ChicagoRose

The first fill isn't as scary as it sounds. It's literally like a flu shot, at least mine are. I wrote all about my first fill in my Lap Band Blog...feel free to browse. Good luck =)

Odd side effect, that's for sure...but a harmless one none the less =)

Well I'm about an hour and a half away but I'd be happy to chat with you online if you want =) Anything in particular you are struggling with? I go to a support group meeting at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, IL.

This has nothing to do with being banded. I have FINALLY been able to update my after photos but now I can't seem to figure out how to make my most recent photo my AFTER photo on my profile page. I have gone to settings, gone to edit my profile, gone to patient data, gone to photos, gone to the gallery, clicked on the photo, checked options...etc. etc. Help??

My birthday is in 17 weeks (March 13) and all I want for my birthday is to be OVERWEIGHT!! Here me out!! I am still obese for the next 20 lbs (which is a whole 'nother rant, f those dumb bmi charts) I need to lose and being overweight never looked like such a great goal. Can I loose 20 lbs in 17 weeks, I think yes, if I really stay on track through the Holidays. March will also be my 1 year Bandiversary. As a reward my husband and I are going to run the Chicago Shamrock Shuffle 8K on March 30, 2014...whoo hoo!! It's all about setting goals, right? Me today at 190 lbs...."Obese". at 5'4'' I need to weigh 170 to be "Overweight" What are some of YOUR goals?? Maybe if we document them together and call make them more real!!

You can for sure do it!! I hit Onederland about two months ago and it's a crazy amazing NSV. You can totally do the 5K by then. I used the 5K Runner app on my phone and the voice talks you through the training while you are listening to Pandora radio. I highly recommend it. And don't feel pressure to jog the whole thing, I did 1/2 and 1/2 and that was HUGE for me. It all counts =)

I weight every day....sigh....and am not proud of it but I'm just addicted I guess. I try to only count my Friday weights on myfitnesspal.com and I only document my monthly banding anniversaries (4th of each month) in my weight loss binder with my pictures and measurements. I know it's a terrible roller coaster and I don't recommend to anyone that you weight every day...but just wanted you to know you are not alone =(

I did my first 5K this fall with my family members to commemorate me having surgery. It was such a fun time and I was able to walk for 1/2 and jog for 1/2 in different intervals. I thought the 8K would be a realistic goal sine it's really only 2 more miles =) Good Luck =)

I know I saw your post... you look fabulous!! Because I'm only 8 mos out they said about two years post-op is when you should really be looking into your cosm. surg if you are interested in going that route...um yeah! My stomach is gross!! LOL!! Thanks for the support and enjoy your new HOT BOD!

It might not be about calories for you if you track, maybe you need to adjust your intake of certain things so that you are still maintaining the same caloric goals but getting more protein in? Either way I'm sure you look fantastic with all that exercise so be patient with yourself, it's normal to fluctuate and even "gain" as you are losing and your body is changing. Good luck =)

Fantastic!! This is what I'm doing this for...YOU GO GIRL =)

I hope I'm not one of those annoying people you speak of, in fact my site given title is now "Bariatric Master" which is a FAR CRY from where I am.....I am 8 months out, I'm still in the newly wed phase as I call it, I'm still getting fills, and learning the ropes, and one of the "newbies" I guess. At the same time, I come to this site almost every day, to listen, to advise, to learn. It keeps me motivated to talk to others like me. Yes, I am one of the lucky ones that has lost more weight than what is "statistical" but I don't feel I'm any better than anyone. I do feel that I have been making some good choices and should feel proud of those choices and help others by inspiring them to make those same choices. You will see eventually that sometimes you will read a post that is so ridiculous it's impossible not to sound patronizing in your advice. Example:"I"m a few days out and just so hungry, do you think I can just eat food even though I'm not supposed to?" Or another favorite of mine "I was just banded this week, what should I be eating?"....or the woman who's port stuck out her body and they cut it off with scissors....the list goes on and on. Good luck on your own journey and take what you read here for what it is. Kinda like e-mail or text messaging you can't read emotion or sarcasm or rudness in the words sometimes.

At the end of the day...it's calories in, and energy out. The band helps, but what people don't always know is that you still have to diet and exercise to lose the weight. I am banded for 8 months and still COUNT CALORIES every single day and that's why I have lost 70 lbs. I watch portions, and when I'm hungry between meals I chose healthy options. I still don't know if I'm at my green zone it's a long process that can take up to a year to get your perfect fill. If you are worried, try myfitnesspal.com which is the site/app most of us use. Good luck =)

I'm so sorry you have started what should be a fantastic life change with such a terrible experience, hopefully it's now full steam ahead! That being said the whole thing sounds a little shady to me and you might consider looking into it or getting some legal advice. Although I completely understand that all surgeons are different, they really should be testing you for being able to swallow before you go home. Also, my surgeon puts the band in completely unfilled since you need a few weeks to heal....the fills and restriction will come with time. Good luck on band number two!!

Many things can cause fluctuations in the band, it could be that because we tend to retain water during our TOM that the band will be tighter, just as it is in the summer when it's very hot out. It's crazy how sometimes your band is screaming at you and sometimes you wonder if the damn thing is still in there.

That is AWESOME!! It's the little things, isn't it?? All the NSVs are what keep us going =) Keep up the good work and enjoy your new sitting position.

It will get better but now is the time to be kind to yourself and rest up. I took two weeks off of work because I wanted to really focus on myself during that pre-op time with a lot of time to walk and rest and it was a lifesaver for me!

Although I am very surprised that you are on food already, that isnt' for me to discern if that is your surgeon's directive. My favorite mushies were tuna salad, chicken salad, and ESPECIALLY fat free refried beans with low fat sour cream and light cheese...sometimes I would add ground taco meat also.

Great job and CONGRATS!!

At our center we are advised to be on liquids after a stuck, followed by mushies the following day, followed by the regular diet. I'm sure mashed potatoes will be okay for you, your stomach has been through a trauma =( Learn and move on, right? Good luck!

Wow, that sucks. Ours is great, our center has separate groups for the different surgeries and is required for the pre-op patients which means there is always both banded and non-banded members. I'm sorry that your experience was negative because I really attribute my success to being so involved in my social groups....it's like someone in AA, you really need those like you to stay motivated and on target! Maybe you should keep looking and there will be a better group for you elsewhere.

hmmm...yeah...no, mine is on my stomach creating a funnel where the food (1 cup servings recommended) gather when we are eating the right foods and then trickle down into the lower stomach. Not sure why I'm still reading this thread or arguing with anyone here. ...

I can eat potatoes just fine, but that being said, they are discouraged by my nutritionist because the nutritional content is just not there. Try pureed protiens before you eat pureed starches for the best outcome!

Hmmm....personally I'm not sure if this is appropriate advice to give. Interesting article, that's for sure, but to have online members disregard their SURGEONS and follow your unsolicited advice is asking for trouble if you ask me. Thank you for your opinion, because it is just that, your opinion, but anyone that choses to change their habits based on one article from an unreliable source has fate in their own hands. If you are eating the recommended amounts of food, and following the protocol given to you by your surgical team, the percentage of problems is greatly reduced. No one's food should be sitting in their esophagus for days, and many of us have been advised to drink after about 30 minutes to aid in the digestion process. Good luck to you.