FLORIDAYS

It's healing time which is frustrating,.... Try calorie counting to make sure you don't over eat during this time. I used 1000 calories as my target. ask you dr or pick a number you are comfortable with. A few more weeks you should see a nice loss

It's normal.... I promise you those feelings will disappear when you are on the other side.

Try eating 1000 calories a day... It worked like a charm for me. I didn't have more than a few plateaus during the last 22 months and never had a gain. Good luck!

I am 22 months post op. like others have said... I love my band but the band only does 70% of the work. You must put in the effort to maximize results. I am 10 lbs or so from my goal... Not once was I bored with the diet because it's about portions and nutrition ...I did however count calories and limited them to 1000 per day...but I am rarely hungry. It's a big decision. Only do it if you are committed and ready for a lifestyle change. Good luck

I have I only had fills by the surgeon... I am sorry you had a less than wonderful experience. I too went for my first fill and left without one... Because I had lost weight and he thought I was doing great... Ugh..its because i was eating 1000 a day" It was a lousy feeling to wait another month but I guess it all worked out. Good luck Monday!

You will find everyone is different. You might be fine with rice. I am not..even a teaspoon of rice ... white or brown usually comes back up. But that's just me.

I was on 5 optifast shakes which was 800 calories. cold turkey on caffeine and I was allowed 2 sf Popsicles and chic broth if I needed it. and I didn't. After day 4 I was fine. The first 3 days I wanted to die!

It's amazing to me how I notice things I never saw before. There are a lot of overweight people. I never saw it before my journey. You have no idea how many times I see a person who is 100 plus pounds overweight I and I want to tell her all about my band. Of course you cannot do that with strangers but I seriously want too! I think I just want to say... Hey I did this and my health and life is 100 % better...

That's awesome! Congrats!!

At my first consult my dr asked me if hubby was supportive and did i have a strong marriage. I thought the question about the strength of my marriage was odd. I said yes hubby was on board with my decision because he was and is. I asked dr why he asked about the state of my marriage. He said he sees people every day that lose weight and become different people and it effects their relationships. He wanted me to be aware of that. At the time I thought that was crazy. I had been married forever... How could that be? Fast forward 23 months. I am almost at goal and while I still have a great marriage and hubby is beyond proud of the new me... It's different. I cannot really put my finger on it but either I have changed or he has changed and therefore we have changed. It not a bad thing but I am less tolerant than I used to be about certain things and in return it creates some issues we never had before. We discuss it and are working on learning how to live with the new me and the old him. We are deeply in love and I am not worried about the future.... But I can see how if the relationship isn't strong and you both aren't on the same track it could go sour.

Last time I checked we carry a baby in the womb... Not the stomach, I am not a dr but I don't see what the correlation is. There are several pregnant women who are patient of my dr so I think maybe if it's important to you ask mom to go with you to your consult and ask the question specifically. The dr will tell the truth.

I can't eat very well until after being up 3 hrs or so. During the week I have a carnation sugar free instant breakfast w skim milk. On the weekends I usually just eat after chores or errands.

I was banded on a Thursday, slept most of friday and worked from home on Monday and Tuesday becaus I couldn't drive until I was cleared by dr on Wednesday. But it wasn't until about 2 wks post op that I felt like myself

. One time several mths ago I ate one of my hubby's McDonald's fries. You would have thought I ate the whole batch.... My stomach was just having a fit and it came back up. Another time it was a small teaspoon sized bite of grilled cheese.... Same problem. And hamburger unless its very very lean does the same thing so I figured it's greasy food and I stear clear!

Caffeine free hot tea...... This from a former diet coke addict who had 2 downed before work!

Believe it or not no one will pay attention to what you eat if you don't call attention to it... I eat out a lot for business and no one ever mentions it. TheY are too busy stuffing their faces. Since you will be attending a buffet that's actually easier... Take a little bit of what you want and eat a few bites of it... I promise if you don't mention it... No be will ask since its obvious you have been losing weight. Happy holidays!

Ditto... My band doesn't like grease...

One set back early on shouldn't hurt your surgery... But make it your last time. It's just not worth it. I am guessing you want this more than anything ....right? So the next time you think you need a carb... Have a sugar free Popsicle. You must learn between now and you surgery that food is nearly fuel. And the shakes will give you the nutrients you need... The rest of it is just habit. As for the dress I don't know what size you a now but 8 months post surgery I was down about 90 lbs and about 4 sizes I think. Best of luck. You can do this!

I knew this was going to work. There wasn't any Doubt because I wanted it that badly!! I didn't tell people at work until the first hundred lbs was gone and someone asked how I did it. But personal friends knew beforehand... Hubby was so excited for me I think he blabbed first...and then it was over the holidays so they all saw me not drinking alcohol or eating munching at parties so I just embraced it. And now they all cannot get over the difference.

I read once that it didn't effect the calorie content if you didn't eat the skin...l would ast your nutritionist

Mine made me wait 2 months because I was losing steady.... But I was also dieting very strictly. Talk to him about it.

I lost 22 lbs on the 2 week liquid diet. Any loss is a good one and as my dr told me... You learn to live without food and you shrink your liver for a successful surgery Good luck

I think your post is on target in that the band works for you in whatever way feels right. There is no right or wrong way... Other than the part about being able to consume 8 oz of meat or other protein. That seems high to me .... but if you are losing at a steady pace don't worry about what I think... Keep on doing it. I did weigh my food for the first year or so so I understood how much an ounce really was... And I measured out starch like rice and mashed potatoes so I wouldn't over eat more than 1/4c As far as counting calories... I did that too. But I didn't exercise formally but I started walking occasionally after I lost about the first hundred. To date I have lost 208 lbs without formal exercise. But that may not work for you... So do what does and as long as you and your dr is happy with your progress ...good for you!!

You are kind. I feel like if I can do this anyone should be able to. Seriously its not rocket science.... you just need to want to more than anything else in your life. My husband even thinks my journey knocked him down a notch because I am so focused! Of course its the first time in more years than I can count that I have done something for me. ANd I would like to think my family will reap the rewards of having me around a bit longer.

The weather is mightly fine down here!!!