Leaderboard

We're not talking long term here, just the healing phase. It is dangerous to cheat during this stage, you risk the ling term health of your band by doing so. During this time your stomach needs to be kept as still as possible, so that scar tissue can develop tp hold your band in place. If you eat solid food you disrupt this process. If you're hungry during the liquid phase, all you can do is have more liquids! In my humble opinion if you cheat during this stage and think youve gotten away with it, then dont come crying to this forum when your band slips in two years time. And dont blamevyour surgeon either. Aftervhealing, i tend to lean towards the moderate, a little bit of everything in sensible amounts kind of lifestyle. Id rathervlose weight by cutting off a leg than by the sorts of diets some people live on here, but you yourself pointedvout that we're all different and must each findvwhat works for us.

Girl, you will get through this and you will be better off for it! You have lost yourself through this marriage and now it's time to recapture the essence of who you really are and what you can be! I went through a divorce years ago and it wasn't easy-never is. Stay strong and focused. To me, you sound like an amazingly strong person. Deciding to get a divorce and turning your life around atthis point take a tremendous amount of courage-good for you! And deciding to have the lapband was another life-changing decision! You just capapulted your life into a new direction and it will be difficult and scary at first, but then you will land on your feet and realize that life can be a happy and you deserved to be loved and cherished. I love this quote: "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.' We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing Enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Oh I have definitely been in your shoes! I had my surgery on May 25th and a week or 2 after surgery I lost some weight but then I barely lost anything-a very slow process! I started all this self-doubt thinking that maybe this surgery wouldn't work for me. I still could eat pretty much anything and was becoming discoraged. Slowly after each fill I could sense myself inching towards the "Green Zone" and out of the stage they calle "Bandster Hell" (<--the period of time that weight lost is low and hunger is high). Then my 4th fill did the trick -3 months after surgery! I still get hungry but I simply can not eat normal sized portions and my weight loss keeps going down (slowly-but steady). Yesterday I was trying on coats-last year I was a 20/22 or 2x and yesterday I stood in front of the Macy's mirror with a size 14 coat on!! A friggen 14!! I LOVE to go clothes shopping now! I actually feel sexy now and I haven't felt that in many, many years. My point is-you are still in the very beginning stages and you don't have the correct fill to get you into the green zone. With each fill you recieve it will get you closer. Before you know it you will be looking in the mirror and thinking "Wow, I look good!" Keep summer in mind-by summer time you'll be looking fabulous and feeling so much healthier! Meanwhile try to eat healthy foods and get out and take walks, drink plenty of Water, vitiamins, get your Proteins in so you don't feel the hunger monster as much. You will get there son enough!

I don't think anyone is encouraging him to cheat. He asked a question and people are answering him. Truthfully, I started eating solids in my mushy stage. Hi, my name is Raquel and I'm not perfect! I love how so many people on this website are perfect though, lol.

I don't know you, but we've had a few posters from the "web site whose name must not be spoken", and at first, I suspected you might be one. I guess not. It's pretty clear you got screwed by a bunch of quacks and I'm surprised you're not going after them if your account is accurate. This is exactly why I recommend Centers of Excellence. Many people think they can't afford them, but how do you know if you don't ask? Band surgery is quite profitable if the surgeon doesn't provide any support other than anesthesia. Fills are a very simple procedure, the actual fill takes 2 minutes. You can go to any of a hundred clinics to get one. As far as the band itself, I can provide reliable statistics that the band is easier and more reliable and dependable than any other WLS provided it's done by a qualified surgeon. I don't want to make an enemy of you, even when you introduce yourself the way you did, and if there is any help (other than financial) I can give you, I'll be happy to.

I've been banded five weeks and have not lost any weight since the second week in. I get my first fill next week. For me, its easy to forget about the band. I have had a good recovery and am able to eat just about any kind of food. Old habits rear their ugly head on occasion. I'm a stress eater and as we all know, there is A LOT to be stressed about! Everyday, I wrap my head around the process a little bit more. One of the biggest factors in my journey was the nutritionist looking me square in the face and tell me what I need to eat. No more "what I don't need to eat". I need Protein, I need veggies, I need Vitamins, etc. Reading the message board helps. I get to see that there are people out there just like me. We have good days, and sometimes bad days. Hope for more good days than bad. Don't beat yourself up, that won't help. (I know because I have a lot of experience in that, ha) I know LapBand surgery is not the complete answer, but, it gives me motivation. I spent a lot of money and time getting here and I'm not going back. I'm exercising, drinking Water, eating healthier and I'm ready for a change. So, keep going! If what you are doing isn't working, do something different. Food diaries are great. You can look back and see exactly what you have taken in.

This is so AMAZING! These results are WONDERFUL! I love seeing all this as it motivates me so much and keeps me hopeful on those not so great days!

Keep on keeping on everyone! You are all doing great and need to look forward and don't get discouraged, I was banded on 3/3/10 so it has been nine months and I have lost 70 pounds, 5 away from goal. I love my band and love the way I feel!

I was just at the surgeon's office for my first fill. I also met with my exercise physiologist and my dietician. Dietician has recommended 600 - 800 calories for the next 6 weeks, telling me it's okay to "splurge" once per week and eat 1,000 calories. I checked and double checked. That is her recommendation. I can't speak for the long term, but for now 600 - 800 calories is it.