cynpatt

My first chalange - I am in! Tyring for 16 down - and hopefully a drop into the 200s!

I found that the electronic scales were too variable for my taste and eventually purchased a health-o-meter which also goes up to 400 pounds. It has a very large viewing area which is easy to read and if the indicator migrates from the "0" base, there is a a knob to easily zero it out. I purchased it online. A bit procey, but I have now had it for many years and it is almost exactly equal to my physicians scale. Congrats on the recent weight loss!

Hello All, Just wanted to share - today I reached 25% weight loss goal. I am SO excited! Happy Mothers Day to all you moms! Cynthia

Ever since being banded, I am always cold. Anyone else having the same odd side effect?

Great in a pinch for dinner, or when I am too lazy to make lunch. They always give me a "guilty pleasure" feeling, since they are not the types of foods that I now usually eat. It feels like a welcome treat sometimes. It has also been working to keep a contained serving size and calorie count since I do not have restriction as of yet. Good Luck!

Yes - banded 9 weeks ago though - so the Heparin is well out of my system. I thought it was due to the weight loss possibly.

Thank You! Thank You!!! I didn't understand the original one, but this time I got it!!!

Trying to see if I did this correctly - I am a computer dummy!

Kelsey - It is SO hard. No one told me how difficult it was really going to be either. Thank goodness for these boards, otherwise I would have thought that this surgery was not successful. The only reason that I have lost weight is due to the fact that I am scared to do any damage to my band. Otherwise I would be eating up a storm. Trust me - I have made a bunch of mistakes with this band. The next day I just brush myself off and try again. I keep telling myself that it is going to get easier once I achieve restriction. 2 and 1/2 weeks until my second fill. Have you really not had a fill as your posting states at the bottom? Have you asked your MD about it? Keep us posted and we are all here to support each other. Cynthia

Make sure that she documents your weight, any medical issues related to your weight, BMI, reccomendations for weight loss etc. I have Horizen Blue Cross of NJ and they required a 6 month medically supervised diet with weigh ins monthly. I wish I had started this prior to consulting with my surgeon. It would have saved me the 6 month wait. Good Luck! I am SO happy that I made this decision! Banded 3/5/10 350lb Current 5/4/10 315lb (-35lb)

I am 45 and just had my surgery 8 weeks ago. I started at 350 and am already down 35 pounds. The day of my surgery, my physician did 8 Lapbands. All of us were over 300lbs. I was the youngest. My only regret was not doing this forever ago. I hope you are successful!!! Good Luck!!!

Hello All, Another week - it seems to be going by SO quickly since the surgery. My gym reopened after 7 weeks of being closed after those terrible wind storms here in NJ. I have been walking 4-5 times a week outside, but it was SO much more difficult (and boring) at the gym this morning! Been doing pretty well, but am counting down the days until my second fill (3 weeks). Last night we went into the city for Dim Sum and ate WAY too much. It was the first time since the surgery that I felt out of control. In reality, I ate 1/4 of what I woulf have eaten pre-Lapband. My stomach was VERY uncomfortable afterwards though. I did make smarter choices though, so I guess that the learning curve is kicking in. I just cannot wait to feel that elusive restriction that everyone seems to be discussing! Went shopping for some new pants last week - down from a 32 to a 26! 2 pounds down from last week. Not expecting any weight loss this week since it is that time of month. Hope all is going well with everyone. Cynthia Banded 3/5/10 350lb Current 315lb (-35lb)

Monica and Jodi, I live in Tenafly, NJ - which is a NYC suburb - let me know if you all meet! Stevie is also in NJ. Jodi - my brother is in Old Westbury and all my cousins are in Roslyn/Roslyn Heights. What a great area - except for the traffic! Keep up all the great work ladies (and gent)! Cynthia

Congrats - My favorite and staple was low fat ricotta cheese and tomato sauce microwaved. It taste's just like lasagna. I will still often have it for Breakfast now that I am on regular food. A good sorce of Protein without too many calories. Best of Luck!!!:thumbup: Banded 3/5/10 350lb Current 4/28/10 317lb (-33lb)

Becca, Have you possibly been to the OB/GYN where they have weighed you? What about old paperwork from weight watchers or something like that? Just trying to help. Good Luck!

Hi March Banders, I hope that everyone is doing well and hoping that most of you all have been loosing. Has everyone gotten their first fill yet? I am now 7 and 1/2 weeks post surgery and feeling great. I went shopping last week and bought a size 26 pants instead of a 32! My closet is begining to empty - no more need for size 32 winter clothing! This week I am down 2lbs. Slow and steady! It is wierd - one day I will be down 2lbs and then nothing for a week. Still coughing from my first banded cold - I was SO afraid that I would slip my band, but thankfully everything is fine. Can still eat WAY too much - next fill isn't for 4 weeks:thumbdown: Keep it up! Cynthia:smile2: Banded 3/5/10 350lb Current 4/27/10 317lb

FYI - My surgeon suggests 3 X 1cup meals a day and if necessary 2 X 1/2 cup meals/day. Proteins - 70g/day. Water 64oz/day.

I know exactly how you feel. I had my surgery on 3/5 and my first fill 4/16. I still don't have that feeling of restriction that is always discussed on this board. I keep my portions reasonable and don't get that "full" feeling until much after I am finished eating. I think that part of my problem is that I am still eating too quickly and don't chew as much as I should. Part of this comes from the fact that I don't have restriction. My next fill isn't until 5/24. I am currently at 2.5cc in a 10cc band. I was told that I probably won't feel restricted until approximately 7cc's. It is a much harder process than I had expected, but I am SO happy that I did this. We have to keep plugging along - good luck!!! Banded 3/5/10 350lb Current 4/26/10 317lb

6 weeks for first fill (mine was 2.5cc in a 10cc band). My second fill is scheduled for 6 weeks after my first. I have heard a ton of different time frames written on these boards. Good Luck! Having the lap band is the best thing that I have ever done. Yes it is hard work, but I am SO happy Surgery 3/5/10 350lb Current 4/23/10 318lb (-32lb in 7 weeks)

Don't count out non-breakfast type foods for breakfast. I love tuna salad. My other favorite is turkey deli slices spread with low fat laughing cow cheese rolled together.

Mimi - You are doing great! 32 vs 28 pounds are the same! SO much more than I have ever lost before! I really think that the walking is helping. I work, so I have been walking around 8:30 at night on the track either by myself or with a friend. I bought myself an ipod, and since I don't like music particularly, I listen to pod casts (just learned what they were from my kids) - talk radio - and that makes the time go by SO quickly. There are even lapband podcasts! I started out walking only 1 time around the track (1/4mi) and am now up to 7-8laps. As far as what I eat - my doctor says to try to keep it around 1 cup/meal (3X day and 1/2 cup 2X day) but he says - eat until you are slightly full not stuffed. I know this is different from a lot of the other posts that I see here. My typical calorie count is around 1200 day. I find that if it drops below 1000 that I do not lose. I journal it every day at lapband.com. My typical breakfast is 1/2 cup tuna salad or an egg, 1/2 english muffin and a piece of turkey sausage. For breakfast, I also like turkey deli meat rolled with laughing cow low fat cheese. lunch is just a smaller portion of what I used to eat (really varies daily but not necessarily "diet food") - often a lean cuisine. dinner usually consists of some type of lean Protein - usually chicken. As Isaid - getting my Proteins in ,but lacking on the veggie/fruit side. Feeling full though because of all the protein. Good luck! Ket me know how the fill goes! Cynthia

Hi, I am in the same boat. First fill did nothing for restriction. After reading on this board, I am keeping my expectations low, and not expecting to achive restriction until fill 3 or 4. As to your question - YES - the whole gets smaller and that is what poeple refer to here as restrition. I was told at your "sweet spot" the opening between at the pouch and the bottom portion of the stomach will be about the width of a dime. GOOD LUCK!!!! Surgery 3/5/10 350lb Current 4/23/10 318ln (-32lb)

Hello all, Figured that I would log in and say hello. How is everyone doing? I have a terrible cold and every time I cough or sneeze, I am holding my stomach! After reading all of the posts of slipped bands, I have been driving myself crazy. I understand the likelyhood is very slim, but.... I had my first fill a week ago (2.5cc in a 10cc band), but unfortunately no restriction. I do have the feeling of being full until my next meal though, and that is a big plus. I get a full feeling about 45 minutes later. I am deffinitly eating a bit too quickly and not chewing as well as I should - this is something I have to keep on working at. I have been eating about a cup of food 3 times a day - sometimes with a small snack. My Protein levels have been great, but I still have to incorporate more veggies and fruit into my diet. My calorie count has been steady around 1100-1200 daily. Been walking 45 minutes 4-5 times a week. It is getting MUCH easier, and I am really begining to enjoy it! I had to switch my Vitamins from the Bariatric Advantage multi and a second for Calcium because I just couldn't stomach the taste. I am now taking 2 flintstones complete and 2 viactive calcium. Not the calcium type that is absorbed as well, but at least I am not gagging on it twice a day! Hiccups anyone? My next fill isn't until May 24th. Really hoping it will help. How is everyone's clothing fitting (or rather NOT fitting?). Down from a 32 to a 28. I am very excited. Post everyone - want to hear both the good and bad - we are all here to support each other! Cynthia Surgery 3-3-10 350lb Current 4-23-10 318lb (-32lb)

I had my surgery 3-5-10 at 8am in the morning. By 3pm, I had left the hospital. My best recommednation - walk, walk, walk! Of the 8 of us who had surgery that day 3 went home and 5 stayed. Those that went home where younger (40"s or less) and seemed to be pretty healthy before surgery. Those who stayed over had medical issues or were older (60's). I had no post op pain and never even took a tylenol! I was SO happy to be in my bed that night! Good Luck! It is the best thing I ever did! Surgery 3-5-10 350lb Current 4-22-10 319lb

I am five and a half weeks post surgery and still cannot feel my port (at least I don't think that I can). I am having my first fill Thursday and am worried. Anyone else had a fill when they personally cannot feel their port? Surgery 3/5/10 350lb Current 325lb First Fill 3/15/10