Linda51

Right after surgery your surgeon will probably put you on a special diet I have been bande over a year and I think every doctor is somewhat different, but you will have to be on liquids After you can get on normal food I eat in the morning protein bars with around 20 proteins Some of them are pretty bad, like taste like cardboard, but I go to sams Lunches when I am doing good I get a bowl of chili from wendys and add some cheese. If I am eating out I go to the appetizers or the oer 55 menu. Even though I am close to that most restraurants don't say anything...... Maybe I just look like I am over 55. Good Luck Linda51

I am no expert but I start burping when I have begun eating too much. Not big burps but small ones. I also bp way too much because even after having it a year I still try to eat too fast espcially things that tast really good. Like today I tried some chicken nugget things covered with a sweet sauce Boy they tasted good but I think most of them never made it down. Sometimes I feel like I know what people who are bulemic feel like except I don't have to make myself throw up it just happens.)

I have been banded 13 months and have lost about 40 lbs. The reason I haven't lost as fast as others, and I have no regrets at all because I take responsibility, the band is a tool. If you put high caloric things in you mouth you will not lose as fast. Yes it restricts you but instead of gaining by over eating you can just not loose by not eating properly. Also consistant exercizing helps too. I know if I did not have the band I would have gained this past year. 265/225/160 goal. Good luck

Know how you feel. I am down for 1 year around 35-40 lbs. I know I have not made good choices, except without the band I would have bee n up probably another 20 lbs. Not that I advocate making bad choices, but at least with the band you can without physically getting sick like you would with the gastric and at least there are adjustments you can get. I in fact am having a fill this wed. Since my surgeons do fills without charge for the first 13 months after surgery. I figure one last one for awhile. Anyway I would have liked to have lost more weight than I have this first year, but I wouldn't give the band up for anything and I know I will continue to loose. I have about 65 more to go. A friend of mine had the gastric about 4 years ago and her "new" stomach has stretched out so they are recommending the lapband. She just about died during her gastric and now they are suggesting this, too bad it wasn't more avaiable back then. Anyway good luck and keep it up I know exactly how you are feeling but hang in there. Linda51

I know the reason I wasn't losing alot during the year was my fault. I hadn't weighed myself for 6 months and had stopped going to curves. Since July I think I have lost around 12 lbs and started back to curves, except this month. I need to start tracking my intake too, but I am still glad I had it done because at least I have lost and not gained. Thanks for your support

Well I would not use the $1000 group, like someone else said Does where you had your surgery have a support group. Anyway I feel for you. I had my band 9/06 probably have only lost around 35 lbs had a lot of stress this past year too, which of course didn't help my body and didn't weigh myself from jan til july, however I know I would have gained this past year at least 20 lbs so even though I am not jumping for joy because I still have about 65 to go I am at least glad I am on the down side not the up side. Good luck Linda51

I had a friend who had the gastric 3 1/2 years ago lost weight very fast, skin hanging dramatically, well the interesting thing is her "new" stomach has stretched out and her doctor is recommending the lap band on her new stomach. So she went through this major surgery 3 1/2 years ago and practically died and now they want to do the more sensible choice on her. Interesting!! Linda51

I am from Cincinnati and I am almost certain my doctors do, based on the people I have seen in the office and support group Since it is not too far from you you might want to consider going to see Cincinnati Weight loss Dr Osborne is who I had but there is another doctor there too Dr Mobley Good luck I agree that gastric to me is not a good option manipulating your insides is scary. Yes you probably will loose slower but that is better I thought. Good luck Linda51

Yes before daily, none since:)

I have a pretty basic question and you would think after being banded about 12 months I would know the answer. When do you know and what exactly is knowing your sweet spot. I have a 10cc band that supposedly holds 4cc and am at 3.4 I don't think I am at my sweet spot if I knew what that was and have only lost about 35 lbs. Everyone has said you will know. Know what? I still can eat things the only time I pb, which I admit is all my fault is when I start eating and I am either eating too big of bites or too fast or not chewing enough, but I have never pbd at the end of eating. Any advice?? Thanks Linda51:help:

Well you haven't had a fill yet and aren't you on a liquid diet stil. Be patient it will happen Good luck Linda51

Don't give up I am a slow loser too Probably have only lost 35lbs in 11 months However I know that I would have gained this past year like all my other years and I have lost. I also know that part of the reason for my slow weight loss is what I have put into my mouth, which I take responsibilty for. But I would not take this out because the positives definately outweigh the slowness. I also don't walk but do curves and drink flavored water and diet flavored tea to help me in my water. I know I am not perfect and if I was I would never had been in this weight situation. Don't give up keep plugging and look at the positives:)

Well you definately won't be able to eat fast If you do you will have to visit the restroom very quickly. Good Luck

I am pretty sure you do have to do a one year time frame but if you travel a lot you can go to those too as a guest. Thanks again for the support. Linda51

I appreciate your vote of confidence sorry took alittle long to respond back. I agree I am very thankful that I had it done because I know I would have gained weight in the past year. Since I have joined this formum and my monthly support group and curves since july I am down aroun 15 lbs since then. I am trying to use the free website dailyplate.com to track my intake and to try to stay around 1100 and 1200calories a day while trying to do curve 4-5 times a week. Just have to make sure everything becomes a routine Good luck to you too and thanks for the support. Linda51

I definately know how you feel I went to the doctor last week to get another fill but he wouldn't fill me Since I had lost 3 lbs in 2 weeks He feels that it is more my food choices why I haven't lost as much as others. I do now for several months I was watching things but not that great and probably eating too high caloric food and drinks. I am trying to use dailyplate.com to watch my caloric intake and trying to keep it around 1100-1200 calories. I was really hoping to be closer to goal too but I am just thankful that I have lost and am slowly mentally changing my many bad habits. Was sick a few days this past week so only went 2 times to curves. Will begin my monday morning start again. Good luck

I think yours is adorable just looked at the list and that one stuck out.

It is great to have those triumps. I haven't lost much considering it will be a year in sept about 35 but at least it is something and I have really started trying since july. I like curves because it is quick. I used to be a member of a lady gym and they would require a 20 minute bike ride first before workout then do the work stations and then bike or do some other cardio for another 20 min It would take about 1 1/2 hours yuck. Maybe as my energy level increases I wouldn't mind doing that sometime. Have about 65 more pounds to go

Just curious I know it is not the cure all and we all still have to get our minds into it too, which it has helped me think........But I have a question, even though I have been banded since 9/06, slower learner I guess, why is it that sometimes you practically can't eat anything and for dinner tonight, had gone to sams club and picked up some chicken corden blue , except it was filled with brocelli. You know the size you see that are stuffed. Well I ate the whole thing, and was still wanting food so had a sugar free fudge bar and then 6 bagel chips. No pb or anything, did eat very small bites though.......Any words of wisdom from a group of individuals full of wisdom

Thanks for imput. I just came from my doctors support group and think I am going to call to have another fill this week. Found out that one member who had the surgery in nov has a leak in her port which I guess is where the leaks occur. She is having a new port put in tomorrow How they found out by testing inserting needle in and seeing that the amount left in was way below what it should show. She has only lost 20 I will have them test me for that too. Thanks again

I had the surgery on a wed went back to work monday. I work at a bank as a personal banker which I am sitting a lot but do get up and wait on customers and walk around. I had the referred pain in the left shoulder which was very painful and was gasy. I wish I would have stayed home probably a couple of more days because got sick going home. I was up and about the day after and that weekend and probably should have taken it alittle easier then. Good luck

Can you be a memeber of 2 groups Since I am 51, was banded last Sept 06 and a slower loser, have only lost 25 lbs I am both. I am very thankful that I have been banded, weight at the time of surgery 262 current weight 237 and have 75 more lbs to go. Went from jan07 to july 07 not doing anything, no additional fills ,no support group, no weighing, limited exercising, just thinking I am banded I don't eat what I use to so this is it. Well the good thing is I did loose a couple of pounds but decided at my 51 birthday, I better rethink why I got banded, why I self paid, and I didn't do this to maintain what I was, so since July I have gotten 4 fills, begun going to curves more consistently, and trying much harder. In July I did loose 8 lbs and am trying to do the same this month. Just wanted to find out how many of you are in the 2 groups this one and slow losers and just wanted to let others know even though it has been slow, I am very happy I have had it done, still enjoy going out to dinner, but treasure what I do eat and have learned to really begin thinking about what I am putting in my mouth, which obviously hadn't before or I wouldn't have had a weight problem, how big it is, how much I chew and what I really should be eating. Still though I like to have some liquids but have cut drastically down and usually only take small sips. Good luck to everyone and to those who are contemplating about having the surgery I would strongly recommend it because I know if I wouldn't have had it done I would have gained weight this past year and am determined to make this time in my life healthier than before. Linda51

Need to join your group I had surgery 9/06 weight 261 current weight 237 goal weight 161 Now I am getting close to my 1 year but I am not totally upset because I know if I didn't have the band I would have gained this year Since I was a self pay I've decided I didn't do this just to lose 25 lbs. I take all the responsibility of my not fast loss because I do eat things that have high calories Had a lot of stress past year like we all do but I am determined now to get on the stick. Since July have had several fills Have increased exercise 5 days a week curves is my goal and joined my dr support group. Glad to know not only one who is a slow loser but not a quiter. Had a really weird thing happen though couple weeks ago. After nurse did my fill solution squirted out so she checked to see how much had squirted out and refilled. I went back to the doctor this week, 2 weeks later and he rechecked said I was at 2.8 and added .6 He also said I shouldn't compare fills but I still think I am at the brink of just being where I should be. Anyway just was wondering if anyone ever had the squirting happen and do you just know when you are totally there. I eat small bites, and still enjoy eating some whole wheat pizza crust with our homemade pizza. but have to eat very very small bites but that is ok because I have gulped soo much in my life I am just getting my average life time bite size down. Am doing better this week but just feel not quite there yet. Thanks

This is my first post but I have a question, Has anyone ever had a fill and have the nurse say that the Fluid just squirted out? How is that caused. She reinserted a needle to see how much was left then gave me another fill. I went back to the doctor this week, 2 weeks later and he rechecked said I was at 2.8 and added .6 He also said I shouldn't compare fills but I still think I am at the brink of just being where I should be. I have taken the slow way banded 9/06 hadn't had a fill since 1/07 untill July 07 and thought I really need to get back into this. only have lost around 25 lbs but have used food all my life in stress so Anyway just was wondering if anyone ever had the squirting happen and do you just know when you are totally there. I eat small bites, and still enjoy eating some whole wheat pizza crust with our homemade pizza. Am doing better this week but just feel not quite there yet. Thanks Linda51:confused:

This is my first post but I have a question, Has anyone ever had a fill and have the nurse say that the Fluid just squirted out? How is that caused. She reinserted a needle to see how much was left then gave me another fill. I went back to the doctor this week, 2 weeks later and he rechecked said I was at 2.8 and added .6 He also said I shouldn't compare fills but I still think I am at the brink of just being where I should be. I have taken the slow way banded 9/06 hadn't had a fill since 1/07 untill July 07 and thought I really need to get back into this. only have lost around 25 lbs but have used food all my life in stress so Anyway just was wondering if anyone ever had the squirting happen and do you just know when you are totally there. I eat small bites, and still enjoy eating some whole wheat pizza crust with our homemade pizza. Am doing better this week but just feel not quite there yet. Thanks linda51