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Hi again Michele - I'm glad you will try your surgeon again but also don't stop there - I've found surgeons to be wondeful at what they do - surgery - but not always bedside manner and/or ability to spend time listening. Even short term counseling with a social worker or even grad student is affordable and can help. But I was writing cuz I thought of something else - there is a woman Sandy who is active on the Utah bandster and some other sites - i think she works for Dr. Kuri - she has a site www.bandsterme.com and she has tapes specifically for bandsters - she has a lapband and has kept her weight off for like 3 years or something...I think she also 'counsel's bandsters via email but i'm not sure of that. Also, I've gotten tapes fro innertalk.com and i like those a lot too (these are all subliminal type of tapes). And - I'm glad to hear you are able to follow the "rules' sometimes - hey we all slip and that also shows you can do it - it's that damn consistency that kills us. Keep writing to us at this site - everyone here has helped me a lot too - we all need each other - esp in the dark days. I'll be thinking of you!!!

Oops - I was prepared to order it but when I saw the shipping of 66.00 for a total of 92 - i had to cancel - looks good though.

Very interesting article - My old phen/phen doctor (Baltimore MD who was later on 60 minutes and lost his license - a whole other story) was absolutely crazy on some levels BUT was insistent that all addictions (including overeating) were based on out of whack dopamine and seratonin levels. I still staunchly maintain he was right as this article is - He was convinced the phen/phen protocol could 'cure' every addition including smoking, alcoholism, one woman even came in with hives like I've never seen before - they literally came out in the group meeting - she was covered in massive hives from head to toe that went away in a few hours after he dosed her. I also had such success with the drugs i hated to see them go - although I'm glad I didn't have heart problems. I lost a ton of weight and most of all I felt NORMAL. I didn't have to fight head hunger, I no longer cared about food outside of a small meal now and then. That is what always amazed me. I would kill for that as that is always my goal - to feel normal about and around food. Not just to 'control' it but to NOT think about my weight, my food choices, my band, 24/7 which is what I do now. Very interesting article - thanks.

Hey Bubble Butt - you kind of know my story but I don't know exactly why I am not losing weight either. Although I did find a local endocrinologist I may be seeing - after I do a bit more research about her. I also eat 1/2 of what I previously ate and exercise regularly but I have also become a bit more 'stubborn' in what I am willing to try (although even as I say that i've tried 'diet's and diet pills after banding) I tend to give up and then something spurs me to try again. This morning I re-read a thread that talks about eating 600 calories a day and I'm now thinking I will try that again. Maybe with my upcoming fill at the end of the month it will be easier - in the past I've felt I was starving at that level. I feel frustrated and depressed and embarassed for people to see my results but I think it's important to see someone it hasn't yet worked for. I'm also frequently 'mad' because I can't eat like I used to to soothe myself yet I'm still fat. I won't give up trying to make this work in the sense of weight loss - it is why I keep coming here - it keeps me focused and honest and hopeful. I would love to have a local face to face support group but the only one I know of is only for the doctor's patients. I hope others respond if only to see more people in my situation and why.

Hi Michele - Hey I was banded just a few months after you - Ortiz is great, isn't he? You have had a tough time - I really feel for you. I am fortunate to have both my parents but took care of one/both of them for some time in the past and I truly appreciate the stress/depression you describe. It is so hard!!! You are smart to be concerned about your band - you've come a long way with your weight loss etc. and I know you don't want to lose that. You've kept your weight stable under all this stress so that is something to be proud of!! You know the throwing up is bad - I've done it too as I guess we 'learn' to get it up and not 'suffer' like in the early days of banding. But you do admit it has become a problem and you are doing it very often. THAT IS GOOD - you know you need help and that is always the first/best step so good for you. Is this something you can change on your own - making slow steps - taking it one meal at a time? If not, you need to seek a counselor/clergy local lapband doc (maybe a local support group) that will help you beat this. I took anti anxiety meds for awhile and that can help with stress too. We all have bad habits that may take the rest of our life to 'cure' and we have to have the strength to seek out help outside ourselves when needed - You seem to need that now - please look for someone who can help you face to face - with your dad and for yourself. You are obviously pretty darn strong to do all you do now and to get where you are so harness that strength to help yourself - Also, after the barium, maybe take your fill out - until you can get some extra help - you can always get more in later. Take care!!!

I average about 1200 a day and that is too much for my body to lose weight but I find if I eat less than that i end up eating more the next day to make up for it (i.e. hungrier, etc.) That is a comfortable level for me and even though I don't lose weight (yes I exercise 4-7 times a week) that's what my body wants/needs so that's what I give it!

Me too - at first i didn't notice anything different around my period - for the last 4 months or so i am so restricted i almost have to do liquids - very strange - never noticed caffeine did it for me and i had coffee before, during and after banding - can't give that up.

Wow - everyone is soo different. I envy those who have lost all their weight with 3 or less fills. I still can't seem to get it right and my first fill seemed good (2.3) but I could still eat pretty well. Now I'm down to 1.7 and have severe hunger pangs and am going for another fill at the end of the month. It seems I am either too tight and pb too much or too loose and have to struggle to control my eating. I wonder how long I will be getting fills or if I should just stop and hang in there. I knew fills were the key but my surgeon said most people only need three - never thought I would be the odd ball. Also I budgeted 1000 for fills and I'm over 5000 - they can really add up -esp if you are traveling.

I have some trouble with bread and also try to eat very little of it as it's not the best food for me - I can eat toasted bread better than white (hardly ever can get that down) - also crackers go ok - again I eat a small portion - maybe 2-4 crackers - melba toast and wasa and occassionally a slice of thin sliced pizza (no more huge doughy crusts that I used to LOVE). When I eat a starchy carb (bread, rice, pasta) my rule is a USDA portion which is quite reasonable and small - i.e. one slice of bread; also rice is usually about 5tbls and Pasta is 1/2 cup or less. You will have to experiment and go very slow and chew very well. What you may think is a small bite may still be too big so think the size of a pencil eraser (really) or a pea size bite.

I am far from expert but my brother had bypass - he weighed about 490lbs and had tons of health problems (diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, clinical depression etc. etc.) and now weighs 195 with all the above health problems gone. I think the advantage for him was he needed very quick intervention and the lapband was never discussed as he had this done over 6 years ago. He doesn't seem to be suffering any ill effects from the surgery although he still occassionally overeats and throws up and his weight has stayed stable. Who knows if he would have had the same success and/or as quickly with the lapband. I think you are wise to search out ALL types of WLS before picking the right one for YOU. Just keep in mind probably 99.9% of folks here have been banded so you may want to broaden your research to other sites, etc. Good luck!

oh - i see I don't think I fully answered the question: Pre op diet - one week of two slim fast shakes a day + a green salad with no dressing (or vinegar) for dinner. If extra hungry I could have another shake. This diet may last longer but I scheduled my surgery and only had one week to prepare. Post op diet - 7 days of Clear Liquids followed by 21 days of full liquids and on day 22 start solids.

That site is incredible - very good information.

BetsyJane - wow that was shocking to me too - I guess that is why I haven't lost any weight! I can't imagine NOT losing weight on that amount of food. If the band kept me full/satisfied on that amount I'd be a toothpick by now. I am sort of with you - I'm not really willing to eat that small amount of food so I guess I will stay stuck where I am. Many bandsters here report eating 600 calories a day and say their doc told them to - so I guess that is what it looks like. If I were you i would try to eat as much as you can (not saying to stuff self) within 'reason' (say 1000 calories) and if you can lose weight - stay there and only change when / if it stops working. My surgeon always said eat ONE THIRD less than before banding - I find I eat about 1/2 and I guess I ate over a ton of food prior cuz it 'aint' working for me. Bottom line - try a variety of things and see what works for you and what you can live with.

Hey Dame - We've all been there! I love love love eggs and also have trouble with them - mostly in the mornings - why not try having breakfast for dinner? That works for me. Also fried eggs a little gooey are good - just fry them in pam. I also can do hard boiled pretty well later in the day. Even after being banded so long i still 'mess up' - these behaviors are hard to break and it is easy (for me) to slip into old habits - just keep plugging away. You will get it!

Donna, I too am so very sorry for your diagnosis - I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers that you will beat this. Thank you for reminding all of us of what is truly important in this world. Take care and keep us posted when you can - we all care and can help you on those down (and up!) days.

Wow Lianan you've done great - over 100lbs. The band didn't work for me but it has changed my life. I've not lost but haven't gained the 40-60lbs I would normally gain in a year. I'm moving soon and will have a traditional job and insurance and will again be looking for possible answers for my lack of weight loss but for now I am happy holding steady. Sometimes I wish I could eat like I did before banding but that doesn't last. My eating and eating behaviors have changed so much but I know sadly I would go back to all my old ways without the band. For that reason I am glad I have it. However, it has cost me close to 20,000 and to have only lost 11 or so pounds is not a huge consolation. So to all slow losers, slow is better than nothing - don't give up.

I can't eat chicken to this day! It is as bad as white bread for me. When I am on liquids I love tomato soup or V8 juice -it is filing and easy to go down (if you thin out the soup). Also thinned out oatmeal works - watch thick mushies as they can easily clog the stoma (I did it once on sugar free pudding - it was like a plug in me). Someone once suggested it should go through a straw - a coffee stirrer straw - and that might work for you - you need to only try such thin things you won't pb - that is just making your situation worse. I hope you feel better soon - i have been there -done that!

Sweet psmama - yeah you can run but be careful - running is extremely hard on your body and if you carry extra weight it is even worse - hey I'm not saying don't do it there are huge numbers of large sized runners - it is a sport all sizes can do -it requires conditioning and I ran when I was very overweight (people are amazed and say and look at you but that's another thread lol) what i was going to suggest is maybe consider speed walking. I had a great friend who kicked ass speed walking - in fact she walked faster than i ran (i ran at 5.0 mph) and she could pass me. she was constantly challenging runners to 'race' her or try race walking and they were always without exception blown away. walking BRISKLY and with proper form burns the same calories as running (although you have to cover the same distance and that may take longer) but is less stressful on your body. You might consider trying that!

Hi - no, dont mind you asking but I've been over it so many times - I'll keep it brief. I don't know why I don't lose weight and yes, 11lbs is about right. I'm pretty stable now. I only know one other bandster like me - she is quite a bit tighter then me but lost about 15lbs and has pretty much given up = she eats spoonfulls of food. I eat well - esp since my unfill (more solids then liquids). I had two unfills - one was because I was stuck on a piece of sushi (stupidly ate it in the am) and was throwing up and so swollen I couldn't keep saliva down. My latest unfill was an attempt by my surgeon to allow me to eat more solids in hopes my body would lose some weight (I was probably too tight and eating a lot of soft and mushie food). I do almost everything right - I eat three very very small meals with minimal or good Protein Snacks. I drink alcohol rarely and gave it up completely for many many months. I exercise regularly and hard. I eat about 1/2 of what I ate before. I gave up on food diaries but have them for over 1 year and have eaten between 600-1500 caloreis and nada. I 'binged' once with the band and I severely overate twice and paid for it. I don't overeat now. I don't eat junk, ice cream or milkshakes. I have had treats but they are very small, controlled, (for example i did have 4 godiva chocloates on Valentines Day) but never touched another one. I have wonderful habits and am slowly breaking my old bad ones. The band has done everything it is suppossed to do for me except I just don't lose weight. I am now looking for a specialist/endocrinologist but may end up waiting until I move later this year and have health insurance again. I am getting one more small fill at the end of the month because I can eat more, I just don't and what the hell a tighter band will at least help with that. The only thing I haven't done is made my band so tight I can't eat and can barely drink which I know MANY others do - I just refuse to live like that although that might work. You will most likely not be like me - never thought this would happen to me - it is a medical mystery I'm sure. This will be my last fill and after the specialist I am totally resigned and accepting of where I am. After two years I will give up and maintain the status quo. You just had surgery and will need fill/fills to lose weight but I'm sure it will happen. Just look around you here - everyone else reports terrific losses - although you will have to work at it. good luck.

I had horrible pains to that slowly subsided over time - walking didn't really help and I walked miles and miles - i used gasx and my guy rubbed/patted and gently massaged my back/shoulder area and I burped and passed gas - it was heaven. Also be careful drinking to fast or too much (and eating if you are eating yet) as that will also cause pain in your shoulder.

That's awesome - we are all here for you - keep us posted when you feel better, etc! You'll be fine and starting your band journey tomorrow!

I agree with the other comments - if you can stand it wait a few more days as everyone is different with swelling, etc. Esp if this is a first fill for you (my doc has patients who have their first fill on liquids for 3 days and after that just 1 day). If it doesn't change I would suggest an unfill - even the tiny-est amounts can make a huge difference. Everyone seems to have a different opinion on what is the correct fill for them but if you are uncomfortable and have trouble with solids, do what is right for you. A lot of people are tight in the morning but imo you need solids for lunch and dinner. liquid calories don't fill you up and you may end up overeating.

My boyfriend of 14 years is my primary support as we live together, etc (and I didn't tell anyone else except one friend) Anyway, he was initially oppossed esp since I was going to mexico -he is very analytical and I found him several websites - medical - that had videos of the procedure and general information. I went to Dr. Ortiz so I got his book which my boyfriend read and checked out his credentials and website. He pretty quickly came on board 100% in his support of me and feeling better about the procedure - He even talked to the doctor and told me he felt it was safe, etc. He cautioned me he thought the surgery would end up being the 'easy' part and asked me to think long and hard about the changes it would bring to my life. In the end he was so right - I was 98% concerned with surviving the surgery and having 'an implant' and only 2% worried about living with this band. It has been quite a challenge and learning experience having a band. It sounds like your guy is rightly concerned about you and hopefully is open to you going through with the band - try to keep communication open and see if you can include him in appointments and help get him information - good luck.

hmm...so many to count - ugh As a pre-teen watching ice skating which I've always loved and saying to my mom - I want to do that; Answer - You have to be skinny and pretty to do that. My first time at the doc getting doctor pills - little yellow jackets (I wasn't fat) In high school - what's wrong with your legs? Nice face - fat body - regularly called Fat Ass and Shamu In college at a job interview at the psych clinic - the boss says if you work here I am like a mother to everyone and I will ride you about your weight unmercifully. Dead silence in the room full of grad students. As a young adult running my first 5K race (fat but getting fit) - A man says to his wife running by me - You're not gonna let that fat bitch get ahead of you are you? Grocery shopping with my uncle asking me what I want/like and saying - how can you be so fat if you don't like this/that? ok - I'll stop here - A cuter one that didn't bother me - my 5 year old neice and I taking a shower together and she says - You're jiggly like mommy - I love her and said everyone is different - some people are more jiggly than others!

Definitely start slow and focus on good form rather then the amount of weight you are lifting. Hire a professional or take a class that focuses on weight lifting (like sculpting) so you get some proper instruction. At my fittest I weighed 135lbs and wore a size 4 - and I'm 5'2. I lifted almost daily - very heavy weights and never ever bulked up - I looked phenomenal - just strong and fit. Weight charts showed me overweight at that size and it was a joke - you can literally change your body shape/size through weight lifting. It all started for me when I read "Body for Life" by Bill Phillips - I did the contest 6 times and went from 225lbs and a size 24-26 to the weight and size I mentioned above. A combination of cardio to burn fat and weight lifting to sculpt, tone and build muscle is best. Do not be scared of lifting weights - do it!