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HELLO MY NAME IS CARLOS AND I GOT BANDED ON JANUARY 4TH 2011.I THOUGHT THE LAP BAND WOULD WORK INSTANTLY AND REMOVE THE POUNDS IMMEDIATELY BOY WAS I WRONG. I STARTED OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT TO BEGIN WITH. I NEVER FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH THE PRE-OP DIET INSTEAD I ATE UNTILL THE LAST DAY AS MUCH AS I COULD CAUSE I KNEW I WOULDNT BE ABLE TO EAT FOR A WHILE THAT WAS STRIKE ON. THEN AFTER GETTING THE BAND I ATE SOUP 3DAYS AFTER THE PROCEDURE I COULDNT TAKE THE HUNGER PAINS THAT WAS STRIKE TWO. THEN I WENT FOR MY FIRST FILL AND GOT 2CC'S INTO THE BAND AND FELT MINOR RESTRICTION BUT CONTINUED TO EAT AND EXPECTED TO LOSE WEIGHT.I LOST WEIGHT BUT NOT LIKE I THOUGHT I WOULD.I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO LOOK LIKE THE PEOPLE ON THE BILLBOARD BY THE 2ND MONTH WHAT WAS I THINKING I KEPT GOING IN FOR FILL AFTER FILL I AM AT 7CC'S MY BAND HOLDS 14 SO I AM AT HALF. I STARTED OFF AT 296 POUNDS AND HIT A ROUGH SPOT AT 265 AND COULDNT LOSE WEIGHT AND COULDNT FIGURE OUT WHY BUT ITS BECAUSE I DIDNT WANT TO SEE WHY. I WAS EATING EVERYTHING THAT I WAS EATING BEFORE THE LAP BAND AND I DIDNT EXERCISE AT ALL I EXPECTED THE LAP BAND TO DO ALL THE WORK. SO INSTEAD OF GOING IN FOR ANOTHER FILL I STARTED WORKING OUT AND RUNNING AND ATE HEALTHY LIKE I WAS SUPPOSED TO I AM STILL AT 7CC'S AND DOWN TO 241 POUNDS. I HAVE LOST A TOTAL OF 55 POUNDS IN 5 AND A HALF MONTHS I GO TO THE GYM EVERY DAY AND HERES THE KICKER MY JOB PAYS FOR MY 24 HOUR FITTNESS MEMBERSHIP. I WAS WRONG TO THINK THAT THE LAP BAND WOULD DO ALL THE WORK IT WASNT TILL I DIDNT SEE PROGRESS THAT I REALIZED THAT IT WAS JUST A TOOL IT TAKES A LOT OF HARD WORK AND MENTAL TOUGHNESS TO LOSE THE WEIGHT. IM NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND SAY THAT I HAVE NEVER GAVE IN TO TEMPTATION CAUSE I HAVE BUT I HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT I HAVE A GOAL TO ACCOMPLISH. FOR THOSE WHO ARE THINKING OF GETTING THE LAP BAND I HOPE THIS STORY HELPS ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS AND FOR THOSE THAT ALREADY HAVE THE LAP BAND MAY THIS HELP MOTIVATE YOU IF YOU ARE STRUGGLEING

Congrats!!! I heard single incision is awesome! I'm guessing this is #10, so... 10. Think of all the money you'll save on your future health!! (Eating out, Dr.'s visits)

You should be measuring, and weighing your food, and recording your calories, either on paper or myfitnesspal.com is free, and I see a lot of people belong there including me. I stay between 800-1200 calories a day, and 60-80G of Protein a day. If you do this, and practice putting the fork down while you are chewing, and Waite about 30 seconds until you take another small bite, and chew, chew, chew. You won't have to worry about stretching your pouch. That comes from stuffing yourself to much, and that's not what this band is all about. So until you get filled,,,, you might as well practice the wright way of doing this. Otherwise if your eating habits are poor, you are going to be stuck, and learning will be a little harder with a fill. This way if you make a small mistake, you won't be stuck. This is up to you, but it is a good thought. Shirley.

What you're dealing with is really common as the swelling from surgery goes down. If you stick to measuring out your meals and finishing the food when your plate is empty, not when you feel full, you'll be doing yourself a favor. Most people don't have any restriction from just the band alone-- they need to get fills to start feeling restriction. Also, most people have no problems swallowing stuff before they've had fills. Continue taking small bites so you'll be used it it when your fills start!

I think it's funny all the contradictory replies to the original post, which happens to be good information from a doctor. AVOID not ELIMINATE. Every one of us bandsters has broken all 4 of those rules and that's why we all are (or were) fat. Just because we've lost weight doesn't make any of us experts in weight loss. I bet with a few minutes of research, we'd all find that the facts back up what she has posted.

1. What's so wrong with white flour and white sugar? lol. The only different between a whole grain/wheat flour is the Fiber content in most cases. If anything the macronutrient profile differs very slightly. 2. Mm processed food. 3. But I like Chick fil A. 4. See #3. In the end, I think these "rules" are helpful to people who aren't the most aware of what they're eating. We all got the band for portion purposes (or so I think most people did) and in my case/lifestyle/diet, I can eat white flour, sugar, processed food, and fast food..in moderation. I think that rule goes for anyone; fat, obese, skinny, underweight, or the average sized person. Moderation moderation moderation. There's no one size fits all diet, thank god. I wish I'd have known that when I was first banded. While cutting out carbs helped me lose most of my weight, I now know that carbs didn't make me fat; I made me fat, my lifestyle made me fat. If I knew I could lose weight and eat ice cream, Cookies, fast food, etc. etc then I think my journey would have been even easier. Oh well. Good "rules" but I don't think they need to be long term rules at all.

What you're going to find after you're eating solids again, and getting on with your banded life, is that your INTEREST in food will be as high as ever, but your NEED to eat like you once did will be reduced. You can still go out, you can do what you want, but you won't be as tied to the food involved. I go out all the time, eat in restaurants frequently, and I have a great social life. And I've also lost a lot of weight while doing so. My family and friends have learned not to worry about me - that I'll find something to eat at the event or in the restaurant that suits me. And they can eat like they always did. Above all, the social aspects of my life are actually better than ever, because I'm not hunkered down over a plate or two of food, stuffing my face the whole time. I actually have the option of participating in the conversation or whatever, without having to keep one eye on the food table, waiting for them to cut the cake, or whatever. It's life-changing to be freed from the chains of eating all the time. Dave

Once you are healed, you will be able to eat the same amount as before you had surgery. You're in what's called "Bandster Hell". Once you get your first fill, your appetite should decrease and you won't be able to eat as much. At least that's what's happened to me Everyone is different though. Some people don't feel any different after the first fill and it takes a few fills to feel satisfied when you eat a smaller portion. Right now, it's all about willpower and making the right choices, and not eating until you are stuffed. You would have to overeat to the point of pain for months in order to stretch out your pouch, so no worries there. Always eat your protien first, don't "drink" your calories (soda, Starbucks, etc) and measure your portions so you know how much is enough. You'll get there!

Hello - I had my lap band surgery last November. I am now having sharp cramping pain in the upper part of my stomach that causes me to double over. It happens all the time, if I eat or don't eat.. It is kind of like a spasm.. Has anyone had this, and what have you done to make it go away. Any advise is greatly appreciated. Agapis:help:

Hello Bandsters - Four rules of healthy eating: 1. Avoid white flour and white sugar products. 2. Avoid any processed food. 3. Avoid any food advertised on TV 4. Avoid Fast Food chains. Respectfully submitted, Dr Kelly M. Fitzpatrick