Cupkeezy

Thank you for your honest advice, although I'm doing well, sometimes it takes a bit of encouragement to keep going. I have to remember that even though I may eat a little more than a cup of food, I'm still only human and now live a healthy active life unlike the bottomless pit I once was.

I was banded 7 months ago and I have lost about 65 lbs (beginning weight of 225 down to 160 now) I used to measure all my foods, and was never satisfied at 1/2 cup. It always has taken me 1 - 1 1/2 cup to make me feel even satisfied. I've had 7cc in my band for 2 months, and am feeling it is taking me about 2 cups to feel satisfied. I was recently laid off of work and have no insurance, so I can't discuss this with my doctor, but I would like real advice to get back on track. I am SO scared to stretch out my pouch. I need help!!! Suggestions!?!?

Thank you all for your support, I really needed it. Today was a new day, and I felt much better. thank you all!

Oh no, I fell off the wagon tonight and had 2 fish tacos from Rubios (instead of my normal 1). I feel SO guilty right now. I swear, I can cry. I am constantly feeling hungry, even after 2 fills. Can anyone spare some advice? I've lost 45 lbs in my 2.5 months of having lapband. Am I a complete failure? :'(

And let's be clear- by indulge I mean have a TASTE of that special holiday treat; not go crazy and OVERINDULGE like so many of us were used to!

*good eatings, not ratings *indulge not I dulce, hah autocorrect

Happy holidays to all! I hope you're enjoying all aspects of the holidays- family, friends, fond memories, and food. I don't know about you, but I completely indulged on Thanksgiving (and today). I felt guilty eating turkey, stuffing, cranberry, mashed potatoes, and gravy... But oh boy, did I enjoy it! I of course had about 1/8 the food I would normally have served myself before surgery, but it was good ratings! I think it's important to remember over the holidays that it is ok to I dulce, just don't over do it. I'm curious about how others feel.

I have 4

Hey all, I got my first fill last weekend (4cc) and I was wondering what a normal food portion looks to all of you with a fill/ multiple fills. I feel very hungry with 1/2 cup of food, but COMPLETELY satisfied when I eat 1 cup of food. Is this normal? I never eat more than 1 cup, but will 1 cup for each meal stretch out my pouch?

So, it won't hurt the band to gulp?

I seem to have bad breath from having a mostly empty stomach all the time. Is there anything you use besides gum and brushing teeth to help combat this?

I know why you mean, my breath has been kicking about an hour after I brush my teeth, and I'm too scared to chew gum!

What about spaghetti squash? Anyone try that instead?

Pasta is my favorite food. I tried the shiratake (sp?) noodles and couldn't stomach them. I rinsed them a few times, but the smell and the texture and taste... Yikes! :/

I haven't been banded yet' date=' but I did quit smoking just about 5 weeks ago. I tried everything over the past 15 years to quit and nothing lasted more than a few weeks. This time I tried the Blu electronic cigarette and it worked for me! It's been 39 days since I had a real cigarette and 14 days since I used the electronic one.

Oh and they sell the Blu cigarette at Walgreens in a starter pack for 50.

Just a suggestion [/quote']

I just bought one of these and haven't smoked for 4 weeks. I am 2 weeks post-op and want to try my Blu cigarette for the first time instead of going back to regular cigs. I wonder if I can try my Blu now or if I should wait a bit longer

Thank goodness about the gum! I've been wondering and I've been without for 3 weeks... I also chew one pack a day!

Great job! You stayed so strong!

You look great! Your mid section is completely transformed!

Cheapest gas in my neighborhood is $4.97/gal. (San Diego)

Sweet potatoes sound SO good! My phase 2 is full liquids... What was/is your phase 2?

Great job! How are you doing on the full liquids? What kind of things are you consuming?

My mom and I had surgery together(only an hour apart) on 10/5/12. We've been taking care of each other and do far it has been wonderful to go through the same thing at the same time. The only thing I suggest is that you have someone help you the day you two come home. That is when you are the most vulnerable and actually may need assistance. My mom and I are doing great, we take a stroll around the house together to walk, drink our Clear Liquids together, and are constantly giving each other tips

Hey, at least it's a better feeling than constantly growing out of your clothes! Congrats on your way to a new body!

I'm about to take my first shower since being banded. I feel gross going without one for this long, but it's what my doctor recommended. I bought waterproof bandages so I will have no worries getting the sites wet. All of my bandages have fell of and he said that was ok and normal, this is more about making me feel comfortable. My tummy bloating is starting to go down, I look about 6 1/2 months pregnant instead of 8. Yay.

Day 3- I got much more rest tonight, about 9 broken hours. I woke up in the middle of the night to take my gas x, meds, and walk around the house. My stomach started to grumble today... I was finally feeling hungry! I got about a heaping table spoon of Jello and took a baby spoon, cut it in tiny pieces, mashed it up in my mouth, and swallowed! Yes!!! I did it! That heaping tablespoon (along with my ongoing sipping of water) tied me over for a good 5 hours. I watched tv, walked a little, took a nap, then had more chicken broth. Today I started to think about food again (although I felt turned off by actually eating it) so I logged online and found recipes for low carb and high Protein foods (pinterest was great for this) my tummy is now rumbling again and I think I will try another heaping tablespoon of jello. I've got to say, I thought I would be starved right now. The liquid stage sounds SO unbearable, but it really isn't. I had a super big appetite before and never felt full no matter how much I ate. It's kinda nice to be on the other side and think "ooh... am I hungry? Am I finally hungry?"

I'm on day 3 now. I'll share a little bit about the hunger.

Day 1-the day of the surgery I couldn't even think about food. I was astonished that I was able to walk because I have NEVER gone 24 hours without eating. I didn't even know it was possible. My mind was more thinking "I better not move too much because I don't want the stitches that are in there to come loose (weird, I know but like I said I've never had surgery before, so it's how I honestly felt.) I had small sips of Water for the rest of the night, but made a mistake by thinking I could take a swig of it- I had to run to the bathroom and my mouth started to do that thing where it feels numb and you keep producing saliva quickly like you're about to throw up. This must be what lap bankers call "sliming".

Day 2- I got very little actual sleep. I was using 2 regular pillows and had SUCH a hard time getting up from bed. I felt like a turtle that landed upside down on its shell. Literally. This is when I grabbed my bed rest pillow I paid $19.99 for at Target, and let me tell you, I would now have paid $100.00 -it's been THAT good to me and SO much easier to get up and actually get some sleep. During day 2 I thought I would be starving. I was wrong. I tried watered down Gatorade, too sweet. I tried low sodium chicken broth and BINGO, hit the spot! You can really only drink about 1/4 maybe 1/3 of a cup at each sitting, sipping, and it will take about 15 min to finish. I took my meds, took a gas x strip (which i highly reccommend every 4-6 hours) went back to bed, and when I woke up I felt I should be hungry, but wasn't. I tried the chicken broth again, only this time I got too cocky and sipped it way too fast. Here we go again, "slime" #2. At this point I discovered that I really do need to completely learn how to drink (and in the future eat) again.