HeatherinCA

I agree haha. i got banded hour or so away, so painful the car ride was the worst.

LOL I love how we all had meatballs yesterday. How does light alfredo taste? Fresh & Easy, and Trader Joes sell some good frozen turkey meatballs, really easy to prepare, and good to have on hand

Well can't you just do canned chicken haha. Just seems like a lot of trouble to make a chicken breast and then mush it.

Congratulations that is awesome!

It's still a diet, it's just help! I've explained to my friends, I can lose 40lbs on my own maybe 50lbs, I can't lose 150lbs. I physically need help with that. That is why I chose surgery. Also I think a lot of people don't quite understand weight loss surgery, how it works, and what it does for you. Also they don't understand why we are fat, and how this is a disease, and problem, it's not as simple as stop eating so much for most of us. Also I know it's not about weight loss surgery, but i like to tell people to watch Heavy on A&E I think that give a great inside look at overweight people, how we got this way, and why it's so hard to change that.

Ah don't worry! The band isn't built to lose hundreds of pounds. You are in the proper weight range for it. (judging by your ticker) What is she bragging she weighed more before she took control? That isn't an accomplishment... yea the band is an easier option, but cutting up your insides isn't an option or practical for everyone

I haven't been stuck, but i'm fairly sure it's immediate, when it can't make it through your band it comes back up like WHOLE with some slime on it.

I used a hand stick blender... For pureed I ate things like chili, thick Soups, finely ground meat, oatmeal, Beans You can use the blender or food processor with a little chicken broth. Probably be kind of gross haha.

If a small pill can't fit down there, then no way food can haha. So I wouldn't worry about it. Maybe they can switch you to something you can crush? It's only for like 3 weeks before you can eat.

If it's meant to be it's meant to be haha I'm not sure me personally would consider surgery if my BMI was that low... it's ALOT of work and a lot of money to lose like 50lbs

It's to shrink your liver for surgery. I'm sure are ok, but it's good to get in the habit of doing things properly, it will help you in the long run.

Yea I did blood work and EKG, but same, I only saw my surgeon at the consolation. I wouldn't worry, it's a simple surgery.

Yep... mine wasn't settled last year. So I couldn't claim it for 2010. But I've been deducting my personal trainer expenses for a few years with a doctors note. (my parents paid my credit card bill, but my income was low enough i could deduct it) But yea, it may not be high enough because you get a general deduction anyways if it's under that.

Breakfast: I had 3/4 cup oatmeal (dry) with 1 cup skim milk, and 1/2 cup Water, 2 tsp brown sugar Lunch: I had 4 turkey meatballs with marinara and mozzarella cheese. dinner I'll probably have either meatballs again, or maybe eggs and bacon.

I weigh daily, I was doing it weekly, but I like daily better.. yes it fluctuates, but if I'm totally off base with my diet, I like to know sooner than later.

I would say don't pay attention to your fills really... I feel like too much importance is place upon them. I feel like people spend so much time worrying about a sweet spot and all that nonsense. There isn't going to be a magical moment, when you just start randomly losing weight. The band is there to press on the vagus nerve (controlled by fills) to control your hunger, when you get enough in your band, you won't be as hungry. Just follow a low cal diet, and exercise. That's all you can really do. Are you being realistic with your diet? I know for me, I like to pretend I eat good all the time, but I know I don't, and if I don't lose weight I know it's my fault. Also how often do you weigh? I'd weigh daily or every few days to make sure you are on track, you shouldn't be waiting to see your doctor to get weighed.

Don't be discouraged! You should be able to go 4-5 hours without a meal... that is a good measure of your fill level. I have 5.5ccs and I'm never hungry. I think I could probably go all day without physically being hungry LOL it's kind of strange. Just follow the diet, if you are eating as much as you were pre band you probably aren't following a 900-1200 calorie diet. You can't wait for the band, and the right restriction and all that, or you are right you won't lose the weight. Just do the work, and the band will supplement your efforts by controlling your hunger. I lose about 8-10lbs a month, yea it does take a while. But I'm done 3 pants sizes and 2 shirt sizes, in 3 months, people definitely will notice! Also the fills take about 6-8 weeks before you can feel the full effect, thats why you wait.

I had lost like 15 pre banding, then maybe 5 more before my fill. It was about 5 weeks after my surgery. Your body is healing, and then when you start introducing food you don't always lose weight, but it evens out after a few weeks.

Well, you gotta do most of the work! How's your hunger level?

I would say that is exactly how you should feel 1-11/2 cups of food, 5 hours between meals, and not getting sick. That is what is working for me. If you can't go five hours then it's fill time.

Yea, I think a lot of patients too think it's going to physically stop them from eating, then the doctors end up overfilling them... but it's supposed to control hunger! I mean yes, if you are losing TONS of weight w/o a fill I can understand not giving one. To the poster: You can be filled and eat a variety of food as well, my band is half full and don't have issues with any type of food. Though, a lot of people aren't so lucky. I would say make sure you are eating correctly and ENOUGH food. Some people are so diligent at first they are eating like nothing! Make sure you are eating a normal 1000-1200 calorie diet. Because the normal 1-2lb a week weight loss isn't so crazy that you shouldn't get a fill... if you are losing like 5-10lbs a week i can see why he'd say that.

Once you are on solids you will eat around a cup to a cup and a half of food per meal. I'd look at calories.. and also pay attention to when you are full. I don't think it's really about the amount you eat.. if you eat enough you are satisfied and full, if you eat too much you will get all gassy and feel icky. But as said above without a fill, you might still be hungry. For me, my appetite is so little, and my hunger level is so low, it's hard to really gorge and eat way too much, and I feel sick if I do eat too much. I don't drink with my meal, and I try to wait 30 minutes after I eat to drink. Before, maybe 15 minutes, unless I just chugged a ton of Water. I think as long as you aren't drinking WITH your meal, or immediately following you will be fine.

I've told pretty much everyone. I don't feel weird eating less.... I just don't eat all the bread, and an appetizer, and a salad, and dessert, and a soda etc etc. I don't feel like I eat little nibbles.. I eat a good cup or so of food, I don't think it looks like I eat special. Oh but I see you were just banded... if anything just order soup an say you aren't that hungry. Or just tell em! None of my friends or family seemed to care, and I feel like it's your own built in will power, cause if everyone knows you won't cheat as much cause you know they are watching!

I'm 3 months out, I have 5.5ccs in my band, I'm never really hungry... but I still like food, and I can eat anything without getting stuck, this is a typical day for me: Breakfast 2 eggs scrambled with cheese & tomatoes & salsa (sometimes w/ chicken if i need a Protein boost) 2 slices of center cut bacon (or a 100 calorie or less english muffin or toast) (or a 3/4 dry cup bowl of oatmeal with brown sugar and maybe bananas) lunch 1/2-3/4 cup Chicken salad or Tuna Salad (made w/ low fat mayo and relish, or a premade one) cucumber slices or crackers (of yesterday I ate out I had a 1/2 a sandwich and a Soup at panera bread, 460 calories) Dinner: 4 turkey meatballs with marinara sauce and part skim mozzarella. (Might do the same thing w/ chicken breast, or ground meat) Then usually I have a 1/2 cup (dry) bowl of oatmeal sometime during the day, or some other snack like frozen yogurt.

Amazing! Congratulations