dragonflylvr21

A few things to remember about the band! You are choosing a surgery that requires you to work! Lap-Band like the other surgeries are a tool! They can all fail! They can all have complications! The can all be successful! Success = Work on your part! Get your head right and you will succeed! Lap-Band is not about restriction! It's NOT going to prevent you from eating the wrong foods! You have to make good food choices and realize that the goal of the band is to trick your brain into thinking you are full on a small amount of food! Green Zone is this.... The ability to eat 1/2 to 1 cup of food ( 3/4 of your portion is protein and the rest is veggies and carb) and be satisfied for 4 hours! Personally this was the hardest thing for me to adhere too! Head hunger got the best of me! It was odd to me not to eat even when I wasn't hungry! But the results of following the rules are wonderful! I am losing again! I am 7 months post surgery and have lost 55 pounds! I have finally got my head in the game. I have 6.5 cc's in my 10 cc band! My surgeon said the biggest reason people fail with the bad is because they either don't understand how it works or they don't get their head in the game! I hope this helps! Good luck with your choice!

Green Zone is the ability to eat 1/2 to 1 cup of food and feel satisfied for 4 hours! The band is NOT about feeling full! As that small amount of food passes through your band it sends signals to the brain that you have had enough! Being satisfied for 4 hours is the GREEN! Sadly I am not there yet... But almost! I have 6.5 cc's in a 10 cc band! Good luck!

I am 42 and recently divorced! I gotta say... The new me is loving the attention! But be careful... Some guys only want.....! They are easy to weed out tho! Go out... Have fun... It will happen! Good luck!

Absolutely! I use the chocolate protein powder with a little kick of peanut butter powder ... Tastes just like a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup! Yummy!

One thing I have learned on here is everybody is different! I was banded on July 24th and have 6.2 cc's in my 10 cc band! I have lost 50 lbs! I feel like I need to share that the band is NOT about restriction!!!! It was designed to curb your appetite! The green zone is not when you feel full! You should never feel full! It is when that 1/2 cup to a cup of food satisfies your hunger for 4 hours! My doctor is very pleased with my loss! It isn't designed to work as fast as the other surgeries! Breath .... You are doing wonderful!

My doctor told me to call at the first sign for meds to stop vomiting!

I am a newbie ... Banded on July 24th! I have 6.2 cc's in my 10 cc band! I am not at green yet but do have some restriction! I have had to get my head in the game... Meaning I have to tell myself that I want to be healthy MORE then I want that cookie or Piece of pie or that clump of homemade Mac and cheese! I am not always successful in that but on most days it works! I agree with b52... I am not on a diet! I am learning to eat the way I should have eaten my entire life! I know how hard it is... My body isn't my hardest struggle... It's my head! Still getting my head into a new way if thinking about food! Merry Christmas all and thanks for being here for me everyday!

FYI.. I am NOT a doctor nor do I pretend to be one either.. Excuse me for having an opinion! I may not be correct but at least I am not MEAN about it! Have a blessed day!

I was banded on July 24, 2013... Have lost 35 lbs total and am just wondering what everyone does to fight the head hunger that occurs when you're not hungry! I currently have 6.2 cc's in a 10 cc band .. Not at green yet but getting there! I have restriction but have learned how to eat around the band!!! I don't do it often and most days ... Especially when I am working and busy .. I follow the rules and do well! But I have days when I just fall off the wagon! I don't over eat .. EVER! My struggle is eating small things here and there and then I don't want my meals! Wouldn't be bad if I was eating good food choices but they are not! So... I need advice ... How do I put the cookies, chips.. Ect down? I know this is an emotional struggle and I am aware this is my failure not the bands! Suggestions.....

Thank you.. I had to work and eat right for those pounds and just feel like it isn't enough! But I am feeling more optimistic now! I will try the nut idea.. I had almonds the other day at work and lasted hours on only a handful! I think the best thing is the knowledge I am not alone... And the sugary cocaine made me laugh out loud! I needed that!

You are a very wise Bandster! Thank you... For not only the suggestions but for the knowledge that I am not alone in my struggle!

Oh I wish I could do that! My 13 year old daughter is in a cookie making trip for the holidays! Ugh! And I also have a 7 year old! I have cut back drastically but can't eliminate everything! I know you are right and I need to get it out ... Guess it's time for us all to eat better!

I think the band is the closest weight loss surgery to a real diet! We still have stomachs that absorb calories! We have to have more control and when we are successfully.. It drives them crazy! They hear the horror stories and when someone challenges their beliefs they attack! I love my band... Yes I still struggle and I always will! But if I fail ... I fail.. Not the band!

Banded July 24th ... Two fills I have 5 cc's in my 10 cc band... Lost 35 lbs so far! Go back Tuesday for another fill I am hoping this jump starts the weight loss again for me I have been maintaining for the last 4 weeks!

I have the same problem.. My doctor said to take Miralax every day.. That it only directs fluid to your Bowles and helps with elimination! I am a new person!

Worse thing.... Waiting so long to make these changes! Best thing ... My doctor being REAL with me and telling me how much work this would be! I am loving the new me!

Worse thing.... Waiting so long to make these changes! Best thing ... My doctor being REAL with me and telling me how much work this would be! I am loving the new me!

First, I am very sorry for your loss! I also have a friend who had gastric the same time I had my lapband! Ironically ... It has strained our relationship because of how limited she is compared to me! I was banded 7-24-13 and only have had two fills! I have 5cc's in my 10 cc band. Yes I have restriction but I am not in the green yet! So.. I can eat pretty much what ever I want just smaller portions! She however is struggling with everything she eats! I feel for her and try to help but she gets so angry at me! I haven't spoken to her in days because she is obsessed with my diet! I refused to talk about food the last time and she hung up on me! So! In a weird way I understand the loss of support! I struggle now because I have to count calories and make choices that are hard in order to keep the 30 pounds I have lost off! I too crave that honesty that only another "fat" person can give with WLS experience! Hopefully we both find the support and guidance we need!

It drives me crazy that people think the band is a cure!!!! It is a tool that requires good food choices ... Exercise ... And a person coming to terms with the reasons they are obese!!! Follow the rules and MOST of the time it works! I am very sorry that you had these horrible complications but look around at these wonderful people in this forum and on this feed! They know about sacrifice ... Determination... Failure and success!! Good luck to you!

I found that the time during recovery and my first fill was the hardest! Yes the band is in but you haven't reached the green zone yet! Many refer to this as "Bandster Hell!" I had to remind myself frequently why I had this surgery and what my ultimate goal is! This is tough... It's work! Many people think the band is a cure for all the reasons they are overweight! That was the one thing my doctor told me when I chose the band! He said, "You will be hungry and you WILL have to work!" I knew going in I had to follow rules to be successful! Have faith and hold on! Water and gum have become my best friends! It helps to subside the hunger! Good Luck!

Beautiful!

My bands name is Faith! Faith that I will use this tool and change my life!

Band July 24th and down 25 pounds! I am consistently loosing 2 pounds a week! Slow and steady! Best choice I ever made!

Mine is Faith! Faith in myself that I use this tool and win my battle!

Sounds like you have a cautious doctor! Be thankful he is taking you slow! Many people post about complications on here about over fills! Your stomach will thank you later! Remember you are on a diet! I am also at 5cc's and when I choose to eat something nutritionally NOT what I need... My weight loss isn't what it should be! But when I drink shakes and eat well which is most days... I loss! I am 7 weeks post op and 20lbs down! Good Luck!