2muchfun

I lost 12 lbs the first two weeks after surgery and then none for 3.5 months. I didn't feel any restriction till my 3rd fill and then I started to lose weight. I don't think I would have lost as much had it not been for my nutritionist's advice at that 3rd fill meeting. I didn't find the green zone till my 6th fill. tmf

PB'ing is the result of being stuck. When food can't pass through the stoma your body creates slime(flem/saliva) to help the stuck food pass through your esophogus. It takes time and sometimes you can force a burp that dislodges some of the stuck food(along with some slime) and of course you should spit it out. I've never been good at the productive burps. I can spit up some slime and that reduces the pressure in my esophogus but I seldom see any food come up. tmf

Soup is a slider food and won't ever fill you unless you are too tight. tmf

Dreamer, you assume correctly. However, before the green zone you will spend some time in Bandster Hell where you seem to be hungrier than pre surgery. We have one forum member who's slogan is: Until there's restriction, it's just another diet. So, for most of us, it was still a diet for the first several months. You may be one of the lucky ones? tmf

Once you get enough restriction you will find the green zone(cross fingers). The weight seldom ever just falls off. It takes time and it's usually 3-8 lbs a month with occasional 2-3 week plateaus. But usually not until you find the green zone. We all have to find our way with this band in our bodies. Some count calories, I choose not to. If you eat the right foods and you are in the green zone, you will naturally consume fewer calories. Exercising a lot helps too. I like to think of this process as if it's not a diet. Counting calories is a diet for me. Eating good healthy food in the right quantities and having enough restriction that you feel satiated after eating less food is what works for me and many others. But we're all different and find our own way through this maze. tmf

It's very normal. I lost 12 lbs the first 2 weeks and then nothing the next 3.4 months.

I would think your surgeon will have a much better idea than anyone on this forum. tmf

You should bite small and chew big and do it very slowly. And, welcome to the lapband world. Don't expect to feel full or satiated all the time. It took most of us 6 months or more to finally figure out how to live with our bands. Don't fight it, try to understand why? Remember, you have a hole the size of a chickpea(or smaller) in your stomach now and it will take time to push meats and breads through. You may think you're are obeying the rules but it takes time to learn to eat properly with a lapband. It sure took me 6 months or more. tmf

Skin removal is only an option and would be entirely up to you? The rumblings seem to be a normal occurance for most of us but decrease over time. Remember, you've had major surgery done to your stomach. Your stomach has been stitched around the band and those sutures could still be painful. Or, you're hungry and the lack of Protein or starch is causing your stomach to demand you feed it? tmf

Short answer? No, you won't. tmf

You make a good point about being one with the band. And of course, we all become one in a different way. I think the doctor's guidelines in the beginning seem to be all encompassing of all patients. And we should all follow our doctors orders. But as we progress down the lapband road towards successful weight loss it seems like most of us discover methods or solutions to enable the band to work with our own bodies and lifestyles. Sometimes a nutritionist might suggest eating a different way or we pick up helpful band friendly advice from forums like this one. One size does not fit all I think most of us will agree. And I think most doctors would not argue with any patient who strayed from the basic rules of banding surgery as long as the patient is seeing progress and is not eating or behaving in a way that could damage their body or compromise the band. Being one with the band is a slogan I've seen with most succesful bandsters and is the antithesis of the posts I've read from those who are failing and fight their band. tmf

Like others have said, follow your doctors orders. But, Banderwonder and a new dawn are both right. I can't drink and be stuck at the same time. The pressure just increases and causes a lot of sliming. There are some doctors here in the states and many in Australia who recommend that you can drink right up to a meal and then you can sip fluids one minute after each bite. One even recommends wine with your meal. The video series from Dr. O'Brien are incredibly informative. This is part 3, go to about the 6:30 mark to learn more about his take on fluids with meals. Good luck.

Aftercare is just or more important than the surgery itself. Be very sure you have more than adequate post surgery care and advice before you decide to save a few dineros. Saving money is all good but not at the expense successfully losing weight. jmo tmf

Prime rib, sweet potatotes, dressing, home made ice cream, pumpkin pie, salad, wine. tmf

Sounds more like you're either too tight or you're not following the band eating rules. I get stuck several times a week but I can trace it back nearly every time to eating while distracted. In other words, I resort back to my pre-band eating days and take too large of a bite or eat too quickly or don't chew adequately. If you follow the rules and still get stuck, you probably need a small unfill? tmf

I didn't see anything mean or critical in lapbandsters post? 18 lbs post op is super. Wish I could have lost that much. But, many of us don't. You should be doing cartwheels or the Happy Dance? tmf

I'm doing about the same as you and I've only gained about 4 lbs in the last 2 months. I'm not going to sweat it though. Thanksgiving is 10 days away, Xmas is 7 weeks, no need to torture myself over the holidays. I'll just try to make wise decisions when I can and try to avoid the places where excessive sugar lays waiting for me. January 2nd is not that far away and if I can keep my weight where it is, I'll consider it a victory. I typically gain 12 lbs or so every holiday season. Keeping it under 5 would be a moral victory. The band will still be there in January and I'll take full advantage. Happy Holidays! tmf

One more thing. I too thought I was eating right but my nutritionist helped me understand how I'm not. And, it certainly helped when my 6th fill enabled me to attain the green zone. But, eating the right foods the right way was key for me. tmf

You need to go back to your doctor and find out why? If you are eating around 1000-1200 calories a day and exercising you should be losing weight? Sit down with your dietician and find out why it's not working. I did with mine and it made all the diffrence in my weight loss. tmf

I had similar results after 3.5 months(12 lbs/5 kgs?). Then, I met with a bariatrics dietician and she made some recommendations that turned me in the right direction. Learning how to eat the lapband way is crucial. Understanding how the band works and what foods provide that level of satiety that gets us from one meal to the next is so important. Crappy food usually means processed foods. Eating fresh meats, vegetables and fruit can get boring and the amount of time for food prep goes up but the reward is more weight loss. My band is still tempermental. Mostly it's me. I sometimes eat too fast or take large bites of food that get stuck. Mornings can be the most difficult times. But as time goes along, you learn to slow down and eat smaller. Have a visit with your doctor's nutritionist/dietician and he/she can help guide you to a healthier life. tmf

Many bandsters don't lose weight the first month or three. Two weeks of not losing weight isn't really considered a plateau. Maybe 6 weeks or more would qualify but two weeks is nothing. If you're only eating 600 calories a day your body is most likely in a starvation mode and will hold onto weight till you ramp up your intake. We all have to find our green zone of calories in and calories burned. Some people lose more if they eat 1200 calories and there are others who lose on 800-1000. 600/day can make your body's metabolism slow down to nada. But, again, two weeks means nothing in the grand scheme. And, you really shouldn't be worrying about losing weight just yet? Once you start getting fills and find some restriction you can work on the fat loss. But right now is a time to heal. Don't worry about it. I didn't start losing weight till my 3rd fill and that was 3.5 months out from surgery. tmf