Longhorn

I'm 12.5 pounds away. It will take me awhile but it certainly seems closer than it did 16 pounds ago!

Patience isn't easy but that's what it's going to take -- patience and faith that this WILL work! It's hard to imagine when we're used to being hungry if we deprive ourselves. And it won't always be easier. But from my experience so far, it's easier than anything I've ever done to lose weight, especially knowing that this is how I will eat the rest of my life. I don't feel deprived at all but that's because I'm not hungry all the time and I know that there are very few things that I can't have at least a taste of -- and amazingly, a taste is enough! Hang in there and do the best you can and know that help is on the way! Reading and posting on this board helped me a lot, too! Good luck!

Actually, it's my understanding that it will take several fills before most of us get restriction -- or at least, enough restriction to make a difference. I had my first fill Friday and I can tell absolutely no difference and my doctor said I probably wouldn't. I'm still following the rules, though, and I'm grateful that I haven't been hungry since I had the surgery.

Oh, I'm happy with it -- I'm just surprised that it's very noticeable. We buy dogfood in 20-pound bags and it's amazing just how much weight that is! There were eight of us caravaning to Spring (about 2.5 hours from Austin) in two cars -- my husband, my four children, two sons-in-law, and me -- and we had a great Mexican Breakfast at around 9:45 as we headed out of town. Almost everyone ordered migas (eggs scrambled with tortillas with refried beans and potatoes, for those who don't know.) There was cheese on it, too. You should have seen my plate compared to everyone else's! The rest of my family are not big overeaters but they did pretty much clean their plates and then complained about how stuffed they were. I just felt like I had enough, even though I could have eaten more but later, I was perfectly comfortable and not hungry again until we ate at 5:30! At the party, I also ate very little, including slivers of pie and cake and felt great! I may not have lost but typically I would have eaten a lot and probably gained so I still consider that a victory! Yes, we are doing great! I love this group of November bandsters because we really have a good attitude here! :clap2:

I went to my mother's 75th birthday party yesterday and I got so many compliments! The thing is, I've only lost 16 pounds so I can't imagine that it's that obvious. However, in advance of my surgery, I had emailed all of my family a fairly detailed explanation of what I was doing and how it would work and this is the first I had seen most of them since the surgery. So the main way I count it as an NSV is the tremendous amount of support I'm getting!

nymph (nĭmf) n. Greek & Roman Mythology. Any of numerous minor deities represented as beautiful maidens inhabiting and sometimes personifying features of nature such as trees, waters, and mountains. A girl, especially a beautiful one. The larval form of certain insects, such as silverfish and grasshoppers, usually resembling the adult form but smaller and lacking fully developed wings. Also called nympha. I think we've been going with the first or second definition, which is why the guys don't quite identify.

I can't tell any difference, either. I'm still eating less but it's mostly me and it's easy because I'm not as hungry as I used to be. Who knows why? But I had ham and turkey yesterday and chewed slowly and waited between bites but it didn't feel any different going down. I don't WANT to feel it in a bad way but it makes me curious when I'll be able to tell that I have restriction. Then again, when I stop eating, I am complete satisfied so maybe that's it? I just thought it would feel more "physical."

Congratulations on the new Cowboy fan!

There are different versions of bands. The AP bands come in 10 cc and 14 cc and have little "pillows" all the way around and it takes more saline to fill them but it doesn't mean there is more restriction -- it's just done differently. Just think of it this way: 3 out of 4 is equal to 7.5 out of 10 (I can't help it -- I'm a math teacher! ) Good luck, Monday!

But you've also lost nearly twice as much as me so it all evens out!

I'm down 15.5 pounds since my initial consultation. I think I'm up a couple of pounds today because of my period but it will all even out in the end. I figured I'd be a slow loser so this isn't a surprise. However, since I haven't suffered one bit, I'm not really disappointed, either.

I had my first fill today as well. It couldn't have been easier! I was laying on my back and Dr. Ganta had me raise my feet and lower legs to tense my abdomen so that he could locate my port. He then gave me a couple of injections of lidocaine, which I could barely feel, and then injected the syringe into the port, first try. I already had 1 cc in the 10 cc band and then he added three ccs, taking me to four, total. He didn't have me drink anything. He said one day of liquids and then back to normal food (I'm still on soft foods.) This will be fine for my mother's party tomorrow. He said that I probably won't notice much difference on this fill. I go in again in five weeks (maybe four if there's a cancellation) for the next check-up.

I can tell you how a person can become overweight without sweets and binging -- by dieting! There are studies that show that once you've lost weight, you will gain weight on fewer calories than someone who has never lost weight. In my case, I went on my first diet when I was five pounds overweight! I thought I was being responsible. Then every time I was pregnant, I went on a diet to lose the weight gained from pregnancy. By then, I was in the seemingly never-ending cycle. Like a lot of people on this board, I blamed myself, even though I never binged and I rarely ate sweets. Four years ago, I lost 70 pounds on Medifast. This time was going to be different! I watched every morsel that went into my mouth. I exercised like crazy, even commuting to work by bicycle, 34 miles round trip! I logged my calories and exercise in an online journal. I had my resting metabolic rate checked at the University of Texas Department of Kinesiology by the department chair. He determined that I should be able to lose weight on 1800 calories a day. I ate between 1400 and 1600 and exercised and STILL did not lose or even gained. Even on Medifast, at fewer than 1000 calories per day, I was a fairly slow loser. I realize now that I will not be able to lose weight on as many calories as the charts and tables say I should. And since I don't think I can make myself eat fewer than 1000 calories per day for the rest of my life, that's why I got the band. At my age, I'm fighting other sources of weight as well. I think there are a whole lot of variables involved, too. I definitely believe genetics play a part. I also believe that the explosion of obesity is related to the unhealthy added ingredients in our food supply, such as high fructose corn syrup, added to almost everything! Khaliah Ali and her doctors do a great job of explaining these issues in her book, "Fighting Weight." She and her doctor have been banded. And of course, we can develop bad eating habits, such as emotional eating and binging. We don't all have the same reasons for being overweight, just like people don't all have the same reasons for getting cancer (and we don't always know the cause of cancer, either.) There's a difference between blame and responsibility, too. I don't blame myself for being overweight because I feel like I did the best I could with the knowledge that I had and I genuinely fought it, just like most of us here. I don't think most people blame themselves for getting cancer, either. But all of us are taking responsibility for losing weight -- in our case, by getting banded.

Thanks for sharing, Sades! Since my doctor is conservative, too, I'm sure he'll give me something I can handle. My family all knows about my surgery so I'm not trying to hide anything but this is the first time most of them will see me and I'd like to look as "normal" as possible just to avoid a night of answering questions. :scared:

unjury can't be heated above 130 degrees or it will cook -- that is, it forms little rubbery pieces. Maybe that's what happened with your oatmeal? When I've used it in oatmeal, I prepare the oatmeal, add a little milk or SlimFast to cool it off (I check with a thermometer) and then add the Unjury. The texture didn't change at all that way.

I still get a twinge of pain in my left shoulder. It's barely noticeable but I'm aware of it. I think I read that some people have it for months or even longer. It's not gas -- it's referred pain. The nerves in the vicinity of the stomach stretch up to the shoulder so we're feeling in the shoulder pain from when they messed with our stomachs, if that makes sense.

I'm in the same boat! My first fill is likely tomorrow (depending on what we decide) and my mother's 75th birthday party is Saturday. I'm almost tempted not to get one, not knowing how I'm going to react and I don't really want to be on liquid for the party, just because it can be a hassle and I don't to call attention to myself at my mother's event. I guess I'll talk to my doctor and see what he thinks. Good luck with yours!

Yep, he's a keeper! What a game that was! Go Cowboys! :bounce:

I've used the unflavored more than any other. I don't think it's horrid at all. I've mixed it with pudding, mashed potatoes, and oatmeal and couldn't taste it or smell it. I didn't like it mixed with Propel but it wasn't horrid.

I won't know for sure until tomorrow. But some people confuse lap-band surgery with gastric bypass surgery, where they do lose much more quickly. I was told 1-2 pounds a week is not only expected but also considered the healthiest rate. You have the right outlook. That adds up to a lot of weight in a year! Congratulations!

That's amazing! Congratulations and good for you! :clap2:

No, I don't get it either! Before the band, I wasn't a binge eater and I didn't really stuff myself but I could eat a little at a time all day long! I'm not used to going several hours without even thinking about food. And while it tastes good, there are times when I'm not that interested in it. This is very strange and it's also proof that our attitudes about food are neither a character strength or flaw. You and I are not doing anything special to be this way and those who are in Bandster Hell are not doing anything wrong. So often we blame ourselves for our "lack of self-control." Someone examining obesity issues in a book wrote recently that saying that it takes self-control not to eat is like claiming that one can use self-control to stay awake all night. Sure, we could do it for awhile but eventually we have to sleep and our bodies will force the issue. The same is true for trying not to eat!

Same here! Yes, I've been hungry at meal time but as soon as I eat my small, slow meal, I'm fine and can go for hours. We're very lucky, I know, and I hope our luck continues!

I got some of the Laughing Cow light wedges. They come in a round, flat box that kind of looks like it's made out of wood. Inside are around eight individually wrapped wedges of soft cheese that you can eat alone or spread on a cracker. I found them at HEB in the deli cheese section. I bought two flavors -- garlic and French onion, I think. Yes, my doctor is pretty conservative but he believes it cuts down on getting stuck and other problems. I haven't had any difficulties yet and still hope I can avoid them. I don't understand the folks who post on this board that they can't wait until they PB or get stuck so they know they have restriction! I understand the impatience to lose weight but that's too high a price for me, especially since doing that too much can cause you to have to unfill completely. I haven't set any goals other than staying on my program. The weight will come off when it comes off. All that said, I wouldn't argue with anyone's surgeon's plan. I feel comfortable with mine but that doesn't mean everyone else is wrong.

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