AngieB

Amy - you know I would pull out all the secrets for you girly! Even the secret sauce....You crack me up! It is so good though sometimes I think I am having sweet baby rays with a side of chicken.... LOL Yeah, I am a nut but hey....makes life a bit more interesting. Ahh I love it. I love love your new avatar piccy....so creative....

Jill sorry to make your mouth water....I know how you feel cuz I was once there. Maybe this will give you a chuckle....I use to chew my shakes....yes....just so I felt like I was chewing something.....yeah...big dork...LOL

THIS IS THE BEST NEWS I HAVE HEARD ALL DAY!!!! Way to go Debbie! I love the update picture too. You look fabulous! I am so very happy for you. Good job! Happy Dance.... Angie

Kristi - you are welcome. I think it is one of the best fill videos I have ever seen. For people who don't have the option to have a fill under floro it gives them a view of what it the are not able to have. I am always interested in seeing things! My floro is not that clear, but it is super cool all the same. Uniquelady - your welcome. I personally have had all my fills done under floro. I don't think they would do it any other way at the program I am in. That being said, people get fills all the time by qualified professionals who do a great job. I know people have there own thoughts on floro or not floro. I say it's what works for you. Or in some cases what is available for you.

Wow, I am sorry your aftercare provider sucks, BUT....you are in the drivers seat of your health care. If it were me, I would go back in and be assertive, not agressive but I would talk to them about what is happening. I would stop them DEAD in there tracks if the started to treat me or talk to me like I was sub-human. You do not pay them or deserve it. HOWEVER they may be trying to teach and steer you in the right direction. There methods stink if what you are saying is how they deal with there patients. That being said, it is all about comminication. You have to do your part too. Fills are not easy. If you are to tight and getting sick all the time do something to help yourself. Go in and ask for a tiny unfill. Even as much as .1cc being drawn out could very well get you relief and put you on the road to success. Bottom line is this, you paid a good amount of pocket money to get this band and you have to work with it. I am not trying to sound harsh here...really I feel terrible about how you have been treated and where you are at mentally. If changing Dr.'s is not the option you have them work with what you got. Being new and being over filled would freak anyone out and give them all sorts of issues. You got some good replies in this thread, now go take care of yourself. You can do this and we are all here...virtually to support you. Let us know what is happening with you. Remember communication is key here! I wish you well.

I am not sure if this has anything to do with the "price of rice" but.....we wash our rice until the water nearly runs clear. (I had not washed rice before I met my husband) I have not had an issue with rice. I will say I keep my portion down to a small spoon full.

I am not sure if this has anything to do with the "price of rice" but.....we wash our rice until the water nearly runs clear. (I had not washed rice before I met my husband) I have not had an issue with rice. I will say I keep my portion down to a small spoon full.

Flawless!

Okay Cheryl - now that you have resized you piccy in photobucket. Go ahead and save it to your computer....say to your desk top. Upload it in your browser window. Let me know, if it works out. I wil be happy to help you more.

Okay, so now you are working on setting your profile picture...right.... Let me go through the steps myself. I will be right back, hold tight!

Okay guys check out this fill video...it is awesome and really shows what it looks like under floro. Check it out and come back to tell what you think! LOL I know I am a huge dork but this is a great video and so spot on!

Bingo! You are spot on! That is what I am talking about. I am at the 3/4 cup portion and it is very hard for me. If I don't get back on track, I am afraid I will have to go in for a slight unfill. Who wants to pay for that!!!??? Not me, but if my mind is not ready then I don't have much choice but to back off. Which totally sucks!

Upload your piccy in photobucket and use the code to past it here.

Hi April! Welcome to the group. Personally I would have been A-OK to return to work. I had surgery on Friday and was back to work Tues. (I stay home Monday to care for my hubby who had knee surgery.) I had no gas pains at all and if you didn't know I had surgery...you would have not been able to tell. Everyone is different, I was very blessed!!!

Hey! I do take a protein shot from time to time. Nothing like daily or even weekly. I have gotten in the habit of drinking a shake in the morning, which I totally LOVE! I buy the EAS vanilla powder in the 6 lb bag at costco for like 20 sum bucks. Then I make my own....much cheaper. I do the vanilla because you can make a TON of creations with that as your base. 26 g of protein...pow! Right in the morning! My fav right now is 2 scoops of powder, 3 strawberries, a few blueberries, a few raspberries, and 1/2 a banana (I buy the frozen, always fresh and great to make a cold shake, oh and I freeze my bananas too. I wrap a 1/2 of a banana in foil. That way they are always fresh and not to soft....grr me does not likey nanas that are to soft! LOL) Sometimes I throw in some benefiber too....depends on...well you know....hee hee. The berries with seeds sorta stink, but for the most part the seeds sink to the bottom of the cup and I don't go to the ends of the earth to drink em down ya know. I also use the magic bullet to blend it up. Sometimes I add some ice cubes just a couple. THEN....I put it in the fridge and grab it when I hit the door running in the morning. Quick and easy baby! The reason I let it set is so the air works its self out. Oh and I don't use milk nope...water....the fruit adds cals and give me some much needed fruit...I don't feel like I get enough of it. Other solid sorces of protein I do a lot of are..... Morning Star Farms Chipolte Black Bean Burger....yummo and they have a little kick to them. Awesome! Nutrition info Grilled chicken strips - pre packed in a bag....I think they are like a pound per bag. Skinless, boneless already cooked....like the chicken you get on a salad. Know what I mean. Yummo super easy and freezable for freshness. I like them with *hmm pauses and thinks....should I tell her...* Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce. That sauce is the bomb! Just as Carrie! LOL Be careful though....it's so good you can drink it.....seriously...LOL Eggs----blah...boring but still a staple and I put fresh salsa on mine. Emm good! TURKEY BURGER!!! I LOVE THIS STUFF!! I eat a ton of turkey baby! I buy it ground and in the frozen patties. Okay so check this out. Frozen patty has like 35 g of protein and 200 cals! Sweet! I eat them with salsa or some dipping sauce, normally salsa. I don't eat much hamburger any more.....use to eat a ton of beef but have gotten away with it. Personal preferance. So I don't know what those stats are on it. Meatballs turkey or beef. Yummo and super duper easy to eat...I have no idea how good they are for you but protein none the less.... Sloppy Joes! Yum and super easy to eat.... Those are some ideas of what I eat..... Oh and I eat greek yogurt for breakfast ALOT!! The kind I have been buying lately is 100 cals and 10 g of protein. If you buy the plain flavor it is good to use as sour cream, or a dip base too. I prefer mine yogurt with fruit. It tastes better and gives me some FRUIT! We focus so much on protein and when you get a good level of restriction you will find that fruits and veggies are eaten less and less. At least this is my experience. My portions now for veggies per meal if at all are like 1 TBSP.....I shit you not. Now that I do a shake in the mornings, I can eat more veggies and fruit, but if I am getting the 60/70 g of protein I need a day it makes it difficult to do veg and fruit unless you throw in a shake or bullet. (I think the bullets taste like a$$. Way to sweet and I am not a tropica punch person. They are doable because it is a shot....not a glass full.) Hope this helps! (HUGS)

Hey Nicole it is so good to hear from you! I am glad you are going well and working "things" out. I am sure it is a learning curve all over again. Are you working out still? I bet you are so glad to be healthy and able to eat again. Thanks for the update!

Hey everyone! I am copying and pasting a reply I made to a members email. It had some info in it I thought would be nice to share with ya'al. Now, I have to say this is all a ramble and you know how I love to ramble. I am short on time so I had to cut it short....hee hee seriously....I did cut it short, so for anyone who has something to add, jump on in. We are all here to learn from each other and share our thoughts. I know exactly how you are feeling! Worth mentioning, a fill can take a few weeks to settle in.....why...I have no idea. My first, second, and third fill vanished with in 1-2 weeks of getting them. What I am saying is my body adjusted to the fill. Plus fat loss around the band can take a toll on a fill too. It also may very well be that I have a super sensitivity. If you look at my siggy...all my fills have been smaller. The largest being .7 cc's. Don't skip over the decimal point. *I have a 4cc band* At anyrate, you are building a good base. It does suck some money, but trust me when I say restriction is worth every penny!!!! Letting the process play out is tough.....We are a drive thru society and we want it now dang it! Now...Now...Now... Over all I would rather go to a set down establishment and enjoy good quality any day of the week over a dollar burger... so why would that change in my lab band fills and quality..... We don't always get what we want and for good reason. There are some people who had/have restriction ASAP right after surgery. Take DoLittle for instance. He has shared that is was a struggle for him in the beginning. Which he made it through! You always value more what you don't have. In his case, I believe in my heart he will tell you, creeping up on the level of restriction is a GOOD THING. (I say that because he has wrote it on this board before... hee hee.) If you are still working your body remember you are toning building and burning. If you are not seeing the scale move, take a good long look at your naked body in the mirror, girl you are bound to see some changes. I am telling you what my body is a shape shifting machine!!!! Which to me is just if not more exciting than what that darn scale can tell me. So remember that. Not sure if you took measurements or not, but if you did, stay on top of the updates. That will show you the results too. Google what a lbs of fat looks like. Then a lb of muscle....you will be amazed at how big a lb a fat is!!! Shelby posted a picture on here once of a huge hunk of fat....It was massive and a real eye opener. I am sure you are happy as all get out you are coming closer and closer to RESTRICTION!!! Ya baby! It took me 4 fills to feel it and not have it vanish, and 5 to sinch that zip tie up a bit. Now, when I am having my period, my band gets snug to the point I have to take smaller drinks of water, not a few swallows at a time....if you don't know what I am talking about you will. Also I know it is super hard to be patient with a fill and all that, but and I repeat but...take it from the 5 fills girl. Creeping up on the level of restriction is a GOOD THING! Why....okay let me tell ya. 1. With each fill you get better at chewing and learning your soft stop signals. Listen to your body. Don't take that "one more bite" if you do, you will regret it. It will not be a satisfing feeling. It will make you regret it. Did I mention you will regret it....hee hee hee! If you don't productive burb, which we all need to try like the dickens not to, you will feel pressure, maybe discomfort, you may slime, or start to sweat....ect. This is the time to really dial into your body. Listen and adjust... (suggestion....buy a bottle of chewable Papaya Enzymes learned this from Pam) I bought a bottle last week after forgetting for ever about it. If you feel stuck or a problem chew a few of those...they aid in digestion and will help eat/break up the food. It will not hurt your band or esophagus.) 2. You/me/we are building good healthy habits. Some of us for the first time EVER!! Getting use to foods you may not have been wanting before. I was NOT a living la vita low carb gal before. Now, some of my meals have nothing but protein. (Really....no bread, rice, mash taters, scallop pots, ect) My foods have changed so much and it has been interesting finding new foods that I would have not choose before....like greek yogurt, black bean burgers, ect... 3. You band is scarring into place. That is what holds your band if and when your sutures go away. IMHO if you filler up right away and have issues adjusting....stuck issues or PB's this will take it's toll on the band being solid on your stomach. When Dr. Ortiz talks about not following the rules in the beginning with show up later.....tada! That is what he is talking about. A good solid base will go a long way. 4. For me, each fill has taken me time to MENTALLY get my head wrapped around. What I am sharing with you is this. Up until my last fill, I had adjusted wonderfully. I mentally accepted the smaller portions and felt happy with less food intake. With this last fill, I am finding myself not metally satisfied with my new portions size. Hmm.. this creates openings for all sorts of BAD HABITS to creep in. I am talking about eating around the band.... to me is snacking is eating around the band. Rember these are my opinions....not everyone will agree... Well, I better stop here, but you know me...I could go on for a long time...

You are rocking!! Glad to see you post more!

Hey Beth - I don't mean to thread jack but.....how's it going....I've been MIA for a while. How's the band, stoma.....have you got a fill yet?

Donna - ekk sorry to hear about your PB. Never fun and blahh! I was munching on some cheese dip and chips. Don't thing I was chewing the chip well, and nearly PB over it....yikes!