coloradobanding

I agree with what everyone else has posted. If you're vomiting at all, let alone 2 times a day, you need to contact your doc and get unfilled. The main thing that intrigued me about your post is that you've "ONLY" lost 35lbs. Unless I'm counting wrong, you had surgery in April, and have lost 35lb is approx 16 weeks. That is on the higher end of the "1-2lbs lost per week" guideline for LBS. You need to take care of the vomiting right away, but you also need to get your "head in the game". You MUST realize that the amount of weight you've lost to date is AMAZING and ABOVE what is the usual weight loss to this point. How long would it have taken you to lose 35lbs without the band? It does work, but you need to help it work. Great job, you're doing great. Hope the vomiting gets taken care of. BTW, I had the same issue, and had a complete unfill in May for 8 weeks. Just had a measly little 2cc put in and I feel PERFECT!!! My sweet spot is 2cc's so there is hope, hang in there!

I come from the camp of "tell only those who are essential to your success" and I'm SOOOOO glad I did!! I have a couple of friends (online and in person) who have had WLS and told everyone. Well, now every time they go out to eat socially these people watch every bite that goes into LBS patients mouth and ask questions. Then when you eat foods that maybe aren't the best choices (we all do it eventually) you get the "raised eyebrow" like, "are you suppose to be eating that" look. The biggest reason I'm glad I kept it quiet is that everyone loses weight differently. Some people might assume you just drop weight quickly, and if you are losing slower, their opinions could hinder your success. Or god forbid, WLS doesn't work for you, imagine what they would think Every individual needs to make which choice works best for them, I'm very happy I chose to keep my decision "close to the vest"

Sorry, but there is absolutely NOTHING helpful or educational with arrogant and insulting replies from HH. I can totally see how those who have had bands removed might feel uncomfortable posting here etc. but posting directly insulting comments isn't warranted anywhere. If anything it completely negates any type of actual facts he/she may be posting. I agree with PP regarding posting information that is helpful, be it in support or against LBS. But to engage in this High School rhetoric and sling juvenile insults is just painful to read. EVERYONE has different situations and things that work for them. And as long as you're happy with whatever WLS you choose..GREAT! And PLEASE share your experience and advice. But PLEASE don't try to justify someones ignorance and arrogance, it only groups you into that sad category as well.

I am in a somewhat similar position. One of my closest friends (15 year friendship) was going to get RNY about 3 years ago. She went through all the hoops and got cold feet the day before surgery...she cancelled it. To her credit, she lost I'd guess about 40lbs without any surgery and I was ecstatic for her, she really needed to lose the weight and she did, a lot of it. I was always smaller than her, and we were SO competitive (always have been, but in a good way). The day got close where she was..(GASP) SMALLER than me...this was about 1 year ago. I looked at her as she was getting dressed into a size 18 from a size 24 (I was a size 22 at the time) and I couldn't take it! Looked a lil' something like this --> But I was TOTALLY supportive, albeit Jealous. I couldn't be happier for her success as I knew she worked her @** off to get where she was. I had her come with me to Lane Bryant and she was like "I've never shopped there, etc." (yeah right :crying:). Anyway, needless to say I felt like poo poo, but got my blouse and carried on. She would call me all the time and want to go out (she was single I'm married) and I would go (reluctantly). Fast forward to Jan 2009, I get LBS!!! My friend who ALWAYS took care of me, stuck by me, etc. didn't even bother to call to see if I was ok. No biggie, we've gone awhile without contact before. Then I find out she got a part-time job at Lane Bryant :frown: (works full time day job) to pay bills. I was like :sad: (I said we were competitive right ) Anyway, I decide to surprise her and stop in Lane Bryant (which was the LAST TIME I stepped foot in that store ) She walked right past me..DIDN'T RECOGNIZE ME!! Then I thought..hmm..lemme' work this. So I said "ma'am can you help me" she was very professional like.."yes what can I..." then she realized it was me. If I could have a picture of that look I would look at it every minute of every day :tt1:!! She was BLOWN AWAY, she didn't have to say a word, her face said it all. She was surprised and jealous, and I was loving it..(did I mention we are competitive ) Anyway, haven't heard from her since that day and I'm pretty sure I know why. I am down to a size 14 from that day (I was an 18 then and already smaller than her) and I can't wait to see her. I don't know if I want her to Celebrate my success with me or not. I'm hopeful she will be supportive, like I was with her, time will tell.

Everyone works their "tool" to the way that suits them best, here is what I would do. As far as chinese, I always look for like a mandarin, orange or lemon chicken (unbreaded-just grilled) and steamed veggies-no rice or noodles As far as pizza, I have one slice of whatever I want. Some people cannot stomach bread or crust, but I have never had that problem (thank goodness). I will usually just have one slice of cheese pizza and be happy! I don't think having one piece of pizza is going to kill me. Although there is the fat in the cheese, pizza is actually very nutritious (in moderation of course). I will usually have a side salad as well. I also make the choice as to when and where I will and won't eat. For example, last night my kids wanted to go to Cici's pizza (all you can eat buffet). So I asked hubby to take them while I went to the gym, it all worked out and I felt great and the kids didn't miss me one bit! Now for tonight, we are going to Fuddrucker's and I'm going to have whatever the heck I want..I do NOT limit my food choices EVER! That is a SURE FIRE way for me to rebel and pig out! What I will do is order what I want, but my brain pushes me to the right choices everytime. Take those choices away, and I would not be successful at long term weight loss. This is a personal decision, and everyone works their band to the way that is best for them. I don't ever want to PB or slime or have stuck episodes, nor do I want to limit my food choices at all. It works wonderfully for me! Best of luck on your journey!!

I am 6 months post op and have been losing hair for about 2 months now. I was told exactly what the PP posted about surgery and hair loss. My Dr said it will thin for about 2-3 months then grow back fuller than it was before. Don't worry, this is normal..my loss has slowed down in the last week!

You are SO early out of surgery, PLEASE don't get on that stupid scale. Honestly, I'm surprised your doctor also agrees that you should be losing more weight. Seriously, my Doctor told me that I would GAIN weight for the first 6 weeks, NOT lose a little, GAIN!! This is a lifelong change, and what you are going through is called Bandster Hell for a reason, it SUCKS!! It is HARD, it is DEPRESSING, and it requires COMMITMENT, all of those things we've all dealt with pre-band. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't give up on yourself or the band, it really hasn't even started working! Your body is still healing and will hold onto liquid for god knows how long. I was swollen and didn't lose a pound for over a MONTH!! YES I wanted to lose more, YES I got discouraged, but I NEVER let it keep me from moving forward. You're doing GREAT, STAY OFF THE SCALE UNTIL SEPTEMBER :crying:

As a self-proclaimed creature of habit, my days look like this, pretty much every day for the last 6 months.. Breakfast Wake-up, take my Slimquick pills (LOVE these btw) and one large glass of Water. Take my Muscle Milk (LOVE this too btw) and drink on the way to work (25g protein) Drink water as much as possible until 12:00-at Noon prepare my Nutri-System lunch (cup o' noodles type meal with chicken) and eat about 12:15-(19g protein) 1:00 take my other 2 Slimquick pills Snack around 2-3:00pm, small bag of Smart pop popcorn (100cal) Workout for 1+ hours (50min cardio-then circuit training) Dinner-chicken breast cooked in the Rocket Grill (if you don't have a Rocket Grill, you MUST get one, I use it EVERY DAY..LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!) and small serving of broccoli That's it. On the weekend, I still drink my Protein milk, but am a little less strict on what I eat, works great!! Like monkey, I do not measure or count calories. I know what I should eat and about how much, and by not limiting myself I feel FREE and in control of my band and life!

Excellent, Excellent post Sadie!! I too am from CO and I too had Dr Brown do my surgery! Our battle sound very very similar, and I too will not be a 100lbs loser in a year; but I will be a 100lb loser eventually. Don't know when that will be, and honestly don't care, but it is coming!! My battle is also very much psychological and feel empowered now and from your post. I would love to chat with you, PM me if interested!

I'm surprised by these posts, but totally understand the frustration. The first 4-6 weeks are for healing, not losing as has been posted before on this thread and nearly everywhere on LBT. It's not just lip service, it's true. My Dr told me to expect to GAIN weight for the first 6 weeks, not lose. Those expecations are realistic and readied me for the journey ahead. The best advice I can give (although very hard for me to follow myself) is to put the scale away and don't get on it for at least 4 weeks. If you have the will to do that, you will be MUCH better off. Good luck to all of you recently banded, you can do it!!

Hi all, Just wanted to share my excitement on another small milestone of mine. I have been battling 3 pounds up and down for 2 months :thumbup: and the scale FINALLY moved..in a BIG way! I have lost 6lbs this week and I am just beyond thrilled! I also dropped an entire size! Best of all I can totally tell in my face, and EVERY SINGLE PERSON I work with has commented on my weight loss today! This work is hard, and you do plateau and gain, but in the end, it WORKS!! Thanks for listening! Onward! :crying:

MUSCLE MILK..love it!!

Thanks so much! Yes I did get a fill, but it was only 1cc to bring me to a total of 2cc's; I really think it is my sweet spot. One thing I've been doing that I REALLY like is Slimquick. I tried the drink powders and they were ok and seemed to work so I switched to the capsules. They keep my hormones in check and help with Water retention. Other than that, I'm doing the same I've always done..just finally lost some weight. Good luck to all!!!

Everyone uses the band in a way that works best for THEM! You have found a way that works for YOU and that's great! But seriously, don't presume that the ONLY way (as you stated) is the count calories and reduce caloric intake; that is absolutely INACCURATE!! Does that route work for many people and many diets? YES! Does eating fatty Proteins and no carbs work? YES! Does cutting down on fat intake alone work? YES! I could go on and on about different diets that work that have absolutely NOTHING to do with caloric intake. So please don't presume that you have found the answer on how to lose weight for everyone on the planet-you have not. Also, ask Carnie Wilson (or read her book) on how she learned how to change her eating habits and would NEVER go back to how big she was. She and MANY MANY others who have had all different WLS's HAVE gained their weight back and then some because, being human, we are ALL susceptible (sp?) to gaining the weight we took off. I certainly don't wish for anyone to go back to their old habits and gain their weight back, and am not implying such to you. But until you have kept off the weight, and have had the band for a much longer time than you have currently, there is NO way you could say, with absolute certainty you would'nt fall into the same old habits. We are ALL people, we all make mistakes and none of us can see the future. If it works for you, then keep moving forward with it, but please don't assume that what you're doing is the only way it can be done. Just my .01

I have been reading posts and continue to see headhunter berate and insult other posters despite warnings. Is there anything you can do to keep this kind of negativity and insults off this thread? Obviously the posts from moderators meant to supress this negativity are not being heard. The direct, and I mean very direct and very hurtful posts should not be allowed on this forum or this thread IMO.

I totally agree with Donna on every point she made. And I stand by my post and Donna's as being insightful and offering personal opinions based on our experience. I have re-read all posts on this thread and it is obvious who's stirring the pot here and shall remain nameless. Everything I have ever posted on LBT has been FACTS based upon MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, nothing more. I have never and would never assume my opinion to be taken for medical advice or as fact, and take offense to those trying to suggest such. I specifically stated my OPINION based on MY decision based on the question posed by the OP. I also stated to take ALL procedures into consideration and do what's right for you. (frankly got bored reading spouts of rage from someone who obviously needs more than these boards offer) These forums are created and we subscribe to them based on our own needs, wants, opinions and thoughts; that does not change no matter who tries to alter that purpose. I will continue to post exactly as I have in the past, with respect and truths I stand by. To those who try to take their bad mood out on the rest of us, find a hobby or anything else that doesn't include berating people for their opinions.

Don't be scared, be EXCITED!! There are MANY MANY people in this country that would kill for a job, let alone the job of a lifetime!! Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to be filled to lose weight. For some it is a necessity and others it is not. You know what to do as far as your nutrition/diet goes so focus on that. You can EASILY get through 12 weeks without another fill, don't sweat it!!!

I will likely get blasted from others for suggesting this, but it worked for me and my nutritionist said it was fine (asked her before I did it). I too was literally going to kill somebody if I didn't get food after week 1. I took a TINY bit of canned corned beef hash (I mean literally like a tablespoon or 2) and a soft cooked egg. Mixed them together and chewed really well. It gave me the satisifaction of having "real" food, it was loaded with Protein (albeit fat too) and, most importantly changed my attitude 360 and kept me on track. I am certainly not suggesting this as a new part of your regimine, but something occasionally to make you feel human again and give you a much needed spark. It worked wonders for me!!

I struggled with this decision as well, and it's not easy. I also suggest doing a lot of research on all WLS procedures, including the sleeve (don't know much about it personally but seems to be gaining in popularity). I personally chose the band because it was less invasive than bypass and had a much quicker recovery time. I also chose it because it is reversible (depending on which one you have of course, they're not all reversible). I also know 3 people who have gained every pound they lost after having bypass. With the band, if you start gaining you can have a fill and get the same results you had at the beginning of the journey. With the bypass, the stomach can and does stretch out to it's original size (if you do back to old eating habits) and you are "where you are" no adjustments. It sounds like you don't have as much to lose as a lot of other people (100lbs or less) which works well with the band. However, if your main expectation is to lose the weight fast, then the band may not be for you. My personal experience has been fantastic and I am THRILLED I chose the band over bypass. Do you homework, and when you KNOW for SURE which one is the one you want, you won't worry! Good luck!

It is so ironic that I found this thread!! Just this weekend I found a pair of ADORABLE shoes that were on sale, but were an 8 1/2; I wear 9 1/2-10. They looked like they would fit, and I tried them on and VOILA!! I was so surprised, I tried on like 10 other pairs of 8 1/2's they all FIT!! That was the size I wore before I had my 2 kids, and I'm back!

Our company did the exact same thing!! We had our own version of The biggest loser over a 10 week time frame (WAY too long BTW) and our team won!! I was completely irked that I lost out of 1st place overall by less than one pound!! Keeping in mind our last weigh in was 2 days after we got back from a 2 week trip to WDW, and I STILL lost, but I digress! We didn't win anything, but our company matched $100 for every pound lost and donated it to our local food bank. We were lucky enough to walk the check to them (for $5800) and they were BEYOND excited! So we did win, and the fat we lost was turned into food and fed thousands!! CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WIN!!!

Threads and posts like these REALLY worry me! From the VERY beginning (consultation) of this process, my surgeon told me how slow the weight loss would be. The BIGGEST thing he stressed is that I would likely GAIN weight for the 1st two months before I lost ANYTHING! I was never depressed, I was completely ready for the slow weight loss. I lost 10lbs and I was ecstatic, because my expectations were lower. This truly is a time to heal. Your body has a brand new element it is dealing with and your eating has nothing to do with how your body is going to react to it. Your body and stomach need to learn how to adjust, and THEN your diet and exercise will be a bit easier to handle. I personally STILL don't know how my body is going to react, but as long as I'm not gaining, I'M HAPPY!!!! Keep your expectations in check (NOT easy to do, I struggle with it every single day) and always remember, this is not a sprint, but a lifelong marathon. Keep doing what you're suppose to do, and the weight will eventually come off!

You can be encouraging and not feel like you're lying, it's all in the delivery. Something along the lines like "Great job, keep up the good work" or countless other things. I totally agree with being able to see weight loss on people (or not sometimes as with this case). I lost 35lbs before anyone noticed, and I only have a total of 100lbs to lose (I say only like it's 2lbs right?..lol). I could tell in my pants, in my face, in everything I did, but no one else could, or if they did, they didn't say anything. ALWAYS be supportive of friends/family when they're conquering demons. Even though their successes may not be physically obvious, the more important emotional ones need nurturing.

Great post and I totally agree! Even though I've had a complete unfill, I still had a stuck episode (although brief and not as dramatic as when I was filled). I also still can't eat a sandwich with 2 pieces of bread, and other notable things. Everyone works the band differently, if you can do it without a fill, by all means keep doing it!

I live by having papaya enzyme with me at ALL TIMES!!! I have never had a pill get stuck, and likely the PE wouldn't help with that situation in particular. But every time I've had a stuck episode, the papaya enzyme takes care of it and REALLY quick! I never leave home without it!