HeatherinCA

I haven't been stuck, but i'm fairly sure it's immediate, when it can't make it through your band it comes back up like WHOLE with some slime on it.

I used a hand stick blender... For pureed I ate things like chili, thick Soups, finely ground meat, oatmeal, Beans You can use the blender or food processor with a little chicken broth. Probably be kind of gross haha.

Breakfast: 3/4 cup (dry) oatmeal made with 1 cup skim milk, 1/2 cup water 2 tsp brown sugar 1 tsp ICBINB light Lunch: 4 turkey meatballs 1/2 cup organic marinara (from fresh & easy, not sure why but it's SO good) 1/4 cup part skim mozzarella cheese Dinner: "Egg Drop Soup" Made with 2 eggs 1 chicken bullion cube Probably 2-3oz of shredded chicken breast soy sauce to taste 1 whole grain english muffin (100 calorie one) 1 tsp ICBINB lite Snack 1/2 cup (dry) oatmeal with 1 cup skim milk 2 tsp brown sugar 3 sugar free hershey's special dark minis 1,218 calories according to my FitDay

If a small pill can't fit down there, then no way food can haha. So I wouldn't worry about it. Maybe they can switch you to something you can crush? It's only for like 3 weeks before you can eat.

If it's meant to be it's meant to be haha I'm not sure me personally would consider surgery if my BMI was that low... it's ALOT of work and a lot of money to lose like 50lbs

It's to shrink your liver for surgery. I'm sure are ok, but it's good to get in the habit of doing things properly, it will help you in the long run.

Yea I did blood work and EKG, but same, I only saw my surgeon at the consolation. I wouldn't worry, it's a simple surgery.

Yea I take a multi, and the calcium citrate + D and b12 once a week.

Yep... mine wasn't settled last year. So I couldn't claim it for 2010. But I've been deducting my personal trainer expenses for a few years with a doctors note. (my parents paid my credit card bill, but my income was low enough i could deduct it) But yea, it may not be high enough because you get a general deduction anyways if it's under that.

Breakfast: I had 3/4 cup oatmeal (dry) with 1 cup skim milk, and 1/2 cup Water, 2 tsp brown sugar Lunch: I had 4 turkey meatballs with marinara and mozzarella cheese. dinner I'll probably have either meatballs again, or maybe eggs and bacon.

I weigh daily, I was doing it weekly, but I like daily better.. yes it fluctuates, but if I'm totally off base with my diet, I like to know sooner than later.

I know it happens with rapid weight loss as well. Because it's a shock to my system to be eating this differently.

I don't track daily, but I'm fairly certain I'm at 60-70g at least. I do have protein at the center of every meal. Not sure I can physically eat more!

I would say don't pay attention to your fills really... I feel like too much importance is place upon them. I feel like people spend so much time worrying about a sweet spot and all that nonsense. There isn't going to be a magical moment, when you just start randomly losing weight. The band is there to press on the vagus nerve (controlled by fills) to control your hunger, when you get enough in your band, you won't be as hungry. Just follow a low cal diet, and exercise. That's all you can really do. Are you being realistic with your diet? I know for me, I like to pretend I eat good all the time, but I know I don't, and if I don't lose weight I know it's my fault. Also how often do you weigh? I'd weigh daily or every few days to make sure you are on track, you shouldn't be waiting to see your doctor to get weighed.

Don't be discouraged! You should be able to go 4-5 hours without a meal... that is a good measure of your fill level. I have 5.5ccs and I'm never hungry. I think I could probably go all day without physically being hungry LOL it's kind of strange. Just follow the diet, if you are eating as much as you were pre band you probably aren't following a 900-1200 calorie diet. You can't wait for the band, and the right restriction and all that, or you are right you won't lose the weight. Just do the work, and the band will supplement your efforts by controlling your hunger. I lose about 8-10lbs a month, yea it does take a while. But I'm done 3 pants sizes and 2 shirt sizes, in 3 months, people definitely will notice! Also the fills take about 6-8 weeks before you can feel the full effect, thats why you wait.

I had lost like 15 pre banding, then maybe 5 more before my fill. It was about 5 weeks after my surgery. Your body is healing, and then when you start introducing food you don't always lose weight, but it evens out after a few weeks.

Well, you gotta do most of the work! How's your hunger level?

I would say that is exactly how you should feel 1-11/2 cups of food, 5 hours between meals, and not getting sick. That is what is working for me. If you can't go five hours then it's fill time.

Yea, I think a lot of patients too think it's going to physically stop them from eating, then the doctors end up overfilling them... but it's supposed to control hunger! I mean yes, if you are losing TONS of weight w/o a fill I can understand not giving one. To the poster: You can be filled and eat a variety of food as well, my band is half full and don't have issues with any type of food. Though, a lot of people aren't so lucky. I would say make sure you are eating correctly and ENOUGH food. Some people are so diligent at first they are eating like nothing! Make sure you are eating a normal 1000-1200 calorie diet. Because the normal 1-2lb a week weight loss isn't so crazy that you shouldn't get a fill... if you are losing like 5-10lbs a week i can see why he'd say that.

Yea if anything i'm getting less hungry. I honesty don't think a fill would do anything for me! It's kind of weird, and my meal times are so messed up I eat at like 10, 3, 8 hahaha

Once you are on solids you will eat around a cup to a cup and a half of food per meal. I'd look at calories.. and also pay attention to when you are full. I don't think it's really about the amount you eat.. if you eat enough you are satisfied and full, if you eat too much you will get all gassy and feel icky. But as said above without a fill, you might still be hungry. For me, my appetite is so little, and my hunger level is so low, it's hard to really gorge and eat way too much, and I feel sick if I do eat too much. I don't drink with my meal, and I try to wait 30 minutes after I eat to drink. Before, maybe 15 minutes, unless I just chugged a ton of Water. I think as long as you aren't drinking WITH your meal, or immediately following you will be fine.

I've told pretty much everyone. I don't feel weird eating less.... I just don't eat all the bread, and an appetizer, and a salad, and dessert, and a soda etc etc. I don't feel like I eat little nibbles.. I eat a good cup or so of food, I don't think it looks like I eat special. Oh but I see you were just banded... if anything just order soup an say you aren't that hungry. Or just tell em! None of my friends or family seemed to care, and I feel like it's your own built in will power, cause if everyone knows you won't cheat as much cause you know they are watching!

I'm at 45lbs right now so yay! I'm worried about my American Idol goal. I still have 25 more pounds to go, and 2 months to do it. Hopefully I at least get close!! I'm thinking about doing the "30 day shred" maybe kick my ass a little bit, not sure I can handle it though. I need to start exercising again.. but I don't like it :-/. I seem to lose the same regardless of how much I exercise so I've taken my focus off it a little bit. I'm going dancing tonight so that should be some good exercise. I wonder, do the fills feel different after a while? I had mine probably 2 months ago, and the last few weeks, I'm like REALLY not hungry, ever. I'm starting to lose my appetite a bit. It's harder to eat when you aren't really hungry. Still no problems with being stuck. I'm at 5.5ccs. It's so crazy how this all works, it almost feels effortless at this point. Even if I eat a little bad it doesn't seem to totally sabotage me. I guess because we are naturally eating less. I've started losing a lot of hair anyone else? I'm 90% sure I eat enough protein in a day.. does this just happen because of the weight loss, it's pretty icky. Luckily i do have a ton of thick hair, but still it's ruining my shower drain

I'm 3 months out, I have 5.5ccs in my band, I'm never really hungry... but I still like food, and I can eat anything without getting stuck, this is a typical day for me: Breakfast 2 eggs scrambled with cheese & tomatoes & salsa (sometimes w/ chicken if i need a Protein boost) 2 slices of center cut bacon (or a 100 calorie or less english muffin or toast) (or a 3/4 dry cup bowl of oatmeal with brown sugar and maybe bananas) lunch 1/2-3/4 cup Chicken salad or Tuna Salad (made w/ low fat mayo and relish, or a premade one) cucumber slices or crackers (of yesterday I ate out I had a 1/2 a sandwich and a Soup at panera bread, 460 calories) Dinner: 4 turkey meatballs with marinara sauce and part skim mozzarella. (Might do the same thing w/ chicken breast, or ground meat) Then usually I have a 1/2 cup (dry) bowl of oatmeal sometime during the day, or some other snack like frozen yogurt.

Amazing! Congratulations