Skyvic

I'll be in the same boat with to fill or not. I have good weight loss since adjustment to 5.75 in band, finicky band I think I'm in green zone still. Trying to decide if I'm head hungry or If Im Bly hungry. That was my question, too...when do you fill to fullest or do you always stay in green zone when you hit goal? I've got 24 pounds to go.

Filet mignon, tilapia, deli turkey, deviled ham or chicken, turkey spaghetti sauce with mozzarella and ricotta, cottage cheese with deli ham or Greek yogurt and granola.

I did not really start the best weight loss until going into my second year. I did not want to start exercising until this last May. I just wasnt ready. And I wanted my adjustments to be slow so I could emotionally adjust to the changes in my eating and the way the adjustments felt to my body as they became more restricted. Part of me wanted this journey to go faster...but at this point I do not regret it. I have really had to want this lifestyle change. Now u eat better, exercise, and watch my food choices...at 5.75 cc in band and down to about 174. Goal is 154.

That's a good amount of protein!

I just tried this with ricotta and it serves the purpose delicious!!!!

How exciting for you!!! I remember getting surgery date I just counted down the days. My surgery was scheduled for January 3,2011...they called me to move forward on December 21,2010...I did not hesitate a bit! I knew Christmas dinner would be beef broth!!! Good luck no regrets I love my band!

A friend suggested Goodwill. I was reluctant but when I went shopping I found about three pairs of fabulous capris, one a Calvin Klein, and for blouses very stylish for all about $30.00...I was amazed. I found some size 12...there are also other sizes from xs to 3x. Highly suggest shop as you lose. I've wasted money on clothes that I barely wore especially between the 16-20 sizes.

Yes I can do a filet mignon medium rare. Outback, Shwans, Texas Roadhouse...that I've tried plus in grocery stores. I also use tenderizer for grilled at home.

Congrats on your surgery. I think you will enjoy this forum and please take this journey in stride. You will learn a lot and follow your surgeons rules you will be a success:)

Sounds good!!!

Mine said no carbonated drinks...can stretch pouch.

Yummy that ricotta cocoa idea sounds really good. I have cottage cheese maybe I'll try it with that.

I do go through this at various times. Lisyen to body for extra salt in diet, bloating, virus or illness, water intake and hydration, any of this can cause my "toddler" band to go ape and temperamental. It's crazy and mysterious because I never know. I have learned that if I lay down for a period of time that it tightens. Heat and humidity can change it. Most of all lack of hydration will rely make it tight.

Oh yes!!!! I'm well known for scarfing my food down. I find that I have to constantly remind myself to slow down, take smaller bites, and chew, chew, chew. I know that this is something that is cjlenging for me everyday. A tool this band has given us. PBing is often that reminder that I did not follow those rules.

Did you lose some pounds or inches? I know sometimes I feel restricted after a fill, then after a couple weeks between healing time on full liquids and the stomach swelling goes down, I lose a few pounds and have fallen out of green zone. But there are other times where I just wait and stay on track with following the rules and I end up losing and still feel not as much restriction.

May need more fills as you go along. I've had times where I would fill like I was in green zone for just a couple weeks then get hungry again. I knew I needed another full but my appointment woyld not be for two or three weeks, which can be tough because you know you may struggle to lose. It's hard to wait, just concentrate on protein and exercise until you can get in. The green zone will happen and you will know it when it does.

That is so awesome!!! I find that I have to keep my head in the game by also going to my local weight kiss support group, using this forum, using my fitness pal and exercising regularly, it all makes me more successful in this journey. I realize we all are so different and not one regimen works for everyone, not one foid or protein drink. We all lose at various levels and times. I'm just so glad that we have one very thing in common...we were all heavy and we all want to make a lifestyle change that will improve our health. This is a huge step in our lives:)

We are all so different. I didn't want my band very tight so I asked my surgeon to be extremely conservative with my fills. I had my band put in December 2010. I was at 268. It's now 19 months later and I'm at about 175-180 depending on week. So, I sit in a size 12 and really wanting to get to goal of 154. But I also realize that this may just be a journey of bumps and turns in the road. I'm thrilled that I can wear smaller clothes. Some days I can only eat barely a half cup of food, other days it seems like more. I'm in the green zone now but in a month I may be ready for another fill as my surgeon suggested October. We will see. It sounds like you are doing an awesome job losing weight and inches. I knew I would be slower and I'm finally ok with this ( I just have to remind myself that this is how I wanted it).

Skyvic ...welcome to add me

Checking in at 175...have a head cold feel cruddy and in a soup mood:( bundled on couch no mood for a walk today...maybe later this evening.

Watch a funny movie, go through big girl clothes and give to goodwill, clean house and closets, take a walk, make a band friendly food recipe, look at lapband forum here, exercise with a friend, clean the garage, snuggle up on bed with a good book or magazine, facebook, scrapbook photos, trail walk, take a bubble bath!!!! Hang in there most of all.

Your welcome. I call my band a "toddler"...it gets fussy at different times, typical for me. Overall happy with the results but when I'm sick I just have to stay hydrated. Get well.

Soon after banded I realized a lot if the junk we had in our house couldn't go down so great. So, a lot of this stuff will steer you away from it naturally. Plus, you will be so stoked about the weight loss journey that hopefully you won't touch it. I still have a couple bites of chips. But that's about all I can eat vs. the whole bag before I was banded.

Yay congrats!!!!

Don't give up...I lost more weight going into this second year!!!!! I was a size 24...in now a size 12. It's definitely a journey and you will have plenty of ups and downs, plateaus you may question why not faster. It's ok. Your fat will mold back to your body, a little weight will drop, size will get smaller maybe wen weight is not going down. I've had these days. Listen to tour body for times you know you need a fill. Hang in there you will succeed.