Deekel

I've started a journal. I never kept one in the past, but I think it's a good idea so there is no mindless eating and I can see where I need to tweak my diet. Adding more whole grains is a good place to start. I'll let you know how it goes when I go back in 3 weeks. Thanks again.

Thank you for the links. They were very interesting. I think I have to take a step back now and re- look at the band from a different perspective. It worked wonders in the beginning 'the honeymoon phase" and I had less in my band. I'm open to less "white carbs". It's just a matter of learning to cook differently. I have a lot to work with here and I really appreciate all of your comments.

Thank you, Mist. I appreciate the honesty. I haven't gained any weight on my band, but the weight loss is almost at a stand still so I have to try something different than what I'm doing. I guess I expected more of a restricted feeling from the band. I'll just try eating less and when I'm hungry an hour later, walk in the opposite direction of the kitchen. You are right, I do eat too fast. I find myself shoving food in at top speed sometimes in between taking care of the baby and getting her ready for bed and such. I'm still trying to find that balance of taking care of her and "me time" If I wait until she's asleep, I'll be eating dinner at 8:30 and that's too late for me. Maybe my husband and I can eat in shifts so one of us gets a relaxing dinner at a time.

I think I became disheartened when the Dr. said to me that he didn't think I was filled enough but to come back in 4 more weeks. I know this is a tool and not a quick fix. I don't know how I'm supposed to use a tool I can't feel or be aware of. I feel like I'm still learning and figuring it out. I've asked twice to speak with the nutritionist on staff and they were unable to see me because they were busy counseling patients who were getting ready to have their surgeries. Which reminds me, I want to call today and tell them when my next appointment is and see if there's any way the nutritionist can see me then. I would say when I force myself to stop at 1 - 2 cups of food I'm genuinely hungry within the hour. Really I just don't get full at all from it and last about an hour before the "grazing" begins. When I eat 4 - 5 cups of food, I can last about 3 -4 hours. I add veggies to everything to bulk it up. I can't tell you how many pepper, onions and mushrooms I go through a week because I put that on top of chicken and steak to "bulk up" my protein. Then I have veggies on the side of that and try to only eat carbs last, cous cous, rice, potato... My husband doesn't have a weight issue at all but he's very understanding in that I limit pasta to only once a week. I eat protein and salad first then the pasta and I know this sounds sad, but I make him pack up the leftovers for his lunch the next day because I don't trust myself not to "pick" at it as I put it away. At least I know my own weakness, right? Thanks for any and all advice. I really appreciate it.

I have 6 cc's in a 9 cc band and feel no restriction. Last week I had my 3rd fill. I told the Dr. I thought I might need more than 1cc and he said, "Oh, yeah, I don't think this will take. You'll need more in you to feel full but I don't want you getting sick so we'll take it slow." He told me outright it was not enough to feel full. I told him that when I first got the band I had to avoid rice like the plague because it got stuck and hurt. I told him I eat rice on purpose 3 -4 times a week HOPING I will feel full and I still don't. He said to just try to avoid rice and all carbs anyway and come back in 4 more weeks. I'm not very good at being assertive. On my next visit when he asks me to drink water to see how it feels going down, if I feel no restriction again, should I push to have more than 1 cc added or just keep letting him put 1cc in at a time? I'm getting nervous because I'm up to 6 cc's and still don't feel restriction. I'm afraid I'll hit the 9cc mark and never feel full. Since last week I'm eating as much protein as I can and staying away from carbs. But I feel like my portions are too big. Months ago I would eat a small section off my husband's steak. Now I eat my own whole one. I feel like I'm talking to my Dr. but he's not listening to me if that makes sense.

I used these forums to get through the approval process and everyone was so helpful. I was Banded on Oct 19th 2009. A month later we found out we were expecting. I guess I wasn't infertile after all! My Dr. was quite disappointed that I became pregant so soon after surgery, but honestly I had been diagnosed as infertile and we were going to start fertilitly treatments in 6 months. To say we were overjoyed and felt blessed was an understatement! I never had my band filled during my pregnancy but tried to eat sensibly and I'm happy to report I'm still down 50lbs from my original starting weight before being banded. I had two fills this past year since delivering our little girl and I have 5cc in my band right now (it's holds up to 9cc). It's doing nothing. I get another fill in two days. I'm praying it helps. I tore a ligament in my foot and can't really excercise. I'm trying to keep up with a baby who is about to walk and I want nothing more than to lose weight and live a long and healthy life to watch my baby grow up. I feel like I need some help right now with staying on track. So here I am again. Hi everyone! I'm Denise and it's nice to meet you all again.

Thank you so much for your comments. I really feel like you understand what it's like to eat when you should be expressing yourself. I've decided that it was actually a pretty big moment for me to recognize that I was eating for a reason other than hunger. I realized after I was sitting there in physical pain, but the old me would have eaten all day long and probably tomorrow too. Instead I stopped, turned to all of you for support and I went for a walk to try to get rid of some of those extra calories. The walk helped clear my "carb fog". I'm going to be honest with our friends and ask if we can all get together for dinner and board games one night rather than buy each other presents. It would be nice to enjoy each other's company around the holiday. Last year my husband and I woke up and drove around town looking at other people's Christmas lights while listening to carols on the radio. It was really nice, but I'll speak up tonight and explain how much it would mean if we could decorate our own house a little. And that was a really good idea ElfiePoo- if our friends still want to do presents, I'll ask they donate to Toys For Tots instead. Thanks for listening and understanding. :biggrin:

I'm so mad at myself! Something happened this morning to really disappoint me. Basically my husband and I agreed that it would make more sense not to celebrate Christmas together - no tree, no decorations, no gifts in order to buy for others and not go broke in the process. I guess part of me was disappointed that this will be the 2nd year in a row there will be no festivities in our house and rather than speak up because 1. I didn't want to sound selfish and 2. I really don't feel like going broke. I resorted to my old ways and tried to eat my pain away. I haven't had my first fill yet so I was able to really pack it in. I ate so much my ribs hurt! When am I going to learn?!?

Mashed Turnips! I love them so much I have them regularly (I'm in the mushy phase too.) My Uncle requested creamed spinach at Thanksgiving which I was happy about because it's one more mushy thing there, but I'm making my own cream sauce with 1% milk.

Thanks Crzytchr. I feel so silly for crying last night.:wink2: I've lost more weight already than I could have on my own. Guess it was just time for a pity party. I love that I can log on here and someone else is either feeling the way I am or has felt the way I do and has gotten past it. You all rock!!

Is there room for one more here? I was just crying tonight because I was so ashamed of myself. I feel like I'm eating way too much. I saw my Dr a week and a half ago and he said I was in starvation mode- about 400 calories a day and feeling like I was going to faint just sitting at my desk in the afternoon. He said to stay off the scale, eat more and drink my water and see him on two weeks. I see him this Thursday but I feel like I've gained a ton. I haven't weighed myself but I guess I'm in bandster hell because I eat and no longer have a feeling of being full for hours like I used to. I used to have a protein shake for breakfast, skip lunch because I didn't even think of it (which the Dr gave me a good lecture on) and I would have like 1/2 cup of pureed sweet potato for dinner. Two weeks later...I have a protein shake for breakfast (around 6 am), one of those mini to go cups of light cottage cheese at around 10am, 1/2 cup tuna salad or chicken salad for lunch, almost a cup of applesauce for a snack in the afternoon and 1/2 cup ground chicken, 1/2 cup pureed veggie and I still have room for some pastina for dinner! I had an early dinner tonight- about 4pm and just had some eggbeaters b/c my stomach was growling so much! I feel like I'm eating much healthier choices than I used to- in fact I know I am, but I feel so angry with myself because I'm eating so much more than I did a few weeks ago and I just don't feel like I'm losing anymore. Here I go again, here come the waterworks. I'm so afraid I'm going to fail at this too. Anyway, thank you for this thread. I don't feel so alone and that is really a big help. I think tracking what I eat is a very good suggestion. Maybe if I see the numbers I'll see just how many calories I'm consuming and it will at least be something to bring with me to my Dr. appointment on Thursday.

First- let me congratulate you!!! Second- I could have written this. I felt the same way and was also down to about 400 calories. I found that the anesthesia took a few days to completely leave my body. I really didn't start feeling like myself again until 8 days past surgery. And even then- I had less energy for about 10-12 days. I went back to work 8 days after surgery and regretted it. I was fine the first half of the day and then my body just got pooped for the second half. As for the calories, I just didn't feel hungry and I thought that was a good thing until I felt like I was going to faint while just sitting at my desk at work. I saw my surgeon and he said I was putting my body into starvation mode. I was also afraid of gaining any weight back once I started reintroducing foods back into my diet. His advice to me was get off the scale for two weeks. Don't look at it, not even once. Just concentrate on replenishing my body with fluids and protein and nutrients to help me heal. And if I was dead tired at the end of the day- go to bed at 8pm if I wanted! I had just had surgery, it's not like I was going to make a lifelong habit of going to bed right after dinner. I drank more water, had at least one protein shake a day along with homemade pureed veggies or an egg white and I felt much better within a week. For me- he was right. I needed to eat right and rest. Give it a few more days. If you still don't feel well, please go see your Dr. Together you can narrow down what might be the cause for you and it will be the best way to getting you to feel better quicker. Best of luck to you!!