abingdongirl

One year ago I was rolled down the isle in an 2XL gown, big ole booties and a smile because I knew my life would change. I went in prepared to face the challenges and joy that this decision would cause me. The first month I survived the liquid diet, post-surgery pain and discomfort and lost bonus 10 lbs that I have yet to see again. The second month I noticed my clothes getting looser and another 5 lbs gone, I can eat but the problem was I wanted to eat everything so I was welcomed to Bandster-Hell. The third month I had gotten my first fill 2ccs humm felt tight for like a day then back to eating it up… good thing no weight gain and another 2lbs gone. Month four, I noticed my size 22’s are falling off of me literally and another 2lbs gone, this is going slow I thought time for a fill and off I went another 2cc’s now 4ccs in a 10cc band. Month five another 2lbs goneI am still hungry and my 20’s are fitting loser, food still goes down pretty easily, and I have yet to experience a stuck episode I was so happy. Another .5 ccs in the band. 4.5 ccs Month Six no weight loss nothing, not a pound, I am starting to feel full faster but I can still eat two burritos and taco bell. And my workouts are sporadic time to make an appointment with the doctor .5cc’s he said I say more but I will see. Month Seven, Had .5cc’s in my band I don’t think that will do much of anything for me, but I took the doctor said wait another week and if it doesn’t work out then I can come back however, I got really busy with life and alas no weight loss but bread is off the menu forever, I experienced my first episode of slime and stuck with a piece of pork chop, and then a piece of bread. 5.5 ccs in the band I am halfway full that has got to count for something. Month eight, I am feeling discouraged I ended up not losing any weight this month, I lost 5lbs with my fill and I gained it back. I don’t know why because I can’t eat as much, and I am moving more it is spring and hot around here. I ended up having hernia surgery and couldn’t get a fill until I recovered from my surgery and I finally got the fill I wanted 1 cc’s now I am more than half way there 6.5cc’s and I am really feeling that day to day stuff that I have read about on the boards, feeling tight in the morning, I can eat a yogurt and be stuffed, and be satisfied for hours oh and my 20’s are now gone, I am now in a very loose fitting 18…I can’t wait. Month nine, it has been a few weeks since my fill I lost another 5lbs which is nice and my 18’s are gone I am in a 16 which I haven’t been in since 2003, I still have a ways to go I somehow thought I would have gotten further in my pounds lost but it is not that bad. I would have hit this point without my band. My eating is good I think I have hit my sweet spot but some days I am a little tighter I have learned to eat slow, I can’t eat fries, bread, and dry turkey oh and nothing on the McDonalds dollar menu goes down… so no bad foods for me. Month ten, weight loss has slowed down I think my body is doing the starvation hold, so my goal to combat it is to increase my exercise. Month eleven, I have increased my exercise and I am starting to feel better, I went shopping and no matter what store I went in I fit the 16’s and some were even loose and I lost another 5lbs this month. Now at month twelve I don’t regret my decision to have the band, my life has changed in my activity level my confidence I am still struggling or say dealing with the consequences of not planning my meals, eating too fast or trying those forbidden foods, but I know I am this for the long haul which is awesome to me. I have increased my activity level and plan to keep that up, I will be at my goal weight next year this time and with my band to use as my food tool, and my motivation as my next I will be there… Happy Bandiversary!!!

it really takes a minute once you have reached your sweet spot to figure out what foods will go down, and which will get stuck. I remember you have had a rough first six months with the band and now you are in a pattern is it the right pattern to be? I would say no you have to get in at least 1200 calories a day as everyone else has said, now the questions is how? I can eat hamburger made with ground beef with cheese on it and no bread, it takes me about 20 minutes just take your time and chew well, I can eat a cobb salad with light ranch dressing and that goes down pretty good, now I can't eat much in the morning, a shake is about all I can do first thing in the morning, so leave your shakes for the morning meal and snacks but you need to have a sensible meal maybe around lunch or dinner. Hope this helps glad to see you sticking it out.

I would say I wish I had listened more to my doctor about getting fills in a good interval, I was banded in August and I didn't hit my sweet spot till my last fill in June that is 10 months too long... As a result I am just learning you can't eat and drink at the same time, and why my surgeon doesn't like straws. My doctor was really good at preparing me for the surgery but after 10 months of skipping a few points here and there, now I have eat right or be tired, and have low energy for the days I don't. The surgery went according to plan, the discomfort was exactly 10 days and so far the ride smooth with no complications. But I wish I had returned every two to three weeks for my fills and I would have reach this point sooner..

This blog is very helpful, I have 6.5 ccs in a 10cc band and I have hit my sweet spot, but there are days I can eat alot and days when I can't eat that much, your plan sounds sensible, I have found that I can eat brocolli, corn, salad, cheese, I can't eat eggs. meats I can eat if it is topped with cheese or I put light blue cheese dressing on it. anything dry or made into a bread I can't eat which is good because my sweet tooth was pastries, cake and pies... I have learned I have got to start measuring my foods out.

I use Body magic whose company is in the South American area I love it, I first used it about six months after my lap band but it really does wounders, I lost 4 inches off my waist and 2 inches off my hips after wearing it 8 hours a day for six weeks, I still use it and it is amazing the way it puts stuff where it belongs...

Your post is awesome, that is is soo great you should be proud...

Thanks, I had Dr. Singh at St. Agnes Hospital, Love him

One year ago I was rolled down the isle in an 2XL gown, big ole booties and a smile because I knew my life would change. I went in prepared to face the challenges and joy that this decision would cause me. The first month I survived the liquid diet, post-surgery pain and discomfort and lost bonus 10 lbs that I have yet to see again. The second month I noticed my clothes getting looser and another 5 lbs gone, I can eat but the problem was I wanted to eat everything so I was welcomed to Bandster-Hell. The third month I had gotten my first fill 2ccs humm felt tight for like a day then back to eating it up… good thing no weight gain and another 2lbs gone. Month four, I noticed my size 22’s are falling off of me literally and another 2lbs gone, this is going slow I thought time for a fill and off I went another 2cc’s now 4ccs in a 10cc band. Month five another 2lbs goneI am still hungry and my 20’s are fitting loser, food still goes down pretty easily, and I have yet to experience a stuck episode I was so happy. Another .5 ccs in the band. 4.5 ccs Month Six no weight loss nothing, not a pound, I am starting to feel full faster but I can still eat two burritos and taco bell. And my workouts are sporadic time to make an appointment with the doctor .5cc’s he said I say more but I will see. Month Seven, Had .5cc’s in my band I don’t think that will do much of anything for me, but I took the doctor said wait another week and if it doesn’t work out then I can come back however, I got really busy with life and alas no weight loss but bread is off the menu forever, I experienced my first episode of slime and stuck with a piece of pork chop, and then a piece of bread. 5.5 ccs in the band I am halfway full that has got to count for something. Month eight, I am feeling discouraged I ended up not losing any weight this month, I lost 5lbs with my fill and I gained it back. I don’t know why because I can’t eat as much, and I am moving more it is spring and hot around here. I ended up having hernia surgery and couldn’t get a fill until I recovered from my surgery and I finally got the fill I wanted 1 cc’s now I am more than half way there 6.5cc’s and I am really feeling that day to day stuff that I have read about on the boards, feeling tight in the morning, I can eat a yogurt and be stuffed, and be satisfied for hours oh and my 20’s are now gone, I am now in a very loose fitting 18…I can’t wait. Month nine, it has been a few weeks since my fill I lost another 5lbs which is nice and my 18’s are gone I am in a 16 which I haven’t been in since 2003, I still have a ways to go I somehow thought I would have gotten further in my pounds lost but it is not that bad. I would have hit this point without my band. My eating is good I think I have hit my sweet spot but some days I am a little tighter I have learned to eat slow, I can’t eat fries, bread, and dry turkey oh and nothing on the McDonalds dollar menu goes down… so no bad foods for me. Month ten, weight loss has slowed down I think my body is doing the starvation hold, so my goal to combat it is to increase my exercise. Month eleven, I have increased my exercise and I am starting to feel better, I went shopping and no matter what store I went in I fit the 16’s and some were even loose and I lost another 5lbs this month. Now at month twelve I don’t regret my decision to have the band, my life has changed in my activity level my confidence I am still struggling or say dealing with the consequences of not planning my meals, eating too fast or trying those forbidden foods, but I know I am this for the long haul which is awesome to me. I have increased my activity level and plan to keep that up, I will be at my goal weight next year this time and with my band to use as my food tool, and my motivation as my next I will be there… Happy Bandiversary!!! :redface:

I will report more on August 5th...

Wow, this is awesome, I must say my heavist was January 2009 I weighed in at 254 today I am between 215-220 depending on how much Fluid I retain. which puts me at about 30-35lbs lost which I know I would not be at without my band. I have also went from a size 22 to a solid 16 and my hips went from a 50.5 to a 47, my waist went from a 39 to a 34 so I am not complaining. I finally went shopping for smaller clothes and gave away all of my 22's and 20's and soon the 18's will have to go as well... I still have 65lbs to go to reach my full goal but I want to be under 200 by thanksgiving. I too need to step up on the workouts and increase my protien intake, I can't eat a lot of meats they just won't go down, I have noticed if I put it in my magic bullet blender I can eat it better. Also I ended up having abdominal surgery to repair a hernia and that took me out of the loop for a while too. Abby - Congrats on 48lbs and going vegetarian I have noticed that fruits and veges go down well with a little dressing... Tripletmomma - Congrats you have already lost my total weight I want to lost that is awesome... Vicki- congrats to you as well 70lbs is about where I thought I would be at this time but that is so good to see you got there. PRGB - 80lbs is awesome I can't wait to get to the point I want to try life with less fluid in my band just keep active and you should be fine. LL67 - we are in the same boat but we know what we have to do get off our booties and get moving, I feel like now I have the food down now I need to get more active... Congrats everybody

It is part of the recovery process, I had the same problem and it was just my body getting use to the band. Also I had a hiatal hernia repaired during my band placement and it causes me to have a referred shoulder pain when I eat too fast or too much. You are still early in your recovery, so I would just talk to your surgeon if you are concerned or of it gets worse... Good luck

Abby, don't fret, you are 42lbs lighter than you were a year ago. People's body shapes are different, I have a big butt and small waist, my pant size is a solid 16 my dresses and skirts are a 14. I am happy but it is interesting to me having only lost 30lbs that I would shrink that much. I too thought I would be at least 50-60lbs lighter by now, but I was gauging by my husband and sister who has RNY-GBP, he lost 150lbs first year and she lost 80, so I figured I should be at least 60% of what they lost but no, I think that now my fill is in the right spot I should be much smaller this time next year. You are right about the working out part. I am just getting into exercising 3 days a week, since my last fill, and it really has made a difference, My food is in check now I have to work on body stuff. I still have 65lbs to get to my goal weight.