Bandiva

You will love them. I was banded in 06 and my hubby is booked for september! yay!

Welcome back. It is not the busiest forum but I like it here because we all have the tie that binds...(no pun intended). I am making a real effort to be more active here to help me stay on track and hopefully help others with my successes and setbacks.

lol. I agree with both of you. I have used my band as a tool at times and at other times I have blamed lack of fill for my weight gain. Somehow I was sure it wasn't the cheezies or icecream. As with all things it is balance. Thanks for the thought provoking posts!

Dont worry it will come off. I find liquids can be fattening or else we don't get enough calories so the body plateaus. You will lose...it is physics. Calories in calories burned. You will be fine, just wait for the band to heal. No worries.

I think a lot of people eat around the band...I know I have from time to time. I have found once you get going you are motivated to keep doing well. Exercise was key for keeping me motivated.

I remember when I started my pre op diet. I was to have a lean cuisine for supper. I was so insulted because it looked like 3 bites of food...how was that supper???? Now, I often stretch a lean cuisine over two meals. I totally get what you are saying. lol.

Hi! Still doing liquids all day and then soft foods for supper. Got a little discouraged last week, but this week is all brand new, so happy thoughts! Hope you all have a stress free successful time in TJ. Wish is was there with you! lol.

YOu can do it! Be prepared for an emotional roller coaster...but that is normal. Just try to go with it. One day at a time. YAY!

I had my surgery on a monday and went back to work (in a spa) on Thursday. I didn't do massage, but waxing, pedicures etc with only minor pain. I guess if you weren't ready you could always be sick with the flu! lol.

That makes sense. My friend is going thro through that and they (her clinic) just gave her ant acid and left her filled. (After travelling from Canada to Mexico). She is still not keeping things down. I wish she would try the OCC. There is a 450 first fill charge then it is the reg price after that and she didn't want to pay that. She had hers done at the hospital at TJ.

Had some rice for dinner...didn't chew...pain and sickness...I think that is a good sign! lol. I can't let myself get that hungry, I didn't even enjoy it.

When they discovered it I had a slight fill. They completely unfilled me. I don't seem to have much control, eating soft, but eating lots. May just go back on liquids until I get a fill on the 26th. Thanks for your kind words.

Thanks for sharing this. It is a lot to conceive without going through it personally. This really helps to get a reality check.

I am just making that decision myself. It is a tough one.

Me too! Thanks for sharing your experience!

Yay! Good for you! Lot's of hard work, but it has paid off! Congrats!

I have always known fairly soon after if it was too tight or not enough restriction. That happened recently and I ended up taking 4 trips to a nearby fill center. I live on an island so even vehicle travel is expensive. One time though, I got a fill and all was well untill 2 weeks later when the gates of hell slammed shut on my esophagus. lol. The last time I stayed in San Deigo a couple days, and on July 24 plan to do the same. It is expensive and hard on my family, but my hubby is great about it, and reminds me it is my health we are talking about. He is getting banded soon too! Yay. I will have to remember to be patient with him too! lol I made a promise to myself to only go to the OCC from now on, in the long run I think it will save time and money and help me feel less fear about my band. They really know their stuff, and they care about our success. Good luck, hope all goes well for you.

IrishRN - They told me no carbonated drinks ever....just sayin! lol. Lynna, good for you for getting back on track. You can do it again, especially with the support you have. I had a pretty good day today. Ate a lean cuisine for lunch and a piece of salmon and some cheerios for supper. lol. Feel full so that is good!

Going for a fill July 26.

My husband gets frustrated when I 'do something stupid' but of course he doesn't have a band so he has no idea that what works one day doesnt work the next. But, he has never used my band to humiliate me or to try to make me choose between the band and him. He loves the new banded me because I am a happier person on the inside. Regardless of what this mans issues were (concern or actual anger toward the band) I think the important thing to remember is that he didn't 'get' you. He didn't understand your disorder, or your desperation. I fought obestity for 40 years, and I still think about it everyday. It is a part of our relationship... because it is part of me. I hope you enjoy this time for yourself and then you will be ready to accept the right person when they cross your path.

So, have been feeling a little off, so I say to my trainer "I don't want to do cardio today". Not the smartest thing I have ever done. We did 90 min of cardio but I felt better after. lol. I am finished with my liquids and I called the OCC to check in. Now I am 2 meals liquids and one meal soft foods. Again I was reminded to eat slow and no drinking while eating. I feel a bit of restriction so that is good news. Just listening to my body more. Didn't lose any weight on liquids...stayed the same. Booked a refill for July 24. I am hoping it is an agressive and successful fill because a summer time flight and hotel cost me about $900. Ouch.

I have been doing liquids for several days now. I am amazed at the amount of calories and sodium i am consuming. I am trying to let go of the scale as well and go by measurements. a few weeks ago I was really frustated with the scale and when i measured i had lost 3 inches off my waist alone, 6.5 inches overall! I need to stop letting the scale dictate what kind of mood I am going to be in, and what kind of day I am going to have. I think as an obese person I was used to punishing and sabotaging myself and a scale is a great way to do that. I do agree with checking in with it, just trying to do it less and less.

Thats true it does have a mind of it's own. If you don't mind me asking, why did you get 2 complete unfills? I just got one because of a stretched pouch.

Hi! Thanks so much for the encouragement. I have thought about the 5 day test and I think I will do it at the end of my 10 days of liquids. Does that sound logical? I was on day 4 yesterday but I had company for dinner and had a half of baked potato, and some mushrooms, and then popcorn. Today I felt pretty rough and disappointed in myself but today has been a good day. For supper I mixed 2 tbs of natural peanut butter and protein powder with ice in the blender...it was amazing! Just thought I would share that...but I guess you all are supposed to be staying away from the liquids. Oops. lol. Tomorrow morning I am back with my trainer...life is good. I (we) just need to remember to love ourselves and to have confidence that 'we can do this'. We all deserve to be feeling comfortable within ourselves. Have a great day everyone!

Thanks Sabrina. Great idea...I will get a ticker!