Kime-lou

I would guess that it has to do with horomonal changes. If you still have your ovaries you still have the horomonal fluctuations that would cause a period if you had a uterus. During my cycle I get tight and often times can't eat. I will take a bit and know that I just as well stop there, wait for it to come out and then drink a Protein shake because that is all that will go down. Try talking to a GYN about this. My OB/GYN is very familiar with band life and has studied it in order to better help his band patients. I am on my cycle now and last night I couldn't eat. Took one bit and I knew it wasn't going down. The PB'ing started and I opted for a shake instead. Sometimes that doesn't even want to go so I end up with coffee the hot liquid seems to help open me up where Fluid and food go down better.

My doc told me the same thing last time I went. I was like seriously someone is telling me I need to eat more - WTH? My NUT said apple slices with PB is great. I buy the low sodium PB to help with salt intake. In the summer I like cantalope with laughing cow cream cheese wedge. I love applesauce and make my own so I can control what is in there. Something the hubs and I love is zucchini chips. I slice the zucchini is thin slices (with my mandalin), toss in a little olive oil, and parm cheese - place on a cookie sheet and back till golden. These are addictive. The hubs who is anti veggie loves these. This also works to coat asparagas and string beans as a different way to fix them.

I have the same issue. When I'm home my hubs reminds me when it's meal time. At work I could eat all day. I do think it is due to bordem sometimes. When I have a busy day at work I don't get hungry, but if things are quiet, I am starving. That darn head hunger thing.

From the get go I have set goals for myself. The first few months I was knocking them out in what seemed like a week or so, now things have slowed; dramatically. To begin with I was just wanted to get to the lower 10 lb zone. So starting at the 244 mark, 230's came and went quick, then the 220's bam shattered that, 210 slow but got it, below 200 slower but reached it. Now in the 190's and have been in this zone since early Dec. Yesterday I was at 192.8, so it is moving, but sssslllloooowwwllllyyy!!! While I am not giving up, I do get frustrated and worried. Yes, I know I have a calorie deficit each day, yes I am walking more, yes I am only eating my alotted amount, yes I am getting in my protein, yes I am getting in my water; but my weight just isn't moving like before. To begin with my goals were weight based, now I am having to change my goals as realated to other things in order to make myself feel like I am moving forward. These are goals like- walk at the least 6000 steps a day on the weekends 8000. These goals I can reach and it makes me feel good when I reach one. However, I still wish that I could reach my weight loss goals in a more timely fashion. 52 lbs in 8 months - 52 lbs is a lot, but over 8 months that is only 6.5 lbs a month. While I know that it is normal to lose only 1-2 lbs a week so the average is more like 4-8 lbs a month so I am in the middle. My final goal is 140, I use to think oh, I will hit that in a year- now I am not sure when I will hit it- maybe 3 years. I have just had to stop looking long term and start looking at the day- what mountain can I tackle today?

I've been down the last month or so because my weight didn't seem to be moving. I was following the doctors orders, doing what I was suppose to, but the scales were not moving. Then last week all of a sudden I came to realize geez my pants are falling down, my shirt feels bigger. The scales weren't moving, but the inches were. I purchase some summer shorts and capri's in 14's and 12's - holy cow, WOW!! A XL in the ladies section is to big, I need a large. Yesterday the hubs and I went to the mall to finish getting what we needed to our Florida vacation in a few weeks. I tried on a new pair of flip flops and was standing in the mirror looking at them. It took a second for it to register I was looking at my leg- OMG- it's not huge. I look nice. I am sliming down all over. When heading to the store I was tell the hubs- last year at this time I was poured into my 20/22 capri's and wearing a 2XL shirt; yesterday I had on a pair of 14 shorts that are loose in the waist and a size large ladies t-shirt. Wow- this has worked, I did it. I have lost weight. I feel good. At the start of this journey I said I would be happy to get to a size 12/14, well I am here. But, now I am thinking a 8/10 would be nice. Me in an 8/10 WOW- what a thought. I never imagined that could happen and I could still eat good food. I don't feel like I am being deprived or eating rabbit food. I eat the same things I have always loved, just less of it. I don't feel like I am missing out on anything. The only thing I could totally go for that I really should avoid is a slice of Cheesecake Factory Red Velvet Cheesecake. Most likely I will get one for my anniversary (we got engaged there), but I will likely eat it over a few days vs at one time or share it with the hub. So for anyone reading this just starting out or hasn't been banded yet, good news, you can loose weight and still eat good food. It's possible to have it all!!! Today I am on top of the world!!

Weighing at night isn't the best time to weight. But, if you do choose to weigh daily (I do) do the same time each day wearing the same thing (or in the nude). I do this and I log it. My weight bounces. For instance yesterday I was at 191.7 today I was 194.8. There is no way I gained that much in a day- no way. So I know it has more to do with my TOM and Water retention, so I don't let it get to me. If you do choose to weight daily or multiple times a week, just make sure that you don't allow it to dictate you mood and feelings. As long as you are following your plan from the Doc/NUT you are fine.

Dylan it's all in the brand. I have found that depending on the brand and the cut I can wear anything from a 12 to a 16. So I have to try on. My 14 short I just bought I have to put a belt on with them. I could likely wear 12's. Got a pair of capri's that have elastic and are but a button and zip fly and they are 12's. Crazy, but I'm not complaining.

I was also freaked out about this. I was a Dt. Dew freak, loved the stuff. The hubs and I went through 2 cases a week. I started cutting back about a month before surgery. My NUT also told me to cut back on my sweet tea, which I also main lined. I use to drink 2-3 glasses of sweet tea when eating dinner. So all the drinking stuff- no carbination, cutting back on sweet tea, not drinking and eating had me really worried. Honestly, I handled it far better than I ever believed I could. I tried a swallow of my hubs diet due a few months ago, it was like drinking acid. The carbonation burned like drinking straight liquor. I made a gallon of sweet tea for a dinner with friends one night, I ended up pouring what was left out because we just don't drink it anymore. I drink ice Water plain or with crystal light peach mango green tea mixed in it. I honestly don't want anything else. I also didn't have any issue to stopping the drinking with eating. You will be fine, just don't stress about it to much. Try to cut it down little bit by little bit over the time before surgery.

March 22nd it will be 9 months since I was banded. I have lost right at 52 lbs, which puts me half way to goal. I have learned so much in these 9 months. I use to say, gee I don't know why I am so fat, I don't eat that much. Well, I have learned better. In 9 months I have made meals at home, had the major holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas, traveled for work, and eaten out. What did I learn- I WAS lazy. I DID eat a lot! So what has changed.... My MIL purchased me a fitbit for my birthday in November. This counts my steps, flights of stairs taken and calculated my calories burned based on my age and weight. When I started with the fitbit I was taking about 4500 steps a day, this shocked me, I really thought it was more. Now during the week I take between 7-8000 steps on weekends 10-12000. So I have increase my activity. I am busy like most of you out there who work full time and have a house and hubs and 4 creatures in my house. So how did I increase my steps: At work instead of calling a co-worker in the same building on the phone, I walk to their office. Instead of calling kids down to my office, I walk to their classroom and pull them out (we have a HUGE campus with 3 floors so I get stairs and steps). I park further from the door at the grocery store or mall (except when it rains, because I really don't like being wet). I play with my dogs- walk them, run around the house with them, play fetch. When I cook dinner I dance around the kitchen (my husband I come to this of this as entertainment). Of course my food intake has changed, because if I want to lose weight it has to! While I use to believe I ate healthy and didn't eat much, I found out differently. Now I read labels, look for less processed foods, lower sodium and lower calorie. I do choose to eat carbs, but I look for complex carbs (whole wheats, couscous, whole grain, sweet potato) that burns energy just to process. I choose lean meats (chicken, fish, lean hamburger, turkey). For snacks I choose healthy ones, rather than processed- apples and PB, nuts (almonds), banana, greek yogurt. Portion sizes have also changed (duh). Just the nature of having my band has forced the portions to be smaller because I just can't eat more. More than that the doctor said stick to a cup or less at a time. So what does this mean.... for instance when I use to eat a taco, it was taco's like 4, now one and maybe the inside of a second, but no more. When I would eat chicken it would be 2 chicken breast, now it's hard to eat one whole one, if it's large it will likely be half. I love talipia fillets and use to eat two, now it is about 3/4 of one. Eating out.... before surgery I would go out any where and order anything that sounded good, plus and appitizer and sometimes dessert. Boy, that has changed. I plan where I will go out, google their menu and see what the healthy options are. I choose healthy items, I don't get an appitizer, I don't get dessert. Many times I will not get all the items on the entree (like I will say no rice, I don't want 2 sides). I don't feel like I am missing out on anything by cutting back. I feel good. With the increase movement I have more energy and feel better and move better. Eating less makes my tummy feel better. I don't get that horrible stuffed turkey feeling after meals. I feel like my mind is clearer, I breath better, in general feel better. So all in all, honestly now I am suprised that I wasn't bigger than I was. I am thankful that I went ahead a took the step to get my band at 31 rather than waiting till I was older and my health had declined.

Thanks CG, I appreciate your support.

Ask my husband, I was a basket case. I felt like as soon as I started eating again everything I had lost would come right back. I was starving 5 days or so out and I was evil. I was scared to eat, even though I had been cleared to have mushies. I layed in my husband lap and cried, so scared that I was going to fail. My husband kept telling me that if I gave up I would fail, but just follow the directions the doctor gave me and that was all I could do. I have been banded almost 9 months. Total weight lost 52 lbs (currently at 192). I haven't really gained even through the holidays. I weight daily and I will bounce for a week or 4 weeks within a 4 lbs range and then drop, then bounce, then drop. My doctor says this is normal. Yeah, I wish I was losing more and quicker, but I'm not, but I am losing and the inchs are coming off. Rather than wearing a 20 pant, I wear 14's. Rather than a 1 or 2X shirt I am in large. So I guess it did work.

Everyone is different. Glad this is working out for you. The point of WLS is to do what works for you. So rock it!!

I was told by my doctor that Water goes right through the band, so I could drink right up to before I eat. While I eat and after for 30 min don't drink- why I ask- the answer was- that drink pushes food through the band preventing you from getting the satiated single to the brain saying I have had enough. I would ask your doctor and nutritionist and see what they have to say. Seems there is a lot of back and forth, but the one constant seems to be don't drink while you are eating.

Eat Breakfast every day. Your metabolism doesn't kick in until you have something in the AM, even if it's a Protein Shake. Water - drink it- that helps. Exercise- interval training is great - also add a little weight lifting in, even if it's ankle weight or hand weights when walking will help add muscle- which ups the metabolism. Make sure your Vitamin levels are good. Vitamin C and B Vitamins play a role in your metabolsim. So much is interconnected to how your metabolism works- just make sure you are eating a healthy balanced diet and taking suppliments if need be and move more.

I was losing any where for 4-7 lbs a month until recently. It's like I hit a brick wall, but my inches are going down, so I guess my weight will in time to.

Just make sure you have a good lapband surgeon and listen to them. Have a good line of communication with your lapband doctor and your nutritionist- and do what THEY tell you- not what others do and you will be fine.

Domika your symptoms sound a lot like how mine started out. I was always fine when I woke up, but by afternoon I was miserable. It took them 6 months to finally opt to do an ultrasound and found my gallbladder was stuffed full of stones. By the time they got me in surgery I had an infection in the gallbaldder and was running a high fever. I was so happy when that thing was finally out of me. Didn't know how crappy I felt for a year or more until it was gone and I felt good again.