YngGram

I keep it simple at Wal-Mart. In the beginning I did some of the kid stuff, but not I don't have a problem so I go with adult. Had to learn to make it work because my BP meds couldn't be cut and I have to take them. I do Biotein, B6, B12 and Calcium as well as a multi. This is because of other issues I have. I do an Iron table weekly, cause it does bind me up. Found sizes that I thought I could handle and no problems.

The first thing I do is STRECH and do deep breaths! It seems to always help me get more air in. My other key is that I always carry Papaya Enzyme tablest. They are chewable and 3 or 4 work fast for relief. They even work on heartburn/indigestion. I get them at Wal-Mart.

Make sure you drink the Water. It can help flush you. It's the change in diet, Many have runs from the liquid diet and mushies, not me I went the other way . Water solved it.

As I understand it from research for DH diabetes, whole grain foods work our digestive systems really well. I don't have trouble with any all the time. Seldom do I bother with it, but on the times I have it's worked. Usually I do cinimion bread toasted, pick at cheese biscuts and can handle a bun from the grill. There are many times that it doesn't work. But I am like that with many foods. Today I couldn't eat a fruit coctail.

Gas woke me my first night home, I was up out of bed like the house was on fire. I wakled the hall for about 30min. each time it happened. It does get better.However, I do somethime have gassy days, and recently learned that I was eating to fast. Slowed it down and no gas this week.

Cheer up girl! I got a few years on you, but our other numbers are about the same. I was an overnight stay and I think that helped me. I was good the day I went home, I live over an hour from the hospital and napped when I got in. Later that eveing I went out to watch my DH play pool. I also went the next to nights. The first week and few days went just fine. THEN, I got tired. I was glued to the sofa and I just had no energy or strenght. It lasted a few days and then was gone. Each of us will have a different experience, but try to follow the doc's intructions and you should be fine. I did some pre work, just because I know I am hard-headed and don't make changes easily. I went to my seminar in Nov. and started my changes then. I gave up sweet tea and lost 4 pounds in a week. I added the "new" habits until my surgery in March. Using the smaller plates, without seconds was a big one for me. You can, and will do this.

The feeling was so good, I cried! I stil smile everytime I reach for the towel and it's not "beach" sized.

First take a breath and relax. It happens to many people, for me I had to make "friends" with the band. If you don't like it, you can't work with it. You are doing so much more than I did, I really didn't watch the calories because I didn't want to be on a diet. I choose the lapband because I didn't want to be on a diet. I walk when I can, which isn't often. Some things that might help. I LOVE chocolate, so I use chocolate Protein Drinks, I use the low fat fudgecicles, 100 cal Oreo bites. Drinking the Water is really important, it helps to flush as well as hydrate you. Recently read that whole grains help in weight loss. I can eat a burger and ff, but have to just say no.I have eaten them in the last 2 months, but right now my body WILL NOT take bread. It did, but doesn't now. I think I am tighter in warmer weather. I do have rice, gravy and Pasta. But I try to keep it on a salad plate and no seconds. A treat for me if coffee, which I recently have been overdoing so I cut that today. Since I love the international Creamers I end up with to many liquid Cas (5 cups), Also coffee really chases away my hunger, then I don't eat what or when I should. So my body thinks it's starving and holds onto everything I do eat. Sweet tea kicks my butt, so that's out today also. When I first started, I gave up the tea and lost 4 lbs. in one week, with that as the only change. I know the rules and the ones I break daily. My problem is that even though I am not at the goal I set over 2 years ago I am very happy with how I look and the fact that I am in a size 12 rather than a 22. I am in restart mode right now, so I will be tying a little harder for the next few weeks. The hope is that I will start loosing again since I don't think I need a fill, today's lunch didn't go down well. I try to eat what th family does and just watch the portions. Keep working and you will be just fine.

The need for a fill should be based on how soon you get hungry, not how much you can eat. My doc recommended 1/2c of food. Protion control is key. I was told 1/2c, but has never worked for me, closer to 3/4 and I am good. I'm sure 2c is to much. Make sure you let the doc know how much you're getting in. Hope you are keeping a food log.

I keep the Papya Enzyme Tablets at all times! They are great for indigestion & heartburn as well as those times when it feels like something is there but won't come up. My DH sometimes will get HB eating Mexican and that works right away. Walmart carries them.

I think this is great. It means first that you are following the rules the way you should; and that is the hardest part for most of us. Second, you may be one of the lucky ones who won't need a fill until or if you hit the plateau. This seems like a lot for a month, but as long as you are getting in what you need, and are feeling good, there shouldn't be a problem. I doubt that your doctor will give you a fill. The fills are to keep away the hunger, they don't cause the weight loss. if you aren't hungry then this is you doing the right things. CONGRATS!!!:party:

Congrats!!! The walk sip is the way to go. GAS X helped me, but gas would wake me at night. I would be up walkig the house like I was haunting it.

I am like you guys, and just coming back into the fold. Friendship done!

You will learn if there are any foods you have problems with, avoid these and step 1 is done. The band doesn't change the taste of food, only the amount you take in. When we go out for dinner, I order my entree with a to go box, get an extra plate small) so I can put the proper amounts on and box the rest.

This nutcase is in Northern VA and he told me that the money would also include the NUT explaining to me how to use the shakes. Really,I at 51 would have needed to have some one explain me how to drink a can of milk? With the new doc,, Nut gudience is included befor and after, as well as group sessions. Also, the liver shrink diet used Slim-Fast or Carnation Instant Breakfast.< /p>

I has taken me over 2 years to realize that I haven't been eating small enough peices. Also I eat to fast and I drink to fast. These things have made me burp and have gas. Now that I watching more closely all have calmed down. The tummy noise I think will always be there, but it doesn't usually mean you're hungry.

You are not alone. Many feel the way you do in the beginning. Each doc seems to do something different, mine put in a few cc during the surgery. I was not hungry, but I had started cutting back my food in Nov. and surgery was in March. Many like for you to have pleanty of time to heal and swelling to go down before a fill. You are not a failure, you are learning; and he funny thing is you will be learning again later in this journey. I had no problems drinking Water, and my Protein Drinks went down well, but I remembered to take my time. There shouldn't be nausa, Are you using Protein drinks, not sure what stage you're in, but if it's mushies they should be giving you some protein. tuna, chicken salad got me through. Soft boiled eggs or hard give protein and that's what keeps the hunger away. I would take a chicken breast and make a small pot of homemade Soup. I went with the band for the same reason as you. Try to stay busy, make sure you get your measurements, some pics and try to stay off the scale. Once a week is easier on your mind, kinda...it's hard to do. Think of the reason why you felt you needed it, walk some, that helps with gas and helps to pass time.

I got my band 3/9/09, I haven't lost much in the lastr year. There are several reasons for this. First, I got to dang happy to be able to wear a size 12 jean!. Second, I got lazy, I watched the scale and as long as it didn't go up to high (190) I would only fight to get it down in the 180's. Last weekend I took refeltion of me. I don't know how much is in my band, I think I have had 4 fills and 1 slight unfill. After putting thought into it, I realized that I wasn't getting in my Water, I was seldom hungry, had no real interest in food and drank way to much coffee. Coffee used to be my go to to stave off hunger. I made a promise to myself that I would eat/get Protein as I should, drink my water and give it two weeks to see if there would be a change. I was 180 last Sat. and 176.5 this morning. I wasn't supposed to get on the scale until Mon., but I had a horriblely stressful week. Yesterday I couldn't eat the way I should and was worried about the effect of the only meal I had. This is doable and I will do it. I've got a wedding to go to in Sept. and I plan to be down a size, down to 165 and in some hot butt shoes! I will make an appointment with the doc for the end of the month.

I just had a thought...

I saw a lot of people on here saying that they feel warm weather effects their band by making it seem much tighter.. I think I know why...

The molecules in many materials such as plastic expand in warmth and get smaller with cold.... Could the plastic material in our bands be expanding during the heat, therefore causing it to tighten it around the stomach ?

I'm sure this is a "duh" kinda question, but just thinking that if that's the case, it means maybe we could manipulate it ourselves a little more...

BUT... also... one person said she felt that warm liquid helped loosen it, but cold helped tighten it. My newest trick is a glass of ice cold Water before a meal to make it feel tighter so that I eat less...

..I am wondering if the inside of the band reacts opposite to temperature, then the outside of the band....

Any thoughts?

When I first read this I thought you were talking about outside temps. I am tighter in the summer. Last year in Vegas, I was a 2 bite girl for 5 days. I got full so fast it made me worried. In the winter, I am eating everything in site. But the ice Water thing is a good idea, I have read that the body works harder when you drink cold. I has to bring the temps down and works more effectivly.

Be very careful about continueing to try to eat. I had this happen last year and had inflamed my throat and pouch. I was like this for a month until my DH made me go see the doc. They did an unfill and said I should have put myself on liquids for a few days and build back up so that the swelling could have gone down, It felt like flu, but no temps, so if that's your case, try liquids and slowly and solids.

Did you just change the cup size or the band size too? If you don't have a store that will do the fit for you, you can find a web site to explain how to meausre yourself. It takes the fullest point around the breast and the band. The difference is how the cup is determined.

I'll gladly chat with you, when I am not cussing at myself. I have no real interest in food, and usually only eat once a day after my husband berates me. Of course I either eat the wrong stuff then or to much. I am working hard for the next two weeks to get my Water in and eat like I should. If it doesn't work off to the doc I go. I had to really sit and think about what was going on with me. I just checked my tracking and I had been 186 last June and was 180 this year. Good thing is I had gone up to 190 in Jan. It took me 6 months to drop 10 lbs. I got some work to do.

Tonight, mine only spoke from the left side. I don't know why this happens, but in the wrong place it is far from funny.

I am SO STUCK! The night before last I ate some brisket and I guess I got stuck. The next morning I couldnt keep Water down. I tried taking my meds (before I knew I wasnt going to be able to keep anything down) and throughout the day I was spitting up and literally throwing up (the SUPER PAINFUL HURT YOUR BAND KIND OF THROW UP) at some point when i was throwing up little pieces of my pills were coming up too. All Water I try to drink comes back up.

Today I am DYING OF THIRST!!! I cant keep anything down. I have tried drinking hot water and I keep spitting that back up. I wonder if there could really still be brisket stuck in there or if my stomach is now so swollen from all the throwing up that everything just needs a rest.

If yall have any remedy please post!!!! Thanks!

OUCH!!!! Yes things are very swollen right now. It is possible that there is still food stuck in there. I use Papaya Enzyme tables I get them at Wal-Mart. I chew 4 and it helps to digest the food. I have never been where you are exactly. You do need to rest the throat, but you got to get that stuff moved. Try some deep breathing to relax and gulp air to try to burp, this may dislodge the food. I also do some stretching backward to get movement. Sip, small amounts of warm water, less than an oz every ten minuets or so. You really need to stay hydrated, but DO NOT TRY TO EAT! If no relief by morning you need to see the doc for an infill. Good luck.

I have a late night schedule, so I tend to sleep late. Also due to stress I am not sleeping well and use a sleep aid. So seldom am I up and going before 11. Since the weekend I am now forcing myself to start with a Protein Shake instead of coffee. I try to eat something in about 2 hours, but it's usually another Protein Drink. dinner I am pushing with some meat and a veggie. I am trying hard to keep coffee at bay (loosing that one), it tends to fend off hunger for me. Also I use to much Creamer. I had lost 1.5 lbs on Mon. The Water is easy, I don't count cals because I don't want to. That's why I choose the band. I haven't found to many things that I can't eat, Pasta bread work OK. I just don't want it. The one meal I had been eating was not as portion controlled as it should be. Right now I find it harder to eat right now than I did in the early stages. This might just be a mind over matter thing so I'm giving it 2 weeks before I go see the doc.