willowcat

Can't eat scrambled eggs. Something about the way the pieces are kind of rubbery and smooth. I never can chew them down to a paste. A chunk always manages to "slip past the goalie" and that's when the trouble starts. Now, iI can eat eggs easy over, but since the egg white is thinner and the yolk is runny, I can do a much better job of chewing and i don't have any problems. Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Doctors are just regular people. Some went into medicine because they cared about helping people, and some went into medicine for the prestige and money. Some people are opinionated know-it-alls, and some are supportive and kind. So it goes for doctors. Sorry you got a lemon. Good for you for moving on. Life is too short to spend it with the sour people. Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

I remind myself that wanting and needing are not the same thing. I set the timer and make myself slow down--i can't take the last bite until the timer rings (12 min). I think about the food in my mouth--how it feels, how it tastes,,how well it is/isn't chewed. I suffer through the emotional discomfort. All of these things work on a good day. Some days are better than others. Some sre worse. Wanting to eat huge amounts could be about so many things other than food--if you want to go there. It could be about needing to nurture yourself, zoning out, treating yourself. I'm wondering if you're really wanting large portions of any kind of food? Would you eat large portions of a food you didn't like just so you could have a large portion? Or is it only foods you enjoy that you want large portions of? Have you been without food at sometime in your life? Do the large portions feel comforting? Safe? Head hunger comes from the head. The only way to conquer head hunger is to go to the source--your thoughts,feelings,beliefs, emotions. It's a long process and a journey you may never completely finish, but it's essential if you are going to be able to use the band to its fullest. Good luck. Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

I think it may just be that some of those fibrous foods just aren't making it through the band. I've had the band for 4 years, and I also just go ahead and pb rather than suffer through the pain. I'm stll trying to figure out what I can and can't eat--and it changes! Sometimes I can eat a food just fine and have no problems and then on other days it just won't go down. I think there are many variables involved. One thing I do know though Is that it's not uncommon for 90% of the food to go down just fine with the other 10% not going down so well. For example, popcorn will go down just fine--except got the kernel husks. Hours later I'll be in pain, go pb and all that comes up is kernel husks (sorry for TMI). I've nicknamed it the "sieve effect"--the little bits go down but the bigger (more fibrous?) bits don't and must come up. I haven't decided if that means I can't eat popcorn--though I don't like the "sieve effect" so I generally stay away from popcorn anymore. Maybe you're experiencing the "sieve effect"? Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Yes, Americans have a distorted idea of portions. I've seen some interesting graphics showing what was considered a "normal" serving of various foods in the 1940s and 1950s compared to current ideas of a "normal" serving--very eye-opening! Between my own distorted perception of "normal" portions and 40+ years of gulping my food (I'm a bad chewer!), every day is a struggle to learn new "normals". Measuring my food sometimes is the only way I can do it (and setting a timer to make me extend my eating/chewing time)! Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

I understand where you're coming from and I respect your desire to make the most of your band. Yet I can't help thinking that you're really not making the most of your band. You read all the time that the band is a tool. It seems to me that a tool is most useful when it's being used. Obviously what you've been doing so far has worked for you--congrats on your lovely weight loss so far! Your self-control (eating just a cup of food and then stopping) is amazing! It might be time for a little fill though if you're getting hungry. Or maybe you just need a little snack between meals? If money isn't an issue (when isn't it?! Haha!), getting a little fill and then getting a little unfill if that's too much is always an option as you try to find the "green zone". I agree that you shouldn't suffer with hunger--we all know how that doesn't work! Your comment about "saving the band" reminds me of my grandmother's "saving" the good. china. Life is for the living; if what you're doing feels like Living, then you're on the right path. Good luck. Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Sorry you're in pain. That doesn't sound normal to me. Just my non-medical opinion. Maybe your abdomen pain is just a coincidence and not actually caused by your band--correlation without causation? Whatever the cause, I don't think you should continue trying to soldier on through the pain. Not being able to sleep because of pain sounds like some serious pain. Good luck. Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Wonderful! . I remember the first time I realized that the towel went all the way around me. Something so simple--and "normal" is very exciting! Congrats on your NSV!!! You're on your way! Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Went to the movies today--with plenty of room to spare! Yea! People without a weight problem have no idea. Coincidentally, the very nice lady next to me asked if she could put up the arm between us. I totally understood her need for the 2 1/2 extra inches gained by having the arm up, Before the lapband, I bought two seats (2 in coach was cheaper than one in 1st class) on a plane trip to go to my grandmother's funeral. The money was so worth avoiding the pain and the embarrassment of trying to manage in an airline seat. Now I fit just fine. Both are major NSV for me! Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Happy bandiversary kdee! Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Because those that mind don't matter...(darn this phone!) Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Be who you are and say what you feel...because that mind don't matter and those that matter don't mind--Dr. Suess Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Guess it depends on how long you're going to be at a higher altitude. If you've moved to a higher altitude and are staying there, then you need to get a small unfill. If you're just vacationing, there's nothing you can do except tough it out until you return to a lower altitude. Take the smallest sips possible to stay hydrated I guess. I live at 6,500 ft. and LOVE to go on vacation someplace near the ocean--sea level--it really does make a big difference. Good luck. Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

I wish you the best. We all have our own journeys to take. I hope your arthritis pain is soon a thing of the past and that you are able to participate in some sort of exercise that is helpful and enjoyable. India is a beautiful country (one of my favorite places to visit!); I can see how it would impact the choices you have available to you. Best wishes. Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

One more thought though--you said it was "true vomit"--do you mean to say that it has stomach bile in it? What I was referring to does NOT have stomach bile in it--it's still just saliva and chewed up food. Stomach bile (from your lower stomach) mixed in with the food--THAT sounds serious. Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

I think it's just part of living with the band--a band that could possibly be too tight, but not necessarily so. If things get kind-of stuck without actually getting completely stuck, they can stay above the band in your "little stomach" for quite some time. I often get what I call "the sieve effect" where the little bits and liquids keep on going down, but the bigger chunk(s) do not. It's confusing because you still don't feel ok, but it seems that things are still going down. HOURS later I've thrown up the offending bit(s) and am instantly all better. Also, it sometimes takes being horizontal (ie. in bed at night) for the offending bit to move off the stoma before I can throw it up. I'm sure that there are those on this board that would say all of that is proof that you're too tight...to them I would say "maybe.". I've had this band for 3 years and I'm still learning--46 years of gulping my food is a hard habit to break. Some days some things I've never had a problem with are suddenly a problem--and visa-versa. I've also had partial unfills when it seems ALL I ever do is throw up. But occasionally...no...it's unpleasant, but just part of the learning experience for me. Good luck. Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Just curious how lipo is supposed to treat artheritis? Can't walk? Water aerobics lets you exercise without stress to your joints. Good luck Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Maybe you have a rib out of place? My mother also suffered from "vague abdominal" pain. She had all kinds of tests, scopes, and an MRI. It took her getting pneumonia, going to the hospital, and having the doctor on duty say "oh, you have a rib out of place," pushing on her misplaced rib and Ta-da! Problem fixed! Hope you soon find out what's wrong...whatever it may be. Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

I purposely had my only tattoo put on the top of my foot because that's the one place I figured doesn't change a lot when you gain/lose weight. Have you ever seen a latex balloon with writing on it after you blow it up and then deflate it? Not a pretty sight. Personally I'd advise against a tattoo on your arm--unless your arms don't change much--me, I was wearing Water wings (now I still have them--just not as big) Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Why would the band "cause" irritable bowl syndrome (IBS)? That doesn't make sense. I agree that this is a fishy post. Who's to gain from scaring people away from something that works for so many people? Guess I'm naive. What "study"? I did LOTS of research before getting my band...I never saw that study. Citation please. Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Everybody is different. Who knows just what the doctor means by "full"?! Does that mean "can't take another bite" ( the stomach is designed to expand anyway--so our ancient ancestors could eat as much as possible when the food was available), or does that mean "I've had enough?" Not only is linguistics a problem here, but many of us never learned to listen to our "full" signals--I was always grazing and never really was either hungry nor full! You know (or are beginning to know) your body. Listen to you--you'll soon figure out how much is enough for you. Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Oops! Sorry for the multiple posts--my iPhone was giving me fits! Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

I always crave chocolate. I do know that chocolate is also high in magnesium. Magnesium is good for muscles. When I take magnesium supplements, the cravings aren't as strong--and neither are the cramps. Still, I love high-qaulity chocolate ANYtime! Lol! Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk