Brandy~

I haven't had any hair loss. It's pretty hard to get protein in with as little as most of us eat.. so I use protein shots and eat lots of grilled chicken and such.

Hello Celnun and welcome to LBT! :thumbup: I wish you a very speedy recovery and a wonderful journey with the lapband!

Not a single regret. I couldn't live without mine now.

My doc says 24 hours of liquids. However, the last time I was there he said I could eat mushies and stuff too. He doesn't seem to be too strict.

I am absolutely wonderful! I had the surgery 4/23. I have lost 40 lbs since surgery day... That includes a 3 week plateau that thankfully is over. I think I found my sweet spot at 2.1/4.0 cc's. I lose 2-3 pounds a week currently with minimal efforts so that is nice. I know it will slow or stop and I will have to kick it into high gear I am sure. But for now I am extremely happy and couldn't live without my band now.

I didn't have a pre op diet.. I actually went to my favorite Italian place at 7pm the night before surgery :thumbup: I turned out fine. The doc told me nothing after midnight. I would just follow what your doctor says. I really think those preop diets are just pre-torture. I lost 40 pounds in 3 months after surgery so I don't think the prediet affects the post weight.

Oh and no stretch marks do not go away they are scar tissues. They will lighten in time but thats it.

It mostly depends on the genetics of your skin. However, doctors agree that age takes a role in skin bouncing back. If you're younger then your body recovers much quicker than say someone in their 60s. However, another study I have read (Can't find it atm) says that people that have stretch mark and or scar tissue lose the elasticity in their skin. So if you have had babys and you have lots of stretch marks and lose alot of weight.... They say there is a big chance that the skin will not bounce back. I have stretch marks on my stomach, I am in my 30's, and plan to lose 100 pounds. I assume I will have to have surgery hehe. I have lost 40 pounds and no major hanging yet but I plan for the worst and hope for the best.

I am also a 32 year old mother of 2. I had surgery on 4/23 and have lost 40 pounds. I started at 267 and I am at 227 at my 3 month post op. I went in for surgery on Weds and by Friday I was up cleaning house like crazy. I was very lucky with my surgery and had almost no pain. When I woke up from surgery I couldn't even tell right away that I had been under the knife. The only complaint I had was my throat was soo dry. I ate probably a gallon of ice while in the hospital haha. I hit a plateau for 3 weeks after surgery and couldn't lose weight no matter what.. THen I got a fill of 2.0cc in a 4.0 cc band. That was like night and day! I felt like I could eat just a tiny bit too much so I went back to get more in my band. I walked out with 2.1cc and a sweet spot. I lose 2-3 pounds per week. I have my monthly goal set to 9 pounds a month. I eat anything I want just in much much smaller amounts. I dont do real great with bread. I can eat it but it's a much slower process so it's just annoying to eat and I have learned to just stay clear of it. Life with the band is a lifestyle change but it's so minimal compared to completely starving all the time with diets before the band. I am almost always full, I get full fast, I can never eat more than 3/4 cup. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my band. After being banded I became engaged to the love of my life. We have been together 7 years and we are going to be married on the beach in Kauai and I will be thin and enjoy it! I wish you the best of luck with your journey with band and a speedy recovery.

Ya I was very sore. Since it was a carrot I think it scratched me... I drank those soup at hand things for a few meals afterwards. That and I was worried that it could still stick hehe

Hey apples :thumbup: Nice to see you were banded! I knew you and I were able to get the bands around the same time but that you were waiting for a convenient time. Congrats on the loss so far (great to be a loser eh?) Ok for the stuck part.... I had a freaking carrot get stuck and that was horrible omg.. Mine lasted about 7 hours. No you probably didnt damage your band. But like you said chalk it up to a lesson learned ;(

I would rather have lapband surgery then go to the dentist hehe.. hope you feel better soon :thumbup:

How fun! We wish you and your family all the luck :thumbup:

Ok I had surgery 4/23 and have lost 40 pounds and it's just now sinking in that I am getting closer to onederland.. But the best thing ever was before surgery I couldn't even reach my feet to tie my shoes and last night I watched tv for hours sitting indian style with my legs folded and comfortable! Plus I tied my shoes this morning haha

The only stupid question is the one never asked :eek: NSV= Non scale Victory

I know what you mean Christina. I have seen similar situations.. Mine specifically is having a friend that seems so uninterested in my whole lap band journey that it drives me nuts. I like to announce my victories and share my stories with her... since she is my best friend. But as I am talking she is looking everywhere but at me and has 0 motivational comments. So I have just put the conversation on the back burner when this should be a great conversation

Awesome! We are all right on track it seems

I just instantly knew it was really weird. I walked in for the fill hungry and walked out not even feeling the hunger anymore. I lost almost all interest in food. If you do not feel hunger then you don't sit around all day dreaming of that great meal you wanna make and gorge on. After about a week I declared my sweet spot because I had lost 3 pounds and I was full on 1/2 cup or less, no hunger pangs, and I could tell if I didn't chew very well the food might get stuck.

I have lost 40 pounds since surgery. I hit my sweet spot with my 2nd fill on 7/8 and it's been smooth sailing since. I lose a little over 2 lbs per week average without alot of work. I do ride my bike too and from work atleast a few days a week to get some exercise in. I can pretty much eat whatever I want as long as I chew it well. I try to eat alot of grilled chicken. I do not ever feel a hunger pang and I eat my the clock to make sure I am getting my meals in and snacks. It's been a great journey so far. I recently became engaged to the most wonderful man in the whole world... I set the date for February and I am hoping to be at or very close to goal weight by then so I stay on track. I am having the wedding of my dreams on shipwreck beach in Kauai.... So I am very determined.

Congrats! you and I share something in common. I too hit -40 today starting 267 and 227 today :glare:

Eating out is alot easier than some think. You are there eating and socializing and most of the time they don't even notice your food. No one but my family knows about my band either so if I eat at work I just pick at it slowly as I am working and so people just think I get busy and don't get to my food. When I go out I order off the kids menu or get an appetizer... Soups always a good option. They are too engrossed in their own food or visiting that they don't notice you only eat 1/3 of your food. Everyone is able to eat different amounts of food when they hit their sweet spot. I can eat about 3/4 cup if I eat slowly. The band is the best thing I have ever done. I have lost 40 pounds in 3 months and no one at work even knows why.. They just think I am eating less and better.

I would get a tiny unfill. I have hit my sweet spot and I don't have any of those problems. I get full on tiny amounts of food thats for sure but they still go down. I don't use Protein shakes at all. You should be able to chew and swallow almost any food and still lose weight.

Do you log all your food and exercise? Do you mean you haven't lost anything in 6 months or you're just on a small plateau? Hows your restriction now?

Some people report that their band tightens after flying for a few days. I am not sure how it will react while staying at that altitude though. I wouldn't be too concerned especially if you're not already tight you should be fine.

My doctor actually recommended the lap band so I could lose weight and have a better chance at getting pregnant.