MLBL

Snide, unsupportive remarks tend to do that. :thumbup:

I am right there with ya sister. I am getting my first fill Friday and I am hoping for at least 3CCs. I have been trying really hard to stay on track but it is literally just like before. I am so worried sometimes. I mean, what if it doesn't work for me?

I am eating between 1200 and 1400 calories a day right now. I will lose about 1 pound per week at that level. I am getting my first fill on the 8th and if I have any restriction will drop to 1000-1200. If I know I have a party of holiday coming I will eat a few hundred less for a few days before. I know that I will lose slowly eating this way, but I don't want to have to relearn to eat when I hot goal. At goal I will eat 1400 calories a day. I eat lots of boneless skinless chicken and chicken or turkey sausage.

I use WonderSlim. It ahs the exact same nutritional value as opti, but cost 9.99 for a box of seven. I also love that I can use less water and make it a pudding. It is a nice change and also more portable that way.

Find out what how many calories you need to maintain your current weight. A pound is equal to 3500 calories, 3500 x number of pounds you want to lose in a week will be the number of calories you have to cut to lose the weight you want. So for me, 2000 a day to maintain, I want to lose 2 lbs per week. 2000x7=14000 calories for the week. 3500(one pound) x 2 = 7000. 14000-7000=7000 calories for the week. I would have to eat 1000 calories a day to lose two pounds each week. Of course, you can also burn calories with exercise to speed up weightloss.

I think it is very presumptuous of anyone to say "If you can't follow the diet now a fill will not work for you later since you are not controling your intake of foods and excersizing as needed. If you were you would be losing more weight." The OP didn't say enough about her diet to know she was or was not being compliant. To the OP, I am four weeks post-op and have lost 4 lbs. since being banded. I was discouraged, but then I did the math. TO maintain my current weight I would need to consume 2000 calories. I am currently eating 1200. So that is a deficit of 800 calories a day. You have to cut 3500 calories to lose a pound. So, I should lose 1.6 pounds a week. I am not comfortable going lower on my calorie intake until I get a fill because I will be white-knuckling it and that is just setting myself up to fail. After my first fill I plan to drop to 1100 calories and I won't ever go lower than 1000. When I reach goal (125) I will need to eat 1350 a day. If I train myself to eat too much less than that I will only have to relearn how to eat again when I hit goal. So, unless I am willing to starve myself, the math says I will be losing 1-2 lbs a week. You can, of course, burn extra calories with exercise if you want to move things along faster. Also, I think some of the people posting huge losses are losing a lot of Water weight, and are generally larger than 35-40 BMI. Both things matter when looking for loss on the scale.

I'm not thankful for my insurance because it is a service we pay for, but I could not imagine having the surgery without it.

Thank you for posting the information. I am my husband is military so right now we are fine, but if he cannot reenlist I worry about insurnace issues.

It took me two full weeks to decide I hadn't made a horrible mistake. It will get better, but for me it took longer to recover and longer to feel ok.

I gained 5lbs post-op but mine didn't seem to suddenly drop off. It gradually came off over a two week period. So I started pre-op at 211, a week post-op I was 216 and now at 4 1/2 weeks post-op I am 207.

I am feeling the same way. I was banded Aug 23rd. I have little to no restriction. I am tracking my calories and eating high protein foods. I am losing about 1 pound a week. On one hand, I am very glad not to be gaining anymore, but on the other hand I am jealous of people posting 5-10lb a week weightloss. I am getting my first fill Oct 8th and I hope it will reduce my portions at least a little and I will be able to drop my calorie goal from 1200 to 1000. If I can get a steady 2lb a week weightloss I will be happier.

Thanks for posting. Most calculators I find tell you how many calories for loss - I like knowing what my base is.

My first fill is OCT 8th. I am tracking all of my calories and walking, but I am honestly feeling discouraged too. I really do understand why it is called bandster hell. So frustrating.

I told myself as long as I lost 1-2lbs a week I would be happy, but the truth is I do get discouraged when I see people at 2 weeks post-op with a 30lb loss and I have only lost 15 and ten of that was on the pre-op diet. I have no real advice to give, just saying I feel your pain.

Everyone let us know how you are doign as you get to your pre-op diets and surgery. I am in the middle of my pre-op diet and it is really difficult. I am trying to hang in there.

I am getting banded Aug 23rd - my birthday!

Hi everyone! My name is Marie and I am scheduled for August 25th. I really wanted the 23rd because that will be my 30th birthday, but it is also my surgeon's birthday and he wanted it off, lol. I have been working on this since April and I am so excited that that I finally have a date. I have very severe sleep apnea and until readign this thread didn't think about bringing my machine to the hospital. Glad I read that. We should develop a general list of things you *might* need to take.

That does sound excessive. If you are self-pay for any of these appointments I would tell them one psych eval will have to be enough. Say "I've done a lot of research into other practices in the area and this seems excessive. The standard requirement is one evaluation. What specific reasons does your practice have for requiring more?" If the answer is "We just do." Say "I am paying for these appointments and I need an explanation as to why they are needed."

I have decided to document my LapBand journey on youtube. I was inspired my so many other people who have already done this. I am doing it for accountability as well as hoping I can help someone the way watching others has helped me. I love this board and have gotten so much good advice here that I wanted to post a link to my youtube channel. I couldn't think of any better group to be accountable to! :thumbup: YouTube - TexasGirlBand's Channel

I am glad you persevered - and you will be too!

I had my initial appointment with the surgeon today and now I only need to meet with the dietitian and psychologist. I am so relieved! It is really stressful to be in limbo; now I can focus on what I need to do pre-op.

So sorry to hear how frustrating it is. I'm glad it did work out though.

I couldn't get by without his support. With everything (and everyone) else I deal with at least I know he loves me.

I put on some Jellies from last year this morning. When Hubby got home from work he asked what happened. I looked down and saw that my foot had stretched one of the shoes and it was broken. I made a sad face and said "My foot is fat and it exploded the Jelly." Hubby realized I actually was a bit embarrassed and said "Well, I didn't want to tell you but a few minutes ago I passed gas and I think it might have melted your shoe."