SueBee01

It is great for the veterans and I hope to start to see more communication going on here too.
I am 1 1/2 years out, at goal, had hip replacement this summer and can't wait for a couple weeks so I can really test my new body out after losing 165 pounds.
I am thankful every day for my band and all of the support from everyone!

Look forward to learning from all of you!

It is great for the veterans and I hope to start to see more communication going on here too.
I am 1 1/2 years out, at goal, had hip replacement this summer and can't wait for a couple weeks so I can really test my new body out after losing 165 pounds.
I am thankful every day for my band and all of the support from everyone!

Look forward to learning from all of you!

Almost 13 months post op. Just reached my goal of losing 150. I have five more to go now! Need to save for plastics now!

That is hilarious!

I like Special K multi grain crackers for crackers. I get banana chips from Walgreens, pineapple chips from Walmart, almonds and add Quacker Oat Squares dry Cereal for my own trail mix. I like the veggie straws too!

Almost 13 months post op. Just reached my goal of losing 150. I have five more to go now! Need to save for plastics now!

It is great for the veterans and I hope to start to see more communication going on here too.
I am 1 1/2 years out, at goal, had hip replacement this summer and can't wait for a couple weeks so I can really test my new body out after losing 165 pounds.
I am thankful every day for my band and all of the support from everyone!

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.

We cruise all the time too! Nothing this year due to hip surgery, but planning a cruise to Europe in 2014. Can't wait!

I used Dr Uchal out of St Vincents. I love the group there! If you are looking for someone, I would definitely recommend him.

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

I have been reading a lot over the past several weeks about newbies getting fills. The question should always be, do I really need another fill?
Many people are searching for the "green zone" and having that perfect "restriction."
I will tell you from my personal experience that I don't know if there is a "green zone," but I do feel that you should not feel restriction. What you should notice is that with the band you should be able to eat less and feel satisfied. You MUST be committed to eating a smaller portion (most say 2-3 ounces of Protein, 1/3 c of veggies and 1/3 c of good carb for your meals) and extensive exercise. After eating that 1 to 1 1/2 c of food you should be satisfied, NOT full. And this satisfaction should last around 4 hours give or take. Everyone is different! For the first 8-10 months, I was never hungry. I just ate because I was raised to eat at certain times and that was a very hard habit to break. But I did it and you can make the necessary changes too. It is mind over matter!
It doesn't mean drink your meals and expect to have a "full" feeling! If it can slide through your new pouch, it is not going to satisfy you. The nerve endings in your new pouch are what give you that satisfied feeling. If you are letting the slider food go through to your old stomach, you are eating no different then you did before you were banded. And you WILL be able to eat more than you should.
Log your food so you really know what you are eating and exercise as many days a week as you can. Do a little to start. Once you start losing weight you will feel better and be able to exercise more. That is the whole point of weight loss and is key to the success of losing with the band.
This is just my personal experience and hope it helps others. Be smart, be safe with your band so you can live a longer, healthier life with your band.
I was able to get to my goal weight of 165 after 14 months of hard work losing 165 pounds. It can be done and it doesn't have to take a million fills and getting too tight. I had one fill.
Good luck to all you newbies and welcome to the losers club.

Nicki, I had never heard of that bread so I looked it up! They are beautiful! I hope you live somewhere cool as they are so big and probably used to being outdoors. I am allergic to cats too al though I love them. We used to have them until I couldn't stand it anymore. So when the last one died at 18, that was it. Now just hypoallergenic dog!
It is hot here today, 94 now. So I did my 25 minute bike ride at 9 this morning. I will lift weights tonight.

Finished up PT this week. Now I am on my own. They suggest going back to my normal exercise routine for the next four weeks before I hit the tennis courts and golf course. So that I am doing!
Headed off to St Augustine to do some volunteer work today for an Animal Rescue group I work with.
Great job Nicki!
Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Thank you ladies! I think those of us who have been successful really need to share how we did it. I get scared reading some of the things I am seeing here on how people are using their band. I always treated it delicately and still do as it is a foreign object on my body.

I have been reading a lot over the past several weeks about newbies getting fills. The question should always be, do I really need another fill?
Many people are searching for the "green zone" and having that perfect "restriction."
I will tell you from my personal experience that I don't know if there is a "green zone," but I do feel that you should not feel restriction. What you should notice is that with the band you should be able to eat less and feel satisfied. You MUST be committed to eating a smaller portion (most say 2-3 ounces of Protein, 1/3 c of veggies and 1/3 c of good carb for your meals) and extensive exercise. After eating that 1 to 1 1/2 c of food you should be satisfied, NOT full. And this satisfaction should last around 4 hours give or take. Everyone is different! For the first 8-10 months, I was never hungry. I just ate because I was raised to eat at certain times and that was a very hard habit to break. But I did it and you can make the necessary changes too. It is mind over matter!
It doesn't mean drink your meals and expect to have a "full" feeling! If it can slide through your new pouch, it is not going to satisfy you. The nerve endings in your new pouch are what give you that satisfied feeling. If you are letting the slider food go through to your old stomach, you are eating no different then you did before you were banded. And you WILL be able to eat more than you should.
Log your food so you really know what you are eating and exercise as many days a week as you can. Do a little to start. Once you start losing weight you will feel better and be able to exercise more. That is the whole point of weight loss and is key to the success of losing with the band.
This is just my personal experience and hope it helps others. Be smart, be safe with your band so you can live a longer, healthier life with your band.
I was able to get to my goal weight of 165 after 14 months of hard work losing 165 pounds. It can be done and it doesn't have to take a million fills and getting too tight. I had one fill.
Good luck to all you newbies and welcome to the losers club.

I was putting chickens breast and guacamole or humus into my ninja blender and blending till smooth. Looks kind if gross but tastes great.

this was outstanding......agree with all points of this post...