macleay

Hi--Dr. Fitzpatrick in Eugene also spends 1-2 days a week in Portland or at least the Portland area. I'm assuming it's her you called and she didn't get back to you? I'd try again because she's usually good about that. Hope you get through and get this taken care of!

So I keep reading the threads about restriction, etc. and I suppose I am confused about what exactly restriction is. I am a month into this process and my first fill isn't scheduled until the end of the month. When I see you guys having 4, 5, 6 or more fills, I have to admit, it makes me curious what exactly you are searching for. What feelings are you experiencing that drives you to go and get these fills so readily? Are you feeling incredible hunger or what?

What I was told by Dr. Ortiz was that I should only be able to eat 1/3 of what I used to eat. That's what I was searching for. Up until my last fill, I could pretty much eat anything and everything, even though I knew I shouldn't. And yes, I was still hungry after eating only 1/3-1/2 cup of food. Now, if I eat too much of the right foods, I get uncomfortable and I really can't handle more than 1/2 cup to a cup of food.

Of course, if I eat the wrong foods, the sliders, etc, then I can still get all those empty calories and not lose weight. That's where it becomes my job and not the band's. It still all comes down to making good choices and not giving in to "head hunger".

I agree with what everyone has said. I was banded in January and have had five fills. It wasn't until the last one that I felt much restriction and have lost another 8 pounds during the past three weeks. <br /><br />What is hard it that you have to realize this isn't a quick fix for many people. You will see some lose a lot of weight early on and others seem to take longer. I'm one of the ones who isn't losing that fast, but I know that I'm not eating 100% right either, so I'm to blame for some of it. And you very well may need to get several fills before you feel adequate restriction. <br /><br />Remember, though, that even at the best restriction, the band won't do it all (believe me, it's taken me awhile to realize this! <img src='http://www.occforum.com/public/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />) You've got a larger role here than the band does, but it will help you once you get to the proper restriction. <br /><br />Hang in there and visit often--there's tons of good advice here and everyone has been through this and can help.

I also had no problem with the Marriott. I stayed there twice, once for my banding and once with my daughter for her banding. We weren't given the option of the Lucerna. Carolyn said the Marriott was the best when she booked us. I wish I'd stayed at the Lucerna now so I could compare the two, but I really had no problem with the Marriot. Everyone there was nice, the food was good, rooms were good, and they had several computers we could use. I guess the only downside was it was farther away from OCC than the Lucerna.

Beautiful picture--congratulations! 91 pounds--woohoo!:D:D

As I am a few days away from starting solid foods again, I have been wondering what the effect on weight loss was for people. I have been losing quite a bit on the liquid phase as I imagine most of us did. (I am down 34lbs. in 19 days so far.) So what happened when you started solids? Did you continue to lose at a decent pace? Did it slow way down? Did you gain? I am just curious what to expect.

I lost 20 pounds total on the pre-op and liquid phases. Immediately after getting on solid foods, I began playing around with 3-4 pounds: I'd gain them, and then lose them and then gain them. It took me a really long time to get good restriction (5 fills). The only way I'd relose those pounds was sheer willpower. Then last week, my band finally kicked in and I've got awesome restriction. Have lost 6 pounds this week and feel like I'm back in the game again!

My purpose in boring you with all this info is to tell you that some people struggle after going on solids until they get good restriction. I think I'm probably one of the slowest losers I've read about, so you'll probably do way better than me--in fact, you've already lost more than me! :lol:

If you are lucky, you'll have some restriction right out of the gate. Be sure to eat the right foods--protein first, then veggies, then carbs if you have room. Follow the rules about drinking before and after eating. Avoid the empty calories that go down easy, like ice cream, etc!

If you're like many people, you will need at least a fill or two before you feel restriction and many people gain some weight between the liquid phase and when they have restriction, so try not to beat up on yourself if you do--it's perfectly normal. Just follow the rules Dr. Miranda gave you and get fills if you need to.

Good luck--you're doing really really well so far!!!!

Haha--you're funny! But oh how true that was!

I lived on the chicken tortilla soup the last week--it is truly awesome!

http://www.occforum.com/index.php?showtopic=5677&hl=tortilla%20soup&st=0

Get creative with your workouts - get out and run/walk or ride your bike. Also, not sue what cable provider you have but I have Directv and I have FitTV and I DVR a show called All Star Work Outs and do those now and again when I am not feeling like going to the gym. When I was super broke and couldn't afford the gym, I would put on one of the music stations on my cable and just dance my pants off! My neighbors if they could have seen me would have thought I was nuts, but it was a great workout and fun!!!

Thanks for the tip! I have DirecTV also, but never heard of All Star Workouts. I checked the DVR and there it was! I'm going to give the cardio/strength training series a try!

Hi all, I haven't had a PB episode yet. I am still on my first week of solids, but I thought I would share this with you all. Yesterday I was at work and carrying some boxes down the stairs and my pants fell to the floor when I got to the bottom. I should probably tell you that I work in a prison. I thought I would die, but if you aren't the reason for people to laugh at you once in awhile then you should not laugh at someone else. TC RCR

OMG that is hilarious! I'm sure it wasn't funny for you at the time, but oh boy, the retelling of it is fabulous!

Hi Jill I had a two egg omelet with one piece of bacon, some sauteed spinach and a little cheese. That lasted til about 4 when I had two slices of lunch meat. At 7 I had some broccoli and about three oz of chicken. Everything went down ok. It felt a little weird when I first ate, but that went away. I stopped drinking 1\2hour before and 1 hour after. It was not that hard and I hope all the rest of my days go as well. TC RCR(Kevin)

Looks like you made good choices on your first day! I'm glad it went well.

Hey, are you from Portland? Every time I see your name I think of the Blazers!

The zip lock bag is a GREAT idea! I just had my first PB experience yesterday and thank god I was home!

Two miles today.

I just found out today that best friend from Portland has decided to have her Lap Band surgery with me on June 2nd. Lori said we can be in the same recovery room together. I think they are going to try to get us hotel rooms that are connected too.

I wonder if I should just let my mom and daughter stay at the hotel the morning of surgery. Do very many people leave the day of surgery to spend the night at the Hotel or do most people spend the night at the hospital?

That is great that you have a buddy to go through the surgery with!

I spent the night and was glad I did, just for the security of knowing a doctor was close by just in case. I know of others that didn't spend the night and did just fine, so I guess it's just whatever you're comfortable with.

Two miles yesterday and two miles today.

Took three days off and what a mistake! I really notice the difference in the way I feel when I exercise.

JUST THOUGHT I WOULD POST TO POST BECAUSE I HAVE POSTED SOMETHING TO ALL THE OTHER TOPICS...

KIM

I wouldn't have any problem taking my kid to Mexico either, as long as Grandma was there to watch over her. But what about you--will you be alone for your surgery? It's not essential to have someone there with you, but I have to admit, it was nice having someone to talk to before and after the surgery--it's a long day.

Enjoyed the You Tube. What a beautiful girl and it was neat to see the before and after pictures. Thanks for sharing.

So, tell us how your first day on solids went--what'd you eat and how'd it go down?

Thanx for the encouraging words Mac. I have lost 50lbs since starting the pre-op diet at 353lbs and I now weigh 304lbs. TC RCR

Wow--50 pounds! That's AWESOME! Congratulations.

I don't have any suggestions but just wanted to commiserate with you. The last week was the hardest and the last few days were terrible. For me, it wasn't that I was hungry, I was just READY to eat something ! lol Hang in there, it's almost over. Just look at what you've accomplished in the last 5 weeks! How much have you lost?

I have been extremely fortunate. I was banded Sept 29th,2009 and have not had one fill. I have felt restriction all along and lost 125 pounds so far. I do follow the rules to a tee though. Eat only healthy food, 3 meals a day and excersise 7 days a week. 17 more pounds and I reach the goal Dr Miranda set for me and I am booked for an extended tummy tuck and thigh lift in July.

It has been a wonderful 7 months and this has been the best decision I have made in my whole life

Debbie

You are my hero!!! And did you change your "after" picture? You look gorgeous!

Hi there,

I was banded by Dr Ortiz on April 12th. I just started on solid foods a couple of days ago. I have my first fill appointment at the OCC on May 25th. My question is should I be feeling

any restriction at this point? I don't think I have any at all. Also, have many fills does it take to get to some restriction? Do people usually still lose weight without restriction

or does it take a couple of fills for the weight loss to really kick in?

Thanks!

Heidi

It's not at all abnormal to have no restriction before having a fill. Some people do, most people don't. And there isn't a set number of fills before you get the right restriction--it's different with everyone. If you spend some time reading the posts on this board, you'll see that there are people who haven't every had to have a fill (Revy!) and people who have had several before getting to their "sweet spot".

You can lose weight without restriction if you limit your calories, eat the right foods, exercise, and burn more than you consume. But restriction makes it easier. The idea is that if you have good restriction, you will feel satisfied with less food, as long as you're eating the right foods, not foods like ice cream, chips, etc. Those foods go straight through and don't fill you up like protein and veggies.

You're lucky to be able to go to the OCC for your fills--ask Dr. So and he'll also be able to give you some good information about restriction, etc.

I haven't had a fill yet but I've been banded in feb. I cannot eat any type of meat unless it can melt in my mouth! Lunch meat I can handle. Breads, pasta, really anything dry I have a hard time eating it . And at this point, I second guess anything in put in my mouth because if I know I shouldn't be eating it and have a chance of it getting stuck and going through that pain ,, hmm.. not worth it ! I am very care full in avoiding foods that will hurt me, even uncooked veggies,I can't do. I love the band but sometimes I get SO fustrated because I can't really eat much of anything, Small bites or anything! Now, I wonder if I should even attempt a fill .

Wow, sounds like you have a good amount of restriction just with the band. I know that some people have trouble with meats that aren't very moist and with breads. I'd be interested in seeing what you are able to eat in a day and also, if you're losing weight? I certainly would not get a fill at this point--it sounds like you have good restriction and I have to admit, I'm kinda jealous! Not trying to minimize, your frustration--I'm sure it must be difficult to all sudden not be able to eat so many things. For many of us, it's a very gradual thing as we get fills.

I feel giving people the misconception that once you get the band, and fills, you'll be making better food choices, which is completely false.

OR, you 'won't' eat white rice, breads, and other foods that are relatively empty in calories.

And there are many ways of 'cheating' the band, even with the appropriate amount of restriction.

I don't think I was ever told that the band would make me make better food choices, in fact, just the opposite. I was told the band was a tool and that I would have to do the majority of the work, by making good food choices, exercising, and working WITH the band. I saw from reading others' posts that some people had trouble with certain types of foods and others didn't. I also was aware that I could easily sabatage the band by eating the "wrong" foods.

I certainly can't speak for Kris, the original poster, but her situation sounded similar to mine. I've had several fills now and am doing my best to eat the right foods--lots of protein first, then veggies, then carbs if I have room. And that's the problem--I always have room! I don't feel like I'm tring to cheat the band at all! Isn't the band supposed to help me restrict my eating when I'm doing my part by eating the right foods, not drinking liquid before and after meals, and exercising?

The good news for me is, I've lost the 4 pounds I'd gained since going off the liquid diet in January (refused to move the ticker up! lol), so I hope I'm finally on my way. But I feel like I'm doing it totally on willpower without help from the band. I know it will help me once I get the proper restriction and will just hang in there until that happens!

You probably knocked off between 150 - 200 calories Great job!!!

Cool!! I like to keep my lunch between 250-300 calories. I go out to lunch 1-2 times per week and have been trying to find something low calorie, but also tasty, and this one fit the bill. I'm not a salad lover, unfortunately.