Nicole74

Hey guys. Wanted to update you that my 3rd fill has really helped me! Im on week 2 since that fill and can really tell a difference. I get full alot quicker and now I HAVE to chew my food really well and take smaller bites. I have a total of 7cc's now in the band. I really hope this restriction lasts a while. I really try to pay attention to my eating to avoid bringing it back up. I havnt had that happen yet but I have gotten a couple short stuck episodes..not too bad but it happened with a chicken wing last night and the other day a bite of a bagel. it only lasted a few minutes, thank God, but it keeps me on my toes. I have lost 8lbs in a week already! Im slowly learning how to change my behavior. I still have a long way to go and Im not even half way to my goal after losing 47lbs but I am so happy I finally feel like I have restriction...it does make all the difference but you still have to watch what you eat, make good decisions and exercise for it all to fall into place. I went from 302 on surgery day 7/30 to 254 as of this morning! My goal is 180! I cant even imagine being under 200!

Hi Kelly....I sure hope my third fill is my sweet spot!! did you notice it right away?? I start back on regular foods tomorrow so I am crossing my fingers!!

Yea I am having hair loss too..every since about 6 weeks ago. Its everywhere..in the tub, sink, floor on chairs on my pillow and on my clothes!! I cant stand it...its coming out alot!! I have a ton of hair so I can spare some but i dont like it! I can tell a difference in my hair big time. I asked the dr. about it he said to take biotin and to make sure Im taking my vitamins every day..Im not good at that so gonna start. I am getting plenty of protein and food too so not sure why its happening. my fill went well he put in 1 more cc for a total of 7. I dont feel much yet but only eat mushies. I will keep you posted!!

I had bronchitis really bad a few weeks back, I was about 3 months out...my band doctor told me that it would take an awful lot of severe coughing for a long period of time to cause something to happen to the band. I was really scared especially because im self pay, but after a few weeks of bad coughing I was ok and my band seems to be fine. I would be nervous too especially since your only a week out but I would reccomend you call your family doctor and see if they can give you something to help supress your cough. It sucks to be banded at the worse time for colds and flu's!!

do you know if you have any fluid in your band yet? I am almost four months post op and I wasnt suppose to have any fluid in and about a week after my surgery I still could barly get liquid down and when I went in for my 1st week visit they ended up pulling out 3cc's so with 3'ccs and the amount of swelling I had made me miserable for longer than most people. It is still normal though to feel the way you do..sometimes it just takes a few weeks. I would reccomend just taking small sips...my doctor told me a sip every couple minutes..I know that sounds crazy but it did work for me but you are literally drinking every minute of the day:) hang in there and call your doctor if you feel that something just isnt quite right...thats what I did and I am glad I did cause after they took some out I felt immediate relief:)

My doctor never talked or emphasized a low carb lifestyle..but I read on here that alot of doctors do. I am almost 4months out from surgery and dont have good restriction yet. I find that following weight watchers helps me...it helps me continue to make better food choices while I am in bandster hell and it helps me track what I am eating. I hope once I get good restriction I wont have to do that anymore but until than it helps me out. It makes me feel like I am more in control....

I was banded on July 30th and almost 4 months out now. I have had 2 fills so far and my 3rd is on tuesday. I have never had a problem with any food..never pb'd got stuck or slimed (yet). some foods go down "hard" as I call it..where I feel a little something usually its like a bagal or something really doughy. since I dont have really good restriction yet and can eat anything I find it hard to stick to the band rules like chewing more and eating slower I dont eat as fast as I used to but I still could eat slower and take smaller bites. I am hoping the 3rd fill helps me and that I have more restriction!!

My doctor only gives fills once every 6 weeks. I had 3cc's in the band after surgery and a week later had to get 2 removed. My first fill I got 4'ccs and than my second I got 2'cc for a total of 6cc. My third fill is tuesday Nov. 30th. I have very little restriction with 6'ccs right now. so I am hoping the next fill gets me better restriction

My doctor only gives fills once every 6 weeks. I had 3cc's in the band after surgery and a week later had to get 2 removed. My first fill I got 4'ccs and than my second I got 2'cc for a total of 6cc. My third fill is tuesday Nov. 30th. I have very little restriction with 6'ccs right now. so I am hoping the next fill gets me better restriction

That is so great!!! I have to remind myself of the little things too that make a big difference too sometimes...I think we focus so much on weight loss and numbers that we miss out on the differences even 5lbs can make...I too have alot more energy I am a month ahead of you and have lost 40lbs but havnt lost anything in over a month...been very frustrated with that and its hard to stay focused. Congrats on your almost 20lb loss! Keep at it!

I take some of my phentermines here and there that I had left from before I had surgery. I was banded on July 30th and have had 2 fills and have very little restriction. My 3rd fill is on tuesday, Nov 30th. I dont like to have to take them but I have been been struggling in bandster hell and after 2 months of that I needed some help...when I take them it helps me with more energy to hit the gym and hit the gym hard, it helps curve my appetite so I dont go crazy eating. I can eat anything and still a good bit of food, I have never gotten sick or slimed or pb'd. To me its just helping me get through the bumps until I get to proper restriction. i dont take them everyday and I only had like 10 left so I take them a couple times a week maybe. I really cannot wait until I get good restriction!!!! but until I do I am doing what I need to do. I paid way too much money for this surgery to let my old habits hold me back. I work really hard by going to the gym 4x a week and really watching what I eat..all I need is the band to do its part and Im waiting patiently for that!

I was banded July 30th and have lost 40lbs...I lost 15 lbs really quick than it came off about a pound or 2 a week for a while. I just started really noticing and having people really notice...it was about the 35lb marker...I can finally see it in my face and the fit of my clothes. Iv gone down 2 sizes.....for me, even though I was losing it took a couple months to really start noticing it myself.

I was banded on July 30th and my first fill wasnt for 6 weeks and I lost almost 20lbs!! 15 of that was in the first 2 weeks. that first month in betweeen surgery and my first fill is whenI lost the most. I stuck to the rules and than when I started "regular" food I ate small portions and healthy choices..looking back it was much easier than..I am 3.5 months out and in bandster hell...havnt got to my sweet spot yet with good restriction..dont worry about your first fill being out a month..use that time to try and learn your new eating habits and to heal...you might be surprised at how much you lose:)

I was hungry about the second week...but to be honest, it wasnt really that bad..everyone is different but if anything you may struggle the 2nd week a little but just follow the rules and its a drop in the bucket in comparison to the whole process...it goes really fast, even though you dont think so while your watching those fast food commercials on day 8..lol....keep busy too to keep your mind off food..you might be one of the lucky ones that dont have much hunger for a while!! I do remember begging for the mushie stage:) mashed potatoes never tasted so good!!

I am feeling the same you are! I was banded July 30th and have lost 40lbs..I have had 2 fills and my third is scheduled for Nov 30th on my 4mnth anniversary. Right now I have VERY little restriction. I can eat normal and never had any issues with eating anything, pbing, sliming or getting stuck. I am very frustrated. I have been going to the gym 4x a week taking 2 hour long classes back to back. I hvn't lost any weight in several weeks. Now, I have to admit a day here or there I have eat things I shouldnt have or eat alot more than I should have but I cannot wait to have restriction!! I know that will make the difference in my weight loss and help me out. I too fee like Iv lost about just as much weight as I did when I was on Weight watchers....people do keep telling me I will get there and it will get easier once I have good restriction but it just seems like its taking so much longer than I expected to get to that point. I think to answer your ultimate question, once you have good restriction the point is you will more than likely keep it off unlike all the times we have dieted in the past. Not to mention if you dont really have restriction its easier to fall off the wagon and eat alot more than you should or can! Hang on girlfriend..your not alone!

You will just have to talk to him. I can still eat a good bit so its not that I am frustrated that I cant eat but that I CAN and I find when I go out to eat I eat more than I should. and I love to eat out and that is something me and my husband always enjoyed. we still go now but not as much and I try to stick with ordering healthy when we do and there has been times that I just go with him, get a drink and just sit and talk while he eats. I still cook with him every night...the one thiing I CANT do like we used to do all the time on weekends is watch the friggin food network!! that channel makes me hungry and want to eat every time I watch it..I really want to watch it but i find i just cant or I will fight the urge to eat. I would reccomend talkign to him and scaling back some or if your not hungry and cant eat much just go and get something very light like a side salad and sit and enjoy the conversation and time with him:)

I am only in my 4th month but it is hard to keep going at times, especially when your in bandster hell!! I personally just try to keep from "thinking" about the negative and take one day at a time...Iv had one bad week so far where I skipped the workouts and eat what I wanted but after that I was like WTH? you paid all this money and you HAVE to stick it out...It does help that I am starting to get more compliments and people noticing now that Iv dropped 40lbs. coming on this site helps me too...minute by minute...hour by hour and day by day is the best way to keep moving ahead.

Today marks 3 months since Iv gotten my band..its been a struggle the past month and half since I havnt hit good restriction yet. Iv had my good days and bad days. I have lost 35lbs and am happy about that but feel like its been going soooooo slow now. My doctor only does fills every 6 weeks and not before and those 6 weeks feel like 6 months..bandster hell IS NO JOKE!!..I am so glad I did this but I guess I didn't understand how long it could take to hit restriction. I read alot before my surgery but I learned everyone is so different and I really didnt know what to expect until I had it done. If there is anyone out there that has been through a rough few months but than got restriction and the weight came off quicker and easier...Please let me know! Id love to have you rewind the clock for me and let me know how you made it through and when you really started dropping the weight! Will help keep me motivated! Also how are all the July bandsters doing??:wink2:

I usually can't go 4 hrs in between meals unless I eat alot of food. when I eat about 2 cups im full not stuffed but hungry in a couple hours. I personally dont thnk I have good restriction unless I am in denial:) I think one or 2 more fills and I should be in a good place. I am just working out 4x a week and trying to eat healthy. I definitly cant eat as much as I could pre band and my hair is starting to fall out...which is crazy cause I thought tha was related to protein but Im getting plenty of that

I was banded on July 30th and have lost 36lbs...I think you have lost alot but I wouldnt say its outrageous amount. I lost that much and barley have restriction so if I had good restriction I probably would have lost more. I get plenty of protein, over 100 grms a day and my hair is falling out over the past few weeks..not sure what is causing it.

I was banded on July 30th and have had 2 fills so far, I am at 6cc's in a 10 cc band...I have a little restriction but not where I need to be . I can still easily eat a full plate of food with no problems. I have never gotten stuck or sick and dont want to but it is frustrating to feel like your doing this by yourself and not much help from the band yet. I am just exercising, sticking to the band rules as much as I can and eating healthy. I have lost 36lbs since surgery. My 3rd fill is still a month away...on nov 30th. my doctor only gives them every 6 weeks...

Thanks Everyone...Im glad to know Im not alone either but it looks like we are are doing good just friggin hungry and trying not to fall off the wagon! We will get there I have hope:)

I did the same thing but I had a huge family yard sale last year and got rid of a ton of clothes that I kept for years,size 14-16, thinking one day I would get back in them but than finally just accepted the fact that I would never, now I regret it...Im between a size 18-20 right now but still early in my journey. right now iv bought a couple things but trying to hold off as long as i can. I met a girl on here, she lives about 3 hrs from me and we met half way one day right before my surgery and she gave me some of her size 18-20 clothes and Iv been able to wear some of that, other than that I am just wearing baggy clothes until i lose a total of 50lbs than im going shopping!!

Im not a big egg fan but usually I have some turkey sausage and an english muffin or half of a whole grain bagel. When I eat 2 pieces of low fat turkey sausage that usually keeps more full for a couple hours. Im not yet at good restriction so some people might not be able to handle meat first thing in the a.m.

Hey Mo, Im glad Im not the only one struggling a little. I go the gym 3-4x a week and Im sure its helping but not as much as I would like. I think for me it more so being consistant with my eating I dont measure and I really think I need to do plus this past week I eat way more than I should have its the first time since surgery that I ate like that and I felt really down on myself ...so frustrating..I want that restriction that you hear so much about on here...just didnt realize it might take me 6 months to get there...but one day at a time I guess!