Subie66

DK4K- you are exactly right- I found myself wanting to keep up with the rest of the family and put stuff on my plate like them- but after a while I finally realized- I just cant do it. I sometimes dont even sit at the table- if we are in a hurry to eat and go somewhere- I will just take a bite or two and wait till we get back to sit and relax and enjoy my meal. They haven't got "turkey neck" yet! Dang-it! I know what you mean- it is not healthy to do that to themselves and they know it. I am afraid when they do revert to eating real foods- that they will gain. I do worry about their health. She said her hubby went to the grocery and bought $50 worth of junk food the other night- since it is right before halloween- you know all the candy that is available. Use those smaller plates, that is something I do now too. I use the saucers to our plates, that way it all matches, when we eat together and sometimes I even just sit the salad plates out for the rest of the family and they dont really notice the change.

NatalieB- I can relate. This is a hard process for some of us. Some people post, they just eat less of the things they used to eat and drop a lot of weight. I have several friends who have had the surgery and they eat nothing but crap and they have dropped so much weight that it makes me a little jealous. They do not exercise either. I find I have to work every day at this- just doesnt seem fair. I walk 2 miles a day, I eat my protein and veggies and still the scale barely moves. When I went to my banded friends house the other day (her and her hubby were banded the same day) I hadnt eaten all day- since I had gone to the doc with her and she said grab whatever you want- all she had was carbs in the house, cereal, candy, cookies, pop and pie. The only veggies she had were the individual portion sizes and some ravioli in the small containers that her 4 y/o takes for his lunch. They eat out almost night. I just went home and did my usual cooking for my family and was dumbfounded at their situation. How could they both loose so much? Our surgeries were about a month apart 2 years ago, and they have never changed anything except the amount they eat. I too eat so much less. I have PCOS and knew this was going to be different for me and I have found that it is. I crave carbs all the time, I went thru a period where that is all I wanted and had to get out of that mindset. It was hard but I did do the 5 day pouch test. Mostly stuck with the soup the first 2 days and then Chicken and tuna salad the other days. It really helps. The meal you had with the steak- did seem like a lot. Dont know what others would say- might need to let the doc know how much you can eat at a time and maybe tweek that fill. Practice slowing down and chewing better so you dont vomit. There are so many people on here that give good advice and I dont want you to think you are the only one who the band is not working for- you just need to practice some better habits and remember this is all pretty new to you still.

I find there are times I cant even sit at the dinner table with my husband and 13 yo son- because they eat so fast and so much that it upset me and makes my band get tight. Anybody have that happen?

How do you get tested for metabolic rate- what type of specialist does this? I need that done!

I bake my chicken breast with the skin on and some seasonings- then remove the skin and shred, add 1/2 lite mayo and lite sour cream, some craisens, pecans, dill weed, celery salt and celery. The craisens do bleed purple color after a while- but it taste great. You may want to buy the individual bags of craisens and add them that morning before you eat it for lunch. I also make a standard salad, chicken, lite mayo, celery salt, celery, pickle relish, onion, egg and salt and pepper.

Windy- thanks- I wish it were that easy. It is an addiction- just like an alcoholic or druggie. I try to not eat sweets and then I cant control it- and have to have it. It is a food addiction I wish I could break. If there is anyone who has had food addiction- who can help I would love to know. Some people say "go cold turkey" and I try for a while and just cant seem to stay away from it long. I am sure some people know what I am talking about. I do eat healthy things too. I just like to eat! I wish I could turn off the switch in my head.

Those evil Frappes!! I do love one of those too! Same here on the junk food. Why is is so hard to quit eating the junk? It makes me feel like crap but I cant stop! Good luck with Curves and the therapist. Let me know how that goes. I do hate those feelings of hypoglycemia from time to time. How hard was losing right after you got your band? Exercised?

Sounds a lot like me. I do love those carbs. Not a big bread eater though. I do love sweets and southern cooking. How much do you have to go till goal? Do you do any exercise? I need to try to reduce the carbs too. I do well and when I fall off the wagon- it is worse than before. Are you on any meds with your PCOS? I would love to find a real doctor who deals with PCOS primarily and not just a sidebar. I think the PCOS is the main problem with it all. I went to an endocrinologist who was mainly interested in my Type II diabetes. He kept saying once we got that under control - everything else would fall into place.

I know how you feel. I had my surg Nov 09 and lost 35 pounds. I did well as I had a BMI of 35 when I started. I have PCOS and knew I was going to be a slow loser anyway. Now at 190- I am stuck with this plateau- been well over a year- but the main reason I am stuck is -I like to eat! Plain and simple- I can't quit eating. I will try to be good for a couple of days and then bam- I am back to eating bad. Not tons of bad stuff- but enough that I dont lose. I have excuse after excuse why - My mother was sick and I was always on the go, my mother died and it is hard to be on track, I am always running with the kids to their games... the list goes on and on.. I wish I knew how to stay focused too. I do need to lose this 50 pounds and I just cant seem to get started again. I would love to have someone who has had the band and lived this give me a bit of advice that it can be done. I had a fill about 6 weeks ago- and have gained 3 pounds since then. I have good restriction most of the time- I just like to eat!!!! Thanks for listening.

Just wondering how all the stuggling bandsters are doing now? I go for a fill on June 1st. I have actually gained 3 pounds since my last visit to see him - so hoping I will "break even" on his scale. I was banded Nov 09. Down 35 pounds and have PCOS. Would love to see how others are doing.

I am over 1 year post band. Lost 35 pounds and am having good restriction. Finally able to wear size 16 jeans. The other night I was sitting at the computer- bent over with my jeans on- and all of the sudden- I had the most extreme pain - couldn't tell if it was under the port or the actually stomach pain. Felt like my stomach spasmed and made me suck in my breath. I stood up and couldn't speak for about a minute- while this spasm was happening. It finally eased off but every since I have had some tenderness in my stomach area. It seems to be related to wearing my jeans- I can now wear the low rise jeans and never had it when I wore my mom jeans. Has anyone else had this problem? I am going to the doctor in 2 weeks.

I totally understand how you feel. I too am in the same boat. My hubby can eat anything and so can my 2 kids. 47 pounds is great. I think Sandi is right and you are going to have to look at maybe another fill or journal. I know until this last fill (last Friday) it felt like a stand still but that scale finally budged and yippee it is great feeling. My doc doesn't want me to drink my protein- he would rather I eat solids. What do you like to eat- maybe we could help coming up with some recipes. I have been on a chicken kick lately. I love to grill out but sometimes it does make it dry- so I may cook it in the over and then the last couple of minutes throw it on the grill to give it the grilled flavor. Good luck.

I live in a smalll town in Kentucky. About 15 minutes to town. I live in a log house that we built 8 years ago. We have 8 acres -lots of hills. Many wild turkey, deer, coyotes, foxes... I work about 35 minutes from home and hate the daily drive- once I am home I just want to stay home and sit on the back porch swing and watch the stars at night. We built a huge firepit with all the leftover rocks from the construction and we make a lot of fires and sit around in lawn chairs talking and roasting lots of marshmallows for the kids. I thought I wanted to live in the city after college- but after living in town- I prefer the country life. I like it to be dark at night.

Hang in there- I just got my 3rd today. I was up a pound since my last fill too. He looked over my journal and suggested to really cut back on red meats and lay off the chicken tenders (I usually baked mine) and try more grilled/baked chicken without skin and fish and veggies- things I already knew. He usually has me come ever 6 weeks- but said if in 2 weeks I still didn't feel restriction- that he wants me to do a barium swallow/fluro fill- just to check and make sure everything is fine. I did try a shake after I left his office and it took a good 30 minutes to get it down and once I got to work- I had about 1/4 cup of mashed pot and gravy. I feel some restriction finally. Hope it stays for a while. I felt like all I could do was stick to a WW type plan waiting for this restriction. Good luck.

That's terrific! My doctor would love to have me come back in 6 weeks with 18 lbs gone!