HeatherO

You are so right about that statement. I kept thinking, once I am banded it would be smooth sailing. Really, after the first couple of weeks, it was like being on a diet off and on until my second fill. I was still battling hunger from time to time and feeling deprived when I didnt give in.

My last straw was when my husband went away for a month on business last december and i made a goal to lose 10 pounds while he was gone on a crash diet and daily exercise. I couldn't do it. I lost 3 pounds and said I lost 5. For some reason, being married caused me to gain way too much. Perhaps I was so happy, I was celebrating with food every day if you know what I mean. I think there is also the nesting syndrome where you want to cook and bake everything. I now weigh more than 20 pounds less than when I got married. I am still losing about 2 pounds a week and working my band, but even if I never lost another pound, I feel normal and happy and I think I look good at this weight. Thank you, thank you, thank you my wonderful band.

It is hard to say without more information. Do you feel restriction? Are you getting hungry between meals? What are you eating? Are you getting exercise?

By the way, I just wanted to mention something I find really odd. After banding I lost weight a lot faster than now, but my clothes sizes took foreverrrrr to change sizes. I stayed in an XL or size 18 for months and months (my husband joked with me that maybe I was tweaking the scale every morning to show a loss during that phase). Now, my clothes fit really differently every few weeks and I am losing slower. Big weight loss = relatively no size change, moderate weight loss = continuous size changes . . . what is up with that????

I would never keep much more than one size up. I know I am keeping a couple of things that might look flattering on me during pregnancy and are a little bigger. It is so hard to let go of things for me. I am even a little sad now because I have some relatively new clothes (purchased over the last couple of months) that were a little tight when I got them and are much too big now. I feel compelled to keep them, but whyyy??? I thought I would wait until I lost more weight to buy a few things but I found that pants that are too big and have the saggy derriere look are just unflattering and make me look bigger than I am. I hate to look frumpy in the summer time, it would be easier if it is winter :0). Anyways, I got my donate bags a filling up :0). I am going to go for family and friends first to take anything they want. Congratulations on the size 10 . . . I can't wait to join you!!!

2 more down and only 11 to go. I think I am still on track and might just make my goal :0) Name_____________Weight Now____Goal_____lbs lost aJoneen............230.........220.......3....... Bea1128............220.........199.......1.5..... Babs0101...........185.........170.......0....... blesdbyonmzur......159.........148.......4....... BTTRFLI1432........221.........210.......0....... Bunkey1965.........209.........205.......3....... Chocolate_Snaps....260.........240.......0....... Darr5380...........170.........150.......0....... Epm316.............209.........199.......0....... erikadawn.................199..............175............0.......... FloridaGirl........235.........215.......0....... HeatherO...........166.........155.......6....... JennyPoo...........169.........159.......0....... KarenG.............164.........158.......2....... KathyStrick........305.........290.......0....... Leslie2Lose........221.........209.......3....... LilMissBand-Aid....240.........225.......0....... Lunabeane..........221.........200.......5....... Luu2008............219.........189.......7....... Luv2Laugh..........232.........212.......0....... luvinke............206.........190.......0....... mamato3............199.........184.......0....... mcgreen............189.........175.......0....... mdgarcia31665......225.........220.......0....... mominlv13..........316.........300.......1....... MSnika3............228.........204.......4....... NANAbanded.........225.........199.......4....... NukeChik...........225.........199.......2...... Ollie..............242.........210.......0....... Redtulips..........191.........180.......3....... Renewedhope........176.........155.......3....... ronni_NC...........243.........220.......0....... slgandera..........185.........173.......0....... StartingOver.......220.........205.......5....... Sunshine2..........187.........170.......0....... want_so_bad........170.........155.......0....... Sadie..............216.........199.......4.......

Have you been able to incoporate physical activity into your life as well? Perhaps a little exercise can help improve the weight loss numbers you are looking for and exercise can really help to kick metabolism back into gear. You also mentioned that you went up 10 pounds with readjusting your diet but you are back down to only 3 above your start point. Did this increase occur during your physician supervised weight loss period? I was just wondering if your doctor was disregarding the last decrease because there has been a net increase since you began. Good luck with everything.

Wow, it is much more complicated then I thought. I didn't realize you couldn't go under 1500 without suffering physical consequences from it. Is there a chance that after being banded that you may start having symptoms again and feel like you did before when you were having a hypoglycemic episode? Did the doctor explain how this surgery might affect your diabetes as well?

I was hungry at about 1 month out. I got hungrier until my fill six weeks out and then I was ok again.

If the doctor is not reading your reports, that is inappropriate and you will want a new doctor down the road. However, there may be risk in changing the doctor right now if you have to go back to square one with a new one. I doubt that they would accept 3 months of one and 3 months of another, however you can always check with your insurance to see. It may be worth toughing out a few more visits and then swapping out doctors. If you are on a doctors supervised diet and the doctor says 1500 calories is the maximum amount of what he would prefer for you to eat daily, why do you feel that this is such an unreasonable request? I understand that you are making other healthy changes in your diet, but it seems like the calorie requirement is a straightforward request. If you are banded, you will need to follow your doctors instructions. If you don't follow them now and then choose not to follow them post banding, you may not be successful with banding. It is important to consider that surgery may not be the best option for you if the requirements are too strict for you to follow.

No problems for me and I have flown many times post banding. Some people say they feel a little tighter after flying when they have good restriction. However, just after surgery you will not have any (or very little) Fluid in your band so it is no big deal. You will need to find some creative ways to follow your doctors diet while on vacation. You might want to consider checking a little emergency stash of food in your luggage (can't carry on more than 3.4 ozs of liquids). Soups might be OK when you are eating out, but you may still be eating strained/pureed soups by that time.

I struggled the same but I got over it for the most part. I found that most of my problem was carb-addiction. Sweet or salty processed carbs eaten would definitely mean really, desperately wanting more from the depths of my soul 15 minutes later. I just had to accept that I really can't eat them. I get my carbs now through fruits and vegetables, eat tons of Protein and try to eat whole foods in general. I don't eat bread, rice, potatoes, Pasta or anything processed. Now I don't really crave, or if I do it is a couple of brief times a week (hmm, that looks kind of good) rather than dozens of times a day (omg, I just have to have some . . . right NOW). However, I went to a friends house for dinner on Saturday night and had a little spaghetti with meatballs (few noodles, more sauce, meatball and salad). I finished the bowl and ate a little more than I usually do . . . I swear 15 minutes later I was thinking . . . and thinking . . . and thinking about getting just a little more, but I didn't. Now I realize that pre-banding, and early post banding, that the carb demons were keeping me down, why couldn't I have figured this out pre-banding???

I don't think you would be able to resubmit the entire claim but I think some parts of your original claim would still be valid (such as 6-month doctor supervised weight loss plan) if you had to do that. You will probably have to redo some tests. Just speak with them and ask about the timeframe in which the tests must be taken prior to surgery. It should be a fairly black & white question for them. Now that your BMI is 40, you have a much greater chance of success.

What a great idea. I definitely eat Lean Cuisine meals at work for lunch. The only difference now is that I can eat a portion or all of one serving and be completely full, whereas before I was hungry 5 minutes later.

I have the same problem. I work 50 hours a week and am a graduate student working on my masters and a mother to boot. At first I never exercised because I couldnt figure out when to do it (i have to sleep sometime you know). Anyways, I eventually found a way to work in at least 30 minutes daily and I am so much better for it. I have a membership at the YMCA and they provide childcare as well. If you have a local YMCA, that might be the ticket for you as well since your 2 year old can play while you are working on getting healthy. I found that at first it was a pain in the you know what, but now I am very happy for it. The exercise burns off my stress, puts me in a better mood and gives me more energy. It was worth the 30-60 minutes daily because I am a happier person for it. It puts a break in the drudgery of an all too hectic schedule and I know that it is "me" time. Now I wouldn't trade it for the world.

You could just be irritated but I am concerned that drinking Water is making you have the golf ball feeling. It sounds tight to me. Why don't you just schedule something as a precaution . . . and if it improves greatly before your appointment you can cancel it.

I am really happy it is working out for you. I have been doing fitday.com and I love so much that I can see reports on my weight changes :0).

There is a specific location here if you look for age specific groups. There is one for the teens and it could be the perfect spot for him to spread his wings. He should start logging on and reading some threads as well.

How was the second year as opposed to the first? Did you have to change things up a little to keep losing over time? Please tell us more. Your pics are awesome. We all want to know how you have found such great success.

i think the 2-3 ounces is just a guideline. It is difficult to get much down the first days after. Really you should go by feel and make sure you are getting enough. if you drink too much, you will know it, your body will tell you. I would always keep your water near and sip it throughout the day. Water will help with your initial weight loss.

I think your best bet would be to get back to 40 BMI. My surgeon said after the initial meeting I can lose as much as I want, but I need to be at the right point at that time or there will be trouble.

Drink a lot of water afterwards. You don't want it sitting in your pouch for too long. The water will flush it through quickly and helps to minimize the risk.

Drink tons of water since you are already prone to problems. After your body adjusts to . . . . renewed activity, you will probably be less likely to keep having problems.

How did your boss take the news???

I wish her a speedy recovery. My thoughts and prayers go out to her.