badmadmama

My doctor said the same thing - he was surprised that I hadn't been back for a fill sooner, because I had lost 8 inches in my waist (now ten!!!) He said that if your belt needs to be taken in, so does your band. Eileen

Add me, please. 11AM is perfect! I have to escape the aftermath of my 15-year-old's slumber party.... Thanks, Eileen

My doctor said the same thing - he was surprised that I hadn't been back for a fill sooner, because I had lost 8 inches in my waist (now ten!!!) Eileen

Azgunslinger, the Zoloft might not necessarily be working for your wife. I've been on antidepressants for years, and they DO make a huge difference, when you get the right combination. She should go back and have them try something else. It takes more than a few visits. Having said that, it is very difficult to motivate a spouse. My husband has been on disability from brain cancer for two years (he's been in remission that long). He doesn't want to see a psychologist or take antidepressants, but I see that he has made his world very small, much like your wife. Since I have lost weight and become more energetic, I notice it even more how lethargic he is. Can you find something to do together on a regular basis that doesn't involve eating? Is there some activity that you could do with the kids, like bowling? I think that if you make some small changes (baby steps), she might be receptive to more. Good luck....

Here I am again, more talking to myself. I really miss BREAD right now. I would love to have some pasta, but with this tight restriction, I am really afraid to. My skinny daughter made a pan of brownies, and of course, at a certain point I realized that it was more "mechanical eating" than really craving the brownies or being hungry. I just feel like I am craving carbs right now - anyone else? Eileen

Thanksgiving. I've been talked into COOKING this year, can you believe it? I figure that it will have to be like eating at a buffet. Don't eat any of the appetizer stuff, and when you put the food on your plate, make sure you can see plate all around each bit of food - no touching! I might not even have turkey at the meal, so I can taste everything else - I figure that there will be a lot of leftovers. ... Eileen

I had my second fill right before Halloween, and I'm stuck. Haven't lost a single additional pound. I have a LOT more restriction - it seems that I can eat hardly anything at all, so I feel like I'm not getting enough to eat, and then I feel justified to have some JUNK. Got to get out of this cycle! Yesterday I had two bites of chicken at lunch, a couple of green Beans and a spoonful of mashed potatoes - it all came right back up on me. I was losing weight faster when I had no resriction - help!!! Eileen 155/186/234

Brandy, get off the scale! You are probably losing inches. Muscle weighs more than fat. I also had a few weeks where I didn't lose a pound, and then it started again. And of course you can have a hug!!!! Eileen

With my second fill, it seems to vary from meal to meal. The day after my fill, I had some meatloaf and some veggies. Two days later, when I tried to eat a skillet dish with eggs, I literally took one bite, and couldn't eat any more. I find that fish goes down the easiest. I am hardly eating anything - yogurt and a half of a banana in the morning, a few tiny bites of protein and some veggies at lunch, maybe a piece of fruit an hour later, and a few more tiny bites of protein at dinner, followed by a diet fudgsicle (which I am NOT giving up). I am losing weight, but I am eating SO much less than I used to eat, I don't know how I couldn't. Eileen 5'10" banded 8/10/06 243/188/155

Well, the apple peel seems to have gone. Yesterday, I went to the health food store and bought fresh papaya and pineapple, and a "ginger tonic", which were all supposed to aid digestion. I ate those, yogurt and lots of water yesterday. I was actually two pounds lighter than Thursday when I got on the scale, but it's probably water weight. Anyway, when I ate a pear today, I did NOT eat the peel!!! Eileen

When I went to see my surgeon a month after my first fill (which was a month after my surgery), he said that he expected to see me a lot sooner. When I asked why, he said, "Do you need a smaller belt?" Then he explained that if my stoach was shrinking, the band had to be getting bigger. Since I have lost 50 pounds and 8 inches in my waist, he had expected a LOT more fills. So I felt a lot better about going for my second fill! Eileen 243/186/155 Have to put on a bathing suit in two months!

So yesterday, I felt that I was filled perfectly, maybe a little loose. THEN, I tried to eat dinner, and realized that part of the 1/2 apple (the skin?) was still stuck from lunch. I gagged, slimed for ages, drank water, went to sleep, got up, and it feels like it's still there! Have had nothing but yogurt, popsicles and water today - how long is this thing going to SIT there, and what else can I do to get rid of it? I even tried drinking some Diet Pepsi to see if the carbonation would dislodge it - funny how BAD that tastes when you haven't had it for three months, and I used to be addicted! Anyway, how to I get rid of this stinking apple peel? It was nice to lose two pounds, but that's not the way that I want to do it!!!! Eileen /Chicago

I found one thing that helps a lot - I was banded in August, but have still had a huge gas problem, no matter what I eat. It's called "Digestive Advantage", and the box says its for "daily dietary management of gas prevention." It's made by Ganeden, and they sell it at Walgreens. It's not a drug. The ingredients are inulin, cellulase, hemicellulase, invertase, Ganeden Lactrobacillis cultures, stearic acid, carrageenan, citric acid, magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide and sucralose. I take two every morning, and it's the only thing that stops my terrible gas. Not cheap, but worth it!!!!

No kidding, I just got my second one, as well! I thought that I was jumping the gun, but the doctor told me that he expected me in a lot sooner. I feel restriction, but not too much ...now I'm wondering if I should go back next week (it's free if it's within a week) and ask for more... Eileen / Chicago banded 8/10, down to 191 from 243

Hi, I was banded by Dr. Myers on 8/10/06 and have lost 50 pounds. I lost about 20 BEFORE the surgery with all the fasting. I have had one fill, and can eat just about anything I want, but in small portions. I have 30-40 pounds to go.... Eileen in Oak Park

I have been working my upper body like a demon. I have to shamefully admit that I don't like getting sweaty, and I get bored with cardio very quickly, but I have no problems exercising my arms with weights for 20 minutes or so at a time. I don't want batwings! I am also doing crunches, and am going to start working on my flabby tush. I do a lot of walking, so I have never gained weight in my legs. Eileen Banded 8/10/06 Down to 195 from 243, 30-40 pounds to go

You're right - I have had a TERRIBLE problem with gas since the surgery, with huge loud farts. And constipation, too! Gas X was doing nothing for me. I finally found "Digestive Advantage Gas Prevention Therapy", which is a non-drug pill (or two) that you take once a day. That has made it a lot better. I want to eat more fiber, for the constipation, but I am afraid of getting more gas. I love salads, too....

Well, at least it doesn't have a big pouffy skirt and ruffles. June is a LONG time away, about nine months. I bet that you will be in great shape by June. http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/3;10732;125;0;1/c/195/t/155/s/243/k/cded/weight.png

I had a setback this week. I'm down almost 40 pounds, but I got a craving for granola. My husband bought TWO boxes. I ended up eating half of the first box on Saturday, threw it away in disgust, and then ate half the SECOND box on Sunday, and threw THAT away. No more granola, it's like crack for me. The only silver lining is that maybe it will help my constipation problem? Anyway, it's Monday, and I'm back on track....

Thank you! Now, I have more questions. Does everyone just post on this thread, or on all the threads? I have a really hard time keeping track of everyone, am I the only one?

At one point, someone posted a list of all the August band members. Is it possible to take a poll on how everyone is doing? I'd like to know who has had fills, who hasn't, what's the average weight loss, etc.. Sometimes I feel that I'm not losing quickly enough, and it would be reassuring to know that I was "average", if not "normal"!

At one point, someone posted a list of all the August band members. Is it possible to take a poll on how everyone is doing? I'd like to know who has had fills, who hasn't, what's the average weight loss, etc.. Sometimes I feel that I'm not losing quickly enough, and it would be reassuring to know that I was "average", if not "normal"!

It was explained to me on Thursday that drinking with meals can have two different effects - it can wash the food through the pouch, OR, it can push the food so it plugs the pouch. I was still hungry today after I ate breakfast, and I unthinkingly ate a few nuts while I was drinking - all of a sudden I had a huge pain in my chest, and it was VERY uncomfortable. Not doing that again!