DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

When I first started walking, I could barely make it to the end of my street. I walked with a cane and every single step hurt. By the time I went to the corner and back I thought I might collapse in the driveway. But, I kept doing it day after day, slowly going a little further week after week. Now...I walk 2 miles a day (weather permitting) and I love it. No more cane either. In fact, if I'm not feeling good, I go walk because I know it'll make me feel so much better. Just push yourself to do it, you'll feel so much better both physically and mentally.

It's ok, it's a pretty common misconception Have a look at this link, it does a GREAT job explaining it all, including how if you're eating until you're full you're likely eating too much: http://drsimpson.net...estriction.html

Actually, you're not supposed to get that full feeling. If you're eating until you're full you're eating too much. The band also isn't supposed to stop you from eating anything, either. It's meant to help you feel satisfied on less food for longer periods of time. Have a look at this link, it explains the misconceptions about "restriction" and what to expect from your band: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html Best wishes.

Granted this is strictly my opinion, but being as we're not supposed to be eating until we're full when banded it seems extremely counter productive to take a pill to do exactly that. I would definitely ask your surgeon before taking it.

Yes, you're definitely too tight. I'm glad you were wise and already contacted your doctor. If you're concerned about a slip, you could always request he checks your band placement via barium swallow. Best wishes to you.

My question would be, why do you say you need another fill?

I think the best advice I can give you is two things: First, forget about how many cc's are in your band, it's irrelevant. Everyone's anatomy is different and everyone needs different amounts to have adequate Fluid in their band. All that matters is how you feel, not how much is (or isn't) in your band. The second is, be sure what you're calling "restriction" is the sensation you are looking for. Too often people use the word restriction thinking the band is supposed to physically stop you from eating or "restrict" what you eat and that's not the case. This link by Dr. Simpson does an excellent job explaining it: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html Be patient. You've only been banded a couple months and a lot of people need multiple fills before they actually feel the benefits of the band. It will come. Best wishes on your journey.

You'd have to ask your own doctor specifically. They all have their own rules and reasons.

It all depends. If it's an insurance required diet it can take up to 6 months. If it's a doctor require diet it can be anywhere from 1-4 weeks. Then, there's some don't have any pre-op diet at all. How much you need to lose depends entirely on your doctor and your insurance company. Best wishes.

Yeah I hate that too! I just keep it recorded here as though there's no decimal on my scale. I figure it all evens out in the end.

Doing this without full family support is rough but you must remember you're doing this for you, no one else. I also know how hard it is to start with a high BMI (mine was 72!). You just have to take things one day, one step at a time. I understand if you don't want to do this super low/no carb diet forever. I'm not even going to pretend I could- I couldn't and flat out refuse to. But, you're in the pre-op phase. Patient compliance is so key not only to success with the band but successful healing after surgery. You may not like this no carb diet right now but it's imperative you stick to it regardless. You may not realize this, but this pre-op diet he has you on has nothing to do with weight loss and everything to do with shrinking your liver. As a very high BMI person, this is particularly important. Obese people also have very fatty, enlarged livers. In order to place your Lap Band your surgeon has to be able to safely manipulate and work around your liver. If it's too big he can't do that. In fact, there's even people who've gone into surgery and come out with all the scars but no band because once the surgeon got into them their liver was too big to continue. After surgery, you're going to be put on an ever stricter progressive diet. Again, this diet isn't about weight loss. This one will be about allowing your stomach to heal. It is crucial you stick to this diet without cheating or you will put your health and band at risk. My point is, right now, you have a choice to make. You can do what is necessary, regardless of whether or not you like it, and be successful. Or, you can cheat and risk both your health and failure. The day will come you can sit down with a nutritionist and establish a food plan that's good for you, but for right now, you don't get say in this. Make a commitment to do what you're supposed to do, without cheating, or walk away now because your health isn't worth risks that cheating will bring. Take a deep breath, remind yourself all this pre-op and post-op stuff is just temporary, and do what needs to be done to be a success. Best wishes.

I know it's hard. I remember feeling like I was going to eat my own foot I was so hungry. I actually had to be on liquids for 4 weeks after surgery. A month with zero food sucked! Remember, it's only 2 more days. You've come this far and you can totally make it just 2 more days. Think how proud of yourself you'll be once you make it past all this post op diet stuff!! Be strong, you totally got this

I completely agree with you. The band is about moderation not deprivation. If you feel deprived you're just setting yourself up for failure. Like you, I love pizza and Chinese food (a lot!) I won't eat them daily or even weekly but when I really want it I simply have a small portion of it, count it in my daily calories, and happily continue on.

I'm sorry you didn't find success with the band, but you must realize the band isn't a magic fix for fat. It's just a tool. Unless you're willing to change your eating habits to healthy ones and stick to band sized portions you will fail. It all boils down to simple math- if you burn more calories than you consume you will lose weight. I've lost 190 pounds in less than 14 months and couldn't be happier with my band or my results. I've had to do a lot of hard work to get here but as the old saying goes- nothing worthwhile ever comes easy. It's all been more than worth it.

You're doing awesome! Congratulations!

I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be mean, but I can't read this post. There's no punctuation so it's not even actual sentences. It's just a lot of words mixed with text speak all running into each other. Way too hard to attempt to read. Sorry.

Congratulations!

I hate them, not just because they're creepy, but it goes to show how planned the whole thing it was. It was like "yeah we're going to hire a fat actress and do whatever necessary to get her to lose weight for our commercial". You better believe they don't care if they maintain that weight loss or not, either!

You received great advice here. It's also important to note the only that results in weight loss is burning more calories than you consume. The band itself doesn't make you lose weight. It dims the hunger and helps you to be satisfied on a lot less food. Best wishes on your journey.

Hely88 nailed it. Everyone is different so everyone needs different levels of Fluid to have adequate fluid in their band. Some never need a fill at all, some need a lot of them, it's all dependent on your anatomy. As for myself, I was lucky to the difference even when my band was empty. I still needed some fills but I was definitely aware the band was there from the beginning.

Cream Soups are good, plus you can mix them together to make a variety of flavors. I found V8 made some great ones with no lumps to strain out- Tomato Garden, Potato Leek, and Butternut Squash are just a few. Plus, they have a lot of a great nutrients that the usual Campbell ones don't.

That's exactly what surgeons mean by satisfied- no long hungry. They don't want you to eat until you're stuffed full because if you are, you're eating too much.

You shouldn't feel pain or gauge whether or not you need fill based on it. To figure out if you need a fill, ask yourself: are you satisfied on a cup or less of food for 4 or more hours? If yes, then you likely don't need a fill. If no, you may need one. Ultimately you should talk to your doctor and decide with him. Also, have a look at the link at the bottom of my signature, I think it will help too. Best wishes.

I use Lose It and love it.