sewenup1

Well, I went for my second fill today. Had another 2ml's put in and then had my sip of Water to make sure all was OK - that was an experience. One little sip took ten minutes to gurgle it's way through the band. Sounded like a blocked drain I did :frown: I had never heard such a noise, so out came 1ml and now I have a grand total of 3mls in my band. Go back in 3 weeks and may get 0.5 added - all depends on how I go for the next 3 weeks. Danna

Hi Kay, Weight loss will probably slow down a bit when you start mushies or when you move to soft foods. It should start up again after your first fill. what does a fill feel like? The proceedure was really easy for me - my surgeon just felt around where he put the port, put the needle in and it was done in less than 2 minutes. Eating after a fill is interesting, and depends on how much fill you have. I had no restriction for the first week, but since then, it has started to kick in - others have it straight away and then it losens up. Danna

And a Happy Australia Day from Sydney - yaa - they finally decided to give us Monday as a public holiday like the rest of the country!!!

I haven't had this happen to me in person, but I belong to the Biggest Loser Community Forum, and they condemn anyone who has a band as a loser and a cheat. they don't consider the contestants to be cheats though - 3months in a house with no work, no kids, no bills etc to worry about, a personal trainer, meals planned for them etc - of course this isn't cheating, but a band, the inability to eat some foods, small portions, exercise etc is!!! I just ignore anyone who says the band is cheating - when they have walked in my shoes they can comment - anyway my self respect, and the respect and support of true friends is more important to me. Danna

Hi Kaylene, Like you most of the weight I have lost so far has not been due to exercise. But I have now 'bit the bullet' and I joined a ladies only gym at my local shopping centre. Bit embarassing being the largest lady there but had my first session on Monday and am going back again on thursday. The most wonderful thing happened though - went to get changed after the session and a woman who obviously works out asked if this was my first night. I said it was and that I had just had surgery and decided I need to exercise. She asked if I had lap band surgery and congratulated me on my decision - how encouraging is that - to have a total stranger give you that support. Kaylene, my Dr said any exercise will do - it doesn't have to be too strenuous just so long as I move. Good luck Danna

Hey, I'm not weight biased!!! Even one of you small people can join in here:lol:

What you have sounds like First Bite Syndrome. Some get it in the morning, others like me in the evening at dinner. Try having a hot drink before breakfast tea, coffee, whatever. Apparently this helps lossen the muscles of your throat. Also for the first 2-3 bites take very small baby portions - about the size of your thumbnail and chew, chew, chew. I know this is tedious but it's better than the pain you experience. I had my first fill about 2 weeks ago. I initially felt like I had no restriction, but gradually it is changing. Last week I wasn't able to eat bread unless it was well toasted, and like you, this morning I had difficulty with scambled eggs. Now I have been able to eat eggs since I went onto mushies and it is one of my staple foods - but not today. Danna

The reason most of us have been banded is because we couldn't or wouldn't control our eating - the band is there to help us eat less and to feel full. The trick is that we have to make the decision to change our lifestyle or we have wasted all our time and money. The pain in your shoulder is due to the gas used in the op. Try drinking some peppermint tea every day and in the meantime use some soluble pain killers. I don't want to sound unsympathetic, but you have to work with the band it is only a tool and as my Dr said, until I try something I don't know if I will be able to eat it or not. Danna

Are you back on normal food yet, or are you on mushies? I was banded on 3 December and have been back on normal food since christmas Day. I had my first fill last week. The only problems I have is if I eat too quickly, don't chew properly or eat really thick soft white bread. Other than that I can eat anything I want only not as much. Danna

Hi Danna How great, I've seen lots of Dana (with just the one 'n') but never the same as ours. It will be great to keep track of each others successes!!! Danna

Shelli, How did you lose 102 lbs so fast?? I would love to be able to lose that much by my trip to China in September - would love to hear your story. Danna

Have you all taken your measurements? Bet you find that you have lost inches all over. My weight isn't dropping as fast as I would like, but my favourite shirt pre-op (which fit just right) now needs to be taken in by 3 inches on each side seam:biggrin: I think we need to start looking at our NSV's instead of the scales. Danna

Hi all, Have just had dinner with a group of bandster friends. One of them has just hired a personal trainer who has lost 50kg (120 pounds) after lap banding. He works with another trainer who is connected with the Australian version of Biggest Loser. The BL trainer works with non-bandsters and the other guy works with bandsters. The comparison - the bandsters over an 8 week period lost an average of 15kg (35 pounds) the other non-banded group 5-6kg (15 pounds).:huh2: The moral of this story is that if you are banded and put a bit of effort into exercising you could have an incredible weight loss. I start at the gym on Monday - serious weight loss here I come!!!! Danna

The trainer is Andy and it was one of the BL contestants (not trainers) Adro that he has teamed up with. His web site is Active Balance Danna

She didn't tell me his name but I guess it must be Shannon as it was a guy. Danna

Perth's a little far for me - Sydney girl that I am - have you joined the Yahoo health lap band site, there are heaps of Perth people on there and they are always having lunches etc. This guy runs a 'band camp' on the mornington peninsula in Victoria but he is contactable by phone and is apparently a great motivator. My friend is going to send me the details and I will post them on here when I get them. Danna

My goal is to lose 100 pounds by September. DH and I are going on a trip to China in September and I want to be able to climb the Great Wall etc. I figure 100 pounds in 34 weeks isn't too big an ask, it's just under 3 pounds per week and on Monday I have my first appointment with my PT so will be exercising as well. I have little goals along the way, like new shoes etc but this is my main motivation. Danna:cool2:

Stephanie, I haven't hit that problem yet with the band but everyother time I have tried to lose weight I have. So I have worked out with DH a reward system. When I reach a certain weight he gives me my reward - be it a weekend away, a pair of shoes, a handbag - until I reach the goal I have set I can't have it. My first goal is to reach 130kg (started at 165kg and so far have lost 12.6 since banding in Dec). When I reach that weight we are going to spend a weekend at the Hilton Hotel here in Sydney. I don't get that weekend until I can show him the scales read the 130kg. So everytime I go to put something in my mouth that I know I shouldn't I look at the picture of the Hilton stuck on my fridge and ask myself which I want more. Don't know if this is something that would work for you but it does for me. Danna

Hi Kaly, I had to do Optifast for 4 weeks pre-op. It was hard and I did lapse a couple of times, but I refused to look at it as 4 weeks I told myself that I had to stick to it for a week - just 7 days. At the end of those 7 days i just looked at the next and reminded myself that there was only 2 more weeks before my op and I started a new and exciting phase in my life. So week 3 came and again just aimed to get through 7 days etc. What does your diet consist of? Danna:happy:

Hi Ladies, It seems to have worked for me. I had a very small fill last week and have just weighed my self and have lost just under 2kg (about 4 pound) since then - hope this keeps up. Danna

Your bodies are getting use to the drop in calories and initially have gone into starvation mode - that is they hold onto the calories because they thing there is a famine. Once you start getting some restriction you will start to lose the weight because your body starts to get the signal that it is full and so starts burning up the calories. Apparently the area that sends messages to your brain when your stomach is full is located at the top of your stomach and that is why when you don't have proper restriction your body is storing up the few calories you are giving it. This is the explanation I was given - at least it gives hope for the future.

Utah, I felt like this for the first few weeks, a lot of it is the anaesthetic. I have a much higher BMI than you and I am thankful every day that God inspired whatever doctor invented this band. Go back to the beginning and list all the reasons you made this decision. I'm sure that this wasn't just some spur of the moment decision. You decided this was the way to go for a reason, you just need to touch back on that reason. The others are right, you won't eat as much food as before, but as the saying goes - its quality not quantity that counts, and bigger isn't always better. Ok, no more cliches.:smile: Danna:biggrin:

I think it depends on your health fund and if they class it as cosmetic surgery or as reconstructive surgery. I know Medibank Pvt doesn't cover cosmetic surgery. Danna

Hi to both of you, I'm really impressed that you both are taking control now. I don't know if I would have been strong enough to do that if I had had to wait 3 months for surgery. Do not hesitate to get onto this board if you need help or support - that's what we are all here for pre-banded or post-banded. I wouldn't suggest that you try to live on the same size portions as a bandster because even though I have had a small fill, the small portions can still leave me feeling hungry - sign that I need another fill - and without any restriction you will feel hungry and this will make it so much harder for you. Good luck and keep us posted on how you are going. Danna

Good luck to you both, though you won't need it as you both will do great. Let us know how you go once you feel up to getting back on the board. Remember not to overdo it for the first few days though and sip, sip, sip those fluids after the op. Danna