juliansmom2003

Yes, Michael. First fill (1/14) was 3.4 ccs Second one (2/25) was .8 ccs Third fill (4/22) was .7 ccs Scheduled for my 4th on 5/20 and it won't get here soon enough LOL

Not sure what that pain is either, Robin. I'd say if it continues, it couldn't hurt to call the doc to be on the safe side. Yeah, 4.9 total (this last one was .7 and it did look like I had restriction when I swallowed the barium), but honestly, it's been almost 2 weeks and the little mistakes I make (which I used to pay dearly for) like taking bites that are too big and eating too fast are not affecting me at all now and I'm super hungry in between meals. I'm praying it's not something bigger that they're missing like a leak or a slipped band. I guess I would know if my band slipped though LOL Good luck to you! I hope you hit your sweet spot soon! Hang in there!

Amazon.com has it for $199 with free shipping. I am also looking on eBay as well for a deal, since I decided to rethink my FitBit LOL. If I am going to buy one of these guys, I am going to be sure it has what I need. Heck, I could always put it back up on eBay when I get to goal/maintenance mode. I really need to kick this plateau and I am thinking while I LOVE thedailyplate, it may not be accurately estimating my calories for the workouts I'm doing. I will definitely order one of these bad boys before the week is out :-) Thanks everyone for your input too. While I will be spending more money for this, the saying "you get what you pay for" holds true the majority of the time, so I'm going with that :-)!

See this is weird. I too get all my fills under fluoro (had my 3rd on 4/22) and I actually feel hungrier than when I went in to have it. My doc told me that I had great restriction, everything was passing through slowly, etc. and the day after I had my 6-month post-op appointment and he said, "Well, we won't see you until your 1 year mark in October. If during the way, you feel hungrier in between meals, the scale stops moving or your portions aren't satisfying you, you need to come in for another fill." Great, but I didn't think it wouldn' happen this soon. I am scheduled for my 4th on 5/20, so we'll see, but according to the doc, I had "perfect restriction" after this last fill. Maybe I just swell up too much.....dunno. But I am 4.9 cc full on a 10 cc band, I have to be coming up on restriction soon! Hoping 4th time's the charm! Good luck to you!

BobKat--Welcome! Christie--Sorry to hear your band tightened up on you. I hope it's easing up now. Betsy- that's so awesome! I bet you surprise yourself and you do better than you think :-) VERY cool that you're going to do the walk/run with your daughter :-)! Leigha-- WOW! What a difference a week makes, eh? I'm glad your band is back to letting you know that it's there :-) Me--I am still going on 5/20. Honestly, I was so ravenous today for lunch I had a Healthy Choice Steamers meal (10 ounces), waited after finishing it and was so hungry I felt sick, so I had to have a cheese stick. WTH? It's nuts! I ate breakfast around 11 (wasn't hungry until then), but by 2:30 I was insanely hungry! Still hungry actually and I can't even have my water yet! :-( So, that freaking 'big' lunch of almost 11 ounces isn't even lasting (and it was 26 g of protein!!!!) I honestly don't know what to do, the scale is stuck! STUCK! I am playing with calories, eating 100g of protein a day, 80-100 ounces of water a day and working out freaking 5 days a week and I net about 1100 calories per day. I have no idea what else to try. I haven't lost anything in a month and a half. I am sorry to sound like I'm constantly complaining and being negative, but I am knocking myself out trying to kick this plateau and nothing is working.

So, I think I am going to break down and get a calorie tracker to see how much I am burning and if that could have anything to do with this plateau! I saw Leigha's post a few days ago about the Body Bugg and did some research, and was this close to getting it, then my little sister who I exercise with during the week emailed me with this little device (and at this point, there is no charge to use the site--but I'm sure that may change too). Has anyone heard of it? It's called FitBit. Here is the link: Fitbit Heck, I couldn't think of a better thing to treat myself with!

Another week and no weight loss. I don't get it. I'm exercising 4-5 days a week doing circuit training, getting 100 g of protein and 90 ounces of water today, not grazing, NOTHING! What gives? This sux. Sorry, I am just so disappointed these past few weeks.....

I am in the same boat AND I had my fill under fluoro--go figure! It has been 8 days since my fill (which was my 3rd) and I feel less restricted and STARVING between meals! I have an appointment to go back in on May 20 for another one....Hmmmmpfh :-(

Congrats, fellow Oct 09 bandster! You look awesome!

Quick question for those of you that have your fills done under fluoro. Do you find that you get right to the sweet spot due to the fact the doc can 'see' restriction real time or are you still needing to come in for fills? I am trying to figure out when the heck these fills will stick for awhile. Just had one on Thursday and called again for another appointment because I feel like nothing was done!!! I'm almost half way to capacity, so I'm wondering why I'm not feeling 'real' restriction when my doc can see it! :scared2:

OMG, you've lost 50 lbs in 4 months??? That is awesome!! Honestly, bandsters are told we lose 1 to 2 lbs a week, as it's not as drastic as gastric bypass. I think you're doing great! Just remember to get in at least 64 ounces of Water a day and shoot for 80 grams of protein--the more Protein and water, the more successful you will be in the weight loss. Also integrating about 30 minutes of exercise per day will help tremendously. Walking is great, so if you can do that, it will not only help with weight loss, but the exercising might make you feel better too. Congrats on losing the 50! Holy WOW! The weight I have lost has taken me 9 months, so I'd say you're ahead of the game, so remember to give yourself the credit you deserve!!!

OMG, THANK YOU for this post!!! This is EXACTLY what I needed to know! I'm wondering why he's telling me I'm restricted and seeing it on the screen and then I feel no difference when I go back to regular food a couple of days later. I was worried that 4.9 cc in a 10 cc band was kind of a lot to not be feeling restricted, but I feel so much better after reading your post. I must swell really fast, that's the only thing I can think of. That or the fact I have been doing a 40-minute circuit training work out that involves weights and total body fat burning at least 5 days a week (along with a mile walk), and maybe the fat around the band is diminishing? Crazy, I was hungry every HOUR yesterday. No exaggeration! 3 more weeks to go, so hopefully he can give me something. Thanks again, Betsy!

THAT SHOULD BE I LOVE MY SISTER!!!! As most of you know (sorry, Leigha LOL!), I have been quite frustrated after my third fill last week in that a) I am eating 8 ounces and needing to force myself to stop because I'm still starving and :thumbup: I am starving again 2 hours later. I have been venting to my poor little sister, who I work out with during each week, and she sent me a couple of interesting articles. Stuff I already knew and stuff that worked for me as I was in the 3-month waiting period pre-op (lost 17 lbs), but I was just hoping that my band would give me satiety for a little longer than 2 to 3 hours. I think I need to just put that thinking aside and go back to what worked and rely on the band from keeping those more frequent portions smaller. And I also know that some of us are vigilant about not snacking in between (and thank GOD my doc isn't one of them), but I just can't suffer like this every day until my next fill. Anyway, here is the article she sent me that reinforces the way the nutritionist suggested I eat pre-band. Why You Need to Eat More to Lose More / Queerty Also, she sent me a link to a "zig zag" calculator, which may be helpful, since I have been doing a lot more working out, so perhaps my body just needs more calories, but who knows? Calorie Calculator - Daily Caloric Needs I just wonder when I will ever figure this out....

See, just goes to show how different everyone is. I am so confused, I am just going to start playing with it to see. I am so stalled right now that I am willing to try anything to see what will happen. All I know is 800-1000 was not working for me personally, so I upped to 1000-1200 and started losing again. Now that I am exercising more (i.e. total body burn, circuit training-type stuff in addition to walking--burning about 600-700 calories per day), I am thinking that is not only why I'm hungry all the time, but it could be why my weight loss has stalled. I don't want to make myself stop exercising the 5 days a week either. So conflicted. Poo!

Hi Mike, I also get my fills under fluoro, and my surgeon fills until he sees a good restriction level (when the barium is going down slowly, but not refluxing back up). You should feel something after your fill given they are able to "see" how you are reacting to the amount of fill he puts in. For me, they lay me down, numb the area with an anesthetic, then proceed with the fill. Truth be told the anesthetic burns a tiny bit and that is the worst part. The fill needle is just a tiny bit of pressure, no pain. Lots of luck! It's a piece of cake!! Let us know how it goes!!! ETA: Everyone is different in terms of how much they put into the band. It's based on your current level (or lack) of restriction.

It's weird. He says that it's nice and restricted, things are moving down slowly, blah blah blah. So why am I ravenous after 8 ounces of food and sitting there doing anything I can to take my mind off of eating any more for two more hours? I thought the advantage to fluoro was to get restriction immediately because you're able to see that you're filled right to where you need to be. I am sure he is going to tell me it's all in my head when I go back. Of course my appointment is for the week I should be getting my period too. Should make for an interesting experience LOL

First of all, congrats on your 20 lbs loss. You need to Celebrate your successes. Sometimes it's tough (which I too have been known to do), but you need to be sure you at least acknowledge the positive things.... I am sorry to hear that you are almost maxed on your band. Are you scheduled for another fill? Sometimes 1 cc can make all the difference. Are you journaling your food? I am vigilant about doing this, as I not only track what I eat, I track my Water intake, exercise, etc. I know you gave us a sample menu of what you had in a day, but are you watching your carbs and sodium in addition to fat and Protein? Are you getting at least 60 grams of protein in a day along with a minimum of 64 ounces of water? Also, with drinks, be careful of the sugar in them. If you get bored with water, you could use crystal light or something to mix it up a little. I also have completely cut out all soda, so if you're drinking soda, that too could be causing issues with stalling loss. In terms of exercise, it's great that you bought a pedometer to track. Perhaps you could up things a notch and get some cardio in to jump start that metabolism. When I started, I was pretty sedentary, so I went on demand (Comcast) and did the Leslie Sansone Walk for Weightloss workouts. They have a 1-mile one that is 15 minutes and a 2-mile one that is 30 minutes. It also incorporates other moves to make it more than just a boring old walk and helps you to burn more calories by working your arms and abs. When I started, i was about 231 and was able to do this and noticed a difference in a short period of time, as some of her moves targeted the waistline and for the first time in ages I had a waistline again LOL! I hope this helps you. I am glad you reached out to the board here for suggestions and advice. This is a great group of people who have tons of collective experience and will be able to give you the support you need. Do you have a local support group you can attend for bariatric patients? I find when I'm struggling, it's a huge help to me. Utilize whatever resources are available to you! Lots of luck to you. Prayers and hugs going your way :-)!

What size is your band? You are right, everyone is different. I actually know someone at my support group that has never had a fill and lost 135 freaking pounds (and is 2 years out)! I have 4.9 ccs in my band (10 cc LapBand), so I'm half full. Some days I have restriction and some days, I could eat the house LOL. I did start feeling it after about 4.2 ccs (which was my second fill). From what I recall, the Realize band comes in one size, but I'm not sure what it is. It may be 10 and if so, you should be feeling something with 4 ccs in that size band, but again, everyone is different. Restriction is a crazy thing. Just when you think you have it, you start to question (or at least I do LOL) Did I help at all?!? Sorry for the rambling LOL

To me, restriction was explained as being full on 6 to 8 ounces of food and being satisfied from that amount for 4 to 5 hours without being hungry. Getting stuck, while indicating that the passageway is smaller, really is a sign that you either took too big a bite or didn't chew your food well enough. I wish I had the answer for you about whether or not restriction is delayed. This is something I have been wondering too. I actually just had a fill on Thursday and started back on regular foods yesterday and have no issues with anything. It almost feels like he took some out. Regarding what you're eating though. I would start with Protein first, like 4 ounces of fish or chicken and then maybe 1/4 cup of carbs like a potato and 1/4 cup of veggies and see how that does. Sometimes potatoes can be slider foods and really don't provide the protein we so need to get from our meals. It may be what you are eating since the fill (some people have told me they have to readjust to things after each fill, as some things don't go down as easy), so try to switch that up a bit and see if it helps. Keep us posted!!!

I think we all have our moments where we question things (we're human after all), but honestly, as much as I may complain about restriction (or lack thereof) and getting frustrated about plateaus, I have to admit that I would have never been able to lose this weight and keep it off if it weren't for the band. I'm only six months out, but I would have started to gain by now. The life changes that come along with a successful band lifestyle have really helped me. Without this band, I wouldn't know how to eat, when to eat and what. So, my short answer is: NEVER. I am assuming you're pre-op and if so, good luck on your decision, but if not, please feel free to vent or ask questions if you're recently banded and having a hard time. This is a great group of people who are always so supportive (and know TONS!) Good luck to you....

(((HUGS))) Heather. This can be a very emotional time for some, between the physical changes, hormones and ending the relationship with food as we used to know it. Then there are the good emotions, the looking forward to the future having hope and all that means knowing that you are beginning an uncertain journey. Honestly, it's completely normal. Just rely on the great people here for support, attend your support meetings (if you belong to a lap-band group) and hopefully your own support system at home, It's all so new right now, so there are bound to be emotions.... Hang in there!!! Hugs and prayers to you!

Welcome back, Whillow! Hope you had a great time! (Be happy--no gain after a vacation?? When was the last time we could say that LOL) I just realized we were banded around the same time and have almost the same amount in our bands. Too funny. We are losing at the same pace too! Pretty cool!

Jacki--when was your last fill? You are doing wonderful for just being banded in January. Does your doc do the fills under fluoroscopy? That's how we get ours, which is why I am confused as to why I have no restriction. I broke down and called the surgeon's office and made an appointment for another fill (ironically, it's the same day as yours--May 20). It's crazy. I found out that I have a total of 4.9 ccs in a 10 cc band, so I am almost half full!!! Maybe it's not the band or the fill level, maybe I'm just defective LOL. I just hope that I didn't cry wolf and the doc doesn't say I'm nuts, that I have restriction. Ummm, so why am I starving all the time? I soooo know the difference between 'real' hunger and head hunger. Give me a break.... Counting down with you until May 20! ETA I managed to get a 10 am appointment, so hopefully I won't be so freaking tight LOL

Congrats!! Woohoooo!!!!

It's so weird. I just got off the phone with them to discover that I am almost half full! Holy crap! My band holds 10 ccs and apparently I am currently at 4.9 They made me an appointment to come back in, but it's all so nuts, since my doc does the fills under fluoro, so why the heck would I not be restricted all of a sudden??? Anyway, we'll see what happens. Crazy how the body works.....