oldiebutgoodie2

great question (where to buy those wonder pills to take when stuck)...I'm waiting for the answer too!

My dr. said her #1 rule is absolutely NO carboration. She said it stretches out our pouch, and can cause the band to slip, which means another surgery. She said the #1 lap band problem-maker is carbonation! So now, if I want an alcoholic drink, I sip a glass of wine, or a shot of bourbon over ice (both 100 calories). I didn't drink diet soda that often, so now I just don't.

I would have done exactly what you did, except I would take the dessert and take one bite. That way, I don't feel deprived. I really savor it! And I think I get more taste and satisfaction than when I have eaten the whole thing! And I get to experience zero guilt!

Welcome, Newbies! I got my surgery 4 months ago and have lost 55 lbs. It has already changed my life in so many ways. The support group I was invited to go to by my surgeon has only bypass patients and me! So I have really depended on this website for support, inspiration, and information. Yes, the band is just a tool, but this is the first time in my 63 years that dieting is so relatively easy. Don't expect the band to make you feel full with very little intake for awhile. I've had 2 fills, and still can eat anything (I'm at 4.25 cc). So I rely on my dr's advise to eat a minimum of 80 grams Protein (yes, 8-0!) per day, and I also rely on good ol' calorie counting to guide me through the day (the first month was under 500!), after that, it has been under 1100 per day. The protein has been my #1 reason for not feeling hungry. When you concentrate on doing high protein and lo-cal foods, you'll see that you'll be eating a lot of fish (tuna and pre-cooked shrimp are relatively cheap and are chock full of protein and are low calorie), egg beaters, low-fat cheeses, and meat. Large restaurant chains must now post calories, and you can ask for their nutrition sheet that will show the others info, including protein for that serving. Super good luck to you! I don't even watch Biggest Loser anymore, cause I know this is the only way to lose and keep it off!

That ground turkey wrap sounds delicious! I'm definitely going to try it! Thanks!

I'm scheduled to have pizza tomorrow night! My band is at 4.25, and I can still eat anything. Even bread, pasta, chicken...all the stuff I see on this site that people get stuck on. My dr. is soooo slow in fills. I am losing cause of all the protein I take in daily (80 grams), and good ol' calorie counting! I'm really glad I learned the value of protein in all this (keeps the hunger feeling away), but can hardly wait to really have the help of the band to help me eat smaller portions and feel more satisfied!

I can so identify with the first part of what you are say (I'm doing something about it so expect it now!), and am so working on the second part of your metamorphosis-- the patience part, especially during the plateau times! Thanks for the reminder! It's definitely a long journey, and one of our lessons is obviously patience! Thanks! Continued good luck to you with your weight loss and your insightful outlook!

Love your analogy! I just got back from a visit with my precious 22-month-old grandson, and you nailed it perfectly! hahaha!!

I love your attitude! I love your success! Super congrats on your amazing weight loss! And what a great way to celebrate your b'day!-- a tummy tuck and boob lift! Your reward for all that hard work getting to this point! Have an amazing year, and super happy birthday!

Trish, thanks for the referral to fat pad. I'll look it up. Sounds interesting. I always wondered what happens if you reach close to 10 cc's and need more restriction! Guess that answers it! Jonna, doesn't seems like you are doing anything wrong. Look at your weight loss already! Keep up the good work!

Sliming! I didn't know it was called that! I just experienced that for the first time after my last fill. It was awful. How you guys explained it is all that! It lasted for about a half hour before the last "throw up" of slime apparently cleared it. It happened right after my second fill (went from 4.5 to 5), when I ate a SMALL bite of scrambled egg!). My dr. never told me to do liquid diet for 24 hours after a fill, so I probably would have been OK if I was told that ahead of time. So instead, I had to get unfilled a bit on the same day! Now I have to wait another 6 weeks for my next fill. Oh well. I'm still losing, so not the end of the world. So despite my rambling, bottom line is, besides eating slowing and chewing lots, do liquid diet for 24 hours after each fill! Best of luck to you. It really is an amazing, rewarding life-long life-altering journey! p.s. when I come across an abbreviation I don't know, I ask the person who used it.

Down 25 in 5 weeks! Way to go! That is NOT a small milestone! Super congrats!

Nothing to do with weight loss and the band, but just wanted to say hi to you wonderful Australians! I was there two years ago for two weeks. Went to Adalaide, Kangaroo Island, the Great Barrier Reef and the rain forest. Beautiful, beautiful, and what nice people! Wish I stayed longer and saw more! By the way, good luck to you both. I've been at the band thing for a little over 3 months, and despite the few little negative 'downs' (little or no weight loss sometimes, or even once, a weight gain!) it has been an amazing journey, already reaping super rewards (off 3 blood pressure meds, down 4 sizes!). The frustration/grumpiness will pass, I promise! It will visit again from time to time, but like my Mom always said, "This too shall pass." And it always did! Best of luck to you down under!

Jsea, are you are two weeks post op and still on liquids? If so, once you start solids or at least mushies, you will have more of a sense of fullness. But that is the NEW feeling of fullness!....more like, not physically hungry, versus feeling our old feeling of full. It was a little weird figuring out to be satisfied with that new "full." but I have sort of done that with all my diets in the past (remember?!). Except now, the band will keep us feeling that way forever, once we get to our green zone/sweet spot! And just wait til the pounds and sizes keep falling! It is quite the reward. Continued good luck to you on this wonderful, life-changing journey!

Ocella, great advise for preparing for the fill. Wish I had read that before my first fill. What I would like to ad is, when they tell you to push your stomach out and flex your stomach (make it hard), do it as hard as you can, and the procedure will be easier--they will be able to locate the port easily by feel that way. Also, when they take the needle out, ask them (or you) press against your stomach while taking the needle out. That way, you don't even feel it. If you don't do that (like my first time), it felt like a cork must feel coming out of a bottle! Good luck on the mechanics of it. Regarding the fill making you feel fuller than you do now, probably not. My savior is lots of Protein (80 grams a day) and lots of Water in between (minimum of 64 oz/8 glasses a day). I also write down everything I eat, the protein value and the CALORIES. Its different for everyone, but my best lose zone seems to be between 700 and 1100 calories a day. Super good luck to you.

Wow! Just looked at your pics! You look fantastic! What an inspiration! I don't have any rash yet from the apron, but as soon (or if) I do, I'll document; gets meds, etc. Thanks for the info! Even if insurance doesn't pay for it, I want to get Lypo and TT. Did you get any prices in your research (before you got everything for free?!). Super congrats on that fete, by the way. My dr. said the best the insurance co may do is pay partial.

I so enjoyed reading your story. Really an inspiration! I am 63 and got the band in May. I also stopped needing 3 of my 4 bp meds after about 2 months, and the last med was reduced in half; my cholestoral is now 101! I just broke a two-week plateau today. It was the first plateau since getting the band. I also experienced my first "being stuck" 2 days ago after my 2nd fill. Lasted about 40 minutes, so had to go back in to get a little taken out. Never want to do that again. Due to an out of the area emergency, I won't be able to attend my monthly lap band meeting on 'Tues-- where a doctor will be the guest speaker to talk about plastic surgery. Bummer! My stomach is already forming an apron and I am already disguested with it. So I know I will go for a TT, too. How much did it cost to get yours done? What all did it include? How bad was the pain? How long was the recovery? I look at my nude body and would like to be lypo-suctioned from my boobs to my knees! :-) Anyway, thanks so much for your story, and for anything you want to share further regarding your tummy tuck. Continued good luck!!

Super happy birthday! Remember where you were a year ago? Look where you are now! Only better things to come for you! Super happy birthday year!!

Thank you so much for the info. I go in for a fill in two weeks, so I'll ask my dr. about a prescription for one! Just wondering, how much is "pretty pricy?" Can you recommend a brand or website, for when I do get the prescription for one? Does the dr. have to say in the prescription the specific brand? This is all so new to me! I have watched the biggest loser in the past and have seen the bands they wear. Thought they were something like a pedometer! As an aside, I stopped watching biggest loser cause they work so damn hard, only to gain it back again, unless they go into the fitness trainer business! Wish they would do a biggest loser segment with people who have gotten the lap band. I would sign up in a minute!

Good advise, as usual! Didn't know how it works. I'll try it. Thanks!

Wow! Your doctor reminds me of why I stopped going to Weight Watchers back when--- the instructor gave me such awful, accusing looks when I gained (even though I was dong a maximum of 1200 cal a day!), that I got an upset stomach before each weigh-in cause of being so nervous of her possible criticism! Changing WW meetings is pretty easy. But I can't imagine changing doctors being an easy task. So maybe talk to your doctor about how he is making you feel, and ask him to not react that way if possible cause it is counter productive for you. Super good luck!

I very much enjoyed reading your story. I hope when I hit 5 months, I have accomplished as much as you. Keep up the great work!

Good advise. I'd be so scared after an experience like that, I hope I'd have the incetive to avoid rice and tortillas! Good luck to you. I know how hard it is to avoid something you love!