has anyone tried wine with their balloon in i love a glass but been scared to try i have terrible heartburn so i guess it wont help it.

Hi from newcomer, Marpic
I had my balloon inserted on 27th Jan, & lost 2k in first week, but this week I'm not so sick and getting hungry all the time, & have put back 1k. I panicked and called my doctor, who suggested to try eating 1/2 serves to see if still hungry, but I was still hungry! She said that my stomach initially closes in around the balloon, but eventually relaxes so I can eat more. But today I felt full again after a small bowl of porridge for breakfast, then had a glass of water and felt really stuffed! So I think the balloon is working again - at least I don't crave stodge - cakes or bread anymore. Has anyone else experienced this?

Hi Marpic!

With regards to your post - I have pretty well the same problems! Initially it really freaked me out, mainly as I have a friend with a gastric band and so I expected to be the same as her (i.e. that I'd be physically unable to eat too much and would be sick if I did). So when I could eat a lot I thought 'OMG, it's failed'. But after speaking to my dietician/counsellor I realised that although I CAN eat too much, I don't feel the need to. Does that make sense?

So anyway, I have settled in to the routine now. I limit what I eat in one sitting by using small plates, weighing things etc. I'm not always 'full' when I finish but I leave it and normally feel satisfied in less than half an hour. To help with the emotional eating side of things I've had some hypnotherapy. This seems to be working really well. I've also started working out.

I think that, for people like you and I, it initially seems annoying that the balloon isn't performing as well as other people's balloons - and it's frustrating (and really hard at times) to rely on willpower alone to stop overeating. However, I also think that if you can use the balloon as an adjunct to weight loss and to developing better eating habits, then there won't be the rebound weight gain when the balloon is taken out.

Hope that the above helps a bit. Best of luck! Xx

Hi Zoton
thanks for your reply. It now seems like some days I feel full and don't need to eat much, while other days, like today, I am constantly hungry (physical hunger, not emotional hunger) and need to eat more, but I'm trying to stick to 3 meals a day on my hungry days, with no snacks and drinking a glass of water after meals to fill up. Also I have discovered that certain meals are more satisfying, like porridge and soup (not together!). I still have no desire for sweet or stodgy food, which I used to like before, so that's a bonus. I don't think I'm going to lose weight as quickly as I thought I would, but that's OK, as long as I'm still losing, and, as you say, I might be able to keep it off easier once the balloon is out. Also, it's summer down under, and at 44c in the shade, I don't feel much like eating anyway, but have to watch the "liquids" (wine, champagne, etc.)

I find I get very full very easily myself. I feel like Im eating so much less than normal, but the weight loss is slow. I lost a large amount the first few weeks (9 pounds) but then the week after was half a pound and then I think a pound this week. still Im happy its going down slowly and I was never about to do that with dieting. Id love to know how much others lost week to week from week 1.

So far have lost 2k (in first week, this is my 4th week)...I lost weight in the first week - mainly due to sickness, but since I've been feeling better have been eating more and not losing. My doctor and dietician never suggested any specific eating plan other than to have liquids, then mushy food for first few days till I got used to the balloon. By the 2nd week I had got used to it and became very hungry - like my body was trying to make up for the deprivation of the 1st week. She said that my appetite would not decrease but that I should be satisfied with smaller meals and not to snack between meals. I do feel full after a smaller amount, but then get hungry between meals - some days more than others and especially at night.

It's a while till my next doctor appt., so I have been trying to stick to Weight Watchers menu plans for the past week, which seems to be working, as most info I've seen on the Net recommends to follow a diet & exercise plan for the best weight loss. My next step is to get back into regular exercise, so will do some aquarobics at the local pool. Seems ironic that I had the balloon procedure as a last resort so I wouldn't have to go on a diet anymore, but here I am on a diet again! But at least I'm finding it easier to have smaller portions and have lost my desire for cakes and sugary food (for now...)

Im going tommorrow to new you in prague, i will keep you informed xxx

how are you getting on now x

Thank, am having second thoughts x

I imagine its only natural chic, don't worry.. I think it will be worth it.

''nothing tastes as good as skinny feels''

Keep thinking this, Try not to worry! xx

Good luck hun! xx

i've had this feeling for the last few weeks im hungry all the time but feel really sick.if i bend over to pick something up i feel like there is something in the bottom of my throat that is trying to come up.my weight like yours went down abit and then stopped.im ringing the clinic today to ask to have it taken out asap.

Im doing good, it will be 6 weeks on friday and I am down 13 pounds. the last 3 weeks Ive only been loosing a pound per week, but at least its not gone up like some people.

I still have my moments where I think 'what have I done' and want it out, but for the most part I dont feel the balloon. I dont exercise much as I find I can feel the balloon when I start to move around a lot.

I have tried so many diets so to be down 13 pounds in 6 weeks is amazing for me and I hope to continue the loss.

i think you just had the balloon put in, how are you doing?

Hey Hun, How are you??
Well I decided to go ahead and have the gastric balloon with new-you instead of prague beauty...
So just wondering if you could tell me what its like there, the clinic..
If you can, email me.. my email address is michellemccormack 320 at y.a.h.o.o Dot ie - I have wrote my email ad like this cos sometimes the forums remove them, so there is no spaces and no dots except for the last one
Be brilliant if you could just let me know, I am having it done on friday so I will only be a week behind you............
How are u feeling now..? michelle

Hi all quick update i had my 6th weigh in today and my total loss is 26lb to date. People are noticing now feeling great. Keep up the good work everyone summer will soon be here Lol.