SoccerMomma73

1-2 pounds is the average yes, but hey, on this diet it is permanent, on the other 300 I tried before it was always temporary, even when I lost 5-6 in a week...it always came back. This time it's not. Slow and steady wins the race ladies. You are both healing at this stage. Believe it or not weight loss in the early days of being banded tends to be fairly slow for many of us. Yes, your body goes from 3000 calories a day to 1000 (or so, give or take) and yes it slows down for a while and tries to hold on to each and every one of those calories. Go through and read old posts from new bandsters...most of us did the exact same thing and had the exact same thoughts. I think we all just expect it to be falling off. Follow your doctors diet. Eat/drink your Protein. Do your exercise. Drink your Water. It will come off and it will improve. Don't give up and try not to get frustrated. If you're like most of us it took you years to get to this point and the weight is not going to all come off over night. Again, slow and steady. But it does get better! Good luck!

Okay, so I wrote this long detailed "what the hell are you expecting" post then decided it was too harsh and deleted it. You are, after all, new to this. So, I will try to remain calm and help you out, if possible. First, I do not know you or your circumstances, I don't know your current weight, height, how long you've had weight issues, how much you plan to lose, etc, so I don't really know where you're coming from. So this post is for early lap band in general, not you specifically. Second, I'm very concerned with how well your physician prepped you for your surgery. There appear to be some gaps in your band knowledge so hopefully this will help fill them in. Average weight loss with a band is 1-2 pounds a week. MANY of us lose little to none the week of surgery and the first few weeks following, many of us lose little for many months while trying to reach restriction. Typically early on in banded life, weight loss is slow then picks up as restriction is improved. Thirteen pounds in a week is amazing, hugely dramatic, and well beyond the norm. And, actually, if I read your post right, you lost the 13 pounds in 4 days...just over 3 pounds a day, that's over a 10000 calorie deficit each of those days...that's, well, almost crazy. Was this your pre-op weight or post-op full of IV fluids weight that you've counting as your starting weight? Muscle has mass. If you're starting an intense exercise program, you are going to gain muscle (which in the long road does lead improved weight loss but sometimes looks ugly on the scale). Weight loss with the band is not consistant. I'll lose 4 pounds 1 week, gain 1 the next, lose 2 the next, none the next, etc...Also hormones, stress (emotional or physical)...there are a lot of variables to weight loss. It took most of us years to get to our current weight (or pre-op weight), while it would be nice for it to just all fall off it ain't gonna happen! If you're expecting it to you will likely be very disappointed. The band is a way of life, and it is often a slow journey. Most of us lose the weight with each pound kicking and screaming to stay where it is. Now, take a step back and re-read your post. You are a week in from being banded and you've lost 13 pounds. THIRTEEN POUNDS?!?! You should be jumping up and down celebrating not being hard on yourself. Be realistic. Don't expect miracles. And enjoy the journey. At times it's a pain in the ass and very frustrating but it's also a heck of a lot of fun to rediscover yourself. Good luck. With your determination you will do well, just don't be so hard on yourself!!!!

I am single and my son was 5 at the time of my surgery. I spent 1 night in the hospital and then 2 nights at my parents place (I only wanted to stay 1 but they insisted...moms....). Other than not being able to lift him (he's a snuggle bug even at 6) I was fine to take care of us alone after that...slow and slightly achy but fine. The night I came home from the hospital my son had a GI bug and was throwing his toenails up....we could have managed alone but it was REALLY nice to have mom send me to bed while she stayed up with him. I would say at least 3 days of help would be good, you'll have some sore days but you can likely make it on your own after that. GOOD LUCK!!!!

FYI, check on the potassium, a lot of them are slow release and shouldn't be crushed....yours may be fine but just wanted to warn ya! Congrats on the loss too!!

We really should have a LBT potluck sometime soon!

Leigha-okay, so, if every last ounce you lose comes off the boobs are you gonna be pissed? You are gorgeous, all extra 8 and everything, I wish you luck! Bob, you crack me up. Donna-YAY!!!! No meds is awesome!!!! So, I had homemade bread and coconut cream pie at the local AARP meeting for dinner tonight (I was speaking), guess it's a good thing I'm a loose right now because OH MY that was some seriously delicious stuff!

Mine's on the right between ribcage and belly button level...surgeon operates from the patients right side so this is his favorite place to put 'em...says consistancy in placement makes the fills easier. Whatever. It works and I don't notice it!

I haven't seen it either :bolt: I hope they keep it though, love me some Bret, even if he is a skanky ho...just can't help it.

I did the same thing, it was one of my staples when I was on liquids, strained of course...actually tasted like FOOD...it was heavenly

Check the date on that post, he wasn't then but he is now (and has been for several months). Full fledged, slimes, PBs and everything! It's a glamorous life.

9 days, 17 hours, and 22 minutes...I woke up STARVING...and stayed that way until I could advance to mushies...IT SUCKED but does end and is totally worth it. Congrats to all you newbies on starting your journey!

Don't be so hard on yourself! You're new at this and your body is still adjusting to the lower calorie intake, exercise, etc. (metabolisms change and I swear sometimes they just shut down while they're "resetting"). Keep exercising, keep watching what you're eating and it will get better...you may want to either change up what you're eating or how you're exercising a bit, sometimes a little change does great things. Most importantly...STEP AWAY FROM THE SCALE!!!! Put it up for a week or put it up and only weigh at your docs office but weighing and obsessing constantly only pisses you off and discourages you...there's so much day to day fluctuation in Fluid levels, etc that you have no control over (stress, period, etc...) And breathe...it will be okay, don't give up and don't lie to your doc, the last thing you want is to be over-filled and have to have an unfill and start this over again.

Anne-welcome back to the land of the living! Hope it all goes well and please do check in with us every once in a while to update! Denise-I had gestational diabetes and the only way to get my a.m. glucose under 90 (which is what they wanted since I was pregnant) was to have a snack in the evening before bed. If I went from dinner to breakfast without eating my liver rebelled over night and made its own sugar....Now, gestational diabetes is a little different than anything else, but just something to think about. (an orange seemed to work best but that was pre-band...a couple crackers with cheese or peanutbutter also worked well). Confessions...I have now lost 3 of the 5 pounds I regained in the first 2 weeks after the unfill...It was fun while it lasted but just proves how much I need to be banded.... Refill in 9 days! Woohoo!!! I'm hoping to lose those last 2 so I can at least break even when I show up. I can only assume we're going to go super slow on the fills now given the complications which sucks since I'm self pay but oh well, investment in my health and my future and all that :smile2:

Two days out I was tired, achy, weak, and shaky.... My calorie intake averaged 400-500 that first week or so, so I was fairly pooped. Good luck! If you do go back that soon remember to take it easy, sip all day, and rest as much as you can. (I went shopping on post-op day 3 and had to sit down and take a break halfway through the store. I didn't feel bad, just really really tired and weak).

When I gurgle (wow that's a weird word to spell) I'm too tight....I'd take the zofran and try sipping, very slowly, liquids, but if you're not keeping fluids down with the zofran for an extended period I'd get help.... Good luck! (and keep us updated when you can)

Welcome to bandster hell. The point where your swelling and such goes down and you don't have any or much of a fill and you're hungry hungry hungry and have no restriction. Just so you know, you're normal and it does get better! As far as eating more often what did your doc say? If I remember correctly my doc wanted me to go 4+ hours between meals but I was averaging about every 2 because, like you, was starving. Good luck, just rmember it does get better and it is so worth it!

Yay on your approval and being half way through the pre-op....it gets better, it gets better, it gets better :biggrin: As I'm sure you know every doc is different but I think I was at 6 weeks before I could do raw veggies or bread (my doc is fairly conservative). He makes you wait so long on veggies because they fiberous and hard to break down small enough to get through the stoma and bread because it gunks up and can block it. Get some clarification next time you see them and when the time comes advance slowly, don't rush it. Good luck!!!!

Stac-you're my twin, my, err, "incident" was 3 1/2 months after my last fill :-P go figure. I am glad I named "Steve" a guy, he's WAY too fickle to be a sweet lil southern belle like me. Denise is a hottie, Denise is a hottie!!!!

Uh, no, I experienced reflux and had to have an unfill :biggrin: Sorry! But seriously I think the reflux was the final straw and the irritation from that is what closed me off....Prevacid is OTC and is a little different than the prilosec so it might be worth trying if the prilosec isn't cutting it. Good luck!

You are healing, be careful. FYI when i have restriction eggs are one of the hardest things for me to eat. I won't lecture you for cheating but you did throw this out for the world to see. Some of us sugar coat it, some of us don't. Fattys final line "For your health you should listen to your doctor" is completely true. So, feel free to call me a vulcher or whatever you want. It's your band, it's your life, my only advice is be careful.

Banded life is not what I expected. No, the weight doesn't fall off but I also don't have to obsess about every bite that goes into my mouth or go insane with exercise. If I eat a relatively healthy diet and stay active then I slowly and consistantly drop. How could I be so lucky?!?! I've noticed recently however that my taste in foods is changing. I have always been a meat eater but these days I could go without it and not miss it. Weird, and again, unexpected. Luckily my love of beans has grown ridiculously as my love affair with meat has dwindled so I can live off the beans for protein. I, err, may never have a good dating life again given the, umm, "side effects" from the beans, but for now it'll do. Another unexpected...I've had a really tough week emotionally. Bad things have happened (they won't kill me, I will survive, but in the grand scheme of things it's a pretty big deal) and rather than sit on the couch and eat potato chips, I sort of just don't want to eat. I guess my old buddy "comfort food" is no longer my best friend and companion...again, not a bad thing, just, well, surprising.

Bobbiez, Bobbiez, Bobbiez!!!! Welcomez back Bobbiez!!!! You are always welcome here you dork! Welcome Lov'n and AJ. Glad you found us, just don't pick on our resident smart ass Brian (Bob) or we'll have to go all gangsta cheerleader on you. Lov'n (sorry, I just can't seem to spell it the other way) where ya from? I'm Christie, in brief, a 37 year old single mom to am amazing 6 year old boy (whom you will hear way too much about if you hang around long). Married a loser who did bad bad things then headed off to prison (him, not me) about the time my son was born then keeled over dead (again, him, not me) so it's just the boy and I. I have been fat all my life and insecure because of it. I'm about 7 months out and down eh, 76ish pounds? I'm shooting for 160 so just shy of 60 pounds to go. Had to have a slight unfill 2 weeks ago due to yucky stuff so am enjoying eating way too much until I get my refill in 2 weeks. You would think I'd have enough will power to behave for 1 month but apparently that is not the case. I love my band Steve but at the same time he is a fickle pain in my ass...we're still trying to figure each other out but I think we're in it for the long run. And bandster hell is a fun fun time but it does come to an end and before you know it (hopefully) those pounds will just start falling off...remember, exercise is your friend (although personally I consider it that mean bully I really don't care much for). Welcome to our happy family!!! Bobbiez, no more running away from home mizzy!!!

Non-professional opinion here but no, you PROBABLY didn't stretch it, make it slip, or do any permanent damage. HOWEVER...consider the miserable feeling your warning. If you continue to overeat and eat things you are not supposed to then yes, you very well may cause some damage. We all (well most of us) cheat a little now and then but even with the band in place you still have to exercise some self control...the band just makes it easier. Get up tomorrow, dust yourself off, and do better next time...and be very, very careful. Good luck!

The things we do to ourselves, sheesh. Congrats on the success you've had so far. You attitude combined with your band sound like a recipe for great success. Keep up the good work!

I eat slowly enough and have enough foods that I am unable to eat that I think I would have to tell him before he cooked for me....I understand wanting to wait to tell, but I think I'd just throw it all out there, but then again, I'm very much single and have been for a long time now Good luck!