laura71

I've been struggling with slipping for nearly 4 months now, and finally went in for revision surgery last week. Just do what your dr recommends and know that you can and will get better. I am! It's discouraging, but it can be overcome.

I have almost the exact same schedule...work full time and currently enrolled in 10 credits this semester towards my masters. I also am a single mom of two teenaged children. (and my boyfriend expects some time now and again) The only time I will exercise is from 545 until 645 every morning. then it is done and I have no excuses for the rest of the day. Good luck Laura

I've flown several times since my band surgery and have experienced no ill effects. You may want to take some rub on anti-nausea meds with you just in case. (your band dr should be able to call you in a script for this to any pharmacy that compounds medication) Have a great trip.

All of my fills have been done under xray and no problems. Hope that will be a solution for you. Good Luck and I'm sorry you had to be such a pin cushion!

Well, after my fill on Monday, I was cautiously hopeful..but it appears I will be in bandster hell a bit longer. I'm still hungry while following the Bandster rules. Rethink that...REALLY HUNGRY. Not head hunger either...my tummy was rumbling. AND I got my protein in first, drank my water between meals, and was meticulous about keeping to all the suggestions my nutritionist gave for abating hunger. SO...what did I do? Well of course, my son had graciously made chocolate chip cookies, and after about SIX of those...the hunger abated. Now, I probably could have gotten full on tuna salad or other healthy choices...but NO...my ninny ass had to have the cookies. Today is a new day, and the cookies should be gone by the time I get home from work. If I must have a snack, it will be a greek yogurt! Live Wild, Laura

I completely understand your pain. I gained 6 lbs between surgery and first fill. I'm not saying this to be proud of the fact, but just to let you know you're not alone. I just try and have faith in what the experienced bandsters tell me, that the sweet spot will come, and hunger will fade. All the best. Laura

Well...my dr's office is interesting in that they have 5 or 6 ppl come into the office at the same time for a fill, so the nurse can give directions to all of us together, then a Dr. assembly lines the fills under fluro. The nurse and dr. are great...but man oh man...some of the people getting fills were really chapping my hide. 1. the talker. she couldn't zip it, and when she came out of the fill room, all she said was how badly it hurt. (It did not hurt...I honestly barely felt a thing) But she really scared the few of us who were still waiting. 2. The grandma. She sizes me up and down, then says, "well surely you're not 100 lbs overweight, how did you get the band?" I should have told her to mind her own business, but instead, I smile and say, "I'm a self pay low bmi...and I hide my weight well with my clothes." WHY? Why do people feel the need to comment on my personal choices. The dr. approved me for the surgery, and that should be good enough reason for anyone. This is why I've chosen to tell only 2...yes 2 people. No one in my family, work life, or even my personal life really knows. I've told my best boy and girl friend. I did this for me, and don't really want to hear any comments...especially negative judgmental ones. There were lots of other interesting people who had been banded the same day/week as I was (this was for first time fills only) and ALL had lost weight and felt restriction. I'm the lonely one who can still eat like a pig. (and I gained 6 lbs from the surgery date...all my fault, not the band's) BUT...the nurse reiterated the importance of 1/2 cup meals in order to not stretch out the pouch. So, I've committed to 1/2 cup of food (protien first) in order to start living like a bandster. Even if I don't feel restriction yet...I have to start practicing. I'll get there eventually. Not sure if the first fill gave me any restriction, as I'm on liquids for a few days. Will know better by the weekend. Made it through finals and work yesterday without overeating...that's day one! Live wild, Laura

Christmas decorations are up, finals are nearly over, and I've been reverting to my favorite comfort foods the entire weekend. I did attend my son's varsity basketball game on friday night, and spent the night with boyfriend on Saturday....so even with overeating, I have managed not to isolate myself too badly. My first fill is tomorrow, and I've committed to myself to stick to my nutritionist reccommendations from that point on. It's time to start working this thing and quit being such a ninny about life. I'm using food to procrastinate many activities, chores, and other obligations. If I'd just get on with life and the responsibilities that go with it, food would not be such an issue.

Thanks for the replies, I am mostly upset because there was no real hunger involved with the majority of my eating. I was procrastinating homework and tired. If I continue to eat for reasons other than hunger, I will always have a weight problem, with or without the band.

So, I took a day off from work yesterday in order to get Christmas shopping done. I got a ton purchased on the internet...BUT, also consumed poor food choices while I was at it. 1. today is a new day 2. first fill is monday 3. i am still learning...but man, this is the slowest I've ever learned anything in my LIFE! 4. Put kiddos treats in their rooms (they both have bins on a closet shelf for such things) I had gone grocery shopping and the treats for their bins got left on the kitchen table 5. journal. 6. find a book about patience! Live wild, Laura ps...included is a pic of number one poptart and chip eater...with his sister!

I'm so defeated and discouraged...I just want to quit. So apparantly, I can't even last a stinking month until my first fill without a binge. AND...many people say that it takes them several fills to find restriction. WTF...I just want to give up. Living sadly, Laura

Thank you for the encouraging words. I didn't learn to walk/talk/read in one day, so the idea of LEARNING to eat properly is a good concept. I fell down, so now what can I learn from it? L

For those of you who have been following, you know I have been struggling with proper food choices. Last night it was 2 christmas cookies followed up with our old nemesis, peanut butter. All this came after a wonderful protein filled dinner which left me satisfied. My first inclination is to just beat the crap out of myself, which always leads to more eating. So instead, I'm going to take a different approach. I did not learn to read, walk, speak all in one day, why should proper eating be learned so quickly? There must be a learning curve here...a time to grow into my new habits and to grow into my band, so to speak. SO...for todays list, what can I learn from my eating experiences? 1. Peanut butter is the devil and must be exorcized from my house. (or at least goto my kiddos closets as they used it daily for lunches) 2. For right now, at the beginning when things are so difficult, I do not need to bring "treats home for the kids" that's where the Christmas cookies came from...work! 3. I need to get out my knitting or embroidery to do at night after dinner to relieve stress and keep my hands busy. 4. I have an empty band right now, and things will get easier as I find restriction. Any thing anyone else has learned on this journey would be appreciated. Live Wild, Laura

What insightful words. Thank you for sharing your experience with those of us who struggle with the exact same issues.