heather316

Hi, I think beef is very difficult to chew properly, and frankly I think it may be even too early for you to experiment with steaks. You may want to get comfortable with the soft foods first. If you really crave beef then try the meatloaf or Salisbury steak instead. You will need to cut it into very teeny-tiny pieces like a green pea, if you want to eat a beef steak.
I have been also worried for a long time that I ate more than I should have. people have reported that they can only eat one cup of food at a time. However, I could always eat 2 cups of food. As long as they are low calorie options (fruits, vegetables, low fat yogurts etc) you may be just fine. For me when I eat my lunch, (I still finished it very quickly, in 10 min), I have to sit and wait 5-10 minutes - I try to browse the internet or read a newspaper until I feel that my stomach is full. Usually, it takes 10-15 minutes for the signal to go from your stomach to your brain and let you know that you are full. If you can manage to wait 5 minutes between "meal courses" you may eventually feel full at some point.

Hi, I think beef is very difficult to chew properly, and frankly I think it may be even too early for you to experiment with steaks. You may want to get comfortable with the soft foods first. If you really crave beef then try the meatloaf or Salisbury steak instead. You will need to cut it into very teeny-tiny pieces like a green pea, if you want to eat a beef steak.
I have been also worried for a long time that I ate more than I should have. people have reported that they can only eat one cup of food at a time. However, I could always eat 2 cups of food. As long as they are low calorie options (fruits, vegetables, low fat yogurts etc) you may be just fine. For me when I eat my lunch, (I still finished it very quickly, in 10 min), I have to sit and wait 5-10 minutes - I try to browse the internet or read a newspaper until I feel that my stomach is full. Usually, it takes 10-15 minutes for the signal to go from your stomach to your brain and let you know that you are full. If you can manage to wait 5 minutes between "meal courses" you may eventually feel full at some point.

Hernia surgery is very minor and also common. This is what I did.

Hernia surgery is very minor and also common. This is what I did.

Hernia surgery is very minor and also common. This is what I did.

Good job! What a nice inspiration for us!!

You seem to be young and healthy (except for the extra weight, I assume). If you do not have major illnesses you should cruise through the surgery just fine. You will be surprised how close to normal the banded life will be.
If you have issues with food portion and control you made the right decision. This also went through my mind before my surgery but I just asked myself: "do I want to continue my life like that??", and as my answer to this was "no" I knew that I did the right thing. I hope this helps.

Hernia surgery is very minor and also common. This is what I did.

Hernia surgery is very minor and also common. This is what I did.

Hernia surgery is very minor and also common. This is what I did.

Good job! What a nice inspiration for us!!

I will let you know, Nikki tomorrow evening how my first filling went. Everybody says that it is a piece of cake. I am not afraid of the injection, I am more afraid of the swallow test afterward

Yayy! Congratulation! It is such a big relief.

Yayy! Congratulation! It is such a big relief.

i had my first fill yesterday.. didn't hurt at all and was over before i expected the nurse was laughing when she said i was done. i guess i had a WTF look on my face.. as for how do they know how much to put in? they actually pull everything out first measure what is there and then make a decision on that and how things have been. for me i had 4cc from when the band was put in. but have felt no restriction so they added 2ccs.
you will do fine. as long as they numb you first you won't feel a thing.

It is probably easier on your body if you do 4x 1.5 hours of exercise per week.

I had surgery January 17Th 2013, and to date have lost 91 pounds and still going. There was a plateau for about 6 week because I was sick and getting IV steroids but back on track now and moving right along. over half way to goal. I am so glad I made the choice to have lap band surgery, it's been a life changer.

Not to be a downer, but the weight didn't come on fast and it won't come off fast either. It's simply not the way the band is meant to work. The average weight loss is 1-2 pounds per week.
Setting realistic goals keeps you from needlessly disappointing yourself.
Best wishes.

I have been stuck 2x but those were solved by itself within 3-4 minutes. I assume drinking some liquid may wash it down, but only sip it.

I haven't had my first fill yet, but the doctor said I would know when I've had enough to eat. So I've figured out what my body does to tell me I'm full, I burp! I'm not a burper, I NEVER burp and all of a sudden I've found that when I burp, I just put the fork down and walk away. Today at Breakfast, I had a strawberry in my hand, I burped, and I put it down. I'm certain that I don't want to find out what would happen if I continued to eat; I'm finally listening to my body and it is really working for me. How do you know you've had enough to eat, any other burpers out there? LOL

Two women were talking about losing weight and the one was complaining how she was t loosing, and her cousin started after her and lost so much more. The. The other woman chimed, "well she probably had surgery!"
I so wanted to say something like, "lap band is a tool, y still need to follow a diet." I wanted to correct her and educate her.
And the way she said it was very demeaning like. Almost as if we took the easy way out. When that is farthest from the truth.
I dunno, maybe I should have educated them. I think if I did i would have lost it.
Oh well, I had to vent.

Hi,
I had my 5 week postop check up with my surgeon yesterday and I was ready to hear the news that he wants to do a fill. I had lost 22 lbs all together (9lb pre-op +8 lb during first week postop+5 lbs from week 2-5) and I thought that the 5 lbs/4 weeks will be too slow. He said that he would have been happy with at least 0.5 lb/week and no fill needed at this point. I am very happy as I do not get hungry between meals (I eat something every 3 hours) and finally, my eating habits came close to normal and did not want to experience a too tight band. Additionally, I was cleared for more vigorous exercise including tennis I cannot wait to get back on the court.

I also get hiccups if I eat something that has hard time going down. Best example is the banana, if I forget to chew it well I get hiccups after 2 bites

The hiccups may be your body's way of telling you it's time to stop eating. My signal to stop is several violent sneezes! Makes me feel a bit like Typhoid Mary when I'm out in public.

Very good! Congratulations!!! Just keep doing it. Next time you check you will sign up for a 10K