RLittman

I usually weigh in twice a day, but I am so sensitive to my body I can tell if I have gained or lost a pound.

I decided not to postpone my next fill until January and have scheduled the third one for December 27. Yup that's right - I'll probably be drinking liquids or eating mashed potatoes for New Years, but I have been stuck at this weight for one month and I want to get the show on the road. I fear that I will get comfortable at this weight and not push myself to keep losing. I need to keep the momentum going. When I hit the sweet spot in early November, life was great because I was losing 3-4 pounds a week, but that lasted only 2 1/2 weeks. I want to get back to that. My last fill was 1.7cc in a 9.75 band. I think I have slipped to about 1.2 because there is still a good fill but it is not good enough. Have you been surprised by people's reaction that this really is a diet? Most folks think that the weight just falls off by itself and that I still don't have to watch portions or exercise. They think the lapband is the easy route to losing rather than considering it as an easier route. It has been wonderful though at not allowing me to regain weight even when I have eaten more than I should. It is a great reminder that I am full and should not push it. Before the band I would have eaten past the point of being too full. In the past after 5 months of dieting, I would have given up and started to regain the weight. I feel such freedom and more importantly no longer fearful of being so heavy again. Happy holidays everybody and I will give you an update after my 3rd filll.

My last fill was 1.7cc but I definitely feel there must be less, but not much less because I still have a good fill. In early November I lost about 10 pounds in 2 1/2 weeks. Then one day I suddenly felt hungrier and could eat more than before. But this is not the same experience I hady after the first fill. After about a week I could eat anything and not feel an bad side effects. I still cannot eat bread or Pasta with this fill or even dense foods. I can maintain easily with this fill especially during the holidays. I will probably schedule another fill in January. Are any of you depressed about not being able to eat with gusto? I approach food with some apprehension because I am not sure how it will go down. Taste has become so secondary because I am worried about whether I will pb.

Hey all, I am still hanging in there. Sorry I have been so quiet. My daughter went into the hospital with viral pnuemonia last Monday morning and just got discharged last night. We are all very tired but she is much improved. I managed to watch my intake in there even when there was only Chik filet and Subway for food. I spent weeks shopping for holiday outfits as my husband and I were supposed to attend 5 parties, 4 of them this week. We of course missed the 4 this week so I have decided to return the clothes as I hope to be a smaller size next December! I have lost 38 pounds and am exercising 3-5 times a week. Before we went into the hospital I was just back up to full treadmill workout but I cannot and should not do deep knee squats. After a week of sitting on my butt, I have to back peddle a little to regain knee strength. I am hesitant to get a 3rd fill only because this one still has some kick to it. I still have a pretty good restriction and if I keep focused I can lose weight with it. Everyday I have to test the fill to figure out what I can eat. Some day I can do eggs, others I cannot. Some days chicken and beef are easier than others. I will give this fill a little more time before I decide whether to go for a 3rd. I am definitely losing inches and gaining muscle and my clothes are fitting differently even though I have not lost much weight lately. Glad to see everyone is making it through the holidays.

I never know from one day to the next what I can eat or how much. I do know that first thing in the morning I better drink something warm before I eat otherwise solid food no matter how much I've chewed it will go down like the Titanic. Just when I think I need a fill, the darn thing feels tight again.

I made my November goal but my band has definitely loosened. The sweet spot is gone. The restriction is still there but not as tight. If perfect is a 10, my restriction is a 7. The good news is I am maintaining my weight and continuing to regularly exercise. I have decided not to do a fill until after the first of the year. With the restriction I would not be able to eat at all at the holiday parties. With it loosened a bit, I can eat small amounts, not feel like I am about to PB after a few bites, and not be noticeably refraining from eating. The good thing about the band at a time like this is it alllows me to take a small break from dieting, enjoy food a little more, without my weight zooming back up the scales. I hope I don't sound like I am giving up, because I am not, but these breaks from a stict diet are what are keeping me sane.

I lost 10 pounds over 2 and 1/2 week period with a perfect restriction. Then I woke up about 2 weeks ago and felt very hungry and since then I can eat much more and haven't lost a thing. If I can get down bread then I know my restriction is less. I hate to go for another fill because I just had my 2nd on October 16th but when it is right it works. I thought second time would be a charm. With my first I had a 1.5 fill, then lost 1.0, then with my 2nd I was refilled to 1.6. Now I feel I have lost again. What do you all suggest? I am still eating small portions but they should be smaller to lose weight.

Ge Mom, I had surgery for a torn meniscus in October. For about 2 weeks afterwards I lost nothing. In fact I gained 3-4 pounds even though I had not increased calories. I think it was because of the amount of swelling going on. Also I had to stop my exercise routine as well about 1 week before surgery. I went to PT for about 2 1/2 weeks which helped alot. You should do leg raises, leg extensions, bending of knee while laying on stomach and back. I strongly suggest PT to start you off for a few times. Then you can continue at home with the exercises. If you have a fax, I can send you a copy of the diagram of exercises they gave me. Just give me the number. What is funny though is that after that 2 week period of no exercise, I started losing weight rapidly as if it was the first month all over again. Don't get discourage. I believe you can lose weight without exercise if you watch your amount of protein and carb intake.

I am curious - what size is everybody? I started out at 230 and size 18W. I am now down to 193 and am a regular 16 on bottom and 14 on top. I was so thrilled to buy my holiday outfits in the Macy's Misses department and not Woman's. I have also started buying at Talbots instead of Talbot's Woman. Is anyone noticing sagging of their skin? I am trying to work out regularly but have noticed that my inner thighs are beginning to sag from excess skin. I am already worried about what my legs will look like after another 45 pounds are off. I never wanted to do cosmetic surgery, but not I am wondering whether I will have too.

Pebbles - You look great. Did you notice you are almost to your halfway mark? I was banded a week before you and you have lost 13 more pounds than me. I bet you feel good, too. Keep up the good work. :clap2:

Before my knee surgery I was exersizing 6 days a week for 45 minutes including weight training. I am only working out about 4-5 days now and easing back into a routine. I still cannot do squats. I am still losing weight though and I'm down 37 pounds. Only about 7 pounds from my halfway mark!

Candy, I do see changes and like others have said, we all have too critical an eye on our own appearance to see the subtle differences, but you are well on your way to some major changes. I have lost 1/3 of my weight loss goal, and I too, am at the place where I have tended in the past to get stuck. I am hoping the next 30 pounds (165-195) will keeping coming off. The restriction is still there, but I feel a little more hungrier than I did this time last month. Tomorrow it will be one month since my 2nd fill. It was a good month because I lost 10 pounds in that time period but with the holidays coming up I am a little worried. I am finding carbs tempting and I'm getting a little tired of poor Protein. We have Thanksgiving to get through and 4 holiday/business parties which won't be easy. Hang in there everybody!

As we lose weight do our stomachs shrink as well? If so, will the band loosen over time due to the stomach size decreasing?

Doesn't it have a lovely ring to it? It is such a nice round number. Well done!

Well the 2nd fill has really hit the sweet spot because I am experiencing real restriction, pbing if I eat too fast or too much or the wrong food, and that first bite syndrome in the morning. I have to have a warm drink first thing in the morning before I eat otherwise any food has difficulty going down. So far I have lost 8 pounds since 10/16 about 2 pounds a week without any exercise because I am still taking it easy after knee surgery although I am doing daily exercises to just strengthen the knee. I am concerned about my calories though. I am probably only taking in 800 or so calories only because I can't really eat that much. Dinner time with the family is such a non event. I have to eat very slowly because I can't eat that much. I kinda miss not being able to just dig into food. It has become very methodical so I don't take too big a bite. I am wearing a size 16 which has made clothes shopping interesting again. But I so want to go so much faster. Folks are really noticing now - I especially love the compliement I received today that I look so much younger! Thanksgiving has me a little anxious, not for fear that I will over indulge but because I won't really be able to partake. It will be a teaspoon of this or that. Anyone else having turkey day blues?

I have lost 31 pounds. I had my 2nd fill on October 16 - 1.7 in a 9.75cc band.

Go girl. Say goodbye to the 300s!

Finally, finally, today I hit 199!!!! I lingered at 200 so long that I thought the scale was broken!!!! This is a big milestone for me as I never want to see the 200s again. The 2nd fill is definitely working and I have watch everything I eat at every meal every day because the restriction kicks in really quickly. Pebbles, you look awesome!!!

I prefer Unjury and it doesn't come in a barrel size container like most supplements.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am back from knee surgery and feeling fine. A little sore around the knee but PT is helping me regain strength. I am walking without crutches but with a little limp. I had my fill on Monday 2 days before the surgery, and I definitely have a good restriction - 1.7cc in a 9.75 band. I haven't lost any weight yet although I have been on liquids/soft foods for 5 days, but that is probably because of the surgery and the swelling I still have. The good thing is that I am back to a better diet because of the restriction and taking in far less calories and eating much slower. Hopefully I will be able to add some regular exercise next week.

Okay, today I had my 2nd fill and found out why I was so hungry. The first fill had decreased from 1.6 to just .6. They explained that this is actually normal for the first fill. They put me at 1.7 in a 9.75 band and now I have to eat soft foods for the next three days before returning to solids. Let's hope it works!

YOU go girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats Kutia...good for you!!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Jessica, It is so good to hear from you. I noticed that I am still losing inches even though I have not lost weight. One thing I can say about the weight slowing down is that it gives you a little break from the lapband diet until your next fill. It allows me to maintain my weight far more easier than before. Instead of liquids, mushies, forbidden foods, and eating very slowly, I can eat almost anything as before, but nowhere near the same amount and not quite as fast. I still can't do breads, rice or pasta - it is just too bulky. There is still a restriction but not enough to lose weight or fight off major hunger. Keep up the good work and let me know when you are scheduled for your next fill.

There is a 6 pound difference between my dr's scale (higher, of course)and mine at home. I have to remember what I way where! I don't really care since my clothes are looser!

I have stalled too over the last 4 weeks, having only lost 5 pounds since my first fill on 9/11. I am scheduled for my 2nd fill on 10/16. I have lost 27 pounds since pre-op and it feels very much like a victory because I know I would not have lost it and kept it off without the lapband. It ain't over till the fat lady sings - and that won't be me!!! I am 2 sizes down and just that is reason to feel good about what I have done so far. So everyone hang in there. We knew this was going to be a long haul to take it off and we have just begun. On another note, 2 days after my fill, I am scheduled for me knee surgery. I can't exercise now because my knee swells and is really sore every time I do even 15 minutes on a treadmill. I was really into the gym thing and just hope I don't lose my momentum with this.