Oregondaisy

I didn't really feel any differently with my first fill. I started experiencing food getting stuck from me not chewing enough or taking too big of a bite. It taught me to take little tiny bites and chew til it's goo. But I really didn't feel like I was getting full from small portions. The 2nd fill, for about the first three days, I felt stuffed after eating. I guess that' s because there is swelling around the stomach after a fill. Now, if I am not careful, food still gets stuck. Once it's not stuck anymore, I feel I could eat a regular sized meal. I don't do it though because I worry about stretching the pouch. I try to just eat a cup or less. I am not starving anymore, but I wouldn't call it full. I have read on here where people are very full from just a tiny portion, and that's what I am looking for.

That is very strange. I have 2.0 in my band and I eat salad all the time. I had a chicken salad for dinner tonight. I was chicken breast, and a lot of people say they can't eat chicken breast. I am getting another fill, so I wonder what I won't be able to eat after that.

Laura If she (faith( shipped something to you from another state, they would have no way of knowing what's in the box! She could use a shoe box, or whatever size "box" you needed, filled with your goodies. What's that saying "Girls just like to have fuuunnn"

Thank you Karla. I have decided to get another fill. I have 3 free with my surgery and this will be my last free one. It is my fault when food gets stuck. It's when I take too big of a bite. The last time I lost, it was right after my last fill. I have to hope that getting another fill will help me keep losing. I have read a lot of people say that they didn't start losing well until after 3 fills. I have to hope that will be the case for me too. I want to be full on only a little bit of food too. While my portions are smaller than before, they aren't small enough. I force myself to stop because I know I am supposed to eat a tiny portion. I hope with another fill, I won't be feeling like I could eat more. Thanks for your post. It wasn't long, it was perfect and just what I needed. You said you're full on a few bites, and that's what I am looking for. That's why I decided to get another fill.I was only that way the first 2 days after my fill. My appointment is 5-21, and until then, I will practice taking tiny bites and waiting longer between bites. thanks again!

I have another fill scheduled for 5-21. I have heard so many people say they really didn't start losing until after 3 fills. I have to hope this will help me. The last time I got a fill, I lost 3 lbs. I hope it helps this time too.

I have another fill scheduled for 5-21. I was afraid to get it, but I have decided I am going to get it. I force myself to eat tiny portions, but I am not full on small portions they way I hear other bandsters say they are. The last time I lost 3 lbs it was right after I got a fill. It's the only thing I can think to do. I have heard a lot of people say they didn't start losing well until after they have had 3 fills. I just hope it helps me too.

I exercise every day except Monday. I read to take one day off per week so I take Mondays off because it's my hardest work day. I started exercising 3 years ago every day, doing a lot of cardio and weight training, in my last attempt to lose weight. I didn't lose then either, so I decided to get banded. I am going to get another small fill next month. I think I can still eat too much. When food gets stuck, it's because I took too big of a bite. It's really hard to learn to take tiny nibbles when I was so used to wolfing my food down.

:mad:Don't feel bad. I do everything I am told. I exercise like crazy 6 days a week. I eat 1,000-1200 calories per day-protein first then veggies. I have only lost 5 lbs in the last 3 months. Frustrated? you can say that again!:tired

I haven't really had any NSV. When I first got banded and lost 22 lbs from 4 weeks of liquids, I pulled out a pair of pants that had been tight on me. I started wearing those and I can still wear them. Nobody has noticed that I have lost weight. I have only lost 5 lbs in the last 3 months, so I can see why nobody has noticed.

HI Jane, Welcome! You were banded after me, and we started out at the exact same weight. We also have the same amount of fill. You have already lost more than me. My surgery was 12-29. I am really having trouble losing, even though I do everything they told me to do. I think it's because I am 54 and on hormones. Anyway, you're doing great! Do you have any problems with food sticking? I am afraid to have my 3rd fill, because of the way food sticks all the time.

I have been exercising and lifting weights for 3 years now. I started in my last attempt to lose weight.I starated exercising like crazy and couldn't lose weight then either. So I'm not really building anymore muscle since I had the band. I took 4 weeks off from the gym after surgery, and went right back to my routine. I do a lot of cardio plus my weight routine, and it doesn't seem to make any difference with weight loss. I guess I am going to have to stop being afraid of fills, and go ahead and get one.

I am trying to get my nerve up to put a profile on plenty of fish. Chrispy said she would give me some pointers on my profile. I need to go to that site and see if there are even any guys in my area. It's in the middle of nowhere. I would say my results were worse that wishy washy. As soon as I sent a picture to some of the guys who were writing to me, they stopped. It was a horrible feeling. Karla, you have 3.5 in your band? Do you know what size band you have? I am really disgusted with my weight loss so far, even though I am doing everything I am told to. It scares me to get more fills because I always get food stuck. Do you have any advice?

P.S. Vikki you have 4.0 cc's? Do you know what size your band is?

That seems like a huge fill to me. I haven't been banded long enough to give advice. I know that with my second fill, I told him to be aggresive. I had 1.25 and he put in 2.5. He gave me Water to drink and I could feel it not going down, so I had him take out the .5. Right now I am afraid to get another fill, because food gets stuck so often. I have been reading and reading about fills, and I have never heard of anyone getting that much put in on their 2nd fill.

Well all you have posted some very interesting things! The reason I went on HRT in the first place is because of horrible insomnia. I could not fall asleep at all, and if I did, I would wake up in an hour or two and not be able to go back to sleep. I wonder too if I am taking my life in my hands because my mother had breast cancer too. My dr. feels that bioidentical hormones are safe and I may be fooling myself, but I am choosing to believe her. I have a friend that went off her hormones, and as soon as she did, her hair started thinning. I think lack of hormones can cause hair loss, myself. I haven't noticed any hair thinning. I have very thick hair. I started taking Biotin as soon as I had my surgery, just in case. I am almost postive that it's the hormones that are making it hard for me to lose. Girls always complain that birth control makes them gain weight. As far as a high protein diet, my dr. told me to eat 70% protein and 30% fruits and veggies. So the high protein diet isn't doing it for me. I really don't eat much fruit, so I am not getting many carbs in. I wish I knew if I should get another fill. I hate when food gets stuck so I am really afraid of another fill. I really don't know if it would make me lose weight either, since I am already eating much smaller portions, working out every day, and still not losing.

Hi there, What other board do you go to? I go to Obesityhelp occasionally, but I like the way this board is set up much better. You sound exactly like me. I have to be so careful on the weekends or I will gain 2 or 3 lbs. It drives me crazy. I go to the gym every day and I know I am burning calories, so it's mind boggling to me that I am not losing. They said we would lose 2 lbs a week! I would be really happy if I was in a size 12. I am in a size 18 jeans. Do you know how much fill you have in there? I am so undecided whether or not I should get another fill. It really scares me because I don't want food to get stuck any more than it already is.

Well it took me 3 months to lose 5 lbs. I lost 22 the first 4 weeks after surgery, because I had to be on a liquid diet. Since then, I do everything I have been told to do, and I have only lost 5 lbs the last 3 months. I am afraid to get a fill because food gets stuck regularly, and it hurts. If you aren't banded yet, I would suggest your read everything like crazy. It's not as easy as I thought it would be, that's for sure. They told me I would have to chew food like crazy, but I never knew that one day you could eat just fine and the next, it sits in your chest like a golf ball.

My doctor only says one day of liquids and one day of mushies after a fill.

How is the weight loss coming along for all of the rest of the over 50 crowd? I am very disappointed that I have only lost 5 lbs in the last 3 months. I lost the most (22 lbs) while I was on the liquid diet the first 4 weeks. I am afraid to have any more saline put in, because of the way food sticks. I am doing everything I am told to do, and I exercise like crazy. It's got to be my age, and the fact that I have a lower bmi. I think the HRT is a problem with weight loss too.

That is a very good question, and one I am always asking. I have had the band for 4 months now. I am still learning to take tiny bites and chew very well. I don't want to get any more fill until I learn this well. It hurts to have it stick, and it's not good for us to puke. I don't have a clue how much we are supposed to eat. I have heard 1/2 cup of food, and other people say they eat whatever they want, just in small portions. I will be curious to see what anyone else says.

Isn't that what it feels like when food is stuck? I know it's not from eating too much because it can happen in the beginning before I have eaten much. It feels like a golf ball stuck in my chest. I am learning to take tiny bites. I was chewing plenty, but taking too big of bites. I am going to stay with this fill awhile, until I learn to eat without that happening.

All of you sound exactly like me. I was banded 12-29 and have lost 27 lbs. I keep wondering if I should get another fill, but I get food stuck constantly and it's painful. I lost 22 lbs the first 4 weeks because I had to be on the liquid diet after the surgery. That means I have only lost 5 lbs in the next almost 3 months. It's very frustrating. I am really afraid to be filled too much, because I hate that golf ball feeling of food being stuck, and I am so afraid of pbing and the band slipping. Who knew this was going to be so complicated. I do everything they tell me to do. I drink over 64 oz of water, I exercise 6 days a week, and I eat small solid meals. I want to see some weight loss!

Whatever you feel up to doing, go ahead! The only thing I was told not to do is sit ups, for 6 weeks.

No Crispy. I haven't had a chance but I will do it tonight. I met a guy from Yahoo personals a couple of years ago. It's just like you said. He's really a nice guy, but I am so not attracted to him. We are friends, but I refuse to let him spend one penney on me. I don't want to lead him on.

You're very welcome! Lapband talk is great. We can get most anything we need answered here! I think it's so marvelous how all of us bandsters help each other out.