reverie

All the pills I take are pretty big. Take them in the afternoon as your band may be tighter in the morning.

I think it varies per person, and the amount of 'restriction' you're happy with. For instance I have no fills and have lost fine and like the restriction I have. Others like to be a bit tighter and it may take more than a few fills to get there. It also depends on how aggressive your doctor is with fills. Also, restriction =/= weightloss. It's truly about calories in and calories out. Restriction helps but getting fills doesn't guarantee a drop on the scale. Good luck!

Non-scale victory. Congrats!! Always a great accomplishment/feeling; and you're only getting smaller!! I bought my first pair of size 4 jeans last weekend.

You won't feel much until you start having fills; 3 months seems a bit long to wait for a fill. Maybe ask your surgeon why? Until you reach restriction it's up to you entirely to make the best food choices possible. Yes you can eat what you did before, but should you? Probably not. Willpower is the name of the game here.

Sounds like acid reflux. Are you eating within 3 hours of sleeping? If so, stop. Your band may be too tight so you may require a small unfill. Talk to your surgeon.

Enjoy them Nothing wrong with a little treat.

There's an insurance forum here. Maybe check that out for answers. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/forum/5-insurance-financing/

I've been craving crunchy things and sweet and salty things, no idea why. I'm gonna go against the grain here and say don't "wait" for the craving to pass. Don't ignore it either. Ignoring small cravings only leads to bigger ones, which cause you to binge. Try eating some SF chocolate pudding. Maybe a chocolate Protein shake? A small piece of dark chocolate won't kill you either!

Insane? No. I think this is a great goal for anyone and it's for good reason too! I'd suggest using a treadmill and slowly upping the incline.

60g is average for a woman I believe. If you're looking to lose weight/feel satiety when you eat, I'd shoot for 80g+ Try to get at least 20 in per meal. I eat my weight in protein most of the time, so I average anywhere from 120-135g a day.

I eat every 3 hours. I wait 30-45 mins after I eat (some wait an hour) and then I drink two 16oz cups of Water. I usually average 80oz+ a day. If you schedule out your meals, leave time between them and set a goal of how much you need to drink.

What's a good weight loss to you? I've lost 112lbs in 9 months, but not everyone loses the same. Also, you can't spot reduce fat. The fat will come off wherever it wants to come off from. Your tummy may be the last to go. Losing tummy fat comes with reducing your overall body fat %. Exercising the ab muscles may help but it doesn't guarantee fat loss in that area. Good luck!

What exactly are you eating? Are you taking small bites and chewing well? If not, that's probably the problem.

Congrats!! It's good to know that you were willing to become satisfied with your weight loss rates and realize that none of us lose at the same rate.

6 weeks generally. If you're just walking then it isn't a problem, but weight-lifting and strenuous cardio/exercise should wait until you're fully healed. Ask your surgeon.

Being banded was my first surgery and I was terrified. I am a big baby when it comes to pain (still scared of needles to this day) and I can honestly say the pain post-op was about a 3/10. If you don't have Gas-X strips, get some! Remember to walk when you can and sip your Water. You will feel discomfort and gas pains for a few days/weeks but it gets better! Good luck during your surgery, you'll do great!

Congrats on your date! It'll be here before you know it.

How many calories a day are you eating? Carbs? Total protein? Do you eat snacks? PM me if you want; I'd love to try to help.

I'd definitely talk to your doctor. As the other poster said, you can't live off sliders, it's not healthy and it's not natural.

How much protein are you eating per meal? How BIG is your meal?

What's hunger to you? Is your stomach growling or is it head hunger? Are you eating high Protein meals? (Aim for at least 20 each meal.) Maybe I'm wrong, but hunger never goes away, I think it's a misconception with the band. The band wasn't placed to make you not hungry, it's to increase how long you feel 'satisfied' as well as for portion control. In the end, hunger is normal, and it should happen. Do I get hungry? Sometimes, but rarely. Why? Because I eat every 3 hours, before hunger kicks in. It's like taking pain meds after a surgery before the pain comes. You anticipate that you'll be hungry, so you eat. Again, maybe I'm wrong and maybe that's all just how I feel, but in the end if you're seeking the "not" hungry feeling, I don't know if a fill provides you with that.

Some people have different exercise goals. I started off slow and have gradually increased the amount of exercise I do. Nowadays I workout for about 1.5-2 hours a day. Why? Because I have the time, I like how it makes me feel, and I want to tone as much as possible before I consider having PS. Would I call it over achieving? Hardly. An obsession? Maybe so, but at least it's a healthy one. Does this mean you have to do the same? Nope. If 30 minutes a day or every other day is keeping you sane and is helping the pounds drop, I'd stick to it. Of course when your weight loss slows down as you near your goal, you may want to intensify what you're doing, but no, there is no need to overwork yourself by doing exercise if you don't want to/don't have the time for it. Exercise should be a de-stresser, not the other way around. Find an exercise routine you like and it'll become more of a fun activity rather than a chore.

Congrats on your decision! I was banded in May 2010 and don't regret it one bit. Please do your research about the band and definitely ask any questions you have.

I'd say you're too tight. Maybe you need a complete unfill again. What size band do you have? To me the band is about portion control, not something that should dictate what you can and cannot eat. If you can't keep solid Protein down then I'd go back to the doctor, explain, and hopefully an unfill is in store though I'd be worried from the get-go at the fact that you couldn't even keep protein down in the very beginning... Good luck.

Though I'm not a ketchup person I have used it in recipes (ie. homemade barbecue sauce) and Heinz does sell a low carb/low sugar ketchup. It's called Heinz Reduced Sugar Ketchup. It's 1 carb per tablespoon. A bit pricier than normal ketchup but it's healthier!