motivatedlap

i also started around a 32 bmi- 152cm and about 75kg. i lost about 21kg over 5 months, then i started exercising and didn't lose more weight, but dropped a dress size or two. i'm gaining again, but it's because i'm expecting. i think after the birth it will be easy to get back down because i had no trouble maintaining before i got pregnant.

i only wanted to lose about 50 too so i felt a little crazy having the sugery, but i'm so glad i did it! i didn't want to wait until my weight go a lot higher or i had other health complications. now that i'm close to goal though, i'm wondering how maintaining my weight is gonna work...

i feel the same way some times because i have discovered that if i'm stressed, it's hard to get anything down. i also don't do the whole high-protein thing because i felt the same way- i would just not eat because it disgusted me and not eating is not healthy. i try to eat more of a balanced diet including fruits and veggies with my meats- i even have small amounts of rice and pasta, and every now and then a little bread. if i listen to my stomach and not my head, i can have what i want and enjoy eating without eating too much. don't choke down something you don't like- enjoy the tiny amount of food you get to eat!

things are going well! it's seven months since my sugery and i've almost met my goal! just had an endoscopy recently and everything looks good. i was worried because i was having pain but it has since gone away. i think maybe it was the tubing rubbing against something? it's weird because i can feel the tubing if i press on my side, but dr. kang said it was fine. thanks for the website! i'll have to check it out for supplements. i actually don't do the high Protein diet. i eat mostly regular food, just way smaller portions! good luck on getting the last 30 off! i feel like i plateau for a couple of weeks, then suddenly a kilo will disappear. i've stopping weighing myself all the time and now i'm mostly going by the fit of my clothes. i've also recently started exercising, so i'm hoping that will get rid of some of the flab!

so, i've been feeling really nervous about my surgery. i'm on the boards every day like it's my job, just browsing around, reading others' experiences. i've been feeling really nervous about having it done- am i making the right choice, should i really do this, can't i just lose the weight myself, how painful is this going to be, how horrible will recovery be? i also don't live in an english speaking country, so i'm worried about complications that may arise and how will i handle that if i can't communicate well enough (don't worry- my doc is fluent in english!). i wasn't planning to tell my boss or any of my coworkers, except one, so that in the event something horrible happened she could let my family and friends back home know (really positive, huh? ). my boyfriend also knows and is very supportive. but today, i spilled the Beans to my boss. i had to because i was worried about some work commitments for the week right after my surgery. i'm having surgery on saturday and basically planning to go back on monday, tuesday at the latest, with an excuse of the flu for my not-quite-right state of physical health. i wasn't worried about calling in on monday, but i didn't know how i was going to explain possibly being super loopy for the rest of the week. so i told him i was having surgery and he was like, "oh, it's very common here, no big deal. my wife wanted me to have it done" i felt SOOO much better! but then i realized maybe he thinks i'm getting lipo....and i didn't feel the need to correct him... tomorrow is my pre-op consult and my tests. i'm not so nervous about those, but i'm still feeling a little jittery about the surgery. it's such a relief to feel like my boss "knows" and i won't have to work so hard at trying to "act normal" when i'm back in the office the week after...and another exciting thing is that one of my coworkers just ordered some Protein powder for me!!! she has been drinking it for skin related positive effects and asked some of us if we wanted a can because we all go to the same skin clinic. SCORE!!! this was one huge concern i had because it's impossible to find it here and even if you do, there is no selection. and it's an unflavored product. i was really worried about protein intake during my liquids and mushies, but now that problem is solved too! it has been a FABULOUS friday so far!!! :bananalama:

I'm not trying to start a heated debate on this, but so what if someone else or their doctor thinks what your doctor is doing is wrong? None of us have probably studied performing gastric surgery or gone to medical school, but we did do some work in selecting a doctor we trust. If you don't want the fill that your doctor will give you because you don't feel you need it, then I'm sure telling your doctor that would be just fine and she would not give it to you. However, don't base what your doctor is trying to do with you and your situation on what you read on the internet. Your doctor knows YOUR situation and is making decisions based on that. Trust your doctor and if you don't, find a new one.

My surgeon trained with Dr. Paul O'Brien, so he provides his book (The Lapband Solution) as a guideline for how to eat and live with the band. I've been sticking to those guidelines depsite seeing so many variations of "the rules", and it's been working for me. I stay away from protein shakes and my guidelines on protein are 30-40g per day- which I think is easily doable considering I'm eating 1,000 calories or less. I try to eat the most whole, natural food possible that I can find. The only thing I drink with food is alcohol, per the guidelines I was given. Using liquids to get in nutrients or calories is a slippery slope- if you aren't able to eat REAL food, then something is wrong. You can't do a liquid diet forever. At the end of the day though, don't confuse yourself- if your doctor has given you guidelines, follow them- don't worry about what everyone else is doing! Reducing your calories will lead to weightloss and that is what the band will help you do! Hang in there!

I did a 14-hour, non-stop flight 3 weeks after surgery and it was fine. I made sure to get up and walk around as much as possible. The best advice will probably be your doctor's!

Agreed with Cazzy- do what your doctor says. Just for comparison though ...mine did the first fill 5 weeks after surgery then had me come in every 10 days to 2 weeks, though I think if I wanted one sooner he would.

This just goes to show how individual- from both a patient and surgeon perspective- this journey is for everyone! We're all comparing numbers to help us feel like we're in the "right" area of where we think we should be, but there's a lot more to it. People have different amounts of fat around their stomachs and different sized stomachs, so 10ccs may put one person on a liquid only diet while another person with 10ccs can still eat pizza. With my band almost full, I could still have anything I wanted. Also, I sometimes wonder if getting multiple tiny fills is a method used by some doctors to make more money off insurance companies/patients for those who are paying a considerable amount for them. My fills are only about $10, so I don't think my surgeon wants to see me that often (kidding!).

Fear not! I was in the same sort of situation before my 3rd fill last week. I have an 11cc SAGB (because I'm outside of the US). My first fill was 10ccs (because my doctor is more aggressive with fills) and I was still hungry and could eat ANYTHING- all of the food I tried would go through. Now I'm at 10.3ccs and I do still feel hungry every once in a while, but most of the time I can wait to eat from meal to meal and don't need Snacks anymore. And usually when I am hungry, it's not a very powerful hunger- I can ignore it for hours if I'm too busy to sit down and eat like I should. Also, I now have to eat much more slowly and chew a lot more carefully. I had my first stuck episode/PB over the weekend and it was horrible! I hope it never happens again! It may just take a tiny bit more fill for you to get to your sweet spot- I was so shocked that such a tiny amount has made such a difference for me. I had 10.5ccs on my second fill and that was too much- it caused me to be in pain! Good luck!!

Going into my closet and not being able to wear any of it because it's too big, which led me to go shopping where I purchased dresses and tops a size or two smaller than usual. Also, my "skinny jeans" were a little saggy yesterday- but they were tight two weeks ago.

I have 10.3cc in an 11cc band. My first fill was 10cc, second was 0.5cc but I had it taken out, then I got 0.3cc the third time and I'm feeling just right!

Thanks for sharing!! You should add this is in the Food & Nutrition forum in case people don't catch it on your blog. So many people talk about cutting out carbs but that's why they can't poop! You need fiber and good carbs will give it to you. Great find!!

My doc fills me lying down (me, not him, heehee!) and doesn't have me drink anything- in fact he tells me to wait a couple of hours to drink. I wasn't sure I'd know what it would feel like if things were 'hanging around', but after my 3rd fill and what I think might be very close to my sweet spot, I know what hanging around longer feels like. It is literally like it's sitting in your throat for a few seconds before it moves on through. I hate to say this because it sounds so cliche, but you will know it when you feel it. As far as what's in your band, it's such a crap shoot for how the amount will work for YOU. My first fill was 10ccs, which many people on this site question (I have an 11cc band). I was still able to eat anything and in larger amounts than 1/2 cup. My second fill was 0.5cc, but after about an hour I asked him to take it back out because my back and chest were hurting. My third fill was 0.3cc and I think we may have it just right- I can still get anything down but in much smaller quantities, but I have to chew better and go more slowly. My hunger level is much less now too. Still, your doctor should tell you if you ask him. Good luck on your journey!

I've only been banded a couple of months, have 10.3ccs in an 11cc band and I haven't been stuck- but it's sort of like B-52 said- I have a fear of it happening, so I'm really careful.

For sure! It seems like a lot of people are pushing the whole 70g of protein/no carbs approach to be successful. My doctor gives advice very similar to Lello's mindset- which is a GREAT read by the way! My doctor trained in Australia and gives out Dr. Paul O'Brien's book as a guide and I find it a really realistic approach for how to eat for the LONG TERM. I'm also hoping to stop counting calories soon because I think I'm at a good place after my third fill, but it may be a little too soon to tell. I weigh every day as well, which I know many people say don't do, but it makes me more aware of what I'm putting in my mouth- and it makes me feel really good to see the number moving down each morning! And when it's not moving, I work a little harder that day to try to get it to move the next day. I never get depressed and binge if it doesn't go down or moves up a little.

It is different for everyone. And I think it is COMPLETELY UNREALISTIC to think that it will be possible for ME to cut certain foods or food groups out of my diet- bravo to those of you who can if it's the right thing for you. I feel that for me, that's just setting me up for failure- every diet in the past failed because there were all these "bad foods" that were off limits. I eat pizza and I will continue to eat pizza on occasion but now I can only handle a small slice. MODERATION is what I feel is the key. Most of my diet does consist of healthy foods, but I still want to enjoy a treat now and then (meaning once or twice a week). Lainey M made a great point at the end of her post!! We're all learning, so learn what's right for you and don't feel guilty if someone else gives you a hard time for a food choice you make- YOU have to live with that choice, not them. Everyone is different.

My band is almost completely full and I have not found anything yet that won't go down. I only eat white meat chicken because I don't like dark meat. I eat a small bit of rice or Pasta a few times a week. I have also had bread on a few occassions and it didn't stick. I have also had pizza- I was only able to eat a small slice though because I was satisfied. One thing you might find that will be more important than WHAT you eat is WHEN you eat it. I don't really eat anything too solid for about an hour and a half after I wake up. I've done it a couple of times and the food goes down, but after a couple of bites, I'm done and for some reason, it makes me feel yucky. I prefer milk or a smoothie in the morning and may have a little oatmeal later on.

I have an 11cc band as well and I could still eat anything I wanted even with with no vomiting or other negative consequence, though I tried to keep my amount to no more than a cup. After my first fill of 10ccs I was in the SAME situation- anything would go down with NO trouble! I would get hungry about 2.5-3 hours after a meal, but I eat about every 4 hours, so I would make myself wait or just drink something. I just got my 2nd fill yesterday- I'm at 10.3ccs and I can already tell a difference (technically it's my third because my 2nd one was 0.5cc but I had it taken back out about an hour later because I was having chest and back pain). I tried to drink some Sprite this morning and it just wouldn't go down very well (I have been drinking carbonated beverages occassionally since banding with no issues). I stopped after about 3 sips. For Breakfast I could barely eat my egg but did manage a little tuna. Try to be strong until you get to the right spot with your fill! I've been having to use a bit of willpower so far, and I'm happy with my progress. I don't want to be at the point where food won't go down, but not getting hungry as quickly would be so nice. I'm hoping my fill yesterday did the trick!

As someone with a SAGB, which is basically the Realize band, I have to agree with this. I have the 11cc band and am currently filled to 10ccs and I have a pretty low level of restriction- I get hungry between meals at least once a day but I can usually power through without eating anything until my next meal. I go for another fill tomorrow and I hope that it will get me to the point that my hunger is a little less throughout the day.

A few of things that are different between the two are: 1) the sizes they offer (both have two different options, though the Lap-Band does have a 4cc but it seems to be only outside the US from what I've read on this site- Lap-band 10 and 14, Realize- 9 and 11- one of those is the Realize C), 2) the port on the Realize band is lower profile (which may or may not be an issue with it showing as you lose weight)- the attachmend of the port also is different depending on the surgeon- Realize has a suture-less option and 3) the inner-ring of the band is divided into sections on the Lap-Band but the Realize is one big section. Here's the comparison chart from the Realize site: http://www.realize.com/lap-band-comparison.htm And from the Lap-Band site: http://www.lapband.com/en/learn_about_lapband/compare_lapband/ (which has somewhat misleading info about Realize IMO regarding size and the length of usage- it makes it sound like there is only one size, but there are actually two and it has been used outside the US since 1996- the "name change" came with the FDA approval in 2007): Both companies are headquartered in the US, but I'm not sure where their bands are actually made. I have the SAGB because I am outside the US. My doctor made the decision for me, but he also uses the Lap-Band and I could have had that one if I had requested it. To me, they both seem to do the same thing, so I left it up to his judgement of which one to use. He does more of the SAGBs, so he's more comfortable with that one and that's fine with me. Good luck with your choice!

Same here- I only told a couple of close family members, my boss and one coworker. I *only* want to lose about 50 pounds, so I don't want to hear people say, "Why go through surgery? You don't need to lose that much. You could do it with diet and exercise." Yeah, maybe I could, but then it would just come right back like it has every other time I lost it- I'm doing this not only to lose it, but to keep it off. I don't want to wait until I have diabetes or high blood pressure- both of which run in my family on both sides- or heart disease which has killed 3 out of 4 of my grandparents. Even after I lose the weight, I still won't tell people because frankly, it's none of their business. I might tell more of my family at a later point, but again, with that will come judgement- they are all obese and made fun of me when I did Weight Watchers- can't imagine their reaction to WLS! Wanted to add too that when people ask what I'm doing to lose the weight, I say "smaller portions, healthier choices and exercising more". Maybe that's lying by ommission, but it's also the truth. If I thought someone was *truly* interested because of their own weightloss struggle, not out of some curiosity to know a bit of gossip, I would share with them. Otherwise, I'm keeping it to myself!

Good luck! Hope your surgery goes smoothly!

I was banded 11-12-11. I've been losing slowly but steadily. I've had a couple of fills, but had the last one taken back out because it was too much. I'm going in next week for another one and the doctor is going to try something slightly smaller than last time. As far as restriction, I can eat anything and haven't been stuck. I have a day every now and then where I'm really hungry, but most days I can control my appetite pretty easily with a little willpower and hot tea! And some days I don't feel hungry at all. I just started excercising FOR REAL...sort of a new year's resolution. So far I've only been walking my dog, but now I'm taking a dance class one day a week and doing strength training 3 days a week. I'm happy with my weight loss speed so far, but I won't complain if my new exercise program speeds it up!