1shauna1

Things I like that are good Snacks and low calories - greek yogurt; a few nuts; beef jerky; a ounce of cheese or a cheese string. Laughing cow is more of a spreadable cheese. The Babybels are little solid cheeses. I think there's more Protein in the babybel.

You generally need a day of liquids and a day of mushies to let the inflammation around your band/stomach subside. It is swollen after the injection of fluid. It's just easier on your insides to gradually work your way back to solids after a couple of days.

I had a fill during surgery, but not that much. I believe it was only about 1.5 cc. I'm only at 5.5 cc now, so to me that seems like a lot. But I'm sure your doctor knows what he's doing!

Well, sometimes it can take a couple of days for the fill to settle in, I don't know why. There is nothing you can do about what you have eaten; you can only move forward. Try to stick to your eating plan; that's the way to lose the weight.

It is hard, I know. You didn't have your head banded, only your stomach and sometimes the head is stronger. Just think - you have had surgery and are healing. Do you want to stall or delay the healing process? I doubt you do. Try your hardest to stick to your eating plan. Foods you loved before, you still may be able to eat but just a lot less, which is great. As for alcohol, everyone has a different opinion, but mine is, I still drink it and love it and I'm okay with it (and so is my doctor). Now probably isn't the time for it though. You need to let your body heal and just give it the nutrients your doctor said to. Good luck!

You couldn't do any wacky food challenges a la Man vs Food! Speed eating is definitely out!

For me, I still crave foods, but I know many don't. However, I generally can't eat the same portions of those foods, so that's the plus. I can have a bit of what I want without overdoing it. There are many who have lost lots being banded....I think the band is more of a tool. Realistically you can still eat anything (I think there are certain things you just can't eat/absorb with bypass), so there is a lot of work on your part still with the band.

I still get them sometimes. When I do it's usually because I'm stuck. It does seem to help (the diaphragm is contracting and I think everything in there is working to get the stuck bit through).

I got some really cute plates that are smaller than regular dinner plates (but a bit bigger than a side plate), so I can have a visually full plate but it holds less. I use small utensils regularly (small forks and spoons ) which help control bites. I like to bring my lunch to work so I got a cute divided Tupperware container, as well as some one cup and two cup round ones with screw top lids (more secure).

That's true, if you're really concerned, I would call your doc. No sense stressing out about it! :-)

It may not be band related at all, you could be getting sick. Especially if it's been 2 weeks since your fill. If it were ME I'd wait a couple of days to see if it goes away, then if not I'd call the doc. Try to keep yourself hydrated.

I hope I don't get my head bit off for this (and I don't think it means someone is less intelligent because they don't know the difference; just maybe they don't have a head for words/language) but LOOSE and LOSE....drives me a bit crazy. I was an English major and am a court reporter so I have to deal with spelling & grammar all day long!\ EDIT - and I had to go back and edit a grammatical error! Ug....my bracketed sentence isn't really correct either!!

As you say, you haven't been taking small enough bites and chewing enough. You could try canned tuna (it's already broken up), flaky fish....also, you said you were on vacation for a month. Were you fully following your proper diet or in "vacation mode"? Maybe some more "liquid calories" there ? You've had a fill and it may help but you also may need another fill to start really feeling restriction. But, as said your weight IS going down which is great; you may just be a slower loser. Don't compare yourself to others' weight loss; it usually just makes you upset!

Think of it this way....a piece of candy and small piece of cake isn't that much; what could you have eaten beforehand? It's a victory of sorts. Many of us have been there, so just put it behind you and get back to what you know you have to do!

I have heard that about the meat tenderizer but it sounds so gross! Pineapple juice will do the same thing and taste a lot better! lol

They are where you buy vitamins; they're chewable tablets. They basically help start the digestion process in the pouch when you're stuck. Some people also swear by pineapple juice which does the same thing. I would suggest keeping some with you at all times!

I have a love hate relationship with chicken. Some days it's fine, other days not so much!

I was telling her not to worry about your "shock comment" about litigation because you're obviously here just to stir up trouble and you have nothing better to do.

I am definitely struggling. I was banded in August 2010. I had thought I would have been at goal by now (total 80-100 lbs lost) but I don't think I've really lost anything in a year, and I'm only down about 35 which I'm not happy about. Granted, I have had some issues with fill levels (some defills and refills), but I know it's pretty much all on me. I really still struggle with nighttime eating. I seem to basically lose all restriction in the evenings but the rest of the day, I just seem to be really tight. So, if I get a fill so that I'm tighter at night, I pretty much can't even drink my coffee in the mornings (PBing on liquids is worse than solids, I think!). And of course, healthier foods are always harder to get down. But, I can't give up....after paying 16K by myself, this would be my biggest failure. I refuse to accept it. So....somehow I have to find a better way to eat, or something...or try listening to my stomach way more than my head (those two fight constantly).

This is true, and a great way to look at it. There are other factors besides the scale (although it's a good way to judge your continuing progress and prevent you from getting off track too much), such as clothing size as well. Congrats on your great weight loss too!

Oranges - beware the membranes.

I have trouble with fruits and veggies with skins. It's easier with melons, and if you can peel peaches, etc. I find blueberries are okay too but I can't eat a lot, maybe a small handful.

Nicole, I'm sorry for what you're going through! But you're soooo close to your goal, do you think you really need another procedure? If you don't focus on the number on the scale, are you happy with your body? You've done amazing....I don't know. I guess I can understand wanting something to stop you from overeating but it seems so drastic to me. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Don't worry about that, some people have nothing but negatives to say and seem to want to cause problems and panic when it's not even a procedure they're having. And like many message boards, you often see more negative than positive posts because people complain more vocally than they state the positives. Look at the success stories to see some great posts. And there are many positive, helpful people here and they well outweigh the negative nellies!