TulipStar

My pre-op diet was only 1 week long and I lost 7 lbs.

I started walking 1 week after surgery-- just a short 15 minute walk. Then about 3 weeks after surgery I started going back to the gym. I skipped on the ab work until about week 6-8 post op.

At first I used the display a lot, but now as the months have passed, I hardly use it. You will love it!!!

There are some other threads on here about this topic. I think it has to do with lying flat. The reason I have this theory is that if I take a nap lying down and then try to eat, I can't. However, if I take a nap only partially reclined in my chair, I can eat. I am really tight in the morning too. I just know that I can't eat before about noon.

I think it is a roll of the dice. A co-worker was approved in 3 weeks. We have the same insurance and mine took 11 weeks. They made me jump through quite a few hoops and there was a lot of back and forth....

We started a vegetable garden in our back yard. I just planted some spaghetti squash seeds. I love SS!

I wasn't required to lose 5%. I had to go on a pre-op diet, but was not required to lose a specific amount.

I didn't really feel restriction until after my 3rd fill...when I was up around 6cc's. I felt the same way as you at first...that it wasn't working, but trust me, in a few months you will definitely feel restriction!

Wow!!!! What a great feeling.... <BR>

I feel naked when I don't have it on. Another NSV-- I have officially went from the larger strap to the "normal" sized strap for my arm! Hooray!

I got 5 cc's my first fill. Now I am up to 7.4 cc's after 6 fills. I go in every 3 weeks for a follow up and usually they give me a fill. I think I am at about perfect restriction right now though.

IMO, I think you should check out to see if there are any lapband seminars in your area. This is the first step that I took (besides researching via internet) and it was very informative. They actually did everything..including getting my insurance approval. I went to 3 different seminars for 3 different dr's until I found one that I liked Good luck! It will all fall into place. It seems like this is the longest part...getting insurance approval, etc., but it is well worth it!

That's funny bc I am so sick of people NOT asking me what I can eat. Like my family around the holidays....didn't even take into consideration my dietary restriction. But, in all honesty I probably prefer it that way. I don't like people to make a big deal over me.

It took me about 3 full weeks until I felt "100%" again. I was still a little tired and worn up until that point.

I probably would avoid carbonation. I drink wine once in a while...My dr said I could though.

yes it will change. you are in the period known as "bandster hell" where you don't have proper restriction. I know that I felt just like you and was super hungry all the time...could eat anything too.

Do something to take your mind off the food...reading, walking, knitting...take up a new hobby

yes yes yes, eventually you will be able to sleep on your side and then your stomach again. I was sleeping in a recliner for 2 weeks po. Some can get into bed right away, but my bed is really high and I couldn't boost myself up. hang in there...you will sleep again!!!

Yes, you definitely have a right to be annoyed. My hubby told me to eat what he was eating...to just chew it and spit it out! I was so peeved when he came home with 2 pints of Haagen Daaz the day after surgery...I accused him of sabotage! Hang in there... tell him to at least not eat it in front of you!

Yes you should do it!! 88%??? that sounds really high. When I did my research I found that that most complications rates were under 3%. I did have a complication, my port flipped. The revision surgery was covered by my surgeon as part of the intial surgery...most surgeons give you a "warranty" period where they will give you fills and and provide any needed revision surgery. You should do it! I am so thankful I did! The only thing I regret is not getting it sooner.

mine seems to have slowed down in the last week. I started upping the protein. I always go through shedding periods, so I wasn't sure if I was just shedding or losing hair, but I am pretty sure I was losing hair.

I have one on my ankle and have had it for 13 years....I have lost/gained 100lbs and no changes, but my ankles don't really change in size. I do have a friend who had a frog around her belly button and after pregnancy it stretched out and the excess skin made it look really funny.

Yes, it is a distorted body image. Like others, I always thought I was thinner when I was bigger and now I think I am still bigger than I am. I have been avoiding these pair of workout pants that my MIL gave me bc by the looks of them, they are too small. I put them on for fun yesterday and they are almost too big! Whoops. Take lots of pictures, try to get acclimated to who you are now by looking at them. It takes a while and I think that all of us feel the same way.

It's weird, but I have NEVER had reflux since being banded. Before I always had reflux.

Everyone is different. I know some people who have NEVER worked out and lost all their weight with the band. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people :thumbup: I have a more difficult time losing weight so I had to incoporate exercise early into my program to see results. I work out 6 days a week for about 1.5-2 hours a day of cardio and then I also do an additional 4 hours of strength training a week. Increasing your muscle mass will increase the rate you burn calories. Sometimes just a little movement will boost your metabolism to get weight loss going again.