JoJo1

I tried V8 one day too early and paid for it!! After that, I stuck to the plan the way the doc ordered it. One week liquid, one week full liquid and two weeks mushies before Solids.... It was fine, because I was so excited to finally get my band I wanted it to work for me. Hugs!!!

Actually my reference to french fries and bread, came from a teenagers stand point. I am aware of the true nutritious nature of quality carbs. However, when the ADA and AHA figured out that once eaten, fruit, starchy vegetables, and sugar, all do the same thing to blood sugar, instead of recommending that these carbs be elimintated, they decided that sugar was okay to be eaten by diabetics. To me and many other diabetics, these things are the same as poisen. The high carb diet recommended by these institutions is not likely to go anywhere any time in the near future, and I also agree that not everyone benefits from the low carb. diet. I do however, think it is worth looking into because it gave me and many I know, their life back. Just another opinion, backed by extensive research. Hugs!!!!

The American Heart association, and American Diabetes Association, both recommend a diet lower in protein and higher in carbs because of the supposed fat content. This has been going on for the last 30 years at least. In that time, america is 35% fatter than before. When I was young,(now I am giving away my age), we used to diet by giving up bread, french fries, and deserts. Now the AHA and ADA are recommending the opposite. We are humans not cows. We need protein and we actually need very little in the way of carbs. We can get everything we need by eating protein and green vegetables. We also need some healthy fats, but an ounce or two of avacado will give us that too. I eat some avacado everyday. I love it, but love how good it is for me too. I researched the hell out of this concept because I am a diabetic and need to do low carb. I found out that if we could actually do it, we can do away with high blood pressure, and high cholesterol completely. I have done it and I have also completely controlled my blood sugar. Once I knew it was healthy, it was actually easy to do. It is worth looking into for those who have their doubts. I don't doubt it at all any more. I have done low carb for about 12 years to control blood sugar. I have always had trouble with portion control which is why I needed the band. Now with low carb and the band, life is only 20 lbs from perfect!!! Hugs!!!!

Well when you get restriction, this will all be different. You could need several fills before this happens. It depends on how agressive your doctor is with them. I had an agressive fill doc so I had restriction the first fill. Try to be patient Ok? Hugs.......

I read all the posts in this thread because I was curious about the differences in cost. I also went to Mexico and was very pleased. American docs do not like Mexican docs though and I have to put up with their attitude, but it is still the most cost effective way to do this surgery. That hospital Angeles in Tijuana is the most beautiful hospital I have ever seen, so fears about mexico are just that, fear. I paid 7000.00

All solid food is a bigger issue when you get to restriction. Slider foods will probably at least most of the time, go down fine. This is when your choices of food make the biggest difference. Foods that are a bigger problem for some will not be for others. It is different for everyone so you just have to try things and figure it out. I can eat most everything, but if I try to just pick up a piece of chicken like a thigh and eat if off the bone, I will be throwing it up at some point. I have to take it off the bone and cut it up. Then it goes down fine... weird I know but it is what it is.... Hope this helps..... Hugs!!!!!

I agree with not owning a scale. I own one, but put it away and only get it out once a week. I have been scale crazy in the past enough to know it messes with your head. I don't measure because there is way too much variable in that also depending on which way you want it to read. I just use the fit of my clothes to measure with. The friend who is using drugs with the band needs to get some professional help!! She was not ready to get the band and she will subconsiously find a way to fail until she gets to the bottom of her issues.. Food is only a small part of it for her. I have watched the comercials for Alli and I never have thought it made much sense. I also don't believe that fat in our food is the main culprit for weight issues so that prob. explains it. Many years ago, there was a weight loss fad that combined speed with shots of pregnant womens urine or some dumb thing. You went to the doctor every morning for a shot and you paid 2 dollars for the shot. I remember I was flying high for the first few hours after that, and I lost about a pound a day. It was really fun, but of course you can't do that forever. I gained back the weight and a lot more. It is interesting how my Mother spent most of her life worrying about getting enough food, and I have spent most of my life worrying about being too fat..... I wonder what my grand children will say about this when they are my age now. Gotta love it!!!! Hugs!!!!

Losing weight is going to make things so much easier on your knees. You are not going to believe it!!! Awesome Congratulations!!!! Hugs!!!

I find the only thing to do is to bring it up. Nothing else seems to work for me. I don't hate it, I feel better almost imediately so I don't mind. I was really tight for the first 2 1/2 weeks after my last fill also. It is better now, but I do not see spending hours feeling miserable. I try to eat right so it doesn't happen but now around once a week, I have an issue. I was like Marci after my fill though, I felt like a freaking bulimic. My daughter suggested something that worked better for me. If you pay special attention to the first two bites, chew chew chew, until it is liquid, it helps with the rest of the meal....... Hugs.....

Insertion of the band does nothing for our mindset for awhile. It will help keep you from actually bingeing but it won't fix the reason you want to. I was having trouble right after dinner at night for awhile, stupid time for it to be a problem, but I had trouble wanting to keep on snacking. I decided to increase my walks from 2 miles to 3 1/2 miles. This is in addition to the two miles I walk before work each morning. It kept me away from the kitchen and miraculously, when I return from the walk, I no longer have that troubling snacking urge. You don't necessarily need to walk but something else maybe could get your mind busy. Before banding, I spent a lot of the day thinking about food, what I will eat for lunch, what is in the fridge that I can snack on, what is for dinner, is there enough snacks to get me through the evening, what is for breakfast????. Whew!!!! a huge part of my day was food oriented. Now I do some planning for food but it is no longer a huge part of my day, I read, I work a full time job, I walk twice a day, and I spend time on the computer. Garden time is getting ready to start!! Woo Hoo!!! I am planing what I can plant, etc.... It is just a matter of retraining your brain. The band will help your body, but the only one who can retrain your brain is Yep you got it!!! You!!! Congratulations on your journey!!! Hugs!!!!

It sounds like a good idea to call your doc, it also sounds like you need a little more. I have 2.75cc in a 4cc band and have perfect restriction, but right after a fill, I am very tight and worry some also about being too tight. I am a month past my last fill and still feel it is perfect. Everyone is different, but most here on this forum don't reach really good restriction until their band is half full or in some cases, more than half. Try not to worry. Almost every situation with the band is reversable. I don't think you have slipped, even though it isn't impossible, just not very likely. Best of luck Hugs!!!!

5% of people who lose weight on their own, do it permanently, is recent statistic I read. Personally I am not buying it. I think it is much lower. The reason? Hunger. I could diet and lose weight too but even after I felt thinner, I had to look at the rest of my life and realize I was going to feel hungry almost 24/7. I always gave up. The truth is, that after banding you can snack yourself back to your previous weight if you don't do some work to make sure you are ready to change. The band helps with the hunger but it doesn't do away with it. It is a big enough help to me to make me think I will keep off the weight. I already have a different attitude about food, and that is the reason I would do it all again if faced with the same choices. Food has always been huge to me and it was for my parents also. They were not overweight but they grew up during the depression and truely knew hunger. I love my new attitude and I am willing to do whatever the rest of the journey requires... Hugs

Inteesting!! I make toast occasionally with Ezekiel bread and it is fine, but I don't do bread of any kind otherwise. It is also interesting about the tomatoe seeds and cucumber seeds. I would just never eat them because I would not take out the seeds. Just way too much work.... I have to buy salad in a bag as it is... Very interesting post!! Hugs!!

I also am off all Blood pressure meds. I do get that lightheaded feeling though from time to time anyway. When I check my BP, it is usually quite low so I know what it is. Knowing it helps, but if you are taking meds you need to talk to your doc about it. Continuously low BP is dangerous also..... Hugs!!!

The rest of your life is a very long time compared to a few weeks. It seems huge right now but in the big picture, it is only a hiccup!!! Hugs!!!

I started with a half mile and thought it would kill me cuz half of it was up hill. Then I went to one mile and then two miles. Now I am up to 5 or 5 1/2 miles every day. My husband says I am obsessed. I can only say I hope so..... I believe you can do it!! If I can, anyone can..... Hugs!!!

Damn I really want an Iphone!! How far is 5K in english? LOL......

I was 42 lbs also at 6 months!!

LOL The only thing I can think of is "Bread"

I agree with that to a degree. Anything can be overdone, and we all know that is a problem, however my journey has been about learning to live with moderation in all areas. If I adopt an attitude that somethings are off limits, I create my own obsession. I want to be normal, so far it is working so I plan to stick with it. I mostly drink red wine but not to excess, only an occasional beer and usually if I do drink a beer it is a Michelob ultra which is low in calories and low in carbs..... I do stay away from carbs for the most part because I just feel better and have lots more energy but it is just a choice I made. Hugs!!!

I was wondering about the person who has the job of tasting all the batches!! Wow what a job!!!

I am thinking they would un-fill everytime they wanted to pig out and then re-fill the next day!! It would be slightly counterproductive!! LOL!!!!

Sounds like a plan to me!!!! Hugs!!!

When my daughter was banded two years before I was, one of the things I noticed was that when we ate, at home or at resturants, she would put a huge portion on her plate, and order large meals at resturants. She could never eat it so I always wondered about it. Now that I am also banded, I do the same thing. I always have worried that there won't be enough food. I try to order a salad or an appetizer when I eat out, but it is still always too much.. I usually get three meals out of a resturant entree. Amazing!! It really takes quite a while to learn to eat again!!! Hugs!!!

I would see those little spriggy hairs as a very good thing!!!!