Brighton Belle

I am still around, hardly ever check in here though, as like most of us, life has moved on and the band, although still very much part of my life, is not such a major part. I have lost about three stone and now have a BMI of 28.5. I am slowing down on the weight loss but still continuing to alter in shape. Once I started to look nice again I bought loads of fancy knickers, don't know why, but it was fun to embrace that side of me again. Then it started to be fun buying clothes - I had hated it for ages. Massive increase in self esteem these days. Just good to feel fitter, look good, be healthier in general. The money I spent on the band was the best value for the money because it really has transformed my life.

A lot of people feel threatened by lap-banders and think it is cheating and have all kinds of weird ideas and will try to put you off. You've done your research, made your decision and had the band. Good for you! Don't listen to all those outside negative voices. Instead, come on here and listen to those who are way down the line with their lap-bands, who know what they are talking about and who (on the whole) talk excellent sense and are full of useful tips and information. If it happens to lap banders, someone on here will have experienced it and will tell you about it and what helps and what doesn't. And that includes how to deal with the nay-sayers!

The only reason for an emergency unfill would be if someone was vomiting so much their stomach was swollen and they were completely obstructed and nothing would go through. The way to avoid this is to avoid vomiting, so if you have diarrhoea and vomiting bug you take anti-emetics. People who have lap-bands and get cancer and need chemotherapy tend to have an unfill for the period of their treatment for safety. My surgeon actually posts on his website how to do an unfill for medical professionals to use if necessary. It is not a matter of convenience, more an emergency situation.

I actually altered several pairs of trousers by just taking in an inch each side seam with my sewing machine. (Who the hell was going to see the rather dodgy side seam under my top). Cheaper than buying lots of new pairs. And when you do need to buy new clothes, don't buy anything too expensive... ...and don't buy three pairs of trousers if you only really need two, because in a few months both pairs might be too big. ... don't buy things that fit that are for the wrong season as you might be thinner by then...but do try things for fun and enjoy your new shape! For me, buying sexy knickers was just great! They are cheap but a great boost to my self esteem.

Well, my experience was that you get an inkling of restriction when you are post-op because you are not hungry for hours at a time, not even thinking about food, and you are full up on a bit of yoghurt. Then your band settles down and you end up with NO restriction, and it make take quite a few fills to get to your green zone. It took several fills before I got to full restriction and then I hardly thought about food. I enjoyed it when it was time for a meal, but I did not think about it the rest of the time and I was satisfied with small amounts and I lost weight easily and steadily. However learning to stop in time before I got too full-that took a long time. I had my last fill in April and it lasted for ages. However I knew I was due again in July as I was getting hungry again but put it off as we were going away and I did not want to be overfilled when out of the country. Since we have been back I am thinking about food all the time, eating too fast and getting stuck. I have a fill booked for later this week and I am looking forward to getting back to how I was. So, that is my story. Remember the lack of interest in food immediately post surgery-that is what you are aiming for. And good restriction tends to come after a quite a few fills but that time is well spent learning to listen to your body so you can stop eating in time!

Some of us (geeky) people have our weight loss and our fills and various other data all charted on excel spreadsheets:)

Congratulations! I am at a plateau and needing a fill but I am still changing shape although my weight is not shifting according to the scale. Interesting a few people are saying "you are not going to lose any more, are you?" Mostly, but not all, they are fat people struggling with their weight...

I agree, it is amazing. Just remember to buy clothes for NOW. Don't be tempted to buy a summer outfit in the winter because it is in the sale because you might find it is too big when summer comes...that is the lesson I have learnt:)

Congratulations! I am just past my Bandiversary which went by without me noticing it. BUT I have lost 60% of my excess weight, am down to a size 14 from a 22 and feel great and look great. I am due another fill and am remembering just now what it is like to be hungry all the time but roll on next week when I will get a fill and hopefully be back to the wonderful green zone when food is really not that important to me any more.

Oh, I am on hrt as well. And still losing when my band is right and I am in the green zone.

I am 52. I started to get menopausal at 45 but did not realise, because I had a Mirena coil, which releases a type of progestogen into the womb. I had had no periods for a few years so had no idea I was menopausal. I thought it was just hot, while my kids kept telling me I was going through the change -but did I believe them? Then I got thyroid problems and put on weight big time. What ever I did, I was hungry and could not lose weight. I had the lap band in desperation after low carbing, calorie counting, weightwatchers etc all to no avail. I am a year out and have lost 60% of my excess weight, which was my first goal. I am due another fill so I am hungry at the moment but I KNOW when I have another fill and get back my restriction, I will start to slowly loose again. The menopause makes us overeat for a variety of reasons-your satiation is slow to kick in so you eat more than you used to, you exercise less, your daily living uses less calories etc etc etc But at the end of the day, when the lap band is working and you have good restriction, you feel less hungry, you eat less, and so you lose weight. It is as simple as that. The menopause has little to do with it in the end.