FDATrialGuineaPig

Hey hey hey, be glad you caught this when you did!!!! You ARE looking out for your health!!! Why be so hard on yourself??? You'll get there. Just be patient and take it one step at a time.

To me the sweet spot means that you feel like you HAVE to be eating way too much (your brain has recalibrated portion sizes and realigned satiety with it) yet you're losing weight and feeling great--no reflux, no barfing, not feeling deprived...feeling, dare I say...normal.

Yes, it's the sound of impending weight loss, my favorite sound in the world .

If you make a separate post for this on a more "on-topic" board, I'd be happy to give you lots of suggestions for how to help beat this.

Where can I find the *inferior* oldies? I need to mingle...

Welcome Steve!

Yep, it's totally normal. It's a good sign actually, it means your stomach is no longer swollen and is healing. Once you get a fill your hunger should be significantly reduced (like you felt as a new postop). 23 pounds is AMAZING. Most people barely lose anything during this time, so consider yourself that much ahead of the game!!

Seaman, At 2 years out you're discovering an unfortunate truth about the band. We re-learn how to eat and begin to unconsciously adopt these habits to the point we start believing our band is no longer working. At a certain point you have GOT to find a balance of making better choices AND relying on what little restriction is left after chewing your food well. It's easy in the beginning because we're used to wolfing down food and the band stops it. But once you become an instant pureeing machine, the fact is you're going to get more food down. I can eat ANYthing. I have no "off limit" foods. But I try to eat bulky fiberous foods like fruits to kind of help fill me up. I don't deprive myself, just use a combination of foods. I can also tell you that it may feel like the band isn't stopping you from eating, but let me tell you, if you ever have to get a total unfill you will be shocked at how much it was helping. The bottom line is--you need to start moving away from, "how is the band going to help me" to "how can my food choices help the band work". It's not the easiest process, but it's important.

Thanks Mariposa, I'll try to stay around more!! I'm still happy with my band and am so glad I chose this surgery despite a few bumps along the way.

Oh yeah---I've long since resolved it. I had to get a total unfill in 2004 (or was it 05, I can't remember anymore). For the better part of 2 years I had to remain unfill because in my stubbornness I kept thinking that once my stomach had settled down I could go back up to the restriction that had been optimal for me. No such luck. I finally accepted I HAD to take responsibility and stop letting the band do most of the work for me (which when it was super tight, it really was). I ended up compromising and getting what I consider a mild/moderate fill and dealing with "watching what I eat". It's preferable to the fill/unfill/reflux merrygoround I was on. And sure enough, I've taken off 20 lbs of the 40+ I regained with no fill. The good part of it all--I'm not afraid anymore.

I used to think my biggest fear in the world was having to have my band removed. Then I was unfilled for close to 2 years due to reflux and realized that it didn't HAVE to be the end of the world. I'm over 7 years out and still keep in touch with long term bandsters who are doing just fine--they're just busy and long past the need or desire to post much online. I believe that statistic though. At least with banding though you're either back to square one with your stomach or you have the option to upgrade to a more absorptive surgery. Nothing in life is for sure, eh? At least we're trying .

Eh....I guess so?

It's bandster reflux. It probably will not be solved by antacids. I tried everything under the sun until it was so bad I had to have my band completed emptied. Unfortunately I've never been able to get back to my "ideal" level of restriction without reflux so I've compromised on mild/moderate restriction with no reflux. I'ts NEVER something to let linger--tell your doctor. Get treatment. Self-treating may lead to irreversible dilitation or slippage.

Considering I had *gained* 6 pounds 3 months after banding, I wouldn't worry too much about it . Your weight loss is great!

In all fairness to oldies, it's not bs that at a certain point we're out living our lives. For awhile (I think year 4?) I actually on a regular basis FORGOT I was banded--my weight became something I didn't think about for the first time in my life. After my battle with reflux started that all changed, but I guess my point is...don't discount the "out living life". It happens. ~Robin in my 8th year :hungry:

Whoa--I was googling myself and saw this post. I mean...someone had to, right? Sorry I went awol---things have been busy. I'm doing great though. Had some complications with reflux that resulted in having an empty band for close to 2 years. Finally settled with *some* restriction and had to find a balance between recognizing the restriction I did have and trying to make better food choices. The bad news is that I ended up gaining back like 40+ pounds. I've taken off 20 since then but verrrrry slowly. I seem to hover around 190-195. My favorite place to be was 175ish but you know what, I can't complain. I was 310 pounds once and I never forget the difference in my life, even when I backstepped. I have a blog on the site that spotlight moved to--fatblog.org Thanks for asking and I'm sorry for my neglect of this list! 7 years out and still happy with my band .

I'm very pleased with my results!! I had the tummy tuck 3/31/03. Robin

Teresa, you CAN get those last 50 lbs off, look how amazing you've already done!!! You've been a huge inspiration and I'm glad that you got those port problems taken care of!

Whohoooooooooooooo Babs!!! Way to go!!!!!!

Marc, No, your band did not slip, what you are experiencing is completely normal. And once you start on solids, you may gain some back, you may stall or you may keep losing. There is no absolute, it's all individual. Personally, having no Fluid in my band is akin to not having a band--I could eat anything, any size portion. Once you get a good fill you will be in for a huge shock. Just sit back and enjoy the ride and be patient. Focus on healing right now, that's what the pre-fill stage is for. The weight loss comes later when you get filled. You're doing great!!

Marc, with the band you have to be able to really think LONG term. The average weight lost with the bypass at 5 years postop is 50%. You can easily acheive that with banding, and in my opinion, it's MUCH easier to maintain with the band. You have the adjustability and you have to learn at a very early stage how to not sabatoge yourself. I've seen people with the bypass who did nothing for the first 18 months face shock when they realize that if they don't start changing their habits, they're going to start gaining weight back. I LOVE the Lapband. I've gotten to goal. It's taken me longer than if I'd had the bypass, but so what? I didn't get fat overnight. It's a learning process. Plus, being a man, you will have a much easier time than us females . Trust me on that one!! Good luck and congrats on your surgery.

Where is Dr. Fox's plateau buster diet when we need it?? (I'll try to find it for you). I've found what has kicked me off plateaus the best is to vary my calories throughout the week to include days of almost fasting with overindulgence. It takes the body a couple of days to go into "starvation" mode so if you can think of your calories as a bell curve, the body tends to like having a day or two (I normally try to keep it to one day) of increased calories with periods of almost nothing. This has worked VERY well for me. And it's kind of fun because on my "free" day I literally eat WHATEVER I want---Cold Stone Ice Cream, mexican food, etc. The other days I'm more moderate and for about 2 I eat almost nothing. Try it and see if it works!

On behalf of those in the 100s, I welcome you to our ranks! Congratulations!!!!!

Sue if it causes your Lapband to malfunction in anyway, please contact your doctor immediately (in which case I will be promptly notified to remove it asap.) Thoreau learned the hard way.

Babs--amazing!!!!! You'll hit the triple digits before you know it!