2muchfun

My knees are shot so biking is my exercise of choice. The wife and I log about 60 miles a week and it is a great feeling. tmf

I've had many stuck episodes. I'm a slow learner and have a difficult time slowing down and taking smaller bites. But, most of my stuck episodes are minor and pass through in about 10 minutes. It's not painful for me, just some discomfort. It is difficult when it happens in a cafe and you have to excuse yourself to a bathroom stall to PB for 5 minutes. You will most likely experience a stuck episode but not until you have a fill or three. It's not a big deal. imo and in my experiences. tmf

Sounds like you are too tight. I'd ask to move up your appointment. tmf

Lecture? Sorry, I wasn't aware that you knew everything or I wouldn't have replied. People post on this forum all the time who have had the band for years and still don't understand how to eat or how their band works. And I too was just stating the facts. Sorry, I'm not the kind of guy who pats your head and tells you all will be better. Good luck and I think the unfill is a good idea. tmf

I drink a cup every morning with Equal or any other sweetener except stevia. Don't like the taste of it I don't add milk or cream. I do have a 4 shot latte three times every week too with about 9 ozs of milk. I don't really need it but one can't totally deprive themselves of every luxury and still enjoy life. tmf

The induced vomiting could be a real problem. You're a veteran and should know that the vomit convulsion can cause your band to slip right? If you want to lose those last 20 lbs you'll have to put up with a tight band and go back to eating slow, chewing big and eating small. I'd think .5 or maybe less unfill would lessen the stuck episodes but if you got the last fill to lose those extra lbs you may now have to diet to get there if you aren't going to follow the rules. Sorry to be so blunt but most of us who are still losing dozens and hundreds of lbs still have to follow the rules and by your own description you don't always follow the rules. Still, congrats on losing so much weight. You must be super happy now? tmf

Well, no one had responded and I thought, I should say something and that's what popped into my mind at that moment. Then I looked at it after posting it and thought, oooo, that's rather crude and maybe a little mean, but it's true. Seems like there are so many posts every day from people on these pre-op diets crying to the high heavens about how difficult it is and is it really necessary? I thought I'd just cut to the chase. Maybe it's my "Sheldon Cooper" showing? Sorry garza if I offended! I'm kindof a "just the facts" kindof guy. tmf

Yay, happy dance time! That means you are either in the green zone or nibbling very close. You've got restriction so now you start working on how to eat so that you feel satisfied with less food. It's a happy time isn't it? And don't worry, you'll get stuck again. It takes a while to relearn years of pigging out, not chewing, bad food selection, distracted eating and eating too fast. Eat small, chew big and do it slowly. tmf

I'm making an assumption. Have to post this comment for Snielsen from a fellow poster who I cannot 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!" tmf

Keep us posted. tmf

For how long? Prepare yourself to be deprived. It won't be fun but the reward will be worth it. Keep your eye on the golden ring. tmf

Hope you don't mind but I've been using your URL and the video on your site as an aide to new and wannabe bandsters? tmf

One more comment on this subject. When you go in for your fills, if you are not losing, ask to see the nutritionist. I thought I should be losing weight too, back when I was 4 month post op(12 lbs lost total first 4 mnths). She made some suggestions that made sense for me and from that point on I've lost 35 lbs in 4.5 months. The 3 fills helped too. tmf

Well that sucks! LOL..No really, it does. I know, it's hard to come to the forums and there are so many members posting glorious poundage being lost so you think why not me? Here's a post I made on another topic and it relates to this topic as well. "Yeah, it's disappointing when you realize the first 4-6 months are a learning process. I know I was disappointed. I had planned on being super skinny by now. HA! I think back to the seminars, doctor visits, some posts here and a few support groups I went to and I think I was informed but chose to wear my rose colored glasses and assumed I wouldn't be one of those slow losers and I'd be losing 10 lbs a month. What did Elvis say? "Fools rush in, where wise men never go"? Well, I don't feel foolish and I'm glad I did this. I think the rose colored glasses enabled me to make the big leap and had I known or thought that this was going to be so hard I may not have done it. But, I have no regrets now and I love my new life. Not looking back, only looking forward to a skinnier and healthier me. It will come for those of you who choose to stay the course and the course may not be that far away." tmf

Yeah, it's disappointing when you realize the first 4-6 months are a learning process. I know I was disappointed. I had planned on being super skinny by now. HA! I think back to the seminars, doctor visits, some posts here and a few support groups I went to and I think I was informed but chose to wear my rose colored glasses and assumed I wouldn't be one of those slow losers and I'd be losing 10 lbs a month. What did Elvis say? "Fools rush in, where wise men never go"? Well, I don't feel foolish and I'm glad I did this. I think the rose colored glasses enabled me to make the big leap and had I known or thought that this was going to be so hard I may not have done it. But, I have no regrets now and I love my new life. Not looking back, only looking forward to a skinnier and healthier me. It will come for those of you who choose to stay the course and the course may not be that far away. tmf

Mama, I believe most bandsters lose a few lbs after surgery and no need to be "Really Depressed" over this. No one tells you before surgery that you don't start losing fat till you get a few fills that give you enough restriction to feel satisfied with smaller meals much sooner. Your real journey will not start until you get closer to the green zone and that may take several fills and several months. So, no need to get depressed just yet, there's much more time to do that down the road. And, once you really start to lose weight, it will still only be 2-6 lbs a month. There may be some months where it's more or less but that is the average. sma5062, Only lost 13 lbs?? How could you be depressed over 13 lbs in 3 weeks? Many people would kill for that kind of success. You might want to lower your expectations? tmf

I would think that even for those of us who are in the green zone we would also be hungry after a shake or broth so I don't see any need to be concerned just yet. Wait till you're able to eat solids. You may find a new sensation with a "stuck" episode. tmf

Why subject yourself to so much torture? I have less appetite but I try to avoid situations like you describe. You'll be able to participate and can eat whatever foods you choose to eat or what foods your band tolerates but you will eat much less. Lasagna type foods are sliders and you can probably pig out on those. But why get the band if this is a routine you plan on continuing? Eating good food is fun, but living healthy and living longer kicks fun's butt. I too wrestled with my emotional dependence on food and it kept me from joining the band wagon for 2 years. Don't make that mistake. Here's a quote from a fellow bandster from another forum: 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

This may sound horrible but it's like the old saying: "Follow the Money". Banding is the least expensive of all bariatric surgeries. Nearly 1/3 the cost of sleeve, bypass etc. And I've heard of some surgeons who aren't very proficient with the band and may try to steer their patents to a surgery where the patient has less control over. Just my opinion of course. Doctors are human too. tmf

Could be either one. I've found that it took me over 6 months of living with this band to learn how to eat smaller, chew bigger and go slower. I'm still working on it. I got an unfill about 7 weeks ago and now I think I was fine, I just needed to follow the rules. I may have to go back in for one more tweak. If you have difficulties swallowing liquids you could be too tight. If not, and you are sliming over regular food, stop, slow down, eat small and chew big. tmf

I agree with Jackie, you may have heard 40 lbs but he may have said 40%. Try another seminar. Don't go with the first surgeon you see. Jen is right about the steak. Ribeye, tenderloin steak goes down fine as long as you obey the rules. Carbonated beverages are fine as long as you don't overdo it. I think they tell you to stay away from them because most obese people have a tendency to go way beyond 8 ozs and drink like litres of the stuff. I drink a soda pop or beer once or twice a week and no harm, no foul. But you should follow your Drs orders. tmf

It's where you have enough restriction that a small amount of food satisfies you for 3-4 hours. And, you are losing weight. I found this video on this nutritionists website that explains it better than I can. http://www.globalgastricbandsolutions.com.au/expert-advice/long-term-diet/ The whole video is good but the green zone part is at 4:50 into the video. tmf

You're still in bandster hell so you will remain hungry until you inch closer to the green zone with more fills. This is no different than a diet prior to surgery. Once you're in the green zone, fruit will help you get from one meal to the next but until then bananas are fairly high on the glycemic index chart so they'll digest quicker. For now, if you choose fruit that is lower in the GI such as apples and pears, harder fruits, you may be satiated a little longer because they stay in your pouch longer and take longer to digest. But not much. tmf

Anything but steak or any kind of meat that requires a lot of chewing. You're still so new to this that you could get stuck and that would be no fun. Like Hummingbird said, you can eat Soups and salads. I've never been one to eat out a lot so when I do I try to stick to chicken breast or seafood. tmf

"I'm so stinkin happy with my weight loss...I don't care what I can't eat" Pink Dahlia For most of us, what we choose not to eat is offset by the new life we've created. There is so much more to life than cake, Cookies, cheeseburgers and fries. Choose to live healthy. I have no regrets. tmf