Numbrgirl

I am staying on plan today because I had my first fill today and am back on liquids................ All the nurses said my loss to date was a great loss!!

Thanks Ladies for the encouraging posts. I will take all I can get - I hope I hit 60lbs by 4 months!! That would be wonderful. Hey I am just thrilled at 6 weeks my scale has finally left the land of the 300's and is getting further away day by day!!

Everyone is different - but most of the posts I have read all indicate that as individuals get closer and closer to the band they start to eat in a more crazy manner because they think they are never, ever, ever going to be able to eat those particular things again. I know I did this for about 3-4 days and then I just started to irritate myself, feel sick and just decided to stop. The band has totally stopped my fixation on food. I almost can't explain it except, I know that the band is there, there is going to be some restriction and if it not worth all the excessive chewing and work to get it down then I don't even want to bother with it. In addition, I am so busy trying to get enough Protein in that I just don't gravitate to the "junk" anymore. The increased exercise has also helped to curb the appetite and because I see results, I only want to move forward and not backwards. I am sure those who have been banded longer will be able to better articulate it but I am so happy with the band. Tomorrow will be my 6 week anniversary and I am down 25lbs and feel absolutely wonderful. I am bound and determined to get every dime out of this lapband and honestly I don't feel deprived at all. For some stronger encouragement check out the posts from Jachut, Wasabubblebutt, Salsa and IndioGirl. They have tremendous results and I love any post I can find by them

DD - loved your post. It is so encouraging especially to newbies like me. I have done quite a bit of the prep work you described and have been making good choices. This past weekend I was at a birthday party with a HUGE buffet but made wise choices and was satisfied. Previous to the band I would have gone hog wild! I received my first fill today now I am up to 4 cc's. Don't really feel any different at this point but I only have to live with it for 3 weeks and then I can get some more. I am thrilled at the changes I have been able to make because of the band and as of today I have lost more weight in 6 weeks than I have ever been able to do before without falling back into my old habits, losing the willpower and quickly gaining it all back and more.

Had my first fill today and got 2 cc's - now I am up to 4 cc's but honestly not feeling any different from 2 cc's. Go back in another 3 weeks for another fill so I will work with this one to see if it makes any difference at all. My doctor says I will probably get it at about 6 or 7cc's so we will c (see)!! 8-)

There is also a Lap-Band Companion handbook by Watson MD and Jones MD. It explain the operation, gives the BMI charts and walks you through the various stages/phases. Some pretty good diagrams and food lists, etc. I purchased it on Amazon.

I drove about 5 days after my surgery - the most difficult part for me was the getting in and out of the car. All the movements were super slow!

My doctor's office charges $100 per fill. However, my package included free fills for 1 year after my surgery. I guess it would depend on how many fills you were going to have in a year.

sorry about that - hit the wrong button!

Excellent! Everything in perspective.:biggrin:

SDBEACH ~ How else would you expect those who have achieved success and the newbies, like myself, to react except in a "rah rah" manner? Otherwise what would be the point? Of course I don't think two people may approach putting the band to work in the exact same way and other factors have to be taken into consideration but I see quite a few success stories in various threads and the simple law of loss = eat less, move more - cannot very well be disregarded. This band has equipped me both mentally and physically to learn to put this into practice. Some of the success has a lot to do with outlook and as for me, I refuse to be disuaded.

You all are hilarious!!!

My doctor told me to stay away from salads for a while unless they are really, really chopped. Sometimes you can get a chopped salad that is really fine. I have tried coleslaw since it is chopped pretty well and make sure I chew and chew before I swallow it. I have had no problem with it.

I thought it was going to be sooooooo difficult to give up soda forever but I don't even crave it. When I see it on the grocery shelf I remember how much I really liked it and how I would run to it for an immediate sugar fix but now it has been more than 40 days and I will never had another one. I went to a birthday party yesterday where it was flowing freely and I just opted for water and didn't feel like I was missing a thing. These little changes amount to so much over time. I am glad the lapband restricts it - otherwise I would not have found the willpower to omit it on my own.

maybe it doesn't qualify as "eating around the band" but all the rules work for me!! and I am still learning!! 8-)

My doctor does not prohibit Protein shakes because they are high in protein as opposed to milkshakes or the like. Usually after I have a Protein shake I am full and don't want anything else. Jachut is always on the money!! My doctor did sternly warn about eating and drinking at the same time because if the food goes through so quickly.......it kind of defeats the purpose!!

I too am so happy I had this surgery. Your mind hypes it up so must but it is almost over before it starts. Today I am proud to proclaim (and have been posting it everywhere!) my scale left the land of the "300's" this morning. I go for my first fill next Tuesday. I am looking forward to a continuation of the weight loss and maintaining the exercise program. The band is such a useful tool to all who use it the way it was intended to be used. I wish I would have done it years ago!

To me it means eating and then drinking in order to push the food through the band so you can continue to eat more and more. The idea is to keep the food in place and let it slowly regulate itself through the band which gives the feeling of being "full"

If I don't weigh every day - how would I know my scale left the land of the "300's" today??!!!??? Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 8-)

So good when we DON't let food control us!!

Good that you can recognize the good with the not-so-good. We all have obstacles to overcome in life. In trying to do the right thing and making mistakes along the way - I am reminded of the scriptures that says "I don't do the things I know I should and do the things I know I shouldn't" I guess this is what is a lifestyle change for me - when I start to go down that path - I have to make a conscious and sometimes forceful choice to make myself go in another direction. It is difficult no doubt about it.

Hello to all - Just wanted to proclaim that my scale left the land of the "300's" today. Encouragement to all!! Also I attended a birthday party today with a HUGE buffet as the food source. I was so disciplined - I just had to thank God. I had a few cucumbers and some cottage cheese, a dab of potato salad and a little bit of sausage from one of the slices of pizza (NOT THE PIZZA!!). Just a little dab of the soft serve ice cream while everyone was enjoying their mound of cake. When I came and honestly dumped every bit into thedailyplate.com it was so low in both cal/carbs I couldn't believe. Feels good to show some self-control. Hey I can finally add that fruit of the spirit to my list in the eating category too!! Yeah me!! Praise God!!

Thanks XX it has been a while since I have seen the land of the 200's. I get my first fill this Tuesday so I am hoping the numbers will continue to go south!!

Jachut - You are a definite role model here on this board - thank you for your strong advice!! I love that we are allowed a glass of wine!!

I am staying on plan today because today my scale left the land of the "300's" !!!!!!!