2muchfun

I too have lost weight on my own but it was so painful. Strict diets where I was hungry all the time. Denying myself foods I wanted and then after losing 50 lbs, put in right back on when I went back to my old habits. Dieting my whole life isn't how I wanted to live. You could say I'm dieting now, but I'm seldom every hungry. I eat healthy foods now and it makes me feel better. That feeling of being uncomfortable because I wanted to eat crap is no longer my companion. If I get hungry now, I eat an apple and I'm OK for two hours. 3 years ago it would have been a half bag of chips and a huge ham and cheese sandwich. Do I miss those foods? Yes, sometimes but it's fleeting and controlable now. If you truly believe you're in control of your own weight, you should not have surgery. imo But be very honest with yourself? Losing 62 lbs is very good but at what cost and for how long will it last? tmf

Read my post previous to yours. What you are going through is normal and has happened to most of us. You won't start losing weight until you get a fill that gives you enough restriction to feel satisfied with less food.

I don't know what a gastric balloon is but it sounds like something that was inserted inside your stomach and I can see a lot of vomiting with that. The band is external so the situation is very different. tmf

No. Not at all. I've always thought most of these post-op diets are far too cautious. I was allowed to eat pureed and noodles 4 days post op and mushies 8 days post op. However, I see many people post here who find it hard to even drink Water a week post op. If your doc says it's OK, follow his guidelines. tmf

Why did you ask about throwing up? Throwing up with the band can be a death knell for the band. When you have a violent vomiting episode your stomach above and below the band goes through a convulsion to extract bad forces in your stomach. Since the opening between the two is so small this can dislodge the sutures holding the band in place causing your band to slip up or down. Vomiting is discouraged needless to say? tmf

That may be a signal but that is not what you should be looking for. And, it takes time(months) to be one with the band for most of us. You should simply feel like you aren't hungry any longer. Feeling full as you describe it could mean you ate too fast, too much or failed to chew properly. food backing up in your esophogus and pouch is not good. But yes, it does sound like restriction. Just keep listening to your band and your body. Too many overfilled episodes can lead to a dialated esophogus or pouch. tmf

If looking at food can make you gain weight, I gained 3 lbs just looking at the pictures! Yummmm!

In the future you should post a comment like this as a New Topic otherwise very few people will see it. But welcome and if you go to the forum tab at the top left and click on the first tab "Tell your story" many more people will see it and wish you welcome. And 35-40 is still more than you would have lost without the band. One more thing? Fill in your profile so we know you and can advise you better? Click on your name at the top right and in the drop down menu click on "My Profile" then click on "Edit my Profile on the right side of the next page. Good luck and welcome again. tmf

OK, tell the truth? How much more are guys hitting on you now? Do you tell them to take a ticket and maybe you'll call? tmf

That's so funny, I've often thought of the same analogy. $10K-$14K to live longer, live with less pain, more activities and more self respect is such a bargain. I'd throw it all away again if I had to(but I don't). Crap, that's less than a good used car and it'll wear out in 5-7 years and you'll still put $thousands into it before you get rid of it. tmf

Cheryl is so right on. Forum members are probably sick of me posting this but your topic/comments scream this guy's sentiments. And I don't recall his name: "In my case, the most fearful thing I had to do in order to succeed with my band wasn't switching to skim milk, surviving a liquid diet, or giving up bread. The most fearful thing was giving up my emotional attachment to food. In the nearly 5 years since I was banded, I've made a lot of progress with that, but the attachment is still there. It forms one of the innermost layers of my turtle shell. Working on that layer will probably be a lifetime job for me. At times I'm not even sure I truly want to get rid of it altogether. At times I'm afraid that if I shed my shell completely, I won't be able to survive. On the other hand, I seem to be doing fine without that thick old b***h layer. So I'm going to pay attention to my dreams rather than my fears and pray for a miracle. And why not? It can't hurt to try!"

It is. Drink more. Just don't guzzle. And you will be hungry till you get a fill that gives you restriction. Until then it's just another diet. Bet no one told you about that did they? tmf

My nut also suggested jerky. I buy these packages of beef jerky at Costco. Each package has about 20 individual 3-4 oz packets with about 90 calories each. Great for a snack and helps with stimulating the vagus nerve so it keeps me satisfied. tmf

If you're going to eat meat like that you better be sure your mouth can imitate a high quality food processor. Even then there's no guarantee. And one more thing? Some people do swallow Water to help dislodge food but it only creates more pain and pressure for me so I stop everything and wait an hour or so for the pouch to massage that bolus of food through the stoma. So far, so good.

150 lbs would be just fine I would think? A heart to heart, mind to mind sit down with your know it all doctor is in order.

6

If you are exercising by now you might want to add the Protein drinks. Protein is necessary to build and retain muscle mass. Otherwise you will be losing fat, Water and muscle. Protein helps to satiate your appetite for longer periods of time(not your problem, yet). tmf

Very good idea! Please post here when the list is started(finished will never come): My List: I did this because I failed at every other method and attempt(many times). I want to live to see my grandkids grow up. I want to be active for many years to come. I love the freedom that skinny gives me. I want to tie my shoes, put on my socks without holding my breath. I love that my clothes fit. I wanted to regain control of my life. The confidence of conquering my addiction has made me fearless. To Be Continued... tmf

I understand the fear. I was scared Sh**less that I didn't think I could handle not eating my comfort foods. It's like they were going to take away my binky!! Fact is, I still can but I don't crave those foods anymore. Here's a comment from another guy who went through this ordeal. I don't recall who he is but I like his attitude: "In my case, the most fearful thing I had to do in order to succeed with my band wasn't switching to skim milk, surviving a liquid diet, or giving up bread. The most fearful thing was giving up my emotional attachment to food. In the nearly 5 years since I was banded, I've made a lot of progress with that, but the attachment is still there. It forms one of the innermost layers of my turtle shell. Working on that layer will probably be a lifetime job for me. At times I'm not even sure I truly want to get rid of it altogether. At times I'm afraid that if I shed my shell completely, I won't be able to survive. On the other hand, I seem to be doing fine without that thick old b***h layer. So I'm going to pay attention to my dreams rather than my fears and pray for a miracle. And why not? It can't hurt to try!" tmf

Let's assume you're 20 lbs overweight since we don't know much about you? I know I'd have a real good sitdown with that doctor. Doctors are used to getting their way. They're sort of a God in their own office and rarely get challenged. You might have to be very aggressive with him or change doctors. Healthgrades is a company that rates doctors and if he's being a prick you can threaten him with bad reviews, not that that will persuade him. But, it's your body. If you're still overweight, he should listen. And if you do edit your profile(and you should). It's much easier on a PC. tmf

Terry, there's an edit button at the bottom of your post. Click on it and delete what you posted and leave it blank or replace it with something else. editing abouit 3 hours after posting. tmf

That's why God invented burping

Please fill in your profile?

May I quote you in the future? That was a good one. tmf

Don't be so sure? It took me 4 fills to start to lose weight and I've seen many more that took more than that. One fill did nada for me. IF, she's lucky, one fill may give her some restriction but there is no certainty of this. tmf