Buffie

Kim, I was eating normally, I mean I COULD eat normally if I let myself. It felt like I hadn't had the surgery at all, no restriction.

Ok, so I exercise 6x a week, 50 minutes of cardio each day and weight training 3x a week. So I'm going to keep that up and I'm going to challenge myself to lose 10 pounds in August. Good luck to all!

Hi everyone again, I'm at 5 cc in my 10 cc band now and going for yet another fill on Tuesday. Could everyone please tell me what fill level they're at and if they're feeling restriction at that level and how many hours they feel comfortable after a meal?

Hi Kim, I had my surgery at the Toronto Lapband Center, after surgery I was on clear fluids for 1 week, full fluids for the next 2 weeks, blended food for the next 2 weeks. I was on real food before my fill.

Way to go Cloe, you ROCK!!

I know things seem hopeless right now (God knows we've ALL been there), but I promise you that you'll feel a sense of peace after your surgery, just knowing you have REAL help with your weight loss efforts makes a world of difference. It's really hard for me to describe how it feels for me, it's almost like it gives me the strength to keep going and try and stay away from all the garbage I love to eat. I feel restriction now after my second fill, it's so weird to eat so little and feel so full. It's like a miracle, literally. I had my surgery at the TLBC and went through the cottage cheese/yogurt diet as well. The first couple of days were hard but you'll get used to it and you'll make it. You're worth it, you can do it..once your weight loss begins you'll feel SO much better, I promise. GO FOR IT!!!

Yep, I'm in Cloe.

Hi Elizabeth, it'll be a week between fills, hopefully that will work out ok! I think I'll try 2 cc today, maybe 1.5 and see what happens. Thanks for listening!

Congratulations Mandi, enjoy your time with your man. I never had any 'time' with my man, we were pregnant like 2 months after we started dating...JUST DON'T GET PREGNANT FOR AWHILE AND THINGS WILL BE GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kim, I'm only recently banded but can tell you that so far it was the right choice. It sounds like you NEED to start taking care of yourself FIRST, and this surgery will help you to get on your way. I have 2 kids, a 22 month old and a 6 year old, and my life is so hectic and utterly devoted to those kids that I was drowning in my own fat. I had no other choice than to go through with the surgery, there were no other options left for me. Get the surgery and start thinking about yourself, you're worth it. And of course we all know, HAPPY MOM, HAPPY KIDS. Go for it.

HI everyone. My fill went well, she got it right away. It felt weird and tight for the day, but now I'm ready for another fill. I have 4 cc now and I want 3 more when I go tomorrow for another fill. I'll have to have her withdraw all the Fluid to make sure there's 4 cc in there now. I'm not really having much restriction, GOD I HOPE THIS STARTS TO WORK WITH ME...I'm getting discouraged. If I didn't have scars, I wouldn't even know I've had the surgery. I can still eat anything and everything. I want to be able to eat 1/2 cup to a cup of food and feel good for a few hours. I have a question about fills, does anyone know what the maximum fill amount should be for a 10 cc band? I've called Kathy twice in Toronto and no call back yet, I'm going tomorrow for another fill and I'm not sure how much to have put in. Is 7 cc too much? How is everyone else doing?

You Can Do It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can eat anything and great quantities, that's how I know I need my first fill *sigh Mandi, my family doctor is going to do here in S'toon. I guess I should emphasize the word TRY.

Like Mandi said, I'm in SK, I'm hoping my fam doc can handle my fills. If not I'll go to Edmonton I guess. So 5 cc for the first fill, got it. Thanks everyone, y'all are great. I've been eating like the old days for the past 4 days and I feel so ashamed...thank God every day is a new start. I hope my fill helps.

Well, I'm officially having no restriction at all, anything that I had is now gone and I can eat anything and everything. I'm going for my first fill on Wed with my fam doc (God help us both, she's never even heard of the band) and I'm PRAYING I'll have some restriction. Am I supposed to be fasting for fills? What am I supposed to eat after the fill on the same day? How much did everyone receive on their first fills and was it enough? I have a Mid-band. I ate about half a bean and salsa salad at Taco Time at lunch and I ate about 1/3 of the shell (I should have just ordered it without the damn shell)...I shouldn't have done that, I feel guilty now. By the way, they changed the salads at Taco Time, they're no longer small, they're pretty big, so I ate a lot. Thanks everyone

I agree, we should plan something too.

Hi everyone, it's been awhile! I'm so friggin busy lately with work and the kids I haven't had time to log on. How's everyone doing? I saw a personal trainer a couple of days ago, and I SUCK!!!

Hmmmm. So I have 3/4 c soup (they're around 100-150 calories per cup) for lunch and some tomato juice, the same for supper and some kind of drink for a snack in the evening (sugar free). I've only lost 8 pounds since surgery (12 days). I'm SO confused, I was consuming about 100-200 calories per day for the week after surgery, and now I'm under 400 calories per day...if I'm losing this little amount of weight on this amount of calories, how am I ever going to graduate to real food again and take in like 1200 calorires per day and lose ANY weight? I feel like I've been starving every day for and not losing very much weight. I lost 22 pounds pre-op. Sorry if I'm rambling.

Carol, how many calories did you take in on the full Fluid stage in a day? I'm only taking in about 400/day right now, how many should I be taking in? Thanx Carol.

Elizabeth, what can I mix with the Ricotta cheese that's good?

Ok Carol, THAT sounds good. Can I put a little frozen fruit in for flavour? I'm stopping at Safeway on the way home, I can't TAKE ANY MORE SOUP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi everyone, I need some ideas on the full fluids stage, I'm almost through my first week of it and I'm sick of just Soup. Is there anything else besides yogurt, pudding, popsicles, soup or nutritional supplements that will work? I still have a week left and I need some ideas. What else can be put through the blender that would work that tastes good? Thanks!

Good luck! See you on the other side!

Jeez, that SUCKS. I think that's really scary that the CLINIC can't even carry out fills sometimes, it makes me wonder about my family MD who doesn't even know anything about the procedure at all. Sorry you had such a crappy time, good luck with your next appt!

Good luck with your 3rd fill, I love hearing about everyone's experiences with their band and the fill process, I have no idea what to expect, although I do have a long wait until my first fill anyway. Did ANYONE have restriction without a fill and never have to get a fill? Is this just a myth?