Any one in NW WA

[sue11 0]

fleminld...

How's the "real food" going, I bet it tastes WONDERFUL!

My "sweet spot" was where I could eat about 1 - 1 1/2 cup(s) of food for 2 meals a day, I had a protien drink for Breakfast and 2 other Snacks. At that point I could eat really healthy food (protien, then veg/fruit) and I felt satisfied for several hours after eating. That is the routien I had when I was dropping steadily. It took me 4 fills to get to that point, so be patient with yourself and your band. It might take a little while and a few fills to get the point where your band is really working as a great tool. Make sure you make good choices and exercise as you get there, and you WILL get there!

Sue

[sue11 0]

By the way...

I had my EGD yesterday and my band has not moved. :smile2: I should be to get a fill on Sept 1 when I go in to get the full results from my test, but he did tell me the band look fine. I'll be so glad to re-fill...I can literally eat ANYTHING and it scares me. I'm still bouncing within a few lbs in my weight, so I'm please that I haven't gained while being unfilled, but I am so convinced that my band is the best decision I ever made for myself, and I will use it for life, I am and always will be a food adict...but my band helps me not be an obese food adict

Sue

[fleminld 0]

Sue, glad to hear all is well with your band. I had my first solid food yesterday. Had honey maple glazed piece of salmon. Today i am going to try chicken. I did notice a little difference between how full i felt with the salmon vs the mushy. I am craving some fruit, but was told to just have one new food a day to begin with. But peaches sound good right now. I am just hoping that my body decides to let go of some weight this week, no weight loss last week.

[sue11 0]

Hey Mer...

Did you make it to St Joe's last week, I'm really curious who's leading now. My daughter was leaving for college the next AM, so I needed to be home.

Not sure yeat what I'm doing tomorrow night, but maybe I'll be able to head to the harbor.

Sue

[fleminld 0]

whooo hoooo 2 more days until doc visit and first fill. sure do need it.

[CindySue 0]

Hi Everyone,

I'm still waiting to be banded(9-23) seems like forever away:frown: Fleminld how's things going with you?Glad to see you seem to be doing ok. Any tips to pass along? I am getting really anxious. Take care I gotta get my grandaughter out of the tub.

[fleminld 0]

Cindy glad to hear you got your date. Not much new with me, I go in for my 1 month check up with dr bock tomorrow morning and hopefully get my fill. I am not looking forward to going back to work thursday.

[sue11 0]

Well...finally had my fill today (a week later than I thought) and was very surprised to find out I had NOTHING in my band. I'm hoping it's not a leak...Doc tested it in the office and it didn't show a leak (though the test is not conclusive). I think the doc must have dislodged the needle after he pulled out all the Fluid (to measure), he thought he put back 2.8 out of the 3.3 he removed, but he eveidently didn't put any back.I have had NO restriction since the unfill, and I am SO convinced that I made the absolute right decision when deciding to get the band. I did OK on the scale for the first 2 weeks, but then a car accident keep me from exercizing...9 #'s in 4 weeks!!! I'm back to walking now, and my band is at 3.0, I know I can get control back now...I'm SOOOOOOOO glad I banded!Sue

[sue11 0]

Hey Mer...

How was your meeting last night. I was in the harbor that afternoon and really wanted to stay, but it's swim season (there's either Water polo or swim meat almost every Thursday PM). I had my vein surgery on Tuesday at the Doc across the street from Borders. I'll be really glad when I get all this over with. They did a bunch of 1/4" incisions to get the veins out...28 of them to be exact...ouch. I get to do the other leg (which is by far the worst) in 2 weeks. Oh weel, it's all covered by insurance...on my way to "?pretty?" legs!

I still don't feel any restriction from my fill...I'm beginning to worry about a leak!?! I might have to get my gallbladder out after-all...to pay for repair surgery.

Hope to see you soon!

Sue

[moggie 0]

hi--i had dr. oh--banded 4 wks this thurs...i was self-pay. i live in kirkland.

[Jewels68 0]

I'm in Monroe, WA. I will be having surgery in Nov. with Dr. Michaelson. I can't wait. I had to wait for three months so my insurance would pay for it. It will be worth it. I've been on Weight Watchers since June 24th and I have loss 28 pounds. My mother in law was banned in July in Mexico. She's doing great so far.

[fleminld 0]

hi Moggie and jewels. Jewels your lucky your ins only had u waite 3 months . from time i put in for the surgery to surgery day it was 10 months for me. It only took 3-4 months for the approval part.

Sue when you felt restriction, how much could you eat at a meal.

[sue11 0]

fleminld...I think I used my band a little differently than what some do. My doc always says I should be able to eat 2-4 oz and be full. There were times that I was that tight, but it didn't work well for me. If all I could eat was a few bites & I would feel full, but then I was hungry in less than an hour after eating. I kept my band a little looser so that I could eat a little "bigger" meals.I have a protien drink for breakfast then about 10-11am I'd have a cup of cottage cheese. I ate 2 meals (lunch & dinner) that would be about the size of a "lean cuisine" (probably 1 to 1 1/2 cups of food). I also had afternoon and evening snacks...Fiber One bars are one of my favorites. I certainly didn't starve, In fact when my calories were too low I plateaued (starvation mode).I found that the system of protien first then veggies...fruit...and carbs last worked best (keeping that carbs real low). I also tried to keep most of my carbs earlier in the day. My band was never so thight that I couldn't eat good food (meat & vegetables...lots of salad).Everybody's got to find what works for themselves...but this is what worked for me, 100 lbs in 9 months...20 from goal, and I've felt sooooo healthy the whole time. People keep telling me "You don't look like you've had gastsric surgery...you don't look sick"This is probably more info than you really wanted, but I can't sleep tonight & I need to remind myself of how I should be eating. My band is totallly unfilled right now and I've fallen off the wagon...I need my band back!

[fleminld 0]

I am up to eating around 1100-1200 calories a day, maybe loosing a pound a week. Most of it is my control. I can eat a dinner lean cuisene meal and be hungry again in 2-3hrs. I have only had the 1 fill, going in for another in little over a week. I usually am eating 6 oz of meat and 1 and 1/2 cups of mixed veg's. lately found that a cup kashie go lean and a yogurt mixed up keeps me pretty full for 3 hrs. I am still eating way over what my doc recommends and have maybe once or twice felt like i ate to fast. Have yet to find something I cant eat. was just not sure what to expect when i do finally feel some restriction and eating real food. only time i felt restriction or where i had to go slowly on what i drank or ate was the first week after surgery cause of all the swelling. I am still loosing and not gaining so that is good for me, but so far just feel like im still doing weightwatchers on my own without the band to aid me.

[sue11 0]

fleminld...i know exactly where you're at. It took me 4 fills to feel restriction. It's frustrating to go through all this and still feel like you're just "white knuckling it". You will get there, you'll get to that sweet spot and you'll be so glad you have your band as a tool. You'll also know that you can suceed and you are in control...you're proving that right now. Hang in there, "bandster hell" is not forever.Sue