vlp1968

Wanting to get back on track is the first step. You don't mention how your hunger is. I wonder if you need a fill. That's great your excersising. Keep that up for sure! I have found going on liquids ie. protein shakes for a couple days helps get me back on track. Good luck!

I have been banded about a year and a half. I lost 107 pounds in about 10 months. Aside from being too tight after a couple of the fills (vomiting, but it's not like regular vomiting, no heaves. The food just kind of comes right back up) I have had no complications. I don't know about the statisitics you mentioned so I really can't speak to them. I can say, with the right diet and excersise it is possible to loose more than 50 pounds in a year. You must remember everyone's body is different. Some just tend to be "slow loosers". I am lucky in that my body responds when I do the right things, always has. I ate very high protein, low carb and low fat. I did cardio for about 45 min. 4-5 days a week. I got a personal trainer and do weights 3 days a week. If you can afford one I highly reccomend it, it is very motivating and keeps you accountable. Not to mention that when you build muscle you increase your metabolism. It is a big decision, you are asking good questions. Good luck!

I have had 3 surgeries since being banded- a tummy tuck/boob job, minor procedure to correct fluid build up from tummy tuck and also a face lift. I did not have any fluid removed for these surgeries. Of course, my surgeon knew about the band. I would go with whatever your surgeon reccomends for you. This was just my experience.

Sorry you are having such a rough time. Wanting to get back on track is the first step. I am wondering if you do need a fill. Getting stuck every once in a while doesn't mean you don't need to be a little tighter. You may be eating too fast, not chewing enough et... It might just be the food as well, bread and pasta can be very difficult. If you are having a lot of hunger I would go in and talk with your surgeon. Too get back on track you might want to do a liquid diet of low carb protein shakes for 2-3 days. I would then eat a low carb, high protien, low fat diet. Lots of lean meat and veggies. Berries for fruit are relatively low in carbs. If you need a fill, you can worry about portions once you have better restriction. Excersise is a key factor. It works wonders for weight loss. If you are not already doing it I highly reccomend you start. Start out slow and gradually increase your duration. If you can afford a personal trainer I highly reccomend it. I meet with a trainer 3 days a week for weights. It really helps hold me accountable. I was lucky to find someone I just love. The half hour goes by pretty fast. Well that's my advice, remember loosing weight comes down to calories in and calories out. That being said, I also believe a low carb diet helps as well. Keeps your blood sugar from spiking. Hope all this helps and best wishes!

That is great! It is such a wonderfull feeling to fit into smaller clothes. I think it's even better than seeing the scale go down, although it's close lol. Keep up the good work!

Great job! Seems like you had fun. Keep up the good work!

I think I have read about putting vasaline on the areas that tend to blister. As said above, be sure to wear socks and good, comfortable sneakers. I bought a pricey pair of sneakers at a place by me called Fleet Feet. They have people there who really know what they are doing and helped me to pick out a pair. Maybe there is something like that near you. Great job excersising! Keep it up as best you can!

The above post offers great advice- I second it. I also encourage you to excersise- it not only works wonders for weight loss but also will help with your anxiety, it's a great stress reliever. Start out slow and gradually increase your intensity/duration. It took me about 4 months post op before I hit the gym. It has now become habit. I admit that I haven't grown to love it, some days I have to really make myself do it. I do weights with a trainer 3 days a week and that really helps keep me on track. I highly reccomend it if you can afford it. As far as eating, I would start out with eating the right foods, low carb, low fat, high protien. Lots of lean meat and veggies. You can worry about portions a little down the road. I am also wondering if you need a fill, or are you relying on "sliders" and that's caused the weight gain. Best wishes!

My port became visible as I lost weight. I talked to a nurse and was told it would cost 4,000 dollars to have a low profile port put in. It doesn't bother me enough to spend that kind of money. I don't plan on wearing a bikini (at 42 I think I am a bit too old lol), and it doesn't show in my one pieces.

That's great you are finally going to a psychiatrist. The know much more about issues like bipolar than your family doc. I take 2 meds for bipolar. One possibly causes weight gain but it didn't for me. I lost steadily on it. I would take the meds prescribed for a couple weeks and see how it goes. If you are doing all the right things and still don't loose than you can decide what to do. For me, I'd rather stall in weight loss for a bit than suffer with deppression/anxiety. Good luck!

Glad you are doing so well. The third fill did it for me too. Take care!

I would think your discomfort would stop in 2-3 days or so. That's how long it took me to feel like myself again. Congrats on your surgery!

10 pounds in three weeks is just great. That's over 3 pounds a week! My suggestion is to cut down on the carbs. Potatoes have lots of carbs, as does milk. Yougurt and cottage cheese also have semi-significant carbs (greek yougurt has less). I stick to low fat cheese for my calcium- very low in carbs. Milk also has lots of calories- I believe you are better off eating your calories rather than drinking them. As far as restriction, just know it will come. It took me 3 fills to feel any restriction. Another thought is excersise. You don't mention if you are working out. Of course get clearance from your doc. but 3 weeks out you should be fine. It works wonders for weight loss. Start off slow and gradually increase your speed/intensity. Hope all this helps. Take care!

It is normal to be tighter in the morning. Feeling stuck on a 1/4 c of food isn't ok. I would call your doc. for sure and tell him/her what's going on. In the meantime I would supplement what your able to eat with protien shakes. Hopefully those will go down ok. I use myoplex lite, you can get them at Sams or Walmart. Hope you feel better soon! Take care.

It's my understanding slipping is usually from vomiting a lot- I am not talking about getting stuck, were the food comes up kind of gently. I am talking about vomiting with heaving et... like when you have the flu. I asked my doc. about slipage and he said you suddenly can't keep anything down, not even water. It only happens in 3% of cases according to him.

Glad to hear you are doing so well! Wow spinning! I go by the class in the gym and it looks so intense. I have been working out for over a year and don't think I could do it. Keep up the good work!

It is perfectly normal to be nervous about the surgery. Going under anesthia is a serious thing. However, these days they are able to monitor you so closely it's not as risky as it used to be. You are taking a huge step towards a healthier life. Congrats on your impending surgery!

I remeber how excitted I was to get off the same 3 meds. It was a great doctor visit. Keep up the excellent work!

Yes, water is key. Your body needs water to burn fat. The more the better. You can add flavorings like crystal light if that helps. I agree you should up your calories a bit. Also, be careful of carbs. I have found a very low carb diet works wonders for weightloss. I lost 107 pounds in about 10 months. My sister is also having great success with a low carb diet. I also watch the fat content of my food. Lots of lean protien and veggies. I do snack on nuts- they are probably the highest in fat of the food I eat. I also like to snack on low fat cheese sticks. My nutritionist told me 2 servings of calcium a day.

I agree with the above posts. My 2cents is to stop the juice and the milk. You are drinking the calories rather than eating. Orange juice has tons of sugar, natural sugar but still sugar. It will cause your blood sugar to spike wich leads to your body storing the sugar as fat. Once you get to solid food, you will be much better off eating an orange, then you get fiber which helps control blood sugar. You will find it more filling as well. Eat low fat cheese for your calcium. Good luck on your journey!

Wow! That's too bad you went all that time without knowing what was wrong but that's great you figured it out. I hope you keep feeling good!

I wonder if it's a slight infection. That is good your calling the doc. Keep us posted.

I stopped drinking before getting banded so I don't know if it effects you differently. Just the fact that you are eating less food may cause the alcohol to have a greater impact. I would be cautious for sure. And you are right, it's empty calories. Try to factor a drink or 2 into your calories for the day. Of course, this is not something you should do on a regular basis. Have fun!

Fills are relatively easy. Your doctor (or nurse in some cases) will feel for the port and inject a local anestetic. He/she will than acess the port with a fairly long needle, but I never felt a thing. It's all over before you know it. Just so you know, the first fill very well may not give you restriction. It took me 3 fills to feel any restriction. Good luck!

It should come out ok- not as moist as if you used eggs. You might want to go half and half. Happy Mother's day!