DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

Well my system is all messed up from having 2 surgeries a month apart and most recently an MS relapse. I'm retaining a ridiculous amount of water weight all in my legs, too. So, I've decided I'm going to start carb cycling again for a couple weeks. It's worked twice for me before so I'm praying it does this time, too. I'll let y'all know!

I just had this done 3 weeks ago and I'm so glad! You need to do this for you, regardless of what anyone else thinks

I'm so incredibly sorry, Marci ((hugs)) Maybe apply to Care Credit to see if they'll cover the $2500 down? It's worth a try: http://www.carecredit.com/ Or maybe personal loan from your bank or credit union?

Yes, but they're not typical hiccups. My kids and I call them "hiccurps" because I get this weird burp-hiccup combination things after I eat. I usually get about a dozen then they stop.

I too get very frustrated when I see post after post of people sabotaging themselves, or people saying "the band didn't work for me" when it was them that clearly failed not the band. If someone tells me I'm "lucky" for losing so much weight I tell them luck has absolutely nothing to do with it- I worked my @ss off for every pound I lost. But one thing I have learned in the 16 months since being banded and on these forums- you can't take what others do (or don't do) to heart and you can't let it bother you. The only person you can control is you. If others choose to drown in their own ignorance that's their problem, not yours.

Sometimes I just rejoice but sometimes I buy clothes. I figure I should enjoy the smaller me and getting new clothes is a great way to do it.

You look amazing!! Congratulations!!

My thoughts and prayers are definitely with you! ((hugs))

Congratulations on your loss so far! Keep in mind the band isn't meant to physically stop you from eating anything. "Restriction" with the band doesn't mean it's going to restrict the food you can eat. It means literally restriction around your stomach from the band tightening. What the band will do for you once you have adequate Fluid in it is it will control your hunger. You will be able to eat very little food and be satisfied for a much longer period of time. This may not sound like much but trust me, it is. When you're not hungry you're no longer pre-occupied with food and when you're satisfied on little food it makes it very easy to stick to band sized portions and as a result loose weight. Have a look at this link, I think it'll help: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html Best wishes!

Ok, another tough love moment: Knock it off! This isn't about quitting at this point, this is about seriously hurting yourself by not following your post op diet. Your stomach has been stitched and by eating food before you're allowed you are risking ripping them. Call your doctor and be honest what you've done so he can make sure you haven't done any damage and in the meantime get back on your post op diet and stay on it. Why are you upset over 1.4 pounds lost? The first 4-6 weeks post op are for healing not losing so for you to lose anything at all is great. Plus, the average weight loss with the band is 1-2 pounds a week. You need to have realistic expectations or you're setting yourself up for failure. You have a choice to make. Either buckle down and do the right thing or throw up your hands and give up before you even give it a chance. You can do this but you have to want it and commit to it.

I honestly believe the doctors don't want to deal with all the necessary follow-up the band requires. They make very little money on fills and the Sleeve and Bypass make them far more money overall. Plus, judging by the level of ignorance I see on these forums? I'd believe they are seeing a lot of complications because people seem to be going into banded life totally blind with little or no information. I don't know if doctors aren't educating properly or people just don't listen, but it's no wonder there's so many complications when so many seem totally clueless.

I had a tummy tuck and skin removal almost 3 weeks ago. He removed over 12 pounds of skin. He said the average is about 6 pounds but I had a scary huge amount of skin.

No you're not doing it wrong. Granted I'm no doctor nor a nutritionist, but your nutritionist doesn't seem to be thorough enough. You need precise amounts not broad generalities. Mine told me specifically I need a minimum of 60g of Protein daily. When I had this recent surgery, I was told I need at least 80g daily while I'm healing. And 1oz per meal isn't enough. Most of us eat 3-4oz just for dinner alone.

I totally agree with you! I even wrote a blog entry about this exact topic last summer http://www.lapbandtalk.com/blog/6349/entry-24194-eating-like-a-healthy-person/ Best wishes!

I'm going to have to disagree here. Everyone should definitely not be avoiding that whole list of foods. Lean red meat and peanut butter are great sources of Protein. Dairy is important source of Calcium. Raw veggies are actually encouraged because they're very low calorie and loaded in valuable nutrients.

You should start tracking your measurements because I'd be willing to bet you'll find you're losing inches even though the scale isn't moving. A pound of muscle takes up a lot less volume than a pound of fat, so it's very possible to be losing inches by building muscle but not actual pounds. Hang in there and keep doing what you're doing. The scale will eventually catch up.

You're only a failure if you give up so why on earth would you do that? Are you tracking your calories?

I should've asked this earlier... btw, you should fill out your profile. What is your current weight? That also makes a difference in calories.

No, especially not right after surgery when your stomach is still healing.

Are you male or female? How many calories a day do you eat?

that is just SO AWESOME!!!

Do you count calories? Do you measure your portions? Also keep in mind the body can only process 30-35g of Protein at a time max. If you're eating more than that at a meal (like the 52g shake) you're still only really getting 30-35g of it and the rest is just flushed out. This is why it's important to have protein at every meal, so you properly absorb it.

If you can't even swallow liquids, you can't wait until next week to see your doctor. You need to get in to see him ASAP.

It's a HUGE accomplishment!! Congratulations! I remember the first time I crossed my legs. I almost cried I was so happy.

Many people lose weight comfortably without a fill. You have to remember, the band itself has absolutely nothing to do with your metabolism or weight loss. The band is there to control your appetite, and when your anatomy is as such that the band is tight enough to control your appetite without a fill, then that's all you need. This very much seems to be the case with you (you're lucky!). As you lose weight and your stomach shrinks you'll likely need fills eventually. But right now, if I were you, I wouldn't get one. You seem to be doing great without it.