Manda_T

I low carb it too...nothing wrong with it. Good luck to you!

Blessings to All,

Okay in light of all the angry posts on here I know I am really sticking my neck out but here goes. Yes I admit it I am a cheater. I am no good at low calorie diets and never have been. I know my band is a tool but at present I don't have enough restriction to do much good (1cc in a 4cc band). I finally went to low carb. Yes I know it's another diet but I had to get the sugar out of my system. Since I am in my 50's I lose slow to begin with but my weight had started to go up and I was very discouraged. I love hearing the success stories on here but sometimes I wonder if I am the only one that can't seem to get it right so yes it is a comfort to know I'm not alone. Anyway on the up side I lost 2.5 pounds in less than a week by banishing the carbs in my diet. Hallelujah! Yes I know alot of it is water but I couldn't seem to lose before plus my cravings have stopped (and I am PMS'ing). It occurred to me that Dr. Miranda had more or less encouraged a low carb diet in the first place as those with restriction often seem to say that by the time they eat their veggies and protein there is no room for carbs so I figured, what the heck why not give it a try. For those of you that are struggling like me it might be worth a try. Of course it helps if you have an MD that is supportive of that (mine is) as you should be monitored. I am doing the Atkins 20 carb a day induction plan at the moment. Feel free to email me privately if you like, it will remain private!

Hugs to all of you,

Cheryl

I meant to ask this last week but forgot, until I read the PB post.

So last week it appears as though I had a bit of the stomach flu. I was so sick but I couldn't seem to....(sorry for being graphic) throw up. It almost felt as though it was hitting my band and bouncing back down. I ended up dry heaving for over an hour -

Has anyone else had this issue? Is this normal? With 3 small kids I am afraid (I thought I was going to die) and am thinking about getting the flu shot this year.

Blessings to All,

First of All, (((((BIG HUG)))

Second, I posted the other day re: not being perfect.....I was banded in March and had not lost any weight, actually had gained some. I thought I had 3cc in a 4cc band and while I could not eat bread or french fries I could eat ANYTHING else and not in small portions.

I saw another doctor and found that I only had 2cc's in my band...he added another 1/2 cc and I FINALLY have restriction....6 MONTHS after my surgery.

That being said, even with restriction I have to watch what I eat....I have FINALLY given up on icecream...because I didnt want to waste $8k.

So please know that once you hit your sweet spot, it will get better. BUT, you still have to measure your food and watch what you eat.

My diet consist of 1000-1200 calories, 60-100 grams of protien and 40 grams or less of carbs. And in the week since I have had my fill and really made an effort to weight, measure, calculate and JOURNAL all my food I have lost 10lbs. I feel so much better and am even going to joing the evil G word tonight.

If you want, I can email you my Excel spreadsheet I use. I print it up, stuff it in my Calorie King book and toss it in my purse. NOTHING goes in my mouth without being written down.

I wish you the best, and remember it is a daily battle....you can win the war.

hello,

well I posted a little while ago, and got some help, but I'm still distraught.

I was banded in June, and filled in July.......it is now mid Aug. and I have lost a total of 5 pounds!!!!!!

what am I doing wrong? what can help?

I do have restriction, it's hard to eat bread or French fries,.....I know I'm eating less!!!! I don't understand?

PLEASE if anyone can help I would love to hear from you

....Did I just waste 8,000?

**CalorieKing.com or a Calorie King book (is my BIBLE)....

Manda, I did an excel sheet just like you and this is so much easier than all the other sites. You have to put every little ingredient down on the other sites. Question does anyone know how to count calories in like a cup of mixed fruit and a bowl of salad, mixed veggies?

I'm glad this post was taken the way I meant it to, I want everyone to know that we are all human. I wish everyone the very best in the weightloss journey!

Blessings to All,

Amanda

I love HungryGirl.com (thanks mamamichelle) and they have a book out to.

Since my recent fill, I have been tring to keep a food journal of everything that I eat (even sf gum)...it's hard but I have already lost 6#'s this week. I created a nifty sheet in exel where I mark my food, how much and calculate the calories, protien and carbs. I am trying to stay between 1000-1200 calories, 60-100 grams of protien and under 30 grams of carbs.

I love HungryGirl for great ideas (thanks mommamichelle) and use Calorie King daily.....

What is everyone else doing?

Blessings,

Amanda

I rarely ever post here anymore. I do lurk occationally, and am glad to see how well everyone is doing. The recent post regarding "cheating" has made me want to post to let everyone that has cheated know they are not alone.

I am one of the people that is struggling with my band and weightloss. I have not been perfect (sadly icecream does go down) but had I been perfect in the first place I would of never needed the band to help with my weightloss. I understand the band is just a "tool".

Everyday is a struggle, every moment I have to make the choice to eat the right foods, take the time to measure my foods, to follow the rules. But alas, we are humans and we make mistakes. We come here to express our feelings and seek people that understand what we are feeling. We belong to this group for many reasons, but the most important reason is to share trials and sucesses (mamamichelle).

Weightloss is difficult, we all know that, hence the reason we have the bands. We should be supportive of each other, not judgemental. The fact of the matter is if we hadn't "cheated" on all of our diets then we wouldn't be here.

On a side note, I was very discouraged because I had been struggling so much, my band had no restriction and I could eat anything. I had had 3 fills for a total of 3cc in a 4cc band. I ended up seeing a different doctor and in the end it turns out that I didnt have 3cc in my band, only 2cc. He believes that the last doctor missed my port. I now have great restriction and with restriction (the sweet spot) I am able to control my eating and most of my cravings have passed.

So even if you are not perfect, continue to wake up everyday vowing to do your best. And when you slip up, remember we are all only human. I wish everyone the best in the weightloss journey. And remember, if it was easy to loose weight, we wouldn't of needed the band.

Blessings to All,

Amanda

I had my 3rd fill last month, now have 3.1cc in my band. I was doing ok (could feel restriction) but then our weather changed and we have pretty high temps for our area.

So the past 2 weeks I have been pretty limited on what I can eat (lost 4lbs) but seriously, I cant eat if I am hot (so no picnics). I went to a picnic and had 2 bites of chicken and a slice of watermelon and thought I had died. I spent the next 2 hours in the bathroom PB'ing and couldn't eat for another day. I've had a couple of days that have been the same (seems its bad if its over 85).

Anyone else having this issue? And should I go get a slight unfill or just moniter my eating even more? Typically we only get a month where we have real highs....

Thanks

Amanda

So I just had my 3rd fill last Friday. I now have 2.65cc in a 4cc band. I think it has finally started to work. Haven't been very hungry and my portions are tiny. Haven't PB'd but when I eat to much I fill sick (no slime though) hoping this works as I have been struggling for the past 3 months.

An 8 would be lovely, although I would be happy with a 10/12. I do not want to have to shot in the "special" stores anymore.

Although that being said, I started at a 22/24 and am down to a 14/16 top (almost to a normal store) but pants because of my belly are 18 (so sad). I am thinking I will have to have a tummy tuck to wear normal clothes.

Just got my second fill. I now have 2.1 in my band. Today reminds me of right after surgery, tight and not very hungry. Had breakfast and got a couple of bites down and started to feel so full I thought I was going to be sick. Hopefully this will last. Keeping my fingers crossed!!

I had a fill on the 29th (1.4cc). I had read mamamicheles (sp) post about it taking a couple of days to take effect. So I have been waiting. However, a week later I am still starving and can eat just as much as before. I need another fill!!! How long do I have to wait?

I would love to come - sounds like a blast. I could come anytime after the 21st... so if you don't have a date in mind, please look at dates after this time.

Thanks, I would love to meet all of you!

I will be in Vegas the 5th thru the 8th...Celebrating my b-day!!!!!

So, I had my first fill yesterday by a local dr..no floro :lb12: but I didn't have to travel. It was interesting for sure, sitting up with the needle in my tummy was scary . I HATE NEEDLES!!! It didn't hurt at all...got 1.5 in. Feel tight today, reminds me of the days after surgery...love it.

Hopefully this will help kick start me...I have been eating way to much (although less than I ever have) and have hit a platue on weight loss.

Have a goal of 15lbs by the end of May as I am going to Vegas and want to get some new clothes.

I am rewarding myself...

At 199 =D> I am going to go to the MAC counter, get a makeover (to make me look like a sexy b*atch) and buy all new makeup.

At 50#'s, I am buying myself a new purse: Coach, Dooney or Juicy

When I can fit into XL's: I am buying myself a Juicy Sweatsuit =D> I've always wanted one, but sadly they dont do big girls

When I reach goal - My husband has agreed to a whole new wardrobe, including a weekend trip to New York and a trip to Nordstrom with a personal shopper and I plan on buying out Victoria Secret's since I HAVE NEVER been able to buy anything but lotion and makeup there.

Told my husband this could be very exspensive for him!!! But I am sooooooooooooo worth it!

Update....changed the battery tonight, stepped on scale and it is right where it was 3 days ago. So, no weightloss but hey no weight gain =D>

It was having a meltdown because the batteries were low.

Off I go to drink some tea.

I'm sorry your not doing well. Stick with warm liquids and sip sip sip....

>

I've decided I hate my scale.....

How is it possible to not lose weight on this #*#*! liquid diet...My scale says I've gained!!!

I'm really pissed, even though Dr Miranda says this is healing time and weight loss journey does not begin until first fill! (

My point exactly!!! I am not eating. I drink, drink, drink and pee, pee, pee.....seriously there has to be a few pounds lost before the first fill. Right?

So, I have been weighing myself on the same scale since pre-op. I weighed myself yesterday (it had been a couple of days) and I had dropped 8lbs (for a total of 25.5).....OMG I was so excited I almost pee'd myself!!!

I went prancing to my DH (still not dear) and he said "no way". Let me weight myself, so he did and he said there is no way I lost 10 lbs in a week. Crap.....so I said get the old, ugly beast scale down. Weigh myself, said I gained 12....WTH??? I make him weigh in to, he has gained. So too lite, too heavy....starting to feel like goldylocks.

Glare and mutter at scale all night, think about kicking but afraid of breaking my toe (broke one a couple months ago in a freak pedi accident).....

Get up this morning and think, "well maybe its feeling better this morning/deciding to work" try agiain. Says I am down another 2.5lbs.... thinking I am sorry I was so mean to you. Grab DH step on again to show him and the beast says I am up 6lbs....ARRRGGGHHHHH

I am going scale shopping tonight.

I am planning on going back to TJ for my first fill - just for the peace of mind of floro & making sure all is OK.

After that I plan on going to my local fill center.

In my defense.

Technically th eoatmeal could of been a liquid. It was so runny & soupy and then I added milk to help it slide down easier. It wasn't thick at all. Although I did not have the bullet with me to blend.

Yougurt, we are allowed to have.

Amanda

So, DH had a business thing yesterday in Portland (large town 2 hrs away). So the kids and I tagged along (kids on spring break 5,4,2). The hotel we stayed at had a contential breakfast. Friday, I had really runny oatmeal for breakfast...was fine. Took some goodies for the kids for snack later, including fruit filled danishes.

Well snack time came, kids were eating and I was so flippin hungry I stuck my finger in the jam and swallowed. HOLY HELL!!! About 5 minutes later my chest was tight, I was sweating and I thought I was dying! It took about 15 minutes to go away.

This morning, went in for breakfast. Had the oatmeal again. Also grabbed a yougurt. Kids were acting up so I was not concentrating on how much I was eating. BAD BAD BAD!!!! About 10 minutes later it started up again....this time it escalated into the slimy mouth and dry heaves. Took about an hour to get over and then I have been tight the rest of the day.

I was so freaked out and crying, it hurt like a mother and now I am afraid to ever eat again!!!

Hi - i am finally feeling better, how about you?

am actually going to schedule a fill for my 8 weeks post op. how about you? will you go back to OCC?

I am feeling so much better! Glad you are too. Just hungry.

I will be going back for my first fill and if I have any complications the rest of my fills I will get done locally.

That being said, I will be making my own travel arrangements

I've lost 16.5 pounds in 2 1/2 weeks. Altough I would say if all you gets is liquids and all you do is pee....its a no brainer.