BabyGotBack

Just wanted to check in! I have been doing good. I was on the tight side, now I am looser, not getting stuck anymore. I haven't started TOM yet so I have not weighed in again. I am eating about 1000-1400 calories a day. I have still not began exercising yet. I am such an all or nothing type of person. I don't do something unless I am going to do it all the way. I also think because I have been integrating so many major life changes. You can only do one at a time. Exercise is next!!!! Audree

You look awesome!!!! Congrats!!! Audree

Sounds like good advice. Now I just have to get off my butt!!! Thanks!!! Audree

I was afraid of the same thing! They had me do the "toast test" right after the fill to see if I was too tight so they could unfill if needed. They have me drink Water then eat a 2 pieces of toast. Then they check me under fleuro again to see how it is going. The are so through at OCC. Then he likes you to hang around town for the day if you can so if you are too tight, you can come back and get a slight unfill. It is best to sneak up on a fill then get overfilled.

Sula: You sound like I was. I definitely needed another fill. I wasn't losing until now. Sunshine2: Congrats!!!! You are doing so good! I just need to figure out what I need to do to motivate myself now to start exercising. Sherilynn: Congrats on the 5 pound loss!!!

Thanks JulieNYC!!!! That was an awesome explanation!!!! I am also like you, that I can eat anything. There has been no food that I could not eat, but I guess I am in a totally different ball game now. But chips were the thing I could eat too well.:faint: I think I am a little more restricted since it is a day or so before my period. I always tend to retain water around this time, like 3-4 pounds. I am actually enjoying where I am, I am not pushing things so I am not stretching the pouch. I think another part of my problem is that I have NEVER taken small bites and chewed well. Since I never really have had restriction, I take MONSTER bites and don't chew well. Normally, pre band I don't like to really chew and swallow my food with chunks in it. I never put my fork down and just keep on shoveling the food in. So, now I am learning that I have to take smaller bites and wait some between. But thank God I don't PB. I think I get stuck and then have the pain because I take another bite and keep on swallowing what is in my mouth after I feel stuck.

I actually don't see how I am right now as a problem. I am very content with my restriction. If I don't have some type of "stop" built in, I can't stop eating. I would rather be this way and get what I paid for. I haven't pb'd since this fill. Getting stuck isn't too fun, but it passes and usually takes my appetite away. I would love to stay exactly this way until all my weight is gone and then at the end be just a tad looser, but not much. I am enjoying not being hungry and not being able to eat a lot, just like after surgery. It gives me an awesome feeling of control over my battle with food and hunger. I hated being a slave to being sooooo hungry and dieting!!!:faint:

Hello January Bandsters! Today I had a protein shake for breakfast and lunch. A little bowl of garbanzos and cheese for a snack at 4 pm. About 30 ounces of crystal light. 2 Tbls. of my liquid vitamin I also weighed in at 164!!!!!! 5 pounds lost since my last fill 2 weeks ago!!! Sula: It sounds like you and I are experiencing the same type of thing. I was told it was called "first bite syndrome". But for me, it is about 5-6 bites. Chewing more careful and waiting a little between bites helped me today. Sunshine: You definitely need another fill! I was just like that for the last 3 months. I could eat anything I wanted as much as I wanted with no restriction. I couldn't even tell my band was there. rms78645: I felt like that too, but didn't pb, I just held it and waited for it to go down. Felt awful though!!!

Today I have had 2 protein shakes. I had a little bowl of garbanzos and cheese at 4pm. I had to chew real well to not get stuck and wait before the next bite. I did get stuck a little. I am also working at getting my 70 ounces of liquid in. I also took my liquid vitamin. I am feeling weak, tired, but I feel like that often before my period. How are you all doing?

Welcome!!! Sounds like you are doing really good! You are eating a lot like me. I try to stick more to a South Beach Diet most of the time at least. I also get my fluids in by Crystal Light and water. I had hit a 3 month plateau. I just went for fill #3. They put me to 3 cc's. I am very happy here and happy to see some pounds come off. I had gained a little but have lost it! I was 169 two weeks ago and today weighed 164. I am having the first bite syndrome, for at least 6 bites. I am super tight, maybe due to being premenstrual? But, at least I know my band is there now. My goal is also the 140 ish range, 145 I was thinking.

I am doing good. I am doing protein drinks since I am SOOOOO tight! I am not really hungry and feeling good. I think the liquid vitamins are helping a lot. I had gained 4 pounds when I got my fill 2 weeks ago, putting me at 169. I weighed in today, couldn't help it even if I am premenstrual, and I weighed 164!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel like I went down in size. My pants look a little funny, too loose. Just wanted to see how you are all doing???? Maybe we can check in with 1. How we are eating 2. Exercise 3. Vitamins/supplements 4. Water/fluid intake 5. Our emotions, etc Take care and talk to you all soon!!! Audree

Wow, that was a nice time frame!!! Just follow the rules your doctor gave you to follow. It is for your good in the long run. I remember, I was dying for some chewing. I didn't even get a mushy phase. Straight from liquid stage to solid. I was pureeing chili with cheese and pureeing a homemade tortilla soup, that was soooo good. Let me know if you have any questions!!! Audree

Thanks Beversman and Sweethot!!!! I miss all of you guys!!! Can I ask you all a question? I had a fill 2 weeks ago. Restriction did kick in at 2 weeks, but then I am also about to start my period. Then I heard about "first bite syndrome"? What do you guys think??? These last few days I literally choke down my food for about 6 or so bites, then it gets a little better. I have been having protien shakes for the first two meals. Tonight eating ground tuna I got so stuck it hurt like a heart attack:faint: Thanks for the advice!!!

Has anyone experienced "first bite syndrome"? I have been having trouble with the first 6 or so bites and feel myself literally choking them down. Then it gets better. My esophogas feels irritated. The last few nites I was able to eat in the late evening with no problems,but I am not going to chance it now since my throat feels irritated. Thanks!!!

That sounds like exactly what I am going through. Why do you think it took 3 months to get better? I will try to do what you say. I tried to eat again, of what I thou9ght would go through fine, chips and got so stuck that I almost Pb'd and felt pain in my chest like a heart attack!!!! It hurt SOOOOOOOOOOOOO bad!!!! Like, you say, it is nice to finally know my Bandy is there!!! Does your PMS time affect it too? Do you ever have the 2 weeks to feel the restriction thing? Thanks!!

That is awesome Jane!!! I do have a membership to the gym and don't use it. I have been going back and forth on if I should cancel it or keep it. It has just been hard with the kids home for the summer. I don't have any excuses. I even have an elyptical upstairs and some hand weights. I have videos, strenth training bands, the big ball you can do sit ups with, etc. I have any Ipod with all my favorite music and still, NADA!!!! I think too, if I can lose some more weight, I may be motivated to start toning. That is why I came back here too, to be accountable. Keep up the awesome work!!!! Audree

My fill doctor does what Sunshine's doctor does. He puts me under fleuro, takes out all my liquid (but he has a syringe full of saline ready to inject in), has me drink the barium and watches to see where to fill me too. He doesn't fill me to closed, but he withdrawls and shows me that what he put in is still there, then he slowly adds too the point he sees that my pouch gets full and there is a 3-4 second retention of liquid in my pouch before it passes through. Is this how your doctors are doing it? Today was a good day. I had protein shakes for breakfast and lunch. Dinner I had to choke down tuna. It was so hard to keep it down. I could feel it coming up, but after about 6 bites, it was okay. I felt weak and needed the nutrition. My throat feels irritated, so I will have a small protein shake later. I just wonder how my restriction will change after my period? Can you all please tell me your opinions/experiences on this? I have heard it can take 2 weeks for a fill to kick in, but it just so happens at the 2 week mark I did get a lot tighter, but am also a few days to my period. How did it go for you all?? Thanks!!!

I don't know who you were asking, but I would be happy to answer you! I stayed for 3 days at the Lucerna, which is a beautiful hotel. Some people stayed 2, but I wanted the extra day to rest too since I have two younger children and would have to come home and act normal. The extra day was definitely nice!

That is so awesome Jane! What kind of program are you doing? I used to be so disciplined about my workouts and now I just can't seem to get motivated again. I think I am very overwhelemed in my life right now. I am in survival mode these days. It was hard enough having to diet all this time since I didn't have much restriction. I had been stalled like you since about the end of March/April. What can I do to get my butt moving??? How do I get motivated again??? Take care and keep in touch!!! Audree

I sure hope so!!!! I am so restricted right now. I am not sure if it is my fill finally kicking in after 2 weeks or that I am about to start my period. I have been having protein shakes in the earlier part of the day and had tuna for dinner today. I had to choke down the first 6 bites, feeling it coming up, but not pbing. The last few bites were better. But I knew I needed the nutrients. Has this happened to anyone? I have not ever really had restriction, not since right after surgury, so this is all new to me. Have fun on your date!!!! Audree

I have also read that some people get irritated by their pant waist band with the port there. I have my port about 5 inches under my left breast, 1 inch to the right, and it doesn't bother me at all

I feel the same way. But now with my 3rd fill, I feel like I will start losing after a 3 month plateau and even gain of 4 pounds. How much have you lost now?

What I do when I am going to workout, i just spot touch up my face with the little brush and the foundation. Also you may try brushing on the mineral veil on first. I also heard to do this if you have oily skin and tend to get shiny later on in the day. I also tend to have dry skin in some places, so I have to use the Skin Rever uper. It doesn help. I buy it online so they sent me a free one. But, when it finishes, I will definitely be going to buy some more. It does make a difference for me.

All I can say is Thank God for forgiveness. No one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes.

My experience has been nothing but great! If I would have gotten my fills sooner, I would have lost more weight. So, getting regular fills until you have restriction is important to losing. If you have no restriction, you will eat and therefore maintain, which is good or gain a little. Very few of us have had problems with our bands.