Nicole74

I think everyone is different..I could do weight watcher with the band at first when i didnt have restriction but now that Im starting to get restriction I dont think I could eat that much...so Iv used some of the "rules" of wW to choose the foods I eat but dont really follow it anymor.Iv read where some people never could do WW with the band but its gonna depend on your restriction level.

I had no complications....the worse part for me was right after surgery and the first week ..after that things have been seamless. I had alot of pain right after surgery and could barly drink anything the first week but I had a couple cc's in my band and my doctor removed that on day 8 and I immedialy felt better. I had so much swelling for some reason that 2 'ccs additional caused alot of discomfort for me for some reason. I was banded on July 30th and have lost 55lbs. I am 35yrs old and was 300lbs when I got surgery and had no health problems at all before surgery. I think all of this goes into account to in order to determine if you might have complications.....

You cant worry about the unknown or about something that hasnt happened...you have to try and remain positive..I know its hard, cause Iv been there...but you need to focus on changing your eating habits and starting new healthier habits now...for me the hardest part was the first 3 -4 months...I went through bandster hell...and there was a time I thought I would never get restriction..I felt like I was just dieting like I always had done and that I spent 15 grand for nothing.....I had to take it day by day...or I would of drove myself crazy with the thoughts. Finally after my 3rd fill I started to get restriction and things began to click. Everyone is different but you have to keep saying to yourself that this will work for me, you have to do what the doctor tells you. start exercising as soon as you can! that made a huge difference with me. I actually did weight watchers for a couple of months in order to help control and track my eating. Hang in there and try not to think about the negative things!! It will only bring you down and question your decision. Worse case scenario this doesnt work for you...than you will have to face that when it happens but not right now!! Good luck!!

I was banded on July 30th...I have lost 55 lbs and feel soooooo much better!!! I had a tough time the first couple of weeks....and was in alot of pain, went through bandster hell for 2 months but I never once regretted my decision OR thought why did I do this. The only feelings I really have had was frustration (when going through bandster hell), scared when I thought for a minute this might not work for me and finally happiness...happy that this band is working for me and Im actually doing it and putting in the work and having the drive to keep going when I thought I didnt have it in me. I struggled with my weight for so long and I was so tired of being over weight and having food, eating and dieting consume my life!! this is definitly not for everyone! It is alot harder and requires alot more self discipline that I expected. I read alot about this surgery but I honestly feel no one can really be ready until they have it done and experience it themselves. No regrets here!!!

what an awesome experience!! who would of thunk that doing this surgery would of led you there! Congrats!

Thats awesome!! what a great feeling...congrats!!!

You will get to the point of not being able to eat as much...It took me about 3 fills..everyone is different but I was exactly where you were when I was in bandster hell which pretty much lasted from 1 week after surgery ( august 7th) through October. I still managed to lose weight because I was working out and watching what I eat but I didnt even feel like I had the band and that I was doing it all by myself..I was soooooo frustrated...You just have to take it day by day and take this time to learn and try the band rules and change your eating and working out habits...befor you know it you will be getting your fills and starting to get restriction!!

Yes sister, this site can be awesome and such a great support!! congrats!!

My first big goal was to lose 50lbs and I got there!! It felt like it took forever..but so glad that I did it! I feel so much better than I did 5 months ago. It hasnt been as easy as I thought it would be and I struggled through bandster hell but after 3 fills, 3x a week work oust and watching what I eat I think Im finally getting the hang of this lapband thing......for those of you just beginning and struggling..hand tough and keep your head up...the first few months for me was tough but patience, persistance and positive thinking and a little help from this great website will get your to where you want to be! I am about half way to my weight loss goal so I am still in the game but it feels good to hit this weight loss!! I couldnt figure out how to post pictures on here so I just posted the before & after on my blog if you would like to see the difference 50lbs makes!! Before-302lbs July 30th 2010 After -251 lbs Jan. 5th 2010

Oh I was impatient too! than all the sudden (even thought it didnt feel like that during the wait) I was down 50lbs..Itook it day by day....literally..If I didnt I would of drove myself crazy!!!

Yea I feel and hear slight pops and clicks when I get my fills..i never asked cause I just assumed that it was nornal...but I noticed I hear or feel it more as I lose more weight and get fills.

Iv been taking a body pump and body combat class at my gym for the past several months..but on Saturday I stayed and watched the Zumba class..i actually think I would really like it..there were a bunch of new people in there and they were all over the place but that is how it is inthe classes I take too..Im gonna give it a try next week !

You go girl!! that is really exciting stuff! I havnt flow since a few months before I had surgery.....but I know when I did I spent the whole flight smashed up against the window hoping I wasn't smooshing the woman beside me or touching her..I was very close to needing an extender but luckily didnt have to, however the feeling that the arm rest has to left up because it wouldnt go down the whole way beside my thighs was embarassing enough!! Great job!!

Congratulations!! I cannot wait to lose 100lbs!! I am halfway there but still cant imagine....Great job to you!!

I paid 14grnd for my surgery in August......I will be paying that loan off for the nex 4 yrs but I can honestly say I dont think I would of waited for a 3grnd differnce, maybe 6 or 8grand but not 3. I was so anxious to get this done once I started the process that come hell or high water I was getting it done!!...I was selfpay and it still took me 6 months to have the surgery from the time I started the process. I got one though for you...the insurance my husband had in 2010 didnt cover it at all not a penny....In november we found out his insurance was changing to Aetna...so to torture myself I called them last month and found out they would cover half the surgery under the his employee's plan!! talk about ticked off!..lol...so not sure which scenario is worse!! either way nothing can be done about it and I have no regrets!

It depends on how well you can take in liquid. My doctor told me 1-2oz every 30 minutes..I actually had a little 2oz shot glass that I would use all day...but even though you need alot of liquids my doctor told me that at first you do but not to worry if you can't get in 60oz. At first I had alot of discomfort and could barly drink 20 oz in a day...my doctor said 20oz was fine at first and I had no issues. You literally need drink all day throughout the day. If you can take in more than I would take as much as you feel comfortable taking in but just take it slow and sip. You will be fine!!

My blog is on my trailer below!! Good luck!!

@extra....try not to get down...its actually a harder process than I think most people realize...I am not sure what all you are doing to lose but I had to exercise and really be anal about my eating during the first few months ....I lost alot of my weight right out of the gate than it slowed down..it feels really slow to me now....try to keep postive..you only have had 2 fills and I didnt have restriction at 2 fills....you will start feeling it soon...good luck on your 3rd fill! I have my 4th tomorrow .

Thanks! I was waiting for another one of these! Im in!

I havnt had a coke or anything carbonated since July 29th at 7pm...lol..it was my last coke before surgery...I used to LOVE drinking coke my whole family does....but aftr surgery I accepted I couldnt have it anymor...my doctor never really said absolutley no carbonation but I read alot of negative things about it with the band and the fact alot of doctors done allow it so I decided to remove it from my diet...I actually have been very surprised that as of today I havnt really missed it..I will look at a coke or a tall draft beer and think man I could drink that but if I take a sip of it, which I did a couple times...I dont want anymore..I dont know if I trained my brain or what...but when I do take a sip or two it feels weird going down and I can tell that it would not agree with me if I kept drinking it...anymore didnt mean to blabber on about it but long story short..Im trying not to do anything that could cause an issue with my band...maybe once Im a year out and lost more weight I might try it but since Im only 5 months out Im gonna play it safe...for now!

Hi. I have a 3 yr old..pre-band..I was banded on July 31st 2010 and I plan on having another child in the next year or two. This was one of the first questions I asked my doctor becuase I didnt want aything to cause an issue with me having another. He said the same thing these other member responded with..when I get pregnant maybe by 2 months...he will take all the Fluid out so that I can eat more. there is a message board on here for pregnant lap banders and I read that sometimes but once I plan on getting pregnant , Im waiting for at least a year out, I will join into those conversations but I foudn that some doctors dont take it all out and leave the band filled as long as the baby is doing good and the mother can eat a enough. I read that several people that this happened to ended up getting it all taken out anyway because it just got too uncomfortable as you got further along. even though Im told its fine Im still nervous about it...im worried that something will hapen to the band while pregnant or I will get such bad morning sickness I will hurt the band...but Iv already gotten it done so I can do is trust my doctor and the other successful members who had children pre-band. One final note is that I was not a happy camper at almost 300lbs being pregnant and handling a baby...so it has to be so much easier and better for me and my child to carry at a much lower weight!! good luck to you!!

@RK...I have a total of 7ccs in my band now with some restriction but not at my sweet spot yet. with 5cc's I hardley had any restriction at all. I ended up just doing Weight watchers for a while in order to keep from over eating. I was mad when i had to do that cause I thought I got dooped with this whole lapband thing, I was selfpay too so I was freaking that I just threw away 15 grand just to end up doing what I have always done. but I put it in perspective and realized I was still doing better than I did when I was dieting before the band and I had to get restriction at some point. I know everyone is different but my dr told me most people start feeling restriction at 7cc's.in an 11cc band. I had times of being very frustrated during these 5 months...especially before I got my 3rd fill. I get my 4th fill on tuesday and I am really hoping this will be my last for a while but for me the fills last a wee or 2 than I can eat more again. I still cant eat as much as I could before the band..I use to throw down at a chinese buffet..lol...it will come...you just have to trust that it will and before you know it you will have restriction and look back at this struggle and think of how far you came:)

My doctor doesnt allow slim fast because of the high carb value and he feels most of your protein should come from solid food once you are on the solid phase. I do drink the protein shakes I get from my weight loss clinic where you just add water and I will also drink the kellogs protein drinks but they only have 10 grms of protein.

I was the same way....I was off work and on vacation for 2 weeks and I didnt hit the gym at all and eat whatever...I ended up gaining 3lbs...than I felt lazy and didnt feel like doing this anymore...by this I mean just the whole constant watching what I eat...working out...etc. but this past week I just said I to talk myself back into it..I looked at pictures of myself before being banded than looked at some I had taken after I lost 40lbs and I knew I didnt want to go back there again..I reminded myself of how bad I felt and that I paid all this money and made this big life decision I coulnt go back to yet giving up again just after 5 months...so I committed to going to the gym at least 2x last week ( I started kinda low so that it sounded better to myself..lol) and that I would start drinking all my water again...so I just gradually got back into again and Im really glad I forced myself cause now Im getting back in the groove again..its so easy to get off track and really hard to get back on...you just have to remind yourself of how you were before and why you did this to begin with and force yourself to do something better.even if its just 1 committment per day.

No, dont think tortilla chips are considered mushy.. each dr. is different on wht they say you can eat but I ate things like refried beans, mashed potaotes & baked potatoes, you can pretty munch grind anything into mushie in a blender...I blended wendys chili an I was in heaven..lol...I ate some oatmeal, and drank alot of protein drinks, mashed cauliflower, peas, you kinda have to get creative with the mushy stage..luckily I only had to be on it for 2 weeks and I did ok...if you do a search under mushy food on her it should pull up some posts of some really good ideas of what people ate. good luck!!!