Sirius

I was banded on June 5th, and I have lost 13 pounds so far. I lost 10 pounds the first week, and only lost 3 pounds in the following two weeks, and I was also only consuming 500-700 calories a day. I'm glad I read this thread, I was starting to think I was the only one losing at a slower pace.

I've read that you start losing after your first fill in a bunch of threads, but to me it still doesn't make sense since I'm taking in much less that 1,000 calories a day. Given my weight and age, I should be eating about 1,900 calories just to maintain my weight, and I'm eating 1,200 less than that a day. So...shouldn't I be losing? Well, after I get my fill...maybe in mid. July, I should be eating LESS...hmmm???...so how many calories will I need to consume to lose weight? I read that if you eat too little calories, then your metabolism slows down..mmm. I think eating less than 600 calories a day is not healthy at all...well, I guess we're all new here and are still learning how our bodies are responding to the band. It is a bit discouraging to say the least!:blushing:

I eat pretty fast myself, I think I'm done eating a cup of food in about 15 minutes. I guess since I'm a teacher and I only get a 30 minute lunch, which is actually more like 20 minutes, I have learned (not by choice) to eat too fast. :smile2:

I also have a low BMI, and I'm 3 weeks post op. I quickly lost about 10 pounds the first week, but since then I've only lost 2 more, and I'm a little disappointed. I know that I can't lose weight super fast, but I am working really hard at it. I'm exercising every day for 1 hour, and I'm eating healthy and so much less that I used to eat, so it is a little frustrating to be stuck at 3 weeks. I know I haven't had a fill yet, but shouldn't I be losing weight since I'm netting 500-700 calories a day after subtracting the calories I burn in the gym? Is this normal? Is anybody else in the same boat I am in?

I was walking from my car to the pub with my size 4 friend and my husband and some guys that were driving by just yelled "fatties". I was a size 10 which is NOT big, and I felt soooo embarrassed. I yelled back "you wish", but deep down I felt ashamed and depressed the whole night. I felt embarrassed that my husband had to hear that, my self esteem took a nosedive. It just pissess me off that women now a days have to be a size 2-4 to look "normal". When did this happen? Why??? I remember when being a size 8 -10 was normal...what's wrong with that?

I didn't have a problem getting approved because of my low BMI because I was pre hypertensive, and have a family history of heart disease. I was also diagnosed with borderline mitral valve prolapse. Eventhough this is not life threatening, if I had become bigger, then I might have had problems. My grandmother died at age 50 of a heart attack, and I have two uncles who have undergone heart bypass surgery...so all in all my future didn't look to good if I was to remain obese. I was self-pay though and didn't have to go through the insurance hassle. I had my surgery in Mexico, so it was so much more affordable.

My doctor has banded children as young as 12. It all depends on the severity of the obesity. He says that it's hard to band children not because of the surgery itself, but rather that children are not mature enough to understand that they will not be able to eat anything, and everything they used to eat, and that can be very risky post-op when they are in recovery. I can tell you from my own experience that it's been hard for me to give up certain foods, like diet coke and bread, and I'm an adult, and I understand the risks. Imagine how hard it must be for children that still don't have the maturity to control themselves. The first time I ate a bit of bread and it got "stuck", I felt scared, and I thought I was just going to die, and I knew what was happening to me, because I had read about it and spoken to people it, but you are still not prepared for it until it happens to you. So, what I'm trying to say is that if you are mature enough to go without certain foods and if you have the commitment to change your lifestyle, then you are not too young. I hope that you get approved by your insurance soon; nobody should have to wait to get this done!!

I live in South Texas, right across from the Mex. border, so I had my surgery in Mexico. (I was self pay) I had my first consultation on the May 15th, and had all the pre-op tests done the next week, and I just waited for school to be out (I'm a teacher) to have my surgery. I was banded 3 weeks after my 1st consult. I'm so glad I didn't have to wait at all. :grouphug:

measring cups (so you know exactly how much you are eating), juice, sugar free posicles( these are a life saver for me), cans of soup, sugar free jello, measuring tape (to measure yourself every week), a notebook or journal so you can document your food intake and/or how your body responds to certain foods (once you are able to eat them), Mederma for your scars, Anti-acids, and a book or magazines so you keep busy in the hospital and or durin recovery. Those are just some of the things I needed.

Just hang in there, you'll return to normal soon. You will be able to eat anything you want, only difference is that you'll eat alot less of it! You can do it, wait until your first fill, then reconsider.

I had my surgery in Mexico too, and I had a great experience. I don't know Dr. Joya, but I'm sure you'll be well taken care of. Dr.'s in Mexico, for the most part, are "people" doctors. What I mean is that they take their time with their patients, they get to know you, as a person, and they make you feel secure in a way. I have had a number of surgeries in Mexico with different doctors, and I've never had a bad experience. So, good luck, and DON'T WORRY!!!

I'm sorry I didn't read this thread sooner, you just might have waited a bit longer with the band. I have a friend who was banded 4 years ago, and just like you, had problems with the port. She had her port wound open for about 2 months. It seems like quite a few people are allergic to the material the port is made of, so they removed her port for about a year, then they replaced it with another port that was made from a different material, and now she's doing great.

No, I don't feel the lap band. I feel the same as before the band, and I only feel the port when I make certain movements, or when I sleep on my port side, but other than that I can't feel it!