B-52

I'm one that weighs myself every morning, then again if I go to the gym. It does not bother me, I am used to how weight can go up, then down, then up again. I can miracously loose 5 lbs overnight, then gain 4 lbs back the next day, then drop one the following, etc, etc. But the average does go down slowly.

I was banded a little over a year ago, Jan. 2011. I hit my personal goal a few weeks after my one year bandiversary. My band is Tight. I prefer it that way. It gives me constant feedback with every swallow. When I do eat, my portions are held to a very small amount, then I have to stop. I am rarley hungry during the day. If I keep myself occupied, I forget about food altogether. I have gone well over 12 hours without eating, not on purpose but because I was doing other things. When I'm home sitting in front of the TV, I do find myself grazing on different things like chips and salsa, etc. I don't count calories, track my food intake etc. Since my food intake is limited all I need to do is make wise food choices and you don't have to be a rocket scientist to know what's good for you and what's not. Grazing or snacking all day does nor bother me at all, when I do, because when I do it is not in addition to meals, it would be instead of meals. You have to look at the big picture, how much have I eaten for the entire day? I cannot eat ANYTHING first thing in the morning. So for the past year I have a high Protein smoothie for Breakfast, with added fruit and a additional protein additive for 40 gms to start the day. This, plenty of Water, and the band takes away all food cravings for the full day. I have to force myself to have lunch, and then it is only Soup or someting. Bad foods, such as McDonalds drive thru's or wendy's, just will not work. Even if I wanted to, I cannot eat those types of food without getting stuck. So there are plenty of foods, and old bad habits, that simply don't exist for me anymore. Taste buds change also with the band....things I used to crave, like ice cream, are just not appeallng anymore. I can walk into a room full of food at a party, and most foods there turn me off. It's a nice problem to have. I'm at a point now, where I am starting to be concerned about loosing too much. I'm still loosing, although very slowly now, but thinking I should get a slight unfill. See where it goes between now and my next Dr.'s visit in May.

Supervised diet for me was a big waste of time. I've been on diets before, know all the rules, and still failed at every one of the. Even the 6 month supervised diet my Insurance had me complete...started out ok, then started to gain the weight back. Only reason I had to do the diet was becuae the Insurance co. wanted it on record that I have attempted a medically supervised weight loss program, signed off by a Doctor. Big waste of time. And Oh yea, almost forgot....my insurance did not pay for the weight loss program, so it cost me $180 dolloars a week, out of my pocket. That included the office visit, shakes and protein bars. Every week for the first 3 months, then every 2 weeks for the 2nd 3 months....OUT OF POCKET....You do the math!!! BIG WASTE OF TIME.....Just another hoop to jump through before I can get on with the real weight loss.

I'm actually in the middle of the state....straight east on 195 from Trenton to the Shore. I'm 1-1/2 miles from Spring Lake - Belmar beaches. Been banded a little over 13 months now, met my goal over a month ago.

You are still very early, and a lot of things you have learned to do, although very good lessons, do not apply to you yet untill your band is "Turned On" and working as it is intended which takes a few fills to acheive. For instance, they tell you not to drink water with your meals. You probably could being where you're at right now, but when you get some real restriction drinking while eating would be a disaster. So learn not to do it now. But to answer your question, unfortunately, you are going to have to learn that for yourself, and as it was for me, it was a school of hard knocks getting stuck, experienceing pain and discomfort, until I learned the hard way what to stay away from and what is acceptable, not to mention you are going to have to learm new eating techniques also. Will not be able to eat like you used to.

1 year and 3 months with less than 1/2cc????? You need another Dr.!!

Of course, everyone is different......but from the people I know, 4cc's is nothing. Things usually don't happen untill 6-7cc's.

Now you have a total of 5.6cc's? A lot depends the size of your band. Typically it is a 10cc band. Do you feel anything when you swallow? Can you gulp your Water down?

Being banded as long as you have, what would you consider the basics are? I have been banded 13 months, and to be honest, I really don't think about what I should or should not do. I have grown accustomed to a different way of eating, I have learned, perhaps the hard way, there are some foods I choose to ignore. When I eat I still get the same signals telling me it's time to stop. I very rarely get stuck anymore because I know how it is caused, in my case. Perhaps your band is a little too loose and you no longer get any feedback from it. My band "Talks" to me all the time. Trick is to learn how to listen to it. Being banded as long as you have, this is something you probably know. So why did you loose it?

Resturants are a challenge for me, not because of what I might eat, but because I have to search the menu for something I CAN eat, Band Friendly Foods. Many of your chain resurants like applebees, Outback, etc, have lots of Beef or Fried food entre's which I cannot eat. Pasta is wasted calories IMO. Once I determine what is safe, then from there I choose what is the most nutrional in value. NOT BASED ON CALORIES! or Portion Size. I eat what I can, and bring home the rest. No appetizers or salad, that would only fill me up and be my meal! I can always pick at my Wife's appetizer. Of course, no drinking with my meal,only before. And because I get full very fast, there's no chance for dessert. For me, it is no longer about dieting...But eating with and following the Band's Rules.

It is normal for your body to "Scream" for food after excercising. Your metabolism does kick up a gear. You just used up fuel and the body wants it to be replenished. Don't give in and you will loose a lot of weight. Give in and it will even itself out, aside from muscle toning, it would have beeen as though you did not exercise at all. The answer is Protein! There are many "Recovery" shakes, drinks, bars you can use to satisfy the cravings. Just be mindful of the calories.

Hiccups indicate I went one step too far, stop and see if it progresses to a stuck. The band sends a signal to the brain that you are full, but you don't have the feeling of being full. This can be 24/7' curbing your appetite and taking away cravings if you listen to your band and not your head. I have gone full days without any desire to eat. I know I'm finished by 2 things. First, I just loose interest and don't want to continue anymore. 2nd, is persistent pain, telling me my pouch is full and I need to stop before damage is done.

No fill yet? I hear they should be larger, and it does take more for any effect.

Be honest with your Dr. Don't tell him what he wants to hear. Tell him you are hungry so bad you can't stand it anymore!

I have a 10cc band so yes, I am extremely tight. Not for everybody but many people here do prefer it. And no floro, just a fill, drink a cup of Water and go home.

First, I have learned to say that "Everyone Is Different" and you all have your own ideas and philosophies. But this is MY Story. Surgery to Week #4 Lost weight...who couldn't? With 4 weeks of liquids, mushies, gas pains, itchy incisions, etc, etc. Week #4 to #8 Got my first fill,...4cc's, and NOTHING! What I did get, since I was all healed and recovered from surgery, was my old appetite and hunger come roaring back like a Bear coming out of hibernation! Hungry all the time. I was very discouraged and angry Thought I made a BIG MISTAKE! The more people told me I had to count calories, etc, the more angrier I got! BANDSTER HELL! I actually GAINED WEIGHT during this period. Week #8 to #12 At week #8, my second visit, the Dr. asked me why I thought I had gained weight. I was honest, told him I was as hungry as I was before the surgery! He smiled, pointed to the Yellow-Green-Red chart on the wall, and said "This is where I want you to be" This is the goal. He gave me my second fill, 2cc's for a total of 6cc. This was the TURNING POINT! I was no longer in Bandster Hell. For this first time I felt that this was actually going to work! My portion sizes got very small, I finsihed my meals after eating very little and satisfied, and I was not hungry in between meals. My confidence rose, I became very optimistic. I started to excercise more frequently because now I felt I wa actually doing something productive! And I was loosing weight again, steadily, with little effort. Problem was...it was NOT PERMANENT! It would come and go, from day to day. But I was excited because I KNEW it was there and I was not wasting my time. Week #12 to Present 3rd visit with Dr. Pleased with my weight loss. Pointed to the Yellow-Green-Red chart, and asked where do I think I am at? I said borderline Yellow-Green, weaving in and out. He gave me my 3rd (and final) fill, 1cc for a total of 7cc. He said he hoped that would kick me up to the green, and It DID! PERMANENTLY 24/7! That was last May. Since then I have stoipped counting calories, stopped worrying about portion sizes, I eat when I'm hungry (which is not often) and I stop when I'm satisfied. I won't say the last fill did not bring it's own problems and challenge...It did. But I was determined to work them out and not go back to "Sometimes" feelings I had one step before. It took about 3 weeks of getting frequently stuck, along with all the other signs of perhaps being too tight. But then either the band settled in, or I adapted and changed my ways (latter more accurate) I fell into a "Groove" That was 8-9 months ago and have been living a "Normal" life ever since. I consider myself a success. If I never loose another #, that would be just fine with me. 2 weeks ago the Dr. gave me 1/2cc. We both agreed I did not need it, but then agreed to do it just to see what happens. Well I started to loose again, slowly. But when I see him in June, I may ask to get that 1/2cc removed. I can always get it put back in at a later date. That's what I consider maintenence...the fine tweaking. So there, that's my story. Yours may be different, or have different views. But the end result is all about loosing weight, and how you get there is up to you. And that's all that really matters.

That's it! I call it "Graduate School" or "Advanced Learning". Not something for newbies to worry about, yet, but go still good to know.

First, this will only make sense to people who have been banded a while, and in the Green Zone to where one can know the behavior of their bands, IMO. Having said that, I can tell differences in my band from day to day, even from morning to evening. I believe there are times that my band will become dilated, enlarged, probably simply from day to day use. And my portions become larger, and I feel less restriction. When I detect this, I will go to straight liquids for a full day maybe 2. Then reintroduce food with mushies. Sort of a abbreviated post op diet. For me, this always tightens my band back up. The 5 day pouch test is someone's clever way of doing the same thing, but putting the process into a 5 day schedule.

Definitely a mental thing. We are used to being fat so long our brains are programmed. People are now asking me when am I going to stop loosing? You look good right where you are. But when I look in the mirror, I don't see it. Not sure what I'm supposed to see.

Is it right after or during eating? My band is tight and I find spicy foods sitting there can give me something similar to reflux.

Yep...me too. No longer have all the "Whale" or "Seal" Blubber. Sitting here watching TV and I need that electric heater pointed at me!

Can't say what the cause of your issues are, but one thing this band will do as you progress along....is for you to re-educate yourself with different eating habits, procedurews, and types of food. If not, you will always have problems and never be able to continue on. There are certain foods I had to say good-bye to. Small sacrifice to a new me!

It's not a gaurentee you will get a fill. MY Dr. weighs me in, checks the difference from last visit, divides by # weeks to determine how much I have lost per week.....if it is good, then NO FILL. It's all about loosing weight !! Although he can also be concerned about hunger cravings too. My laqst fill was last May. Have had acceptable weight loss every month since then, up untill last month. Then he gave me a very little fill as maintence. Next time I see him, in April, I may ask to have that taken back out.

That's Ok, but you missed the point of my post completely!!!!

Congratulations to all you Newbies...... First, do not get hung up on everything you read here. There are people just starting out and there are people who have met their ovals, and everything in between. Don't get hung up on some of he things you may read. It does not apply to you yet, and will only confuse you. In the beginning the most important thing to do is LISTEN TO YOUR DR and get through the surgery, pee- op and post-op. Your weight loss journey really does not begin till you finish that First Phase and begin Phase 2.