finallyncontrol

I personally broke the habit by not taking a drink to the table with me but another thing that I have read is put a glass of ice in front of you...when the ice melts then you can have a drink...it will be 30-45 minutes by then.

I use www.recipezaar.com and type in high protein, low carb as my requirements...we started playing a "game" as to voting the meals as to if we would have them again. I found alot on this website. It gives you the complete breakdown of the recipe as to carbs, fats, calories and so forth. I had my NUT check out many of the recipes and she was very fine with the them.

You have the right attitude. To me this is not a diet and from day 1 I didn't treat it that way. This is a lifestyle change. I have been very successful! I wish you the best!!

Congrats! I have also checked out your youtube video's, they are awesome!!!!

you look wonderful!!! way to go!!!

First off do not get down. Everyone has thier ups and downs! How agressive was your fill? When are you scheduled for your next one? What was your diet after the fill? My dr requires 2 days clear liquids, 2 days protein shakes, 2 days mushies and then solids after each fill. So I was thinking maybe it was too soon? I guess my final question would be...how much are you able to eat and how soon do you get hungry after eating?

Good Choice!!! I had one overfill!! Same feelings as you experienced..wasn't good!!! The only thing I did differently was give it a couple of days on liquids trying to wait it out..big mistake!!

Juicy don't beat yourself up too bad!! I think your surgeon was upset because you were suppose to be "healing" during this time. As you said you were "cheating" but not with bad foods. The first month is very hard on everyone and it is very hard on the brain to remember that your body needs the time to heal when it is telling you to feed me. You are doing great!! Keep smiling!!!

Things will get better!! :-) This what I did. I knew that this was not a diet this was a change in life. I was only going to cook one meal for everyone to eat. There would be things that I would only be able to have one or two bites of (like mac n cheese) but my family would eat the rest of. I started cooking more healthy meals (unbelievable everyone loved-even the two year old). Your tastes buds will start to change especially after you have your first fill. Also, I have used pinapple juice when I have felt stuck. I buy the small cans of it just in case. I wish you the best. Keep your chin up, it will get better!! Some days are not the best but then there are fantastic ones that make you forget all about them!!

I know this will sound funny but do as much as you can but don't forget to rest!!! So glad all is going well for you! Drink plenty of fluids!!

That is too bad that the the support group didn't have much to offer. Yes, I love this sight but I enjoy my monthly face to face group as well. We have food tastings, field trips to gyms and cooking schools, recipes of the month, everyone contributes, a nurse runs it (previously it was a NUT who ran it), there are a mixture of banders and soon to be banders...just very well ran. Sorry you don't have the same experience.

A couple of things you can do..change up your diet...if you are eating 1000 calories a day consistantly right now...eat 800 today 1200 tomorrow 1000 the next 800, 1200, 1000... Sometimes when you are eating exactly the same thing all the time it can go into a maintenance mode. You can also do a 5 day pouch test Surgical Weight Loss 5 Day Pouch Test I would probably do the pouch test if I was you. It is more like restarting the process and it should give you a boost in starting to lose weight again.

I know what you mean..I actually crave shakes..I love them. You have your co-workers..I have my mom that I love so much!!! We all live together (they have an MIL- suite) that is attached to our house so she does her heavy baking in the house and we eat dinner together every night. We switch out who cooks a few nights a week....she bakes at least 2 if not 3 cakes a week claiming my dad has to have his sweet tooth filled. She even left one on the stove the other night to cool down so I could frost it!!!! Just what I need! My parents are addicted to pizza and pasta (and sweets)!!! So yes I have my live in "testers" that love me so much but don't need to lose weight. So I feel your pain!!! Glad to hear all is going well...one week to the big day!!!! Yippee!!

Soon you will start feeling the restrictions..it is hard when you are "waiting" but then bam it hits. Mine it fast and then it was too much. I have a 10cc band..I hit 6.25 on my 3rd fill..I am at 5.5 now. I have learned patience. It has been since Nov 09 so I no longer feel out of place when I go out and don't drink what everyone else has but it is hard to convince the waitress that I don't want anything to drink..so I try to stahl and say I havn't made up my mind yet, which they usually will bring me water. It is better to have nothing in front of me when I am eating..no temptation. You are doing great..just hang in there it will all come to together for you.

Remember everything happens for a reason. Don't take this a set back. Just think in 2 months when you go in how much more prepared you will be to start your banded life. I wish you the best! Take care.

Meg you are doing wonderful!!!!! Keep up all of the positive thoughts and all the good work! Lots of hugs going your way!!!

This really makes me sad that your doctor doesn't seem to want to help you. I was self pay and my doctor is so hard on me and "demands" me to abuse him for the first year. I have to see him every month regardless if I need a fill or just to talk to him..he wants to see me. You would think since he can't bill my insurance he wouldn't even want to see me. I guess the only thing I can suggest or tell you what I have done...I have currently 5.25 ccs in a 10cc band (I had a total of 4 fills but we had to unfill when I hit 6ccs..it was too tight). When I was first banded 11/23/9 I followed the "diet" to a tee for the first month..then I told my doctor that this is not a diet this is a lifestyle change. I eat normal foods (I make the same meal for my entire family for dinner). I just eat much smaller portions, I eat the protien first and then nibble on what ever else might be served. I never drink a 1/2 prior or after any meal. I am not a breakfast person so I normal do drink a shake for breakfast. My snacks include Chobani Greek yogurt or SF pudding. I have lost 75 lbs to date and going strong. I walk for my excerise. I love my band!! Stay positive. I truly hope this new doctor is more helpful to you! I wish you the best!!

Another thing you might want to try is the 5 day pouch test. Here is the website. Surgical Weight Loss 5 Day Pouch Test I am not saying that you have stretched your pouch or anything but this can help people kick start thier wieght loss or if they think they have stretched thier band it can help them bring it back to where it should be. It is just a thought. Each time I get a fill my doctor makes me follow this "diet" although he doesn't call it the 5 day pouch test.

I would do the unfill...you should be able to eat at this point. A little bit will make a huge difference!!!

I am also self pay..I chose to not tell anyone. This my journey. I was banded on 11/23/9. I have lost 72 lbs so far and have 54 lbs to go. This has been the best thing I have ever done!! My best advice for you..save all of your medical reciepts, make sure the hospital attempts to get pre-admittance approval (even if it is denied) and then submit all of your reciepts to your insurance company for reimbursement. Even though they may have denied you now, they might reimburse your for portions of it. Also, whatever they do not pay you may be able to claim it on your taxes at the end of the year..this and all of your other medical expenses for the year.

great post Meg!!

Another thing you can do is fill your glass with ice (ice only) as it melts that is what you can drink. It is one way to break the habit. Once the ice melts you have an ice cold glass of water to drink about 45 minutes later..you do get sips as it is melting. I know it isn't easy, I used to have 3-4 glasses per meal..now I don't drink before and it is at least an hour afterwards before I even think about. If you drink with the meal it can cause the meal to become a slider which could result in you being hungry sooner...that is the reasoning.

nice website!! Thanks for the posting!!!