mybella

i named my band Bella for small Belly. It also means beautiful in Italian.

I was banded aug 6th and i have only have 1 fill but I have made a rule to not go over 1 cup of food. If I am eating a piece of Protein, I weigh it so if I eat 5oz of protein, I will eat 3oz of protein. If it is a Soup like chilli I measure it in a cup. I know I can eat more, but am still surprised that 1 cup holds me for 4+ hours, so that is when I know the band is working. Since my fill on Sept 17th, I have loss 8 pounds and since my surgery on Aug 6th, I have loss 21 pounds and since May 22nd, I have lost 47lbs. You can lose with 1 cup as long as most of that meal is protein and Fiber. I eat no carbs off of my plate. Carbs make me hungry. Hope this helps.

You are healing, you are only a few days from surgery. You need nausea meds at this point. Please call your doctor.

We all have second thoughts. Once you go through the pre opt and post op you will be glad you did it. I met a woman who had the second thought and I kept encouraging her and now she is 30 pounds down and is so happy she did. She is on her post liquid diet and she is amazed that she is not hungry. I think of this tool as a appetite suppresant which is better than the drugs and over the counter pills. You still have to eat like you are on a diet, but it is healthy foods and high protien. I started on May 22nd and now I am 44lbs down. Just do it and you will be happy to see your dieting will go further than the 40 pounds and will be easier to keep it off.

I was banded Aug 6th, and got my fill Sept 18th. I was eating 1 cup before my fill and was hungry 1.5 weeks before my fill. After my fill, I am still eating 1 cup, and loss 4 pounds and I am not hungry between meals Not sure I am getting another fill on Oct 17th, if I am not hungry and still losing. I do not feel restriction, but it is a tool and it is up to you to not over eat. Not being hungry between meals is the key and it means the band is working. So once you get your first fill, don't think you will feel restriction, but know the key to the band is to not be hungry between meals. I can go 4-5 hours before I feel hungry. Hope this helps, but this is my experience, just make sure your meals have at least 5oz of protein and 3oz of fiber. I do not eat any breads or carbs only carbs in foods I am eating.

So sorry, so much to go through, they did not test for gallbladder before your banding surgery?

I had my first fill and my surgery was August 6th. I got 2cc and I am on liquids for 3 days. I have had 1 shake and onion soup broth and a cup of coffee with sugar free coffeemate and 6 glasses water so far. I feel fine as well.

I had cream of wheat and oatmeal on my meal plan after surgery and my surgeon caught the error and said carb items are not allowed on the liquid diet because it swells in your pouch and will cause disconfort. I would discontinue that and just stick with the shakes because the shakes alone will make you feel stuff so the cream of wheat will only make you feel worse. Worth a try. You don't want to stretch your pouch. You could always do a sugar free popsicles.

Was banded 8/6, i may be able to give you your journey, but everyone's experiences are different. I get my fill today.

I have eaten very lean steak (blade steak), medium cooked and it goes down easily, haven done porkchops. Slow cooker is good for pork chops becaue I have done it before and they are very tender and moist. I have been on this Chilli kick with kidney beans(you can use any Beans you like) ground turkey, stewed and regular tomatoe and a fast way to do this is with McCormick original chile seasoning pack, i double the recipe and it is fast and very good, high in Fiber, high in Protein and I ate it at lunch 1 cup, and dinner most days for a 1 week and loss 4 pounds that week. Just made more chili last night, and will freeze 1/2 of it. I get my fill this morning and I am mad becaue I will have to wait 4 days to eat it. lol

I know the scary feeling of "hitting the diet wall" does not leave you during this journey. I assume when you say slump you mean the scale not moving. I would say go back to the basics. The only way to examine what is going on is to journal your intake each day. I use to use a spreadsheet, but got my information from caloriecount.about.com website which gives you all the food brands and easy to calculate your intake and then I paste the information in the spreadsheet. Last week, I started using myfitnesspal.com and that does the same, but has more foods and restaurant information. It also has a phone app so you can scan or just enter your food intake. Myfitnesspal prints each day, so I will start doing that because it has all the information I need to show my nutritionist. Everyone is doing this, and it is a way to make changes. You will have to weight your food and measure. If it is a Protein, I weigh and if it is not a solid i measure. I loss 6.5 since Aug 31 at my last doctor's visit eating 1 cup per meal not eating between meal, have no saline in my band, will get my first fill on the 19th, relying on high protein, high Fiber, Water, tea and coffee with sugar free coffeemate. Since surgery, on Aug 6th which is about 7 weeks, I've loss 12.9 pounds. Protein has gotten me this far, but in the last week, I have been needing to snack, but I only snack on salad, spicy cabbage,babybel cheese pieces, greek yogurt etc. only high fiber and high protein Snacks. I drink at least 12 glasses of water to keep myself from being hungry mostly crystal light peach tea and I sometimes heat that up for a tea to add more water. Example of what I eat in a day, Breakfast-1 egg, 1 6oz greek yogurt (non fat), with fruit that is about 1cup, that gives me 21 grams of protein. I start my day with high protein even if it means doing a shake and a yogurt. lunch, 1 cup turkey chilli home made, dinner, 5-6oz of steak and 2 oz of spicy cabbage (high fiber) or salad with low fat dressing. It is great you are working out, but if you are doing weight s you will lose inches which is great. I only walk about 30 mins per day. My nutri said the least amount you should exercise is 152 mins per week of exercise which equal about 20 mins per day. I do not eat any carbs unless it is in my daily fruit, dairy, Beans etc. Other carbs make me hungry. I hope this helped and if you want to continue a buddy system write me a private message and we can do a private chat or chat in the chatroom. Hope this helps

I feel the same way when I look at 1 cup of food. If I am having Protein, I weigh the protein andit i eat 6oz then i put 2oz in a cup or weigh 2 oz depending on what it is. A steak of 5 oz even looks big.

Try to pay attention to what you are eating, maybe you get full faster on certain foods. Maybe the swelling has gone done.

I agree, there is not a stuff feeling, i just eat 1 cup with mostly protein and wait my 30 mins and wait and am not hungry for 4+hours, I recently started feeling hungry last week and snack between lunch and dinner which is about 6hour apart. So now i am not having the longevity with the non hunger. my dr. told me when I get my first fill, I will be lucky if I can eat 1/2 cup of food. So everyone is different. I was banded Aug 6th, and i have been able to go a long time between meals. I will be getting my first fill on the 19th.

it would be easier to go to "fitnesspal.com or caloriecount.about.com", and check out the veggies and look at the items you need to stay away from once/if you are banded.

To Sarah75, i used ecig up to 2 weeks before surgery, want to get back to them it calms my nerves. I smoked 30 years ago and started the ecig because of snacking and stress and when i smoked i did not eat as much and i did the ecig during my pre op and lost 25 pounds in2 months. if you are interesteding in my research as to the best ecig out there, write me at mjsisco@verizon.net I have tried 3 different kind and did the you tube research and found one that stays charged longer, holds more vaporing liquid does not leak and the atomizer last twice as long. How are you feeling with your ecig after surgery and how many weeks after surgery did you start your ecigs. I want to start back, and i am on my 7th week post op

I had my surgery on Aug 6th as well and my first fill on Sept 19, I hope. I have loss 11.5 pounds since then so that is about 1.8 per week. Had 10 days without any weight loss, so I am hoping my Dr. will give me a fill. I am very detailed with my journel with weight, exercise, foods with amounts and my calories, although dr. said don't worry about calories, just low fat, low carb and 80gr of Protein. I will be curious to see what you get for your fill so we can compare. Wish you luck

I know it is hard to stop smoking. I suggest you go to the electronic cigarettes and there are many kinds, and i have had 3 different types and the one i ended up is not the one that looks like a cigarette, because after 2 ecigs that were not worth it or satisfying i did find once that has a long battery life, and does not leak, and has a good hit and a lot of vapor (smoke simulation of ecig). I stopped my ecig 2 weeks before surgery and had my husband hide it and i amd now 7 weeks without it. I smoked 30 years ago and started this ecig to curve my snacking, and stress which is worked but i was still eating badly. If you want to learn more about this, send me a private message on this site and i will give you the ecig that is the best. I have 3 friends who have quit smoking on this and are still using it and smoke (vaporing) less. I put some linkes at the bottom, email at mjsisco@verizon.net if you need help ordering. I told my doctor i stopped the ecig, but i kept on until 2 weeks prior. I do plan on getting back to it after my fill on the 19th if i need it. Go on youtub and research the joye ego-c kits and they will show you how to do it. Joye Ego-C Starter Kit (1000mah) $79.99 Read more: Ovale Ego C http://www.esmokeron...l#ixzz26GY4KtpL the liquid which makes the vapor is cheap and below is the link to get the Newport flavor and you would want the 24mg strength for more hit with your vapor. Nport VG 30Ml (VG is the type you want for the eliquid) $12.99 You Save: $2.00 Average customer rating Read more: E-Liquid (30Ml) VG | eSmoker Online http://www.esmokeron...l#ixzz26GYVdgKr

I have not been keeping track of my calories although my dr. told me not to count calories, (I do it to see when I lose weight, how many calories am I taking in) only be mindful of eating my 80gr of protein and some fiber, and the carbs and fat will take care of itself. I use caloriecount.about.com program to keep track of my intake paste the information into a spreadsheet. I eat 3 meals a day, which for my first 10day on purees, I ate between meals (which was high protein greek yogurt non fat and low fat cottage cheese) and did not gain or lose and increased my workout to 1 mile per day of walking. I also could not get in all my water quota. I had myy followup with the Dr. and she said no, no, no. After that followup I am only eating 1 cup per meal, no more eating between meals and I am able to get in 10-12 glasses of water. I do have decaf coffee with sugar free hazelnut coffemate, crystal light peach tea flavor water and I heat it up sometimes for a hot drink and count it as water. All to say, that since eating this way and not being hungry with no saline in my band, today is day 10 and I am down 5.5 and that is the fastest amount since surgery for a total of 11.5. I keep track and my intake has been between 600-850 calories. I have been eating mostly ground turkey in a chili and meatballs, blade steak (4oz) with non fat yogurt or sugar free fruit which translate into 4-5oz of protein and 1 ounce of fiber or non fat yogurt. The chilli has fiber in the sauce so I would use the sauce as my fiber. Maybe baby fluid/hormones also, but I hope this helps.

Are they mental or are they comparing you with someone else. I say demand your fill because you may not be making the best choices, but you can turn that around with adding the more protein and cut the carbs. We all have setback and that is more reason they should of given you a fill because you did not lose the weight. To get in a bariatric team they should of had a sensitivity training. Dealing with bariatric patients are the people who have been abused most of their life about their weight or other baggage and have felt inferior because of the weight and some are shut-ins because of their weight. Just imagine you going through this difficult journey (go under the knife) to get to this point and to be badgered like that, it is unprofesional and so insensitive. I would carry this message to your dr and demand a fill. Ten pounds per month is great progress and you have loss more than 10 per month. I have only loss 11.5 since Aug 6th and I am hoping for a fill. I started my journey on May 22nd at 282 and now am 244.5. Good luck and keep us posted.

My first week I felt nauseous a few times and I think it was from drinking too fast. Try that and see if that helps

I gained 7 pounds after surgery and on day five lost the whole 7 pounds

What are your ideas about waiting 15-30 mins and drinking a hot tea. I think I had a mild stuck episode twice with fish and it was dry. I took 2 small bites, chewed well and it was stuck. I saw on a you tube video that a woman bakes her fish with a little Water and cover (steam it) or she gets stuck everytime on fish. I was told that if you use hot tea, or anything hot it will stretch your pouch. I was told by my doctor to wait 30 mins before and after meals, so I think if you wait 30 to drink hot tea (and only 2 sips) and it worked immediately. Now 15 mins is too soon, but my first time, I panicked and went on the chat room and was told by 3 people there to do the tea. They did not say to wait, I waited. I have nothing in my band and I am getting a fill on the 19th. What are your thoughts and has anyone done this or done this over a long period of time.

I am 1 month post op and I am on 1 cup of food and I am focused on the protein and fiber. I make sure I get very close to 80gr of protein. I was eating 6oz, but now have inched into 8 ounces and feel full longer. I have no saline in my band and will get my first fill on the 19th and I hope to decrease my intake to a 1/2 a cup. I use the caloriecount.about.com and i can put in the foods I am eating and most of the time they have the brand name and I get a pretty accurate calorie carb protein count. At the bottom of the meal page, there is nutrition fact and i am able to see how many protein, carbs and fat each day. I have been tracking it for 7 days now, not eating between meals and I notice when I get over 30 carbs and over 700 calories, for 3 days I put on 1 pound. I am only walking right now, but I have been losing weight and this week I loss 4 pounds and gained 1 back so it is 3 pounds which is great. On the 26, I plan on getting in 2 days of water arobics. I am not eating any carbs and I think that is what is happens with you. Cheese, ricecakes, wheat crackers have a lot of carbs. I know you are working out, but maybe you need to get your carbs from your fruit, milk, yogurt etc. Try it for a week and see if that makes a difference. i weigh my protein, but if it is a tuna or chicken salad, I measure it. I just bought a EZ weight Plate, at ezweightplate.com. It is a plate that I use at home, and it i it has r measuring bowls with measurement lines so you do not have to use a measuring cups. I like it because it make me feel more normal by just getting my food and puttin it in the plate. Hope this helps.

I was banded 8/6/12, and it is a month now. I struggled at first with snacking, but healthy snacks, no carbs just greek yogurt, or cottage cheese, etc only protein. I got the carbs from the yogurt and cottage cheese. I was not losing weight for about 10 day, and when I did a follow up with my doctor i realize they meant no snacking between meal but I was so busy trying to get in carbs and protein, that i was eating too many calories. I have nothing in my band until hopefully the 19th of September. I am now eating 1 cup of food each meal, and i am losing weight. I am not eating between meals which allows me to get in my 64oz of fluid, ex: water, tea, etc and i am not hungry. My dr. said to only focus on the protein and fiber, not the carbs and fat but be mindful to make low calories, low fat choices, not pizza or canned processed foods. She explained to me that i will not feel full after my 6-8 ounces of food, but wait the 20 minutes and let your brain process the food and i should not be hungry for at least 4 hours. I could eat more, but i don't, i wait and i find that i am not hungry. I would not beleive if it didn't happen to me. She explained that it is very important to have the 4 hours window of not eating, because what i don't take in with carbs and fat by not eating between meals your body will use your body fat to get the carbs, fat etc and burn the fat and you lose weight. If you do eat between meals, your body does not need to burn the fat because you are feeding it more food between meals. It was so profound when she said that, it all clicked and i tried it and it worked. Remember I have nothing in my band yet, and i can eat more, but i stop at 1 cup and wait the 20 mins. I was talking on the phone today and went 6 hours and still did not feel hungry, and all i had this morning for breakfast was a 6oz greek yogurt with fruit, a cup of coffee before breakfast. Unbelievable. I may not get a fill if I keep up this way. I do want a fill, because my doctor said once i get a fill, it will be hard to eat more than 1/2 cup of food and then i really need to focus on protein and fiber. Try not eating between meals and if that does not work, don't eat the white carbs because it is not a healthy choice, and i may be filling you up but not keeping you full (carbs make you hungry and that may be what is happening to you) and you need to have high protein with each meal. I have been on a ground turkey homemade chili for 1 week and loss 4 pounds. I have only followed this meal plan for 1 week and it works, where I did not lose any weight for 10 days before my dr. set me straight. Hope this helps.