ItsANewDay

My husband has been having more fun on me since my lapband, than he has been having on the patio. Just saying...

Look, the reality is that a few goldfish will not ruin your weight-loss attempts. chips did not wound you. So don't worry at all, you're fine!!!
This whole weight loss thing is a really really long journey. Some people are able to follow the rules right away, and their weight comes off quickly. Others are not able to follow as well and they have to get used to it and the weight comes off slower.
For me, I'm a food addict and the mental side of having the band has really been the hardest part. It's not easy to have your fix taken away... In the beginning, I had major mood swings, was depressed, angry, and I fought against it as hard as I could about 25% of the time. The other 75% of the time I followed the rules.
It took me about 8-10 months to stop panicking, and now, at 14 months post-op my weight-loss is in its highest gear yet!!!!! I've lost steadily since the beginning, a lot initially but slowly (like 2-3lbs a month since). But the last 2 months I've FINALLY hit the green zone and lost 10lbs each month!!! Being really tight scared me at first but now I love it!!!! I'm down around 80lbs, probably 90 at this point because my new clothes are starting to look dumpy, but I don't have a scale.
Most of the time I follow the guidelines and the spirit of the guidelines. Sometimes I don't. Last night we had Thai food and i got a Pad Thai. A noodle dish??? The horrors!!! But I picked out and mostly ate the chicken first and ended up having only a few bites of the noodles. Couldn't eat more than about 2/3 of a cup. Didn't count or measure. The band told me when to stop because I started burping. Again! Some people on here would probably call that cheating. I call it a huge success.
So my guidance to you is to just to cut yourself a break, and let the band do it's job. Follow the rules as best you can, but don't beat yourself up over your imperfections. You will be imperfect, this will be a long journey, but I KNOW you CAN be successful!!!!!

Donna don't make me drive out there now! lol from Ky

A local support coffee group would be awesome!

I was told no aspirin or NSAIDS... which was harder to give up than anything else!! Tylenol only, which has always been kind of worthless to me.

I usually stay at 700-900 calories a day . That's really all I can. Very satisfied with that . Typical breakfast scrambled egg with Lil low fat cheese and a few bacon bits or whole wheat English muffin (1/2) with low fat Peanut Butter. lunch cottage cheese, pickles and few reduced fat wheat thins , supper tilapia , green Beans maybe a little whole wheat Pasta . snack sf Popsicle and string cheese..

The pic on the left is Me last year this time in July & one on the right is ME now in July this year ....355 to 262

Just to keep the topic going..
I find it interesting how some docs have set volumes and others go by the patient's response (ie sip test etc). I would find it frustrating myself if I learned another bandster got a 3cc fill on fill 1 and I got a 1.5cc fill. Take aside the argument of following your doc, safety/benefits blahblah...think about it from just an inconsistency standpoint. I would like to see our medical professionals be more consistent in their practice. I think prolonged fills (like 0.1cc fills every blue moon) can jeopordize a patient's full potential and longterm success. I also think that for patient's paying out of pocket, this is an absurd practice. I am NOT saying patient's get to make the demand of filling up with aggressive volumes mind you. Rather, there should be a protocol through evidence based practice that determines stricter guidelines for practitioners. Just saying

or 100 cal popcorn packs...salty/small amount........and smells good too

Have a pickle or two Low Calories, salty and crunchy

Suddenly, my band tightened. Self diagnosed, I went to a clear liquid diet. It did not help, it became more uncomfortable and I could not get Water down. I was also having regurgitation in my sleep. It was very unpleasant. I had an emergency appointment to relieve the pressure in my band. Immediately I felt relief. It took a few weeks for the reflux to subside. However, it did. My appetite never increased, nor did I regain any weight. I see many members suffering from "tightness", yet sacred to have any Fluid removed in fear they will regain. I just want to confirm that a decrease in fluid from the band doesn't mean weight gain will occur. I remained in the "green zone". Please do not refrain from getting an "unfill" because of fear. The relief is priceless.

Suddenly, my band tightened. Self diagnosed, I went to a clear liquid diet. It did not help, it became more uncomfortable and I could not get Water down. I was also having regurgitation in my sleep. It was very unpleasant. I had an emergency appointment to relieve the pressure in my band. Immediately I felt relief. It took a few weeks for the reflux to subside. However, it did. My appetite never increased, nor did I regain any weight. I see many members suffering from "tightness", yet sacred to have any Fluid removed in fear they will regain. I just want to confirm that a decrease in fluid from the band doesn't mean weight gain will occur. I remained in the "green zone". Please do not refrain from getting an "unfill" because of fear. The relief is priceless.

Suddenly, my band tightened. Self diagnosed, I went to a clear liquid diet. It did not help, it became more uncomfortable and I could not get Water down. I was also having regurgitation in my sleep. It was very unpleasant. I had an emergency appointment to relieve the pressure in my band. Immediately I felt relief. It took a few weeks for the reflux to subside. However, it did. My appetite never increased, nor did I regain any weight. I see many members suffering from "tightness", yet sacred to have any Fluid removed in fear they will regain. I just want to confirm that a decrease in fluid from the band doesn't mean weight gain will occur. I remained in the "green zone". Please do not refrain from getting an "unfill" because of fear. The relief is priceless.

I got a pair of size 22 ( I was so excited too) pair of denim capri's St John's Bay from JC Penney about 6 weeks ago, well now they are too loose and I dry them all the way. I buy my jeans from Walmart, not elastic band, ugh, gross, the regular jeans and size 24 is way too big and size 22 is a little too snug, guess cause they are cheap but I can't afford to go buy expensive clothes when I'm changing sizes left and right. My 1X Kim Rogers tee's I got a few weeks ago are loose, just waiting on fall to get here so that I can get some long sleeve stuff. I'm cold natured and wear 3/4 length sleeve anyway. I guess this is a good problem to have huh?

Haha. Apparently my iPhone would prefer I was writing about stoplights instead of stool

I'm going to sue Netflix! They suggested that I should watch Cake Boss, I'm four episodes into it and now I'm all nutty-crazy craving cupcakes. Ugh!

SF=sugar free
FF=Fat Free
NUT=. nutritionist
MFP=MyFitnessPal
TOM=Time of Month
PS=Protein shake

You may be able to eat everything, just take small bites. Or, you may find (as I did) that you've lost the desire for red meat (due to the effort it would take to be able to eat it comfortably = negative feedback loop) but you won't care that you can't.
This is something you'll likely understand once you are banded, recovered, and at a good restriction. I know it seems sad from where you are right now, preband, but once you get into your banded life and groove, it most likely won't be something you'll miss, at least constantly miss. You may have pangs of wishing you could eat a big ole' hamburger, but it won't be the nagging craving you'd have if you were merely dieting.

Holy cow... I am in shock. I almost cried when I saw the scale this morning because I haven't a seen a number under 200 on it since I was 17 years old.
When I started this journey 18 months ago I was 421 pounds. Today, for the first time in 23 years, I AM IN ONDERLAND!!!
Here is a picture of my before and after. I'm so happy right now I don't know what to do with myself!!!!

SF=sugar free
FF=Fat Free
NUT=. nutritionist
MFP=MyFitnessPal
TOM=Time of Month
PS=Protein shake

I have been experiencing these today... Hiccurp. Or burcup.

Agree with lots of above, my physican also requires 2 days of liquids post fill and than I usually had to progress back to solids, so all in all in usually took me about a week to be able to eat my cup of solids. chicken has always been tricky for me and also potatos of any kind. Try some fish baked, grilled or broiled and some green Beans. The band is is very fickel and some are more sensitive to fills then others, as long as you can get down liguids, are not having reflux I personally would not have an unfill. My personal opinion is that sometimes it takes the body a few days to adjust to the fill, my doctor always said to have patience and keep trying to work at it and find what I could eat. Good luck and make sure you stay well hydrated.

I had to share this because it's so good!
I have a weakness for frozen, slushy type drinks. For instance, Taco Bell's pina colada freeze was always a favorite of mine. But I don't need all the sugar and calories so it's rare I'll have one.
So, I have done some experimenting!
I took Ice (that's the brand name) coconut pineapple sparkling Water and froze it. (this rids the carbonation). Then, I crushed it up in a blender. Next, I poured in some more of the coconut pineapple sparkling Water and blended it together (the blender killed the carbonation again). This made it the slushy consistency.
I swear, it is just as good as the Taco Bell freeze. Maybe even better but ZERO calories.
I figure if I add a little rum, it would make a really good low calorie pina colada too!
I think this worked with this particular brand because it has so much flavor. I'm going to try it with other flavors, too.
(again, this is carbonated so be careful. I always get the carbonation out before drinking it)

Im sorry, not trying to be insensitive...but I would die to eat 1500. I eat approximately 800-900. Avg for bandsters is 900-1200 depending on activity level. This is actually a good transition for you so when you dip down further it won't be such a shock or as difficult... (daydreaming what an extra 600 cals would be)

Just wanted to share my before and after photo 80lbs down. Banded Nov 2012 :-D
30lbs aways from goal.

[ATTACH]27402[/ATTACH]