ElfiePoo

Our bodies are pretty efficient pieces of machinery. Drop your calories too far and at some point your body will react by lowering your metabolism because it thinks you're starving and is becoming more efficient at conserving those calories. Obviously we're all different so there will be exceptions but perhaps this is what's happening to you. In the past when I'd do a low calorie diet. I'd do low cal/low fat for 3-4 days and then 2 days of normal (per normal people, not 'my' normal) eating and then back to the low cal/low fat. I'd shed more weight with that method than just a straight low cal/low fat diet. I wouldn't worry about it though. The weight will come off eventually. I've only lost 10 pounds in the 6 weeks since surgery and most of that has been since I started back on solid foods. .

That's my experience...eating far less when I start the day with a shake, not the gassy/bloating thing. Thank goodness because shakes are my preferred method of eating during the day. My husband made the observation that when I'm eating low carb (and that includes the shakes), my gassiness disappears completely. .

You might want to find a quiet moment to sit down with your dad alone and tell him that you love him but your 'attitude' towards food is what got you where you were pre-band..and that has to change. Reinforce that you don't begrudge others what they eat, but that others should not force you to watch them eat when you are in a very vulnerable time. I've been banded for 6 weeks and I've noticed that my son and husband (both could stand to lose 20 pounds) have started eating less at meals. Perhaps you'll eventually 'rub off' on your dad. :scared2:

Yes! Winter snow storm closed down the school district where the aerobics class is held so it was cancelled! I'm getting ready to go over my mil's for tea instead and for that my poor little blistered toes are bowing down in gratitude. The evil laugh (muahahaha) is because this was their last class until after Jan 1. Wonder if I can find those heelies before classes start again in January. :scared2: .

Mizo, Did you eat 3 pieces of KFC chicken at one sitting? If so, that doesn't 'sound' like you have restriction. .

Neener, Quit beating yourself up. Once the swelling goes down and before the fills, it's pretty much as we were before being banded. Do your best. Take one day at a time. I play these little head games with myself. If I *really* want to eat something I know I shouldn't have, I tell myself to 'just get through today' and if I want it tomorrow, I'm going to have it. Well, come 'tomorrow' and I wake up and don't want it. If I want it again that afternoon, I repeat the process. Sometimes I'm successful. Sometimes not but...and here's the biggie...I haven't gained any weight and I've actually lost some weight (10 pounds post surgery). Forget yesterday...don't look to tomorrow. Just deal with today. You can do this! .

I have a Realize band so a low profile port, but it feels like it's just under the skin. That's probably not true though since I saw a pic of one and it looks much bigger than what I'm actually feeling. .

I think Pete had it right...you're mourning the loss of your relationship with food. I felt quite a bit like you about a week before my surgery (11/3). I kept thinking I should try 'just one more time' even though I know from past experience that 'one more time' won't work any better than it did the last time...or the time before that. Then, when I was just about to cancel my surgery, I had a stray thought that "yippee...this means I can have as much as I wanted of the stuffing and potatoes at Thanksgiving!" I realized in that moment that I was in mourning for that food relationship. It's now 5 weeks post op and, while I still don't have restriction, there is no doubt that I'm still eating less because I know that when my willpower caves as it has in the past, my band will be there to help me through and put me right back on track. Keep moving forward. You've made a good decision. Oh and while you're thinking of all the money you're spending on this surgery...think of all the money you'll save on food. Before my band I ate out several times a week to the tune of $300+ per month. So I figure I've saved at least $300 in the last month. .

I agree. Exercise...whether you get it through your daily activities or 'exercising for the sake of exercising' (aka going to the gym) does have benefits. No doubt. My only point was that you can lose weight and maintain that weight loss by reducing calories without exercising as long as your activity level remains constant. Personally, my work and personal life are already too busy and active to spend time in a gym, but I certainly understand why those who have desk jobs or more sedentary lifestyles choose a more formalized type of exercising. I'll even accept that some do it because they actually enjoy it. I make it a point to have a good attitude in whatever I pursue, but I'll tell you...no amount of good attitude or length of involvement has ever made me feel good about or because of exercising. I find it extremely boring and it does nothing but tire me out and make me grumpy and very very hungry.

Hang in there...it will get better. I'm surprised your doc didn't send you home with pain meds. Mine prescribed Lorpan or some such (never took it so I don't remember what the label said), but Liquid tylenol should help also.

I descended into the first circle of hell this morning. My father-in-law died the Wednesday right before Thanksgiving. So, we're trying to do things with my mother-in-law to lessen the loneliness as she adjusts to being single for the first time in 62 years. I went with her to her aerobics class where, as usual, she made everyone else look like slackers. It's sad when an 80 year old woman can put the 20 year old's to shame. She said she really enjoyed my company and hopes I'll come with her on Thursday. Kill me now. :thumbup: . .

Deanna, I'm sorry to hear you also lost a parent (in-laws count ). Even though we know we'll outlive our parents, it's still difficult knowing you can't just pick up the phone or walk across the field to visit them. Thank you, and thank all of the rest of you, for your well wishes. .

ROFL. Thank you for the laugh. Those who believe exercise is not necessary are 'know it alls'...and those who believe exercise is necessary are exempted from this know it all status how? Basic math, Happy. Calories in/calories out. If you eat more than you expend, you gain. If you eat less than you expend, then you lose. It takes approx. 2157 calories to maintain 140 pounds on a 5'7", 25 year old woman of moderate activity. This may vary depending on muscle mass and a few other factors, but I'm trying to keep it simple. To lose one pound per week, that woman would have to decrease her calories by 500 calories daily. Now, she could choose to decrease her calories by only 300 and increase her energy expended by 200 calories, but she could do it simply by decreasing her calories by 500 calories daily. To put it another way...to maintain my original 260 lbs, I need to eat approx. 2718 calories per day. So if my 260 lb body needs 2718 calories just to maintain that weight, common sense says that if I decrease my calories to 1200 calories per day...without changing my activity level...I will lose weight. Simple math. .

My energy has been great since surgery, but that's most likely due to the fact that I've seriously restricted my carbs and when I do have them, I try not to have more than about 30 gm at a meal. Otherwise, within an hour I'm literally falling asleep in my chair and dragging around the warehouse. For the last couple of days I've felt just overall sluggish but I think it's due to the weather getting colder. I think I was a bear in my last life and I just want to hibernate when winter comes. .

Yes, the cleanse I do means just the lemon mixture 5x a day although I can drink as much Water as I want...just plain water, no crystal lite. Some people find it difficult and feel like they're starving. I never get hungry so it's not an issue for me. .

Well I tend to be a take charge kind of person...which is probably why I own my own business ...so I'd call them up and tell them you need to come in for an appointment and a fill given that your next fill is almost a month away and through a very difficult time filled with food everywhere. If they are unresponsive, explain to them that you are unhappy with the way they did the last fill (making you lie down to drink) and that as a result you aren't getting appropriate fills. If they're still unresponsive, I'd seriously do a search in your area for other bariatric centers because you can switch to another doctor who will be more responsive. I still can't get over this idea of trying to drink Water while lying down and assuming that you're overfilled when it comes back up. .

According to my doc, his patients usually have restriction in anywhere from 2-1/2 months to 4 months. They put in 3 cc's at my first fill and follow-up fills are about 2 weeks part if I need them. They'll do 1 cc fills at the followups, assuming I can swallow with no problem. .

Lolly, I try to do a cleanse for 3 days every month. My doc doesn't have a problem with them at all. I haven't done one since my surgery on 11/3 so maybe I'll start one tomorrow. I always feel better after I do. More energy...not so sluggish. .

I do a version of the 'Master Cleanse'. A version because if I try to drink Epsom salts, I'll barf...and that's not good for the band. I mix maple syrup and lemon juice in equal parts and then put 3 Tbs of that mixture into an 8 oz glass of Water. Sometimes it's cold water...sometimes hot. I drink five 8 oz glasses through the day...one about every 3 hours. It tastes a bit like a very diluted lemonade. If you can stand it, a sprinkling of cayenne pepper supposedly helps you burn fat (due to capsaicin) for a longer period of time, but it irritates my throat so I don't bother with it. Boy did it ever clean me out and, surprisingly of all, I wasn't hungry and my blood sugar levels stayed stable...which I think is what the maple syrup does. I felt really good and had amazing energy for the 3 days I went on it. Hmmm...maybe I'll do another one.

The solution is simple. Tell them you can't drink lying down. That you couldn't before the band and you certainly can't now. If they insist...refuse. If I eat or drink anything even in a slight recline, I'm going to have difficulties...and did before the band.

Carrie, How do you do with water and other foods? Is bread the only problem? I had a couple crackers with peanut butter on them for a snack last night and the first one kind of just sat there...and I don't have restriction yet. So perhaps you still 'aren't there' yet and just having difficulty with certain foods. As I understand it, difficulty with bread is fairly common. .

Endorphins...are those like little wings on your feet? I did suggest to her that I'm going to get a pair of those heelies (you know, the tennies with roller skates in the heels) and next time she lapped me I was gonna grab her bra strap and just hang on. .

Sure you can eat like a normal person...but it means changing your habits and lifestyle to those of a normal weight person. The only difference between a normal weight person and us is that they are not taking in more calories than they are expending. So you either have to become more active...or you have to eat less or at least no more than you expend. It's that simple. :thumbup: .

Weight is all about calories in and calories out. Perhaps you're eating more than you really think you are? I'd start journaling every bite you put in your mouth even if it's a stick of gum or a mint. My guess is that when you had difficulty with the eggs it was because you took too big of a bite and/or didn't chew enough since you obviously had no problems with your Thanksgiving meal. I'd go back to the doc and talk to them. Explain you are not too tight. You are still able to eat in excess. I lost 70 lbs without exercise and I've kept it off without exercise so I'm the voice of dissent on 'needing' to exercise to keep your weight off...assuming you aren't eating more calories than you're expending during the day. Want to eat 3000 calories per day? You'll probably have to exercise unless you have a very physical job or lifestyle. It is possible to eat 2000-2200 calories per day (recommended as the daily intake for adult women by some nutritionists) and expend that amount of calories without exercising...assuming you don't sit behind a desk for 8 hours and then go home and watch tv for the next 5 hours. Hang in there. Go talk to your doctor. If they're dictating to you and not listening/working with you, find another place to do your fills where they will listen/work with you. You didn't spend all this money and go through all of this just to give up because you're not getting the support you need and/or not taking advantage of the band. Good luck. :thumbup: .

I have the Realize band and was told that most people don't reach restriction until at least 6 cc's. It sounds likely that you don't yet have restriction so it's not surprising that you're hungry. I've never understood this whole idea of 'you only get to eat 1/2 cup even though, without restriction, you're going to be hungry' but you still have to do it and for . For those who can do it...more power to them...but I already told my doc that until I get to restriction, all bets are off. I'll try as hard as I can to stick to 1 cup but the idea is to get me to restriction before the will power caves. Hey, if I could do this without the band, I wouldn't have spent the money and gone through surgery. .