eat about four more bites a total of about a half a cup of crab total. I feel I am in a state of Band Limbo. I just miss eating a lot of food. Does anyone else feel that way? Everything I put in my mouth is for a reason to keep me alive. I am probably slowly consuming about 1,700 calories a day most days but not all days. I have been keeping track. I in no way eat low fat. But I do not eat muffins, cake or donuts, very little pasta or any bread for that matter. I am eating as healthily as I can to work with this tool. I have made many mistakes and I have slowly and painfully learned my lessons well. This is a band Limbo I have found myself in lately. I am happy and sad ;-( at the same time about where I am. Happy I have taken off 68 pounds in 19 weeks. I weighed in on Monday and I lost 8 pounds in 6 weeks. I have lost very steadily and my body has changed so much. I know I have about another 50 to go I am in no hurry, my body will not tolerate anything in a hurry. I eat slowly today and try to enjoy every bite I take. I plan for every meal. I savor the flavor in my mouth and the food texture on my tongue is important to me. I make sure I get enough fruit everyday. I even concentrate on my swallow. I am in band LIMBO and this is what has happened to me. I still read food magazines and watch the food network and work with food as a professional. I am making the most of what has helped me change for the better. I had another Low Blood pressure reading so I am closer to getting off the medicine. Which will make me even happier. My husband wants me to stop the sleep apnea machine but I am afraid too. He says I do not snore when I do not use it for short periods of time. I am thinking I may give it one night and see if I wake up with a head ache. I have not one head ache since I have been banded and I use to get headaches all the time. It could be because I do not eat crappy food any more. I read labels and set a better table all around me are healthier for it. I have not gone organic don't get me wrong I just prepare all my foods myself now and leave nothing to chance. No MSG.... Use to Make me sick. I love fresh anything. I am Happy with my banded life and am riding a bicycle outside. Nothing makes you feel better than having the crisp fresh fall air in your face as I ride. My next goal is to go skiing this winter so watch out everyone on the mountain I am gonna get the freshies. Those are the first tracks for you non skiers. Thanks for all your support. I read every blog who needs a support group at a hospital when we have this site. Best Wishes imaluckydog

I have been banded since June 29 and I even drank my coffee the morning of my surgery. I was not banded until 4:40 in the afternoon. I was up at Five so I was fine. I drank coffee. But follow your doctors orders. You may need some help because you will not be able to lift the kiddies. Bending was hard for me for a few days. I work with children and was back to work in two weeks. Still could not lift them and bending over was hard. I have heard of people being 100% recovered in three days I have no Idea how they could do that. It took me two weeks to just feel better. Plan on a little help if you can manage that. The family will all eat better you will need to make good food choices so the kids eat what you eat. My husband is in the best health now and we both eat better, He can eat way more than I can. I have had three fills and I am supposed to get another on Monday BUT I may not I have been very tight since my last fill. I just want you to know this is the best thing I ever did for myself. I have lost 60+ pounds since. I am now a size 14 and I have a life. Best wishes and keep us posted. imaluckydog Kathy

I did not feel much restriction after my first fill. I have had three now and let me tell you, I am going for a check up on Monday and NO WAY will I let them give me a fill. After the third one I can only eat about a half a cup if that. It is hard to keep it all down. Do not rush it. Enjoy the fact you can eat I am starting to wonder if I need an un-fill? I just seem tighter everyday. I do not know why either. I am most tight in the morning and breakfast is about 10:00-am. Then a light lunch at noon, small dinner at 6:30. I miss eating food and I miss eating lots of it. I am trying to be happy but it is hard when my food always feels like it is in my throat and I do not know if it will come up or go down so I wait. imaluckydog and Just remembering how nice it was after my first fill and I could still eat. So enjoy where you are Best wishes imaluckydog