victoria73

Hi to everyone i have had my 3rd fill one week ago. Im tight but i find eating fustrating because i have to eat very slowly and at times a meal could take 1 hr, as i have to take a few bites and stop till it goes down properly if i hurry i vomit.

The worst part about this yeh i eat less but i seem to be hungry more often every 3hrs where as before every 5 hrs but then i ate more.

I eat well and eat more soups , mashed potatos soft food that go down smoothly then im ok. As for pizza and junk food like hamburgers nooooooooo way it wont go down anymore i vomit.

so therefore my diet is good now, i train at the gym and i walk alot yet the weight is still so slow to come off thats what my story is about , why is it taking so long.

I was banded 20th jan just had my 3rd fill 10.3ml in therewhich is the same as cc , i weighed 134kg at my op now im 126kg total weight loss of 8kg in 3months , im not happy i should have lost heaps, unless im diffrent.

Anyone else out there who experience the same???????????? Would love to hear your comments

hI THANK YOU FOR WRITING, WELL YES I HAD MY FILL ITS 5 DAYS NOW I HAD 10.3ML IN TOTAL NOW IN MY BAND WHICH IS THE SAME AS UR CC.

I HAVE FIGURED OUT THAT YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO UR BAND AS IT TELLS U WHAT IT LIKE AND DOSENT LIKE, SO I EAT MAINLY SOUPS AND SALAD AND SOME CHICKEN BUT SLOWLY.

i STILL FIND IT TIME CONSUMING, AND I GET HUNGRY MORE OFTEN NOW AS I EAT SO LITTLE WHICH ANOYES ME, BUT ANYWAYS I WILL GET USED TO IT.

MY WEIGHT WAS 134 AT MY OP AND I AM 126KG NOW TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS IS 8KGS IN 3 MONTHS WHICH IS OK I GUESS, BUT I WAS EXPECTING MORE. wELL SEE IM DUE FOR MY NEXTED FILL IN 4 WEEKS TIME.

hOW MUCH YOU LOST? AND ARE YOU HAPPY ?

HOPE TO HEAR FROM U SOON.

hI THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY, WELL I HAD 10.3 ML WHICH IS THE SAME AS UR CC THAT WAS MY 3RD FILL I WAS VOMITING FOR THE FIRST FEW DAYS, NOW I HAVE LEARNED TO LISEN TO MY BAND IF IT DOENT LIKE SOMETHING U WILL FEEL SICK

i HAVE SOUPS NOW ALOT AND CHICKEN AND SALAD IM OK WITH THAT SO FAR FOR THIS FILL BUT STILL EATING REALLY SO AND A FEW BITS AT A TIME BUT IM GETTING HUNGRY MORE OFTEN NOW WITH LITTLE BITES, I THINK I WILL NEED TO GET USED TO IT.

SO WHENS YOUR BIG DAY? DONT BE NERVOUS U WONT EVEN BE HUNGRY AFTER YOU OF ITS GREAT.

HOPE TO HEAR FROM U SOON

hi to you all its been 3 months now and i had my 3rd fill the other day. GEEEEEEEEEEE what a diffrence i am abit confused as i can only eat 2 bites and then i have to wait 15 mins for it to go down and then continue, it is so time consuming. Also buy the fith bite i cant eat anymore as i have a traffic jam in my throat waiting for it to go down and settle but i dont have the feeling of fullness, even though i cant eat anymore as i will vomit to get some relief.

Since im having only small amounts of food i get hungry quicker about 3 hrs, but my second fill i could eat a whole sandwich no problem and i lasted about 4 to 5 hrs.

well im confused i shouldn't be hungry frequantly, i cant eat a small meal and if i try i will vomit, so i find i can only have little bites to eat very slowly upto an hour thats the only way i can eat slowly.

But soups are no problem.

Man what have i done but gee in these 3 days i have lost weight yehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

anyone have answers

Hi to you all having mixed emotions

I was banded on the 20th jan just had my 3 fill the other day not sure how i feel about all this banding operation . I went into this thinking i was going to lose a dramatic amount of weight in the first 3 months but i havent.

I know i dont eat bad but i didnt exercise until now and i have seen result since i have been moving more. Since my 3rd fill i have 2 spoons full of food and i have to wait till it gos down properly before i continue and i find this is so time consuming. If i eat faster i feel it from my throat to my tummy going so dammmm slow, if i eat fast and dont wait i have to vomit as it stays there.

I wounder if anyone else has this? i tend to have more soups now and mushy foods, and i kind of feel i am eating less since this fill but i get hungrier sooner about 3 hrs to 4, maybe i need to get used to it eating less and my body to ajust.

Also i find i cant eat much at all in the mornings and i find this a problem because i get to work and 1 hr later im hungry, i have a coffee at about 7am and about 8 a small bowl of cereal. then around 10 i feel i need a good meal lol lol lol i guess we are all diffrent.

[q

What half a small can of tuna omg really? how many fills have u had so far. im still struggling to lose weight i just had my 3rd fill yesterday and not sure what i feel at the moment i cant eat much but i have 2 spoons full and i have to weight few mins before i eat again and this is so time comsuming i find?

its been just over 3 months for me i had my operation on the 20th jan and i have very mixed emotions that do my head in, i have lost 6 kilos so far which i thought i was going to lose a dramatic amount of weight buy boy was i wrong.

i have just started exercise and i see the diffrence allready my doctor tells me to be patient and not to rush.

hope to hear from u

victoria

Hi keep hanging in there have soups and protien shakes with a banana in it and try to keep busy so u forget the thought of food.

Thank good you posted that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can now have some hope.... I had my band put in on the 20th jan now 3 months and i have only lost 5 kg which is nothing and i just had my 3rd fill this morning so i hope i will see some results.

I really regret telling all my friends and now everyone knows ive had surgery and pepole keep asking me if i have lost any weight , gee look at me have i???????????? if feel like a failure, at least its coming of slowly.

My doctor said it can take a few fills before we find the right restriction for me everyone is different. I have started to exercise now and really watch my diet.

I would love to hear from u and see how your progress is going. Gee we feel the same i thought why the hell did i spend all this money for and nothing is happening im not good with pound i think 5 kg is about 3 pounds dammmmmmmmmmmmm.

anyway good luck

from victoria

HOW MANY FILLS HAVE YOU HAD? DO YOU HAVE ANY RESTRICTION?

I i thank you so much for ur reply i have had 3 fills so far and i am due for another anyday.

Dear mamamichelle,

Well that was the best thing i have ever read i thank you so much, i can now understand why i have lost much i think i need ajustments in all areas.

but im sure there are other that dont follow it correctly and have lost weight more than i.

i have had 3 fills so far.

thanks againx

Sounds like you need a fill!! Here's a great article about how to tell if you are perfectly filled:

Adjustments

How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted

You are losing 1-2 pounds per week.

If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week:

A. You may need an eating adjustment

1. Are you eating 60 grams of protein a day

2. Are you eating 25 grams of fiber

3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories

a. Soup can be sign of “soft calorie syndrome”

b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram

(1) It’s also a stomach irritant

c. Fruit juice is just sugar water

4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods?

a. Are you avoiding soft foods

b. You can’t just eat what's easy

c. Cheese is glorified fat

5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals

6. Are you eating too much junk

a. Chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, cookies and other highly

processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a

healthy diet. But don’t avoid them completely to the point where you

feel deprived.

b. Stay out of fast food places

7. Are you getting in two servings of calcium daily

8. Do you always eat the protein first

9. Then the vegetables or fruits

a. Five servings a day

b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable

10. Is your portion size appropriate?

a. Meat or fish

(1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards

b. Vegetables

(1) ½ cup – the size of your fist

c. Starch

(1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need much

(2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, pasta

11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners

a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite

b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar

c. They teach you to like things too sweet

d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner

than people who don’t

12. Avoid most diet foods

a. Real food usually tastes better

b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes

c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not

that great

(1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine

(2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats

a. They may go into permanent storage

b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body

B. You may need a behavior adjustment

1. Are you eating only when you are hungry?

a. If you’re not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait.

2. Are you eating three meals a day?

a. With maybe 1 or 2 small snacks

3. Are you sitting down to eat?

4. Are you eating consciously?

a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper

away, pay attention to your food and your companions

5. Are you eating slowly?

a. Put the fork down between bites

b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal

c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying

6. Are you taking small bites?

a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork

7. Are you chewing well?

8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals?

a. Practice water loading between meals

b. You won’t be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal

9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness?

a. Sometimes it’s a whisper: not hungry, had enough

b. Hard stop versus soft stop

10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing.

11. Do not eat when you are not hungry

C. You may need an activity adjustment

1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week?

a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day

b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week?

c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes?

2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physical activity?

a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators

b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding

c. Parking your car further away from the entrance

d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through

e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination

f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash

g. Playing with your kids

D. You may need an attitude adjustment

1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey?

2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising?

a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days

3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional issues?

a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your eating?

b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those

emotions?

c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor?

4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings?

5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends?

6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically?

7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey?

8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating?

a. Obsessive – compulsive thoughts

(1) Obsess about something else

b. Perfectionism

(1) All or none, black and white thinking

c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss

9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards?

10. Have you learned how to take a compliment?

11. Are you giving up diet mentality?

a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day

b. Stop dieting

c. Stop depriving yourself

d. Stop defining food as “good” and “bad”

e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food

12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place?

E. You may need a band adjustment

1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate portion sizes but getting hungry between meals?

2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large portions.

3. You are having to struggle to lose

4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and having a good mind set.

F. You may need your band loosened

1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down

2. You are vomiting too much

a. How much is too much?

3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night?

a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating

b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime

c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime

d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux:

(1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods

(2) Chocolate

(3) Caffeine/Alcohol

(4) Some fruits and vegetables such as; oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers

(5) Peppermint

a. Baking soda toothpaste

e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals

f. If you smoke, quit smoking

g. Reduce stress

h. Exercise promotes digestion

i. Raise the head of your bed

j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist

k. Stress increases reflux

l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning

m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime

(1) Tylenol is OK

n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring

o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications

p. See your health care provider

4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if

a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest,

especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is

accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast

heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack.

b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise.

c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you also have nausea or fever

d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee

grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar

in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention.

e. If your pain is severe

(Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your

stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.)

This was written by

Jessie H. Ahroni, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., C.D.E., B.C.-A.D.M.

I have had my surgery 20th of january i have only lost about 5 to 6 kilos which i think is not much. I went into this operation thinking i was going to lose weight dramatically by now i feel i should have lost at least 10 or more kilos.

Why is this so??????????? Everyone has seemed to have lost weight but me im starting to feel like a failed lapband paitient maybe this isnt going to work for me.

Is it possible the band might not be in the right place im going mad and dont know what to do or maybe go see another surgeon. im from Australia.

Please someone help me to clear thing up its making me depressed.

Hi i am happy for u and good luck. Im booked in on the 22nd jan and very nervous and excited at the same time hope to chat after surgery..

so julie how is ur experience going? do u love it yet or had any problems at all? im so sacred its not funny anymore im driving myself sick..

Im having it done in 15days im scared of the eating for the first few weeks,, and will ihandle only liquids for 3 days.. and not feel hungry..

Let me know how u doing

luv victoria from australia

Thanks for ur reply, could u pls tell me about this gas stuff i have read about apparently it happens after surgery, and to prevent it u must walk around straight after surgery what do u think?

Also what did u do for the first 2 to 3 days ? I mean as in eating wise, and then after when do i introduce a protien shake?

I think im gonna die of hunger and this scares me as i get bad anxiety when im hungry...

well looking forward to chatting to u

luv vic

I am having my operation in 16 days which im scared of the whole procedure, my understanding is i can only have water tea jucie and broth like soup for 2 days.

Then i can have blended foods that go through a straw, is that right u guys? Is that when i can have protien shakes from the 3rd day for the nexted 2 weeks.

Could anyone tell me what they did and what u blended up that i can sip through a straw. As i have no idea what to do, even my doctor gave me a list but it look boring im looking for ideas.

thank you

So let me get this right your first days u only drank liquids for 2 days, then on the 3rd day u started the protien shakes meaning when u got home from hospital.

please clarify this to me

thanks

:-? Well i eat for emotinal reasons i guess. Im just worried what if i feel really dizzy and sick and feel the need to want to eat.

Hey 2 days on fluids after being used to eating is scary, especially as i get anxious when im hungry i guess my sugar levels drop and i feel i cant think straight for its like my medicine a pill.

Im sure if all u can do it i can too hey whats 2 days, for a life time success. I will just stay home for a few weeks.

Im actually from australia but my surgeon is well train and a very good doctor he actually train in canada. Dr Padovan he one of the best here so im putting my faith and trust in him......

Well i have 16 days to go till my op. Give more positive thoughts.

thanks guys

hi everyone,

im booked in for my surgery on the 23 of jan and im so scared of the whole thing, i also feel i dont have enough support around me to tell me what im doing wrong and what i should be doing as in my eating.

I really want the results of the surgery but scared of going through it, maybe i need to be more postive...

hope to hear from some one that might have felt like i do now

thanks victoria

Hi well very interesting story. I at times feel like a food addict over the last 10yrs, i was always a slim girl until i started haveing anxiety.

Im sure i found comfort in food its like a valium i feel calm when i eat. well im booked in for my operation this month on the 22nd im still thinking should i go, but im to afraid im actually very scared of the whole procedure. Im afraid of "what if something goes wrong like what if the band slips and i die or food gets stuck and im home alone with the kids whos gonna save me and drive me to the hospital, as it happend to my friend the food got stuck badly and she was rushed to hospital to get it out.

Also how am i gonna survive the liquid diet for 2 days in hospital i will feel sick with no real food lol lol. Is it normal to have all these racinal thoughts.

I guess we all are food addict in our own way, its just some people dont admit to it as much as you and i

You see if i dont eat when im hungry i feel nervous like an anxiety feeling i cant think straight, its like a major sugar drop, anyways i hope someone can understand me.

hope to hear from u people

love victoria.

HELLO EVERYONE, I HAVEN'T BEEN ON FOR A LONG TIME. I'M CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET THE FUNDS UP [AGAIN, TRIED LAST YEAR TOO] TO HAVE LAPBAND SURGERY DONE IN MARCH BY DR. ORTIZ. I HAVE FELT KIND OF ALONE IN MY LIFE LONG FIGHT WITH MY WEIGHT. ANYONE I'VE SPOKE TO DOESN'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND [OR DOESN'T WANT TO ADMITT TO UNDERSTANDING] MY ADDICTION TO FOOD. FOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY "DRUG OF CHOICE". I NEVER DID DRUGS GROWING UP, I DID DRINK AS A TEENAGER AND YOUNGER ADULT, BUT FOOD HAS BEEN THERE AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER. I CAN REMEMBER AS A KID BEING AT THE DINNER TABLE [THERE WERE 2 KIDS, 2 ADULTS] AND HAVING FOOD PUT ON MY PLATE AND TAKING INVENTORY OF WHAT WAS LEFT AND CLAIMING IT!! I HADN'T EVEN STARTED EATING WHAT WAS ON MY PLATE!! AM I ALONE?? THAT'S MY FIRST MEMORY OF BEING OBSESSED WITH FOOD. I HAVE DIETED DOZENS OF TIMES OVER... LOST, GAINED, LOST, GAINED, BUT IT ALWAYS CAME BACK. MY OBSESSION IS ALWAYS THERE. WHY? WHAT CAUSES THIS? I NEVER WAS STARVED, I NEVER WENT WITHOUT. I CAN BE SO FULL THAT I'M ALMOST SICK [i FIGURED OUT HOW TO GET TO THAT POINT WITHOUT ACTUALLY GETTING SICK OVER THE YEARS] BUT I'M STILL THINKING ABOUT WHAT'S IN THE FRIDGE OR THE CUPBOARDS. AS SOON AS MY STOMACHE FEELS A LITTLE BETTER, I'LL STUFF SOMETHING ELSE IN. I'VE BEEN TOLD OVER AND OVER "CUT BACK AND EXERCISE" AND I'VE DONE THAT DOZENS OF TIMES BUT THE ADDICTION'S STILL THERE AND EVENTUALLY WINS. I HAVE NEVER MET A DOCTOR THAT SAYS "I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH", NEVER!! DOES ANYONE OUT THERE KNOW WHAT I MEAN?? ANYONE HAD THE SAME OR SIMILAR EXPERIENCES? I'D REALLY APPRECIATE IF YOU'D SHARE, I'D LOVE TO FINALLY KNOW THAT I'M NOT A "FOOD FREAK". THANK YOU ALL!!!