coloradobanding

I believe the OP was asking if you were at goal COULD you get an unfill, not WOULD you get an unfill to have some sort of normal digestion. The answer is "depends." I have had a complete unfill a few times for personal reasons/choice and for the most part, it was very close to being "normal" Normal to me was being able to eat foods I couldn't with a fill, not PB'ing, sliming or getting stuck, drinking with meals, not chewing food a billions times, etc. I can tell you that having an unfill does allow you to eat normal (or large) portions mostly like you did preop. I have always planned on having my band unfilled when I get to my goal weight. The band is a GREAT tool, and I use it when I need it, but I have NEVER thought that I would depend on it for a lifetime. I've been eating and exercising the way I'm suppose to, and the band is only the smallest piece of the puzzle for me. I can still eat around it if I wanted to, but I don't. I fully intend to eat a half a hamburger again, bun and all one day. That is one thing I simply cannot eat with any amount of fill in my band. NO I won't eat it often, but having the choice to have one or not is important to me :laugh:

Dont focus on the 10% failure rate or you are setting yourself up to fail! Every single person I've ever met regretted having the surgery in the first couple weeks; I know I did. I thought I had made the biggest mistake of my life. I did not suffer from the pain or depression issues that you are, but I definitely thought I shouldn't have had the surgery and was very scared. These feelings will pass! Getting the band was the BEST thing I EVER DID and I would do it all over again! Hang in there, the doubt will go away, and you will be on your way to a healthy life!

Not to be snarky, but you need to do some research on what to expect post-op. If you are already complaining at less than 2 weeks out, you are setting yourself up for failure. The time between surgery and your first fill is for healing. Most lose very little weight during this time. I, in fact, gained the same 4lbs for over a month. Please dont set yourself up to fail. Read, research and have realistic expectations. Your body just went through a MAJOR surgery and your stomach has a new plastic tube around it. Let the swelling go down, the scars heal and let your body decide how to maintain a new eating regimine. All this takes time and patience. In reality, the majority of weight loss for most people doesnt start until they reach the sweet spot, which usually takes several fills.

Always go by what your doctor recommends, but still talk to him about his reasoning; might make more sense after he explains. There is hair loss but you don't go bald. In my experience it has nothing to do with getting enough Protein, it is solely due to having surgery. I ate 100+g of protein every day and took Biotin and it still thinned. The majority of my hair loss was about 6-9 months post op, but it is coming back.

Great responses already! I agree with living like you are already banded. Because let's face it, you can eat around the band if you want to. I was surprised to find that I transferred my addiction to exercise and walking (still shocking)! I think it's great that you are addressing this issue now and are ready to attack it first...GREAT JOB!! I would caution against putting too much fear into something you have no control of. Just be conscious and proactive and you will be fine!

Everyone gets different advice from their nutritionist. I personally have cereal often and LOVE it! But I don't have (and never really have) any issue with feeling less full on most foods. To be honest, this bowl of cereal made me FULL (and I do mean FULL) for over 6 hours!

Thank you! Looks like I need to get a life and quit posting as well..lol

I read the entire thread and didn't get any hint of an attack on anyone. Sometimes opinions can come across in an unintended way but I don't see it on this thread personally. That said, I LIVE on Protein shakes!! Could not get through without at least one Muscle Milk per day. Funny how each doctor is different from another. I am completely satisfied with one for Breakfast, I eat my protein the rest of the day. It works for me and that's all I can hope for!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! I am only 6lbs from there!!!! What a journey!

No one can say what is actually "normal" but unless the person is over 400lbs I would say YES that is way too fast. But it depends on each person, what is too much for one is not enough for another!

I JUST started losing again after over 2 months of plateau, here is what I eat. B-Muscle milk & small piece of fruit L-chicken breast with fat free gravy & cottage cheese S-Special K Cereal bar (LOVE these!) D-Sensible plate with Protein & veggie

I am totally and completely serioud when I say to find a different surgeon IMMEDIATELY!!! This guy is in idiot in EVERY sense of the word!! My surgeon told me at my initial consult that 1lb a week is completely normal and anything above that is a bonus. By my Doctor's recommendation (he is a preferred bariatric facility too btw) you are EXACTLY where you should be! Apart from either doctor's advice or any hint of "where you should be" you are a ROCK STAR!!! 50lbs is UNREAL!!! You should ONLY be congratulated and delight in your success, NOT having to deal with some overworked MORON who calls himself a doctor!! One of the most important factors in this journey is encouragement, strenght and support. It sounds like you have the strength part (WAY TO GO) but the other elements are equally important. PLEASE get a new surgeon who actually KNOWS that he is talking about!! It sounds to me that this surgeon does so few lap-band procedures he doesn't know what he is saying and doing to his patients. If it were me, let's just say he would NEVER talk that way to me again and he would have a few colorful adjectives to add to his vocabulary

The "simple" answer doesn't help with the scale, but hopefully with the mind. Your body has just gone through a total and complete change from what it had been doing your entire life. ENTIRE LIFE I think needs to be emphasized. YES you had surgery, YES you are eating next to nothing, YES you "think" you should be losing. The truth is, your body is getting acclimated to this new metabolism, new type and amount of food not to mention trying to heal itself from this major surgery. I think we all get too focused on "well I'm eating almost nothing and lost so much pre-op, I should be losing." That is just not accurate for everyone. Some lose, some gain, some are sick, come aren't. Don't judge your body on what someone else's is doing. LET YOUR BODY HEAL!! Let it acclimate itself to this "new stomach" and new diet. Let it get in a "rhythm" and all this equates to..GIVE IT TIME! I KNOW that is NOT what you want to hear, I KNOW you WANT to see the scale move, and by your simple logic seems like it should, but don't count on that. Dont focus on that to gauge your success. BE PATIENT!!! It took me 3-4 months to truly start seeing results, and when I did my body was healthy and ready to change. Until then, it was just mostly confused as to what to burn, what to hold on to, etc.

I of course didn't read this entire thread, I just think it's so funny, that no matter in what venue abortion, politics or religion reside, they all coincide with the other. I am very proud to be Pro-Choice! While abortion is not an option for me personally, why in the world would it be OK for the government or anyone else to tell a woman what is right for her? I just don't get it. I just had to add that I loved the post that stated something along the lines of the gift that keeps on giving-Sarah Palin & Dick Cheney..that was truly hilarious and accurate!!

I read this thread a few days ago and didn't post. Last night I was at Target getting a birthday gift for my son's Friend when I thought of this thread. I found it on an endcap and bought it...didn't even see how much it was. I had the 3/4 cup serving this am with light vanilla soymilk and it was DELICIOUS!!! 21g of Protein and under 250 calories-WOOT WOOT!!! Thanks for posting this info. I would never have seen it if I weren't looking!

I can tell you the MOST valuable lesson I learned early on in my journey is that comparing yourself to ANYONE ELSE (especially on these boards) is the MAIN REASON you will fail! I was comparing my weight loss to a friend I made on here and was discouraged EVERY TIME I heard her say how much she was losing. My own successes were "lost in the background" and ALL I focused on is where I "should" be in comparison with her. It took me nearly 2 MONTHS to actually and TRULY "let it go" and ONLY focus on MY SUCCESS (not weight loss...because every single ounce lost is a SUCCESS). Once I did that whole-heartedly my own weight loss was ALL that mattered. I focused on what I WAS DOING not what she was doing. I focused on the 2lbs I LOST (and didn't gain) and didn't give a rat's A@@ about her journey. I know that sounds harsh but it really isn't. I was SO WORRIED that I wouldn't be her "cheerleader" that she needed or would seem like a terrible friend if I didn't reply to her and tell her how great she was doing (which she truly did!!). That guilt kept making me focus on HER success while in turn damaged mine almost beyond repair. It is NOT EASY to focus on yourself and your own journey without comparing it with others on this thread...but it is EASILY one of the most important things you will ever do for your own success. Just my .02

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! It truly is what the band is meant to do, and it is such a relief isn't it? All the hard work, the surgery, will power, exercise and sacrifice have taken you to where you are...ENJOY IT...Youve earned it!!!

I don't know how long you've been at this plateau, but I can guarantee you I've got you beat!!! Last year I didn't lose a pound for 3 MONTHS!! Working out, following diet, everything I was suppose to. Then over a period of 2 weeks I lost 14lbs. THIS year from January to March 1st I worked out EVEN MORE, watched what I ate and did everything I was suppose to do. I actually gained and lost the same 2lbs over 2 months. Then this week..I'm down 7lbs (and it's my time of the month so maybe even more!). What I'm saying is, that you can do everything by the book, and your body may not react on the scale. However, check your measurements, BMI and fat percentage..that is really where you will see the difference. Jillian hit it on the head on this week's episode of the Biggest Loser when Sam only lost 3lbs. She said you're packing on muscle (I know, we've heard that a bazillion times) and your body will need more energy to keep the muscle. When your body figures out that your muscle needs fed, it will start burning the fat like CRAZY. Keeping up on our Proteins and exercise is TRULY all we can do!! Our bodies will figure it out eventually..and when they do...WATCH OUT!! In the meantime, to "switch" things up, I do something different EVERY time I'm at the gym. One day is treadmill, one is elliptical, one is rowing, etc. Then my weight training, then I swim. And I walk 30 city blocks 5X a week now. Every other day, eat something you haven't eaten in a VERY long time. Even if it's higher in fat or sugar, EAT IT (in decent proportions obviously). Eat at different times during the day...supplement meals with lean Protein every 2 hours. Any combination of those could pop your body over, but it may not as well. Just remember that by eating well and exercising, the weight WILL come off eventually. It may now show on the scale, but it is a mathematical and scientific fact. (even if it sucks..lol) HANG IN THERE!!! You're WORTH IT!!!

I'm glad you found some motivation!! Even though I work out extremely hard weekly, this thread motivated me to do even more! I work in Downtown Denver, and now have my calendar remind me every 2 hours to go walk. I walk 10 blocks 3 times a day on top of my 4 day a week mega-workout routine. I think adding these little walks will boost my metabolism up even higher. It's funny how if you just make a commitment to do something, it's easy. It's when you have even the smallest excuse not to, does it become overwhelming! I set my calendar, get my reminder, get on my running shoes and out I go...SO EASY!! Then at the end of the day it was so simple, I almost forget to count it into my work-out. Can you imagine almost leaving out 30 walking blocks? LOL Thanks for the inspiration...you can do it too!!!

Very normal! I found the BEST solution ever just recently. Only available on HSN by Andrew Lessman is called Healthy hair Skin & nails. It has ultra high levels of pure Biotin and other ingredients for hair regrowth and thickness. I have used it now for 6 weeks and LOVE LOVE LOVE it!! It is a bit high in price, but it works like crazy and is worth every penny. For the record, I don't work for HSN, just an addicted TV shopper :thumbup:

I'm just curious if your surgeon or nutritionist mentioned anything about the first 4-6 weeks after surgery. This time is to HEAL NOT LOSE!!! I get so frustrated to hear stores of people who don't know what Bandster Hell really is and what they can anticipate to happen. You are not even 2 weeks out from surgery!!!!! Most patients lose VERY little for the first 3 weeks, or can often GAIN. This is NORMAL!!! Your body is holding on to fluids from the surgery and trying to "deal with" this brand new "plastic thing" inside it. Be patient or you will be nothing but discouraged!! My doctor and nutritionist BOTH talked to me for an hour on what my expectations should be after surgery. They told me that I would likely lose weight until my first fill 6 weeks later. Which made me THRILLED to lose 8 lbs during that time. I was fully prepared to gain and honestly that is what cand and often does happen..but it is NORMAL!!! Be patient, set realistic expecations and you will succeed!! Best to you!

It really depends on the surgeon and the situation. Mine was paid by insurance, but from initial consult to surgery date was 2 weeks! I chose to wait four, but could have done it in 2. Best of luck!

I don't think it matters at all how many fills you've had--1 or 15, it's how many cc's are in your band. Every doctor is different, and clearly yours is ultra conservative. I can tell you the longer I have the band, the more finicky it seems to be. I had a fill recently and felt LESS restriction than I did before I had it. This lasted for about a week! It seemed like I was ravenously hungry 24/7. Then, on day 8..POW..restriction like CRAZY! I thought I needed an unfill for a few days...now it's perfect. At certain times of the month or year, my band acts completely differently from the day before. I had a complete untill in May 09' and then 3 months later had serious restriction (unfilled band people) for about a week..then none. I've learned to just take it as it comes and go with the flow. It seems to me that you don't have anywhere near the right amount of cc's in your band. I would ask the surgeon to go up to at least 1cc per fill next time...or maybe even more if he's aggreeable.

Great advice already!! The one thing my trainer told me to focus on is "baby steps" I only focus on TODAY, not tomorrow, next week, or next year....just today. I do what I am suppose to do, then I enjoy my success. When I wake up tomorrow, I tackle it when it comes...but don't think about it today. Totally cliche' to say "One day at a time" but is SO true!! Best of luck!!

I totally respect your opinion on this but totally disagree. I will spare you listed instances that an unfill is quite appropriate and just say this... The band is a TOOL. Everyone uses it the way THEY SEE FIT. To say that someone who gets an unfill that isn't medically necessary is not committed is just plain wrong. I get unfills every 8-10 months and will for the foreseeable future. I do not need to tell you the reasons why I choose to do this, it is the way I CHOOSE to use the tool and it works PERFECTLY for me. Just had to share