YngGram

I am 7 months out. My doc says no to the shakes unless it is a Meal Replacement, and he doesn't really want it at all. I am not a breakfast person and work part time. On those days I start with a SlimFast. I try not to snack at all and eat only when I have gotten hungry or it has been more than 4 hours. I feel full most mornings (tight) and just don't want anything.

Getting in my fluids seems to help me with the hunger because I feel full. sugar free popcicles and Crystal lite were the lifesaver for me in the early stage. My problem is that I get the urge to chew something. Sometimes my mind says I didn't eat (soup) because I didn't chew.:scared2:

My lifestyle has me in the poolhall several nights a week from about 6 to midnight and somebody is always having hot wings, pizza or nachos. If I get the day timed right I eat dinner at home and have a shake in the travel mug for backup, a yogurt or banana. Egg Drop Soup is a major for me because of the proten. coffee also chases off the hungries me. I have only had 2 fills so a small salad saves me.

Don't forget that will power is a big part of all of this no matter what.

Keep it simple and make it easier on YOU. Until you adjust don't eat with others, let your sister eat after you go home. Early is hard sometimes, your mind has to get on board with what you have done and what you have yet to do. Give it time because it does come.

The band is the tool, but your mind is the magic. I started making adjustments to how I ate when I made up my mind to have surgery. I need to fully understand what I am trying to do so I go slow with things. I am in the pool hall with junk 3-4 nights a week. Wings, chips, nachos yeah real struggle all the time. At first I ate before I left home and would have a thermo of skim milk in car and slimfast powder on me just in case. I drank gallons(it seemed) of Water just to keep my mouth full.

It was over 3 months and I was still blowing up everything every time I even thought about eating! I started taking B6 and Aloe Vera. I get them at Walmart and they are for digestive health and motabolism. It really has helped, I still have some gas and the tummy rummble but is so much better.

Ok, so on Oct 2 I had a fill. It was not my surgeon that did it, but one of the fellow's that are employed at the Cleveland Clinic where I had my surgery.

WELL... My band was empty upon surgery 6/9

7/27 had my first fill, doc said 4.25cc

8/28 2nd fill, was told 2.5 cc which would now have me at 6.75cc.

10/2 3rd fill, was told not only was my port tilted which is why the fellow could not access it as easy as the last 2 fills, but also said he could only retrieve 4cc no where near 6.75 that I was supposed to have in there, AND he was seriously doubting me on my amount I could eat, the amount in my and, and my weight loss. I really did not like this guy. To date at this point I was down 27 lbs since day of surgery, and it was 16 weeks post op. I was eating 1 - 1 1/2 cups per meal, no problem, and no restriction. 5.5 was put in my band at this point. I asked the fellow what about the rest that was supposed to be in there allready, and he said I must have my numbers incorrect. Or it evaporated.

I emailed my surgeon when I got home, that I really did not like what was being told to me, and had many questions. Surgeon responded to my questions, and put my mind at ease. I advised that now I am not able to eat a thing, or at least no more than 3 or 4 tablespoons per sitting, am constantly getting stuck, and can't even drink now. I did give it 9 days, before i finally emailed ysterday and said I need a slight unfill. I went in today, my surgeon stayed on campus so that he could see me. He was able to access the port with no issue, it was not tilted, said it is perfect has not moved. The fellow from 10 days ago was there, and denied saying it was tilted. OK.. I am really not liking him now. Lucky I am long time friends with one of the radiologists and she backed up my story. THEN, when he extracted the Fluid, he pulled 6.25 I questioned again, how is that if he only put in 5.5 10 days ago, and said that there was only 4 to begin with. Surgeon stated that obviously the fellow did not pull all out, and that some stays in the tubing, and even in the band, and I prob have .25-.5 in there still now, so there is a possibility that I have had 7 or so in my band for the past 10 days. Which is why I have not been able to eat. He did have me swallow before extracting Fluid, and saw that it barely went through at all. Once completely open, I swallowed, and went through perfectly. Doc put back in 5cc, still wide open, 6cc, a lot slower, 5.5 cc we are both happy.

SO, I did eat tonight, only because I have been starving for the past 10 days, and we were in town for the adjustment as well as dinner for my nephew's birthday at Outback Steakhouse.

I had 2 oz of a great sirloin steak, cut VERY TINY. 1 french fry, 2 peices of the blooming onion with the batter peeled off, and 4 green Beans. I stayed away from the bread, and just passed it on. I did order the kids sirloin and my FIL will have the rest for breakfast in the morning. My SIL was saying no wonder you are losing weight, look how much you are NOT eating. I said I am eating as much as prissy *my band* allows me too, without getting sick. I did have my papaya enzymes with me just in case, and did not need it. It is now 5 hours later, and I am still full. I am so happy.

OH, and I did manage to lose 6 lbs in the 10 days between the last fill and today. That was awesome.

Next adjustment, Nov 30, 4 days after Thanksgiving and 4 weeks before Christmas, but after my 2 upcoming cruises. YAHOOO.

I love the beef, but my doc says full liquids for two days following a fill, I may have been on my knees over the potty if I tried that. Also, my doc would drop kick me. I could not have handled 9-10 days of discomfort like you did. Whatever I feel, I am the only one feeling it and that guy needs a knee in the throat for his big mouth.

I did a private message, but since I am not hiding anything I will add this. I have been very lucky in this journey. I had little pain following surgery. My doc put in an IV like system that I wore home so I didn't have to take anything else. I went out the night I was discharged, I was even able to sleep well. It was two weeks before I felt tired or worn out. I didn't and still don't feel hungry after my meals. I eat what I want(within reason), last nite had some German chocolate Cake as a treat. I will have my thrid fill next week, I have restriction but it's not what it could be. This has been my choice, the reason is that I wanted to go slowly with this because I felt I needed the time to make mental changes that would alow me to get healthier and still be happy. I don't want to drop the pounds and hate my band at the same time. Seven months and over 50lbs gone, it could be more if I followed the rules more closely. I don't go to the gym very often, I am just not that person. When I do go it is a very light workout of treadmill and bike for about 45 mins. I keep my portions small and try to eat the right food most of the time; I also try to hear my body say "FULL". Every now and then something catches my eye and I won't deny myself. I have a taste of it and move on. My taste for things have changed and I season my foods differently. I did the band because I needed to drop some weight, but I didn't want to be on a diet the rest of my life so I am not. I feel ready to push foward and scheduled the fill. 135 will never be my goal, another 10 or so pounds and this 52 year old will feel like a kid again.

Bad girl here, seven months out and I tend to misbehave. I am down about 54lbs since starting this. I eat everything but I am dropping the weight slowly. I admit that I don't exercise so I try to watch how much I eat. If I don't drink, leave the sweet tea alone and keep the protions small I seem to do OK I work hard to keep the rules in mind, I have had some PB issues; not fun. I have only had 2 fills so far from my "spot". I didn't want to be a slave to this and I feel that the control must be from me so I am going slow with the adjustments.

Same here, in the past week I have been 183 to 190. No exercise that would have given muscle. I have a digital and it is 3- 5 lbs. higher than my surgeron's digital. They told me theirs is calibrated daily. I am just happy that mine says more that theirs. And yes, I can get on mine, walk out the room and get back on for a different weight. Husband says if the size 12's fit, just don't kill the scale.< /p>

Hi Cathy,

I live in VA also. Southern food makes our lives a little harder, (that's my story and I'm sticking to it!). I had fears also, but I had knee and foot pain, my back hurt and clothes were a joke.

I was 240lbs., 5'2", 51 years old and just tired of all of this stuff. I have high blood pressure, had breast cancer and was tired all the time. My doc said that all of the problems were side effects of being overweight. I have been overweight since I was about 25 and to hear I was "morbidly obese" was just to much.

My surgery was 3/9/09, and I have lost almost 60lbs. since I started this journey. It's been almost a year, I started by giving up some things in preperation for surgery. Soda and sweet tea were the first to go. That alone took out 4lbs., I then started working on having smaller portions.

It takes a commitment from you, this is a tool that only you can make work. I have only had 2 fills, need another but got a dumba** reason for not getting it. I love steak and not ready to give it up yet.

I have had no problems that I didn't cause. If I eat to fast, or the wrong thing, maybe a little to much, I get stuck or PB. As long as I follow the rules I am fine. There really isn't to much that I can't eat. No surgery problems and I didn't even have to get my pain.

Do the research, get as much info as you can; that will help you to make an informed decision. Hit me with a pm if you want to talk one on one.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

Where might I find this Wonder Slim?

I think I am stalled also, but some other things are going on with me...so I'm not sure. This one thing did come to mind over the weekend. What are you drinking? I haven't been feeling well, weather change, and I need my comfort drinks which are also my nightly "treat". Unfortunately that drink is hot chocolate. Made with skim milk, but to many cals. I hadn't realized that I was up to 3 cups a day. I'm not a coffee drinker so I would start the day with one if I felt tight, middle of the day if I wanted something and didn't know what and a nightcap. It adds up quick and with my meals and snack it was to much. I was counting what I ate, but not what I drank! Give that a look as well as what the others have mentioned.

I now have some (little bit) shape to my butt. It has been really flat for years, and now it is finding a curve. My face is slimmer and I look younger.

I don't know what causes mine, some things are OK at lunch but not at diner. I only come up with slime, not the food. I feel better most of the time after one trip to the toilet, but feel stuffed for hours no matter how much I had actually eaten befor the "incident."

No food 2 hrs. before a fill and liquids after and the next day.

I remember how good it felt in May when I fit into a 14! Did you want to dance like I did? GREAAAAAT JOB!!!

sugar free Popsicles! They gave me some Fluid and kept my mouth wet. I get the food Lion brand and really liike the taste.

It also hit me at about 3 months. I take the Biotin as well. The big deal in this is Protein, my nut had told me to make sure I get in the 60g of portein daily. Guess it really didn't work, but I do try to keep it up. It was also explained that it is in part a reaction to the surgery. I have had other surgeries and didn't have this reaction. I feel it's coming back in, and it really seems healthier. Keep smiling and losing the weight, all else fails by a wig and some SKINNY jeans!

All of mine go down fine, but vitams make my tummy upset if I haven't eaten first. This is new since the band.

Not just me!!! Not only that, I now crave taste. Everything I cook is more heavily seasoned. Garlic, lemon salt and vanillia extra for liquids, I just got to have it. I also now like Water, before it was extra sweet tea or nothing. Don't know why, but it keeps me away from the bland fast food. I don't miss it.

At least it was food and it tasted good! I was stupid with of all things POPCORN! 6 months out, already pissed that I am stalled, playing with 4 lbs. and I do not 1 but 4 mini bags today. Don't know why, I was supposed to be liquids only today to get things moving in the right directions. Try it again tomorrow.

Are you sipping your Protein Drink? Also, I suggest the liquid pain meds as well. My doc put in a pain releif system so I didn't fill my script for heavy pain meds. I really didn't need them. There can be alot of swelling and sipping helps to get things down. I was told to sip everything the first couple of weeks and I had little discomfort.

Good job. Now continue with the "life" adjustments. Try eating smaller portions from smaller plates. If there is anything you consume a lot of that really isn't that good for you, give it up now. My thing was about a gallon of really sweet tea everyday. Giving that up I lost 3lbs. in 1 week. Protein will be important, and there are many ways to get it, so don't worry about that to much now. Learn to drink Water. I was told I need 64 oz. of fluids daily, that takes major adjustment if you don't drink alot. Give up the soda (pop), and work on taking smaller bites, and chew, chew, CHEW!!!

We are waiting on the loser bench for YOU!

I am 5'2, in May I was a 14 Cato Jeans, not sure what the weight was. Last month at 188 I was in a size 12 Faded Glory Stretch jeans. Now I am 184 and the legs are a little loose. I am NOT a gym bunny, so I need a lot of firming. I see the inches go down before I see numbers drop from the scale. I don't think I will ever do "juniors", I'm to curvy, misses yes. The junior stuff is cut for the young without real body parts. Much depends on how you carry your weight (body shape). I am lucky that I have always been well portioned and its coming off that way.

Oh so over the top. GREAT JOB!!!!

You may have some slight restriction, I did. And I found later that I did have some Fluid in my band from surgery. Your stomach will be swollen and take a couple of weeks to get going on the healing. Use this time to make "lifestyle" adjustments. I lost well during this period as it was new and it was easier to be committed to the program. You can eat, and it will be bad to overdo it, so keep it in mind. You will not be able to eat like the old days because even with fluid, the band itself is restriction. The pouch is there with an opening, arger than if there is fluid in the band. How you eat must change, smaller bites and chewing well is really necessary. At 2 weeks eating a hardboiled egg almost took me out. Since our lives are now about making good choices, this will be your testing ground.

Contgrats. It took about 3 weeks before I got the surgery hit. I was plastered to the sofa for about 2 days just out of the blue. If you are following the guidelines your doc gave then you should be fine. It's probably just your body adjusting/reacting to the surgery.Take it easy, rest get the fluids and food in that you should. Good luck.

So sorry for you. I can't image how bad it was for you. Good Luck