tonya66

Yes we are!

Yep, having a hard time. I haven't lost in well, awhile. I keep losing the same 5 lbs over and over. I hate the winter, I'm a summer girl all the way!

Here is a link to a similar question with lots of responses from people who rode rides after banding. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/rides-after-lap-band-44050/

One other piece of info I found on the lapband official website: How will I know if I need an adjustment? Your surgeon can help you decide if you need an adjustment. If you are hungry, looking for food, and not having optimal weight-loss, you probably need Fluid added to your band. If you are experiencing early and prolonged satiety (feeling full after a small portion of food for several hours), and losing one to two pounds per week, your band is working fine, and you do not need an adjustment. If you are having symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, night cough, regurgitation, acid reflux or heartburn, you might need fluid removed. When your band is optimally adjusted, you should feel satisfied after eating a small portion of food, and you should still be able to tolerate most foods. If you find that you are having difficulty swallowing solid foods, you might not be chewing well enough, you might be eating too fast or your band may be just too tight. Check with your surgeon if you are not sure.

No longer am I going to stress over the scales, I will take it one day at a time and learn to accept the things I cannot change. The year 2008, Its going to be great No longer are we going to mess with our head We are going to change the person inside instead We will be happy and strong We will live healthy and long We will enjoy our new lives and silicone buddy Living any other way will only drive us nutty. So again I scream, the year 2008 Its going to be wonderful and great! I'm tired of living my life around the scales, I'm tired of obsessing with my weight. I will focus on making better choices, exercise and the rest will come. If it doesn't, I've come a long way and I can live with my weight at 167. I can deal with it, and 167 is not too far overweight. So, we'll see what next year brings.

Here is a link to see the "green zone" http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/you-green-zone-25523/

I thought this was good advice: Think you need a fill again by Nikki Johnson Do you remember that feeling you had when you first had your band placed? For a while, everything was great. You didn't experience hunger, you felt satisfied with a small portion of good food, you had more energy, and you were thrilled with your initial weight loss progress.[/color][/size][/font] If you are like most people, your experience changed over time, Some of those feelings of hunger returned, and you stopped losing weight. You knew you needed something, so you went to your surgeon's office and asked for a "fill" right? If so, you might be surprised to learn that it is your thinking about your band, and not the band itself, that needs adjusting. The LAP-BAND Bad Word Paul O'Brien, MD, FRACS, is a skillful, compassionate surgeon and a foremost expert on the LAP-BAND System. he was involved in its design in the early 1990's and placed the first band in Australia in 1994. Since then, he has treated thousands of patients and is recognized worldwide for his expertise. When his patients utter that worst of four-letter words, "fill," in his office, they are asked to throw a dollar in the Red Cross donation bucket--a reminder that, according to Dr. O'Brien, thinking about a "fill" is just wrong thinking. How can a concept that we hear about so constantly be so very wrong? Dr. O'Brien's answer is simple: "Any adjustment to the band is something that only takes place in the context of clinical consultation--part of a relationship of trust, honesty and communication between patient and surgeon--that is much more key to the success of the patient than the precise number of milliliters of Fluid in the band. This concept of partnership is the central theme of Dr. O'Brien's new book, The Lap-Band Solution--A Partnership of Weight Loss. Patty's Note: Available on Amazon.com ISBN#9780522854121 Like many people, you might assume that weight gain or a sustained plateau means an incorrectly adjusted band; in fact, you may be right. But you may be surprised to learn that weight gain sometimes results from a band that is too tight. This is part of the reason why the "fill" concept is so misleading. If your surgeon determines that you are not losing weight as you should, then discovering why that is happening is crucial. Sometimes adding fluid to the band will only make matters worse. Life in the "GREEN ZONE" Most people who have the LAP-BAND operation will have an amazing feeling of disinterest in food for the first week after surgery, before any adjustments are even made to the fluid in the band. According to Dr. O'Brien, that lack of interest in food is referred to as satiety. A related but different feeling is satiation, or the feeling you get as you are eating, precisely at the point that you don't need any more food to eat but you do not have an uncomfortable feeling of fullness. These two feelings--satiety and satiation--are what the properly adjusted band helps you achieve, allowing you to maintain your new healthier eating habits. Your careful observation and truthful sharing of your feelings and eating behaviors, combined with the expert care and training of your surgeon and his or her staff, can make the very individual determination of whether your band is properly adjusted much more accurate. In order to help create the most effective partnership between themselves and their patients, Dr. O'Brien and his colleagues at the Australian Centre for Obesity Research and Education have developed a concept they refer to as the "Green Zone". When patients are in the green zone, they experience satiety, satiation after properly-sized small meals, and satisfactory weight loss or maintenance. However, there are also yellow and red zones, both of which indicate that the band is not optimally adjusted. If your band is too loose, you will not have the benefits the band's hunger-controlling mechanism. If your band is too tight, you will have trouble eating properly and may actually gain weight because the foods you can eat more comfortable, that tend to be liquid and calorie-rich, like ice cream and chocolate, do not provide the proper nutrition. Learning to recognize when you have the feelings and eating behaviors that signal a problem can help you give your surgeon the information he or she needs to help you keep the band optimally adjusted. Thinking Adjustment Once you have eliminated the concpet of "fills" from you Lap-Band vocabulary, you will be able to let go of much of the conventional thinking connected to it. Perhaps you have heard talk about the "ideal" amount of fluid in the Lap-Band. While it may be helpful to have some idea of how much fluid is in your band, Dr. O'Brien says there is no magic number. No perfect amount of fluid will provide the best results for everyone. He says, rather, that "whatever volume of fluid is needed to achieve the [feeling of non-hunger] is the correct volume." When you notice that you are feeling hungry or are not losing weight, your body is telling you it is time to revisit your partner in weight loss -- your surgeon. your success absolutely depends on this relationship. So rather than thinking "adjustments," adjust your thinking, and, in partnership with your surgeon, find a lifetime of health! For more information about all of the themes discussed in this article, please see Dr. O'Brien's book, The Lap-Band Solution--A Partnership for Weight Loss, which is available fro Amazon.com. We also invite you to visit LAP-BAND® System Forum - Home for more information and supportive resources.<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

Hello - I did keep track of my sizes in weight, I have it all on a spreadsheet, along with my daily weigh-in's,my measurments, etc. Can you tell I'm an accountant? LOL Here is mine - 5'5 1/2 248 - tight 18, comfortable 20 235 - comfortable 18, tight 16 210 - comfortable 16, tight 14 195 - comfortable 14 180 - comfortable 14, very tight 12 175 - 14's too big - 12's fit just right 167 - 12's a little baggy, 10's fit, but a little snug (some are) There you go, thats my records. I noticed the smaller I get, every pound makes a difference, I had to lose 50 lbs in the beginning for people to notice, now everyone can tell when I lose 2 lbs, I get complements. It seems like 5 lbs makes a big difference in my clothes now. Earlier, when I was heavier, it was 20 lbs.

Updating my journal - I seem to be in a total fog these days and just not caring. I do care on one hand, the other I don't, because I keep eating chocolate - sugar! Last night, I went home, I did good all day, I wasn't even hungry, and ended up eating 2 smores. grrrrrr. Then I set down and watched the Biggest Loser - I have got to get control of this sugar addiction of mine. Okay - tomorrow - I'm starting the Atkins induction plan - this will help me with my cravings. Yes, I am going to do it. I've got to get my zeal and determination back! I'm so close to goal, but yet so far!

Updating my journal - I seem to be in a total fog these days and just not caring. I do care on one hand, the other I don't, because I keep eating chocolate - sugar! Last night, I went home, I did good all day, I wasn't even hungry, and ended up eating 2 smores. grrrrrr. Then I set down and watched the Biggest Loser - I have got to get control of this sugar addiction of mine. Okay - tomorrow - I'm starting the Atkins induction plan - this will help me with my cravings. Yes, I am going to do it. I've got to get my zeal and determination back! I'm so close to goal, but yet so far!

I took off 3 weeks - mainly because I could - with pay. I wanted to be on mushies before I returned to work. I could have returned at about 10 days with absolutely no pain. Sooner, I think I would have had a little discomfort in the port area. Best wishes.

Oh, and who could forget Kae, she was a teeny bitty little thing wasn't she!

The four finalst were - Bill - of course, Hollie - the brunette, Isabeau - the youngest blonde, and Julie, the mother - man she was skinny! Nicole was one that was voted off, she was on the red team, I think she was a radio DJ. Can you tell I'm obsesses with the show? lol.

Rose, thanks for the insight! We all need these reminders for sure. I recently had an unfill myself, but not completely, but I feel like it is completely. I'm hungry, I'm miserable, I want a fill! I don't get it until January so I'm trying to eat my protein first for sure. Sliming and throwing up everyday is not normal so we all need to remember that.

Okay, after watching my favorite show last night, (The Biggest Loser) it was the finale and seeing the changes everyone has made, it has really motivated me to get back to the gym, ASAP! Did anyone catch the show. Its just amazing to see all these people lose 100 lbs of pounds and looks so good and fit.

MiniPearl - your not going to find a cheaper doctor overall than Mexico, and I would highly recommend Dr. Ortiz in Mexico, I know 2 people who used him and they cannot say enough about him. I bought his book and am very impressed. As far as fills go, I know my fill doctor does do fills for people who have had their surgery in Mexico, he does then under flouro and I think it is a flat fee of $200 per fill. I know he tries to get you the best restriction right up front, so you won't have to keep coming back for fills. Everyone loves him. I live in Tulsa, and the the my fill doc does the fills out of Baily Med Center in Owasso. His name is Dr. Kirk.

If watching the Biggest Loser doesn't motivate us to exercise, what will? I know I'm ready to head back to the gym. I thought they all looked so good! I really thought Holly was beautiful, she looked like Demi Moore almost. Anyhow, I love that show and have watched it every since it first aired. Each year I am so amazed at the transformations, it just proves that no matter how big you are, you can change, you can get healthy. It always inspires me to get back to the gym!

Sula - glad to hear that you like Lasik. My DH had it last year and has 20/20 now. I have been wearing contacts for so long and I am just so tired of them. I will love being able to wake up and see again! Not having to fumble for my glasses on my nightstand just so I can go to the restroom. grrrrrr. Man, I wish I could get stuck at this point. lol. NOt really, but you know what I mean, I want to feel something, I want to feel that restriction. I have 1 more month to go before I can get my fill. I hate the fact that I have to wait SOOOOO long to get in to see the doc. He only does fills on Friday, he is so nice that he does fills for EVERYONE, all these people use him that had their surgery in Mexico. He doesn't actually do the Lap Band surgery, he only helps my surgeon out, he lifts the liver while my surgeon does the Lap-Band or RNY so he is busy with surgery M-Th, and on Friday he does fills at the hospital under Flouro. He has gotten popular with all the surrounding areas because he charges a flat fee of $200 for fills, and some charge $500 and one guy charges $1000, crazy. So needless to say, he is very busy. It takes 2 months any more to see him. I hate that, but I really like him. I am ready to get the rest of my weight off, I'm ready to start focussing on health and exercise. My knee injury has really hampered my efforts, it is still sore and I still limp but I'm hoping by January it will be healed enough. So we'll see. I'm excited about 2008 because I feel this will be the year that I will reach my goal, whatever it may be. I feel that I will be in the best shape of my adult life and I'm excited about the future. I probably need to change my ticker, to show my weight at 170 and not 167 because I'm up 3 pounds. Audree is getting me excited about strength training again. I miss the gym, I really do.

Candle - I'm impressed.....well said. Bandster - please understand we all are here for support and sometimes the truth hurts, or isn't what we want to hear. But that is why we are here, we want to help each and everyone succeed. I do want to reiterate what Candle said about you have just started this journey, so don't write yourself off as a failure.

I'm going for fill #8 next month....but it took me about 6 fills before my restriction would stay. Previous fills would show restriction, but by 48 hours, I would lose it. I had pretty grood restriction at fill #6 (3.8cc's) But felt I needed more because I could take regular bites of food - so went in for a fill to 4.0 cc's - .2 cc's made me too tight, PB'd my own saliva, ended up in hospital for sever dehydration, and my doc had to take me back down to 3.0 cc's because of swelling. Now, I'm ready to get my restriction back - I think 3.8 1/2 or 3.9 cc's would be the perfect amount for me. So, I'm hoping fill #8 will be my last since I only have about 20 lbs to lose before goal!

I don't think you should ever take yourself off any meds without the docs okay. You know yourself better than anyone, and if you think you should be back on them, you should go back on them. I have taken Lexipro myself in the past during rough periods of my life. They are very mild and I never gained weight because of them. I am not on anything right now, so I can't answer your question on that.

First of all let me say, I certainly understand financial problems and understand that you are going thru some very rough times. I really admire those who are able to be self pay, I was not a self pay, and without my insurance I would not have been able to get the band. I know when stress comes my way, I just eat junk. Its a bad habit I still have not been able to overcome and I work on it on daily. I know things seem bad right now, It seems when it rains - it really does pour. Okay, a few questions for you - you sound like a level headed woman (perfect credit, and all - so I know you are a smart and think ahead). How about finding another job? You can continue to work where you are, but maybe looking for another job in the meantime, one that may pay more? 2. Have you talked to your brother? What are his intentions with the car? 3. Okay, lets get down to the band. 1 fill did not give me restriction, sorry to say, it took 7 fills to get me there. I wish docs would be more upfront with the patients that are self pay about this. How much does your doc charge for fills for self pay? Little Rock is not too far from where I live and my doc charges a flat fee of $200 under flouro, if your doc charges much more than that, I welcome you to come to my hometown and get a fill here - I'll take you to lunch - on me! I think you deserve it. Hang in there, and I'm serious about lunch, you let me know, and I will give you the number of my doc. He does do fills on other patients, and he is wonderful about trying to get you the best restriction on the first fill. My problem is I have spasms and its hard to get my fill right - I'm a rare case they say. PM if I can help in any way.

Today makes 11 months since my banding. Scales have not went down, and have went up this month. Normally I would be sad, but I'm really not. I've not done good with eating the past month, I need a fill badly, so I'm okay with gaining 3 lbs. 3 lbs in a month is acceptable to me. Here is my updates on weight: Highest weight - 248 1 mo post op - 206.8 2 mo post op - 198 3 mo post op - 193 4 mo post op - 184.2 5 mo post op - 178 6 mo post op - 174 7 mo post op - 178 - went on vacation and ate big 8 mo post op - 174 9 mo post op - 170 10 mo post op- 167 11 mo post op - 170 - havent even been trying

Today makes 11 months since my banding. Scales have not went down, and have went up this month. Normally I would be sad, but I'm really not. I've not done good with eating the past month, I need a fill badly, so I'm okay with gaining 3 lbs. 3 lbs in a month is acceptable to me. Here is my updates on weight: Highest weight - 248 1 mo post op - 206.8 2 mo post op - 198 3 mo post op - 193 4 mo post op - 184.2 5 mo post op - 178 6 mo post op - 174 7 mo post op - 178 - went on vacation and ate big 8 mo post op - 174 9 mo post op - 170 10 mo post op- 167 11 mo post op - 170 - havent even been trying

Yep, next year my goal is to make exercise a part of life again. Today is my 11 month band anniversary and I'm up 3 lbs from last month. Normally I would be upset, but I'm really not. I havent stuck to my eating plan, I've got little restiction, so up 3 lbs is great in my eyes. I get my next fill on my 1 year band anniversary, I wish I could get it sooner, but so far no one has cancelled. bummer.