vlp1968

I journaled when I was first banded, logging my food, calories and protien. I knew I was eating low fat/low carb so didn't bother counting them. I ate about 1000 cals a day. I got into a routien and stopped logging. It felt too restrictive. A little over 2 years later, and a regain of 30ish pounds I stated logging again. This time eating moderate carbs and moderate fat. I also am eating more calories, around 1200. I realized I was not eating in a way I could maintain when I intially lost all the weight. So far so good, I am excercising a lot and eating on my plan for the most part. Lost 3 pounds last week and weigh in tomorrow. I have high hopes as it's been a really good week.

Just be aware of the calories, and they are empty calories. Also, I know for me a couple drinks makes me hungry, and I am far more likely to eat something not on my plan. Just be carefull - have fun on your birthday!

Wow- just wanted to say I am sorry you are having such a hard time. I hope you feel better soon!

I have heard of the possibility of the band tightening. I took a trip to Europe and didn't experience any tightening. Everything stayed down fine, on the plane and off. If your going on a trip, have a great time.

mj23- I could have written that exact post myself. Band has not been the tool I hoped it would be. I lost all my excess weight but feel like I did it on my own. I am now struggling with maintaince. I have gained about 35 pounds back of the 107 I lost. Although, this last week and a half have been good. I was getting really hungry late afternoon and getting off track. I am now going to the gym twice a day when I can. I am at the gym instead of eating - yeah me lol. Just know your not alone and good luck.

I stick with a grilled meat and veggie for the most part. I can't do steak, and my band is pretty loose. Salad like chicken ceaser could be a good option too. You can ask for the dressing on the side. Enjoy your vacation!

I agree that you might want to stay off the scale. Day to day flucuations will drive you nuts. I was a scale ***** for a while, and it messed with my mind. I went back to weighing in once a week. I always weight myself first thing in the morning, after using the bathroom. I think it's important to weigh yourself before what you eat and drink affects the scale. You can do this! Oh, I also agree about your doctor. He should not be "scolding" you or making faces because you haven't lost as much as he would like.

Well said cocoabean- Know that what your husband is going through is perfectly normal. When I cook for others I do a lean meat and veggie for me, and add a starch for others who may want that. I wish your husband the best, he obviously has a very supportive wife.

That is fantastic you have kept the weight off despite surgeries because of the car accident. You have conquered a huge set back. I am glad things are getting back to normal. I know what you mean about scared to get a fill. I too found that a very small fill- even .1cc brought me from hunger to getting sick on protien shakes, never mind food. You can get a smaller fill than a whole cc. Like I said, my doc has done .1. I would go in to your dr. and talk about a fill. Tell him/he exactly what's going on. Again, just not gaining weight back is just awsome. And think, you'll be able to excersise again soon. Best wishes!

You say you have good restriction, yet are having trouble sticking to a "diet". Are you eating "slider" foods like ice cream? If your eating too much solid food to loose weight, maybe you don't have good restriction. As far as excersise, what can I say but DO IT! It has so many benefits, weight loss being just one of them. As you say, you can work around the arthritis. I find there is something about excersise that helps with food choices. Make sure you are getting all your water and protien in too. At least 64 oz water and 60 gms protien. Good luck, you can do it!

I understand your nervousness. I am over 2 years out and still experience anxiety over being out of town. You don't have to go to expensive restaurants to get a healthy meal. As said, salads (with some protien like chicken or steak) is a great option. Stick with a lean meat and veggies. I try and avoid ethnic restaurants like chinese, since there is so many fat and carbs in there dishes, although some have diet plates that are chicken/fish with some steamed veggies. I have a hard time with Italian restaurants. Be sure to advocate for yourself and hopefully your family will be supportive of your new lifestyle. Protien shakes are a great idea, protien bars are an option too. You can carry them in your purse for if your stuck and a place that doesn't have anything you want/can eat. Good luck and hope your dad recovers quickly.

I went through the same thing- a small fill making me too tight. I waited to get an unfill and suffered needlessly. It never turned out to be swelling for me. the doc. would take some of the fill out and I would be fine, and have some restriction. I would call your surgeon. Feel better soon.

Congrats on your new job and a healthier you! You have a lot to be excited about!

It is intimidating but try to enjoy it. You will probably start with bigger sizes than you really need, I know I did. I couldn't believe I was having trouble finding clothes small enough for me! On the down side, I've had some regain, need to loose 20ish pounds. Anyway, congrats and don't buy too much, they will only last for so long lol.

If coffee was loosening your band, and you gave it up, you should have more restriction then before. I have been told hot drinks loosen the band, but haven't found that to be the case for me. I think everyone is different. Since you have less restriction it could be you've lost weight and the band has loosened because you have lost fat around the stomach. You may want to make an appointment to meet with your doc. about a fill. Good luck!

As said, it can't all be fat. Did they check your thryroid? I stupidly stopped taking my thyroid medication, due to lack of insurance, and blew up like a balloon. I was fine once I went back on the meds. Just a thought.

The face is typically where weight loss is noticed first. i do think it's in your head a bit. Your body must look differrent with a 72 pound weight loss. The psychologist at my surgeons office suggested I take a picture once a month. I did it in my bathing suit. I would look at the every once in a while. It helped some, but of course there are times I see the fat girl in the mirror. It takes time for our brain to catch up with the body. You are doing great!

The reason they say not to drink before or after is that the food can be washed away into your big stomach. The idea is to feel full longer of course. My nutritionest said 15 min. before and 15 min. after no drinking. 2 hours seems like a long time.

I have experienced my band suddenly tighter. A slight unfill did the trick. As said, it may be that your swollen but I wouldn't wait to long before seeing your doctor. You don't want to suffer unneccessarily and dehydration is an issue. Hope you feel better soon!

Are you afraid you'll be hungry if you have some fluid taken out? The doc. can just take a small amount out and it could make all the difference in the world. That happened to me several times. I was in a really good place after a small unfill. I think you want to be able to eat healthy meals, protien, veggie et... You may want to stick to liquids until you can get in to see the doc. Getting stuck is not good. Also as already suggested, if you are having acid reflux you deffinately should get a bit taken out. Let us know what you decide to do and good luck.

You are doing awsome! London is a fabulous city, haven't been to Madrid or Paris, would love to though.

First a plug for excercise. It really helps with weight loss, and I find I make better food choices when I am working out regularly. I agree, since you are smaller, you may need to cut your calories a bit. Also, are you doing low carb? I found that helped when I stalled. Also, be sure to get your protien and water in. Good luck! You can do it!

Hi, this is my first post on this forum. I had a tummy tuck a little over a year ago. Since then, I have regained thirty pounds. I plan to loose at least 15 of that (several people have told me I got too thin). I'm not sure it will be enough, I guess I'll just have to wait and see. My question is, did I effect the results of the TT. Will my skin bounce back? Has anyone experienced weight gain and loss after a tt?

It is possible never to get stuck, not getting stuck is a good thing. That is great your first fill put you in a good place. Skin on fruit can cause problems, I don't know about tomatoes. Dry meat can also cause issues. Big culprits of getting stuck are bread, rice, pasta. Until I had a large unfill I couldn't eat them. I was fine with that while I was loosing but when I got into maintaince mode I wanted to be able to eat them in moderation. Keep up the good work!

I lost weight very quickly, 107 pounds in about 10 months. I stuck to a very strict high protien/ low carb/low fat/ low cal. diet. Didn't cheat at all. I started working out about 5 days a week about 4 months post op. That being said, I have gained back 30. I feel like I didn't learn how to eat for the long haul, I was so restrictive. I have since moved to a pretty much south beach diet. The right carbs and the right fats- in moderation. My cals are 1200-1400 a day. That's all I log. I know I am getting plenty of protien- lots of lean meat and eggs, and one protien shake a day. I had the first good week last week in a while- lost 4.5 pounds. My suggesstion is to not rush along this journey. Think about lifestyle changes you can live with. If you do what I did, I realize in hindsite, it's just another diet. As far as my band, I had trouble staying in the elusive sweet spot. I was there for a few weeks here and there. I was pretty satisfied in the early part of the day, couldn't even eat solids in the morning, had a protien shake. By 2 or 3 my appetite would really kick in. I had small fills that pushed me to the other side and I was getting sick even on shakes. Very frustrating. I am frustrated at the weight gain too, never thought I would let 30 pounds creep back on. However, I am back on track and not looking back. I know it will be slow going, but the weight will come off and hopefully I will have learned to eat the way I need to for the rest of my life- well 85-90 percent of the time anyway lol.