threebeauties

First, I don't feel the band at unless something I eat gets stuck going down. this happens to most bandsters at one time or another, some more frequently than others. As for cravings, I don't get them as much as I used to but when I do I have it, just much less of it. I do have to tell you that it certainly is possible to eat 4 donuts after the surgery. It takes a while to reach the point where you are completely satisfied after a small amount. i am 3 months out tomorrow and I am not there yet. There are plenty of people who are not successful with the band. I just posted yesterday that this is more work than I thought it would be. Granted I am doing well but it is a battle. I still have plenty of "head hunger" and have to use my willpower to overcome it. I have been on the treadmill fairly regularly the past two weeks. I hope I am not discouraging you. I feel like this is the best thing I've done for myself. No matter how often my dr. and these threads told me, the band is just a tool, I guess I thought it would be easier. When all is said and done, I will be successful this time, something I haven't been able to say in the past. Good luck

I was banded three months ago this coming Friday. In my opinion, I think if you have doubts about your dedication at this point, don't do it. I am finding that the band requires a lot more work on my part than I thought it would. As much as I was told that the band is "just a tool", I still thought it would feel different than it does. It is harder than I thought. Don't get me wrong, I still think I made the right decision to go with the band. It is absolutely necessary for you to make the right choices. Good luck with whatever you decide. This is certainly not easy though.

I am at 2.4 cc in my 4cc band. I don't feel restriction like I hoped I would either. My dr. won't just do a fill because I say I need one. I KNOW that before I can have another fill my dr. will want to see a food journal from me. They want to make sure that we are using the band as a tool and not expecting the band to do all the work. I know that for me. a lot of my problem is eating for reasons other than feeling hungry. At night, when the kids are in bed, the house is clean and my time is my own I get a lot of "head hunger". Good luck, I too am hoping to get to my sweet spot when the weight comes off consistenetly. Don't give up!

I love the sesame chicken as well. I eat them a couple of times a week. I too wouldn't eat them for lunch and dinner because of the high sodium. I think they're great, lots of variety, portion control and EASY!! If I find that it isn't enough to fill me I always have frozen broccoli florets in the freezer and toss those in as well. I stay away from the Pasta based meals though, those carbs kill me!

Jimboss - now that's the way I like to start my day!! I love that story!! I haven't checked in in a bit. I'm doing pretty good. After my last fill I was so optimistic. However, I don't know about you guys but.........it seems like my fills "wear off" pretty quickly. I watch a lot of Discovery Health Channel and there have been a ton of shows about weight loss recently. I have to admit, I get a little "jealous" of the bypass patients who lose so much weight seemingly effortlessly. One show was about a teenager who had the procedure done and they followed his journey. They interviewed him twice during the weight loss process. Once, he was eating pizza and coke, the second time he was having breakfast, pop tarts!!! he lost all of his extra weight! I know deep inside that the band is right for me. I still have to make the choices. I have been having a lot of "head hunger" lateley. I guess this is the phase of dieting where, in the past, I throw in the towel. I am staying strong though. Maybe I just haven't hit my "sweet spot" yet although food gets stuck a lot. I have been doing the treadmill for 1/2 hour most nights which definitely helps! Thanks for listening. Thank goodness for you guys. I don't post a ton but I always read your posts. You are all my inspiration.

I'm a top down person too!

Lisa - I completely agree with your post. We all know it isn't easy. With that said, so what if it is??? For me, it was very difficult to accept that I needed help with my battle. For a long time I too thought it was "the easy way out". I finally decided to get the help I needed. My life and the lives of my husband and children will be better for it. So what if losing weight is easier with the band. Aren't we lucky to be able to get the help we need?

Starting to pay attention to me again!

I never had anything at all stick until my 3rd fill. I eat popcorn all the time and have never had a problem with it. There is a thread out there regarding popcorn and most people said they can eat it just fine. I have a tougher time with chicken than beef as well, weird huh!

JimBoss I read this thread and immediately knew it was you. You crack me up:biggrin1: I think its a natural reactio, you are feeling better aboiut yourself. I bet you are more comfortable in your body and have more energy I also bet your new confidence and boosted self esteem make you more desirable to your wife too! Whatever the reason, enjoy!!!!

Great answers so far. Isn't it great to have so much support at your fingertips! I would add that carbonated beverages are a big no-no for the reasons stated above. Other than that, certain foods for some people tend to get "stuck" meaning they don't go through the band right away and cause a LOT of discomfort. Again, its certain foods for certain people but untoasted bread tends to be one than I think most people have trouble with bread. Most of the time its trial and error. In addition, you SHOULD avoid foods that are don't offer much in the way of nutrition, such as bread and Pasta. Remember Protein first! Good luck.

Good for you - that's what I love about the band. you can eat what you want and where you want. I love that you split the burger and enjoyed some fries. That's what life should be all about - moderation!! You are obviously doing it right. Congrats on your weight loss, you've done amazing!

p.s. Best of luck starting a family. Have fun trying;)

Wheetsin I have three small girls, ages 4,6 and 7. I actually think that they will be better off because of my surgery. They no longer see me eating huge portions, eating in front of the t.v. and eating a lot of junk. We eat as a family at the table, always have (except for the special times we can have a picnic in front of the t.v. ----GO PATRIOTS!!!!) Right now my portions are smaller than I know they will be in the near future. With that said, I think they see mom making MOSTLY good choices and stop eating when she is full. They see me having "treats" on occassion and completely and totally enjoying them when I do:) For now, they don't know anything about the band. I think they are too young to understand it and I don't want to confuse or scare them. I grew up with horrible eating habits and I hope that I can break the cycle with my kids.

1. Johnny Depp 2. Tom Brady 3. Sawyer from Lost

Makemalean I got my THird fill this past Fri and FINALLY I feel restriction. I had none at all before this. As a matter of fact, I was telling everyone at the last support meeting I went to that I could eat anything, I never had anything get stuck and certainly never had one of those dreaful pb's everyone talks about. Well, all that has changed. Since this fill I am finally feeling and experiencing what others have been talking about. I ordered a small prime rib the other night at a restaraunt and got three meals out of it. Now, I don't like to brag but.............before the band I would order the king cut and eat just about the whole thing, along with the side dishes. Patience is not one of my strong suits but I am finally there!!!!!!!! I hope that you will consider waiting for a couple of fills before you go the appetite suppressant route. I am confident the band will do its job if you give it time. I know, earier said than done. Good luck, keep us posted

Hi Everyone I truly wish I could join you but hubby works on Saturday and I have the official duty of bringing the kids to their various commitments. I was really hoping to meet all of you guys. I know that it will be a great time and hopefully it can become a regular thing, at least 2x/year??? Have a good week everyone!

I heard a long time ago about Miracle Noodles. Has anyone tried them?? I just ordered them from their website Fiber. I just really miss my Pasta. I eat whole what pasta sometimes and its o.k but this "pasta" claims to be tasteless but takes on the flavors of what you cook it with. Its worth a try! Isn't that what the new year is all about, I will go outside my comfort zone and give it a whirl!!!!!!!!!!

soooooooooo happy for the good news! Great way to start the weekend. I am pretty sure I could have come up with something more fun than an oil change but..........................a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do:clap2:

Great post Julie I agree, the band is just a tool and will help immensley if you're head is in the right place. Again, you have to remember why you chose the band in the first place. I personally like the fact that I am ultimately responsible for what I put in my mouth. I want to be healthy! It might help to look at the before and after thread here. There are tons of people who look fantastic and have reached their goal weight. I have to admit that before the surgery, the dr. couldn't stress enough how much the band is just a tool and now that I have it, I totally understand. I thought the weight would come of faster and steadier. With that said, I still think I made the right decision. Time will tell.

I got my 3rd fill a couple of hours ago using fluro for the first time! I think it is beneficial for the patient to be able to see the band and how it works. Not to mention, the dr. can see what he's doing top:eek: Personally, I don't think it is necessary every time under normal circumstances but its pretty cool to see at least once!

I was banded on 10/19 and gained 4 lbs over the holidays. As of today, that 4 lbs is gone. Don't worry about not feeling restriction, I have not felt it either. today I had fill #3, I hope this one does it. My dr. gives me a fairly painless shot to numb the area before the fill. ONce this is done, I don't feel a thing! Whats nice for me is that this year is the first year I can remember that I've gained over the holidays and got right back on track to make sure that a little gain doesn't turn into a huge gain. Good luck and Happy New year to all

Hi Friends This a.m I went for the barium swallow, good news!!! All is just fine, no leak, no slip. The dr. did give me another fill because he said the fluid was going through much faster than they like to see. It is really interesting to have a fill and a swallow under fluro, you see your band and you see the liquid going through it, very cool. I think he said I now have 1.9cc total. Thank you all for your concern. Hopefully this fill will help and I can work on that Valentines Day challenge!!!!!!!!!! btw - if you ever get a chance to see "I Lost It" on Discovery Health Channel, it is a 1/2 show that hi-lights 2 people who have lost significant amounts of weigh. I tivo it and watch it first thing in the a.m. while I have my coffee. Its a little motivation for me!

I don't know if these are any good but I ordered them today. They are "noodles" with no calories and lots of Fiber. Supposedly they don't have their own taste but take on the taste of what you are cooking with, much like tofu?????? www.miraclenoodles.com I will let you all know how they are once I try them.

Jules and Shellybeans I just wanted to let you know that you are both doing so great!! You say you don't have much restriction. I need to tell you that you truly inspiring me and your timing is perfect! When I went for my 2nd fill it was discovered that most of my first fill was "gone". For the 2nd he put 1.5 in my band. I still don't feel much restriction so I go tomorrow for a barium swallow to make sure nothing is wrong. Anyway..........since reading your posts I am not so worried about slippage or something else being wrong. I now think that I have to slow down, chew better, and make better choices. I think mainly I need to redefine what "full" feels like. I guess I have been overstuffing my stomach for so many years that full doesn't feel like it did pre-band. I hope I am making sense because I feel like I'm rambling. I will let yoiu all know how it goes tomorrow. I have been juggling the same 5-6 lbs for over a month now, very frustrating!