Meduseld

Getting stuck is normal generally after a fill, but it shouldn't be something that's a regular occurrence. I think it's generally what you're eating. Bacon is really hard, and if you're going to eat it, you have to chew chew chew. If you chew that much and it still doesn't go down, you probably just can't tolerate it and may either have to give it up or try again another time. As for the French Dip, we've got all kinds of wrong going there. The bread is probably what got you stuck! I have had to perfect how to eat bread since my band. I can't have the "hard" kind like my beloved sourdough. I have to have soft, thin bread that I can chew until it's practically liquified. And lunchmeat is tricky. You have to chew chew chew. If I were you, I'd take it easy for a while. I've learned how to eat bacon (chewing. A lot.) and sandwiches (just the other day), but it's a matter of trial and error and what you can tolerate. If you want to try again later, you can. Just make sure you really chew and that you are near a toilet or something just in case you need to throw up. Eating is an art with the band, but an art that is really worth learning.

The good thing about it is that at least the ones that come in the bag are generally low cal. It's only one hundred and something calories for the whole bag, which in the scheme of things, isn't all that bad. We could, you know, inhale ice cream that slides instead. -shrug- I'm happy that I'm not the only one! I thought I was alone on the popcorn thing! I always get so scared that I've stretched my band, but then I sit down to my next meal and I can eat normally (for a banded person), so I don't think I have. xD It still scares me though. What other slider foods have you encountered? I'm just curious since you've had the band so much longer than me.

Yup! It's one of those very few things that goes right through my band. Kind of like yogurt and ice cream. I can "cheat" with it. I've eaten whole bags before after the band. I don't suggest this, but this is my experience with it. Doesn't bother me at all. Just chew well!

Thank you all very much! I've started to slowly lose (yay!) again, so I think I'm going to be okay. Gonna head out to the gym now, actually! One benefit of college: free gym membership! Thanks again, Elizabeth

You are in the stage that we call "Bandster Hell." You are not restricted yet at all, so technically, there's nothing making you feel fuller than if you had no band at all. I went through this stage, and you just have to push through it! I promise that once you hit the "sweet spot", all the waiting will be worth it. As for now, eat healthy, exercise, and concentrate on your food. Think "Only eat until satisfied." That's how you are going to eat with the band. Take it as practice! Good luck to you! Elizabeth

Not gonna lie, my last night before surgery, I cheated on my pre-op diet (I had been religious about it, so it wasn't awful) and had my "last supper." An entire box of Panda Express filled my tummy that night. I've never been able to eat an entire thing since. However, at some meals my mother put about as much food as I would eat on my plate (she had a gastric sleeve) to see what I would be able to eat. You don't have to eat JUST that. Your stomach isn't meant for that yet. But I would definitely experiment. Eat what a bandster would eat and then wait about 10 minutes. Then just continue normally. Just get a little feel for it, and enjoy that "last supper."

Isn't Georgia a hugely obese state as well?

If you want my honest opinion, here it is. See the clicker down there? That's 73 pounds I have lost since I got my band on April 25th. You have had the band for three months and I sincerely think that calling it a failure this early would be a big mistake. It took me about three months to start losing regularly. I have slowed WAY down these past two weeks. Why? I was eating about 500 calories a day and just could not get myself to eat more. On top of that, I was exercising religiously. When you are eating that little, your body goes into starvation mode and holds on to everything. Eat more, and please don't be snappy to people that tell you something that you don't want to hear. It's a public forum. Secondly, you're going to eat pretty much the same way with whatever surgery you get, so if it's not working now and you're doing all that you say that you are, then the surgery is not going to make a difference. It's your body. Just another reason to up the calorie intake. My doctor would have a heart attack if he heard how little I've been getting in lately. Everyone here is trying to help and support you and instead of throwing in the towel, I think you should work with what you have before you cut yourself open again. This is a slow process, not a quick fix. My mother had the sleeve and had complications of her own. That wasn't a quick fix either. Every surgery you are going to get has its challenges. If you are at least not going to try to get across these, I doubt that you will be happy with the complications that come from a surgery that is more permanent than the band. Best of luck to you on your journey, Elizabeth

The person above pretty much answered the questions, but I can tell you one thing. I was barely 18 when I got the band on April 25. Since then, I have lost 73 pounds and I am still not even 19 yet. Best decision of my life, by far. But because you are so young, like I was, you really need to be sure and be completely 100% dedicated. This is not something that can be taken lightly. I put in over a year's worth of thought and consideration before I went under the knife. Kids our age tend to try the "fad diets" and lose motivation quickly. This is something that you have to be absolutely sure about. DO NOT rush yourself towards this decision and if you haven't already, try conventional dieting first. This is kind of a "last resort" kind of thing. It was my last resort. My mother got a gastric sleeve and lost 200 pounds. She inspired me to get the band. I had an example and I watched her go through it, so I knew what to expect and the amount of dedication it really takes. I'm 18 and I did it, but I know a lot of 18 year olds that would not have been able to handle it. Good luck! Elizabeth

I'm from Grapevine! That's scary! Who is doing your lap band? I love D.C., but it's just me. I find it to be an incredibly beautiful city with so much history. The architecture blows my mind still. It is way more expensive to live, but I hear wages are adjusted accordingly here, so it does not hurt people as much as we might think. A movie ticket is like $11.25 here. I thought that was absolutely ridiculous when I first came up here.

I actually just moved from the DFW, Texas area to go to college in D.C. Are you in the actual Dallas or a suburb around? I don't feel the band at all. The only sensation I ever get from it is feeling full. As for the port, I can feel it if I press pretty hard on my stomach, but it's not like it protrudes badly or anything. Avoid that sickly look simply by being healthy. Get the proper nutrition always. That is the best thing you can do to avoid that. Elizabeth

Just a quick question. I started exercising a few days ago. My legs and such are really sore (so I assume I'm gaining a bit of muscle) and I feel good about it. Problem is, I have no been eating any differently than I was when I was losing weight and all of a sudden I gained like two pounds. Is this normal? Did any of y'all gain weight when starting exercise? Thank you very much! Elizabeth

I was down for about 4 days. I was pretty smart though. I did it on a thursday so I got friday, saturday, sunday, and monday off. I came back to school tuesday. I was sore for a few days, but nothing major. Pain medications are great. Just make sure that you get up. Laying there for days only increases the amount of time it is going to take you to heal. Move a little more each day and you should be up in no time. And yeah, don't wear pants. If you do, wear like pajama ones with an elastic waistband. It's easier on the port AND you'll fell really comfy. Elizabeth

Hi Montana! I am currently 18 years old and a freshman in college. I was banded April 25th as a senior in high school, a month after my 18th birthday, and since then I have lost 71 pounds. I started out at over 320 pounds, and now I'm around 250. It definitely makes college eating easier considering I physically CANNOT eat too much. Now I can move, keep up with my friends, and just feel better. The band was a great decision for me, but you have to make sure that you have a support group around you, especially with friends etc. If your friends go out and try to pressure you to eat with them, it can be a bad thing. Just make sure you have a backing behind you and you will be okay. Good luck on your surgery! Elizabeth

14 bags of sugar!

Yes, it happened. I have lost seventy pounds since my surgery on April 25! I am so excited! I literally got off the scale and cried. I don't know why 70 is such a big thing, but I just now started noticing a change in my appearance. I didn't even realize how just HUGE I was, and now I look at myself and I feel so much happier about the way I look. I'm nowhere near done, but even if the weight loss stopped here, I'd be happy. Look at me! I haven't been this thin since I was a freshman in high school (now I'm a freshman in college)! I just can't contain my excitement! You can even see a part of my college suite in the background of my after picture! The first one is at my Dad's pub with, of course, my dad. I think I'm around the same size! This is my my sophomore year of high school! This is me before and after lap-band surgery (so far!). 70 pounds down!

I don't have a blender! :'( Do you know if it's possible to make something without one? Are you SURE they taste good? These seem really appealing to me, actually. Every Protein Shake I've tried is so UGH and they pretty much make me sick. I like this. Only a few ounces with 50g. No blender required. Liking it.

Hi everyone! So I'm a freshman in college, a fresh crisp 18, and I am having a little trouble with my band. Or more specifically, with my Protein. I love college and am having an absolute blast, but this campus is not made for the protein lover! I know that I am definitely not getting enough protein and I need some serious assistance. I have lost 20 pounds since I came to school on August 25th, which is good, but the problem is that I have not been eating the right amount protein. I don't count it all, but I am 100% sure that I am protein deficient. I honestly try to find protein, especially in the dining hall (I have a meal plan) and I find that my options are limited. Generally in the cafeteria, I have three protein options. There is one place with usually some protein, but half the time it is fried, covered in some calorie-filled sauce, or just gross. There is another station where they "grill" you chicken. Great, right? Not. They basically pull this dry, awful tasting, brick-like piece of chicken out of a tin and put it on your plate. The third if yogurt, which is great, but it gets old. I have a little fridge in my room that I try to fill with healthy stuff, but I only have so much room! Right now, looking in my fridge as I type, I see tuna, cottage cheese, some fruit, some pickles and pepperocini, some light Baby Bell cheese, some diet margarine, and Diet Snapple. In my freezer I have some frozen fish filets (which I just cooked a batch of to eat for a while) and frozen GoGurts that I use for Desserts (Try it sometime. It's actually pretty nice AND low cal.). I think it sounds pretty good in general, but my fridge is full! The only plus I have found is that on campus there is this smoothie place that lists the amount of calories in every single one of their smoothies, and their protein one has 25g of protein and about 250 calories. I'll sometimes get these in the mornings when my band is tight and I really don't feel like eating anything for a while. But other than those, I have yet to find a seriously good source of protein on campus. There is so much junk junk junk (Starbucks. My weakness.), but not enough healthy options. What do you all suggest I do? I do not have a lot of money to buy food because I'm in college, but I can't find anything to fill my protein needs! I HATE Protein shakes with a passion and I don't want to have to resort to them for all my protein. I like food, and I wanna eat it! Thank you all! Elizabeth

Oh good Lord. I know how it feels to not be able to eat half a sandwich, but be able to eat more Reese's Peanut Butter Cups than would make up that half a sandwich. College is a blast, but it's definitely incredibly hard sometimes. I live in a dorm in my own room, and the best thing I do for myself is just get rid of everything fattening. Seriously, just throw that stuff OUT. So even if you get the munchies and you give in, you're at least eating something healthy. It's actually good that you can't handle half a sandwich. That's about normal. Stuff that's solid like that sticks in the pouch longer and keeps you full for hours. You need to be eating stuff like that. Protein is a big part of nutrition, but it also keeps you fuller, longer. As hard as it may be to part with the candy, you've gotta do it. Oh! And ice cream is one of the very few things I can cheat my band with. If you think about it, it's practically liquid. Once it gets in you, it melts and goes right through the pouch. Ice cream's a great thing to have (and one of my favorites!), but only every once in a while. You can definitely cheat with it. If you really want to keep it in the house just for Snacks, then get the individually serving size packaged ones and make sure you only eat one! Best of luck to you! Elizabeth

Hi, The ever present "list" will not guide your life after a certain point post-op. They are great suggestions and they should always be incorporated, but you will not be struck down with a lightning bolt for trying something different. For example, I'm 18 and in college (was banded in April) and junk food is more prevalent than healthy food. Last night, I partook in a, or should I say "half of a", New York Steamer Sub that was full of cheesy brisquet deliciousness. Healthy? Definitely not. Do I regret it? No, because I eat healthy most of the time! As for wine, it's more about the "empty" calories. But if you wish to go out and partake in a few glasses every once in a while, or even just one glass more frequently, you are going to be okay! The Lap Band is not meant to control your life, honestly. You are meant to be able to live your life normally and eat like a normal person, but just less. Sure, you have to concentrate on eating healthy, but you should not feel bad for trying something indulgent every once in a while. You'll be fine. As for the Pasta, it's a matter of what you can tolerate. You may still be able to eat it, but you'll just eat less of it. I used to not be able to handle pasta very well, but I tried it a few more times for experimental purposes and find that I handle it fine now. I can also handle certain types of bread (I can't do the "hard" ones). It is a matter of personal tolerance and you won't know until you get the band. Should you miss out on family time? Absolutely not! You can still have fun, and even eat! You will just eat less. Suggestion, don't pick along the way cooking. You won't be hungry at all when you finally sit down and eat. You have no room for that anymore. xD Take it from me! Good luck on your journey! I hope that you can incorporate this well into your lifestyle. Elizabeth

I don't actually have children because I'm only 18, but being barely an adult I can definitely tell you about the overweight kid thing. I was on my first diet at 8 years old. It eventually got to the point where my mother would lock the cabinets at night so that I didn't steal food. Then, I would actually steal slices of bread that were left out because my mom wouldn't let me have anything else. I didn't want her to know that I got it and I was so ashamed. Blocking food is definitely not the way to go about it. A change of lifestyle is more appropriate and better for her self esteem in the long run. These other ladies have given great advice! I'm a firm believer in genetics. Both of my parents were obese. My mother got a gastric sleeve and lost 200 pounds. My dad is still incredibly obese. I ate more than necessary, even as a baby. Every two hours I had to eat or I would cry and cry. It was just an upward spiral from there. I was 80 pounds in kindergarten and over 100 in the second grade. I have struggled my whole life with it, and there is no explanation as to why besides genetics. My mother strictly enforced a healthy lifestyle. No "junk cereal" or sweets were ever in the house but on rare occasions, yet I still gained weight. Ironically, my younger sister struggles with her weight, but not like I do. She just eats bad things while she is out and about. She doesn't have this... urge to eat even when she's full, so she has managed to stay much thinner than the rest of us. She only eats until she's full and stops. I didn't. I have no idea why we are so different. The only thing I can think of to explain this is genetics. Elizabeth

Irene pretty much stated it really well. My inspiration to get surgery came from my mother who had a sleeve two and a half years ago and has lost 195 pounds. The reason I got the band was because my horrible insurance said that the sleeve was "experimental." If I were you, I would go with the sleeve. My mom had a little more trouble than I did in the beginning right after her surgery, but two years out she is perfectly happy. She never had to go through fills or anything and still has food restriction. She is not malnourished at all. With the band, there tends to be a lot of complications after surgery, so I'm just waiting for them to occur, while with the sleeve, there are very few. It's up to you, but I would strongly urge you to do the sleeve. I love my band and I'm incredibly grateful for it, but I believe I would have liked the sleeve even more if I had been given the chance to get it.

I do sometimes, like when I'm with friends and they are having a bunch of food that I want to eat, but I can't. My problem is at restaurants when I order a meal, I eat till I'm full, and then I want more because my MOUTH wants more. It's good, so I want to eat more of it. You have to remind yourself that you can always eat later and that this is not the last supper. To go boxes are you friend. Just remind yourself constantly: Nothing tastes as good as thin feels.

So, tomorrow marks a week since I had another fill in my band, but something incredibly weird is going on. The first few days, it was the typical swelling. You know, the whole can't eat much solid stuff? Then, Sunday and Monday nights, I was perfectly able to eat my dinner. I had an artichoke Sunday and went out to eat at the Cheesecake Factory and had some steak on Monday. Tuesday afternoon, I partook in some leftover steak, and since then, all has been hell. I can eat barely anything and I am never hungry. I mean NEVER. It's very unhealthy, I think. I'll wait 12 hours and absolutely nothing. I know that the steak I ate on Monday went down fine because I was hungry on Tuesday and I didn't throw up. I know my band has not slipped because I can drink liquids perfectly fine and I do not experience pain with them. I know nothing is caught because when something is caught, I throw up. Every time I eat something, no matter how little, I feel like I've overstuffed myself. It is an incredibly uncomfortable sensation and it is almost pain in my stomach. I know I NEED to eat. I haven't eaten in over 9 hours, and something needs to get down. I can eat about three bites before the sensation of "stretching" comes back in my stomach and I stop. I do not want to stretch my pouch. I'm starting to feel sort of weak and I'm getting hunger headaches. I'm not hungry at all! The ONLY thing I can think of is that I'm constipated. I developed a little pain this morning in my lower stomach, nowhere near my band or my port. I took some laxatives, but they have yet to take effect. We'll see how it goes in the morning. If this isn't fixed tomorrow, I need to get to my doctor. Has anyone else had this problem? Why would I be able to eat for 4 days and all of a sudden not be able to? It makes no sense at all! Thank you all, Elizabeth

I was banded one month after my 18th birthday on April 25th of this year. So far, I've lost almost 40 pounds and I'm still dropping. It really has changed my life.