shonette

I am sorry you had to experience that, but I have experienced that feeling several times too many. I was too tight and everything I put into my mouth would get stuck. It's always best to take very small bites and chew very well.

<P>I can see myself in this picture all over again. When most people are first banded- we expect and want to see major results "quick", and I do think in a sense it's normal to want that. However, for most people it's going to take time to lose the weight. I was told time and time again by my doctor and others on this site that time is something we can't rush. It took time to gain the weight and it's going to take time to lose it as well. Don't beat up on yourself because someone's success is a little more progressive than yours. Each person on this site is an individual and our bodies all work totally different. Learn your band and what works for you. Learn to eat healthier foods and balance the appropriate amount of protein and water your body needs to become lean and strong. I have been in this for over a year and each day continues to be a learning experience. Good luck and stay motivated and encouraged. </P>

I sorry- but I read this blog a couple of times and I still don't get it! Whatever, you were sharing I think I missed the entire thing.

<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">It's been 16 months since I was banded. Yes, I want to have a healthier life style, but I don't totally restrict foods that I like. I do know that's one of the main reasons my weight lost has been slower to come off. But I am losing constantly! I pay more attention to the inches- instead of the pounds. I can wear something one day and a couple of weeks later, it fits me totally different. For me, the main purpose for having my surgery was to control my portions and to aid with losing weight. Losing weight has never been an easy thing for me, but now I am able to know my limits and be more satisfied with eating smaller portions. No, I don't count calories but I make an honest effort to eat foods that are better for me. "No", pigging out on unhealthy foods totally defeats the purpose for having a band. There must be some accountability for food choices and doing some kind of physical activity as much as your schedule allows. Some weeks I hit the gym hard and others weeks I can't. I also try to be as active as possible daily. You just have to figure out what works best for you once you have your band! I do wish you the very best of luck.</SPAN></P>

It's been 15 months since I was banded. Looking back over this entire process is somewhat of a fog. My feelings are totally different today than I remember them being initially. I was so very excited and I didn't know what to expect from the band or my “body”. I had joined this site almost a year before having my surgery so I was very familiar with the way some things were going to be. However, until you actually cross this bridge for yourself- no one else's experiences can compare to your own! Learning to live with this band and how it's going to work for you is a total different story. There were a lot of trail and errors for me and it still continues to be some rough spots from day to day. My whole entire life, I have had issues with food. I have good restriction now, but I still have to monitor my desire to over eat. When I don't listen to my band, and I eat one bite too many -I do pay for it several hours later. I experience this awful pain that you just can't imagine. I can say- that I am learning to pay attention when enough is enough for me. Really, having this band is not a quick fix to anyone's weight lost problems, but it's an aid to make your weight lost more achievable and to feel full a lot quicker or more satisfied. The key to this band is not to fell full but satisfied. There is a lot of work on my part and self discipline with right food choices. It's very easy to fill up on high calorie foods (that goes down really easy) then wonder why you are not losing weight. Unfortunately, I have been there and done that as well. I think it's really helpful to let others know that bad choices are made with this band, but you can recover from them and still be successful with your weight lost. Yes, I am a slow loser and a lot of it is because of my own choices, but I have changed a lot. I have also lost a lot of weight as well! I have learned to be accountable for my own actions and not blame everything in the blue sky for me being over weight. I've learned that working out is not a punishment, but being good to myself and overall all fitness! Most of all- I love all of the positive attention from other people. Since I am 6"1 people think I have lost a whole lot more weight than I actually have. Yes- I love the new me. I always remember why I did this and I remind myself that anything worth having is worth working toward! My beginning size was 24-26 and today I can wear a size 16-18. Yesterday was my 9th wedding anniversary and my husband purchased me a pant suit from NY & Company size 16! I was tickled pink. I've always been embarrassed for my husband to buy clothes for me due to my size, but yesterday was a totally new and different feeling! Yes- I love it!

I really do appreciate all of the encouragment and insight from each of you. Again, thanks.

You have done an amazing job. The weight will come off just adjust a few things you are doing, because our bodies tend to get adjusted to the same routines and food choices.

<P>Keep it up because no good deed goes unnoticed. </P>

Ha, don't beat yourself up too much. It just lets you know that now you have to be a lot more focused on you weight lost goals. Make the right food choise are not easy, but once you see the weight coming off it's all worth the efforts you've made. Good luck.

I have been there and done that! I am so very glad to see you are doing so much better. Most people don't realize that being to tight will prevent weight lost because it will lead to eating slider foods that are very high in calories. I will also cause long term damage due to the excessive acid reflux.

I am so very sorry to hear that you have some problems with your kidneys, but at least you now know what you are dealing with. Take care of yourself and continue to keep your salt intake as low as possible. Taking prescription water pills are a temporary fix and a lot of the water retention is controled by the things you eat. I have the same problem. I can tell right off the bat if I am eating something that's too high in salt. I do wish you the very best of luck. I think to be on the safe side I would make and appointment with a urinalysis.