chicklittle68

I understand where you are. I certainly agree with everyone else. Try Skinny Cow if you really MUST...but if you can manage, try to take a walk first, or go in your closet and try on clothes first. That usually drives me to change my mind about the ice cream, and makes it less desirable if I can find ONE thing in my closet that fits better than it did. If you can, try a popsicle instead. I like the Dole Fruit Bars or even a sugar free popsicle. Not a yummy as ice cream, but it may help a little bit. I wish I had the answer for you regarding your family support, but I experience the same thing here. Sometimes I wish I could have my hubby tell me that I don't need it, or that he would gently suggest that maybe I could have something else instead if I am truly hungry. Instead, he opts to say nothing. I know it's difficult, but you will make it through this. Keep yourself strong, and everything will fall back into place.

I have been there-very recently. I went through the same thing last week. I was banded shortly after you, on 12/31/10. I did great-up until last week. I had a lot of stress going on, and began coping with it as I always had-eating. I had no restriction, and was eating a lot at night. I didnt' have any willpower to stop, and kept eating even though I wasnt hungry. Granted, it wasnt the sheer volume of food I used to eat, but still it was constant grazing, which makes it difficult to get back to healthy eating habits. what i did to break the cycle was to get myself back to the gym FAST. I started going back to the gym after work, on my way home, so there wouldnt be excuses. having something to do kept me from coming home and snacking prior to dinner. This week, I have been back in the gym, coming home and preparing dinner and then after dinner, putting gum in my mouth and 'closing" the kitchen. Lights off, no reason to be in there. with these little tricks, I am back on track and ready to go again. I am not sure if this advice will help you, but I was really crying out for help last week. I understand the difficulty that you are having, and just remember, you had great willpower when you were on the pre op diet. You were working for either avoiding the open surgery(shrinking the liver with the pre op diet), or were just very motivated as the change in your life was just around the corner. Find something that drives you as it did then-whether it be exercise, a new pair of jeans, or take up a hobby that keeps you busy in the evening. Idle hands feed the mouth, it seems lol. I hope this helps, and hopefully at your appointment tomorrow they can give you either some tips or some idea on what is going on restriction wise, Keep us posted and good luck.

You can either ask your surgeon's office for the packet to order it, go on allergan's website and request it, or call the number for allergan listed on their website. You will need to know your date of surgery, the surgeon's name, where you had your surgery, and the type and size of band you have(your surgeon's office can tell you this last piece of info.) The card is great because you can not only use it to order smaller portions in restaurants, but if you go to the ER for another non LAP-BAND® related issue, all of the info about your band is on the card(the reason they need to know the type and size), including how to reach your surgeon. http://www.lapband.com/en/live_healthy_lapband/the_first_weeks/patient_id_card/ (try the above link to get the card, or google "LAP-BAND® patient id card). Good luck to you!

Congrats! You must be super excited. Now's the time to start all of those good habits that will carry you through. I know you will do fantastic!

I think everyone has the same concerns. Remember, you are having surgery on your stomach, not your brain. You can still have your love affair with food. Heck, we all do. I still have the cravings for the potato chips and bologna sandwiches. However, after riding my first bicycle marathon, buying a pair of pants from a non plus size clothing store, and sitting in a movie theater seat without having to raise the armrests, I found that food is a wonderful thing, but it is now used as fuel. Somedays I still love to have something wickedly delicious, but a bite or a taste spit into a napking suffices. I think if you go through with the surgery, you will still have a relationship with food, but it will probably be a healthier one. i am glad that you question if this is the right decision, i think it is good that you are thinking this through, as this is certainly life changing. best of luck to you, I know you will make the right choice for yourself.

Congrats! I am glad that you have a good support person there with you in your husband's absence. He will certainly be thrilled the next time he sees you! This was definitely a good place to post your introduction. I have received so many good pieces of advice and was able to find the answers to most of my questions here. Good luck to you, and I hope you are successful in your journey!

I use mine everytime I go out to eat. i always order from the kid's meal, put half of it in a takeout box as soon as it arrives at the table(even the kids meals suffer from portion distortion!), and eat what is left. That keeps me from overindulging, and sets out just what the portion should be for me. Whenever I present the card to the server and ask if i could order from the kids menu, they either scrutinize the card, reading the front and back, or they say "whatever" without a glance at the card. I have yet to be told "no", and the nicest response I had was at Logan's Roadhouse. The server was very attentive to the special dietary restrictions, and was sure to offer any condiment she thought i might be able to have with my food. Definitely use the card, it just might make that particular server more aware for the next person who may be too shy to try to use the card. You should call Allergan and ask them where your card was sent. I got mine about 3 weeks after surgery, and I ordered it as soon as I got home and was feeling well enough to read the info packet that came home with me from the surgical center.

Brandie: make sure you ask the size of your band and what amount of fluid is in it. Once I knew that information, it kept me motivated, by helping me picture the band, and how much fluid is making it tight. My picture in my head is probably more dramatic than what the band looks like for real, but it helps me back away from the dinner table, because I think, "okay, 14 cc band, i have 8.5(as of today, had a fill) cc in it, it must be tight, that's why I am full, it's time to walk away". This mindset makes a big difference for me. I had surgery december 31, 2009, and have lost 71 lbs in 4 months. I attribute a lot of success to that mindset, as well as killer cardio and good food choices. As for the restriction, there are days that I FEEL like I could sit and eat two sandwiches and a family size bag of cheetos(YUM!), but I remember that band and how tight it may be, it really makes a difference! Give it a try, let me know how it works for you!!:bored:

Strange as it is, I haven't had ANY reflux or heartburn problems since being banded. I used to chew through a bottle of Tums very quickly. I asked my surgeon about it, and was told that it is not uncommon to stop having heartburn or reflux after banding. I am going to guess maybe the change in diet(not so many fatty or greasy foods), increased movement, and the smaller portion may be the key. :thumbup:

I was feeling great after being banded 12/31/09, then four days later I started to feel nausea, couldnt sit up, and started to retch and having dry heaving. I have never felt so sick in my life. I hadnt drank anything i wasnt supposed to, or too much of it, as all of my liquids were premade and measured first thing in the morning, but I stayed sick until that evening. I am not sure what caused it, but the Doctor's office called in a stronger nausea medicine for me. my other option was to go to the office and get the fluid removed. I am glad I chose the prescription instead!

I am also 6 days post op, and sick of broth, jello, etc. I am so afraid to deviate outside of the diet I was told to follow too, but my stomach is growling nonstop! I know that I can start fuller liquids in a few days, but I wonder if maybe chewing something but not swallowing it would get me through the next few days. My husband has been allowing me to "smell" his dinner plate before he eats, and it is helping. I also have been chewing gum to help satisfy the non chewing issue. I am not sure what else to do but to be patient and wait it out.