happy2lose

I lost very quickly the first few months then it slowed down, now I am losing at a snails pace (4-5 pounds/month). I understand how frustrating it is.........but we didn't put the weight on overnight and its not gonna fall off overnight. I recommend you go back to the basics. Start journaling every bite that goes in your mouth, drink only Water...NO SODAS! Carbonation is VERY bad for your band especially within the first few months and you are setting yourself up for failure by having carbonation. Focus on solid Protein and begin an exercise regimen you will stick with. Shoot for at least 30 minutes exercise daily. Exercise is a vital component to weight loss and maintenance as well as long term health. If you are doing all this and still aren't losing, I recommend you see a nutritionist to find out what you may be lacking or getting too much of.

Sam's Club carries the Brown Cow brand with strawberry and blueberry but its only 13g of protein. I don't remember the price but I do remember it is cheaper than other stores.

If you take smaller bites, like I did mention, it wont hurt you to eat. It is completely normal to have a period of adjustment after each fill and you will notice the bites have to be smaller. Like I said, I like my band tighter. The reason being, I don't want to feel hunger. This is what the band is for! I am not some stupid person who is gonna wear my band so tight that it erodes. Besides, my doctor checks my band under fluoro every time I go in to make sure there is no slippage or erosion. Duh!

I go through the same thing after a fill. I just had a fill on Monday. After 2 bites I get intense hiccups. This is a sign that I have eaten enough. As time goes on, you will loosen up a little. This is the time to focus on chewing your food to death and taking very small bites. You'll be fine if you stick it out through the tightness. I like my band tight.

Having the band doesn't mean you can't enjoy things you always have. There is however, a small learning curve that we all go through. Best of luck to you!

Hang in there, it can be a very long process. Congratulations on your decision.

I agree, you should wait at least a week. Stay on liquids such as broth, s/f jello and water for at least another day to give the swelling of your stomach time to go down. You are trying to eat too soon. 2 cc's when you already had 7 was a very aggressive fill. In the later stages of fills it is best to add slowly.

I ran into a few naysayers in my own family which is why I decided not to tell anybody else until my surgery was over with. It really isn't anybody's business but your own and you need to do what is best for you. If you don't find the support you need in the people you are closest to, then the hell with them. "To thy own self be true".

Rest assured, lapband surgery is nothing by comparison to your c-sections. I had two c-sections also with the second one being harder to recover from, but this surgery was a piece of cake for me. I experienced some pressure on my chest for about the first week. Not much gas to speak of, some soreness around the port but that was all. My only advice is to start walking right after surgery and do your breathing exercises as instructed. Don't worry, you will do just fine. Donna

You can also make ranch dip out of the plain no fat Greek yogurt. Just add a package of the mix to 16 oz of the yogurt. Great for dipping veggies or on a baked potato if you want all those carbs.

I would focus less on the fee and more on interviewing for a new doctor. Prepare yourself a list of questions so that you don't have any surprises after you switch. #1 question for me would be if there is a set schedule for fills that would limit you to frequency of fills. #2 Find out how long it generally takes to get into the doctor for a fill. If they are really booked it may take weeks to get in which would make me think twice about picking that doctor. #3 Make sure your personality is compatible with the doc so you don't run into another negative attitude. Just a suggestion.......I really hope you find someone you are comfortable with. Just a thought I had about your current doctor......If you fail it affects his failure rate.....this is probably why he is pushing you.

Hmmm, I've never heard of this. I certainly hope it isn't true. I do know this is the case for gastric bypass patients though. Is it possible maybe you misunderstood?

Make sure you do a lot of walking to get rid of that gas.

I really don't have the answer for you. Are you eating foods that would cause you to have gas?

To all of you who think you will not be able to enjoy food again after being banded.......THIS SIMPLY ISN'T TRUE! Hold onto your restaurant gift cards. You can still use them after being banded. The only difference is, you will be eating much less. Your life isn't ending so try not to look at it this way. If you pack on weight before surgery, you are doing yourself a huge injustice. This is more weight you will have to lose later. Also, you're adding to the fat around your liver which can make surgery more difficult and dangerous or make your surgeon not be able to band you at all until you lose the weight and shrink your liver. Put it into perspective now! It's only food! There is so much more to life than food.

I had to stay on Clear Liquids only for the first 10 days, then the next 10 days were full liquids which included Protein shakes. I wasn't allowed cottage cheese or anything mushy until day 21. During the first 20 days the weight came off rapidly. Once I started mushy food it did slow down some. I guess you really can't compare yourself to me since we were eating differently at the same stage. I will tell you that in the 9 months since I have been banded I have not eaten a potato. Too high in carbs. I watch my fat intake as well as my carb and sugar intake. Focus on eating protein and veggies lower in carbs such as broccoli. Once in a while I do have a slice of pizza but if I were to eat high carb/fat foods on a daily basis I would not be losing weight. Just my opinion! Best of luck to you.

Yes, I believe that is possible. This is why I get my fills under fluoroscopy. By doing it under fluoro the doctor and you can see the change in barium flow as saline is injected.

My weight loss has always come in spurts and my weight seems to fluctuate a lot. It's probably best to only weigh once per week on the same day each week. This way you most likely wont notice the fluctuations. I lost quite rapidly over the first few months then it slowed down. If I average my weight loss it comes out to about 2 to 2.5 lbs. per week. However, I work out everyday. I don't always do the same workout, I mix it up a bit. My way of thinking is that as long as I am losing 10 lbs per month, I'm doing okay.

Are you on the liquid diet?

That's just not right! My surgeon is in Mexicali, Mx and always gives me an appointment for the day I am able to drive there.

I find that by working out consistently, I am less likely to blow it and eat things I shouldn't. I mean who wants to work out all the time then eat chips or pizza? It really defeats the purpose. Try making yourself work out for at least 45 minutes everyday and see if you tend to stick to eating healthier then. This keeps me on track.

Walmart has one in the fitness section. The cost is under $10.

I think its very important to have a supportive doctor. If yours isn't then by all means make a change. $250 is a small price to pay to do so. Only you know how much effort you are putting into your weight loss. If you aren't working very hard then you owe it to yourself to step it up a notch or two. But if you are working out regularly and following a nutritional plan then you are doing all you can do. some people are slow losers.

I bought a support belt at Walmart for under $10. It worked so well I went back and bought another. It's about 10" wide and closes with velcro. It is also designed to help you sweat in the area you wear it to target weight loss.