Great Idea - I will do it right now !!

Hi

I am Janet and I am a recovering food addict :wink2:

I was banded 7/17/07 - My starting weight was 250 - I'm 5'4

Today (just over 10 months out) I am 154 - size 8 pants (was 18/20) Medium tops (was 22/24)

I got banded as I wanted to extend the years that I have left on this planet and to do that I knew that I needed to lose weight.

The band has been the tool I needed. For the first time in my life I have been able to achieve this goal (actually getting to my goal weight)

If you want a buddy - support - help - suggestions - Please feel free to call upon me - I will gladly share my journey with you - the journey is still on going and by helping you I will be helping me (staying motivated and accountable) and then one day you can pay it forward and help someone else.

Okay friends, I forgot some more. Janet, my Dr. did the first fill under fluro at 1.2cc and the second was blind at .5cc. I don't think he would take me in even if I did call to come in sooner. He is very strict about the band and he is also cut and dry to answers to your questions. He has been doing these for 11 years and is a very good surgeon. Hes got a very high reputation so I trust what he is saying. I just think he is conservative.

Beckyo:biggrin:

Okay friends, I forgot some more. Janet, my Dr. did the first fill under fluro at 1.2cc and the second was blind at .5cc. I don't think he would take me in even if I did call to come in sooner. He is very strict about the band and he is also cut and dry to answers to your questions. He has been doing these for 11 years and is a very good surgeon. Hes got a very high reputation so I trust what he is saying. I just think he is conservative.

Beckyo:biggrin:

I guess all doctors have there own guidelines. Dr. Davis just saw me nine days ago and wants to see me tomorrow for another fill. He said I just don't have enough restriction. I agree. I think I have 3.5cc now. I have set up appts for Oct and Nov for fills. Maybe, after tomorrow I won't need them. I have a 10cc band too.

Okay friends, I forgot some more. Janet, my Dr. did the first fill under fluro at 1.2cc and the second was blind at .5cc. I don't think he would take me in even if I did call to come in sooner. He is very strict about the band and he is also cut and dry to answers to your questions. He has been doing these for 11 years and is a very good surgeon. Hes got a very high reputation so I trust what he is saying. I just think he is conservative.

Beckyo:biggrin:

Well it's good that he doesn't want you to get too tight - cuz I will tell you tight is worse that not having any restriction - I would take being loose any day than being too tight !!

Lcubanita

I am glad you go your fill and feel some restriction

Are you eating hard Proteins - tracking your food. What is a typical days food for you??

Remember we don't hope - we do - we will !!!

That's what I have to do is track what I eatting and get back to eatting the right foods. I tend to eat mushy or soft foods because they go down easy. For example, yesterday I had oatmeal for Breakfast and for lunch I had a bowl of Soup and 1/2 a chicken salad sandwich. For afternoon snack I had 100 calorie pack of lorna done crackers and dinner was rice & chicken and for evening I had two more 100 calorie Snacks. I tend to get very hungry doing the afternoon/evening. I'm drinking through out the day about 3-4 cups of milk, 1 cup of light cranberry juice and 1 bottled Water. I have to get back to drinking alot of water like I used to.

Thanks, JM. What's the scoop on your banding? Are you getting closer? After tomorrow, I am getting serious again with my new lifestyle. I really need the support from all of you. When I am not reading the posts, I get off track. I was thinking about joining the food addiction group starting at the Methodist Hospital. I think I am really addicted to food. My dad, Lord rest his soul, was an alcoholic and maybe I have that gene. It is a day, by day, battle. Well, I will post when I get back from the fill.

Charlene, I've had my consultation with the surgeon on Sept. 3rd. Because of my advanced age (my term - teehee) - their age limit is 65. She has to present my case before their board (the other surgeons in the practice) on the 4th Fri of the month, Sept 26. That should be a formality since I don't have other serious health problems. Shortly after that I should have a date scheduled. The coordinator said they are scheduling 4-6 weeks out, so I am planning for late October/early November. I'm not excited or nervous right now - reserving that for when I actually know something. I really can't wait to join the banded people!

Hi friends tonight! Charlene soo glad to hear you made it through the hurricane ordeal. Man I sure wouldn't want to be in one of those. Long, my band is a size 10. I have read on other threads that this size only actually holds 4cc. It could have been you that I read that about. Is that true? My Dr. believes that you need to learn how to use this tool by relearning eating, excercise, etc. In which, that is fine, except I want my tool to help me so that I am not soo hungry. I really do work hard at all of this program. Ellen, arent those horseshoes good. Can't really have those anymore. I think the Dublin Pub or D'arcys Pint both are Irish and both serve them. Janet, I am getting along today. I am on Clear liquids so basically I am having Protein drinks, Water, crystal light today. I walked 2.4 very fast miles today which has a nice steeeeeeep hill. Its hard but I keep doing it and it keeps getting a little bit easier every time. Thats all for tonight. Glad to hear you are all doing well tonight. Keep up the good work

Beckyo:biggrin:

No Becky you didn't hear that from me. That doesn't make sense that a 10cc band only holds 4cc. I do know that there is or was a 4cc band out there though. that sounds so small especially when I hear mine is 14cc. But I thought whatever cc's it was, that is how much it held, but I don't know for sure. I am noticing my great restriction going away the past few days. Here I thought maybe I was at my sweet spot. I go for my gall bladder post op a week from today and plan on asking about a 'tweak'.

That's what I have to do is track what I eatting and get back to eatting the right foods. I tend to eat mushy or soft foods because they go down easy. For example, yesterday I had oatmeal for breakfast and for lunch I had a bowl of soup and 1/2 a chicken salad sandwich. For afternoon snack I had 100 calorie pack of lorna done crackers and dinner was rice & chicken and for evening I had two more 100 calorie Snacks. I tend to get very hungry doing the afternoon/evening. I'm drinking through out the day about 3-4 cups of milk, 1 cup of light cranberry juice and 1 bottled Water. I have to get back to drinking alot of water like I used to.

Lcubanita

IMHO I think that tracking is key - if you are drinking 3-4 milk 8 oz of skim is 360 calories - 3 snack packs 300 calories - Oatmeal (low sugar) 160 1 pkg - Soup 100 c Sandwich 300 c - Dinner 350 - cranberry 40 = 1610 calories - which is a guess since I don't know how much mayo was in your sandwich or what kind of bread you had - what kind of soup you had and about your chick rice did it have gravy??

Suggestion - give yourself a calorie limit - 1200 max - and budget your calories to allow for you to be able to eat when you are hunger

Breakfast 200

Lunch 200

Snack 200

Dinner 300

Snack 200

Total 1100 Calories

Lcubanita

IMHO I think that tracking is key - if you are drinking 3-4 milk 8 oz of skim Suggestion - give yourself a calorie limit - 1200 max - and budget your calories to allow for you to be able to eat when you are hunger

Breakfast 200

lunch 200

Snack 200

dinner 300

Snack 200

Total 1100 Calories

Dear Janet,

Thank you soooooooooooooo much for this chart. I've been looking for someting like this. I guess it's the ocd part of me, but your chart is a healthy way to go.

Thanks again.

Love,

Ellen

Charlene - great to hear you are ok. We've all been thinking about you.

Janet - that's a great chart. Thanks for putting it together for us. I am able to get in to see the doc this afternoon. I will be strong in asking for a fill now instead of one month from now. My doc is very conservative (much like Beckyo's.) But I'm going to insist.

Kathy

Dear Janet,

Thank you soooooooooooooo much for this chart. I've been looking for someting like this. I guess it's the ocd part of me, but your chart is a healthy way to go.

Thanks again.

Love,

Ellen

Ellen

It's the way that I did it - but this is what mine looks like to feed my night hunger

BF - 100 - 200 Max

lunch - 150 - 200 Max

dinner - 300

Snacks - 300 to 400

850 on a lite day and 1100 on a max day - this is how I lost my weight - it's what worked for me - and truly it's pretty much how I eat now except I eat about 1500 a day for maintaince

I am noticing my great restriction going away the past few days. Here I thought maybe I was at my sweet spot. I go for my gall bladder post op a week from today and plan on asking about a 'tweak'.

Lori, I just had my fill a week ago and I'm feeling very, very, very little restriction. I put in a call to the doctor, because I am sooooooo afraid of losing my momentum. He put in 3 to 4 cc's, which should have been good in my size 9 band, but I guess not.

I really want to find that sweet spot already, because I really, really need the help.

Ellen

Just back from the doc's office. First available appt is October 7th! I'm on the list. He's the only doc in VT and many people also come from upstate NY and NH.

Anyway, we had a good talk and I left with some inspiration. So, it may be a long three weeks, but I have a plan in place until then.

- Kathy

Just back from the doc's office. First available appt is October 7th! I'm on the list. He's the only doc in VT and many people also come from upstate NY and NH.

Anyway, we had a good talk and I left with some inspiration. So, it may be a long three weeks, but I have a plan in place until then.

- Kathy

Not sure if this helps or not but this is what I do when the front office gals tell me I can't get a fill in forever. The fill nurse gave me her email address and I email her directly when I need a fill and she almost always work me right in.

Hey Gang

Fills - This is the hard thing with the band - is finding the sweet spot.

You all can make it - till you do - you really can...

Remember this isn't a diet - if you need to eat just do so within your calorie budget - and if you go over your alotted budget then you just have to exercise that much more...

Your sweet spot is going to be diff for each off you - But I bet you do have more restriction that you think you do

Has any of you tried a steak? Try it I want to know how much you can eat - 4 oz is about th size of a deck of cards or the palm of your hand

I can eat 2 cups of slider foods no problems - but only 4 oz of a steak and 1/4 cup veggies -maybe 1/2 cup if I push it... and I am at my sweet spot..

Let me know how much hard protiens you can eat at one meal...

Hi, I was banded Sept 12th, 7 days ago. Today I woke up and cried for about 30 minutes for no good reason. I am having the hardest time taking my regular medications, crushing and mixing with jello or tea. It is still YUCK! I still have quite a bit of pain where the port is. I called the surgeons office and they said someone would call me back. It is 8pm and no phone call.

I just wanted to find others who are making it through the first few weeks.