BabyGotBack

Thanks for the replies!!!! I was soooo restricted yesterday I could almost not eat. I got stuck on every bite of food, but no PB Thank God!!!

Hi Jane!!!! How are you doing???? I have not been on for a while, but I am back for the support I need to finish this journey!!! I am posting on the Lower Bmi Thread and will probably check in here if I can "connect". How are you doing??? I have been on a long plateau. Too long. I just got my third fill so things are moving again. Take care!!!!

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Hi!!! Welcome to the group!!!! I felt like that too, like people ignored me when I told them how much I weighed. So, I made this thread!!!! What some people don't realize is the pain we go through is no less. I have always stuggled with my weight my whole life. My highest weight was 240. I grew up in a family who looked down on obesity and was made fun of. I could not eat with out people making comments. Then laughing at my attempts to lose weight and then throw it in my face when I failed, yet again...:faint: I know that I was on a vicious cycle, on the upswing in my weight. I had maintained in the 180-190 range, but was binging and gaining daily. I would have for sure been in the 200's again by now. I am so glad I did this. Feel free to post questions! Everyone here is very helpful!!! Audree PS. At the bottom of your posts, there is a section that asks for thread subscription. I suscribe to a few threads then I track them and read them easier through the quick links at the top of the page, go to suscribed threads and read that way.

That is so awesome!!!! To have that type of goal AND meet it!!!!! You are truely an example. I lost only in the beginning with the restriction I had from the surgury. I was also taking these pills called QuickSlim30 that I think helped me lose and took away my appetite. I have not been able to get them since then. But, I have been at a platueau and even gained 4 pounds back in the last few months. I am really loving my new fill of 3 cc's. My appetite is very low and that is saying a lot since I am premenstrual right now and am usually devoring everything in site. I am also not able to eat much right now. I am hoping to keep this level of restriction. I have 3 more goals for myself. Goal #1 is to lose 10 pounds by mid August which would be 1 month sicne my fill. This would put me at 155. I have been very happy at this weight in the past. I could still eat very well and felt comfortable. But, I have never been thin and maintained it for more than a few weeks. So I may proceed to trying to lose more. Goal #2 is to lose 10 more, in it's own timing but hopefully in a month or two. This would put me at 145. I have also been here and was pretty thin. I only did this once after doing Lindora and as soon as I went off the program, began to gain very, very rapidly. So, I didn't get to enjoy this weight. I was pretty thin at this weight, so I think I would lilke to stay there. Goal #3 is to see if I'd like to go into unchartered territory and go lower just because I have never weighed lower than 145. I was heavy in high school, college and as an adult, so this will be really neet!!!! I know I should add strength training and some more exercise, but I have not had the energy for it. I just bought some liquid vitamins I had been taking in the beginning, so hopfully the energy will kick in. Talk to you soon!!!!

Yeah, I really had restriction today, 2 weeks after my fill. I was barely able to get anything down. I did eat some garbanzo beans and cheese and that went down better. I got about 800 or so calories in. I am at 3 cc's and I am hoping this fill will get me down at least 10 more pounds if not the 20 I want to lose. I'd like to stay at this fill level. I wonder if I am tight this way because the fill kicked in 2 weeks after or if it is because I am supposed to start my period in any day now. Any way, I do like the level of restriction and getting stuck so I am forced to stop eating. I was eating like a little pig, anything and everything I wanted, as much as I wanted. With the band, I only gained 4 pounds....:faint: So, I hope I keep on losing. I did go down from 169 to 165 so far. So, what are you doing to take care of your body and mind?? Any suggestions??? I am definitly not taking care of my body. I do swim at least 4 times a week and have been tanning about 10 minutes a day. But, I know that I need to really step it up in that area, add some strength training to tone up my thighs and arms. Keep in touch!!!! I am going to be posting here daily again. I need the support to keep on losing. Have a good evening!!! Audree

I am glad to see you here too!!!! I did notice crunchy things go down easier, like tortilla chips and salsa!!! I was able to have some garbanzo beans and cheese and just chew well. I probably got in like 800-1000 calories or so I'd say? I need the support and do so much better when I have some type of accountability. I'M BACK!!!!!!!!:clap2:

Hey Bandiva!!! How are you? Congrats on the awesome weight loss!!!!! You are doing sooooo good!!!!! I have lost 25 pounds so far.... I had no restriction until now, since my 3rd fill. They put 3 cc's in my 4 cc band. I should start losing again. Keep in touch!!! When are you going to go get your next fill? It would be fun to try to meet up!!!! Come by the lower bmi thread and say hi!!!!! Talk to you soon!!!! Audree

Congrats!!!!:clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2: You have done awesome!!!! How did you do it????

Hey guys! I just wanted to check in with all of you. I am going to be checking in at least once daily again, like I used to when I started this thread. We had a really good group here for support. Then my oldest step daughter got married in March and I got a job, long story short, I stopped posting here since. I just started up again a few weeks ago. Well, I came back, as I have seen a lot of others have also who had not been in lately, for support. I had tried to get by on my own, without support, not following the bandster rules and not losing weight, even gaining a few back!!:faint: I am hoping to really resurrect this thread to be an active one like it was. I for one, definitely need the support on a daily basis. I can't forget that I am banded and need special support from others like me, who understand me and what I am going through. Things another person who is just dieting can't relate to. For one, I could hardly eat today at all. I got a couple bites of oatmeal for breakfast, lunch was a few bites of egg and turkey sausage, but got really stuck. Dinner was a struggle to get food in. I know I needed to get some calories in since I had only had about 150 calories for the day and it was dinner time. The cool thing was I felt good and didn't feel hungry, but knew I needed more calories. It was a struggle to get in a few bites of ponsit (a filipino noodle dish) and some chicken. I chocked on every bite, but managed to eat it without pbing. I am on liquids for the rest of the evening. I am a few days till my period. It is so weird how one day I feel open and one day like today I could barely eat. I am also 2 weeks from my fill and have heard the real restiction can take 2 weeks to kick in. Take care and hope to hear from you all!!! Audree

So true!!!! I was loose the last few days but could hardly get any food down at all today. I was able to eat a few bites of oatmeal for breakfast, 3 bites of egg and turkey sausage for lunch and for dinner had to battle to eat a little bit of ponsit (filipino noodles) and chicken. I was almost stuck and food coming up the whole time, but I know I needed the nutrition. I am just going to drink liquids for the rest of the evening since my throat feels very scratchy. Today is closer to the restriction I was expecting. It has been two weeks since my fill and I hope I stay closer to the tighter side. I should be starting my period within a few days.

I had my surgury done in TJ, Mexico by Dr. Ariel Ortiz. If you go to my journal, you will find all the info I found when I was researching him. I saved it there for others to get all the awesome info I got.. It was an awesome experience and continues to be. The fills are $100 under fluero and I am extremely happy with the whole experience! Audree

Just wondered if we had any other theories on this one? I got filled about a week ago, had really good restriction, now I am right before TOM and feel less restriction. Thanks for your replies!!! Audree

I was wondering how pms affected your restriction? I have read that some get tighter, some get looser at this time? It seems a lot of us start to crave things and sweets. Thanks!!! Audree

Can you explain what they do exactly when they do this wedge breast lift? I know one day I will need a lift, but didn't want the veritcal scar. How about nipple sensitivity? That was a big concern for me if I had a lift done, if it would mess with the nerves too much and lose nipple sensitivity. Thanks,Audree

Hey band family! I am PMSing too!!!! At least I don't feel alone. I have been more hungry than normal too. I am eating much less than I would have pre 3rd fill, but I am surprised that I can eat the way I can. I have heard some people get looser, some get tighter before their periods. I am able to have 1 to 2 cups of food at dinner (1 cup chicken, 1 cup beans). Today I had 2 scrambled eggs and cheese for breakfast. Lunch was about 1/3 cup of beans and about 3/4 cup of chicken. I hope that a little more restriction comes in. I still feel like I am eating a little too much. I don't want to be able to get seconds anymore. I just need to use a little of that old fashioned will power to try and stick to the bandster rules, 3 meals and protein first. No ice cream, etc. I also need to slow down in my eating and stop at one serving. Do things very that much where one day you are restricted and get stuck on everything and other days you can eat a little more? Do you get looser before your period? Thanks guys!!! Audree

They have two band sized that they can't tell you which one they need to use until they open you up. It varies on the abdominal fat you have. Most need the 4 cc band. Hope that helps!

Everything you say is exactly how I felt too. Especially being a lower bmi'er of 31 bmi. But I don't regret if for a second!!

I think the reason why things were different for me in not gettng tight until I was filled so much, is because 3 years ago I had a full tummy tuck with full abdominal liposuction. Even if I gained weight after the surgury, I never gained it back in my stomach area. I gained it in other weird places though!!:faint: So, I have not abdominal fat around my stomach. When you get a fill and as you lose weight the fat around the stomach goes down. That is why people need to keep on getting fills, most of the time anyway, as they lose weight. I have never had real restriction until now. I am happy where I am and the quantity of food I can eat is enough to be satisfied mentally. A lot of it is mental. I used to eat just because I was at home and bored. I am not an emotional eater, but I like to eat when I am happy. I don't really like sweets much either, but indulge on sugar free fudgsiclses.

Well, I was at 2.4 cc's and went to 3 cc's. The eating and hunger are much different. I am eating totally different. I was eating 3 meals a day plus snacking inbetween each and after dinner. I was hungry a lot and could accomodate what ever I wanted as much as I wanted without getting stuck at all. I now have to be very careful about my chewing and eating in the morning. I can not drink cold drinks before I eat or will get stuck on bite number 1. I normally kinda get stuck on my first bite with any meal and just have to slow down and chew really well. I now only have 3 small meals. Breakfast is now later and is about 1/2 cup of food as wells as 1/2 cup of food for lunch. Dinner I can eat about 1 cup of food. If I am not careful I get stuck and it is very uncomfortable. I have not pb'd since this fill, but do get stuck and it hurts. So eating for me since this third fill is what I expected the sweet spot to feel like. Any more restriction and I would not be able to eat. I am getting about 1000 calories in a day. I am also sticking to protein based meals. Today I had beans and cheese for lunch and was having to eat slowly since I was getting stuck on it. I make sure I get at least 60-80 ounces of water or crystal light in between meals since I stick to the "no eating for 1 hour after my meal" rule. I also have bought sugar free fudgesicles and popsicles and those really hit the spot when I have a little craving. I also got tighter 2 weeks after the last fills so I am hoping I don't get too much tighter. I will keep all posted!

Good to see you Veronica! I was away too for a while. You have done great on your weight loss!!!! I had stalled for a long time. Just got my third fill and am at 3 cc's in a 4 cc band. I finally have some restriction!!!:clap2: My doctor said this one should do me good for about 4 months or to lose the rest of the weight I want to lose, which is about 20 more pounds.

Congrats on the weight loss!!!! Regarding your doctor, just insist on wanting to go all the way with what you started. If you have no restriction, just tell them you are afriad of putting weight back on and that is why you got the band in the first place. You did pay out of your pocket too and should demand to get what you paid for. Hope that helps!!

I asked so many of the same questions when I first came here. I am so happy with my decision to go to Mexico for my banding. It has changed my relationship with food forever. I have chosen to go back for my fills to Mexico since they are more aggresive with there fills and always do them under fleuro for $100. I believe fill centers charge $350 and does not include fluero? I just had my 3rd fill and am at 3 cc's in a 4 cc band. I believe I have hit my "sweet spot". You may want to go back for the first few fills till you hit your "sweet spot" and then maybe maintain with fillcenters. They really sneak up slowly here in the states and normally only put a few cc's in at a time, sometimes missing the port altogether since they do not use fluero. I think I heard it was an option but for more money. I figure what it costs me to get to Mexico and pay $100 bucks for my fill is still cheaper than what I'd pay at the fillcenters. You also have to pay a first time fee I believe with fillcenters to become a patients. Not to mention getting to the "sweet spot" quicker, losing weight faster, etc. Hope that answers some of your questions. Let me know if you have any more!! Audree

I just wanted to put in my 6 month bandiversary experience also! I love my band and know I would not have lost these 25 pounds without it. I was on up upswing in my weight and would have gained 25 instead of losing them. I lost faster in the beginning. I was also taking this awesome supplement called QuickSlim30 which I believe helped me to lose so rapidly in the beginnnig and curbed my appetite also, plus gave me energy to workout. I have been on a plateau for a few months. I just went last week for fill #3 where I got 3 cc' put in my 4 cc band. I definitely have a lot more restriction than I did. I was able to prior to this fill, to eat anything as much as I wanted to. But, now I am only able to eat 3 small meals a day. I definitely get stuck after a few bites in the morning, sometimes the first bite. At lunch I can tolerate about 1/2 cup and at dinner about 1 cup. A big difference to what I was! I don't feel as hungry as I was, but when I do feel hungry I grab some crystal light and drink! I also bought sugar free fudgesicles and sugar free popsicles and they seem to really hit the spot. I also want to buy some more QuickSlim30 when I can, hopefully at the end of the month. I would really like to see if it would get me off of my plateau. I need to start working out more, but for the meantime I have been swimming. I was working and my kids are off for the summer so going to the gym was harder. And it is too hot to go walking. I am eating about 1000 calories a day or so. I was getting sick of bouncing from 165 to 169. When I got my fill, I was back up to 169.:faint: When I go for my fills, he also pulls out exactly what I had in there. Maybe because they use the fleuro? So, I am hoping that I am losing again. It is right before "that time" so I normally retain water and don't know if I want to weigh in right now. Take care everyone and it is great to be back!!! Audree

Gigi!! Thanks! It is good to be back!