momlambert

So good to hear from you, Janine. You are doing GREAT! How are your children? I know you were having some concerns with them--is it going any better? I didn't lose any hair, but I'm a really slow loser so that may be why. Not complaining here! Glad yours is growing back. I, too, finally have good restriction! It's great! (although sometimes I would just love to sit down to a full meal and eat it!). I asked my nurse last time I was in what my calorie intake should be. She said 1,000-1,200 per day. That's usually where I'm at. I only lose a pound a week, on good weeks though. My dr. has said from the beginning that the goal is only 1-1 1/2 lbs. per week. You don't want to cut your calories too much in an attempt to lose more and end up going into starvation mode and losing even less. It's always a hard call. Sometimes I think I lose the best when I'm at 1500 calories. But I can't tell because I don't think the loss is immediate--like the next day--so maybe I'm better off sticking around 1,000. It's a guessing game, isn't it? Sorry you have been sick. Glad you are feeling better. Good luck with your restriction and your goal.

Everyone seems to be different as far as when they feel full and what signal they have. I have different sensations at different times. Often I hiccup--it's my signal that if I keep eating I'm going to be in pain and probably PB. Another signal or "soft stop" that I have is pain in my left shoulder. The strange thing for me is I never feel really full or satisfied like I did before the band. My stomach never feels full or like I'm going to burst if I keep eating (like I used to). Now it's more like pressure in my chest or the inability to swallow because I can tell it's not going to go down. If I keep eating, my next burp will we liquidy and gross and I'm on my way to sliming and probably a PB. I'm learning how to not get to the point! It is just willpower at first. My dr. said not to expect a weight loss but that any loss is a great bonus. It took me 12 fills to get to where I am now, which I think may well be my sweet spot. Before I had adequate restriction, it was purely willpower--probably for 5-6 months before I started feeling any restriction. But, I'm proud to say that, even though my loss was--and still is--very slow, I never gained weight for more than a day or so. I was hoping to start losing well now that I have restriction but it's still really slow. But, I'm glad I'm losing and feel restriction now. I'm hopeful! Good luck. Welcome and keep asking questions!

Welcome, Gometros! I'll turn 59 in June. I have ten children (all boys but 9 )--the oldest turns 39 in June and the youngest is 20. I also have 6 grandchildren (all girls but 5 :tongue:) who are the light of my life and the biggest reason I had the surgery last March. I really want to live to see them grow up and to dance at their weddings! Grandkids are wonderful--definitely the reward for raising your children. Good luck on your journey!

WOW Jeni! What a difference 10 months and 73.3 lbs makes! Good for you. You must be so happy and proud. Keep it up--you are an inspiration! :clap2::whoo:

yup, that's restriction! Congratulations. Many (most?) bandsters have trouble eating breakfast at all when they have proper restriction so you probably aren't there yet but some restriction is definitely better than none!

yeah, me, too. Sometimes it goes down into my arm a little as well. Usually it's for the same reasons.

Oh my, sawdust. That's quite a story. How scary for you! I haven't heard of this before but I've been banded less than a year so I'm no authority. Maybe you should look on the "lapband complications" threads and see if anyone has had similar problems. I hope you are feeling better and will be back on track with your band soon! Good luck to you.

Yeah, I've been having the same problem the past two days. I wondered why things were so quiet! Maybe a glitch that will be fixed soon. Hopefully!

Probably not. I had the same situation and everything was fine. I did have a little restriction, come to think of it. Now I'm at 3.9 and think it may be my sweet spot. You could have a leak if you aren't feeling any restriction at all, I guess. Ask your doctor! I'm assuming you have a 4 cc band, right? Good luck!

Sorry, but I haven't heard of them either. Are they new? I was banded last March and I don't remember their names from back then. Good luck!

Welcome to ONE-derful ONE-derland, Marlena! Doesn't it feel great???? Congrats! :whoo::clap2::whoo::clap2::whoo::clap2:There is a great thread you might like to be part of: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f15/countdown-onederland-33961/ Way to go!

My port is on the left and my shoulder pain is also in the left shoulder area but more in the front just below the collar bone. Yes, it seems about the same as it did post op but not as often or intense. I'm left handed (actually, I am more ambidextrous since I do everything right handed except write). Three of my daughters are massage therapists but I haven't thought to mention it to them. I've had a few messages but I'm not fond of massages--I don't like people feeling my fat. Maybe someday...

That makes sense for the pain right after surgery but how do you explain the shoulder pain that many of us have months or years after surgery? I get it when I eat too much (it's a "soft stop" for me). I was banded almost 10 months ago. Just wondering your theory on that. Thanks!

One-derful news, Tracy and Frangipani! Welcome to one-derful one-derland! I'm a new member myself but, even with the holidays, my feet are firmly planted. My weight fluctuates but always remains below 198. Woohoo!:clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::whoo::clap2::whoo::clap2::whoo::clap2::whoo::clap2::whoo::clap2::whoo::clap2::whoo::clap2::whoo::clap2:

I tried both but preferred sparkpeople.com To each his own! I find it easy to use and like the little silly rewards they give you. The daily messages are really helpful and I love tracking exercise as well as nutrition. Fitday may do all the same but when I set up sparkpeople and tried fitday as well, i had more trouble on fitday. FWIW. Good luck!

Did you get IV fluids during or after surgery? If you did, that would explain it. I didn't have fluids during this surgery but did on other surgeries and it seemed I had to get up and go every hour or so for a day or two. Congrats on your banding and good luck! Here's to a great new year and new you.:clap2::whoo:

It took me 12 fills in 8 months to get good restriction--I have 3.9 in my 4 cc band. I know from reading other's posts that I'm definitely the exception but it does happen! I have another fill appt. tomorrow but I think I'll stay where I am for awhile. I may just very well be at my sweet spot! I can only eat small quantities now, have trouble eating early in the morning, and need to chew A LOT to avoid a pb. I've lost really slowly--probably because of the lack of restriction together with the fact that I'm 58 and started with a lower BMI. But even though I had much higher expectations for weight loss, I'm not at all sorry I got the band. I lost 3 lbs. during the holidays--I can tell you, that would have NEVER happened without the band! Good luck! Hang in there and hope for restriction soon, but if it doesn't come, know that it has to at some point! Happy New Year, everyone!

Welcome, Connib! Good luck in your pursuit. I didn't know I had a hiatal hernia but the dr. repaired it during the surgery. Everything went fine! I'm sure that will be the case for you as well. Good luck!

Welcome and good luck, LKM. I am 58 and really enjoy this thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/how-weight-loss-people-over-50-a-21117/ Happy New Year everyone!

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WOW! Congrats! :clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:

Congrats, new_me! You really are a new person for 2008. Awesome! :clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:

So sorry you are having a hard time. Your story sounds a lot like mine. I really struggled to lose anything until my 9th or 10th fill (not that it will take you that long--especially if you are throwing up now). Finally, I'm moving a bit but at 6 months out I think I had only lost about 20 lbs. and at least half of that was during the first few weeks. I'm still losing really slowly--about 2 lbs every 3-4 weeks, but I am losing. Don't be discouraged by doing everything right and gaining a little. You know, I'm sure that muscle weighs more than fat. So with your weight training you probably gained muscle. I don't think you are doing anything wrong. Are you eating protein first? Avoiding simple carbs (sugar, white flour, etc.)? Chewing a lot and taking m & m sized bites? Try all that and keep your chin up. You WILL lose! It just might be slow until you adjust to the exercise, the band, and a new lifestyle. Good luck!

I alway get my fill late in the afternoon--as late as possible. My dr. only requires liquids the rest of the day and then mushies the next day so it's not too bad that way. I treat myself to lunch out before my fill so I'm good after that with just some yogurt smoothie, milky cream of wheat, hot chocolate, etc. Sometimes I stop on the way home and get a cup of Wisconsin cauliflower cheese soup. Mmmmm.

Yes, this is a quiet thread. Sorry you are struggling! What's going on? Have you gotten a fill yet? I can't remember where you had your surgery--let me know. How much have you lost? Let us know what is going on and maybe we can talk. Good luck!