GoingforGoal

Let the doc determine the quantity. You'd be amazed what a mere 0.5cc can do. I'm at green and now when I get fills they are between 0.1 and 0.3 cc. If I overshoot it, I'm only getting 0.1 taken out. So again, you can imagine what 0.5-1 can do Good luck and good attitude not suffering through a too tight band

Hi You hit it on the head. Maybe they started at a higher weight. Maybe they are being more restrictive with cals. Or maybe working out like gym freaks. Who knows haha. But by numbers, you are right on track for the avg weight loss stats. I think sometimes we hear these wonder losses and we are so hopeful it'll happen to us we feel defeated when it doesn't happen. But those are not the normal results. AND may I stress here, it's not how much someone loses, but loses AND maintains. I see heeps of people losing 100+ lbs and gaining it back after becoming lax w/ rules or not getting fills etc. The same person who got a head start, may be trailing you in the end. Again, it's not a competition, but if you stay vigilant and observant, you'll see that's what happens. Stay positive. Don't track others results, just yours. That's hard enough

Ahhhh helll no. .... CHOKE HIM!!! CHOKE HIM!!!! I'll be your alibi ahahha

britt, I lost 100+ lbs. I am actually currently recovering from my cosmetic surgery (the last phase of my journey). I would guesstimate 100 lbs in 1 year as long as you are consistent and follow the rules Definitely worth every dollar. This is not like anything you've done before (aka weight watcher memberships, pills, expensive delivery meals etc) where it was just a loss of your investment. I wish you all the luck. If you have specific q's, please feel free to email

Oh That just makes me sad hon. Does he use lidocaine to numb the area prior to accessing the port? If not, request it. As an RN, I also think it's not too much to ask for extra helping hands, pillow behind your back to help w/ the crunch position...whatever it takes. My hub and I were banded same day. He is larger than I and he too has had previous difficulty with access to his port but not to the point they couldn't get it. I know it's a pain, but keep going. You seem to have a great and go get em attitude. The fills are essential to your success so make that doc earn his money (snicker)

^5 happy to hear you are getting the necessary support Good luck on the test..its simple

<<<< I'm an RN too and banded ^5 on your choice to get banded, good luck w/ surgery

cc, I got what you meant Good luck w/ the surgery. Glad the kiddos are your support system. I think with them knowing it'll be an even greater motivator to kick band butt

Unfortunately any remedy someone suggests will just be a recommendation w/out guarantees. No product guarantees their results. I just had cosmetic surgery. It was my #1 question as well and the dr's and cosmotologist both agreed that you can use things like vit E, biooil, mederma etc but it's a 50/50 shot. However, I also learned that if you have had previous incisions, you can predict how future incisions will heal based on those old scars. So I have had 3 c/s scars that are super faint and should assume all my other scars will result in the same appearance.

Standard rule of thumb is 60-90g of Protein daily minimum. I drink like a fish, but 64 oz should be your minimal goal for Water intake

NO NO NO It's not crazy at all!!!! This is PRECISELY what you do when you are hit plateaus. It's an old body builder's trick. You are merely tricking the brain into thinking your status quo is not 1000 calories and it doesn't adjust it's metabolism for 1000 cals or hold weight if it fears you are going into starvation mode. I do this time and time again. Sometimes I even deliberately have a "cheat" day each week to shock the system if you will. Keep this ace card in your back pocket next time you hit a stall! Trust me, works every time

Hi Jenny, We all (mostly) struggle with variances in restriction. Some are tight in the morning and loosen up as the day goes by. Some vary meal to meal, hour by hour etc. Everyone is different. As for some reasons for why this is happening: 1) Hydration. Your esophagus and stomach is nothing more than tissue cells. When dehydrated the cells are lax. So think of lax tissue, it would create a more narrow passage resulting in increased restriction if there's a stoma. This is why hydration is important. However, that's not possible while sleeping so most of us wake up with tight bands. Rehydrate and slowly introduce foods to work the band. 2. I sort of inferred this already, but if you go long periods between eating. Or if you only eat a small amount one meal and than wait hours before your next meal, the band just may not have been 'used' enough to keep it open. Only suggestion for this one is to ensure you are eating on a regular schedule opposed to some who can go 8+ hrs w/out eating (eeeek).

We use pounds and ounces. Medically we use Kilos. Stones is UK

Sorry font was too small Hi GLJ. Definitely go to the doc. They might put you on Prilosec, perhaps experiment with the tightness of you band to see if that'll give you relief. Additionally, look up acid reflux and foods that increase acid production (ie dairy, coffee etc) and try to minimize those, or eat them w/ foods etc

Hi GLJ. Definitely go to the doc. They might put you on Prilosec, perhaps experiment with the tightness of you band to see if that'll give you relief. Additionally, look up acid reflux and foods that increase acid production (ie dairy, coffee etc) and try to minimize those, or eat them w/ foods etc

My limit is 1 cup. But realize, I am at green. It is actually uncomfortable for me to eat beyond 1 cup of solid food. When you get that physical feedback and push past it is when you are really putting yourself at risk for pouch dilation. If you have zero restriction or fills, your food is most likely just slipping through within moments so there's no back up in the pouch long enough to cause dilation. If you are overly concerned as you progress to more solid foods and can feel a sense of restriction, eat more slowly allowing food to pass and not try to eat 1/2 (or 1 cup in my case) in a short period of time. But as you get fills it's time to start listening to your band and stop when you get that feedback. Your pouch literally fills full (not full as in no longer hungry, full as in capacity). I never eat on top of that, despite hungar. Sometimes I get premature fullness w/ dense foods. I will merely wait 1/2 -1 hr and finish my meal if that be the case. Good Q

Hey Be careful w/ NPO, most don't realize that means no food/water orally before a procedure <wink> No need to be NPO. However, I typically do not eat or drink up to 2 hrs before a fill. The way my doc does his fills is with Water tests. If my pouch is already filled, that won't do me any good. But also, if I recently ate my stoma could theoretically be more open than norm and I want to test the band at stasis. Good luck (PS I'm an RN too)

Girl I have missed talking to you. It's funny you should say that, because even though in my head I know I had all this surgery, I could easily see myself answering the Q "Have you had BA" and be like "No, these are natural". It's def a mental adjustment lol

I forgot to answer your overhang q- are you talking about back rolls? I had a very tiny pinch as I am at (or darn near) goal weight. With all the cosm. surgery nothing overhangs in an obvious manner anymore anywhere. I need all the swelling to go down and the implants to drop to get a final idea of where I am at weight wise. But right now I feel perfectly comfortable at my current weight of 148

Woops that price comment was for you. It was pricey, and no insurance didn't cover any of mine, but so necessary and worth it. Good luck

Amazingly the pain was not as bad as I anticipated. The BA is the least of my issues. I would say the first few days I took pain meds around the clock. But by day 3-4 I started weaning myself, so maybe meds 3x a day (most definitely before bed). On occassion, I would wakeup just very aware of my incisions so I would take a small dose to get me back to sleep. But starting week 2 I was only taking pain meds before bed. And last night was the first night (day 13) that I went to bed without meds. I think I might still need 1 or 2 more days of meds. However, the incision that is requiring the nightly meds are my arms, not tummy nor breasts. I think when you lay on your side you just put enough pressure on the arm incisions it causes swelling/pain thus the discomfort. I can get by on the tummy incision (that reminds me of my previous c/sections) and the breasts have more of an ache than a pain (because they are actively dropping)-nothing pain med worthy. Good luck (and I know, it is pricey!!!)

Emotional eating is a tricky beast. I too am a stress/emotional eater. I simply cannot focus on a diet when I am overly stressed. It is my absolute #1 go to to get distracted or to calm down. All the while I know I'm sabotaging myself, but there's an override in logical sensibility at that moment. Here's some tricks I use: 1) I eat on hard things like carrots. Reason being..I think in addition to sugar and endorphin releases associated w/ high carb foods, there is also an oral habit going on. Kind of like when you are nervous and you have to tap your pencil on the table. If you have to put hand to mouth, make it a healthy choice and one that takes a crap load of time to chew down. It eats up time, it satisfied the need to chew (oral) and depending on the food can even satiate you during hungry periods or satisfy cravings. 2) Get active. Exercise releases endorphins. I know it's the last thing on your mind, but take that stress and/or frustration out on some boxing and/or running. You'll feel great and more balanced afterwards 3) Get distracted. Sometimes if we have to much free time we can be consumed w/ our thoughts/emotions. Get a hobby, meditate, volunteer, whatever floats your boat. The busier you are the less time you have to snack away. 4) And if you are in emergency emotional meltdown and you know it's going to persist. Remove EVERY item that is your go to food out of the house. Replace with less than desirable food (like pickles, rice cakes and mustard ahahah). None of these foods are going to give you that release and will help break that addiction of using food to curtail the emotions. Hope this helps hon. <Hugs>

ummmmm lemme think.. #1 Papaya enzyme seems to help some people. It helps to breakdown food #2 You sound more inflammed (post stuck) than you sound stuck. Being stuck for days on end seems a little peculiar. I would suspect if that were the case you'd be in such discomfort you would refrain from eating and drinking anything. The fact that some food/water passes is also another indication that it's more of a tight band/inflammed stoma. Recommendation 1) Report symptoms to doc 2) Go liquids. Start clear, than full, than softs etc. Go as slow as you need to transition without an adverse symptoms. This can take days, even a week. The more you eat and agitate this inflammed area the worse the inflammation and you risk occlusion in which unfill would be mandatory. Baby your band. Also, some would recommend liquid motrin to help w/ inflammation. I would personally do this but not for an extended period. Make sure it's liquid.

Absolutely not..here's why I have 3 sons (oldest is age 10) and from the get go I instilled a healthy diet into our kids through food choices and education. Healthy to me is not 100% raw foods. Healthy to me is moderation. And I have taught my children how to incorporate junk foods or heavy carb foods into their diets without overconsuming. It comes so natural to them and their preferences lean towards healthy foods 99% of the time. My middle child's fav food is brocolli, no joke and he is 6. My eldest is the kind of kid who takes a cupcakes, takes a couple bites and leaves the most of it uneaten. I don't ever deprive them. I also use myself and my life story as a great model for why healthy eating is important. Now with that being said, I don't let the kids go hog wild. For instance, there alot of substitutions in our house. Like turkey bacon and fatfree hot dogs which the kids prefer over pork bacon and beef dogs. It makes me feel guilt-free knowing they can have some classic kid foods without all the excess fat and calories. I also manage their foods from a weekly standpoint. So for instance, if they had a super unhealthy day one day, I focus on leaner foods for the next few days. But again, no deprviation- kids are not on diets. As for me, I have to eat separately because I need quiet to focus on my bites and not get stuck. I eat pretty odd stuff, like a can of turkey w/ mayo for lunch. No way the kids are going to buy that ahahha. And I wouldn't want that for them anyway. Just make sure you lay a strong foundation of moderation. That way occassional bad eating has zero impact on their health and keeps everyone happy

How much do you charge for a consultation? BWAHAHAHHAHAH smarta** lol Don't worry, pics will come. Now I just need to master photoshop and learn how to apply stars and such to hide the goodies... perhaps you can help me there? (eyeroll) ahhah