laurigee

Don't question your decision, work with it! You may have to play with the kind of foods that your body works with. If I don't have Protein in my diet I do not lose weight. A lot of vegetables make me bloat! So I eat enough of them to keep a healthy balance, but never any more! I also won't lose if I don't exercise. I don't have to go crazy, just an hour at least four days a week. Spend this time figuring out and listening to your body, seeing how it can work FOR you! If you do not lose it in a healthy manner, and try to do it like a fad diet, you will be more likely to gain back your weight in the future. I understand that we all want to be a certain weight, but we have to realize this is a journey to HEALTH! If you don't lose weight for a week or two, look back at what you ate and how you chose exercise as part of your life! Think about how you first felt when you started exercising and how far you have come. It is then when you will see that your HEALTH has improved. Which to me is a better feeling than the number on the scale!

Shelby, I started at 267 and got down to 160 also....a little over a week ago I was 204. I did the 5 day pouch test, then followed ALL the band rules and started to feel some restriction again without having to go get a fill. I am now back under the feared 200's and at 196 and losing! We can do this! We did it once, let's do it better this time!

Congratulations! Your journey to a healthy you has begun, enjoy!

Loose clothes, slip on tennis shoes, and a pillow and blanket for the ride home. Mine was outpatient so I was only there a few hours. If you stay overnight the hospital will supply you with a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, slipper socks, and a robe, ect.. The more you bring the bigger the pain of trying to remember it all when you leave.

Are you sure you had a bug and wasn't just overfilled? I guess your stomach could have been swollen from being sick? I know that you think that if your band doesn't have anything or very little in it that you won't have restriction, but you still may. I have been banded for 6 years and I still have not been able to get a fill and keep it! It is possible that the 1.8cc will feel differently than it did the first time you had that amount. The band is very fickle! Have a blast on your vacation!

I think the negativity with the band is from the people that don't inform themselves before they receive it or don't have realistic expectations! There are some people that think it's a quick fix or that the band does it for you, which isn't true! I will not lie, it does make it a lot easier. However, like any other weight loss procedure, you can sabotage yourself. It's not a guarantee! If you go in with a positive attitude, you have picked a great surgeon, know that change isn't always easy, and are willing to listen to the rules and follow them, you should be on your way to just another lap band success! Good Luck!

Congratulations! This will be the best thing you have ever done for yourself! I will say a prayer for you for a safe surgery and a speedy recovery! Keep us updated!

Love a girl that sees a opening and takes it! Lol. I agree that everyone is different! I was driving the next day because I never used pain medication. My doctor told me if I felt like walking to go ahead! He told me to listen to my body, it will let me know what I could or couldn't do. I was able to mow my lawn with my self propelled mower 3 days later. I would say not to push your body because someone tells you that you should be feeling a certain way at a certain point! Again, listen to YOUR body it will let you know! However, if your feeling great and would like to capitalize on your surgery by " faking it" with your family a few days, your secret is safe with me!

Congratulations to all of you for committing to your health! Your all doing so well! Be proud of yourselves!

Don't base your weight loss on anyone else's! Remember, this is YOUR journey. 11 pounds down is great! If your concerned about gaining weight on mushies, find out how many calories you are allotted per day and stick to it and write everything that goes into your mouth down. Writing it down is not only a good idea for your information, but later if you are not losing you can show a nutritionist or doctor your diet and they may have suggestions of how to tweak it for better results! Same goes for your exercise regimen. Hungry is normal. You may even experience hunger after your first fill. This is just something you will have to fight until you get a proper amount in your band! Be assured, this is only temporary! This is not how it will stay! So don't be self destructive during this time, be patient! Good Luck, your doing great!

I have no answer to your question. I do know that when I eat to much, get to much fill, or have gas that I have horrible shoulder pain. What is the solution for your problem? Does this make the band feel tight? Do you have a hard time eating or drinking? Here I am asking you questions when your looking for answers! Lol. I'm so sorry that your in that much pain, I hope everything starts improving for you! Once you get the first few glitches out, the band really is a blessing!

My bite sizes depend on what I'm eating and how long it takes to chew to get to a mushy consistency. Meat size bites are going to be smaller than the bites I take of softer foods. I think chewing is the biggest thing that we have to get use to! I giggle when I look at other people eat and think about the size of food that goes down without being chewed! Water was only a problem when I first got banded, now I can as you say "guzzle" if I want to. Don't freak out about not being "normal" again in social food settings. People don't even notice. They are so wrapped up into their own meal they don't pay attention to me. When I'm at dinner I'm known as the "Chatty Cathy" because I take a bite, have a little conversation and push my food around, take another bite, have some conversation and push my food around! Pretty soon everyone is done and I haven't "finished" and I just say "that's fine, I'm done, I'll just take the rest with me for later". In reality I ate exactly what I was suppose to. Remember, every person is different with the band. Your experience may be totally different from everyone here, however, you will adapt. There will be certain things you can control and some you cannot. It truly sounds more intimidating than what it is! Don't freak out, enjoy the journey! I will send you a prayer on February 13 that everything goes smooth!

Mine was done in 2006 in the great state of WI for $17,500. I think the cost has come down since then!

If I were to give anyone getting the lap band one suggestion I think it would be DON'T weigh yourself for the first 8 weeks after surgery! It is so up and down because of the changes in your body that you can get discouraged for no reason! We want to see fast results and for some of us that doesn't happen within this time. Know the calories you should consume, write everything down, and begin some type of exercise. After 8 weeks you WILL see some results, but there is no need to have your mind messed with on a daily basis based on the number on the scale! Stress is also a factor in being unable to lose weight, so remove that factor! Later you can weigh yourself as much as you feel comfortable, but by then even if the scale doesn't move you will not be discouraged because you will have gained faith in the band and the process! Good luck on your journey and congratulations on your commitment to a healthier you!

Checking in at 196

Wow, I was self pay in 2006 and mine was $17,500....I'm from Wi and I can only assume the procedure must be getting less expensive as it becomes more popular!

Remember, you didn't get the band so you would starve to death! You should have got it to improve your overall health! Be more concerned right now with making smart food choices and exercise, and the weight loss will follow. It's not a race, you didn't gain the weight in a week, don't expect to lose it that way. Don't use this experience like the fad diets in the past, work on making it a lifestyle. If you don't learn the proper choices now, it is possible to regain your weight even with the lap band! You will have times that the band will not always feel this restrictive, and when that happens if your not prepared it can be devastating! Good luck, and don't feel guilty about eating healthy food!

I'm still not sure if I started gaining weight after I stopped weighing myself daily, or I stopped weighing myself when I started gaining weight???!!! Now that I've recommitted myself I have started weighing myself daily. However, I don't get bummed out by the number because I know that I am eating healthy and exercising. I'm aware that depending on certain circumstances I could gain a few pounds for a couple days, but it will be gone the next! My first journey was to be thin, this journey is for overall health. Because of that I think I have put less pressure on myself and the scale! Good luck!

Twinskins...when I went "off the wagon" I too could eat everything I did before! The reason I could do this was because I wasn't following the rules. Are you making sure you dont drink 30 minutes before and after meals? Do you eat very small bites, and eat very slowly? Did you go back to the liquid or mushy stage for a few days after your fill? I regrouped myself and went on the 5 day pouch test after being banded for 6 years. I started following the rules and without a fill I started feeling restriction again. It sounds like you may be doing what a lot of new bandster do. They test the band! Do not give up! Your only a failure if you quit trying! Please give the band a chance by working with it, not against it! Get as much knowledge you can from this site. You will see a lot of people started feeling exactly the same way as you and are now success stories!

Have you been able to eat anything?

I agree with Missy, all the above affects my band! I am like you and drink warm liquids when I wake up which tend to help. If you feel uncomfortable consistently where it is effecting your life, and you are unable to eat healthy and stay properly hydrated, I would definitely call your doctor. I have had my band for 6 years and I have still not been able to have a fill and keep it. My band is unfilled but still works well enough to help me! Good Luck!

I think some is genetics! I also lost weight relatively slow, so I'm not sure if that helped! I think exercise and toning probably plays a part of it to. I think the healthier you do it the better your results will be. Stay hydrated and drink your Water, there is nothing better for your skin and body than water! I have gained weight from my goal weight, however, for the 4 years I was at goal I was not in need of any nip or tuck!

That's Awesome! Your moving and enjoying it! I'm excited for you, your on the road to success!

2 day liquid....protein shakes, clear broth, Water, tea, sugar free Gelatin, sugar free pudding...very important to stay hydrated!!!!!! 1 day soft Protein....eggs, tuna, soft fish (talapia, orange roughy) 1 day firm protein.....ground beef, chicken, or turkey, Scallops, lobster, clams, etc.. 1 day firm protein....White meat poultry, beef steak, lamb, pork Hope this helps, any other questions just let me know! I'm glad to help!

PLEASE remember this is a place of support! I have been banded since 2006 and found this site to be of great help in my journey! However, a few years ago I stopped coming here because of the mean spirited remarks! There are always ways of getting your point across without being rude, syndical, or abrasive! The majority of people respond better when thing are directed with a positive note. Instead of saying "if you would stop eating crap you would lose weight" you could ask "are you journaling your food and being careful to write down EVERY bite and staying within your caloric intake?" same question answered without pointing fingers, and you gave them helpful info! You don't have to be brutal to be honest. As for repeated questions, I am not very computer savvy and I know that I did not know how to navigate my way around the site. Therefore, I may have asked questions other had asked. Once I learned to navigate around I didn't have that problem. I think sometime newbies post to just introduce themselves to us and see who is willing to answer their questions so they can try to develop a bond with one of us older bandsters. This site can do so much good for so many people! Don't have people see this bickering and think once we start losing weight we become the mean girls!