bignik

Hi , well Im now 182lbs , 34 Inch waist and been told Ive exceeded what my Doctor was anticpating , so basically Im at a happy weight and trying to work on the " loose skin " scenario LOL , as for hunger , coping with the band all tickety boo , if anything I get persitantly chased by wife to try and eat more . The hope the weight loss would help my back issues havent materialised though so disappointed about that , but as My Orthopedic Surgeon advises well it might not have got better , but same time it hasnt gotten any worse. All in all it was money well spent in my opinion last time I was at this weight was my teen years , and although hasnt changed much about me in my head .. certainly I dont object to the wow Nick look at you you look great comments ... anyway good to hear from you and good to see your still losing weight , hi to everyone else

Only my wife knew before the procedure but told everyone when I had it done , and nothing but postive remarks and a lot of curiousity, so no issues for me , and as time progresses everyone keeps on congratulating me and commenting in positive ways re my reducing statistics, I dont think anyone really has any issues , if anyone did I would say what the hell anyway , I did it for me and my health , to hell what anyone else thinks I say . :smile2:

Hi everyone , had my third fill last thursday , but I seem to be having problems ( or I think ) Im now on fifth day since the fill but I cannot manage anything but fluids , perhaps half a pot of yoghurt or very watery Soup. Ive tried this evening with some baby spaghetti bolognese but only managing 2/3 tea spoonfulls and Im stuffed , burping , hiccupping to try and get it settled, the Im sliming a little and its taking about 15/20 mins to settle. Have I hit the magic spot everyone talking about do you think , or do you think perhaps too tight. The doctor did say to me last week to take it easy for a week on fluids for a couple of days and then soft mushies for the rest of the week before trying solids again. Last couple of fills , after a day or 2 max everything had settled in past albeit after 2nd fill I could manage to eat about a cup and a half of whatever I was eating. Im not hungry .. the opposite actually seem to be absolutely stuffed... if I even attept to eat another small bit I feel a tightness and only goes away after bringing it up so I must be full I guess after 2/3 teaspoons .. I thought they said the size of an egg ... not a pea LOL Can someone give me some words of wisdom and reassurance please , would be much appreciated. Regards Nick ps ... well whatever the weight is a losing , this cant be healthy can it really:eek:

Hi not posted for a few months but decided yo come back in , thats me over 50% off and closer to my goal 50lbs in nearly 6 months who would have thought. Not only that inches , jings where have they gone , nothing gives me more pride than into my workshop looking for my leather punch so I can stick another hole in my belt. My belt is now becoming a trophy * laughing * , its like a little ticker marking my progress. I actually look down my chest now and can see my feet .. hehehehe For those having a tough time , keep at it , I had a very problematic start , just refused to give up , thankfully . my eating habits now kind of coming second nature , if food served to me , is too easy , or not the right type .. guess what I have the power to say no thank you. Still having issues though the no drinking whilst eating or just after rule ... last 43 years of my life I spent drinking a glass of milk with anything I eat ... 4 pints at least a day , I love the stuff .. but anyway trying the best I can , just still seems strange have food taste in mouth after eating and trying not to consume , other than the odd sip .. Enjoying trying new foods , thinks I would never have eaten in my life , Cottage cheese with Pinapple and Mango .. up to before the bad I would have laughed at that choice .. now I love it .. Anyway best wishes to all , keep up the great work , and when you get down , brush yourself down , pick yourself up and hey keep on trying :scared2: Its only a case of mastering the art of controlling the tool , a thing which I reckon slowly Im mastering and physicologically adjust to . I think for long term , and re adjusting eating habits .. great tool and now a decision I do not regret .. Nick.

Hi , you sound basically very similar to me at the moment , Im not losing much weight only a pound or two since that first fill , just basically eating less perhaps around 1 - 1.5 cups food at any sitting , fish , rice chicken ( although chicken and also bread I kind of feel tight if not gave a very good chew ). I do at times eat whatever the rest of the house is also eating , just limit myself to 3 ox of meat , 1 or 2 small potatoes and keep veg to last and eat until basically I feel satisfied. I have yet to feel what I consider a full feeling , but I do feel satisfied enough to stop eating and when I stop eating I dont feel hungry for a few hours. It is easier certainly throughout the day but Im having difficulty with hunger late in the evening , but I am a bit of a Night person and often work at home until the early hours. I try to satisfy myself then with perhaps a cup of Soup or some fresh fruit. From what I have heard and basically confirmed by by Doctor , it is usual for this to be normal , true restriction is not normally achieved until after a few fills. He tells me ( and no offence to anyone on the board ) not to get too hung up on other peoples experiences , keep the food types sensible , small bits and chew well. This is more of a training excersise for when further restriction is achieved. As for complications he advises stick to rule of thumb at this moment in time , never put more than a teaspoon of food / half a fork full in your mouth at one time , sit the piece of cutlery down and chew well , trying to achieve 15 - 20 chews , when swallowed the piece of cutlery can be picked up again and another mouthful can be taken. Try and use side plates rather than a full size plate ... it helps conciously not to have the .. look at the plate and food still on it and what youve eaten having tasted good ... dont when satisfied feel as its their it has to be eaten. I think the fact your eaten whatever you want just less of it is fine.. my doctor is more I want you to eat as much of what you want until you achieve that satisfied feeling , as long as its healthy and you manage to eat ok , as said only thing I seem to have a little issue with is dry chicken , bread if its very soft doughy type , if coarse or wholemeal or toast its fine , tuna Ive found also at times if I havent chewed too well. Prior to the fill , which was the question you asked , sorry if Im off on a tangent , was pretty much same , low fat , high Protein and trying to stick to what basically made me feel satisfied at the time. You notice from my post op to my first fill I had put on 3 lbs , today Im 251 lbs , so lost 3 lbs since first fill , the 3 I had gained prior to the fill. Look at the history as I had a very successfuly initial loss of weight pre op , when seen doctor and he checked my loss and pattern , he said was very good and was bang on target and normal and what he would have expected. Try not worry so much , I appreciate its hard it all being new and obviously you want to do the right thing. My advice would be do as you have been , try keep portions small of health foods , and practice chewing well and some discipline at the table , this I think when you get your first fill will help ... all in , though it remains new and when its done , ie your fill you start to get used to a little restriction , and the need for chewing well etc etc The weight loss part of it , I think we will both find will come after a few fills , if we both keep the whats going in healthy and limited , and of course us not climbing the wall with hunger .. our doctors and the band and further fills will help us on the weight loss side of things . From what Ive read from others experiences , any major weight loss is not established normally until after a few months a a few fills anyway .. at this point in time its when the band does its little thing and we get onto the .... wooohooo is going ..... I must say , although not lost much since pre op , I do seem to have lost a few inches around the waist .. I noticed this morning I up up another hole on my belt :thumbup: Anyway wish you well , Im sure you have nothing to worry about , when you get your first fill , have a little discussion with your doctor and he will put your mind at ease Nick

Hi Ashley I had my first fill today also ... although on liquids today and mushies tomorrow ..back on solids after that. Dont know if of help I was advise whats best is to avoid any easy foods , ie mushy easy eating types , as when restriction is low these very easily slip thro the band. He told me to eat more solid types and lots of veg , as these should remain in pouch longer and the feeling of fullness greater and for longer. Now I know only words as not eating solids yet , I have yet to put into practice. Either way I would hang in there .. what might seem an easy day today , might be different tomorrow when eating something different . I think best to treat as a learning curve initially and for a few days .. then im sure like me we will get to know our limitations if any or downfalls .... wishing you every success :thumbup: oohh and Juli 188lbs .... thats the way to go Girl , congrats on you weight loss

Get well soon , I know only too well what its like to have complications so soon after having bad fitted , it gets you down ... oh I wish I hadnt bothered etc etc running thro your mind .. the docs will take good care of you and Im sure you will be back on your feet in no time ... wishing you all the best and keep smiling :thumbup:

In addition to the advice others have given , I was also adviced that my surgeon had found a high rate of people who had smoked had managed to give up following the procedure. It was his opinion this was due to the fact of them having the operation and generally with them being a little under par the need for a smoke was not as great. I would have to say in my case with giving them up prior to surgery , having complications with my initial band and being in hospital for over a week , when I returned home I hadnt had a smoke for three weeks , I remember his closing words to me were ... youve managed 3 weeks , its out your system dont go back ... sadly I did 5 days later .. worse mistake I did but Im coping on 10 a day rather than the 40 I used to smoke so not all is lost ... I intend to stick to the 10 for a few months , just to get settled in fully with the band , then Im gonna crack that whip and give it another try to quit again ..... whilst if I lose weight it prevents the issues with heart disease , diabetes , my bad back .. it would be a shame to get that under control for me in a few years to be told my smoking has caused something or even worse ... the whole exercise with the band is to get me on a healthier track of things , and of course to make sure my young kids have a father for a good while yet.

Well with great joy I got my initial fill today , painless and straight forward. The thing that has always been back of my mind is what will restriction feel like , what signs were I too look out for , ie when to stop eating etc etc , so following my discussion with my doctor he said ok Nick let me show you. So prior to the fill , he played about with the saline , put too much in , too little and in between adjustments let me drink Water to achieve the feeling , the feeling of too much and of course the wonderous noises my stomach seemed to make. Although perhaps will be different with solids it at least gave me some insight as to what to expect. So Im on liquids today and mushies tomorrow and he says after that Ive to try solids. He advised me not to take the easy path of easy food as he called it , but good solids and to make sure I give a good chew. I appreciaste also from what I read , I might not achieve too much restriction at first fill as often it takes another couple but at least Im on my merry way , especially after having such a rocky start with initial band. So all is not lost and Im certainly not giving up, the faith in the band remains and Im sure it still was the correct solution to the problem in relation to my weight. So if you have first fill due .. dont worry piece of cake , other than a little pressure and a minicule amout of pain when needle inserted .. easy peezy ... LOL , my young son of 7 was with me , and when the doc was putting me thro my paces with the over fill etc , I was lying down wheneve he adjust the amounts of saline , and then when I was to drink I was to stand up , all this with the syringe sticking out of my chest .... my son looked up at me and said Daddy , You are so Brave .... it melted my little heart ....:thumbup:

whilst I feel same way , I also acknowledge the buzz one can get from excercising , ie the good feel factor , I know for me depsite my back issues and weight sometimes when I come out the gym after a workout and sauna , I just feel so alive as I walk into the fresh air .. kinda wooooohhh I feel good. I reckon those that have suffered weight issues all their lifes and finally conquer their inner demons and body weight simply grasp a good well being , a feeling they never enjoyed previously. They find sport as a new hobby as such and work at it .. I say good luck to them and everyone to their own LOL ... Now me ....... well Ive always been a couch potato in adult life , mainly due to always working and just never having any energy left after working 12-14 hour days ( self employed ), only last couple of years due to health issues Ive started to try make the effort. I hope I do become an excersise freak and something happens to my inner being mentally as well as physically as nothing I would like more than to be physically active again just as I was in my youth and share with my two younger boys things I endured and thoroughly loved as a growing teenager.. This I would direct rather than marathon running etc would be Absailing , Canoeing , Hill Walking etc etc ooh I loved the outdoors and doing things that tested me mentally as well as physically .. and it would also teach my boys also the road to better health .. as well as the part of bonding a man wants to enjoy with his children. Working so much in past never allowed me to spend as much time as I should have , my eldest teenager daughters behavior of recent clearly showing I could have been a better father and had I given her some more time in her growing years perhaps wouldn't be such a pain in the ass right now * sighs * . Anyway I know its gonna be a tough one for sure , 23 years bad habits to break aint gonna be easy , but its my goal ... and yeah to sum up I will be one of these held accountable to get off my fat ass and go to gym for sure so I will keep an eye out for the thread in future and post when I can, as my thoughts are a mere dream at the moment but hey who knows if others following lap band can run marathons , why the hell cant I retrieve my youth

very worthy comments Brad , empty calories my doc calls those types you speak of , I personally havent return to the gym yet , but am looking forward to it , prior to my surgery I used to do 30 mins on treadmill at fast walk , giving a couple of miles and 30 mins on weights, I used to do this 3 times maybe 4 a week , a day on a day off , how would you compare this type of activity fitting in now a calorie restricted intake and of course now having the band. I have doc tomorrow so Im hoping he will for me give me the thumbs up to return ..not that I liked it LOL , more the 30 mins Jacuzzi and 30 mins Sauna afterwards makes it bearable for me .... just on the thinking time alone .. no wife , no kids and no noise .... hahahaha.. anyway would appreciate your further comments and I do apologise to the OP , if side tracking a little on the thread , just relevant I think also Nick

yes i had the bubbles , is it like one would imagine an alka seltzer dissolving in your throat .. I had this especially when in bed lying down , perhaps just because so quiet at that time I notice it more ... as time progresses , you will hear a lot more and wonderous sounds over the next few weeks , I get a growling ... its really strange lol , doc says its normal and not to worry ..

Hi Im in a similar position as you , now swelling gone down Im feeling to start getting hungry after an hour or so eating , Im trying my best to eat slow release type foods , things like porridge oats , maybe stick a banana in there and a strawberry too .. this I find helps. In between meals when hungry Im trying to just eat fruit .. its difficult to keep calories down , Im supposed to be on 1200 .. but there isnt a lot of eating in 1200 calories , with what I call standard foods .. Ive tried to do a lot of researh on food nutrional and calorific values , so basically I can eat as much .. ie in volume as I can , and still try to keep to my calorie limit. This is pretty easy for me and my wy of coping , Im lucky though as there is much really I wont eat and I do like salads etc etc ... eg. one can eat a lot of cucumber , tomatoes , mixed peppers , Beans , onion , fruit .... all chopped up along with lettuce , throw perhaps a boiled egg in or a little chick, smoked salmon , some balsamic vinegar and olive oil ... give it a good mix , and one gets a nice plate full of food , full of Protein , low in cals ... it does satisfy me , I feel full .. a good site is fitday.com , here you can enter food types and it gives you calories and nutrional values , that and a set of kitchen scales and you may be surprised .. ( again Ive also found what I used to consider as good foods , have found in some instances very high calories and gotten a shock ) anyway I think its a suck it and see and learning process at same time ... wish you well , and hopefully following my doctors visit tomorrow he will give me my first fill ...and I can get on the road to more weight loss. Since post op my weight loss has now come to a grind halt .. its not gone up , but lost nothing , so maybe I should t complain to much so early in to the programme.