June 2007 Bandsters

[Suzzzie. 3]

I'm here!!

Here's a story for you:

I think I wrote that I ate Indian food on Friday night? Well, I took the leftovers to work on Saturday and could only eat about 1 cup worth. I took the rest of it to work today and only ate about 3/4 cup... and tossed the rest. I just couldn't do it! There was at least another cup worth of food there... I never used to waste food. I used to be able to eat the whole meal in one sitting.

On Sunday for lunch I ate about 5 of my turkey meatballs, they went down very slowly. For dinner that eveing I went to Panera with a friend and ordered the grilled chicken casear salad. I ate the chicken off of it, and a few bites of lettuce over about a 45 minute period and was so stuffed. I threw away more than I ate.

Today, I was starving so I went down to the hospital cafeteria and got the 'caregivers special' of 2 eggs, 2 bacon, and 2 toast. I ate about 1/2 of one egg, and 1/2 of one bacon... and then I toook 1 bite of toast and it was PB city! After a few minutes I went back to eating the eggs and bacon. In total, what I kept down, was about 1 egg, and 1 1/2 pieces bacon. I gavethe other toast away. - And best of all... I was eating with a co-worker (after I PB'd, she wasn't in there for that!!!) and she had this huge omlet and toast and she was done with all of that before I even had about 3-4 bites of egg down! THis is GOOD for me cause it shows that I have learned to eat slowly. She and I used to eat together all the time and I'd finish about the same time as her. She has noticed I eat slower... I justtell her I'm trying to be healthier and make better choices and take my time - which is all true. So, that was Breakfast, and I already said I had Indian leftovers for lunch, and then for dinner I had about 6 meatballs, but I should have stopped after about 4.

I actually stopped to think today about whether or not I should go for my fill on the 14th. Its 3 weeks away, so I'll just have to wait and see how I feel then, but for right now I'm pretty satisfied with my band.

I'm very sorry for those who are having trouble, either one way or the other, with their band. I know we all went into this understanding that it was going to be difficult, and knowing that it would take time to work... but that doesn't mean we have to be patient about it! I know that I wish I could have woken up from surgery already 200 pounds thinner!!

This morning my weight was down to 348.6! It's been more than a year since I was under 350!!!

[Suzzzie. 3]

WOW!! Sorry for the BOOK that I wrote!!!

Does anyone else have a love/hate feeling about their band? I finally have restriction after my first fill last week, and am having a hard time getting used to it. I used to take huge bites and hardly chew and I could be done with a meal in 5 minutes, bad I know, but I got used to it with my job, no regular lunch breaks, just a few minutes here and there to scarf food down. It is sooooo hard to take 1/2 tsp bites and chew 30 times and take 20-30 minutes to eat. Anyone else have weird headaches when they are eating sometimes, it's almost like a mild brainfreeze type ache. Anyway, just thought I'd post since it is so quiet in here.

I don't get headaches, but my jaw gets VERY tired of chewing!!

[bcrazy7 0]

Hey Suzzie- where are you in Ks? I am in Emporia, went to Topeka to have mine done.

[TexasFire 84]

Does anyone else have a love/hate feeling about their band? I finally have restriction after my first fill last week, and am having a hard time getting used to it. I used to take huge bites and hardly chew and I could be done with a meal in 5 minutes, bad I know, but I got used to it with my job, no regular lunch breaks, just a few minutes here and there to scarf food down. It is sooooo hard to take 1/2 tsp bites and chew 30 times and take 20-30 minutes to eat. Anyone else have weird headaches when they are eating sometimes, it's almost like a mild brainfreeze type ache. Anyway, just thought I'd post since it is so quiet in here.

Yes, I would venture to say we all do! Some for different reasons, of course. With me, I love my band...but I get stuck so much and I hate that part of it. Hubby thinks I may need to get a bit of an unfill, but I don't think so, and I "REFUSE" anyhow! LOL I started really paying attention to bite size and chewing today, and I didn't get stuck once all day. Hooray!

I understand the problem of not having time to eat at work. I used to manage a Garden Ridge (large retail, in case you don't know what a Garden Ridge is) and I NEVER had time to eat...just scarf something and keep running! It's so bad for you, though. (I know, you know that! ) Maybe you can keep a granola bar/protein bar/meal bar in your pocket? Take a bite here and there? It's actually wonderful for your metabolism to take bites here and there all day to stave off hunger, as long as it's good stuff and not junk. Slim Fast has a FANTASTIC low carb line. I'm not low carb fanatic AT ALL, but their low carb line has tons more Protein than their high protein line! (Makes NO SENSE to me.) They have shakes and snack bars. And their Optima line has meal bars that sound positively scrumptious! I always thought those things were expensive, but when you consider how little you are consuming these days, you are still way ahead of the game if you find these might work for you.

[bcrazy7 0]

Yes, I do that with the Protein Bars. I can't eat but a small amount at a time, so I find myself getting hungry every couple hours, so I'll take a couple bites of a bar and it will hold me over for a little while. My doctor said to eat 3 meals a day and no snacking in between. I cannot do that at all, I would starve! I find myself eating more often now, but much much smaller quantities. I will admit that sometimes it is not good stuff, but maybe a cookie, BUT only ONE cookie, not 4 or 5! I have lost a few lbs this week after my 2nd fill finally after being stalled for over a month, so whatever works!

[Suzzzie. 3]

Hey Suzzie- where are you in Ks? I am in Emporia, went to Topeka to have mine done.

I'm in MO actually. Just no docs on this side of the stateline that I knew of that did the surgery! I live 'North of the River'. Lol. Yes, I'm a Northland girl.

[TexasFire 84]

Yes, I do that with the Protein bars. I can't eat but a small amount at a time, so I find myself getting hungry every couple hours, so I'll take a couple bites of a bar and it will hold me over for a little while. My doctor said to eat 3 meals a day and no snacking in between. I cannot do that at all, I would starve! I find myself eating more often now, but much much smaller quantities. I will admit that sometimes it is not good stuff, but maybe a cookie, BUT only ONE cookie, not 4 or 5! I have lost a few lbs this week after my 2nd fill finally after being stalled for over a month, so whatever works!

Boy, another example of how different docs are, huh? I would think that if you can't eat enough at mealtime, then finishing it up in between shouldn't hurt? I don't know! I'm no doc, for sure!

I'm glad you aren't stalled any more, though! Congrats!

I hope you find an answer to your dillema on getting enough to eat.

[insubordination 0]

Way to go Suzzie!

Rhonda, it will settle down. I find fills wear off a bit after a few days. My third was good for a couple of weeks but I notice that I've been able to eat more for the past couple (of days. We had some unseasonably warmer weather (it's still winter here) and I'm starting to speculate that outside temperatures affect the band (hence my not being able to eat as much in the early am or late at night but fine in the day).

Any suggestions for hot liquids other than coffee or tea?

Oh yes. Herbal infusions or 'teas'. I have watermelon, nettle, chamomile, pepperment, strawberry & kiwi, peach and mango. You name it. He's bound to fine one he likes.

I used to drink 8 or more coffees a day and several black (or green) teas. Now I have 1 coffee in the morning and herbal infusions the rest of the day.

[mjsafari 0]

Stef and Insub - thanks for the ideas.

Love/hate - I think that is a good description. I love the weight I am losing, but I hate the restriction sometimes. Definitely different from those having issues getting restriction, I know. I wouldn't change anything for me, I wish my husband didn't have so much sliming and PBing.

[Lisa H 0]

Has anyone ever had a "sweet spot" that lasted more than a couple of weeks. I would LOVE it if my restriction stayed just as it is for the rest of my life. Each time I have eaten today I have had about 1/2 to 2/3 cup of food at a time. I have felt a "new" full feeling that lasted several hours! I am chewing well, but I haven't had the golf ball feeling at all. If this will just last, I think I really can reach my goal-100 pounds by my 1 year bandiversary.

[bcrazy7 0]

Has anyone ever had a "sweet spot" that lasted more than a couple of weeks. I would LOVE it if my restriction stayed just as it is for the rest of my life. Each time I have eaten today I have had about 1/2 to 2/3 cup of food at a time. I have felt a "new" full feeling that lasted several hours! I am chewing well, but I haven't had the golf ball feeling at all. If this will just last, I think I really can reach my goal-100 pounds by my 1 year bandiversary.

So tell me, how many fills have you had, and how long ago was your last one? Before you felt this way, were you getting hungry more often? I'm just not sure if I'm at my spot or not.... I sure eat less, but I'm hungry every couple hours, and I do get the golfball...

[Lisa H 0]

bcrazy7, I posted all the details you asked about yesterday (page 178). I think the only thing I didn't write about was my appetite. Before this fill, I could eat almost as much as I could preband-as long as I chewed well. Let me know if you have any more questions.

Lisa

[Suzzzie. 3]

So I went out for Greek food today. (Yeah, I eat out a few times a week... I'm not big on cooking.) So I had a few bites of my salad, and about 3 bites of pita bread with hummus. Then I went to the bathroom to PB. THen I ate about 3 bites of chicken off of my gyro. Bah. My friend that I was with was the one that drove me the day I had surgery and he said he felt bad about eating while I couldn't. Have any of your friends/family made a similar comment!? Even my friend Judy that I eat with about once a week has said something very similar. I just laugh it off and tell them that "Hello! THis is what I wanted!!" Lol. I wanted to NOT be able to eat so much, and so I got what I wanted.

I wrote this last night too, but again today I was considering canceling my 3rd fill appt on the 14th. I have good restriction now. And I'm going on vacation to Houston on the 20th, so I don't want to be unable to eat anything while I'm there. gah. I should just wait until the time gets closer and see how I feel then. What do you all think?

[LadyHR 0]

Hi, all:

My travel schedule has really gotten in the way of my posting time! It takes me forever to catch up on the reading when I can but I feel like I know you all.

The "utopia" of my first fill starting wearing off a few days ago. I can eat too much and don't stay full as long anymore. And I only lost 2 pounds last week. So I have made an appointment for a fill next week. I hope that will bring some restriction but not too much. I still haven't gotten stuck or had any sliming and I'm not looking forward to those experiences!

I've lost 36 pounds now and people notice it in my face. I can tell in my hips and legs also but this darn belly is still right out front!! How many pounds did you all have to lose to be able to see it all over? Frustration!

[Suzzzie. 3]

LadyHR, I haven't seen a difference at all, but my friend told me today that he can see a difference in my face. That was nice to hear!