DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

What type of water are you drinking? It makes me wonder if there's not something in it upsetting your stomach.

I find when I hit a plateau, I increase my calories by a lot for a day, then drop down low the next, then finish the week at my usual amount. For instance: Day 1: 1400 calories Day 2: 800 calories Days 3-7: 900-1000 calories a day (this is my usual amount a day) I did this the last two plateaus and both times it broke the plateau. As the previous posters stated, your body gets used to your routine and gets more efficient. Plus, it's programmed to resist weight loss, so sometimes confusing it with a big calorie fluctuation is enough to kick the metabolism into activity again.

You can totally do this! Just remember, you're in control of the situation and you got this

It all depends on your surgeon. They all have different post op diet requirements. Were you given a post op diet to follow? If not, contact your surgeon's office to get one. Best wishes

This is copied from another thread because it applies here I believe: It seems to me there is a lot of misunderstanding out there when it comes to restriction. Over and over, I read post after post of the following statements: "I have had fills but can still eat whatever I want" While some people do have issues eating certain foods, there is absolutely no truth that you shouldn't be able to eat foods like breads, Pasta, and rice. If you are following a low carb diet that's one thing, but being banded doesn't mean you shouldn't be physically able to eat them anymore. Many of us can still eat absolutely everything we ate before surgery. "I have had fills but I can still eat more than 1 cup of food" This may be true, however, just because you can eat more than a cup of food doesn't mean you should. More often than not, if you eat slowly and stop after eating no more than 1 cup of food, you will find that you are satisfied and no longer hungry despite the fact you could still physically eat more. Quit trying to test your band to see how much you can eat, because the only one that will fail the test is you, not the band. "I have had fills but I don't feel full" Big misconception- the band will make you feel full. Wrong. It's true some people do feel full but it's a different full sensation than we had before banded. In fact, it's almost uncomfortable. The band is not supposed to make you feel stuffed full, it's supposed to make you feel satisfied with less food for longer periods of time. If you keep getting fill after fill because you don't feel stuffed full, you are going to end up one of the many people who have bands too tight and slips as a result. Being satisfied means you are no longer hungry, not that you feel as though you just ate a seven course Thanksgiving dinner. Quit trying to feel full and start listening to your body because it will tell you when it's satisfied. I encourage everyone to educate themselves on the Lap-Band, what it does, and what it doesn't do. Too many people are walking around banded completely ignorant to the facts and I fear many will have complications and slips because of it. It's your body, take responsibility for educating yourself on it.

Malpractice insurance is for doctors, not patients. And if something did go wrong, you would have zero recourse in the United States. All you could do is see what the Mexican laws were and if you had recourse there through the Mexican courts. Considering the huge amount Medical Tourism in Mexico, I highly doubt you'd have any options as an American traveling there for a medical procedure. I agree with elcee, if you're concerned then you shouldn't be going at all. Your health is too important to gamble with. Just my opinion.

I really like the Unjury protein shakes. I'm over 6 months post op and still have a Chocolate Splendor Unjury protein shake for breakfast every morning.

Most surgeons wait 4-6 weeks after surgery, to give your stomach time to heal up first.

This is a really cool little chart, showing by comparison to random objects how much you've lost: I've lost the average fashion model! How much have you lost?

Honestly, I think I survived bandster hell not one day at a time but one minute at a time. It sucked, there is no two ways about it. My heart goes out to you because I know you're trying and I know it's extremely hard. Protein does help keep you full longer, so definitely focus on protein. I knew before I had restriction I'd never make it 4-5 hours between meals, especially only eating a cup of food per meal, so I spread my food out. I have always counted my calories so I made sure to stay within the daily limit despite eating mini meals all day. Here's an example: Breakfast- Protein shake 2 hours later- 1/4 cup low fat cottage cheese Lunch- 4oz of tuna mixed with a wedge of light Laughing Cow Cheese, 1/2 cup tossed salad with fat free ranch dressing 2 hours later- sugar free pudding Dinner- 4oz of pork chops, 1/4 cup mashed potatoes, 1/4 cup green Beans 2 hours later- Low fat wheat thins (8 of them) with a wedge of light Laughing Cow Cheese spread on them This is just an example of how I ate during bandster hell. Not eating between meals simply wasn't realistic for me at all so I spread my calories throughout the day. For me, it got me through until I had good restriction. Now, I no longer need the Snacks and for the most part just stick to my meals. Hang in there, you can do this!

No one minds questions, I know I answer tons daily both on the boards and when people send me private messages. I'm always happy to help and I would never, ever discourage people from asking for help. The only stupid questions are the ones that go left unasked. ...but that doesn't change the fact it greatly concerns me the amount of banded people without a clue about the band or it effects their life. It's not a matter a minding questions, believe me I don't at all, it's a matter of genuine concern for the lack of informed bandsters I'm seeing out there.

I think it's a very good idea, then once you've mastered it with the toddler utensils you'll be able to easily duplicate it with normal adult ones. It takes time and practice to get used to. I know I had a week of almost constant stuck episodes after my last fill in May until I finally got the hang of smaller bites.

Your body size, big or small, is not your identity Who you are inside is who you are. We identify with being a "big girl" or "curvy chic" because it's all we have known. But, just because your body changes doesn't mean it changes who you are. Think of it like this: You get a gorgeous, flawless diamond as a gift. This diamond comes in wrapped in gold paper and in a red velvet box. But, if the diamond came wrapped up in old newspaper and in a shoe box, would it not still be the same gorgeous, flawless diamond? YOU are that diamond, your wrapping on the outside has absolutely nothing to do with who you are inside. As for your friends, I would be willing to bet there are some jealousy issues at work here, whether they want to admit it or not. I have dealt with similar. It's like you're the kid escaping fat camp and all the other kids are jealous because you successfully got out and they're still stuck in fat camp hell. Do not let your friends make you feel bad for bettering yourself and making yourself healthier. Your true friends will be there and support your changes, not try to sabotage your efforts or drag you back into the fat camp. Embrace yourself and new body!

A little warm isn't good, they shouldn't be any difference in temp between them and the rest of your skin. Go to the doc, you need to be on antibiotics most likely.

I was going to say the same thing Jackie said, go to the doctor. They look infected.

Ask yourself- -Are you satisfied with a cup or less of food per meal? -Can you go 4-5 hours between meals without hunger? If you answer no to either question, then you probably need a fill. Discuss it with your doc let them help you decide. One other point, the band isn't meant to make you fell stuffed full, it's meant to make you feel satisfied with less food for longer amounts of time.

Hello and welcome!! First, congratulations on your decision! You attitude is wonderfully optimistic and it will help you so much through this journey. The fact you have such a supportive family will help, too. Best wishes!

I am totally trying those, thanks!!!

Congratulations!! I am about 6 1/2 months out and I've lost 123 pounds.

Yes, I have lost 121 pounds in about 6 months. Or rather 123 pounds now. (I've lost more since this original post)

I was banded in January 2012, and within months of me, two of my real life friends had Gastric Bypass. One had it in October 2011 and the other February 2012. We all started out with over 200 pounds to lose. I was originally scheduled for Gastric Bypass, too. But, I canceled the surgery because I simply couldn't justify permanently rerouting my internal organs without trying something far less drastic first. So, I got the Lap-Band instead. Like so many others on here, I heard endlessly how I was a fool for choosing the Lap-Band over Gastric Bypass. "Oh you'll be lucky to lose 50 pounds with Lap-Band"... "You should have Gastric Bypass, you'll dump a ton of weight much faster"... "why don't you stick with the sure thing, Gastric Bypass, rather than waste your time with Lap-Band?". Believe me, I heard it all, so much so I even began to doubt myself and my decision. What if they were right? But I researched not only the Lap-Band but the Gastric Sleeve and Gastric Bypass thoroughly. I knew the pros and cons of each, I knew what the surgeries entailed, and I knew that regardless of which one I chose the work would be mine to do and I'd have to make diet changes for a lifetime. I knew Lap-Band was right for me, so despite the naysayers, I went through with it. Fast forward to now, July 2012... My friend who had Gastric Bypass in October 2011 has lost 64 pounds. She lost all that in the first 3 months and hasn't lost anything in the last 6 months. She never really changed her eating habits because she figured she didn't need to with the Gastric Bypass. She did cut back on portions in the beginning, but currently she admits that aside from vomiting occasionally from eating fatty foods or sweets, she eats pretty much like she did before surgery. My friend who had Gastric Bypass in February 2012 has lost 14 pounds. She hasn't changed a single thing about her eating habits and is vomiting multiple times daily from trying to overeat. I, who had Lap-Band in January 2012, have lost 121 pounds. I am far from perfect, I struggle with head hunger almost daily, and I definitely have times I eat unhealthy foods. But the majority of the time I eat very healthy and follow the portion and nutritional guidelines my nutritionist gave me. My point isn't to gloat, or to say "See, Lap-Band is better!" My point is the fact that it doesn't matter which WLS you choose, you MUST DO THE WORK YOURSELF. I don't care if it's Gastric Bypass, the Sleeve, or Lap-Band. The surgeries are tools not magic pills. If you don't change your eating habits to healthy ones for a lifetime you simply will not get the results you desire. Period, no exceptions. I hear people say all the time "Oh I got the band because I don't want to diet". Of course, we all did, but guess what? You do have to eat healthy, not just for awhile like a diet, but for a lifetime. Ultimately, no matter which WLS surgery you choose, your success or failure depends on you not the surgery itself.

Most surgeons make it a basic requirement because sleep apnea is so common among obese people. Plus, if you do have sleep apnea, they'll want to know before putting you under anesthetic.

Ugh I know it's hard. I remember pictures of me being taken (against my will) last Christmas, which was just a couple weeks before my surgery. They were so horrible, I untagged myself from them on Facebook because I was just so ashamed at how horrible I looked. The only time anyone got any pictures of me the last 10 years was under protest or by sneaking, because I hated pictures and the way I looked so grossly huge in them. The good news is, in the near future, you'll look back at that picture and be like "wow I can't believe that was me!" and it will feel amazing. You will happily take pictures because you'll know you look better than you have in years. Change is coming soon, just try to focus on how much you are about to change for the better