mom24teens

I agree with Jodie. I think you should be able to "feel" your ideal meal size, to me it is utterly ridiculous to think that you need to measure it and not even listen to your own body. Serve a reasonable portion of food, eat till you're not hungry, its pretty simple. Leave what you dont want.

The main reason pouches stretch out is that people have their bands way too tight, nothing can get through easily and thus even tiny meals result in the pouch being distended for long periods of time - even permanently becuase they havent even emptied fully the next time a person eats.This is partly why some surgeons say 3 meals NO snacking, you have to allow your stomach to actually empty, well this is what my surgeon believes anyhow and he told me there's a lot of credible evidence that avoiding snacking and having longer periods between meals controls leptin much more effectively and decreases overall hunger, that snacking keeps the pouch distended, increases the risk of problems and keeps your body in a hormonal and chemical swing that lends itself towards inappropriate hunger.

I know that certainly works for me, I find snacking makes me hungrier and I just keep eating, exactly like some people say that eating carbs makes them hungrier. By restricting myself to 3 meals I can eat enough at a time to satisfy myself psychologically, I've had enough to enjoy the process of eating and to be mentally done as well as phsyically, which i think is important. Then I go five or six hours until I eat again. Even unfilled, I dont really get hungry, and I dont actually require much more food than when I had restriction. My pouch (even unfilled I still have one because I can and have gotten stuck on bread) empties completely and remains unstretched for a few hours at a time.

Other surgeons of course believe in tighter bands and more frequent, smaller amounts of food. But you kind of have to choose one side or the other, eat six times a day and the portions do need to be tiny.

Thanks for your answers everybody - I've been away for a while but am checking back in tonight. All of the above were very helpful - thanks again!

Awesome - that must be an amazing feeling ~ Congratulations!! I can't wait til I'm out of sizes that start with a "2" and when I hit Onderland?? Oh Happy Day!

So....

I am just about 6 months and I think I am at my sweet spot. I had a slight fill (0.2cc) on Monday. I don't know my total fill (I have lost track....)

I am not hungry for up to 6 hours and feel great! Just recently, I have started having that uncomfortable feeling, usually if I am eating fast and don't chew well. I have not had a true stuck episode...have never slimed, PB'd or vomited. (fingers crossed!)

My weight continues to drop on a consistent and steady rate. I purchased my last pairs of pants in Lane Bryant as I am now a size 14 and the next size will be outside of the plus sizes.

I am the closest I have been to having a weight that begins with at "1" than I have been in 18 years.

I hope to lose 25 more pounds and then decide whether I want to lose more or not......

Life is good....

I'm curious about something....

Just how easy is it to strectch your pouch? I try really hard to keep my portion size to 1/2 C per meal as recommended by my dietician. But there are sometimes where I don't have anything to measure with and have to "eyeball" my portions. If I go a little over the 1/2 cup, is my pouch going to stretch out and then slow down my weight loss? Or does it take a lot to stretch the pouch and it's not a huge deal if I eat slightly more once in a while?

I've made the investment of time, $$$, and effort in this process and don't want to mess it up!

I have my 2nd fill Wednesday and that will be 5 weeks since my first. My doc goes 4-6 weeks. I have an Allergan 14cc band and have 4cc in it currently.

My opinion on the not knowing how much, etc:

1-It is your body, you paid for the surgery and you have a right to know the information if you want to. If you doc hesitates, just tell him it's for your own curiosity if nothing else.

2-You owe it to yourself to become an informed consumer of healthcare. Don't leave the office until all your questions are answered - even if it's something you think is trivial, you'll feel better about having the answer than wondering about it.

Tomorrow marks 10 weeks out for me. I have had 1 fill, am due for one Wednesday, and eat 1/2 cup per meal. Most of the time, I make sure whatever I eat fits into a 1/2 C measuring cup, sometimes I "eyeball" it but I am getting pretty good at seeing the correct portion size. My hunger is controlled, and I go about 3.5-4 hrs between eating.

Make sure you are drinking your Protein drinks too. shakes, smoothies, or concentrated drinks that you can get online. My dietician recommended that I get 75-80 grams of Protein per day - and there's no way I'd come close if it weren't for the drinks!

I go in for my 2nd fill in a few weeks - good information to have!

CONGRATULATIONS!! That is an amazing story! Best wishes for continued success on your journey

Congratulations! Your story is very inspiring. Onederland must be an amazing place - hopefully I'll be there too some day. While I don't see myself going to the gym 14 times a week, I have begun-albeit slowly-to incorporate exercise into my life too. You wife & kids are fortunate that they will have you around for a long time to come. Way to go!

Congrats! I started out in a tight 24...I have a job interview Wednesday for a legal dept position so I need a suit. Didn't have one in that size, so off to LB I went. I tried on some 22's but they were a tad too big. I thought...."Do I dare????" I tried on a pair of size 20 pants and they fit perfectly! So...I have a couple suits in size 20 from my last (failed) diet attempt before surgery and went home & tried them on. They are different styles & fit different but the point is, one fit really well, and the other pair I could at least get on...still need to lose a little more before I'd be comfortable wearing them again. So, no money spent, have a suit that fits, and 2 sizes smaller than I started...AWESOME!!

Sorry to ramble on in your post...just had to share too

I just wanted to share with everyone...I have now lost a total of 50lbs! I feel great! I can't believe it! I haven't seen these numbers on the scale since before I got pregnant with my son! Almost 6 years ago! Its absolutely AMAZING!

Congratulations - that must be a very good feeling - hopefully I'll be there before too long

Zeniada,

I don't really have any suggestions other than maybe sugar free Jello & pudding, Crystal light makes sort of a sherbet type thing...

but I would like to know what the 5 day pouch test is. I've seen a couple other posts titled with that but haven't found out what it is. Would you enlighten me?

I got a 2 week free trial coupon from a friend who is an Avon rep - it's some sort of partnership btwn Curves & Avon. So, I took it to my local Curves, and after doing the paperwork, assessment, health history and getting the workout demo, the assistant told me that she had called the owner about honoring the coupon while I was doing the workout. The owner told her that yes, they'd honor the coupon but when I register, the registration fee would go up from $49 to $99!! So.......I did some shopping around with the hubby & found a gym the whole family can join for $55 a month and that's what we're doing. Curves can stick it!

I was 11 days post-op when I had my first alcoholic beverage since surgery. It too was at a post-holiday party. I had a vodka-cranberry (hey-juice!). I had to watch everyone else digging in to NY Strip steaks while I sat & ate 1/4 cup of mashed potatoes....I decided I deserved to get SOME enjoyment out of the evening. I sipped it slow, 1 oz every 15 minutes just like I was supposed to have my beverages.. It tasted good & there were no problems. But, day 4 post-op, I don't think I would have tried it!

Some of it's probably fear of the other person's reaction. For some reason, people without weight issues see those of us that struggle and think we should just be able to fix it. The majority of us have tried, tried, and tried some more only to have little to no success - that's why we reach the decision to have surgery. In my opinion, WLS is a tool. A tool to help us do the work it takes to lose weight and become healthy. We still have to DO the work but now we have a tool. It's no different than a smoker using nicotine Patches or pills to help them quit. No different than treating any other addiction....we need help to be successful and this is our tool. I thought about keeping it quiet, but once I realized how much my eating habits would change, and I would be carrying a drink with me everywhere I go, even all day long at work, I knew I would have to be open about it. I'm glad I did - everyone has been very supportive and encouraging. Don't be embarrasased - you should be proud of yourself for making the decision to make a change for a better, healthier you!

It's so cool that we're all in similar places on our journey! I added all to my friends so I can keep up with you

I'm a V8 fan too! I've been drinking it since the pre-op diet with the exception of day of surgery & a couple days following. Good stuff!

I'm on the "My doc says no" band wagon - or rather - my dietician says no. For all the reasons everyone has already mentioned. Not worth the risk, had to fight to get approved for surgery and not gonna do anything to risk it. By all means, I like to bend the rules as much as the next person, but if/when I do, it will be for something more worthwhile...

This morning, getting ready for work, I put on a pair of pants I haven't been able to wear for 6 months and THEY FIT! Woo-hoo! This should open up the work wardrobe choices a bit

Tracy, as I've experienced it, the people who think WLS is an easy way out aren't educated on the process. I think it's normal for people to think that any surgery that creates a weight loss situation is somehow getting a leg up on the process. Dieting and "Biggest Loser" gym activity may result in weight loss as well, but there is no guarantee that the weight lost will stay off. Note that Ryan, the Season 1 winner on Biggest Loser has gained back ALL the weight he lost. No surprise for any of us who have dieted unsuccessfully, but kind of a shocker for non-obese people who don't understand how he could possibly let himself get so fat again. Skinny folks (and some fat ones) think that diet and exercise will cure everything. And of course, we all know that just isn't the case for everyone. I tell people I had surgery because I admitted I was unable to lose weight by myself, and I needed help. They note how much weight I've lost so far, and agree that I made the right choice.

Anyone who has a negative opinion hasn't said it to my face, except for one fat old woman phlebotomist at the hospital where I had my surgery. They brought her in to change my IV from one hand to the other, because the vein was closing up. I'm laying there full of stitches and trying to maintain my pain level the night after surgery, and she goes off about how weight loss surgery is a waste of time, and how I should have hypnosis instead, because that is the only thing that works. She blathered on for some time, until I finally asked her to stop talking because I didn't want to hear what she was saying. Talk about insensitive! I complained loudly to the regular nursing staff, and I hope the woman got in trouble. She was WAY out of line, considering she was working in the Bariatric Surgery Center of a major Seattle hospital.

Dave

Wow-that was really insensitive & out of line! You'd think that a bariatric surgery center would have employees who are sensitive & supportive of their patients!

Hi honey... Hang in there!! Im on day 5 post op, and trust me, I know what u mean when it comes to BAD GAS!!!!!

The ladies here are spot on, you have to WALK, WALK, WALK and the Gas X strips or chewables do work.

One other thing: DONT be ashamed of BURPINGGGGGG like crazy or even passing the gas the "traditional" way... Lol !

I my husband to sleep on our guest room so I could be free to pass the gas and not hold anything back, and he was happy to be far from my action, i can tell u that...

Things will get better!!!!

AMEN!! LET 'ER RIP!!!!

I was not officially weighed, I saw a scale by a counter on my way back from a trip to the restroon and weighed myself. My preop nurse saw me do it, but she didn't even ask what it was.

I was banded on 12/28 and went back to work today - 9 days later. I probably would have been ok going back at 7 days but much sooner than that I wouldn't have been able to do it. Not only to you have to think about the physical adjustment, but there are the changes in eating & drinking habits too that need to be incorporated into daily work life. Everyone is different...I think my time off was just about right.

Thanks! I'll try it . . .

Is it the HTML code? I think I've tried that but haven't been able to get it to work....this is driving me nuts!!

LBT Addict -

Do I understand that you are already eating solid foods? WOW! I am on a full liquid diet for 2-4 weeks and thought that was pretty standard. I can't believe that you are already eating chicken! Don't get me wrong...I would kill for a piece of chicken right now, lol!

I think it varies from place to place. I have a more restrictive diet too, but I think that is to our benefit. I am 8 days post-op & can have mashed potatoes & pureed stuff, but nothing more and only 1/4 cup at a meal. Tonight for supper I think I got more than 1/4 cup, and I am feeling uncomfortable because of it...I think slower progression is definitely better in the long run. Hang in there - you'll get to where you can have that chicken

Glad to hear everyone's doing so well! I had my post-op follow up appointment today. The doc said everything looks wonderful & was glad to hear I'm not having any problems at all. I learned that I have an Allergan 14cc band...I never asked what he was putting in prior to the procedure. Guess I was too focused on just getting it done. What capacity do the rest of you have? Just curious. I also saw the pics from both procedures, gall bladder & lap band. After seeing the gall bladder & huge stones...no WONDER I was feeling so crappy! Feeling lots better now & back to work tomorrow.