timetobefree

I'm kinda like you. 112 lbs gone, and I've gone from a tight 28 to a 22, almost 20. It seems it takes a long time to drop sizes at the higher weights, but it'll go faster at the lower weights. I pretty much skipped 24s altogether. It's strange how it happens...

None at all, except for the standard, "I wish I had done it sooner." 112 lbs lost in 9 months. It's a freakin' miracle!

Exactly my opinion as well. And exactly how I am living. Down 100 lbs in 8 months, so something is working with that idea. I hope you continue to stay positive with your attitude! Getting to restriction is what makes all the difference. Once you have restriction, I hope you can live this way as well! Hang in there! Amy

I agree with everyone else. We eat pretty much the same stuff as before, I just eat a lot less of it. For example, I just made beef and been enchiladas for dinner. DH ate 3 or 4 of them, and pre-op, I would have done the same. Tonight, however, I had 1/2 of one and was totally satisfied. DS (15 months) ate an entire one himself, while DD (2.5 years old) ate what she eats 90% of the time - pb&j. Sigh at the terrible twos. Last night we had crab cakes (oh so yummy!), the night before we had pork tenderloin, sugar snap peas, and roasted potatoes. Seriously, I very, very rarely make something different for myself. Good luck!

Hey, Jamie, Sounds like you are bit over your freak out, but I wanted to respond as well. I'm about 8.5 months out from surgery and down just over 100 lbs. I am no longer obsessed with food. I eat what I want, within reason, including all my favs. And I LOSE WEIGHT! Yes, there are some things that don't go down well (steak, scrambled eggs), but I am willing to forgo those if it means I can eat chocolate and still lose weight. Fair trade off in my mind. I no longer have gas. I used to be a very gassy person. I rarely, indeed very rarely, have gas anymore. I guess when you aren't inhaling sugar by the ton, your body doesn't produce as much gas. I have started just recently losing some hair. This is totally normal at this stage of the game and I've been reassured will not continue. But it didn't start until about the last week or two, so about 8 months post-op. My skin is starting to sag. Oh well. When I have clothes on, you can't really tell. And since those clothes are quite a bit smaller than the clothes I was wearing previously, I am not complaining. DH is the only person who sees me naked, and believe me, he's not complaining either. :thumbup: Hang in there - it is soooooooooooooooooooo worth it. And so are you!

Based on this poll, I don't think 11 is average, but it is also not unusual. It took me until 11.25cc to hit restriction. It's frustrating when you have to go so high, because it takes awhile to get there, but once I got there, I've lost weight fairly quickly!

So glad to say it's my turn to post here! 8 months + 1 week after surgery, and I am down 100.2 lbs! Now, it might have taken a little stomach virus to get me here, but I'll take it any way I can get it. :rolleyes2: Congrats to all the losers here - so proud to be a member of the century club!

Congrats! You've done amazingly well and deserve to LIVE on cloud 9! I hope to be joining you in the century club in a week or two. :cool: Congrats again, Amy

2.7 lbs/week, but like Betsy said, sometimes it's 5 lbs/week and only 1 lb the next. However, I am certainly not complaining!

What was the date of your surgery? 11.25.09, 7.5 months ago How healthy did you/do you eat? Before I ate so-so; now I eat fairly healthy, but I eat what I want if I want something. I don't count calories or anything like that. How much do you exercise? I just started yesterday. :sad: How much have you lost? 95 lbs exactly! Are you happy with your results? Without a doubt!

It took me 5 fills to find restriction and a sixth one to find my sweet spot. I actually gained from a month after surgery until about 5 months post-op. And then my head and my band seemed to find their sweet spots at the same time - and BAM! I'm down nearly 100 lbs in less than 8 months. Bandster hell sucks, but once it's over, you'll hardly even remember how bad it was. I promise!

Congrats! You've done amazingly well!

I wrote out a long reply the other day and it got eaten by the message boards! I lost about 40 lbs leading up to surgery and two weeks afterwards. Then I bounced around for a few months. It wasn't until two months ago when my fills really got me to restriction that I started losing again. Since then I've lost nearly 40 lbs more. You need to be restricted for this to work. I absolutely cannot over eat now that I am restricted. The band WILL WORK if you get to restriction. Go talk to your doc and get restriction. I promise you, you will feel so differently once you cannot eat too much and are satisfied on so much less. It's not perfect, and I still get hungry, but it is so much different than it was even a few months ago. Believe me, I could not binge if I wanted to. Fortunately, I don't even want to! Best of luck to you!

I have lost just under 80 lbs in 6.5 months. I have followed the eating rules, but I admit, I've not exercised regularly yet. If I had been, I could have lost even more, I am positive. Still, I am very happy with my results! You can do it!

Banded 6.5 months, 79 lbs gone, and no problems, other than I get very swollen after fills and have to do liquids for about 10 days. Which is fine with me, it really kickstarts the weight loss!

I was banded 11.25.09, and I didn't really start losing until April. It took me five fills to get some restriction and a sixth to get real restriction. I still don't think I'm at my sweet spot, but I am hanging in there. I lost 23 lbs pre-op and another 17 in the few weeks after surgery. I didn't lose anymore until April. But once it started coming off, it's coming off! If your surgeon is nice, work with him! He is there to help you - once you reach restriction, I promise, it'll be much easier!

About exercise...I know it's important and I am certainly not advocating for not exercising, however, I have lost more than 70 lbs in 6 months without working out regularly. As the weight has come off, my energy level has increased. I chase my two toddlers more, I park further away, I take the stairs at work, I clean my house more, and so on. So while it is an important aspect (and I am working towards making it a regular part of my life), I am living proof that you can lose weight without running an hour a day! Good luck!

I hate throwing up more than anything in the whole world, and I am surviving PBs. :biggrin: Before I had good restriction, it was usually one good spit up that I knew was coming and the pain would immediately go away. It was usually from too big of a bite or something not chewed well enough. Now that I have more restriction, it doesn't come on as quickly, but I always have LOTS of warning. And one good spit up doesn't always cure it. It's not fun, but it's not that bad either. And if you are really stuck, believe me, you'll be happy to PB. Being stuck really sucks! But it's all worth it - totally and truly. Amy

I was banded six months ago (today!!!) and still have a lump from the IV site. It hurt until about a month ago, unfortunately.

I am so freakin' frustrated with this whole process, I could just cry. OK, I actually have cried. I'm almost 5 months post-op with 11cc in my 14cc band. My last fill was 2 weeks ago - 1cc. Prior to that, I had no real restriction. I'd had a few PB's but had no lasting relief from hunger and could still eat all the usual suspects with no problems (most of the time). The last fill made me WAAAAAAY too tight for about 10 days. I could only do liquids and some mushies until a few days ago when I could suddenly eat again. Now that I can eat, I am focusing on solid Proteins (fish, chicken, etc.). I don't drink while I eat nor for an hour afterwards. Yet, I eat my 1 cup of food and am still hungry. I drink at least 100 oz of Water every day. I do everything I'm supposed to, but have no relief from hunger. How in the heck could I go from sooo tight to not tight enough in the matter of days? Anyone experience this? Ideas? Where in the heck is my sweet spot? Am I too tight or too loose? Is the sweet spot just a myth? Have I lost my mind? :smile: I am getting all irrational and feeling like I am going to be the person the band doesn't work for! I have a call into my PA, but she didn't call me back today. Thanks, Amy

Thanks, Westonrose. I actually don't have any other health problems, and I've been seeing a therapist regularly to deal with the head issues. I honestly think I am in that icky place where I am a bit too tight so I can't get a good meal down, but my surgeon doesn't do "small" unfills, so I think I just have to ride it out and see what happens. The good news is the weight is flying off. The bad news is I am hungry a lot of the time. Patience is my new mantra!

I was at 11cc in a 14cc band without restriction, and I am definitely not on the small side! :smile2: I had .25cc added last week and am now too tight. I think it's just swelling, but I am really, really hoping this is my sweet spot. Almost six months out, I'd love for the band to help my hunger!

Hey, I reread this and was hoping you could clarify. Do you mean that your hunger eventually went away over the course of months? I've been debating if it is head hunger, although I do experience real physical symptoms, like a watering mouth, achy stomach, shaking, etc. But maybe it is in my head and will get better. Here's to hoping!

Thanks, everyone! I am starting to think I am extraordinarily sensitive to fills. I had #6 a week ago tomorrow - .25cc - and have been mega-tight since. PB'ed four times and have only had liquids and semi-liquids (broccoli cheddar soup). I guess I must swell quite a bit for a while afterwards. I'm doing all liquids through the weekend and then I'll evaluate where I am. Unfortunately, my PA is less than helpful and really couldn't help me determine if I was too loose or too tight. ARGH. And the NUT hasn't called me back in over two weeks. I'll be changing practices, but we are moving soon, so I am waiting so I only have to switch once. Anyhow, this is why I so appreciate the support here! It sure helps...

I have 11cc in my 14cc band and feel like I am on the verge of restriction, finally. I can't eat much before I feel physically full, but it doesn't give me relief from hunger, if that makes sense. I am going in next Wed for a fill and hoping this is it! So, no, it's not uncommon to need more than 10cc to get to restriction. There's a poll down in the fill section (I think) about how many cc's to get to restriction in a 14cc band, and it's something like 25% of people need more than 10cc, so don't be discouraged! My fills were 6, 1.5, 1.5, 1, and 1 every four weeks for a total of 11. I am thinking .5 might get me there this time! Hang in there - I keep telling myself the same thing. :redface: Amy