MuaSuaDua

I had my surgery about 2 months ago and have lost 30 lbs. I have received many compliments, I have felt really good about myself, and when people asked me (my surgeon included) if I was happy with the whole lap-band thing, my answer is A DEFINITE YES. It has been years since I felt I have control over my body, my weight. And for the first time, I am very sure (100% sure) that even if I may not reach my goal weight I will never be as heavy as I ever was. However, in the past two days I realized that there are parts of myself that I missed. Ok, not the weight, not the flabs, but I used to be quite fit (despite my weight gain/weight loss cycle). I climbed a mountain (non-technical climb), I did yoga, pilates, tennis (hard core). I ran. All more than 2-3x a week. I've walked since week 2 after my surgery, but I didnt try to get back to my previous workout habits until this week. I had no problem with 2.5 hrs hike over the weekend, but yesterday I did my pilates and I felt wobbly and dizzy. Today I went to a new yoga class and I could not even support myself with my arms, I could not do simple poses, and I could not even balance myself (I was very good at balancing before). I'm not sure why I suddenly have no control over my body and no strength esp upper body. It's only been 2 months since I really work out and am I that out of shape strength wise? I used to stop working out for 6 months before and I got into it just fine. Does anyone have this problem also restarting their workout? I think a few weeks ago I saw someone posted their exercise schedule and my impression of them are that they are quite rigorous, at least in terms of frequency and types. Is this a malnutrition issue? I am quite upset with myself...I quite the class halfway. I'm not a quitter! I just could not take it anymore. I also felt since the surgery a lethargicness in some ways - I don't mind walking, I walk everywhere: work, class, etc. But I can't seem to be able to lift - not even a bag full of groceries. I can't bend. I felt all my muscles are tight, too. I'm going to see my osteopathist next week. Hopefully she can help me....

I fell off the band wagon! Pls help me get back on. I lost 13 kgs in the first 4 months. Gained back about 4 kgs within the first year. And now approaching my year 2 I have gained back another 3-4 kgs. Whoops! I know my mistakes. I drink too much liquid with calories (lattes, coffee mixes, Cereal drinks) and I ate too much too! I find comfort in food so I guess whenever I am emotionally unhappy I am back to eating again. I puked a lot, too. So I know the band is working! I found sometimes if I chew really well, I can still eat a lot like going out to fine restaurants (ie. eat 3 courses of food (sharing dessert)). And I am so done with working out. I am so unmotivated. Please don't judge me and just help.... PS. my weight loss scale is NOT updated.....

Thank you Betsy Jane and Edie for the support. Living in Asia and being Asian, I don't find it very comfortable to open up to my fellow asians. I tried to see a psychologist once to work through my problem and it got really strange. The conclusion of the whole thing is that I didn't really have a problem to begin with. It's more my fault though than anything. I do suffer from eating disorder. I do know that. I just can't seem to overcome it. Do you know anyone that can do that kind of counselling online and such support group?

Looks like my bad eating habit (binge eating) is not going away. After 3-month great weight loss progress post lap-band surgery, I'm gaining my weight back. I've lost 16 kilo post surgery,only to gain 3 back in the past couple of months. I'm losing my motivation and my focus. I can't seem to focus on mindful eating-chew slowly, drink slowly, choose the nutritious food. I still crave all the bad stuffs, consume too much sugar, carbo. I still eat a lot at night (night after night) to fulfill something that's missing in my life. Many nights I puked the thing I've eaten and just to eat more afterwards because I was starving. This is awful. I think my band has either slipped or my stomach has expanded. I no longer feel full. I've had 3 fills for a total of 2.3 cc and yet I can finish a whole portion and I feel hungry minutes after. I no longer wake up in the morning and have that tightness feeling. I'm losing the battle and I don't know what to do. I am seeing a psychologist (something is haywire in my head) and I have started seeing a dietitian to help me with food choices and weekly menus. I feel awful. I don't know if I should see my surgeon - I've seen him so many times. I'm embarassed! I can't seem to be honest with him but actually he's an awesome, kind person. My heartburn is coming back too. I feel tightness in chest, I burp more and more. I'm having problems doing my pilates because I feel like whatever air I'm breathing in cannot go deep into my lungs from all the gas caused by my heartburn. I know what I'm doing is wrong. I just can't seem to make the changes I need to make. Thank you for listening to me and please do not judge me too harshly. :confused:

Thank you y'all. I feel better already. I will definitely talk to my surgeon ASAP. Fingers crossed - it's nothing serious. Thanks for all your wisdom and support.

congrats, corinne!

I am very happy overall with my progress. I've lost 30lbs in two months since my op (Jul 6). I am happy to not have to worry if I'm going to be really bloated (from overeating) or not. I am happy to fit into clothes I haven't worn for ages. I am happy that I stay fuller longer. ... But I do get frustrated with the relatively slower weight loss (I noticed that I lost weight only during the liquid phase after op and after fills (I have had two fills so far)). My sis is getting married in a month and I'd love to reach my goal weight by then - which is impossible. But that's not the band's fault - more like my unreasonable expectations. I find it still hard day-to-day because old habits are hard to break. At times when I'm bothered I still want to reach for 'comfort' foods. I am bothered at the fact that I've lost mostly my muscle mass - I tried getting bk to working out but I am way too weak. I get quite upset about this. But overall..I'm quite happy with the band..it just needs a lifetime commitment and lots of patience and lots of venting (on this site - which usually gets you a lot of support and gets you back on track!)....

Thanks for the info, Kel. I'll let you know. My sis is getting married a week after that so we may be busy with last minute things...but I'll try.

Estela, sending prayers your way and to ur mom. hope she will be well soon...

my friends know i went through surgery but they thought it was only to fix my hiatal hernia. i decided not to tell them bc they gossip a lot and they are an insecure lot...one friend sort of guessed it but i looked her in the eye and denied it. cos if i confirmed it with her the whole world would know also. my family knows i have the band, select friends, my mom's immediate family and one aunt from my dad side. one grandma and one aunt guessed it cos i know abt the band from them for the first time - and the rest because i want a cousin to know to have it as an option for him.

Hi Kellie Where do I get infor on this lap band conference? Thanks. P

That is amazing! I am waiting for the day I'm not interested in food!

Dee Dee, Hang in there! I think what you said abt your dietitician confusing you with RNY may well be true...in my own experience, I never heard restriction of no cream etc, etc. As long as they are mushies (when you are at mushies state) or liquid (when you're at liquid state) you're good (regardless of ingredients). I was even told that I could have ice creams! And as long as you take it in slowly and small amounts. And you're so right about your body craving for things that it needs..I think you should just blend things your body wants to the right consistency. I resisted for so long that finally on my fifth and sixth week so two weeks before I got my first fill - I was eating solid food (chew well and slowly of course). I could not stop eating and I consumed whatever was in front of me...so pls listen to your body. I personally did not have great experience w the nutritionist I was assigned to also - so I just listened to my doctor the important things and modify things as long as they fall into the description of things that matter.... Good luck and keep us posted...

I prefer to have no breakfast. One week after my fill, I never really had breakfast and had lunch and fruits for dinner..all was great and dandy. Then now, when I have breakfast, I am always hungry and I'm totally overeating for lunch and dinner!

1000 calories seem to be the consensus everywhere, but from my years of dieting and reading health magazines, I think 1200 is the minimum calories women should go for to lose weight. The way I look at it, consuming a bit over 1000 (usu I consume 1200 to 1500 and still lose weight) makes no difference because it's still half of what I used to it pre-band! -

What's DH?

Congratulations and good luck!

The band is the best thing that ever happens to me. I can no longer use food as solutions for everything and I have no other way but to really introspect myself and hopefully this will be for the better. I am forced to re-learn good eating habits. I don't have to worry about calories - as I can't eat a lot with the restrictions (although I still have to concentrate on the changes I need to make when I eat). Although there will be ups and downs even with the band on, but overall it's for the better. With the band on, I can finally see the end of the so-called tunnel - there is hope to get to my goals of living healthy physically and emotionally and not only wishful thinking with other diets.

Now that I can eat solid food, I miss nothing! It's great to lose some weight. I'm not up to the point where I feel like a different person yet but hopefully I'll get there soon.

Preop-I used to play tennis twice a day and pilates twice a day plus I walked a lot. However, post op - even tho I am eating solids right now, I'm just so not motivated and I feel weak, I feel lazy. Lifting something heavy (like groceries) make me dizzy (tho I think I'm just being lazy-I avoided doing hard physical work using the op as an excuse). I started dancing (lower impact) hopefully this will work and help me get into more intense things...I'm looking forward to doing tennis and pilates again in a few weeks. Luckily I still lose weight (I think it's because I used to binge up to 3000 calories before I had operations so eating slightly over 1000 calories is working for me even without exercise). after years of going to the gym to do both cardio exercise and weight lifting, i can't take it anymore! so thumbs up for those who are very motivated in their exercise program! keep it up!

Thank you very much for your words of wisdoms. I have to say finding this forum and all of you is the best thing that has happened to me since I had my lapband done. I hardly did any research going into the surgery although it did take me a year to work up my courage to commit to a lifetime of beneficial changes. If I found you sooner things could have been different! And it's amazing to have the avenue to talk to fellow lapbandsters who really understand what I'm going through. I love my family and they support me greatly, but somethings they just don't understand because they don't go through any of it. My euphoric mood sort of crashed two/three weeks after my surgery and I was having a hard time getting myself out of the slump. I ended up eating solid foods two weeks earlier than I was supposed to be getting my fill and on some days I ate over 1,500 calories. I ate bc I felt horrible but then eating the wrong things just made things worst (guess a lifetime of bad habits are hard to break). I just got lucky that it slowed my weight loss but didn't reverse the trend completely. Then I found you all and I'm back on track...so thank you, thank you! And i promise, I'll try to get on the scale less (like once a weeks instead of every day!)

When were you banded? 7/6/05 What was your weight ON DAY OF SURGERY? 204 What is your weight now? 177 What size do you wear? 12/14 How tall are you? 5' 5-1/4" Goal: (whichever is first) Goal weight: 135 (hope to achieve by my 26th birthday) NSV - fit into a pair of low rise Guess denim I own size 28 junior*, with back zipper, back button so I can't force it if it's too tight * I have not been this size since my pre-teen days - but I bought this couple years ago at the time size 29 fits perfectly thinking it'd make me lose a few pounds - but of course things didn't work out as plan and the pair of denim has been sitting in my closet since then. And I have to say that my yo-yo dieting days are over! Soon, I'd be able to reduce the contents of my closet by 2/3 since I have huge wardrobe because I have things range from my thin days size 12 to my "fat" days size 16. Anyone with me???

blended pizza???? none for me. got my official approval to eat my first bite of real pizza by tomorrow....yipee........

Christina Thanks for advise. Will do so. great progress on losing those inches!

oh and just be patient...losing weight works mysteriously i suppose. i actually find it really surprising that all surgeons recommend only 1,000 calories a day....because if you read health publications they always say never go below 1,200 a day. and as far as i know, undereating can also lead to no weight loss as the body goes into survival mode thinking you're in famine.....