HeatherO

I have a Realize band, but even so, all bands get you to the same point of restriction eventually. You just happen to have a conservative doctor who wants to take it slow. Restriction definitely comes to us when the band is filled to the right quantity. Also, once you reach restriction, you will definitely feel it without a doubt. It will work for you . . . it is just taking a little extra time to get there. Just hang in there a little longer. You are doing a great job so far with your loss.

It is all a choice. If you have been following so well the first 5 days and you are starting fresh tomorrow and will still get your full 2 weeks in, a healthy dinner probably wouldn't make a huge difference if you make conscientous decisions. In a way you are kind of lucky, you have 5 extra days of following the plan that are going to put you in a much better position for surgery and with weight loss.

I was told to hold off on berries at that stage due to the seeds. Every doctor is different, so you might want to call and ask. Even the restriction on straws is different for different doctors. However, they are a big part of my regular diet now. There is nothing better than a fruit smoothy for breakfast.

I think you are just lucky enough to get restriction with surgery. Some people never need fills, or if they do, only small ones. Just enjoy it :0)

My doctor would never approve and early fill before 6 weeks at the absolute earliest, but 8 weeks was recommended. This time frame has nothing to do with restriction, it is all about healing. You will also find that waiting 3 weeks is not so bad, the time does pass, albeit a tad unpleasantly :0)

My fill doctor has no restrictions. They said I just need to be careful as I adjust to the new fill level and test the waters regarding restriction with the band. I asked about the logic behind it because so many people do go on liquids . . . they said some people are tighter right away, and some take a few days/weeks for their fill to kick in, as long as we are cautious it shouldn't make a big difference. However, I do recommend following your doctors plan, whatever it happens to be.

Oranges are easy for me, even with tight restriction.

There is no hard and fast limit across all surgeons, but some will not want to do riskier surgeries at higher BMI's and may require weight loss first. It is also very dependent on other medical conditions present. It also seems as though people with the highest BMI's are pushed more towards the R&Y route instead of the lapband. However, there are people who have had success with banding at relatively high BMI's.

Kat, I am so happy that Manda has her own room as well. It is hard enough to recover without sharing space with someone you don't know. I have my diabetes test this AM for the 24th week of pregnancy. I had to drink a drink this morning that is basically pure sugar . . . and now the baby is doing backfips and somersaults, lol. I can already tell that sugar will make this little girl bounce off of the walls once she is here.

The true banding adventure begins now after your first fill. You are doing great. Congratulations and happy melting!!!

25 pounds down is awesome . . . congratulations!!!

I also had referred shoulder pain from the diaphragm which was a sharp pain and just awful. It did not really diminish until about 6 weeks out. The odd thing in your case is for you to experience it 5 weeks out but not before. Definitely bring it up with your surgeon.

You will always find people saying negative things and positive things about every last doctor. Do your research and make sure that the doctor is experienced and has good results. Be careful about anecdotal evidence, while helpful to an extent, it can be skewed. You will also find people that will bash anyone who even considers going to Mexico. I had my surgery in Mexico over a year ago with Dr Corvala at Hospital Angeles . . . and as you can see from my ticker, I am doing just great. It was a wonderful experience and I couldn't be more satisfied. I wish you the best of luck.

We all have these blues along the way . . . it is perfectly normal. The incredible thing is, you can lose a lot of weight in the beginning but still look very overweight . . . but when you get closer to goal, a difference of 10 pounds can make a big difference. Just remember that this is a journey and you should be proud of what you have accomplished so far, but also know that this is only the start and you have a lot more celebrating to do down the road as well.

What he said :tongue2:

That was great, thanks for sharing.

I understand this 100%. Eating becomes a cycle of behavioral habits that can be negative or positive. I think overeating makes you tired, causing you to take shortcuts with meals that are not nutritionally sound . . . and then it repeats repeatedly. I am no less busy, but healthy eating is now a priority instead of an afterthought and I now have the energy to follow through with it.

I was fat because I was hungry . . . and relied on fast food too much due to a busy lifestyle. Hunger and impulsive eating ruled my existence before, but now I feel like I have my life back.

I think you are doing great. Banding is not easy at all unless you have restriction . . . and you have not had restriction for very long. I agree, a loss is a loss, and without banding you may have had a gain or at least maintained. You definitely deserve a pat on the back.

This one is tolerable . . . but I still find myself struggling to drink it by the halfway point. It is still a little difficult for me.

I totally agree . . . only a few of them score a little lower or higher on the yuck factor than others. I feel the same way about politics from time to time . . . I vote for who scores a little lower on the yuck factor as well, lol. :rose:

LOL, you are right!!! My perception of website advertisements must be on auto-ignore. :rose::tongue2:

I think there are a few pitfalls that can can cause you to start gaining again. Becoming complacent . . . such as having slider foods on a regular basis. You need to decide what is acceptable in what frequency and stick to it. A special treat a couple of times a month might not harm you, but a couple times a week or day will definitely start moving your weight in the wrong direction. Not weighing yourself on a regular basis. Out of sight is out of mind. If you can stay in the mindset that you have to regroup on your eating plan and go back to basic when ever you move more than 2-5 pounds beyond where you need to be, then you will be OK. Keeping support structures in place. Most of us became obese due to behavioral, psychological reasons . . . we need to stay aggressive in making sure that these are addressed through behavior and reinforced through support structures. Exercise is important for keeping your metabolism revved up. You should make it a part of your lifestyle, not just something you do in weight loss mode or while dieting.

I agree with not wanting my personal weight loss trials and tribulations on TV. They have to wear those ridiculous outfits showing all the bulges, wrinkles, cellulite for weigh-ins. I would feel silly wearing them now even after losing weight.

I think you are too tight without a doubt. Banding is not meant to be an exercise in misery and that is no way to live. It is also common for people to stop losing when they are overly tight because they have to make adjustments in what they can eat so that things can at least go down. I would suggest a tiny unfill, keep eating your Proteins but get in much more veggies. Cut back on the fruit juices or go towards lower calorie or sugar free versions. Up the Water and exercise if you can and it should help you to get back to losing.