amberstar

Ahhh restriction... what a lovely feeling

Don't freak out, we ALL go thru this. Just do the best you can until your fill. And truth be told, your first fill probably won't give you great restriction either. I don't think your doc is going to expect big numbers from you in the beginning. Just do your best until you get restriction, you're not the only one, we've all been there. good luck!

Amen! love your post

Thats a good idea! I am scale crazy!! I weigh every day and get so bummed if it doesn't move. So I think I'll have my hubby hide it too, lol

I've had all the embaressing moments one could imagine... hiding the seatbelt on an airplane could fasten myself on a roller coaster and had to get off overhearing my grandparents discuss how much i eat my lil bro saw some pics of me when i was younger, and exclaimed "look how skinny you were!". in front of my boyfriend, no less! and just few months ago someone thought i was pregnant i CANNOT wait till i no longer have to worry about this kind of stuff just and i can just LIVE!!

Yeah I would wait. I felt fine after about a week of complete rest. And with a wedding coming up, you won't have time to rest! And you'll be on liquids, that means no wedding cake!! No food at your reception or honeymoon. I just got married last year, and I couldn't even imagine dealing with surgery and doc apppointments at that time. But good luck with whatever you decide, hope you have a wonderful wedding!!

Thanks Donna, I do have good friends. I guess we all just get down at times and see the worst.

Well we were banded almost the same day and it sounds like you're doing great!! But I had the same feeling today, I think I was meant to read your post. It made me feel better to know I wasn't alone. I went shopping with my best friends today, normally something I avoid due to the fact they are toothpicks, lol. Past couple weeks I've been feeling so good!! Losing weight, my pants are really baggy! But then today, as you said, it was a slap in the face. I still have such a way to go. I couldn't shop in the same stores they did. They were all trying on cute heels, and I wouldn't cuz I knew my feet wouldn't fit into them :rose: Standing next to them in the mirror was very sad to me. And to top it all off, I haven't seen them in probably 1 to 2 months, and no one said anything about my weight loss. So I guess I'm so fat they can't even tell when I've lost almost 40lbs!! Anyway, enough of the pity party, lol. I hope too that this is just a phase. I'm gonna get back to my plan of action tomorrow and keep on trucking. I wish you the best of luck. Don't get too down on yourself. Pull out your pics pre-band and compare them to the recent ones, I'm sure that will make you feel better at all you've accomplished!!

I'm so glad I didn't tell everyone I know. My loss started off slow and I didn't want everyone thinking "gah, did she even have the surgery?". So alot of my friends and some family don't know. I just tell them I've cut back on my portions, which is not lying, lol.

The surgery is definitely worth it to me. You don't "have" to change your diet if you don't want to. But most of us choose to help the band along and be healthier, so we adjust our diet. The band just controls the portion size, not what you put in it. But some banders do have problems with bread and certain meats, it's harder to get down. It does take a while to get restriction. It took me 4months. But everyone is different. Some come out of surgery with good restriction already. The surgery is not for everyone, it's a very big decision. There is alot of info on this website and I'm sure that will help you make the right decision for you. For me, it has helped so much. I still eat pizza and burgers from time to time. But I can't eat the amount I used to by any means! lol. Once I really started seeing the scale move, I wanted to make it move faster! So I do eat healthier now, I have cut back alot on my fast food, and I try to go for walks a couple times a week. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Hey, don't be too hard on yourself, there are many out there that are having a hard time. I know old habits die hard, thats why it's so very important to keep getting your fills! Those were the key for me! The first few months of my surgery I lost VERY slow. But in January I got my 5th fill, and finally restriction! Since then it's coming off so much faster. And when you see the scale move, it MAKES you want to do better. And I know no one likes to work out, but it does help! And I actually feel so much better about myself when I do, it's a total ego boost!! And since your sister has the band too, she sounds like a good work out partner! Even if you can get out and walk a couple times a week, thats better than nothing. I HATE going to the gym, but I try to make myself go at least once a week, and hopefully I'll build up to more. But the past couple of months I've been taking my dog on long walks too, and I really feel so much better about myself when I do. Even if the scale doesn't move. Get refocused, get moving, get some good restriction going, and find some food you enjoy thats not going to undo all your hard work! Hang in there! And if you have any questions feel free to ask

I didn't get to have a "last supper". I went for my consultation and they booked my surgery for 2wks later, I had to go on liquids immediately! I was so bummed, I cried for a week because I didn't get to have that last "stuff my face" day. But what I didn't understand, was that I can still have some of my fav foods. Like others have stated, you just have way smaller portions. I can't have a half gallon of ice cream at one sitting anymore, lol. Now I have one weight watchers ice cream. You find ways to work around it so you don't feel deprived. BUT if I had made a last supper, it would have been chicken fried chicken, mashed potatoes, maccaroni, and rolls from the Texas Roadhouse!!!

My fav recipe (for when dinner is getting a little bland) is 3-4 chicken breasts, throw them in a crock pot. Add in 1 can of cream of chicken, 1 can of rotel. A little cilantro (sp?). Set on med hi for about 5 hrs. Serve on a bed of brown rice, yummmm! Don't know if this would work for all banders, I know many have problems getting chicken down. But cooked this way it's very moist and easy for me!

Yeah my doc only has me wait 30min to an hour after eating before I drink anything. 3 hrs sounds way too long!!

I would def get a fill!! But don't freak out. Even if you're at 5cc. I took me 7.2cc to get good restriction. And once you get it, the band will keep you from overeating. Unless you push it, but that will be painful. Just get a fill and see how you do

I once lost 4 lbs overnight, I don't know how I did it either. Our bodies are a mystery, lol

I have the same problem from time to time. My nurse said I wasn't getting enough fiber now that my portions have reduced. I got some fiber that you mix in your bottled water, can't taste it and it definitely helps. I try to drink one a day.

Watch your calories, drink lots of water, and lots of cardio. Always works for me!

If you can't keep down ANYTHING, I would def go back asap. But sometimes mine does loosen a little after 24-48hrs. Just don't go too long. My aunt did that, she thought it would loosen and waited like 5 days, she got severely dehydrated and very sick. Finally she went for an unfill. Even half a cc can make a big difference.

I eat snacks definitely. But I try to make good choices. Like 100 calorie snacks, or a small weight watchers ice cream, apple slices, sugar free fat free pudding and jello are good too.

I was right at 300lbs when I went for my first consultation. (gosh, i think thats the first time i've admitted that). I can't even think about the 100's yet. I know I'll get there, and you will too. But I try to focus on smaller goals, like 10lbs at a time. If I think about how long it'll take me to get to my ultimate goal of 175lbs, I'll be depressed every time I get on the scale. lol. I've lost 33lbs, I just get excited everytime I go down a number, from the 290's to 280's, now I'm in the 260's! yay! Good luck with your surgery!!

If there was any way to wait longer, I would. But if you can't I would at least go a size or even two down. If you've lost 45 so far, thats great, and you'll prob keep going. Maybe a size 14? Then if it was too small you could have it let out a little, or if it was too big it wouldn't take much to take it in. Just my opinion. But I would say definitely order it smaller, whether it's a size or two down. Congrats on your engagement!

AW thank you Kaninag! And congrats on your weight loss! Can't wait till I'm there!

I had a NSV a couple days ago! My mom, who is super skinny, has never been a "complimenter", lol. Never has really told me I was having a good hair day, or she's ever noticed when I've lost weight before, yada yada. But she's awesome anyway. So, I went out of town for 2wks. She came over when I got back, and when she walked in she said "Well hey there SLIM!". And I just said hey and walked into the kitchen, she followed me and said again "how's it going slim?". I guess she wanted to make sure I heard her. She said she could really tell I had lost. I was fighting back the tears cuz my mommy called me slim! haha. I loved it!

Can we not drink alcohol, or shouldn't drink?? I don't remember my doc saying anything about it. I know I probably shouldn't due to calories. But should we not for other reasons?? I have a girls trip planned to New Orleans at the end of the month, I was planning tossing back a few! And I understand your embaressment, I feel the same way, which is the reason I haven't told everyone I had the surgery.