I don't know about anyone else, but I had my surgery on may 18th and I'm to the point where I can really put away some food. Not like I could before, but more then the 6-8 ounces I was told I'd be aboe to eat. I orderd a chicken salad last night and almost ate the whole thing before I knew it. My body did not have a problem with the food and I stopped myself and had them take the plate away, but is this normal before your 1st fill. HOW DO YOU KNOW when you haveeaten to much for your pouch does it hurt? do you pb or what?

I think the real issue here is that I questioned the value of putting the fork down between bites.

I am sorry if that offends you, I really am, but for the vast majority, it doesn't work.

You were, and still are to a degree, lecturing me. I can live with that. I know I am at the end of the weight loss journey, and you are at the start, and you feel the need to validate what you think / believe / have been told. I think most have been there, but I am at the other end. I have tried 99.95% of what your program has suggested. Some things work, some don't.

Do words of wisdom count for nothing?

Thanks Chickie and DBAGuy for your comments. I think you both have excellent points. I'm very excited about my new beginning. DBA I will let you know how the fill works when I get it. Chickie I have been thinking all along what you said about the not hurting after eating then it should be ok. Sometimes however my where my scars are will feel pressure, but no pain. I do have to learn to eat alot slower. I have tried the putting the fork down, but I keep forgetting. I am however pretty good at the chewing thing. It's nice to get info from someone who has lost 190 pounds so I know it is possible to loose my 115 pounds. Thank you both. I'll get back with you both soon on progress

I sincerely hope everything goes extremely well - I am new at this also, and I believe that everyone, regardless of age or experience, has things to learn. In the midst of starting this weight loss journey, I'm also starting a new job and am 1/3 of the way through my second masters program, so learning is a lifetime approach for me.

Never intending to lecture - guess I need to learn how to relay information and thoughts without lecturing.

best of luck to all -

You all have very valid points, thank you so much. I was banded only 3 weeks ago. I have become very aware of needing to put my fork down and carefully chewing and being "in the moment" when swallowing that small morsel of food. It is when I feel "satisfied" that I know I have taken in what I can - I no longer wait for the "full signal" - for me, needing to feel too bloated. I used to think that was what it was supposed to be like. My mother always told us to finish if we wanted dessert (now it sounds ridiculous to me - fill up so we can fill up more???) Ewww.

I am happy with my progress so far, and look forward to my first fill.

I know what you are talking about! I can definitely screw up by listening to my body and not listening to my body!

I can almost eat anything if I am not adjusted properly or just having too much liquid with meal or after, and sadly things like wedding cake slide right down when a nice piece of broccolli won't! So if I listen to my body I will overeat at those times or eat improperly...and the more sugars you eat the more you want and that is no wive's tale.

Secondly, I get no warning signs when I have overeaten or eaten the wrong thing. I have never had a second of nausea. I just suddenly wish I could throw up! It is a feeling like nothing I can describe and a few times I have even asperated...is that the spelling? In other words, the food affected my breathing.

On that note, I may not feel too bad while I am eating it but I get back and side pains later, sometimes for days. I have also caused enough irritation, like after a broccoli incident on Mother's Day, that I can taste blood and it feels like I have been adjusted again for a few days. Interesting not there is I gain 3-5 pds during those screw ups because everything is rushing to the irritated site to fix it and its swollen. You'd think once would be enough to stop the choices but I have lost 40 pds not my free will.

The answer...and it's hard for people like me...use visual portion control. You know what you are supposed to consume. Great I can eat almost a whole sandwich before wishing I could breathe and find myself hanging upside down for relief or before realizing I have not lost in 2 wks...but should I? NO! So, again I remind my self...It is a tool, not the cure. It all begins and ends with me, the tool user.

DBAguy How funny I started a new job as well on the 4th of the month. I call it my new body and new life change. All at once. A New life.. Good luck on your new venture and your masters.

I sincerely hope everything goes extremely well - I am new at this also, and I believe that everyone, regardless of age or experience, has things to learn. In the midst of starting this weight loss journey, I'm also starting a new job and am 1/3 of the way through my second masters program, so learning is a lifetime approach for me.

Never intending to lecture - guess I need to learn how to relay information and thoughts without lecturing.

best of luck to all -

Your right I have to keep telling myself that as well. I guess that's why we have this great place to come and encourage each other.

I know what you are talking about! I can definitely screw up by listening to my body and not listening to my body!

I can almost eat anything if I am not adjusted properly or just having too much liquid with meal or after, and sadly things like wedding cake slide right down when a nice piece of broccolli won't! So if I listen to my body I will overeat at those times or eat improperly...and the more sugars you eat the more you want and that is no wive's tale.

Secondly, I get no warning signs when I have overeaten or eaten the wrong thing. I have never had a second of nausea. I just suddenly wish I could throw up! It is a feeling like nothing I can describe and a few times I have even asperated...is that the spelling? In other words, the food affected my breathing.

On that note, I may not feel too bad while I am eating it but I get back and side pains later, sometimes for days. I have also caused enough irritation, like after a broccoli incident on Mother's Day, that I can taste blood and it feels like I have been adjusted again for a few days. Interesting not there is I gain 3-5 pds during those screw ups because everything is rushing to the irritated site to fix it and its swollen. You'd think once would be enough to stop the choices but I have lost 40 pds not my free will.

The answer...and it's hard for people like me...use visual portion control. You know what you are supposed to consume. Great I can eat almost a whole sandwich before wishing I could breathe and find myself hanging upside down for relief or before realizing I have not lost in 2 wks...but should I? NO! So, again I remind my self...It is a tool, not the cure. It all begins and ends with me, the tool user.

Sure do wish you two would just kiss and make up! You BOTH have interesting and valid points, you BOTH have knowledge and experiences to share (yes, one of you for 2.5 years, one for a month - so what?). All of us who are new to this experience have so much to learn and yes, we all need to filter the information we read and make it work for us.

From what I read, Chickie is the one who took the discussion to a level that wasn't necessary. The score is BDAGuy 1; Chickie 0.

On to more positive things, like successful, healthy weight loss!

Cheers,

Cheryl, brand-new bandit.

i think the differences in the standpoints, is that chickie has gotten her body used to working out rigorously, which helps a LOT with the grazing and appetite control and shes used to being filled to adaquate restriction.

Im a doover. and currently in bandster hell. I 'had' great restriction when i first started solids cause of the new band, and a slight fill in it at operating time, but im healed now and hungry a LOT...

heres what i know....

a) get a buttload of those special k protien bars, they actually stay in place for a while.

:scalesno: i lay my fork down too, breathe, talk, count to ten, ask myself if i can live without half of what im eating

c) CRUNCHY NATURAL Peanut Butter AND JUST FRUIT NO SUGAR JELLY..if absolutely starving and you KNOW youve eaten all the food you are supposed to, go get a small plate, and put TWO TABLESPOONS no more of each on it, a small baby spoon and sit with it nursing it. it will definitly curb your hunger but be careful because peanut butter is very high in calories, although its good for you. get the natural kind its even better.

d) DO NOT DRINK WHILE YOU EAT, even a little. DRINK BEFORE you eat, like when the food first comes out, it forces me to wait to eat, and im not so ravenous when i do.

e) GET you some small baby spoons, and small plates. it really does help.

f) if eating out, give half your food to your friend, or order off the senior menu. portions are less and your less likely to be tempted.

g) i hate this one, i used to love it, and i will again, but right now i hate it and its true and shes ABSOLUTELY RIGHT that IF YOU EXCERCISE IN THE MORNINGS..even if its only thirty minutes a day...you will increase your entire metabolism for the entire day. BRISK WALK, or TREADMILL for thirty minutes. Plan an ipod mix that lasts thirty minutes that you can play and change it once a week to keep things cool...but theres no getting around it.

10) Dont be discouraged we ALL go through this, even those long timers who might not remember this stage. Its called bandster hell for a reason, and once you get adaquately filled it will be MUCh much better. so...develop good habits, listen closely to your doctor, walk thirty minutes a day, (remember what i said about peanut butter) and know you arent alone.