hopeandhealing

I too am still trying to figure all this out after 15 months! I cannot eat breakfast, except for cottage cheese or ricotta (usually with a v8 b4 eating) or a protein shake, so that is what I do. For lunch, I can usually eat salads, although I have to be careful to take SMALL bites and chew chew chew. Then in the evenings, I can usually eat a regular healthy meal with protein, veggie, healthy carb like sweet potato. However the part I am struggling with is remembering to eat SMALL bites and chew alot. If I do not do this, I run into trouble. And I get sooooooooo tired of having to take an entire hour to eat, that I find myself sitting in front of the computer or tv just so I can eat slower (which is what I am doing right now :smile2: I suspect in time we will figure it out..........in the meantime however.........:thumbup: take gentle care of you today, Dyanna

Yes and no. Yes I am glad I have the band. The #1 reason is that i can no longer overeat, i no longer have heartburn, and although i have lost only 30# in 15 months, it has not been horribly difficult. However, for me, it is definitely not easy. I still have to exercise, eat healthy foods, stay away from *easy* foods like soups, etc (which I LOVE), make sure I get plenty of protein, journal, deal with the emotional stuff, etc etc. So while it has not been an easy journey, it has been a great help. I am thankful, for today, that I have it.

I am almost a year out, have had several fills and have lost a total of 10 lbs! and that only in the past couple of months. My dr. told me to see if I have any restriction, I could eat 1/4 cup of food every 15 minutes (protein, veggies) until satisfied. I ate for 2 hours and 15 minutes and 2 and 1/4 cups of food!!!! I was not so much satisfied but mostly tired of eating. Needless to say I was still not close to restriction. Today I think I am. Although I still eat more than 1/2 cup at a time. However if I eat protein, veggies and fruit, I will fill up more quickly and stay satisfied for 3-4 hours. I am still a work in progress after a year. Be patient and do the best you can do for today and trust (as I am) that this will work. ((((((((((((((caring))))))))))))) Dyanna

It is called the Flat Belly Diet. I had not heard of it until my sister told me about it. when I searched the internet I found tons of stuff and have signed up on their website for 4 months, which so far I like really well. it gives menus, grocery lists and recipes and like I said, it is very simple. oh yes and you get chocolate with every meal if you choose a MUFA. :wub:Dyanna

so far it is great. i love the food and and ability to eat like this for the rest of my life. it is REALLY a HEALTHY and SIMPLE diet. I am only in my 3rd day but.............down 9 lbs this morning!!!!!!!!!! i am waiting for all the toxins/crap to get out of my body. felt pretty tired and emotional with a bit of a headache the first two days..........but definitely doable for 4 days and then you are switched to the regular plan. I will try to remember to keep in touch.. but don't hesitate to ask in case I get side tracked..........which is very easy for me:tongue: Dyanna

has anyone here tried this way of eating? I have been looking for a food plan that appeals to me and this is the best I have seen. It is designed by prevention magazine editors and is more of a mediterranean type of diet, with emphasis on healthy whole foods. my sister has been doing it and has had good success. I will start it next week (waiting for my book to come) and will report in weekly for my own accountability and to give feedback on my experience with it. I would love to know if there are others out there on this plan! thanks, Dyanna

I have had my band for 5 months now and have lost a total of 20 lbs. which is surely not alot or enough. HOWEVER, I would not give it up for the world at this point. 1. My extreme acid reflux that I have had for years is gone! 2. I am going through the holiday season eating way too many sweets, BUT cannot eat them by the handful as I did in the past. today I think I eat rather "normally". 3. I am not yet at ideal restriction and believe that once I am the weight will definitely come off. However I am soooooo grateful to not be where I was a year ago. I am one of the lucky ones so far and have had no complications. My only complications thus far have come from the outside (dr., insurance, etc) but I believe and I believe for all of us. Merry Christmas and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I was banded July 24th and to date have lost 5 lbs. Not much considering I have at least 60 to go, but you know what, I will take it! I too have little to no restriction. I just got my first fill 3cc. on Tuesday. Still no change. I wanted to lose at least 20 lbs by my daughters wedding (oct 3) ain't gonna happen:unsure: but I do believe it will. It may take a year or two but I am just thrilled to have hope today. And I too am struggling with eating right and exercising more. So I have habits to build, work on, etc. We WILL succeed. We already are just by taking this first huge step (wls). and a year from now, I suspect we will feel and look quite different, as long as we do not give up. Hold onto hope today. Hugs, Dyanna:wub:

it works! it really works!! I was banded July 24th and have really been struggling since then. trying to find a way to eat healthy even though I have little to no restriction. I finally get my first fill next week and can't wait, but have been pretty discouraging at this point with the weight loss. Well I stepped on the scale this morning and I have lost 5 lbs since surgery and 3 inches on my tummy. now i know that to many here that may not be much of a success sory but to me OMG i am one HAPPY and encouraged girl it works it really works!! maybe not as fast as i would like but i will definitely take 5 lbs a month and every inch i can get off my tummy. thank you for sharing my succes with me today! dyanna

Jack LaLaine once said "If men make it, don't eat it" I think that is the path I will follow. what about if women make it?? sorry, couldn't resist:)

I will be moving there in a couple of months, and would like a few names to check out. I will be living downtown, so would prefer as close as possible, but most important would be a GOOD Dr/Center. Thank you for any info. Dyanna

Goals: 10 lbs at a time until I get to my ultimate goal, which is not a number... but a feeling. :w00t: I LOVE THIS!! This is what I want too but did not have the words till now. THANK YOU! what a HEALTHY way to look at this!! And to the dear woman who is struggling with her band. I am soooooo sorry you have had such a difficult time and so glad you were able to get it emptied. I am sending you positive thoughts and angels wings that you will find Hope and Healing. bE gentle WITH YOU TODAY, Dyanna

I really felt completely at peace leading up to the surgery. I KNEW in my heart it was right for me at this point in time and life. Today I wonder...................DID I DO THE RIGHT THING?? I am less than 3 weeks out but have really been struggling the past few days with *did I do the right thing by having WLS?* I have only lost a total of 4 lbs so far. I am scared that I will be one of those people who will fail at this too. I wanted to eliminate future health issues. As although I am fairly healthy at this point, I am almost 60 and am at least 60+ pounds overweight. My knees hurt, my back hurts, I have high cholesterol. The handwriting is on the wall. But now I wonder if I am just going to make things worse not better, as I read about ALL the problems people have with their band, and then after going through all of this, it not working in the end. I guess I am scared. I started this process about a year ago and did TONS of research, so really feel like I went into this with eyes wide open. Now I am not so sure:frown: Has anyone else gone through this? If you had it to do over again, with the same results, would you? Dyanna:crying:

thank you so much for posting this and for all the support that has followed. i have been feeling VERY discouraged today. just a little over 2 weeks out and i guess the *honeymoon* is over. i think my greatest fear was not losing any weight and i am not losing any weight! i am hungry alot, but am sticking to eating as healthy as possible. for example, for dinner tonight, I had a Protein shake, a bowl of vegetable Soup and a half a sandwish. I feel comfortable full. BUT the hospital told me I should never eat more than a 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup of food at one time. when i do that, i end up so HUNGRY by the end of the day that i eat too much when i do eat. so i am going to just TRY to listen to my body and not the "others" and eat what feels right. i am soooooooo thankful for this board as my medical team has not been very helpful to say the least. thank you, dyanna

"My dog said after 3 weeks I could eat real food as tolerated" My dog told me I could eat real food after 3 days:tongue2:. sorry, couldn't resist. thanks for the giggle!

Not sure I can explain this correctly, but I will try. I am only 7 days out and on mushies, so still in the learning curve. But one thing I have become aware of is that I never feel full. Physically I mean. But neither can I eat much either. I think I am STARVING, but then eat a few bites and cannot eat more (can't give you an explanation for that either, just KNOW I CAN'T eat more). Is this normal or is is because I am still sore and healing. Thank you. Be gentle with you today, Dyanna

please forgive me for feeling like i needed to respond to this. no excuses, just not feeling good and it hit a nerve with me because of my work situation. i truly :redface:am very sorry i offended you. take gentle care, Dyanna and to the original poster of this thread, I am soooo sorry you are being treated this way. I am guessing this friends wife is very insecure for reasons other than you. You just happen to be a ready target. I am so sorry. PLEASE take gentle care of you, and run fast from those who would try to hurt you in any way. (that is after you punch them of course:tongue2: And BIG CONGRATS ON YOUR SUCCESS!!! Dyanna

oh gosh this makes me so sad. In my world, anyway, people are what count. Doesn't mean I have to be close to everyone, or even friends with everyone. But I hope and pray I continue to live in a world that values people over politics. I am currently in a work situation where many there belive in the "familiarity breeds contempt" adage. I have worked in MANY places over the years (I am almost 60) and this by far has been the hardest place I have ever worked. I think it is very possible to be friendly with out sacrificing the common good. In fact, I think friendliness greatly enhances the work place. Just my 2 cents for what it is worth. Take gentle care of you today, Dyanna p.s. I have been married 40 years so should certainly hate my husband by now if that was true (that familiarity breeds contempt). Truth is I love him more now than ever. :biggrin:

Today is day 6 for me and probably the worst I have felt since having surgery last Friday. I don't know if I am coming down with something or what. I feel absolutely exhausted. have a headache. my ears are plugged and ringing. I did call the clinic where I had my surgery done and spoke to a nurse. She does not think it is anything to worry about, just not feeling well and since my immune system is weakened by surgery, I just need to lay low, drink fluids and Protein and this too shall pass. I have had a cup of Soup (in the middle of the night) and a cup of Protein Drink in the past hour. I feel full but hungry?? does that even make sense? But mostly I feel very very tired. Is this normal? What would you do? Dyanna:frown:

wish i could help, but too new to be of any. hope you find your way through this and soon. i would keep bugging my dr. until it is figured out. sometimes we have to be the *squeaky wheel*. be gentle with you today, Dyanna

yes blenderized soup is saving my life!! (This is day 5 for me) and i want it homemade. so my dear husband cooked potatoes, peas, and fresh herbs in a chicken broth till soft. Then I pureed it and added a bit of 1/2 and 1/2 and a spoon of butter. DELISH and VERY satisfying. I am going to make more tomorrow and add a can of chicken to it. When I am on only protein, some fat is a must for curbing hunger. try it, it works. Oh and if you do not have one, get one of those *bullet* thingies with the bunch of individual cups you can use for pureeing. they work great and are a great size. I have about 8 cups with mine and it has 1 cup and 2 cup sizes. perfect for our tiny tummies:tongue2:. be gentle with you, Dyanna

thanks Diana. I think that was the drugs talking last night!:tongue2: Had a rougher time of it last night. Couldn't sleep lying down. And felt alot of pressure in the middle of my chest. I am hoping it is all normal. feeling better this morning, but pretty tired. And I am pretty sure I will be behaving myself more today. Like not bending down, or sweeping the patio, or pulling on things. but all in all, it was not nearly as bad as I had expected. So far, so good. be gentle with you today, and know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers for good outcome for you tomorrow also. :seeya:Dyanna

Hi everyone. It is sat. eve and I had surgery yesterday morn. everything went REALLY well! very little pain and I feel so peaceful about it all. I feel very very lucky. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Dyanna

Thank you for your caring and support. I am off to bed now. It is 12:30 and I have to be up in about 4 hours to head for the hospital and surgery. I will be so glad when this part of it is over. Will talk to you soon. hugs to all, Dyanna

My dr. told me I could eat up until midnight the night before surgery which is tomorrow!! YIKES I hope he knows what he is talking about. Interestingly enough though, I have not really craved anything except healthy foods ever since I got my acceptance letter from my insurance about a month ago. So I hopefully will be okay. Will let you all know how it goes. But I do feel at peace about this decision. I just pray it will all go well. Be gentle with you today, Dyanna