marys

I am so very interested in this question and sincerely welcome even more answers as I'm so not successful at losing weight. For those who eat 1/2-1 cup - what does that look like on your plate - do you measure 1/3 c of meat/protein; 1/3 cup veges and 1/3 fruit or carb? I've been using a saucer plate not even a salad plate and it seems like nothing. i just bought a scale and can weigh food. For those who eat even less,,like 1/2 cup what are you eating and how are you getting a balanced meal? Please explain - i need bandster eating for dummies cuz what i'm doing aint working! thanks

poor girl - so glad you figured this out! I'm with you on the weight loss thing - can't seem to lose with the band but it has helped me maintain. take care of that reflux and yourself!

reflux seems to be the only problem i really don't have with the band - didn't really have it before banding and only once since right before my unfill - i think the stuck food/obstruction started causing it and the doc said come in immediately as reflux is pretty hard on the band. hope more people respond - it seems to be a big problem for many

yes yes yes i was absolutely petrified of dying and almost backed out 3 days before and day of. i kept thinking - well, I've done everything to try to lose weight, watch me die having this surgey and i'm not telling anyone - what will they think - etc etc etc etc etc. it is scary but after researching it and chosing a doc with a super track record (recommend doing both) i went for it. in fact, my boyfriend who was initially very oppossed to the surgery analytically checked out everything and said the surgery will be the easy part - of course in the end he was right - the surgery was pretty easy and living with the band has been most challenging. Read, research, meditate, think long and hard, it's ok.

I'm feeling your pain - but you are right, it really does get better. I think day two was pretty bad for me too cuz it was a travel day and major major gas - i was hunched over walking around a small terminal in the airport looking im sure deranged! The port site pain and gas can be bad but hang in there - it will ease up. Hopefully you don't have to work soon and can move around, rest, repeat. Try to keep yourself busy to get your mind off things = also, my partner rubbed, patted, massaged my back/shoulder where I felt the gas trapped and I burped and passed gas like crazy and it felt great - maybe you have a good friend to help you with that - smile!! take care!!!

Julie, your weight loss and efforts to get to where you are are amazing. You must feel incredible, proud, happy, etc. I am so happy for you on many levels. How fortunate your dad/step mom can be such a tremendous support to you. I'm excited you are posting your experiences as it will help many. Best of luck to you!!!

I haven't really had any trouble with veges - i love love love salad and now started eating it first (instead of protein) and it might help me finally get some weight off. I've had broccoli, cauliflower (love to mash it into potatoes!), cucumbers, tomatoes, baked potatoes, asparagus (just the tips), steamed them fried in pam cabbage (delicious) - for some reason i don't remember eveer pbing on a vege -i guess i'm lucky as veges are my favorite food.

Thank you Dr. C - will do. mary

Amazing, incredible - absolutely fantastic. You must feel so wonderful - I am so happy for you and your success. Congratulations!!!!

You're site looks good - very informative and welcoming. You are wonderful to offer your advice/suggestions to everyone at LBT - I would definitely come to you should I relocate closer to your office! I find myself having a question - if you see this and have any suggestions I am open to them... My weight loss is minimal and I've tried calorie levels of between 600-1500 and I just can't seem to lose weight. I DO follow the bandster rules and eat about 1/2 of what I formerly did. I had my thyroid tested and it was right in the middle - reported normal. I've resigned myself to staying the same but wonder if there is something else I should try. My latest unfill has allowed me to eat more solids and three squares a day - less pbing but my weight still doesn't budge. I was prescribed raductil but have taken it infrequently although when I do take it - I have very little appetite. I am 48 and on BCP. Thanks, Mary

Not to scare you Dori but my doc had a patient that did slip right after surgery - she wrote about her experience quite a bit on his site - she ate a small piece of chicken I think a day or two after and it was enough to slip and she had to have another surgery to repair it. Soooo, yes we have all had slip ups (no pun intended) but imo the first 21 days or so after banding are the most important in following the rules as you are healing inside and even if you feel ok - chew to goo and don't feel bad - your stomach is still working, moving around to get it through ..so be careful, hang in there -we've all been there - good luck. mary

The scale and when to weigh and how often is a quite common obsession for most of us bandsters. I need to weigh every week, once a week to keep track of things. In the past (being a yo yo dieter) I can i guess 'tune out' what's going on and very easily gain 5 or more pounds in no time. Weighing more then once a week makes me crazy though as it fluctuates sooo much. My band doc even suggested once a month unless my pants are feeling tighter but i couldn't do that. I think once a week in the morning, naked is best - again recognizing that certain times of the month may give an inaccurate reading.

One of my lapband sisters is Wiccan too and I've always been attracted to what I know of the practice. Welcome to all and great thread - I was raised catholic and still believe some of the teachings but long ago ditched all organized religions as they don't fit and 'scare' me (I think the 'group think' mentality) - I can't by into all the doctrine of anything and pick and chose what works for me (drove my parent's and priests crazy!). Living in UT which seems 99% mormon has also been an interesting experience - I find it fascinating but again scary on some level how the religion dictates state policy, etc. I try to live my life in a positive helpful way and believe in an afterlife (of sorts), karma and reincarnation.

Sarah - You go for it girl - Congratulations on your upcoming marriage - you have really inspired me to keep at it and shown others here that this is basically a lifetime journey/process. I'm sure you will meet your goal - I will be cheering for you. Thanks,

hmm...I'm bad but i say if it's 'only' 10-20 gain it - I seriously can gain 5lbs in a week no problem - I'm thinking godiva chocolates, dove ice cream bars, Big Macs and fries and fast food every day of the week should do it. Sad but true - if that's the only way - enjoy yourself - eat everything in sight and have the last laugh on all of them.

If you are really serious about having someone make your meals there was a group i used in DC and i now know they deliver nationwide - it is called diet to go and they have several different types of meal plans and calorie levels. i really liked it when i lived locally and it isn't awfully expensive - just not something i can afford anymore. i think their website is diettogo.com but if not just google diet to go and washington, dc. - good luck.

Hi Sarah - It's good to know the losing continues - I've always heard if you haven't lost at least 25% of your weight in two years you are considered a band failure. I'm not really trying to lose weight anymore but would be happy if some more comes off. And I'm most hopeful at least I won't gain or yo yo as I've done my whole life - at least the band has given me that. Also my last unfill has allowed me to eat three bandster meals a day (not just liquid meals like protein shake and soup every day) and maintain my weight. That is heaven as I do love food! I m ok eating less if it's solid lol. I do believe slow and steady and healthy is best - I know too many bandsters who seem to be starving themselves thin and eventually the tool will have to be less/unfilled and more control exerted. I do feel I have gained that /some control - if not pounds lost.

I was never told to not have it - begain it back immediately with no problems. Best to do what your doc/nutritionist prescribes and/or what works for you.

I haven't had any trouble with pasta (must be the sauce) although I eat a very small amount. Bread in all forms is a different story - sometimes it goes, most times no - and that includes crackers, I have those carbs very rarely and in tiny amounts - if bread, toasted is the only way - dry, white plain bread just won't work.

I hear your frustration with not losing weight and not tolerating foods well. I recently had an unfill which allows me to eat more 'normally' (i.e. i can get most foods down at three meals a day). Not able to lose any weight either but happier eating solids and not losing, if you know what I mean! I'm assuming you have 'eating issues' which led you to the band - while I considered getting it out the band does help with those eating issues and if you are not gaining, you might consider just unfilling and keeping it in. For me at least I've not gained my typical 40lbs or so in a year. However, you should be able to eat and enjoy food and you may be too tight - I'd say go for unfill for a while and see how you do. Ah, i just saw you had a fill - well, keep us posted and good luck!

I chose my doc mainly cuz they didn't use the tube - some different type of anethesia because i hate it so much. sorry so scary!

hey dani - you are not alone! and,you made it four months before those demons raised their head! you know that saying it takes 30 days (or something dumb like that) to change a bad habit...it's bull - it takes a hell of a lot longer than that - it's been over a year for me and i'm just starting to make changes that I think can be permanent - however saying that - i still need my band as I know without all my bad behaviors would probably be back in no time. The band is a tool to teach you new behaviors and lessons around food, etc. Give yourself time and try to learn from your 'mistakes' - you are human and needed the band because you probably have some very bad habits and behaviors around food -they won't go away overnight. good luck.mary

Anyone have a recommendation for a Mexican plastic surgeon for lower body lipo? I'm not planning on losing any more weight but even at my skinniest my legs are covered in fat - I carry all of my weight there and seriously they are hideous - to below my knees. I know it isn't an answer to being overweight but I figure I'm not going to be gaining so why not look into making myself look as good as I can. I want someone qualified, experienced and cheaper then the U.S. thanks!

thank you both Lisa's! And, Lisanjason if you could email me privately i would appreciate it - I am currently close to your weight in your ticker and would love to correspond with your more. My email is thefacilitator@hotmail.com. thanks again to both of you. mary

yep - the band only allows so much food at one time and unless you binge on liquids which I haven't done (ice cream for example) it will be coming up. I binged once during my good ole period week on melted butter with sugar and dipped one piece of bread into it - got it soft - i guess necessity is the mother of invention and my cravings were huge. Really in almost 15 months that's about it. Binging is something I used to do often so I consider that pretty good - if you continue to binge as some do - you can eat around the band - you can stretch your pouch, sabatage your weight loss, etc.