Hi-diddle-diddle

I am 6 months out of surgery, and just had my 5th fill. I have 8cc's in my 10cc band. I "think" I have finally hit my sweet spot. For the last 6 months, I could eat pretty much what I wanted, with the exception of breads and most meats. Some days I would throw up pasta, but the next day I could eat 3 plates of the same pasta. I was getting so frustrated, so the doctor finally gave me another fill. Now, I think I am finally starting to see what the band is suppose to do. I can no longer gulp water, which before I had no problems with. As for eating, I really haven't eaten anything since Tuesday when I got my fill. I did have two small pieces of cheese and 5 crackers today. I don't get hungry anymore and don't even have to think about food. Unless something smells really good, then I think I am hungry. I am wondering if not eating is ok??? I do drink throughout the day and will sometimes drink a smoothie to get some additional protein. Am I going to actually start losing weight now??? I have only lost 1 lb in the last 6 months. Any suggestions???

Ugh, I am having serious problems lately. I haven't had a fill since the first part of May. I was suppose to be at 7 cc's in a 10 cc band. I used to be able to eat almost anything, up until about 2 1/2 weeks ago. Then I go sick and was in bed for two days and didn't eat much. Now I am having trouble eating a lot of things. Right now, popcorn, chips, crackers, crunchy Cereal, ice cream, pudding, coffee all go down just fine. But bread, meat, eggs, Pasta, rice, veggies all get stuck. I am at the end of my rope. I don't know what to do. I am even having problems eating thick oatmeal. I don't know what has changed.

I have 7 cc's in my 10cc band as well. I should be happy that I am not gaining weight, but I am not losing either. I am so frustrated. Ugh. Trying to eat healthy foods, but they are getting stuck.

Ugh. This has been one of my biggest problems. First off, I really don't like breakfast. I was always a cereal or bagel girl, if I ate, but usually I just drank coffee for breakfast. Even though it's rather boring, I find that if I don't have some steel cut oatmeal in the morning, I overeat throughout the day. I make mine the night before, a little on the runny side, so when it reheats, it doesn't get too gummy. For a little bit of a change, I like to mix a little bit of peanut butter in it. Yummy. It tastes like a warm peanut butter cookie. :thumbup:

I am right there with you. After four stressful days worth of binge eating, I know I have to get back on track. The band won't do it all by itself. I have to do it too. The mental part of this is the hardest thing EVER. I am here to vent to if you need a friend.

I would love to be your buddy. I was banded on 2/12/10 and have had three fills. I have 6.25 cc's in my band right now but I am still not feeling restricted. My doctor told me that most people get to their sweet spot between 6 and 8 cc's. Over the last three weeks, I have only lost 4 lbs, which my doctor was really happy with. I on the other hand, was extemely disappointed. I just started exercising this week, so hopefully that will help. Please feel free to email me anytime. I have lots of questions and don't know all of the answers but I will listen.

I just had my third fill. 1st - 4cc's 2nd - 1.5 cc's 3rd - 0.75 cc's Total of 6.25 cc's in band. Don't really feel much difference at all. :thumbup:

I was banded on 2/12/2010 and have had two fills. I know I am not at my "sweet" spot yet, but I am getting closer. Some days are good and some days aren't. Today, I think I could have eaten a horse. I obviously have problems with portion control, otherwise I wouldn't be overweight to begin with. I am trying hard to pick the right food to eat, but I am still doing something wrong. I have been told, that if you don't eat enough, you won't lose any weight. However, no one can tell me what amount I am suppose to eat. Can someone give me an example of what you eat for Breakfast, lunch, dinner and Snacks for a day so I can compare it to my food intake? Anything would be appreciated. I am tired of jumping back and forth between these same 5 lbs. I go down 5 lbs, then back up 5 lbs, then down 5 lbs, then up. . . . . . Ugh! I am so frustrated.:frown:

Thank you for the reply. I look forward to getting to know you through this process.:biggrin:

Boy am I glad I came across this thread. I thought I was doing really good about putting a little bit of peanut butter in my choc protein shake or my oatmeal, to add a little more protein and flavor. It never even dawned on me that it could be a trigger food. No more for me. Thanks for the wake up call everyone.

I was banded on Feb 12, 2010 and would love to have a mentor through this process. I got my first fill two weeks after the surgery, but I am not restricted right now. Have to wait four weeks before I can have another one. Looking for someone to share the good and the bad with. The more friends the merrier on this trip. :biggrin:

I guess I am lucky, because I love my protein shakes. I have to have the choc ones. I don't even miss ice cream or cake, as long as I can have a shake. I put frozen banana slices in it and sometimes some peanut butter. YUMMY.

I had my lap band in Mexico and many American doctor's won't give you a fill because of it. Is anyone aware of a doctor that will give you a fill in Portland, Oregon or Vancouver, Washington?

Usually I have a choc protein shake with maybe some peanut butter and frozen banana slices in it. Mix it up with a little bit of ice to make it nice and cold. Then about a hour and a half, two hours later, I have either some yogurt with some flax seed in it or some steel cut oatmeal with a little bit of peanut butter in it. YUMMY. I love the oatmeal.:biggrin:

Thanks for the info everyone. I do feel like I am in bandster hell right now. I have to wait at least 4 weeks before I can go back for another fill. Hopefully I can be strong during that time and chose food wisely. I know I have to do something, the band won't do it all.

Ok, so I just got banded on 2.12.2010 in Mexico. They didn't fill my band at all, so I went to get my first fill (4cc's) yesterday. I can feel that I am more restricted then I was when the band was empty, but I am constantly feeling hungry. I make a protein shake for breakfast, and try to eat a sensible lunch and dinner, but feel hungry all the time. I am sure most of it is probably mental issues, that I need to get over, but I was wondering is anyone could give me a breakdown of what they ate when they were first banded. I don't want to fail at this. Any help would be appreciated.:wink2:

I was banded in Tijuana Mexico on 2/12/2010 by Dr. Carlos Alessandrini. A girlfriend and I went down together, with two other people who were also banded by Dr. Carlos. Everything went perfect. They gave us Aleve for pain medicine, and truth be told, I didn't even reallly need it. I was up and around 4 hours after surgery asking for water. My surgery was on a Friday and I went back to work on Tuesday without any problems. About 5 days after surgery, my left shoulder became extremely painful, but it has stopped now. I guess this is common. Dr. Carlos didn't fill my band at all, so I went for my first fill today. I can really feel the difference. I am looking forward to losing weight, and do not regret my decision at all.:cursing:

Bella, Welcome to my first "official" banded friend. I am looking forward to getting to know you and sharing stories and tips. Here's to getting skinny.

Congrats on the decision Lauryn. Here's to a new look on life.

Today is officially two weeks since I was banded. Everything is healing well, and no one at work is aware that I even had the surgery. Found out that my band was never filled, so I went for my first fill today. Got 4cc's, so I am looking forward to "really" getting started. I can't wait to get this weight off. I would love to start corresponding regularly with others who are just starting. Let me know if anyone is interested in becoming my banded friend.:cursing:

I was just banded on Feb 12 and would love to share stories, both good and bad. Everything helps. When you are in something like this with others, it helps.:thumbup:

I had surgery on 12.12.2010, a Friday. Monday was a holiday, so I went back to work on Tuesday. I was tired by the time I got home and went to bed early, but my co-workers don't even know. It was no problem at all. Of course everyone is different.

I am 3 days post-op and having diarrhea. Glad to read that it is not uncommon. I was beginning to worry. Hope it stops soon. Have to go back to work tomorrow.