Brandy~

I never thought it would be this hard to decide whether I need a fill or not... I have a 4cc band. I have had 1 fill of 2cc's and immediately got restriction. I have had this fill for 3 weeks now and have lost 9 pounds... so I am doing well. There are times when I can only eat 1/2 a cup of food and others where I can eat 1 cup. I can guzzle Water though if I am really thirsty... this leads me to believe I need a little more restriction. I can eat anything I want if I chew except if its a sandwich I can only eat 1 slice of bread cause 2 is too thick. I have been working out like a mad woman so some of the loss is from that too. Suggestions??? HELP!

You just hit starvation mode. You will come out of it shortly. Its even very common to gain a few pounds back once you start eating solids again. I had lost 28 pounds and it completely died off for 4 weeks nothing. Then I was filled and dropped 7 pounds and up to 35 lost now after 2 months of banding. No worries.

I am not too far off my protein mark then using that calculation. Thanks.

Congrats on your weight loss and wish you the best of luck in hitting the goal weight. If you've maintained then you will do great I am sure :thumbs_down:

I meet with my dietitian once a month.. I went last week and had logged some days with 110 or so Protein and she said everything looked great! I would be interested to know if there is a cut off as well.

after eating, do you actually feel full, or does it feel like a hotdog is stuck in your esophagus? If you use the band properly.. and sometimes it takes you a time or two of eating incorrectly to learn how to do it right... You will be full and you will not feel like a hotdog is stuck in your esophagus. But I have done it before and I am sure alot of other people have.. The first time you eat like youre in a race you're going to eat too much and it will back up in your throat and you will probably either PB or slime. Once you begin having fill you will become full much faster and stay full for hours. I get full on 1/2 a cup and it lasts up to 4 hours. What happens when your friends find out you can't eat out for a full meal, or even drink beer? If they are your friends they should be supportive of your decision. If your whole friendship revolves around the food and drink you may want to find a new place for you to hang out with them. Plus some people can drink beer mind you very slowly and some cannot. I just opt for straight shot or mix with a shot with a fruit juice (Watch the calorie count though) When you go out to eat just order an appetizer or a 1/2 order or off the kids menu so if you're drinking you're not tempted to keep eating and end up Pb'ing. Were you ever shameful about telling somebody, or, in place of that, lying about eating healthy and exercise and all that jazz? I have never been shameful. There is no shame in getting healthy.. All of my family knows about my band as well as my friends, they are very supportive. However, I haven't told anyone at my work and I choose to keep it that way. It was a personal decision to get the band and I keep work and personal seperate. Someone at my work did ask if I had GB or Lapband since I had lost weight fast and I said no. I didn't think I had to tell them.

I think my first clue that I could be tighter was the being able to gulp Water too. I did get a tiny fill and think I have a sweet spot.

Mine only took a day but I called them within hours of submitting LOL Unbelievably the rep I got said they didn't have a decision but about 5 minutes later the phone rang to say I was approved!@

Where in the world did you find a 75% failure rate? That's insane. I wouldn't have had a surgery if that was the case. Theres a ton of people on this forum that have lost 100 + and don't have complications.

Good luck.. Hope you have a speedy approval!

Congrats on your date. I had mine done in the states because insurance paid for it. I can see though how it would be more stressful having to travel to have the surgery. I wish you the best of luck in you journey with the lap band and a very speedy recovery

I have BCBS of Minnesota

Hi I have BCBS and they are freaking awesome. They approved my surgery in 1 day after completing the 6 month diet. They don't require anything really other than the diet if you have a BMI over 40. I only lost 5 pounds in 6 months and it was a fast approval.

Yeah 1-2 pounds a week is great and that's what I had my expectations set for. I am taking full advantage though of the higher losses for now With my new fill now I was fine last night. This morning was a little tight but it is loosening up now. I think I like it so far. I even woke up almost a pounds lighter so thats a plus.

Hi there. There is definetly hope. I had 2ccs put in my 4cc band and I was almost at my sweet spot. But now 2.1 with 2 fills and I am sweet!

Ok I am by no means a cycling queen... I ride at a steady pace of around 10-11 MPH I believe given the distance vs time I travel. So my question is I have checked a couple sites and get all kinds of different numbers on what I am actually burning. Does anyone know of a reputable place with an online calculator that takes everything into account? Like weight, distance, speed, time etc. I have/was going to the gym a few days a week. But I realized when the sun came out a great way to burn those calories was to just ride too and from work each way about 6.5 miles... saves money on gas as well.

Thanks! I am gonna give it a try.

Me too I am going BANANAS!

I opted for Very easy.... I am never hungry anymore I don't even feel the need to eat... therefore I can consume food with the intent of fueling my body. While I enjoy the taste of it I am learning that head hunger and body hunger are 2 completely different things. The reason I didn't choose the easiest one is because I do work out very hard some diets I have just cut calories and lost weight.

Hi Katie, I totally understand the whole bumping up the calories... as much as we want to see low numbers we have to make sure our bodies still have enough fuel to burn the calories off. I try to stay around 900-1100 a day. I work out though and ride my bike alot.

Yeah that is normal. Everyone heals different but I have heard alot of people a few weeks out saying they are tender. Good luck !

Welcome New2me! If I had to redo this surgery 10 times again I would. The band is such a blessing... Once you're at that sweet spot food isn't a part of your life like it was before. I rarely ever even feel a hunger pain so I never have to say I am starving! I get full on 1/2 a cup and I have 100 times more energy. You will have a whole new outlook and you will be passing them in races in no time I promise :biggrin: I went from the couch to 13 miles a day on a bike and or a 3mile jog/walk. You can do it :thumbup: Good luck with your surgery. P.S. I joined the forums 7 months before my surgery lol

I think you should sign up for a local support group and have your dad be your support person... Take him to a few meetings and share your feelings with him. Honesty is the only thing that is going to curb his attitude. You really need to talk to him and not when you're both upset or irritated with each other.

I researched it for 2 years first and then after speaking to my insurance I was required to complete a 6 month diet before having the surgery... so in October I had a consult and surgery on 4/23... It was the best thing I ever did thats for sure. Good luck with your consult and your surgery :biggrin:

Congrats on making such a great decision. Your entire life is going to change, confidence through the roof, and much better health is to come. I am sorry that you're family isn't backing you 100% I am sure once they see how well you're doing they will change their minds. You will be just fine during the surgery. The doctors will make sure you're fit enough for it and that the anasethia is just right. I wish you a speedy recovery :biggrin: