coolcrystal

It took me three fills, but everybody is different and it does depend on the size of your band. Good luck.

PS: this could make sense as to why people who have tighter fills don't seem to lose as much as people who can eat small meals and aren't too tight. Because I seemed to lose more weight when I wasn't at the tightness I was with my last fill.

I copied this from the site and thought it was pretty interesting: The Weight Loss Plateau Over time our bodies adapt to the lowered calorie level. Our body becomes more efficient at using energy (lowered metabolism), and therefore burns less fat. This is why most of us reach a weight loss plateau. At this point, the only option is to boost metabolism; increased cardio, weight training, 'cheat' meals (i.e. ocassional high-calorie meals), cycling (or zig-zagging) calories, and even manipulating macro-nutrient ratios can all help to do this (don't forget adequate sleep and hydration). You often find that the nearer you get to your goal weight (or body fat percentage) - the harder things get! Continually dropping calories only serves to lower metabolism even further - the moment you return to 'normal' eating - the weight comes back on. Minimum Daily Calorie intake It is difficult to set absolute bottom calorie levels, because everyone has different body composition and activity levels. Health authorities do set some baselines - these are 1200 calories per day for women, and 1800 calories per day for men. This doesn't really make too much sense - are you are sedentary person with little muscle mass? Or someone who is tall, muscular, and exercises a lot? Absolute levels don't work - but do give us a starting point. When reducing calories: Try not to lower your calorie intake by more than 1000 calories below maintenance. Doing so may invoke the bodies starvation response, which can lead to the Yo-yo dieting effect. Try to gradually lower calories. A sudden drop (such as 500 calories or more) can cause your metabolism to slow. What happens when calories are too low? 1) Muscle mass is broken down for energy (catabolism). 2) Metabolic rate will begin to drop (typically) after 3 days of very low calories - this is related to, and compounded by the loss of muscle mass. 3) With very low calories you risk sluggishness, nutritional deficiencies, fatigue, and often irritability. You are completely set-up for a regain in fat if you suddenly return to your previous eating patterns.

I only felt restriction for one week after my first fill... with the second fill I felt NOTHING... I didn't feel any real restriction until my third fill. BUT, everybody is different. Some don't even need fills or they just need one or two.. your band size makes a difference. But, for the most part, I would say most people say after the third fill. Which is why it's a lot of self control the first few months. Basically any weight you lose the first month is a blessing and the second month gets a little better...

The pain goes away.. Heck, I belched non stop.. and I mean BIG TIME very longggg belches for 5-6 days straight and that helped me to get all that gas out, but some people can't belch so it takes longer. But, it does go away. In a few months all this stuff will be a thing of the past...

Right.. my doctor put a 10cc band in me but said it can actually be filled up more than that if need be. i believe he said it could hold 12cc if I needed it, but he felt I wouldn't. I'm at my sweetspot right now and my fill center said that from here on out I'll only need .1-.4cc per fill.. because I was scared I would keep getting 1-2cc every time I went (as that was what I was getting), but after the third fill she said that would be my last big fill and she was right the two fills after that were .2cc and .4cc.

Before I had restriction I could pretty much eat anything and everything, I just chose not to eat the bad stuff. But now, being at my sweetspot I have problems with scrambled eggs, dried beef jerkey, and doughy breads. I've even tried Sushi and not had a problem with that. Oh, and chips and salsa and shrimp go down REALLY nice. You have to chew that shrimp up real good though. My friend got a chunk of shrimp stuck in her for a LONGGG time. I've never PB'ed either, but I've had some sliming incidents (not alot, but some). I always keep a half cup of coffee or tea near me when I have good restriction just in case I slime I can spit in the cup and nobody can tell what I'm doing because it's in the coffee cup. I've only had to do that twice.. once on scrambled dry eggs and once on a bite of chicken tender that was too breaded (at a restaurant). But, yeah, it's just trial and error. Somebody said they try it twice and if it still doesn't work they avoid the food.. that's about my limit too. I did try scrambled eggs 3 times and finally learned my lesson on those...

Hey girl, didn't your doctor also mess up on your first surgery? I think that was you who said that. I thought then you should just switch doctors. It says you've lost 24 lbs, and that's not bad. That's more than the 5 pounds a month my doctor requires.. So, don't beat yourself up. Everybody loses differently. There are some Victorious Valentines who've lost 50 and 60 and some who've lost 15.. we are all on different paths. Also, if you are pregnant, and if you were wanting a child, who cares what others think or if they get pissed off. I have a friend who got banded and pregnant 6 months later... she had a healthy baby boy and got her fill after she nursed and has lost a lot of weight. She just picked back up where she left off. You got this for you, not to please others. Good luck sweetie. And we miss you on our monthly board.

Yes.. though I was still active at almost 300 pounds... I would shy away from all the parties we would get invited to... not go on tubing trips and camping trips... just felt too big and didn't want to sit in the camp chairs with my butt hanging over.. So, it hurt my DH too because he would want to go. I'm so active now.. I'm still big, but I can fit in my camp chairs and I just feel better, sexier... I went to that beach weekend party this weekend and I had so much fun.. My knees didn't kill me.. It is a Euphoricfeeling indeed! :biggrin:

I also didn't realize you were having problems with your band... I hope everything goes well for you doll... Sending some healing energies.. Is there a post that gives details?

I agree fully with ahooge, though I know I've done it before in the past as well.. Either been sad about my plateau's or a little frustrated that others had already lost in the 50's or 60's and I was in the 30's and 40's... but, what is said here is SO true.. 100%. We are all different with different metabolisms and 15 pounds is still realy good. I'm not sure which day you were banded, but it still comes to about 4 pounds a month, and that's really good.

Shoot, I forgot.. I remember you telling me about that!! Have a blast and heck yes, next week will be fine! :-)

Good idea, thanks for sharing that!! that's about what I did this weekend... I ate more throughout the day... on Saturday and then even a little more on Sunday... makes total sense... Maybe eating a dessert can help... I rarely eat Desserts, but maybe a custard or icecream could count.. a shake or something..

Well, before I got my last fill I had no problems getting my calories in. LOL. But the Protein I'm not having a problem getting in. If I eat a full can of tuna that's 20 grams.. sometimes I can't eat the whole thing, but sometimes I can. Then for lunch the chili has 17grams of protein and I crumble some crackers in there. And then the chicken pho soup has a lot of chicken in there too and I can get that all down. So, I know I'm getting in a good amount of protein. This morning for Breakfast I was able to eat a cup of chicken salad with grapes. It took me a good 30 minutes, but I got it all down with no problems. This weekend I went to a beach party out at Galveston and what I did was I ate small things throughout the day all weekend... Every two hours I grabbed a little something, whether it was half a banana, half a can of tuna, a scoop of Beans.. I just ate throughout the day and it totally worked. I broke my plateau! the several hours of swimming in the ocean didn't hurt either... My fill has loosened up a tinge so I feel I'm now at that good spot. I'm scheduled for another fill at the end of this month, but I don't think I'll go. Thanks for all of ya'lls advice and I definitely think you are right about the not eating enough calories because upping it this weekend totally helped.. Kristi - wanna do lunch tomorrow?

Congrats!!! that's what sucks about getting banded at the very end of February (3 days before March)... most of the February bandsters have 3-4 weeks up on me :-( I hope I can be close to 50 pounds lost by my 4 month mark too. I think it's good that your band isn't too tight. I'm starting to think that a bandster loses more weight not having their band as tight. Keep up the good work and make sure to check in every now and again with us. HUGGS!

Well, right now it's impossible for me to eat a bunch of bad stuff. Back when I had the poptarts and cookie I needed a fill badly, but now I probably couldn't even get that down. There isn't much to log for me..half a can of tuna... a small chili.. and soup ... thats about it. lol. I know I'm not eating over a thousand calories a day.. but, for me, what keeps me accountable is getting on the scale every morning and weighing in. I only do it once a day and its actually exciting.. it helps me to test the food, for instance, eating hummus and multigrain crackers makes me gain weight. it also gives me BIG TIME gas, so I have to stay away from the hummus. Though I love it. Eating my pho soup seems to help me lose or maintain weight. Since my last fill, I don't think I'm eating enough and that could be my problem right now.

Wasa - you finally did it woman!! wahoooooo~!! I remember you talking about this a long time ago . I also did research on it, but my insurance wouldn't cover it, and my new band is working for me, though I do hate going to get the fills and all that. You mentioned a person ragging on you about it, well, the lap band police need to just get over it. I'm so sick and tired of people getting so easily offended on this forum over anything that can be misconstrued as going against the band... even when it's NOT. We all have different bodies and different problems and sometimes the band doesn't work, and a lot of times it seems to be the folks who got the older band (the 4cc one) because they seemed to be too tight and have more slips (I'm sure that statement will piss some off, but oh well, it's what I've seen, read and heard for the last two years). Disclaimer: yes, I know there are poeple with 4cc bands who've had no problems. yes, I know there are people with newer bands who have had problems. (it sucks I even have to write this in, but, well, you know all too well how it is). It's your fricking body and you can do what you want to with it and you're right about the "chew more"... when you have the issues that you had with the band, it doesn't matter what you swallow or the consistency, you will have problems. So, I'm very happy that you were able to get this procedure. CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :biggrin:

I would take tuna and mix it with light miracle whip and dip some multigrain crackers in it. That really mushed up well and filled me up. i could only eat a few, but boy, it was great.

Yeah, I'm also very thrilled with what I've lost too.. becuase at the rate I was going, I was gaining 5 pounds a month and who knows how much I'd weigh right now had I not gotten this done. There are so many positives, like I haven't gained anything.. I only play with 1-2 pounds at a time and that's a good thing.. I had the sushi last night hoping that would be the "bad" food for me to eat and that I would lose, but nope.. still stayed the same. I guess I could try the ol' mexican food, which usually got me losing again.. I haven't had mexican food in several weeks, so that could be the problem. Usually a few nachos or a fajita will get my system back into gear.. Maybe that's what I need... I normally just have some tuna in the morning.. a chili for lunch.. and then some pho soup for dinner.. sometimes with some hummus or some grilled chicken... maybe I'm not eating enough calories... I refuse to be a calorie counter though.. I don't want to live like that. :teeth_smile:

You'll know it pretty quick. The main thing that really gives me that stuck feeling is scrambled eggs. I always slime in my mouth and have to spit, but I've never PB'ed (brought it back up). It would go down after about a minute and then I'd be fine. But yeah, you know pretty quickly.

I got a starter fill during surgery of 3cc's and then my first fill was 2cc's... I have the 10cc band. My second and third fills each gave me 1cc... there is saline in the tube also. My center explained it to me, the way they count that too.

When I first got banded I had all that gas in my belly and I belched for a LONGGGGGGGGGGGGGGg time really loud for about 5 days. After about the third fill I couldn't belch anymore. I don't know when the last time I belched was. I do get hiccups more now though. I never use to get those...

Yes, I love those Isopure clear bottles... I like the Apple Melon flavor the best. Since our bodies can't absorb more than 20g of protein at one time, I always split a bottle.. half in the morning and half at night. It helps.

Don't you hate that moment when you are about to sabotage yourself.. or, you do... You stop losing weight and you think "maybe this is all I'm going to lose.. this is it".. so you go to the store and you buy Pop Tarts and Cookies. You eat one cookie and feel completely guilty and bring them to work to sit by the coffee so that others can get addicted to the pioson called sugar... but not before eating the luscious raspberry poptarts the night before.. AT BEDTIME no doubt... at first only eating one single tart and then justify eating the other as you dont' want it to get stale in the shiny tin foil wrapper that has been frantically busted open whilst saying "I haven't had a pop tart in two years.. it will be ok". You get on the scale to see you have gained a pound.. you have that sick feeling in your stomach and hope that the upcoming fill you are about to get will help, though realize the only thing that will help is going back on Phase 1 of the south beach diet to kick the stinkin sugar cravings that you never had before until you couldn't eat bread anymore!! Stepping off soap box..

Congrats on your weight loss!! I like how you did your pics!!