Banded Brenda

The most important thing to remember is that our weight has caused us so many problems that down is the only way to go. I am certain that just like me you have tried countless times to lose weight. Everyone is different with this surgery. Some people lose more quickly,I am not one of those! But I have lost and I can exercise again and I have no regrets!! Dr. Looser is an expert and he'll do a great job. Please do not compare your weight loss to others, just remember this is a life giving and life changing process for us and it is worth the changes in your life you'll have to make. Don't get in the habit of weighing yourself daily...weekly is sufficent. The surgery was truly very easy to go through. Portsmouth Hospital is wonderful and Nancy will be there before you go in. The first fill scared me, but it's not so bad. They freeze the spot before the fill. It's really important to attend the after post op meetings. Once the band is in you'll never in feel it in there. Stay on the correct phase of the diet until you've been permission to add. GOOD LUCK I would compare this surgery's discomfort to the time I had my tubes tied. I was back at work 8 days. Brenda

Mammysm, I also have Doctor Looser. Have you found anyone in the program to help you? Doctor Looser is an excellent surgeon, and you'll be in good hands. Everyone the day of the surgery is so caring. You won't be hungry at first after the surgery. I've had 3 fills and I think I'll need a 4th one. But they don't really hurt too much. You'll never actually fill the band inside of you. Please don't do what I did! Learn to slow down and eat small bites. I know that sounds silly but everytime I get sick after eating, it is because I either ate too quickly or took too big bites. It's really important that you try to go to the post op meetings, the second Monday of the month, at 6:30. In fact, let's meet there then.

Hi Diane, I am hoping that you feeling better now and less hungry. I made it through the first weeks by drinking a mixture of flavored water and vanilla protein wrey. I filled a 32 once bottle and kept it near me. I worried about sippage too, but you are probably safe. If you can attend support groups, they really help. Portsmouth has one for only lap banders on the second Monday of the month at 6:30 in Shoals Building. Banded Brenda

I guess the point is that 100lbs off is nothing to shake your finger at. I know that the band is a way of life and not a diet, but maybe you need to think of joining some weight group such as weight watchers, or perhaps a group a the gym just for the weekly support. It's not easy to do this alone and I am thankful that another teacher had this surgery during Christmas vacation. I had my during our Feb.vacation and we have each other for support. If I can help, let me know. Banded Brenda My last name also begins with W.

Hi, I was banded on Feb 20, and I've recently had my third fill. I lost the first month and then I remained the same weight for from April until Sept. the doctor said that is impossible and I was frustrated with him (for the comment) and me for not losing. I actually felt I had failed the lapband. Two weeks ago I got my third and low and below, I have lost 5lbs since then. And I realize now, how unrestricted I was and how much I was fighting just to stay the same weight. Banded Brenda

I am facing having a vien liagation in both legs very soon but other than painful legs, I feel really good since my banding in Feb. 06. I still haven't lost a lb in 10 weeks but I feel great. I am exercising but I apparently still don't have this eat slow and know when you are full down yet. I've had 2 fills and chose to pass on the fill the doctor wanted to do on Tuesday. I am going away for 9 days to a workshop and didn't want any surprises from the fill while I am away. How do you know when you've reached that appropriate inflation? Will I feel like I did the first 2 weeks after my surgery? That was great, I was never hungry. :guess

Hi Everyone, I am going next week for my third fill. I am going in without any weight loss for the third straight month. I am actually learning how to deal with that disappointment. But I do worry, is it possible that my pouch has been stretched in these 4 months of getting it right? If anyone can really shed any light on that fear, then I can get through the rest. I am greatly increasing the exercise piece and I honestly feel better than I have in years and that's the main reason this 54 yr old woman had the lap band in the first place.

I still don't understand why we don't lose if we did before the banding? I don't want to lose 4 or 5 lbs weekly but 1/2 pound or 1 lb would be nice.

:confused: With me it is totally the opposite, my collegues are telling me how good I look, and constantly asking how much I have lost. I am down almost 30 lbs but includes presurgery weight loss. I haven't lost in 2 months and someone else in our office is on ww and has gone by me. I am happy for her, but it still stings as she is bragging about 50lbs off, and then tells me that she has clothes for me. From the beginning though I have made certain not to tell anyone how much weight is off because I didn't need the added pressure of their expectations, especially my family's. You see I have a brother, sister and cousin who had the bypass and lost very quickly. I just keep trying to remember that this is my surgery and not theirs. We just need to keep remembering that chose the lapband and that we did it for us! Hence, the only person we need to please is us. So Kuddos to us all.:clap2: :clap2:

I was banded on Feb 20. At that time I had lost 19 presurgery pounds. I lost 9 lbs the first month and now I struggling to remain, never mind lose more weight. I've had 2 fills but I still can eat anything that I want. I know that the second fill did a little more restricting but I am still hungry. I been under much stress at work and working up to 70 hours some weeks, so my exercise has gone down the tubes. That is coming to an end and I will be back to my normal 50hours at work. I am trying to build in my exercise time and I am trying not to be discouraged. But it's hard. I am grateful that I didn't put on the 10 lbs that I usually gain during this crunch time of the year at work. I guess my major question is why does it seem more difficult now to lose weight than before the banding? Should I join weight watchers? I am just one of the turtles who will win but very slowly?

How do I get back to the Gone for Good Club?

Donna is right, it still comes down to calories in versus calories burned. My nurtionist says 60 grams of protein. But that is because protein helps to build muscle and that's what we want our fat bodies to become. If you add exercise to your day, you'll see a feel the difference. There is a machine that my nurtionist measured my breath with and got my resting metobolic rate to give out exactly how many calories I could consume. Then I purchased a computer program from her called "Balance Log" that went right on my palm pilot. It records everything for me,and gives me the number of calories, carbs,etc for thousands of food. THAT WORKS. However, folks I need some help from you. Like everything else it only works if you use it. I've been dealing with a cat dying with leukemia for a week and then my mom (76) fell and broke her hip. I've been literally on the road from 5am to 9pm all week. I hadn't been faithful to recording what I eat. I have tried to keep on exercising for the most part. How do I get myself back on track? I go to the doctor's for a second fill on Tuesday morning. Tomorrow night is the monthly support group meeting. I just can't let myself continue to slip back. Thanks

Hi Donna, He did mean the port, in NH we often have our own terms! Thank goodness, there is no extra charge for any part of post treatments. I'll find out soon what he meant. I was too nervous with the first fill and after it was over, I realized that I was scared for no reason and didn't even question his remarks. It hit me later. Banded Brenda

Donna, I never thought about the Dr hitting my tubing! My first fill was in his office and he felt where to go. It took him several tries. The little numbing agent was of no use. He said that the reason was the "fluid had formed around my disk." Whatever, that means. But this fill due 4/9/06 he wants me at the Bariactric Center at the hospital. So maybe he'll use fluroscopy, you think? Banded Brenda

There is a woman who was in my group for preop counselling who hasn't had a fill yet (her surgery was in Jan 06) she is still losing. Our surgeron will not do a fill if you are losing. I got one because I had stopped and I was starving. It took everything that I had not gain back my weight during the 2 weeks prior to my fill. I guess, I feel that I have come this far and that I can't let "possible reactions" stop me now. Only you know if you can go on without a fill. Everyone's experience is different, everyone's doctors seem to have a different point of view as well. Good Luck on making your decision Banded Brenda

:eek: Hi, I knew when I needed my first fill because I was literally starving and I needed to eat often as well as my weight stayed the same. Good luck, and I hope that you are NOT worried about the fill. I was actually scared to death for nothing. Good Luck Banded Brenda

Thanks for beginning this challenge. You'll never know timely this is for me. I need support to complete this journey. I was soooo happy to find this group. I read through many of your postings yesterday before I joined and they truly hit home. I began this program in November with the full support of my primary and the total unsupport of my husband. He's coming around. I was 260 at that time, I was banded on 2/20/06 and went back to work the next week feeling fantastic. I was 239.5 at the time of my surgery. I am 227 today. I struggle with the small bites, and I need 5 or 6 oz of meat not 3oz. I did have my first fill, three weeks ago and I am not straving any longer. I love your "gone for good", it put this slow weight loss into prespective for me. I am also exercising at least 30 minutes a day now that I have a Tony Little Gazelle to use with no impact on my 2 knees.

Banded Brenda Gone for Good Club Spring Challenge Score Card Points earned for Rule 1 For each day that you drink a minimum of 64oz of Water, you earn 1 point. You may earn a bonus of 5 points for a perfect month. 4-26_____4-27 4-28 4-29 4-30 :biggrin1: 5-01:clap2: _5-02 5-03 Week's Total 7pts 5-04 5-05 5-06 5-07_____5-08_____5-09_____5-10_____Week's Total_____ 5-11_____5-12_____5-13_____5-14_____5-15_____5-16_____5-17_____Week's Total_____ 5-18_____5-19_____5-20_____5-21_____5-22_____5-23_____5-24_____Week's Total_____ 5-25_____5-26_____5-27_____5-28_____5-29_____5-30_____5-31_____Week's Total_____ Bonus earned_____Grand Total_______ Points earned for Rule 2 For each day that you exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes, you earn 2 points. You may earn a bonus of 5 points for a perfect month. 4-26_____4-27 :)2pts 4-28 2pts4-29 :)2pts 4-30:biggrin1: 2pts5-01;) 2pts5-02 2pts 5-03_____Week's Total 12 pts:scared: 5-04 2pts :huytsao 5-05 :grouphug: 2pts 5-06 0pts 5-07_____5-08_____5-09_____5-10_____Week's Total____ 5-11_____5-12_____5-13_____5-14_____5-15_____5-16_____5-17_____Week's Total_____ 5-18_____5-19_____5-20_____5-21_____5-22_____5-23_____5-24_____Week's Total_____ 5-25_____5-26_____5-27_____5-28_____5-29_____5-30_____5-31_____Week's Total_____ Bonus earned_____Grand Total_______ Points earned for Rule 3 For each day that you do not eat foods that contain flour or sugar, you earn 3 points. (sugar substitutes are allowed) You may earn a bonus of 5 points for a perfect month. 4-26_____4-27_____4-28 :hungry: 3pts 4-29___4-30:hungry: 3pts 5-01 0pts 5-02_____5-03_____Week's Total 9pts:help: 5-0 5-05_____5-06_____5-07_____5-08_____5-09_____5-10_____Week's Total_____ 5-11_____5-12_____5-13_____5-14_____5-15_____5-16_____5-17_____Week's Total_____ 5-18_____5-19_____5-20_____5-21_____5-22_____5-23_____5-24_____Week's Total_____ 5-25_____5-26_____5-27_____5-28_____5-29_____5-30_____5-31_____Week's Total_____ Bonus earned_____Grand Total_______ Points earned for Weight loss For each pound that you lose during the challenge, you earn 1 point Beginning weight 4-26: 227.5 Weigh-in weight 5-3: 225.5 2pts:omg: Weigh-in weight 5-10: Weigh-in weight 5-17: Weigh-in weight 5-24: Ending weight 5-31: Total lost during challenge: Total points earned for Rule 1: Total points earned for Rule 2: Total points earned for Rule 3: Total points earned for weight loss: Total Challenge points earned: