ElfiePoo

If your doctor is in a practice with other, more experienced, doctors (who've done banding), I probably wouldn't worry too much. After all...everyone has to start somewhere. If he's on his own, I guess I'd be more comfortable with someone with more experience. Just my .02. I have the Realize band because that's what my surgeon uses. The choice of surgeon was more important to me than which band. .

My surgeon used to do Lap band, but now he only does Realize Band. I didn't ask why. The choice of surgeon was more important than which band he was using. .

By the way, Betsy...you are looking fantastic!! .

I've never really thought of rewarding myself with I hit my mini-goals. My last mini-goal was 224 but since I've been rollercoastering, I'm most likely not going to believe I've actually hit that goal until I hit the next one...which is 199. I guess for me, just hitting the goal is reward enough, although I have to say I would *love* to do the permanent eyebrow tattoos since I've always had very light eyebrows (strawberry blonde) but now that I've hit 54, they seem to be disappearing a little more each day. :crying: The only thing stopping me is the fear that they'll screw it up and then I'm stuck with a freak face. .

After every meal? Sounds less like stuck episodes and more like bulimia. If it ain't broke, don't fix it? Seriously, you say you're losing weight steadily. You admit to feeling a 'little' hungry but the question is, are you able to stick to your plan of eating or does the hunger get the best of you? Is it a constant hunger from the time you finish your meal until you eat the next one...or does the hunger start shortly before your next meal? If constant and you're finding it's getting the better of you, get a fill. If not, go back to my first statement. Even normal weight people feel hunger shortly before their meal. If you decide to get a fill, you can always get just a small one. Take it slow for 2 weeks after a fill. If you need to, do liquids for a day or two and then go to mushies. I never had any reaction right after a fill, but 2 weeks later, wham...I'd get the restriction. Take small bites, chew well and *wait* after you take a bite to see how your band deals with it. *Never* take another bite if you feel even the slightest pressure...it will just make it worse. Just wait and let it settle...and it usually will. When it does, take another. Sometimes my first bite will go down hard...not stuck, just pressure. When it eases and I take the second bite, it generally does just fine. You'll be fine...don't be afraid based on the posts here. The scary ones stand out but there are many who never get stuck or PB. .

I think the reason most docs warn against Protein shakes is because most people are not satisfied by them when used as a Meal Replacement. However, right after a fill...and even up to two weeks after a fill...when you might be swollen, they're a good alternative to constantly getting stuck...which will in turn continue to keep the band area swollen. It's a vicious circle. As someone else said, read the label carefully. Some of those Protein drinks are killers in both calories and carbs. I use the chocolate EAS powder from Sam's Club. It's the only one I've found that tastes good to me. I mix it with unsweetened almond milk to keep the carbs and calories down (30 cal and 1 carb, I think). .

We went to my mother-in-law's this morning to see her off on her visit to another relative and she had a crockpot of Beef bourginon (sp?) smelling up her house along with fresh made rolls to take along. Then we came home and my husband put on a pot of lentil soup, followed not too long after by the aroma of fresh rolls in the oven to take to work for 'Soup Monday'. As a result, I've been struggling with the desire to eat all day. After looking at my fitday journal, I've apparently lost since it's only 2:30 p.m. and I've eaten what I've allotted for my daily protein, fats and carb grams. I guess it's going to be herbal tea and broth this evening. I *will* make it through this day!!!! Melody .

Christie...does that make you a 'cougar' with a boy toy? Not sure at what age a woman becomes a 'cougar' but in any case...you go girl! Melody .

I think you understand it perfectly. There is no magical spot that causes you to drop weight more quickly.The sweet spot merely means that's the point where you are content with your meals after eating your portion and are content for at least 3 hours afterwards. If you're already watching what you're eating and working out, you may have to change things up a bit. If you're not already doing so, I would start logging everything you stick in your mouth in something like Fitday.com. You might be eating more than you think you are. You may have to increase or decrease your calories. You might have to lower your carbs. It may be that you are building muscle so it may look like a stall to you but in fact, you've been losing fat...you just can't tell because you're also building muscle. Just keep working at finding what works for you. .

It's a good thing I'm not letting the scale rule me. I woke up this morning feeling like I'd lost 10 pounds since yesterday...nope, gained 2 lbs. :crying: That's ok. Unlike previous months, I can already see a difference. The pants I bought last winter *after* I'd lost 32 pounds, no longer fit! My belly is once more going down (yeah!)...although that means my boobs are too now that they don't have a little shelf to sit on. Best of all my blood sugar levels are finally coming under control...and without medication! I'm still taking my morning Lantus, but the mealtime insulin is a thing of the past! Yeah baby! I believe winter has finally decided to start heading this way. After a gorgeous week, it started to rain last night and it's still quite overcast and raining now...and quite chilly. Figures...we still had another day or two of cleaning out the pole barn. Oh well, at least it has a roof over it so we won't get wet. Have a good one y'all! Melody .

Aww Shad...hope you're doing better now! Here's what the Mayo Clinic says about dumping. It's not something I've ever had. On the first day of a rapid diet change, like going from a carb loaded diet to no carbs or vice verse, within hours I just get (warning TMI) explosive diarrhea and my body will clean itself out but none of the other side effects they talk about with dumping. .

Mmmm...love the baby gherkins. One of my favorite Snacks - pickle rolled up in a slice of ham and cheese. .

Elcee, She may be talking about mini-meals. Much of the diabetic community has come around to the idea that 6 small meals are better than 3 large because it keeps your blood sugar stable. I eat 6 meals, about every 2.5 years. Breakfast, mid-morning snack (usually an ounce of cheese or hard boiled egg or Protein drink), lunch, mid-afternoon snack, dinner and evening snack. If I tried to do 3 meals, 5 hours apart, my blood sugar levels would crash. Some of the non-diabetic community is starting to look at that as a better option to just eating 3 meals, as well. .

Depends on what time you go to bed. I try not to eat for at least 4 hours before bed or else I end up with heartburn in the middle of the night, but perhaps that's just me. Why not just cut back a meal...or eat your first meal earlier in the day? There's no hard and fast rule that says how many meals we need to eat. My last meal is about 6 p.m. .

Hey party girl...dare I ask why it looks as if you're putting your boots 'back' on in an elevator? .

Ditto what everyone else says about talking to a marital counselor. He may (without even realizing it himself) be using your weight loss as an excuse for deeper unhappiness. In any case, counseling may help determine whether or not this can be fixed. .

PK, Welcome to my world. If you can get liquids down and your fill was less than 2 weeks ago, I'd try and stick it out for at least 2 weeks (from your fill date). Go back to the mushies level. Then *slowly* reintroduce solid foods. It may be just that you're swollen, first from the fill and now from the constant PBing and urping. If after two weeks you're still having problems, have them take some of the fill out...maybe 1/2cc. I spent several months overfilled and lost nothing because I resorted to slider foods (pasta, potatoes, etc.). However, the constant struggle to get anything more solid past the band most likely irritated it and made it very difficult to get anything past it. Like you, I felt like a bulemic because it was happening with every meal. I finally went in and had a partial unfill. Best decision I ever made. .

My internal medicine doctor's nurse had the sleeve the same time I had my band. A year later and she's down about 150 pounds. She lost weight so quickly that I originally thought she had the bypass. We talked for a bit last time I was in and exercise came up because I was a bit frustrated that I was walking 3k a day and still getting nowhere with my weight. She said she wasn't exercising at all and didn't plan to until she was either within 50 lbs of her goal (still had 100 pounds to go to goal) or stopped losing weight. So it sounds as if it's typical of just about any weight loss method. Depending on the person and/or how much they have to lose, they might not have to exercise 'at first' in order to lose weight, but at some point they will. .

Remember, though, that this isn't about whether the doctor thinks you're doing great based on weight loss. It's about how you're doing controlling your hunger. If you've lost this weight on sheer willpower and are hungry, then not so great and you need them to give you a fill. If you're not struggling with hunger and pushing through on sheer willpower, then wonderful! Oh...and congratulations on the weight loss. That's phenomenal! .

LOL...I like this one although I'm not sure I could contain myself enough to be even that polite. .

I just don't understand how people can willingly put themselves under the knife without taking the time to research exactly what they're doing! If I read one more post from someone (not just the last one I responded to) who just had surgery 2-4 weeks ago and are complaining that their band doesn't work and they're regretting their decision and want the band out, my head is going to explode! {rant concluded} .

Of course you are. The band doesn't magically keep you from being hungry just because it's there. You need your fills to get your band to the point where it's working with you. No, 1200 is not a lot of calories. In fact it is what many studies say is ideal. That may not be true for you. Some people here say they gain above 800 calories. I can eat 1200 calories *but* it has to be very low carb. Some can eat 1200 calories and higher carb. You'll have to find what is true for you. All I will say to this is (a) medications change over time and can have some unintended effect as they age, ( taking someone else's medication is illegal. No judgments, just something to keep in mind. Of course it's working the way it should be, but it sounds as if you didn't research how the band works. In order for it to work, you must get your fills until you reach restriction. Some people start feeling restriction with one fill. Some need several. A lot depends on how aggressive your doctor will let you be with fills, how you handle those fills and how your particular body deals with the band/fills. In all honesty, if you wanted something that would let you lose weight right away, you should've gotten the sleeve or a bypass. It sounds to me like that is exactly what you need to hear. The only real advice anyone can give you is to 'just wait' and get your fills. Be patient and 'it will get better'. I've had my own struggles with my band and it has taken me a year to get it to the point where I know how to work it *and* it's working for me. I could've given up anywhere along the way...as so many here could have but didn't. I say this in all kindness, if you intend to be successful with the band, I'd suggest dumping the self-pity and researching what you need to do to make this successful since you've already come this far and just do it. At 4 weeks postop you should be ready for your first fill. Take the next step. .

Ok, so I said I wasn't going to change my ticker except on Mondays...and this weight may go back up...but check out the ticker! 221...woohoo!

I was back at work the next day...for a few hours and then went home. The next day was better. Normally I spend half the day packing boxes that weigh anywhere from 10-25 pounds and while I filled the boxes, someone else moved them for me due to my lifting limit. I'd say it's a moderately physical job. The other half of the day is spent at my desk. Personally, I think the moving around helped me heal faster but I was in total control (it's my business) of how much I did and how fast I moved. Some jobs may not be so accommodating. .

Belinda, It's my understanding that this left shoulder pain is phrenic nerve pain and is caused by some part of the band brushing on the diaphragm. I've had it constantly since the day of surgery but it's gotten worse this past week or so to the point where I can't find a comfortable position without pain. I have an appointment on Tuesday to discuss the problem with my surgeon. .