faybie

Karen, I stalled for about a month and a half, however I was still losing inches. I have seen people call this "compacting" and it makes a lot of sense. I think your third fill is going to do it for you. Just hang in there and look for some Non scale Victories to keep your chin up!

I thought Thanksgiving was going to be hard. It used to be my favorite holiday because of the food. I LOVE dressing and green bean casserole and I have always had two or three plates of food not including the dessert. Well, this year I only put a teaspoon of everything I liked on my plate. If I didn't like it, I didn't bother taking a spoonfull. A teaspoon of food is about 4 to 6 bites for me. So I had 4 to 6 bites of everything I loved. I spent the same amount of time maybe longer eating my teaspoons of food then I used to eating 3 plates. I enjoyed my food and didn't feel "robbed" in any way like I thought I would. I can still eat the foods that I love, I just eat so much less of them and enjoy them more actually because I savor every bite instead of shoveling it in like I used to. I haven't felt deprived at all. I am now the one ordering chicken salad at the table instead of the cheeseburger and fries. My body (head, not really sure) actually craves vegetables and low fat Proteins now when I haven't had enough of them. I am also craving fruit instead of candy bars and chips. That NEVER happened pre-band. LOL. I can feel my ribs, get up and down off the floor with no problem. I am wearing 16's and 18's (that are loose) instead of 22's. I am not desperate to "fall of the wagon" like I would always be on other diets. The scale doesn't go back up anymore. For example, if I weigh 196, I am not back up to 203 after the weekend anymore. This list could go on and on. I was the perfect example of an emotional eater. My whole day would revolve around Breakfast, lunch and dinner. I truly did not know I was so emotionally attached to food until after I was banded. I knew I was a little bit, but didn't realize to what extent. Being banded is the best thing that I have ever done for myself. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner like others have said. Good luck!

I will admit that the band does make you realize the emotional connection that you have with food. I am not scared of that because I now focus that energy in so many more productive directions. I have a better relationship with my husband and two children as well as my co-workers not to mention the energy that I have to do so many things that I used to avoid.' I would not go back and change a single thing, this is the best thing I have ever done for myself.

I wake up hungry too, I just force myself to go back to sleep. I attribute it to our increased metabolisms, which is a good thing. If it is unbearable, I suggest drinking water.

I personally think that how much Water you drink is directly related to sagging skin. Fortunately for me, I have been gifted with great elastic skin. I don't know how much of it is hereditary or how much is the amount of water I drink. I drink at least 96oz a day minimum most times more. I have been a Yo-yo for 10 years now going up and down from size 8 to 1x at least 3 times. I haven't had sagging skin any of the times, however I am very consistent at drinking 96oz+ a day. I am not a Dr. so if you are drinking that much water and still having sagging skin then there is a good chance that it is heredity. I am not really sure.

ha. ha. funny.

My tummy growls when I am not hungry, I just assumed it was gas moving through the two sections and into my intestines. My hungry feeling feels just like it did before, however my full feeling is completely different.

ha! we have 2, 0 and 00 too don't forget those!

I think you could get away with not telling her if you wanted to. I have PB'd in front of someone who is close to me and they didn't even "get it". I just told them it went down the wrong pipe and I was choking. They bought it! If I am a bit tight and having trouble eating, I use some of the following excuses: queesy stomach from something I ate, ate too much at Breakfast or I am having heart burn. I also had Thanksgiving dinner at my grandma's, barely ate a bite and not ONE of my very very very nosy relatives (mom included) noticed. They were all too busy shoveling food into their mouths. At first I was worried they would figure it out, then I would never hear the end of it. I just had lunch with a friend today and ate 1/4 of my salad. She told me that I was doing great with portion control and that she was proud of me. She is very thin and has no idea I have a band. I did tell my best friend though. She was supportive. However, I could tell in her expression everytime that she asked me a question that she really didn't like my decision. I regretted telling her later. She has never said anything negative to me about it but I can tell it makes her uncomfortable. Good luck with whatever you decide, I think you will be fine whichever you choose.

I read somewhere just the other day that most Dr.'s stitch in place now and it has reduced many of the issues with slippage, just like other people are saying.

Hey! I have completely grown "under" my 1Xs and 20s. It is mostly professional clothes, not many casual ones. Does anyone need professional clothes in these sizes? Btw, I am 5'7" to give you an idea of the size of the clothes. They wouldn't work well if you are petite I don't think.

Welcome. I was allowed fish but was warned to definitely stay away from beef the first month. As long as you are following your Dr.s orders you should be fine.

I think you should definitely talk this over in detail with your Dr. High amounts of reflux will seriously jeopardize your band. I think it would be best to fully understand the risks so that you can make an educated decision. I had reflux problems when I first got banded even before any fills. Three times a day or more. It was painful and I couldn't sleep. I even went in to make sure that I hadn't slipped my band or damaged my pouch. The fill technician who checked my band said that I should try taking MUCH smaller bites, about the size of my pinky nail. I started doing that immediately and I haven't had reflux since. I don't know much about your condition and I am sure that taking smaller bites wouldn't fix it, however I thought it might help knowing so that you don't add to the problem. Reflux is a condition that if serious enough could cause you to lose your band, so I think you should ask as many questions as you can about what your Doctor thinks.

Welcome! I don't live in the Dallas area so I can't help you with Dr.s in the area. You might try a search on his name. Search is up on the blue menu bar in the middle. I wish you luck with your insurance process. Glad you found us. I was on here everyday before my surgery learning as much as I could. It is a great site.

Hey Jo Ann, I'm in Sugar Land too, I was considering the band group that meets on Saturdays in Houston, Kirby and 59 area at the Whole foods. I haven't been yet though...

I had restriction after surgery too, however my "head hunger" was telling me to go buy a double cheeseburger and large fries. That is the moment that I realized most of my problem was a mental thing. I guess I should have already known that and probably did deep down. However, knowing I couldn't eat anything and still wanting things I shouldn't was really an eye opener for me at how dependent I was for food. Surgery doesn't solve those problems, however it does give you a tool to help you fight back and win!

Oh, If your pants are rubbing them that makes sense too. Grats on 2 sizes smaller. I know how wonderful that feels!!

wow, so it doesn't pick up blonde hair? dang it. I have been wanting to get this done too, however hadn't researched it yet. All of my hairs are blonde even my eyebrows. I have to use an eyebrow powder to darken them. Shoooot!

What a nice Christmas present. woot!

My incisions were all better no irritation no swelling after two weeks. The only one that still hurt was my port site and it stopped after four weeks. I would call the Dr. just to be safe. How do your scars from other things normally heal? If they take longer as well, then it makes since this would take longer as well. Good luck!

I use the Centrium Silver berry flavored chewables. They have extra calcium.

Welcome w9t4me. How nice that you have a friend joining you in your journey. Such a nice thing to be able to share together. Make sure you look for your December 2006 bandits thread!

Wow, spitting from liquids Pebbles. You might be a smidge too tight. I hope it gets better. I got tighter each day after my second fill not looser like the first one.

I think I am at my sweet spot and until I get closer to goal I will keep getting fills until I can eat as little as I do now. As soon as I am able to eat a cup of food without PB'ing, I will be straight back in there for a fill. When I say 1/4, 1/2 cup here are some examples: My typical Breakfast: 1/2 of a small banana or 4 bites of oatmeal or 8 bites of cheese grits or 1 egg or 1/2 small pancake or the inside of a kolache 1/4 of a bagel sliced in half, throw the toughest part away and add cream cheese lunch I can eat: 1/2 of a small side salad or 1/2 of a sandwich minus the crust and most times I can't eat the bread a piece of fish half the size of my palm 1/2 slice of pizza no crust most times I just eat the toppings afternoon snack: 1/2 Protein bar small Protein Drink dinner: usually what I had at lunch, leftover or whatever I need veggie or protein that I didn't have at lunch quite frankly I don't think I have had dinner that wasn't left over lunch in months. lots and lots of Water and sugar free lemonade (1/4 strength) chewable Vitamin

Goodluck Jamie! Everytime I have PB'd it was either because I ate too fast or too big of a bite. I have learned... That I absolutely LOVE my band. I never want to go anywhere without it ever again! It was the best thing I have ever done for myself.