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I was banded in May 2011. I had a fantastic experience with surgery, needed 5 fills ( my surgeon does no fill at time of surgery) through December 2011. I have lost 1-2lbs per week and had been very happy until I read the forums and see all of the Lap-Friends who have lost a lot more weight than I have. I food journal and eat small portions and meals, but my head's becoming completely unscrewed. What can I do or say to myself to get this negativity out?

I was banded April 27th and had my first fill on June 1st. I have very little restriction and at first felt cheated compared to all of the other bandsters. I HAVE lost 18 lbs. since surgery. But, I know, for sure, that the weight reduction is from calorie restriction (I have tried to be very strict at 1200 calories). So here is the confession part. In addition to being very strict at 1200 caloires, have also had a couple of days which have been total disasters. I had a couple of really drippy quesadillas and another day had fries and a tuna melt. There is a difference in my reaction to the slips between NOW and before the surgery. I guess it is mostly motivation to keep following the plan and keep on track. I also find that the thing that keeps me on track the most is my food diary. I use the MyLapBanJourney.com website to record and keep my food and activity diaries and weight. The accounability to a dumb website is working wonders...Who would have thought? Back to my original thought which was, "How would I tell someone that I get back ontrack?". "I am no longer beating myself up and anything related to weight and food."

Anyone have any exercise tips to help provide assitance with the tightening of skin during weight loss? I am in hopes that I can keep the skin under control as I move through this journey. I do know that some of it will be the amount of weight loss, and genetics, but i would like to know if anyone has found a secret in this process? Thanks, Denise

Thanks guys. I guess I was hoping there was something that I might have missed in all of my reading. Denis, I think the "batwings" are inevitable for me. Additionally a belly droop will be part of my "new body" as i lose weight. My husband has always thought I am gorgeous, so his mantra is, "whatever is going to make you the happiest." I am just now, after 30 something years believing that he might be right. Funny thing, the few people I have shared all of the lifestyle changes, surgery and concerns with (family members) have all asked first, "What will you do with the extra skin?". My answer to them has been, "I will deal with that once the weight is gone, as it is sure not my biggest concern." My biggest concern at this point is trying to be patient until I can get filled to the right spot and feel good about each and every day. ta....da....I am a Lapbander.

Hi, I am interested in making this journey as succesful as possible and feel I have made a good start. i was banded on April 27th (Also my 51st birthday) and had a great surgical experience from beginning to end. I thought I had done well with weight loss and was very sad to learn that I had only lost 3 lbs in the 6 weeks till first fill. After the first fill, I am feeling revitalized and am doing well so far. My preference is someone who is around the same age group and has an upbeat, positive attitude. Thanks in advance.

Does your Dr.use a numbng agent. If he does not, ask for one next time. I had to have 3 sticks, but they did not even feel bad because i had the numbing done.was perfectly fine. My Dr. had to finally change sides to get better leverage from the left. I totally respect him and his work, but, was really scared for this first fill. Afterwards I was fine and had no discomfort or pain at all. For the first time I have felt full following surgery and am excited to work with that feeling.

I had my first fill yesterday. I have strictly followed every instruction the Dr. has given me...but, today I am starving. My doctor waits for another 4 weeks before the next fill. I am only down 10 lbs from the beginning (banded April 27th) and most of that weigh loss was pre-surgical. This morning 7:00 AM I had a Protein drink (staying on liquids till tomorrow when I can graduate to soups) and again at 11:00 AM. I drink the Muscle Milk Light chocolate. Tips on getting through this would be appreciated?

My Dr. is David Martin out of Huntington Memorial. Had my fill today. I was nervous for nothing. The fill went fine and I am sipping a protein drink right now. I was a little dissapointed to have realized that my home scale is 5 lbs heavier than the office's. Yikes. I will ask my husband to figure out how to adjust the scale. Well at least that is the only bad news I had.

I am looking forward to my first fill on Tuesday, June 7th. Nervous, but excited. My surgery was a very good experience (if surgery can be a good experience). My surgeon, anesthesiologist and nurses were all attentive and professional. I had very little pain and was pleased to have no nausea. In previous experiences in surgery I had weeks of nausea following. The anthesiologist had several recommendations including adding Zofran to the IV during surgery. The Zofran worked. I did not have to take any pain medication (did not even take Tylenol). The day following surgery I watched tv, ate popspicles and drank clear liquids. In the 6 weeks following, I have never had a problem with vomiting, slippage or any of the other issues people have had. The ONLY problem I have had is hunger following any amount of physical exertion. Extreme hunger. Starving hunger. Eat a wild beast kind of hunger. I am assuming that once I have my band filled (the surgeon did not add any saline in the lap band during surgery), I will have the hunger part go away. My surgeon is very conservative and follows very strict pre and post op protocol. Which I like. Not everyone likes the system that he has set up. I did pay an $800 admin fee that was not covered by insurance. In doing my investigation on surgeons in the LA area, all of the reputable ones run a program. His one on one visit with me pre-op was lengthy and very detailed. He took the time to spend with me and answered all of my questions (I am a research scientist -- thus the detail importance). I have heard horror stories of Mexican Chop Shop Lap Band surgeries, Downtown LA surgeries where the surgery is performed in the office (WHAT????) and even Dr.'s who have techs fill and never see their patients again. Not Judging,,. Just saying, this whole procedure and lifestyle change is a very big deal ... Looking forward to hearing from some new people and making connections and friends with other lapbanders. D

I am also a BC survivor. I am now 50 but, have been cancer free for 15 years. I found my BC during a routine baseline mammogram at 35. I was diagnosed with DCIS in both breasts. Following four lumpectomies, where they were not able to find clean borders, I tested at UCLA and was accepted into their program where a study was being done on women under 40 was being conducted with Dr. Susan Love. Hallelujah... I opted for the full treatement, a bilateral mastectomy, 8 weeks of bilater radiation and 20 weeks of chemo. I did saline implants and had four sets of plastic surgeries. Here, is the good news. I am well. I have not had any problems in more than 12 years...I am also fat. I don't want to be fat. I worked hard at surviving did that, and worked hard at dieting and exercise.....did not do that. How was I able to survive the most horrific time of my life but not one of the seemingly simple things... I have felt like a failure over the yesrs for the extra weight and made myself totally feeling guilty of not TRYING hard enough. So, guess what. I am not weak, I am a survivor, I am strong. I am week six following lapband surgery. I have my first fill on Tuesday and am thrilled with everything. Your strength is regained once you get enough Protein, drink lots of liquids throughout the process. Walk to get rid of any gas pains and following your Dr.'s orders ALWAYS. The pre-op diet was worse than anything in the whole six weeks so far. So far, I have lost a total of 20 lbs. I am so excited that I can hardly stand it. I am a little nervous however, abou the fill. So, all together I have had little or no hunger, I have had no problems with swallowing, no problems with food sticking and just a whole new level of feeling good about myself. So there, you have it. You are going to do great and, you are going to be a whole new person, with a whole new outlook. Can't wait to hear about your success. D

I had surgery on my "real birthday" April 27th... a great gift. I AK a chef (ironically) and because I am running around all day I was concerned about returning to work earlier than I thought would be necessary for healing. As luck has it by day 5 I felt great and forced myself to stay off for 8 work days. I returned to work with a glowing complexion and a renewed sense of energy. I am happy to have returned so that my shopping wouldn't get out of control. Viva la b and.