Claudine1975

Hmm...I am sitting her in sweatpants, socks and a blanket and my husband....shorts and a t-shirt. I am freezing all of the time. Never knew that I had a built-in "fur" coat before:tongue:

I know it is a PAIN to write or to log your food. But you have to get some sense of how much Protein, fat, carbs sodium etc you are getting. I tired the "I am going to do it in my head" bit and I stayed the same weight for over a month. I worked out everyday but had really no idea what i was eating...even thought my diet is pretty much the same or so I thought:unsure: I will admit it is easier if you have a desk job rather then a on the go job like a medic. I would suggest planning your meals the day before and logging them into a web based program i.e. Livestrong, sparklepeople, fitday etc. Usually before your first fill is for healing and not necessarily for weight loss. The weight loss happens after you have good restriction - which can take a while. I know the feeling of too tight. My third fill - filled too tight headed back to the office and got some taken out. I went to California November with my husband and daughter. We were all concerned how she would do on the plane because she is 4. She did wonderfully, it was me who did horribly. On the way back, I grab a bite to eat in the LA airport. McDonald's - worst place on earth for a bandster. Got the chicken biscuit - tossed the biscuit and thought I could eat around the breading and just eat the chicken. Well, some breading must have gotten in. It swelled instantly and I was stuck...for HOURS!!! I had to board the plane with a bag in one hand and a cup in another. Couldn't swallow anything and kept throwing up. Awful! I sat in the bathroom for the entire plane ride. Before landing in Charlotte, i just give myself a good heave over the sink and up came the tiniest piece of breading - sweet relief. Needless to say, I was afraid of fills ever since. I got some courage and got a fill last week. I am fine:smile2: Still need more because I don't stay full for long. Just willpower keeps me out of the fridge and pantry. Also, being on this site helps also. Gives me something to do other then eat. I have not had bread since June of last year. I really don't miss it as much as I thought I would. I do sweet potatoes, but I measure them out and only eat about 1/4 with my meal. I mash one small up, add 1 TBSP of brown sugar, a sliver of butter. That serves me, my daughter and hubby. I also eat fish every other day - fish is very easy and safe for me. Usually it is moist and easy to fix. Chicken, you have to be careful with it. I can't do re-heated chicken. It has to be moist and not overcooked. I still feel it going down, but I just have to take really small bites. I mean really small..I know it looks weird for a big person to take baby bites. We are so used to bitting a huge bite and barley chewing. I was so guilty of this. Getting stuck a couple of times taught me to take baby bites and chew like crazy. I am sure stuff you have heard before. WOW...do you think I wrote enough:tongue_smilie:

Mine are considerably smaller now:mad2: I still have more weight to lose and I am sure the will continue shrinking.

Ask away Debra..I don't mind at all:smile: That is a good amount of weight to lose 2 months!! Good for you. It takes a while with fills. I have only had 4 since my surgery in Aug. The 3rd one was way too much and I couldn't swallow my own saliva by the time I got home. I had to go right back to get an unfill. This last fill was just a tweak at .3. I am also having a hard time staying full. I am sure I need another one soon. For some it takes a while to get to the famous sweet spot. I am tighter in the morning but not as tight as I was with my 3rd fill. I usually do a Protein shake. I am not a big egg eater and I can't really do any oatmeal. I can usually have a Cereal bar by 10:30 if I am hungry since I have my shake at about 7:30. I do better with weight loss when I track my food. Are you tracking your food? I use the livestrong site and use the "The daily plate". For a while I slacked off and then the weight loss stalled. Are you also exercising? Please ask any questions that you need. I am usually on at night after dinner - helps keep me busy and not wanting to eat:tongue2:

I too have a fear of some foods and steak happens to be one of them. I just have not had the urge to try it. I do ok on moist chicken, fish and ground turkey. I had some ham this weekend and that was pretty good. I have to stay away from leftover chicken because it is dry. Good luck experimenting.

Hey NCMEDIC - I was banded Aug 1 in Raleigh and I see you were done just after Christmas. I did very well the 1 couple of months and the I got a little lazy a few months ago and didn't lose much and I need a fill. I just got a fill last Tuesday and I feel back on track. How are you doing?

Hey gang Just checking in. After my PB last night I had liquids for Breakfast and Soup for lunch. I was starving:drool: by 2:00 and chanced a south beach cereal bar. It went down ok-yeah! Hope everyone has a good night.

I was off of work for a week but felt ok after a couple of days. I am not sure how active you are but I couldn't lift anything heavy for a couple of weeks. Good Luck.

Well...urgh...I PB'd right before dinner:cursing:. It was ham that was a little too dry and I took too big of a 1st bite:mad3: and that pretty much ended my dinner. After things settled down I took some liquid Tylenol which helps me feel "not so raw". It was my own fault, I know I can't tolerate dry meat. Iit does not go down well. Anyway, I dusted myself off and went to Curves to workout. I had a good workout and I will be on liquids tomorrow to make sure I don't have an incident at work:blushing:. Julie - I am pulling for you. I just want you to know that I really hope things get better for you and I am so sorry that you don't have an answer for what when wrong, I just hope everything thing goes right from now on. Hugs-Claudine

Janet - thanks so much for reminding us of the secrets/tricks to weight loss with the band. I seem to often "forget" these things. I often struggle with wanting to eat when I am not hungry. I know it is called head hunger but I struggle with this different times of the day. If I am at work it is the mornings and If I am at home, like today, it is the afternoons. I often have to chant in my head - your not hungry, your not hungry. Most of the time it works. Other times I just get up and do something in the house and it does take my mind off of eating. I wish I could keep that full/stuffed feeling after I eat for at least 2 hours. Or maybe this is a sign that I am in need of another fill??

Hi everyone, I hope everyone had a great Easter weekend. My sister came to town visited my family and me. We did a lot of shopping and spending time together. We also walked 4.5 miles everyday. I was pretty proud of myself for keeping up with her and not tiring first:tongue2:

Hi Doug - I used to live in Morrisville a fews years back, I am now in Fuquay, not too far. Being banded has been the best thing I have done for myself. There are times I struggle with it but a lot of difficult things -the view is definitely worth the climb:smile: Good Luck with your weight loss journey!

Great post dwcoll:thumbup:

Hey Guys, I finally got a fill on Tuesday, it has been 5 months since my last fill. It was just a small tweaking and it hopefully it will get the scales moving. I have had a lost of 2.8 this week:thumbup:

I have a Wii Fit and absolutely love it. I use it in the morning and I go to Curves at night. First time in my life that I love to exercise:wub:

I use livestrong also (used to the be the stand alone daily plate). It is convenient that I am surround by computers all day long:cool2: I tracked my calories before and right after banding and that is when the weight came off steadily. Stop tracking and the weight stalled. So, back to tracking for me.

Hi everyone Julie I am glad you are doing better. I am still on liquids today and I am STARVING:angry:!! I am hoping once I move on the solids that I can feel this fill. I think I can eat soft foods tomorrow and solids by tomorrow night. Boy this is tough. My sister is coming for the weekend and I am looking forward to spending time with her. I hope everyone has a good Easter and travel safely!

I am a Curves member. I have hit plateaus mostly this year and it came from not tracking my food. I started using the "The daily Plate" last year and it went my the wayside earlier this year and the weight loss stalled and got really slow at best, despite me working my butt of everyday. I enjoy Curves and it has helped me loss weight and tone. Do you guys have the SMART program there? I really liked that it and it really is worth it. They take all your measurements and then you get each machine calibrated to your range of motion and strength. I can burn about 600-700 in 30 minutes - seems high to me but I can not hold a conversation while working out and I continue to sweat on the 10 min ride home. I will say before the SMART, I used to talk and have a good time with the other ladies, now all you hear is the swishing of the machines and not chatter unless you are stretching.:smile:

I can eat chicken if I take really small bites and take my time chewing. I can not eat re-heated microwave chicken. I usually do really well with fish and chicken is a close second. I have yet to try red meat of any kind.

I was on a plateau earlier this year and then again in March. I contributed to me not tracking my Protein and calories. I apparently thought I could do it in my head. Not the case, I need to write down everything I put in my mouth. Are you tracking your food? I suggest it. I also work out 4-5 days a week cardio and weights. Hopefully the scales will start moving down for you.

Hi everyone! I just got my very conservative fill and I am doing fine. I was able to sip Water in the office and I had some Soup and some yogurt. I don't feel full, but I realize that I have only had liquids today due to my fill. Liquids tomorrow and then solids on Friday and I will be at home then-just in case I PB. Julie - I hope you continue to have better days ahead of you. Have a good night everyone:smile:

Happy Monday to everyone! Yesterday evening I got a little bored and wanted to eat/snack. Instead I went to Wal-mart and bought a Wii Fit. I have been wanting one and I thought - if you can jump on this and have some fun and get my hands away from the pantry door. I love it...I even woke up this morning and did some running, strength training and then some yoga. I will admit that it is not a tough workout, but it keeps you from sitting on the couch looking for something to eat. Tomorrow I get my fill. I can say that I am nervous about it. Deep down I really need it. Of course, my dept is going out for lunch on Wednesday:eek:. I ran to the Internet and picked out a place that has a tomato bisque Soup since I will not be eating anything solid in front of people just after a fill. Does anybody here do Curves and are you on their SMART program? I hope everyone has a good night.

Mrs. Bubba - you are your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I wish you a speedy recovery.

How long are you on the liquid diet? I didn't tell any of my co-workers either. I just ate Soup for lunch and they really didn't notice much. And if lunch was brought in or they wanted to go out - I just said that I was pinching pennies and eating my lunch that I brought. Good Luck!

Thanks Apples! I did pretty good today in the snacking dept. I meet a friend for lunch and had a cup of chili and for dinner I had some tuna salad. It felt really good to be back on plan.