DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

Does your doctor say you can have solid food now? If so, then yes, you can. If no, then no you can't. Follow your post op diet instructions.

Skinny Cow makes some really good, low calorie, Cookies and candies. Of course you want to stick to the serving size recommended and add it into your daily calorie allowance, but they're great to satisfy cravings. Healthy Choice makes some frozen Greek yogurt that's good, too. I agree with ajtexas- it's a lifestyle change not a diet. You can have treats just in moderation. I know I do!

My BMI started MUCH higher- it was 72. I weighed 421 pounds, so I weighed a lot more than you do, too. I've lost over 170 pounds in 11 months. I still have about 85 pounds to lose, but that's a heck of a lot better than where I started and I'm confident I will lose it. You most certainly can lose the weight you need to with the band, you just have to be willing to do the work it requires to be successful with it.

Actually, I understand what you're saying and don't understand how people can say their band is tighter a couple weeks after a fill. Swelling makes the band tighter, not looser, so that would result in the band getting looser as the swelling subsides. Not tighter. I asked my doctor about this after reading it on here numerous times. He told me it's psychosomatic. He said the Fluid doesn't "settle" in the band and there is no physical reason for a fill to take time to "kick in". He agrees stuff like PMS, stress, even temperature can effect the band tightness but a band doesn't magically get tighter two weeks after a fill without outside factors influencing it.

Are you on a low carb diet? That can definitely result in that in that with some people. Low carb diets tend to be much higher in fat.

Personally, I'd go to whichever hospital your surgeon is on staff at. Good luck

Hunger is a natural and necessary body function. Band or Bypass, you will still feel hunger. However, the band does very much curb your hunger. It's entire purpose is to keep you satiated on less food for longer periods of time, which it does very well. I've been banded for about 11 months and I can easily go 4-5 hours between small meals without hunger. I've even skipped meals entirely because I wasn't hungry and simply forgot to eat.

Congratulations!!

Maybe that's a typo? 14cc bands are the biggest they make (that I'm aware of) The green zone means you're satisfied on much less food for longer periods of time. To be more specific, you can go at least 4 hours without hunger after eating a cup or less of food.

That's an awesome NSV! Congratulations!

Every doctor seems to have their own idea of what works and what's necessary. I had 5 stages- Clear liquids, full liquids, mushies, soft food, solid foods. I'd ask a lot of questions and go by whatever your doctor advises.

I've been banded for 11 months and never thrown up. In fact, you're supposed to avoid vomiting at all cost when you have the band, so if someone is throwing up all the time, they're doing something seriously wrong. As far as women having all kinds of problems, for most, it's just the opposite. All the obesity related health issues get better if not resolve, even women with PCOS are much better after surgery and weight loss. Being nervous is normal, just be sure your case of nerves is from facts rather than fiction. Getting all worked over myths and false information is a waste of your energy. Best wishes, you'll do fine

You're very lucky you're not a sweets person, that will help you SO much! While I definitely can't eat nearly as much as I used to, I know all the bad junk foods are definite sliders for me. chips, cakes, ice cream, etc... slide right through and I could eat a ton if I let myself. So, in that respect, I can see how people "fall off the wagon" if they're not careful.

Hang in there, the first couple days are rough but it gets a lot easier relatively quickly. You'll be amazed how "normal" you'll feel again within a matter of days. Best wishes!

It's a figure of speech. Much like when an alcoholic says they "fell of the wagon" it means they're drinking again, when a Lap Band patient says it they mean they've reverted back to old unhealthy eating habits.

It's extremely hard to get in all your Protein while you're still on the liquid diet. I struggled with it, too. Adding unflavored protein powder to drinks could help increase your protein.

The band is only as useless as you allow it to be. It's up to you to utilize the band and do the work, not the other way around. I've lost over 170 pounds in less than a year. I could've never done this without my band. It's far from useless.

Eating less food doesn't necessarily mean less calories. Do you count calories?

I eat when I'm hungry. If that's only 2 meals in a day, then that's what I eat. If I am hungry for all 3 meals and a snack in between, then I eat that. My surgeon believes very strongly that listening to your body's natural hunger cues is important to successful weight loss. He says if I'm not hungry for dinner, then don't eat, because eating when not hungry is counter productive to the necessary mental changes to successfully lose weight and keep it off.

Unless your doctor specifically told you no coffee yet, then I don't see why not. I was allowed coffee immediately after surgery.

I have to ask, why remove a band that's working properly just because your weight loss is slow? Are you doing your part? Are you sticking to a cup or less of food per meal? Do you count calories? Exercise? Get all your Protein in daily? How much weight have you lost? I'm sorry, I'm just trying to make sense of this.

Hello everyone! I always forget this group is here (and that I'm actually in it!), but I too am a January 2012 bandster. We have our 1 year band anniversaries coming up soon. How is everyone doing? Do you have any special plans to celebrate a year being banded?

It takes most people 4-6 months for their hair to recover after all the drugs they pump into you during surgery. Biotin does help, though it's most effective when started before you have the surgery. You can find it at any drug store.

The band isn't supposed to restrict your food intake for you, nor are you supposed to be eating until you're feeling full. Have a look at this link, it may help: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html

You can totally do this!! Best wishes and we'll be here when you get back!