GoingforGoal

Congrats on your decision to be banded and you choice to share with family, friends and community alike. I'm lucky in the sense that I have a small group of family/friends. They all know. But I am picky as to who I share this with otherwise. Not because I fear their response or judgement..that I can genuinely state I care less about. But more because I'm not sure I want to have to explain what a lapband is and what it does over and over and over again lol. Whenever I see someone discussing getting GB or LB I am the first to share my experience to lend support. As for LB being 'the easy way out'...let's just as have a communal chuckle shall we. I put as much effort and focus on my LB diet than I did with any other diet I attempted. I make daily choices to improve my health, if I make the wrong ones I don't lose a pound. And one just needs to sit on a LB forum for a little while to learn of complications, struggles/obstacles and setbacks... And we won't mention surgery and liquid diets...so easy is not synonymous with LB! lol Congrats again for being a outted bandster

Riiiiighhhttt because liquids for 2 weeks is normal and easy to do right? And none of us bandsters ever struggled right? Let's get real... Sweety, I disagree with alot of comments on this thread. Go to your email. Surround yourself with support, not those who make you doubt yourself.

Awesome...than you won't feel compelled to clean when you get home so you can conserve energy to heal LOL

Nothing's off limits in moderation. However, we all have our list of foods we can't tolerate. Usually the list is small. But I want to reassure you, the craving for these foods quickly disappear because it's not worth the uncomfortable experience of becoming stuck. Sounds unimaginable, but it's true. But I would caution you...try to stick to your rules and limited menu for as long as possible. Try to lose as much weight as possible before trying to sneak in all the goodies. Learn your body w/ the band before 'testing' it too much. Know what your ideal caloric range is for optimal loss than try to incorporate favorite foods with full comprehension of how many calories it is and how it can be fitted into the daily intake without being a complete splurge. Also, don't be disappointed if a favorite food becomes a undesirable. It's actually a wonderful experience to be freed from foods that didn't serve you well in the first place (ie Pasta for me...use to eat it all the time and now it's a no-no food AND I don't miss it). Hope this helps

First, congrats on getting banded Second, congrats on losing 10lb..the second you think that's unsatisfactory is when self defeat settles in real quick Third, 1500 is alot of cals. True everyone is different but the average caloric intake by bandsters is 800-1200. I think towards the lesser side when starting out newly banded. I'm surprised that in less than a month you are already transitioned to full solids and able to eat 1500 cals. We had such strict portion sizes that we lost nearly 30 lbs right off the bat. But we struggled to get 800 cals in doing so. Anyway, this is why you see such huge variance in what others are losing because you have a different transition and nutrition plan. Stick with it, try to get down to 1200 until you have your fill. Once you feel restriction this should not be an issue

Everyone's different and will speak to different experiences. If the pain was acute opposed to sore, I'd be concerned. Also, if you feel itchy, if there's a persistent rash on the skin etc, I would be concerned. But when you consider that doctors have different techniques, some were manipulated more during surgery and some are more sensitive to pain than others..it's a hard guess what is norm. For now, hands off Keep lose clothing as to not agitate the area further. Also, apply ice for pain relief. It'll help w/ swelling too

Um...no? I usually need to stop eating/drinking for a few hours and than resume my normal eating. Especially if you got stuck because you ate too big of a piece, ate too fast or took too much food in. Basically, you broke the rules. But you don't want to compound the issue by adding pressure or getting restuck and starting a eat-vomit cycle. If on the next time you eat AND you follow your rules AND you vomit...than maybe you inflammed the stoma and you will want to do liquid to solid transitioning. I've had the band for 3.5 years with no adverse effects

Congrats, 170 will be here in no time hon. So happy for you!!!

I'd like to give you some reassurance here. The problem is that you are not in the 'green' zone. And yes, if you allow your band to be too lose, you will gain weight, you will be able to eat larger portions and yes you can stretch your stomach just like you did and could before the band. Eat more the body demands more. You need to get back into the green for the band to work. Also, everyone is different. Some need 1-2 fills and others need 4+ fills to get to their green zone. Do not fixate on how many fills or how many cc's you have had inserted, rather focus on how you feel when you eat and concentrating on the rules to maximize the benefits of the band.

There are a few people who get the band and NEVER get a fill. Welcome to the deviations in human anatomy..some people have larger organs than the next. The band alone is creating a stoma without a fill to further constrict you. Problem is, it's been long enough that swelling is no longer the issue so this just may mean your band is the perfect (or maybe too tight) of a constrictor. You do need to speak your doctor because you don't want to head into the opposite of obesity..ie bulemia, malnutrition, etc even though it's not deliberate. You already speak of being tired/ill etc. I would highly recommend some lab work. Vitamin deficiencies etc are commonplace in rapid wgt loss and low cal diets. Keep logs of your intake, frequency/volume of vomiting and share w/ your doc. Weight loss is not the only measure of health....keep on top of it

Actually you will talk to a couple bandsters who have had their bands for a long time and have loss a lot of weight say their bands are in different places. What you are experiencing is probably most likely from swelling going down and you are now feeling the 'original' position (call this your baseline). But after drastic weight loss, it's not that the band has literally drifted (because indeed it is sewn to the abdominal wall) however after losing abdominal and visceral (organ) fat, your whole inside is shifting. My port use to be on the right side of my nipple line. I now feel it 1-2" right of my sternum. That's what an 80+ lb loss gets you. Because my abdominal wall is finally where it was supposed to be lol Be concerned if over night there's a drastic shift, if the port feels sideways not flat, or if there is severe pain at the site of the port.

Some tips... Protein is essential to wound healing...so eat your protein Drink lots of water Mind your pain...take pain meds as needed, sit down when you feel strained and take it easy to until your body is fully recovered Liquid stage and mushy stage may be a challenge, but don't try to push transition too soon. Let that band settle in so it can work for you when you get ready for solids Thank yourself daily for making the best decision of your life...don't let small setbacks let you forget it

Oh Please let me chime in on this one..who doesn't have in law issues. I live with mine (did I just hear a pity sigh?). My MIL is a diet sabotager. So being on a diet and banded means..let's give her my leftovers, the burnt banana nut breads I made, the fattiest franks I can find in the state, etc. And shall I talk about my kids. I pride myself on raising my kids to be healthy. But she's rather encourage eating excessively, giving them an Easter basket filled with literally 10 bags of 100 pc candies, etc. We have wars over this.... But my favorite is the competition...she likes to play at dieting..and is an elitist by nature so you can never teach her anything. So..as the weight falls off me she's maintains. Why? Well she doesnt know because all she ever eats is salad (plus heaps of dressing, croutons and the such), chicken wings (because they're protein you know), and my most recent favorite was going to Panera where they post their calories. Here I am eating small soup (80 cals) and a turkey sandwich (220 but I took off the bread). She gets the fiji salad (540) and an oatmeal raisen cookie (360 cal, I couldnt believe it). She ate near my entire daily calories in one sitting..but she doesnt know why she can't lose weight. Yeah I have Inlaw issues...can you tell?

Hi WeaponX It's hard to give specific advice without details. Like what do you eat, how many calories perhaps etc so we can help make suggestions. Also, when you had your 2cc fill, did you have it all taken out? if not, how did you gain 30 lbs? liquid calories? One of the keys to the band is to find green, and yes 0.5 cc can make a band too loose or too tight especially when you get closer to max fills.

Draven, I laughed while reading your story. Probably because I think in the beginning we could all relate to the 10, 20, 30 lb gains and than when being in disbelief when you were at your highest. I also chuckle at that effort to lose just to regain it. I am also laughing because my husband did the same thing. I broached the subject of getting a band. He hesitated and said in a year if I don't do this than yes . We both waited a year, and gained. We were both banded same day together a year after that conversation. The band has been a great tool. Despite having gotten pregnant and having some medical/stress issues of my own that took me off the diet track...I didn't gain. Without the band, I am certain I would have gained an easy 50 lbs. Scary thought. So even in the worse of times, my band comes through is my supportive companion. But I'm paying it back and have been losing pounds and inches. I was 199 during the holidays and I'm 169 today. As for the relatives, how the heck can you have a band and NOT lose 1 lb geeeeesh! Makes us bandsters look bad hahaha

I think it's safe to say that you are hyperfocused. It's a good thing...and it's obviously in overdrive. I just love how your brain tortures you into submission. I think they call this psychosis gettingthindontwanttobefatagainphrenzia, I know a mouthful.

I started at 250, lost 50, got pregnant (woopsie), lost that weight and was 200 again. Here I am 3.5 yrs post-op at 169. After I reach 185 I felt the weight came off slower. I would chalk it up to a lower BMR...we are eating incredibly low calories it's no surprise. So setting new goals is a great approach. Don't focus on the 2 lb /week norm because at this rate it's just not going to happen. I am disappointed that here I am 81 lbs less than I was when I started and only 24 lbs to my goals, yet I still get flustered like I'm trying to lose 10 lbs pre-op. I wear shorts for goodness sakes, I NEVER wore shorts. Time to just focus on the positives

Your story sounds like mine, congrats and relish in your success

Congrats and welcome to band land. Being a mom of 3, I know how hard it is to turn the attention onto yourself. But I don't need to tell you, this is for them just as much as it is for you. So if you ever feel guilty, just think..it's for them not me (smirk) it works in both directions. lol Hope you get that pesky approval so you can start your journey. You have the right understanding and are sensible so I'm certain you'll be a success!

Realize this stage is not the norm, it's temporary. Transition slowly, no matter how brutal as to give your port ample time to settle in and for inflammation to subside. Trust me, when you get to solids you'll just be so relieved that anything will taste good/satisfying. Double that with how full you'll feel off of such small portions. These feelings will soon overtake any negative feelings you are currently having