Humming Bird

Go out with your family and friends. Be social. I have gone out to eat many times since being banded. I am just very careful with what I order. Different Dr.s have different guidelines, so try to stick with what they tell you. When you are able to move on to soft foods and then solids, order the soup, chili, or something like that. If you are stuck with only "fast food" as an option, get a small chili at Wendy's. It is full of protein and not too bad on calories. I looked it up awhile ago and it has something like 200 cal.

The problem is being hungry an hour later. Maybe even a small fill would help so you don't get hungry so soon after you eat.

I have not gone to any support groups because they are armost a 2 hour drive for me and they do it on work days, so there is no way I can drive there and make it on time. I find it very helpful here on LBT. Even if you don't want to post anything or reply to other's posts, you can read.

if you can eat chicken salad you will ba able to eat chili and stew. I also liked yogurt, apple sauce, oatmeal just remember when u try new things to go very slowly

good luck and congrats! let us all know how you are post op

if the fills are getting that bad, can't they go in and fix the position of the port? I'm sorry u are going through all that when a fill should really be a simple one stick.

I take centrum adult chewable and B-12 + biotin sublingual I ordered from bariatric choice. Doc told me chew a couple tums for calcium

don't beat yourself up too bad. After a couple fills you will not be able to eat that stuff and it won't even sound good to you. Hey, you screwed up, just don't do it so bad again and move forward. When I was headed in to the banster hell stage, as u are now, it helped me to eat stuff like salad. Eat cucumber and carrot sticks. Things will get better for you.

I agree with LollyMoe. You should go back to your band doc and jump back on! Tell them what you went through and that you are even embarassed about it. But, just jump back on ! No better time to get on with the rest of your life than right now.

Keep in mind everyone is different. I am 13 weeks post op and have lost 39 lbs. 8 of those were pre-op

I have been banded. There is no way I would be able to follow the guidelines without the band. The hunger would really get to me. Many of the guidelines are good basic diet/weight loss rules and good to follow. If your BMI is too low to get the band, you have less weight to take off than I do and that is a good thing. I wish you luck with your weight loss journey. I did hear of a therapist that has great success with hypnosis to get people to quit smoking and he is working on using hypnosis to make people believe they have a band when they really do not.

The band is working for me exactly the way you assume. I eat much less and I feel full and the weight is coming off. After "Banster Hell", it has been pretty good.

I did not take any before pics. I hate seeing myself in that condition and don't want anyone else to see it either. Silly, I know, then I can't see how different I look at goal. I just want it to stay in my past and leave it there. I may run across a pic from a family function or something when I was close to my highest weight, but I hope not.

Pain patches helped me a lot. I used the wal-mart equate brand menthol pain patches that u can find by the ben-gay and other muscle ache creams. My left shoulder pain lasted 2 months and was worse at night. I would just cut one of the patches in half and put it on my shoulder before bed. It worked wonders.

only 6 lbs to go ?! WOW CONGRATS ! If you stay full between meals I would say no fill, just do some extra working out or low cal foods. If you get hungry between meals, maybe a very tiny fill. Great job on the weight loss! I will be doing a happy dance when I only have 6 lbs. left!

it's been 3 weeks since your last fill right? You still have all the signs of being too tight. It sounds like you need to go back to the doc and at least get a tiny unfill.

Don't worry, things will get better. Your body has just been through a lot and is trying to adjust. Those 2 lbs will drop back off. Just stick with your diet plan, get the fluids in, keep your chin up and continue your celebration of the new you that you are creating! Be patient, these things take time.

I agree with ElfiePoo. Many times when I eat it does not take me the full 30 mins. The more solid the food, the slower I go. Cream of wheat or oatmeal go a bit faster, but I still get the full feeling and go on about my day.

hmarco, I can only speak from my own experience, but the tighter my fills get, the more trouble I have with eating meat. I have tried eggs twice since being banded and had so much trouble I will not try them again anytime in the near future.

I am having trouble with all meats since my last fill. I'm very tight, but it is easing, so I don't want to ask for an unfill just yet. The only thing I have been able to eat that has meat is chili. I was trying to think of other meats I could eat and try something in the crock pot. I remembered a great recipe and thought I would share. This recipe comes from the little cookbooks that came with crock pots in the 1970's. I think they have since replaced it with other recipies. I tried to find it on other crock pot/slow cooker site to get the nutritional info, but can not find it. The first time I remember having this was as a kid in 1974 and the entire family loved it (serve with bread and butter for the kids...yum!) I know it has quite a lot of Protein and can be modified to make it healthier, but would suggest the original recipe be tried first to understand the unique taste and how all the ingredients play an important part. I have made this many times over the years and get raves at pot-lucks and such. Quite a large recipe when you can only eat 1/2 cup, but if u have a family it works great. Fills a regular size (3 1/2 qt.) crock pot. ONE POT dinner 1 lb. ground beef browned/drained 1/2 lb. bacon cooked/cut up small pcs. 2 31oz. cans pork and Beans 1 16oz can kidney beans, drained 1 16oz can butter beans, drained 1 cup chopped onion 1 cup catsup 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 tablespoon liquid smoke 3 tablespoons white vinagar 1 teaspoon salt dash of pepper Stir ingredients together well in crock-pot cover and cook on low 5 to 9 hours / high 3 hours

You sound pretty normal. My weight loss slowed down just like yours. Getting fills will help. Time helps too. Your body has to adjust. Slow and steady weight loss is best .... 2 lbs per week. I am 3 months out and it does get better. I know you want all the weight off right now, but it takes time. Really, your weight loss is great right now ..... just look at the numbers!

It sounds like things are going well for you so far. I wish you success on your journey !

Hi Elfipoo, Yes!!! you nailed it ! That is exactly what the band will do for you. It is hard to get used to and even if you are not a real emotional eater there will be some "head hunger", but it is so wonderful to feel full on very small portions.

Way to go !!! Did you do a happy dance right there at the scale!!? I wish I were in your shoes right now. Onederland, I'm on my way!