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Good morning fellow bandsters!! I had surgery 12/9/10 and I'm doing well. As you can see from my ticker, I'm over halfway to my goal. It feels great! I'm registered to run a 5k next month. I would have never thought a year ago that I would be doing this. I have been training for it and I can easily run the entire thing nnow. Before, going to the mailbox was hard. I think alot of times we focus solely on the numbers on the scale instead of the other great things happening on this journey. Things like losing inches, eating less, getting more active, eating healthier and just having a different mindset about our health. And as some of know....it has to start in the mind before the body follows. For those just starting out or only a few months post op...hang in there. I was discouraged too. The scale wasn't moving fast enough, I thought that I would just start dropping weight after surgery and continue until I got to goal. That didn't happen. I thought that the band would just stop me from eating. That didn't happen. I was discouraged because I wanted bigger fills and my doc was only doing small amounts at a time. Now in hindsight, I'm glad that they were small amounts because it gave me time to wrap my head around the lifestyle changes I needed to make. For the new bandsters or the ones struggling, keep your appointments, schedule nutrition visits, join a support group. I truly believe that post op care is critical. Sorry this is so long, but I wanted to share this with everyone. Good luck!!

With the exception of one or two, the only people I see complaining (or freaking out) are those who have recently been banded. Most are still in the healing post-op phase. Did not gain all your weight in 30 days, can't expect miracles right away. All weight loss at that time is from the pre-op and post-op diet regime. Sooner or later you will be on regular food. Then you have to learn to live and use the band. It took me 3-4 months before things started to fall in place. Six months till everything started to work the way I had hoped it would. And I am still learning things all the time.

Take it from an old chick, you have beaten yourself up enough, it is time to love you, cra cra and all! Give yourself postive and no more of this negative stuff. You are on a journey for you, slow down and enjoy it. Just becuase the scale does not move does not mean that your body is not adjusting to the new you. You want to talk about scale obession, i weight after i go to the bathroom hoping i will be down a littel, got to get scale out of the house. dont let it dictate your progress, i bet you feel pretty good until you step on it? come on we are in this together all the way to the end! dont give up, please!

It sounds to me like you know the score and you're just venting. Vent away! It IS frustrating and counter-intuitive and we all want to be the exception to the "healing period" rule. I think no matter how educated we are pre-band, there is a still part of us that really thinks that we'll wake up two weeks after surgery and have lost 30 lbs overnight. Don't go cray-cray on us (It's not the oatmeal)

I'm surprised your doctor has not told you that the 6 weeks after your surgery is NOT for losing weight. You should NOT get on the scale, and just try to relax and heal. I was banded on September 1st. Yes, I have lost some weight, but it finally stopped. I am on soft foods and finally can eat pretty much anything I want, but am getting fuller way faster than ever before. When I saw the doctor and nutritionalists they both said this time is NOT to focus on losing weight in the least, and that some people even gain some weight during this period, especially when you go back onto regular foods. Both of them said to concentrate on listening to my body, paying attention to the signals of feeling full, to eat healthy foods and not junk, start exercising (only 30-45 minutes and can only lift up to 20 lbs for the next 4 weeks + doctor said to only exercise 3-4 times a week and no more) Healthy food and exericse and health is what this time if for, and time for the body to re-adjust and get ready for the weight loss to come. Good luck and stop driving yourself NUTS

The thing I always think, but rarely say when someone posts this - the help me, I've gone off track threads - is that the very act is indicating the fact that you're still not facing the responsibility and consequences of your choices. The very decision of how to frame it - not "what are some motivational tips" but "someone please help me" is telling - its more than just a coincidental choice of words, its pleading for someone to come and make it all right so that you dont have to do it yourself. And that inability to accept responsibility is a prime trait in every single overweight person. The ones who succeed are the ones who suddenly understand that weight loss really IS simple, if you simply accept the fact that you make choices and you wear the consequence. But read through this board and you'll see its endemic - I'm fat for this reason, for that reason, I cant lose weight because I'm stressed, or I have a bad hip and cant exercise (so somehow that means I'm excused for my diet as well), yada yada yada. That victim mentality is alive and well, whether it causes obesity or is a result of obesity I cant figure out, but one thing is true - ditching it is the single most important step towards a thin life. You do sound like a fill might be a good idea though - this tool doesnt work that well if you dont keep it tuned up. Honestly, everyone here has sympathy for the situation you're in, everyone here has been there, and everyone here knows what its like. But only YOU can fix it. Think about it, on a deep level. We can all give you support, which you deserve like everyone deserves. We can all tell you what works for us in this situation or that, which can sometimes give you food for thought or even lead to a lightbulb moment where you suddently get it. But we cant truly help you, you have to do that yourself. What do you want more - ice cream or a healthy thin body? Its that simple. You just have to choose.

What has been most important to me has been counting calories very closely if you look @ the calorie count on most of the mushies they are kinda high. I recommend splitting your protein drink in half it too can have alot of calories most times your kinda full half way through the drink anyway. Drink the rest later on. Also egg whites in the carton are great low calories but fulfilling add a TBS of salsa it's only 10 calories. The sugar free jello is also low in calories try one if you get too hungry between meals some are only 5 calories. A moderate amount of fish and vegetables steamed or baked so that they are nice and soft should fill you up and keep the calorie count down. Water and crystal light are great for hydration and also help you stretch the time between meals. Exercise is the key as you become more active the more you will eat add exercise and your well on your way. I'm new at this too but I've learned alot reading others post and from self experience good luck

I also started mushies this week and though there was no weight gain, I have lost only .5 lb here and there. As far as eating during this phase, I try to add unflavored Isopure protein powder to almost any of my mushy meals (cream of whole wheat, yogurt, soups, sugar free jello, etc...). It helps me get enough protein in for the day without adding too many calories and I think that's the hardest part of this phase, since I'm still not allowed to eat meat or fish or other forms of animal protein that have a decent amount of protein per serving. I am still weighing myself twice a week, which I know some people would disapprove of, but it's my way of keeping track of what's going on, and for now I feel I need to do it. Also, are you exercising yet? It's very important to start moving as soon as you feel able to. That really helps the weight loss (in combo with your post-op diet). I started walking very slowly 3rd day after surgery, then have been increasing to 2-3 miles a day or 30 minutes on the elliptical at slow to moderate pace, depending on how I'm feeling that day. I think that helps too. I don't have as much experience as some of the other responders, but I've been told the same things about plateauing and also about not worrying so much about the pounds dropping until after you get the fill (but I think we still worry because it's hard not to think that way after all this time Good luck!

I have searched and searched other websites, forums,etc. and connot find an answer to this question. HOW LONG AFTER LAP BAND REMOVAL CAN YOU EAT NORMALLY AGAIN??? I got my band in 2006 and was successful with it for the first few years. Then I started having problems...a lot of induced vomiting because nothing much would go down and would always get stuck. I suffered with this for a long time. I went through fills and unfills, etc. But several weeks ago, I got to where I could not eat anything and then could not even digest liquids, even Water. I went to my doctor and he removed all of the Fluid from my band. Still nothing would go down. I ended up going to the ER and was admitted and the next day they did emergency surgery to remove my band. Doctor said it had eroded. It has now been 7 days since my removal surgery and I am still finding it difficult to eat even soft foods (pudding, Soup, etc). I can do Clear Liquids fine, but am still feeling that "stuck" feeling and have vomited 3 or 4 times. Perhaps I am impatient, but I was under the impression that after a few days of healing, I could begin eating soft foods again and then gradually move on to regular foods. I know my stomach is still probably swollen from the surgery, but I am frustrated (you would be too if you hadn't eaten anything in over 12 days). I see my doctor in 2 days, but can anyone else shed some light for me. If you had your band removed, what was your experience, recovery time, days it took to eat again, etc. Any input would be greatly appreciated. I am not interested at this time in the sleeve or any other type of weight loss surgery, so I would appreciate it if your comments were on subject. Thank u so much !!!

I think I can read elcee and the anatomy meaning where the organs are placed not the size of them. I think I know anatomy since I have been in the medical field for 25 years. Everyones stomach is the same size.