vlp1968

The process of my first fill went great. The doc. had no trouble finding the port and I really didn't feel anything except a little pressure. However, I could not keep water down that night. I threw up the water they gave me after the fill on the way home. I probably should have turned around but I didn't. It must have been a little swelling because I was fine the next morning. I would have called for sure if I wasn't able to keep anything down the next morning. Glad yours went well, hope it gives you some restriction for a bit. Best wishes.

I agree with the others, you are doing just great. it's common to loose a bunch of weight at the beggining, I think you will see it slow down. Your next post will probably be your weight loss stalled lol. Seriously, I hope that doesn't happen, but it might after such a large amount of weight loss. Your body will need to adjust. Keep up the good work!

I highly reccomend you get some workouts in. It is so tough to start I know, it took me 3-4 months postop before I hit the gym. However, given a little time it will become routine. I have not grown to love it, as some people do, but I don't hate it. Again, it's a matte of routine, just part of my day. Start off slow and gradually increase your duration and/or intensity. I started out walking on the treadmill for 20 minutes. About a year later, I now jog on the treadmill for 30. I had been doing 45 minutes at a slower speed. When I kicked up the speed a little, I backed down to 30. I will work on getting back up to 45 over the next week or 2. There is something about workingout that helps with food choices. I don't really know why, but I know I started eating even better when I started going to the gym. I work out with a trainer, doing weights, 4 days a week. If you can afford it I highly reccomend it. Not only do they make sure you are doing the right form and know when to increase the weight et... it is a system of accountability. You could just hire one for a month or so, learn some moves and then do it on your own. As far as eating, I swear by a low carb/low fat/high protien diet. I usually eat egg beaters for Breakfast, lunch and dinner are a lean protien and non-starchy veggie. I typically eat one snack of 2 low fat cheese sticks and 1/4c nuts. Some docs say no snacking, but I find it really helps get me through from lunch to dinner without getting too hungry. I think everyone needs to find what works for them. I don't see a problem with 1 or even 2 planned healthy Snacks. You can do this! Best wishes.

You did excellent! Goes to show this is really a lifestyle change and we really have to go with the flow. You got to eat some things you normally wouldn't, and some larger portions but didn't gain. Nice job!

You are doing great. Keep up the good work!

I stick to a protien and veggie when I go out to eat. I ask for extra veggies instead of the potatoes or pasta it comes with. Of course, stay away from the bread basket. It might help to check out the menue online before you go, and plan what you will order. Also, that way you can choose a different resturaunt if they don't have something you like and that is on your food plan.

I drink EAS carb control shakes. I like Atkins peanut butter bars. I buy them both at Walmart. Congrats on your upcoming surgery!

What kind of excersise are you doing? Are you working up a sweat? If your not, I suggest you gradually increase the intensity of what your doing. If your walking on a treadmill, you can put it on a slight incline. If your walking outside, try to pick up the pace. As far as diet, I swear by a low carb, low fat, high protien diet. Lots of lean meat and veggies. I usually have 3 eggs (1 yolk) for breakfast. Lunch and dinner are about 6 oz of a lean protien (fish, chicken, pork loin) and a veggie. I eat 2 cheese sticks and 1/4c nuts as snacks.

Are you keeping down fluids? If not, you should be seen by someone right away. If you can, I would stick to protien shakes until you see your doc. If keeping liquids down isn't a problem I doubt your band slipped. You were probably a little too tight from the fill and the vomiting has kept you swollen. You probably just need a slight unfill. Hope you feel better soon!

I looked at BMI as well. You want to be at 25 or below (there is a point it's too low but I forget what that is). You can find a BMI calculator online. You just enter your height and weight. Congrats on your weight loss so far- you are doing great.

I stayed the same size, but my foot is deffinately more narrow. Some of my shoes got too loose.

I agree! You are doing just great. Keep it up and the damn scale will move. You had a huge weight loss, your body is now adjusting. How often are you weighing yourself? I would try not to get on the scale more than once a week. The natural flucuations will drive you crazy. Keep up the good work!

I think your fine. I did have trouble "gulping" water after fills. But right after surgery I was able to drink pretty fast. You'll know if you need to slow down.

I hope you feel better soon!

Yes I agree, I don't think it will hurt the band at all. 2 caveats are that it has lots of calories and could reduce your inhibitions so you may eat something not on your plan. Havea great anniversary!

You are off to a great start! Congratulations

I know it's hard, but I would only weigh in once a week. I kept my scale in a cabinet under the bathroom sink and just pulled it out once a week. I recorded that weight. I knew the natural flucuations would drive me crazy. My once a week weight in's showed a steady loss for the most part. There was that one week I gained a pound even though I had stuck to my eating plan. Anyway, that being said I am now a "scale *****" as I work on maintaining my weight. I weigh in every morning. Part of me feels like I need to do this to monitor myself, and part of me feels like I am getting obsessed. I should probably cut back on getting on the scale to maybe twice a week. Congrats on your weight loss so far, you are doing great!

I swear by a low-carb/low fat/high protien diet. I usually eat eggs for breakfast, maybe some lite sausage. For lunch and dinner is a lean meat and nonstartchy veggies. I also have a planned snack, usually some cheese and 1/4cup nuts. Hope this helps! Good luck.

I eat at the same times every day too, at least for the most part. I include a healthy snack and 3 meals. That way, I can spread my food out across the day and not let myself get too hungry. Also just keeps me feeling in control.

I don't think you have anything to worry about. Right now your band is empty- so food is not sitting in the "small pouch", it is going right down into your "big stomach". Also the stomach has a lot of give to it, it is my understanding it would take months of evereating to stretch the pouch. I hope your first fill does it for you, it took me 3 fills to feel any restriction. Good luck!

You are doing great! Just be aware your weight loss may slow down. 10 pounds a month is a tough pace to keep up. Just don't want you to set yourself up for dissapointment. Have so much fun at the wedding, I am sure you will look great.

I completely agree with others who have said- if it's too big get rid of it. You will never need those large sizes again! I cleaned out my closet about every 6 weeks. I had plenty of smaller clothes from years of yo yo dieting. I bought one shirt and one pair of pants the whole time I was loosing. That I didn't even need but I wanted something new for a vacation. I gave all my clothes to my sister, who is also overweight. What she didn't want she passed on to friends or donated. I know it's hard to get rid of things you really like and maybe hardly ever wore, but I think it's important. That being said, the psyc. involved in my wls suggested I keep one "fat outfit" as a reminder. When I was frustrated with my rate of weight loss I looked at it or tried it on. It helped me to see how far I've come. Best wishes!

Although I was successful in getting to my goal, the lapband was not as helpfull as I hoped it would be. I had months here and there when I was in a really good place. However, I spent more time either hungry or getting sick than I would have liked. I think I was just finally ready to "give up the food". I have other addictions and I think food was simply the last one. I was in thereapy for a while, helped me learn to deal with my feelings in a healthier way. Part of me wishes I had given it one more shot before I got the band. I hadn't tried on my own in in about 5 years. All that being said, the bottom line is I lost the weight. My advice would be to try one more time to do it on your own, especially if you haven't in a while. I highly reccomend you start excersising if your not already, it has so many benefits, just one being weight loss. Also, I think everyone can benefit from some therapy, it's great to get an outside, proffessional opinion on things. Good luck!

First off- go see Bridesmaids for sure, it is hilarious! Sounds like you need to talk to your husband about how you feel. I understand you not wanting to go to the outings while on liquids, just too tempting. I think the 2 of you need to figure out how to spend time together on the weekends without it revolving around food. That being said, I think you have to do your part in the compromise. IMHO you shouldn't expect him to miss the gatherings, or even to always go by himself. Maybe you could go to something once a month (once your off liquids), and he goes once a month by himself. The other 2 weekends of the month you can do something unrelated to food. When you do go to a party, why don't you bring something you can eat, then at least you know you'll have something. Just a compromise off the top of my head, hope it helps. Congrats on your surgery!

As already said, everyone is different. "Hell" for me started only a few days after surgery. I hope you continue to feel satisfied with your small meals. I wouldn't get a fill until that stops, you don't want to be too tight, that is just miserable (been there done that). Keep up the good work!