I have started this thread to tell the story of my continued journey to battle my weight with my Gastric Band operation in March 2006.

Well I went and had my last fill and I have been at my maximum adjustment for 2 weeks now and I never really believe that an extra 1.5mils of saline solution could make such a difference. I hardly eat a kiddies portion now!

I have learned that if I forget to chew enough on my 1st mouthful it messes me up for the whole meal and I after the third spoon I cant fit any more in literally becuse my body is forcing the 1st mouthful back up to be chewed again and I end up just spitting it all out down the loo!! (sorry if that was a bit grafic!) LOL
I feel like its forcing me to be bulemic! But I still have some that I have kept down but amazingly I feel like I have had my meal, even though I didnt actually digest half of it! Its a really weird feeling.

So I weighed myself again and I'm at my lightest since xmas so it must be doing its job.
I have only lost just under 2 stone, and I dont feel like its 2 stone but the scales arent lying anymore!
Lets just hope the weight continues to drop steadily.

Wow! You must feel great, knowing you have lost some of the weight that obviously causes you unhappiness. If you dont mind me asking, tell me to mind my own, but what were you weight wise, and what are you aiming for? I have a client who had this operation, and shes lost 13stones! How cool is that! She now weighs 10 and a half stones. She hasnt changed as a person, she was always a small lady stuck in a big body, with an even bigger personality.

Michelle x

LORDY DORDY!!!!! Well done her!
I am about another 6 stone to go to be 10 stone. I dont mind people knowing. I am glad that paying £8k for the op and its working (I think) LOL
I just want to wake up and leave the excess on the matress! eewwwwwww, but that aint gonna happen.
I just want to lose it faster..

chin up pet i know of all the sucess storys regarding this op and i can see from your threads tht it is straing to me off

I know we would all like it to happen over night but this time next year you will be telling us all how you lost all your weight.

haha, yeah i hope so. xxx

...slow and steady wins the race hunny, although I can relate to exactly where you are coming from, so funny how we can pile it on so easily but it takes forever getting it back off. I was watching Supersize Me the documentary where that guy ate nothing but McDonald's for 30 days and he put on about 20 lbs in those 30 days at the end of it, it took him 8 months to lose those 20 lbs!!

Yes, I think I have seen that twice now. They released it over here on DVD! Not something I would buy!

I am starting to feel slimmer. But thats probably because every meal I have only 3 mouthfuls makes its way to the bottom of my stomache. If I try to get any more in, the whole lot comes up!! (need a pukey smiley)

Anyway, I am not getting on the scales that regularly just so as not to deflate myself cos one week it can stay the same and another, it can go down.... hasnt gone UP in a week yet so thats good.

Do you not have a support group you can go to help you and encourage you and to tell you how to overcome these regurgitation problems?? Being sick is not good and not necessary.

Eat slowly and savour each bite as you chew it.
Eat 5 small portions per day, you will loose more than only eating 3 times per day.
Eat REAL food ... fresh fruit, veg, meat, fish, potatoes.

I have had a gastric bypass and know what I'm talking about. Only been sick 3 times in 2 years, and that was when I didn't do as I was told. the first is the most important.

Yes I have a great nurse that rings me all the time from the company I went with.
She said that it will take a month of so to get completely used to my new tightness, and that bringing up the food if I forget to eat slowly teaches your body not to do it.
I only had the adjustment 2 weeks ago so I am sure it will settle down.
Sometimes I wish I had the same surgical procedure as you Geeg, cos not only is it restrictive, its malabsorbant too, which makes it easier. But the doctors talked me out of that saying it was more intrusive and more permanent. if I wanted, or if I encountered probs, I could have a band taken out.
But hey, I cant change it, unless I wanna pay another £8K!!

Well I do not know about EASIER .. but I am very happy and I definitely wanted permanent.

I have seen too many cases of individuals regaining all the weight they lost when they have had the band removed. I'd keep it right where it is .

I have also seen many cases where weight has been regained even with the gastric bypass because the person goes back to their old ways of eating rubbish ... sweet drinks and processed food and ice cream and alcohol .... all things which slip down easily but contain horrendous amounts of calories. They also keep eating those disgusting sweet chocolate tasting nutrition bars and never eat good wholesome food.

I am fortunate in that I have always been a good cook and eat good real food. I love ice cream but can't eat it now or I feel nauseous. I like a drink too, but I do limit it ... I no longer drink wine every day ... I save it for special and I really don't mind .. I enjoy it when I have it and it is more special.

I stay about the same on the scales and have done for more than a year and I eat everything I want. I no longer think about it. If I fancy something, I have it. I still like to eat 5 times a day. In fact I am just off for my mid morning coffee and snack.

Yes, thats good. I bet you are well pleased with it. I wouldnt get it taken out. I did wonder why they told me that at the time. But hey, its working, and I have changed the things that made me put on my weight in the first place. Its certainly no miracle cure. But it is helping me, which is why I got it!
I am eating home cooked foods, no mcdonalds, kfc , fast foods anymore.
I will only indulge in a very, very small bowl of noodles from the chinese once every 2 months or so when my bf wants it. We used to get a chinese every saturday night!! Sometimes looking back now I tell myself no wonder I was big.
Just grilling and steaming everything makes your tastebuds just so much more better and you can taste everything.
Certainly made the best decision in my life.

Good luck on your journey hun, I know its not the same thing but I am back on a diet....actually HATE that word, what I mean is am making life changes to make me healthier and loose wieght, I have 3 stone to loose to get me to 10 is hard work but will keep going.

Sounds like you are doing really well, the pukey bit cant be nice for you though really hoping that gets better for you soon.

sending you lots of these

Well I think you are very brave to have this done... I love eating and would be depressed if I couldn't stuff my face whenever I liked. I LOVE Greek salads and Olive Oil and loads of healthy things that wouldn't put the weight on if loads were eaten...

.. is the gastric band an extreme measure then? Will you ever be able to eat properly again? How can it take away the cravings for food?

From reading what you have said... you can't eat much at all.. surely if your body is bigger, you need more energy to make your body function properly?

You're doing really well Tsia

At the start I had all t