L12

Soexcited, I think I understand what you're saying. I recently had a very tiny unfill (0.1) which turned out to be WAY too much! So I got a 0.2 fill, which ended up feeling like LESS restriction, even though it was more than I had when I went in for an unfill. I just got another 0.5 put in, which got me back to my sweet spot. It seemed weird that I could have less restriction after a fill, but I'm thinking maybe (?) the Fluid was "just so" that it changed the band shape a tiny bit so that it wasn't ideal for my stomach. Its hard to be sure, though. Now I have 0.6 more in than when I went in for my unfill, but I'm back to normal now. So are you actually hungrier now? I was STARVING after my slight unfill and subsequent fill--it was like a switch was flipped that same day! If you're not actually hungry, try not to eat any more or any different than what you did--no testing just to see if you can get it down! For me, I knew by the next day that the unfill was NOT going to work for me, as I was SO hungry. This experience has completely made me a believer that the band has some effect on the nerves or hormones related to the stomach and eating. The change was so immediate and drastic, and was actually emotional and a little scary! I had not experienced that level of hunger for so long. But it has made me love my band even more!

I tried it about five years ago and lost about 25 pounds in a few months. I'm not a picky eater, and found most of the food tolerable (I also like military MRE's, though ). I actually liked some of the meals and snacks. I didn't have any problems with it and felt full on it (actually couldn't eat as much as I was supposed to every day). I do like systems like that as they're so easy, no real cooking but provide a decent amount of nutrients without the effort of putting them together yourself. It's just so expensive, much more than what I'm able to do cooking for myself (and mine tastes better ). I couldn't keep it up long term.

Most definitely! If it's something hard enough to dehydrate me considerably, my band is tighter. I ran a half marathon last month, and afterwards I could only get down liquids for the rest of the day. I just got a slight unfill due to this, as I plan to keep up and increase my running.

I haven't even thought to look since my weight loss until I saw this thread. Mine has gone away--around my highest weight it was worst around my neck, but there are no traces of it now that I can see. I recently had labwork done, and all seems to be normal except my thyroid is off again--am getting a boost on my meds again. All other hormone levels are within normal limits, and I'm not even taking Metformin anymore.

Do you mean the time right after surgery? That is a time for healing after surgery, and hopefully your husband can understand that that a progression from liquids to soft foods to solids is necessary for your safety, to prevent post surgical complications (plus it's not really a time for focus on weight loss or judgments ). Additionally, you'll probably be learning about your band and your body, what works and what doesn't for weight loss, digestion, and your increasing restriction from fills, so hopefully he can be supportive of your learning process! As far as socializing or going out to eat, I really like eating less for this! Instead of focusing on shoveling my food in , I find myself much more engaged in conversation and the people around me, and have more fun. For me it has also become very satisfying to be full with food still left on the plate at a restaurant (though I often take home the leftovers). I know distractions during a meal don't work so well for some people who NEED to focus on "mindful eating," but since being banded my portion sizes are very in control, and I'm finding more fun in things other than food!

Don't be too discouraged! I didn't meet my goal in one year either (a lot of us don't), but I actually lost more weight my second year than my first. I met my goal in about 17-18 months, then went on to exceed it. It still feels GREAT to get there, even when you're a little later than you would have liked! Good luck!

I was hypo before surgery, and still am. It has not "decreased" for me; I am still on the same dose of synthroid as I was before surgery, which keeps it under control.

Nothing I've tried (except time) has made my saggy skin shrink, though I didn't expect it to. Lots of moisturizers have improved the texture of my skin, which improves the overall look, but I had a lot of stretch marks from weight gain--I already knew my skin wasn't all that elastic!

I agree with everything you said! :clap: I think even fellow band patients need to remember this! Most of the rude (though innocent) comments I've received are from people who are overweight but are "average" size, as it seems (at least where I live) most people are overweight if not obese, and they don't seem to know the difference between healthy, overweight, and obese, anyway. Just because some of us choose to set our goals and appearance at a different BMI or weight doesn't necessarily mean others' choices of goals or appearance are wrong (and I'd like to know where the concern was for my health when I was morbidly obese and sick?). I try to gently remind people who may comment that my #1 reason for the band was my health, not my appearance.

I did have kidney stones once, and it was about a year after I was banded. At the time I was taking extra biotin, which my doc told me to stop immediately when I had my stones. I haven't had any problems since, but then again I'm not eating especially high protein, just a balanced diet.

Water is NOT the only way to hydrate. Medical experts, as well as athletes and servicemembers deployed to extreme desert conditions, and others who have extreme hydration needs, use fluids other than just water. Heck, even coffee is not usually considered a diuretic anymore--just a stimulant due to the caffeine. I don't know that Crystal Light is truly just as good as water, but if it helps you drink more than you would if it were just water, it is definitely of benefit to your body. Husbands can be goofy and sooo stubborn!

It's possible to eat healthy (low fat, Vitamin rich, etc.) but consume too many calories for your activity level. In your first post you said you thought you'd be able to eat everything you wanted--did you keep records to see what/how much that is? If you are unable to be very active, you will have to be extremely conscious of the number of calories you take in, no matter WHAT you eat. At some point your doctor/nutritionist is probably going to ask for the number of calories you take in daily. It would be a good idea for you to journal at least for a little while so that you know that for yourself and for them. It might uncover some suprises for you, it might not. But it will give you a realistic idea of the actual numbers, and what/if other approaches to weight loss would be beneficial to you.

Bulemia itself is very, very dangerous, and that does not stop bulimics. It is not just a physical disorder. Even with the band, it is possible to find foods to binge on. It might not be the 30lbs of mac and cheese Oprah is in the news for now, but there is always something. A bulimic might not be able to purge the contents from the stomach past the band, but they could still purge from their pouch--that would be even easier to do if they purposely got stuck or ate too much of the wrong thing. I highly doubt that the band all by itself could cure all of the factors of bulimia; I've seen the blog that claims this, and I fully believe that person is wrong. Mental/emotional disorders ARE physical/medical disorders--they're not a "mental weakness" as that blogger claims (and I find that a little insulting, being diagnised with chronic clinical depression). Bulimia has both physical and mental/emotional components.

Right now you're too tight; you should be able to eat solid foods if you chew very well. What were you eating before your current level of restriction? If you had the band but didn't have restriction AND didn't change your eating habits (what you eat and how much), it would not be suprising that you didn't lose weight.

My fluid and water intake has not affected my weightloss in any obvious way; it doesn't take away hunger for me, and actually makes me a bit naseous if I drink much when I'm hungry. I was never very good about drinking until I started exercising more last summer, at which point I'd already exceeded my weight loss goal. Now I drink about a gallon a day to stay hydrated; with more activity, I have to drink a lot or my band tightens up and it's harder to eat.

Honestly, it sounds like you have a LOT going on with your body and hormones right now. A new antidepressant can take quite a while to get used to, plus not all kinds work right for everyone (and you may have been feeling some withdrawl from your previous meds if you switched quickly). That PLUS new birth control PLUS endometriosis PLUS any changes going on in your body due to your new healthier lifestyle could definitely affect your moods and emotions; I would say your body is probably reacting quite normally to all of these changes hitting at once (not that it's comfortable or anything!). Maybe give it all a bit more time to see if everything settles down, but if it gets to be too much check back with your doctor on your new meds--those can be changed more easily, the band not so much!

Please remember to BE PATIENT after surgery. Like Phranp said, it is not a magic wand, and weight will not begin falling off just because the band was inserted. It will likely take at least a few fills, and could even be several months for you to reach a good level of restriction and for the weight loss to really kick in. I read about many newbies on here that start back on a cycle of frustration and impatience right after surgery, resorting to binging and/or other emotional eating habits due to their perceived "failure." Don't even START down that path! Keep your expectations in check for the short term--it is not a race, there is no deadline, you are not and will never be perfect, but as long as you are honest and put in reasonable effort, you will not be a loser in any other way than the pounds. I only lost about 20-25 pounds in the six months between surgery and hitting my sweet spot; that was still about a pound a week, but many others were making much faster progress. But I was mentally and emotionally prepared for a long process to achieve the end result, and I think the journey was MUCH more pleasant and stress-free because of that.

I exercised very little for the first 60 pounds or so lost; I had major foot problems, could do no weight-bearing exercise, and could not be in water due to my feet being bandaged 24-7. Once I got under 200, my feet started to get better and I could do a lot more, and I started riding my bike once in a while. I got a very active, physical job, which helped in my weight loss, and once I hit about 150 I started running/walking, and had no further foot problems. Now I'm just running with occasional cross-training activities, still have an active job, and have far exceeded my weight loss goal. I didn't actually start exercising until I had lost over 100lbs. and was close to my goal. Not that I recommend that route for anyone, but it is possible to lose weight without exercise; perhaps once some of the weight is off she can be more active with less pain and risk of injury.

It could be that you're running out of fuel--either by not enough calories, not enough carbs, or not enough fluids. Or it could be as Jachut said that it may be your level of fitness. If your plan calls for six mile long runs but you can only run for a half mile at a time, it sounds like your fitness level doesn't coincide with the plan you're following yet. I don't exactly know which of his plans you're following, but the Novice I plan recommends that you be able to comfortably run 3-6 miles at a time before beginning the plan. It's probably not a good time to switch, but Jeff Galloway has some run/walk training plans that may work for you in the future. I like Hal Higdon's plans, too, though. I just finished a half marathon on Saturday (YAY!!!), which was my first race since gaining weight, having surgery, and then losing weight. I found that I definitely had to eat more, and definitely had to start consuming more carbs. I also had to pay a lot more attention to hydration than I used to in my younger, pre-band days of running. Without attention to those things, runs were slower and harder.

The only thing I can think of that I absolutely cannot eat is big, thick bread--so that rules out things like subs for me. Sometimes all bread gives me trouble, but often I can have some flatbread, nibbles of crusty bread at a restaurant, thin-crust pizza, or some well-toasted bread with a small sandwich. Pork is sometimes hard, but I've never had a problem with steak. Eggs can be tricky sometimes. Something funny is that I have never successfully eaten a normal meal from one of my husband's favorite restaurants--if it is anything other than soup, my band clamps shut and I PB--don't know why, as the food there isn't much different than at others. But overall, I can eat almost everything--just not always whenever I want it! My band is kind of "moody," so if I'm tight I don't try anything I know may be a problem.

I completely understand where you're coming from! Some people tell you to listen to your doctor's office, then lambast you for following the rules they don't agree with. Opinion is one thing (which you weren't even asking if they thought it was OK), but shaming you for not following the set of rules THEY believe to be correct is something else entirely. I tend to go with what the licensed, educated MD I see in person says rather than some random person online with a high-and-mighty attitude. And I happen to agree that some posters here "pontificate."

Today is my 2 year bandiversary; I actually lost more weight in my second year than my first. It took me about six months to reach my sweet spot, and by the end of a year I had lost about 55 pounds. I reached my initial goal after almost 18 months, and total this year I lost about 70; I'm not trying for any more, but will allow a few more to come off without worrying too much.

Maybe they CAN disqualify people for being overweight, but many times they don't--a lot of currently overweight people join, and the weight usually falls off during basic training. Obesity is another story--they take few obese people (unless it is for high BMI due to muscle mass, as in bodybuilder types--and that usually requires a waiver), as that often comes with more health problems.

I started at a 46F, and am now down to a 32D (almost to a C). They are definitely saggy and deflated! But since I've gotten below 130, though they continue to shrink, they're starting to shrink UP a little now, and look a tad bit better. I could still really use a breast lift at some point though.

Not necessarily; the oz per cup measurement is based on Water. From what her doctor is saying, he wants each meal to be no more than 1/2 cup, regardless of how many ounces that 1/2 cup of food weighs. In a way I like that; it's easier than a scale!