Anna Banana 555

I always thought that weight loss was the simple equation of less calories taken in, more body fat burned but that's way too simple for my complex and defiant body. My food intake is so much less than what it used to be but my weight loss has been so frustratingly slow. It's not enough that I'm eating about one quarter of what I used to eat, noooooooooo.... they want sweat and blood too! I thought I could get away with working out a couple of times a week but nothing is happening so I now have to step it up a notch if I want to results. So frustrating! Why can't it be as simple as we eat less and lose weight?

Was banded 10/5/07 and have just had my second fill. Anything I eat will get stuck unless it's absolutely chewed to nothing. Ok, so we all know we have to take small bites and chew chew chew. Here's my question: If we're chewing so much that our food turns to the consistency of Soup in our mouth, doesn't that mean that it'll just go straight through the band and not stay in the pouch? The whole thing about not drinking Water is so that food wont pass though the band too quickly but how can it not when it's watered down so much with our own saliva? And another thing... even when I chew really well, I sometimes still get a bit of stuck feeling and that causes me to stop eating immediately. I never get a feeling of fullness or even satisfaction, I just get a feeling of discomfort and that's what stops me eating more because I know pain will follow if I don't stop? Will that satisfied feeling ever materialize? (I think the reason the band works so well is because our jaws get too tired from all the dang chewing so that's what causes us to stop eating!! ha ha Plus it takes so freakin' long to eat anything that there's never enough time to finish!! )

Plus when we're bigger, we tend to wear alot of stretchier type fabrics (or at least I did). We're about even Anyalee with out weight loss, I'm not seeing much difference yet either and nobody has really noticed that I've lost weight 30+lbs.

lol.... you guys crack me up!

Vegan food has to be blessed by a Veganite whereas anyone can eat vegetarian food. Fruit can be consumed by either one but must have all the sugar removed first.

They're older and I'm sure the language will hold the interest of my kids so if it's informative, it'll be worth it for their delicate sensibilities to be assaulted (hah! as if!) I just ordered it and am looking forward to reading it, sounds like it might be funny. Thanks :-)

Is it a good read? I've cut out all meat from my diet and am trying to get dairy and eggs out too and have have been serving up lots of whole, pure foods for the family but am getting somewhat of a rebellion going on. I want a book that will hold the interest of my kids (teenagers) and make them want to come over to my side of thinking, you think that would be a good one for that? I recently read The Omnivores Dilema, very thought provoking stuff but kinda heavy going for the kids though.

I can totally relate MamaJava, I was banded Oct 5 and I have yet to feel any kind of "full" feeling. All I get it a feeling of discomfort under my sternum which is my cue to stop eating. So I stop eating because I don't want pain to follow, not because I'm full. I guess it's stopping me eating too much anyway but still, I kinda thought it would be different.

oops... that was meant for Chickie... still getting used to this posting thing! :-)

But did you start running right after being banded? Did you love running before being banded?

It seems many new bansters are now exercising regularly and I'm wondering how that happened with such ease! I got banded October 5 and am down about 15lbs, mostly from pre-op diet. I didn't exercise much before banding and am finding it really difficult to get motivated to exercise now. What's motivating you guys??

I stayed overnight but didn't really need to. In fact, I wished I hadn't because they kept disturbing me every 4 hours taking bloody pressure, temperature etc.

Why do you think you might have made a mistake, aren't you happy with your band?

I was wondering, after you've eaten, are you supposed to have a feeling of actual fullness or is it just a feeling of discomfort? The last few times I've eaten, I've felt dicomfort just under my sternum. Is this what it's always going to feel like?

You can probably have it now, my doctor gave me yoghurt the first meal after my surgery which is about the same consistency as pudding, should be fine.

Tomoato soup was the very first meal my doctor ordered for me after surgery.

What happens if you actually need to throw up for some reason other than eating wrong? I mean, if you just have flu or something and need to throw up, what happens?

I'm on day 3 of my pre-op diet and I'm thinking how lucky you all are for being allowed to have veggies or Optifast. My diet is two weeks of nothing but non-fat milk! Yes you read it right... nothing but MILK!!!! and I don't even like milk that much. I find my mind floats away to all kinds of delicious things to eat without me even realizing it until I'm salivating and drooling....lol. Surgery date is October 5th, hope I can make it - don't know if I can take another 11 days of starvation.

Hi there, I was wondering if you followed through with Emma Patterson and if your opinion had changed. I'm thinking about using her but after reading your post, I'm wondering if I should find someone else. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks

When you get stuck, is there anything that you can do to help it along or do you just have to wait? Is it painful or just uncomfortable? What is sliming? Sorry to sound so clueless.

Hi guys, I'm new to this site and was wandering if there is a place where bansters have posted opinions on their surgeon. I'm thinking of using Dr. Dally from Vancouver WA and would really like to know who else has used him and what their thoughts are. Is there some list on this site somewhere where I might get this info? Thanks :-)

I was told that once I'm banded, I would never again be able to eat bread rice and pasta without problems but have since read about people eating burgers and lasagne etc. so I'm assuming it's not off limits for everyone. Please share what foods cause the most problems.

My doctor told me that lack of protein brings about hair loss. Be sure to get all your protein in. And don't worry, it'll come back.

I keep reading about slippage but nobody mentions how it's corrected. Does band slippage require another surgery or does it correct itself?

My doctor wants me to drink just MILK for two whole weeks prior to surgery. I've read so many postings from this site and have yet to see anyone mention a pre-op milk only diet. Anyone out there that can relate?