Kitt3000

My husband. Once said, you can't take it back. I don't regret that decision. I t was difficult enough to have the spot light on me once the weight was gone, without having to listen to people make remarks, or watch everything I eat or don't eat. It's no ones business, it really was the beginning of taking myself back, if that makes any sense.
Hope you find what works best for you!

You even to be following the plan. Slider food are the ones like chips, crackers, and popcorn. Things that have no nutritional value but, we crave. I get to be on vacation now for two weeks in LA while wife is working so I get to work out and sight see, and pass EVERY fast food place. How do you put three burger places next to each other???so I will jump over Jack in the box, drive out of in-n-out , and look away from Carl's burgers while here. Keep on the track we will get through this together...

My surgeon says that exercise accounts for only about 10% of wt loss, the rest is food.< /p>

If we are not in the green zone we are just on a diet -- and we know how well that works! Time to meet with the surgeon to assess for a fill. I am a person who thought at first I wouldn't need a fill (did not have hunger post-surgery for a few weeks) then I've have had seven or more to find my "sweet spot." It's a moving target -- got to work with it.

I have had multiple fills to reach my sweet spot so hopefully this will help you. Make sure you are really measuring all of portions. For me, I found that I overfill my plate unless I use measuring tools.

My husband. Once said, you can't take it back. I don't regret that decision. I t was difficult enough to have the spot light on me once the weight was gone, without having to listen to people make remarks, or watch everything I eat or don't eat. It's no ones business, it really was the beginning of taking myself back, if that makes any sense.
Hope you find what works best for you!

You know what Ceredad? You are doing something about your problems! Go you for getting out of your own way! I know you are going to get through this and be better for it! So many changes going on in your life, we don't always appreciate the good times, until difficult situations come along. With your band being part of the solutions- I know you have this! Sending all kinds of good wishes your way!

My husband. Once said, you can't take it back. I don't regret that decision. I t was difficult enough to have the spot light on me once the weight was gone, without having to listen to people make remarks, or watch everything I eat or don't eat. It's no ones business, it really was the beginning of taking myself back, if that makes any sense.
Hope you find what works best for you!

My husband. Once said, you can't take it back. I don't regret that decision. I t was difficult enough to have the spot light on me once the weight was gone, without having to listen to people make remarks, or watch everything I eat or don't eat. It's no ones business, it really was the beginning of taking myself back, if that makes any sense.
Hope you find what works best for you!

To me the green zone means I am not looking for food. My surgeon describes being full on a tennis ball sized portion of food and not hungry again for four to five hours. I am not hungry in the morning so I don't eat. I really try to eat only when I'm hungry, not for recreation. A guy here calls this "sport eating" -- got to love that term. I still love food, just in very small portions at appropriate intervals. When I have my brunch or lunch -- whatever you want to call it -- I try to make it very intentional so I'm starting off my day in the listening mode. The band is there so I get a signal of satiety and I enjoy that feeling. It took me several fills to get to the green zone but each time I felt a little closer, like there was more to listen to if you know what I mean. I'd have the satiety from the portion size but not the duration -- I was getting hungry again a couple or few hours later. So we kept going. At one point I had to have a tiny unfill -- I could just tell I was too tight, stuck episodes, etc. Last night we had a dinner and I felt like I was able to eat too much food. This morning I got on the scale which I haven't done for a while. I feel like I've been hungry more frequently and I was sure I had gained. Nope. Down a little from last week. It can be a little at a time but over time it adds up significantly. Best not to weigh too often and get discouraged. You will get there! No sliders -- got to chew, chew, chew -- those esophogeal squeezes are what signal the brain for satiety. I have a couple of links below in my signature for things that have helped me with the head part. Best wishes!

When you can eat food following the advice given by your provider, and not feel any discomfort, while being able to lose a pound or two a week.
If you are in the green zone, you will feel full for at least 4 hours between meals. That requires having enough Protein at each meal, and watching your portion sizes to avoid extra calories.
The band should let you know when you don't NEED to take an extra bite of food, and you shouldn't feel an urge to clean your plate because food is still left on it.
The band is a tool, and it will not doing anything magical except to let you know when you have had enough to eat.
If it is too loose, you will eat more than you need at a sitting.
If it is too tight, you will have episodes of being stuck, or experience PB; all of which leads to eating slider foods and no weight loss.
That's how it works for me... you will see others who are living with very restrictive bands, and who are doing well. Others, like me, are able to make do with a band that is comfortable, yet still does its job.

What does the Green Zone Feel like???
It does not feel like anything....I simply do not care to eat, have no hunger, cravings, and not even think about food...
I'm sitting here catching up on reports, have not had anything to eat since 11am....it's now 5pm, and frankly I could finish the day and go to bed tonight without another meal if I wanted to ....but I know I have not gotten my daily Protein requirement, so I will look for something later....
Choosing and planning what to eat can be very difficult when you're not hungry or have any interest.
But for me, being in the green zone is not a feeling...it's a state of mind....it's not a physical feeling as much as it is a mental thing....I feel as though my band is always telling my brain I'm full, I just ate, etc,...whether I have or haven't...
I used to use the term restriction also...not anymore, especially when I realized I can do things many other banded people cannot do....
But then there are things other banded people do that I can't...so go figure.

My husband. Once said, you can't take it back. I don't regret that decision. I t was difficult enough to have the spot light on me once the weight was gone, without having to listen to people make remarks, or watch everything I eat or don't eat. It's no ones business, it really was the beginning of taking myself back, if that makes any sense.
Hope you find what works best for you!

Loved long hair with thin, but really freaked out by the amount of hair falling everyday on my clothes and in my brush. Cut it shoulder length, wishing it were still long! Oh well, it grows back, hopefully healthier!

You know what Ceredad? You are doing something about your problems! Go you for getting out of your own way! I know you are going to get through this and be better for it! So many changes going on in your life, we don't always appreciate the good times, until difficult situations come along. With your band being part of the solutions- I know you have this! Sending all kinds of good wishes your way!

First thought is, what does your diet look like? Are you measuring? It's not uncommon to not loose while your body is healing. I'm guessing here, are you speaking with a nutritionist? Are you feeling any changes in your eating at all? A few peeps here call this banidsters hell. You don't indicate the frequency or amount of your fills. Have you expressed all of your post to your doc? What does he/she say? There is a time between fills, when you should be paying close attention to quantity, quality, no snacking, calories including drinks, size of bites, length of meal time. Some form of exercise, walking is a good place to start. I know this must fell so frustrating for you, but if you are doing everything your doc says, then trust the process, it will happen for you too. It is by no means instant gratification. The band shows up everyday, you have to partner with it, and the weight will begin to drop. Hang in there!

Yes woowoo, you are correct, some clothing in a size two today is our modern 12. That would have made her between 2 and size 6.
Crazy right?

Do you see all the Facebook stuff about not feeling bad, Marilyn Monroe was a size 12?
Well, I looked at some old simplicity patterns for dressmaking, our size 12, was a size 2, back in the day....

For a few of us, our moms were children of the Great Depression, food= love.
Cut her some slack, take a silicon ice cube tray to dinner with you, or a muffin pan. Tell her it's the best Soup ever and you would love to have some to eat as your new tummy will allow. I bet she will be happy to help you freeze up individual meals you can thaw out/ microwave on those late nights home from work.

Hey 2MF! Awesome! 17 lbs?? Wow way to go!

Hey 2MF! Awesome! 17 lbs?? Wow way to go!

I am starting the 5:2 intermittent fast today (Mondays and Thursdays 500 calories, other days normal healthy food choices). I am also not weighing myself until Sunday.
The first thing I noticed this morning was relief about not fearing whether the scale went up or down a pound this morning.
My plan is to rely on Protein Shakes today because they are easy to control and satisfy me.
I'm going to post my experiences in this thread. All are welcome to join me.

Loved long hair with thin, but really freaked out by the amount of hair falling everyday on my clothes and in my brush. Cut it shoulder length, wishing it were still long! Oh well, it grows back, hopefully healthier!

Loved long hair with thin, but really freaked out by the amount of hair falling everyday on my clothes and in my brush. Cut it shoulder length, wishing it were still long! Oh well, it grows back, hopefully healthier!

I lost 12 lbs the first two weeks post op and then nothing for the next 3.5 months. Starting with my 3rd fill I finally started to feel enough restriction to eat less food which inspired me to eat healthier foods. I could easily have gained that 12 lbs back those first 4 months if not for exercise and eating healthy foods.
Like Kitt asked, what and how much are you eating? The band won't work it's magic if you're eating slider foods so stay away from them. Many patients take up to 6-8 fills before they feel enough satiety/restriction to not be hungry for up to 4 hours.
tmf