Hey all. Banded on April 28th, had one fill last month and going for fill #2 on Wednesday. I've gotten food stuck a few times and PB'd a time or two or ten. I realize I am still eating too fast and/or not chewing well enough.

I'm starting to get really down and depressed. I have MS and it makes for exercising, even walking very difficult (causes lots of pain that I'd really rather not experience again). :crying:

Does anyone have any suggestions besides going back on the 4 week liquid diet for kick starting my rear in gear and lose this poundage?

It is very hard to exercise when you have pain. I have a really bad ankle, probably from years of carrying around too much weight, and those fitness gurus at the gym are all young and super fit and don't seem to understand that pain stops you cold in your tracks. I am off the treadmill, probably the easiest of all aerobic exercises, because of the pain in my ankle afterwards. There are other machines I can work on that don't leave me in pain. The recumbent exercycle is a good one and there is a hand cranker that is aerobic and gets your heart rate up there too. I have been banded 11 months now and find it is a bad habit to eat too much at dinner - I used to be soooooo conscientious but have been slipping the last couple of months. Now joining this website has helped me get excited again about losing and watching what I'm eating. I hope they can be as inspirational for you. I'd say just hang in there and your weight loss may be slower but it will come off and you can be proud of it. After you lose that first chunk of weight, the rest doesn't feel so urgent anyway.

Good luck with the 'kick in the butt'!! Try changing to some new foods that won't hurt you along with your regular menu. I have a bowl of applesauce, frozen blueberries OR frozen cherries with lunch and dinner. Makes the meal feel special and adds a sweet touch for very few calories. ALSO FILLS YOU UP. Put that with a nice ham sandwich and you'll be full all the way until the next meal.

Shir2Bthin

banded 7/18/07

lost 88 lbs

90 to go

My SIL suffers with MS. I hate watching he in pain. Swimming has been great for her. Even when we walk together the next day is painful for her...plus...she risks triping when we walk on the trails. She was able to ease into swimming and then low impact water aerobics. Have you tried swimming?

How is it going for you now re the weight loss? I've only lost 12 kg since April, and think this is not much. Had 3 fills but have to wait 4 weeks btw fills and feel need more fill in the band.

Wow, Kobae, I can't believe you already have three fills in two months! And so early too. I have had three fills in 11 months. I get very nervous when I am going to have a fill - afraid it will tighten me up so much that I won't be able to eat normally, but that hasn't happened so far. My weight loss has slowed down considerably but I'm down 88 lbs and that alone makes me feel like Miss America, so not so urgent on the other 90 lbs I still have to lose. My last fill was May 25. I didn't notice much difference, actually, and am thinking about having another in July. Good luck with your weight loss project!

Shir2Bthin

banded 7/18/07

Dr. O'Brien

Sioux Falls, SD

Good luck with the 'kick in the butt'!! Try changing to some new foods that won't hurt you along with your regular menu. I have a bowl of applesauce, frozen blueberries OR frozen cherries with lunch and dinner. Makes the meal feel special and adds a sweet touch for very few calories. ALSO FILLS YOU UP. Put that with a nice ham sandwich and you'll be full all the way until the next meal.

Thanks Shir. I will try frozen blueberries or cherries - love them both and never once thought of freezing them. I'm not much of a bread eater, never have been, never will, but thank you for the ham idea. I was thinking sandwiches were out of the question - realized I can roll up a slice of ham with a slice of cheese. :thumbup:

I knew posting this would give me ideas!

My SIL suffers with MS. I hate watching he in pain. Swimming has been great for her. Even when we walk together the next day is painful for her...plus...she risks triping when we walk on the trails. She was able to ease into swimming and then low impact Water aerobics. Have you tried swimming?

Yeah the parathesia is awful after exertion, especially if it's hot out. If I walk around the block I'm not doing well the next day. So it sure makes evenings at the baseball field with my two year old watching my 14 yr old interesting. :thumbup:

Have I thought about swimming? Yes. Have I actually gone and done it? No. Why? (warning whiny excuse coming) Because I don't have a suit that fits me and really don't want to shop for one. I should ask to borrow one or just suck it up and face myself. Yes, I certainly need to quit making all kinds of excuses and actually putting it all out there for the world to read and being called on it HELPS a LOT. Thank you. :cool2:

How is it going for you now re the weight loss? I've only lost 12 kg since April, and think this is not much. Had 3 fills but have to wait 4 weeks btw fills and feel need more fill in the band.

I have hardly lost anything at all (better than gaining!) since my surgery date, so for the fact I haven't gained, I will be happy for. I wish I could say I've lost more than 4 or 5 lbs since surgery, but I can't - yet.

I really hope tomorrow will put me more on the fast track to weight loss. Putting this all down like this helps, that I'm certain about.

RE: having to wait the 4 weeks; do you HAVE to wait 4 weeks? What happens if you gain, your Dr won't get you in sooner or anything?

jrob, thanks for the reply. You don't freeze the blueberries and cherries yourself - you will find them ready to eat in the frozen food section over with the frozen fruit. Absolutely fabulous, healthy, and a great low calorie addition to any meal. I have about 2/3 cup of blueberries every morning with my bagel and at lunch I have the frozen cherries or 2/3 cup of applesauce. It has perked up my meals considerably. Almost like having a drink with your meal because they are moist and kind of wash the dry stuff down. Good luck with your weight loss.

Shir2Bthin

jrob, thanks for the reply. You don't freeze the blueberries and cherries yourself - you will find them ready to eat in the frozen food section over with the frozen fruit. Shir2Bthin

LOL well that makes sense! Don't know why that never dawned on me.