givempills

Hi there, I've had my band for 7 months now. I've lost 60 pounds, and I'd like to lose another 25 or so. At the present, my band is what the radiologist calls "tight," and I've been enjoying nice and slow weight loss. When I make a bad food choice, I PAY THE PRICE! While I dont throw up often at all, I often have some discomfort within a few minutes of swallowing the offending "bite" or food. Often, I'll take a trip to the bathroom, stare at myself in the mirror for a few until it passes, then go back and continue to eat. Is this what its like for everyone?

First, some stats. I'm 32 y/o guy. NY pre-op wt 315 day of surg 295 (8/27/09) first fill 11/3 273 second fill 2/5 265 current weight 259 My story. Sometimes I think I'm kidding myself. Yes, I've lost weight. No, not at the rate i thought I would, but I refuse to feel negatively about my progress.....I lost 56 pounds! But lately I dont feel so good.... Before my second fill last week, I could eat just about anything....and I was...and staying within the same 5 pounds or so....i went to the doctor and expressed my need for a fill, to provide more restriction, and he agreed...so off i went for my fill. my new fill is tight! i dont feel its too tight, just tight enough to punish me for poor food choices. 1/2 a soft taco at taco bell had my head in a toilet for 30 min, and so did a slightly over sized sushi roll....(i remeber when they used to bring the big sushi boat over to our table, how excited I would get...those days are gone. i used to eat 4 or 5 tacos at TB...... My fitness level is the best its been in 10 years. While I am not doing any regimented weight lifting, I am addicted to nike plus and my ipod, and am currently running about 15 miles a week....and i feel great doing it. I chop firewood a few hours a week, and lately have been shoveling a lot of snow. (argg) Last night as we went to sleep, my wife and I had one of our little talks. Although I have her full support, I feel a little weird about the things she said. I know that my lifestyle has def changed...im so much more active then i was.....and i eat so much less. my weight loss thus far has been so enjoyable....and i think, kinda easy. i watch what i eat and try to make the best decisions. I'm not on a diet, i just eat great food. i might have a cookie here and there, but it's never out of control. shes a little critical of the rate at which im losing...and im not happy about her saying that...(yes, i told her so) My biggest problem is that i dont feel satisfied emotionally. I enjoy the compliments i get all day long (I'm a pharmacist and everyone sees me a lot.) Are you guys out there having a cookie here and there? I feel like I dont deprive myself of anything i really want to eat, because i feel justified given my running regimen, and given the fact that i can only have a small amount of what i choose to eat. So I need someone to break it down for me phtlisophically. I need to get my wife to support me, without bringing me down...she wants me to lift weights, and i feel like i dont have time to without sacrificing my running.... I'm sorry if I rambled on.....thanks for the help! -Bill Sayville, NY

its best to keep within doctors orders.....are you allowed shakes yet? if so, go out and buy a new kind....it will satisfy you.....GOOD LUCK....its a long, wonderful road ahead....:thumbdown:

thank you everyone for your input...i do appreciate it.... Ms. California, thanks for telling like it is....i'm so jealous of your california weather!

thanks so much....

i havent...but i most def should be......such a mindgame right now.....ill elaborate later

Greetings! i have been putting this off for some time and need some help. First, my story. I started pre-op dieting on 8/1, and had my surgery on 8/27. I was 311 on 8/1, 295 on 8/27, 272 for my first fill on 11/03. I have seen 262 on my home scale, but I am lingering at about 265. So, obviously, I'm thrilled about my numbers, if you will, but again, they're just numbers. My weight loss is not consistent, but i must say that i am partially satisfied with my results. I am realizing how much work this is! If I dont go to the gym, or exercise on my hamster wheel (treadmill) in my home, the scale doesnt move. If I make some poor food choices, the scale doesnt move. So I guess I'm asking you all: Do you become complacent in your weight loss? I feel like I take breaks from it. I often say to myself, "i lost a lot of weight already, I can try that." Is this always a bad idea? I think what i have done is drasticallychanged the way I eat, more importantly, the portion size. I enjoy eating things that i never would consider before, because I knew I couldnt stop. I guess I can say that i just dont think I'm doing enough, and everyone is always talking about it with me, so i feel like if I'm not making constant progress, I'm failing. Are plateaus normal? thanks for your help.

WAIT...HOLD THE PHONE! Yes, skip the rice...get sashimi instead! (no rice) I've really enjoyed sushi lately, i tried some just 2 weeks after surgery. My advice... CHEW CHEW CHEW... savor everything there! Try something new..... I've become a food snob since surgery. I try not to eat anything I dont really fall in love with. does that make sense? i remember dinners with my wife when they used to bring over a wooden boat the size of the table, as we would normally split 5 or 6 rolls.....stuffed our faces! Now, I search the menu very carefully, and choose 1 roll.....and I pick 1 hoping its so exquisite..... 1 more suggestion......TAMAGO, aka egg custard....good Protein with a little sweetness, some more than others.....try it.....its almost like a dessert..... One more thing....TARTARE....i think this would qualify as a mushy, finely chopped tuna or salmon with approp seaonings......another favorite of mine.... Or go with several people and share ....... I love going out to dinner now, I'm a cheap date and I can only eat a small amount, so I enjoy tasting menus, and tappas....but sushi really is a favorite. enjoy!

Hi there, I'm having my first fill on Nov 3rd......(2 months post op) While I never really entered bandster hell, I did kinda hit a brick wall regarding the weight loss. My exercise has not been 100% and neither has my eating, but I'm still satisfied losing what ive lost so far.. I cant wait for a fill! I cant wait to "re-learn" whats gonna work and whats not. I cant wait to have the kind of restriction i had a few days post op! I felt a little defeated at first that I was "relying" on a fill to help me out, my wife has been critical about it also.....The Dr and my coordinator quickly took the drama out of the situation....They said that as long as your heads in the right place and you have a grasp of whats going on, an appointment to the dr and a fill might be exactly what you need.... So I feel much better about the whole thing. I dont feel as if I have failed, and Im ready to take the next step. My best friend always reminds me, "this is a marathon, not a 100 yard dash." I keep repeating this to myself every time I feel discouraged... enough rambling! Thanks forum....

hey there, I'm from Sayville, but I work in Seaford.....I'd love to get together with people from the forum.....

Looking back, I wish i did have a last meal, but I didnt......I was already dieting for 3 weeks and had no desire..... I hink its really important to recognize that a last meal is not a good bye from a particular food or group of foods......It's a good bye to volume of food we've become comfortable eating... I'm 4 weeks post op today I've lost almost 40 pounds since 8/1....I feel great and I cant wait to have some of those foods again, but just in a MUCH MUCH smaller volume.......I'm already thinking on how to make healthier choices at certain restaurants......

First, I'll make some bold statements here. I'm looking for advice as well. That being said, if I need to be corrected, please dont hesitate. SO....I'm 3 weeks out of surgery today. I'm down 18 pounds since surgery, 34 as of 8/1. I'm happy with that. I've been reading a lot about Bandster hell. This is the period of time where you're healed, have little restriction, transition to mushy then solid, and stop losing, or even gain a little. All waiting for your first fill.... Well, I'm not down with that. Maybe it's all a headgame, I'm thinking. I've decided that I need to come up with a strategy of transitioning to solid food, while exercising and at least staying the same weight...BUT I WILL NOT GAIN. So I post this to ask for advice, or to hear from more experienced people regarding this dark time for so many. Am I nuts? Will a slower transition to solids ensure a better hell period? I'm not sure...I'll speak to the doctor at my next appointment. I don't want bandster hell to be an excuse for BAD food choices, or kidding myself into thinking McDonalds shakes are good for me..... Thanks EVERYONE....couldnt be doing this without all of you! Bill:tongue2:

YEAH....I'm a full time dad and a pharmacist....DO IT!!!! youll get over a few bad days! Good luck!

The ticker rules! Keeps accountability, and its great to update it with good news!:mad2:

GREAT NEWS JERRY!!!!:mad2:

if the someone seeing you naked cares about you, you have nothing to worry about, weather you lie or not..... He might believe you saying you had a cyst on your ovary.....Guys are not thinking rationally in front of naked girls! I personally like.."I was stabbed in a knife fight."

Hey there, I'm 2 weeks post op. My doc wanted liquids only for at least 2 weeks, and it was tough. You might want to try different shakes from the vitamin store.my magic bullet blender was really helpful, it still is really....In a pinch, i found some ready to drink ones at 7-11 that fit within the guidlines...200 cal, 3g fat 5g sugar, but thats different for everyone. In the beginning i was a little scared, that i wasnt getting enough calories......but thats ok now. Good luck to you! Email me if you ever need anything....givempills@aol.com -Bill:smile2:

I'd feel 100 times better if i didnt have this gas pain. its right in the neck/upper shoulder area, and it seems like it just came on today.....i'm doing laps around my living room trying to get rid of it. Is this common? How can i get rid of it...... respond to givempills@aol.com......so i can see it from my Blackberry in bed Thanks, Bill

HEY JERRY ! WHOOT WHOOT! Thats awesome! It's so good to hear good stories of weightloss everyday. I'm thinking more and more that this site will be a great way to check in and stay on track everyday to insure both weightloss and healthier living when it comes time for maintenance. CONGRATULATIONS..... Bill Sayville,NY HEAVIEST/DAYOFSURG/TODAY 340/295/282:drool:

Hey Folks, The good news is I was banded on 8/27. I started really trying hard to lose as of 8/1, followed a week long preop liquid diet. I started on 8/1 at 312lbs or so. On my surgery day I was 295, which was nice. Today I'm 285, which is also nice, but I feel like I lost weight a few days post op, and I havent lost since. I'm being realistic, please dont get me wrong. I'm down 10lbs, 1 week post op, and I'll take that. This is a marathon, not a 100 yard dash.....My head is ok in that respect. I'm a little confused about my post op diet though. I saw a recommended nutritionist pre op and she was great in laying out the pre an post op plans. I felt great about it, until I was about to be discharged from the hospital after surgery. I was in formed that my nutritionists 2 week post op liquid plan was wrong. I should be on liquids for 4 WEEKS. I didnt mind really, but it came as a surprise. I told the doctor, and he said if I cant stand liquids by week 3, I can move to puree. QUESTION....My preop diet taught me the concept of "FULL LIQUIDS" including puddings, yogurt, skim milk, shakes, etc. Arent purees considered full iquids? So, I'm doing ok with the diet, but find myself making a few misjudgements, if you would with the liquids, or purees.... Can I have cream Soups during this stage? What cream soups are considered unhealthy? (I though most were) My understanding as of today is that I will then transition to a mushy stage. MASHED POTATO type. I'm ready for this stage....egg salad, tuna salad, etc.....I'm ok with that. When it's time to actually go back to solid food, what are people eating? In what order? Is it Protein first, then a carb, like a veg? I want to make an appointment with another dietician, but I though I'd ask here first. I guess I need help from new Bandsters, and old ones to help me plan better and have better success in the long run. Thanks For your help, Bill:smile2:

i was banded 8-27.....I was offered/given heparin before, possibly during, and after surgery. The nursed wanted the first one n my belly, and i refused.....i offered my arm instead......i have HUGE yellow bruises on both arms.......They told me it would happen. I'm guessing they gave you heparin, belly style, my friend... Bill givempills@aol.com

im going to go walk on my treadmill really slow...i have flip flops on......:frown:

its back....but not as severe.....:frown:

i think the gas is gone.....but I just got out of bed.....lets see if it stays "gone"...lots of rumbling and bloating now..... thanks to all of those who helped.:frown:

Hi there, I was banded in thursday. My shoulder-gas pain was the worst of it and its gone now....(1 day was all it took)..... Its raining like crazy, so i think ill go the mall and walk.....and window shop....I'm not buying anything until all of my fat guy clothes are huge!! Bill:tongue2: