Bardy

The band will help you lose weight by only allowing you to take in a half cup of food at a time. Some foods go down easier than others -- soft breads will tend to get stuck and then you feel like crap and then they come back up. If you eat too fast and try to eat too much they will get stuck and come back up. It isn't an easy fix and you have to learn how to eat -- small bites chewed very well and take your time. And make the right choices -- protein, veges and a little fruit -- I eat yogurt, fruit protein smoothies, I can occasionally eat a few bites of very tender steak, shrimp, salmon. It is a total commitment and an education - not just eating less. You need to commit to both and understand that it is a learning process. You will feel better overall if you choose the right foods and eat them in the small quantities. All of this is good information for you -- losing weight and keeping it off is not easy - but the lap band really is a great tool if you understand how to work it. I didn't end up exercising a ton, but kept walking and making good choices and definitely very small portions and 9 months after getting my band I am at my goal weight and have never felt better. With other diets like Lindora I felt deprived and starving -- I don't feel this with lap band. I can still "taste" foods I love, like a bite of apple pie, or a bite of mashed potatoes -- but I don't have to have a whole plate full. I feel more in control and that with the band I can really have the hope of keeping this weight off for good. Good luck to you -- I started at 232 and am now down to 148.

I was banded 12/3/10 and started at 232 - size 16-18. Today down to 147 and size 6-8! Beyond thrilled. Had 2 fills and last week took about .07cc out of band as I wasn't able to keep anything down -- feeling great today with 3cc only in the band. I eat VERY small portions and try to eat the right things - no breads or potatoes or rice.

I was banded December 3, 2010 and have only had 2 fills -- the last one in March. I still feel restricted almost 7 months later. I think some get adjustments too often and then have issues. I am still losing - have lost 80 pounds and am 4 away from my goal - yahoo!! When you first get a fill it feels very tight and you may need to ease in with liquids and then smooshies -- if you can't eat or drink much after a few weeks, your band may be too tight. I think as long as you are losing and not eating too much or feeling too tight you should be good for several months -- that has been my experience anyway. Good luck! Deb

This was very helpful information about the stomach muscles and explains a lot of what I have had problems with lately -- thanks for explaining this!

Banded on 12/3/10 - Highest weight was 232 now down to 156 almost to my goal of 150 -- may go down to 145 depending on how 150 looks -- don't want to over do it but feeling great!

I agree - 10 pounds in 24 days is awesome -- if you lose 10 pounds a month that's a great rate -- I was banded in December and have lost a total of 80 pounds -- only 5 away from my goal -- and that has been about 10 pounds a month. You don't want to lose any faster than that as it isn't healthy. I only had 2 fills and feel like I'm at the sweet spot -- although sometimes I feel like I don't eat enough - I think eating more often with tiny portions and keeping the protein up is the plan. Good luck - you're off to a great start! Deb

Your young age will be an advantage for you but there is really no formula. Depending on the amount of loose skin, it will only stretch back so much -- consistent exercise at least 3 times a week will help - check with a trainer or someone at the gym. You will really have to wait and see when you start to lose weight. I am a lot older and have lost about 80 pounds - 12 away from my goal and I do have a little saggy skin -- it won't go back any more so I will have to weigh whether or not to have a surgery - it isn't really enough to bother me too much, but we'll see... Good luck and stay healthy!

I have had this feeling as well -- It seems I need to stick to smoothies and yogurt in the early morning, have a small meal (no bread) at lunch, and then usually vegetable soup or something similar in the evening. This pattern seems to work for me. Also always small bites and chew a lot -- eat very slowly with all foods. Good luck.

Can you get some fluid removed -- sounds like you're too tight -- shouldn't be that way - talk to your doctor again and get some help. It's awful to have spent so much and be so miserable.

I usually start off in the morning with the low-fat yogurt eaten ver slowly -- seems to do well. Then mid-morning have a little oatmeal. Often I will just have cottage cheese and some fruit for lunch, a protein bar mid afternoon and then fish or very tender chicken and veges for dinner -- I really like the Jack in the Box teriyaki chicken bowl -- but don't eat the rice. Very small portions chewed very carefully -- I find I have to stick to softer foods as well. I can eat the fish part of the sushi but too much rice will get stuck. It's a learning experience for sure.

Sounds like you're band is too tight now -- you should feel restriction but still be able to drink and eat SLOWLY. I think there is a happy medium where you feel restricted but can still eat the very small portions. Also stay away from breads and rice, etc. as they always cause a backup. You can try going back to smoothies for a while until the band settles -- this has worked for me after a fill.

Yep, this has happened to me as well -- last night with salmon -- it was pretty moist and I chewed until pureed but still had the issue -- guess we keep learning what works and what doesn't -- it's nice to know we're not alone going through these trials ... keep up the good work everyone. I often stick with cottage cheese, yogurt, Healthy Choice soups... Deb

Thanks for your support! I really appreciate it -- it definitely is a journey -- I discovered today that I need to avoid chicken skin at all cost! I love pollo loco chicken and succumbed to the skin and then had a throw up incident - not fun at all ... I will add that to my list of things to avoid for sure!! All the best to you all as well!

Well, here I am almost 4 months out and have lost 42 pounds - I'm halfway to my goal weight! I am really happy and feel like I'm in the green zone -- when I first got this last fill on February 3rd (the 2nd) I was miserable and threw up several times in the first week -- I decided instead of going and getting unfilled, I would shift to liquids for a while and then ease back into soft foods. Fortunately this worked for me and I am able to eat very small portions and have learned how things feel going down. I find I have to eat VERY slowly, chew very deliberately and keep to very small bites and take my time - this works and I have been feeling pretty good for the last two months ... I know I will probably need another fill maybe in another month as the weight loss will slow down. But I have been losing about 1-2 pounds a week which I am very happy with. It is definitely a learning process. I always avoid bread and bread products, potatoes, rice, and other "sticky" foods -- and stay with chicken or fish. If I get hungry between meals I snack on protein bars. Seems to be working so far, but it is a balancing act for sure. I still am very glad I am here rather than where I was before, continuing to gain weight. Good luck to all banders out there!! Deb

I think that sometimes after a fill we are too quick to unfill if we have an experience with throwing up or whatever. I think my best course of action after a fill was to go back to smoothies for a few days and then gradually try small bites and really eat slowly, and wait between bites to make sure everything goes down -- I avoid bread and bread products at all cost and stick with tuna and chicken salads, some soups, very tender chicken and some veges and fruit. It is definitely true that everyone is different - and you need to get to know your body and be careful and deliberate in your choices. I snack on the protein bars between if I feel a little hungry and it really helps. It is definitely a challenge at times to find the right combination. Hang in there! Deb

Well, just had my second fill and not liking the feeling much -- guess i should wait a few days to really judge but I can hardly eat anything without feeling pain -- no likey. I have been losing at a steady 2 pounds a week so I am pleased, but not happy about feeling so hungry and then hardly a few bites of food and feeling pain -- not satisfaction that is for sure. I guess part of the process of getting used to adjustments -- I'm trying to be patient, and it is good to know that I'm not alone in this journey.

I'm actually having the same exact situation -- just got my second fill on Thursday and can hardly eat anything. I think I'm going to give it a week and if it still is this way maybe go back in and have a little removed -- i do think it is a little extreme at this point but will wait a few days to see if things start to ease up a bit. Good luck. Deb

I have found that I need to eat really slowly and small bites chewed well. I have been able to eat tuna salad, chicken salad, soft cooked veges, some fruits -- but all need to be eaten and swallowed very slowly and then wait to feel that it has gone down before taking another bite. You should definitely talk to your doctor -- perhaps your band is too tight. Hope this helps. Sometimes it can be frustrating but hang in there and remember your exercise and water.

The thing I keep hearing is that we need to have adjustments every few months -- sounds like you need a fill to get things going again -- I'm sure you will do well again, we just need to get those fills and make sure we stick with wise food choices and portion control.