Chrissy-Chris

Sometimes I have to remind myself when I am eating that whatever I am eating is not the last time I will get to eat that food. Does that make sense? What I mean is if there is a bowl of M&M's at work and I take 10. Instead of going back later and grabbing more I try to say to myself to stop because it won't be the last time I get to have M&M's, they will be there again another time so don't pig out on them, save it for the next time. I hope that sounds the way I mean. Like CG said, be smart with your choices.

Sometimes I have to remind myself when I am eating that whatever I am eating is not the last time I will get to eat that food. Does that make sense? What I mean is if there is a bowl of M&M's at work and I take 10. Instead of going back later and grabbing more I try to say to myself to stop because it won't be the last time I get to have M&M's, they will be there again another time so don't pig out on them, save it for the next time. I hope that sounds the way I mean. Like CG said, be smart with your choices.

That is awesome, congratulations!

I love the Leslie Sansone video's. They are super easy and you will be amazed at the workout your getting all while walking in place in your own home. She has all different kinds of video and all of them are great. I highly recommend them.

My dr. encourages straws so that you drink slower and don't gulp. I have been using straws since my surgery 3 weeks ago and have not had a problem. However, I do agree that it is best to follow your doctors orders.

you will make it by doing what you have to do. eating your allotted amounts (eating Protein first to help you feel full) and eating fruits/veggies...dont forget to drink alot to help figure out if you are hungry or just think you are..
you have to learn to eat with your band... you eat one bite at a time. let it go down and stop at 20 min...just because you can (eat more then you should) does not mean you should...not good for you or the band..
i read your post and saw ( i hate this, i use to do this, i am having hard time..) need to change to i can do this, i will do this and then do it...
hang in there

You have to learn to eat with your band and that means no longer scarfing down food. You have to eat slowly and take small bites, rest the fork in between bites and wait for it to go down. You have to learn to do this because if you dont then you wont be able to eat with or without fills. Its part of relearning to eat the correct way.

Congratulations carolinagirl! You are an inspiration!

Congratulations carolinagirl! You are an inspiration!

Your story is amazing. I love hearing that you and carolinagirl have done so well with your band with plication. I have the same thing and was banded January 23rd. I go in for my first fill on Friday and am wondering how that is going to go. I am down 26 lbs since preop. Have been following the nutrition plan almost to a "T" but am starting to get a little hungrier between meals, not starving, but hungry. I am feeling positive though and know I have made a great decision.

Congratulations carolinagirl! You are an inspiration!

Congratulations carolinagirl! You are an inspiration!

The band can seem very fickle at times, giving you restriction riddles instead of restriction answers. How can we solve those riddles?


RESTRICTION RIDDLES
Restriction is the holy grail of bandsters, but even when you find it, it may not cooperate with you all day every day. Its fickle nature may allow you to eat one food on Tuesday but not on Wednesday. It may not show up until 2 weeks after a fill, or it may disappear 2 weeks after a fill. You end up puzzling over riddles like delayed restriction, disappearing restriction, and/or variable restriction.
DELAYED RESTRICTION
Although the Fluid injected into the port during a fill travels immediately to the band, it can take several weeks for you to notice an increase in restriction. This may be because you spend a few days after a fill progressing from liquids to purees to soft to solid food, and then you're extra careful when eating: on the alert for more restriction. When we relax this vigilance, careless eating will eventually remind us (again) that we have a band with more fill in it.
Delayed restriction is frustrating, I admit. You get a fill and want instant results. But all you can do is pay close attention to your body's signals as it adjusts to the tighter fit of the band.
It is pointless to try to judge your restriction in the two to three days immediately after a fill, when you're on a liquid or pureed diet, because optimal restriction is experienced when you're eating solid foods.
DISAPPEARING RESTRICTION
At times during my weight loss surgery journey, I have asked myself, "Where the heck did my restriction go? Did thieves sneak in during the night and steal it?" In addition to thieves and elves, the following things can make your restriction seem to disappear overnight:
1. A few days to a week after a fill, the swelling and irritation caused by the fill calms down and the fit of your band feels looser.
2. In the first few weeks after a fill, you re-learn your band eating skills and unconsciously adjust to the new fill level so that you experience fewer negative symptoms.
3. As you lose weight after a fill, the visceral fat around your stomach shrinks, so the fit of your band doesn't feel as tight.
4. The position of your band against your stomach subtly changes due to normal body processes (see below).
5. Your band loses fluid due to evaporation, leakage, or inadvertent removal during a fill.
Please note that in #1 and #3 above, I said that the fit of the band feels looser or tighter. The band itself does not loosen or tighten by itself. Only a fill, unfill, or manufacturing defect can do that. The band is not like a rubber band that stretches out over time and eventually snaps.
WHY IS RESTRICTION SO VARIABLE?
Sooner or later, every bandster discovers that the band is a fickle mistress. In the course of a week, it can feel too loose, too tight, or just right (kind of like Goldilocks and the Three Bears). The food that worked fine on Monday may get stuck on Tuesday. On Wednesday you can hardly eat at all, and on Thursday you could eat an entire wedding banquet all by yourself. Friday you're back to Square One.
These variations are maddening but fairly normal. The stomach is living tissue that expands and contracts to aid digestion. It's affected by weight loss, the time of day (morning tightness is common), the time of month or fluid retention, medications, illness, dehydration and stress. The pressure of the band against the stomach can cause the stomach wall to thin out, so the band feels looser. And although the band and the stomach are sutured together, the position of the band can shift enough to affect your experience of restriction.
Remember: the #1 factor affecting the amount of food you can eat is what type of food you eat. You will feel more restriction when you eat solid food (like animal protein), less when you eat soft food (even healthy stuff like yogurt and cottage cheese), and virtually none when you drink liquids (even healthy ones like Protein drinks).

I had band with plication and I only have 1cc total in my band and I do not want anymore. I'm happy where it is at and I've lost 113 pounds since may 2012

Congratulations CG! You should be proud of yourself! I love seeing pictures like that. Makes everything seem so real and so possible!

Congratulations CG! You should be proud of yourself! I love seeing pictures like that. Makes everything seem so real and so possible!

Welcome to the other side Ireallywannabethin! I am a newbie also and was banded about 2 and 1/2 weeks ago. My doctors office tells all of their patients from here on out that we should start every day with something warm to drink, whether it be coffee, tea, warm Water, whatever, but we should do this every day. I do feel tight in the morning but this helps tremendously. I am up usually at 5:30 and have my tea and don't have a Protein Shake until about 9am. Works for me. Try it and maybe it will help you also. Good Luck!

Welcome to the other side Ireallywannabethin! I am a newbie also and was banded about 2 and 1/2 weeks ago. My doctors office tells all of their patients from here on out that we should start every day with something warm to drink, whether it be coffee, tea, warm Water, whatever, but we should do this every day. I do feel tight in the morning but this helps tremendously. I am up usually at 5:30 and have my tea and don't have a Protein Shake until about 9am. Works for me. Try it and maybe it will help you also. Good Luck!

Melidawn, I am in Texas - Fort Worth

I was on liquids for 4 weeks after surgery, so I didn't get mushy food until the 5th week.
Yes, I've had a lot of success actually. I've lost 181 pounds in the year since I was banded.

I think I can. I think I can. I know I can. I know I can.

I have also heard of Lap Band over Gastric Bypass. As a matter of fact I think my surgeon is the one who told me that he is seeing more and more of those.

I have also heard of Lap Band over Gastric Bypass. As a matter of fact I think my surgeon is the one who told me that he is seeing more and more of those.

Mimi, glad you are able to take the time off that your Dr.'s recommended. Babykins, I am also taking off that amount of time. Surgery next Wednesday and will return to work a week and 1/2 later. I had a weak moment last night and ate 5 tater tots. I baked them for my son and a friend who was spending the night and before I knew it I ate 5. I was so disappointed in myself and they didn't even taste that good. I was so hungry and I should of made my Soup before I made anything for the kids. Today is a new day and I am back on track - still hungry though. Two protien shakes and a bowl of soup a day is not cutting it for me. I just keep telling myself that I only have 5 more days til surgery, I can do this!

Great job on the 10 lbs Anali! I am down 9. Can you believe we only have a week to go? I am craving the spaghetti everybody is eating at the office right now!! We can do this.