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So I had my 3rd fill August 1, 2012. 1st fill doc took out 2 cc's of air and replaced them with 2cc's saline plus added 2 more cc's which gave me 4 cc's. 2nd fill was on July 10, and I received 2 more cc's, still no restriction! Last week my doc was going to give me 2 more, I asked for 3 he said ok. So I have a total of 9 cc's in a Realize Band that holds 14 cc's. Im not sure if my restriction is there because I have horrible pain while trying to swallow! Most times whatever I do manage to eat comes back up! Drinking water even causes discomfort sometimes...Oh and I was one of the people who did not know what PB'ing meant, I am acutely aware now...lol. So is it possible im to tight? I have also realized that small bites are.not the size bites I must take, tiny tiny bites is more like it! I think I may be a Lil to tight, honestly 8.5 is probably my lucky # because the 9 is extremely tight! Im not complaining, I was the skeptic who had Lil faith that this would even work, im a banded believer now, LOL!

I had my surgery 10 months ago today. If you would have told me then that I'd be writing this post today celebrating 122.6 pounds down i would have said you were crazy - that would be way too good to be true! BUT GUESS WHAT IT'S TRUE!!!!!! Thank you all for your support and info over this year - you are wonderful!!!!! BEST OF LUCK TO US ALL ON OUR JOURNEYS!!!!!!!!!!!!

WoW WoW !! Very inspiring !! I want to be like u when I grow up !! LoL !! Banded 4/6/2012 looking forward to 10 months from now !!

Today I am regretting the heck out of wearing jeans that have been sitting in the back of my closet for over 10 years. Kidding. There could be complications. There could be excess skin. In my situation, it was worth the risk. I have a list of reasons I hated being fat. Only you can decide if it's worth the risk for you.

No real restriction here either even after my first fill. I'm at 5 cc in my 10 cc band. I'm not terribly hungry, but I can eat way too much. I've only dropped 1/2 pound in the last couple weeks. (Is this Bandster Hell?) Anyway, 2nd fill tomorrow morning. I hope to get closer to the good restriction. Take care.

I guess neither one of us is at the correct level of restriction yet. I'm not dropping any more weight even though I do have to watch what I eat and how I chew. I've only have one fill so I'm at 5 cc on the 10 cc band. I've heard it might take up to 8.5 cc on this band. I'm holding on and at least I'm not gaining!

Had 2nd fill this a.m. so I'm at 3ccs in a 10 cc band. I'm on full liquids for two days and then mushies. I didn't eat before the appt and when I got home I had one can of Atkins shake. I noticed I had to drink it slower than usual. I just now finished a small glass of V-8 juice and that went down slow and I had a lot of gurgling. I don't expect this restriction to last long, but I'll take even a week of it. Next Dr's appt is in 2 weeks. They said we'd evaluate my weight loss, my hunger and my ability and urge to overeat and decide if a fill is needed. Sounds good to me! Happy to be on the "fill" road.

I'm 5'10 ish....starting weight 337..current weight 209...sleeved 11/14/12. Down 128 lbs...size 12-14. I want to lose another 20 lbs and get to a size 10 [ATTACH]15686[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]15686[/ATTACH]

It took me a year and 5 months to get to 170. The last 10-15 pounds were the hardest and longest part. I was in a stall for about 4 months at one point...and then out of nowhere the weight finally came off. I am figuring I am done because I haven't lost anything since January. My plastic surgeon told me (first time I have heard this from a doctor) that I was perfect weight for the surgery and he didn't want me to lose anymore! I was shocked! wow! It sounds like you are moving right along! Wtg! Keep it up!

I had sleeve surgery on July 6. I think that makes me 10 days post op. I have had a mix of emotions in that time. I was surprised by my lack of energy. My son gave me his cootie germs and they have settled in my chest. I am not getting on the scales until my two week date. I was kind of expecting the weight to just fall off and my clothes to become at least somewhat loose. However, I guess between the bloating and gas, that doesn't necessarily happen.

I've never tried any of the DVDs in the Tae Bo series that Billy Banks does but I've got a friend who loves them. I bought one today at Wal-Mart for like 10 bucks that I'm going to give a try. It's celebrity fit cardio but I must admit the selection wans't all that great. I'm finding it increasingly hard to find out work out DVDs.

Hey, y'all, My surgery is scheduled for Feb 19, and I'm so excited I can hardly see straight! I'm starting liquids on Tuesday, and then on Thursday, I have to travel on a plane and be gone for a week. I have to travel again 10 days after the surgery. Does anybody know if there will be a problem with air travel during the liquid diet phase or right after surgery? I'm not looking forward to it, but it's a family committment. I'm mostly worrying about seatbelts and having a tender tummy. THANKS! :eek: Angie in Texas, US

Ok, I fell off the wagon badly yesterday but today I am gonna pick myself up and get back on it. From post-surgery to the day before yesterday (20th Dec), I had gone 9 days straight on less than 400 calories a day - not aiming for that number but just eating the fat free Soups, yoghurts and jellies up to 4 times a day. Regardless of all the "you're healing after surgery", "you're just rehydrating", etc, I still felt I should have seen SOME movement in the scales - how the hell can you eat so few calories for so long and not lose?? But there I was - regained 3lb in the days immediately following surgery, then have been stuck without movement for a week! Yesterday, I couldn't take it anymore and gave into the cravings that have been bugging me since I started the pre-op. I rationalised it by saying maybe I've gone into "starvation mode" and what I need to do is EAT! So anyway, it was only Post-op Day 10 but I went to Domino's and got those spicy chicken wings I was dying for and ate all four!! My god, they were GOOD!! I ate them really slowly, chewed thoroughly and relished every bite, so there! It gave me no pain but I did feel full afterwards (whereas previously I would have eaten them as an appetiser, then had half a pizza [blush]). I also had several soups and two serves of custard, so I felt like I had stuffed my face all day. Surprisingly, FitDay says it wasn't as bad a blowout as I had thought - here's the numbers And after all that? This morning on the scale - no change! I'm going to just go back to eating semi-normally (still mostly soups and smaller quantities, and just say f**k it till I get my fill. I'm disappointed that the loss is stopping, as I have told all my friends and family and I was looking forward to being able to show off a big difference at Xmas, but I guess I'll just have to settle for the 6kg loss and pick it up again after January... Can anyone tell that patience is not my long suit? LOL!!

I was also baned on the 19 and I had that same experience. I just continued taking the pain medication they gave me from the hospital, and for the most part it is gone. Where are you from I am from Houston. I hope my reply helps. Take Care!

I am only 17 months out. I have lost 110 pounds and cannot imagine life without my band. I have only had a few minor issues with acid reflux, but that only started 3 months ago. I will be able to say in 5 years that I have maintained my weight loss, plus 10 more (which will put me at my Doctors goal), because I do not wont to go back to the old me! I like the new me. : )

mmnairn, I did not have to go two weeks on the dreaded "Liver Diet," that's what they call the all liquid diet. However, I am having to go two weeks on it now, liquids only for 2 weeks...plus popsicles, juices and Italian ice. Let me tell you what you do, though. I started getting KILLER headaches from lack of protein, so I got those "Special K" powdered protien thingys that you mix with water and I mix 2 of those at a time in about 8 ounces of water. That jump starts me w/10 grams of protein from the get go. Then I do a bowl of broth with 3 grams of protein and I'm good. The protein will keep you from getting hungry and/or getting headaches. Also, they say that once you've had your first fill that warm liquids work well in the morning to "loosen" the band, so you could even do the Special K protein powder in the "Tea" flavor and drink it warm. The reason the Protein water or mixes work well is because they're water based. I'm

I'm from Brooklyn. Gastric sleeve scheduled for 10/26 at Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre.

@@longjohs ME TOO--- "emotionally" attached to some of my old big clothes. Made me smile. I really like some of my big girl clothes AND I have some fond memories of places I went in them. I'm keeping a few. But to the topic of weight gain after WLS. I had a lap-band in 2006, lost 75 pounds and over 6 years slowly gained it all back and then 15 more pounds. I had a terrible time with the lap-band, had it replaced early on after a erosion, hurt all the time, finally had to have a total unfill and it still hurt. I could only eat soft foods. A piece of chicken would send me into serious stomach pains all day. Jump to Jan 2015-lap band revision to sleeve. The sleeve is a much better WLS for me. I am not in constant pain. I'm 10 pounds below my lowest with Lapband. I'm 64 yrs old and I know this is my last chance. I am very serious about changing my eating habits and way of life. So I am following the food plans pretty much to a tee. I don't eat sweets and rarely bread/potatoes/starchy stuff. My worst slip-somedays-I eat 2 apples instead of one and an extra piece of cheese. This is my new way of life. I plan to keep this weight off no matter what it takes. It's life or death. At age 64, it's real.

I suffered badly as you are so they consultant here in the UK put me on anti sickness tablets and it really helped. Surprised you're trying Jello the first two weeks should be liquid's only, then pureed foods. I will be starting week 4 on Monday and have lost nearly 40 lbs, still have the occasional vomiting so have reduced the amount I consume to 150 ml and things have settled down. Good luck and God Bless. Sent from my HTC 10 using the BariatricPal App

Sent from my SGH-M919N using the BariatricPal App

I am scheduled for surgery in Austin, TX on 01/14/2014. I only have to do a pre op diet for 2 weeks which is 900 calories a day which contain no more than 30 g of carbs, 10g of fat, and a minimum of 70g of Protein a day. I do a Protein shake for Breakfast and lunch. I ate egg whites yesterday because I hit a starving moment and it did the job. Then for dinner I am eating salads, green Beans, broccoli, or some other green vegtable and about 10 ounces of grilled chicken breast. So far I am on my 3rd day and its not as bad as I thought it was going to be. But I can see what people mean when they refer to head hunger and after surgery when I am on complete liquids only, I hope that I feel just as satisfied now. This is definitely a lifestyle change and I have learned so much already in my journey. I wish you luck on your journey and your upcoming surgery.

Hi there! Now, I don't make "gourmet" food or anything like that--I basically eat what "normal" people eat minus the fat, sodium, tons of carbs, and in smaller portions. No rocket science needed--I promise! If I can do this, you can do this! :girl_hug: The first thing I do is eat out of plastic containers that hold only a cup of food at the most to control portion sizes or I use a dessert sized plate rather than a dinner plate. It's a psychological thing! I usually aim for 1/2 cup of Protein at each meal then add in veggies, etc. Some people can eat more than a cup of food at a sitting which is fine--everyone is different. As long as you're still losing, it's all good! I eat three "meals" a day and I try my best not to eat at all after 6 PM. I don't snack between meals. Instead, I drink Water in various forms and strive to get in 64 ounces a day to flush out fat, keep from retaining too much water, and to stay hydrated. I don't really like plain water, so I got a PUR water filter and flavoring cartridge that I attached to my faucet. I either make flavored water by the glass or keep a pitcher in the fridge to fill up my water bottle. For dairy foods, I'll usually eat the low-carb 4 oz. yogurts although I find that yogurt does not do a very good job filling me up! I do still make Protein shakes with store brand skim lactaid milk (I'm still working on my bottomless container of Champion Nutrition whey Protein powder from a year ago)! I usually make it with about 8 ounces of liquid, 1 scoop of powder, and enough crushed ice to raise the volume to 10 ounces. I buy fat free cottage cheese and eat 1/2 cup with different things mixed in. I might add a teaspoon of sugar free strawberry jam (10 whole calories!) or a tablespoon of yogurt just to add some flavor. My doctor advised me not to add fruit like applesauce to it to avoid eating too many carbs. I eat string cheese sometimes with about 4 whole wheat crackers. I tried the lowfat version once, but wasn't too crazy about it. I also eat Egg Beaters for Breakfast often. Some stores sell flavored Egg Beaters--Southwest/Garden Vegetables, etc. Those are pretty good. I usually buy the plain kind and add something to it (chopped scallions, salsa, a sprinkle of cheese, chopped onions, peppers, and tomatoes, etc.). You can also play with spices as well. I eat refried Beans pretty often. I take a 1/2 cup of fat-free refried beans and combine it with a tablespoon or so of different types of salsa just to make it more interesting (peach salsa, pineapple salsa, etc.). Sometimes I add a teaspoon of fat free sour cream or a little sprinkle of shredded cheese on top (emphasis on little sprinkle--cheese can have a lot of fat). I also eat canned salmon a lot. I'll take a 1/2 cup of canned salmon and stir in different things (chopped scallions, chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, dill, etc.). If you buy a couple of plum tomatoes instead of the big ones, that makes enough to mix in without having a lot of tomato left over to spoil. I add to that fat free mayonnaise or a fat free dressing that goes well with salmon. I do the same with canned tuna. I always rinse tuna (packed in water, not oil) in a collander to wash off the salt, too. That's an old habit I picked up from my dad's diet plan after he had a heart attack years ago. I also season salmon steaks with lemon juice and pepper and broil or bake it and then serve it with non-starchy veggies. I enjoy other types of fish as well (bake tilapia topped with salsa or canned chipotle peppers with adobe sauce which is very spicy, bake any white fish with a can of chopped tomatoes over it, etc.). All of these fish ideas can be split into smaller serving sizes and frozen. I make stir-fry often with chicken or shrimp and frozen stir-fry veggies. It's very quick and easy, and you can freeze the leftovers in small portions for another time. I find it's too salty if I use regular soy sauce, so I usually buy the low sodium kind. I make a basic soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and cornstarch sauce found in most cookbooks. I usually cook rice for my son, but I don't usually eat any because I eat the meat and veggies first in my little plastic container and I get filled up. For chicken, I have the best luck if I use chicken broth to cook it. Dry chicken and I don't get along well! Blech! Sometimes I'll cook a whole package of boneless chicken breast in my pressure cooker with 1 1/2 cups of low sodium chicken broth or a can of diced or stewed tomatoes to keep the meat moist. Once the meat cools, I'll chop it up and freeze it in 4 oz. serving sizes. I'll mix the cold or hot cubed chicken with all kinds of things. For warm meals, I'll heat the chicken up with some salsa, chopped tomatoes, or frozen non-starchy veggies. I'll add the cold chicken to salads, add fat free mayonnaise and scallions to make cold chicken salad, or grind it up with FF mayo and eat it on a few whole-wheat crackers. I use turkey the same way. I haven't quite mastered making pork easy to eat yet. I'm still working on it. I can't eat shake 'n Bake pork chops anymore. Again, if it's too dry, I gag on it! :puke:I do have beef on occasion, but I make an effort to eat fish, chicken, and dairy more often. I do purchase frozed meals sometimes (Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice, etc.). I try to buy the ones that have just meat and veggies like steak tips and broccoli or turkey and veggies. If it's too much, I'll save the rest for another meal. If I buy a salad, I find that it lasts me for a good 2-3 meals. I dip my lettuce in the dressing as I eat rather than pouring the dressing all over the salad. It stays crisp a bit longer that way. You'll notice that I didn't mention the words bread or potato. I do eat some of these, but sparingly. I'll have a toast with Peanut Butter on occasion for breakfast. I can say now that I no longer eat doughy foods like doughnuts or cinnamon rolls. I avoid processed carbs as much as I can (chips, Snacks in the cookie/cracker aisle, etc.). I don't know if any of this babbling helps at all, but at least there's a few ideas in there that might appeal to you! Part of learning to live with the band is changing your thinking--the hardest part of this journey is overcoming what your brain is telling you from years and years of bad habits. If you make the food taste good and look good, you won't miss junk food at all. I feel like I'm a successful bandster not because I lost 100 lbs. in a year (which I most definitely haven't), but because I'm focusing on the good things I can eat and not bemoaning all of the foods I really shouldn't be eating in the first place. I'm choosing to lose weight at a slower pace than some folks--I'm not in a race with anyone but myself. I'm trying to make good choices to be healthy in order to change my lifestyle. I want to make lasting changes, not fall victim to the "fad diet" quick fix mentality if that makes sense. I didn't spend money to get banded and go back on the cabbage Soup diet, if you know what I mean! My band is just a tool to help me curb my appetite--the behavior modification and exercise is all up to me! Good luck!!!!

I clipped out some member favorites from a previous protein drink thread. Unfortunately, I couldn't locate the thread, but here are the clips: "Nature's Best makes a carb free, clear drink that comes pre-bottled and in fruit flavores. Its called Zero Carb and from what I've read the Frosty Grape is the best." "New Whey Liquid Protein is like 4 oz of clear protein with 25 grams and it tastes like liquified jello @ only 100 calories. www.fitnessfirstUSA.com has them!" "My brand is called New Whey Liquid Protein and I get it from: http://www.wholesalesupplementstore....idprotein.html It tastes fine to me and is easier to get down than protein shakes." "...started with Carnation Instant breakfast mixed with milk and unflavored Unjury protein powder. I have tried a few since being banded (10/04) and now use GNC's whey protein in french vanilla - I mix it with oj, van yogurt & milk and it tastes like an orange julius, or I mix it with frozen strawberries/banana/milk and its kind of like a daquiri."

Mine didn't feel 'stuck' but I did have really bad heartburn the next morning, but more in the esophagus than the stomach. At my first post-op with the surgeon, he mentioned that the esophagus acts like a "pre-stomach" when the stomach is full and I am eating more good. I think that I ate too much that day with my first time to try Soup. I am always testing and will now try to eat that type of stuff earlier in the day and try to stick with clears at the end of the day before bedtime. Sleeved on 6/10/10. 14# lost since. (blasted ticker!!!)

Down 21 pounds, starting weight was 210 today's weight 189.. 7*10*12