VABandster

Shesha! Your banding date is coming up so fast!!! Time flies huh?? How is your preop diet going?? Mark...did you get the VG Band?? I did..and was reading a whole nother thread about VG Bandsters and it seems like a lot of them take a long time to get proper restriction. I'm thinking about having my 2nd fill under fluro just so I can get as good as restriction as possible. Are you going to go back to Dr. K for fills or just get it done locally??

Isn't it great to know that we can eat out and not eat like pigs!??? The second week after my surgery was xmas week and my family was visiting so we ate out a few times....each time I'd just get a cup of soup and watch everyone else chow down and I was totally satisfied!! Now that i'm able to eat real foods, I typically still get something like soup or chilli, but if I'm at a seafood place, I'll get seafood b/c I know it's low calorie, high Protein and good for me! I'm going to go start a new thread called: December Bandsters in Jan....so go look for us over there!

BMAN.....just curious....was it chicken that got stuck?? I've had that happen 2x now w/Chicken, so i'm VERRRRY Careful now when eating it! TOTALLY Not fun...I agree!

Hey Ladies (and gents if there are any of you here).... This thread is really long!! I was thinking maybe we should start a Jan Chat for Dec Bandsters?? What do you think??

Thanks BMan for the tips...I'll check out my WalMart and see what they've got! Was it hard to put it together??

Mystique....sorry to hear you're feeling so down...Just remember you're 20 pounds less than when you started still....so that's great!!! Some people have gained by this point and you haven't! You'll get your port situaiton figured out and you'll be off and running again....hang in there!! BK...sorry to hear things have been so stressful.....when do you go for your first fill?? Hopefully soon!??? That should help. So for all you guys that exercise....do you go to a gym? Did you buy equipment?? I'm thinking about buying an Elliptical machine, but am not sure where to start as far as finding a good, safe, reliable one. Any suggestions would be welcome! My scale finally moved this week...yeah!!!! I'm only 3 pounds away from my 30 pound mark!! If I can hit that by the 28th...it'll be 30 pounds in 2 months! And then I think I'm going to aim for 10 lbs. a month from here on out......(Here's hoping!!) Hope you're all having a great weekend!

Mark!!! Welcome back! Soo glad to hear that things went Ok...considering the irregular heartbeat issue!! Sounds like Dr. K did what was necessary to be thorough and safe.....yeah!! Yes, it was BITTER cold out in CO this past week...and now we might actually get some snow here!! Woo hoo Glad to hear you're home safe and sound!

I agree w/Alexandra.....my Dr. is not too restrictive so it's been I think a lot easier for me, but....I've also been able to appreciate that, get support and information from the other LBTers out there and just to know that there are other people out there 'like me'....is GREAT!!! Can't imagine not having this place to come and talk!

BMAN...congrats on getting into a size 18!! I can't WAIT for that day myself....still got 2 more sizes to go LOL STEPH...I'll go vote, but LBT Has TOTALLY Helped me!!! I found a great Dr., found tons of good advice and met great friends here!! How could it possibly NOT help?? I'm hoping to get my 2nd fill at the end of Feb. and get it done under fluro b/c I'm just curious to see what's going on in there and also I think it'll help me get better restriction....and since I travel from VA to CO for the fills....i want the next one to be GOOOOD so I don't have to go back again for a while! I ate my southbeach lunch too fast....ugh.....not going to PB, but definitely feel it sitting there! What do you guys do to make sure you eat slowly??? I"m still having problems w/that...especially w/the solids. I learned a good tip for things like soup and yogurt and smoothies...just dip your spoon in and lick it...that makes it last a lot longer...but w/biting foods....I still just seem to eat way too fast...Suggestions!???

SKye....congrats on getting your date!!! Sorry, I can't help you w/hotel recomendations b/c I stayed at my Sisters house! Haven't heard from Marjon yet....I think he flew home yesterday so hopefully everything went well....Marjon, if you're out there....let us know how you're doing!! I'm planning on going back for my 2nd fill at the end of Feb...and am thinking about asking for it to be done under fluro.....just to see whats going on in there and hopefully get better restriction! I got it on the first try but It either didn't last long or wasn't tight enough b/c I can still eat way more than 1/4 cup! I guess I can't complain too much b/c I still can't eat as much as I used too...and I'm stilll losing....but I want to FEEL the RESTRICTION (instead of feeling the burn) LOL. Anyways...I just ate my lunch too fast (Still having trouble w/that!), and can definitely feel it 'sitting there'....although I don't feel like I'm gonna puke, but it's definitely sitting in the pouch! UGH...... Well, chat w/you all later! gonna go check in on the other boards..

Hey there...I got the VG Band (10ccs), but I only got a 1.65 fill (that was the point at which I could start feeling restriction). Life is treating me pretty well, although it feels like the fill is gone already :-( But I know that happens sometimes....and yes, its weird sometimes to know that it's inside me, but also nice to know it's there too, ya know??

Well, I was happy to see that there was one less pound on the scale today, but I gotta tell you guys....I think my first fill is gone!! I seem to be able to eat way more than I should...and Steph...I know I'm up around 11-1200 calories a day too!! Right now I stop myself from eating more just b/c I don't want to get anything stuck, but I feel like I could eat a lot more! So I think we've all entered what they call "Bandster Hell"......but we can get through it!

Shesha, Congrats on sticking to the preop diet! My fill went well, although I feel like it's already disappeared...so I'll definitely be going back as soon as I can to get another one! I may ask to do it under fluro this time to see if I can get better restriction. Yes, DrewsLou and I met for lunch and she gave me some of the clothes she's already too skinny for! It was great!

Ohhh KAYDOT...just saw your weigh in!!! CONGRATS!!! 2.6 is MORE than what you're supposed to be losing each week so you're doing awesome!! NAT...I'm getting ready to watch AI w/my son....we love laughing at all the horrible singers in the auditions phase!!

BMAN...I had my first fill at 4 weeks too!!! Don't worry about it....you'll be fine! Although now that I've had it, I'm not sure that I'm restricted like I'm supposed to be....ugh...I guess they what they say about it taking a few fills is true. KAYDOT...good luck on the weigh in and congrat on feeling those collarbones! It's great isn't it??

Shesha! If your job is a desk job, you should be feeling just fine after 5 days! I went back to work after 4 and had no problems!

omg...it was a shock when I came home to 65 degree weather!! LOL But yeah, we'll definitely have to get together each time I come out so we can take our "progress" pictures!!

Hey Gang..just a real quick check in.... I use myfooddiary.com instead of fitday. Not sure why but I changed about a year ago and have just stuck w/it, but I think they're both good! I posted on the Dec. thread...but I'm having a hard time w/the Slow eating thing. I tend to go from 0 to 100 when it comes to my hunger. I won't be hungry for hours, but then I'm STARVING and have a hard time eating slowly! Anyone else have this problem? Steph...I'm not sure how I'm doing on protein.. I haven't journaled in a few days but I think I need to get back to it b/c the scale isn't moving, despite my fill!! Ugh..I'm hoping I am just bloated b/c Auntie flo is due to visit tomorrow, but I konw the journal will help too.... Gotta run and get the kiddos fed....have a good night everyone!

Okie, I love Stephs suggestion to you to try and explain to your Dad that this is a process...maybe you could give him some literature to read that says 1-2 pounds per week is the expected weight loss?? Anyways, I hope you're feeling more chipper today! SLOW EATING.....does anyone else have this problem!?? I've got the small bites down and chewing thouroughly....but the slow eating thing is REALLY Hard for me! I try to time it so I take one bite a minute to make sure my meal lasts for at least 20 min....but it's HARD!! Especially when I'm HUNGRY!! Anyone got any good suggestions on how to get this down once and for all??

Yes it was!!! DrewsLou ROCKS!! It was so cool meeting you and Thanks again for the clothes!! They are great! Some were a little tight still, but I figure in about 10 more pounds they should look gooood! I made it home in one piece yesterday after waiting an hour for takeoff b/c we had to get de Iced. Marjon...we're hoping you're doing well and that things go well tomorrow! Can't wait to see you report back!

KAYDOT...Lets here it for the PATRIOTS!!! Whooo hooo!!! What a come from behind!! I'm soo excited! And I'll also give a shout out to my supportive Sis as well...she is younger, but has always been the 'skinny' one too (size 12-14, but able to run a marathon!). She has been sooo supportive of me and since my Dr. is in her state and near her, she took care of me after my surgery and let me borrow her car on Friday so I could go to my fill while she was at work! I know she'll be happy for me no matter how skinny I get b/c she knows how much my weight has always bothered me.... anywhoo! NAT...don't worry about the fish sandwich!! Remember...I had a Cheesburger the other day! I think its all about perspective...what we would have had in our "old days".....vs. what we're doing now!! As for your sister....if she can't be supportive then find other "sisters" like us that can be!! :confused: Speaking of Auntie Flo....I met a fellow LBT bandster this weekend in CO that had been banded by the same Dr. I used...and she mentioned that after she had her period, she got a lot more restricted!! Has anyone heard about your period affecting your restriction?? I figure we've talked poops here, we can talk Auntie Flo right?? LOL KATHY.....Don't worry about what you had!!! I was on solids way before you are going to be....and I haven't done any damage, so I'm sure you didn't! You're fine!! TRANSFORMER...good luck in school and check back w/us when you can!! Congrats on your NSV!!! That is awesome!!! I'm starting a new job (after having been laid off in November) tomorrow, so I'm excited that I finally will have real benefits again and will be getting a paycheck!! woo hoo!! So if I'm not on as much, its b/c I"m busy getting settled!! Have a great MLK Day guys!!

Chubby, My Dr. did not Require that I go on liquids for 24 hrs, but said it wouldn't be a bad thing if I did, but it was up to me. I did soup for lunch yesterday and did actually have 1/4 cup of salmon last night at Macaroni Grill b/c I figured that was soft enough to eat and chew and make almost a liquid before swallowing, and omg...it was sooo good! And...I felt full afterwards, so that was nice!! This AM so far I've just had liquids, so I figure I'm doing ok Kaydot...sounds like your Dr. is VERY conservative, and that sucks for you b/c you feel like you're whiteknuckling it. But hang in there it will get better. My Dr. is pretty liberal I think and NO...I know not everyones fill experience is going to be like mine. A friend of mine went in and the Dr. just put in 5ccs.....so I don't think he had to sit up and drink water at all. Everyone is different, like you said. Are you sleeping on your belly?? If so, that could be why you have port pain? Just a thought. And as for your friend and her "comments"....just be glad you didn't tell her about your surgery!! Once she sees you being so successful and she asks how you are doing it, THEN Tell her and rub it in her face! Steph...Yeah, it was weird, but I guess what he did is basically the same thing your Dr. will do, just w/out the Fluro. Hopefully you'll be able to get yours done lying down! :eek: BK....I'm so sorry to hear you're dad still isn't doing well. But hang in there and know that we're all praying for and rooting for him!! Ok, I'm off for the day...hope you all have a good one !!

Luckygirl....sorry to hear you don't feel restriction! How much did you get? Hopefully like Step said it is just taking a few days to kick in. Otherwise, call your Dr. back and tell them you need more....Hang in there! Maurdan, some suggestions for snacks: Turkey (or other lean meat), almonds, riccotta or cottage cheese, Peanut Butter. SouthBeach also makes some good Protein bars that are only about 140 calories and have 10g of protein in them. You could also do a high Protein shake. Hope that helps! Let us know what you end up doing. Siyah, that is interesting about protein...I had never heard that before! Although I do find myself thirsty in between meals, I just thought it was b/c I wasn't drinking w/meals like I used to. Carebear....I will keep you all posted and let you know how long the fill lasts. I have heard some people say the first fill gets absorbed into a dry band...so I hope that doesn't happen to me! WC...I would have been pissed at the nurse too!!! If we were able to stop ourselves at 1/4 cup, why would we need the band?? Ugh..some skinny people just don't get it LOL

I was banded on 12/15 and just got my first fill today. Doc put the needle in my port and had me sit up and drink water so he could figure out how much saline I needed to feel restricted. Right now I only have 1.65 in my VG band that holds 10ccs! I hope that the restriction stays for a while!

Thinide...yep, I'll send it to you too, if you look back a few pages, I think I did post the link as well. So, just got back from my first fill! It was a weird experience!! I went in and the Dr. did a sonogram to make sure the port was where he thought it was. He took the needle (a looong thing, but I really tried not to look), and stuck it in. He didn't get it right the first time so he took it out and stuck it in again, a bit deeper this time he said. He hit the port...I could feel the pressure on the port in my stomach and it just felt weird. Didn't hurt, just felt funny. So I've got this long needle sticking out of my belly and he tells me to "sit up"....I'm like Huh?? :huggie: He says "sit up and I'm going to have you drink water so we can figure out what the right amount of saline is for you". So his cute assistant helps me up, and I'm sitting up w/this big needle sticking out of my belly! So he puts in 1 CC (I have the VG band, holds 10ccs)....and gives me a little cup of water and tells me to drink. I drink and don't feel anything. He give me 2 ccs....I drink again, and this time I can feel the water just sitting there in the pouch, right in the middle of my chest. So he takes a little bit out....we're at 1.65 CCs apparently....I drink again and I can feel it sit, but then go down.....he says that's the right amount! So he makes a note in the file, reminds me to eat slowly and carefully and make sure I don't get too full! He said to come back in a month or sooner if I need to and voila! I'm done! :lost1.5lbs: So there you have it...I have this big band in my body, yet I only needed 1.65 to feel restriction!?? I just hope it lasts!!! :rofl: So if you have any questions....ask away! But right now I'm feeling good, port doesn't hurt and I'm hoping that I got restriction on the first try!!