2muchfun

You won't feel a thing unless you eat something that gets stuck due to the extra restriction. And usually you don't find restriction with a first fill. But you could be one of the lucky ones? tmf

I'll pile on. food log definitely. Then, see a nutritionist. This is very important. At 3.5 months I had only lost 12 lbs(all the first 2 weeks). I sat down with my nutritionist($40) and she noted that there was about 250 calories a day I was consuming that had no nutritional benefit. I compromised and went back to 2 lattes a week, no beer and a couple of other indulgences. 250 X 30=7500 fewer calories per month. That's 2 extra lbs lost. I ramped up my exercise routine and have now lost 25 lbs in the last 3 months. You admit you don't exercise? In my opinion, that's a must. But you can't out-train a lousy diet. See a nutritionist. It's worth every penny if losing weight is at all important to you? btw-at 6 months I was only down 32 lbs so it's not too late. tmf

1. Is there any specific foods you can't eat because you can't tolerate them? (not because they aren't good for you) None. I can eat most meats as long as I make the bites small and i chew adequately. Bread can be a problem if I wolf it down. But nothing that is totally non-tolerable. 2. Very random, and may sound stupid, but can you do all the rides at amusement parks, I mean before the band my tummy use to feel all funny (in a good way) so just wondering because I love park rides! I hate amusement parks! 3. After reaching your goal weight, have any of you thought to either completely unfill your band, or have it removed voluntarily to avoid future issues? (erosion, slippage etc) Maybe unfill one notch! 4. Is there something I should be asking that I am not, or something that you never thought about that you couldn't or weren't able to do? Are you kidding? Look at your list? 5. Is there anyone who didn't have to get a fill ever? I mostly see people with anywhere from 4-6 fills, and I am self pay and that cost just freaks me out. Yes, not me, but I've seen some who didn't but it's rare. 6 fills for me. 6. After getting a fill, how long are you on the liquid diet again? Just 48 hrs for me. 7. As of now it is very painful and uncomfortable to cough, let alone throw up, so anyone who has vomited is it painful, or just how it use to be before getting banded. I am terrified of throwing up! I've never thrown up and I fear it too. 8. What exactly is a PB, I know it stands for 'productive burp' but what does that mean?!? A PB is a burp that includes some foods that may have become stuck in your pouch. You want to spit this crap out. 9. What is slime or sliming? Sounds nasty. I would be so embarrassed if that happened at a restauraunt...I think? When you eat too fast or get some food stuck your body secretes a lot of mucous that looks like the slime you may have seen in Ghostbusters. It's there to help your food pass through your esophogus and band but with we bandsters the slime can back up into your upper sphincter and bubbles up into your mouth. Spitting this out will help reduce the pain of being stuck. Swallowing it again will only increase the pressure in your pouch and can be very uncomfortable. I slimed at Carrabas last night and had to go into a bathroom stall for 5 minutes to spit up the slime and some bread I had consumed. Yes, it's gross. 10. Is there anyone else who only had around 50-55 lbs to lose? At what rate did you lose your weight? And what was your diet and exercise routine? I have about 75 lbs to lose and I've lost 37 so far. I lose an average of 6-8 lbs a month now that I'm in the green zone. I don't count calories but I'm aware of how much I eat and I keep it around 1200-1400/day. I exercise heavily. Cycling about 60 miles a week and working out in my gym 5 days a week with a very intense 20 minute workout each time.

Honk, I was on soft foods at day 8 till day 30. My doc also didn't have a pre-op diet for me except one day before I went on liquids. tmf

You may want to wait till your 4-6 week checkup to make that decision. If you don't need a fill, don't get one. But if you are trying to be macho and plan on doing this alone without the help of your newly installed tool, reconsider. If you're like most of us you'll be entering bandster helll soon and that can make a huge difference in your thought process. Check back in two weeks and let us know how the "diet" is coming? One more item? If you fear the needle, let that thought go bye-bye. Fills are not anything like getting a shot or drawing blood. It's like having your 2 year old niece pinch you. tmf

It's on there twice. Maybe you should look at your settings and you have signatures on ignore? tmf

Cazzy's right. But don't put negative thoughts in your head like this. You don't know if you are a slow loser yet. 18 lbs in one month is outstanding, but you do know it's mostly Water weight you've lost? I know you don't mean to set yourself up for slow weight loss but get that thought out of your head. After the first 3-4 months, you could say we're all slow losers. Most of us only lose 4 lbs a month. Before I was banded, I would think that was very slow. But now, I'm OK with it, but I'll push for 6-8 lbs/mo as hard as I can. No excuses! tmf

PROS: Live Longer Live to see your kids grow up You've tried every other diet or trick known to mankind and none work Fit into a size 10 or less Fit into an airplance seat without rubbing shoulders with your neighbor Go up 10 flights of stairs without keeling over Hookup with a hot guy Participate in physical activities like softball, tennis, cycling, hiking, long walks on the beach(with a hot guy) No longer be a slave to your food addictions Find a life outside of your love for food Come on this forum and advise others because you want to give back Did I mention "Find a hot guy" nuf said tmf

Snyder is about $10K. Fran Chae, about the same. If you are self pay check out Dr Georgescu too. Snyder probably has the most successful practice in Denver and the most experience. But their staff sucks big time. At least for me they did. Disappointing because I like the doctor. Although they do make you feel like you're on an assembly line. Chae, is in South Denver and is good, has probably the least amount of pre-op and post-op rules of all the docs I've seen. I used him and I'm satisfied. Johnell and Georgescu are in North Denver to Ft Collins area. I've heard good things about them too. Google bariatric doctors in Denver and you should see a complete list. Or, click on the button at the top of this page labeled surgeons and then surgeons in your area or denver area. Go to a few of their seminars and you should get a feeling for the one you like. tmf

Wait a couple of weeks and try some different foods in that time. It takes some of us many fills to find that green zone. I didn't have any restriction till fill #3 and then it was only with some foods and only if I wolfed it down. I didn't find the green zone till fill #6. You may find with every fill that you have to relearn how to eat certain foods again. But it may take more fills. Doctors like to sneak up on restriction and it seems like a waste of time but this is a time for you to learn how communicate with your band even if it's not responding yet. It will, in time. Good luck. tmf

There are 2-3 posts just like this every day. You shouldn't be concerned about weight loss yet. You are still in the healing phase. Only when you get a fill and find restriction will you start to lose "fat". I emphasise the word "fat" because up to this point, the weight you've lost is mostly Water weight. That's not a bad thing but you won't lose fat weight till you reach your green zone unless you diet to the extreme. And, you will only be losing 2-6 lbs per month, max, after you squeeze out all the excess water your fat cells have been hoarding for years. tmf

I ride about 60 miles a week but I've never invested in a comfortable bike seat. I may have to look into this. Thanks for the reminder. tmf

Many people have posted they are nervous and some want to bail. I wasn't nervous because I knew this was the only avenue left for me to be what I wanted to be. if you're sure, there is no doubt. If you think you have other ways to lose weight, maybe you should try those first? But, if you've tried them(most of us have), make that commitment and erase all doubts. tmf

Lola, I'm older than you but we're the same height and weight pre surgery. I lost 12 lbs the first 2 weeks and no loss the following 3 months. Not till my 3rd fill did I start to feel restriction and not till fill 6 did I find the green zone. I've lost 37 lbs now. You're still in the healing phase and shouldn't be concerned with weight loss right now. It's quite common to lose weight right after surgery and then plateau for a while shortly after. You should be due for a fill in the next 3 weeks? You have much to learn about how your band works with your body and your food choices. It's not as black and white as we were told in seminars. Stay tuned and keep reading as much as you can. This is the best place to learn. tmf

"What have I done?" You've taken a big step towards extending your life and leading a much healthier one at the same time. tmf

30 days for my doc.

Prolapse? What is that? Sorry, that's a new term for me? tmf

cfurrey, why do you have 4 tickers? tmf

Don't be concerned with weight loss just yet. The first 30 days is a time for healing. Most of the weight you lose the first 30 days is Water, but it's still weight so it's a good thing. You won't see much loss of fat until you find restriction or if you diet heavily before you get that one fill that gives you the restriction you need to enter the green zone. BTW-Many bandsters stall around week 2 so just be aware it's a normal thing. Cross your fingers you are one of the lucky ones who find restriction from just the band. tmf

Tiff, You're a celebrity!! Awesome results! tmf

The amount of CC's is irrelevent. Some people find the green zone with 1-2 CCs and some need 13. Your doctor is one of those docs who likes to sneak up on restriction. In some ways it's better because you learn so much about your body and how it works with the band. You also learn healthy eating habits as you go along. I had to endure 6 fills and of course, in hindsight I would have preferred to just go right to fill # 5 and then #6. But I learned some valuable lessons along the way. By fill #3 I was starting to seem some restriction with some foods and how I ate those foods. By #4 and #5 I really learned how to eat and what to eat. Each fill made me relearn the eating process such as chewing, smaller bites, slowing down my eating process and what foods my band would tolerate and liked. You know, you don't have to just follow your docs regiment. You have the option of demanding a larger fill. I wouldn't do it if you are starting to feel some restriction or are having difficulty passing some foods through your band? If you are always hungry and can eat whatever you want, you are in bandster hell still. All your doc can say is no right? Sometimes you have to be assertive with your physician. tmf

I really never paid attention to that 4 oz a meal rule. I've been dieting for so many years I pretty much know how many calories I can eat and what food/meals will accomplish that goal. And tracking calories for me is so time consuming and I don't have the time. For me, all the meal planning, preparation and obsessing about food only makes me think of food. This causes me to be hungry all the time and I really don't like that feeling. I probably consume about 1200-1400 calories a day and I don't feel deprived. I like it that way. I know many bandsters follow the rules most of the time and it works for them but we're all individuals and must find our way through this maze in our own way. So to answer your question, no I don't. I find that if I eat healthy foods such as salads, chicken, salmon, veggies, I keep that calorie intake low. And the band keeps me from eating toomuch. Thank you band! BTW-How many cc's you have in your band is irrelevent. Some people have only 2-3 ccs and find the green zone. And if you eat healthy Snacks and you are satisfied after each meal, no need for a fill. tmf

Relax! One or two days with very little Protein is not a big concern. Just try to keep hydrated and sip your Protein shakes as you go along. Your body is trying to heal from the trauma of surgery and we all have plenty of reserves the body can burn to stay healthy. tmf

30 days for me(first fill). Some restriction post op but that went away in 2 weeks. Most of us go into bandster hell* the first month and stay there till we get the fill that gives us restriction. That could be 0-13 fills. It took 3 fills to feel some restriction and 6 to get me to the green zone. *Bandster Hell=Your band is not filled with very much saline at surgery time so the opening to your stomach is large. Swelling from the trauma of surgery does give most bandsters a feeling of restriction for up to 30 days. Most bandsters feel as if they can eat as much as before surgery and can eat the same foods as before surgery. For some reason hunger seems to be more intense. This is a time to start training yourself by eating healthy foods and abstaining from sugars, fats and simple carbs. Most people try to eat lots of veggies, low fat meats and eat in moderation. Remember: "It's just a diet until you have restriction" tmf

When I finally pulled the trigger and decided to go for the band, I knew I was giving up my 2nd love of my life. Food! I gave up food so I could be there when my kids finish school and I also wanted to be there when my grandkids needed someone or I needed them. You've gotta love your children and family more than food to make this work. I know I did and I have no regrets. tmf