bamakaren

Friday for the first time i heard those words i've been waiting 3 years to hear - "Hey girl you look great but you sure don't need to lose any more weight" LOL. Woohoo - of course i do still have at least 20 pounds to lose but that's ok someone thinks i don't need to lose anymore. Felt so good.

I have the realize band. Not sure of the differences, but i love my band.

Went to the local stock car races with hubby and friends. Of course i don't drink beer, but tried one of the Mike's Lemonades - holy smokes - only drank about 1/3 of it - had gas like i've never had gas before and it hurt like crazy. Stomach swelled and i played a musical symphony for hubby all the way home. The was the first carbonation i've had since i was banded and will definitely be the last.

i have problems with lettuce, grapes, and watermelon, however i can eat raw spinach and cantelope.

Toddy - agree 100% with you. I hit my green zone with my fourth fill also. 7.5cc in a 10cc band. it's only been two weeks and i too have wondered if i'm a little too restricted, but am so excited that i actually have restriction and the band is helping me that i wouldn't dare take any out. for the past few days i've been really concentrating on the small small bites and eating very slowly and it's been working great. i lost 2 pounds the first week and another 2 pounds this week so i'm very excited. 1-2 pounds a week means i will be at the weight the doctor's want me to be by Christmas - woohoo.

I get stuck quite a bit but i use it as a reminder to slow down and take much smaller bites. I basically cut any meat up into baby size bits and i put my fork down between bites. This makes me slow down and then i don't have quite the same number of stuck episodes. However there are some foods that stick no matter what i do - like lettuce. Being a rabbit at heart this is very upsetting to me - i luv luv luv salad and since my last fill just can't seem to find anyway that i can eat it comfortably. Oh well that's a small price to pay. I've been dropping 2 pounds a week and i'm very happy with that so i'll be glad to sacrifice the salad.

For those who "think" they have restriction believe me when you finally hit that green zone you will "know' you have restriction. I kept thinking "this is it" everytime i had a fill and then just kept on eating almost the same way. When i had my last fill and finally really did have restriction i knew it - there was absolutely no doubt about it. Keep getting your fills and you will absolutely have no doubt when it happens. It took me a long time and am soo glad it has finally happened.

I was banded in Feb 2011 and have struggled since. It's been a long year and half and i've only lost 25 pounds and that was mostly in the first couple months. Well i finally got my 4th fill last Monday - i'm up to 8.5cc in a 10cc band. Woohoo - I finally have restriction. It is so awesome - i've lost 3 pounds in 4 days. I've gotten "stuck" several times because i'm used to eating faster. I've had "pb" for the first time ever because i eat too fast and too big of bites. this is awesome. I'm eating such small portions and get full and stay full and it is so wonderful. I actually know that this is going to work now. Ive hit the sweet spot and it feels wonderful. For those of you frustrated like i was - keep getting those fills when you hit that sweet spot you will definitely know it.

I have a doctor that is very conservative. I wasn't filled for the first time until 4 months after my surgery. That's why it's taken this long to get 4th fill. Im just so very happy that it is finally working. I was so frustrated and a little depressed about it, now i'm feeling strong and ready to finish this thing

Finally finally i have found restriction at 8.5cc. This is awesome - now i know what everyone has been talking about when they said you will know it when you hit your sweet spot.

Well its good to hear y'all are doing pretty good. I have done absolutely terrible. My doctor is very conservative so i haven't had any restrictions, only two fills up until last week and had gained back 8 pounds of the amount i had lost. Went in for another fill last week and FINALLY i think we have got restrictions. It's absolutely amazing how different this feels. this is what i thought it would be like wheni had the surgery and it took 8 months to get me there. Oh well, no sense crying over spilled milk - i think i'm now on track from some decent weight loss. I've started walking again and hopefully the weight will start dropping.

That is so awesome - Way to GO!!! I am so excited to hear of all of you who have done this with no fills. I have a very very conservative doctor. I was banded on 2/7/11 and he won't even see me again until the middle of May and then will determine whether i need a fill or not. I have been very very worried about that, but now see that it is possible to lose without a fill. Thanks so much for sharing - i feel much more confident now.

I gained a 3 pounds back when i went on mushies, however come to find out it was because i wasnt eating enough calories. Everyone on the forum told me i was starving myself because calories were around 700-800. Once i increased calories to appr 1100 per day the weight started dropping off. I'm now losing 2-3 pounds a week and don't feel like i'm dieting. Don't worry about not feeling full - there will come a time when you eat to your limit and you will definitely "know" that you have. It took 2 times for me to figure out that moment when i shouldn't have another bite. Now it's easy i make my small plate, eat and stop when i hit that moment. Then i'm not hungry for the next 4 hrs or so. I've only been at this for almost 6 weeks and already have myself and my diet on a routine and i love it. Good luck!!!

I was banded on 2/7l/11. I haven't had any fills yet and not sure about restriction. I just absolutely know when should not swallow one more teeny tiny bit of food ha ha. So far the only things i "cant" eat is macaroni and cheese, and grapes. Very very painful. Now i'm afraid to try any other pasta and that's one of my favorite foods. I had 1 fried ravioli last night and it went down very easy - maybe because it was crispier - not sure. I'm not having any trouble with bread and i can eat think crispy pizza ok.

I keep lookin gover there but i notice there isn't much traffic so i've just stayed on this one.

Congratulations - i'm so happy for you. That's even better than seeing it on the scale. You Go GIRL!!!!

That is absolutely fabulous. I'm not supposed to go back to my PCM until 6 months post surgery. I'm hoping i can get off mine then too. Love love love being banded.

When i dine out with hubby we split a dinner and share the salad. It's great, we just decide together what we want and ask them to bring an extra small plate. When dinner comes i take off the plate what i want. It's wonderful and talk about saving money. Hubby is excited too, not only about the money but he's eating less, feeling better, and losing some weight also. Totally win win for both of us.

Banded 2/7/11. I have lost 15 pounds since then. Hope I can continue to lose 1-2 pounds a week. My doctor won't see me again until 5/18/11 to decide if i even need a fill the. I think i have a very very conservative doctor and it worries me.