2beskinny

Don't give up...you have not failed! It does not sound like you have the proper restriction level yet and your upcoming fill will help with that. I am at my sweet spot and simply cannot overeat or over-graze anymore. Haha, sometimes I get "in a mood" and want to be a little naughty so I will get a bag of chips and sit down in front of the tv. In the old days, I would eat until I literally felt sick, and that usually took almost the whole bag of chips. Now...I can eat about one handful and my band signals "thats enough" with some small burps to let me know if I keep going, it's going to be ugly. I have learned to listen to that band, finally. Sometimes I'm a little sad that I can't eat more, but I'm getting over that, too. I am not as diligent with a strick "bandster" diet every day. Most days I eat what I feel like eating, but in very small portions. The one thing I do very consistently, however, is make sure I have at LEAST 60 grams of protein a day. Number 1...it really does help with the full feeling. Number 2...I don't want my hair to fall out...Number 3...because I can eat so little now, if I get that many grams of protein, it doesn't leave a whole lot left for other stuff. This seems infinitely easier than journaling and obsessing with my food choices (that's how it feels to me when I journal). I don't want to be obsessed with food. I want it to have its proper place in my life! I am also in a 1/2 marathon training program and run 3-4 days a week and strenth train 2x a week. The high intensity workouts are the basis for my success. I wouldn't be able to be so laid back about my diet without all the training. It's paying off for me...I'm approaching the mid 180's with my weight and getting close to being only 30 pounds from goal. I can't explain how unbelievable it is for me to actually be able to write that. You can get there too...I can't stress enough how important it is to keep up with your fills. I was getting very discouraged and then when restriction starts happening...it all clicks. You are just not there yet...hang in there!

At the end of the day, banded or not, it's about calories in versus calories out Banding doesn't change that simple rule - it EVENTUALLY will make it easier to eat less calories by restricting the amount of food you are able to eat or even want to eat. I'm sure you've heard it all before, but somehow it helps to be reminded of this when we are facing hard times. Believe me, I HATE journaling, but have found that if I do it, I am actually eating a lot more calories than I realize. So it's no mystery that you are probably eating too many calories to lose weight right now, however, you are not gaining, so that is a plus. When you get to your sweet spot, then the weight will start coming off. Until then, it's all up to you, sister By the way - it took me 4 fills before I felt the beginnings of restriction. Welcome to bandster hell! This too shall pass

Don't worry - what you are feeling is a normal (and sucky) part of the process. My first "low" came at about the same timeframe for me. I'll pass a weightloss analogy that I have found helpful. Weightloss is like a relationship: In the beginning there is a honeymoon phase where nothing can trip you up and your optimism is overflowing! Then comes phase 2, where you are back to reality and realize that there are faults and things that are hard to deal with that you must overcome if you are to be successful. Then phase 3: here comes decision time... either decide to stick it out or get a divorce (I decided I'm "done" with divorcing my attempts at health!); Phase 4: Renewed resolve and permanent lifestyle change. I think I'm in phase 4, but the jury is still out on that one. There are days when I still feel like chucking it all, but I drag my ass out for exercise and make good food choices and feel better by the end of the day. I'm waiting for the time when it all feels "easy." Ha! I don't think that day will come But then slowly, I realize that through my toughest days there are bad habits that I have eliminated and will not (cannot) go back to. I have not had a soda in well over 6 months...I have eaten from a drive through window approximately 2x in the last 6 months and what I ordered was nothing like I would have ordered before my surgery. I have enjoyed many fine meals in great restaurants but only about 1/3 of them. The rest is taken home and saved for a later meal. All these changes add up and I realize I am on the right path. Patience is a virtue that is CRITICAL to this process! I am still learning that everyday Good luck to you!

If it makes you feel better, I was allowed to start on "mushies by day 3. When I went in for my post op appt. (7 or 10 days, can't remember exacty) I was cleared to start "regular food." First, soft type foods (but foods you chew) and then everything else as long as each stage was tolerated well. If you didn't experience any pain or discomfort, chances are you are fine. I certainly would try to get back on track and stay there, which is sounds like you have Sorry you are dealing with the hungries so soon. I seemed to have had a "honeymoon" period where food (rather the lack thereof) didn't get to me. Then it really kicked in and I was like, "holy crap, this is just like a diet!" This is the phase we all affectionately refer to as "bandster hell." Some are fortunate to avoid it, but most aren't. I am now pretty restricted, but honestly it wasn't until my 4th fill when I really felt different. You just have to grin and bear it until you get there. As far as the vegas nerve stuff, my doctor told me that is a "theory" and possibly can happen with the band, but that is not actually how the band is designed to work. It is designed to give you a smaller stomach pouch, so that when you fill the new small pouch, the food gets close to the "full receptors" which are located at the top of the stomach. However, your new "full" feeling is not the same as the old full feeling. That perhaps has been the hardest thing to get used to with the band. Believe me it's well worth it!

OMG the first month after surgery I was amazed at how long and loud I could burp (came up from the toes). That has all subsided now, thankfully. Now that I'm pretty restricted, I just have the non-stop gurgling! I appreciate a noisy restaurant these days

My first fill was very different than all my subsequent fills. First one done under fluro, so I was standing up and got to "watch" everything going in, drank the barium after and watched it go down. It was pretty cool actually! No pain whatsover. Doc uses a freezing spray first so I felt nothing. All the other ones have been done laying down with my arms over my head. He sprays the freezing spray, feels for the port, shoots it in, and I'm done. Takes about 10 seconds. Easy peasy!

Forgive me if this post shows up 2x...I wrote it and then it disappeared. Yesterday I got my sixth fill....I HAVE to be close to the sweet spot! I think I was there, but then the fill loosened up a bit (probably due to weight loss). I was feeling pretty close before I went in, but tested myself on some pizza this week...yep...could eat it no problem (at night) so thought a small tweak was in order. She gave me .3 (a little more than I thought I needed) so I'm watching myself carefully. Believe me, I was too tight once and don't want that again. Fortunately my doc is only 20 mins. away so I am lucky in that respect. I'm also very excited because I started on Apidex yesterday, too. My doc uses it as another tool for patients who want an extra tool to lose the last 30-40 pounds. I can't believe I'm actually in that category, but I was happy to start the new program. I have definitely slowed down in the weight loss area and am expecially anxious to lose the next 20 as it will help so much with my running. I am very healthy with no co-morbids so I felt ok aboutt taking the drug for a little while. I have used it before in my weight loss attempts. It works wonders on the ole' appetite, but of course the weight eventually came back. I'm confident it won't happen this time because I also have the lap band to help with things. I've decided that maintenance is when the lapband will really pay off. We all have to work hard to lose weight with the lapband, but it sure will make maintenance a lot easier!

Received my SIXTH fill today...I HAVE to be close to the sweet spot...I think I've been there before, but it has loosened up (probably from weight loss). Only on liquids today, not having any problems so far I am also starting a diet drug (adipex) today to help me get this last 40 pounds off. I'm so excited to get the rest of this weight off. Even another 20 will be so freeing and help SO MUCH with my running. If the diet drug will help me get there faster, I was all for it to help with the running. So much easier on the body not drag all this extra weight around with that kind of exercise. Wish me luck...Half Marathon in May!!!

Congratulations!!! I have also hit the 50 pound mark and it feels fantastic. I still want to go farther with this journey, but I feel like a "normal" person again...not a "fat" person. It's amazing.

Your welcome, Russian! When is your surgery? Are you nervous? I was so scared - it was the first surgery I've ever had (except for an emergency c-section 16 years ago!). I am so very happy I did this. I feel better, younger than I've felt in 10 years. Even if I never lose another pound, I would be happy with my decision. I have a hard time believing that I'm only 40 pounds "overweight" now...I'm so used to thinking that number is 80-90, etc. Too incredible for me to actually believe I'm where I am. I actually bought a size 12 jeans last weekend...incredible to me...I started this whole process at a size 18. Positive attitude is critical to your success!

It totally helps me with portion sizes...that's the #1 best thing about the band for me. I am right now eating a "snack" of brussel sprouts (I absolutely love them!). I heated up 7 on my small plate and am now totally stuffed...I probably could have stopped at 5, but they tasted so good. I can't believe I reached the point where I would actually choose brussel sprouts for a snack over all the other junk food in my house (I have 3 teenage boys) and enjoy them and be satisfied with that small quantity of food. Getting banded was the best decision for me and I have had a very easy time with it. Easy surgery, easy recovery and everything is working pretty much exactly like all the research I did said it would. I think it does for most people who go into it with eyes wide open and a positive attitude. Not always the case for sure, but you have to do your research, weigh the risks, pros/cons and decide to go for it or not. At that point...you make the best out of whatever situation you find yourself in. Good luck to you!

Curious - does anyone know what happened to BetsyB? She was SUCH a frequent poster on here when I first came on...can't believe she's gone now! I have a doctor's appt. on Monday for a fill (scheduled at last fill appt.). I didn't think I would need one, but the last few weeks I have noticed that I can eat more than a cup of food. I still can get stuck if I'm not careful, gurgle a lot when drinking or eating anything but I am getting pretty hungry between meals. I'm trying to use the hunger and quantity of food im able to eat as a guide vs. all the gurgling I do and the fact that I am able to "get stuck" if Im not careful. What do you think??? Does it sound like a small fill is in order? My doc also recently started a new program where he is prescribing phentermine to his banded (and non-banded) patients. Administered under controlled circumstances and bp, heart, etc. is monitored. Hmmm....I know that stuff works pretty good and is so immediate to kill any appetite I have. I am tempted to try it cuz I feel like used in connection with the band it would be fantastic! Obviously my doc must think so too? Does anyone else's surgeon offer this as another tool to use for weightloss??? His practice is one of the top in the region by the way, he definitely not some fly by night kinda surgeon trying to make a quick buck. Curious as to your thoughts!

Pureed Wendy's chili was my FAVE at that stage...it tasted like heaven. By the way - Ii still have to be REALLY carefull with tuna...something about it! By a hand wand mixer if you don't have one and you can blend up just about anything! Veggie Beef soup is awesome pureed!

I am keeping to my training commitment for the 1/2 marathon this spring. Today it was 13 degrees. I ran 5 miles (also a very hilly route) with my friend and we finished feeling very good about ourselves. When I got back home, the hair that was hanging out of my polar fleece hat was all wet with sweat...then I realized I also had ice chunks in there! Too funny! Not bad for someone who has been a couch potato at various times of my life!

My shoulder pain subsided within a week of surgery and I thought, "Oh goody, glad that's over." It then returned at about 6 weeks. Just this annoying dull ache. It eventually faded again, but i still can feel it every once in a while. Nothing I would ever take anything for, just ANNOYING. I do notice it when I ride in a car sometimes...but I often wonder if that's because I've slowed down long enough to pay attention to it!

I was scared to take my anti-depressent - a time release capsule (filled with all the tiny bead like things). I have always heard not to break or crush time release meds. Anyway, I finally started taking them again, whole. Have had no issues. By the way - I'm pretty restricted. I take them in the am with my coffee. Probably the warm drink helps, too. Knock on wood, no problems. My surgeon says no pill bigger than an M&M (little more generous than a tic tac but my anti-depressent is larger than that. Good luck!

what does this mean?

Well, I "joined" this thread and I think I have only posted once or twice, but I do keep up with it! Melody - I am also in the midwest...it's soooo cold here! I walked out the other day and thought, "what...do we live in Minnesota now?" Been hard to get my runs in this week. I really need to join a gym with an indoor track. It is amazing though, how I wake up everyday so cold and then I go for a nice sweaty run (hard to believe you can sweat outside with these temps!) and I am "warmed up" the rest of the day. Exercise is like a happy pill for me. I HATE to do it, right before I do it, then I LOVE the way I feel afterwards. I always remember Oprah's line..."I have exercise, but I love what it does for me." I hit a new low today...189. First time I've seen the 180's in 7 years. I actually found a pair of size 12 jeans that fit great at Ann Taylor (of course I had to buy them!). I cleaned out my closet over Christmas and got rid of all my size 18s and 16s. I had plenty of size 14 stuff in there too and now all of it fits. It's unbelievable. I am 39 pounds from goal as of today. What??? My internal dialogue has not caught up with my weightloss yet. I'm so accustomed to thinking that I am 70, 80, 90 pounds overweight. I think I actually feel like a normal person again. My husband is so thrilled for me. Our recent trip to Miami may as well have been a second honeymoon. I can't believe how much better I feel. You know how you hear people say who were sick, really didn't know they were sick until they felt better? That's how I feel My husband is already telling me I will be way too skinny if I lose another 40 pounds. HA! For my height, I could actually lose a lot more than that. I have set my goal @ 150 and I'm 5'4.5". It's a little on the heavier side for my height, but it's a weight I look good at . Been there before, many moons ago, and I will be a size 10 and medium or large tops. I'm 47...I think getting to a size 4 or something make me look too old. You need a little something to keep the wrinkles from taking over Have a good week everyone, stay warm, and stay positive!

I do love my band! I don't regret my decision to take control of my life again. I do, however, regret needing it. I wish I didn't have to resort to such a drastic measure to control something that others seem to have no problem with (i.e., SKINNY people), but I finally stopped living in denial and faced that I couldn't do it alone. I am 5 months into my new life and have pretty smooth sailing as compared to some others on here. I've been a text book case so far. Easy surgery, easy recovery (it was my first surgery and I was petrified), and lots of fills to get me to the holy grail...restriction. The number one advice I have for anyone considering this surgery is PATIENCE. So easy to say, so hard to practice. I am still learning it. When you have this surgery, you want the weight gone NOW. No matter how much they tell us that "you will have to work your band" there is a part in all of us who secretly wish that the band will do all the work and the weight will just fall off effortlessly. Oh the bliss and joy if that were only true I exercise 4-5 times per week (am currently training for a half marathon - have my 5 mile run tomorrow!) I try to be good on my diet most days, but there are MANY, MANY days that I am not. I ate pretty much what I wanted over the holidays and did not gain any weight (didn't lose any either, but I was OK with that). I ate carbs, sweets, but for me, the band ABSOLUTELY controls my portions. I simply CANNOT eat large volumes of food anymore. So even on the days where I feel like I've been "bad," the net effect is OK. My weight loss pattern has been drop to a new low weight (like I did today, 189...yay!) go back up a pound or two (sometimes 3) then go back down and settle at the new low weight. Then the cycle starts again. I probably wouldn't "bounce" around so much if I was a more disciplined dieter, but it was important that this was a lifestyle for me, not a diet. I don't track my food (I did in the beginning, but have always hated journaling - even with the cool phone app I have). Like I said - I could probably be about 10 pounds lighter by now if I was more regimented...but I'm confident I'll get there in time. I have to remind myself that I know this method will stop working if I stop exercising. But that's how I picture a healthy, normal life...regular exercise and enjoying a variety of foods without worrying too much about what I eat. When the band forces me to put down my fork even though I still fee like eating, I'm grateful for that.

Wow - loved your post and your story! You are an insiration...I am only 6 months into this new life and I feel I'm just beginning to understand what "listening to my body" means. It does take time - patience is soooooooo necessary in this process. For YEARS I was such an "all or nothing" dieter, experiencing great success and then even greater failures and gaining more weight in the process. That is perhaps the first lesson I'm really learning with the band...you don't have to be perfect all the time and continue to work towards the ultimate goal. Forgiving myself without running in the other direction is huge for me. The band simply won't let me stay "off the wagon" for very long. The reality is if I never lost another pound (yet I know I will) this has been a win/win for me. I'm not willing to share with others about the band because I'm a very private person, so I appreciate this site so much.

I cleaned out my closet and got rid of ALL my 18s and most of my 16s...happily able to wear all the 14s in my closet and a few of the 12s. Yes - I have full wardrobes in every size. My next goal is to be able to wear Lilly Pulitzer size 14 dresses I have by the spring - I'm actually thinking I may have to have them tailored a bit by then . I love putting on something that fits well and going out with a confident attitude...it's been a long time coming for me . Oh yes, and I'm discovering high heels again...my favorite line from show, 30 Rock, is when Jack says, "Avery says women who don't wear high heels are quitters"....hahahaha! I'm not a quitter!

Amen to that, especially the first paragraph! I'm transitioning from my "newbie status" to being "somewhat experienced" with this band (just had my 6 month anniversary). Oh the joy of the honeymoon period of banding - my optimism was like a flying carpet the first 6-8 weeks of banding. I couldn't even imagine a day where I wouldn't feel in control. Fast forward to this past weekend...last minute family came in town, brought delicious treats and treated us to dinner at a 5 star restaurant (I have some great relatives, what can I say?). In spite of being at my sweet spot, I still managed to gain a quick 2 pounds after a 48 hour bender. So what am I gonna do? Get back on that horse, that's what! Being banded is not about being perfect. It's about choosing to use a tool that we (hopefully) researched the hell out of and will make it easier for use to lose weight and maintain weight loss. I am half way to goal and have been doing some real soul-searching about finishing what I've started. I'm very excitied because one thing I think I do realize is that maintenance is actually pretty easy with the band. Even if I'm not making the BEST choices, I really don't have a fear of "gaining ALL my weight back" because I just cannot eat the volumes of food I used to be able to eat...unless I would have a complete unfill, or not keep up with small fill adjustments that are necessary as you lose weight. Part of my weekend bender included a 5 mile run and shopping at Ann Taylor and coming home with size 12 jeans (I'm not a 12 yet, but you know how you occassionally find that smaller size that fits...oh yeah, I found it). I don't regret being banded for one minute. It's the best thing I've ever done for myself. It doesn't make me perfect, but it has opened the door to a life of "normalcy" that I had begun to think was shut forever for me. When I come on this forum, sometimes I'm looking for a butt-kicking, and sometimes I'm looking for support. In my short tenure, I've already seen some frequent posters who I thought would be on this site forever disappear. They were also a little self-righteous in their tone...wonder where they are now? I guess they can only post when they feel they are "perfect."

I am in sunny Miami beach thus week with my husband and no kids We are having a wonderful time and fly back home on sunday. Needless to say its been a little challenging on the diet. Im not able to eat near the portion sizes that I used to, of course, but im feeling a little freaked out by all the meals out and the Drinks we've been having :-( WEwere hereone night with a large group from hubs work and the wine was flowing like a river all night. Its the First time I've really over indulged since surgery. I was so freaked out that I was going to throw up the next day! Luckily I made it through with flying colors and stuck to water the next day :-). After the holidays and now this trip...im ready to get back to the task of losing weight! On a good note..I am still running every other day on my vacation...ran for one hour on the beach boardwalk...beautiful!

I burp all the time after I eat something! Its one of the ways I know im full :-)