happy2lose

Good point! I get measured again at the gym in 2 weeks. Hopefully I will see some results. Funny when I read threads like this the answers come so easy but when I myself get frustrated its hard to see clearly if you know what I mean. Thank you! Donna

Cathy, Thank you for your response. I have a great deal of respect for your input. The chicken I am eating is breaded and fried and the sauces are not low fat. I thought I was doing enough to work off the extra calories from the breading and frying though. I guess I'm gonna have to try something different for lunch. I have a really hard time eating meat and other means of Protein don't seem to satisfy me for more then an hour or so (such as cottage cheese or protein drink). I'm pretty restricted now but thinking I may get a small fill to help get me through the time span between lunch and dinner. I am happy with my weight loss when looking at the entire 75 pounds but I'm frustrated with the last couple of months and how slowly I am losing. The average over the past 4 1/2 months has only been 1 pound per week and I see people who don't exercise lose this with very little effort. Thank you for your help. Have a great day!

I do realize what you are saying and it actually sounds like advice I would give. I think my frustration derives because I have really been working out hard and see very little and sometimes no results for how hard I am working. I realize I am on track with the 1-2 pounds loss but most of this weight loss came in the first 2 months.

I will starting weighing just once a week because I totally agree with what you are saying. Thank you so much. Donna

No, it isn't any worse. It's about equally as torturous. Hang in there though cause it does get easier once you reach good restriction. Until this happens it takes quite a lot of will power. Donna

Yes, I have noticed this. I try not to add salt to my food because it makes my feet and ankles swell, but food just seems so bland lately.

Thank you, I appreciate what you have said. I'm frustrated because I'll lose 2 or 3 pounds and a few days later I am up 4 or 5 pounds and I just don't understand why this is happening when I'm working so hard. I was hoping some of the more experienced bandsters would be able to shed some light on possibly why this is happening.

Help! Somebody has to have some advice.

I'm impressed that you were able to lose 2 pounds while on a cruise. I love margaritas and I do indulge from time to time. However, it seems all I have to do is look at a margarita and I gain weight. Please Cathy, tell me your secret:drool:

I suggest that you make some small changes in your routines to help you with quitting smoking. Both my parents were chain smokers and smoked during the same routines for their entire adult lives. Here is what I recommend. 1. Instead of your morning cigarette with your morning beverage, get dressed and go for a walk. 2. Anytime you feel the need for the oral stimulation, get up and do something else such as jumping jacks or jogging in place. 3. When you talk on the phone, watch TV or generally light up, get up and find 5 other things you can do around the house. 4. After dinner, don't sit at the dinner table too long. Eat your food and immediately find something else to do to occupy your mind. I always suggest taking a walk. Smoking is your first battle and likely eating will be your second battle. You must change your routines and your focus to be successful at either battle. I sincerely hope you can whoop this, Donna

It sure sounds like you have good restriction. It is VERY hard to modify lifetime behaviors such as eating too fast and taking big bites but you know this is what you have to do. I'm sure this is why it sometimes hurts when you swallow your food. Slow down, set your fork down between bites and take smaller bites and see if things improve. Donna

Congratulations! Donna

Hang in there! This is just a speed bump in the road. Don't let these difficulties derail you from losing weight. You may just need to practice much more self control during this time until your doctor gets this figured out. Best of luck to you and know that people care. Donna

I found that sticking to the post-op diet was much easier for me then sticking to it pre-op. Why???? Because after the surgery I was committed to the band rules. Consider whether or not having the band will then make you have to (in your own mind) stick to it. If you think you can then do it. The band helped me mentally every bit as much as physically to stick to the required diet. It may help you too, especially if you yourself have to pay for the surgery. Best of luck to you, Donna

My doctor does my fills while I stand in front of the xray machine. I also have to drink barium while he fills me. First he gives me a shot for pain near my port then he sticks the fill needle in. I've never experienced pain. I'm sorry it was so painful for you. Hopefully it will be easier next time.

I am very happy to hear this and hope I have as good of results.

No pain at all either time I was filled. Didn't they numb you first?

This is crazy! My insurance didn't require comorbidities with a BMI over 45. They just flat out refused to do lap band. I went to a great surgeon in Mexico and self-paid $7,000 which included the hotel stay, pre-op testing and lifetime fills. I believe due to the poor economy that my surgeon has since dropped his price. Best of luck to you and don't give up! Donna

Make sure you get all your water in (64oz). Otherwise, your stomach can swell and make it more difficult to eat. The thing I struggle with the most is eating too fast. If I slow down and take my time chewing I can get through a meal without a stuck episode. Slider foods are those that have little or no nutritional value but are easy to eat such as chips, cookies, popcorn, lettuce, etc. I will tell you that I cannot eat eggs no matter how they are cooked and I cannot eat any kind of bread without getting stuck. But like I said, everyone is different. I've actually found that a small sip of water when stuck will make me pb sooner and rid myself of the discomfort of being stuck sooner. It does seem to be impossible to wash something down when stuck. Everyone is different and needs to find what works for them. To get a ticker you can go to Graphical Tickers and Trackers: Weight Loss, Trying To Conceive, Pregnancy... and follow the instructions. Best of luck to you on your WL journey. Donna

I have absolutely no clue as to the answers to your questions. It is impossible to predict. Good luck though!

Perhaps you can talk to your parents and explain just how important this surgery is to you and ask your dad to back out of his race. My kids are ALWAYS my first priority.

I too encountered unsupportive people but my husband did finally come around after I scheduled my surgery. I realized after encountering unsupportive family that I was better off not telling them beforehand because I did not want to hear their negative opinions when they had not researched the band and had no clue what they were talking about. After it was all said and done I did tell all my relatives and got nothing but support from them. I feel it is best for your spouse to attend the consult appointment with you. After talking with my surgeon, my husband felt much better about my decision and gave me all his support. I hope everything turns out great for you. Donna

I have the older generation 10cc Allergen band that holds 4cc saline. At first I was concerned that it may not work as well as the new generation bands but so far so good for me. I am at 2.28cc and have quite a bit of restriction. My last fill was in early July and I am still losing steadily. My fills are done under fluoroscopy. This means I swallow barium while the doctor views me on xray. During this time the doctor can tell if my band is still placed properly and that my pouch looks okay as well as watch the Fluid pass through the band while I drink. You may want to find a fill doctor who does it this way for your own peace of mind. I wouldn't feel very confident if my doctor was unsure if the fill hit the port. I would be looking for somebody who had answers. To answer your question though, no the saline will not hurt you.

Hi Dana and congratulations! I'm sure you will have great success with your band. Donna