DebHart71

I get the pressure in the chest and the food at the back of my throat that no amount of swallowing will get rid of. I learn fast not to do that again.

I can tell you that when you are eating while doing something else and not paying attention to what you are doing you will take larger bites and not chew as well as you need to. This is where people get the "stuck" feeling and it will also cause you to burp. Sometimes the burp will release some of the pressure and sometimes it will not. This is my take. When I went to my surgeon's office last month I found I had gained 25 pounds since my surgery in October 2011. I got another cc put into my band and since then have been on 800 calories per day. I think this did it for me because I have not had any trouble staying on 800 calories per day. I went to the surgeon's office yesterday and had lost 17 of the 25! I am going to stay on the 800/day until the end of the month. I think I am currently in the "green zone" and did not have a fill this month. I will go to my surgeon's office again next month and see how things are progressing. Good luck to you!

I do not own a scale so I have to wait until I go to the doctor's office to be weighed. I have noticed that a lot of people become obsessed with weighing themselves, sometimes daily, and it is not good to do this. Our weight fluctuates due to many reasons, some of them hormonal. However, instead of focusing on the weight, focus on how you feel. You know that when you are eating healthy and exercising your body feels so much better so focus on that. It is a long process but it will happen.

I had my surgery in October 2011 and as of May 17th had gained 25 lbs. I was upset but I knew that I could and would get that weight off. As of today, I have lost 17 of those pounds and I can say it was due a lot to the last fill I had. We have to remember that this is a tool and it is a process. We didn't gain the weight overnight and the weight will not come off overnight. Give yourself a break and when you weigh in, make a plan and plot your course. You can do this!

I was not on an all liquid diet. I had a protein bar at 7:30 am, a protein shake at 10:30, 1:30, and 4:30. I then had a Healthy Choice meal at 7:30 pm. It was one with high protein. I stuck to 1100 calories a day and lost 11 pounds in two weeks. I did not cheat on this diet but it wasn't hard to stay on it either. I used the EAS protein bars and shakes. The formula I was given is that when you look at the calories of the shake, say 110 calories, you cover up the last number (0) and you have 11. The protein grams should be 11 or higher. If the calories are 190, the protein grams should be 19 or higher. I still follow this formula when buying protein bars and shakes. I now get Pure Protein bars and the EAS AdvantEDGE carb control shakes. I liked the EAS protein bars that I used before I have just been unable to find them locally.

I go in on the 14th as well but not my first. I'm not sure if the needle they use for the fill hurt or not because they used lidocain to numb the area for me. You should not throw up but you will have a shorter version of the post-op diet after the fill. I had to be 24 hours on liquids then 24 hours on mushies and then back to regular foods. If you have a fear of needles ask for the lidocain and turn your head away until it is over. Good luck to you.

It sounds like reflux but you should definitely check with your doctor to be sure.

I do not feel the fluid going in. My nurse gives me a shot to numb the area before using the big needle to do the fill. You might want to request this if they do not do it already; but other than the shot there is no pain for me.

You want good protein no matter what. I get the EAS AdvantEDGE carb control Protein Shakes. It has 17 grams of protein and around 100 - 110 calories each. I also get the Pure Protein Bars they are great for protein as well. I take a regular Multivitamin, a small one, but it doesn't have to be chewable - some of those taste really nasty.

It is a struggle mentally and it will take time to change the way you see food and the way you live your life. As you get your fills and find you can eat less and less you need to find other things to do when you would have normally had a big meal. I find that when I get the munchies if I go and do something else that is not near the kitchen it helps me greatly. Get your mind on other things. Also, it doesn't hurt if you can get some counseling. I did before getting banded and I still get counseling and it does help. Good luck to you!

I have not been told no to any food; my surgeon's office said that everyone is different. I have not had any trouble with any food getting stuck as long and I chew it enough. The amount of these types of food is very little though since they are dense. I have also had no trouble using straws.

I gained 25 pounds since my surgery in October 2011; I consulted with my surgeons office and I am now on 800 calories per day until I get those 25 pounds off. However, it hasn't been that difficult since my last fill in May. Talk it over with your doctor's office and see what they say. Are you seeing your doctor regularly? Be very honest with yourself and with your doctor's office; they want you to succeed! Good luck to you!

I'm in Tallahassee and wouldn't mind having a buddy. My name is Debora and I am 40 years old, a single-mom, work full-time, a graduate student and I had my gastric band surgery in October 2011. I gained 25 pounds since the surgery and I am currently on a very low calorie diet to get those 25 pounds off. I have been doing really well since my last fill so it hasn't been too difficult to stay on the diet.

Thanks again, for all of the suggestions. I am trying to be more active no matter what I am doing during the day. I will soon be incorporating exercise as an activity and not just during my everyday routine. I cannot do high-impact exercise like running because of bad knees and a spine problem but all of the others sound great!

Thanks to everyone, I am making notes of everything because I think that too much of one thing will get boring. If I get bored with one thing I can switch to another. Thanks again!

Thanks for all of the suggestions and support. I didn't say I wouldn't get it into my lifestyle, I said it would be difficult. I have never let difficult stop me; if I did, I would not be working on my Master's Degree right now. I probably would have given up when I was working on my AA degree. I follow the quote from Tommy Lasorda in my signature line and make what I would have most likely thought of as impossible possible. Thanks again,

My mother bought me the Zumba home exercise program but I haven't tried it yet. I just have to set aside a regular time for it since my time is so limited I have to try to figure out when I am going to do it.

thisisme, Thank you for the suggestions and the encouragement! I am going to need all the encouragement I can get.

I absolutely hate to exercise; it is the most boring thing in the world to me. I was banded on October 19th and I go for my first fill on November 30th. I know they are going to clear me for exercise and I need to start integrating it into my life. I am a single mom (3-year-old daughter), I work full time, have a vary small business on the side, and I am working on my Master's Degree. I need some creative ways to integrate exercise into my life and I need some fun suggestions on what activities I can do so it is not so boring. Fellow bandsters, I need your help! Thanks!

Congratulations! I cannot wait to join you in onederland!

I don't own a scale and don't plan to purchase one. I weigh in when I go see the doctor. The last time I weighed in was a week after surgery and I will be seeing the surgeon on 11/30 for my first fill and I will weigh in at that time. I refuse to be a slave to the scale. I want to work on building a healthier lifestyle and enjoying life. Pre-surgery I would weigh in once a month and I found that was enough. I knew I was losing because the fit of my clothes and the thinning of my face and that was enough for me.

I didn't do too bad either but I really couldn't list what I ate; I can say that I ate a heck of a lot less than what I used to. I am also scheduled to have my first fill on 11/30 and I am looking forward to it. I also anticipate the surgeon clearing me for exercise so I will need to get into a routine.

If you have a crockpot you can cook meat and veggies in the crockpot and they will practically melt in your mouth. I have tried chicken and beef and they were both delicious! I had my surgery on October 19th and have already had this.

I also have my first fill on 11/30 but I do not know what I currently weigh. I do not own a scale so I have to wait until I go to the doctor. I do not think I am going to purchase a scale either because I do not want to get hung up on the numbers. So many people put so much pressure on themselves and weigh themselves entirely too much. Try not to worry about weight loss while you are healing. Remember we are not allowed vigorous exercise for a while so cut yourself some slack and remember that it will happen.

It almost sounds like pain from eating too much. Have you tried eating real slow and a smaller portion to see if it is the restriction causing the pain? I saw a post somewhat like this earlier and that is what they thought it was in that situation as well. I know that I have not had this type of side pain but if I eat too fast and do not give my body and band enough time to let me know I am full then I hurt like I have just had a huge meal. Just a thought. Good luck!