LollyMoe

I am to aim for 60 gms of Protein a day, no more than 5gms of fat per serving. No more than 15 gms of carbs per serving. My book doesn't have a total for carbs in one day. Only the Protein count. It does have a liquid amount...6-8 cups per day.

The band is not a magic answer to weight loss. It is a tool for you to use in connection with your own self control. Most people do lose weight! When you read the "horror" stories, remember that there many many people that are successful and happy to have the band. Right now, you are in a very difficult time frame....some call it Bandster's Hell. It's mostly up to you right now. Once you get your fills and reach your sweet spot, the weight will come off. I'm not sure about gaining it back. Some of my friends are very successful with the band and they are out more than three years. Please don't give up. Learn all you can, take some of it with a grain of salt, and continue to remember that most people are going to post the bad things and forget to come back to post good news. You can do it. Work hard and let your band help you.

Yippee! You go girl! Doesn't it feel good to wear something smaller....even if it's your hubby's sleep pants? I have a stack of size 22 waiting for me that my SIL passed on to me. It will be awhile but I'll get there. You just watch & see. Congrats again.

I am so sorry to hear of your problems. I think you should talk with the surgeon that placed your band and ASK why he used such a small band in the first place. If you have been having problems from Day 1, he should have done something about it before now and it should have been done for free! Casually mention a malpratice action and see what kind of reaction you get. I do hope you get all of this worked out soon. I wouldn't do the sleeve as it is in the early stages and there are no long term studies on it.

I wish I had known about this site pre-op. The people here are so helpful and there is loads of information. Read as many posts as you can between now & your seminar. Jot down any questions you have and when you go to seminar, make sure you ask them.

Just remember that the bypass is NOT reversible, you have to take B-12 injections forever, and most people gained their weight back within 3-5 years. Also, you lose so fast that your skin cannot keep up and it becomes very saggy and dry. The wrinkles are incredable. You also need to ask about receiving cancer treatments (chemo) if you should develop cancer (God forbid). My friend was unable to get chemo b/c of bypass. Don't know if it was her doctor in New Orleans or her condition. It never hurts to ask first. It's best to think long & hard about a most complex step. This surgery is going to re-arrange your body parts inside, recovery is longer for some people. Please please think and pray before you do anything. You may have only lost 25 pounds but you didn't gain that much or more. Maybe your exercise & food intake are too even. You have to burn up more than you take in to lose weight no matter what.

Good luck on writing your book.

I am so jealous but excited for you too. I was banded on 8/11 and have lost a little over 30 lbs. My doctor didn't require a long pre-op. Only two days. I'll take what I've lost and be happy that I am continuing to lose. Good luck to you. Wonderful news.

Nope, not pissed off but am disappointed that I have come across several things that would have been better if I was informed. For instance, I wasn't even told about this website until after I had the surgery! I saw a nut just a few days prior to the surgery and didn't have time to absorb the info. Wasn't told about the gas pain either. That's just naming what I can remember off hand.

Keep it to yourself. It's your health & your business. You aren't lying to anyone. It's like another poster said, most people want to know if you have found a magic diet that they can lose weight too.

You didn't say how old you were???? All my life I have been very overweight. I am 5' 3.5" tall. I have been on every diet there is that was sensible. Until I hit my 60's I was able to do just about anything I wanted to do. I worked 14-16 hour shifts (nurse), was fairly active, and didn't worry about my fat. However, there came a day when my health started to go downhill. I was injured at work and required a total knee replacement in 2007. Within that year, I gained about 70 extra pounds and became a sedentary person. My legs wouldn't hold me some days, my lungs were in trouble from severe Asthma, I developed sleep apnea. My B/p went up until I was taking 4 different B/P meds a day. My BMI was 52 and I was weighing in at 322 lbs on the day of surgery. The main reason I had the surgery was my PCP told me that I wouldn't see my 70th b/day if I didn't have the LAP-BAND®. So I started with the insurance requirements and was banded on 8/11/09. I have lost a little over 30 lbs in eight weeks, am OFF all my B/P meds except for one. No more C-Pap machine and am feeling better. I have along way to go but NO ONE is going to stop me. I am fortunate to have a supportive family but I did this for me & no one else. I deserve to live a long healthier life and I intend on doing it. Don't wait until your health starts to fail or you're in your 60's. Decide what you want and tell everyone else to go fly a kite! It's your body, your self image, your health. Good luck on whatever you do. I hope you make the right decision for you.

Have you spoken to your doctor about this situation? I can't imagine only losing 20 lbs in a three year period since you are exercising. Are you eating all the right things? Something isn't right. I'm sorry you are having these problems and hope that you get them resolved soon. You shouldn't fool around with it. Go see your surgeon and talk with him.

Congrats! What a wonderful feeling that has to be for you. Even tho I have a long long way to go to get under 200, I do know how you feel. I felt the same way when I got under 300. Now I'm headed to under the 200 mark and I'll be there by this time next year. You just watch me!

I lost 17 pounds in the first week and thought I was going to faint when the nurse told me. I have NEVER, NEVER lost that much weight in one month, much less a week!! Weight has slowed down now but hope it will pick up as I exercise more. You are doing good. Don't measure your loss by others. Everyone is different. My friend lost 28 pounds in one week.

Candy bars are considered slider foods and you really can't be successful on them...or least not very fast at any rate. My doctor wants me to lose 1-2 pounds a week. That is much slower than I thought it would be but in the long run, it's better for me. I am determined to lose the weight b/c I want to live longer. NO candy bar is going to get between me and a longer life. It isn't worth it to me. You might be a little too tight if all you can eat is 5-7 bites. That's not good. You should be eating at least a 1/2 cup of food and that's a lot more than you realize. You might try to find things that are naturally sweet to help you be satisfied and not crave the candy bars. Another thing, is don't buy them. Even a skinny person in your house doesn't need them. Halloween is coming up too...don't buy the candy! Last but not least, you have lost approx 60 pounds since you were banded and that's really good. What if you had gained that much???? Pat yourself on the back, throw out all candy, and start again. You can do it. Remember WHY you did it in the first place. Start journaling....it will help too. Good luck.

Guess what everyone? 1)My B/P is too low to take my meds! I have to see PCP and let him decide what to do now. I can't believe it is happening so fast! 2) I tried on some smaller clothes today and I was able to get in a size smaller jeans that were brand new and I hadn't ever worn them. They have been hanging in my closet just waiting for me. Yipee! I must be doing something right.

Is it leaking by any chance. I read a post from someone that had a leaking port tubing and they didn't know it until they tried to take out some of the saline. There wasn't as much in the band as they thought. Ask you doctor.

I'm not losing very fast but I did get into some clothes that are a size smaller than what I was wearing pre-op. I think I'd better start measuring too. Maybe it will help if I get discouraged.

I eat rotrissie (sp?) chicken and it's always nice & moist. I de-bone it when I get it, put it in small baggies. I also eat fish either baked, grilled or sometimes stir-fried (rarely). I eat grilled boneless pork chops but can't deal with beef in any form or fashion for some reason.

Congrats on your weight loss so far. As for being hungry, are you also using Jello, yogurt, sf popsicles? Those help with the hunger. Also your Protein shakes and Water. Hang in there. It will get better. The band isn't a magic weight loss wand. Only a tool for you to use in connection with your own will-power and good food choices.

Veronica & Ashley both sent me the recipe. I'll be at next group if nothing comes up beyond my control.

Yippee! What a wonderful year. I can't wait until Aug 2010 rolls around for me. I plan to be where you are in weight loss but won't be at goal yet. It will take a little longer to get to goal BUT I will do it. I refuse to give up.

You first have to find a way to control the anger! You are hurting yourself when you don't. Now, forgive yourself for eating all those Cookies and start again. You can do it.

Forgive yourself and go forward! Just remember to send the extra home with someone else or throw it away. Once the party is over, you have gotten your money's worth out of the cake and it isn't going to feed the kids in China, so get rid of it in a way that it doesn't wind up in your stomach! No one said this was going to be easy. You made a decision to do something pretty drastic and you can be successful with it. It just takes work everyday. I say again....FORGIVE yourself & GO FORWARD.

I used Dr. Leslie Miles at St Vincent's East in Birmingham. They have a website. It's Alabama Weight Loss Surgery Clinic. He and Dr L. Schmitt are both wonderful. Not sure where Butler is exactly but if you're close to Birmingham, you might contact them.