Maurdan

My fill is Feb. 9th and I can't wait. Though, I went to Carrabbas last night and did excellent! Only two pieces of bread (couldn't resist, but didn't have 5+ pieces like normal), half the salad, 3/4 of one chicken breast and some zucchini. I was proud of myself. I did have alcohol, though. I had some last weekend and then this weekend. Is there a reason we can't have alcohol beyond the breaking down of Vitamins and empty calories? I don't drink often (though it doesn't seem like it from this post, I really don't, it's my birthday) but once every few months I do like to go out and have a few. Do you think I'll be ok?

Well, I made my first fill appointment today for February 9th. I can't wait! I feel like I don't have any restriction and I'm so scared I'll gain back what I've lost by slipping into old habits.

Are you going for a fill? I wish I could go back for my first fill, but I just can't afford it (plane fare, hotel, and days off work). Let me know how it goes!

Ok, I am trying so hard to chew my food between 28-40 times, but it seems impossible. Every time I start chewing that much, it seems like the food just slides down my throat before I'm done. Am I doing it wrong? I feel so silly asking, but I don't want to get food stuck.

God, I'm so glad I'm not the only one fighting the nighttime snack thing. I do so well all day then sometimes I feel like it goes to hell after dinner. I've tried buying better snack foods and I got rid of my weaknesses (string cheese, etc.). I'm on solids now so I'm hoping it will make a difference.

I had to do 10 days and it was really hard for me. The first few days were ok, then about the 3-5th day I had a very hard time, emotinally really. Then it seemed to get better for a couple of days, then by the 8th day I was very cranky. However, I am so glad I had to do it. It really helped me with surgery I feel and the liquid stage after surgery was a lot easier for me since I could have all sorts of liquids and not just clear liquids. I felt like I was getting a treat. :confused:

I think I definitely need a fill. I am able to eat too much. I'm still working on the stopping when I'm satieted and not full but it's a hard one. If I were losing and felt like I had restriction I'd wait until I stopped losing before getting a fill. As it is, I am planning on one as soon as I am able (two weeks I think).

Thank you everyone!

Ok December bandster buddies, I need help. What is a good, high Protein snack I can eat in the afternoon so I'm not starving when I get home? I can't do cheese because I've learned I can't control myself when I have it. Any other suggestions? I'm on mushies for a few more days but then I move to solids. Yay.

I am so happy I read this thread. I was feeling the same way as the originator and getting discouraged. I now know I just need to hang in there, make good decisions and schedule my first fill as soon as I can.

Wheetsin, I'm sure you've answered this a million times, but I need some inspiration. How did you break bad habits (aside from the tricks you mentioned above)? I'm so scared I'm falling back into them and I don't want to screw this up. What do you think are the best things you do that has helped you have so much success?

I think I'm going to have to do that, too. I just hate to cook, especially in the mornings. I feel like I'm slipping into old habits and not listening to my band so it scares me. I don't want to screw this up!!!

Nathalie, I'm sorry you're having a bad day. It's been an "iffy" week for me, too. I keep trying to hang on until my first fill. Old habits are hard to break!

So would I! That's amazing.

Wow, that's not the experience I had at all. I mostly dealt with Jessie and mainly through e-mail, but I had all my questions answered and never felt like I was bothering them. That's too bad.

I definitely feel like I have no restriction. However, I'm waiting the 6 weeks as my doctor recommended because I read my op report and getting a fill too soon could pull the sutures.

I'm one that isn't an original to your group. I jumped to a negative conclusion when I heard about this thread, but as I read it I realized the reasons for it. I'm not going to "infiltrate" this thread, but I would like to read it because some of you I have enjoyed reading ever since I found this forum. I learn a lot from your experiences. I may not say it to you all because I like to read more than respond, but I really do enjoy reading what many of you go through each day. I rarely post anyway, so I hope I'm not one that's going to make you hide yourselves or go elsewhere. You all truly have a lot to share with us newer people and I really appreciated it. I haven't seen many of you post in the December thread so I'd like to continue reading this one so that I know how others are doing and can compare it to how I'm doing. So, I replied just to get notification of new posts. Otherwise, I probably would have kept my mouth shut.

I am going to go with FillCentersUSA.com. They have an office in St. Pete and I heard they use fluoro. I'm going in about a month. Can't wait!

I had no idea people had left. That kind of sucks. I thought we were all supporting each other. Ah well, I kind of lay low anyway.

I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Rumbaut and his team. I don't regret for a second having my surgery with him. He is so friendly and positive, as is his whole team. He's also very experienced. I wish I could go back to Mexico for my fills because I'd love to see the team again, but it's more cost effective for me to get them done here. I do plan on eventually going back though to check in with him, maybe once a year.

Well, I made my goal of getting into the gym 4 times this week. 30 minutes of cardio each time, too. I'm going to build up to 45 minutes (adding 3 minutes a week for 5 weeks). I feel great. Probably ate too much for dinner, but I'm still working on the portion control thing. I have it down for Breakfast and lunch, but dinner always gets me.

When you do, please let us know what s/he says. I'm concerned about this too, I love to drink crystal light.

Thank you so much. That definitely helps.

For me, the surgery is way too drastic and I didn't feel comfortable with it. Also, you have to eliminate certain foods completely and I don't think I can do that. Finally, I saw people gain weight after having gastric bypass (stretching their stomachs?) and I knew that would happen to me. I prefer the lapband because I can control how much restriction I have and if I start to gain I know I can re-evaluate what I'm doing and perhaps get another fill.

Is a cup too much?