DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

It's just mind boggling because when I'm not restricting carbs (and I usually don't) I can eat 1200 calories in a day with no problems. When I'm doing low carb (Atkins style essentially) it's a major struggle to get the calories in. Btw, congrats on your new band Honestly though, don't be afraid of fills. Some are lucky and don't need them, others do, however fills don't necessarily mean you're going to be habitually stuck or unable to eat certain foods. I can still eat whatever I want, the difference is, I'm satisfied on very little food for long periods of time. It's very rare I get stuck.

Man I struggle with low carb days. I only got in 934 calories today, and believe me, I was trying hard to get in more. The protein is just so filling! Does anyone else struggle to get in enough calories when restricting carbs?

I think part of the problem is you're expecting the band to physically stop you from eating. That's not it's job. It's job is to keep you satisfied on less food for longer periods of time. "Trying it out" with a big Breakfast won't do anything but result in you over eating. This is exactly why it's so important we stick to band sized portions of a cup or less of food per meal. Have a look at this link, I think it can give you some valuable information: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html In time, after you have adequate Fluid in your band, you won't be hungry all the time anymore. As a result, you won't have the same preoccupation with food you're used to either. This is a great thing, and believe me, it helps so much. However, it still won't stop you from drooling over them or actually eating them. As Floridays aptly said, the band is around your stomach not your brain. It can't change the way we think or feel about food. Band or no band, we still have to make good choices and have some self control not to revert to old habits. Best wishes

I would strongly recommend seeing a nutritionist. They can help you establish a healthy calorie range specifically for you.

I just started carb cycling again today. Still can't break the plateau so... here I go again! Low carb day today! lol

I'm so sorry, I went through very similar years ago after another abdominal surgery. Hang in there, it does get better! ((hugs))

Well, it depends greatly on your age, how overweight you are and how long you've been that way, and skin elasticity overall. Plus...just genes. Some simply do better than others. As for myself, I am getting a tummy tuck in a couple months. I'm also looking into getting financed for other skin removal, like my arms and legs. I desperately need it.

No, not at all, and here's why: First, they don't even have their facts right. They state the band "limits how much food he or she can eat". We all know this isn't true and that one of the leading causes of people walking around with bands too tight (leading to slips) is expecting it to do things it's not meant to do. Second, they say very clearly "the Belgian study was based on older techniques and older models of bands, and says patients did not receive adequate follow-up care. There have been significant changes in the way we do the procedure -- in the technique in the way we follow-up patients, and in the procedure," Cobourn told CTV News. "So the study is not relevant to today's practice " Again, we already know this is exactly why they no longer use the older 4mm band in the United States. There were a lot of problems with the older models. Sadly, a lot of those patients did have to have them removed or replaced by no fault of their own, but this study doesn't apply to people banded recently because so much has changed. Third, and in my opinion most importantly, like every other second rate incomplete study out there spurring false media hype about the band, it doesn't take patient error into account. The studies that have taken patient error into account (over eating, vomiting, band too tight, etc) all report the severe complication rate for people's band by no fault of their own as being between 8-12%. The rest, sadly, have no one to blame but themselves for not following the rules and not using their band the way it's meant to be used. So no, that study doesn't scare me at all. It just pisses me off to have more bad information spewed about the media, needlessly scaring people who aren't properly informed.

Welcome and best wishes on your journey!

Check your area for other doctors, preferably one that will work with you. If it's an emergency situation, go to the ER. As long as it's a public hospital they are required by federal law to treat you regardless of ability to pay.

Actually if you read the nutritional labels, aside from slightly higher in sodium, they are very healthy. Just because something is packaged doesn't necessarily mean it's not healthy. My nutritionist actually prefers Leans Cuisines to a lot of lunch meat and other common sandwich foods because they are healthier.

I eat Lean Cuisine and Smart Ones a lot, too. Especially for lunch. They're the perfect portion size and very reasonable calories.

Honestly, my grocery bill increased. It's a lot more expensive to buy chicken breasts and fresh veggies than it is Little Debbies and Easy Mac. It's unfortunate but healthy food is more expensive, which is exactly why people in poverty are far more likely to be obese than someone wealthy.

I'm sorry you're struggling. Are you counting calories? Are you sticking to a cup of food or less per meal? Restricting your calories and portions are the simplest way to lose weight. Best wishes.

The band isn't supposed to stop you from eating anything. It's not supposed to make you sick/vomit from eating too much either. I think you may be expecting it to do things it's simply not meant to do. Here's a link that I think should help: http://drsimpson.net...estriction.html The band is a great tool, but it's just that, just a tool. The work will always be yours to do, including stopping yourself from over eating. I would recommend taking your food logs into your nutritionist and letting them help address your issues. Best wishes.

A lot of surgeons recommend liquids for the first 24 hours after a fill because of the stomach swelling that can occur. It's possible your stomach is just really irritated, especially since you ate so soon after a fill and threw it up. Plus, eggs aren't an easy band food at all. Many people have major problems eating eggs so it's not surprising they're giving you problems too. Granted I'm no doctor and this is just my opinion, but I'd go back to liquids for 24 hours, then mushies, then gradually work solids back in. Give your stomach swelling and irritation time to subside before deciding if you're too tight or not.

Welcome!

Some people take as long as 8 weeks to recover from surgery. It greatly depends on your physical condition before it. If the fatigue continues, see both your doctor and your nutritionist. Get your blood checked to make sure you're not deficient in certain Vitamins and let your nutritionist see what you've been eating (food logs) to make sure you're getting all the healthy food you need.

Perfectly normal. And, don't expect your first fill to even make a big difference. It might but most people need multiple fills before they have adequate fluid in their band.

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree here. What you say is all true, about learning to eat and live with the band and even coddling people. However, it is very possible she's too tight even with only 2cc in her band. I know of people with totally empty bands who are still on the tight side, especially early in their lap band journey. Btw, it makes sense she can eat bad foods but not healthy foods. Most of the "bad foods" are actually slider foods. Processed foods dissolve super fast so slide right through the band almost like a liquid. I know I could eat a pint of ice cream followed by a dozen Cookies with ease, but if I'm not careful with my bites I will easily get stuck on chicken. Same with chips, total slider foods. The bottom line is, she needs to talk to her doctor immediately. Let him figure out if she's too tight or simply not following the rules but either way seeing her surgeon is a must.

No not at all. I do that too, especially at restaurants I see the massive portions of pure fat and calories others are eating and think "I am SO glad that's not me eating that anymore!"

See your doctor. It could be nothing, it could be the band, or it could be something totally unrelated to the band.

I'm so sorry you're going through all this. I think the best place to start is to start over. See your surgeon, have them check your band, and make sure everything is in order. Next, see a nutritionist, one that specializes in bariatric patients. A good nutritionist is just as key to successful weight loss as a good surgeon is because they will help you establish food guidelines that fit your specific lifestyle. The beauty of the band is the fact you can start over. It's an amazing tool but you have to use it correctly for it to work. I kinda like to compare it to a carpenter. When he has a screw tightened, he uses a screw driver. This works well but if he needs a nail hammered in and tries to use the screw driver, it doesn't work at all. The same thing happens with our tool, the band, if we don't use correctly. This is a great link for re-educating yourself as to what to expect from your band: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html You should hang around these forums more- you'll get a lot of support here. Best wishes to you.

I eat between 1000-1200 calories a day. If I go below 1000 my weight loss stalls. I would strongly suggest making an appointment with a nutritionist. They can help you a lot.