pixistix

I, too, was very scared about having surgery. I waited until I had osteoarthritis in my hips and back, but I wish I'd had it 10-15 years earlier. Even with no co-morbidities though, you have to figure that if insurance companies are willing to pay for it then being "just overweight" is more risky than this surgery. What I have experienced since being banded is that not only do I have physical restriction on how much I can eat at one time, but I'm also just less interested in food. There are actual hormonal changes that happen (according to my doc), so the terrible obsession just isn't there like it used to be. I am careful to eat a healthy snack between meals so hunger doesn't impair my judgment. And exercise helps my mood and motivation, so I go to the gym. I still have the occasional craving, and it's possible to sabotage yourself with high calorie "sliders," but with a little bit of effort on my part, I am having great success. The weight loss can be slow (especially at first), but that's actually for the best, both physically and emotionally. It allows you to adjust to the change slowly over time. And it's worth noting, as far as life being "normal," that you can opt for less than very tight restriction. My band is loose enough that I can gulp down a glass of Water, no problem. I have never gotten "stuck." And the only food that really causes a problem is bread (or bread like texture). I can only eat a little bit of bread (less than one slice). But that is fine with me. I'm sure my weight loss would be faster with more restriction, but I am happy with what I have. Good luck to you!

I've never had a PB yet either. Chew thoroughly, wait between bites to see how you feel. You'll know when it's time to stop. (This is much more applicable after you've had a fill or two.) They say "Eat until you're no longer hungry, instead of eating until you're full." This is a radically new concept for me, and it definitely takes some getting used to. I have experienced the discomfort of eating that "one bite too many." It's unpleasant, but it's not the end of the world. Even in a full fledged PB, as I understand it, it's not like the flu where you're nauseated and vomit. It's more like a baby spitting up. Not pleasant, but not something to be feared. Hang in there -- it will be okay!

I noticed you said tuna gets stuck. I was wondering if you eat it dry.... I eat tuna packed in olive oil (drained) and then mixed with low fat mayo. This is so "wet" that I haven't had trouble with it getting stuck. Another thing I have at lunch is ranch dip mix made with plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. It's super delicious, and I enjoy cherry tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, fresh spinach and sliced turkey dipped in it. (Some people do have a problem with broccoli florets, so be careful.) Also: hummus with veggies and one or two whole week crackers. Or a garden burger patty with sliced tomato and avocado. Bread is a big issue for me, so I don't even bother with a bun. Good luck to you and happy lunching!

I'd be really interested in seeing your sample diet. Would you be willing to post / e-mail it? Thx.

Every doctor's instructions are different. My doc told me just to "take it easy" for 12 hours after a fill. In my experience, however, I need to be careful for a few days until I get a sense of how much restriction I have. Chew very well, wait between bites, etc.

I think as you get better restriction, things will change for you. It makes a lot of difference. Don't give up -- be persistent about getting your fills. In a way, your lap band journey hasn't even really begun yet until you have proper restriction. As far as feeling motivated goes, more exercise may give you a boost of energy and improved mood. I've been doing weight training at the gym and the physical changes I can see with my own eyes really make me feel good. That can be very motivating. Hang in there!

I lost almost nothing before I had restriction -- just gained and lost the same 5 lbs over and over. It took a while to get proper restriction, but when I did there was NO QUESTION about it. The difference is like night and day. In my opinion, until you have restriction, you don't have a band. Until it's got enough saline in it, it just isn't working. Until then, eat as healthy as possible, exercise, and take it easy on yourself. Things will change. It's frustrating to wait, but it's actually good in a way. This is a drastic life change, and it's been helpful for me to get used to it slowly over time. All the best to you!

I'm guessing you may not have reached good restriction yet. When I get hungry, my judgment becomes impaired. I prevent this by having good food on hand and eating regularly scheduled Snacks (a handful of almonds, a cheese stick, some yogurt, a Protein bar or shake) -- it makes all the difference in the world. 7am Breakfast 10am Snack 12 lunch 4pm Snack 6pm dinner 9pm Snack (if wanted) And LOTS of Water in between (half an hour after eating). Until I had good restriction, I didn't beat myself up about eating "too much" as long as it was nutritious, sufficient protein, etc. If you feel you DO have good restriction, then it may be more complex than just food. This gets into an area that may best be addressed with a support group, therapy, journaling, etc. I know for me, it is a long slow process, getting used to this new way of life. Sometimes it's uncomfortable. Food has been my best friend and comfort for a long, long time. It takes a while to change that mindset. But I think if I keep at it and do all the positive stuff, the changes will come. Good luck to you!

When I found myself weighing myself multiple times a day, I said ENOUGH! Now I weigh myself once a week, on Saturday mornings. Obsession and self-centeredness was part of the problem that got me into such a mess that I had to have this surgery. I'm not going to switch obsessions to the scale now. If I have to be obsessed with something, it can be nutrition and exercise! *wink*

It's my understanding that while the Fluid does not evaporate or anything, as we lose weight, our bodies change. There can be less tissue pressing against the stomach, etc. So what was once perfect restriction can change over time and we may need a little more fill later on in the process. Also, according to a book I perused, it's possible for a small amount of air to leak out of the band through the port, creating a slightly different feel. Bandsters can be very sensitive to extremely small changes. I've heard people describe how .1 CC can make all the difference -- one tenth of a CC. That's a tiny amount. So to me, the moral of the story is never give up. The "miracle" of proper restriction is always possible. It can take some finessing, but it's WORTH IT!!!

Don't give up. Keep getting fills until you have restriction. Some docs are conservative, but since you live so far away that may be a good thing. Hang in there. Achieving true restriction is worth all the time and hassle. Good luck to you.

I was in the exact same position for my first three months. It was a miserable, depressing time. I felt like a failure, like this was just one more thing I was going to f&%! up. But wait! Let me tell you about good restriction, also known as WHEN YOUR BAND ACTUALLY STARTS WORKING! Everybody's experience is different, but this is what happened to me. I've had 7 CCs (in a 10 CC band) for the last six weeks and it's like I've been reborn. It's like the difference between night and day! Not only can I not eat very much, but I don't particularly WANT TO! That's the weird part. I used to crave junk and fast food -- to the point of obsession and complusion. Now, I'm just sort of losing interest. I keep healthy stuff on hand and it's just not worth going out of my way to drive to McPoison's. And I'm loving the gym. You should see me doing pull ups (okay, they're counter-weighted pull ups, but so what! I'm strong!!). I told my doc I was losing interest in food and he said, "Yeah, I hear that all the time." So we're not just talking about physical restriction (which there is plenty of and it's great), but I think there may be some kind of chemical changes going on. I don't claim to understand it, but it's WONDERFUL. So my advice to you is, follow all the previous posters' advice, take it easy on yourself, and hang in there. It can take a while to get your restriction just right for you, but don't give up. The miracle is coming!

I haven't PB'd yet, but I have been in pain from too big a bite, one bite too many, etc. I try to sip a little Water and wait for it to go down. Or if it's really bad (one time, I could no longer swallow my own saliva -- yuck), drinking a little very warm water helped. From what I hear, when the band is very tight, drinking on top of being stuck or overfull will make you throw up. But I guess mine isn't that tight yet. My best advice (and what I'm getting pretty good at) is about halfway through a meal, I start to wait a couple of minutes between bites. Then I can really feel when it's time to stop. Good luck and happy chewing!

It can take several fills to reach good restriction. For me, it took 7 CCs in a 10 CC band. Everybody is different. On the other hand, sometimes you might feel nothing right after a fill, then have some swelling a day or two later. So be careful and chew very thoroughly. (I found this out the hard way -- yuck.) Until you have restriction, just focus on good nutrition and exercise, and don't worry about the scale. That part will come when your band is actually working. Hang in there -- it's worth all the patience and effort.

I felt just about no restriction at 5.5 CCs. Couldn't stay away from fast food, etc. It was a nightmare. Now, at 7 CCs (in a 10 CC band), it's like the difference between night and day. In my opinion, if you don't have good restriction, you don't have a band. Have you had more saline in your band previously and had it removed? I agree with the previous poster's suggestion about getting fills in small increments, if you're concerned about other problems. Good luck and don't give up!

As I have reached good restriction, I have found that partway into a meal I need to start waiting a couple of minutes between bites, to see if I'm done or not yet. If I eat too fast, I could go past the point of no return before realizing it and end up in a lot of pain. Especially if there's bread or something that may cause a problem.... My people say 5 minutes between bites, too, but I've found that at this point, that's not necessary.

You're not alone. This eating/weight thing is complicated. I know I have at times felt very "protected" by my excess weight. The more I lose, I know this is going to come up more and more. Here are some things that help me: 1. Take a walk. Even if it's just around the block, a little fresh air and movement helps me get out of fear and panic mode. If you're able, more exercise is even better. 2. Warm bath. Helps to relax. 3. Write down feelings. In a journal, on a piece of paper, or right here on this forum, if you want. Write down what happened, how you felt, what you want to do (something destructive like overeat?) and what you're going to do instead (new, positive behavior). 4. Talk to a friend. Let them know: I just need to vent for 5 minutes. 5. Therapy. This can be extremely helpful, especially if weight was related to larger issues. Many therapists will adjust their fee on a sliding scale, based on ability to pay. 6. Prayer / meditation. You don't have to be religious, just ask the universe for help. Most importantly, know that we're all in this with you. At one time or another, most people on this forum probably go through the same thing. But I am willing to walk through whatever it takes to be thinner and healthier. I've been carrying this weight long enough. I'm letting it go now and will deal with the feelings as they come. I just try to remember that they can't kill me and the only way out of them is to walk through to the other side. Feel free to pm me any time if you want to chat. Pixistix

I had bad nausea for a week, starting about 4 days after surgery. Has your nausea and pain gone away yet? If not, definitely call your doc. Be sure to mention the sharp ab pain. Can you keep water down?

One thing that's really helpful to me is to make sure and eat a healthy snack mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Even if I didn't want it, I have a little yogurt -- something. Because if I allow myself to get too hungry, my judgment becomes impaired and all I want is JUNK! Until you have restriction, just try to focus on nutrition and exercise, and don't stress out about the dang scale. Good luck!

Congrats! It is a wonderful feeling to finally reach proper restriction, isn't it? I went through 3 months of misery, depression, feeling like a failure, gaining and losing the same three pounds over and over. Now... my band is actually working! Woo hoo! It's different for everybody -- I have 7 CCs in a 10CC band. Hang in there hellions -- your day is coming too!

You have my complete sympathy. Strangely, I was okay for a couple of days after surgery, then sick as a dog for a week. Drank nothing but apple juice. It seemed to be just a purely mechanical problem: there's a damn band around the stomach, which swells up and you feel sick. As soon as the swelling goes down, you're fine. As long as you can keep Water down (mostly), you're okay. Just try to rest as much as possible. The good news is: it will be over soon. I'm four months in and just got proper restriction. Now I'm feeling absolutely great and couldn't be happier with my band. Hang in there. It will get SO MUCH BETTER!

Congrats. Here's to living life.

It was three months before I finally had 7 CCs in my band, which gave me good restriction. Until then, it was a terribly depressing time. But keep hope! It's so much better now. And, strangely, this time does help you get used to eating less, even though it still feels like too much. Now I make myself 1/2 a sandwich and can't finish it. Yikes! Hang in there -- restriction is coming!

I'm down another 2.5 this week. I weigh myself on Saturdays only (otherwise I would drive myself insane). I likely won't make my original goal of 20 lbs in this challenge, but I'm so happy with my restriction and steady loss right now that I don't care. It took 3 months before my band was really working, so now that it is, I am thrilled. My goal for this week: more time in the gym! Thanks all for the support and info. You are the best.

YES! I am definitely losing interest in food. It's weird. But I figure it's time to enjoy some OTHER things in life now. If I squirrel away a tenth of the money I used to waste on fast food binges, I can splurge on a massage once in a while. And I am really enjoying going to the gym lately. I know, I sound like a total douche, but it's true. This could be a thread all its own: OTHER things to enjoy in life, other than food.