HeatherinCA

Oh for sure! I always justify it too it's just part of our addiction to food unfortunately! I'm trying really hard to pay attention to my body and see what it wants not my stupid mind that wants food!

Yea hmm I could eat hell of a lot of food if I ate till I was "full". I think it's about learning what proper portion sizes are and learning what a 1200 calorie a day diet looks like. I will say, this "diet" is WAY easier than anything else i've done in the past. The band certainly does help, because I never feel hungry, or really dissatisfied. But I still have to do the work and watch what I'm eating. I'm very picky about what goes in.

Decreased hunger is exactly what you are looking for. You should be to go like 4 or 5 hours with out eating and not be hungry. I have 5.5ccs in my band, and I'm never hungry. It's still hard because I want to eat obviously, and I can eat anything, haven't had any stuck issues. After I got my fill (my first fill was 5.5ccs), I felt REALLY full for like 2 days, like I'd have oatmeal and I could feel it in my stomach for like 3 hours, it was the weirdest feeling haha, that feeling wore off. But now I do feel satisfied longer.

It's not the case.. you may not always feel full, especially at first, and it's 100% not the same bloated full we would get pre-op when you would eat too much... I know it was a lot different that I expected too, but the band doesn't stop you from eating (if it did everyone would be skinny and nobody would fail). It's basically a diet, learning how to eat properly. The band in the long run, with the fills, will keep you from being hungry all the time, that is it's job. If you were on a 1000 calorie diet without the band you'd be starving all the time. This lessens the blow of being on a diet. But there is still the mental side of it, you have to physically stop yourself from overeating. (yes the band will stop you from eating like 4 cups of food, but it's still very easy to over eat and not lose weight). For me, my body is never really hungry, I can go 4-5 hours between meals, but my food addiction always wants food!! I have to distract myself and learn that food isn't that important, and I should eat to live. I'm still working on that. But I have gotten a lot better. Also i know you aren't on solids yet, but make sure you eat hard Protein like chicken, meatballs, tuna that will keep you satisfied longer, because it takes longer to digest and it won't slide right through your band. Also your meals should be mostly protein that will help too. Also the standard follow the directions!! Watch your calories, and exercise. I always like to say the band has a hole in it lol!! Food is going to go through.

No 1/2cc doesn't do much at first, not sure why most doctors fill so slowly.. it takes a few weeks for the fills to kick in though. You should be able to go about 4 hours w/o eating. Haha yes I was on Extra! LOL. They film it at this shopping center in LA everyday so we decided to go watch the filming. (actually, we went to a taping of Ellen that day, but we had a few hours to kill so we went shopping and watched Extra film!) I haven't been stuck yet! That sounds scary. Yea, sometimes I'm a little careless about my bites, need to watch it more. Also the fills start to become more effective after a few weeks, that could be why it made you sick?

You can try the gas-x strips.. since you can't have pills, but for me, walking was the most effective. The strips didn't do much. It's not really gas.. it's the air they use to blow up your stomach during surgery.

That's normal, don't worry just drink as much as you can don't worry about getting the full amount, just sip every couple of minutes

Call your doctor! You are probably just swollen from surgery, but if you can't get anything down I'd contact them.

Yea do not go through them! They are being sued for 4 careless deaths I believe. http://www.surgithin.com/ This is my doctor. Dr. Paya. His office is in West Hills, but he did my surgery at UC Irvine (my insurance required a center of excellence). I've had no problems so far with my band, or with him, he used fluoroscope for his fills. Only thing I would say is he doesn't have much bedside manor, if that is something you are looking for. I used Anthem PPO, and was approved immediately I was recommended by an acquaintance and she lost 100lbs. I believe much of her family had too (they did bypass though, she had the band). I had seen someone before him and I wasn't comfortable and the doctor was weird. He made me feel comfortable. It's hard because it feels so weird at these doctors offices, it's not the same vibe as going to your primary physician. Just do your research and make sure they make you feel comfortable. Also make sure you get it done at a center of excellence

It's normal! Eating slower and less helps a bit, but I still burp all the time. It's from the surgery, they blow up your stomach with air so the doctor can get in their with the cameras and do the surgery.

I think it depends on your body and how active you are.

I liked chili the best, oatmeal (not that much Protein but it's filling), bean Soup, I also ate the filling from chicken lettuce wraps (if I was at a restaurant) because it's ground up really small. I'd do 3 meals, at meal times, if you are hungry have a little more.. i know the information says eat like 1/4 of a cup but thats ridiculous, you can up that a little bit. Then in between supplement with Protein shakes, or have some cottage cheese stuff like that. For me, I was anxious to not have protein shakes anymore so i didn't

Not sure what that is, but the band is outside your stomach.. how can it erode it?

I think mine said a month. I'd say if your bandages are off it's probably ok.

Don't worry so much, just MAKE SURE you are doing what you are supposed to, not trying to lecture.. but it's the truth, I know none of us want to hear it. Maybe take a look at your nutrition, count calories and see why. There has to be a reason. You aren't eating 1200 calories and exercising 5 days a week and no losing any weight. Last week, I slacked off, ate a little more than I should, and I barely exercised and I didn't lose any weight (or maybe 1/2lb) and I know why! It's my fault. The band is a tool, same with the sleeve or bypass. You still have to eat healthy and exercise or it won't work. If it was that simple nobody in the world would be fat.

Yep, I got new ones last weekend haha, a Bra too!

I dunno what to tell ya! It's hard for me too, I'm very social, I go out a LOT, for me, It's best to just not go out! I try to save that "Eating out meal" for once or twice a week so i don't over do it.

Yea it's like 75% what you eat and your habits, 25% the band keeping you from being hungry. I'm never hungry, but that doesn't mean I don't want to eat, it's a struggle everyday, with my mind. For me, this is normal! I don't want to band to make me sick, I don't want to be deprived of food. This is my life, it's not a quick fix diet.

Hmm you have a PPO and they don't cover it? Maybe call them up and make sure...

I have Anthem Blue Cross ppo, and I pay $30 copay for my fills. It should be just whatever your copay is

I don't do many snacks, I'd rather have larger meals, but I like almonds, maybe crackers & peanut butter or a laughing cow, or a SF pudding or fudgical.

Just get in your protein! If you are on liquids have at least 60+ grams in shakes. That should be 3-4 shakes a day. Try bean and bacon Soup pureed that has a lot of Protein. If you are adding in mushies be careful, and make sure it's protein rich (I would aim for tuna, cottage cheese and chili, before I'd go for mashed potatoes). The first few weeks, just suck.. that's how it is, but you can do it! Pay attention to your body, make sure you aren't just bored, or sad you can't eat. Distract yourself. The fills are to help you with hunger, that is what they are for

Yea, I would, i wish I had done it a few years ago. I don't think I would ever consider Gastric Bypass. It's just too drastic.. I mean, if you are seriously overweight then I would consider those (like 400 or 500 pounds) But I think with the bands help I can manage to lose 120 or so lbs that I need to. Everything is going smoothly for me. No problems, it's a little different than I thought it would be, and I thought the weight would come off a little faster, but it's actually fairly easy if you follow the steps, and I'm never hungry! which is great

I love just eating a good portion of chicken or solid protein, or eggs at each meal. I don't need to supplement with liquid protein. My new fav is turkey meatballs, 21g for about 4oz (which is 4 meatballs), or even Egg Beaters, 1/4 cup is 6g of protein, I usually do a 1/2 cup.

Yea, I'm losing motivation too, but I know I got to do it! Can someone workout for me?