Kime-lou

look for whole wheat or whole grain

I was very nervous to start with. However, with any WLS you can have problems and complications. I knew several people who took the bypass aproach, a couple have lost weight only to gain it back, one is doing perfect, one lost weight, but is having a hard time with keeping levels in balance due to in ablility to absorb nutrients. I talked to my doctor. I ask would I have to replace my band one day, he said possibly, just like some people have to have a second knee replacement if they live long enough. I may not ever have an issue, I know some people who have had their band 15 years with no problems. Once I reach my goal weight and have good restriction I won't have to go see the doctor nearly as often. My doctor likes to have patients come in about once a year once they get to maintance unless they are having a problem. For me the band was the right choice. I wanted to loose weight, but I didn't want to have problems absorbing nutrients. If a day comes and my band has to go I will reevaluate along with my doctor to see if I get a new band or go to the sleeve. But, that day may never happen so I am not going to worry about it for now.

For me stucks is I swallow and then tightness happens and I can't get anything else down. Some times I will PB (productive burp) and the food will come back - I spit it out and I'm fine. Sometimes I eventually goes through. Restriction isn't really a filling of tightness. It's is more I eat one cup of food and can go 4-5 hours before getting hungry again. As for food that are no no's - you should be able to eat what you want, but should be making healthy choices. Some people, myself included, find eating doughey break a problem. Tough meats are also difficult. That being said unless you are taking small bites and chewing well anything can be a problem. I tend not to eat pork or steak because I can't get it tender enough. I do eat chop steak, which is extra fine ground beef. Some people though never have an issue with any foods, so it really depends on you. Good luck.

I only waited 4, but we were very careful and he was gentle.

Water- lots of Water. I was recommended to drink at the least 80 oz, but do better if I do 100 oz. I eat 3 meals a day, no more that 1 cup full ( mostly Protein need at least 60g a day). I normally eat about 1 snack that is in the afternoon and is no more than a cup and normally nuts or something like that. Most bandsters are told do not drink for 30 min after eating. I find this very help. Carbonation is bad for the band. Caffine is tollerated by some, not by others. I was told it would increase my appetiate and it does, so I avoid it. If you can afford a nutritionist, the best advice I can offer you is: Drink lots of water, count calories (general recommendation is 1200 calories a day - myfitnesspal is a great help with this activity), excercise (do whatever you can do to move more), eat at leat 60g of protein a day. Get in pleanty of Fiber. Good Luck!

I was banded on June 22, 2012 started at 244 after a month I was at about 228. That was my biggest loss after that it has bounced between 2-7 lbs a month.

Vinegar in general is very healthy. I use apple cidar and balsamic all the time. By adding balsamics to Pasta dishes it can help your body better process them. Not to mention by adding balsamic to pasta dishes (spagetti sauces) it taste really good!! I use both vinegars in cooking all the time. Love 'em. They have been recommended for diabetics for years - look at low glycemic index diets.

I agree with Missy - it's not about the amount in your band, but about your hunger levels between meals (that is when are eating the appropriate meals.)

Either surgery requires commitment and dedication to make it work. Research online what each surgery does physically to your body and what is expected after surgery. That may help you make up your mind. It is totally your decision and both can be very successful if you make it so. My surgeon said the biggest thing was the commitment to appointment. You must go back much more often if you get the band than you do with the sleeve. So if you surgeon is a long ways a way that may be an issue. Also, if you have trouble takeing the small bites and chewing well the band can cause a few more issues (notice I said a few). Good luck on whatever you choose.

Seriously, go see the doctor. This could be a back up or it could be reflux either can cause your band serious harm. It never hurts to consult the doc, better safe than sorry.

Ok, this is my 2 cents worth, take it for what you will... Sounds to me like you are eating mostly sliders, which tend not to keep you full the 4-5 hours it should. So you are likely eating more calories than you should. Calories are calories not matter the form. The weight gain may have caused your band to get tighter, making it more difficult to eat solids. Which would mean you need a slight unfill, even a cc could make a difference. Questions to ask yourself- Are you drinking enough Water? Are you taking small bites and chewing well when you attempt to eat solids? Are you making good choices with the food you are putting in your body - good carbs, healthy Proteins, Fiber? A trip to see both the doctor and nutritionist maybe all you need to get yourself back on track. You can do it, just have faith. You haven't failed until you give up!

Have you been drinking lots of Water, is it near the time of your period, what does your sodium intake look like? All these things could factor. Also, depending on your exercise you could be building muscle which can prevent the fat loss from showing on the scale. Take a deep breath and try not to stress. You can do this. I felt the same why you do before my sugery. It's scary, but you can make it. One min, one step, one meal, one drink, one day at a time you can make it!

I was told at the start of my journey to drink at the least 60 oz of water a day, but more would be better. During the week I do great, drinking around 100 oz. Well guess what during the week my weight goes down! On the weekends I am a slacker. The hubs and I don't have kids and take advantage of sleeping in on Saturday and Sunday mornings. We normally rise around 8-9 am verses our M-F routine of getting up at 5. We are not morning people and never have been. However, this getting up late wreaks havoc with my water intake. I strictly follow my doctors rule of not drinking during or 30 min after a meal. I find this is a big help in not getting hungry so soon. When I don't get up until 8-9, I miss out on getting that extra time for fluids. On M-F I would have already downed about 60 oz. I tend to drink very little between dinner time and bed time for potty reasons, therefore, I don't drink as much as I should. Looking back over my records for the past couple of months the pattern that I see is, my weight drops during the week and on the weekends rises. I believe this is for 2 reasons- 1-Friday night is my night off cooking (this was established at the on set of the relationship and I like it!) We eat out, but I choose as healthy as possible, but the sodium levels do tend to be high (read water retention) 2- Since I do not drink enough water on the weekends the water that is retained due to the upped sodium count is not flushed out. The pattern clear shows that from Friday morning to Sunday morning my weight will go up about 2-3 lbs. By Tuesday morning my weight is back down lower than it was on Friday morning due to getting in all the extra water on Monday. So, it looks like I must get better at the water on the weekends thing. But, this does clearly show me that my water intake as well as my sodium intake has a big effect on my weight. This is my little scientifc experiment.

When things are that bad go back to see the doc. A little taken out could make a huge difference in how you feel.

My husband liked those and the myoplex EAS, I love the new slim fast high protein- they are freaking awesome!!

I was banded on June 22nd. I got my first fill 4 weeks later. Now I go back about every 4-5 weeks. Thus far I have gotten a fill each time of any where from .4 cc to 1.2 cc. My doctor does fill with floro so they always check my band to see what George (my band) has to say about things. My doctor requires patients come in every 4-6 weeks for the 1st year and after that it totally depends on the patient and how things are going. When I got my last fill I thought I was in the zone, but now I think I may need a tiny adjustment, but I've lost 6 lbs since I was last there.

I had more trouble the months right after getting my band, but now I have very little issue. I do watch my salt in take around that time because it will blow me up like a ballon which puts pressure on my band.

The chef at the local place actually makes it more authentic to chinese culture (healthier) at least according to them. Plus I can order light sauce. On most things they will put the sauce on the side so you can decide if you want to eat the sauce or not. I think it will be chicken and brocolli for dinner. Yum

Pre-band the hubs and I would occasionally go to a little chinese joint down the street from us. They don't use MSG there and their sodium counts appear to be less. I use to eat General Tso chicken, but now realize exactly how horrible that was for me. One of my other favs was chicken and broccoli, which I thing would be pretty healthy. Is there any healthy chinese take out? I don't mind leaving off the rice, but what main dish won't kill me on calories? I am craving chinese some kinda bad, I know you can make it at home, but I want the real deal.

What is your Water and Protein in take like? Both of these are key for weight loss. I upped my water intake and that broke my stall and now I am moving nicely again. I would look at both of those first. Then maybe count your calories. Once you have looked at all this and if things haven't changed call then nutrionist and take all the info to them and see if they can help figure out what the problem could be. My doctor did tell me though that plateaus are common and ok. He never worries if a patient hoovers around the same weight unless they stay there for longer than 3 months, when it hit 4 or 5 months they need to look at what the patient is doing.

My doctor never gave me one. He ask me what mine was I told him my realistic goal was 160, but my dream goal was 135. I am 5'2 and 32 years old. He told me if I work at it I would reach my dream, I just had to keep working at it after I hit that 160. Of course he reminded me that this would not happen over night, it may take 3 years, but he thought I could do it. On my ticker I have 140 listed as goal and I would be happy with that and I am half way there in 7.5 months.

Awesome job- can't weight to be out of the obese catagory!

This morning I did my norm morning routine. Got up pottied and got on the scale before dressing (TMI I know, but it is always best to weigh in you birthday suit). The hubs walks in and hugs me and says "geez I can reach my elbows when I wrap my arms around you". Then he said "I'm proud of you babe, but don't get so skinny I have to shake the sheets to find ya". For those who don't know my husband is visually impaired. His vision is 20/800 - legally blind since birth. Granted he is well educated graduated with honors with a degree in computer science and is a well respected software engineer. He just can't see very well. So it's always been the running joke that he feel for me because I was large print (he always replied to that with you said that not me). Now he is joking saying I am getting so small he won't be able to see me anymore. The joking is all in fun- he is very supportive of my weight loss journey and is helping me leaps and bounds. But I must say it would be nice for him to have to shake the sheets to find me

If you can drink something, like Missy said, protein shakes are always a good option. When I am not really hungry, but want a little something I will drink a slim fast high protein shake. Taste good and gets my day started off with lots of protein (20g).

My band does tighten when I am sick. I haven't had to have any fluid removed yet. The last time I had a bad cold with the coughing and I knew my band was tighter I just went on mushies and liquids for a few days and that did the trick.