steph2012

I have always said that it is easier to say no to carbs than it is to indulge & then have to give them up again. ... and let's be more specific, when I say carbs, I mostly mean potato chips! I have such a weakness for potato chips. It is definitely my red light food. I find that when I indulge, it just causes me to want more. The craving is very much insatiable. So, why do I do it?! I have no freakin' idea why! Once carbs are in my system, Instead of the craving going away because it was satisfied, I just want more. Now I have to figure out how to put an end to this nasty carb craving cycle. Anyone else like this? I feel out of control & 'weak' today. Sorry, I know I'm beating myself up...

After 2 1/2 years, I'm nearing goal weight & have noticed that I'm starting to have more port site 'discomfort'. I don't know what triggers it. Could it be that I have less fat insulating it? LOL. Anyone else have this trouble? Is this something I should be talking to my surgeon about or is this normal?

Anyone that says THIS is the easy way out, is definitely uninformed! There hasn't been anything about this process that has been easy!

Lori, I can relate. I have just over 2 years banded. I have lost 105 lbs. Weigh 188 lbs now & am feeling 'stuck' as well. Am bored with food most days & spend a great deal of time on-line searching for recipes to break this boredom. I have exercised a little along the way but am finding it hard to find the motivation right now. Honestly, for me, I think the key is to keep going as is (maintaining) until I can summons the motivation. There's nothing anyone can say to motivate me. I just have to keep looking for it within myself. Probably not much help but you are not alone!

Me too, I know food is stuck almost immediately, within minutes for sure. When stuck, drinking always makes matters worse for me, never better. You definitely irritated your vagus nerve. That can last for hours & is very unpleasant. The best was to avoid it is to chew, chew, chew & don't overeat. You'll get use to it! You are doing the right thing, liquids/soft foods for a day or two is the best recourse after something like this.

We blend apples in our smoothies all the time. I'm surprised it didn't work out for you. Try it with a bit of vanilla protein powder. I often add PB to smoothies as a treat. I LOVE PB in smoothies. Good Luck!

Shrug or small sweater. I'm wearing a little sweater today with frills. It's cute. Has a bit of glitter in the knit. Something like that would work.

I like your suggestion Razzswt39. Have you every tried making a mocha with the premier Protein chocolate in it? I may give it a try... I would typically use a quality chocolate 'sauce' but I may try it with chocolate Protein shake. Seems like it could work.

I am tired of spending so much time cooking. I've even played with the make ahead freezer meals BUT I'm looking for ideas that are quick & simple but still feels like a meal. I try a couple of new recipes a week to try and introduce variety into my diet. That's great but it's so time consuming. I was just reading a blog where the blogger makes individual pizzas on a tortilla. I've never done that. It's a quick & simple meal. I like it. Any other ideas?

I'm nearly 2 1/2 years out. I've noticed my nails are 'cracking & splitting' - both finger & toes. It's bad. They are tearing way down in the quick. Almost (accidentally) ripped a toe nail right off a short while ago. Anyone else have this kind of trouble? What am I deficient in? I don't take any multivitamins or supplements but I obviously need to start. Any suggestions?

My original goal weight was 180 lbs. Over the past 2 years, I've revised that goal & set it at 160 lbs. I'm 7 lbs away from my original goal weight. Over the weekend, I was looking at some pictures of our recent vacation. We travelled with a group of friends. I had an 'ah-ah' moment when looking at the pictures - I looked like the rest of my friends. I don't mean I looked identical to them but I fit in with the group in terms of weight. I was no longer the biggest girl in the group. In fact, I wasn't even the bigger girl in the group. It got me to thinking about goal. I'm not sure where I'll set my end goal weight. What I do know is that I look like I hoped I would when I started this process. I have arrived! So, now, I need to start tackling maintenance. I need to educate myself & learn what I need to know to be successful in maintenance. So, what does maintenance look like for a Bandster? Do we continue to eat 1000-1200 calories a day? That doesn't seem right to me. The average intake for a sedentary female is 1600-2000 calories a day. Do we increase our caloric intake?

HealthyNewMe, Do you have a link for that study? Was it posted online?

I can't say I'm not disappointed. I was thinking a small defill to allow for higher caloric intake and then exercise 'willpower' like a normal person to maintain (say 1600-1800 calories/day). I didn't realize when I signed up for this procedure that I was committing to a lifetime of child sized portions. I want to be normal and eat off a normal sized plate (she says in a whining voice as she stomps away, LOL). I don't want to have to be fearful of getting something 'stuck' when eating in public. Am I playing with fire?!

I'm the same way Annette - carbs send me into an out of control downward spiral...

I have been reading “The 5 Day Pouch Test Owners Manual” written by Kaye Bailey. It isn’t a well written book but it contains some very useful information. It’s worth $10 to download the Kindle Edition. Bailey isn’t a medical professional. Her information & advice seems to come from her own personal experiences with being banded. So, keep this in mind when reading my post & while reading her book should you go on to read it. Come to think of it, I’m not entirely sure if she was banded or had a gastric bypass but the information she shares is relevant to both. The 5 Day Pouch Test (5DPT) mimics the healing process that we went through following surgery. Day 1 and 2 is a liquid diet and then in Day 3, you begin to reintroduce Protein. It isn’t a no carb diet but it’s definitely a low carb diet. On Day 3: soft protein, Day 4: firm protein and Day 5: solid protein. The 5DPT was designed for those that have stalled in their weight loss efforts, reached a plateau or have lost their way & need to get back on track. I’ve heard of some people following the 5DPT as a preventative maintenance measure to make sure everything is going well with their band and in an attempt to reduce possible stretching of their pouch or esophagus. I’ve had several banded friends that have completed the 5DPT recently & have commented that they felt it brought them back to basics & reconnected them to their band. All of the ‘participants’ felt their band was a little tighter after completing the 5DPT. Most, if not all of them, lost a couple of pounds too – though weight loss is not the focus of the 5DPT, just an added benefit for some. They also said that the 5DPT helped rid them of their carb cravings. There is a website for the 5DPT. It’s http://www.5daypouchtest.com/ The website gives you enough information to complete the 5DPT without having to buy the book. Saying that, after reading the book, the book provides more detailed information & a number of recipes that the website doesn’t provide. It’s my plan to begin the 5DPT on Tuesday, April 8. I’ll let you know how it goes. I thought I’d post this information because someone is always coming to the site looking for the inspiration and motivation to get back on track – this is one possibility that is (at least) worth exploring.

Your situation is very common. Hang tight. It's willpower for now but it will get easier with each fill.

You can definitely 'eat around' your band. Most people can eat near unlimited quantities of carbs. But the only person you are hurting by doing this, is YOU. The band is meant to work when you follow the rules given to you by your surgeon. While all of us have different rules, there is a common thread - Protein first, complex carbs next and rarely, if ever, eat simple carbs. The band works best when you follow these rules. The band does very little when we eat simple carbs.

I was banded by Slimband. I've had a feeling that things weren't going well at 'head office' but wasn't sure. I anxiously await your post...

I'm confused - you are a Slimband patient but they won't do your fills?

Were you banded by Slimband?

I couldn't agree more. I have always wanted my band as loose as possible so that I could eat whatever I wanted but still contine to lose weight. There's obviously trade-offs. I have difficulty with certain foods but CAN eat anything if careful. Saying that, I have chosen not to eat breads, pastas, etc because they take up far to much space in my stomach and offer very little in terms of nutritional value & satiety. I haven't lost as quickly as some of my more restrictive friends but I'm still able to enjoy life & food & eating in public. I've also seen many friends that have come to a complete weight loss halt. One has to remember that a certain level of caloric intake has to be maintianed for the body to function properly & not hold on to fat reserves.

Beautiful post & very interesting follow up conversation. I tend to agree - no matter how well intentioned, there is a time & place for sharing weight loss information. I'm not sure if I would be hurt, offended or happy about the unsolicited advice...

Love Subway. Totally miss it. Hubby still haves it once in a while. Which I could tolerate that much bread. LOL

I was self pay completely. This procedure isn't covered by insurance in Canada. I paid $15K.

Well said!