Rachel412

I wouldn't say every bandster goes through it, since some people feel the effects of the band right away. I sure didn't! I've not had 3 fills and my appetite is dimmed. I don't think I'm at the ideal point yet, but when I eat my small amount of food, I am kept satisfied for longer. Not full, satisfied... I have a feeling I'll never feel my beloved "overstuffed" feeling ever again I think most people need 3-4 fills to really start feeling like the band is helping. Some people need less or more fills. It'd be good for you to know how much Fluid you have in your band, because as an educated patient you need to make sure your doctor understands that you're a part of this journey, too. But I'll say it again- what you're dealing with right now is totally, totally normal. And it sucks and it's HARD! But if you get through it, just think of how proud of yourself you'll be!

And if it helps... it sure sounds like you're doing everything right, and you're not at the point yet where the band is helping you at all. Which is SO SO HARD. You're doing all you can do right now- please don't give up!

And when will they let you come in for another fill?

Well whatever it's supposed to do, clearly it's not doing it! How much fluid is in your band now? Are you tracking your food & exercise? Eating protein first? When was your last fill?

I take fiber every day too, twice a day. I've heard both Miralax and Smooth Move tea work well if you need to get things going... ahem... get it? Going?

That's the link in my sig

Well sure, you could, but I don't know that it would make any difference. Read the article that is the first link in my sig- I could eat a whole pizza if I wanted to, too. But it's not about restricting what you eat, it's about feeling satisfied (not full- not stuffed, just not HUNGRY anymore) after a smaller meal.

Awesome, I'm in. My first challenge!

Start over as if you'd just had surgery. Do one week of just protein shakes, 1 week of mushy foods. Protein first, then veggies, then carbs. No more than 2 cups a meal. And call your doctor. She wants to help you- remember, if you "fail" it counts as her "fail" too.

I think that's OK for someone who recently had surgery, but once you're back onto "normal" foods post-surgery that's just not enough calories in a day. Liza, my doctor recommends 4 ounces of Protein, then up to a cup of veggies, then 1/2 cup of whole grains if I have room. I cannot imagine just eating 1/2 cup three times a day. I mean 4 oz. is 1/2 a cup... that right there would mean all you were eating was 12 ounces of protein a day, TOTAL. I don't recommend not following your doctor's advice, but... it seems like an impossible goal to me.

Hmm... honestly I wouldn't assume that. I think it could be a ton of different things and if the bread went down just fine, I wouldn't necessarily think it's the cuplrit (unless you WANT to blame bread, then, by all means! )

If it's not meal time and I feel hungry, or I just want to eat something, I drink. For me it's decaf chai sweetened with Splenda. I think because it's hot and I can't just chug it, it takes time to drink and puts something in my stomach and by the time I'm done with it I'm usually over the urge to eat. As I'm eating a meal I constantly ask myself "am I really still hungry, or do I just want to eat more?" It's really hard to stop eating if there's still food in front of you, so you need to move that food FAST before the voice in your head catches up to your mouth! When I take my chewable fiber and calcium after a meal, it feels like dessert. You know... it's sweet, and a little fruity. How sad is that?

that really sounds horrible and stuck on potato salad? Ugh.

It's very very hard- at least for me- to stop eating when I still have food on my plate. I struggle with it all the time. Heck, we went out to dinner tonight and I hit a point where I really wasn't hungry any more but I kept eating. Wish I could say it was a disaster, but for me it never is- I don't get stuck, pb, slime, nothing. I just eat more and then I have to deal with the consequence weight-wise. It's easier when I'm at home since I only put my appropriate serving on my plate.

I like using a smaller plate. It makes me feel like I'm eating a whole meal, since I'm not seeing all the empty space on a regular plate.

So the upper GI showed nothing... does your doctor have any ideas? I'm hoping he's not just leaving you high and dry, that's not normal-- does ANY solid food bother you?

I didn't take a psych test. We talked about my mental history, how I'm feeling/doing now, if I'm on any meds, what my family's history of mental illness might be... it's a little personal of course! But not bad.

I'm really bad at this one. Since I've never been stuck or slimed or anything, I tend to eat fast. Especially since I'm eating such small portions! Sitting with someone else at a meal and talking (instead of reading, watching TV, playing on the internet) helps me slow down.

ok... well for anyone else considering I started this study last night, met IN PERSON with the people running it, and already got paid a portion of the total $$. They do not ask for your SSN, your weight, or how much you've lost, just your name, address, phone #. There is no medicine or medical intervention at all involved and in my opinion, what I'm doing is really easy. Just putting that out there.

I don't get FULL. I get satisfied. So I am continually asking myself "am I still hungry or do I just want to eat more?" I measure out my meals and honestly, I generally finish them. But once the food is gone I ask myself the above question, and if I'm still hungry, I wait 10-15 minutes, and check again. If I still feel hungry I drink a glass of Water when I'm about 20 minutes out. If I'm still hungry after THAT I eat a cheese stick or something else with Protein. But I guess to hopefully help you- I don't feel full. Not what I used to call full, anyway- you know, that "there's no more room" feeling. Instead I just don't feel hungry anymore.

Amazing, thank you for sharing!!!!

Make sure you're chewing very very well and taking small bites. I've seen suggested bites at the size of a pencil eraser, or a pea, or the tip of your pinky up to your first knuckle. If you're doing this already, you need an un-fill.

Yep, the band helps you to feel satisfied on less food, and to stay that way for a longer period of time. It's a help but surely not a magic solution. I very much feel like I am dieting still, but not in a bad way! I think not having that "when will this be over?" feeling helps. I know it's never over.

Have you tried Crystal Light? It might help you to drink more.

That's what my burps feel like now. I had to learn a different way to burp, I need to push hem out now as opposed to before when they'd just come out.