livelovelaugh

For me, not being able to drink with my meals is one the hardest parts of being banded. I have been drinking a glass of something with every meal I have ever had since I was a small child. And now doing it will sabotage my weight loss efforts tremendously. It's a cruel thing. I was banded 3 months ago and just realized the significance of drinking w/meals last weekend, so I cut out my drinks and now I wait about 45 min to an hour before having H20. I am finding that I am hungry about every 3-4 hours in any case, so I hope I am not washing my food down even after waiting this long. I am interested to know how long others are waiting, and how long do you go without feeling hunger?

Hi Cynthis, I will join you tomorrow. I know exactly where the juice stand is. I just left a voicemail for you w/ my phone #. I'll send a private message too, if I can figure it out :shades_smile:)

Name............Start.............Current...............Goal... ...........To Go Lizzie_07.........233...............233.....................220 ................13 Osangriared.....252...............252.....................232 .................20 Skinny_Jill.......180...............180.....................168....... ..........12 Sades.............197...............197.....................185....... ...........12 kandiceb..........187...............187.....................175....... ...........12 shortgal............183..............183.....................175...... ............8 TxArcher...........328..............328.....................308....... ...........20 Peaches11.........217..............217.....................199.................18

Thank you. It's good to know that the stuggles I am going through aren't exclusive to me. I just feel like I went through so much to get banded and surgery is a pretty drastic step, so why do I cheat? I think being banded has made me realize that my eating is behavioral and not about hunger at all. With that being said, I need to learn how to use the band to change my behavior. Cynthia, where at Deleware Park are you meeting? I have a lot going on with Easter, but I may be able to sneak away for the support. It would be wonderful to other meet people that had this done. It's 8:00 AM, correct?

Hello, I feel like I am my own worst enemy. I was banded 11/26, I have had 3 fills and am now perfectly restricted. I have to eat slow, sometimes I slime, I have to chew a million times before swallowing. All good stuff to show me that I am restricted. I do well all day long, protein shakes for breakfast & a snack & a very small salad for lunch and I am satisfied all day at the office. But as soon as I get home, hungary or not, I am obsessed with eating. I eat sugar free chocolates - lots of them, CarbWell ice cream, pickles, olives, cheese, whatever I can get my hands on - all of this is after I eat dinner. I don't even know how I do it because during the day, it would all come back up. But at night I feel like a bottomless pit just as I did before the surgery. Is anyone else having a similar experience? Any ideas how I can beat this night time binging?

Hello, How do the challanges work? I was banded 11/26 and have only lost about 15 lbs so far. I finally have the right amount of restriction and I am ready to kick it into gear. Please let me know what I need to do to participate in the challange. Thanks!

I was banded by Forbes on 11/26. The team there is wonderful. I have restiction now and it is wonderful!!

Hello, I had my second fill 1/30 and I feel some restriction. I lost 10lbs in January, but I don't think it had anything to do with the band, I was hungry. But since the 30th I feel it and I have been eating 800-1000 calories as well and working out 30 minutes a day. I haven't lost a single ounce! I found it interesting that you started losing when you ate more calories. What did you eat to help get it going?

I have a 10cc band that had 3 cc's when I had it put in on 11/26. I went for my first fill today it only had 1.5 cc's. The Dr talked something about a 1.5 vacuum I had as well. At any rate, she said it was normal & she has done hundreds of surgerys so I trust her on that. She only added 1 cc - so I'm at 2.5 now.

It's done! I had 1.5 cc's all along & didn't know it. The scary thing is I am exactly the same weight I was 1 week pre-op. So I didn't gain weight during the holidays for the first time ever! That's a big plus for me, especailly if any of you knew what I've been eating! They added 1cc, I am at 2.5 now. I don't feel any different. When I called the Dr this morning I was told I could eat a light meal, but I was already at work & settled for a protein shake. If I feel restriction, I go back in 6 weeks. If I don't feel restriction, I go back in 3 weeks.

I am off to work, I will call the Dr as soon as I get a chance this morning to see what I should do before I head off to the appointment. I'm so excited, I hope I feel restriction.

I cannot find anywhere in my paperwork where it says not to eat the day of or before my first fill. Does anyone know how many hours before my appt I should not eat anything? And am I allowed liquids prior? My appt is at 1:45, I planned on an early breakfast (eggs & cheese at 7:00 am) and a mid-morning protien shake. Is this reasonable or should I plan on not having anything?

I'm getting my first fill on Wednesday and the talk on this website of PBing has me a little freaked out. What exactly happens when you PB? I have lunch with my co-workers daily and not one of them know I had this surgery. Does PBing mean I am going to randomly vomit during a meal? The thought of the pending embarrassment is horrifying me!

I'm an doing much better! Thanks for all the responses. I did take an ibuprohen 800 with Nexium. I only took one and it helped tremendously. I don't think I will do it again though. It was the middle of the night and during the Holidays. Taking the ibuprophen kept me from the ER. If I am in that much pain again, I will go to the Dr. without hesitation.

Thank you for so much great advice and insight. I have resolved myself to the fact that I am going to have to go back on a diet. I know I can lose weight, I'm a pro at it actually. I just don't know how to keep it off. So if I begin to lose while I am being filled one cc at a time perhaps I'll be able to maintain a slow level of loss until the restriction kicks in to help me. Thanks so much!

I lost 8 lbs the first 2 weeks after surgery and then I felt like I never even had the surgery. I am able to eat just about anything if I chew well. From time to time I experience a "big bite moment" and I am frozen until it passes, but I can pretty much eat anything I want without feeling pain or discomfort. I have the new 10 cc band and I go for my first fill 1/9, my Dr saidI will only get 1 to 1.5 cc's each fill until I am restricted. I have such bad habits and I can't seem to kick them even now. I eat potatoes in some form everyday, and I haven't been able to kick ice cream at all. I've gained the 8 lbs back and I feel sick about it. Has anyone had a similar experience? Any suggestions to get past this?

Straight from the mushy stage I was able to eat anything as long as I chewed it to mush. The danger in doing this is that you may unknowingly begin to swallow bigger bites than you are supposed to. You actually have to concentrate on chewing and make sure it goes down completely mushed. Otherwise, you are risking complications.

I pulled something in my back yesterday and I am in awful pain. I have loratab, but that won't help with inflamation. Does anyone know why we shouldn't take ibuprofen and has anyone taken it since being banded? Thanks.

I just went for my first post op visit today. I was told to avoid for 6 months the following foods: Celery, brocoli, peas, corn green Beans, kidney beans, waxed beans, spinach lettuce and carrots. No coffee - not even decaf because it is acidic as well. The reason I was told to avoid these is because these items are Fiber rich and they make the tummy work extra hard at a time when I need it to rest and get adjusted to the band and my fills. But I forgot to ask this - does anyone know if hi-fiber breads and cereals are okay?

Hi All, I have received lots of good advice from these posts, but one bit I could have passed on was the unlfavored Unjury. I received it in the mail yesterday and I have tried it in water, milk and diet green tea - it is gross! If I mix a little of my chocolate EAS protien in with it with my milk, then I can stand it, but otherwise it makes me gag. I will try it in a soup later, otherwise I'll keep mixing it with the chocolate until it's gone. If anyone has any other ideas on how I can make it taste better, please let me know... Thank you!

Thank you for responses! My doc said 64 oz a day, 1 oz at a time until she sees me again (tomorrow). But I called the other day and spoke with a nurse, I was starving! She said to have cream soups. That helped, but I used to drink lots of water in a sitting, it's hard taking it slow. But you are right, I'm learning new habits. I gotta keep my eye on the prize! Thanks!

Hello, I am 8 days post op, I feel like drinking lots of water but I am afraid to drink too much. I was told to only take only 1oz of liquid every 15 minutes while awake. I did that for the first few days, but I am drinkng out of a regular glass now and started some mushies. I want to drink more water but I'd like to know if anyone else has been able to drink large quantities without pain? And about how much water are people generally drinking in a day? Thanks!

I have a hietal hernia that has been causing me problems for months. Which worked out great because my surgery to cure this is actully the lapband surgery itself. My husband, Mom & Siblings know, but I did not want anyone at work and some friends to know because they would be negative about it. As far as these people are concerned, last week, I had surgery to correct my hietal hernia. And I did, they just don't know about the lapband. Certain people will not understand what we are doing and how we know that this is what we need to do to help ourselves. I have had so many well wishes & support to get better after this surgery, but I know if I had mentioned the lapband - this experience would have been completely different. And yes, I feel terrible about not being completely honest, but I have to think about what is best for me right now and I can't deal with the drama of certain people knowing about the band.

I hope it all goes well for you. I guess I am suprised that you are on the mushies this week when we were banded the same day. I know every surgeon gives different instructions, but I thought we were all on liquids the first week. I'm supposed to go till Wednesday (Doctor Appt day) on liquids before I can have mushies. But I started getting so hungry yesterday. You're right, it is all very confusing.

Thank you everyone! Barbee, did you say you had too much to eat last night? Are you able to eat? I started getting hungry yesterday and allowed myself a 1/4 cup of sweet potatos yesterday & today. I'm supposed to be on full liquids till Wednesday. But if you are eating already, what are you having?