juliegeraci

Trish, you are experiencing gas. Try to take some gas x strips. That should help. You can have the gas for months following surgery. Good luck.

You are doing great. Just keep trying to eat your solid protein first and try to keep your calories to 1k max. You are doing great! Julie

That is fantastic news. I knew there was something you could do. Good for you! Congrats on being banded. You are doing great. Julie

Wasabubble, I really like your post regarding easy way out. Thanks. Julie

My doctor also never does fills under fluoro. He does a blind fill perfectly. Just lay down and relax. Julie

Jenn, everyone is different. I would definitely call your doctor and go in for another fill. It took me 5 fills and 8 months to finally reach optimal fill level. Good luck.

Paula, you are doing great. Personally I was back at the doctor ate 2 weeks to get another fill. The 1st fill just took the edge off a little bit. I think he filled me with 1 or 1.2 ccs. I am up to 3ccs 10 months later. It took me 5 fills to finally feel the restriction I needed. 8 months later. Julie

Body image is really important. I hope you can improve with therapy. You should love yourself unconditionally. You have done a fabulous job. Besides, you can always have some plastic surgery if needed! Good luck. Julie

It creates a pouch for the food to be held in and a funnel for the food to exit. That is how I would characterize it. Its important to eat solid foods as soon as you can. They fill the pouch and exit the slowest. Mushy foods like soft cheeses, yogurt, eggs leave the pouch faster making you hungrier sooner. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Lynda, I cannot feel the band at all. I can only feel the port if I lay down and push on my port site. It doesn't hurt at all. Its just sore when you initially get the surgery. Julie

I'm not uncomfortable at all. That is why it is so important to eat slowly . The restriction can come on suddenly if you eat too fast. Its a sensation of just feeling full. If I overeat I PB, its that simple. Julie

The only regret I have had is that I didn't start exercising soon enough. I am sure I would have lost 70-80 lbs by now instead of 52. I also don't drink my water. Julie

If you do it, take very small bites and chew really well. I am banded perfectly and I can typically eat one piece without the bigger crust.

You are doing fabulous. Keep up the good work.

Marti, congrats on your interest in getting banded. I'm really happy I did it. I've been banded 10 months and I'm down 52 lbs, 78 from my high. Life as a bandster is good. You can still enjoy all your favorite foods, just less of them. Best of luck. Julie

Selena, I enjoy eating out very much. Yesterday I went out for seafood with my son. I was able to enjoy a cup of clam chowder with 1/2 of a shrimp ceasar salad. I was able to finish the cup of chowder and eat the shrimp off the top of the salad plus about 8 bites of the salad. I felt very satisified. I would say together it was 3/4 of a cup of food. Typically while being banded you consume 1/3-1 cup of food depending on how filled you are and whether the food is soft. In my case, the shrimp was considered soft so it went down nicely. I kept full for quite a few hours. I still drink alcohol and I have an occasional beer too. I take home left overs if I have to order regular size meals. Truthfully, I enjoy food a lot more now. I can usually eat 1 chicken enchilada or at least most of it. I hope this relieves some of your concern. Eating out is a big part of my life. Julie:o

I hit 230 this a.m. I'm down 52 lbs since being banded on June 8th. I really hope to lose another 10 lbs before my year bandiversary. I haven't been 230 for 15 years since the birth of my first son! I can honestly say it feels good. 50 more lbs to go until goal! Julie

Mema, you are pretty new so I would take it easy. I am 10 months post op and just rode the roller coasters yesterday with my son. It was so nice to fit. Disneyland really cares about their customers. It is so nice they accomodate larger frames. Even at 300 lbs I fit in all the rides. Julie

I had my depression fixed prior to banding. I haven't had any problems with depression since being banded. No mood swings. Julie

Wow, that is fantastic. I prefer to see my weight loss as 5 - 10 lb sacks of potatoes. That is a lot of weight. Julie

Everyone did so well this challenge. Congrats to all.

I hit 230 this a.m. so I am down 8 lbs on this challenge. Much better this challenge I must say. 2 more lbs until goal of 10. Julie

Smilliegal, you can do it. I dropped my calorie intake to 1k calories this week and I walked 3 days this week and lost 3 lbs. I really hope I can keep it up. Julie

Sounds like you have a great fill. Congrats. Isn't it wonderful to just eat 2/3 of a cup of food and feel satisfied!? I'm happy for you. You may be at your sweet spot if you continue to lose at that consumption. Julie

Paula, they say it can stretch the pouch but there is no scientific proof of that. I drink a diet soda maybe a couple times a week without a problem. You may find that after you get a fill the carbonation may bother you more. But you just have to monitor it. Julie