Bandedlauren

Hey there! So, it has been three months since I've lost any weight. I have had to have fills and unfills and now there's barely anything in my band. I am getting an upper GI soon to be sure that my stomach is ok, I lost 70lbs and now I'm back up to only have losing 62...so over this course of time I've gained 8lbs. I am feeling very discouraged and depressed and have tossed around the idea of converting to a sleeve, I work in the OR and have seen quite a few patients converting due to the band no longer helping, erosion, and slippage. Have any of you experienced prolonged weight loss complications and thought of switching or have switched? Just needing some fellow bandster advice! Lauren

I did the same thing when I first got banded. Unfortunately the foods you may be able to tolerate now, you won't be able to after a few fills have taken place. I can't eat any bread product, rice, quinoa, and cereals. They either get stuck or come right back up! Also, I can't eat re-heated meat, especially chicken! (Unless its re heated in a broth) the dry chicken tends to get stuck. Other then that though, I can eat pretty much everything!

Hey there! I talked with my dr and he looked at my band today, he says everything looks great! I am back up to 5.5cc's in my band and he says I should expect to lose about 1lb per week. I was too tight for about 2 months and then too lose for about 3 weeks. Hopefully I am just right now and will start using my favorite tool to help me succeed again!

I am definitely not considering abandoning the band due to 8lbs...there is far more to it then that. I will post an update on Wednesday after my Dr and I chat.

I decided to start couch to 5k last Wednesday. I did skip today but will get exercising tomorrow. Working out really helps my eating habits. I have yet to step on the scale but plan to pull it out of hiding tomorrow. My scale really does help motivate me as does all of your very caring comments! Thank you all so much for your kind words. My eating habits are on and off, today was a very bad day but I have full intentions of jumping back on the band wagon (that was meant to be punny) tomorrow first thing in the morning. I will continue to update everyone and would love continued support. Thanks! Lauren

Hey there, my name is Lauren and I haven't been on here in a long while. Some background about me: my surgery was May 11, 2012. I began my journey at 244lbs and am now 174-180 (I haven't weighed in for a bit) That is a total weight loss of around 70lbs! I have about 30 more to go. This will end up a total weight loss of 100lbs. My dear cousin passed away at the tender age of 13 from a disease called Cystic Fibrosis. This was December 23, 2012. From there I managed to lose around 10lbs and haven't lost anything since. A month ago I had to get an un fill due to heart burn symptoms and gained 5 back. From then on I hit a serious problem of sabotaging my weight loss. I went swim suit shopping and was devastated to find skin hanging from my thighs and stomach...especially after all the hard work I've put in. At this point, I feel like I am at risk for gaining more weight back. I have been making poor food choices and haven't been working out like I did before. In the end I feel like I could really benefit from fellow bandsters and their support to help me get back on track. I love this forum and everyone's support. Thanks. Lauren

Terry, Thank you so much for the pointers! I tried to add you on MFP but couldn't find where to search. My UN is bandedlauren.

all i needed was .6cc's to get there. I knew that was all i need and thats exactly what I got. Its great! I'm still trying to figure out how to put a band around my brain!

Hey guys! I have been out for a while due to my Internet going down...anywhoo! I got my third fill today! I am at 6.1cc's and feel great! I think that I am finally in my green zone and am feeling great restriction! Total I am down 40lbs! When did you hit your "green zone" and how did it make you feel??

That's awesome guys!! yeah, getting to the green zone isn't always an absolute thing. My Dr. told me yesterday that as I lose weight I will have to get another few fills just to stay where i should be. The band will get more lose over time until you reach your goal weight. Its all a process, but it changed my life!

The easiest way for me to tell is feeling adequate restriction, ideal weight loss, and the biggest is being able to only eat 1c to 1/2c of food per meal. Also staying full off of that until my next meal. I usually eat 4 times per day which is what my Dr. wants. I will eat at 7am usually a protein shake and then at noon, again at 4, and finally at 6. It has worked out great for me!

So this morning I had to rush out the door to get to work and didn't have time for breakfast. Then I went and got lunch (shredded chicken taco ish salad)....I took two bites and was too full...almost felt like I was stuck but not quite. I figured it was just because it was my first meal of the day, and I'm normally tight in the mornings. Then a few hours later I was starving so I took a few more bites...same feeling! Then I took the dogs for a walk, came back home, ate dinner (tried to) same thing again! I have had 2 fills, my second one was about a month ago. I've never felt this tight all day long before...my dr said its not a slip...so what could it be?? Also I've felt queasy all day too. Hmmm.

Hey guys, so I am super close to my 3mo post op point! I feel amazing! I am officially down 36.5 lbs! I'm 5'7 and started at 244lbs with diabetes, joint problems, and gaining about 5lbs per month. I knew I'd be well over 300 by the time I graduated college and wanted to make a change! If you were banded in may, what is your weight loss and why did you decide to have lbs?! (even if you weren't banded in may, I'd still love to hear from you!)

All the weight you guys have lost is amazing! Something that I will tell myself if I'm feeling discouraged or feel like I haven't lost enough is that I would never be where I am today without the band! Today I weighed in at 205!!! That's a total of 39lbs!

Today wasn't nearly as bad! Although I didn't make the best choices :/

Name, real or screen~Lauren Goal weight for August 31st~under 200lbs! Weight on August 1st~205 Age~20 Dietary goal for August~eat less carbs Exercise goal for August~walk for 30min 4x per week Personal goal for August~stay calm with my autistic step son (love him dearly but it's rough sometimes) Date banded~may 11 2012 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~39lbs What is your favorite place to travel?~ to my dads out in Oklahoma

Taking control of your own life is the best gift you can give anyone who loves you! Keep up the great work may bandsters!!

I am probably eating about 2c per meal. I should be eating around 1c. I have 5.5cc in my 10cc band and I really think that .5 more cc's will put me right where I should be! Maybe ask for 1cc on the 9th and see what your Dr. says. We should definitely keep in touch!

Hey guys, I am really wanting to plan my meals out for any given day. Paper and pen just don't work for me since my phone or iPad are attached at my hip. Does anyone know of any good apps that I can download to plan my meals?

I looked it up, and it seems very similar to my fitness pall. Im more looking for something to pre plan my meals for the week. Thanks for the info though!!

Wow, everyone is making great progress toward a healthier lifestyle! Hopefully we May bandsters can stick together!!