HeavyHeartland

The last time I saw my doctor, I got yelled at (figuratively) for not measuring my food. Measuring food is such a non-natural thing. It's so tough to go out to dinner, order a nice meal, and then whip out a measuring cup. How embarassing. More embarassing, however, would be going back to the doctor's office without the information they are requesting. The doctor told me for my next fill, it is imperative that they know how much I can eat. I should measure this by eating 1/4 cup of meat, 1/4 of veggies, and continuing this until I am full. So, this weekend, that is what I did. One night I had chicken and green beans, another night I had meatballs and sweet potatoes. Currently I can eat somewhere between 1 1/2 cups and 2 cups of food. The other thing they always want to know is how long do I stay full; the answer is somewhere between 2 and 3 hours. Another thing I've learned is that if it's not on "the plan" I should shut up about it. I've been eating protein bars for breakfast. Last time my doctor said that was no good; I should be drinking protein drinks instead. The two are identical in protein levels, but the bars are half the price. I'm still eating the bars, but if they ask today, I've been drinking the drinks. Shhh, don't tell. Ah yes, today -- Fill #3. Today is my last free fill, according to their timeline (90 days), so I'm hoping this one is good. I suspect the reason they've been dragging their feet and just filling me up a little at a time is so that they can get one or two paid fills out of me after I've exceeded the 90 day grace period. Hopefully I can get enough liquid in my band today to last me for a long time.

The last time I saw my doctor, I got yelled at (figuratively) for not measuring my food. Measuring food is such a non-natural thing. It's so tough to go out to dinner, order a nice meal, and then whip out a measuring cup. How embarassing. More embarassing, however, would be going back to the doctor's office without the information they are requesting. The doctor told me for my next fill, it is imperative that they know how much I can eat. I should measure this by eating 1/4 cup of meat, 1/4 of veggies, and continuing this until I am full. So, this weekend, that is what I did. One night I had chicken and green beans, another night I had meatballs and sweet potatoes. Currently I can eat somewhere between 1 1/2 cups and 2 cups of food. The other thing they always want to know is how long do I stay full; the answer is somewhere between 2 and 3 hours. Another thing I've learned is that if it's not on "the plan" I should shut up about it. I've been eating protein bars for breakfast. Last time my doctor said that was no good; I should be drinking protein drinks instead. The two are identical in protein levels, but the bars are half the price. I'm still eating the bars, but if they ask today, I've been drinking the drinks. Shhh, don't tell. Ah yes, today -- Fill #3. Today is my last free fill, according to their timeline (90 days), so I'm hoping this one is good. I suspect the reason they've been dragging their feet and just filling me up a little at a time is so that they can get one or two paid fills out of me after I've exceeded the 90 day grace period. Hopefully I can get enough liquid in my band today to last me for a long time.

I had my first fill over a month ago (4.5cc into a 14cc band) and felt no restriction at all. As I told my doctor, one day I went to Golden Corral and had a large salad with lots of chicken and shrimp followed by a plate full of veggies and some pork chops, followed by a dessert. This isn't how I imagined being banded was going to be. Last Tuesday I had fill #2 which added 2 more cc's, bringing me to 6.5cc's. I am now feeling some restriction. This morning for breakfast I had a couple of scrambled eggs with cheese and salsa about four hours ago and I still feel "full." The weirdest thing is, feeling "full" doesn't feel like it used to. As I mentioned in my latest blog entry, "full" used to mean a full belly; now it means "tightness in my chest." I used to quit eating when I felt "stuffed." These days, I stop when I feel uncomfortable tightness, bordering on pain.

Which leads me to a rant of my own. Why are the rules between different doctors so drastically different? There are many of these so-called rules (carbonated drinks, caffiene, measuring your food) that differ from doctor to doctor. My wife and I are both banded and some of the things we've been told are exact opposite. My doctor said the most important dietary concern post-surgery is Protein intake. My wife's doctor has never mentioned protein to her -- ever. It really kind of makes you think all of this isn't quite science yet and more just a bunch of wild guesses, speculation and hunches.

I agree -- your husband's reaction is probably an outpouring of other emotions related to the upcoming changes. As the husband of a bander (and now a bander myself) I can tell you, there are a lot of mixed emotions. Sure guys want a hot wife, but there are a lot of concerns that go with that. Most of them are unfounded, but they are still issues that go along with them. For example, once you're hot, you will probably attract the attention of other men as well. That can trigger insecurity and worry in men. A lot of the issues I had with my wife weren't how the surgery was going to affect her, but how it was going to affect ME. When she could only eat 1/2 a cup, how were we going to go out and eat with our friends? My wife and I used to eat out for lunch every day -- what were we going to do after that? My wife prepared all the meals around our house; was she still going to cook for the 3 of us when she's not eating anything? Like I said, a lot of these fears are unfounded, but these are things I'm sure he's thinking -- I know I was. The best thing you can do is talk to him about how things are going to change, and more imporantly, how things are not going to change.

I agree -- your husband's reaction is probably an outpouring of other emotions related to the upcoming changes. As the husband of a bander (and now a bander myself) I can tell you, there are a lot of mixed emotions. Sure guys want a hot wife, but there are a lot of concerns that go with that. Most of them are unfounded, but they are still issues that go along with them. For example, once you're hot, you will probably attract the attention of other men as well. That can trigger insecurity and worry in men. A lot of the issues I had with my wife weren't how the surgery was going to affect her, but how it was going to affect ME. When she could only eat 1/2 a cup, how were we going to go out and eat with our friends? My wife and I used to eat out for lunch every day -- what were we going to do after that? My wife prepared all the meals around our house; was she still going to cook for the 3 of us when she's not eating anything? Like I said, a lot of these fears are unfounded, but these are things I'm sure he's thinking -- I know I was. The best thing you can do is talk to him about how things are going to change, and more imporantly, how things are not going to change.

Heh, you ain't kiddin'. My protein goal was/is 105g a day. Easily obtainable, if you like eating a pound and a half of salmon every day or two and a half grilled chicken breasts. Kind of tough to do, post-banding.

I'm also glad I found this thread. I just had my 2nd fill and only now am I beginning to feel any restriction (I'm at 6.5cc in a 14cc band). Even at 4.5cc, I was able to eat anything I could eat pre-banding. At 4.5cc I was able to go to Golden Corral and have a large salad followed by a plate of meat and veggies. 1/2 a meal? Try 12 cups, hah! I've actually tried sticking to good foods and reasonable portions, but the fact of the matter is if I were any good at dieting, I wouldn't have needed the surgery. Hang in there, things are a'changin'.

After over a month at 4.5cc in my 14cc band, I had fill #2 a couple of days ago. They added 2 more cc's of fluid, bringing me to 6.5cc. I showed up to my doctor's appointment pretty mad and frustrated. Right now, it seems like I went through this surgery for nothing. Although I've lost a little over 50 pounds, none of it can be attributed to the lapband surgery. The majority of my weight loss came from the strict liquid diet I was on for several weeks. When you go from eating fast food and buffets 2-3 times a day to a strict liquid diet, you're going to lose weight! Between my first post-surgery meeting and my first fill appointment, I actually put on a couple of pounds. All of a sudden, I began to panic. I went through all of this and now I'm putting on weight? I wasn't happy about it and neither was my doctor. I don't take criticism too well. In the office I just sat and nodded. I decided I was *NOT* going to go through that again, so about three weeks ago I signed up at our work gym. My employer said they would pay for my membership, and the gym is next to the building I work in, so there's really no reason not to be going. I had a co-worker show me some simple weight training exercises which I've been doing 3 days a week, and I've been walking on the treadmill 2 days a week for 30 mins, and 3 days a week (the days I also do the weight training) for 15-20 mins. Since my first fill I had put on another five pounds, but in two weeks of going to the gym I lost 13, which put me 8 down since my last doctor's visit. The reason I got mad at the doctor's office was because I knew they were going to say something like, "see? The band's working!" The fact is, the band is NOT working! I'm not losing any weight due to this stupid lapband, I'm losing weight because I'm exercising!!! Surprisingly, my doctor's appointment didn't go that way at all. They were genuinely shocked that I had lost weight. "Most patients put on weight during this period," they said. I talked with the nurse about my frustrations and she said that everything I was feeling was normal. She said at this point I should have very little restriction. The only point of contention we had was about measuring food. They kept asking me how much food could I eat and my response was, "as much as I could eat before the surgery." Apparently, that's not the right answer. They keep saying I should be measuring out my meals (1/2 a cup, starting with 1/4 a cup of meat followed by 1/4 of a cup of veggies, continuing until I'm full). I can't imagine doing that when I can eat an 8oz steak with veggies, and everything else. Plus, I really don't understand how you weigh breakfast burritos and whatnot a 1/4 cup at a time. Do you cut it up and stuff it in a cup? I guess I don't get it. Anyway ... at 6.5cc I am starting to feel some restriction. This morning I had a couple of scrambled eggs, and I feel full. The full feeling is not like before, like on Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving, my belly used to get full. Now when I get full, my chest gets tight. Before, when I was full, it felt GOOD. Now, being full doesn't particularly feel good. I stop eating because it's uncomfortable now. I guess either way works, one just feels a lot better. I have another fill appointment in a week and a half, so I'm going to hit the gym hard until then and try to go in with another significant loss.

After over a month at 4.5cc in my 14cc band, I had fill #2 a couple of days ago. They added 2 more cc's of fluid, bringing me to 6.5cc. I showed up to my doctor's appointment pretty mad and frustrated. Right now, it seems like I went through this surgery for nothing. Although I've lost a little over 50 pounds, none of it can be attributed to the lapband surgery. The majority of my weight loss came from the strict liquid diet I was on for several weeks. When you go from eating fast food and buffets 2-3 times a day to a strict liquid diet, you're going to lose weight! Between my first post-surgery meeting and my first fill appointment, I actually put on a couple of pounds. All of a sudden, I began to panic. I went through all of this and now I'm putting on weight? I wasn't happy about it and neither was my doctor. I don't take criticism too well. In the office I just sat and nodded. I decided I was *NOT* going to go through that again, so about three weeks ago I signed up at our work gym. My employer said they would pay for my membership, and the gym is next to the building I work in, so there's really no reason not to be going. I had a co-worker show me some simple weight training exercises which I've been doing 3 days a week, and I've been walking on the treadmill 2 days a week for 30 mins, and 3 days a week (the days I also do the weight training) for 15-20 mins. Since my first fill I had put on another five pounds, but in two weeks of going to the gym I lost 13, which put me 8 down since my last doctor's visit. The reason I got mad at the doctor's office was because I knew they were going to say something like, "see? The band's working!" The fact is, the band is NOT working! I'm not losing any weight due to this stupid lapband, I'm losing weight because I'm exercising!!! Surprisingly, my doctor's appointment didn't go that way at all. They were genuinely shocked that I had lost weight. "Most patients put on weight during this period," they said. I talked with the nurse about my frustrations and she said that everything I was feeling was normal. She said at this point I should have very little restriction. The only point of contention we had was about measuring food. They kept asking me how much food could I eat and my response was, "as much as I could eat before the surgery." Apparently, that's not the right answer. They keep saying I should be measuring out my meals (1/2 a cup, starting with 1/4 a cup of meat followed by 1/4 of a cup of veggies, continuing until I'm full). I can't imagine doing that when I can eat an 8oz steak with veggies, and everything else. Plus, I really don't understand how you weigh breakfast burritos and whatnot a 1/4 cup at a time. Do you cut it up and stuff it in a cup? I guess I don't get it. Anyway ... at 6.5cc I am starting to feel some restriction. This morning I had a couple of scrambled eggs, and I feel full. The full feeling is not like before, like on Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving, my belly used to get full. Now when I get full, my chest gets tight. Before, when I was full, it felt GOOD. Now, being full doesn't particularly feel good. I stop eating because it's uncomfortable now. I guess either way works, one just feels a lot better. I have another fill appointment in a week and a half, so I'm going to hit the gym hard until then and try to go in with another significant loss.

I was supposed to go back and have my band filled tighter three weeks ago. Unfortunately, I had to travel out of town that week, and I've been in meetings the past two weeks which has prevented me from getting out of the office. I'm scheduled for a fill the week after next. With a 14cc band and a 4.5cc fill, I can feel absolutely no restriction. In fact, over the past few weeks, I've started eating things that should be clogging up my band, and they're not. All the things that my wife (who is also banded) can not eat -- bread, rice, tortillas, doughnuts -- I've had no problem getting down. I'm pretty disappointed in the whole thing right now. I have a stomach full of scars and a band inside me that's not doing anything. The doctor said he would like to see me lose weight before the next visit, but with the band not doing anything at all, I'm trying to lose weight through diet and exercise -- two things that weren't going so well for me BEFORE the surgery, which is why I HAD the surgery. Right now I feel like I had the surgery and went through everything for nothing. Maybe if and when I start to feel restriction, I'll change my mind. :thumbup:

I was supposed to go back and have my band filled tighter three weeks ago. Unfortunately, I had to travel out of town that week, and I've been in meetings the past two weeks which has prevented me from getting out of the office. I'm scheduled for a fill the week after next. With a 14cc band and a 4.5cc fill, I can feel absolutely no restriction. In fact, over the past few weeks, I've started eating things that should be clogging up my band, and they're not. All the things that my wife (who is also banded) can not eat -- bread, rice, tortillas, doughnuts -- I've had no problem getting down. I'm pretty disappointed in the whole thing right now. I have a stomach full of scars and a band inside me that's not doing anything. The doctor said he would like to see me lose weight before the next visit, but with the band not doing anything at all, I'm trying to lose weight through diet and exercise -- two things that weren't going so well for me BEFORE the surgery, which is why I HAD the surgery. Right now I feel like I had the surgery and went through everything for nothing. Maybe if and when I start to feel restriction, I'll change my mind.

I got my first fill last week and I feel ... nothing. I mean, I can eat almost as much as I could before the surgery. Not quite, but almost. My wife and I went to Golden Corral for lunch the other day and I had a huge salad, a bowl of soup, and a plate full of veggies and Chicken. The types of food I ate weren't terrible, but all this talk of only eating 2oz of meat? Not yet. I almost wish I could experience PB or clogging just so I would know what it felt like. I'm currently at 4.5 on a 14cc band and I definitely need some more juice.

I got my first fill last week and I feel ... nothing. I mean, I can eat almost as much as I could before the surgery. Not quite, but almost. My wife and I went to Golden Corral for lunch the other day and I had a huge salad, a bowl of soup, and a plate full of veggies and Chicken. The types of food I ate weren't terrible, but all this talk of only eating 2oz of meat? Not yet. I almost wish I could experience PB or clogging just so I would know what it felt like. I'm currently at 4.5 on a 14cc band and I definitely need some more juice.