need2lose2

I see people who i know have gotten the band and they look wonderful. And, i'm still struggling after 2 years. So? What do you eat on a regular day?

terrydumont46, thank you for that important advice. I will try that with my first bite.

Thank you for all your advice. It's good to be able to talk to pple who do understand. Can i ask what all of you eat for your meals and snacks? Maybe i can get some ideas to help me. I do bore easily so i am not the type who can eat the same things every day.

I agree. I can't eat leftovers most times and i don't always have the time to cook fresh. I don't eat fish so i'm pretty much down to eggs, chicken, beef, tofu, and beans for protein. There are also times when i can't get down salads or even some fruits (which is why i don't think i need another fill). I just feel like most of the healthier eating i used to do before the band doesn't go down with the band so i end up eating other bad stuff that will go down. Don't apologize for preaching. I preach to myself too! I know i shouldn't be eating half the things i eat. I definately have to be more careful with my choices and exercise more. I know that. I just thought it would be easier with the band.

Thanks to all who have responded. I appreciate all your comments. Not many pple know i have the band so i don't have much support. I've been going back and forth in my mind trying to decide if i'm too tight, if i need more, or if i should just leave it the way it is. I hear the argument about my maybe being too tight since i can't get much chicken or meat down but i have no problems getting down egg omelettes, Beans, and vegetarian tofu patties. And, if i was too tight, i don't think i'd be able to get down bagels (obviously slowly), and other similar foods that i shouldn't be able to get down. But, then again, i do vomit once in a while if i'm eating too fast or if the food is too dry (chicken, for example) I struggle with this decision every day because it costs me a lot of money to go to the surgeon....unfortunately, i have a very high deductible with this new insurance we got and i have to pay my own way for quite a while till i reach it. Going to see the nutritionist would be a waste of hard working money because she'd just give me another diet plan that i am not happy following....and even when i did follow it, i was still hungry, or could still eat more. One of you mentioned that i am probably not hungry after i feel restriction but rather that i eat for other reasons. I will admit that sometimes that is indeed true. But, other times, if i stop when i feel restriction, within the hour my stomach will be grumbling (like i said, it's not always, but there are times it does that). That's why i'm confused about how it works. I know i have to get in my Protein but on the other hand, i'm told to stop eating when feeling restriction....and then the food leaves the pouch pretty soon where i can eat more.....the only difference i feel with the band is knowing i must eat very slow, but i do finish my portions eventually (almost the same portions that i had before the band but getting through it much slower) I think i need to stay where i am with regards to the band fills until i can figure it all out before having to spend so much money on fills or unfills.

Hi. I was banded in Sept 2011. Started out at 224 lbs and am now 210. That's right, i havent lost much weight in the 2+ yrs that i've had the band. I have an 11 cc band and already have 10.2 cc filled. I don't think i need to be filled anymore because i do feel restriction after a small amount of food but it doesn't last long and i am able to eat more within 5-10 minutes of feeling the restriction. I admit i havent been making such great food choices all the time but it seems easier to get down the foods that are not so good for me, than the foods i'm supposed to be eating. I have no problems with bread, bagels, pasta, etc but i do have to eat slowly. I've kind of given up here......

Seems like we're all in the same boat. Unfortunately, most of the soft foods that are being served are not diet friendly.......

You're not kidding! I was at a sit down dinner a few weeks ago. I passed on the appetizer but i did eat Soup because i was hungry and knew it would not sit in the pouch so that i could have some of the main dish. I opted for the grilled chicken. After a few bites, i felt tight. Tried some Water (i know it was not a good idea). Then i started salivating and swallowing a lot....my classic sign that i need to vomit. I excused myself and went in search of the ladies room which, of course, was crowded! Frantically, (while swallowing loads of saliva) i ran out the door of the catering hall and thankfully found a small alleyway i could slip into. As i turned into it, it all just spurted out. Now that was a scary situation and i vowed never to eat any solid foods at a function. Last week we went to another dinner and it's exactly what i did. I ate all the mushy and soft foods (soup, mashed potatoes, sweet potato fries, veggie souffle, cake, sorbet) and didn't touch the grilled chicken or sauteed green Beans. Kind of counterintuitive for the band diet, isn't it? lol

Tell me about it! After 6 fills i have 9.5 cc in an 11 cc band. I still don't feel much restriction except for when i start eating too fast. It's even more frustrating when the 'bad foods' will go down no problem, and then an appropriate food will get stuck. Cake, cookies, cereal, granola bars, pasta, pizza etc etc will go down but sometimes grilled chicken, and fruits will get stuck and vomited up. It's crazy!!

We're pretty much in the same boat. i was banded Sept 2011 and while i initially lost 15 lbs, i've gained it all back. I have 9.5 in my 11cc band. I am definately able to gulp my drinks with no backup. When i eat, there are times when i do feel that tightening but once it goes away, i can eat large amounts. Then there are times with other foods where i get so stuck that i need to vomit (but it's only if i eat too fast with my first few bites). I know part of it is my fault as i'm not always eating the right foods, but i just don't feel any motivation when those foods can go down. It's frustrating when i end up getting stuck with chicken and need to vomit it up, but a brownie will go down just fine! Seems hypocritical, no? LOL

I agree with you. It's very frustrating. I've not lost anything in the last 8 months and i was so excited to get the band. I start off with eating the right foods but then i am still able to eat more, so i get seconds. When i weigh myself every week i'm so discouraged that i start eating the wrong foods as well. I'm afraid i may have stretched my pouch which is probably why i'm not feeling much restriction except when eating my first few bites. The doc isn't concerned just yet but as i get up there in cc's, we'll have to look into that possibility. On a good note, i am exercising and getting in all my protein as well as liquids.

That's what i thought. When i put the food in my mouth, it goes down. The band should be stopping that extra head hunger food but it doesn't.

jim1967, thanks for the link. See, that's where i get very confused about what the band is supposed to do. Even with head hunger, shouldn't the band stop you from eating senseless? You say you have an internal conversation with yourself and having to decide whether what you feel is head hunger or actual hunger but i thought that no matter what, the band would stop me from eating once the pouch was filled.