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First of all, anyone who goes through this process is a big winner. I truly believe that and I'm no Pollyanna. I do agree that when one is researching and asking quesitons and sharing symptoms the boards have greater relevence. And I dropped out for a couple of weeks. I could again. But I need a place to keep it "real". A place where everyone is me. Slow or fast, we're all very connected. I actually have found another place to go on the boards. As I'm in my 50s I hit the age group forum and it's kind of interesting because there we're all going through lots of similar life issues. It has a mix of new people and old and it's important to pass along knowledge to those just starting out. I've never been got at journaling. I get bored talking to myself, so when I hit the boards it's a form of journaling as well. I was on the South Beach Board for over a year when I was on the diet. That's four years ago and I have two groups of friends from it. A few that I post to now and then, and 3 women who have really become my "sisters". It's nearly four years and we still write almost daily. I think that's the gift that comes along with the work. The people who you find.

LOL- I know you'd never leave me out of an anniversary, but the same day! You're really bandster twins. When I started on the April forum, I felt you guys were my big sisters as you had a couple of weeks of symptons, stories and experience on me. It was great having all the feedback. Gosh- don't you just love this support board?

Morning, PJ. You didn't mention how much you had of each and how close together. It could be the combo of it all. I mean, there were food combos that didn't set well before we all had surgery, so why not now. I hated those protein things and swore off them once I could get enough food protein down. They made me a bit nauseus. I wasn't given a specific number of ounces, but in general, they like no more than 4-6 ounces of anything at a time. Fluid will go through quickly, but remember that your entire stomach is swollen and irritated (it's a real restrictive time even without a fill) and everyone reacts differently. Drink very slowly, and experiment with what feels good. To tell you how different our doctors are, I was on liquid only (no purees) for three weeks. I know your doctor said you can move to purees tomorrow, but if you're not reacting well right now, maybe you should stick to clear liquids for a few more days. If you continue to be sick, you should phone the doctor.

Hi Denise. Goals and setting them is a whole topic in itself. I used to find goals to be the best way to not lose weight. They loomed beyond me, like goals to weigh less by a vacation, or seeing family, etc. Very anxiety making. Now I'm looking at it differently, and from the point of knowing I have help getting to where I want. I started by setting 10 pound goals and now that I see the weight coming off and that I'm doing well, I have a series of goals. I started at 315, so my goal is now 199- want to get under 200. And now I'm getting close to 1/2 way there! Beyond that, it's all gravy. I don't think I'll ever get back to 135, but once I hit 199, I'll set a new goal. And who knows, maybe that tummy tuck and breast reduction I'm thinking about will hand be an extra 10-20 pound gift!

Leslie/Carol The worst of the "progressive eating" all day is that by evening I'm very hungry and so I can eat too much at dinner. Calorie wise it's not a huge issue, but in volume it is. Last night I had lowfat cheese and tomato on top of sliced portabello mushrooms for dinner. Very filling, and mushrooms are really no calories, but at the end I ate too many slices of what was a good and balanced dinner. I get too full at night if I'm not careful. It's a HEAD issue I know, and I'm working on it, but changing everything in less than 4 months is not reality. It's gonna take time. At least I'm losing so I know I'm moving in the right direction. And count me in on the 4 month anniversary too. I may be the 30th, but I'm still an April Avenger!

YAY Beverly Diane. That's great news. Isn't it great as we start to see results? Nothing like that first check in with a good drop in weight. Good on you!

JB FLORIDA, What makes you think you're not "doing it yourself" by having the band. Don't YOU have to decide to do it and go through the process of doctors, tests and insurance? Don't YOU have to make the choice not to have high caloric drinks, and ice cream, etc that would screw up the band's usefulness? Isn't it YOU who decides to stop eating when you feel full rather than continue to stuff it down? And exercise? You did it yourself and will continue to do it yourself.....this time successfully. IF you prefer, you can just not tell anyone you had a band and let them enjoy how beautiful you look on terms they can understand. If you don't think they'll get it, don't get into it. But if you can talk to them, tell them that the band was and is hard work, but a system that helps you to stay on the right path. But it's your path that you've created and follow and work at daily. The band's just your GPS to make the path a little easier to follow! Have a great trip and take no prisoners!

I'm sure there are many choices. Right after surgery I used a liquid vitamin that I bought at Vitamin shoppe. You can go online with them. However, I didn't love it and it's hard to travel with, so I went to chewables and guess what.....Centrum Silver with Minerals- chewable. Easy. Fast. I use a chewable calcium as well. Can't recall the name right now, but there are several. Good luck.

Thank you, Carol! So glad it's not just me! I don't even try Protein in the AM. Right now with the summer heat, I treat myself to an ice decaf and put in splenda and fat free half and half. Delish. And by time I've finished, I've had 3 cups of Fluid. Add that to my metamucil cocktails and that's 5. So I just have to get down 3 more a day and I've met my eight. So, the morning is good for something. I still get plenty of protein in during the rest of the day. I'm sorry to hear you've been vomitting so much. Maybe you do have to unfill, but you know, it will keep softening. Did anyone do an xray to make sure the band is still in place? Feel good!!!!!!!!!

Hey Leslie, You're doing the smartest thing. I'm being careful too. I'm actually very happy on mushies. Lots of comfort food is mushy.Unfortunately, mashed potatoes are one of them and they slide down toooo well. I'm also finding something happening and I don't know if I'm nuts or not.... I know that there are lots of bandsters like me who find it very difficult to eat in the morning. I just can't get food down. So, I do lots of liquids which also helps. BUT, I don't do much better with lunch since this last fill. It's hard to get food down, although I can if I'm very careful. HOWEVER, dinner is easy. Food goes right down (well, not yesterday, but hte other days since the fill). I seem to have a band that is looser at night! I'm not complaining, but I haven't really heard this. Anyone else finding their band get's looser in the evening, or is this just my own little band myth?

I also don't really know what a "sweet spot" is, but I'm doing well without knowing. It's amazing. It's not that I don't get hungry, but it's just not as compelling now. And I cannot eat in the mornings, no matter how much they say have breakfast and I've finally given in to my body and stick with liquids in the AM. So, is that a sweet spot? I think it differs from person to person. It certainly isn't when one is throwing up all the time or is confined to liquids. I find I can eat much more at night than during the day....don't ask me why...it's weird to me. But food is hard to get down during the day and easy at night. So, I'm calling where I am a "sweet spot" because I'm doing okay and that's pretty sweet. Good luck.

Hi Southerngal, I just flew to NY and back. My band is 3 months old and I don't know if that makes a difference but I had absolutely no effect from flying. In fact, flying last month was one of the biggest pleasures I've had since being banded . NO MORE SEATBELT EXTENDER!!!!!!! WOO HOOOOOOOO!!!

Harmonygirl, The good news is that these days doctors can do thorough screenings and work with pre existing conditions. Good for your doctors for making certain you have all your bases covered. No question that losing weight can help with all of the medical issues. I am thrilled that I was banded, and am very proud of the fact that I finally said "uncle" and got the help I needed. Having a band is not a cure-all or magic, but if you're willing to meet the band 1/2 way....you'll do great. Good luck to you.

Denise- that's a great bit of advice. I just tried it (I'm eating lunch and typing). I am chuckling to myself over what I'll look like in restaurants- people will think I'm starting a "wave"- LOL!

Hey Mamak, You are doing great. Sometimes our bodies just need time to take in everything we've done. I feel like the losing is really slowing down, but I think I look thinner, and that's very important too. I try to remember that weight is not the best determiner all the time because just get on different scales and the number is different! I have two scales and both are good and both are in the same spot when I weigh and they are two pounds apart. Which one is correct? Oh, and hte doctors scale falls right in between. Speaking of fills....I had one last week. I didn't think it was very restrictive. I was able to eat 1/2 a bagel last night. Then today, I went out for japanese food and I don't know what it was, but something got REALLY stuck. Really really stuck. Boy did that hurt for almost an hour. I tried bringing it up but for hte second time, just slimed instead. YUCH! I paid for lunch but didn't get to eat it at all. Ended up having atkins drink a while later. I got down 1/2 a salmon burger and a little baked pot for dinner. It hurt all the way down. I think I'm very sore. I'm full and a bit naueous now. There's a lesson for me. Don't think that just because it's not too tight one day, that it will be open the next. WHEW! Killer.

Dear pj_texas lady, You asked about throwing up. You shouldn't if you chew your food well and wait between bites. Also of course, eat the right foods for each stage. Last is making sure your doctor doesn't make your band too tight at a fill. That said, the throwing up that you hear about is mostly PB'ing...which is a "productive burp" where, yes, you belch and food pops back up. Hasn't happened to me but I hear about it. Also you can get food stuck (that happens more often than I thought it would) and if you try to get it up you can get a lot of slime coming up- your bodies response to the stuck food. That has happened to me once and it's not pleasant. I do get food stuck or backed-up more than I'd like. That feels tight inside- hurts like reflux or like there's something stuck, and most of the time if you sit tight and wait (do not drink-it makes it worse) it will suddenly "flush" down. All this aside, most of the time, if you're eating right and chewing and waiting - you'll feel just fine. Best of luck tomorrow. Let us know how it goes.

Dear Long2Bthin, I didn't get that she had to have the ice cream...just that she enjoyed a 1/2 cup and it was enough to make her happy. She said it wasn't all the time. Just think, if we could all have a 1/2 cup of ice cream now and then- even a couple of times a week. We would then be normal, and probably at our target weights. It's an interesting discussion, though. My BIL,who has lost over 110 pounds since banding, eats whatever he wants, just in tiny portions. And I mean whatever! I was just there for a week, and the kitchen was full of cake and crackers and cookies and pretzels, etc. It was a landmine for me because I have an entirely different philosophy with the band. Mine is to go for heart healthy foods and stay away from the junk. He says his doctor concurs with his food choices as long as he's losing. I mentioned it to my doctor and he said perhaps it was the only way to get my BIL to lose the weight and that may be why his doctor condoned it. But it's not my doctor's view and definitely not for me. I do like a couple of tablespoons of frozen yogurt or frozen soy dessert now and then, but mentally I'm better off without. In fact, I count calories now- something I NEVER did before. I stay between 850-1000 most days. I'm doing fine and have lost 52 pounds over 3 months (I think I need to update my weight loss siggy today). We may never be able to do this one our own- but we have this great tool now, and it really helps. As does the great support here.

I've never heard of Protein diets creating more gas. They can make on constipated....I've never had gas from that, but maybe that's the connection to high protein. Lot's of Water takes care of the constipation. A tend to have a lot of gas from three things- two old, one new. It was too much wheat flour and too much soda. Those are gone. Now I have a new one- I fill up with gas when my stomach is empty. THAT'S NEW! When I have a fill and have to be on liquid for two days.....yikes. I fill right up with gas. And along with the lovely scar on my belly, they seem to have installed a new routing for gas inside me. Since banding, anytime I get gassy, it goes right to the left shoulder....just like after surgery. I'm accustomed to it now, but it does hurt when it happens. Happily it's not often. But that's a new wrinkle in my life.

Mine's gone now too. But oh boy, the gas! Whenever I'm on liquids for more than a day, the gas begins filling me up. Empty space right? So, I'm trying to have more today. Tonight I can go to mushies, then Sunday, back to real food (although I tend to eat a lot of mushies) I feel somewhat restricted, but will know more as I switch. I don't want to be too tight. I told the doctor that. I'm losing well with eating a decent amount. I try to stay under 1000 calories a day. See ya.

Hey. It's me. Try using lactose free milk. I didn't need it much before, but after the band it really helped with gas.

Quick question to anyone- did anyone feel a little nauseous after a fill? I have all afternoon. It's starting to taper off a bit, but I don't feel terrific. I'm going to try a little peppermint tea.

So, as I mentioned above, I went for my fill today. Only my second, as my surgeon didn't think I'd need one a month after the first. He was just about right, just off by a week or so. Today he tried to give me 2ccs, but there was a bit of reflux- not enough to hurt but it was visible on the fluroscope. Ended up with 1cc. I thought he'd give me 1.5. Anyway, I told him I didn't want to be toooo tight. I think that's scary. Don't want to throw up etc. I'm back on liquids for 2 days then mushies for 2. We'll see how it goes. He wants to see me in four weeks but again, no fill appointment. If I'm eating too much, I'm going to request a fill date rather than consultation. Right now however, I'm a bit nauseous. Has anyone had nausea for a day or so after a fill? Thanks.

Kidder- sounds like in addition to getting mad...you should look for another doctor. I have a real problem when doctors treat patients like children. First, I'd make another appointment with him for a consult and have a heart to heart. Your lapband is not magic, but it is an excellent tool, and he shouldn't deny you using it. We all have good and bad days and weeks sometimes. I gained 5-6 pounds on vacation- don't ask- but it came off when I got home. It just took a few days. I realized that I was toooo open at a time when I was with family and all my emotional triggers. By time I went for a fill today I was back to just about 50 off, but I told my surgeon about the bad week, because he needed to know how easy it was to eat and that I'm not capable of being sane about food yet. You need to have a surgeon you can work with--so try to make it work, but look around at the same time. Good luck.

Hi everyone! I'm back from my trip. Can't call it a vacation as it involved shuffling back and forth between my FIL and my mother. And we got caught in last week's weather and our flight home was cancelled TWICE! I haven't read anything cause it's too much for catch up so just hope everyone is doing well. I am having my fill Wednesday- my doc hadn't given me one in 9 weeks. I was almost completely open on the trip....could eat anything and did. I haven't been with this long enough for old habits or old emotions to not not send me to food when stressed. I just simply ate tooo much and at my sister's the junk food was everywhere. Gained almost 6 pounds but after two days home, back on my own food and much more water, I'm only up 2 pounds. Whew. I didn't want a fill before leaving because I was afraid of it being too tight, but I'm really ready now. I don't want to not keep down food, but I was so happy eating less and losing fast....I want that back.