New Joy

I have lost 85 lbs total and I do not feel like I need a tummy tuck. It is not pretty but it is not that bad. My WL has been very slow so perhaps I have been toning as I went along??

We must be soul sisters sweetie....your mom sounds like my mom. I'm in my late 30's and still cringe just at the sound of her voice knowing the weight loss speech is going to come at my like a full speed train. My mother can sabatoge every single good thing I ever do with just a look. You are doing great...and you need to make a decision. Either love your band or get rid of it Personally- I say love it because the habits are going to still be there and it is at least helping a little. If you can make yourself "want" it "for you" you can make it work. I want to tell you something else--- I was banded in December 2009 too. I did great for 9 months and then the demons came rushing in. I needed a small unfill because I had reflux and ever since then I just can't get back on the plan. I can't get myself motivated, I eat junk, I don't exercise. I haven't weighed in, logged my food, or gone to the doc for fear of gettting nagged at. I haven't even been on the boards. I came here tonight searching for motivation and I got it in your thread. YOU ARE INSPIRING me to get back on the right track....

I have a 10cc band and I was at 7.75cc for several months. Weight loss was slow but steady...1- 1.5 lbs a week with a 2-3 week stall every few week. I had an adjustment on September 20. She added .30cc to bring me to 8.05. I was fine perfectly fine....great restriction....great everything. I got a cold, lost my voice for a couple days and had a weird cough. I had a metallic taste in my mouth and my DH was concerned that I had silent GERD. I went to the doc on Oct 11. I had lost 7 pounds in 3 weeks. She took out .20cc to be on the safe side leaving me with 7.85cc in my band. The cough is gone...but now I am STARVING and I have gained 2 pounds. It doesn't make sense to me-- I have more in my band then I did for the last 3 months. Can a small unfill make you feel like you you don't have a band at all? I mean I am STARVING....worse than any bandster hell I may have gone through. I still have a numbness on my tongue that comes and goes but I am not coughing, spitting up, and I can eat drink just fine. Is this something to worry about? Should I go back and get some put back in my band? Any tricks or advice you can offer?? Thanks!

thanks. I have it under control now. Figured out I can only do coffee or a shake before about 11am. After that I seem to be fine to eat and I haven't slime or PB in a few weeks!

Care Credit is just a credit card. I would check out the interest rates and go with the lowest. Good Luck!

I can't explain why but I can tell you that for me--it takes a full week for a fill to kick in. And I am starving for the first 3 days after I get one.

I used to belong to a mommy group, a money group, and a diet group. It became an issue because I was spending more time online than with my hubby. Even though I was multitasking-- I wasn't giving him the full attention I should. So, we have a rule. No computer/ tv while our son is awake and then we make a conscious effort to spend quality time together- once we have gotten all of our talking out---he can watch tv and I can do whatever on the computer. We started this new rule about 10 months ago and it has cut down on a ton of arguments etc.

I have been banded for six months. It took 6 fills before I reached restriction ( I *just* got here) What I did in the meantime was to measure all my food in 1/2 cup containers. I would try to go the full 4 hours without eating but if I was starving I would eat a little out of the next meal. At the end of the day, I was still eating close to what I was supposed to ( even though I wasn't following the 3 meals a day/ no snacking rule) Good Luck.....make sure you are taking measurements and weighing in only one a week. I will think I am stalled out but when I look at a month at a time verses a day at a time I see a 5lb drop each month. Also--seeing the measurements really makes a difference. And monthly photos really keep me motivated!

I'm here. I had my 6th fill two weeks ago. I have 7.75cc in a 10cc band. I feel the restriction now. It is not what I expected so I am trying to figure out where to go from here. I see my NUT tomorrow to get more food guidance. I work out 2x a day 5 days a week---walking right now. I am planning to add some strength training it to it.

I have a 4 year old son who knows I had "surgery". He doesn't know what it is but he knows that mommy had to have her tummy fixed on the inside. He was very attentive to the scars since he had to be careful not to jump on me and he still asks to see them sometimes when I am getting dressed. It doesn't seem to be a big deal to him at all. Good Luck!

I was banding 6 months ago and although I never went through "bandster hell" because I had 4cc from the get go but I have never had real restriction until this last fill. I am at 7.75cc in a 10cc and boy oh boy can I feel it. It isn't what I expected...I think I expected a nice little sign that hey you are full. Instead, I eat 5-7 bites and bamo I get a tummy ache. Am I pushing it too far or is that my personal stop point?? How do you get your mind to stop looking at the food on your plate thinking I want to finish this! (even if it was only a 1/2 cup portion to begin with) Right now, all I seem to want are Protein shakes. I don't think I am too tight because I *can* eat and I am *not* PB or getting stuck. I know after 6 months I should have this down pat but I feel like I am back to the very beginning. Any thoughts or advice?:thumbup:

I think you look awesome!! I personally would wait on the photo shoot until I was a year out . Just to get closer to goal and to make sure I want my progress photo all over the place. Good Luck!!

not trying to scare you but give you a reality check: It may take a LONG TIME to get to restriction. I was banded 6 months ago, I have had 6 fills, I am at 7.75cc and I am *just* now starting to feel *some* restriction. <sigh> This is what I have had to do to keep from jumping over the edge into carb heaven. I plan what I am going to eat for the day. I portion out all my food into 1/2 cup containers. I try to go the full 4 hours in between meals ( starving) and if I must eat before hand I eat a few bites of my next meal. If I am going to snack, it is on protein-- like a peice of cheese or scoop of hummus. In the end, I am getting the right amount of food for the day but I am eating 5-6x a day verses the preferred 3 meals. It's hard....the head hunger is the worst. But I gotta keep ME under control because I didn't spend all this money to stay the way I was. If I get a really bad craving---I go exercise. Even if it's 10pm at night. Good Luck!

I didn't realize we were using two different threads to post. Does anyone care if we move to a new titled thread since we are 6 months down now???

I am getting so discouraged. I can't break this stall. I have been between 216 and 218 for TEN WEEKS. WTF?? WTF??? WTF?? I am exercising daily---10,000 steps even if I have to march before bed. I am eating about 1100 calories a day with my carbs around 100 and Protein around 100. I just don't have a clue what to do anymore...... I told my hubby I am tempted to do a liquid diet for a week but is that really the answer?? I am at 7.25cc and I am not hungry all the time but my body doesn't make me stop eating...I have to be mindful of every bite. I even am beginning to wonder if I should cut out dairy. I just want to cry.

If you think you will need a seatbelt extender at all. You can ask for one at the gate...if they don't have one to give you you can ask the flight attendant as you get on the plane.....they will be discreet about it. I have asked for one that last two times I traveled because being comfortable was better than being embarrassed. But if you never needed it before ...you will probably be fine now.

I was banded the SAME DAY as you. I am not at my sweet spot yet and I feel hungry quite a bit of the time. I do not get the full feeling EVER....I have to weigh and measure my food or I will over eat. I don't think I will ever feel full....but I look forward to the day that I don't feel hungry. I have eaten around my band for several spurts. I find I have to exercise DAILY and document everything or I fall into old habits without even knowing. The scale should not be the only measurement of success. I am a slow loser so i take measurements and photos every month. I also document the things I couldn't do before---- hiking, climb a set of stairs, swim, etc. Make a list of all the non-scale victories you have reached in the last 5 months...you might realize it's not a failure afterall. Good Luck!

I have 6.75cc in a 10cc band. I do not think I am at my sweet spot yet...but I must be getting close. *I can eat anything I want---no problems with bread or chicken. * I do not PB or throw up and I only get stuck if I am eating too fast and not chewing. * For the most part I forget I have the band...and just stop myself from eating too much by weighing/ measuring my food. * I did a 2 day Protein fast to break snacking habits. * I lose between 4-5 lbs a MONTH but this month has been slower. Maybe only 3 lbs. I am on the fence about getting a fill before vacation. I am supposed 4-6 weeks between visits. I am scheduled for my next fill on Thursday May 27 and we start vacation the next week. That would be the 4 week mark. On one hand I don't want to get the fill before we go because I don't want to chance that I will start PB and having food issues. On the other hand, I have to stop myself from eating--- and what if I don't have the self control to do that on vacation. I don't want to gain weight ya know?? So.....should I get a small fill before I go and try to get to my sweet spot? Or should I just do the status quo and get the fill as soon as I get back.

did you do it?

Dana, YOU CAN DO THIS! YOU CAN DO THIS! as Catherine said---if you were scared of the having the band itself we would perhaps say to think this over or wait. But you are saying you are scared of going to sleep---which is like giving up control for a few minutes. Do you ever ride roller coasters or airplanes?? This is the same thing. You get in....strap yourself in...and give control to the trained professionals. The seconds before you hit the top of the big hill or befor take off are nerve racking but as soon as it happens you are FLYING HIGH. You can do this ! You can do this ! You can do this!

good lord sweetie--they make a pill for that! tell your doc that you have anxiety and they will give you a nice little med that will make your fears go away. Also ask for anti nausua meds before hand and you will be fine. I have had 9 surgeries and all turn out fine. You don't fall asleep like in your bed...it's more like an instant out and then you wake up. It will be so worth it...we promise you. YOU CAN DO THIS! Big hugs!!

it took 50 pounds for me to see the difference unless I look at photos --then I can see the difference on a monthly basis. A few days ago I saw my self naked and I had to double take---it's a NSV to notice it on yourself.

sugar free popsicles were my go to. I could not have lived without my heating pad. I also had liquid Tylenol on hand because I hate the way narcotics make me feel.

I had my 3rd fill a week ago bringing me to 6.25 cc in a 10cc band. I am eating 3 meals a day-- high Protein. I am not snacking. I can eat anything--in small amounts. I do not throw up or PB or slime. I have a bubble in my throat---it felt odd at first but I have gotten used to it. Is this the sweet spot??? How long will this last???

My band was placed with 4cc in it. I never went through true bandster hell. Don't get me wrong---I was hungry. But I didn't have the feeling that nothing was there. I had my first fill at 6 weeks and have had two more. I am at 6.25cc in a 10cc band and I think I am getting close to my sweet spot. Consider it a blessing!!