serenity

Well Fellow May Bandsters....so many of you are doing so well. Personally, I am having some difficulty. Since being banded I have lost approx. 30 lbs and cannot break the 220 mark. I admit that since my last banding, I was quite tight, but did not want to release the restriction. However, that choice may have hurt me more as I ate more soft carbs than protein. Proteins would not go down at all. Reading how well all of you are doing is a needed "kick in the pants". I will check out the food link to see how the successful "losers" are eating and try to become a "loser" too. Thanks again....I see I have work to do.

Thanks for the response Mindy. You are doing great. I was afraid to get the unfill, thinking I would eat too much. But I think my metabolism has slowed down so much, it is having the same effect. I go back to the doctor on December 8, 2007 and I will ask for some to be taken out. I thought I would adjust to it, but the last fill was about two months ago and has not improved. Because of the pbing, I shy away from eating. Well Thanksgiving will be different this year......have a happy holiday.

I have also lost desire to eat solids mainly because it will get stuck and that pbing is not cool. So I often make bad choices because there is some hunger. I got this thing for cheese now...where did that come from!? I know it is empty calories, but many days it is what I eat to fulfill the desire for texture and flavor. However, I still have not loss weight in over two weeks. For those eating much smaller than expected, what are you choosing and how are you keeping your metabolism going so you continue to lose?:hungry:

Banded in NY at North Shore Manhasset - surgeon Dr Gadaletta. Great doctor, he listens to you, and his office is operated efficiently as it relates to appointments. He even does his own fills.:clap2:

Costco carries the line of Bolthouse drinks.

I too have reached that "great" restriction and I am not complaining as many of us know, eating was never a problem. My concern is, if you do not eat enough does that slow down the weight loss? I was told the body goes into a "fasting" phase, when it stores fat thinking that it is saving me from starvation? I drink coffee( 8:30 a.m.) and that usually holds me until noon. lunch usually consist of Soup or some other soft food because of the restriction and dinner may be a few bites of something. I find myself craving pepper Jack cheese for the spice. I psyche myself into thinking I am having a spicy savory meal (pepper jack on a couple of triscuts). Before the band I craved spicy, crispy food and I still do, but I cannot get them down. However, I digressed.......back to the original question, does not eating enough calories slow down weight loss?

I am at 2cc in a 4 cc band for the past month and I still cannot tolerate much in the way of solids, but I can't imagine going back to have it unfilled. I waited too long for restriction. I have read where the band will loosen as you lose weight, I guess I will wait until that day comes because I know how out of control I can be w/o restriction. Anyway, while I am waiting, I will get creative with protien shakes....:clap2:

I think so. Better safe than sorry. Call your surgeon and let him know you are heading in.

Hey Syrenity: I have my fills done at North Shore Hospital Manhasett, on Community Drive ( Nassau County). My surgery was done by Dr. Gadeleta - he is great and when it is time for a fill, he writes a script for me to the hospital (radiology dept.) to have it done, or he will do it in his office, I think the fee is $100.00. The office number is 516 482-8657 give them a call and see what they say.

Can someone please describe what is good restriction? Is that the feel of food traveling down into your stomach (not comfortable) or is it the feel of fullness after a few bites? I have 1.25 cc in a 4 cc band and can still eat what I want when I chew well. I have been told to exhibit more control, but if I had that control, I would not have gotten the band....some feedback would be appreciated.

I have been away from this website for a few days....my question is --"What is restriction?" is it the feel of the food traveling after you chew or is it fullness, like I can't eat anymore. I had a fill on 8/17/07 and now have 1.25 cc in a 4cc band. Like many in this thread, if I chew well, I can eat like I did before. I stop myself because I believe I am eating too much. My doctor's office state that I have to have more control and limit my intake no matter how I feel. However, if I could do that, I would not have gotten the band. I need to understand the "sweet spot" and restriction and I am not clear ...please someone explain what good restriction feels like and fullness is it one and the same. Thank you

Hi guys: I have been reading this site for some time and still can't seem to get this right. Okay, my first question is the restriction. Is that when you eat and a minute later, you feel something forcing to pass through in the chest area? I feel this sensation (not nice), but it's discomfort not fullness. I read where bandsters state they can eat one cup of food and that's all. I can eat the wrong thing and feel the sensation in two mouthfuls, but that is not fullness, its pain, pbing. etc.. so I stop and wait, but I am not full, just don't want to feel that feeling again. I want to understand the sweet spot, I have used the term in wanting to reach it, but I am no longer sure of what I am striving for. If the food feels like is keeps passing through the band, although uncomfortably is that what I am supposed to feel or is the band still too loose? I was of the understanding that the pouch fills and then I stop eating and then things pass as they digest, not discomfort and then hunger. As many have shared, I love food, I am a texture eater. I move from sweet to spicy and during my cycle....I'm out of control. The other day, I wanted White Castles, why I do not know. Anyway, I ordered five cheeseburgers and finished them. They went down easily. Now that does not sound right....and before anyone comments on why I ordered five, the band is around my stomach, not my mind. I supposedly have 1 cc in the band. I say that because 1.5 ccs were put in the band in July and when the doctor checked before the second fill, there was barely .25 ccs. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Hi Smyly: 58 lbs lost in less than four months.....that is phenomenal. I do not think you could lose any faster and remain healthy. That' s almost 15 lbs per month. I wish, I could drop at that rate. How are you eating? Congratulations on the success of your band.

I posted in another thread my experiences since being banded in May 2007. The most weight I lost was the first three weeks post op. since then I have been at a stand still. I thought I had 1.5 cc placed in the 4 cc band back on July 6, 2007, and was expecting great restriction, but got none. I had another fill Friday from my surgeon who reported I only had .25ccs in and did not know where the other 1/25 may have gone. So now I am up to 1 cc and still feel no restriction. like most of you, I am stopping because I feel guilty and guilt wears off real fast for me. I am eating way more than I should and want this tool to start doing its part. If I had the willpower, I probably would not have had the surgery. As for the hard proteins, I have trouble with them ( meat, chicken, tuna is a breeze as it is soft) passing the band, producing that lump feeling which is uncomfortable, but the problem is, it does pass the band within a minute or two and then I can eat the food. Like all you, I want to feel filled after a few bites causing me to move on to something else other waiting for the food to go down so I can take another bite.

Today I had my second Fill. The first fill was on 7/6/07, done under the fluoroscope. I was told that 1.5 cc were put in. I was expecting great restriction and was very disappointed when it did not come. Today, I had the fill performed by my surgeon and he advised that I barely had .25cc in and stated it may have been an air pocket that led the radiologist to believe he put in more. So, for the last month, I was feeling bad that I was still so out of control, eating pretty much what I wanted, when in fact I had no restriction.:faint: Today, I think, I went up to 1 cc. I do not know what to expect, but I know I no longer place emphasis on the amount of the fill, but will go by how I feel. If there is no restriction in a week, I will call my surgeon back to ask for another fill. Eventually, I am sure I will hit the "sweet spot" and will have a ballpark as for how many cc's caused that effect. Moral of the story.....don't get hung up on the amount that is entered or compare it to how others react, go by how you feel. I am on liquids for the next two days and I really hope to feel a difference when I return to solids, but if not, I 'll be knowing on the doctor's door.

In the same boat with you TAB, I am hungry in the evenings also, which was always a bad time for me. I am six (6) weeks out of surgery and attempted to get my first fill on Friday, but my doctor believes my port flipped, so I am unable to get the fill until radiology determines the problem. Like the other replies, I am trying to apply common sense - not overeating and walking with hopes that while waiting for my tool to be operable, I do not do more damage. BUT IT IS HARD. Like many have said, if I could have done this on my own, I would not have gotten the band. Any suggestions on fighting this urge to eat until we are properly armed (band working) would be appreciated.

Thanks for the info FaithMD. Went for my first fill today and my doctor believes the port flipped. Of course I panicked, but after seeing your post with the links, I feel much better. The info you provided was extremely helpful and I will know more on Thursday.

please share the info if you can about the diet plan you are following at this time. I am struggling and need to rev up my action.

the decision to have the surgery was not easy nor this period, but the gentle kick in the pants helps we reverting to old bad habits. again thank you <p><p>Thank you......</p></p>

Like some of you I am having a hard time with the post op diet. It was one month this past Saturday and I still can't get it together. I having been drinking the protein drinks and find myself bloated after drinking them. I am on semi solid and some days I can eat and others, things just get stuck. Mornings are not friendly and I find myself drinking coffee to reduce the hunger. Also I find myself gravitating to foods I did not normally eat, such as ice cream because it feels so soothing. Yes, as I said in the opening, I am having a hard time. I fee worse than before because if I eat my family looks at the food quantity like wow! but when I find something that goes down, I am happy and I eat and rationalize for the times I cannot eat....Oh the agony.....:decision:.

I am almost 6 weeks out of surgery and had my first follow up. Initially I lost 16 lbs. but I am at a standstill. I have had personal difficulties following surgery and can't seem to get back in the rhythm of eating correctly. I am concerned that this may be interfering with my lost and want your feedback. For Breakfast I may have a Protein drink, but usually just a cup of coffee until lunch. Coffee seems to diminish my appetite. For lunch I get adventurous and will eat either Soup, Protein drinks or like today sushi. Sometimes when I eat semi solid, it feels stuck and I am bloated for hours and I know that I am not suppose to drink, but the food feels stuck. Then there I can graze and wonder where the food is going, while the other day I tried to eat scramble eggs and they got stuck, but the cheese sandwich went down....what gives.....

Linda I found the protein shots at the Vitamin Shop. I would suggest that you buy the individual tubes first to see which flavor you can tolerate. I made the mistake of buying a case for about $27 bucks with the discount, but it was all one flavor (grape) ughh! You can also order it online at the vitamin shoppe or Bariatricedge.com, if you don't have a Vitamin Shoppe near you, but you won't have the option of trying them first.

I am not fond of protein shake either, but I found a mix at Costco - Sportpharma (chocolate) Whey Protein mix that is not that bad. I mix it with 2% milk and a half of a small banana and I feel satisfied. I also used the Unjury Protein (unflavored) in soup (Better than Bouillon) and found it did not alter the taste at all.

Great posts. I too have fallen off the wagon, and berated myself. I do not want the complications and will make a serious attempt from this point forward to get my act together, bandster hell or not.....it took alot to get this surgery and yes, old habits die hard, but again the post are encouraging from all points of view.

First, I would like to thank you all for your prayers and support. I shared my loss because prior to the surgery, I lived on this board reading and loving all the support and love from people all over the states and abroad. So I guess I needed a group hug too. Thank you. Went to the Dr. and lost 16 lbs. I was honest about eating the wrong foods. However, all things taken into consideration, they sat with me and worked on getting me back on track. I have another week of liquids, which is harder being that I cheated, but I am doing it. Next week, I start puree, oh Joy! Thank you again....