Mia31

I got 2 free fills with my op - so I'm afraid I don't know because I haven't had to pay for one yet - sorry! You could give the x-ray department a call, I'm sure they'd be happy to tell you. If you find out - please let me know - as I will probably need to go for one at some point! I'm doing ok I think. I was hungrier today, but I am failrly sure it was because my routine got messed up with work yesterday. I also keep climbing on the scales too often which is stupid but strangely addictive. I haven't done much exercise this week either - so it could mean no loss for me when I have my formal weigh in day! I can't take cheese at all - so maybe once you've had a fill that will help keep you off it? What made you decide to have the op this year then? I like knowing what made everyone decide to take the plunge -as its quite scary isn't it, that moment before you go into surgery and you think have I done the right thing? I'm glad I did it because my health was really suffering - I'm only short - so my bmi was really bad. I'm glad I had it done, but know I need to learn to feed myself properly too, as the band can't do everything. That's sort of the hardest part...! Chat soon, M

hiya! i went to see the Duchess - cos that's what every fat chick needs to see - Keira Unsightly looking like a pin! It was quite good though, although my husband looked like he wanted to die halfway through!! Funny about the banana, I find them really easy, and slip one into my cheerios to try and get in one my 5-a-day portions of fruit a day. Have you been recording what you eat? i think that helps loads - although it can be boring too! Mx

My turn to apologise - it says very clearly in your signature when and where you were banded - duh!!! Sorry!! M

Hiya I live in Surrey not TW, but don't worry about rambling - I've been known to do the same! You should try the Spire Hospital there for fills, as they do mine. There is one radiologist I really likeand if oyu're lucky you may get him - sorry, but for the life of me I can't remember his name. I've had 3 fills, and got pretty good restriction, but to be honest, restriction doesn't count for anything unless you are prepared to change the way you eat - again, in my opinion. When did you have your band put in, and how is it going for you? Mx

I am SO happy - I lost just under 2.5 lbs this weekend alone! I was super careful on Saturday, as I wanted to go to the cinema, and so ate v little, and yesterday the scale had jumped!! I had my op and my fills here - the care before and during the op was really good - but they need to sort out the aftercare big time! I was asked to see a dietician who just talked about me eating custard ALL the time, as i think it was the only soft food she could think of, so i gave up seeing her after one appointment. I've had to teach myself a lot about food and nutrition - I would highly recommend using something like fat secret or nutracheck too. I think the thing to remember is that often your hunger is not from your body - but from your head. I find myself thinking "wow, I'm starving" but if I really think about it - I'm not - I just want to eat for the hell of it. Weird huh? I;m sure there's a load of psychological explanations for that - but the trick is to recognise and not do it - I think anyway! Tell me more about how its going with you - happy to listen/advise/sympathise etc! Mx

Hiya You will lose weight at this stage, so try to maximise it by sticking to low calorie food and keeping the fat low too. it will help when you get to the stage when you get tightened, and need to eat less. It seems the weight you lose in the early stages stays off - so I hope that's encouraging for you. How have you managed not to tell family? I haven't told anyone except family and one v close friend. Seems you have to justify what you're doing everytime you talk about it - look at poor Fern Britton! When do you get a fill and do you have to go back abroad? Mx

Ha ha! A Brain transplant may have been more useful in many respects! No - not on msn, but would LOVE to chat here! So nice to have someone to talk to! Family etc are very loving, but all are stick thin and can't understand what it feels like. What was your biggest food problem? Mine was/is chocolate! I can simply eat tons of the stuff. The band makes you have to do the hard work still though doesn't it - as from what I can see - chocolate still goes down the easiest, apart from ice cream! how r u finding everything, as you r a newbie right? Mx

Sorry - its late! I've just noticed your ticker and signature - please ignore the stupid questions about how much you were filled! Mx

I do have a question, several in fact - and hope that you will answer - even though my post is so late! 1. How have you eaten? Did you count calories etc Did you do high protein/low carb or just low fat? 2. Do you exercise? 3. How much were you filled to? 4 Do you have any helpful hints?? I was banded a over a year ago - but have only just got my head straight, so have wasted a lot of time losing and gaining the same pounds. Any advice much appreciated! :thumbup:

I was banded last August (07) and have only just got my head straight after spending most of this year gaining and losing the same stone. I think I am on track now - lost 6 pounds this month already, and am eating and exercising a lot better. Would also appreciate any tips and tricks on food if you have them! I seem to be eating the same 4 things over and over and over..... Would love to hear everyone's views, as I don't think its as widely discussed here in the UK as it is in the US.

Again, not sure I'm much of a mentor - but happy to have a chat! got banded in September 07 and have spent a lot of time this year getting my head straight ie I have been losing and gaining the same 11 pounds over and over again... Think my head is back on track now, so to get my body in shape too.:thumbup:

Jennie & Stacy - what kinds of things do you eat and are you both exercising? My doctor goes ON and ON about exercise (which I hate doing!) but I have had some of the best results when I have just controlled what I eat.....would love to know your secrets! M :thumbup:

Well the doctor said I didn't need a fill, but needed to do some exercise, which I guess is right I am also starting a low carb diet next week (or as soon as possible!) as I don't think the low faat, hi carb diet is working at all. You are probably eating some of the wrong things, so it will be good to see the dietician too. We can do it! We just need to be focussed! Mx

I was banded the same day as you! I have only lost 25lbs, and have an appointment tomorrow to see if I need a fill, which I'm pretty sure I do! What kinds of things are you eating and how many fills have you had? I am in the UK, so not sure if we do things a little differently.

I agree with Ellen and it will get better. I think you should get a fill or at least an apointment to talk about it with someone soon. Is your doctor any help? Some are really supportive. Not that mine was! When i went to talk through all my options and surgery came up, she said " Oh for God's sake, why don't you just stop eating rubbish and do some exercise!" If only it were that simple!! Good Luck Paulina.g - will keep my fingers crossed for you

I had about 5 months before I made the final decision and when I had surgery....OMG what a time! I started having my "last meal" the very day I left the surgeons office - I stopped at a supermarket and bought EVERYTHING I shouldn't have and just began to eat... I up 16lbs before I went on my pre-op diet, and not only that, I was so fed up with junk food and sweets, that when my husband suggested on the last couple of days before I had to start the diet that maybe we go and have a few "Last Meals" I just didn't feel like doing it! He couldn't believe it - of course I didn't tell him just how much I had been binging when he wasn't there! I remember thinking the pre-op diet was almost a relief - I must have been really ready to lose weight.

Wow - only 3 days ago! How do you feel - I'll be honest I felt like **** for 2 weeks - I certainly wasn't on the internet after 3 days! I'm not sure how tall you are, but I was roughly the same weight as you when I had the op, and am roughly the same age- I look forward to seeing your results with interest! I must get one of those ticker things too... Mx

Thanks Ellen - thats good to know. I think my Surgeon is making me lose the weight myself to encourage good habits. I do need a fill though, so will ask for one the next time I see him which is in a few weeks. Are you ok getting through the day on just Protein Shakes? I thought that you had to eat real food or your hair fell out - thats what they told me anyway! What a pain having to travel over here everytime too! At least its working, thats the main thing.

I can't believe how great it feels to see the opinions of people in exactly the same situation as me and to hear such positive things like PCOS reducing and diabetes being reversed! I got banded to get healthy, reverse my diabetes and try for a family. I felt so alone though once I'd had it done, as there isn't the same amount of support here - or rather if there is, I didn't know about it! God bless Google for sending me here! Mx

I know exactly how you feel about the lack of restriction - I can eat (and want to eat) anything! I was banded a month before you. Have you lost any weight at all?

Hello Everyone My name is Mia and I am in London, England. I haven't had a good look around yet, but the majority of people seem to be American - so I look to my American cousins for support! This is a really good site, as I have had answers to so many questions already! I am 31 years old, and got banded in September 07 and the first fill (don't know how much!) was in November. I was 233lbs to start, 209lbs now and hope to be 130 as soon as possible. I took the decision to get banded for my health (possible PCOS and diabetes) and in order to try for a family. How did I get fat? I was always a chubby child, but I lost a lot of weight in my 20s and was almost slim for about 4 years. Then I met my now husband and started really chowing down to match him. He remains skinny and I became a cow! I am only 5'1" - so my BMI at its worst was 43! My loss seems slow compared to others, and I'd really appreciate any tips you can give me! Although I was filled, I don't feel particularly restricted and can eat bread - which I am told is a sure sign that I am not restricted enough. I am seeing my Surgeon in February and will probably ask for another fill at that time. Look forward to talking to you all soon! Mx