mominkansas

Walk, I promise it will help!

Good for changing, 15 times is crazy. You won't probably feel restriction until your 2 or even 3rd fill though. Hope your next one is better!

I agree with the above. Try moving around, even though I know it is hard. No BM along with the gas in your system is painful. Try walking around and up your Fiber with some metamucil, or benifiber.

Do you have a Saver's in your area? If you turn in 5 things you get a 20% off your entire purchase coupon and all their money goes to Big Brothers Big sisters. I got some awesome stuff there and know my money is going to a good cause!

Todd, I work out but skip the weights and crunches. OP, I think your body is going into starve mode, I think you need more calories.

I think you could possibly benefit from a fill:)

So sorry about your mom, I hope you treasured your last days with her. I would not say anything unless you have a new doc lined up. If the doctor says something her attitude could get even more nasty. That being said I agree that you should look for someone new, and when you do get a fill make sure that if you ever need an emergency unfill that you won't be waiting a long time!

I do make my own but have bought the Sabra brand at costco, I find the other one a bit too harsh. I can dig up my recipe. I eat hummus with flax seed chips, the multi grain chips at costco, radishes, califlower, or I bake my own chips by broiling whole wheat flat out bread or tortillas.

I actually go to the store and still reach for the 18's. I think it is out of habit. I am now a size 10. I am so glad to see this post, I was starting to worry about myself. I too have noticed people talking to me more at my office, strangers being more flirty, and sadly the loss of some of my heavier friends.

I eat a lot of hummus which is ground garbonzo beans. It packs in a ton of protein too!

eggs are not a great indicator of tightness. I would say most people can not do eggs. They for most people are not band friendly. Replace the pudding with yogurt. Try different meats. I found pulled pork worked better than ground beef. Shredded chicken worked better than other chicken. Use lots of sauce, and precut your chicken so you don't take a huge bite by accident.

eggs are not a great indicator of tightness. I would say most people can not do eggs. They for most people are not band friendly. Replace the pudding with yogurt. Try different meats. I found pulled pork worked better than ground beef. Shredded chicken worked better than other chicken. Use lots of sauce, and precut your chicken so you don't take a huge bite by accident.

I ordered egg rolls once and egg drop soup once. I've also tried Thai. All are too salty for me and it is by far the worst episodes of PB'ing I have ever had.

I think it takes a while till you get the eat to live mentality instead of the live to eat one. it took at least 3 fills before I had to remember to eat Breakfast, and would almost forget about lunch. I believe 80% of the band is mental, 20% is the band itself.

Eating around the band is eating stuff that you know will go down easy because you are worried about PB'ing. Could be chips, ice cream, cookies, or high calorie liquids. HTH.

Elfiepoo, I wish my husband would do that. He eats his and the rest of mine and he seems as if he has gotten a little rounder as I have slimmed down.

I have a hard port to access and though the first person I went to was great, the person I go to now can get in and out of so much better. I later found out the person I go to now trained the girl I went to before.

I agree if you get stuck, do Clear Liquids for the rest of the day. Getting stuck can cause swelling. How big are the bites that you are taking? BTW I can't do potatoes or eggs any more.

If you PB in between meals most likely to are too tight and need an unfill. As for the chewing too much I am not sure. One of his other patients almost liquified his food by chewing and once he chewed a bit less he had less PB'ing. Just make sure not to eat around the bandd!

When you finish your meal do you need it taken away? I can not stomach seeing the rest of my food on my plate, I have to have it boxed or taken away. Another thing I noticed is that I am a lot more sensitive to smells food wise. Are you?

Try cutting it down to the coffee cup, even if you have to eat an extra meal. PB'ing during a meal is less worrysome than between meals. Could you be not be chewing well enough? Could you be chewing too well(my fill tech said pulverizing food is bad for you as well). I would note things that make you PB and write them down. I noticed that salty foods always made me PB. My fill tech thinks I am nuts and laughs every time that I tell him that. I told him the same thing about eggs which he though was odd since I have a realize band. Bottom line I think is that these bands are still fairly new. Everyone is still learning about what works and what doesn't. My fill tech has since changed his tune about salty food and eggs. what works for you may make me slime, and vice versa. Feel free to experiment, just make sure to not repeat any mistakes more than you have to.

There is truly a fine line between no one noticing and people NOT recognizing you at all. I went almost 40 pounds with no change in sizes, no one noticing, nothing........then all of a sudden tons of people can tell. I think you are close. Just wait and keep on doing what you are doing. You are doing great!

Your meal should fit in a styrofoam coffee cup. What are you eating, when were you filled, and most importantly when do you PB? Is it directly after a meal? In between meals?

Anything with fibers. Asparagus, Artichoke Hearts, Carrots, pineapple, etc. I can not eat angel hair or other long pastas, but I can eat shell Pasta, and other shapes. I can't eat most breads, or any eggs. Finally I have a real problem with salty things. Bacon, many Soups, bleu cheese, and other salty foods are no gos for me!

I actually got a slight fill today. I talked to my fill tech and he basically said the same as Lellow. you get to know your band well enough to know what you need to do to gain, lose, or maintain. I don't think I am at that point yet, but home to be soon! As of this morning I was at a BMI of 27.4, so I am inching closer to "normal".