Hi all;

Got banded on 3/3/2008 and lost about 20 lbs with fasting before surgery and such. Then I was just stuck scale-wise for a couple of weeks- up 2 lbs down 2 lbs - eating less but close to regular meals in volume. Oh yeah and that ice cream I had just before my first fill. Let's not forget that lapse in judgement.

Anyway I got my first fill on Wednesday 4/2/2008. I got 4cc's in my 10cc band and followed the mushies diet for 2 days as instructed.

Today I started a regular diet more or less and now I see why the band works so well!

I had my one egg omelet for Breakfast (w/ black Beans, salsa, lite sour cream and cheese= 225 cal- mucho protein) at 7:30 am and have been stuffed until 1 pm. I drank 20 oz of Water with K2O in it (30 cals) during the morning.

I just had 4 oz of chicken with BBQ sauce and I'm stuffed again -pleasantly so. I had to eat it very slow or it got stuck. K2O in 20 zo of water this afternoon and a small dinner and I'm done! plus 20 oz's of water at night.

If I eat regular food (not drink it) the band works as it is supposed to. I feel SO relieved! It works- it will help me! I didn't waste my $10,000. Yippee! :cursing:

Just thought newbies might want to know that a little restriction goes a long way. This band stuff takes a lot of patience that's for sure.

Best to all:

Sadie

Amazing isn't it Sadie!!! Exciting too!

So best not having liquid type meals eg protein shakes, soups etc, eat it works better? correct?

Thank you so much for sharing! It makes me feel like there is hope! :biggrin2:

Yes -- thank you SO much for sharing this! (I am having my surgery on Monday, btw).

Hi all, I saw this and wanted to add my 2 cents...I've been banded almost 2 years and just figured this out myself! I know, not smart :tt1: I've been leading a non-bandster lifestyle and have done nothing to use the tool I was so graciously given. (well, so graciously purchased...anyway....).

During my last visit with my MD I had an epiphany. We talked about my food choices, and he said something to me that for some reason I've never really considered. He told me that I should not be eating the things that are easy for me to eat. I should challenge myself to eat the things that are difficult to eat, and then I'd lose weight. That clicked for me because suddenly I understood why I wasn't losing weight on potato soup, chocolate, milkshakes, etc. (Okay, maybe I understood that before, but for me it was a light going off in my head). I have finally, after a year, started to lose again! All because I"m forcing myself to eat hard protein (turkey, chicken, fish, cheese) and I'm absolutely not drinking with meals but waiting a half hour after my meals. I suddenly get what this band is meant to do! I didn't make any other changes at all. So I wanted to share my epiphany, wish everyone well, and to remind everyone to eat hard proteins first and drink 1/2 hour after! Oh, and to let those of you who have been banded for a while like me know that it's never too late :frown:<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

Warm sun- you are absolutely right! Case in point- yesterday I had an egg with black Beans, cheese, and salsa- I was hungry all day even though I had lots of Protein.

Today I had a Lean Pocket for breakfast and I could not finish it- I ate the meatballs out of it and left some of the outside crust. I could feel it sitting right at my band moving very slowly into my stomach. I felt stuffed.

A little more bulk seems to work better. Regular chicken with a bit of BBQ sauce, a little (just a little!) bread with your meat seems to give the bulk you need to slow down your food through the band.

I lost 2 lbs this weekend even though I had chips and queso and some Quizno's Flatbread pizza yum! I kept my calories at about 1000-1200.

I still have to diet! No ice cream, chocolate, candy etc. Same as always. Fortunately since my surgery I have little interest in these things. I have suffered enough!

Sadie

I just read my own posts and releazed my band must have opened up a bit. I used to be stuffed with my one egg omelet but not anymore. Now I need the bulk of a Lean pocket in the morning.

Now i need a bit more bulk to make the band work. I have only had one fill for 4cc and the band was tight. It has been a week and the restriction must be less. My next fill is in 3 weeks.

So the lesson here is to be aware of your band and eat more bulk if you are starting to be hungry when you are eating the same stuff.

I guess I'll hit my sweet spot when I have restriction even if I eat the same diet.

Sadie

This is like music to my ears. I got banded on April 3rd and on a liquid diet. I cannot wait to eat sensible, nourishing meals to get my metabolism back on track. I expect to see a gain when I go to mushies and then slowly progress to solids. However, it is good to know that when I adhere to the guidelines re: portions and nourishment that the band works like it is supposed to. That is why I got the band, to help me with my portions and to keep me on track with eating the right foods and not snack all the time. I am glad it is working so well for you :Dancing_wub:

No more liquid type breakfasts thats why hungry mid morning, going to have food - well solids.