B-52

Do like I do and Wear a Aluminum Foil Hat when you go out in public! I can't wait for Christmas. Favorite time of the year! Merry Christmas to everyone. And if you don't Celebrate Christmas, that's alright. You may send me greetings in your Holiday Spirit. I accept ALL I can get!

Agreed. Many people use the term "Feeling Full" from the band. For me, it has never been that type of feeling. That would be physical. From my own experience, it has been more of a mental signal sent to the brain, that I am "Not Hungry" or "I don't feel like eating" right now. That is the appetite suppression. I've gotten my Wife annoyed where she has spent the afternoon preparing something, a family favorite, and I will say sorry, I'm not interested in eating right now. Maybe later. I'm listening to my band! Isn't that how it all started when we were little? Don't leave the table till you've eaten everything on your plate! We were forced, and taught, to overeat! The physical, uncomfortable feeling from restriction, is what gives me portion control. When I do eat, it is physically impossible to overeat without that uncomfortable / painful experience. I would imagine going past that would be how one stretches their pouch, or esophagus, as had recently been talked about.

Without a doubt. But for me, I would not call it a "Full" feeling. You get that (or used to) after a Thanksgiving dinner. It is more of a lack of interest in eating. I'll see something, like a plate full of Cookies, and although I may think about eating some (head hunger) I simply have no interest or real desire in eating. The band is doing many things for me. The trick, or part of the learning curve, is to understand how to "Listen" to the signals your band is sending. Appetite suppression and Portion Control. Use that along with proper food choices, adequate Water intake and regular exercise, and this is the EASIEST weight loss program ever! Truly living in the Green Zone. Only work involved is to NOT screw it up. And there are ways I will not mention or give newbies any ideas. But I read posts here all the time from people doing it everyday.

I've had it happen to me a few times also. Each time was because I did something stupid in which I should know better. Last time was at an Outback Restaurant. My Son ordered coconut shrimp. I grabbed and ate just one. Coconut Shrimp! What was I thinking, or not thinking I should say. Have you ever seen one of those things? Every banded person should easily recognize that as a "Do Not Eat or Else" food.

At this point you really need to listen to to your Dr. You just had surgery under full anesthesia and you need to concentrate on the fact that you need to heal properly. Aside from broth, I would have jello, ice pops. and hard candy to dissolve in your mouth. You got to hang in there until you can move on to the next stage. Remember.....you just had surgery. When I was able to have shakes....thicker / heavier liquids they called it, I was also able to have creamed soups which I enjoyed.

That's easy.........LUMPY!

Everyone's pre-surgery process is different. For me, my surgeon cared less about the 6 month diet. That was between me and my insurance and the girls in the billing dept. After I met all the insurance requirements, THEN I met with the surgeon, came up with a date for the surgery. He THEN told me to loose 20lbs by then or he wold not do the surgery.

I take it you are talking about the required 6 month medically supervised diet PRIOR to undergoing the surgery? My insurance required me to do so also. Well, I STINK at diets, and have failed at every one of them. That is why I needed surgery. DUH! The 6 month program was no different than any other diet. Did ok for a while, then barely hung on for the remainder. In other words, I did loose weight, but the program as a whole was just another futile exercise. But I got through it, just to jump through another hoop to keep the insurance co. satisfied. NOW I am living a new life style, NOT just another diet. And this time it is making a difference!

Hmmmmmmm....... Living here in the northeast, the Jersey Shore, I can go down to the docks and buy my lobster off the boats. I take exception to anything trying to pass as "fake" seafood. Only kidding I have a freezer full of cod fillets, plus other seafood. One of the foods that has become a mainstay since the surgery. Sounds like an interesting recipe, I will have to try it. Perhaps tonight.

It's like getting married. A big unknown. Am I doing the right thing? All the planning, engagement, nerviousness, anticipation untill finally the day. ( not to mention the $$$$) After that it's a relief to have it all completed, only to start a new life with new rules......for better and for worse. Although we have been married over 35 years, we are going through it again with our Daughter getting married next fall.

I agree. The nutritionist at my Dr.s office gave us a print out of all the possible options and where I can purchase them. Mostly online. They even gave us "discount codes" to use for purchases with different product websites. 2nd, I know this stuff can be pricey, but I justify it by saying it is a meal replacement.......how much would food be costing me right now compared to this shake? Even a McDonalds would cost me $5 a meal.

And don't forget there are different sizes in bands themselves. So even without any fills, some bands are tighter than others. And the mere presence of something there can stimulate the brain in telling it that you are not hungry. But with any "Bell Curve" there are values on both ends, those that do not or never get a fill, and those on the other end that even when filled to the max there are problems. The majority makes up the bulge (bell) in the center where we follow a similar regime of getting fills, generally at the same intervals and generally the same amounts of cc's/fill, experience the same eating habit changes, and finding that Green Zone.

I have a Kindle App (free) on my I-Pad where I can download books from amazon. The I-Pad reader that comes installed is pretty good also. Surfing and e-mail is easier than my lap top that I rarely use except for work applications such as Microsoft Software Programs.

Your right. It is because we have failed at diets time and time again, is why we have decided to have surgery to loose weight. Prefer not to call being banded a diet. It is a physical change to my digestive tract to control my eating, and that is exactly what it does.

I was banded Jan 31. I am about 10 lbs from my goal. Things really did not start kicking in till last may,my third fill.

Don't Have an an answer, but I'm typing this on my I-Pad

Hmmmmmmmm.......so far this week we have had one "buzzing" (like a cell phone) and now we have a "ringing" Like tooth fillings I'm holding out for "voices". (radio stations)

Yep. That's how it basically is for me also. I have a long list of things I don't even think of eating anymore. And what I di eat, I eat like a bird. Fish and chicken work the best for me. Bought a good electric wok and do a lot of stir frying for my main meal

I am coming up on 1 year. It was more hard in the first few weeks /months than it is now. New habits are formed. New eating techniques, food choices, going to the gym, etc. Practice makes perfect! It becomes a normal day to day way of life. I am being totally honest when I say there are days I don't even think about the band. Weight loss has slowed, but I am within 10 lbs of my goal. As long as I am not gaining and still moving in the same direction.

For the first time in about 30 years, this will be the first New Year's Resolution that WILL NOT have anything to do with dieting and loosing weight!!!

Agree. Without adequate restriction, food will pass to the stomach easily. So in order to stretch your pouch, you would need adequate band restriction in order for food to accumulate. I have a tight band. Prefer it that way. I can tell you if I try to eat more than I should, it really hurts! I can't overeat. Impossible, unless I'm really stupid and endure all kinds of pain in the process. I know stretching your pouch is possible. My Dr. Has a poster on the wall depicting what it looks like. But speaking for myself, I find it hard to do without knowing I'm doing something very wrong!

I drove 2 days after. Ran errands all over town. Only reason I did not drive sooner was I was comfortable spending the entire day in my LazyBoy recliner with a blanket, in front of my plasma big screen, totally zonked on my pain meds. Day 2 I was climbing the walls and had to get out of the house.

My only Brother died at the age of 60. Obese with Diabetes resulting in neuropathy to the point he had no feeling in his legs, little balance. Retinopathy where he could not drive at night, had to have laser eye treatments to cauterize the arteries in his retinas. Plus he had other medical ailments, not tomention a very poor "Quality of Life" My only Sister died at the age of 64. Obese with Diabetes. She was a prime example of everything that can go wrong when you have uncontrollable diabetes. It was a slow agonizing death with numerous surgeries, amputations, kidney failure, and on and on. It was one thing after another, never improving. For myself, I was obese, diabetic, cholesterol - triglycerides - all out of whack and uncontrolled. Stress test showed Coronary aterial blockage in which I needed to undergo Angioplasty with Stent placement. While they were in there they detected scarring meaning that at some point I had had a Heart Attack. But because I am Diabetic, it is not unusual for these to be silent. All this at the age of 57! My PCP looked me in the eye and said that I am following in my Brother's and Sister's footsteps and unless I lost weight I would surely die at a early age. So even though I was only 255 lbs and my BMI did not make me a candidate for the surgery, my comorbidities and family history certainly did. I'll be 60 years old in Jan., My diabetes is completely reversed - no more injections and meds, diet controlled. All my blood work is normal. I'm taking 1/2 the meds I did 6 months ago, and expect to lower that count next appointment with PCP. I go to the gym every chance I get and aside from lifting weights, I do 60 minutes of level 3-4 cardio, and it gets better as time goes on. I have another stress test scheduled for next May and I can't wait!

You'll shoot your eye out kid!

Sure the Dr. didn't put something else in there also?? Tracking device? Your not with the federal Government, are you? CIA? Or maybe something ET. Next time it happens turn out the lights and see if it glows. Only Joking. I read too many books. I have no earthly (?) idea what it could be. Look on the bright side. Maybe it vibrates when you're standing over buried treasure. Or oil!