TheCapn

I think I'm around 8-9 CC's in a 12 or 14cc band (not sure on the size).

I don't post often here, but have lurked since before my surgery. I'll just go ahead and start from the beginning. So, I had surgery late September of '07, paid for by my parents (immense pressure because of that of course). I weighed 519 lbs pre-op. Didn't get restriction until about February of '08, I got off to an awesome start and lost 100-115 pounds within 6 months, this takes us to summer '08. Fall rolls around and I stall out, I can't seem to keep restriction etc. The doc checked for a leak, seemed fine. Little to no weight loss. My last fill back in September of 08, my pouch was showing beginning signs of stretching (doc said nothing serious, happens quite a bit, but I need to be careful). Well, I think this depressed me and I fell off the deep end. Stopped going to the support groups, everything. Stop going to the gym, the full nine yards. No restriction. I'm in trouble. Instead of doing the right thing, I let it go. Around Christmas of December, I got back in the gym and have been going at it since. I weighed in recently and have put on 20 lbs. I know I've put on quite a bit of muscle since going back to the gym, when, if ever, I get to goal I want to be pretty stout so I've been doing heavy weights to build muscle. I've been doing some intense cardio (in my opinion), I'm up to an hour a day, 20 miles, on the bike, says I'm burning about 730 calories per session. My problem is obviously my eating. I am absolutely petrified that my stomach has stretched. I did a week of liquids to see if things changed. I definitely felt smaller inside (if that's even possible), but am still able to eat whatever, etc. Of course once that happened, it was like being a pig at the trough with no restriction. I'm going in for a fill next week to get things checked out (my doc does all fills under flouro with barium swallow). I feel like I need a complete system reboot and start from scratch. Should I go on a week liquid diet before the fill in order to shrink my pouch? Would it even shrink? Also, some tips on how to get back in the "mode" of losing weight again would be great. My parents, although supportive, have started raising questions and wondering where the results are at. Any help would be great.

I'm 21, about to turn 22. I was banded Sept 17, 2007. I've lost 100 lbs so far. Still have a long ways to go, but was definitely worth it. Wouldn't change it for anything. EDIT: Oh wow, need to update my signature.

What's the recommended or normal daily calorie intake for bandsters? I can't seem to remember. Right now, I'm probably taking in 800-1200 calories daily. Huge difference from how much I used to eat... So, about how many calories do you take in per day on average?

Allaboutme ...... 211 ...... 165 ....... 205 ......... 40 Allison925 ...... 175 ...... 145 ....... 175 ......... 30 Angie4b1g ....... 237.8 .... 205 ....... 237.8 ....... 32.8 Ariel ........... 199 ...... 169 ....... 199 ......... 30 babs0101 ........ 216 ...... 190 ....... 216 ......... 26 Bigbaby ......... 207 ...... 167 ....... 207 ......... 40.0 chickatee.........184........145.........184.......... 39 CQQlgirl ........ 220 ...... 195 ....... 217 ......... 22 debihaines ...... 254....... 200 ....... 227.9 ....... 27.9 Foofy ........... 244 ...... 199 ....... 244 ......... 45 Georgia Girl .... 275 ...... 237 ....... 265 ......... 28 Hazeleyegrl1 .... 233 ...... 200 ....... 222 ......... 22 Hopping To It.... 309 ...... 240 ....... 309 ......... 69 Hungryforchange . 225 ...... 190 ....... 225 ......... 35 ivyrose325 ...... 342 ...... 215 ....... 261 ......... 46 Jeni 85 ......... 214.4 .... 184 ....... 214.4 ....... 30.4 Jennie1976....... 243 ...... 200 ....... 243 ......... 43 Jfran ........... 181 ...... 145 ....... 181. ........ 36 KarenG............195........165.........195.......... 30 Legster ......... 216 ...... 174 ....... 216 ......... 42 Luluc ........... 166 ...... 135 ....... 163 ......... 28 Mamato3 ......... 242 ...... 199 ....... 236.5 ....... 37.5 Mandyjo ......... 188 ...... 150 ....... 186 ......... 36 Mary-2b150 ...... 225 ...... 150 ....... 193 ......... 43 Nadean .......... 204.6 .... 160 ....... 204.6 ....... 44.6 Nhanson ......... 226 ...... 196 ....... 226 ......... 30 Rainer .......... 256 ...... 216 ....... 253 ......... 37 Redtulips3 ...... 245 ...... 199 ....... 245 ......... 46 Smithem1 ........ 240.6 .... 190 ....... 240.6 ....... 50.6 Soaf9 ........... 265 ...... 145 ....... 220 ......... 75 Stacy73 ......... 226.4 .... 194 ....... 223 ......... 29 Starryeyed ...... 280 ...... 199 ....... 237 ......... 38 Suzzzie ......... 297 ...... 243 ....... 294 ......... 51 Sunny112..........215....... 130........ 143.......... 13 Trish5713 ....... 255....... 230 ....... 255.......... 25 Wombat712 ....... 152.8 .... 120 ....... 152.8 ....... 32.8 TheCapn.......... 520....... 399 ....... 469 ......... 70

Looking for some good ideas on food that's easy / quick to make. I'm not much of a cook. I like the tortilla wrap sandwiches, it's a nice substitute for bread. So I'm looking for some other ideas :cry

When was the first time you actually noticed you were losing the weight (other than the numbers on the scale)? For me, it was a week ago when I had a 4 hour drive. An hour into the trip I noticed that my belly wasn't touching the steering wheel, I had at least an inch, inch and a half of space there. I guess I never noticed it before because I never had time to notice. Needless to say, it actually made the rest of the drive fun :whoo: Still have a long ways to go, but it's nice to see little victories like this along the way.

I got my first fill at, I believe it was, 500-ish lbs. So if I didn't have a problem, you should be fine.

Ah so you can't go unless your 6 months post op? :heh: That sucks :faint:

Hey guys, I was banded on Sept 17 at Dr. Edwards. Everything is going pretty good. First fill was on the 1st of November. Not really much restriction. Got 3cc's. Probably gonna call in and get setup for another fill ASAP so I can get some restriction going. When does the support group meet again? And at what time? I'd like to go to the next one.

Hey there, when I weighed in for the first time, pre-op, I weighed 519 pounds. Making me "mega", "super", or "holycrapwhathaveyoudone!" -obese. I only have sleep apnea, and have managed to avoid all the other co-morbidities so far. In that respect, I consider myself lucky. But if I don't get my crap together and fix my weight problem, I probably won't make it to 35. I was banded Sept. 17. Had my first fill 3 days ago. Since that pre-op weigh in I have lost 22 pounds, putting me under 500(thank god). So, I was wondering if there was anyone like me who has to lose around 300 lbs to get back to "normal". If so, I was wondering, how long have you been banded? Is/was it successful? How much have you lost? What are your thoughts in general? I've heard a few people say I should of went with Gastric Bypass, but my Doc and myself think I'll do great with the band. Gastric Bypass just flat out scares me.

I had/have the same type of pain after surgery, but only after I ate. And the amount of pain seemed to be dependent on how much I ate. The more eaten, the more pain. I don't recall it ever being random, only after I ate. Always in the same spot, just below my left ribs. But, lately, the pain has gone away, even when I eat etc. I was banded Sept. 17.