I Have Never Found Restriction!!!

[Lose100lbs 1]

Hi guys, how are you? I hope all is well. I am a new member. I have been having my band for almost 3 years, since May 2009. I have never found restriction. I am ready for the green zone!!! Lol. Here is my story, I am currently 299lbs. When I decide to have the band I was young and uneducated on the whole procedure. All I knew was I was 22yrs old at 320 lbs. I lost the 15lbs pre surgery my Dr. required on a two week liquid diet. After the surgery I would go up and down like 20lbs nothing major. I have an 11cc band, I am filled with 8.5cc. I sometime do throw up if I eat to fast or if I don’t chewy food smaller. I can feel any liquids go down as I drink them, but I don't have any restriction. October 2011 I got up to my biggest 332.6lbs. I lost 33lbs of it on my own with cutting my carbs and calorie intake. My last visit to the Dr. was January of this year, I was 307lbs. and my band was at 8cc she added .5cc to bring me to 8.5cc. I only lost 8lbs since January. I have made an appointment to see the Dr. in May. I want to try 9.5cc, to see if that is my green zone. What do you think? On my last visit my Dr. said that the band may not be for me, that crush my heart. Idk what to do. 5 days before my next visit to the Dr. in May , I am going to do a 5 day pouch test to help reset my band. I just want to loose 100lbs. Is there any hope left for me. Thank you for listening bandsters...I wish I would have gotten involved in this support group prior to surgery. I love all the advice and support you all give one another. Thanks again

[running_scared 125]

Do you have a dietary plan to follow, from a nutritionist or dietician?

[running_scared 125]

Also, my surgeon says that we are supposed to be looking for satisfaction, not restriction. Maybe you are looking for the wrong thing?

[Lose100lbs 1]

Hi, yeah I have a nutritionist. I know the amount of calories and Protein I should take in, the problem starts when my meals dont hold me over.

#I.Just.want.to.lose.100lbs

[running_scared 125]

If you are truly getting hungry in between meals, maybe you need more fill?

[Jen75 33]

I would try the five day pouch test now. Also, are you getting all your Protein in first?

[Lose100lbs 1]

I was thinking the same, but I honestly dont know if I am truly hungry. I have read several post describing head hunger. I thought maybe, that is the case with me. Also, some people I have talk to are unable to foods such as bread, chicken, Pasta, rice...I can eat ALL of these. Is that a sign that I am not tight enough

#I.Just.want.to.lose.100lbs

[Lose100lbs 1]

I was thinking the same, but I honestly dont know if I am truly hungry. I have read several post describing head hunger. I thought maybe, that is the case with me. Also, some people I have talk to are unable to foods such as bread, chicken, Pasta, rice...I can eat ALL of these. Is that a sign that I am not tight enough

#I.Just.want.to.lose.100lbs

[Lose100lbs 1]

Sorry for posting the last comment twice, but for the most part I try to eat all my Protein first. One of my biggest problem truthfully is eating while drinking. If I dont drink while eating some foods there is no way I could get it down.

#I.Just.want.to.lose.100lbs

[Jen75 33]

I was thinking the same' date=' but I honestly dont know if I am truly hungry. I have read several post describing head hunger. I thought maybe, that is the case with me. Also, some people I have talk to are unable to foods such as bread, chicken, Pasta, rice...I can eat ALL of these. Is that a sign that I am not tight enough

#I.Just.want.to.lose.100lbs[/quote']

Depends on how much you are eating at a time. I have great restriction, but I can eat all food in moderation as long as it is not to dry and never anything for for 3-4 hours after I wake up. Are you hungry before 4-5 hours after you have had a meal of good Protein? Head hunger is a huge issue. I deal with it daily. My biggest trigger is "scheduled" eating. Oh it's lunch time, need to eat, or it's dinner time.... You get the point. If I really listen to my body, I am often not hungry ever..... I get more symptomatic like headache, grouchy, etc. maybe you could try journaling your food intake along with times you are eating, hunger level on scale of 1-10, and the emotion you are feeling when you are reaching for food. This has helped me tremendously. If I ask myself these questions, nine times out of ten I am not hungry... I'm bored, stressed, angry, it's a "time" to eat, or I'm rewarding myself to eat. I'm certainly not perfect but it allows me to be mindful of what I'm doing. Good luck! I know what it is like to want to lose 100 lbs. I have 30-40 to go. You can do this!!!!

[Jen75 33]

Sorry for posting the last comment twice' date=' but for the most part I try to eat all my Protein first. One of my biggest problem truthfully is eating while drinking. If I dont drink while eating some foods there is no way I could get it down.

#I.Just.want.to.lose.100lbs[/quote']

That is the number one sabotage!!!!! If you can't eat something without drinking then try not to eat it. If I encounter something like that then I'm done eating. Often times just a few bites will fill you up. I would hate for you to get a fill and be to tight if you are already at a good restriction and just not following the rules. I was banded 4/09, a month before you. I had 5cc in my 10cc band at time of surgery and then had fills in my first 3 months that brought me up to 8.0cc. (they let that nurse practitioner go for her quick fill method) I spent 18 months thinking tighter is better...thinking this was my life now..However, I couldn't eat anything but "slider" foods. I wish I had known about this site 3 years ago. I finally went and got an unfill (1cc), let my band relax for a month or so and had 1/2 of that put back in. Now I feel good, no problems with eating food, feel full, and finally following all the rules. Learning how to eat around the band was horrible and a very hard habit to break! This is all a learning curve and only you are accountable for what you are doing. Good luck! We can do this!!!

[Cazzy 725]

No amount of restriction will help you choose the right food or stop 'cheating' by drinking while eating to get the food down. You dont mention exercise at all, the weight will not come off if u arent doing some. Yes there are a lucky few who dont need to exercise to lose weight but given your weight gain it doesnt sound unfortunately that u are one of those, so u need to start burning some calories. How many calories a day are u eating ?

If u dont put a stop to this now u will continue to gain weight and could be facing some complications from the band as fatty deposits build up around your stomach, Seriously putting on a lot of weight with a band around your stomach is not a good idea.

No weight loss surgery will make the right choices food wise for you so you need to start making them for yourself. Dont buy the food that you know is putting on weight, personally i would weigh yourself everyday, keep a food journal, drink your Water and eat your Protein and dont eat anything that doesnt say 0% fat or 0 sugar or low carbs. If you put on a lbs overnight then u know u need to reduce what u weat and move more the next day. I had a lot of weight to lose too and only by closely monitoring my weight, food and exercise did i manage to lose it all .. make it your mission in life to get healthy and start getting a life again, you have had your moments with food, now its time to get the hard work going... good luck and please ask if theres anything we can help you with

[Lose100lbs 1]

No amount of restriction will help you choose the right food or stop 'cheating' by drinking while eating to get the food down. You dont mention exercise at all' date=' the weight will not come off if u arent doing some. Yes there are a lucky few who dont need to exercise to lose weight but given your weight gain it doesnt sound unfortunately that u are one of those, so u need to start burning some calories. How many calories a day are u eating ?

If u dont put a stop to this now u will continue to gain weight and could be facing some complications from the band as fatty deposits build up around your stomach, Seriously putting on a lot of weight with a band around your stomach is not a good idea.

No weight loss surgery will make the right choices food wise for you so you need to start making them for yourself. Dont buy the food that you know is putting on weight, personally i would weigh yourself everyday, keep a food journal, drink your Water and eat your Protein and dont eat anything that doesnt say 0% fat or 0 sugar or low carbs. If you put on a lbs overnight then u know u need to reduce what u weat and move more the next day. I had a lot of weight to lose too and only by closely monitoring my weight, food and exercise did i manage to lose it all .. make it your mission in life to get healthy and start getting a life again, you have had your moments with food, now its time to get the hard work going... good luck and please ask if theres anything we can help you with [/quote']

Hi, you made some good points. Last October I had begun exercising at least three times a week. I would either walk the trail around my home or attend a Zumba class. I have no problem exercising at all. Exercising has helped me loose 34lbs. I still exercise now, thats why I am not gaining any weight. I do step on a scale every single day. I understand I must follow the rules and eat right. I am not eating hamburgers and loaded fries everyday. For the most I have been making healthy choices. My problem is I am hungry, at least 4 times a night I wake up out my sleep in the middle of the night hungry. I know parts of me is doing something right because the number on the scale are not increasing since last October. The scale move decreasingly, but at a very very very slow paste. I gather the amount of calories I currently take in are around the calories I burn each day including exercise, because thats y the scale is not moving up. Now I know what to do for this problem simply increase the amount of calories I burn(more exercise). The problem come where I am still hungry. I hope I am making sense to you, cause I really value all the feed back from everyone. I have to be truthfully honest, so that you can give the best advice that fits my current situation. My problem is food, meals dont hold me over.

#I.Just.want.to.lose.100lbs

[Lose100lbs 1]

That is the number one sabotage!!!!! If you can't eat something without drinking then try not to eat it. If I encounter something like that then I'm done eating. Often times just a few bites will fill you up. I would hate for you to get a fill and be to tight if you are already at a good restriction and just not following the rules. I was banded 4/09' date=' a month before you. I had 5cc in my 10cc band at time of surgery and then had fills in my first 3 months that brought me up to 8.0cc. (they let that nurse practitioner go for her quick fill method) I spent 18 months thinking tighter is better...thinking this was my life now..However, I couldn't eat anything but "slider" foods. I wish I had known about this site 3 years ago. I finally went and got an unfill (1cc), let my band relax for a month or so and had 1/2 of that put back in. Now I feel good, no problems with eating food, feel full, and finally following all the rules. Learning how to eat around the band was horrible and a very hard habit to break! This is all a learning curve and only you are accountable for what you are doing. Good luck! We can do this!!!

Thanks for the support in believing I can do this. This has been one of the most challenging things in my life. Its easy for people to point the finger and play the blame game. I admit I should be better than where I am, but I dont know how to get there. I am starting over with the band to achieve my goal. I just wish I could get to my green zone. My emotions are beginning to run high because I feel hopeless. I want to be able to eat only 3 times a day and be fine. I dont want my life to be about food anymore. I just wish I could fine a solid answer to my hunger issues. Am I full? Am I listening to by body? I cant wait to visit with my Dr. Thanks Jen75:-)

#I.Just.want.to.lose.100lbs

[Jen75 33]

Thanks for the support in believing I can do this. This has been one of the most challenging things in my life. Its easy for people to point the finger and play the blame game. I admit I should be better than where I am' date=' but I dont know how to get there. I am starting over with the band to achieve my goal. I just wish I could get to my green zone. My emotions are beginning to run high because I feel hopeless. I want to be able to eat only 3 times a day and be fine. I dont want my life to be about food anymore. I just wish I could fine a solid answer to my hunger issues. Am I full? Am I listening to by body? I cant wait to visit with my Dr. Thanks Jen75:-)

#I.Just.want.to.lose.100lbs[/quote']

Your welcome! You can do this. The band is a tool and you have done well since october. The beauty of the band is it can be adjusted for optimum performance. You can do as many "starts" as you need to! :-) Talk to your surgeon, talk to a dietician and then you will have a better understanding. Being honest with yourself is the key. 3 meals a day is sometimes not realistic. 5-6 small meals is probably more realistic for you it sounds like. This site will give you a ton of ideas and support. Remember, everyone is different and what may work for you, may not work for someone else. This is not a race but a journey of self discovery and a healthy lifestyle change. It may take you awhile to get there and just being mindful will help you achieve your goal. Message me anytime you need support! :-)