Restriction luck

[princess_n_thep 2]

Well, it is official. I am one of the unlucky "no restriction till filled" patients. I was lucky to be a fast healer and bounce back from surgery as if I had a tooth pulled but now that i am week 4 after surgery I can eat like a horse again. I have always been a great healer and knew my swelling would go down FAST but this is ridiculous!! I am so mad at myself for not having the self control!!

I would have never thought I could but yesterday we had pizza for dinner. I tried a bite, then another, then another.... 3 SLICES later, I am full. Geez, I have to get this under control!!!

On the third week after surgery I started my full solids. I have no issues with anything. White bread no problem. chicken no problem. Pasta no problem. Etc Etc no problem. I ate smaller portions and felt full but I had no limits on "what" I could eat. I know I know I need to make healthy choices but after that long liquid phase I am gorging! I am exercising now so that is helping me starve off the pounds and maintain this weight longer.

I realize I have not gotten my fill yet (May 7th) but I am starting to feel like the first official band failure!!! Will I get restriction, are you sure????

Slowly gaining back the 15 I lost,

Jenna

[kimberly 0]

Jenna, I had the same problem with having no restriction after the swelling went down.

I found it very hard to eat small portions and did gain back some of the weight I lost right after surgery, however after two fills I now have some restriction and am on my way, I have lost the weight I gained back plus sixteen. it is very discouraging in the pre fill stage, you are not a failure, your band is just not at work yet. You will do just fine once you get your fills.

Kim

[Alexandra 55]

Jenna, don't be hard on yourself!! For cripes sake, girl, you're only starting this mission. You haven't even gotten out of the gate and you're thinking you're a failure?!? No way, no how.

If you want to do anything now, try just concentrating on eating the Protein first, and having it at every meal. That one little change will help you feel full longer for way fewer calories than Pasta and bread. You'll be amazed, it really does work.

And once you have some restriction you'll have the help you need with Portion Control. Patience is called for here, not self-recrimination!

[bandit 2]

Hang in there Jen. U knew this would happen, even though Im sure that doesnt make it any easier. I will do much better when u get ur fill, ur almost there! only a few more weeks. Try not to get to discuraged untill then. No way will u be a failure! Especially since u heal so fast and u have a good history of being able to lose weight. I know this band will work for u and me.

[Jammin & Losin 1]

Jenna please don't feel alone in this. I am on my fifth week and I feel exactlly the same as you do. I feel like I can eat way to much and then I feel guilty. I am also scared I'm gonna gain weight and I am trying so hard to eat less this week cause I see my Dr. Monday the April 25th and I'm hoping to get a fill.Anyway I just want you to know that I know how you feel and I know once we get get a fill it will get better.

[Zoe 6]

OK, take a deep breath and repeat the mantra: This time is for healing. Weight loss comes later. Yeah, it's frustrating, especially if you lost a lot of weight right after banding (as you have) -- but it's just physiology. You're not a failure. You're normal. Of course you're going to be able to eat a lot; your body doesn't even know it has a band right now! Just hang in there till you get your first fill. Even if you don't hit the legendary "sweet spot" the first time around, you'll probably notice a big difference. So don't beat up on yourself, or we'll have to kick your ass.

[the best me 6]

Yeah, I'll trade places with you!!! I could barely keep a sip of broth from refluxing, I've been so tight and swollen. I want PIZZZA!!!!

You can do this, and you will! You are not a failure!

[Feel2Young2B40 0]

Hi Princess! Me too...same exact thing. No problems now except in the am. By dinner time I feel like I could eat a cow...ok, maybe just a calf but definitely more than I thought I would be able to at this point. I can't wait for my fill on 5/4. Can't come too soon! Good luck! Laura

[princess_n_thep 2]

Thanks everyone. I know I know, and I knew I shouldn't get so darn frustrated but with wearing a uniform everyday to work (and bought it after the 15 lbs) I am nervous and anxious. I am counting the days till May 7th for my first fill!!! I knew and read about no restriction but of course, I thought nahhhh, it won't happen to me. Well darn it, here I am. I knew it, but didn't really sink it in.

I really truly want this band to work but I need to realize that it isn't magic and I need to work WITH it.

I reallyyyyyyyy need to eat more healthy. It really sucks eating with everyone at work because we are constantly eating out. But if I bring my dinner, I don't get to socialize like I need to at a new job.

((confession time)) tonight, a BIG Chipotle's burrito, stuffed with everything. I ate 1/2, then ate the other 1/2 about 2 hours later. Man, I am a glutton for punishment! STEP AWAY FROM THE FOOOOOOOOD! I really need to try just eating healthy and I would be okay. food just tastes sooooooo good now that I had the 3 weeks from hell with that liquid crap.

jtk tnhfz(*u uvj[aqi kiJ25^@43U5 32994 V ((banging my head on the keyboard))

sighhhhh!

thanks for the words of encouragement though everyone! I need it!

[dallasdoll 0]

i am concerned about my band too.. i just had the thing put in friday and now i am back to eating solid foods with NO problems... NONE. My incisions are still sore and i have trouble laying on my left side... but... no food problems... and i am kinda dissapointed.

i dont think i should be able to eat SO EASILY just 4-5 days after surgery...

is this normal?

plus i have only lost 2 pounds! 2 POUNDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! uh....hmmmmmmm

[roseann 0]

Hey there Jenna, I am in the same boat. I got banded on 3/22/05, and can't even get to the the 10 lb. loss. I am at 9.6. I CAN eat alot, but am really trying not to. I am hungry in the a.m., first thing, and try to wait til 9 for Breakfast. Eating Protein first does fill me up, tho, so it works. I have been on foods for almost 3 weeks now, and have no problems with anything. Haven't tried pizza tho. I know this is the beginning, but I do get depressed because I thought it would come off quicker when you eat less calories. I feel like you do, princess, a failure. I go for my first fill in 2 weeks, so hopefully it will help with the cravings and hunger. Hang in there, I keep telling myself it will only get better.

[gunn4ya 0]

Jenna,

I am 3 weeks out and I am beginning to feel hungry. Before Sunday I didnt even feel hunger. So I would say that I too am healing but I do notice when I start to eat I get full faster. I am still not able to eat a lot in one sitting so I try to do breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sometimes dinner is even too much. Thanks for sharing your experience and remember to fill up on those non-cal liquids. I just bought me some crystal light.

[Penni60 45]

OK listen up you guys. Your body needs to heal and the band needs to settle for at least the first 2 weeks. And who is eating solid foods a week post surgery? That person should have their hand smacked. I was on liquids for a week then mushie's for a week then solids. The weight you lose in the first week or two is all Water. And it gives the body time to recuperate from the assault of the surgery. Don't start MAKING it do something it isn't ready for. GEEZ!!! SHESH!!!

I say all that with LOVE. The time for the actual weight loss will come. I promise.

[QWINNER 0]

Penni,

Since I am so new here, I was waiting for someone as loving and caring as yourself to say something about eating solids a couple of days after surgery. My doctor was more strict. Clear Liquids 1st week, liquids 2nd week, 3rd and 4th week mushies and week 5 stepping up to solids. This time was a wonderful opportunity to lose weight without really trying. It is so important to follow your dr's recommendations. Humans can live on liquids for weeks and still get ample nutrition. Try taking on a new hobbie or walking if you feel very hungry. We tend to want more the things we can't have - like eating big after banding. As time passes, food becomes less important but you need to substitute another behavior for eating. I ask myself, what has food done for me? I answer - nothing but make me fat. Food is not my best friend anymore, it is a mere acquaintance. Good luck and listen to penni about the liquids or I have a feeling she will personally come and smack your head.

[Banded14yr 2]

I think that patience is the hardest thing for new bandsters. Heck, I'm probably considered an old bandster and I still struggle with patience.

I didn't have any restriction after surgery or after my first fill. I finally had restriction after my second fill, but after a "tweak" fill I lost all of my restriction and feel like I've had to start from scratch again. Needless to say, I've had to learn the meaning of patience. I too want the weight to start dropping off, but you need to be patient until you get the right restriction level and most of all you need to try your best to take care of yourself in the process.