Kime-lou

At 9 months post I have lost 52 lbs. I am really glad that I hit wonderland, and here the but...... once I got under that 200 mark it seems that weight loss has nearly stopped. I finally saw below 200 right before Chirstmas. The lowest scale number I have seen is 191. The reason I say the lowest is my weight is like a bouncing ball. Even though I weigh at the same time of day each day, there are still major fluctuations. Last Sat, Sun and Mon were all 191 weights. Since then I have bounced with in the 192 and 193 zone and then this morning 194 OMG. Okay, so I know I didn't gain that much over night, so I am not to freaked. I know yesterday that I didn't drink enough water and I haven't pottied in a couple days. I just feel like my weight has come to a stall even though I do tend to average about a 2-3 lbs loss a month. However, at this rate it will take me 17-18 months to reach goal. I know I am being a winey butt, I just so want to make it to the 140's. While my doc says I am doing great, I just wonder is there anything I can do to kick my weight loss back up. Or should I just keep doing what I am doing and let the weight come off as it will? Advice please..... I burn around 2200-2300 calories a day Eat around 1600-1800 per doctors orders Steps average around 8000 a day

Sounds like you are eating to fast. I only have the burping issue when I eat to quickly. I can chew like a mad woman, but if I am shoving bites in to fast it will catch up to me.

I really pray that God lessens your pain during this time and also allows you to be healed fully!! I have had a major injury before on my hand that I have had 2 surgeries on and months and months of PT and still do not have full function back, I know the difficulty. But, God can provide miracles to His children.

Awesome job with the 75 lbs!!!! The more you weight when you start I think the longer it takes sometimes to really notice change. I started at 244 and now I am at 191. I just recently really started to see the change in my body. Also, do some toning work and you will really start to see the result.

I had my 9 month post op yesterday (one week before my actual 9th month - 22nd). My doc was very happy. We determined I did not need a fill at this time and I am in the elusive sweet spot. However, she did tell me that as I contiue to lose I may need a tweak here and there. I questioned the fact that I feel like my weight loss as almost come to a stop. I was at one point losing 7 lbs a month, from Dec. until now I have only lost 7. This makes me feel like I am failing. I was told that this is totally common. Almost every bander in the 1st year will hit a 3-4 month spell were the weight loss is almost at a stand still, but just keep doing what we are suppose to and the weight loss will start again. The next bit of encouragement came when I told her I felt like I wasn't doing as well as other banders. I was told that at 9 months post op I have lost 50% of my excess body weight. Doctor consider patients successful if at 1 year they have lost 40% so I am above the curve and they consider me an exordiary success. This made me feel great. Then the discussion turned to continue loss. I told her I was burning around 2100-2300 calories a day, according to my fitbit and walking around 7000-10000 steps a day. She said this was awesome. But, I needed to keep in mind that at this point my daily calorie deficit should only be 500 calories. If I was at a deficit of more than 500 the body would store. I told her that in a couple weeks I was flying to Florida for a week Disney Vacay and I ask about flying effects on the band. I was told that a small percent of patient experience tightness when flying, but most of the time it is only mild and they can still get liquid down and it disapates within 12 hours. To my surprise she said while at Disney not to refuse to enjoy eating. To stick to my alloted amounts, but to enjoy. The fact that I will be burning a lot of calories walking around Disney, I will need the increased calorie intake. So enjoy within reason. I totally love my medical team!! They continue to encourage me. The best thing she told me was that I was the type patient that makes her want to come to work each day. She has patient who refuse to do what they are told from the get go they will have to do and they aren't successful and blame the team. But, the fact that I am doing great and have taken the time to understand my band and body makes what she does worth it. This was a nice compliment. I am so glad I went through with being banded and I am very thankful for the wonderful medical team I have. Biggest advice- Chose a medical team who you feel comfortable with and who is experienced with bands.

Are you on allergy meds. I have major allergy issues, but mine are seasonal. When they start acting up in the spring and fall I use a nasal spray. Other times a year I clean out my sinuses by using simply saline. It's not pretty nor fun, but it really does help with this issue. Mine also make me feel like I have reflux and make my throat sore and make me nauseated. I have thrown up thankfully though. Talk to an allergist and get some suggestions. People with severe allegeries can be helped a great deal by meds. My allergies have been know to cause my eyes to swell shut from presure. I also had a horrid infection a few years ago in my sinuses that they treated with high powered antibiotics that then due to some many antiobiotics went into a yeast infection in my sinuses - let me tell you that sucked. I was told to do the cleansing thing with saline and take the sprays during my peak allergery season.

If you are really tight, Protein shakes are great. However, I prefer at this point to eat solids. Since I am tight first thing when I get up, I choose to drink one bottle of Water and then one cup of coffee before my breakfast. Since I am one of these people who doesn't like the same thing day after day the following are some of the thing on my rotation. These have been approved by my doc. 1- Special K with 2% milk 2- whole grain english muffin with Peanut Butter 3- whole grain english muffin with an egg on it (here is my new recipe that is aweseom- toast a whole grain english muffin - add sprinkle of ff cheese - pouch and egg (I got a $2 egg poacher from wallyworld- crack and egg in it and heat in the mircowave - takes just a min)- add a thin slice of ham. I will make one the night before and pop it in the microwave for 60 sec and enjoy) 4- greek yogurt with fruit

During that time I was also told 800-1000. I was upped when I got to regular food to 1200. Now at 9 months out I was told to up the amount based on my calorie burn. I have a fitbit tracker which my doc is familar with. Based on it I burn between 2100-2300 calories a day. My doc said at this point I should only have a 500 calorie a day deficit because if it's more my loss with actually stall because the body will think it needs to hold on to the fat. I have heard some people say that they don't believe in starvation mode, where the body holds what it's got in fear you are starving it. But the above came straight from my doctor. As always I recommend you double check with your doctor/NUT on what they advise for you and your situation.

Missy is pretty awesome . I know she has helped me with her post and support. Congrats on your success, this is not an easy journey, but very worth it. As you said it is all about finding your own way, you have to find that balance of what works for your body.

If it were me, I would likely try and find another doctor. Two issues with the same surgeon doesn't bode well.

Congrats!! I love seeing successful Lapbanders after a year out.

I use to do sleep studies. Before changing careers I was a respiratory therapist and was a sleep study analyst. When doing sleep studies and researching info about it I found out quickly how scary a person with apnea can be without intervention. I saw patients who would stop breathing and oxygen levels drop into the 50's which can lead to brain damage. It often takes people a couple of months to totally adjust to a cpap. Some prefer the nose mask some the mouth and nose. Basically, use what is comfortable. You body needs the rest to continue to preform all of it's normal function, and your body needs oxygen to continue to live, so a CPAP is vital. Many people who are obese with obstructive sleep apnea who lose weight and get back to a healthy weight can end up not needing the CPAP. When you are obese extra fat in the throat area can cause the obstruction when sleeping, when you lose weight and this fat goes away you no long have apneas. So if you lose weight you may want to request another study to check for apneas. Another option is if you still have your tonsils sometimes if they are large (not inflamed, just big) they can cause the obstructive apnea. Some find have them removed can help with apneas. Biggest advice I can give is find a specialist who deals with sleep apnea. Both Respiratory Specialist and Neurologist are often times very versed in this. But find one who has a speical interest in Sleep Apnea, get an appointment and talk with them about your type of apnea and see what they have to say. But, please wear your CPAP- it is the difference between life and death. And while right now you may not see the effects of the low O2 levels at night, as you age you may be prone to more memory issues due to this. Good Luck

I really think that depends on the amount of water you take in with your meal. I may sip a little on occassion, but I do not drink two glasses as I use to with a meal.

Questions to ask yourself....... Am I losing inches? (clothes looser) Often times with an increase in working out you will not lose or even gain, but you will actually get smaller. You will have increase your muscle tone, muscle weight about what fat weighs but takes up less space so you body actually is smaller, but your weight doesn't show it. Am I sticking to my alotted amounts? This can be a hard thing, but remember if you don't you can cause band problems and you don't want that. Am I eating Protein and healthy foods? You can be eating less but still be eating junk. Good lean Proteins, complex carbs, veggies, and fruit. These will help to stay full longer and lead to not wanting a snack. What is my salt intake? Salt can cause Water retention which weighs a lot more than you think. What is your water intake? Water helps flush out the salt and keep your body hydrated. While it sounds odd that more water will create less water retention it does. The excess water you take in flushes your cells and your body feels like it can let go of the excess because you aren't going to dehydrate it.

Love my fitbit!! It really helps me stay accountable to my movement!! I also got the fitbit scale, so all my stats are in one place.

Actually yes. I thought I was odd. I am 9 months post and still have it at times, but it is much better now. I do not have diabeties, but my suger does drop at times, so I keep some trail mix in my bag at all times. I have less issues with this when I make sure to combine complex carbs and Proteins in my meals. Like a whole grain english muffin with low sodium PB. If I need a snack- apple with pb. My tummy use to crap and hurt right before lunch time, then I would eat and it would go away. As I got more fills and started watching closer to what foods make my body feel good these issues lessed. Good luck.

Awesome Job!!!! My vice was Dt. Dew. I thought it would kill me to give it up, but you know what, I don't miss soda at all. I really do like Water. My current vice is water with crystal light peach mango green tea. I have been on it for a year and I still love. I order it by the case . Just the other day I read that MT. Dew has veg oil in it - yuck!! Can't believe I ever drank the stuff.

Was it gas? With my eating more steamed and raw veggies (broccoli, cabbage) I tend to get bloated with gas more often, which sometimes causes my belly area to hurt. Mine goes away after I get the gas out. Good luck, as always talk to your doctor .

You have lost 35 that is good. I was banded the same time you were and I only lost 53. I am not sure what weight you started out at, but the smaller you are at the start the slower the weight comes off. Before you give up I would really advise you talk to your doctor and or nutritionist and get some advise from them. It's not all about the band, it is also about what you eat (eating filling foods). If you are doing everything right, then maybe the doctor will want to check your band to make sure there isn't a problem with that. Don't give up until you have explored a little deeper.

Talk to your doctor and NUT!! My weight loss stalled out and I wasn't losing a thing. I talked to my doctor showed her what I was eating and how many calories I was burning a day (I have a fitbit that calculates that) and she told me I wasn't getting in enough calories. She advised me to increase my protein calories. That did it. I have dropped 2 lbs since then.

It will be an up and down. I ALWAYS bounce in a 5 lbs range. Don't fret. So many things effect your weight. Do your measurements to, those change pretty fast to start with. Then sometimes those will change when the scale seems stuck. Don't get discouraged, as long as you are following the directive the doctor and nutritionist gave you then you will be fine! Like so many people say this is not a fast journey. Some lose faster than others, but what matters is losing.

Hang in there, you are in the difficult time now. If you can do this, no doubt you will rock it!!!! Keep the faith and believe in yourself that you can do this and you are worth it.

You will be fine- deep breaths!!!