Kelliebelly

I dont want to tell you what to do or what you should do, I am only 6 mths into this and still learning myself...but I can tell you this, if you perservere with a too tight fill or even go as far as getting more fill you will end up with a slippage...it is nearly a certainty. The money will have been a waste, and your maybe last chance of losing the weight will have gone down the toilet. PLEASE - at least give a small unfill a try - you will be so suprised at the difference. Good Luck

The people who can eat too fast or big bites probably wont be able to do that once they have reached a good restriction. I know if I ate too fast or big bites it would HURTTTT!!! So just know it wont be a bad habit you have for much longer I know for the first few months before I got proper restriction I could still eat fast etc and wondered why people on here would say they could never do it. Well I know why now hehehe.

You have done so well. You are an inspiration to all of us.

Ok, Ill answer this while I sit at my computer desk eating Turkish Delight at 9am. * I drink about 5 mins after I finish eating. * Diet coke and chocolate * Not enough exercise * Too much snacking * Watching the scales too much

Oh Yea - 1 lb per week, thats me!!! I am only doing it for my kids. If I lose to fast, which I could if I tried they wouldnt recognise me, doing it the slow way gives them time to adjust SLOWLY. So there you have it - Im losing slowly on purpose for my kids hehehe Sounds good though doesnt it!!

Yep, it was the over the counter immodium that the chemist wouldnt give me. I might try another one and see what they say. Thanks anyway

I have had a tummy bug for the last 3 days, the first day I was doing alot of heaving, this was while I was at the conference so was going to go to the Dr when I got home. The nausea stopped after a day and the poo poo started. I havent stopped, and the tummy cramps are soooo bad. I went to the chemist and asked if there was something I could take. I told them about the band and they said with the band they would not give me anything unless I had a letter from my surgeon. Unfortunately that isnt possible, so I will get through this, I am keeping up the fluids, I just wanted to know if anyone knows if the tummy cramps are actual cramps where our bands are and could they cause a slippage if powerful enough. Sorry if this sounds silly, I would just like to be more safe than sorry. TIA

This is another thing mentioned at the conference by Dr John Dixon. "Skinny" people have some chemical in their brain that tell them when they are full, so they stop. Large people dont have this chemical, it "doesnt work properly" any longer, we eat and we eat. It takes so much for us to eat to get the same effect as "skinny" people. The idea they came up with when they started using bands was that they would restrict intake but after alot if studies they found by placing the band up higher when we eat the puch pushes back on our ribs/lungs?? unsure which one he said, and gives the same feeling the chemical does that skinny people get. I am reading back over this and I know it wont make sense how I am typing it, but it made so much sense when Dr Dixon was talking about it. It was really interesting to know.

I have the VG 10 ml band. My Dr only uses that one now. I really wasnt happy about getting it a few months ago with trips back to the Dr for top ups to try and get some decent restriction. After this conference I learned that 2 yrs out, ppl with the smaller band and larger band are equal in their weight loss. Some with the small band find restriction with no fill or 1 or 2 small ones, whereas with the large one it can sometimes take around 5 or so (8 for me ). They also explained that the big band is more forgiving than the smaller band. Overall, whichever band suits your insides the best is the one you should get, because once you have restriction the weight comes off. I am not sure how accurate this is either, but my Dr said the big band is now recommended because of less chance of erosion or slippage. PS I am not putting any bands down in this post - or saying one is better than the other, just my experience and what I have learnt. Hugs

Oh yes I hope you guys can come....and Kathy, that is the first time I have been referred to as cutie since I was 5, so I am going to take it as a compliment and run with it...woooohoooo she called me cute . BTW get a few tequila slammers in anyone and you bet they are fun to be around.

There was talk of QLD next year but nothing definate yet.

Hiya everyone, I would like to introduce you to finiky.

I had a ball, it was the best weekend I have had in a long time. The speakers were VERY informative and I learnt alot I didnt know. They had a plastic surgeon come and go through the procedures most ppl get after weight loss and showed us before and after pics. There was also a psychologist talking, mostly about marriage after weight loss and how to make it survive. John Dixon they head researcher in the world for Lap Band spoke for a while too. We had a trivia night, and most of the weekend was spent breaking all the bandster rules...hiccup. I am so glad I went, I have made so many more friends who know exactly what I am going through. There was about 100 of us, and we were just like we had known each other all our lives because of the special bond we all share. A dietician also spoke about a study that had just been completed over here covering weight loss from 3 serves of dairy calcium a day. There was stats and proof showing increased and faster weight loss if you have 3 serves of dairy calcium a day...the benefits were not the same if you are taking a supplement. Overall I learnt so much I never knew, and I will remember the weekend for a long time. Here is a pic my room mate took as soon as I opened my eyes after a ummm heavy night out.

There are a few programs that can convert to jpg or gif. Do you have Adobe Photoshop? Or try another pic, if you have no luck email me the pic and I will convert it for you and send it back.

Nope...I would not tell her. If she came right out and asked then maybe I would think about it, but I would definately not go to her and tell her.

Me too, dont know if you were imagining it or not, but if you were so do I.

That post sounds like me 6 months ago. Properly filled, you just cant pig out. It is nearly impossible to eat how we used to eat. I mean I still eat more junk than I should, but compared to what I used to eat...gees its not even comparable. My loss is slow, because I too sporadically go to the gym or walk. I could do alot more exercise and alot less eating of junk, but the thing is even with what I am doing, I am losing (slowly) but I still am. I could eat like this for the rest of my life not feeling deprived in any way at all. I am a fan of the band - some arent...some are, but I have to say....Most will lose(properly restricted) whether they like it or not It is just impossible to eat like before.

Hope all goes well for you, it will be over before you know it. See you on the bandster side.

Good on ya!!!! Its so reassuring to know that anytime we fall off, the band waits and we can just jump right back on again when we are ready. What a patient and caring peice of silicon we have in our tummys No more "Ill start my diet again tommorow"...tommorow never comes. Congrats on the 2 lbs.

I am the same and have been since getting fills. I really dont think there is much you can do except try and get your food demons under control...I am trying...its hard but I know I have to if I want the scale to start moving again. All I could suggest is that if you are a night time eater - eat things that are better and more healthy and maybe that will help...but as everyone says, the band is a tool and this other head stff and habitual stuff we have to work on on our own. If you come up with any miracle cures for nighttime eating..make sure you give me a call

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR DELARLAAAAAAAAAAA HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! Have a great big piece of chocolate mudcake and enjoy your day!!!

Yep, I had it so bad I rang the doctor in the middle of the night and asked him if it was normal because I was so worried. Completely normal!! Good Luck

Hubby and I went for a loan. The cost was $13 000 for me, I recieved about $1000 of that back from Medicare. My Dr visits and fills are covered in the doctors fees. If I had of had private health insurance it would have been more like $3000...but I dont.

I am off to our nations capital tommorow morning - Canberra. We have our first Banding Together 2005 conference. I am excited but also scared. I am petrified of flying, and prayinggggg that the seatbelt fits me. I dont know what Ill do if it doesnt. On the other hand, there are going to have a couple of plastic surgeons there, I cant wait to pick their brains, maybe if I show them my belly, they will feel sorry for me and give me a tt for free See you all Monday night.

I hope everything works out well, what a scary thing to happen. I hope you are feeling better soon.