Hi everyone--I thought I'd listen to some advice from one of the other monthly groups and start one master thread in which we have an ongoing discussion/updates. I don't know about you all but I certainly spend most of my time on these boards on the pre-op forum and the general forum, not here. It would be nice to have just one thread to go to once in this forum.

We can maybe start out with introductions?

As for me, I'm going the "online privacy" route for now (paranoid that people I haven't told about this will somehow stumble across me on this site I guess, which is crazy, I know) but I can give you the big picture:

You can call me Penny, I'm 27, single and live in the Washington, DC area. I have a background in politics (which is why I live in DC) but now I'm a librarian which is much cooler and way more fun (trust me on that). Oh, and there's no "Marion the Librarian" thing with me either. One of the things I hear most frequently (besides the cliche "you have such a pretty face") is "but you don't LOOK like a librarian", which is another one of those bizarre backhanded compliments that you never really know how to take.

Personality wise, I'm kind of dorky, big into public radio and books and popular science. Oh, I'm also a little on the paranoid side (as you may be able to tell from earlier in this post). Beyond that I'm just kind of silly and friendly, VERY much so into traveling and I'm an aspiring "green" domestic diva (but that's not going so well).

Joiful -

Why be so hard on yourself and your doctor? The band is a tool that if we use it properly (meaning eating the right foods and exercising) we will lose weight. You need to remember 1-2lbs a week is normal.

I know this is a struggle for me. I too eat the wrong foods, but I can't blame the band or my doc for these struggles. It's up to me to make the changes.

Hang in there.

I have 4.5 ccs in an 8 cc band. I don't think I'm ready for another fill but I need something to get myself back on track. After TOM leaves, I'm going to try the 5 Day Pouch Test.

Just giving you an up date: I'm day 4 on 5 day pouch test and guess what, I weighed this morning even if I wasn't going to until the end of day 5 but couldn't resist and down 3lbs YEAH! I'm now 0.4 lbs from onderland, not even a whole 1/2 lb. I'm so excited I can just taste onderland It's my first goal for myself. :thumbup:

Joyful, I hope this finds you in better spirts. And hope I'm not insulting you when I say: That I keep hearing you say the band is not working for you and let me just say that the band does not do the work it just makes it bearable for YOU to do the work and trust me it's hard work I've learned that along the way. If you just would take a minute to read your prior post on this thread about what you've been eating then I think you'll find it's alot of carbs. The people that are losing are not eating like that, check their post and I think that's what you'll see. just do the math and then deside how much effort your willing to put into this. I really beleave we only get back what we put in. Good luck to you and if you need it we're all here for you.

Joiful, Kimaly is right. I started eating empty carbs the last couple of weeks and guess what?.....I haven't lost a lb since my last fill. You have to change your eating habits. The band won't work well eating carbs....it works best eating hard protein. Give it a try.....stay off of empty carbs for a week and see if you don't start losing. Also, try to walk 30 minutes a day. We all want you to succeed! Don't give up! You can do it!

Hey guys.. have any of you gotten heart burn after a fill?? its been about 4 days and I still have a vauge heartburn.. its not terrible just really annoying. anyone else??

It could be a signal that you are too tight. Talk to your doctor. Keep us posted!

Shrinkme - When I had "heartburn" the doc said I was tight. After a few days it did go away. I stayed on liquids for the first few days after my fill.

Kimaly - I'm thinking about the 5 day pouch test too. Glad to see you saw some results. Do you also think you're "re-sizing" your restriction? I hear that's supposed to happen as well.

Oh yes, I can tell. I'm allowed by my fill center 3/4 of a cup and I would average about that and alot of times a whole cup and I have it at 1/2 of cup now with no problem. Hope to keep it there for awhile.

boos,

when he said you were too tight did he just leave you there? cause I hate to lose this restriction, but I dont want to have this heartburn. I put a call into my doc. we'll see.

It could be a signal that you are too tight. Talk to your doctor. Keep us posted!

thanks orea,

I will keep you posted. I really hope I am not :thumbup:

btw. you have lost a lot of weight! way to go! I cant believe you are so hard on yourself.. thats amazing!

I lost all that weight BEFORE the band. That is why I am so frustrated. To have my successful efforts be brought to a screeching halt by the Optifast and subsequent raging nonstop hunger really hurts. It's like bandster hell squared.

But things are getting a little better. The hunger is less intense and even goes away for a while the past day or so. Perhaps the worst is over.

Can you say "extremely sensitive to sugar?"

Next fill Thursday.

Orea, I'm glad it's getting better for you. Being hungry all the time is terrible. I bet your weight loss will start picking up now.

Just giving you an up date: I'm day 4 on 5 day pouch test and guess what, I weighed this morning even if I wasn't going to until the end of day 5 but couldn't resist and down 3lbs YEAH! I'm now 0.4 lbs from onderland, not even a whole 1/2 lb. I'm so excited I can just taste onderland It's my first goal for myself. :biggrin:

Great news! I plan on starting the 5 Day Pouch test next Monday and getting back to exercising today! I had to lay off the exercise to rest my knee for a couple of weeks but those couple of weeks turned into a couple of months. I really need to get back into the swing of things. Before I go back to the doctor for a 5th fill, I'm going to do the 5 Day Pouch test to see if that helps. I really don't want to be overfilled to the point I start turning to slider foods. I think that's a slippery road.

Joiful, please don't go away again. I know you might be a bit upset right now but everyone here means well and we all want to see you succeed. Stay on this journey with us, even if you feel like going it alone. It really does help to have support both positive reinforcement as well as constructive criticism.

boos,

when he said you were too tight did he just leave you there? cause I hate to lose this restriction, but I dont want to have this heartburn. I put a call into my doc. we'll see.

No, he took a little out, but not much. I still had the heartburn, but it went away.