20zmom

Update: Banded Oct. 15, 2009 and am down 119 lbs. I am less than10 lbs from the goal my doctor has set for me and less than 20 lbs from the goal I have set for myself. YIPPEE!! For those of you just starting on this journey.............1. be patient 2. Use your band as a tool, not a cure 3. Follow your doctors instructions 4. get you self to the gym a minimum of 3 times a week 4 write down everything you eat.. If I can do this, anyone can. It won't be easy but it will be possible if you are willing to work at it. And I have no idea how to update this ticker, so it is no where close to being correct. Good luck all you October Bandsters.

And I don't know how to update the ticker. Sorry!!

I was banded in October of 2009. I am down 119 lbs and couldn't be happier with my results, I am less than 10 lbs from the goal my doctor has set for me, and about 20 lbs from my personal goal.. YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was banded Oct 15 and am down about 45 lbs. I am so pleased with my progress. It has been a slow but steady rate. I go back to my doctor for another weigh in and fill tomorrow. I am so thankful I took the big step to be banded. Good luck to all.

You know, I felt the same way about exercise ( I HATED it!!!) until I actually started doing it on a regular basis, and now I can honestly say I enjoy it. I started out slowly, and have added more time on my cardio activites, and have added strength training as well. I do the treadmill and elliptical (love/hate that machine:drool:) and add water aerobics and water kickboxing to get some variety in. My gym also offers water zumba and regular zumba, which is a lot of fun and burns a lot of calories. I invested in a gym membership, which is a luxury for me, and I have to make some sacrifices in other areas to get that fee to work within my budget, but I have decided that I am worth the cost and the gym offers such exceptional programs, it keeps me interested and willing to get there to work my tail off. Like anything else from our food to our lifestyle choices, exercising is a choice we make. So like Nike says........... JUST DO IT!!!!!!!!!!

I was banded 10/15/09 and have been VERY pleased with my weight loss. However, the scales have been at a standstill for 3 weeks now and I am beginning to feel a bit discouraged. I am down 36 lbs and am THRILLED to death with that, but I am ready for the scales to move again. I am monitoring my food intake and am exercising about 3 times a week. I have had 2 fills for a total of 5.5 in an 11 cc band. Anyone else stuck in "plateau world"? Anyone have any suggestions??

@ football - you have gotten down to 288 twice so you know what you need to do to get there again. I understand that your circumstances have changed and it's not as easy now as it once was...............BUT, it isn't gonna get any easier. With every year you age, it becomes a little harder to get the weight off. Your kids deserve a healthy father, your wife deserves a healthy husband, and most importantly, you deserve a healthy you. Stop looking at the obsacles in you life. They are just an excuse to eat like you used to. Start looking at the reasons why you had the surgery to begin with.............and, as Nike so aptly puts it, "JUST DO IT". No excuses. @ Leigha - LOVE your idea about only accepting half a serving in resturants. I too have a DIFFICULT time throwing food away and I LOVE your idea. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks so much everyone. I appreacite both your advise and support. I read on another thread that adding protein drinks in the morning can help jump start the metabolism and get you off that plateau. I did that today and was less hungry, so that is something I'm gonna change. Whether it was a physiological or psychological response, I"m not sure, but I'll take it. :smile2: I also added weight training to my workout regime today. This is in addition to 40 mins of cardio via elliptical machine and vigorous walking. I also am doing water aerobics as well. Speaking of journaling your food consumption, I have found a great sight for that. mydailypalte.com compiles your calories, breaks down your nutrients and you can log your physical activity and calories burned as well. Something else I did to help me feel better about my progress is taking my measurements. I am down 25.5 inches since surgery. WOO HOO!!!!! It's smarter food choices, with protein drinks every morning, for this girl. as well as more rigorous workouts. GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!!!!!!!:confused:

I just posted a similar topic just about an hour ago. I was banded 10/15/09 and seem to be stuck at a 36 lb. loss. I am eating healthy and working out at least 3 days a week. I understand about muscle being more dense that fat, I understand about weight loss plateaus, and I understand the band is just a tool, but my "inner child" is frustrated because the scale isn't moving. I understand your frustration completely. We just need to understnad that this too shall pass. Let's agree to not weigh more than once a week? Deal????? Maybe that will help out mental outlook enough to get us over the hump.:wink:

Try mydailyplate.com. You can electronically enter your food for the day, enter your physical activity and it automatically totals your calories (both gross and net, after exercise) and your nutritional breakdown. I HIGHLY reccommend it for journaling your foods. There is also an app to download to your iphone. LOVE IT! :thumbup: It was reccommended by the nutritionist on my bariatric team.

When researching bariatric surgery options, I went to 3 different seminars at three different hospitals. The first was very unbiased, the second was VERY pro bi-pass, and the third, and the one I went with, was open to both, but leaned toward the band unless there was a medical reason (such as serious health problems) that would benefit more from the faster weight loss. My surgeon is one of the best in the field, and does repair for patients who have had botched surgeries. He is adament about recommending the band in most cases. Like many of you, I know several people who have had bi-pass and lost weight, but gained most of it back. Not so many with the band. I am very happy with my choice.:smile2:

I was banded on October 15th and have lost 28 lbs, most of it post surgery. I had a 4cc fill in an 11 cc REALIZE band a week ago today and do not feel much restriction at all. I go back for fill #2 in early Jan. I am tickled to death with my progress, but would love to feel more restriction. However, I am learning more everyday that the band is not a cure all, but a tool to help me manage my eating, but it won't make the urge go away. I am proud of all of us October bandsters who have taken that HUGE step in our weight loss journey of having our surgery. Good luck to all adn have a Merry Christmas.

Laura, I have had a similar pain twice before and I disagree with the others. I do NOT thing it is gas. This is almost a "pulled muscle" sensation and like you, I was concerned about a hiatal hernia repair problem. I don't feel it is a gas pain issue and in both cases when I felt the pain, it was prior to eating. I wondered if it could be a response from a muslcle strain from the hernia repair. My pain is deep in the upper right quadrant of my rib cage, close enough to the heart to THINK it may be related, but it isn't. I have a call in to my physician. I didn't call after the first episode, but called an RN friend. After the episode yesterday I have called. Good luck with your pain.

SassyB, I agree with you 100%. I didn't visit this forum for a long time because of two reasons: 1. People making HUGE deals of post op pain, gas pain, bandster hell, horrible protein supplements, etc. and 2. All the ways people talk about cheating, and not following their doctor's orders, and starting solids too soon, etc. I was beginning to get dragged into the pessimism and short cuts right along with them. I had to step back and put things in perspective. And I am so glad I did. My surgery was textbook and my post op pain and gas was minimum. My recovery was speedy, my weight loss has been slow but constant, and it has been a struggle as my swelling went down and I was needing a fill, but the band allowed me to exercise my will power, where I was unable to before. I don't want to know how to cheat the band, and I understand that my band doesn't make it easy to stick to a healthy diet, but it gives me a tool to try harder. If you are struggling with your band, I suggest you walk away from this sight. FInd an "in person" supoprt group with TRAINED professionals who can help give you the info and insight that you need to be successful. Don't get marred down by what you read here. ANd most of all, celebrate your successes with a postive attitude.

when I get discouraged, I try to remember that the weight didn't come on over night and it's not gonna leave over night. I also try to remember that losing 1 - 2 lbs a week is a whole lot better than gaining 1 - 2 lbs per week. Losing weight is such a head game. We have to get between our ears right and not let negative self talk pull us down or keep us away from our goal. Hang in there, be patient and stay true to the course. You will be so much thinner and so much healthier than you would be without the woderful tool that being banded provides you.

I was banded on the 15th of OCT, and in the last few days have eaten much more than I have been able to since surgery as well. This also has me concerned about stretching my pouch. I'm glad to hear that an isolated incident or two won't casue irreversible damage. I see the dr on Dec 2nd and hopefully will get my first fill and be able to feel some restriction. Right now I have ZERO restriction and could eat whatever I want in the amount I want. My will power is helping me hold it together, but it gets tougher every day. Let's all help each other thru this bandster hell!!!!!! Small bits, small amounts. LOTS of water and PRAYER!!!!!!!!!!!

I was banded on Oct 15th and my surgery was textbook. I had no gas pain, recovered as expected, proceeded thru liquids, mushies, and to my regular diet without hunger and have lost about 20 lbs since surgery. I really thought I may be one of the "LUCKY ONES" who was gonna miss experiencing bandster hell. OMG!!!!!! It's like I woke up two days ago famished. I now understand why the term is referred to as bandster hell. I am counting calories, walking for exercise, and satrving. I have my next dr appointment on Dec 2nd. Do you all feel like I will get my first fill then? I sooooooooooooooooo hope so.

Thanks everyone, for the words of encouragement, and Pina...................we will do this together. Starving during Thanksgiving dinner and getting our fill early Dec. Christmas dinner will be a breeze for us, girl. Good luck to all and have a wonderful and healthy Thanksgiving.

I have been tracking my calories and nutrients with mydailyplate.com. It is such a wonderful resource to make sure your are on track with your calorie and nutrient intake. It also tracks your water intake and fitness. I LOVE IT! My nutitionist suggested it at our meetings and I am so glad she did. I had my surgery Oct 15 and am down 18 lbs. since then. mydailyplate.com has really helped, especially since I am now on my mushie phase. You can tell from your data input if you need a protein shake that day to get your grams in, or if you are okay with your food intake. Hope this helps.:thumbup:

I was banded on Oct 15th and am doing wonderfully, but am having a difficult time getting in my protien. I am still on all liquids, and I am not tolerating the powder (Unjury, as suggested by my surgeon and nutritionist) I am presently taking. Anyone have any ideas for the best way to take the protien in to make it more physically compatable, or a suggestion for a good supplement to take that isn't so hard on the tummy? Thanks.

Thanks everyone. I found a liquid protein that I am mixing with ice chips that worked beautifully. Good luck to all.

I was banded on Oct 15th with a hiatal hernia repair as well. I still am not hungry at all. My diet is all liquid for 2 weeks post op. Not sure what "gringo bingo" is.

I was banded on Oct 15th and on the third day I had quite a bit of company come by. I stayed on the couch, was in my jammies, and although I enjoyed all my friends and family, I was exhausted afterward. If you do go, I would plan to stay for a short time, then get back home to rest. You don't want to set your recovery back by doing too much too soon. But it would be nice to get out of the house and see your friends., Just dont over do! Good Luck

I was banded Oct 15th as well, and I DRAEDED the gas pain. I didn't have ANY at all. Howver, I was up walking within 12 hours of my surgery. I am now 4 days out and still not hungery at all. I have had a little bit of head hunger, but nothing I can't control. I also am on all liquids. los of soups and juices. I am having trouble tolerating my protein supplements. When I take them it seems to make me a little upset at my stomach. I always have to walk afterwards to ease the discomfort. Good luck to all.................

I was banded 4 days ago. I haven't had any physical hunger, but bit of "head" hunger. What has helped me is knowing what my triggers are and then having a plan to occupy myself when it happens. Hang in there. You can make it. Also, your protein supplement will help with the hunger as well. SIP, SIP, SIP!!!!!!!!!!