LapNYC

Have you been banded yet? I'd say that I was somewhat of an emotional eater. I had a bad day? Then I deserve a steak and fries. A good day? Well then, let's celebrate! Since I've been banded (and got out of bandster hell) it really hasn't been an issue. Maybe I'll order fish from the expensive place or get the cream of tomato Soup that I usually avoid because of the calorie count, but that's about as much reveling/celebrating as I can do with this (very moderate) level of restriction. I was always a big meal person though. Never a snacker. If you do your emotional eater throughout the day I'd think it might be a little harder. It also depends on what your vices are. Ice cream is pretty low on my list which is lucky, but there's still a degree of willpower at play when I feel emotional about something. No getting around it. But it's way better. Good luck! I think you'll see a world of difference.

I agree that a fill can only hurt you at this point. I can eat everything including bread and get hungry sometimes and I don't even think that I need a fill. Sounds like it would definitely be too much of a good thing. When you find yourself thinking about food and getting hungry between meals, then I'd go-a-knocking.

This is so ridiculous. I thought the original post was obnoxious. What can I say? I didn't crucify the guy. I just said that I thought his tone was inappropriate and that he needed to open his mind a little if he ever wants to lose a pound. I actually thought I was doing the guy a favor. I'll also do this responder a favor and tell him/her that "a lot" is two words....

Congratulations! Sounds like there's some good regular store shopping for size 12s in your near future. Amazing! I always have to ask...what do you eat? What do you do for exercise? What's been working for you? Here's kissing weights beginning with the number "2" goodbye forever!

They call it bandster hell for a reason! Hang in there until your fill. You don't want to undo all your hard work, but you don't want to go crazy either. Like others have said, start with the Protein and after that, just do the best that you can do. A fill or two will change your life, but even with good restriction I can eat french fries--my greatest weakness--no problem. So willpower will always come into play. Good luck to you. I think this is going to work out for you. Embrace the guilt and let it drive you to the fish aisle!

You actually do lose a lot of weight in the beginning on liquids and mushies, but obviously that lifestyle isn't sustainable (or fun). It's the fills that take care of a good portion of the hunger and the consumption of slow-moving solid food that takes care of the rest. It's not counter intuitive really. Liquids--even including protein drinks--aren't that satiating and are pretty high calorie. Good luck to you!

Can you move your fill up a week? Sounds like you need one! In the interim, maybe cut the carbs some more? I was in a serious plateau and started the scale moving again by having a protein shake for breakfast and chicken or fish for dinner with some, but really minimal, fruits and vegetables. Not a good lifetime plan but it really worked to get me over the hump. Best of luck!

I gave myself shots of Lovenox throughout my pregnancies and it was no big deal. No side effects outside of the bruising and the needles are small.

I was banded about a week after you and that sure sounds sweet spottish to me! I do feel some hunger and have the feeling that I'm a small fill away (I'm at 5.5/10). Congratulations on your progress! What did your doctor say about coming in next. Did you make an appointment or are you just supposed to call when you're feeling hungry again? Isn't is great going into the summer NOT being fatter than ever?

I honestly don't think people are attacking you or your inability to adhere to your surgeon's guidelines. If you had written asking for help, or had included the teeny tiniest bit of humility or self-awareness in any of your posts, the support would have come flooding in. Clearly you have issues communicating and if I were you I'd just give it up already. You lost me with the "sheep" comment in your first post and have been digging the hole deeper with every post. Going forward, probably best not to patronize the people you're asking for help. Not that you were asking for help actually. What were you asking really? I'd be happy to answer any real questions.

I've only had two fills but feel that I have a good degree of restriction. I can eat absolutely everything, but only with care. I've never PB'd or slimed (knock on wood) and can easily fake my way thought dinner out, including drinking wine with my meal. On the flip side, I do feel hungry between meals and NEVER forget to eat. French fries across the table still call my name and I do struggle sometimes. So...I guess I'd call my band "loose", but tight enough for decent restriction. How do you prefer yours? What works for you?

I'm 15 pounds away too so I appreciate what a great feeling it must be. BIG congratulations to you! You'll never see a "2" as that first digit ever again!

Poor you! I agree that you're probably "done" though. All of these things are temporary and now you're due for a run of good luck!

But see...I wasn't judging him for his questions. We've all had most of the same questions. They're not original at all, but they're not offensive either. I've been very good about following my doctor's advice since my surgery BUT I ate a bagel during my pre-op liquid diet. So who the hell am I to judge? It was the tone that bothered me. A lot of people here have gone through a lot to make the most of their bands and I think that they deserve a little respect from Mister disappearing fake rebel 'mixed messages much' guy!

I actually find your post to be totally offensive. I'm usually happy to help people who are struggling if I can, and would never judge, but you just sound like a humorless ass. Questions about coffee, soda etc. are asked time and time again and are totally legitimate. We've all done our research about giving up these things and have made our decisions. We're not blind sheep following Hitler into battle here. We're educated and curious, sacrificed a lot to have this band, did our due diligence, and made our own decisions about abstinence and moderation and special occasions and coffee and alcohol and liquid diets etc. etc. There's nothing special about you, buddy. It's just as hard for the rest of us. When you're ready to lose the tone, let me know. I'd be happy to respond. In the interim, I'd suggest some soul searching...

It sounds like you've really been through the ringer! I haven't suffered like that but I have had problems with my fills as well. Both times it's taken half an hour of sticking and resticking me, and then once the needle is in, poking around 10, 20 times. It's something I've come to dread. Good luck to you!

1.2 pounds for me until I reach my Fourth of July goal. I was stuck at a certain weight forever and then, for whatever reason, the weight loss picked up dramatically. The kids are now out of school so no gym for me for three weeks but even though I feel another plateau in the works, the 1.2 pounds over four weeks I think I can muster. 16.2 lbs 'til onederland!

Since I've found some level of restriction I still totally look forward to meals, enjoy eating out etc. It's just that I don't eat giant portions, wish there were more to consume and count down the time until my next meal. It's such a pleasure being able to eat what I want (ok not really - but you know what I mean - eat what I can) and have it not be the biggest deal in the world. I think this is what life has always been like for my two skinny sisters and only now am I realizing how unfair it is. They LOVE food, but they're NORMAL about the whole production. If they eat everything on their plates they're not consumed by the french fries sitting on someone else's plate that they can't have. Besides always having the pleasure of looking great (and virtuous), their minds have always been free to think about LIFE, not just dinner. The thing that bothers me the most is that people really believe that going on a diet for me feels exactly like going on a diet for them. They don't realize that their ability to be moderate is as much a gift of a gene as being a brilliant athlete. Thanks for listening to my vent. I post on an anonymous parenting website and according to everyone there, we're all fat, lazy, don't care about our children and are something to avoid like the plague. I haven't found this is real life but maybe on an anonymous board the real truth comes out.

I'd agree with the above. Start on a serious exercise regimen and when you look at the calorie count on the junk food you'll think about the time you wasted in the gym. Not that any of them worked long term, but I set off many a diet with the exercise, not the food first. I'd also stock up on fat free Snacks to have for dessert and carry a Protein Bar around with you for cravings. People here sometimes suggest journaling for a few days tp get a grip on what's going on or going on liquids to jump start a little something. Other than a fill though, there's no magical fix! But you've come so far that it seems silly to waste it on potato chips! All this said, I'm not nearly as far into it so I'm still in the honeymoon phase. Good luck!

Same here. I was always a gulper. Now the band slows me down a decent amount but I still drink water in a short sitting, not in a leisurely way over time. It's habit I guess, but it's also not particularly convenient to have a bottle handy every x number of seconds to take a sip. The band pretty much tells you what you can and can't do. Of course you should follow the rules that you've been given to the best of your ability, but drinking water steadily throughout the day as you describe wouldn't jibe with my kid chasing life at all. Then again, I probably don't drink enough water so you shouldn't be listening to me!

I too am interested in the responses you get. I can eat in the morning and struggle later on in the day. I know I have good restriction but I wouldn't swear I'm at my sweet spot yet. I don't know if you know it when you see it or not. If I had to say, I'd argue that you should push back the fill a little and work to stave off that hard core hunger with a couple nuts or whatever. There seem to be a couple habits you could change (and you didn't mention exercise) first, because I have the feeling that if you get a fill it might push you over the top. Then again, I don't really know what I'm talking about! For what it's worth, I didn't lose anything for a month and then when I inadvertently became more Atkins-y a couple weeks ago, the pounds have been dropping off. I do keep a Protein Bar in my bag so that I don't get starving and chow down at a sure-to-get-stuck rate. Good luck to you!

I order soup as an appetizer, fish as my entree and sorbet for dessert. No one asks any questions and it's something I look forward to. That part didn't change. I don't worry about how the fish is prepared. If it's buttery and saucey then there's less of a chance of getting stuck and it's a treat!

Did they anything about rescheduling your plastic surgery? It all sounds so rough. Hang tight. No matter what happens in the near future, by this time next year you'll be thin and tucked and right where you want to be!

What you're describing is pretty textbook. Do your best and hang tight!

I was at a crazy plateau for a month. I started having a protein shake for breakfast, a piece of chicken for lunch and a piece of fish for dinner. That, and some fruit and vegetables picked off my kids' plates and a couple sugar free popsicle for dessert. I'm now losing weight freakishly quickly, even though I put whatever sauces on the chicken and fish I want. For all I know I'm dying of carb depletion or something, but the weight loss has been amazing and it hasn't been all that hard!