laurigee

I can do the same thing without any problem if I want to. I could eat a footlong sub easily. However, I can not do it if I follow ALL the band rules! Not drinking before, during, or after eating. Eating small bites, eating slowly, and chewing, chewing, chewing! If I eat fast, I can eat anything in any amount! Maybe start over like I did and do the 5 day pouch test. This made me start being more aware of my band again! I think some of us, including myself, start out to excessive! Don't start out going to the gym 6 days a week so you get burned out and frustrated causing you to quit. Do something that you can incorporate into your life as a routine. Something you can live with doing for the rest of your life, not just until you lose the weight! Part of keeping the weight off long term is creating a lifestyle and making food choices we can live with. I realize that you want to take back the last 3 months and would like to be 70 pounds thinner right now, but that's not going to happen. Now you have to figure out what happened when you were unfilled and realize that you probably didn't make the lifestyle changes you should have to lose those 70 pounds the first time. Do it right this time so if this were to happen again, there would not be the same results! Don't be hard on yourself, learn and do better this time! Like myself, sometime we don't get it the first time! However, that doesn't mean we can't do it right this time! I'm 6 years out and have gained back 40 pounds. We can do this, but not as a quick fix, as a lifestyle! Good Luck, I wish you the best!

If you were eating healthy and exercising how is that a waste? A waste would be learning nothing and doing nothing! It's not a race to the finish line. You may have learned something within that time that will help you to succeed long term, that someone that has reached their goal weight has not yet learned for long term success! Trust me, your time wasn't wasted! Remember what you've learned and move forward. Good Luck on your future success!

I take all my pills whole.....like Missy said, make sure you check to see if your pills can and should be crushed! Pain medicine and some others can be fatal if crushed! It releases the full dosage at once! BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THIS!

This should be the least of your worries! Remember, this journey is about HEALTH not WEIGHT....if you end this journey unhealthy and thin, you have failed as much as if you were still 276 pounds. You have to stay healthy to succeed! Please take this seriously, I'm concerned for you!

YIKES! Blood! Get to the ER!!!! Let us know what happens!!! Don't wait for a return call from anyone! Get to the ER now!

I was able to lose over 100 pounds in the first year and a half. I kept it all off or about 3.5 years. Then my dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer and I stopped taking care of myself and stopped exercising and following lap-band rules. So in about 2 years I gained about 40 pounds back! Totally my fault, not the bands! I do have more hunger I think than a lot of others have, and I do have to eat more to stay satisfied! However, if I chose to eat healthy foods, I still lose weight. I don't have that overwhelming hunger that I had prior to the band. Without the band I think I would have regained more weight before I put on the brakes again. I am kind of happy that I have this problem because I think I've learned a lot about nutrition and it's importance and portion control. I know a lot of people that as soon as they become a little hungry run like maniacs to their surgeon to get a fill. They use the band as a starvation tool, instead of a tool to control HEALTHY portions. I lost slow, and I also contribute that to why I have no loose skin. Regardless, this has helped me more than I can express. Even though I'm not the norm, and maybe it is a bit more of a struggle for me than some, I am still 100% happy with the choice I made to get the band

Jewel....I'm so glad your feeling better! I know what it's like to try to figure out the food and nutrition part of your new lifestyle! It seems like there are more can't haves than can have. It really is a lot easier once you get in the swing of things, you learn to get creative. You will learn it's okay to maybe have certain things that others call taboo, because your body responds better with it than without it! This is really a journey of getting to know your body and how it responds to certain foods. Don't be afraid to experiment! I have a horrible sweet tooth that just has never went away. So every morning, and sometimes even before bed, I have my cup of diet hot chocolate! It gives me my chocolate "fix"! LOL.. The warm water also wakes up my sleeping band in the morning. I will be thinking of you next week and saying a prayer for your speedy recovery! Good luck and God Bless!

Fen-phen worked like a charm for me. I was skinnier than I have ever been with the band. Unfortunately, after years of helping me out, it was pulled from the market. After that I was the heaviest I have ever been in my life. I worry about long term health effects that are not discovered with drugs. The more this migraine medication is used for weight loss and used for longer periods, and in higher doses than what were intended, the more problems may occur in people health. This could be true with the band also, I guess. I guess maybe there is no right answer! So we resort to doing what works!

I can sympathize with anyone that has problems with the band that are not common to most. I was banded 6 years ago and when I got fills I was miserable. My stomach felt like it was in my throat, I had intence shoulder, neck, and jaw pain. I had this even with just a .5 fill. Of course everyone's reaction was to blame me for doing something wrong because NO ONE else experienced this. It frustrated me at first, but I knew I was doing everything right so I learned what I needed to do to live with it and not fight against it. I would hate to have pain that can not be controlled like mine could, by just not filling the band. I think every experience that anyone has after receiving the band should be put out there! I want to not only know the best case scenario, but the worst. And like we say everyday on this site, all of our bodies are different! I still have not read or heard of anyone with my problem, however, that doesn't make me crazy or a liar. It just make me less fortunate than the best case scenario, and more fortunate than the worst.

I just committed myself to getting back on track. Eating right, exercising, and following the band rules! I have lost 9 pounds since January 4th. Thought I was on a roll! Then I go to the doctor for stomach pain and find on Monday they want to do a colonoscopy and while they are there they are going to fix my inner and outer hemorrhoids, which is a 2 week recovery. On top of that, he sent me to my gynecologist, which informed me that I need a total hysterectomy! Which is a 6 week recovery! That is scheduled January 29th. Right now I'm having a pity party! I did say that I want this journey to be about health instead of my weight! I guess these surgeries are also a road I have to take for my health! I just wish they would have been done before I recommitted myself! LOL. WOW, that pity party was great for me!

I love to walk. I did a lot of walking up and down hills. I also like to change up walking and running. I will run for 10 minutes then walk for 15 minutes. And keep doing that for an hour or more. I also lifted weights 3 times a week. I don't like to get into a rut with exercise otherwise I get bored. The most important thing is to do things you enjoy otherwise we tend to get burned out.

Jewel...those are the same guidelines I follow, protein first, then veggies. When your banded its the same thing! Have you talked to a nutritionist to get ideas of what foods you can eat that pack the most punch for your body? If you don't get some of this information, I am concerned that this process could be like a fad diet rather than a lifestyle change. Your body will only go so long before you and it crack! Then you will be back to gaining weight instead of losing it. There are so many things that need to be addressed to ensure long term success with the band. It takes a lot of things working together for success. If one piece of the puzzle is missing is doesn't work!

What did they say was wrong when you were in the hospital? If they kept you for 5 days they must have had some concerns about something. Did your doctor check and make sure your band was positioned correctly? Could it be disconnected from the port or have a leak? I feel horrible that your going through this! But I really think that if it were me I would change doctors! Having the right surgeon can be just as important or more as following the band rules! Good luck and please keep us posted on your journey. I believe with the right doctor your view on the band will change.

Jewel....why are you only getting 500 calories per day???? Of course your weak! Get your protein!! Why replace a meal with a protein shake? Eat!! This is so unhealthy! Not only is your body in withdrawal from sugar, dairy, caffeine, ect., your also starving it! Make sure you drink a lot of water! Hydration is important before surgery. You are weakening your body, therefore, weakening your immune system. This is not an ideal situation to put your body in before having surgery! I don't know any person on the band that could function off 500 calories a day. Learn how important it is to know how to feed your body with healthy nutrients so it will perform for you, not against you. Being thin and unhealthy is not the goal! Maybe you need to talk to a nutritionist to get some ideas of how to get in the right amount of fuel for our body.

I, unfortunately, in 6 years have never been able to have a fill and keep it. For some reason even the smallest amount is not tolerable. I would love to know what it feels like to get in the green zone that everyone is talking about. Unfortunately, that's probably not in the cards for me. However, I know the band is doing it's job. I have been able to keep off weight that I never could before. When I worked with it I lost about 120 pounds, when I didn't, I gained back 40. I think we consume ourselves with wanting and needing fills and sometimes forget about working on eating healthy and portion control.

Cheryl...the poop thing cracked me up!!! Thanks again everyone for your words of support! I'm worried about the food thing. I'm thinking maybe I should get a bunch of weight watchers or lean cuisine meals. I know my family and friends will be making things and bringing them over so I don't have to cook for my family the first week. And everyone knows how much I love sweets! My husband doesn't cook anything that's not high in calories and he loves to stare at me while I try his new recipes! I think I'm also nervous about giving up control of my house and work to someone else. I have never had a surgery were I haven't been able to do anything for more than a few days. I kind of feel like I will be losing control of everything! I know this is so stupid, but it has been bothering me so much that I'm already trying to think of excuses to cancel the hysterectomy on the 29th. My mind is such a dangerous thing! Lol

Checking in early with a weight of 195. Good luck with our last full week of January!

Get up at 4:30 a.m.! LOL... The quick on the go eating, without taking the time to enjoy it or think about it is what caused me to regain 40 lbs. Finding the time with the band is a large key to success!

Congratulations! I'm trying to work my way out of my 16 's right now!

You should be able to eat!!! I hope you change your thoughts on food! Guilt and fear towards food are not good when your trying to change your lifestyle and outlook on food! Know the amount of calories your able to consume per day, write down everything you eat, and exercise. Sounds like your support is using her band as a fad diet and hasn't changed anything! This sounds like a sure fire way to fail in the long run! If she continues to use her band like she is, she may have problems and have to have the band removed. Where will she be then? She's learned nothing and changed nothing! Do it right!! It may take longer, but you will be able to say "you get it", and once you "get it", long term success is almost a guarantee!

It feels like calling you a success story isn't appropriate! There should be a word that goes beyond success! You are just amazing! Thanks for sharing your story! It really puts those non believers in their place!

Thanks everyone for your thoughts! It means a lot to me! B-52, I went off track when my dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I tried to take care of my household and family and did what I could to help my mom to care for my dad who was at home and needed constant care. Someone had to be in the house with him at all times. He then passed away and 6 months later my 24 year old niece passed away unexpectedly from lung problems. During this time I was eating whatever and whenever I got the chance. Not thinking about band rules, and definitely not taking the time out of my day to exercise! This was about a 2 year period! Then I just realized that life is too short and we are not guaranteed another day, and I wasn't going to live with regrets! The I wish I would haves! I never want to get the news from my doctor saying "if you would have just lost the weight you wouldn't be ????" There are not a lot of things that I have complete control of regarding my life span, but my weight is one! I made a promise to myself that my weight is not going to be the factor that takes me out!

I think you have the will power right now because you know there is light at the end of the tunnel. Trust me, with the band you are also doing it on your own. Without you making the right choices, changing your lifestyle, and following the lap-band rules you will end up with the same poor results you have had in the past! Don't feel like your cheating or doing it the easy way, because there is nothing easy about it. It's a tool that can be used successfully or unsuccessfully, it's all up to YOU 100%! Please don't over think it, doing that will only drive you crazy! I do understand where your coming from, because I thought the same thing! Now that I have seen for myself what it takes, and how I have had success as well as set backs, I have realized it all depends on ME! Good Luck!

Isn't it funny how someone can make your day? It makes all the bad days seem not so bad at all. That bad will never equal how great the great feels! Kind of like childbirth, you swear you'll never put yourself through it again! Then you see that it was just a small blip on life's map, that meant nothing compared to the rewards! Married for 28+ years, you are obviously beautiful on the inside and out! Thanks for sharing your story!

So sorry to hear this. Let us know what they find. Where you taking pain meds? They cause extreme nausea for me. I hope that is your problem also. Don't give up, things will get better! You'll be in my thoughts and prayers!