atgoalgal

great news! Thanks for sharing

Like so many have said here, they shouldn't be vomiting frequently. The truth of the matter is, if we don't chew really well, learn to slow down, and learn not to overstuff ourselves, our bands will tell us - in the form of discomfort or bringing food back up (notviolent like normal vomiting). You can't overeat (can you say: stuff our faces with solid foods when you have a band) The key is to learn to work this tool so that you can dine, enjoy your food, and not overstuff yourself. I've learned to do that and it's a blessing. I travel, go our for busness dinners, enjoy the holidays and the great food, and I get to wear cute clothes! Does that help?

I'm in my 4th year. I wouldn't describe myself a foodie, but I'm married to one - he's also an expert on imported wines and has never had a weight problem. My experience is that I now have a healthy relationship with food. I dine. I enjoy great food. I finally taste my food, not that I've slowed down. For me what has changed is the volume. I cook more now, and no longer feel guilty about enjoying food. I love banded living.

You started at a lower BMI, so the closer you get to a normal weight, the harder it ususally gets. I'm in my fourht year. My doctor predicted where I would stall out and he was right (unfortunately). I did get to my goal, but I had to double up my efforts. I blogged about it recently at http://www.gloriasbandedliving.com/transforming-002-maintaining-002-my-lap-band®-journey-results-not-typical/. Let me know if it helps. Feel free to PM me also.

Please, please don't go back to liquids unless your deoctor recommends it. You may lose weight over the short-term, but as soon as you start eating solids again, you may gain. The band only restricts solid foods, so you are bypassing the tool. To me going back to basics, means the basics of when you progressed to solids: journaling, getting your minimum grams of protein and eating your protein first with no food lube, no liquids with meals, no grazing...basically giving your band a chance to work. also check in with your doctor, maybe a fill or "head adjustment" from your doctor will help. Don't be afraid to see your doctor if you've gained some weigh, this is just when u need hom or her most. I go back to basics periodically. Please also check out my blog, lots of folks say it's giving them some ideas and inspiration when they need it, you can find it at Gloria's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story. You can sign up for email updates, hoepfully a bit of inspiration delivered to your email on a regular basis. Also, if any of you struggling want to PM me, I'm happy to help!

Each practice is different (I know you hear that all the time on these boards, but..). Plan to be on liquids, so have Protein drinks with you for the day; that seems to be the most common. Congratulations, even if you are one of the lucky ones who has lost weight during the recovery phase - you are progress from the recovering phase to the weight loss (transforming phase)!

I would guess that you are coughing because you are still irritated. That being said, I would recommend that you call your doctor. You may be instructed to stay on liquids for a day or 2. You shouldn't be worried about calling your doctor. That's what he or she is there for. Better to call during the week than to have to call over the weekend.

I agree that the right question is "Do you break *your* doctor's rules?" Thanks for that!:wink: The manufacturers of the Lap-Band and REALIZE band have different rules posted on their sites. I also have found that there are a few rules that most practices follow like: don't drink with meals, get enough protein(usually setting a target number of grams), eat good quality meals and don't graze, don't drink your calories, take small bites and chew thoroughly, learn what foods are difficult for you to tolerate, take your vitamins. There is definitely variation from practice to practice and I totally agree that the most important thing is to work with your doctor to find what works for you. I have tremendous respect for my surgeon; he acts as my head coach on this banded living journey, and I work very closely with him and his practice to get the most from this life-changing tool. My doctor really helped me to undestand the meaning of the lap-band as a tool, and the need to learn how to work the tool to get the most out of it (if you are interested in more on that topic, you can read my blog entry Maintaining #002, Exploring #005: Is Gastric Banding a Surgery or A Tool? 10/10/2009). I also think it's critically important that we all remain accountable for our decisions and honest with ourselves. It sounds like you do too!

Hey Sandi. You've always had great advice. I love the way you put it... "So I went on to start investigating the second thing I said I would NEVER do in my life – plastic surgery. The first thing I said I would never do was weight loss surgery " Both as my friend and as my mentor on this Banded Living journey I loved reading this post on your blog. The tips are great!

Love your honesty and candor. It sounds like you are working really hard to work your tool! :wink:

woohoo! You go girl! That's great news! So what are you doing to celebrate?

Reading your posts,it sounds like you are all about being accountable and doing what's right for you and your body, and working closely with your doctor to find solutions to make the band work for you. I think that's what we all need to be doing!:wink:

If it happens again, I would call your doctor. Better to be safe than sorry. Also make sure you don't eat before bed. Having food in the upper portion of your stomach before you lay down, can cause irritation etc.

Here's my view on questions like this. if you want to get the best results(better than 50%EWL), follow your doctors instructions as closely as you can. If there is a band rule that you don't think you can live with, talk to your doctor about it, be honest and see what wiggle room you have, but make those decisions with your eyes wide open and be accountable for your decisions.I'm sorry if some of you don't like the answer but its reallyu important to be honest with ourselves and our doctors, if we want results.

Hey fellow members of the banded living community. I am in my fourth year, and maintaining a normal weight (100% EWL). I recently posted an entry on my blog that I thought might be helpful for anyone who has already been banded and is trying to get the most out of their tool. You can find it at Transforming #002, Maintaining #003, My Lap-Band® Journey: RESULTS NOT TYPICAL. Please let me know if it's useful

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll look into it. Any tips?

I'm in my 4th year and consider myself a veteran. I've been maintaining my goal weight for over 2 years. I started a retrospective blog as a way of paying it forward. Banded Living is one of the best things that ever happened to me. You may want to download the 7 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before Lap-band surgery. Also, check the preparing category on my blog for a list of things to stock up on before surgery. Here's the link: Gloria's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story. Let me know if it's useful. Good luck on your journey!

Lap-Band since 2006

Great responses on this thread. Protein first. Make sure you are getting in your protein requirement - your doctor probably gave you a target for minimum grams of protein - what I ususally hear is 60 -80 grams/day. Different things work for different people - some ideas are tuna made with a tablespoon of lowfat mayo (I'm not a big fat of lowfat everything, but the lowfat may works well), eggs, grilled salmon, hambuger (made from ground sirloin or other llean cut), turkey burger. If you really can't tolerate good quality protein, and are getting your protein from Protein drinks, you should definitely call your doctor. People who find themselves relying on liquids and soft foods don't ususally do as well because the band resticts solid foods.

Sorry, I'm not local. I hope you can find a local support group or mentor. Keep in mind that if you do find a general WLS support group, band patients have very different experiences that bypass patients. You can't compare your weight loss to theirs. We achieve about the same results at year 3 and beyond, but they lose much faster at first and have very different issues (sorry if u know this already). You can use those of us on these boards who've been banded years ago for on-line support. Studies show that people who actively track their progress and use on-line support achieve better results than not actively involved in some form of support program.

Finding the courage to share my story was hard, but it was also part of my journey into the maintaining phase - a place I've never been before. I needed to get to the point that I was confident that this weight loss was for real and forever. Paying it forward is very rewarding. Stay in touch.

Someone else asked the same question this morning. Youmight want to check out this thread http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f178/first-fill-morning-do-i-110565/#post1420302 Lot's of good infor

Glad u posted an update. I was hoping to hear from u. 19 lbs in great! Congrats! Just so that you know, I have a very close friend, she was my lapband mentor, who never needed a fill for a year. Over about 2 years she lost 250lbs. I was at the other extreme, needing many fills to find my sweet spot, so as you start research fills, keep in mind everyone is different.

Not all practices recommend liquids just before a fill, but it can't hurt. Everyone gets the jitters, but it really is not much more than a needle stick, and just think, you'll be on your way to resticition which is part of the magic of this tool. Stay in touch