juliansmom2003

I'm so sorry you couldn't get your fill today. I can't imagine how disappointed you must be. Wishing you lots of luck on the next try and hoping the time flies by so you can get some restriction....

Whillow-- are you satisfied on 4 to 6 ounces of food and does it sustain you for 3 to 4 hours? Are you having stuck episodes or PBing? Do you feel like you need it? Sorry for all the questions, just want to get more info before I give my .02 I was shocked today. My doc told me I had perfect restriction---really? News to me LOL

Yaay! So glad you had a little sunshine on your rainy day :-)!

Omg, I actually had my first fill on 1/14 and the same thing happened! I went in today for my second fill and the doc said I am already restricted. Needless to say I made him give me a little bit. I have heard some people can actually feel restriction as late as 2 to 3 weeks after a fill. It's wild how different we all are!

At this point, I think I am either not in tune with my body or I have no concept of what restriction is. I went in this morning for my second fill, I went to radiology and the doc took a look at my current restriction level (does fills under fluroscopy) and looked confused. He said, "you have restriction-are you not feeling full? Are you able to eat more than you should be?". I explained that I could eat 8 ounces, but I could keep going. I just stop myself. He said he could argue either way, but he'd put some in and we'd take another look. He put some in, stood me up and I swallowed more barium and he said, "This looks good. It's not refluxing up and goes down just as it should.". I asked him how much he gave me and said .8 ccs. He didn't have my chart, so I'll find out how many he put in for the first fill on Tuesday when I go into his office. So I can physically see on that screen that I am restricted. I know I'm tighter in the mornings, but the doc said if he gave me much more that I would be throwing up in the mornings and not able to eat. Could my ability to eat larger portions really be all in my head, just head hunger? Has it taken anyone else longer to grasp these concepts?

Okay so I think I am either not in tune with my body or I have no concept of what restriction is. I went in this morning for my fill, I went to radiology and the doc took a look at my current restriction level (does fills under fluroscopy) and looked confused. He said, "you have restriction-are you not feeling full? Are you able to eat more than you should be?". I explained that I could eat 8 ounces, but I could keep going. I just stop myself. He said he could argue either way, but he'd put some in and we'd take another look. He put some in, stood me up and I swallowed more barium and he said, "This looks good. It's not refluxing up and goes down just as it should.". I asked him how much he gave me and said .8 ccs. He didn't have my chart, so I'll find out how many he put in for the first fill on Tuesday when I go into his office. So I can physically see on that screen that I am restricted. I know I'm tighter in the mornings, but the doc said if he gave me much more that I would be throwing up in the mornings and not able to eat. Could my ability to eat larger portions really be all in my head, just head hunger? Has it taken anyone else longer to grasp these concepts? Thanks for listening to my rambling!!

I'm expecting TOM next week and you know what? I'm sooo with you! I'm NOT looking at that scale until that unwelcomed visitor has left! I am on regular birth control pills and while TOM only stays for 3 or 4 days, the wrath of Fluid retention he brings stays much longer. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

So, I have FINALLY made it to my second fill-- tomorrow morning at 9 am!!! :eek: As my luck would have it, there is a major snowstorm coming and my area is due to get 12 to 18 inches of snow between tonight and Friday morning! Luckily it's not supposed to get too intense until tomorrow afternoon, so I should be okay with my appointment going ahead as planned, but please keep your fingers crossed... I am hoping that this one does the trick. The only thing that really stinks is that I'm sooo tight in the mornings-- I can never get an afternoon appointment! Praying this one will get me much closer to where I need to be! Thanks for putting up with all my griping as I've been waiting impatiently for tomorrow to come! I'll let you all know how it goes. And for those of my bandster buddies in the Northeast. Be sure you have all your necessities including some candles and such. This snow is going to be the wet, heavy kind and they are expecting major power outages on top of this ridiculous accumulation! :wink: I'm moving to Denver. They've had less snow than us here in Philly! LOL

Oh gosh, Elfie. I'm so sorry to hear about this. I don't have any suggestions or anything, but just wanted you to know you're in my thoughts.

Congratulations!!

This sucks!!! I love me some lasagna! Wonder if you can make a no-noodle version and just have extra meat, ricotta, mozzarella and sauce in a nice big messy bowl. I am praying that is an alternative because I can't live without lasagna LOL!!!

This couldn't be more true, Stacy. I have a friend that is a little bigger than I was when I started this journey and I no longer even hear from her. I'm not sure if it just hurts her feelings or makes her feel like she is failing in some way or she is just plain jealous, but I couldn't agree more that this is a friend detector. It's really sad because this particular friend and I used to be close and while I know she is ultra-competitive, I thought that didn't include me or things I'm doing. I am not letting anyone stop me. It's more motivation :-)! :cool2:

No, I just followed the instructions on the site and I have to say, it worked for me :-)! Good luck!

My head is spinning right now. I was so dead set on getting an Ab Circle Pro machine...until I read a bazillion reviews on it (mostly bad about the machine being of poor quality). Then I started looking at additional options (Ab Coaster, Ab Flyer....) :frown: While I plan on doing my regular cardio (I do a two-mile power walk every day with additional moves ala Leslie Sansone), I wanted to get opinions as to what is out there that will help me work on my "pooch". It is definitely my problem area :sad:. I posted this in the Exercise/Fitness section hoping someone has any ideas, but this is where I pretty much "live", so wanted to check in with my pals to see if you have any thoughts :wink3:!

YOU ARE DOING AWESOME, WHILLOW!! Don't let this girl make you feel for one second that you haven't accomplished a HUGE feat! People don't realize how much work it is for us bandsters. They think it's magic and we don't have to work along with it, when in fact, it's much more difficult. Just ignore the ignorant. You have made fabulous progress and it will continue once your mini plateau is over!! Letting her get to you is not worth your time...just come over here and tell us about it so we can give you all the well deserved kudos and support you need!!! ((HUGS))

My head is spinning right now. I was so dead set on getting an Ab Circle Pro machine...until I read a bazillion reviews on it (mostly bad about the machine being of poor quality). Then I started looking at additional options (Ab Coaster, Ab Flyer....) While I plan on doing my regular cardio (I do a two-mile power walk every day with additional moves ala Leslie Sansone), I wanted to get opinions as to what is out there that will help me work on my "pooch". It is definitely my problem area :frown:. Thanks for any opinions, testimonials, and suggestions!!

LMAO you just made me choke on my Water, Elfie!!! HAAAAAAAAAAAAA! (Looking at your ticker again and so amazed and proud of you! You are doing AWESOME, chica!!!!!)

Hmmmm decisions, decisions. I am now torn between getting the Zumba DVDs and the Ab Circle Pro. I do need cardio as well as the ab work, maybe I could tweak my budget to do both LOL!

Weighing in this week at 179 (down 1 lb since last week--I'll take it!) My goal is to be 170 by Easter, so hopefully my fill on Thursday will jump start some more weight loss. Fingers crossed, everyone! Hope you are all doing well!!

Congrats, Elfie!!! That's soooo wonderful! I'm hoping I'm doing the happy dance next week too (FINALLY get my second fill on Thursday, hallelujah!) I'm interested to know what you're eating after this latest fill. I'm always worried that not eating enough will send me back into starvation mode and another plateau. Way to go!! SO happy for you!!!

Just wondering if anyone has tried this. I am looking at it on the website and it looks like fun, but I just don't want to buy another exercise DVD set to have it collect dust. I bought the Slim in 6 months ago, and did it twice this week and it's just PAINFUL! I know that can be part of exercising, but I'm not sure I will ever get used to the moves, so I'm thinking of putting the Slim in 6 on eBay to buy the Zumba. Has anyone tried Zumba? If so, what is/was your experience with it?

Tiff--how did it go today???

I have had one fill (on Jan 14) and it was my TOM and was already swollen, so I guess he didn't give me much. Needless to say, my portion sizes are maintained by ME right now, not the band. I have another fill next week, so hopefully it will help me get fuller on a smaller amount of food so I can lose the rest of this weight LOL! Good luck to you!

I would totally wait (especially if you're self pay). I got my first fill the day before my period ended and he barely put anything in (my doc does the fills under fluoroscopy so you can see the restriction levels). He put some in and removed some twice, so there was hardly anything in there and I was completely ravenous the whole day and every day after. It's not too bad now, but my portion sizes are still over 8 ozn so I'm getting another fill next week. I feel like I wasted my time getting that first fill.

I was banded on 10/21 and didn't have my first fill until 1/14, almost 3 months post op. I go for #2 next week and I'll be 4 months post op. I think like with everything else, each doc is different. I wish I had one that could get me in every 2 to 3 weeks for a fill lol Still on the hunt for the sweet spot :-)