momof4

At least yours is only one day!!! I've been doing that for the past couple of weeks (off and on). I am back on track though. Just go to bed, wake up tomorrow and continue eating the right way. That's the great thing about the band. Good luck to you....... Tricia H

I will graduate this coming May with a BSBA in Accounting. I had my surgery in the summer and didn't take any summer classes so it wasn't a problem. I am full-time this semester and I am finding it hard to find time to eat (a meal anyway). It's too easy to grab that bag of chips going from one class to the next. If I wait until I get home, then I'm starving (haha) and tend to eat too fast and--you guessed it--PB!!!!:cry Tricia H

As I approach my 5 month anniversary of getting my band, I am taking the time to log my successes and failures. First, I have lost 28 lbs. since getting my band on June 9, 2005!!! My BMI has gone from 37 to 32 and I have gone from a size 18 to a size 14. I have come to the realization that I will probably never eat another hamburger or pizza. I need to find a way to get motivated again. I don't want to be satisfied with where I am right now. I keep making up excuses that I have four children and am in school full time as a reason for not eating right or exercising. I PB all the time because I'm too stubborn to learn that I'm taking too big of bites even though I'm chewing and eating slow enough. I know that if I don't give myself a kick in the butt, I will probably end up slipping my band. I have good restriction, but I'm not using my tool right. I probably have a 90% chance that the first 1 to 4 bites of food are going to get stuck. If I leave my food until those bites pass, then I can go back and finish the plate--and usually do. If not, then I turn to chips or Cookies (the things that will go through the band easily) to help fill my stomach because by that time, I'm too hungry. I am gaining and losing the same 3 lbs. The great thing abouto the band is that today is a new day. I needed to get all this off my chest because sometimes it helps me to admit my faults so I can start over again, clean. I am making a pledge to myself (through this site) to pick myself up and continue on with this journey the right way. Thank you for letting me get this off my chest and I apologize that it is so long. I find great comfort and support with the messages I read here, so I knew where to come when I needed strength to move on. Tricia H.

Kathy - Thanks! That's great advice. I will stick to liquids for two days and then try the Protein first, veggies next. I already vowed to lay off the chips and Cookies (eek)!! I can also feel my food go down after they get stuck on the first few bites. After that, I could go eat a horse if I wanted to. It's weird. Thank you to Anne and everyone else for your support and advice. You're great and I don't know what I'd do without this site!!!! Tricia H

Anne - Thanks for your advice. I have actually thought of getting a slight unfill, but because I am able to eat after those first few bites, I figured I wasn't too restricted. Are you having the same problem with those first few bites? If so, have you gone for an unfill yet? Tricia H

NJ Chick - I don't think it's that i'm eating too fast because I sometimes only get in the first bite and feel stuck. Sometimes it takes as many as four bites, but then I have to wait at least 45 minutes before I can finish a meal. I chew, chew, chew and wait at least 30 seconds mostly longer between each bite. There are other times when I've PB'd that I think I was taking too big of bites. Those times had nothing to do with the first few bites of a meal. My biggest problem, other than the first attempt at eating is taking too big of bites. I cut my meats up smaller than my children's and still sometimes PB. Maybe I am just too tight. I don't think so because things to through sometimes and on other days those same things won't go through. This is all such a learning process and no days are the same. Thanks to all who have responded and given me things to think about. I appreciate your help. Tricia H

My question is are the first few bites getting stuck or does it mean that I am full? I have a hard time feeling full anymore because I am eating the wrong things so I don't get stuck. I wish I knew what we were supposed to do. I don't think I'm too restricted because I can eat, but maybe I am too restricted and that's the problem. I don't know....... Tricia H

Vines - When I hit a 6 week plateau, my doctor told me to call my nutritionist and talk about my eating habits. I did. At the time, I was getting in mostly Protein, some veggies for a total of 900-1100 calories a day. I was walking, lifting, step aerobics (any combination) about 5 days a week. My nutritionist told me and then proceeded to call my doctor to tell him that I was OVEREATING!!! He said that I should be eating 700-800 calories a day, and ideally 600. My nutritionist said that most gastric bypass patients lost so much weight because they could only get in 600 calories a day. I told him, "No, it's because they have malabsorption and even if they eat something bad, it doesn't get absorbed." I hung up the phone, frustrated with my doctor for chewing me out because I was eating too much and convinced that my nutritionist was a total QUACK!! I started eating 1200 calories or more a day, and walk/jog 6 days a week and I have lost 12 lbs. without eating 600 calories a day. Good luck!!! Tricia H

Flower - I had surgery on June 9 and in the past two weeks I've started losing my hair too. I follow a high Protein diet and take my Vitamins. It's starting to clog my drains and the roller on my vacuum cleaner is getting stuck because of the hair rolling around it. I've started taking zync and if it doesn't stop within a couple of more weeks, I will have my blood work done to see if I'm low in Vitamin B12 or something else. Tricia H

Congratulations! I quit smoking cold turkey almost 9 years ago. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do--but I did it. Now, I get a headache any time I'm around someone who is smoking. Weird huh? Anyway, WAY TO GO!!!! Tricia H

Trish, I PB'd like that on Tuesday. Same thing, it started with a huge amount of slime and before I knew it, it was coming out of my nose too. Lucky for me, my PB was over when I got unstuck. I haven't had any problems since. I freaked out because I have only PB'd a couple of times and never like that. Anyway, here's hoping all is well with you. Let us know how it goes tomorrow at the doc's office. Tricia H

Dang!! I'm doing the same thing right now. This is the first time since getting banded that I can't stop eating!!! I don't eat a huge amount at once, but I eat about every hour to hour and a half. What the ....???? If any of you discover some magic solution (like sewing your mouth shut), then please share. Tricia H

I pray that God gives you and your family peace during this trying time. Nothing is more painful than losing someone you love. God bless you and your family, Tricia H

Christina - Congratulations!!! The same thing happens to me. Funny thing is that I always drop 3 or 4 lbs. the week after Aunt Flo visits!!! Then I hold steady, up one pound down one pound until the week after she visits again. I'm beginning to look forward to her visits just to have her leave!!! LOL Good job, Tricia H

Magic - I got my surgery and my BMI was 36.6 the day of surgery and I also had no co-morbidities. I have lost 25 lbs. thus far and I would do it again. Just make sure you interview your doc very well and find out in advance his or her philosophy on fills and how often they will consider giving them, etc. Getting a fill has been my biggest struggle with my doc. He won't even consider giving me one except every 3+ months. I think you wear 258 well, but you could feel better about yourself after losing as little as 20 lbs. I am even back to jogging!!! Good luck!!! Tricia H

This might sound like a strange, but since my surgery, I have hit two major plateaus. The first time, I tried Dr. Fox's plateau buster posted on this site. I lost 4 lbs. within 10 days. The next plateau I hit, I just increased my intake for three days--basically eating whatever I wanted and after only 3 days, I lost 5 lbs.! I know it sounds strange, but maybe you aren't eating enough calories. I was eating between 900-1100 calories and would average 1-2 lbs. every 4 weeks. Now, I eat at least 1200 calories every day, usually more, and I lose 1-2 lbs. steadily. Good luck! Tricia

I'm guessing that you aren't banded yet. I was banded June 9, 2005 and am very happy with my decision, although I never could have anticipated the frustrations beforehand. My doc is very conservative with fills and the fact that you don't have restriction until properly filled can be and does get very frustrating (especially when you haven't lost for four weeks). I have lost 23 lbs. and haven't been following the bandster rules the past week and a half. I find that I'm getting stuck nearly every day, but don't feel that I'm too tight, just feel that I need to take smaller bites (I do chew slowly). Since I haven't been eating meats as often, I have been eating the wrong things--like pastas that don't fill you up for very long. Even if I don't lose another pound, I am happy with the progress I have made. I have even been able to jog lately. I don't believe I'm through losing weight, I just need to pick myself up, dust myself off and begin the journey with a fresh start. The hardest part of this journey is fighting off the food demons. You know, the ones that hit you when you're NOT hungry, just bored. That's my good and bad--hope it helps. Tricia H

I stayed the same for this week. I lost a total of 12 lbs. for the Summer Challenge--my goal was 15. Congratulations to everyone!! Tricia

Lost another pound. I am at 180 today! I'm thrilled with that considering I ate everything but the kitchen sink this weekend!!! Hehehe Tricia

Banded June 9. I started at 203 and am down to 181 (22 lbs.)!! That's not as much as you guys! Good job! I was able to jog over a mile this week so I'm happy for that! I've had two fills and more plateaus than losses, but it'll all come off in the end. Patience is the key!! Tricia H

Penni- I got all choked up reading your post. I have four sisters--two older, two younger. Both our parents died at a young age and so all we have left are each other. Between my sisters, daughters, aunts and friends, my pain and loneliness for my mom is eased just a little bit by each one of these "sisters" in my life. Thanks for sharing this story. Tricia

Thanks to all of you!! I feel so good about that jog and I have to tell you that I love coming to this place for support and advice. You are ALL awesome!! Christina, you're the one who motivated me to pick up the pace! How are those jogging shoes working for you? I wish we lived close to each other so we could jog together!! Thanks again to all of you. Vines - Thanks for helping me to see how big a deal this really was!!! Tricia

I know this is probably no big deal, but I had to post it. Tonight, I set out to walk my nightly 3.5 miles, but instead I ran the last 1.2 miles!!! Well, I actually jogged and probably very slowly, but it was running to me!!! hehehe I haven't been able to jog for fear of hurting myself (lol) for a very long time now. I'm so thrilled because it wasn't even difficult!! Yeah!!! Thanks for listening, Tricia H

Soonergirl - I have some days where I can eat just as much if not more than what you said. I have 1.7cc's in my 4cc band. I was told that when you have proper restriction that you won't be able to overeat (if you're sticking to Protein first, then veggies, etc.). If you lost 2lbs. in one week, then I would say don't worry about it. If you were eating too much, you probably wouldn't lose weight. Just my opinion. Tricia H

Alex - I'll say a prayer for you every day until September 8. Let us know what happens on that day. p.s. I'll keep my fingers crossed too--just in case!!! Tricia H