SueBee01

Start weight: 330 Current weight: 166 Banded: 1/30/12 Height: 5'8" Reached goal at 13 months.

Pretty much anything that melts in your mouth and you don't have to chew it to swallow it. Such as yogurt, potato chips, chocolate, ice cream, and soup. Yes you are supposed to eat some of these things in the beginning as mushies (yogurt, soup, cottage cheese) but they are ot good for the long haul. It's like going to Starbucks and drinking your meal, not good!

Don't buy too many because they don't taste that great! You can get them at GNC or you can buy an unflavored powder Unjury Nectar. I bought it online and mixed it with crystal light. Much better then the clear pre made bottled type.

My surgeon really pushed the fact that I would literally have to work my ass off with the band. And I did! He states that most bandsters only lose 50% of their excess weight. It is a slow process and most don't have the patience for it and want immediate results. You must work you ass off, eat less, and eat right. It is your tool and only you can work it. I am happy to say that I love that I have the band, I have worked, and will continue to work to maintain my loss as I was able to lose 100% of my excess weight. It can be done! It really helps to have everyone on these forums to share their experiences and learn from each other.

You should also be testing you band on dense protein not mushies. If dense protein cannot go down in small bites, then you are too full and not eating properly for the band. It is not about restriction, it is about eating right and being satisfied. For the first six months, you are going to have head hunger. It is truly hard to figure out. Eat the appropriate amount 2-3 ounces of dense protein along with 1/3-1/2 c of veggies and 1/3-1/2 c of good carbs. Wait 20 minutes after you eat that and then you should decide if you are still hungry or not and how long before you are truly hungry and not head hungry. Test yourself by getting a drink, go for a walk, or something when you think you are hungry and if you can avoid the food, it was head hunger. A stomach growl is not hunger, typically gas as you are swallowing a lot of air!

Congrats! Looks great. I can't wait to do the same.

Everyone and dr is different. I had no fill when banded and had one fill at six weeks (14 months ago). I am at goal maintaining and did not have any other fills. So I had 2cc. You will have to experiment. Some people never get a fill.

Glad you are taking care of it. You have to be able to eat a sensible meal, not just bites. Good for you!

They are right! It will pass. Just keep doing everything that you are supposed to. Remember, a stall doesn't mean you need a fill. Just push through it. Change how you are eating or change your exercise. Your body gets used to things so change it up a little! I stalled twice for at least a month each while I was losing during the 13 months I was losing. Now I am maintaining.

Check your local grocery stores. Some have fresh fish in their market. I get fresh Swai at Winn Dixie and Talapia at Publix. You also have to ask if it has been frozen, some are fresh frozen. I get the never been frozen. Ask what day their fresh fish comes in so you can get it right off the truck as you know it has traveled! Living in FL makes it easy to get fresh fish. Check around where you live and see what they have. There are some really good fresh water fishes too. Most of the Swai and Tilapia are farm raised so you can get it anywhere.

It will do down, stay the same, go up, stay the same. I weigh myself every day, but only count it as a real weigh in once a week. You will have stalls and gains. Just keep following the rules and it will catch up to you!

Two weeks post op from hip replacement. Feeling pretty good, but still on pain meds so who really knows! First visit back to the surgeon this Wednesday. I am anxious to hear what he has to say. I am so ready to get back to exercising, but know my body isn't. Tired of doing these little stretching exercises and would like a real work out. Losing lots of muscle I believe cuz I am down another 8 pounds. I am eating three times a day and munching all day. I am sure it will catch up tp me soon with no real exercise!

I am Brinksm. Use it every day. It kept me on track my first year, kept me motivated, reached goal and still have good support there to maintain.

I have lived in NC, S FL and now N FL. I love the beaches in S FL, but hate the traffic. I love it here in Jacksonville, beaches are nice, the weather is good and don't mind the traffic. It is a big city with a small town feel. My husband and I am from the Midwest too. Find the job first! We also loved the mountains in NC, but with jobs the way they are these days I would be more worried about that!

That is great!

Glad things are moving forward for you Nicole! All, thanks for your support. Doing physical therapy everyday right now. See the surgeon next Wednesday to see what I do next. That will be three weeks of in home therapy so I will be hoping to get to real therapy and doing more. Can't wait! Still on pain meds. Made my first venture out to dinner last night. It went fine although I got tired of sitting!

I ate out almost always. Every restaurant has a nutritional menu, you just have to ask for it. Plan on taking 2/3 of it home and tell them how to cook it the way you want it! Even when I was on mushies I asked them to put my food in a blender. It's all good.

If you join MyFitnessPal.com you can friend many of us and look at our food diaries.

Some don't need fills. It just depends on how you are able to manage eating a small amount of dense protein and then staying away from the kitchen for 3-4 hours. I only had one fill and am never hungry. There is always head hunger, but your body will tell you when it is real hunger. That is the biggest challenge. Do not eat to a schedule (like we were raised to!), only eat when you are truly hungry. For me that is usually two meals a day and two snacks. Work with your NUT.