2muchfun

You're on a role today Jackie I might add to your list, that the time between fills is a time to learn how to eat properly. Many docs like us to sneak up on the green zone. Eating slowly, small bites and chewing properly doesn't come easy for most of us. tmf

Looking good! I too have about 25 more lbs I want to lose and I've been maintaining for about 7 months now. I have to say it's so much easier to maintain my current weight with the band. I know if I really wanted to lose more lbs all I have to do is drop a few calories a day and pick up my exercise program. Now that the weather here is cooperating, that's what I'm doing. It may not totally happen this year, but by 2014 I should hit my goal.

For me, I was a low BMI patient and felt I just needed a little help. So, the more drastic surgeries seemed to be over the top for me. And, since the band is reversible, I always have the opportunity to go with the more evasive surgery if the band doesn't work for me. But, so far, the band is my best friend. tmf

Not me. Most docs don't want to inherit another doc's mistakes. Liability is a big issue in healthcare. Also, it depends on if your insurance pays for fills and follow-ups? Or, if you are self pay, are you willing to pay $100/fill? There are docs here in Denver who will take on orphaned patients I know, but firing your current doc may not qualify someone? Hope I never have to find out. tmf

Sounds like you already know what's going on? Your stoma is too small to eat this way. I would eat smaller and chew bigger. tmf

Most of us don't really have a specific diet. I eat normal foods, but I do try to refrain from eating a lot of dairy, processed flours, processed foods. I now eat more fresh fruit, fresh veggies, salmon, chicken. I don't keep chips, crackers, pizza and anything with refined sugar in it including cookies and candy. I do allow myself 2 hershey bliss cubes for dessert at night.

I was having a conversation with the wife last night about health care workers and obesity. She's in the industry(not obese) and comments often about the large people she works with. I think we're both hyper-sensitive to obesity now that I've had surgery. But, don't flame me here, but it does seem like there's a disproportionate amount of nurses who have had surgery and are members of this site? Goody for them that they're doing something about it but I'd have to disagree with this study(re: healthcare) having been in a few hospitals in my time. tmf

Stupid commercials. This was the shortest commmercial of all the clips I looked at. It's good to get some exposure but I'm not sure having Letterman as a spokesperson would be advisable? http://shine.yahoo.c...453151-cbs.html

Going through the surgery and having the band placed around your stomach is not a guarantee of losing weight. Losing weight is simple math. Burn more than you eat and you will lose a little weight. But it will be slow and there may be weeks and month where you don't lose any weight at all. You're probably replacing lost fat with muscle. You're barely 2 1/2 weeks into this journey. Relax! Your body is healing and still in shock over major surgery. You could still be holding onto fluids too. If you haven't lost any weight after two months, then panic. But not after 2 weeks. tmf

I too was at the end of my rope. I knew for a fact that I could never lose weight like I did when I was younger. Nothing worked so I knew this was it. I chose the band for all the same reasons you mentioned and I have no regrets. I still have more to lose and I know it may take a few years to work off this last bit of padding I've had for about 15 years. Welcome and good luck. tmf

I snack on an apple, kirkland jerkey packets, cantaloupe, dill pickles, string cheese, blueberries. X fingers that you feel some restriction/satiety with your 1st fill? It took me 3 fills before I started to feel some restriction and my 4th fill really kicked in the satiety/restriction. Good luck. tmf

I always do well with my standard breakfast: Morning Omelette 3 ozs egg beaters. 50 calories 2 pinches of low fat cheese. 80 calories 2 ozs of crumbled turkey sausage. 80 calories diced onions and red peppers. 15 calories 225 calories depending on how much cheese and sausage you add. I've never got stuck on this recipe and it is very satisfying. I sometimes add some salsa if I'm feeling frisky

Calling your doctor is the right answer.

Whenever I can squeeze it in. Preferrably mornings.

My secret to being able to eat steak is, prime meat from Costco. It's costly, but it goes down better. I like rib eye steaks. Prime, not choice. I don't have them often, but when I do, it's about the only steak that my band will tolerate.

I never heard of a practice diet? Some of us had a pre-op diet that had to be adhered to but I'm not familiar with a practice diet? Can you explain? BTW-30 days after being banded, there is no diet that we all follow. tmf

Go to the top of this page(if you're on a PC?) and click on Surgeons, then click on locate surgeons and then add your zip code to see surgeons in your area. tmf

^5 on the video

"If this doesn't do it I give up" Ask for your limitations and they're yours....Richard Bach I hope this is just part of your rant, but keeping positive, long term, is essential. You're so new to this journey and to demand instant results rarely works for most of us. I could understand if you were 2 years into your journey but 5 months is nothing. And losing 2 inches is quite an accomplishment. Many of us would love to have the success you've achieved already. I lost 12 lbs the first 2 weeks and then nothing for the next 3.5 months. Good luck and don't give up, just modify your expectations? tmf

I do agree with your comment but for us guys, the port is right on our abs directly below the ribcage and is easily accessible. Especially as we get closer to goal. I can run my fingers around the top and sides and there's no mystery where the needle is inserted. I wouldn't try it but then again I'm not trained to do this. In a former career I was an ortho-tech but we didn't do syringes. I think if I went to Mexico more often I might entertain taking one with me to unfill myself if I got realy sick(it's happened). I'd leave the refills to Dr Chae. tmf

That's a tough one? You could call your doc and see if they'll give you an unfill till the bug passes over? I've had stomach bugs myself and I know there's very little one can do to stop the barfing when it starts. Water, food, everything consumed is fair game to violently evacuate your stomach. This could cause a slip so be very careful? tmf

I can only speak for me. I look for satiety signals and try to stop when I sense one. You will have to get in touch with your band and analyze your own hunger vs. cravings to determine if you are hungry or just want to eat too much? It's going to be different for everyone. I've read here where some say they cannot physically eat beyond a cup of food. I've read others who state they're hunger goes away completely after 1/2-1 cup of food? Good luck!

Many would be very happy to have your dilemma. Being satisfied for 3 hours is very good. Give it a week or two and if you feel like you need more, go back and ask for a small adjustment.

I only had about 75 lbs to lose. If I compare myself to "Joe" who had 175 lbs to lose, it's almost certain that Joe will lose more in the beginning than me. Many obese people retain much more water/fluids than others. The weight lost in those first few weeks is mostly water/fluids. Once you both rid your bodies of the excess fluids, the rate of fat loss should even out. "The jealous competitor. – Don’t be jealous of others. Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own. Stop comparing your journey with everyone else’s. Your journey is YOUR journey, NOT a competition. You are in competition with one person and one person only – yourself. You are competing to be the best you can be. If you want to measure your progress, compare yourself to who you were 30 days ago or last year"

You'll be in "bandster hell" until you get the fill that gives you enough restriction for the band to work it's magic. That may be 1 fill or 6. No one knows. Till then, if you want to lose or maintain, you're on a diet. tmf