Swan56

Also try to switch up on your cardio. Maybe the elliptical some days, the bike others, the treatmill. Mix in some weight training... Your body gets used to the same thing and it becomes less effective on weight loss. Good luck!

I, too, LOVE ZUMBA!!! I've always been a fan of dancing and it just looked fun so I tried. I thought I would get lost and feel out of place. Not true at all. I started in the Zumba for beginners class at the Y. The instructor actually told me after class that she thought I would do great in the regular class. While I may have natural rhythm, I'm not a small girl by any means. I was probaby about 285 lbs in my first zumba class and noone stared or looked at me like I was out of place. In fact, some of the women in class actually encouraged me and invited me to other classes with them. Don't be embarassed to go try it out. I'm telling you, it is so fun! I sweat so much more in a 50 minute Zumba class than the same amount of time on the treadmill, bike, or elliptical. And, it works your muscles a LOT so that will help you continue to burn calories even after you're done. Zumba is a great thing!

When I get too full I notice I will hiccup or burp. I have learned to stop eating when I don't feel hungry anymore - not when I feel full. I noticed as a fat person, I didn't really know what full felt like. I liked what I ate so I ate it until I thought I was full and sometimes ended up too full. If you stop when you're no longer hungry, you don't have to worry about those embarassing long weird band burps or an uncomfortable feeling. I actually have a new outlook on food. While, at times, I still crave some of the "bad" food - I often don't really want them. They normally don't get along well with my band and getting stuck is NOT WORTH IT! If you notice you're craving something bad - go eat something good and normally you will forget your "craving." I have a new found friendship with popsicles and pudding when I'm craving sweets. They do so much less damage. I don't drink sodas anymore and I haven't had a beer in months. I will settle for a glass of wine every now and then. It's nice to know that the choices I'm making will help me reach my goal - being thinner really makes me happy! Trying on smaller clothes and realizing they fit is a phenomenal feeling! Learn your body and learn to use your band to your benefit. You'll get the hang of it

12 pounds since surgery when you were only banded 5 weeks ago is very good!!! Please remember, no matter how hard it is, not to compare yourself to others. We all have different body types as well as different amounts of fat and muscle. I was really upset with myself when I had only lost 5 lbs in 4 weeks (UGH) but when I went for my next appointment, turns out I was actually down 14 lbs of fat and up in muscle. So remember that your body is changing and as long as you're losing pounds and inches, you're moving in the right direction. I'm about 10 weeks out from surgery and only down about 20 lbs since surgery - that's a good steady weight loss of an average of 2 lbs a week. While others have lost almost twice that in the same amount of time, I have to remind myself how much I working out. I chose to do that because I want as little excess skin as possible. Whatever your goal is -You'll get there. Hang in there and keep fighting

WOOHOO - way to go!!!

So I haven't been on in a while but I did go ahead and get a fill... 1.6 cc's added to my 2.4 so i'm at 4 cc's in a 10 cc band. Honestly, this feels good. I know the first week can be tighter so the real test is on now. I got my 2nd fill on Thursday, February 24th. It's been 10 days. After only losing 5 lbs in the 4 weeks after my 1st fill, I lost 5 lbs in the ONE WEEK after my 2nd. Five pounds in a week is a lot - my goal is about 10 lbs a month so I know this week may be slower but it was encouraging, nonetheless. And while I know muscle weighs more than fat (thanks for the reminder ) it's still hard to swallow fighting the same pounds week after week when you're working so hard. But, accoring to my TANITA printout - my fat was down like 14 lbs and my muscle was up 3 lbs. I was also holding on to more Water (probably a result of mother nature.. lol). So again guys -- thank you so much for your continued support and talking some sense in to me when I get down on myself. It all works out in the end, we just need reminders. Some short-term goals: 1. Down another 40 lbs by vacation (July) 2. Down 50 lbs by my husband's school reunion (August) How great would that be :-) And by the way -- I'm the weight now that I am when I met my husband. Another 10 lbs and we are heading into unchartered waters. LOL

@Amberakamom - I thought about that. Maybe I need to change my intake and see if that helps. @Cleo's mom - My doctor's office is very encouraging regardless of the scale. I have been measuring myself at home just because I figured that would help to encourage me when the scale is letting me down. I know I shouldn't be a "slave to the number" but when you work so hard you want to see something that shows you how well you're doing. I need to measure. I was going to try to start doing so every month but I think I may skip back down to every two weeks. That way if the numbers are letting me down on the scale the measurements can help. It's been a month since my last measurements and I was down 12.5 inches in 10 days from the time before. I'm excited to see what a month will be. I guess I should measure before I get frustrated with the scale. It's just hard not to be upset/frustrated when the scale's not moving like you wish it would. Thank you both for the encouragment!

Wow way to go! I want to do 120 in a year so knowing it can be done is a HUGE help. Congratulations!!! and good luck with whatever surgeries you may decide to do.

I just wanted to say -- pay attention to the kind of protein that your body reacts best to. I know from previous diets that while chicken is my favorite protein, my body reacts best to eggs (egg whites). I obviously don't just eat eggs but I do purposely eat more eggs to make sure that my body gets a switch... that may help too. Good luck!

Happy one month bandiversary! Today is my one month mark too and I received my first fill today....

My surgeon told me the day of surgery that after surgery I could do anything as long as it didn't hurt. He is excellent and knows what he is doing. He has been doing general surgery forever but strictly weight loss surgery for 15 years - with lapband for about 7-8. I began walking on the treadmill exactly a week after surgery. I was in pretty good shape before surgery (healthy fat girl) but I was still pretty tired from surgery so I walked slower at less of an incline. I walk daily now and have been known to walk 2.5 miles or more on some days. I also do the elliptical (1.5 weeks post op) and Zumba (3 weeks post op). I began doing light weights on week 2 and now pretty much do what I want with weights - a month post op today. My mom (a nurse) was a little worried about the weights so I didn't do too much at first. Basically the weight training is to help with definition and skin. Everything I have been able to find says that lean muscle is what helps to tighten skin back up. So basically the goal is as little of that excess as possible.. lol. I wish you luck on your journey! Asking for advice here is great but always consult your surgeon as well.

Well I did get a fill today. They asked if I wanted one and I said yes. I feel like I'm going great but also feel like I can maybe eat more than I should be able to (but I stop myself). They put 2.4 cc's in my 10 cc band. Water goes down fine, protien drinks down fine. I won't know about much else until Saturday when I can start mushies. We shall see...

I have local government BCBS and was told by my surgery center that fills are paid for the first 90 days - after that my insurance company would be billed for additional fills. That is probably why your first 2 fills didn't cost anything.

Have any of you thought of seeing a counselor or therapist that works with WLS patients? I know that my surgery center has a meeting once a month with a licensed psychologist and it's only $10 per participant. I haven't gotten to the point that I need to "see" myself thin yet because I'm only a month post-op but I can totally relate to the comments. I think it all has to do with getting your mind healthy with your body. Many overweight people are overweight because of an addiciton or a traumatic experience. Weight often is a way to guard ourselves from things. But honestly, I have the opposite problem sometimes. Sometimes I don't think I'm as big as I am and when I see pictures I'm thinking, "WTH?" lol... and i've been big as long as I can remember. I think focusing on mental clarity throughout the process will help us all!

I'm sure you will read this all over the place but the first month is about healing and learning your band. I've been told that's the main focus and losing weight (in the first month) is just an added bonus. I lost about 9 pounds pre-op and when I went in for my check up two weeks after surgery, I was only down one more pound. I was a little frusterated but had been doing everything my doctor told me to do. Then the next week I lost 6.8 pounds and 12.25 inches. This week I'm back up a pound (assuming that's period weight). So basically, as hard as it is to do, try not to compare yourself to all the stories you read hear. I go the gym every week and have been since about 7 days after surgery. I have been lifting weights as well and my nurse told me that I may not see the numbers as much on the scale because of this but I am more concerned with size (I have a goal size) not so much weight. If that's what you're working towards, start measuring and keeping track that way. Then, if you don't see the numbers you want or expect on the scale you may get them in inches. It's just another way to stay encouraged and keep on track. Good luck!

They asked me about case management and I told them I would be fine without it. She did want to call and check on me a few days after surgery but that was fine with me. I just didn't want to deal with the headache of reporting and questions. I guess for someone that needs to be held accountable it may work well for them. I think it would be a pain for me as well... lol

Amber - I'm getting my first fill on Thursday as well. I am a little nervous but I don't think it'll be too bad. I'm a little nervous as to how foods that I've learned to eat pretty well will affect me after the fill. I guess we'll see. Good luck!

Well my information was all submitted to them by the surgeon's office on November 22, 2010. I got the approval call on December 7. I called the insurance company once or twice and kept steady emails with the surgeon's insurance specialist to make sure to stay on top of it. I would give them a call and see what they can tell you. Good luck!

Congratulations Mandyb! I had my first NSV today too. A good friend's sister-in-law saw me today for the first time in a little over a month and said, "Are you losing weight?" "You look great!" That was so good to hear. She's this adorable, chipper, active, in great shape nurse and it was great to hear a compliment from someone on the other side

Congratulations. I think 20.8 pounds in 4 weeks is tremendous. I'm a little over 3 weeks post op and I can't imagine being at that next week so you're doing better than me. Luckily I don't compare myself to others and suggest you don't either Keep up the good work!

Good for you Meg. I'm 3 weeks post op. I too was surprised at all the energy I had after healing despite how little I was actually taking in. It's an amazing feeling. I also felt restriction immediately but the more I healed and less swollen my stomach was the less I had. You may not have that issue. I go for my first fill next week (thursday). I hope I hit my sweet spot fairly quickly. Good luck to you on your journey!

I never once considered gastric bypass - the cutting of my internal organs just didn't appeal to me. My doctor asked why I had decided on the band and I said because it's the safest tool you got. He said, "Yes it is the safest but can be the least effective." That almost made me question myself. Just make sure that you have the determination to make the band work for you and it will. I'm 3 weeks post op and so far I love mine. Oh and with the 2 - 2 1/2 hour drives - my surgery center suggested stopping every 30 minutes to get out and walk around to lower the risk of blood clots if you have a longer drive. Plus - the walking will help with the gas. GOOD LUCK!