nawlinzlady

Before I answer your question, let me just say that everyone is different with restriction. Some people have trouble with steak and no problems with Pasta and for others it could be both or the opposite. It also depends on whether your doctor believes in aggressive fills are tends to me on the cautious side. My doctor is on the cautious side. My first two fills were 1.5cc and I could eat everything until my fourth fill. Even now I can eat steak but do remember to cut very teeny tiny pieces and chew, chew, chew. Since it is a social event, try to pay attention to when you first start feeling full and consider stopping sooner than later. Have fun!:thumbup:

I have been blogging and documenting my road down to a healthier me since day one. By all means! blog, there is a whole community of ranging from very experienced to newbies. We support each other and praise each others acccomplishments. My biggest advise along with blogging is to do measurements and pictures. Even if you are not ready to share them with anyone but yourself. You will be sooo glad you did it! Good luck!:thumbup:

The recipe for cajun gumbo is different for every cook, the same is applies to the ever elusive "Sweet Spot". Everyone's idea is different. For me, my sweet spot is when I can stay full and satisfied on 1 to 1-1/2 cups of food for 4 or more hours, which is were I am been for several months now. This allows me 3 small meals a day. I can tell when my restriction starts to loosen because I find myself wanting Snacks in between. Hope this helps!:thumbup:

I'm sorry if I sound like I am preaching here...... When I made the decision to be banded, I knew this was a lifetime committment. That means I am banded during summer, fall, winter & spring. I am banded during birthdays, holidays, baby & wedding showers AND VACATIONS. This is my new healthy lifestyle and I have to live my life within the restraints of my band. First, I have an absolutely fabulous doctor and there is no way he would agree to unfill me just so I could go on a cruise and gorge myself. He would tell me to find another doctor, which I am sure I could find who is willing to take my money to do it. Second, You would miss one of the best benefits of being banded. Being banded means you can live your life just like everyone else. You will be able to eat meals on your cruise like everyone else; just smaller, healthier portions. You will return from your cruise with a smile because you did not gain or if you do it will very little. I go on several cruises a year and have a great time, the fun doesn't come from eating until I pop, there are so many other activities that I doubt you will have time to think about grazing or head hunger issues. Go on your cruise with any worries, your band will not hamper your fun.:thumbup:

100 lbs, WOW, that would be amazing. I am so happy for you!:thumbup:

Hi everyone, Just wanted to say Happy 4th of July! Here were are right at the middle of 2010. Now is a good time to dust off those new years resolutions, maybe tweak them or add to them. I have been doing just that. I am very please with my weightloss so far. I would love to lose the rest before the end of 2010. It would be the first New Years eve when losing weight will NOT be one of my resolutions How is everyone else doing?

I am very pleased with my results. I was told from the very beginning that my losses would be sloooow and I was prepared for it. I am losing at my own pace and very optimistic that I will be reach my goal by the end of 2010.

Good for you, we need to keep checking in. I truly believe that those of us still posting have a much better chance at success. We are all making great progress!

Don't give up, keep at it. We started out with so many people in our Sexy Septembers group and look how few are posting now. People stop posting for various reason, but I don't think its ever a good sign when people disappear. Those of us who are checking in will make it because we lift each other up

Sorry your having pain. I haven't experienced any port pain. I can't believe we have been banded 9 months already! I am very pleased with my results so far.

Maggie, do you journal or blog? I started one with my pre-op diet. It keeps me focused. This link, is my first post during my vacation, we spent a week exploring the Northeast before we got on the ship. This link,is from when I returned. Like you, I did not get my first fill until I returned from a 3 wk vacation. I gained a couple pounds, but lost it in no time with the band. I took another 3wk vacations this past April, I gained a couple pounds in lost it in the first week I returned. I really think the weight gain is from all the extra salt in the foods.:thumbup:

I had a couple of times with the night cough, I find that I just have to eat light in the evenings or stay up later. If I tried to go to sleep to soon after supper it will do that. Once I realized that, I have had no further problems.

Amanda that is a lot of fill! Let us know how your doing with it. I haven't needed a fills since March and I am quite satisfied, don't want to be too tight.

You didn't say what type of trip you are taking but I will share my experience with traveling. I went on a 3wk vacation in October, 4 wks after being banded. I didn't get my first fill appt until 2 months after banding which put me a lil behind most of the sexy septembers. I did not have a single problem and 12 days of the trip was a cruise. Until you get fills in your band, it really was like I didn't have the surgery at all LOL

I don't know your doctor but I find the NP's much easier to talk with than my own surgeon, as surgeons go, he was excellent but his understanding through the fill process left alot to be desired. The key WAS indeed restriction for me. I am @ 7.4 of 10cc band and it took several fills and lots of frustration to get to this point. Now my band will not let me overeat, it took PBng a few times for it to sink into my head that I cannot eat like before. Go back, play their games and get your fills until you are no longer hungry and cannot eat more than 1 cup of food. It truly is amazing once you get there!

How are all the Sexy Septembers doing? I am 20 lbs from my goal and very optimistic that I will reach it by my one year bandiversary :thumbup:

I just came from a 14day cruise seven months after banding. It was wonderful. I ate what everyone else had, just ate slowly. You must come to terms with the fact that you will NOT be able to eat more than 1/4 of your portions. But I had whatever dessert I wanted but could only eat a small bite or two. Eat your Protein and then veggies, you will be full quickly. I walked the deck every morning after breakfast and I gained only 2 lbs which I lost within the first week I was home. I think it was just Water weight from the extra salt in the foods.

I had my gallbladder removed 15 years ago after losing alot of weight on one of my numerous diets. The pain is unmistakeable, you will know !

Amanda, you must have taken some fabulous vacation pics! I hope to have some to share when I return from my vacation as well. My ticker is now past the 1/2 way marker and I am 3 1/2 pounds away from a BMI of 29 which makes me officially NO LONGER OBESE. It would be great if I could achieve that major milestone before I leave on vacation on April 9th. :w00t::frown::w00t::w00t::w00t::w00t::w00t:

Just checking in with everyone! I am at 35lbs and very happy. Leaving for Hawaii in 2 and I'm very excited. Amanda, I am glad you had fun on vacation and looks like your back on track. Amanda, I wish you would do a blog, you have so much information you could share with us! Kimberly, I know what you mean, we are all over the whole dieting thing lol How is everyone else?

I love my LoseIt! on my iphone. I also use an app Runkeeper to track my walks/distance/speed and another app called gym buddy to track my gym workouts. Its all on my iphone along with my workout music, did I mention I love that phone LOL

Oh and eat salty food and drink alot of water.....worked for the red team on Biggest Loser :thumbdown:

I'm an iphone app junkie. I have several apps i use. Loseit! for tracking my foods/proteins/calories, another one tracks my gym workouts and the last one tracks my walks/jogs. I will try this one out!