Doddie63

After 14 months, I love the band. How could I hate it when I no longer stuff food in my mouth like there is no tomorrow. When I go to restaurants I see the huge portions people are eating and I my mouth no longer waters. I feel full after eating a meal, a feeling I never experienced before the band. I eat anything I want as long as it never goes over a cup and I chew the food well. All this wonderful time, I am losing two pounds per month with hardly trying. With my new upbeat life, there is no way I can hate my band. Doddie

Hi: Send me a privae message and I will answer any questions you may have. Of course, I can only comment on my personal experiences which have been great. The the pre and post surgery support is second to none. Doddie

No I am not unhappy with my weight loss. I have lost 1/2 lb per week for over a year now. I have 5.5 ccs in a 10 cc band and have great restriction. I still forget to chew my food on occasion and have to barf but that is not more than a few times every few months. I have arthritis in both joints and although I try to exercise, my heart is not in it. That is why the slow weight loss I guess. I have been able to control my head hunger by eating "hard protein" every 4 hours as suggested by my clinic. If I do, I rarely experience hunger of any sort. As for medications, I have had them reduced or eliminated. Sure would recommend the band to anyone reading this site. Doddie

Welcome back Susansilver. You have done extremely well in not gaining back your lost weight. But your second success was coming back to the support site. Sometimes posting when we are successfull is great but it takes courage to say you are in difficulties. The need for support is more major when you are having problems. Sure hope we can give you the support to move forward.

Welcome and keep on postin. Getting the band will give you a super future with your children as you will be healthier, more energy, to do things with your children you can't do now. I couldn't be happier for you.

Heather you don't sound harsh at all. I know what I am doing wrong but I too when stressed am preoccupied with what is on my mind. I think I am chewing, but when the pain starts and I have to empty the pouch by vomiting the chunks are faily large and I am surprised but I am improving. I went two months without vomiting but the last three days have been under stress. I was at Dr. Woodhead's today and we keep a loose band to allow a bit larger food pieces to go thru until I can control my eating. It is not easy changining a lifetime of habits at least for me it is not easy. I was just wondering if I am an odd ball or if others are struggling with the chewing issue. Doddie

Elaine. I suggest you relax and start from square one. Exercise is a great cardio but for weight loss it is only a very small part of the equation. When we are 300 lbs, our joints are at risk and frankly we hurt when we exercise making it not such a pleasant task. I know of someone that is severely disabled and never exercises but lost over 200 lbs just counting calories. If you follow the rules of eating with the band you will lose weight. No one says you have to lose 2-4 lbs per week. It is only suggested. So I suggest square one: 1) eat every four hours which includes at least 2 - 3 oz. of HARD PROTEIN. Plan proper nutrition - no wheat or dairy and at no more than a total of 6-8 oz. 2) start tracking what you eat and be honest when you put something in your mouth. Don't gloss over "that little bitt of whatever" when cooking. 3) Don't exercise - just go for a slow walk at first. As you lose weight your joints will allow you to exercise even more. Take your time. Doddie

:embaressed_smile:I have had the band for over 1 year now. I am a food gulper and have been struggling to "chew" my food. When I first got the band, I PB'd every day, now I am down to two or three times every few months. Does anyone else still PB after one year? What damage if any is being done to my band? If you have stopped, what did you do? I find that I usually PB when I eat without thinking, for instance I am in a rush to go out. Doddie

Gina. I believe you need counselling. You have the band but it appears you are not eating properly. You puke because a) the band is too tight :thumbup: you are not chewing your food c) you are eating too much. By a defill, you are still thinking you can eat like the old ways. You may be unconsciously eating hi calorie liquid foods. Start by monitoring your eating habits. Take a program like Fitday and honestly record everything. Weigh your food and place it on a small plate. Eat every four hours solid protein and chew the life out of it. In between the four hours sip on water. Just before a meal, sip warm liquid to relax the stomach. Sit at a table and concentrate on eating. If you still find after monitoring yourself then you should talk to a counsellor for eating disorders. Hope these hints help. Doddie

Welcome Roxie. All of us have our reasons for being slow losers. If all the medical options are ruled out such as "hypo thyroid" then I suggest you track everything you put in your mouth. For instance, I cook by tasting. Amazing how many calories go down the tube. Also, try not to equate exercise with losing weight. Exercise is great cardio, muscle building etc. but to lose weight you still have to consume less than you take in. Exercise does consume calories and is part of the equation but not the only one. I can't exercise very much, but still have managed to loose one or two pounds a month. The other thing is to assess your "head hunger". Do you have any? Do you give in to it? What are the rewards you give yourself, is it food or do you try a warm bath, etc. Just a few ideas. Certainly not the complete answer but to get you started back on side. Doddie

Yes Shannon. Please come to our North Vancouver meeting in the Lions Gate Hospital tonight (Wednesday). We are a tiny group but have alot of fun. We can certainly help you with your anxieties. Having the surgery is like a mountain, one minute you are excited then the next minute all the doubts start creeping in. But don't worry, you will be find. Who is doing the surgery, Dr. Leung or Dr. Woodhead. Contact me on my e mail if you wish further information on the meeting. Doddie

Yep, goodnight I think the ending is "let's agree to disagree".

sorry, I don't understand the connection between the courts ruling an overweight person is entitled to a seat as a socialistic ruling. Seems it is more in line with acknowledging overweight people are to be treated with respect and are entitled to the same benefits as "normal" people. What about handicap parking spaces? What about the services given to physically challenged by the airlines. What about the rights of minorities. I don't think the American Courts socialists yet they have made many rulings in favor of minorities. Sounds like what you are saying is that it should be a free for all and may the best win and to hell with the ones that fall thru the cracks. Sorry, I think I will take the socialists view point if I have to watch people suffer.

No snuffy, just want companies to respect the rights of all. No question if you want to start a company and run it the way you would like, you can, however, the rest of us don't have to patronize the company. A far right liberal is closer to conservative thinking than central or far left. They subscribe to less socialism. Don't wish to start a war between the two countries, we need each other but, we can learn from each other. We need your trade and you need our natural resources but we all are very similar.

Plain LOL What Canada are you referring to. We have an Ultra Conservative government in and the only socialist province (NDP) is Manitoba last I heard. In BC we have far right liberals. No, I just think the Canadians respect the needs of all, eh! Doddie

I posted about this new ruling in Canada earlier. There is no question in my mind that the American Airlines treat the overweight person in a negative way. They know very well they are discriminating. Someday some organization will take them to court. As for my thoughts, If I have to pay for two seats the airline could put in a row of larger seats with slightly higher fares. If I had a comfortable seat, I would pay the extra. I think it unlikely the seats would go empty. However, from what I have read the Airlines don't treat their staff to well either. For instance, the unions had to fight to have safety seats available to the staff. Big business will always push to make their profits at the expense of the public and only laws will bring them into line. Canada has done it now the American Government should as well.

Hi: I guess us over '60's' more inclined to take our time with weight loss so. How much fill do you have in your band. I know we are all different, for instance, I have 5.5ccs in a 10 cc band. I can't eat over 1 (measured cup) of food or 3 oz of hard protein and 4 oz in veggies. I feel pain or hiccup if I eat more and to be truthfull end up barfing the food out. Yet I know another lady that has 9 ccs in a 10 cc band before she found her sweet spot. The sweet spot is a mystery to me. It seems to imply the balance of being able to eat normally and yet not overeat. What do you think you will feel when you reach your sweet spot. As for emotional eating that is tough. How do you combat the need to eat? Doddie

Yes I agree, TLC and constant reassurances you are doing this for your health and for him and you want to feel pride in yourself. He has his own demons to contend with just as you are fighting head hunger and to get your head to see the new you he has to feel you still are interested in him. No question I have read articles that some men like overweight women. Oh, why does life have to be so difficult. Doddie

Snuffy: Well, well, are we the most self righteous individual. "my body fits the seats" so what is YOUR problem. Well I tend to think of others besides myself. And who said I got my money back? Seems to me you have a very close connection to airlines to be so supportive of a very mean spirited policies. Airlines intend to pack people in like cattle and there is no other intent in their agenda. The fat person is the last group of people that can be opening discriminated against with out reprecussion from the law. Your sad support of them is a classic example of abuse that all overweight people suffer through.

luvinke: I know what you are saying. My DH has just recently started pushing food at me saying I am not eating enough to feed a sparrow. I can only surmise, they feel threatened by the new you and me that is emerging. They want the fat comfortably always reliable gal back. We however, are preening and enjoying the new taste of smaller sizes and feeling more confident with ourselves. Well my attitude is "get used to it, guys, here I come". Doddie

I have understood Kathy to be a registered nurse as well as a bandster. She is knowledgeable. As for the diet, the lengthy is determined by your BMI but the clinic can adjust it to meet your needs. The whole purpose of the diet is to shrink the liver as much as possible. I had to go 30 days on cottage cheese and plain yogurt. Doddie

Yes, there is no need for fluos unless there is a problem such as suspected twisted, flipped or leaking port or pain of some sort. The fill as you get closer to restriction will feel cool around you stomach as the fill inflates the band. It is a 'cool' feeling and your first reaction is to eat cautiously for a week until you get used to your portions. I found I was PBing every day until I finally realized I couldn't tell what 3 oz was so now I weigh everything. Doddie

Snuffy: Where in the law does it say everyone must be a size 16 or smaller. Airline sell tickets for profit. Being 114 lbs over your goal indicates to me that you don't travel very much. Well I do, and I assure you that I have as much right to be comfortable as a size 16. If they charge me more for the seat so be it, but for me to buy 2 seats is dead wrong. Two seats are uncomfortable and as you stated the arm cannot be raised by law. Also, I have had the unfortunate experience wherein I did buy two seats and the airline was overbooked so bumped my second seat and I could not do sweet diddly squat about it. So for me it should be mandatory that the airlines do not discriminate against fat people the same as any other visible minority. Doddie

Well in Canada, the Superior Courts ruled in favor of a handicap person. In that judgment, handicap people that need a full time attendant can purchase one ticket and the airlines must provide a second seat free for the attendant. This included POS. Now the airline are looking for a way of charging more. People are only two quick to say "the rest of us pay for our seats and are entitled", well so are POS. Airline seats are made with only 16" width so most of the people flying are POS. Seems to me the airline are "bullying" POS, knowing full well they are walking a thin line of discrimination. If someone had the money to take them to court it would be interesting what the American courts would say. I don't buy into the theory that because you are overweight you are not entitled to fly, use a bus, or train. If we have a death in the family have to get home 3,000 miles away, I should be entitled to a seat that fits. If there were oversize seats available on each plane, the airline could sell them to POS and/or so called normal bodies. Doddie

Relax mommyoftwolittle, your first fill is usually loose. Everyone is different, but most people don't feel restriction until 5 or more ccs. The average for a 10 cc band is 7 but others require less. For instance, I am at 5.5 cc and am at a perfect restriction for my needs. I am able to take my medications without having to crush them, plus I cannot eat more than 8 oz of food per meal. I have the "full" feeling when I have 3 oz of hard protein and total 4 oz of veggies/fruit. Take your fills slow and easy, because it sometimes takes a few days for he restriction to show up. I went for 8 months with a 5 cc fill then got my .5 cc two months ago. Just a word of advice, don't rush it. You don't want to get into the fill/defill mode. More chance of damaging your port and tubing by needle. Doddie