illuminationlady

You might try journaling your food and really counting calories and carbs. Up your protein intake also. Whenever I plateau I do this and sometimes realize that I'm not eating right. I also agree that changing your routine might help. Best wishes!!!

Productive Burp. When a piece of food gets "stuck" it hurts. You might possibly "slime" (saliva coming from your mouth) and then you bend over the sink or toilet and "burp" up the stuck piece of food. After this you are swollen and should do a liquid diet for 24 hours. Hope this helps. Feel free to ask any questions. Best wishes!!!

This time, for you, is critical. You must measure your food and count your calories. You have to "diet" again until you reach restriction through your fills. Keep your protein high, carbs low and drink, drink drink! It's so hard to be hungry. But relief is on it's way. Once you start getting fills you will be able to eat less and less. So, hang in there...Best wishes!!!

Anne, I am praying for you!!! dottie

Okay. I did it. I got myself a bathing suit, swim cap, goggles, and went to the YMCA and got in the pool and swam...laps..4 of them. I know it's not much but I did it! Then I did the warm up on the stationary bike. I have an orientation on Thur. with one to one counseling on the equipment. I'm moving again and it's wonderful!!! Just had to share...Dottie

During this time period you aren't expected to lose. I started with an empty band and was hungry almost right away. It was ever thing I could do to just maintain. So, I measured, counted calories and watched every thing I put into my mouth. And I did maintained. Even lost a few pounds. The important thing is your attitude. Keep your chin up and hang in there. It will happen! Best wishes!!!

I love coffee and drink it every day without any problems. Starbucks is my weakness. I love skinny vanilla lattes with splenda, either hot or on ice. Occasionally I treat myself to a frappachino. But that's a rarity. My point is I love coffee and my doc says it's okay. From what I've read on this board it varies from doctor to doctor. I'm glad mine lets me have it. It's bad enough that we have to give up carbonated beverages...how could I live without my coffee...lol. Best wishes!!!

I started with an empty band due to complications. I was banded on December 16th and hungry almost immediately. It took 5 fills for me to reach restriction but it seemed like forever before I started losing weight. But I am now! Just hang in there and keep going back to the doctor for your fills. You will get there! Best wishes!!!

It took me a long time to wrap my head around not loving food anymore. I also go to a therapist and used support groups for this. I started this journey with WW and went to their weekly meetings. All of this helped a lot. I am still on my journey and yes, I miss food. Slowly but surely this "missing food" is going away. I really no longer enjoy eating, to be honest. It's takes me a long time to eat a very small amount and I get full fast. But the pounds are dropping off with little effort. I would highly recommend you seek out some sort of therapeutic help before you make your decision. It is a big decision and a very personal one. No one can decide for you but you must give up the love affair you have with food now and that is a loss. Whatever you decide, best wishes!!!

Thanks Christie for your words of encouragement. You are sweet. I posted this question in Fitness and Exercise section too but I thought I'd ask you guys too. After reviewing our budget and the fact that my pool is being reconstructed, we have decided that we have enough for me to join a fitness club. Can anyone recommend one. Remember I have Fibromyalgia and need the knee replacement so I need one with a pool. I live in Southern California. I'm interested in good and bad experiences. I'm going to research first, of course. I already looked into the YMCA in Newport Beach and it was pretty nice...three pools and only 45 a month. No contract. The only down side is that I don't think I'd get the training that goes along with just starting out...especially with my physical disabilities. I'm actually quite excited...Let me know...Dottie

It depends on many variables. As the PP stated if money is involved and this is a very organized event perhaps it is best to let someone (at least one person) in charge know you've had WLS. It may not make a difference. But to join and not disclose to the event planner that you are banded might cause a problem. On the other hand, if this is a simple competition with no "prize" per say then I wouldn't worry about it. Yes, we have to work hard at losing the weight just like everyone else but you do have a tool to help you along the way. What ever you decide best wishes and good luck....

Can anyone recommend a good fitness club in SoCal? After analyzing our budget we have determined that I can join one. I do have Fibromyalgia and need knee replacement surgery so I'll need one with a pool. I looked into the YMCA and it's $45.00 a month with no contract. They have 3 pools and all the equipment but I'm not sure I'd get the proper training. Please feel free to recommend or comment on any clubs you've belonged to. Some may be nationwide. Thanks in advance for the input.

I was just discussing this with my husband. I don't necessarily have a fear of food but just don't enjoy eating anymore, not really. I agree, this is a good thing and will keep the scale moving. Best wishes!

It's hard to believe that you would expect to lose any weight right after surgery. As PPs have stated you are pumped full of IV fluids. I gained 4 pounds the day of my surgery. Also, did your physician not talk to you about any of this? I had to attend classes, meet with a NUT, I even had to take a quiz on a booklet handed out at my first visit. All this information was in the book and told to me over, and over again. Please don't expect to lose any weight for a long while. Measure your food, count calories during this time period. Once you obtain restriction it will come easily and the weight will start to come off. Most of all, hang in there and read these boards! Best wishes!!!

For me, restriction is being able to eat about a cup of protein/veggies and having no hunger for 4-5 hours. I eat eggbeaters with cheese in the morning, salad with chicken breast for lunch, 1/2 of chicken breast or fish (I split it with DH), 1/2 yam, veggies for dinner and Greek yogurt with honey for one snack. I hardly ever feel hungry. It's like a hunger switch was turned off at my last fill. I'm at 5.9 in a 10 band. But that sweet spot, as they call it, is much different for everyone. Hope this helps you...Best wishes! ps. I drink more than 64 oz. of fluids a day..either diet snapple or water.

I really can't eat any of the things you listed, nor would I want to. I do agree with the PP that it is on an individual basis. All of those things contain a lot of carbohydrates, which I avoid like the plague. My weakness is Starbucks. I know! I know! Tons of carbs! But I treat myself once in a while and that seems to be working for me. Best wishes!!!

Congrats and welcome to bandland! You'll be saying "goodbye" to those 300's soon! I, too, have had to be DETERMINED. I started with an empty band due to complications. Bandster Hell was a long road for me...I also need knee replacement surgery on both knees, so my activity is limited. Therefore, I keep only food I can eat in this house. I do have true "restriction" now and it's wonderful. Even with my limited activity I am losing. Not as fast as some people on this board...but the weight is coming off. So hang in there and keep that great attitude! Best wishes!!! ps. it helps in the beginning, when you start real food, to measure your food and count the calories. That kept me from gaining during the wait.

Welcome Mike! Not much to report here. The scale is moving again so that always makes me happy. I need to update my ticker. I read this thread all the time but have little happening right now. I can't exercise (walk, etc.). And right now the pool is being worked on. Swimming is the best exercise for me. I need total knee replacement on both knees. I do daily chores and household chores and garden lightly but not much activity. Just waiting until I hit under 200 and then they can begin. One knee at a time. I am not looking forward to this as I've heard the recovery is a bear! Only 25 more pounds to go....Getting nervous about it and have probably already whined about it on this thread before but it's on my mind a lot. So thanks for listening again. I started a 2000 piece puzzle today of Van Gough's Starry Starry Night. I must be insane! There are pieces everywhere and it will probably take me the entire summer to complete. Never done a 2000 piece before so it should be interesting. Besides that nothing is new...just felt like writing to you all. Lots of hugs your way...Dottie

Next time you go in ask for an "aggressive fill". They might listen. I did this twice and was granted both. Best wishes!

Use the words "aggressive fill" and they might give you 3 or 4 ccs. I started with an empty band and had to use these words twice and both times was give extra fluid. Best wishes!

Thank you for the compliment. I have had to work very hard with my eating habits and Fluid intake...so it's nice to hear something positive...Best wishes!!!

I would advise you to keep talking to your friend, explaining the band "rules". My entire family was against my having the surgery and I did it any way. NOW they believe it was the best thing that I ever did. I just kept educating them over and over. Explain that it's a tool that will enable you to KEEP the weight off. 95% of people who do WW, Jenny Craig, and just on their own regain their weight and then some. Explain "restriction" and make her aware that there is a waiting period for you to achieve restriction. During this time you won't be losing quickly. That was the hardest part for me. People kept asking, "How much have you lost?" and I hadn't lost much. Now that I have restriction the weight is coming off slow but steady. Simply explain the process, maybe more than once, and she will see the results in the end. I would be up front and honest with her also about being negative. Tell her you need her support and would be happy to answer any of her questions, just to be positive. Best wishes to you on your journey!

The longest "stuck" episode I've ever had was about 2 hours. Usually it only last about 15-30 min. I have been stuck before and excused myself to the bathroom, bent over the sink, PB'd, and returned to the table right away before but that's rare. Everyone has done a fine job of describing how it feels so I won't repeat the information but I usually "slime" a lot when I'm stuck too. I know, TMI, but it's a big part of the whole show! The best advice I can give you is to not drink anything, do not panic and know that it will pass. After being stuck you should do liquids for a day because you are swollen. Best wishes on your journey.

It could be due to pressure on a certain nerve at the top of your stomach, where the band was placed. I had this same pain and it lasted about 6 weeks and slowly dissipated. Now it is gone completely. But i thought it would never go away. As it dissipated I would only get it when I was too full or stuck. I am soooooo glad that it went away. Know that with time you'll feel better. It could still be gas but I would doubt that it would last 2 weeks. The gas pains you get from the surgery usually only last about 5 days. Use adult strength liquid tylenol or any liquid pain reliever if it really gets bad. Best wishes!

I was banded in December and my whole family was against it. One daughter, 23, morbidly obese herself, another daughter, 26, in Nursing School said don't do it and my husband was against it too. I did it any way. By March my 23 year old was in surgery herself and banded. Now they all think it was the best decision I ever made for myself. I only wish I would have done it sooner. And my 23 year old is losing faster than me! I will say that it is quite and adjustment in how you think about food. It's like learning to eat all over again, only this time the right way. Best wishes!!!