JustDoIt130

I lost 3.5 lbs this past week, bringing my grand total for the month of 7- no fills yet, just banded on 1/26- I had hoped for more, but that's okay. I set my sights a little more realistically for March, and I get my first fill on Monday, so hopefully that will up the lbs lost!! I averaged 1.75 lbs a week, which I hope to increase next month. I've added in exercise this past week, so that will help!

LOL, I agree totally herestolosing it!!!! Kath- I do think a lot of people feel that way, it takes several fills, and if you're like me you want it sooner rather than later. Keep on keepin' on! I lost 3.5 lbs this past week! And exercised yesterday- 4 days in a row! A new record!! It is good motivation to keep logging and paying attention.

Dr Moran did mine too, 1/26/12- very happy so far, first fill this coming Monday!

Hi Jen- I'm recently banded- 1/26/12, and it's the best thing I've ever done! The time frame can be anything from insurance requirements (I had to do a 6 month diet with my PCP) to health issues- any number of things. I was motivated, did what they told me to do as far as the appointments, the labs and tests (I just had the labs- cholesterol, vit D, etc and a chest x-ray and ekg- super easy), and the pre-op diet- and that will vary depending on your dr. Good luck- and remember, it's a process, you still have a lot of work to do to make good food choices and exercise- it's not a magic bullet, but an extremely helpful and useful tool.

the back pains make me wonder if it isn't something to do with your gallbladder, they sometimes go "bad" after weight loss, and I know I've had gallbladder attacks that felt like I'd pulled a back muscle.......Let us know when you find out!!!

Hope this helps- I was 284 pre-op, 276 or so day of surgery, and now, 4 weeks out (as of Sunday) I am at 264- so about 12 lbs down. You will lose a lot at first being on liquids and just not as hungry- but it does come back and you definitely can gain- after you recover from surgery for a few days sometimes the "really hungries" come roaring back. This is known as bandster hell, which you will be in - to some degree or another- until you're filled and in the green zone, which may take several fills. Now is the time to LOG LOG LOG your intake, your exercise, your feelings. It is a diet right now, the band doesn't usually do anything for you until filled- with some exceptions of people who feel restriction right away. Just practice eating small bites, chewing, getting in all your Protein, and you'll keep that weight off and lose more! Good luck!

Name, real or screen~ Justdoit130 Goal weight for March 30th~ 255 Weight on March 1st~ 261 Age~ 41 (can I put 29 and holding???) Dietary goal for March~ Keep recording in my fitness pal Exercise goal for March~ 30 minutes 3 time a week Personal goal for March~ Keep up my motivation Date banded~ 1/26/12 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ What is your favorite outdoor excercise/activity~ laying on the beach!!!!

That is fabulous!!!!!!!! Congratulations!!!

NJ2NC, we cross posted- I'm a baby when it comes to needles too, so we'll see how it goes! I guess it's good to go a little at a time getting to the green zone, as it seems like it can be a fickle spot! I too am a crappy eater when stressed, so good for you making good choices.

I hear you, horsegirl! The thing that keeps me on track is the logging on my fitness pal as I go throughout the day, and can keep track. I'm not ravenous, but I definitely feel like I could eat just like before the surgery if I let myself. I just step on the scale every day to keep me in line!! Ladybandido, I hadn't heard about the smaller fills at closer intervals, but it makes sense- as long as you doc isn't making you wait a month between, I imagine the effect is the same. Mags- I hear you on the chewing!!! I have always been a fast eater, not a lot of chewing going on, LOL. I am not good at it yet, but I have at least been cutting off very small pieces of my protein. ValAnn- I worry about that too, as I don't think I can feel my port- the doc said it was lower than my incision, and before the surgery he told me I probably wouldn't be able to feel it. Nicole- Let us know how it goes with the trainer! As Mags said, I'm sure there's other things he could have you do. Maddy- isn't zumba so much fun??? Who cares the age! My zumba instructor always reminds us at the beginning of class that it doesn't matter what you look like, zumba is for everyone!!!! Erin- are you documenting your food and exercise? I use my fitness pal, but there are others too. Just because you can eat like you did before the surgery doesn't mean you should. Sounds like your fill is just what you need to get going! This still takes a lot of work and a lot of awareness, and it sounds like you have a great surgeon. It's a learning process for sure!!!! I just know if I document it really hits home just how many calories I'm eating, and really helps keep me on track. Once you see the weight coming off it's a good motivator too!! So maybe instead of seeing if you can eat a regular meal, measure out the amount of food you're supposed to have (3 oz protein, 1 cup, however your surgeon puts it) and just eat that, and stop- whether you're hungry or not. I think that feeling of fullness comes with being in the green zone- that can take awhile. Just my $.02- you do what is right for you. I'm doing okay- exercised last night for a total of 3 days in a row!! It's a record!! LOL. It was nice to log it into myfitnesspal, though, and see the net calories. From my scale it looks like I'm down at least another lb, so that is nice. I just have to find a way to work out consistently- I don't really want to get up at 5:45 to do it, but neither do I want to spend my evening working out at the expense of time with DH. I'll figure it out!

Versed works magic before the surgery- they could've done pretty much anything to me after that little shot!!! It's all worth it, definitely talk to the anesthesiologist- I met with mine at my pre-op visit at the hospital. THey'll make you feel at ease!!

That is awesome! Congratulations!!

So girls, how big was your first fill? I have a 14 cc band, and I'm worried that it's going to take forever to get restriction if fills are like 1-2 cc's at a time- I have heard that a certain amount of the saline stays in the tubing..... Tell me what you guys have gotten, and how it went with your doctor- what he/she asked you, what you said, etc. I get mine a week from today!

I worry that it will take me a long time to feel restriction- I have a 14 cc band- not sure how much each fill is, especially the initial ones, hopefully they're sizable at the beginning!!

Hi all- My first fill date is a week from today- and I just wanted some advice. I'm losing weight well, down 20 lbs (7-8 pre-surgery, the rest since) but absolutely am doing this by watching what I eat, logging, etc- white knuckling it while very hungry! I have seen a couple people say that they didn't get a fill because they were losing well, so the Dr didn't think that they needed it. I NEED one! LOL. I know I"m in bandster hell and want to get out of it! I guess I need to be really frank with my doctor and just tell him that while I'm dedicated to making this work, I want the band to start helping out with fills. I just am nervous, I think my Dr is one that listens to his patients, and I am pretty knowledgeable about what this all entails......but are people sometimes denied a fill because of how the dr interprets their answers about losing weight, etc?

slider foods are ones that can just slip by the band- milkshakes, ice cream, chocolate, chips, etc. Remember, the band doesn't make good choices for us!!!

B-52, how many cc's does your band hold?

Hi girls! I have to tell u this yummy thing I just tried! The trop 50 orange juice mixed with 1 scoop vanilla unjury powder and ice- tastes like an orange Julius!! Also, I have worked out yesterday and today! Go me! LOL

Amen! I expect this to work because I expect to do the work!! I will be successful. When my Dr told me that lapbanders lose about 50% of their excess weight, I told him I was not doing this to be average!!!

Hi Mags- I want to do an exercise challenge- maybe we should each set an individual goal, then edit our post to show our updates? Example: Goal for the month 500 minutes 3/1 30/270/300 3/2 30/240/300 or something like that? Of course , I don't know if we can edit an existing post? Just an idea, whatever we decide I'm in.

Kymie- that is awesome! My first fill is a week from Monday, I can't wait. I'm doing okay with just willpower, but as I was driving home yesterday I was thinking about how in a way it's like I don't have a band except for the awareness it gives me. But I know the restriction will come!! Grace- I know what you mean about the follow up- it's kind of hard to try to figure out everything on our own. I too love the boards for all the information I get! NJ2NC- I have no idea where my port is- my surgeon said I wouldn't be able to feel it, but right by my port incision is a bump- it may just be the scar healing from the surgery, though. Let me know how the fill goes, I'm a little stressed out about it, honestly!

I asked about the kind of band used, size, etc. I also asked about fills, if he filled at time of surgery. I asked about any restrictions (lifting, etc) after the surgery. I also asked about potential recovery time ( I needed to get back to work asap). I kept a running list and kept adding to it, then whipped it out of my purse at my appointment, LOL. Oh, I also asked about the progression of how I could eat after the surgery- liquids, full liquids, soft/mushie, etc. I also wrote down all the answers, as I was sure I would never be able to remember the answers! Good luck, and the time will fly by!!

I lost 2.5 lbs this week! Yay! Nice to see after only .5 last week.

We're in the first stages of this, remember- we've had the surgery, pretty recently, and now we're in the healing stage- headed to the getting fills/getting to restriction stage- and that's where it all starts to really happen! I know I had to really prepare myself that I wasn't going to have the surgery and wake up thin, LOL- that that part was really just the beginning, then it would be the process of being careful about what I eat, getting fills and getting to restriction where it wasn't so hard to eat correctly. I hope that made sense, LOL I lost 2.5 lbs last week, for a total of 19.5 since pre-op. I'll take it! I was hoping for the even 3 lbs to get me to 20 lbs lost, but like I say, I'll take it!!!

The trainer thing is interesting to me too. They YMCA offers training, and as soon as i"m cleared at my 6 week checkup/fill to lift heavier weights, I'm going to sign up. Also, my insurance offers some over the phone counseling, which I 'm going to try too. I figure why not go for it totally!! This is my life and my health.