Posts by rowdywalker34

Hey there, it’s been a while. I finally had my balloon removed on November 20th because I just couldn't deal with the constant bloating anymore. Honestly, getting it out felt like a total rebirth; I dropped 25 pounds and gained 2 back, but hey, I'm not sweating the small stuff. Unfortunately, I had a miscarriage on December 20th—turns out I didn't even realize I was pregnant, so... yeah. Still, they say everything happens for a reason, because after ten years, I actually managed to get pregnant for the first time, so we're gearing up to try again. As for the balloon, I’d recommend it to anyone; it quite literally changed my life.

Timothy Reed8, my dear, first off, I’m so sorry to hear that. Where did the short circuit happen?
I can't believe you don't have someone by your side to give you a little boost or some encouragement. Haven't you already learned that sulking when things go wrong doesn't actually help anyone?
The problems won't disappear, and a prince on a white horse isn't going to ride in to save you (let's face it, all the princes are taken nowadays, leaving us with nothing but old nags).🤣
Pull yourself together. Weren't you happy this morning when you stepped on the scale and saw you were down at least a couple of pounds instead of up?
As for me, I've wanted to rip this gastric balloon out myself a hundred times. I can't even remember the last time I didn't throw up or have acid reflux wake me up in the middle of the night. Instead of sleeping, I just lie there wondering what I was thinking—it would be so much easier if I could just tape my mouth shut and stop eating, but nooo.
We've both dragged ourselves this far, but now we have the chance to fix things and become who we haven't been in a long time: thinner, happier, and healthier. I'm heading to Nikolić tomorrow for my final checkup before they remove the balloon (Dec 30, 2008). I need to tell him about the vomiting, though I'm not exactly rushing to have the balloon removed before my scheduled date. Nobody's died from throwing up yet (at least, I hope 😍), so I'll tough out these next two months, come what may. I've lost about 48 pounds so far, and honestly, I feel great 😉 Fingers crossed for you.

😉Hajdić, it’s good to see some familiar faces here. Justin Davis2, I’m right there with Benjamin Sanchez51 regarding your balloon. Honestly, your best bet is to call the office on Vinogradski or just reach out to Nikolić directly to figure out the next steps, especially given how you've been feeling.

I started my research back in November 2007. It took me a little longer to get moving because I was dealing with a nasty bacterial infection, so I was stuck on a cocktail of meds, followed by three months of Controloc, then another endoscopy (where I burped like I’d swallowed all the air in the country). 😲
By then summer was hitting, and I figured I wouldn't get anywhere—with vacations coming up, who knows when I'd actually get seen. I almost threw in the towel, but thank God someone kept pushing me to stick with it.

It’s wild how much a person can change; Benjamin Sanchez51, you hit the nail on the head about how my relationship with food has shifted.
For instance, I used to think eating a juice, a stew, or a goulash without bread was impossible. I’d happily polish off some bread at 10 p.m.—once, during one of those late-night snacks, I actually cut myself and needed two stitches, so clearly someone upstairs was trying to give me a sign. 🤣 I’d even have a glass of milk with it. Now, the thought doesn't even cross my mind. Bread is strictly for breakfast now.
I actually stumbled upon the idea for the balloon through my aunt. I figured, hey, why not give it a shot? I’m so glad I did. I’ve already lost 24 pounds, and if I lose another 24, I’ll be over the moon. 🙏🙏

Nice work, congrats. You're clearly on my level now, and you'll be catching up to me before you know it. Honestly, that ridiculous bean dish should probably be illegal; I had a similar run-in myself 😠, and let's just say no more beans for me—at least not while I'm dealing with this bloating. Today, I'm sticking to the safe stuff: rice and chicken. Ma Nikša always seems pretty satisfied with things, or at least that's the impression I get.🙂

Hajdić, let's just say I'm doing better. I drifted off for a little nap again last night, but nothing serious—I feel like a new person today. Honestly, why bother stressing when a quick snooze makes everything better? Anyway, I have my checkup on October 1st. I think I figured out why I felt so nauseous. On Friday, I didn't eat anything until about 4 PM, and then I had that damn spinach that basically sent me into orbit. I know my issue is skipping meals; even though I've cut back and stopped eating after 6 PM, I mess up by not eating breakfast when I should. It throws my whole schedule off, and then when I finally put food in my stomach late in the afternoon, my blood sugar crashes. We all have our dietary flaws. Today was just some soup and a light juice. On the bright side, my husband is also struggling with his blood sugar—he actually just started insulin recently—so my wonderful mother cooks everything diet-friendly for us. Everything is going according to plan. I honestly can't believe I'm the only one here dealing with a gastric balloon; sometimes I go to the lap banding forums and read what the sleeve patients are saying, and there are tons of them, šmrc. I don't think you should have any trouble with just one cup of coffee a day. Treat yourself, you've earned it.

Hey. This weekend hasn't been great. I've been burping since Friday—it feels like everything just wants out. I might give Nikolić a call to see where I'm going wrong. Honestly, I weighed myself and I'm down 11.5 kg, but considering how much I've been throwing up, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
I occasionally treat myself to a coffee, but it absolutely wrecks my stomach afterward. These days, I'm sticking strictly to chamomile, rosehip, and mint tea, so I can't really weigh in on fruit teas when it comes to acid reflux.
Your leg magic seems steady; nobody can beat it. Meanwhile, I’m all curves and no substance lately, so I'll take whatever workout gear works. Must be nice that you can actually handle eggs—I can barely look at them without feeling sick.
I tried some green salad the other day because I hadn't tasted it in three months, but man, the acid reflux hit me hard the next day. I don't think I'll touch it again for a while. Now I'm just heading to bed, praying to God that I don't get any more reflux or nausea. Is that asking too much?
I just want to sleep peacefully tonight. Bokić

I usually take the long way around them, honestly; I'd much rather just grab a pizza than deal with all that. It’s like my mouth acts as its own little blender. I chew things so thoroughly that if I actually spat it out, even God wouldn't recognize what it used to be. A few times I haven't chewed enough, and then I end up burping like crazy—exactly what went in, comes right back out. Today was such a whirlwind at work that I didn't eat a thing until 4:00, just a coffee and nothing else. I finally grabbed a bite, and yeah, I know it's not the healthiest choice, but what can you do? If you have a sweet tooth or love desserts, I’d say treat yourself once or twice a week. Nobody's stopping us from enjoying things we actually like. For example, when we were down at the beach, I made my boyfriend some spaghetti carbonara—which we both absolutely love—and just went for it. I ate it around noon and didn't touch anything else but water for the rest of the day. If Nikolić knew about that, I think I'd be getting lectured for hours!
Look, I love myself too much to torture myself with that "you can't eat anything except what's on this strict diet" mentality. We're adults; we don't answer to anyone regarding our weight except ourselves.
As long as the pounds are coming off, nobody needs to say a word. Bokić

Hey, people say anything from 20 to 30 pounds is a win. I heard about one girl who dropped almost 30 pounds in six months, while another lost 45 in just four. There’s really no set rule; it all comes down to us. So don't beat yourself up—just relax and try not to overthink it right now. And no, you didn't ruin everything; you did exactly what you were supposed to do. Everything is moving along fine, just a little slower than expected. Honestly, I’m not much of a fruit person either, though I could probably inhale a whole jar of peach preserves if I wanted to. Is it just the two of us here in this weight loss club, or is everyone else just staying quiet?

😍I wouldn't be mad if I were her. My cousin tells me all the time that nothing seems to rattle me, no matter how hard people try to push my buttons. Honestly, I just value my peace of mind too much. Even when I’m close to snapping, I prefer to just tuck my feelings away and move on. Anyway, this whole "five small meals a day" thing feels like a total impossible mission right now. Even Nikolić just nodded in agreement when I told him I stick to three meals. It’s ridiculous—first they tell you not to eat, then they say you have to graze five times a day. Look, I either ate or I didn't. Like you said, if I have to spend my entire day obsessing over breakfast, then a mid-morning snack, then a light lunch, then fruit, and finally a big dinner... well, I might as well just take unpaid leave or quit my job entirely and see everyone again next year. By the time I finish all those scheduled feedings, forget about having a social life. Since I don't have a husband or kids to worry about yet, I'm basically my own toughest critic (literally). I didn't mention this earlier, but I stepped on the scale this morning—and yes, I did threaten to throw it off a tenth-story balcony if it didn't cooperate—and it sweetly informed me that I've lost a full 22 pounds. It was such a huge win that I almost took the day off to celebrate, but I managed to pull myself together. Catch you in the next one; stay healthy and happy. 🙂

😉Bokić. I lost about 12 pounds in my first month. Honestly, if I manage to drop 7 or 8 pounds any given month, I consider it a win. Benjamin Sanchez51, you asked if I'm eating five meals a day? Not even close—I can barely squeeze three in. My schedule is pretty standard, working 8 to 4, so I grab breakfast around 9 or 10, try to have some fruit or yogurt around 1 because waiting until I get home at 5 is just too long, and then finish up with my last meal between 5 and 6. I'm not sure if it’s 🙂anxiety or just a lack of appetite, but after 6 PM, I wouldn't touch a crumb. I used to overeat in the evenings and end up pacing around the house like a crazy person at night. I told myself that wasn't happening again. My mom actually talked me into getting one of those Leg Magic things, and it's actually decent. I use it in the morning and evening and feel great. I’ve been planning to go swimming since there's a pool right near my place, but I just haven't made the move yet. Motivation? Believe me, the best motivation is pulling an old piece of clothing out of the closet and realizing it finally fits, or catching my reflection in the mirror and seeing that my clothes don't cling quite as much as they used to. Anyway, talk to you all later—good luck with whatever goals you're chasing.

Hey ladies, I’m so glad I stumbled upon this little corner of the internet. I had my gastric balloon procedure back on July 1st, and honestly, I’ve already dropped 9 pounds—which feels like a massive win for me. My stomach definitely has a mind of its own sometimes, and we have our little disagreements, but I’m not letting it win. During my vacation, I actually had to sit down and have a "heart-to-heart" with my digestive system about five different times. We’ve finally reached a truce, though: I eat, and it does its thing. How is everyone else doing? I’ve got a follow-up appointment scheduled for October 1st, so we’ll see what the doctor has to say.