BarbaraG

Checking in at 239. Down 2 lbs! YESSSS!

Congrats, Larry! Here's hoping onre of the boys provides you with a grand daughter too. I only have 1 (grand daughter) and she's a SCORCH!

Checking in - !'m 241. Down 2 lbs BarbaraG

Count me in! Name, real or screen~ BarbaraG Age~ 56 Weight on October 1st~ 243 Goal Weight for October 29th~235 Exercise Goal for October~ 30 5x per week Dietary Goal for October~ Keep calories under 1200 Personal Goal for October~ Clean thoroughly the kitchen and my studio Date Banded~ 6/21/11 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~ 27/ 42 total

whoo-hoo- weighing in at 243. Lost 2 more lbs. I started the month at 250, set a goal for 245 and beat it by 2 lbs! Happy Dance! I'll be seeing you for the Very Scary Halloween Challenge!

I totally agree with Vicky. While maybe the majority of bandsters loose and keep off 50%, plenty have lost everything! I have chosen to loose it all. Am I unrealistic? Not according to my Doc. If I choose to follow the eating plan I was given and exercise like I'm supposed to, keep my appointments and fight the good fight, there is absolutely no reason why I can't get my BMI in the normal range. I made a commitment to myself that since my way clearly had not worked for many, MANY years, it was time to get the band and follow through with the instructions I was given. I made it through "Bandster Hell" and came out battle-weary but victorious. I have chosen to change my eating way of life forever. PERIOD! :thumbup:

Congrats on your 1st fill. I, too felt no restriction for my 1st fill - until about 2 weeks later! Seriously! It still wasn't enough and I was still battling hunger but by 2 weeks after the 2nd fill (I know - sounds strange but it's not uncommon) I was really noticing the difference. I've had a 3rd fill and will see the doc tomorrow regarding a 4th. I may not need it! I no longer feel hungry between meals and I'm finally loosing pretty consistently I have had abosolutely no problems with the actual fill process either. The first 2 were totally painless and the last was a tiny sting. NBD

It probably wouldn't hurt to get in to your PCP and OBGYN for a work up. Otherwise, congrats on the weight loss. You ROCK! :bananajump:

I do not feel hunger at all now, but I did and struggled to 'behave' and eat like I was supposed to until the 1st fill. After the 1st fill, I began to feel that subside a bit. I've had 3 fills and will have my 4th this week. I am very close to the best fill level for me - I suspect I'll only need .5cc this time. And hopefully I'll be skating in the green zone. The key is to eat as you are instructed during that period before the fills really kick in and the physical huger is repressed. I worked hard just to keep the lbs off I'd lost the 1st week after the surgery, but with time it got so much better. Keep your appointments for fills - critical to get the maximum benefit from the band. Too often the failure of the lapband to "work" has more to do with people not following through with appointments, failure to eat as instructed, and failure to recognize it takes time to get this right. Patience is of the essence. Far too often newbie lapbanders are expecting gastric bypass results - ie; quick weight loss. There's nothing quick about it. It is deceiving at 1st because you do loose a lot right after the surgery during the liquid phase, but that is short lived. There is a slowdown for most of us far a couple weeks. (For me it was a complete halt!) But if we eat like we've been instructed to, it starts up again at about 1 - 2 lbs a week - a very respectable and healthy weight loss without loosing any part of your stomach!

There are some things that cannot be predicted - this is one. By day 3 I was not ready to do jumping-jacks but I was actually feeling pretty good. Be good to yourself and recognize you just need to play it by ear. Your doc will advise you after surgery and it's best to follow his/her instructions. Congrats on the surgery date!

I have an 11 cc band and am now filled to 7cc. My NP says most who have my band begin to hit the green zone at anywhere from 7.5 - 9cc. Everyone is different. Some reach it much earlier. The focus needs to be on what works for you. Pamela is right about drinking after eating. I, personally, wait a full hour. As for being able to eat more and expecting the band to control how much you eat - there seems to be a lot of confusion about that issue so you are not alone. I got a lot of help understanding this very issue on a list called SmartBandsters@yahoo.com and now feel more comfortable with what the band can and cannot do. I am grateful for the experienced "bandsters" there who help me think in constructive ways and when I felt discouraged, understand what was going on in my body as well as my thinking. One of the biggies for me, regarding the fact I could eat more than what I was told to eat, was, "Just because you can doesn't mean you should!" Pretty elementary, huh? But I needed to hear it. I struggled with how many calories to eat in a day vs how big a portion per meal and so on. This group and it's archives really helped a lot. The band has a super neat function if you follow all the guidelines. You will begin to realize you simply don't feel hungry. Seriously! That doesn't mean you can't eat, it means you physically don't feel hungry. I used to think about food all the time. Now I get annoyed that I have to think about food (Plan my meals). The reason is if the food is not washed down and simply allowed to empty into your stomach in it's own time (and you take your time to eat!) it stimulates nerves in your esophagus that dictate hunger to your brain - turning off the hunger switch! For REAL! All this to say: The sooner you get back on track eating the way you were instructed to - 1 to 1&1/2 cups per meal, eat your Protein 1st, veggies if there's room - the sooner you will find that 'switch'. It makes life sooo much easier. As those who have struggled with food for a long time, we are experts at getting around the "rules" for good health. My way didn't work - in a BIG way. I've chosen to do it the lapband way - and it's working!!! Hope this helps <3

Checking in at 245. No change but after last week's big loss, I'm happy to have maintained.

I so understand what you are saying. I had the very same thing happen to me. I was banded June 21 and had exactly the same results. I lost 14 lbs the 1st week after banding and then nothing for the next 3 weeks! EEK! Finally I began to loose very, very slowly. I have my 3 month anniversary tomorrow and I've lost 25 lbs total since then. That may not be as fast as I'd like it to be, but that combined with what I lost before the surgery is a total of 40 lbs. I have had to learn to take it easy on me and work the eating program I've been given no matter what the scale says. If I am faithful, eventually, the scale will go down again. But in the meantime, my body is adjusting to the lbs already lost. And considering this time last year I had so much pain it was hard to walk, get up and down stairs and go grocery shopping and now I can do all if it without pain and I'm off my BP meds , I'm in a much better place. So all this to say, be good to yourself and keep your eyes on the prize. Get your fills when you are scheduled. It'll all work out if you choose to do it all - One Day at a Time. Good for you for coming to the group for support - that's what we are all here for! <<<HUGS>>>

I can't add really to what others have said - just breathe deep and keep busy. Before you know it, you'll be on the other side wondering why it took you so long to get this done. And you too, will be encouraging the next nervous person wondering if they are normal!

No kidding! I picked up one today - medium, iced with half and half and threw it out after just a few sips. MUCH too sweet for me. Tasted like trouble to me - LOL.

After going nowhere for so long.... I hit my goal weight for Sept! Whoo hoo! I'm now 245! Lost 5 lbs. Doin' the Happy Dance!

Thanks, Larry - you are a blessing!

Down 1 lb. to 250. Next week I will be below the 250's - YES!!!

Name, real or screen~ BarbaraG Age~ 56 Weight on September 1st~ 251 Goal Weight for September 29th~ 245 Exercise Goal for September~ stationary bike 3x per week, increasing time and distance 10% each week Dietary Goal for September~ 1,200 cal per day Personal Goal for September~ Don't fret over the numbers, just keep moving Date Banded~ 6/21/11 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~19

Checking in. Missed last week - I was out of town and my DIL's scale was no help what so ever. It changed what I weighed every time it was moved... Sheesh Weight is the same 251. Not what I wanted to report but at least I didn't gain while on vacation so it's a victory for me.

Truth is: Everyone is different. I'm 56 and had a hiatal hernia fixed at the same time I had my band installed. When I woke up, I had pain in my shoulder but I was given pain meds for it - 3 days worth. I never used even half of it. I was up and running in 48 hours but my doc did not allow me to drive for a week! And no lifting more than 20 lbs for another 6 weeks. I felt really fine in a couple days but obeyed Doctors orders. I decided my way hadn't worked all these years so it was time to commit to the banded life. I have not regretted it for even one minute. I feel so much better and have so much more energy - even this early in the game. I have my 3rd fill scheduled next week and I know I'm getting close to my "green zone". Looking forward to moving in "the Zone".

Whoo-hoo! CONGRATULATIONS!

Whoo-hoo! That's wonderful! I was approved on a Thursday and my doc's office called that day and said they had a cancellation - did I want it? Sure! And then they said it was for the very next Tuesday!!! I'm so glad I took it! BTW - it was my anniversary and my beloved hubby was there for the whole thing for me. What a way to celebrate, huh?!

Feeling nervous is normal - as one bander said - her doc told her he's be more concerned about her if she WASN'T nervous! LOL! The good news is this list is loaded with banders who can tell you, while not totally pain free, it is manageable and recovery for the vast majority of us was really fast. I had shoulder pain and was given pain killers but when I got home only used them for 24 hours! I threw out the rest. Honest! My mantra as I was wheeled into the operating room was, "This too shall pass." And it did! A whole lot faster than I expected! Hang in there - and you too will be encouraging the next frightened pre-bandster too!

My insurance co required a psych eval. It's an attempt "due diligence" as in trying to be sure you are in a sound state of mind, making a decision for yourself and not because of pressure from someone else (Dr.,boyfriend, spouse, mother etc), that you understand what will happen and the consequences of this decision. Otherwise they (Insurance co.) can be sued if someone says they were forced into an operation they really didn't understand or want. It's a sort of 'cover your behind' by the insurance co. My eval was no big deal. Having been a professional in the field, my therapist was professional and asked all the 'right' questions. The truth is, he really doesn't know me in a 45 min. session and I could have lied through my teeth. He has to use his best judgement with the time he has. If you are concerned you will be asked to spill your deepest darkest secrets, don't worry. There just isn't enough time in one session... BTW, I did reveal to the therapist my professional past. HTH