LiveLoveLaugh

Good morning all - I wanted to ask about how many carbs everyone is eatting per day? I've been really losing since my last fill Feb. 23rd I have now hit my greatest sweet spot ever and have the correct restriction since being banded (I'm so happy). I'm losing about 5 lbs a week at this point. I eat about 800-900 calories, 60-65 protein and 40-60 carbs. I was wondering what is the carb count for most bandsters on the program doing low carbs.....? I don't snack, don't have a single craving for anything but my reg. meals.... It's wonderful, this feeling. Sometimes I just don't have the distraction of wanting to eat - let alone all day (grazing). Just when I feel hungry at the time a meal is about due (3-4 hours between). I feel awesome........ Any thoughts.....:cursing:

I'll be honest with you, I won't sugar coat a thing..... Your what I call a big loser.... What I mean by that is you have over 150 lbs to lose. I'm a super loser with over 230 lbs to lose........ Now I loved my band at first but once I had good a fill with restriction I lost weight nice but not fast..... Then pop, wham had my first set of problems with the first bite attach is what I called it..... When I ate the first small bite of anything even chewed up and was a very small bite it would get stuck at the very top of my band...... The meal was over for me until it passed after hours.... I was hungry and could not eat a thing.... Went in for an unfill and that's when it all started... fill, unfill and so on until the weight started to come back on lsow but sure. We never could correct the problem........ I never got back to that perfect fill after 8 months of trying.... The sleeve does remove 85% of your stomach but I'm eating. I can eat just like a normal person with out over doing it anymore.... This was everything the band was suppose to do with out all the drama.... If I had the option back when the Band was placed I would have gone with the Sleeve the first time around...... Without blinking an eye...... I say that with all my heart.... I do not for a second regret doing the sleeve...I'm free of the food over load I lived with my whole life....... Take a look on ObesityHelp.com and go into the vertical sleeve section and read some of the results and the revision stories..... You have the power to choose....... Don't be afraid to remove your large unneeded extra stomach........ We big losers have created such large tummies we need to eat so much to fill them to be happy......Now I'm happy eating my small portions and don't feel I'm missing out on anything. The sleeve gives you room to eat yet not to over eat like we did to stay obese........... You ever want to talk I'll be more than happy to help in any way I can...... Cynthia Support meeting this month Thurs. 3/17/11 in the doctors cafe. @ 6:30 I'll be there and so will others who can help......

I know what you mean..... I had my troubles too..... Were you offered the Sleeve? If so jump at this chance to to revised...... Insurance paid for my revistion I have Independent Health and only amount out of pocket was $250.00 for hospital stay...... I'm telling you this is the most troubless way to go and the weight is just melting off..... Even tho we had the band and we had our so called honey moon phase this jump starts the loss and all you need to do is measure your portions out and eat....... No more first bit stuck, fill, unfill... and you know the drill of what can happen with the band.... I loved my band for the first 18 months with over 100 lost but once I had my first probelm it was hell ever since......... quote name='RAINWI' timestamp='1299787552' post='1584536'] Cynthia, Glad to hear you doing great. Im jealous :wink3:. This band is so fickle and hard to manage. I cant seem to drop any weight!

Hey yeah were all doing great.... I'm down over 50 in just five months so I'm doing awesome. This sleeve is the best thing I've ever done...... It's so much different feeling than the Band. You should come to this months support meeting - It's going to be on Thurs. March 17th A bunch of us Sleevers get together and go out, trying to do it once a month, you're welcome to join us. Cynthia

Hi All just wanted to hop in.... I'm such a in and out girl on this board so just wanted to chime in a bit. I'm 5 weeks out from my Sleeve and have lost 36 lbs. I'm just in shock at how easy and wonderful I feel and doing since my new surgery. Yes, the sleeve is everyting the band was suppose to be after 2 years. I did good with the band but some how it just turned on me after the two year mark. I started to get that first bite shock, you know you take a bite and it just stays on the top on the ring and stays there blocking not allowing anything else for atleast 20 minutes (fustrating knowing everyone else is eatting and your starving). Others problems too. I was a good band mate too.. Did everything the way I was directed. Lost 113 lbs.... So now I'm at 149 lbs lost total as of today. Now I have alot more to go since I started in the 400 range.... But I should be there by summer time... I'm a non bullsh!t type person...... I will not sugar coat anything about it but the best thing ever was the doctor suggesting the sleeve so don't let this opertunity to pass. Take the offer and GO FOR IT...... You will not reget it....... Knowing that my restriction won't change, have to wait for fills to give me restriction, having that stuck feeling, panic if I need to be unfilled for the 100th time after hours, is so worth it...... I have not had one moment of hunger since I was 10 days post OP once you start mushies and all the Grelin is out of your system it's like a huge demon off my fat back......... This is like not going as huge as RNY and the awesome benefits of the band with out all the extra visits and maintence. I have no worries anymore of what's going to happen anytime the time bomb the band was going to throw at me...... This is just my own feelings so everyone should take a deep breath and weigh out the pros and cons and make the best choice for them selfs. Anyone wanting to talk to me are so very much welcome to do so..... I will answer any questions. Help in any way I can. If you want even ask Dr. Hoffman about me he has me talking to some of his patients about my new found love (the Sleeve).

Hi Guys sorry I have not been on for awhile..... Just wanted to talk I had a Sleeve done Oct. 4th and I'm down 4 weeks later 28lbs..... Loving this new surgery. I went in Sept. for another unfill due to too tight once more after weeks of small fills. I battled the fill Bull@$*! too long and Dr. H looked at me and said let's do a Sleeve on you ASAP. I looked at him and said how soon can it be done.... With-in two days my ins approved me and I set the date two weeks later.... How's that for service... LOL...... Now you all know I was banded 12/17/07 and lost over 100lbs. Now that I'm Sleeved it's so much easier than the band was. So if anyone is out longer than two years and have stalled or having any trouble I so recommend the Sleeve to fix the problems. I found my recovery much easier than my band...... I feel great and have such control what I eat...... I'm so happy I did it.

Hey Guys, Yeah the symptoms I'm having now is at times I get this little twinkle of pain at the band site (upper) it's not when I eat or drink just all the time. I'm eating food and it does goes through but I'm eating light and softer foods. No gain but I fear that yet I know healing right now is the best thought process at this time. I guess everyone is different and and a good fill for one is an over fill for another. I know I could eat less yet I was eating a varity of foods yet at about three days before my unfill I noticed food just didn't settle right I dropped some solid proteins and just thought I had a tight band and it would settle - I could drink fine, eat softer foods so being to tight never entered my mind. I belive I caught it just in the nic of time when it first started - So I'll just heal it up and start over again...... So fingers crossed at this point.

Hey guys I'm back - Was out on vacation and doing all the stuff for my son's high school graduation & Party. Well I had to have an emergency complete unfill Friday June 25th the morning of my son's graduation - I was told I have a prolapsed band - I was really in great pain the morning I woke up on June 25th. It was right in the middle of my breat bone right at the top of where my band ring starts - it to me felt like labor pains I would breath and get a sharp slow releasing pain, after a minute or two start all over again with no releaf until I was unfilled. Kim was a sweetheart in the office - I called and they took me as soon as I walked in the door. I'm still having some pain and other complications I go in Tue. for more testing etc..... So here we go the start of my troubles now. I was filled two weeks before this happened to return just two hours later for an unfill - yet I was told I must have been over filled and it caused by prolapsed situation. Val- Help!!what should I expect and what was your signs and others pains when you had this happen to you?

Don't worry all I wanted to do was relax and get healed. I just took small doses of pain meds and sipped what I could take in as directed by my doctors diet plan. I never needed gas-x or anything else. Just as long as you have someone with you to help -your going to be fine in a short time. Perhaps a few days. I took very little with me to the hospital - I wore the same large loose clothes there as the same as I went home. I used the hospital gown. Take a change of underwear, slip on shoes/slippers, something to read, hair brush, tooth brush/paste, lip balm. I didn't need make-up or any other crap. Just very simple basics since it's only over night. Oh if you have a C-Pap machine for sleep apnea make sure to bring it - My hospital required it for the over night stay even though I never used it. I was on oxygen after surgery (not sure why - no problems). Check with your surgeons office staff to be sure what is required for tis machine.

No way..... I had a few things to drink, eat and oh course Protein shakes. You should have your pain meds on hand - get a script before surgery and have it filled ahead of time. I really didn't need a whole lot. If you have someone wh can run for you I wouldn't get that much since they can get it for you in case it's needed at the drug store. Don't waste your money and time. I did have sugar free Jello, crystal light, Protein Shakes, pudding cups, pain meds..... I could hardly eat or drink anything the first 3-4 days home - only small sips every few minutes after awhile you get bored - it's slow going and I really didn't want anything. Just rest and planning the future skinny me in mind. Oh don't forget a few bandage supplies don't need anything but gause, tape and larger bandages.

I know..... It's really working and I'm so darn happy. Yippee.... Your stats look awesome we have about the same amount to go to our goals..... Were gonna do it gurl....

Oh yeah and holly crab.. LOL I'm now in the 200's hit another milestone - So now I'm just about half way to my goal of losing 240 + lbs...... Yipee!!

I know I would be too... I now I have not been very out here since my band... Even my family say I'm not as social... Perhaps since food was always so involved... So learning to be more so with out the food. Geez so many new ways to live better.... And be out there. So I'd like to come if I'm welcome........

I love my band - It can be fickle at times like Tue. I had a slight fill .50 CC @ 8:15am and was fine until 1:00 when after 2 sippings of water nothing would go down and it felt like I swallowed a sponge type super ball. Called and was back in to be slightly unfiled at 2:30. But if I couldn't have my first choice of WLS the band any longer I'd be looking at the Sleeve because with out WLS I'd be as big as I was before surgery. I can lose weight just can't keep it off longer than 6 months once I hit a point. After losing 150 lbs I've always felt to confortable and would celebrate with food and go back to my crazy old habits.... Sink into a funk and throw in the darn towel and say what the hell and eat my way back to being so big again. Ugh - I'm so glad that's the old me now....... I love losing it slow and easy as I'm really adjusted to living with what choices of food I have and what my portions can be now... It really did take a long time to do that honestly...... I bet the first 18 month to 2 years for me to finally allow it to sink in this is your life now so JUST DO IT!! Now it's a full on way of normal life for me to eat 1/2 cup or just taking 2 tablespoons of something here or there. Before It was a scoop of this or that and waste was a big thing after a meal. I don't even bother to order out anymore. I go out with family and they all know before eating to ask me what would I like off their plates - it's great I don't waste food or money and still enjoy every outting. Well I rambled enough - Rock on my bandster family - Rock on!! Oh and I wanted to say to that I gave myself a goal of 5 years to lose the weight of 240 lbs. So I thnk I can do this as I'm almost half way...... Dec. 2012

I'd do the sleeve in a heart beat over the band..... Only if the band was no longer an option. Sorry your having so many problems - They say the band can cause issues for some and not others. If it were me I'd go right to the sleeve if the band was not going to be replaced during the surgery. Rock on girl - I wish you much support and good wishes.

Go into - USER CP on the top left under the pictures in the blue band Go into - Edit signature scroll down in the second window under "edit signature" you can type anything you want to share or once you create your tracker code apply the full number code by click and pasting it in that area. Your code will be on that tracker website as an BB code.

Yupper - yes he sure is the best ever. He's put a lot of faith in me to lose with the band. I didn't want to RNY and he supported me the whole way. Slow and steady wins the race.

Hey Barbee who's doing your band? Congrats on your date and walking into Bandsterville.

AMEN.... Well stated. I have my tool (shovel) and still digging to find the treasure - A healthy better living ME.

Yippee....... I'm so very, very happy for you.... Rock on!! Catching up to that point too.... Can't wait to say 99 and counting down... Almost like 99 bottles of beer on the wall... But only 99 lbs on my Azz to go.... LOL 127 to go from 236 = one happy healthy girl!!

Oh and I wanted to say if protein (Meat, other) and veggies are hurting, then your eating past your full point!! You need to take your time.... Tiny bites, chew well and only use a saucer sized plate to eat from... You have to avoid over eating to the point of hurting with non slider foods......

Ok take a deep breath and relax. now think about where you would have been if not for your band. Gain everythng you lost back!! Right? So you did gain 9 lbs... Not horrible so stop beating yourself up over it!! Now that your relaxed start getting all your tools out!! food scale, measuring cups, food log, and shop for only good foods - go through your pantry and toss, donate or give away all the crap you have in the house. Your fine you had a slip up and now you know you want to move past it..... Great you just need to take action and believe you can refuel your plan of action. Try to make a plan of not eating out for the whole week. Since you did mention you were eating those foods. These are triggers for you right now. Avoid them at all costs.... Make a healthier version at home and you will see the rewards. Hope this helps you get back in a better place.

I really fell off the program for 7 months during July/09 - Feb/10 by not going in and getting my fills. I have the perfect restriction right now and So don't let that happen to you guys. I'm so darn happy I didn't gain a pound during that time. Wow still shocks me as I would have been at square one if my band was not placed. I feel so good..... Remember it takes time to really feel out this band and getting to know your new life style. My very first fill was 6 months after being banded due to good restriction out of surgery. So allow yourselfs to settle in and learn what it feels like to be at the right fill and I can now say I'm just starting my journey to slimmer more healthy Cynthia

LOL yeah u can pull a me out of ur hat!!! I'm now down over a 100 lbs. So I've lost a total of 30 in 10 weeks. Not to shabby I'd say.... LOL What it's fabuloss.....