HeatherinCA

It keeps me from being hungry, I can go 5 hours without eating. But as said in other posts, it doesn't stop me from eating, it doesn't stop me from wanting food, it doesn't stop me from over eating (granted I can't eat as much food as before, I could still eat enough to sabotage myself, and gain weight), it doesn't exercise for me. I think a lot of people believe that you will eat a 1/2 cup of food and be stuffed! That's just not true. Then they wonder why? Then they get 10 fills.. then everything gets stuck haha. I'm not hungry, so I don't ever really feel deprived, but it's not the satisfying feeling of being really full. Me personally, I can eat anything, I haven't had trouble with any food going down (I eat rice, bread..etc). Some people do have problems.. either because their band is too tight, they aren't careful, or sometimes it just doesn't agree with their body. A lot of this battle is mental, we are all addicted to food. It takes time for me to learn to just not want it. Even if I'm not hungry.

I do it occasionally. But yea, like everyone said it's just not filling because it slides. Sometimes I'll do chili or something thick as a meal.

I chew it, not too often, I'm just scared I might die if I swallow it LOL! It doesn't seem to give me gas problems either.

It was disgusting and looked like dog food haha (and every meal looked the same). Also it's stupid because on top of what's in the box that you paid $400 for, you had to eat a fruit, and a salad, and a veggie with each meal.. it was very expensive. Eat real food it tastes good ahha.

If you are on pureed food you can have it but not for liquids. If you are eating mashed potatoes I assume you could have cream of wheat

Well they blow your stomach up with air during surgery, I know that is what initially causes the gas.

Follow the rules or you won't lose weight. Don't drink with in 30 minutes before and after meals or you will wash the food down causing you not to be full for as long as you need to be. Just start getting in the habit of doing that. I don't take teeny tiny bites and I'm ok, but I do try to slow down and chew my food. When your band gets tight, then it's more critical. But don't "test it". The band is a tool it won't stop you from eating, or stop your bad habits.

I can eat sushi... I wouldn't exactly say i'm "tight" though, I haven't had any problems with any food getting stuck. It's just hard to eat sushi since you can't eat it in one bite. Kinds loses the appeal when you have to cut it up haha. I'm not disgusted I would say... I'm just amazed at the calories in food! But I do like eating out, it's cheaper now haha I had El Pollo Loco for lunch I had one little chicken roll up for lunch, it was $2 ahha, before I'd have to get the whole big meal with 2 sides and tortillas and a soda. I like that most chains have the calories on the menus now, makes it easier to decide, but I hate the restaurants that don't have an at least some what healthy option!

Same here. 4 to 5 hours without hunger, and you should be good. I'm never hungry to be honest, unless something happens and I'm way off my regular schedule. I still get head hunger all the time, I always want food, but it is easier to say no because I'm not physically hungry. I'm starting to unravel my old habits of eating all the time, hungry or not. I'm not at the point like the other posters said about not wanting food... I don't think I need or want to be at that point, that almost says to me I'm scared to eat because it might get stuck. I don't have any stuck issues now, I can eat a wide variety of food. I have 5.5ccs in an 11cc band.

It could.. but I feel like that is cheating. Because you aren't losing weight properly. I know some people do the 5 day pouch test, basically 1 liquid, 1 mushies, 1 soft.. etc something like that, if you google it you can find instructions. I'd just try cutting back, take a look at what you are eating, and track calories for a few days, and how much you are exercising and find out why you aren't going down.

Aww! you can't have soup? or chicken broth? The first month sucks, it's just life... but after you heal it gets better . Just follow the diet and exercise and don't expect the band to do all the work for you. The band will help your hunger, that is it's job remember that! But it's up to you what goes in your mouth the band won't stop you from eating.

Ah man I looove Vegas!! So much food though! But, there are a ton of options which should make it a bit easier. Also you will be distracted so it's easier not to eat.. Haha I had several amazing bowls of oatmeal at Mandalay Bay (I went like a week after I was banded). Go to the Cosmopolitan! It's pretty amazing. I've been using FitDay, but it takes so long to put everything in i don't do it that much.

I buy clothes, just less. Pretty much I shop the same, I just don't buy a lot of jeans, I have some in all different sizes, they all still "fit" for the most part... I mean shirts will still fit even if I drop a size or two. My hoodies and tees are a little big, but it doesn't really bother me.

Yea, my doctor didn't say anything, but for me, I'd rather not deprive myself... I know people that have lost a ton but they eat like 1 egg for breakfast... a piece of turkey and a piece of cheese for lunch etc... I don't like that. I feel I wanna keep a more normal diet, I think that will be good in the long run so I don't binge. I do watch calories and stuff, and I exercise. Yes, I could probably cut back a little bit. But I don't know that it would give me another few pounds a week.

http://www.exercisetv.tv/workout-videos/walking/2-mile-walk-5861 I really enjoyed it!! It was much harder than I imagined, and it only took up a few feet of space (my apartment is really REALLY tiny so thats good!). This is a good one if you are feeling lazy, or it's really cold outside. Or for me, when I walk outside I always day dream and end up walking slow, this helped me keep my pace and she keeps you motivated. There are quite a few variations of this on Exercise TV, and i know there are DVDs available. Actually a lot of nice stuff on that website, if you haven't been there before.

Yea it's not a plateau till you are back on a normal diet for a couple of weeks. Just make sure you are following the plan from your doctor.

I have no problems eating any types of food, and nothing gets stuck. My band is over half way filled. I 100% have to watch what goes in. You can eat anything you want, but you shouldn't because you won't lose weight. Rainydayz, some people can't get down stuff like bread, scrambled eggs, dry chicken, steak, some fibrous veggies.. it gets stuck in the band and it hurts REALLY bad and they have to puke it out. Some of it is your body, and some people get their bands adjusted too tightly so they physically can't eat these things. The bands job is to make you not hungry. I can go 5 hours without eating anything. Some people are looking for the band to stop them from eating, which it will never do.. until you get to the point nothing goes down and you get sick all the time.

No! Just drink your shakes it'll be over soon enough it's to prep your body and your liver for surgery. The first month just sucks, it does, but then you are back to normal. I had a breakdown and all that too, and I was sick with a cold it was no fun, but stuck with it. Also I know the weight loss from the liquids is kind of unintentional, but it's GREAT. Weight loss isn't quick after surgery maybe 2lbs a week, to lose 15lbs in a week is so awesome! haha.

I think they want to make sure there isn't another reason you overweight, some other health problem causing it.

Yea I did that at first, CareCredit or something... I actually had to apply and my parents we both took a chunk, because neither of us could get enough credit to cover the entire thing. But I actually had to get a new health insurance company anyways (mine was expiring) so I just signed up for a PPO and they covered it. It's about $450 a month.. but mind as well get insurance at the same time. Still have to pay about $3,000 in co-pay for the surgery.. but it's still less. I dunno if you can just get a "loan" for this, the thing they had me sign up for was like a medical bill credit card.

For me I only like the pre-made ones, the powders are gross. My favorite is Myoplex Lite, choc and vanilla are good they have 20g Protein each. The Pure Protein is pretty good too, I know they make one w/ 35g protein. But I felt the Myoplex tasted a little better. The Atkins are good too, but the protein wasn't high enough for me.

I didn't have mine there, mine was done at UC Irvine, but, I just got my bill last week, Which is for about $2,500 for the surgery, and another $480 for anesthesia (the actual drugs, the doc was included in the other bill) The original bill says $29,829 for "surgery/recovery," $1,958 for anesthesiology, $1,479 for drugs, $83 for lab, $1,125 for observation. Then it says $25,949 insurance discount.. I'm not clear how this all works, or why it was so high, but after they sorted it out w/ my insurance the $2,522 was left for me to pay, and the extra anesthesia bill. I have Anthem Blue Cross PPO.

I swear by my baby utensils! Now it's so funny to see a regular fork it's so huge!

I'm not near mine yet, but I made it pretty high (I probably need another 20-30 after that). I can't remember ever being that size, so I'm going to revaluate when I get there, see what size I wear and how I feel. I wanna fit comfortably in normal people clothes (like I size 10 or 12), then I will be happy. I don't have much desire to be super skinny or anything.

Ah Jess don't worry, just restart when you get home, just eat small portions LOL Joan! Yea, I hadn't posted about it here so pretty random! Hmm I haven't gotten stuck yet, I'm doing ok, losing a pound or two a week, I wish it was faster, but I think I gotta do more work on my own. Not sure if I need another fill, I can go a really long time w/o eating.