2muchfun

I've always noticed the restriction as soon as i was allowed to eat solids. Maybe 2-3 days. Just remember that with each fill you may have to re-learn your eating skills and hone them to work with your band. It can take several weeks to make that adjustment. tmf

I probably could have stoppped at 5 but went back for #6. I'm in the green zone and hope to stay there for a while. tmf

I agree with Fantasy. There's a Soup package in the grocery store for "Egg Drop Soup". It's really just broth with an egg added to it. So you get some Protein and the broth which is a little thicker than normal broth but it would be considered a liquid. imo I continued to use it after the liquid stage and added bean sprouts, diced chicken meat, sriracha and green onions for a nice gentle meal that came in handy for the days following a fill. tmf

Lassie, sure you can use the dark meat. I like dark meat during my meal but I use the white meat to make the chicken salad. You could reverse that but just be aware that dark meat has a higher fat content and go easy. tmf

I love costco rotisserie chicken. It's usually bigger than the regular chicken in a grocery store. But, I too do the same. I add curry to mine but I'm going to try the paprika cuz I love paprika. I also use plain lowfat yogurt in place of the sour cream. I don't puree anything anymore but I mince it good. The dark chicken that's left over makes an easy meal once you're beyond the mushie stage and can eat solids. Good Post! tmf

Only 30 lbs? Now you're just braggin! tmf

'So i'm going to take this fustration & start working out more on the weekends and try to squeeze in extra time in the mornings before work . Thanks TMF.... I needed that. ' I think that this weight loss thing is 20% fitness and 80% diet. You can't out-train bad eating habits. Just remember that. I know how hard it is, a lifetime of poor eating habits and bad food choices doesn't go away overnight. I still crave cheeseburgers and chicken fried steak. And I'm going to have those when I reach my goal. But when I do, it won't be a giant plate with the food hanging over the sides. It will be in total moderation. tmf

How about, what if I don't do it? tmf

Need more info? Are you vomitting, PBing? What are you eating? How much have you lost? Restriction? tmf

I googled bariatric doctors in Chicago and got a ton of hits. I've found that some patients love their doctors and after I went to their seminars, I didn't like that doctor as much or, their staff totally sucked. The bariatric industry is riddled with lousy support staffs. It seems like it's a requirement in the medical professions. Find 3-6 bariatric doctors and visit their websites. Call or make a reservation for one of their seminars. Go to as many as you can. You'll get a better idea of who they are and if you are comfortable with the doc and the staff. tmf

I like what Jenjaw had to say. I too have been a lifelong dieter and I think I know the nutrition rules and how my body works with and reacts to the food I consume. My nutritionist really helped me to get over a hump back in March so i agree, sit down with your nutritionist. And, of course you can meet your goals but no one is going to do it for you. Your band is a tool and if you don't use it as it's designed, then you're on your own and it's just another diet. And we all know how well diets work without the tool. tmf

Oh yeah, the knees are better(but not great) and with another 40 lbs lost, maybe tennis is back in my future. tmf

So, why do you think you aren't losing? Slider foods, sugar/sweets, ice cream, restriction? Calories per day? tmf

Yummmmm! I love cheeseburgers. Haven't dared to have one in a few months but Maybe next year? Manly food!

Are you on pain meds? Pain meds shut me down. Closes off the lower stomach sphincter so nothing goes through. Or, you've got a lot of swelling. tmf

I had the same problem when I was filled on May 11th. It's taken me 3 weeks now to re-learn how to eat with my band. I was eating too fast and chicken and beef are a real problem. So, no steak only hamburger now. No dry chicken or leftover fish. I'm making it work but if you're eating right, you may need a small unfill. tmf

So, I went to our city rec center today to play some racquetball with an old friend. I had to give it up several years ago because my knees suck and they just couldn't handle the quick starts and stops. I had to renew my ID card. The gal asked me if I wanted to take a new picture and I said naw, I'm good with the one I have on my old ID. She said, "You should, you lost a lot of weight". WOO HOO! Gotta love it! tmf

OK, it's time for the Gipper to step in and slap you two around. YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE. WHAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING IS NORMAL. IT HAPPENED TO ME AND IT HAPPENS TO PROBABLY 50%(swag) OF BANDSTERS. NOW GET OUT THERE AND DON'T GIVE UP!!! Seriously, I had 4 fills before I finally started to feel some restriction and now I'm up to #6 and I'm in the green zone. I too felt like you except the failure part. I was very discouraged. I know a couple of people who were banded after me and they had lost 50 and 70 lbs each. I didn't feel like a failure but I was disappointed and pissed. Keep going back for fills and make sure you're not eating slider foods. It will come. The force is powerful with this one. tmf

At this stage my doc and nutritionist allowed me to eat deli turkey and chicken. I tried beef and ham and they were still too rough to get down. Salmon was on my list as was orange roughy and cod. I'm in the green zone now and salmon is one of my favs. Although I've learned to cook just enough to eat and no leftovers. Some leftovers tend to be too dry and get stuck no matter how much I chew. tmf

I hate reading these stories. I so feel for you. I'm so excited about my journey and I would be crushed if something similar happened to me. I want this so badly and for me it's the only way I'll ever be thin again. And thin or "not fat" is health for me. Somehow you have to get back up on that horse and ride it again. Think about your health, your family, your partner. It's just another hill for you to climb but if you did it once, you can do it again right? Keep in touch with the Dr's nutritionist. For me, she was the difference between failure and success just 3 months ago. Be honest with her/him and spill your guts about what you eat and how you eat. Something went wrong, not saying it was you, but don't let it be you! tmf

I was hungry the next day 11/30/2011. And it continued till March 15th 2012.

There's also a fine line between stuck and restriction/satiety. Like Mis73 said, stuck is eating too fast etc. But you can have the proper restriction and if you aren't following the rules, your band will tell you. If you've just had a fill and you're getting stuck, understand that you must re-learn how to eat with your band all over again. I know for me each fill created a new challenge. I thought I was too tight but after reading time and time again on this forum that we all need to eat slow, eat small and chew big I'm now a greenie. tmf

Banded 11/28/11 and as of March 15th(nearly 4 mos) I had lost 12 lbs. Fill #4 changed my eating habits as did #5 & #6. From March 15th to now I've lost 21 lbs. A visit with my nutritionist helped me make better food choices and I ramped up my exercise routine. I think so many of us go into this hearing how some people lose 10-12 lbs a month and I know I ignored the ones who said they lost 5 lbs a month and didn't lose any in some months. I knew that wouldn't be me. I too was discouraged but now I'm excited about my weight loss. You will be too if you just hang in there. If you are not feeling restriction and can still eat too much I'd advise another fill. Small fill maybe? tmf

OK, if it's up to me, I say yes, you can join the LBP(lap band party) again. tmf

I don't remember having an orientation? You mean with your doctor or pre-op consult with a nurse? tmf