jhawkchick75

You know it's wierd, I was able to handle the 21 day liquids, but for some reason after I get a fill and i'm on liquids for 24 hours it is like torture! It is all a head thing. At night is when i'm at my worst too. A lot of it is b/c I am so busy at work and in such a routine I quite honestly forget and time flies and I have to remind myself to eat. But then I get home and am just relaxing on the couch and it gives me time to think and fester about it and it makes me want to eat. But they also say your band relaxes as the day goes on so night is going to be bad for everyone. Head hunger is the worst! I always have eaten even when i'm not hungry so I understand what you are saying. As time goes on it gets better for me, but it is still there for sure!

Not spontaneous, but sometimes i'll get stuck and it can happen right away or sometimes it can take up to 30 minutes. Sometimes I get stuck and it passes after a while, and that day in the tanning bed I thought it would pass but no such luck! I also have had to use the bag before when I was trying to eat and drive at the same time. Takes talent to PB and drive at the same time! Sad, but true ironically enough I had to go PB just now. Luckily this one was a quick and dirty and nobody was in the bathroom at work. Apparently my tummy isn't ready for swiss cheese just yet. My band is so fickle right now - some days I can eat anything and everything starting with breakfast and then there is today where I can't get a piece of cheese down. Oh well, another tip is I always have two protien shakes in the fridge at work for times like this so I have something to get down later. That and the ziplock bags are a must have!

Thanks so much you all!!! I love being able to get on here and hear about your journeys as you get started. It's hard for me to wrap my head around that it has been 7mos for me. Really doesn't feel like it was that long ago! I can't wait to watch your progress!!! Your stories take me back I love it - and can completely relate to wanting to jack someone for their food - those last few days of liquids were tough! We ALL have our good and really not good days. Just part of the process. Plateaus just overall suck, but keep following the plan and you will get through them. I know it always annoyed me when people said this, but it is true....we didn't gain the weight overnight, so we aren't going to lose it that fast either. It took me a long time to get this big ass, so it's gonna take me a while to get it off too. Every day will be an adventure good and bad. As I type this I am stuck on lunchmeat and praying I don't PB. But I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Good luck! Don't expect to much of your first couple fills, but if you do get restriction then great! But just use this time to practice your new good habits and continue to get lots of protein and other things to keep you hungry. Good luck!

No worries...just the first of many new things you will learn! Oh just wait until your first PB...oh joy! I PB'ed in a ziplock bag while in a tanning bed once = ahhh the life of a bandster! One of the best tips someone told me was to always have a ziplock bag in your purse just in case and it has come in handy more than once!

I was just like you. I had a little bit of nerves, but most of it was just an eagerness and a "OK, let's do THIS!" attitude. I read for hours in this forum and by the time it was time to go, I felt very comfortable with my decision and was ready to rock. I was banded a day early and was so excited. When I got to OCC I felt like I had been there before b/c of looking at their website so much. It was great! Good luck! You will do great!

Feel free to vent anytime!!! i know it is frustrating, but everyone loses as a different pace so do not stress trying to compare yourself to others. 1-2 lbs a week is great and you will always have plateaus. Just think of where you would be now if you weren't banded. I know where I would be and it is sure not here! Stick to the plan and it WILL work!

Thanks so much!!!

So for you all that are traveling so far for PS, what do you do about any follow up visits or aftercare? Do you have to fly back?

Yea congrats and welcome to the other side! I am so glad you had such a good experience! Keep us up to date on your progress! I wish I could have had that fun bonding with the other ladies that were there that day. I was banded a day early so I didn't meet them until afterwards and we weren't around each other much. Congrats!

I agree even if they let you come in i'm not sure I would. It could kick in later. I make myself wait one month then if it's not there I go. I'm gonna make an appt here in the next couple weeks, but i'm about to start my period so I don't want to go when i'm tight. Plus, I haven't been following the rules like I should and so i'm making myself get back on track first. I'd wait a bit, but ask your doctor about it.

It probably means that you are unfortunately in a plateau. Many times when we loose weight quickly our body needs some time to catch up. Once you get that next fill it might kick start you a bit, but unfortunately you might just need to wait this one out. Just keep doing what you are doing and it will kick back in!

Great pics thanks for sharing! They brought back a lot of memories...I had totally forgotten that they put our names and where we were from on the outside of our room. Remember wandering those halls very well! And the poor donkey/zebra things whatever they were!

I agree...I would try the 5 day pouch test to get yourself back in good habits. Also, if you re pb'ing then you might not be chewing enough or might be eating too fast. if you are chewing and eating slowly and still pbing then yes I agree you might be too tight, but your issue might be you are not following the good bandster guidelines. Try that first and see what happens. i want another fill, but am not allowing myself one just yet b/c i have not been following the rules. So once i do 2 weeks of everything by the book and i still feel like i need one then i will, but until then i'm not. Good luck!!

Sorry this is late I just got back into town, but congrats!!! I knew it would all go well. Congrats and keep us up to date on your progress!

Ohhh congrats I am so excited for you!!! You describing your tests totally takes me back. Please let us know once you are done and walking around. Stop at the computers and let us know how you are. I always love the "drugged up" posts from everyone right after surgery! You will do great! Good luck!

Welcome!!! Glad to have you here!!! You will not regret it for a minute - keep us up to date on your progress and be sure and read through all the old posts - there is a lot of great information there. Congrats on your decision!

You know...I never even thought of the salt issue! I did have a margarita before I started to eat the other day and I bet that was it! I am going to start tracking what I eat - especially if i have a drink first. I never thought about that - that is so interesting! I think I am going to go for one more small fill, but before I go i'm getting back on track. I've had some bad habits lately and getting a fill won't fix that. So i'm not letting myself get one until I get back to basics. I've been eating a lot of slider foods and haven't laid off the dairy like I promised myself. Thanks you all for the feedback! Oh and PS - I hit 50lbs lost this week! Wooo Hoooo!!!!!!!!

I really try hard to only eat three meals a day. When I do snack, I try to keep it small a piece of cheese or 100 calorie pack. I have been slacking bad though - grazing and not eating good foods, so I am kicking myself in the rear and getting back on track. I am not letting myself get another fill until I do.

Welcome! You will find a lot of support here! Can't wait to see your progress!

Thanks so much! And ditto to what Mona said....those people are being big fat FIBBERS!!!!!!! If it were that easy then I wouldn't need the band. I would bet all the money I have that many of them didn't follow the program every meal every time. Don't worry - just take it day to day and do your best. You will do great!

OK I need your help! I am on the struggle bus and can't decide if I should schedule another fill or not. My band has some serious multiple personality disorder or something. Example - yesterday I went for a massage (sooo good BTW!) and afterwards I decided to go for some Mexican. I've never even remotely gotten stuck on it so it's always a fave of mine. Got a few chips and cheese down and sure enough got stuck and PB'ed twice! I looked like such an idiot - I was by myself and had to just leave everything and head to the bathroom. I was afraid they would think i was doing a dine and dash! Sat there for a bit and tried to eat a bite of beans and it was a no go! The manager came and asked me if there was something wrong with my food. It was terrible! So I just came home and had a protein shake. At dinner, I was craving pizza and had a small thin crust one in the fridge and i'll be damned if I didn't eat the whole thing! Argh! This is just one of many examples of how up and down my band is. So what do you all think - should I get another small fill? I don't want to be too tight, but I never get that "you are full" tightness or lump in my throat like everyone talks about and at night mostly can eat too much. My last fill was mid-March and i've only lost 10 since then. I'm getting closer to the end so I know my weight will slow, but I feel like I can eat wayyyyy more than you all describe. Thanks!

A Baptist, Catholic and Jewish person walk into a bar...I mean surgery room! Your arms looked a lot like mine before, so it's nice to have a visual of what my changes would look like. I will have to remember your surgeons name - he did great! Any ideas what it would have cost for just the arm lift? Did they do lipo on the arms too? Looks great!

Woo Hoo that is great! I keep checking my BMI - I can't wait to hit the next level which for me will be normal! It will be a while as I just got into the overweight category, but that will definitely be a next goal for me. Congrats!!

Ditto! I live a crazy hectic life and really like the pre-made ones. Powders you blend yourself are probably better, but that is just not realistic for me I need the premade ones. I've tried several and this one is by far my favorite.