Keeper

@@jasminebsn3 me too! Maybe we are all having mid-winter pre-spring blues?? lol. I love the support and accountability this site can provide. I felt so great after my last fill, thinking I was in the green and everything, but now I am not so sure. I definitely feel in a funk and I am trying to snap out of it and get back to eating right and exercising. I totally get what everyone is saying! Chin up - to myself more than anybody! We can do this. :-)

Aside from getting into smaller sizes, I had my 1st NSV last night. We went out to dinner for the 1st time since surgery and went to a restaurant that we would normally wait for a table as the booths are so small and it'd be a very tight fit.
Well I didn't even think about it until I went to sit and there was plenty of room to spare! I was so shocked I didn't have to try to wiggle my way in and pretend I was fine.
It's definitely the small things! ????

I just had my 4th fill and I feel great. I have not felt very hungry at all these past few days. Leading up to this fill, I could go about 4 hours between meals but I could still eat larger amounts than what I knew I should be doing. My doc's office was happy since I had lost 8 pounds since the last fill, but I knew I wanted another fill. I have high hopes that this could put me at my sweet spot. I am 6 cc's in my 10 cc band.

My family members to not get to vote on my healthcare decisions. My healthcare is not a democracy. It is a dictatorship, and I am the dictator. Do what you want, dear.

@@Chellie I'm sorry to hear you're going through this. The first thing that comes to mind when I read this is why are they going directly into surgery when they haven't affirmatively identified the problem? I would want to know exactly what the problem is and what they need to do to fix it before going into any type of surgery. Saying something is wrong under x-ray and then going directly into needing laparoscopic surgery to figure out the problem, seems a bit unusual? Maybe consider getting a second opinion? This was your first appointment with this Dr. right? Keep going, keep searching until you can find someone that will give you answers and who can work with you if you do need surgery. Ask about payment options. Do you know if you have any fill left in your band?
Never give up on yourself!!! I can't imagine how upset you must be right now, I would be too. Just a couple of thoughts, is there a way for you to work with what you have? I mean the band is still there, it may not have the the fill it once had or maybe it doesn't have any at all no one knows, but what if you tried resetting, going back to the very beginning liquids, mushies, softs and then solids. Maybe your band and your stomach just need a restart in order to jump start things? This is what I would do if it were me. You've not wasted 7-years, you've gained a lot of knowledge about yourself and your strength during this time, you've worked the band, you've been successful, you're not back to where you started and an even bigger success is that you've not gained back more than you started with so you can still do this. I would consider all of your options before making a decision especially if it involves surgery on your first appointment.
I wish you all the best!!! Please keep us posted on what you find out!

That is a great article..thanks for sharing!

@@MaryRN66 - so happy for you! This is exactly how I felt after my 4th fill. it feels great, doesn't it??!!

When I met with my nutritionist pre-op, she told me that I would basically be doing (should do) Atkins for the rest of my life because of its emphasis on high protein/low carb. I've never done Atkins before so that was a bit scary to hear!
Fast forward 3 months post-op and for the month of February, my sister and I have committed to doing Whole 30. It is stricter than paleo but it isn't meant to be forever - just a 30 day system reboot. I am doing this because you have to give up ALL sugar, in any form including sweetners. fruit is the exception but I am limiting my fruit intake as well since I do not want to encourage my sweet tooth. I am so tired of having a sugar addiction and I think if I am going to be successful long term then I need to be done with this. Today is only day 2, so of course I feel optimistic, but I really am excited to be doing this. I would love to know if anyone else has done this.

I just had my 4th fill and I feel great. I have not felt very hungry at all these past few days. Leading up to this fill, I could go about 4 hours between meals but I could still eat larger amounts than what I knew I should be doing. My doc's office was happy since I had lost 8 pounds since the last fill, but I knew I wanted another fill. I have high hopes that this could put me at my sweet spot. I am 6 cc's in my 10 cc band.

@@Angelant76 congrats on your surgery and current weight loss! I don't know that I was confused about whether or not I needed a fill, but I definitely wanted them!
I just had my 4th fill and and I *think* I might be at green. Knock on wood! My fill process has been interesting, for lack of a better word. My first fill was scheduled 4 weeks post-op, and each subsequent fill every 4 weeks. I lost about 8 pounds in a couple of weeks but then nothing. I lost very slowly after that, up until this past month, another 8 pounds. The tech doing my fill was happy with that progress and asked why I thought I wasn't at green yet. My response was basically what you stated. I can pretty much go a few to several hours between meals, but I could still eat larger quantities than what I knew I was supposed to. I also don't eat as slow or chew as much as I know I should. I explained that my band hadn't stopped me. her response was that they didn't want me to have stuck episodes, which I totally get because I don't either, but at the same time, i do want to know my band is working. I am now at a total of 6 cc's in a 10 cc band. These past few days I have had to make myself eat, much like those first few days post-op. I am not hungry and that is an awesome feeling! I am not yet back on regular food so I will see how or if that changes anything, but like I said, my appetite is currently suppressed.
I guess my thoughts are to be patient with the process and follow your doc's orders as much as possible. Every one is on their own journey. I felt like I was losing too slowly, like I would be the person the band wouldn't work for, etc. but now I have lost almost 30 pounds and the weight is starting to come off faster.
Good luck! :-)

I found this via Facebook. It's a good reminder of what to do (how to live) post-op and it looks like it has a lot of resources. Just sharing!
http://www.bariatriceating.com/2015/03/02/top-10-bariatric-post-op-mistakes/

I am the kind of person that likes to weigh every day (for good or for bad) and am very results-oriented. So sometimes it is hard to look at the scale and not see a change and yet think in terms of NSV's.
Taking some before and 'after' pictures for me has been very rewarding! I couldn't believe what a difference just 20 pounds made.
Also, my mother-in-law called me quite some time back and asked what bra size I wore because she was at a department store and they were having a mad sale. I was so embarrassed to tell her the truth (band size, not cup) that I told her 2 sizes down. and of course I couldn't wear them. That was probably over a year ago. But guess what?! I can fit into them!

I found this via Facebook. It's a good reminder of what to do (how to live) post-op and it looks like it has a lot of resources. Just sharing!
http://www.bariatriceating.com/2015/03/02/top-10-bariatric-post-op-mistakes/

I found this via Facebook. It's a good reminder of what to do (how to live) post-op and it looks like it has a lot of resources. Just sharing!
http://www.bariatriceating.com/2015/03/02/top-10-bariatric-post-op-mistakes/

I found this via Facebook. It's a good reminder of what to do (how to live) post-op and it looks like it has a lot of resources. Just sharing!
http://www.bariatriceating.com/2015/03/02/top-10-bariatric-post-op-mistakes/

I found this via Facebook. It's a good reminder of what to do (how to live) post-op and it looks like it has a lot of resources. Just sharing!
http://www.bariatriceating.com/2015/03/02/top-10-bariatric-post-op-mistakes/

Lol #skinnypeopleproblems

So..I'm having a hard time breaking up with my fat jeans. These are the last pair I bought before surgery because all my other jeans were getting too tight. Because I don't work, I spend much of my time in shorts, PJ's, yoga pants or workout pants. For me, wearing jeans is almost like dressing up :-)
These jeans are now huge on me. And of course that feels great, but every time I reach for jeans, these are the ones I grab. Want to grab. They look horrible on! I have no idea why I am holding onto them. Fear, I suppose. I don't even want to throw them away.
Anyone else go through this?

@@enjoythetime hahha that's great! Thanks for the encouragement!

@@MaryRN66 - so happy for you! This is exactly how I felt after my 4th fill. it feels great, doesn't it??!!

@@Keeper you keep doing what you're doing and you'll be here before you know it. It's awesome that you know what triggers you and that you're keeping them out of sight! I had to do the same thing. I gave up pizza, burgers, soda etc. That doesn't mean at times I don't still don't crave them because I do. I used to go through spells of cheeseburger and fry withdrawl for a week at a time BUT as the weight continually came off, it became easier for me to walk away because I knew the reason was because I wasn't putting that junk in my body and eventually the cravings became less frequent and less powerful and being able to turn down that craving actually gave me more power because for once I was actually in control and not the food and my results showed it.
I still have cravings, I always will and some times it's ok to allow myself a treat like Ice cream it's not something I will ever give up entirely BUT I don't have to I've made substitutions like skinny cows that get me through and then on occasion I will get the real deal. I definitely don't believe in deprivation UNLESS you know it's a trigger that will throw you into a spiral you can't break out of like Cereal, yeah leave it, there's nothing good in there except for the toy at the bottom of the box anyway:-) I'll buy you some at the $1 Tree!!!:-)

hi Lolo, I have not personally experienced that, but I have read on here frequently that feeling restriction can kick in a week or so later. That is awesome if you are feeling some restriction after your first fill. I gained a couple of pounds between my first and second. :-)

@@funky_monkey800, yes! I agree with you totally. I am so not ready for something like p90x. My brother in law swears by crossfit as well, but I feel like I need to lose some weight before I can handle something with higher intensity.
We got flurries today and I am so not having it. I don't need 4 seasons - I would be happy with 65-75 year round!!

I can't wait to get to where you ladies are! There are sacrifices i am making, but I am not to the point where I don't miss it. For instance, Cereal is a trigger food. I used to be able to put away a bowl or *two*. Actually, I am sure I still would be able to, but I just don't buy it any more. My kids don't really ask for it. it was always there for me, nights when I didn't want to cook, or nights when I wanted a "snack" or moments where I was too stressed or emotionally drained and wanted a quick sweet-tooth fix. So I just don't buy it. But I still crave burgers or chocolate. Or there are days I think I will go crazy if I eat one. more. almond! But I look at what summer could look like for me for the first time in a dozen years. I don't even know what that looks like, but I really, REALLY want to find out! This helps keep me motivated.

And that's what it is all about!!!
Now you have to explore better foods, better ways to ensure your Protein...It's all about developing a new lifestyle!!
Since I eat so little, so less often, I try to make the best of what I eat...I have become a very picky eater...sure, you may try to have a slice of pizza (I can't BTW) but then you soon realize you're going to blow the portion the band will allow on something not very essential.
I look at Burger and pizza commercials on tv, and ask myself.... WHY! For what good reason..!(?)
This is why one of the "Rules" is to start with the Protein first before moving on to the rest on the plate...because you might not even get through the protein!!
My last fill was 3-1/2 years ago...and I feel just as great today as I did after my last fill...and I am still exploring newer, healthier foods, little tricks here and there......and lots of exercise...
From your description, wouldn't you say this is easy?? Sure, getting there was tough, but then finally...
A New Life!!! A New way of Living!!! (never have to diet again!)
Congratulations!!