indianlight

Kim, Are you really hungry or is it a head hunger? I struggle with this as well at the first sign of hunger I want to reach for junk food, but a friend who has had the band and is at target advised me to drink first not eat. So, what I do now is: when I feel hungry I drink a pint of water then wait 10 minutes and if I still feel hungry I eat...usually I don't. I hope you try this, it's not easy and at first I wanted to eat whether I was really hungry or not, but I want to lose weight more. Also, I have removed myself from situations that I associate with food, like the movies and eating out. In fact, i don't sociallise very much outside of a controlled environment, because I can't trust myself!! (that was hard to admit to!!) I always have healthy snacks in the fridge usually prawns or grapes, my dietician says its better to have a little of something than not have it at all because the craving increases if your deprived of it. I do hope to rebuild my life, but in a better way so i'm in control and can cope with the social situations. I've acted like the band is the beginning of the rest of my life and have changed almost everything that happened before...that sounds melodramatic but we each have to find our own way of coping. I see that your taking your mum with you to the psych, is that a good idea? forgive me because I don't know of your relationship with your mum, but I know that where food is concerned I find it difficult to face the truth and discuss my issues with anyone, so to have an 'audience' whilst doing it I would feel victimised and become defensive. I hope some of this rambling helps, just remember you did this for you, to improve your life and each piece of junk you put in your mouth is stopping you from getting to where you want to be.....LOL

Hi all, I don't get to post very often, but I do make sure I catch up on all thats going on...when i'm feeling down or all alone on this journey, I just read a few messages and I remember why i'm doing this and that all my july bandsters are with me on this journey...so thank you and WELL DONE to all who post here!!! I have good news I lost just over 7lbs in a week!!! I haven't even had a fill yet...my weight is 22 stone dead and I can't wait to get on the scales and see it say 21 stone ??lbs, I am going to the gym 3 times a week and feel better for it, healthier and more energetic. I also have a date for my first fill 28th September, that makes it 10 weeks post band..which is longer than I expected but fairly normal here in the uk!! I can't wait, i'm getting very hungry now usually late in the day after dinner, I could eat more....I try not to and if I NEED to i usually eat some prawns or ham. I sorted my bottom problem out!! I was so concerned that the band was causing problems, that I completely forgot that I suffer from IBS!!! how stupid is that... anyway, i've started to take aloe vera juice, and eat an omega 3 mix of seeds and a few mixed nuts daily and this seems to have worked!! Did I miss a chat? when are you arranging the next one??

Hi, I'm finding it hard now I'm back at work to remember to drink, I'm so busy now that before I realise it's lunchtime and I need to eat, therefore no drink and i'm often finding I haven't had a drink for 3 hours. It was great when i was still at home, all I had to think of was me and my band, so I could concentrate on the timing of my drinks/food...but now I'm struggling. Anyone else having this problem?

Hi All, thanks for your thoughts and support. tired old man thats one hell of a post!!!! I'm feeling a little more in control now, I'm going to the gym and I learnt a lesson on sunday night, I ordered chinese food without thinking and when it arrived could only eat a small amount then on monday morning I spent over 1 hour on the toilet... I hope that will prevent me going silly again!!

HElP!!! I feel as if my switch has been switched back to unhealthy eating...I can't stop!! I got weighed on friday and in 4 weeks have lost 15lbs...I was sooo happy, and now I dont have much restriction but Im eating all the wrong foods, I know i'm soing it so why can't I stop??? its almost as if I'm pushingthe band to its limit!!! My head feels screwed....my fill isn't for another couple of weeks yet, I don't want to undo all the good work i've already done, does anyone else feel like this??

Am I alone, i was banded on 18th July 2006 and have only just gone back to work on monday and even then although i have a desk job, I just found I couldn't cope. So, was off on tuesday and work have agreed that I can ease back into it part time...I am soooo tired all of the time. anyone else feel the same? i feel pathetic when all of you have gone back so quick

OH MY GOD.....I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE FOUND WHERE I BELONG!! I have just found this thread and have been reading it for what sems like hours (am up to page 19), I feel so much better now that I have found people who have a lot to lose... I was banded in the uk on 18th July 2006 and therefore am almost 4 weeks post op, I think I have lost approx 13lbs, but will know better when i see my dietician on friday and get the official weight. I've joined a gym this week and went today for my first workout it went great, don't know if I'l feel like this tomorrow though.... I'm waiting for a date for my first fill, was told it will be 6 - 8 weeks post op but sometimes its longer than that here...I cant wait for it as I do feel hunger now and also 'cos I can eat normal food I have the urge to eat more than I should, I don't eat it but don't know how long I can hold out... I just want to say how well everyone is doing and the amount of support that is given when someone stumbles is fab....keep up the good work! Oh, just want to say my hospital was weighing me in kilos and I really want to be below 150 before the op, but hadn't made it at the pre op assessment so was disappointed ... but when they weighed me before going down for op...I was 149.7!! I leapt of the scales and was jumping around shouting 'I can't believe it'(they all thought I was going mad!) so the moral of the story is If I get that excited at that, what will I be like when I reach my first goal of 50lbs off??? I think you peeps in USA will hear me!! LOL

Hi all, thought Id update you and get it off my chest. i'm having lots of bowel problems, I'm nearly 4 weeks post op and on normal foods and boy does my bowel no it!!! Does anyone else not go to the loo for 3/4 days? I used to go every day but now...once or twice a week and it hurts sooo much!! sorry for the grossness but i need to know if I'm alone with this?? Other major news!!! i joined a gym on friday and had my first workout today, I felt fine afterwards but am now starting to ache... my only concern about the gym is that I don't want to gain weight 'cos of muscle!! the trainer saidas I've had the band done I don't need to do fat burning exercise just to tone up!! anyone any thoughts on this??? it sounds ok but I need to lose a lot of weight so should I be burning fat??? My official weigh in is friday, that will be a calender month after op...so will update my ticker and you then... I want to thank you all for being honest in your posts as it helps me to put my occasional panics into perspective, when i see others are having to deal with the same....thanks lol

Olive Congratulations!!!:clap2: I am sooo happy for you, I can't wait to reach my first goal but the feeling of seeing that '1' must be incredible. Olivia I'm 3 weeks post op and I still feel tenderness in a couple of my cuts especially my port, but i believe its just healing, you have to remember although i have difficulty with this, that you have just had a major op and although it was keyhole your insides have been pushed and shoved around a lot. Give it time and it will ease, if your still uncertain ask a nurse or your Dr to check. I might as well up date you all on my progress, i wasn't going to get weighed until my appointment with my dietician on 18th August, but temptation won!! I got weighed earlier this week and if the scales are right, i've lost 13lbs!!! I can't believe it...i'm not going to update my ticker until I've had my official weigh in next week just in cas I'm tempting fate....but heres hoping!!

HELP!! can somebody please tell me how I can get a ticker tape????

Leona06 I'm no expert I can only go on the experience of the people I've met who have been through this and one friend who is at goal. as your not loosing weight have you tried drinking more water and not having your snacks? I find that 'cos i'm drinking soo much in between meals I don't have time or hunger for extra food. It might work. I was also told not to have cheese or just a tiny bit as its full of fat. If you change from cheese to something else that might help too...it seems a shame to go through the op and not start to feel the benefit, but we all have to find what works for us. Hope you don't mind me commenting I just want to help! Good Luck Somebody asked why we couldn't drink after food, it's cos it will wash the food straight through the pouch making us hungry quicker. My doc said not to drink for 1 hour after food. I'm finding that difficult but just managing as long as I drink lots throughout the rest of the day i don't get thirsty.

Hi, I feel as if i've lost weight my clothes are looser but I made a decision not to get weighed every day...only to do it once a month. i have an appointment at my dietician on 18th August and will hopefully have lost lots?(LOL) My scars have healed quite well but the ones under my boobs are still sore, I can't find a sports bra big enough for me but luckily my bras are slacker round the back anyway, due the hopeful weightloss. Hopefully by the time I go back to work next week I'l be able to keep my clothes on for more than 2 hours!! I am starting to get more hungry now but refuse to start calorie counting etc.. the whole purpose of the band for me was so I didn't have to do that. My understanding is that we have to learn to listen to our stomachs, learn when they are telling us they've had enough. In the past I could have carried on eating the same again despite my tummy saying nooooo!! I'm learning, I am starting to be able to leave things when I've had enough, it's hard espaecially when you've been taught to clear your plate but with plenty determination and willpower and the band to support me I'l get there. although I am getting hungrier, I want to loose weight so all I am eating is the same as I was when I had a little restriction: Breakfast - 1 Weetabix Lunch - Yogurt/Jelly or if really hungry 2 Cornish wafers and Spreading Cheese Dinner - Weight Watchers Ocean pie ready meal Snacks - Ice pops or Ice loolies (sugar Free) I'd be interested to hear what others are eating? Also, has anyone had problems with minced beef? I ate a ready meal cottage pie a few nights ago and was ill, thought I was dying(lol) the pain was in my bowel not my stomach.

sorry your feeling so poorly, I've had a tummy bug the last couple of days and have ended up very constipated and now have piles, could that be whats happened to you? I'm losing blood from my bottom when I go to the toilet and sometimes yucky stuff, this is happened to me before when i was heavier (not that I can get much heavier!) so i'm not worried. hope this helps. lol

I don't know I'm in the UK. I was seeing my endocronologist about my PCOS and told him the hair was getting worse and he asked if I've tried it, but I hadn't heard of it, it takes 2 months to work so am in the early stages. Their is a website about it and theres some very positive reviews, might be worth speaking to GP about it.

Hi, I've got PCOS and I thought losing the weight would rectify this problem. My Endo gave me some Vaniqa cream to use twice a day, this should slow/stop the hair growing. Have you tried it?

I was banded on july 17th so am nearly 3 weeks post op, I'm still off work have took an extra week as I'm finding it difficult to wear clothes especially a bra, anyone else having this problem? My port is in between my breasts, with most of my incisions at waist level..