JustDoIt130

That is good! Keep it up!

Yes, you feel that way because you don't have any fills in your band. It will change- until then, welcome to bandster hell! The period of time between surgery/after healing and getting to proper restriction with fills. You will have to diet a little, push yourself away from the table, use your willpower to get results. Or you can still eat what you want and go for your fills, get to restriction, then start losing weight- whichever way. Obviously you'll have quicker results if you watch what you eat from the beginning. You should also start some sort of exercise when the doc clears you. Really the goal of the lap band is to eat what you eat now, just much smaller amounts, so you're doing great!! Nicki

I hate to tell you this, but you do have to "diet" in the beginning to get any results. Just because you CAN eat something, does not mean you should be. They banded your stomach, not your head, so it can be hard. After being filled more you will have more restriction and not be able to eat as much, etc. You're in what is known as bandster hell- the period after surgery before you're filled enough for complete restriction. You have to put some effort into it, only eat the amount of food you SHOULD eat, not CAN eat. Good luck- it is worth it, for sure!!!!

When was your fill? Sometimes it takes a day or two to have it "settle in," for lack of a better word. Can you eat solid Protein with no problems (very small bites, chewed well)? Are you satiated with about a cup of food eaten over about a half hour or less? If so, you're probably in the green zone. If you can't keep down or get down solid protein, you're probably too tight. Remember, it does take time to adjust after each fill- you kind of have to re-figure out how things go down, etc, and what you can and can't eat now. Good luck!

I have always been able to lose weight, but never (obviously) able to keep it off. I just kind of gave up at the losing part since it didn't stay off, what's the point? I finally decided that I would use the lapband to not only assist with the weight loss, but to help assure I would keep it off. Of course, I know full well I can gain it back if I'm not careful or don't stay on top of my fills, etc. I am totally committed and know that this tool will help me achieve my goals long-term. I have been doing really well- almost 70 lbs in 6 months- and still going. Diet and exercise are the key, but the lapband is an overall tool to help with success. Nicki

Hi everyone....I eked out a pound loss this past week. I do think stress is wreaking some havoc on me....oh well. Sweaty zumba class last night, with a little over a mile walk before class because I got to the Y early- not sure what I want to do exercise wise tonight, but it will be something. Nicole- good idea about behavioral changes. I will think about what I still need to do and get back to you. Let me know what you think about your curves workout! Savannah- good luck with your vacations! When I was at the beach this time with my parents, I just made sure I wasn't mindlessly snacking like I usually do, and I tried to get some exercise in at least a couple times while on vacation. Kymie- math-wise how did you figure out the % of weight you lost? Math is not my strong suit, LOL. Everyone, have a great day!!! Nicki

And truly your tastes will change.I do sometimes become a creature of habit, and eat the same things for a couple weeks, then change it up. I eat a lot of grocery store rotisserie chicken (very moist), black beans, I make canned chicken into chicken salad, I eat some low carb crackers, I eat steak and chicken and LOVE all seafood and eat it all. I just don't eat as much. So if you're a portion control out of control eater like I was, this will help. Except for slider foods- I can still eat my nemesis, ice cream, with no issues. So I still have to do my part.

Hi Justme! Welcome back! 4 years, that is awesome! I too broke my ankle (over 6 years ago, now) right after having a baby- then I had some serious complications....but boy has losing weight helped with even that- I was so amazed!!! That is the great thing about the band- you can restart! So we're very happy to have you here, it's a great place to get support and (when needed) tough love .

Come on down, Chrissy- it's a goal, but you can always reassess. You have lost over 70 lbs in 6 months!!!!!!!

You probably don't have restriction at this point anyways, if you've just been banded. You probably won't have a problem, just watch portions- you'll be in bandster hell, where you feel like you can eat just like you did before surgery.

Like Sojourner my second-guessing lasted less than a day- I love my lapband, am so glad for my choice, my band, my success and my feeling so much better than I used to- emotionally and physically!! Good for you for making this important decision for your future!! Now, go get 'em!! Nicki

Hi everyone! Nicole, I have not tried curves. Kymie- oh, I will have to figure out mine when I get to a calculator!!! That's a good way to look at things. Good for you, btw!!! Otaknam- So it's a little plateau. Go "back to basics" and you'll get is started again. You've lost a lot of weight, so these happen occasionally. THink of it as a way to re-motivate yourself!!! I forgot to post yesterday that on Saturday I went to the goodwill and bought new pants! 3 in a size 20 (down from a 24/26) and a skirt and another pair of pants in a size 18 that allllmost fit. I also bought a pair of pants that don't fit but I can at least get up over my butt, just my fat tummy doesn't fit, but they're banana republic pants, really nice, for $3.49, so I figured I'll be fitting into them soon . It's nice to buy things slightly smaller and know I will actually lose the weight to be able to fit into them. Hopefully I'll get into my smaller stuff in my closet-though I think the smallest thing I have is a size 14 pair of jeans I bought ages ago that I never did fit into- they were a "when I lose weight" purchase- that hopefully I will wear! Most of my stuff is size 18 or so- actually, I'll have to go look. I know I do have some size 10's put away from high school in the 80's (don't judge) that I would love to wear again- or at least fit into, even if I don't wear them out of the house!!! LOL. Last time I lost a lot of weight was in 2004 when I got down to the mid 180's. I can see that coming for me now, and I am so excited to get that far down (that would be down 100 lbs) and then go down even more!!! Yay us!! We'll have some bumps, but that's life. We're in it for the long haul!!! Nicki

I'm a total wuss and I don't think fills hurt at all- and I'm one that passes out with needles!

I LOVE seafood, have not had any problems- I love shrimp, fish, lobster, etc- just do take small bites. It's like everything, you'll have to see after each fill. But I would HATE to live without seafood, so I'll find a way to eat it (short of pureeing it, LOL).

I promised myself when I decided to do lapband that I would be honest with myself. That means logging my really big bowl of ice cream, which I do. So be honest with yourself, you're worth it! Motivation ebbs and flows, you'll get back in the groove.

Only my mom, dad, sister and husband/kids know. No one else!!!

I heart unjury! Some recipes I use- 1 scoop chocolate splendor, 1 c skim milk and a couple ice cubes- really cold chocolate milk! 1 scoop vanilla unjury, 1 c skim milk, 1 Tbsp sugar free pistachio (or butterscotch) pudding mix. OR, my favorite 1 scoop vanilla unjury, 1 c trop 50 orange juice, 5-6 frozen strawberries and about 1/2 c ice. I drink this almost every morning. And Jake- they have a really good chicken broth one! Only bummer is you can't have it hot, only warm, because the protein clumps at higher temps. SOmeone on another board said they mix up a cup of the broth and then mix it into cream soups, which I am going to try after my next fill! It tastes a lot like Lipton chicken noodle soup to me, my fave... I use an immersion blender to mix all my shakes, it's less messy than a blender, more convenient, and I REALLY hate lumps, it's icky. Hope this helps! I did try other protein shakes, just didn't like the lumpiness/texture/chalkiness of them... YMMV!! Nicki

Nicole- are you using myfitnesspal? It is motivating to me to see what I'm consuming vs burning in calories. Can you up your exercise? Maybe up the time, or up the intensity, or change the activity. And not to be an enabler, but 1 cookie a day for a week- even if it's every week- won't hurt you but 7 cookies a day every day for a week will! Just count it in your calories. You're doing great! It's hard, it's still changing habits and mindsets, even with this awesome tool. Start an exercise journal, post here whatever you do so we can hold you accountable, whatever you need!!! Just keep moving forward, it's a marathon NOT a sprint!! You're not gaining, which imvho is a victory! Now just some small changes will have you start losing!!!!

Hi everyone- had a pretty good weekend. I've just decided that Sunday night I'm going to have a gigantic bowl of ice cream. That will have to go away at some point, but I'm just not ready to give it up yet. Though Amica and Chrissy have some good alternatives- I'm just not ready, LOL. I'm still losing weight steadily, but when I plateau I will have to reassess. I'm only going to do it on Sunday night- it will be my cheat. Nicole- I am annoyed that my doctor has not told me how much he's put in my last 2 fills. I'm seeing the PA this next time and she'll probably tell me. I doubt I'll get much of a fill, I don't think I need it. I wish your doctor was more aggressive, but you'll still get there!!! I too looked forward to a pb, just so I knew it was there and working- but it's really not too fun, LOL. Amica- that ice cream sounds good. I think you might be too tight- that heartburn and not being able to keep things down- don't be a hero, being too tight is not good. Meredith- you can always get more put in if needed. 3 cc's really isn't a lot- but better than being too tight. Well, I got up and did The Firm- 50 minutes of cardio and weights. It's pretty intense! But it's done, LOL. Feels good. Everyone have a great day!! Nicki

Checking in at 217.5- I think that's down 3.

Make sure u are getting enough protein, the more the better. Remember though your body can only deal with about 30-35 grams at a time. I agree with starting some exercise, it does help increase energy levels, of course following drs orders.

I LOVE unjury. I didn't think to mix the prepared broth into other soup, that's a great idea!! I'll do that next fill. I love the unjury vanilla with 1 c skim milk, 1 Tbsp sugar free pistachio pudding mix and a little ice. Or 1 scoop vanilla, 1 c trop 50 orange juice, 5-6 frozen strawberries and 1/2 c ice. Yum! Also just a scoop of chocolate splendor, 1 c skim milk and some ice- good and cold chocolate milk!!

That is so great, I'm 10 lbs from my halfway point and I can't wait! You look awesome. I have been taking pictures of my journey- first it was weekly, now it's every several weeks- and boy, I compared my first picture at 284 lbs to my last picture at 220 (I'm 217.5 now, LOL)- boy I could see it. I can't see it really looking in the mirror.....

LOL, I just had my first pb yesterday!! I'd had stuck episodes, but not a real pb- and ick! It was on a way too dry meatball . Good thing it was at home- it was really unexpected.

yah, it's crazy over there, that's why I love this site. I do want to hear all sides of things and diligently did my research before being banded, but that site is so so negative. I just stick to these boards. Welcome to lapbandtalk!