2muchfun

Oh, OK. I just thought you were braggin'. I know I would if I lost 24 lbs in 30 days. Woo Hoo! tmf

Sometimes, if the band is too tight, the extra pressure of foods expanding the pouch and pushing through the stoma can irritate your stomach right at the band site causing some edema which would cause you to be tighter, but it is odd that it's happening so far out from your fill? tmf

I just posted on an earlier thread how I too have a difficult time eating enough food to satisfy my nutrition needs. I get stuck easily. Of course, I'm still struggling with the smaller bites, eating slower and chewing. But there are some days(and days in a row) that I get stuck a lot. It's usually just 15 minutes but it's uncomfortable. So, I'm going in this Thursday for a very small unfill. BTW-I do feel like I'm in the green zone, but it's a very dark green. I'm losing 6-8 lbs a month but there are too many times it's just not fun. tmf

I'm one of the few who find this topic to be moot. I sip a little with my meals and sometimes I'll drink right after a meal. It's not like I'm drinking and then discover that, hey, I'm still hungry and start eating all over. I think the point is that if you drink, it empties your pouch quicker and can waylay that satisfaction trigger we all seek so desperately. That doesn't work on me. When I'm eating, I know when I'm full and I stop. Drinking a few minutes later has no effect on my satiety. BTW-I sip here and there because some days my band is so tight I can't eat many foods without getting stuck, so I follow my food with a sip. I still eat much less and it's the only way I can get the nutrition I need. Cazzy pointed out on an earlier thread this: "the trick is with this band, is to become your own expert". I totally agree. Once you get to the point that you have this relationship with your band, then you know what works and what doesn't. Hope this helps tmf

"the trick is with this band, is to become your own expert" That is so well said. I see so many posts from people wanting to know what to do and what the norm is, but there is no norm and we all have to be an expert with our own tool/band. I know that I've formed an intimate relationship with mine and sometimes I want to slap her(she, because I deserve it) sometimes and other times give her a big hug. tmf

You're in bandster hell. You'll be there till you find the green zone. And yes, it sucks but most of us were there early in our journey. tmf

Mrs 2012 and Lassie. Chill out girls. This is a marathon, not a 100 yd dash. Both of you have lost scads of weight already. Why so grumpy? I know I'm not alone when I say that I lost about 12 lbs the first 2 weeks and then nothing for 4 months. Now I've lost 38 lbs total. I've read so many others this happened to. You have to get to the green zone before you really start to lose fat unless you do some extreme dieting. It takes time. No need to worry or be concerned. And I didn't feel anything till fill #3 and didn't find the green zone till #6. So, no, you don't have to feel anything by fill #2. Lassie, you lost 24 lbs the first month. Congrats and why are you upset? When have you ever lost 24 lbs in one month? And you have the tool to keep it off now? tmf

You are normal. tmf

Butt kickin and a whole lot more...You asked for it, here it is: Now don't ever do that again! tmf

Feeling that it might get stuck? But does it get stuck? If it's not stuck, why worry over it? I'm in the green zone and stuck is with me 3-4 days a week. Still struggling with eating slower, eating smaller and choosing food my band may like on any given day. tmf

Mussels and similar foods do not masticate well. It's very difficult to grind them up into mush. If you eat them one at a time with no bread you may be alright but why take the chance? Follow your doctor's advice and stick to true mushies. I'm in the green zone and we had clams last night. I made sure I ate one at a time and they slid down OK but you will still be in the healing phase and irritating your band area is not a good idea. tmf

3-4 hours for me. tmf

What's an example of the foods you are eating? You say you can eat a lot at night, a lot of what? What are you eating for Breakfast and what makes you slime during the day? tmf

I don't track those things. I keep my calorie intake around 1200 a day and make sure I get adequate Protein and I rarely consume processed grains such as flours or cereals. My consumption of carbs is mostly restricted to one fresh fruit a day, sometimes 2. Fatty foods I avoid which is why I can stay around 1200 calories a day. tmf

I started an intense workout program about 6 weeks ago and went from 8 pushups to 30 now. Many other exercises I could only do a few but now I can do 3-4 reps. Congrats on making that first step! tmf

Can you request an earlier date? All they can say is no. I hated bandster hell but I have to admit I learned a lot about my eating habits and how my band reacts to certain foods. tmf

One other variation is to add 1.5 tbl of low fat cream cheese with smoked salmon and maybe some spinach or any kind of veggie. That might be a guy food though? tmf

Some other posters commented on why people come to this forum and it's really because they are searching for answers. Most of the complications aren't really problematic, they're just fears and concerns that need an answer. So of course, the comments may seem negative but look at how many replies from successful bandster there are? As Mis73 said most of us would rather take our chances with the band than die from obesity. Think about how many comments this forum would receive if it could reach the heavens and allow the millions of people who have died an early death due to obesity? I think most of those comments would have been, woulda, coulda, shoulda? tmf

Sounds like your BMI is over 35 and you may have co-morbids so I don't see why not. Just make sure it's what you really want and there are no other options? Good luck. tmf

For some of us it's a fine line between slider food and band friendly food. Seems to me that if it doesn't get stuck now and then, it's band friendly? I think I'm still feeling my way around the foods that satiate me vs foods that get stuck or slide through. tmf

It's been said that the bandsters who fail are usually the ones who never go back to their doc or nutritionist. You may want to visit with you doctor again? Sounds like you could use a fill. You'll go on liquids for a few days after a fill. Do you think you've stretched your pouch? Or, do you not have enough restriction? I've never had your problem and haven't read about it here on the forum. But, it would seem like the way to shrink your pouch(if it's stretched), would be to completely unfill your band so that food passes through freely and you aren't eating so much that the pouch gets filled? I don't think 3-5 days is nearly enough. Maybe 6 weeks? Only your doctor can answer those questions with any confidence I would think? Still, you're down 80 or so lbs so that's a good thing. tmf

I eat Chipotle burritos occasionally and they go down fine. In fact, the chicken fajita is nearly a slider food for me. So, I eat maybe one a month. tmf

What part of Colorado are you in? I'm in the Denver Metro area. There are about 3 or 4 of us who post here. tmf

I don't usually crave any particular foods but Friday's seem to be tough on me. The wife and I have this tradition where I go to Chipotle's and get us two giant fajita burritos. Can't do that anymore but I still go and get her one. I'm having a salad and a fish dish tonight instead. Pizza! I work from home and I'm on the computer all day. I get so many pizza offers from Pizza Hut, DD's sourgough Pizza, Papa Johns, Papa Murphy's. And yes, I'd love a pizza. Maybe once I get to my first big goal of 175 lbs I might take a shot at it. tmf

I think the new BMI is 30 w/co-morbids. Some people could also be 100 lbs overweight and only expect to lose 50 or would be happy with 50. I know I felt this way. I told myself if I could go from 225 to 175, I'd be happy and satisfied even though I should go as low as 150. But, 175 would be fine by me. 5' 1' with a weight of 175 is 33.1 BMI. And losing 50 lbs to get to 125 could be all they expect with some of the co-morbids? tmf