Having a small unfill tomorrow

[Jachut]

I know I replied only a week or two back in another thread that I havent needed to unfill, but the last couple of weeks have had me thinking about this a bit.

I'm not sure I would actually gain with less fill even if I ate more, because of the running I do. And long term, its best to be able to eat as much, and as much variety as possible right?

May problems are threefold:

Firstly, I'm just too tight to find life enjoyable. I really stress about eating out because although I've not had many PB or blocked experiences as a result (because i"m darn careful) I am so mindful of it that i barely eat when I'm out with others. I've just been to Queensland for the Goldcoast marathon (did 10K) with a running group and my sister and the lack of food I ingested caused so much comment, it was really embarrassing. We had a pasta night the night before the race to carbo load and I could barely eat what I ordered. I managed the wine OK though. I've not enjoyed eating out for quite a while and I dont care for having to worry about what food will be available for me! The week before AF arrives is ridiculous, I can barely eat, I'm always tighter at night and am not eating anywhere near enough vegies and I cant really eat fruit at all anymore. I find myself nibbling crap all day because I dont have that mental satisfaction of having eaten a proper meal. Everything where I have to eat in public is a hassle becuase I always find myself tighter then and people ARE noticing that I'm not eating. I'm fine at home,so am still well nourished but this is just a pain in the bum. Havent had PBing, night reflux or anything nasty like that.

Secondly, in relation to that point, I was saying to Mum that my cough that I had a few weeks ago has hung around. But I'm beginning to suspect its realted to being full, I think I'm noticing a pattern that I'm a bit phlegmy and clearing my throat constantly after I've eaten. I dont want to muck around with that!

And most of all, I've had the most fantastic pain free month in 3 years with my back, it really appears to be getting better and I'm feeling well enough to run more than 10K for the first time in ages, I'm going for that half marathon (In Melbourne in October). To train for that I need to eat. I need to be able to eat things like sandwiches and bananas and pasta. And I can, but only in tiny quantities. I seriously fear that placing that much demand on my body without being able to fuel it will upset my nutritional status and start to waste away my muscle.

The reason I posted this here is because its such a hard issue with maintenance. I dont know how to stop dieting or trying to lose weight. Even being this tight, I've not lost anymore, I dont need to,but I still keep thinking about it. Theoretically I should just be able to say, get an unfill, eat more,train hard and things will be right. That's probably how it will work out and I wouldnt be the least surprised to find that when i get back to 3 square meals a day I do lose more weight.

But I'm farking scared of gaining, lol.

So its tomorrow, 3.30 pm, will let you know how it goes/what the doc says!

[WildAlaskaG'ma]

So glad you shared your concerns here. And really glad you have rethought your need for an unfil. Would it work at all for you to unfil while you are training for a run, and then fill again after if you think you are having a problem with gaining? My guess is that as long as you are making good food choices you will be fine. Like you said, with all of the training you do, your metabolism must be burning calories like crazy. After your incredible weightloss success, you deserve to be living a totally rewarding life. If you are struggling with that, you definitely owe it to yourself to do something different. Good luck getting it all sorted out for the best. Keep us posted.

[Jachut]

I dont know if that would work. I'm not sure how much I'm going to have out, but I'm thinking I should be finding the least amount of fill I can work with. What's the point of having any more than you need, really.

I do know that being much tighter hasnt caused me to lose any weight!

[chrispygal]

It's so hard to know what is the "right" fill level sometimes Jacqui, as you know I'm teetering with this myself. I think if I ran as much as you did, I would get some fill taken out. It is most important to fuel your body no doubt, but the fear of being hungry and/or gaining weight back is always there. Good luck, and let us know how you do after you have some taken out.

[HeatherGurl]

ok... how did it go???

Just to let you know, after my last unfill I have actually lost weight. I was at a stand still, and eating more did help me lose more!

[Neal R.]

Best of luck. Just shows this is a long term commitment and it doesn't end when we get to goal. THanks for sharing.

[redgrldj]

You know that a slight unfill won't hurt. You need more protien and calories to fuel your body when you are that active.. My niece is a runner and if she drops her food to low her body gets injured quick..

[Jachut]

It went well, I had .2ml out and I actually ate a meal last night. It was still a small meal and I still had to eat slowly but the band is there doing its job. I had no discomfort at all, which I'd had with eating virtually everything. Just mild, but there.

Heather, you know I think I'll find it easier to keep my weigh steady with less fill. I had not been eating meals hardly at all, just eating small bites all day and when you do that, we all KNOW that you tend to make poorer food choices. I just couldnt get in enough in one sitting to hold me for any length of time.

The slight cough has gone away too.

[chrispygal]

Glad you're doing better already Jacqui!

[HeatherGurl]

It went well, I had .2ml out and I actually ate a meal last night. It was still a small meal and I still had to eat slowly but the band is there doing its job. I had no discomfort at all, which I'd had with eating virtually everything. Just mild, but there.

Heather, you know I think I'll find it easier to keep my weigh steady with less fill. I had not been eating meals hardly at all, just eating small bites all day and when you do that, we all KNOW that you tend to make poorer food choices. I just couldnt get in enough in one sitting to hold me for any length of time.

The slight cough has gone away too.

SO glad to hear this... I really was scared to death for an unfill because of all the previous times I gained so much back. This last small unfill is just perfect for me. I just have to make the right choices. I missed eating so many things when I was just grazing on small bites of this and that all day. I did the same thing!

Good luck with it!!!

[TwinMom]

Jacqui & Heather-

Do both of you have a post that details your weight loss journey that you could direct me to? Maybe something that shows your beginning point, and 3 month tracking points until now -- including fill dates & amounts?

I am trying to create an "inspirations" book (maybe somewhat similar to Bear's stalker wall ?? hahaha) and would like to include several of you that have been so successful..... but I want it to be only about 1 page for each person. Does that make sense?

(Heather I know you have a whole giant long thread -- but I was looking more for a summary of sorts.)

Thanks !

[Jachut]

No, I dont, and I dont even have any before pics since I never took any specific and all the pics of me before banding are non digital. I dont have a scanner here.

I couldnt possibly hope to remember when I had fills - what I can remember, my first was 1 cc at 8 weeks, then I had fills about every month for a couple of months and then it stretched out to six months, then a year. I got up to 3.1cc in a 4cc band I think and I just had .2cc out not becuase I was having terrible trouble but I just felt my eating habits had become sub-optimal and its made a big difference.

I lost weight more quickly at first, by the first year, I'd lost about 50lb, then I lost another 30lb the year after that and then it came off very very slowly after that, about another 15lb or so in the third year. So I've been a slowish loser, no world records broken here.

I was about 245lb, BMI 35-36 at 5ft 10, now I'm 150lb, BMI 21.5.

I eat a balanced diet from all food groups, I dont count, measure, weigh or avoid carbs. I prefer a non-diet approach and I run for an hour five days a week or so.

Hope that helps.