aeromech

Well, I have gotten it down I believe. I am down to having one or two Snacks a day, not constant grazing on high fat/carb items is helping tremendously.
I have about 25-30 lbs to go to my goal weight and am having trouble getting the workouts in with my stupid nightshift schedule.
As far as what it feels like when you are at the satisfied state, I stop eating as soon as I lose interest in eating. I try to make sure I am doing something while eating, and as soon as I miss my bite timer because I am too busy... It's time to stop. Usually within the 20 minute meal length for me. Sometimes I am totally into what I am eating and end up finishing my portion easily.... Have to watch the portion sizing carefully on things like that or else I eating way too much.
I hope to tackle this better and get down to goal by the new year. But if it take longer, I'm OK with that.

I suffer with head hunger as well. Before I allow myself a snack I make myself drink a glass of icy cold Water. The water makes me full and gives me time to decide if I really want/need food. Training myself to go for water instead of food has really helped. The other thing I do is keep healthy Snacks ready and available. A cup of mushrooms is 50 calories. I snack on these. Have some healthy snacks measured up and available in your fridge. If head hunger gets the better of you then your prepared. Best of luck!!

I have only told about 6 coworkers out of more than 50 I work with, wife, kids, mother-in-law know. That's it. I prefer to be discreet about it and if someone asks what's with the weight-loss, I blame diabetes and the hiatal hernia repair. The hernia especially if someone hears me struggling with being stuck in the bathroom. I figure that no one needs to know and the ones that feel conscious about their weight end up working out and becoming healthier on their own. Not hurting anyone by not sharing. Eventually I will "come clean" with every person I meet, but for own this is the way it is.

Well, I think I need to employ more gum! I drink lots and lots of Water, but the "feeling" of eating is what is missed I guess. Kind of like a smoker just quitting but needing that action of puffing on something like a habitual action.
There is so much psychology involved with this. I am hopeful that people realize this.
Thanks for the replies guys!!

Well, I think I need to employ more gum! I drink lots and lots of Water, but the "feeling" of eating is what is missed I guess. Kind of like a smoker just quitting but needing that action of puffing on something like a habitual action.
There is so much psychology involved with this. I am hopeful that people realize this.
Thanks for the replies guys!!

Well, I think I need to employ more gum! I drink lots and lots of Water, but the "feeling" of eating is what is missed I guess. Kind of like a smoker just quitting but needing that action of puffing on something like a habitual action.
There is so much psychology involved with this. I am hopeful that people realize this.
Thanks for the replies guys!!

I know people who do not have regular 3 ,meals a day, but have maybe 6 healthy Snacks a day...works for them. It all comes down to how many calories consumed in a 24 hr period, versus how many burned....
For me, the band took care of head hunger....I may think I want to eat something...like a dough-nut in the middle of the day for no good reason, but one bite and my band immedialtley slaps me back into reality and I throw the thing away....after doing this 100 of times those head hunger cravings no longer exisit...kicked the habit by behaviour modifiction thanks to the band........plus I am not hungry 24 hrs a day....never understood the "just between Meals" thing...my band is there 24 hrs...not just between meals.

Hello folks. Here I am again with another question!!
If you chose not to tell people at work or friends about your LB, how did you keep it secret? Did you change your mind and eventually tell? What kind of comments/questions did they ask? How did you handle it?
I am not planning to tell my coworkers. I know they will ask questions as they are super gossipy.
Thanks again for open and honest responses!

Do not, and I repeat DO NOT OVERHEAT your food. Especially if you are really hungry. That's the worst stuck/burning feeling ever!!
First reaction is to just swallow when you have really hot food in your mouth. Take it from me, it's worth checking and waiting to avoid having a bad experience.
That is all...

Do not, and I repeat DO NOT OVERHEAT your food. Especially if you are really hungry. That's the worst stuck/burning feeling ever!!
First reaction is to just swallow when you have really hot food in your mouth. Take it from me, it's worth checking and waiting to avoid having a bad experience.
That is all...

call your dr in the a.m. for appt as it seems you are too tightyou need to be able to eat/drink with the band.....otherwise its not doing its job properly
and your health is at risk

I take small bites and have a minute between swallowing and the next bite. It works well for me. Use a minute sand timer or the "eat slower" app on your phone to get a good rhythm. Sometimes I have to spend on coffee during my meal, it relaxes me for some reason. Watch what you eat early in the day. Most people are tighter with their first meal and have to do a variation on mushy foods and Protein shakes to get the first meal in.
The types of foods make a huge difference, some people have problems with certain ones and others not. Experiment cautiously but done be totally afraid to try new things. Doughy bread, sticky rice, fresh carrots and fresh broccoli are not my friend at all.
Talk to your Dr. Maybe you are too tight. I had the hiatal hernia repair at the same time as being banded, Dr put in 4cc at surgery and I ended up having everything removed because the swelling from the hernia repair. Everyone is different, but it's worth talking to the doctor about and maybe even getting a fluoroscopy done.
Good luck.

Do not, and I repeat DO NOT OVERHEAT your food. Especially if you are really hungry. That's the worst stuck/burning feeling ever!!
First reaction is to just swallow when you have really hot food in your mouth. Take it from me, it's worth checking and waiting to avoid having a bad experience.
That is all...

BTW, I have gotten 2 small fills since I made the original post and have not had to sliderize my food. It's all about following the rules and chewing the right size bites completely.
Working out...... Treadmill for 50-60min every other day keeping heart rate in upper fat burn range. I gained a few lbs probably due to muscle swelling/water retention. Hopefully that will go away soon.
Work stress isn't being my friend lately. Combined with lack of sleep, makes me one hungry dude!!!

BTW, I have gotten 2 small fills since I made the original post and have not had to sliderize my food. It's all about following the rules and chewing the right size bites completely.
Working out...... Treadmill for 50-60min every other day keeping heart rate in upper fat burn range. I gained a few lbs probably due to muscle swelling/water retention. Hopefully that will go away soon.
Work stress isn't being my friend lately. Combined with lack of sleep, makes me one hungry dude!!!

So far nightshift hasn't been too bad. I know my Dr wants me to sleep at least 7 hours, but if I get 5 I am doing good. Going to the gym after work at 3am isn't too bad either. Just frustrating when my workout buddies get off the treadmill at only 30 minutes and leave me hanging.
It's ok because I have my own agenda. Going to make my Dr's goal weight by by birthday. Then we see where I will go from there.

So far nightshift hasn't been too bad. I know my Dr wants me to sleep at least 7 hours, but if I get 5 I am doing good. Going to the gym after work at 3am isn't too bad either. Just frustrating when my workout buddies get off the treadmill at only 30 minutes and leave me hanging.
It's ok because I have my own agenda. Going to make my Dr's goal weight by by birthday. Then we see where I will go from there.

I vote for Cardio....AND weights...but Cardio first....

So far nightshift hasn't been too bad. I know my Dr wants me to sleep at least 7 hours, but if I get 5 I am doing good. Going to the gym after work at 3am isn't too bad either. Just frustrating when my workout buddies get off the treadmill at only 30 minutes and leave me hanging.
It's ok because I have my own agenda. Going to make my Dr's goal weight by by birthday. Then we see where I will go from there.

Night shift work is bad for weight loss. Gained over 60 pounds while working nights for a 3 year period. Had a friend who weighed over 350 when she died after working for 20 plus years of graveyard shift. My Dr. said it was because the body is designed to sleep at night and then it metabolises during sleep. Day sleepers sleep less hours and less deeply than night sleepers and our metabolisms don't get the chance to work as well. I would get home at around 9am and go walking for at least 20 to 40 minutes and it helped some.
It messed up my sleep patterns so badly that now, almost 6 years later and retired, I have issues trying to sleep. I know that is why my weight loss has slowed down because I have sleep issues. Could not use a CPAP machine because of this. The specialist who was working with said she had never seen anyone with such broken sleep patterns in her 20 year career. She wondered how I was standing up and now falling asleep just sitting down. If I get 3 hours unbroken sleep per night it is great.
fit in the exercise and sleep whenever and where ever you can.

David,
You are a true inspiration!

I worked ( I use that term loosely ) 72 hours last week, and got in 8:44 minutes of exercise, so you can do it. I work 12 hour rotating shifts...two weeks of days/ two weeks of nights. Have worked shiftwork for 20 years. I've worked straight seconds for a while......it sucks for family life!
Why not go walking/gym/riding/running/ANYTHING right after you get up in the morning? You MUST find the time, if you really want to do it. Lots of time, I'll ride for 1-2 hours before a 12 hour night shift.
You and your doctor will have to get your band adjustment level figured out. And it can take some time....do not be discouraged if you aren't at a magical green area you hear about. You do the best you can, follow up with your doc, and you'll get there. Just don't let a work schedule be an excuse for not exercising....I did that in the past, too. One reason we were 325 pounds.....

I haven't posted in a while, busy with work and family.
I have now completed 2 5k walks, first one was 51 minutes, second was 45 minutes! I am so happy I can do this! My glucose levels are very stable for the day after exercise, I might cut my metformin by half next visit to the endocrinologist.
Yesterday was my third fill appointment and I didn't lose any weight this time, but my clothes are still fitting looser. The doctor said that's good. I need to work on smaller portions, taking time to chew properly and waiting enough between bites, having minor stuck episodes due to not following the rules. I also need to work on my exercise(45 minutes 4 times a week) and sleep 7 hours or more.
I got 1cc more (puts me at 4cc total in a 10cc band) and it was a late appt, so I was on Protein shakes last night.... Should have continued that today too. I had some Greek yogurt at Breakfast and it went ok, but I tried cottage cheese and had a stuck feeling for about 20 minutes. I finished my cottage cheese later and ended up not hungry for like 5 hrs.
I hate being rushed to eat while at work, it messes my whole day up.
I also feel like I'm not getting enough calories a day. I think I'm in storage mode with 700-1000 calories. I got a fitbit one activity tracker last week and hopefully it will give me insight on how much I should be eating. It's going to be weird getting my calories and keeping portions at their smallest.
Still limiting sugar and carbs, but want to incorporate complex carbs into my diet to control glucose spikes.
Seems this fill has me cutting beef from the diet. It's a food that just doesn't work for me anymore. My BP and cholesterol will get better for it.

I haven't posted in a while, busy with work and family.
I have now completed 2 5k walks, first one was 51 minutes, second was 45 minutes! I am so happy I can do this! My glucose levels are very stable for the day after exercise, I might cut my metformin by half next visit to the endocrinologist.
Yesterday was my third fill appointment and I didn't lose any weight this time, but my clothes are still fitting looser. The doctor said that's good. I need to work on smaller portions, taking time to chew properly and waiting enough between bites, having minor stuck episodes due to not following the rules. I also need to work on my exercise(45 minutes 4 times a week) and sleep 7 hours or more.
I got 1cc more (puts me at 4cc total in a 10cc band) and it was a late appt, so I was on Protein shakes last night.... Should have continued that today too. I had some Greek yogurt at Breakfast and it went ok, but I tried cottage cheese and had a stuck feeling for about 20 minutes. I finished my cottage cheese later and ended up not hungry for like 5 hrs.
I hate being rushed to eat while at work, it messes my whole day up.
I also feel like I'm not getting enough calories a day. I think I'm in storage mode with 700-1000 calories. I got a fitbit one activity tracker last week and hopefully it will give me insight on how much I should be eating. It's going to be weird getting my calories and keeping portions at their smallest.
Still limiting sugar and carbs, but want to incorporate complex carbs into my diet to control glucose spikes.
Seems this fill has me cutting beef from the diet. It's a food that just doesn't work for me anymore. My BP and cholesterol will get better for it.

I haven't posted in a while, busy with work and family.
I have now completed 2 5k walks, first one was 51 minutes, second was 45 minutes! I am so happy I can do this! My glucose levels are very stable for the day after exercise, I might cut my metformin by half next visit to the endocrinologist.
Yesterday was my third fill appointment and I didn't lose any weight this time, but my clothes are still fitting looser. The doctor said that's good. I need to work on smaller portions, taking time to chew properly and waiting enough between bites, having minor stuck episodes due to not following the rules. I also need to work on my exercise(45 minutes 4 times a week) and sleep 7 hours or more.
I got 1cc more (puts me at 4cc total in a 10cc band) and it was a late appt, so I was on Protein shakes last night.... Should have continued that today too. I had some Greek yogurt at Breakfast and it went ok, but I tried cottage cheese and had a stuck feeling for about 20 minutes. I finished my cottage cheese later and ended up not hungry for like 5 hrs.
I hate being rushed to eat while at work, it messes my whole day up.
I also feel like I'm not getting enough calories a day. I think I'm in storage mode with 700-1000 calories. I got a fitbit one activity tracker last week and hopefully it will give me insight on how much I should be eating. It's going to be weird getting my calories and keeping portions at their smallest.
Still limiting sugar and carbs, but want to incorporate complex carbs into my diet to control glucose spikes.
Seems this fill has me cutting beef from the diet. It's a food that just doesn't work for me anymore. My BP and cholesterol will get better for it.