ErinMarie

Ok, well, I had all my food at lunch today and came in for the day just under 500 calories. I have been totally pumped up all day and feeling skinnneeeeee. I even went to Target to try on jackets, and I'm down from a 3x or 4x to a 1x. I actually didn't buy one because I didn't care for the styles. Omg. That's new. Before, if something fit, I bought it in three colors just to be safe. Black, black and black.
And then.
Then I heard back from my divorce attorney about a legal question I had today and without going into specifics, my emotions got all worked up and I'm feeling like $#!t. Like Pavlov's dog, I want food.
Head hunger. I was feeling great. I was feeling happy. Then I felt like crap. And I want to eat.
I'm not going to eat. I'm going out for awhile. I took a walk and I'm going to finish this day strong like it started.
Living well is the best revenge. I'm going to live well!

Okay so today is Wonderful Wednesday. I can eat what I want. I started my day with a reduced fat cheese stick and I found myself craving almonds today so I just had some. Not quite lunchtime yet but I went to track them as a snack. Well lo and behold, I got a wakeup call. I thought I was "measuring" an ounce (a fistful, right?) of almonds. But then I decided to count them out. Holy c**p. 48 raw almonds. I looked that up in MyFitnessPal and 24 (!) raw almonds is 240 calories. Half of what I was going to eat as a snack! I grumbled and counted out 24 almonds. Ate them, slowly. Felt good. 24 was enough. I know this is not a "diet", so I will eat sensibly the rest of the day based on what I want. Fasting tomorrow. But WHAT an eye opener with the portion!
I know @@Bandista once mentioned carrying almonds in small jars pre-portioned. I need that trick because my eyeballs really want to underestimate my portions.
I'm allowing myself to eat what I want on non fasting days BUT track scrupulously. To track honestly I have to be honest about portions.
There. I said it. Whew!

I'm too lazy to read all these so here is my list...sorry for repeats!
McDonald's oatmeal is awesome (BK? not so much)
Wendy's chili
Wendy's baked potato (although I dont really like their potatoes)
Subway salad
McD's yogurt parfaits
Chik-fil-a chicken salad is good and you can probably get a scoup without the bread.< /p>
Taco bell chicken cantina bowls that are pretty great
Arbys I go for the french dip bc that helps soggy up the bread, still not the best choice though!
Qdoba I always get the naked burritos (no shell)
Long Johns or other seafood places I just get whatever the grilled options are!
This is all I can think of right now

I'm on the 5:2 protocol too. Except, I'm on it Mon, Wed, and Fri. So I guess it's the 4:3 for me. I've been doing this since early June. It helped me break my 3 month long plateau. I've dropped 18 lbs since that time but it has slowed down for me lately but the scale is still showing progress.
My protocol is a little different than what the book suggests. I stop eating around 7 pm the night before and I don't consume anything with calories until about 2 pm the following day. So, my fast lasts at least 18 hours. I break my fast with one Protein shake around 2 pm and then I have dinner around 6 pm.
I try to exercise during the fast days before noon so that I'm burning fat since I've depleted any carbs leftover from the previous day.
What I like about this way of eating(I don't want to call it a diet since it's so easy to maintain) is once I want to go on a maintenance program all I have to do is cut it back to 2 days a week and increase my calorie consumption by 400-500 calories. Very workable.
For anyone interested in this type of eating here are two videos that explain how it works and why it works.
5:2 Diet Partner For people too lazy to read the book:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9Aj6hRYg4A
And here's the video I based my own program from. I modified it to fit my own personal lifestyle and schedule.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzkVmXe9NMU

Let me interject a slightly different point of view?
I went with the band for many of the same reasons you prefer the band. But I know myself, I know I'm in control and I understand how this all works. Maybe your physician has some insight into your own personality and feels you may not be true to the band? The band will require much more attention than the other WLS techniques. No grazing, no bingeing, following the eating very slow and chewing chewing chewing is a must. Follow up and aftercare is so important with the band. Can't tell you how many posts we've seen from people who are 8 years out and haven't been back to see their doctor for 6 years, mostly due to loss of insurance and lack of funds.
There are some patients who should not be Lap Band patients. The Lap Band was the marquee WLS 4-10 years ago, but many surgeons didn't understand how much follow up would be required and many surgeons suck at communication and follow up. Many patients were given maintenance instructions that were counter intuitive to what the best surgeons communicate today.
So, are you a good candidate? Get a 2nd opinion and be very honest with your surgeon so they can recommend the best surgery for you.
tmf

From your surgeons profile here:
"Dr. Dexter Turnquest is a bariatric and weight loss surgeon located in Houston, TX and affiliated with Houston Northwest Medical Center Hosp./ Memorial Hermann- The Woodlands. Dr. Turnquest has 4 years of experience performing weight loss surgery. Currently 67 of our members have Dr. Turnquest listed as their Bariatric Surgeon"
4 years experience performing weight loss surgery?
I've been banded longer than that....hasn't been a waste of my time. Quite the opposite.
Best wishes on finding another surgeon, if you decide on the band.

Thanks tmf! I'm sure a lot of it has been head hunger and snacking, although thankfully with my new job I have been too busy to snack of much of anything. I don't own a scale right now and while I was happy about it at first, I have no way to gauge how I'm doing so I just assume I'm getting nowhere.
I don't feel like I'm rushing, I just feel like I'm not working at it hard enough (or be as dedicated as I was pre-baby...an unmotivated failure, if you will). I had my son 16 months ago, I was hoping to at least be down more than 10 lbs since his birth! But I haven't given it 100% because I am not my first priority right now.
It's been terribly frustrating to know how well I was doing before and how terrible I'm doing now. I supposed I should realize that it took me a good 8 months or so to get in the green after my surgery and I haven't been able to go and be adjusted as often lately so that is a good way to think about it.
And I just saw something about that 5:2 fast diet and was interested. I'll have to do some more research on it!
Thanks again

I am a RN and have been for 41 years. There are physicians/surgeons and as many as there are there are that many different opinions. Not saying that one is wrong or the other right, just different views and experiences. I opted for the band because I didn't want to have the risk of something going wrong with the incisions, since I am a diabetic and there is increased risk of postop complications. I know that I can still have something go wrong, but I wanted the least invasive procedure. Go with your gut. Get a second opinion. Good luck.

I'm too lazy to read all these so here is my list...sorry for repeats!
McDonald's oatmeal is awesome (BK? not so much)
Wendy's chili
Wendy's baked potato (although I dont really like their potatoes)
Subway salad
McD's yogurt parfaits
Chik-fil-a chicken salad is good and you can probably get a scoup without the bread.< /p>
Taco bell chicken cantina bowls that are pretty great
Arbys I go for the french dip bc that helps soggy up the bread, still not the best choice though!
Qdoba I always get the naked burritos (no shell)
Long Johns or other seafood places I just get whatever the grilled options are!
This is all I can think of right now

Ladies,
Everything sucks! I got a fill a couple months ago via floroscopy and it was great! I felt in the green, I wasn't getting stuck as often, my clothes were feeling loser...then 3 weeks later its like it never happened! My appetite came back, I'm eating more and hungry more often, my pants are back to fitting normally.
I am so beyond frustrated. I'm very torn between caring and giving up even trying. I'm not schedule for another fill until October because I started a new job and I have to wait until my probationary period is up before I can take time off. I'm tired of being this big when I was finally in onederland yet I have zero motivation to do anything but swap veggies and fruit for Snacks at work.
Please tell me I'm not alone! I need serious encouragement right now

So frustrated! I am having the hardest time losing this baby weight! I went back to work a few weeks ago after having the summer off with the baby (I'm a teacher). I've been eating less and trying to exercise when I can. My oldest plays softball and has games everyday. By the time we get home in the evenings and I cook for the family, it's dark outside and I am exhausted. I know I need to find time to exercise. Its so hard! I go for another adjustment in a week and I haven't lost hardly any! I know it can be done because I did it before. Just needing to vent a little.

You cant use mental illness to support your undesire and rudeness of fat people now. You were there and probably still are mostly so why take it out on others. There is nothing wrong with confidence but gee wiz that isnt confidence its doing things to people that you dont want done to you. So if you feel the need to judge people in the gym who are trying, why not exercise in your home where you would be more comfortable. Seriously those who have weight loss surgery and then find God or as I say go to jail and find Jesus are probably the most undeserving people to have weight loss surgery. You were right in that position and now you want to judge people. Start off looking in the mirror and learn to love who you see in the mirror.

I too have restarted the journey after having my little guy 5 months ago. I had a very difficult pregnancy and ended up taking a lot of Fluid out. I just had 2 CCs replaced yesterday, which is a large amount for a single fill. I begged them to consider this amount since I know I cannot get back to the doctor until November.
I definitely feel the difference and need to relearn my banded lifestyle.

Darn! I was really hoping you were catwoman

I always have tons of leftovers. My family laughs at me because there are always boxes in the fridge and I can generally make several meals from 1 entree at the restaurant so I end up eating on whatever I do get for days after we eat out. I just wish it was easier to decide exactly what I want. It seems my brain is still in "fat girl mode" and wants everything while my tummy is in "skinny chick" mode and says "Nope. Ain't happening. One more bite and I'm giving it back."lol

One or two pounds a week is quite respectable. I've gone for months where I have lost only a 1/2 pound. I think you're doing darn good! After losing 50 pounds it can become harder to shed more as quickly as in the beginning.

I was banded 7/11/13 and I have about 6cc's in my band. I think my problem is portion size. I can eat more than 1 cup of food at a time so today I started eating 1/2 of my food, letting the rest cool down if it was hot, and putting it in the freezer for another day. I noticed that I was not hungry after eating just 1/2 which tells me I have been listening to my head and not my stomach. I started exercising 3 months ago and I either ride a bike or do my elliptical machine at least 5 times a week. So...why do I get on the scale twice a day only to see that I lose 1 pound a week or maybe 2?!?! I'm obsessed with weighting myself and it's only adding to me feeling like more of a failure in this. Do you think I need another fill? I haven't gotten a fill in 4 months because I wanted to try working this band the right way. I am making an effort to get in 64 ounces of Water daily too. So...can someone help me? Give me some daily menu ideas...something...I'm drowning here!!! I thought I would be 100 pounds down by now! Lol! I just need a little help from some experts! Thanks so much God bless you!!!

Wow 35 pounds in 3 months is fantastic. Try to ignore your mothers comments. You are right that taking the weight off slower is more lasting. We with WLS have to develop a thick skin. Family members can hurt us the worst because they know where we are vulnerable. You are doing great so just keep up the good work. 35 pounds is inspiring to me!!

Have been banded for just over 3 months and have lost about 35 pounds. I am happy with my progress so far and I understand that my weight loss will be slow. I'm annoyed because my mom keeps telling people I have lost 45-50 pounds because she feels I should be losing weight faster. I keep reminding her that slow weight loss is long term healthy weight loss and I won't be skinny overnight. It's also annoying because when I tell people how much weight I have really lost it just doesn't seem as impressive. Sorry for the rant but it is just annoying!

I am will be done with my preop diet tomorrow night and I did not cheat one time! Proud of me! I almost snatched that taco right off my hubbies plate last night but talked myself down, thought about long term consequences! Victory over the taco! My surgery is Tuesday and I am so excited and nervous! Ready to get this show on the road! Thanks for all your messages on here I have been so inspired by you.

The sliming happens to me when I don't pay attention. There's an app called "eat slower". That helps you slow down. Lay your eating utensil down between bites; vision each bite taking 2-4 squeezes from the esophagus to get completely through; stop at 20 minutes; use sauces or whatever to keep meats from being too dry. It does take a lot of practice and even after you learn it, frequent reminding.

Great issue to be discussed!
My experience is generally related to 1 of 2 major causes.
1) "Errors of eating" which is the 'too much/too fast/too dry/fibrous/unchewed' variety. It is remedied by the advice "If you can feel the food sitting on top of the band, do not continue to eat until it passes through, or you will slime! "
Awareness of what your last bite of food is doing MUST be monitored until the habits of a lifetime can be reprogrammed.
2) "Band too tight" I've had numerous episodes where just the tiniest increase in fill has produced DAILY PBs over actual months, until I tracked down the cause. I've had perhaps 3 MAJOR 'OMG--something is WRONG' episodes. They've produces lengthy expensive exams/imaging studies, all of which were followed by decrease in my fill which yielded immediate relief.
I've suffered anxiety from 'slippage phobia' and 'what horrid disease NOW' in the art and science of learning to live the Bandster Balanced Lifestyle.
I have the antique 4cc Band, which typically tolerates about 1.7 MAX fill before PB symptoms become excessive.
Taking out .1 or .2cc gives relief.
Repeated imaging shows proper Band placements over the past nearly 10 years.
The Dance is to learn how to eat without inflicting unnecessary physiological problems. I believe whatever factors led to my becoming one of the Tribe of the Morbidly Obese, continues to periodically override my continual reprogramming efforts.
It is fortunate to have the benefits of the Band, as even with the annoyances I've encountered, Bandster Life is far better than my preOp life.

PB is burping, not regurgitation (sorry to be gross... but we've all experienced it.)
If I were having your problem, I'd try a few things. First, if there are specific foods that are causing more problems than others, I'd avoid them for a while.
Next, try slowing down when eating. Take a forkful, chew slowly (thirty times) and leave your fork on the table for 30 seconds. If you can feel the food sitting on top of the band, do not continue to eat until it passes through, or you will slime! If this keeps up, I'd call your doctor's office for consultation. The band takes a bit to settle in after a fill, but it should settle in! Make sure your Fluid intake is adequate--you don't want to end up dehydrated and in ER.

I got my lap band in December and I've been going to the gym at least 4 days a week since January. I always go in the morning and you pretty much see the same people all the time. People keep to themselves for the most part. Today I had my first comment on my weight loss from someone. This little old lady who rocks it on the elliptical. She came up and told me that she has noticed how much weight I've lost. It would probably bother some people but it made my day. I had a little smile for the rest of my workout!

@@2muchfun nope I don't own a scale. I knew going into this that I would be on that thing and obsessing over every little movement constantly so I felt it best just to throw it away and only weigh in at my Dr., however with that said and with me trying to figure out this whole balancing act I may have to go get one just so I can keep up with what's happening.
Thanks I will. Wish me luck!!:-)