CCBSTX

Wow Josy that an incredible loss! You're right, hopefully and bandsters we get our "heads" on halfway straight. Until my weight loss, I couldn't remember what it was like to feel good. shawn

Many prayers going your way! Come back and post to let us know how things are going! Shawn

Wow, your stomach is a sensitive sort! I guess you must immediately swell, when he does a fill? I'm only at 1cc and holding. I had .2cc added awhile back, but a few weeks later was unfilled .2cc. So, I am like you at my original fill. Oh well.... My surgeon doesn't want me to "diet" or count calories. However, what works for me is logging in on fitday.com to keep track of my calories and nutrition. So I ignore him on that part. One day, once I'm at goal, I won't have to log in my food. Shawn

Elena, you are doing fantastic! I've found my weight loss can be inconsistent or not as I expected. I'll go weeks, like Donali, and not show a loss, then almost overnight 2 pounds go away. Then one week I am hot on the weight loss. Another, I am keeping the same weight. Also, many folks might lose a good bit at the beginning and slow. I know I did. 1-2 pounds, on average, per week works for me!!! Fitday.com is a good tool. Shawn

Robyn, first off let me say how wonderful you are doing! 100 pounds in such a short time...Way To Go!! I have the same head issues with food. Ordering my "regular" meals and not eating much. I am beginning to learn at 5 months out. I don't order salads, I just eat a few bites of my husbands. I look at the side orders on the menu and pick out a few favorite items. Or, if that doesn't work I order a item off the Entrees and bag it up to take home. I remind myself: Before banding, I never had ANY food to give to the "starving people." I ate it all, and wasn't even starving. Shawn

Hope all is well by now! Too tight is not good. Not only is is uncomfortable is increases the risk of band problems (vomiting, dehydration, slippage, etc.) You'll feel better with a bit taken out. I've been there. Shawn

Awesome stories. Dr. Grossband sounds like a VERY CARING surgeon! It probably helps that he also had the band and realizes how important of a decision it is for us. He's a keeper. Shawn

I agree with Vines. Look at your calorie intake and what you are eating (hopefully protein first). Also, keep taking your vitamins...Shawn

Where are you in the decision process? Have you scheduled your surgery? Your surgeon will be able to tell you your criteria to undergo the surgery itself? It's amazing, even after losing just 20lbs, you will feel better. Some folks even get rid of some of their meds., after the first 20 lbs. Just remember that your decision is better-late-than-never! You're right "healthy" should be our main goal. I know it was for me. Shawn

Yes for tossed salad! Shawn

Not much to add, as the other posters did a good job. Just remember it is a tool and if you drink too many empty calories, you will gain or not lose. Remember: calories in and calories out Once you are over your recovery period and have a fill, you will eat noticeably less. However, for alot of us junk food goes down quite easy. Eating your Protein first is a rule. Plus, it doesn't leave much room for the junk. Shawn

Welcome to LBT Becky! Come here, often, for your support and comments! Shawn

I've told some that I had a hernia repaired. It's really no body's business unless you want to tell. Don't feel bad. Shawn

Terrific news! Congrats on laying down the cigs...Get well soon. Shawn

You are ideally correct! For myself, I TRY to keep my "trigger" foods out of the house. Holidays are HORRIBLE (including Valentines). I've told family members to not buy alot of junk for the kids during these times (I eat them). My mother insists on doing it anyway. I just tossed her large box of "sugar free" chocolates (unopened), that she bought us for Valentine's. I will tell her not to buy me any again and I'm going to tell her what I did with them (in a nice way). Shawn

That blows me away also! I could never shop at Sam's Club (for clothes) as they don't have Women's sizes. Now, I can but I am afraid to purchase (no fitting rooms). Although, I can wear size 16's and XL, I still feel it is a fluke! Maybe the garments were made "big" and I just "happen" to fit in these sizes. My head needs time to catch up to my real size. You've done wonderful on your weight loss. Congratulations!!:clap2:

Great suggestion. High Fiber is mandatory to keep things running smoothly. However, the tortilla word is kind of scary at this point......

Cissy, I hope your fill went smoothly! Are you afraid of being too tight? Tricia, you are rolling right along. Great job!!! Shawn

Take money for band=get healthy Take health and energy=build your credit, get out of debt, and save $$ Take your $$=pay for your own weddding Doesn't it sound simple??? Take care and good luck!! Shawn

Many of us, as you are now hearing, have felt exactly as you! I did feel guilty before banding, but now I don't so much. I just feel better! How can I feel guilty about that?? Some folks are really good at losing weight, and not so good about keeping it off. I was good at neither. This was my last hope. Shawn

Thanks for the posting this one! I've been in your "position" off and mostly on since banding. I've never had this problem before. I've used enemas, stool softeners, laxatives, suppositories, and sometimes these barely help!!! I'm working on getting more Fiber. Like we all know, sometimes getting in the amount of nutrition that we need is difficult. Shawn

Me too! I suppose I've been shedding for about a month-6 weeks. I think it might be slowing down. I've been trying to get at least 60 grams of Protein a day, plus I am taking Biotin supplements (a B Vitamin for skin, nails and hair). Here's an article that might explain a bit. Shawn AAD - hair Loss

Give it a bit of time, with the above suggestions. If you are bypassing, your hard Proteins, with soft mushies and "easy" stuff....then maybe a little unfill might be better. I was exactly in your position. I ended up removing my last fill....2cc and boy did I feel better. I was tired of getting sick on REAL food, no matter how much I ate or how well I chewed. Shawn

Dog=slightly on the edge (vet says to not let her gain any more) Son (17)= 6' 1", 145 lbs, loves the junk, meat lover, small appetite, active Daughter (11)=4'8", 65 lbs, well rounded eater, not a junkie, active. Mission=not to force eating (clean plate syndrome), well-balanced life Shawn

Hmm... I understand how each of us have our confort levels with fills. Some don't mind that they can only eat liquids and others need a more open band. I've been losing quite steadily since my banding (see ticker below). It took awhile for my 1cc, first fill, kicked in. I went to the surgeon 10 days ago and really didn't want a fill. However, since I was there and drove 2 hours, we both agreed to a conservative .2cc fill. I can drink liquids fine. Eating is mostly painful after a few small bites. I overall don't feel satisfied, but need to stop after just a bit due to the "golfball effect." I slime quite often and have really learned to slow down and wait. This allows me to figure out if I have my stopping point or not. I've made an appt. to unfill my last .2cc, for this Tuesday. Do you think this is something I should get used to or get a slight unfill? I just need some opinions as this fill/unfill business is perplexing (time of day/time of month/type of foods). Thanks, Shawn