qtney1

Fabulous job! I read your blog and it's really neat. I also have Dr. Malley and was considering doing the Reboot program. I am a little scared, though, because I feel so out of shape to even start!

Congratulations on your new journey! It sounds like you are a great start! Welcome to Kansas soon!

Since my last minor unfill, I have been able to eat more and I don't like it. I have been able to eat and enjoy food that I couldn't before. i know, it's bad, I should have more willpower, but my band is my buddy that helps keep me in line. I have managed to gain 4 pounds back and I am super disappointed. My next fill scheduled for Monday so i am on my p's and q's with the strict "no eating out" and protein shakes again. I just hate how you still have to "diet" in between fills and watch everything **sadface**. Oh, well, I wanna see that scale go back DOWN!

I think I do better with more restriction and being a bit tighter. Bread is a downfall for me and I can unfortunately ea tit now. I have to stay STRONG to keep it away :-) I have been hovering around 280 and just want to get over this hump!

Well, I had a little fluid taken out about 6 weeks ago, due to me getting sick from all of the drainage when I got a cold. And, I have been naughty....very very naughty. I have no idea who much fluid she took out (although, I'm guessing not alot) and it made a HUGE difference). However, I need it put back in ASAP! My weight has officially stalled completely out. I can eat more than I should and am hungrier in between meals. I keep gaining and losing the same 3 pounds. I had an appointment a week and a half ago, but had to reschedule, due to work conflict. The soonest they could get me in was May 16th, but I am going to BEG to get in sooner, if they have a cancellation, next week. I ate a donut (I know, I know) with absolute ease and no problem. I am leaving for Mexico in less than two months and was hoping to have a little better weight loss by the time I left. I want my restriction back. Unfortunately, it just means that I have to work on my self control a little harder :-) On the plus side, I'm walking more, hoping to counteract the new position of being able to eat any type of food (not that I should).

I cooked Easter dinner, as well, and it was so hard to have all the yummy food around!

I have been losing on the slow side, but every pound gone is another smile gained!

Thank you all for the support. This site has truly been a wonderful source of support! best of luck to you all!

Well, I am officially a little over 6 months out. I have lost a total of 46 pounds total, including preop. It is coming off slowly, but surely. I have been at a plateau the past couple of months and need to make better food choices and definitely work out more. Overall, though, I am very happy being 46 pounds down. It is 46 less of me that I have to lug around. I am going to Cozumel in just a couple months and my goal is to get down even further and finally invest in some new clothes! Right now, they are hanging on to me for dear life (YES!). I may not have lost as much weight as my friend who had RNY at the same time, but I still feel great and feel this choice is a "for life" commitment. And, on days I feel sad I haven't lost as much, I look at my before pictures and take notice of the weight that IS gone.....forever!

I've been slow as well. It has almost been 6 months and I am at 46 pounds (of course, I weight more than you, so it's slower than I thought). I have been trying to increase my protein and it seems to be helping

So, after my sinus drainage last week, I made an appointment with my doctor's office to get a little fluid taken out. They took out just a bit and what a difference! I was able to eat, drink, and start losing again! I have lost 3 pounds since they took the fluid out. I think because I can get my protein in now! I am officially 46 pounds down and almost 6 months out. Once these 280's are gone, I will feel so much better. I feel like I have been stuck here forever! Now that I am finally where I need to be (fluid wise), I am hoping it will start coming off quicker now. Too much fluid, I don't lose. Too little, I don't lose. We went out of town on a shopping trip this weekend and I was really proud. Instead of getting steak or something like it at Outback, I got a small size seared tuna appetizer at Outback. And, it was filling! I have found that I need to just order small portions when I go out. Even if I get a smaller meal and box half of it up, I will still try to eat more than I should. It's all mental. If I get just what I need (usually a kid sized portion is plenty), I do better at limiting myself. It's taken 6 months, but I am finally starting to "get it" and adjusting. Everyday is a struggle for a recovery food addict, but I am getting better and better at eating better. One upside to eating out? Instead of going for the most bang for the buck (I used to choose the biggest portion item sometimes!), I can get a better quality, tastier, and healthier item for the same price and be okay with the fact that it's a tiny portion. I love my band. Sometimes we bicker, by my love for it is unconditional :-)

Congratulations! What a great job you have done!

Thank you for sharing your story...I think a lot of us have struggled with the same issues. I am almost 6 months out from surgery and have had to totally readjust my relationship with food. It's a daily struggle, but I am still plugging along. Best of luck in your journey!

Congratulations!

Congratulations!!

I have been going back and forth about getting a small unfill but I think I am going to have to do it.....at least until this sinus stuff passes!

Welcome to the banding world! As the stomach swelling goes down, the hungrier your will be. If your doctor didn't fill your band at all after surgery, it will not be working at all. As your doctor starts to add fluid, you will find more and more restriction with each fill. Alot of people say the magic number is fill #3 and that's about fair. It's "bandster hell" between surgery day and your sweet spot, because you will be doing all of the work to keep the weight off, instead of your tool helping you out. And, congratulations on not weighing yourself unless you are at the doctor's office. I am a scale slave and am really thinking about hiding it for awhile :-)

Don't worry.....After surgery, your stomach is swollen and really causes you to eat less in the first few weeks after. Unless your doctor has fluid that he put in the band prior to surgery, your band should be unfilled and not really really kicking in yet. My doctor said it's common for patients to come in up a few pounds since surgery. Once they start filling you, you can start really working your tool. Most people say fill #3 is the magic fill for them to really notice. You both are on the right track. Best of luck to you!

I think I have a sinus infection and this drainage is making me feel stuck. I haven't been able to keep anything (non liquid) down in two days. Anyone have any suggestions or experiences?

My doctor really didn't give me any sort of limitations. I just don't drink anything carbonated, so I stick with wine and cocktails. But, be careful. It only will take a little bit to feel the alcohol!

I went to my doctor's office a couple of days ago and didn't receive a fill this time around. I have been seeing the nurse practitioner the past couple of times and she is just as nice and informative as the surgeon. She recommended I not get a fill this time and just focus on exercise for this month (which I have been very much slacking off on). She also gave me a list of recommended Lean Cuisine type dishes that they recommend for lunches. They all include chuncks of protein (which she tells me to have), under 300 calories, and over 15 grams of protein. I really like having that list because it wasn't what I was eating! So, hopefully I will lose more this month. I am almost to 7.5 cc's in a 10 cc band, but I finally have restriction, so that is a positive!

Eat your protein first. I usually eat between a cup and a cup and half each sitting. You will never really feel "full" but you will feel satisfied and able to go around 4 hours without being hungry. I always eat my meal that I have portioned out, wait a bit, then see how I am after that. If I get hungry within a couple hours, I might need a fill. Also, if I don't chew enough or eat too fast, I feel uncomfortable and sometimes the food comes right back up. I actually had about 3 cc's in my band when they banded me and I didn't know it. I am now about up to 7.5 cc's in my 10 cc band and have been banded for 5 months. Everyone is different and it is a learning experience :-)

How horrible! I was overfilled once and couldn't get anything down. After a couple days of it ( and 5 pounds lost), I HAD to go in. I gained a few pounds back (water weight, I'm sure) but felt so much better. I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that. It is miserable!

You are looking wonderful! Great job!

42, to be exact. I am so proud to have that weight GONE. Although I have a lot more to lose, I am well on my way. I need to work out more and see the weight drop even farther, quicker :-)