FLORIDAYS

welocme... all I do is got to the main forum page and read the topics I am interested in or now that I am almost to goal I will try to help answer questions from people considering the band. I access it on the PC, laptop and Ipad. I have the phone ap but its so small I dont like to use it. I dont think there are really any specific rules.... I have been here 2 years and havent broken one yet... I dont think. Welcome!

You have recieved great info thus far... so here is mine since you are thirsty for it... I was like you.. poo poo'ed the band and anything else "drastic" for a while... I hd pretty much decided I was meant to be fat.....until I started doing my research on the band. What kind of scaring is there? 2-4 dots? I had 4 cuts. I do not see any scarring now at all. I am 22 months out. Can you feel the lap band around your stomach? Can you feel the fill port from the outside? You cannot feel the band.. its around your stomach which is behind your liver. I can and I believe most people can feel their port at some point. It feels like a rock to the touch but it doesnt hurt or bother me in any way. It protrudes a little bit now that I am almost to goal but no one would notice except me. I have worn a 2 pc bathing suit and tight tops and no one can see it beneath the skin. I have let a few people touch it... and they say it just feels like a hard spot above my waist about the size of a small egg. What happens when you are sick and you have to vomit? Can you actually vomit? This scares the hell out of me, btw. Its not really vomitting. Its more like alot of spit mixed in with food and its gross. It happens to me if I eat too much or too fast.... or if I eat something my band doesnt like ... rice, greasy or fatty foods. Its not like throwing up hard like if you are sick... and if it is you need to see the Dr because that is not healthy. How long do you wear it? The rest of my life? If so, does it need replaced at any point? I was told I can have it removed anytime. But why would I? I do not think I have that much discipline... then it would be just like the other hundreds of diets... you lose weight...get off the diet and gain it all back. No matter how well I have done I think removing it would be disasterous. What are the complications that you have heard of? Give it to me straight, please! The lap-band websites are all gooshy happy about their product. The band slipping is the biggest complication I know about. I have read stories about other stuff but according to my doctor its rare the band slips with out help...meaning you have to be doing something wrong like drinking carbonation, or washing food down with Water...something to work against the band instead of working with it. And is it realistic to eat portions like I have the lap band and be satisfied? Realistically, I have very poor portion control and no sensation of full until I've really overdone it. I don't know if I trust myself to even do this diet, if it exists, however I'll have to do it regardless, I guess. Do not get banded unless you are committed to change the way you are eating . Even today I eat so little that it surprises me. But I also make healthy choices. I weigh and measure everything. I count evert calorie that goes in my mouth and when I have had 1000 for the day I am done. But what surprises me more is how much the rest of the world eats. Their portions are just like mine used to be. At McDonalds...I could eat a 1/4 lb burger fries and soda plus another cheeseburger and apple pie for lunch. and then have dinner 6 hrs later. Today I would spit up the 4 fries I might be able to eat after about 15 minutes because they are too greasy... and forget the other stuff... I hope this helps you. Only you can decide if its right for you and it is drastic so you want to be 100% committed before you embark on the journey. Best of luck to you!

Everyone is different. I didnt and do not do any exercise per se but I walk daily 1-2 miles. I have lost 209lbs in the past 22 months. I count calories and do not allow myself any food than 3-4 oz protien, 1/2 c veggies and 1/2 startch at each meal with the exception of 2 100 calorie Snacks. I would say your band is working but as elcee said you may need a small fill if you can eat more than 6oz of food at a time.

I have sympathy.... it was the 5th day before I started feeling human on the pre op liquid. Its a huge shock to the system. You can do this!

I never thought about it... I just ate whatever and whenever. Now I think before I eat. I ask myself if I am really hungry or just bored, upset, mad etc. If I think I am hungry I drink water or something else and that usually makes me forget about it. If not I will grab a healthy snack limited to under 100 calories.

You have very little restriction now... so you need to govern your eating so you lose wight during this time. Once you get a fill you still may not have enough restriction until you hit the green zone which for me took about 4 fills and 4 months During that time....you need to weigh, measure and track your calories or you most likely will not lose. I doubt you hurt your band so dont worry... but do start writing down everything you eat... and I mean everything. If you can use a phone ap..its easier and calculates the math for you. This way you can see what you need to eliminate.

On a typical work day morning I wake at 6a and leave at 7a....try to drink 8oz of Water on the way to work... 30-45 min commute. I bring a sugar free instant Breakfast to work and put it in the fridge and drink it about 9am. Then about 10 or 11 depending on the day I will have a 1/2 banana. On weekends or mornings that I am home I dont even attempt to eat until I have been awake 3 hrs or so and then its light... 1/2 piece wheat toast and 1 over medium egg usually.

everyone is different. If I do not chew thoroughly, eat too fast,or too much it technically goes down but then it will come back up. Its not a violent throw up... its more like ... imagine if you swallowed a piece of hard candy and you caught yourself and were able to bring it back up. Its kind of like that for me but its not voluntary. Now if I eat anything fatty... it will take longer and then start coming back up about 30 minutes after I eat. It isnt painful...just gross.

that does sound very fun! What a wonderful idea!

I was walking around the house the day after surgery... then on the third day I startred walking around my yard. I didnt venture for a longer walk for a few weeks... as it was 2 weeks before I felt like myself

I am 22 months into my journey I have lost 209 pounds ....granted I am not fat anymore ....but it wasn't that long ago and I'm happy to answer any questions to help someone else get to their goals

I weighed 377 pounds I am 5'9" my BMI was 55 Today I weighed 168... I have a normal BMI and I have lost 209 lbs. I would like to lose 18 more pounds. I believe the band works for people of all sizes.

I wasn't sick but had some kind of allergic reaction to something because I started sneezing in the recovery room And continued until I finally fell asleep at night in my own bed. My doctor said he had never heard of somone sneezing but the hospital was being renovated in a section near post op and it may have triggered an alergic reaction. the nurses felt so bad so called him and he prescribed me some Benadryl which of course made me sleepy but I was in and out in seven hours and other than the sneezing had no problems

I would think it would be the same as when you first interviewed drs while deciding to get banded. I called 5. Spoke to 3 in person and settled on 1. One of the reasons I did was the staff, the references and the drs willingness to answer every question I had without the fluff. I needed to know the medical answers but more importantly what he offered to help me get to my goal if I did everything he instructed.

Like the others have said.... The first few weeks are the hardest to get in your fluids... But even now ...22months out I have to remind myself to drink water... Especially when it's cooler weather. Or freezing in your office space like mine is.

Measuring my food and counting calories was my contribution to helping my band give me the maximum benefit and it worked. I truly belief if you don't do that you won't have the results you desire. Best of luck to you...

I am freezing all the time now that I am down almost to goal.. Granted it better than sweating when I climbed 4 steps but it drives me nuts remembering a sweater all the time.

My band wasn't installed with any fill. However I had restriction until the 5th or 6th week ... Then it was like... Oh my goodness I think I need my first fill, I was very strict with myself and especially when I Knew I didn't have any saline in my band. I lost 20 lbs just eating 1000 calories a day before I had a fill.

HI ...Good for you for gatering the info to make a wise educated decision. I will answer your questions but the best advise I can give you is ... if you do exactly as your Dr says you will be successful with the band. If not you run the risk of failing. The band is a tool and will do 70% of the owrk for you. You must be willing to do the other 30%. 1. My pre op diet was 5 Optifast shakes a day. I was allowed Water, broth and 2 sugar free popsicles in addition to the shakes. My diet lasted 2 weeks pre op. I lost 22 lbs. It taught me I can live without food. I can function on 800 calories each day and it shrunk my liver for a successful surgery. 2. Post Op I was on clear liquid for 1 week. The 2nd week I was on creamy liquids and the 3rd week I was on mushies. 3. I do not eat like I did pre op. SOme of the foods might be the same but I only eat 3-4 oz of protien, 1/2 c veggies and 1/4 c starch at each meal so I cannot even compare the two. If I have a hamburger it isnt from McDonalds and I only eat 2-3 bites of it without the bun. 4. No one can tell you how bad it will or wont get. Mine didnt get thin at all. My friend was banded and hers didnt fall out either. So if you have nice hair I wouldnt worry. And should it thin out the odds are it will regrow. I did take Biotin however just in case. 5. I have had zero complicaitons and I have lost 208 lbs since being banded 22 months ago. I believe that if you follow your Drs orders, eath the roper portions, track your calories and view the way you think you need food... you will be successfull. All the best to you. I hope you make an informed decision

I have thought about it several times...but I am too chicken to inflict pain on myself for no valid reason...LOL I shiver at the thought of being 90 years old with a tatoo I cannot imagine putting anything on my skin I wouldnt get tired of. Shoot... I change my couch every 5-8 yrs because I get tired of looking at it. I would have to find a spot that isnt sagging and that would be tough! But more power to you... any reward is a good one!! And if that makes you happy...go for it! Good luck on your journey.

I am a scale addict. I know I should weigh myself weekly but I am on it morning and night. My thought is that I never owned a scale and look where it got me.... I know... from one extreme to the other. LOL Best of luck on your journey!

As jups said its really an individual thing... but for me I lost an average of 10 lbs each month for the first 20 months... Now that I am less than 20 lbs from goal its coming off slower but I am also not as strict with myself as I was to lose the first 200. I ate 1000 calories a day and did not exercise other than walking. That may not be for everyone but it worked for me. Good luck

I doubt your Dr will yell at you. And as much as your daughter had good intentions she isnt a bariatric surgeon so I wouldnt let her do the fill. You need to make an appointment... start over and get back on track.

I am sagging.... I have lost 208 lbs and I am 52 so time isnt on my side. Its not as bad as it I thought it might be but my belly button frowns, my upper arms droop, the girls are flat and my thighs and butt are pretty saggy. On the bright side I am healthy and thin and look great in clothes and will still wear a bathing suit. And if the time comes that I feel the need I will explore medical assistence.

My dr doesn't advocate protein shakes. He prefers I get my protein from food.