tsunami1967

I can't feel my band at all, but that desn't mean it wasn't hard to get used to, it was. But you will get used to it and you'll wonder how you ever got along without it.

I plateau on and off too, I just try not to focus on the scale at those times. I think it's common.

I've noticed too that my restriction is very inconsistent. When I first got my last fill I felt looser than before it, now several weeks later, this past week, EVERYTHING gives me trouble, even things I previously could handle with no problem. Go figure. I'm also losing soooooooo slow. Like 2 pounds in the last month or so.

mars: No judgement here, believe me. But it is so easy to get off track with the band. One thing to avoid is what they call the "soft diet syndrome". I have suffered this myself without even realizing it. Sometimes banders don't realize that they really should only be eating about 1/2 cup of food at a time, its foreign to us so we will gravitate toward soft easy to get down foods. Those calories really add up, I battle this myself. Take a look at your diet, you should be comsuming about 1/4-1/2 cup of solid protein at meals, well chewed. Like 1/2 a chicken breast or what have you. You have to keep up on your fills of course, and exercise. I am a slow loser myself, so I have suffered all the pit falls too. Try eating very small portions of dense proteins, several times a day, without fluids, and well chewed. Also I recommend the book "The success habits of weight loss surgery patients" by Colleen Cook. Its really good, it talks a lot about personal accountability. I know its hard, I know your trying, but there is help out here for you. You can do this!!! Feel free to PM me if you want to, I've been where you are, I promise there's a way out. I'll be thinking of you, and hoping that we can speak sometime soon.

I too am a slow loser...I have lost 39 pounds since the 1st of September. It took me awhile to really lose anything too. I still feel successful though because of the 39#, but it took awhile. Don't give up! Do what you can, and remember the important thing right now is healing. The weightloss will come, don't get discouraged by some of the big losses you see, its different with everyone. The hard part is patience and sticking to it, don't worry in the end you'll do great it'll just take you longer, like me! I'm sending you thoughts of strength!

I don't burp, but I do poot a lot more, maybe it is from the same thing just mine heads the opposite way. I am going to ask my doctor if this is common. It's also worse now that I have better restriction.

Hey minpinmom...(I'm a min pin mommy too!!!) I looove that response and I am going to use it!!! HA!

I think you are right to keep your banding confidential, I wish I had. It seems like people expect you to be instantly thin, and they watch you like a hawk. Some of my coworkers seem more obsessed about my band than I am. It's annoying. I have been banded for about six months but since I had about 130 pounds to lose the first 36 don't show a whole lot, not as much as it would if I only had 60 to lose, so it seems like people sometimes think I'm failing because I don't have immediate results that they can see. I don't let it get to me, I feel like 1-2 pounds a week is amazing and I am so proud of myself, but I do find their behavior rude so I wish I would have kept my mouth shut.

Kathy I am also a very slow loser...only 33 pounds since August. I feel so much better and have decided not to torture myself or go on a very drastic calorie restriction. I am focusing on listening to my body, portion control and choosing healthy. Luckily the band has helped me in these small changes, but like you I'm not losing really fast. No hair loss yet, but I think that is lack of protein from what I've read. Maybe some protein shakes? Good luck!!

The two things that go down sooooooooo easy for me are pringles and crackers. I can't eat chicken or anything with breading. No bread but I can eat toast. I can eat beef very easily. Scrambled eggs are really hard for me. My restriction varys from day to day, food to food, and time of day makes a difference although not in any discernable patern.

I have a 10cc band and did not experience really good restriction until last Monday's fill, (my 5th). My surgeon is obviously quite conservative from what I read here...I am 17 weeks out and finaly filled at 7.6cc with great restriction! Good luck to everyone!

I say 32 because the scale waffles back and forth so I put the higher amount on my ticker but I am right on the cusp of 32 pounds!

personally I have not been following a low fat low carb diet either. All I have really changed is my portions. I have lost over 30 pounds since being banded and I think that's fine. I am not a drastic dieter, just not. That's why I needed the band. I didn't have brain surgery, I got the lap band. My mind and thinking hasn't changed that much, I just eat a lot less than before and I am losing 1-2 poungs per week. I am 17 weeks out and have lost about 32 pounds. I haven't lost that much in years! Take it slow, give yourself a break.

I really think it's important to be very patient with yourself. I have been banded for about 16 weeks now, I have consistantly lost 1-2 pounds since being banded. I am not obsessed with restricting my calories to super low. I try and limit my between meal snacking, decrease my portions sizes and otherwise just try to live my life normally. With every fill it becomes easier and easier to do these things without thinking. I think it's a mistake to lose too quickly or to make overly drastic changes that in the long run will be tough to stick to. I can very easily lose 1-2 pounds a week with lap band...who said we were going to lose drastic amounts of weight immediately? If you average 8-10 pounds loss per moth you are doing fine. Some people do lose a lot fast but they may have very large amounts to lose and therefore lose faster at first. Go easy on yourself and make changes you can live with and maintain. Good luck and remember at 2 pounds a week or 10 pounds a month you'll be down 104-120 pounds lighter by this time next year and you'll probably have tighter skin than if you lost it all in 4 or 5 months.

Bandster 1007: I wish I had wisdom to share, but I'm a newbie, I would like for you to know that I read your entire post and I can relate. It does get better, everything always does. That doesn't help much when you're in the middle of the crap though. Big huge hug to you honey, keep us posted on how everything is going.

I've never awakened during surgery but I did wake up during an endoscopic procedure. It was awful I woke up with a scope still all the way down past my stomach in what is called the common bile duct. It's the tube that connects the liver, gallbladder and pancreas to the small intestine. I thought I was going to die.

I didn't lose a pound until I got my first fill. I've had 3 fills since being banded and have lost about 8 pounds per month. Not fast but hey I'll get there eventually. I definately feel better by a long shot and with each fill I get better restriction and satiety. I love my band but it took me a long time to feel that way, almost four months!

Maybe a quality breakfast would help as well. There are lots of vegetarian breakfast options. I am a slow loser too and I can relate! The coffee for breakfast jumped out at me though. Good luck sweetie!

I like loving people. People who genuinely care about others. I like people who greet everyone and seem to care how things are going with that person.

Everyone is worthy DOCOP, life's cruelest myth is that people come in varying value. It's not true. Some act better than others, some look better than others, but every life has intrinsic value. You have value dearest, and you will reach your goals.

Tsunami1967 banded 8/31/07 Dr Neal Olympia, WA

Okay, here goes: I do not advise or condone deviating from your Dr's orders! BUT, as there are plenty of people who are quite knowledgable about what you should be doing and they are kind enough to remind you, I will simply answer your original question. "Has anyone advanced their diet ahead of their Dr's orders?" Yes I did. I have made a lot of mistakes and found that this is a learning process. I find that my willpower is not much stronger now after the surgery than it was before. The band is necessary for me because I am imperfect and I need help. Otherwise I would have kept my money in my pocket and joined Weight Watchers...again! Just be careful to follow the instructions as closely as you can, but no you are not alone, most of us have probably done dumb stuff. Good luck sweetie! You can do it!

Justwant2lose: You are so not alone! I was banded August 31st, I have had 3 fills and I am just now starting to experience restriction. I didn't come immediately with this last fill, it seemes to get greater as time passes, I had it two weeks ago! Hang in there and remember, if you were expected to do it all yourself you wouldn't need the band! All of us have similar weaknesses as you, hence the band, so go easy on yourself, be sure and diligently follow your fill routine. Meanwhile do the best you can and know that once you get your band where it needs to be it will be so much easier. Things will get better!

I have heard a lot of people have tenderness especially at the port site. My doctor said it is because the port is sewn to the muscle so it won't move. The other incisions are just sewn shut with no muscle involvement. As far as the bump goes, are you sure it isn't the port you feel? I can feel mine easily through my skin. In any case it is normal for the port site to be most tender.

I'm definately in bandster hell! I was bawling all night last night because I cannot seem to stick to my post op restrictions and I am not losing. I have no restriction at all! This is so hard. Nope, none of you are alone...I know exactly how you feel.