sandiegokate

I waited one year, but I think I could have done it in about 6 months or so, I was "stable" in my diet, etc. by that time. In my opinion becoming pregnant that soon might be tough during your transition from pre-band to post band living. Although, you may not become pregnant right away either, so in that case it may not matter. I do hope you do though! I am older and used IVF to get pregnant, 8 weeks right now. My band is playing with me now though, suddenly I feel "tight", must be the hormones or ?? I'm hoping I don't need an unfill. I am not "really tight" anyway, but feel it now!! Good luck to you!! The band was the best thing I ever did!!

I think one of the toughest things to have throughout this experience is patience. It is a process not an immediate solution. I struggle with that myself. I thought I would have lost more weight by this time in my journey, but I need to remember where I've come from and keep site of where I am going. I was thinking of lbs in something I could visualize... 10lb bags of potatoes. lol... imagine, you have lost 5 10lb bags of potatoes!!!!! That is amazing... imagine how much that is!! Great blog by the way and cute kids!! I see you are from Toledo, I grew up just north on the Plymouth/Livonia border in Michigan. Great place to be from.. I live in CA now. I miss it at times! Take care,

Here it is.... restriction varies greatly http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f13/how-many-ccs-restriction-14cc-52373/ Good luck to you !!!!! Hang in there!!!

First of all, congratulation on your weight loss!! You have done well in 5 months. Some people need a lot of restriction in their bands, every body is different. I have a 10cc band, and I am not sure what the reason is for putting in a different size band, but that may make the difference. Maybe you need to be "topped off"? As for feeling restriction for a while and then feeling as if it has gone away, that could be that you were swollen from the fill and after your body recovered you are not restricted enough. I would get maybe 1/2 cc's at a time, maybe every 2 weeks, and see how that goes. You may not get the super restricted feeling but maybe you will be able to notice your sweet spot more when you get there. Just my 2 cents! A little bit can make a big difference when you get close. I "think" I am at mine? Not quite sure. I did have 5.6cc's in my 10cc band, but when I got that fill I couldn't even swallow my own spit! I needed to have .6 cc's taken out the next day. It was just 1/2 cc that put me to the sweet spot. Ever since I feel like I can eat a little bit of everything but not too much. It has been 2 1/2 months now since I had my last fill, and come to think of it just about 5 months out from surgery, like you are now. I don't think I want another one yet. I am not losing fast, that is for sure, but I think that is just because I am older. I have to fight for every pound at this point in my life. There is a thread about how much people have in each size band here to get to their sweet spot. Maybe that will give you an idea of others with the 14cc band? If I can find it, I will post it!! Hang in there... you are doing great!!

For me, it depends on the day and the time of day. Definitely in the morning I can't eat breads, and usually just a little of it at any other time of the day. I agree with the poster that said as long as it is with something else, like a lot of sauce with Pasta it is "ok", but I still can't eat much of it. But a taste of it usually is all I need. For me, it is a good things because I have historically been addicted to carbs. I would love to eat a lot of breads and pastas, etc. Now it just doesn't matter anymore, mostly because I don't get that same "feel good" feeling that I did, its a negative feeling now so it doesn't matter. I am so glad I no longer feel controlled by them. That in itself made the band worth it! My tell tale sign that something isn't going down well is I gurgle, and I gurgle LOUD. I don't get to the point of PB'ing anymore though, I have learned the signs to stop when I'm ahead. :smile:

I had my surgery on a Wednesday and took the rest of that week (which I needed), and the following week (which I could have worked, I did work from home). I didn't have any of the shoulder pain many people have, luckily. Each person is different, but I agree with letting your boss know you are having a medical procedure done and you hope to be back in full capacity but might need some accomodation. I told my boss I was having a minor medical procedure, and he just said "take whatever you need". He didn't want details. Make sure you plan properly when going back to work though, pack enough fluids, alternative Protein drinks, SF Jello, etc. so that you have enough. Best of luck to you!!!!

I think we anticipate losing it all right away, but it doesn't happen like that, and shouldn't for our health. I know for me it isn't coming off fast, but it is coming off. I am down 65lbs now, and definitely wouldn't have been able to do it if I didn't have the band. I also seem to lose it in spurts; I'll go up 5 then down 10. I definitely think monthly hormones are to blame. I know I am doing the right things though, not cheating, exercising, eating well, etc. so it will happen. I can tell that it definitely comes off slower as I am older though, I have to work for every pound! Patience is key... I remember breaking the 300 mark, and now I broke the 250 mark. I really want to work my butt of to somehow, someway try to get below 200 by the end of summer, or my 1 year bandiversary of August 26th, that would be 10lbs a month, might be tough to do. The weight loss is slow for me right now so I don't know if it is possible, but I am going to do what I can!!!! The longer days really help with the exercise motivation, that is for sure!!

I agree with Old School on the Premier Protein Pre-made shakes from costco. I have one every morning as it is tough for me to eat in the morning. I grab it as I walk out the door and drink it in the car on the way to work. It keeps me going until lunchtime and gives me 1/2 the protein I need (minimally) for the day. I also have unjury.. its "ok" to me, but everyone likes different things. I do think the chicken Soup flavor is a nice option to have rather than cold drinks all the time. I am curious now about this chocolate Peanut Butter from Bariatric Eating though... might have to try it!

My doctor doesn't use a topical anesthetic when he does fills either. Yeah, it stings a little.. but, its over in a minute. Sometimes it stings more than other times. Ask him for a topical if you want to.. he does work for you! :thumbup:

I can imagine you are dealing with challenges, as most all of the Protein Drinks contain some type of artifical sweetener. Have you tried making Kool-aid (the little packets that are unsweetened) with Stevia (a natural no calorie sweetener) and adding unflavored whey Protein to it? Just an idea.. I should try it myself prior to posting, as it may taste awful, but it is an idea anyway! Maybe freeze it for popsicles? Can you have cottage cheese? It is low calorie and has very little sugar.. strawberries have low sugar also, my doctor allowed me to put them in my Protein Shakes. Let us know what you do eat... I am sure there are others who may be allergic, or for health reasons would rather stay away from artificial sweeteners. Although difficult, I am sure it is much better for you if you can do it!! Best of luck to you... the pre-op diet is the hardest, after that it is smooth sailing!!

I remember before I had the band I went through all of the same emotions, and the same yo-yo dieting as you did. I lost over 100lbs with the Phen/Fen craze in the 90's, and gained it all back and then some. Numerous other attempts were futal. Earlier last year I said to myself "I am going to try once again and if I can't do it, I am going for the band". Of course, it didn't happen. I remember counting down the days until I got the band, feeling that "I'll never be able to eat this or that again", many last suppers. All the anticipation of the band and its limitations were so much greater than the actual band, in my experience anyway! Sure, there are things that I can't eat, lots of bread for example, but since I don't get the same positive feelings from it that I used to it doesn't appeal to me as much. I can have "a little" bread, and that is fine and I don't desire more. I find that I can have "a little" of everything! The greatest change for me is that I feel in control. I am no longer eating what the diet says I could eat and feel like "ok, I ate that, I'm still hungry, now what can I eat?". I don't gorge myself on salads trying to feel full. In fact, I rarely eat salads, lettuce doesn't go down that well. BUT I can eat other vegetables just fine. The good part of that is I liked a lot of salad dressing on my BIG salad, now I don't get those calories!! By far, it was the best thing I've ever done.. I am now able to exercise more and those endorphins make me feel good and give me energy. I used to get SO TIRED, now I am wide awake and can get so much more done. I can only imagine how good I will feel when I get close to goal. I still have more than half way to go! I wish they had this surgery when I was 25... if I knew then what I know now and it was available I would do it in a heartbeat. As Devana said, only 4-5% of the morbidly obese can ever keep the weight off, those odds are definitely against us. Good luck.. you will find a lot of support and information here for your entire journey!!

Thanks Ellen, I will check out Amazon!

I take the Gummy Vites from Costco, they do taste just like Gummy Bears. I need a calcium chew also.. I know Gummy Vites makes one, not sure what it is like or if I should get Viactiv? Anybody try the chocolate/caramel calcium chews? I take some pill vitamins but have a hard time getting them down throughout the day... figured I would try to take what I can in a chewable form.