xavier

I have only seen a few episodes here and there...but...does anyone know how many of these people (what percent) have kept off the weight they lost? It looks like its designed to fail unless you plan on having a trainer yell at you for eight hours a day for the rest of your life...?

I put the GNC whey protein powder in sups like tomato or butternut squash...make sure your protein powder isnt sweet like vanilla!

I think 20 lbs in just over two months is fine...that would still be in the range of nearly 100 pounds in a year. And a year from now, or two, is it going to matter exactly how long it took? Plus the time before you get filled to the sweet spot doesnt count anyway...give yourself a break!!!

Good luck, we are al here for you. If you dont wake up from your surgery with an abdominal binder on, find a way to get to a drugstore and get one! It makes a big diiference in your first week because it hols your tummy in. I couldnt have slept on my side without it! It holds everything in place so you dont get that pulling feeling! Good luck, youll do great!!

ESV, I know its not as healthy but I put kind of a lot of mayo in the egg salad and in my tuna or I cant get it down...I know its a lot of fat and cals but I am eating such small portions I dont think its that bad. I have tried lite and low fat mayo and I just cant stand them!! I really want to pick up that premade quinoa salad today...I love that stuff and its very easy to eat. Do you also eat falafel and hummus?

PLEASE!!!! Before you do anything to indicate to the doc's office that you are planning to do something...get ALL of your records. Go through them and make sure nothing looks like it has been altered. Pay them whatever you have to to get copies of EVERYTHING! You are legally entitled to all the records and you are going to need them but they may drag their feet if they think you are talking to a lawyer or whatever. Also have your primary doc request ALL of your records because they may be more cooperative/forthcoming and less suspicious with a doctors office! Good luck to you. AFTER all the records are in your hands find a nice lawyer who wont charge you just to hear your story...I highly recommend starting your lawyer search with women lawyers...Prob not PC to say so but I think statistically less likely to see you as a place to make more $$$....good luck!

I also eat fish.I love those new thai spice and sun dried tomato tuna cans!! I eat some eggs, and egg salad, lots of cheese, some tofu, and hummus and other beans. I didnt know quinoa was so good I'll have to get more of that. They have little premade salads of it at New Frontiers which is like Whole Foods if you have that. I limit the tofu/soy products because of the estrogen.I do love that Eggplant tofu thing at Panda express. Otherwise here in CA its pretty easy to get veg or even vegan stuff everywhere.

Dear ESV, Just hang in there!I consider myself a vegetarian but I do eat fish...I am curious if you do? Anyway I also eat a lot of cottage cheese (with salsa on it, go figure!), hummus, egg salad, cheese of any kind, and lots of tofu and veggie/mushroom stirfry. I also LOVE the regular Boca burger although I still have some difficulty chewing it enough!I dont eat any low fat or diet foods but my restriction keeps me from eaing more than a small portion...

Glad you're back to blog...I have had a couple of months of needing a fill but couldnt travel all that way to get one...I guess Im just happy to not have gained! Anyway I got two fills this month and now I am nice and snug!! I dont think I could eat a full cup f anything so I am just doing four or even five tiny meals and its good so far...I really envy you your 60lb loss but I have to just be happy with what I have so far...hope you can blog once in a while for us!!

For me now that I have good restriction I seriously cannot eat more than a half cup of food at a time. I have to eat really slow and that has taken the fun out of it...that's a really GOOD thing for me. Part of it is getting the right level of restriction and part of it is your own mental will power...I think its the combination of both that makes so many people successful long term. Stay on this site to keep yourself focused and read everything by people like jachut, band_groupie, and imaluckydog...they tell it like it is!!

I am too tight even ith hot coffe first so I have a protein shake in the morning. I think if I just waited a couple of hours I would be ok and sometimes I can eat eggs but I dont see what the crime is of the shake. It start off a good day in terms of protein because I am a vegetarian I have to keep good track of that. Then I am eating healthy, real food, the rest of the day!

Those words, "eat on time, enjoy every bite, and be in control" should be embroidered on a pillow...they are words to live by...thanks!!

The more solid your food is it will stay in the pouch longer and keep you satisfied longer. Even now though, I get a crazy growly stomach but when I really think about it I'm not actually hungry. Its weird! By the time I can say I am actually hungry, the growling has usually stiopped. I am trying to train myself to really look for real hunger before I let myself eat...interestingly, my husband has always done that naturally and I guess that's why he's thin! Good luck, it sounds like you are doing well.

I think the main cause of the diet headache is dehydration. Try to really drink your water. I have a doctor who says when you have a headache and you take meds for it with a glass of water, its usually the water and not the meds that cure you! Good luck!

What a great story...congrats! It might be nice to someday be 'skinny' but for now isnt it great just to be in 'normal' sizes!? I still have a ways to go but I just feel more normal and less fat and I love it!You sound like you are in good restriction and really doing things right.I have a fill appt. on Nov 6th but I feel good now so I think I will wait till next week and then cancel it.

Another good answer is "I'm eating less and exercising more." Its the truth and nothing further is needed.If you are the kind of person who gets their feelings hurt by peoples shameless comments...don't tell people about the band. If you're pretty tough and remarks roll off you, go ahead and tell. You'll get a lot of info here but you will prob also see some people telling some really negative remarks that have been made to them...I didnt really tell anyone because I dont want to have to explain the whole thing to people who dont know...I have lost weight kind of slowly so no one is suspicious.Bottom line, its personal, its medical, and its no one's biz But you will get lots of support here...welcome!!

You should probably read band_groupie 's blog the last few days...she's got it bad. Its serious so talk to your doc bout getting it controlled. I am the opposite, I had it bad for many years and when I got my band the doc repaired a hole in my diaphragm (hiatal hernia) and I havent had it even once since! Good luck...don't just live with it or take Tums all the time!

Hope you're feeling better and congrats on the new computer...you needed it and we need you to keep blogging!! d

Wow I hope you're already feeling better...a piece of unsolicited trivia...when you have a viral infection (like flu) the virus is actually living in your muscles and replicating itself...thats why you have body aches and even pain when you use your eye muscles!Ew!

Totally normal...they load you up with what seems like gallons of fluid during the surgery and the body hangs onto that fluid just from the inflammation (just like the puffed up sprained ankle). Hang in there, I think everyone goes through this.....think long haul!! Good luck!

My hair loss was pretty bad but is just now slowing down noticably. I know my nutrition is good and it seems very common in people who were banded around the same time (May) so I just blame the surgery...

Thanks for sharing that great story. So many of us (mostly women I think) allow negative people to affect (and offend) us mainly because we dont seem to want to offend THEM! You set a good example that protecting yourself really does come first and it should...thanks!!

What a great blog...I bet a lot of people are struggling with the same issue.As a backup career, you might consider medical writing...good luck I hope you can get some real longterm relief..D

Sounds like you need a fill or at least to be evaluated for one. Some fluid seems to disappear from the band so you may really have about 1cc less now. Also as you lose fat, you lose fat around your stomach and the band gets looser...good luck!

I think its best to give your cell # and wait for your appointment outside or in your car...you know I dont like to fraternize with sick people!!