JennK2008

yes, do tell!!

I saw the mini's at the store the other day. I think I'm going to try them next time I go to the store. I have beenn getting the Orowheat sandwich thins and they are very good. I haven't been able to eat bread since I was banded, but after discovering the thins (I toast mine) I am able to eat a sandwich from time to time.

Congrats on your 4 year bandiversary!!!! That's awesome, I'm so happy for you!!!

I had 1cc removed out of my band on Thursday because I was too tight. My stomach around my port is sore and swollen a little bit. Has anyone else ever had this problem? I also think maybe I am retaining water too. My belly and my feet/legs are swollen. Seems like I have been getting really bloated in the evenings. Just curious if this is normal? Has this happened to anyone else? I have been banded for over 2 years and never was sore or swollen around my port.

there's so many things to do in Vegas. Go to a show, on a tour, rent a car there are so many neat things to do other than gamble. We go 2-3 times a year and there is so much to do and somethings always changing. The only downfall for us bandsters is so many good restaurants and daquiri bars on every corner. My husband and I are going for March madness along with 10 other people Have fun and good luck!!!

I was told to eat in moderation and do not deprive myself. Dr said this is not a diet it's a lifestyle change. I'm learning now not to always worry about the calories but then again to not go overboard either. I found that Starbucks has a caramel frapp light with sugar free caramel and no whip cream (venti) around 130 calories vs the regular caramel frapp with 570 cal

I was retaining water too. I'm not on a diurectic but I went to dr on Thurs and they took 1 cc out of my band because I was tight (and not losing either). I put on a couple pounds since Thursday but I think it will come right off as I'm peeing like crazy today. I have only had a protein shake for breakfast and I'm on my 2nd bottle of water. I guess the dr knew what he was talking about. I'm hoping the weight starts coming off again for you and me both!!

just sip, sip,sip. It will get a easier and easier each day. Like readytogoforit said walk and get up and around as much as possible. It will keep you from being as sore and get the gas to absorb. My doctor wanted me not to drink more than 1oz every 20-30 min. They just don't want you to get dehydrated. So even if you don't get in the whole 6.5 cups in as long as you are still using the bathroom you should be ok. I ate sf popsicles the first few days since I wasn't allowed a lot of liquid at one time. Don't drink to fast as it would make you uncomfortable but you shouldn't throw up. You are just swollen right now not restricted. I honestly thought the day after my surgery was the worst. I was really sore from the incision but also had a sore throat because of the tube they had down my throat during the procedure.

When I got banded I knew this was a lifestyle change not a quick fix. I set goals for my self. I mean attainable goals. My first goal was to lose 25lbs, then another 25lbs. etc. I have lost 89 lbs since being banded in Sept 2009. Yes, I have had a few setbacks and gained a little bit and I'm back on track now. (I got really sick a few months ago and on top of being sick I also became severly dehydrated) I would like to lose another 35lbs, but if that doesn't happen I am happy for losing the 89lbs that I have lost. I am healthy now and I haven't felt better!!! As far as food goes, I know that I can have anything in moderation. I do try to stay away from certain things because I don't trust myself. By overeating and making bad choices is what got me overweight in the first place. If you restrict yourself from everything one day you will lose control and food will take control of your life again. I also thing having a great support team is very important in this journey. I have had great support from my husband, family and many many friends.

I wasn't on a long pre op diet either. My surgery was on a Friday and I got a phone call on Wed at lunch and was told to finish the day on liquids and continue until surgery. I was like oh no I was just getting ready to go to lunch. I was told to go an enjoy myself but don't over do it. I said can I have a coke this afternoon as my liquids? I was told to enjoy my lunch and get a big coke but when it was gone no more coke. I went out and drove around. Nothing sounded good for lunch so I came back to work and ate the sandwich I brought with me. I did stop and get the biggest coke out there and followed my liquid diet until surgery. I think it was a mental thing that even though I was cleared to have my last supper I really didn't want to have it!!! I agree that you should ask about a small meal and then even if you don't like the answer stick with it. It will be worth it in the long run.

Ok, I'm back from the doctor. I didn't get a fill. In fact they let out 1cc from my band. Now that I'm home and the doctor, his nurse, and I had a talk I am completely fine with that. When I went in last time he told me that he thought that I was tight enough I didn't think so anyway I was told to see how I did and come back in 4 weeks. Today when I did my barium swallow I saw firsthand why he thought I was too tight. I WAS!!! After 25 min the 1 drink of barium was still in my pouch and hadn't really started going through my band. I agreed on 1/2 a cc to come out and it was still tight so together we agreed to 1cc. Appearantly the reason I was hungry all the time is that my food was sitting in my pouch and not getting past the band.In fact I even saw how my esophagus was starting to dialate. I haven't done any harm yet but thank God we figured this out together!! I am also not to worry about calories (keep them in moderation) but just keep watching portion sizes.I was starving myself watching the calories and trying to hard to diet and exercise. I hope I have more energy now and I will keep up my daily workouts on the elliptical. I am to call the nurse next Friday to report my progress with her and then go back in 2 weeks. I really appreciate all of you for letting me rant the last couple of days. Like I said yesterday we will continue on our weight loss journey together!!

If i don't get filled today i plan on asking him why am I coming to see you if I'm not losing weight and you won't give me a fill? I'm also going to ask him how much exactly I have in my band. I hope I'm just getting all worked up for nothing and he fills me tight. Hopefully I will have good news for you tonight after I get back home!

I'm 2 1/2 years out so I normally do not go as after as someone who is newly banded. However until I hit my sweet spot again I'm gonna go every chance I can and hope for a fill until I reach that sweet spot again!

I'm not sure how much I have in my band currently, but I plan on finding out today. I have a 10cc band and I can tell you I have very little restriction. I had a complete unfill last March because i got sick and was severely dehydrated. I was going every 4 weeks until August then was told to come in late Dec but couldn't get in until early Jan because of my schedule. I went in August and didn't get a fill but I was losing at that time. Since then i have put on 7 lbs and needed a tighter fill. Like I said 4 weeks ago he denied me a fill and I have maintained my weight and kept a food journal and exercise log. I go this afternoon and will let you all know the outcome. I have my fingers crossed!

Well I'm headed to the doctor tomorrow and I'm hoping for a fill. When I went for my last appointment my doctor refused to fill me since I had put on a few pounds since my last visit in August. I almost feel like he was punishing me since I gained some weight. I think I will scream if he doesn't give me a fill tomorrow. I have absolutely very little restriction and think that I would start losing again if I had the restriction that I need. I am prepared with my food journal and exercise log. I am writing down everything I put in my mouth including the butter rum lifesaver that I had 3 days ago even though I only had it my mouth for 30 seconds before getting rid of it. Has anyone else ever been denied a fill since they had gained instead of losing weight?

I was banded Sept 2009 and I started off at 254 and am currently 171. I need to jumpstart my weight loss. I only have 2.5 cc's in my 10cc band. I am going to hopefully get a fill on Thursday. Fill or no fill I'm starting liquids again to get back on track. Together we can do this!!

I was too tight last March and became severly dehydrated. I had to have all of the fluid in my band taken out. I gained weight back but then again I had literally been starving myself. My doctor told me not to be surprised if I gained 10 or 15lbs since I was now going to be able to eat. I put on more than that in 2 days and my feet and legs were swollen. After going to the ER and having every test imanginable they came to the conclustion that it was severe dehydration. Anyway even now with very little in my band 2.5cc's in a 10cc band I feel like I have room for more restriction. I can eat just about anything other than bread. I will tell you though I think it's definately mind over matter. I have trained myself not to eat what I know I can and to ration out small portions and try and leave some on my plate even if I'm not feeling full. I exercise, I get my water in, but I just can't lose weight. I go back to the doctor on Thursday and I'm praying that he gives me a fill. I know that is what I need to get me losing again. Just remember to keep track of everything you put into your mouth, and I mean everything. That way you stay accountable to yourself!!

Don't be disapointed if the scale goes up a little bit after a fun night of partying. When I go to Vegas I'm hooked on those daquari bars however I drink plenty of water and watch what I eat. All the walking will offset it some but just be careful. Alcohol is just empty calories so I really try and be careful. I had 2 beers Sunday night and I'm up 2lbs today even though I was super good on what I ate Sunday and have been so far since. I'm hoping it's a little water weight and I will have gotten rid of it by Thursday when I go for a fill.

I lost a so called "friend" not long after I was banded. She decided to end our friendship, bottom line she was jealous of me. I had gotten married 9 months prior to my surgery and then when I started losing weight and was getting compliments that's when the problems began. She was no longer the center of attention as I was getting compliments everytime we had "girls night". People who hadn't seen me in a while would be in shock how much weight I had lost and some said they didn't even recognize me. It breaks my heart that someone who used to be so closed to me ended our frienship over something so petty. I'm still friends with everyone else besides "her". The other girls still compliment me on my success and even one is going through the approval process. I say if someone is jealous of you for being a healthier you then to hell with them. I'm just glad I have a support team which consists of my husband, family and a great group of friends.

to lose another 20lbs by summer by losing those 20lbs get back into my size 8 pants

Definately can only have the thin crispy crust. I have tried the regular crust and it always gets stuck. I also stick with pepperoni and veggies as the sausage and hamburger not matter how much I chew always seems to get stuck. I wish I could tolerate english muffins, half of one would be the perfect size for me. If anyone has tried those sandwich thins let me know how that works. I can eat a sandwich now by replacing the bread with a toasted sandwich thin.

I usually start to slime when I get stuck. Then I have to get to the nearest bathroom and it comes back up. I find that sometimes I can eat this today but have a problem with it next time. Trial and error. If I get the same thing stuck twice I'm done with it.

Get back to your doctor and see what he/she says. When I was ready to get back on track my doctor wouldn't let me have a fill, he made me get back on track and come back in 4 weeks. I go back this Thurs. I am ready for my appointment. I got out my food journal and write down everything I put in my mouth, including the 1 M&M I had. I also keep track of my exercise daily. I have only lost 3lbs in the last 3 weeks but I have lost inches as my clothes are alot looser than they were. I am hoping to get that fill on Thursday as I feel I need more restriction. If you want we can be accountable together as we are both getting back on track!!

I think it does depend on the surgeon. Mine was done as outpatient in a hospital surgical center.I was there only a few hours. When I woke up in recovery I immediately needed to use the restroom and had a nurse help me so that I could go. I wasn't groggy and was stable on my feet and they released me. Of course I couldn't drive for 24 hours but my husband drove home and then we went to the pharmacy to get my pain meds. From the time we left for the hospital and the time we got home we were only gone 6 hours and the hospital where I had my surgery was 45 min away. I had great support at home and my husband was there to help me get around if I needed it. I was fine however, if my surgeon would have required an overnight stay I wouldn't have minded.

Thats great that you have lost 44lbs!!! You go girl!!! You do your best the next week and go in there and let your doctor praise you for your weight loss! You have done a great job even though you haven't reached your personal goal yet. Don't let that get you down. Weight is nothing but a number be proud of the new size you are in and the healthier you are 44lbs lighter!! I have been stuck on a plateau myself and started doing 30 min a day on the elliptical 5 days a week. I started doing 5 min at a time for 30 min now I'm up to 30 min without stopping. I plan on adding an extra 5 min a day each week until I'm back up to 45 min. I'm only down 3lbs over the last 3 weeks but I can tell I've lost inches and my clothes are getting looser.