tonya66

GT - I did not start feeling restriction until I got closer to 3.0, so not sure how much you have in your band. Does he do it under flouro? Does he withdraw Fluid from you band each time to see how much you still have in there? Or does he just keep adding? Sometimes just a little bit can get you to the propper restriction, so don't get discouraged and think your getting too full and no restriciton. My example is I was at 3.8 and had pretty good restriction, but felt I needed more because I don't have to take small bites, I was moved to 4.0 cc's which totally shut me off and made me go to the hospital. My next fill I'm hoping he will fill me to about 3.9 cc's and this should be perfect - I think.

Oh, I forgot to tell you guys that I'm having Lasik surgery on my eyes in January too. Not sure of the exact date yet, but I go for my consultation on 1/2/07 and I'm hoping to have it scheduled by the next week. I've got all my money set aside for it. After wearing contacts and glasses for 31 years, I will be rid of them. I am so excited! My next goal is I will start saving up for a lower body lift/thigh lift for 2009 - at least thats my goal - not sure if I will do it, but I'm leaning toward it right now.

Audree - I just sent you an email! I'm doing okay, just trying to wrap up my year end. I'm ready for some vacation days to do NOTHING. I get 6 weeks of vacation January 1st and I cannot wait! I have used all my days up this year since I was injured and I really need some "me time". I really love my band - even though I'm not losing right now, I'm not gaining. I love it! If I never lose another pound, I think I can be happy where I am now. I would like to get smaller, but I'm okay with my size. This year has been a wonderful year, dispite my injury, my house flooding and my grandmother dying, it still has been a remarkable year for me. Next year, well, it can only get better! I'm ready to kick 2007 to the curb and bring on 2008, because we know its going to be great!

goodtimes - all fills for everyone is so different. Whaty size of band do you have? What fill level are you at now? I am currently at 3.0 cc's but need more - long story, but on my 7th fill got too tight (my own darn fault - trying to be impatieint) and had to get unfill. I'm going for another fill and trying to get back to 3.8 or 3.9 cc's. I think this would be perfect restriction for me. My band is a 4.0 cc band, however, because some of the fill stays in the tubing part, the docs can usually fill the band up to 5.0 cc's (this is what I'm told anyhow). It took me to my 7th fill to really get restriction, and it wasn't until after 3 weeks that it really kicked in. It's been since 11/23 that I have been at 3.0 cc's and at first (because of my swelling) I had okay restriction, then it left, well, its been about 3 weeks now and I can tell I have more restriction now. Not enough, but more than I was feeling a week ago. Feel free to PM me if you have more questions. I hope this helps answer your question.

You might post in the "complications" thread, maybe someone over there might have experienced this same problems. Best wishes!

I would talk to your doc about the BM problem, perhaps he can perscribe a softener to help you. Most of us worried about the "too little calories" too, but eventually the swelling goes down and you will be able to consume more. Right now, the important thing is healing and not the scales, a lot of people don't start losing until they get the propper restriction or after thier first fill. The docs are not concerned the first 6 weeks while you are healing with weightloss - at least mine were not. Best wishes.

It will go away, you are taking in fewer calories and that has an affect on our energy. Also, different people react to anthesia. I was the same way, I laid around on the couch (I took 3 weeks off work - my choice), energy came back when I started my mushies and eating more Protein. Best wishes.

I had a pain on my right sight for a while, the dr. said it was due to the port pain and muscles being stitched. But, you might talk to your surgeon about this, he would be the best to tell you if this is something to worry about.

Oh, this is horrible. You might post over in the "complication" thread and perhaps someone can help you. This is just horrible, I have never heard of someone requiring a feeding tube? I hope you have a speedy recovery and your health is the most important thing right now!

No longer am I going to stress over the scales, I will take it one day at a time and learn to accept the things I cannot change. The year 2008, Its going to be great No longer are we going to mess with our head We are going to change the person inside instead We will be happy and strong We will live healthy and long We will enjoy our new lives and silicone buddy Living any other way will only drive us nutty. So again I scream, the year 2008 Its going to be wonderful and great! I'm tired of living my life around the scales, I'm tired of obsessing with my weight. I will focus on making better choices, exercise and the rest will come. If it doesn't, I've come a long way and I can live with my weight at 167. I can deal with it, and 167 is not too far overweight. So, we'll see what next year brings.

Oh man, I want your arms! They look good girl! Hang in there, the pain will go away.

Juno - I can't relate to the small bite thing, because I never have to take small bites, ever. Weird, but true. I keep thinking I must need to be tighter because I can take big bites, or regular bites of food. Getting a dime out and comparing is a great way to see how big of bites it really is. Great idea! Its snowy in Oklahoma, but its not sticking. There are still a lot of people without electricity, I feel sorry for them. I hope everyone is doing okay this weekend.

I never thought of myself in elementry as fat, I was always told "you've got big bones". Well, I will never forget standing in the lunch line in 4th grade and overhearing 2 boys decide who was the fatest person in our class. They both decided it was me. I couldn't believe it - my classmates thought I was the fatest person in my entire class. I was crushed - they never knew I overheard them, but it has remained with me all my life. Hearing that conversation started my "dieting". I quit eating, then binge, I would quit eating again, then binge - this went on until I went to High School. It was in High School I discovered "diet pills and Water pills". I became obsessed with water pills because I could take 1 and lose 7 lbs overnight. It got really bad for me - I was able to drop down 135 lbs but I would rarely eat. In college, I met my Husband, and by the end of my freshman year I crept up to 195 lbs - from 135 to 195. Every Jan 1 I would swear this was going to be the year, I would start my dieting again. It was in college I learned of "drugs", but I didn't take the drugs to get the druggie feeling, I took then because I learned I could lose weight with them. Oh my life became a mess. My weight would go down, go up, go down, I was out of control. I also learned of a medicine you can give children if they get into poison to make them throw up. I started taking this after large meals. I hate myself and finally my DH learned of my disorders and took me to some meetings. Well - fast forward to our wedding day, by eating a little bit, I managed to get down to 155 - then after we were married, I quickly got back to 195. Then came my pregnancy - I gained 80 lbs! Yes, 80 lbs, the baby only weighed 7 lbs 11 oz, OMG, I was a pig - after all, I was eating for 2. Well, after my 2nd pregnancy, I managed to get down to 235 - whoopie. I was still fat and miserable and my marriage was falling apart. I decided it had to be my weight - I started the liquid diet - supervised of course, wll, I lost 80 lbs! I was thrilled, I was almost at goal, for 2 seconds. The second I started eating, the weight came pouring back like a freaken tornadoe. I dieted for the next 17 years, lose 50 lbs, gain 60, lose 70, gain 80. I am a binge eater, I know that and this is something that I am working on everyday to control. I found out about the Lap Band after researching RNY and a friend who got RNY suggested the Lap Band. Well, I decided this was my last chance. Because of getting an overfill and ending up in the hospital, I had to get an unfill - a lot taken out. This brought me down to barely restriction or no restriction as I thought. I have been on a binge for a month practically, the last week I've avoided the scales because I always gain so much during my binges. Today I decided I would step on the scales and face the music. I am shocked I only gained 1 lbs from 2 weeks ago. Pre band I would have gained 10 - at least. I stepped off the scale and started crying. I can't believe I found something that will never allow me to be fat again. Trust me, I've tested the band over and over and over. It has stayed true to me, it hasn't let me gain more than a few pounds. I love my silacone buddy, I really do! I'm so sorry to give such a long drawn out story, I'm just so emotional and happy today and feel like I'm in control again. And I just don't have to worry about being fat again, I feel like I finally won!

Okay, so I've been eating and binging the last week. I've avoided the scales because I just couldn't bare seeing them say 175lbs or 180 lbs. Well this morning, I decided "Tonya, you have to face the music". I was dreading stepping on the scales, but I knew I needed to see the damage I've done so I can get back on track. Well, I stepped on the scales, held my breath a little, and I was shocked. I knew the scales would say at least 175, but they didn't - they said 172.3! I couldn't believe I hadn't gained more. I love the band, I will NEVER EVER EVER be fat again! I just remember all the times pre-band that I binged, how many lbs I would gain off one binge - alot of times it was 10, 20, 30 lbs in a month - I swear it! Even though I think I'm eating a lot, I still am not eating NEAR the amount of food I ate pre-band! And, I'm not even at a good restriction level. Oh, stepping on the scales this morning made me feel so good and in control again. Thank you my dear silacone buddy!

Okay, so I've been eating and binging the last week. I've avoided the scales because I just couldn't bare seeing them say 175lbs or 180 lbs. Well this morning, I decided "Tonya, you have to face the music". I was dreading stepping on the scales, but I knew I needed to see the damage I've done so I can get back on track. Well, I stepped on the scales, held my breath a little, and I was shocked. I knew the scales would say at least 175, but they didn't - they said 172.3! I couldn't believe I hadn't gained more. I love the band, I will NEVER EVER EVER be fat again! I just remember all the times pre-band that I binged, how many lbs I would gain off one binge - alot of times it was 10, 20, 30 lbs in a month - I swear it! Even though I think I'm eating a lot, I still am not eating NEAR the amount of food I ate pre-band! And, I'm not even at a good restriction level. Oh, stepping on the scales this morning made me feel so good and in control again. Thank you my dear silacone buddy!

well, to be hones, you might not get much after your first fill. I didn't. I am on my 8th fill and will have restriction again after this next fill (I had to get an unfill because I was overfilled). What you should feel is no longer hunger after a small amount of food if you have propper restriction. When I say small amount of food, I'm talking bandster portion, 3 oz of meat, 1/2 cup veggies. Eat Proteins first. I hear that if you eat too much you can thro up, this hasn't been the case for me. I do get shoulder pain on my left side if I eat too much, but I don't feel like I've eaten 3 steaks. The fullness is a different type of full then you had pre band. Hope this helps.

Girdle is my bestfriend! I do wear it - on occasion, depends on if I'm wearing a slim fitting dress. I haven't experienced any vomiting though. I wonder if yours is too tight? Mine is not a tight fitting one, just one that smooths out my rolls and dimples.

One of the things that took me the longest to learn was - I should not longer be searching for that "full feeling". Intead of eating until your full, try eating until your no longer hungry, big difference. Congrats on the loss so far, it just takes time and restriction. Hang in there, its a learning process with the band.

good points! I'm almost 11 months post op and still learning every day.

I got my power on late last night! Yay! Now, as far as eating, I'm taking it one day at a time. I called the hospital and asked them to put me on the waiting list so if there is a cancellation before my appointment, I would like to come in. So hopefully someone will cancel and I can get my fill before 1/18/07! Okay - I did good yesterday for bfast & lunch, had some roasted chicken and salad for lunch, but dinner - well not that I ate that much, but I just ate the wrong things. My SIL cooked her famous homemade cookies (choco chip), well, need I say more. My will power and self control left. I feel like I have no control right now, I feel like I cannot say no to anything sweet, what in the world is wrong with me? I think deep down I am using my "no restriction" as an excuse to eat whatever I want, that is bull crap, I need to have some sort of control! Okay, today is another day so I start again.......today will be better, I know it will be! PS - avoided the scales, just can't deal with them and decided I will just weigh on my 11 month band anniversary next week (Tuesday, 12/18/07). Whatever it says, well, I'll have to live with it. I can tell my jeans are tighter today, so I am up in weight.

I did not tell my kids (they are 15 & 17), mainly because I didn't tell my DH family and a lot of our friends and I didn't want my kids to feel like they had to lie. So, only my DH and I know and a few select other people. My kids have never asked me "how are you losing" or questioned me about me weightloss, they are just happy that I am getting healthier and they tell me how skinny I'm getting. My son is a little grossed out when his friends tell him his mom is hot, lol, but besides that, it has worked out just fine with me not telling.

I agree - I feel like I eat so much, but then people tell me you didn't eat that much. I guess if I eat more than 4 bites of food, I feel like I "over did it". I know I am eating too much now, and hungry a lot but that is because I need some restriction. I am learning that restriction does not mean PB. It does not mean eating 4 bites of food. I think since I am able to eat normal bites of food, I must not have restriciton. I guess I am just a lucky girl, I don't have to take ity bity bites, or I don't PB on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, and I should just be happy with that. I fear getting fat again, I fear it so badly so I'm also "testing" my restriction level. I just need to stop that, its insane. I know these are the things I need to change, so I am going to work on them all. Testing the band I've heard is common for people, and when they can eat more,they feel like they have no restriction. So, instead of seeing How much I can eat with the band, I will see how much I can eat and not be hungry (or how little I can eat). When I say how little I can eat, I'm talking about bandster portion sizes, not the 3 or 4 bites. Well, I feel better already with my new committments. Yes, 2008, its going to be great! The year 2008, Its going to be great No longer are we going to mess with our head We are going to change the person inside instead We will be happy and strong We will live healthy and long We will enjoy our new lives and silicone buddy Living any other way will only drive us nutty. So again I scream, the year 2008 Its going to be wonderful and great!

I think a good set of dumbbells will almost do everything you need. You can do 5lbs and 10 lbs and your set. Here is a great website that you can click on each type of exercise and it shows you how to do it, and what it works. I have used it often. Bodybuilding.com - Exercise Guides Database. Learn The Correct Form! Dumbbells are also not that expensive, also there are some exercises we can use our own body weight as strength training. Like squats, lunges, push ups (you can even push up against a wall to work the biceps, shoulders and triceps). There are so many options, and you can switch it up a lot to keep your body guessing. YOu can do a lot of different things so you don't get bored with one things. I am also making a big commitment to get started FULL swing in January. I'm actually starting now, so by January I will be going full swing - still working on getting starting now. I am having a hard time, but working on it everyday!

Well, I went by the house and no power yet, but I did see the workers working our neighborhood, so I'm hopeful we will have electric tonight! I think for me, I'm looking for that "high", what I mean is, I'm looking for that restriction level that we felt when we first were banded. You know, the eat 2 bits and your full? I feel like a junkie, I now know what they mean when they say they look for that feeling of the first high and it they never find it. I think we won't find it either. Lynn - you really made mr think that I too need to learn to live with peace with my silacone buddy. I need to quit obsessing with food. I know I don't have good restriction now, but when I get it (hopefully soon) after my next fill, I need to accept that I can eat more than 2 bites, and thats okay. Our bodies were made to eat more than 2 bites. If we are eating 3 oz of protein and 1/2 cup veggies, we are doing okay. If we can stay full for 3 to 5 hours, we are at a good restriction level. I need to quit obsessing with the scales and live my life. I'm not ever going to be a size 2 or 4, or probably not a size 6. I am a good size 12 now, and almost a 10, I should realize, that is not fat. The average woman is size 14. I am below average now - clap clap clap. I no longer have to shop in the Plus sizes, I can pick anything off the rack and try it on, it fits. I no loger stress over "what am I going to wear". I need to be happy with my changes. I can continue to improve, by going to the gym and incoorporating exercise in my life - not only to help me lose weight, but to make me stronger, healthier. After 35 (it could even be 30, I forget the exact age), we start losing 1 lbs of muscle a year, so we need to build it to keep it. The less muscle we have, the slower our matabolism. These are facts that I need to remember. I need to realize, I don't have to eat the entire pan of choco chip cookies, I don't have to binge when I get stressed. I also need to realize, having a cookie every now and then doesn't make me a failure, or make me have "no will power". Skinny people eat cookies, they eat whatever they want. They just don't eat the entire bakery. We need to learn to live with ourselves, our band and realize the scale won't move everyday, or everyweek or even for a month sometimes. We need to also realize just because it goes up a few pounds in one day - does not mean we actually GAINED 2 lbs of fat. Our bodies fluctuate with water, it would take an additional 3500 in consumed calories, this means in addition to the amount our bodies need on a daily basis to function in order to gain a pound. So, unless your eating 5000 calories or more a day, you really aren't "gaining". I'm actually saying all these things because I need to pound them into my stubborn head. I am tired of being down and depressed over my weight, I'm tired of always feeling like I'm so fat and every waking moment worried about my weight - its causing me wrinkles . lol. Okay, so I'm with you Lynn, next year is the year I become happy with me, I'm no longer going to complain and whine because the scale didn't go down, or went up 1/2 pound. I'm going to focus on making better choices, making exercise a routine again, a part of my life again. I'm going to focus on having a little self control with my sugar cravings, and if I want to have something sweet, I can, but within reason. I'm going to focus on eating calories, good healthy calories and not beat myself up when there are times I have too many. I need to realize, I am human, I am going to also focos on thinking like a skinny person. I am going to get to goal, when, who knows, but I will get there, one day at a time and remember that this is life changing not a diet. Okay, thats my plan for me in 2008 - anyone else have things they want to work on?

I got my power on late last night! Yay! Now, as far as eating, I'm taking it one day at a time. I called the hospital and asked them to put me on the waiting list so if there is a cancellation before my appointment, I would like to come in. So hopefully someone will cancel and I can get my fill before 1/18/07! Okay - I did good yesterday for bfast & lunch, had some roasted chicken and salad for lunch, but dinner - well not that I ate that much, but I just ate the wrong things. My SIL cooked her famous homemade cookies (choco chip), well, need I say more. My will power and self control left. I feel like I have no control right now, I feel like I cannot say no to anything sweet, what in the world is wrong with me? I think deep down I am using my "no restriction" as an excuse to eat whatever I want, that is bull crap, I need to have some sort of control! Okay, today is another day so I start again.......today will be better, I know it will be! PS - avoided the scales, just can't deal with them and decided I will just weigh on my 11 month band anniversary next week (Tuesday, 12/18/07). Whatever it says, well, I'll have to live with it. I can tell my jeans are tighter today, so I am up in weight.