JMinDallas

No problems besides needing a whole new set of clothes!! First few days w/gas was yucky but bearable. Now 6 months later I feel amazing and so glad I had the surgery!

Congrats on your success!

You're definitely still swollen. I felt like that for about 2-3 months after surgery. I didn't eat very much during this time and was losing. I still get hiccups & a runny nose when I eat too much. It'll be time for your body to get used to it.

I agree not to do a liquid diet. That's setting yourself up for failure. You're just starting to get fills, so you're not yet near where you need to be on that level, so give yourself a little leeway on that. As for planning food, I know I'm terrible as well. Especially in the early stages like you are now, Try your best to do shopping once a wk with a planned meal for each day. I make sure I have eggs (I usually eat two for lunch), some Protein bars (I eat one a day), and some fish/chicken and vegies. I also have canned tuna & chicken at all times in the cupboard. Because if nothing else appeals to me, I have that to fall back on. As for the gym, check your local YMCA or smaller gyms. Most of them have small start up fees if at all, and let you do month to month.

One thing that jumped out on me is that you're eating only 2 meals a day. You really need to be eating 3 meals a day, then with a light snack thrown in if you need it. As another poster mentioned, drop the smoothies. They are usually full of a lot of calories and sugars. If you got rid of those and ate a meal instead I think that will help as well.

I too Zumba at least twice a wk. I LOVE it!! You really do pick up most of the moves after a few times. Most instructors have a lot of similar dances, with a few tweaks here and there. It's a lot of fun, and everyone is usually laughing and having fun. I joined a new gym, and there are a few ppl who came up and introduced themselves. It was really nice. I plan to do the same when I new person comes in. And you sweat a lot and burn a lot. I take a 24 oz container of Water, and it's done by the time the class is over. So if nothing else, you get some water in for the day!

Congrats!!! I can't wait to say the same!

I was a little afraid of that part too, throwing up. thankfully it hasn't happened once for me. I agree that sometimes it does just happen, but many times it is eating too much, or not chewing well enough, or being too tight. If you listen to your body and it's signs, you'll do fine. Where else would we be able to lose as much as we have! I have 62 lbs gone forever and haven't felt better in a really long time.

I agree with the other poster. You really shouldn't base how tight you are on whether or not you can throw up. My goal is to never feel or to actually throw up, and thankfully I haven't. I noticed when I inched a few past 6cc's I had greater restriction. Now that you're at 6, I'd try a .5 or at most a 1. See how you feel after that. At this point a tiny amount can make a big difference. For me the difference came at only a .2. Keep up the good work!

I too was passed over for my very first fill. I was disappointed too! I had lost no where near you, but about 12 lbs in 4 wks. He said I didn't need one since I was satisfied and was losing at a good rate. He did tell me that more than likely it wouldn't last long. He was right. I had a fill about 3 wks later. Don't feel disappointed, you've done amazing! And really, you shouldn't lose more than that much in a month. It's not healthy to do it for an extended period of time. Be glad for the amount you've lost so far! Keep up the good work!

It is really awful! But walking, walking, walking was the best for me and most of us. I used GasX, more than was recommended and that helped too. As well as a heating pad in my shoulder area, especially at night.

I really can't believe how rude ppl can be, especially your own family. I almost wish you wouldn't have told them of your surgery. You should have let them see the pounds melting off and wonder what you were doing. They would have been sooo jealous!! But either way, you will definitely have the last laugh. Keep up the good work!! Don't let that stuff bring you down!

I also had a cup near my bed, and every time I woke up during the night I sipped from it. I had to go pee a lot, but it also helped to make me walk and thus helped get the gas out. congrats on the banding!!

I had joined curves years ago and did enjoy it, but as others stated, about 5-6 months into it, I felt I reached all I would there. Hours were inconvenient (closed at lunch time!), and it did get boring. I had a free pass to 24 hrs for a few months, and now I've joined a gym very close to my house. A little more pricey than I'd like it to be, but it has a lot of great class schedules (zumba, step, Water aerobics and lots more), open 24/7, has a great daycare, and lots of other good things. For me, it's the best for me to get out of the house and go to a gym. I don't do too well working out from home (I do maybe 1x a wk). It's nice to see other ppl there, who look forward to seeing you and ask about you when you're not there. Makes me a little more accountable. Also, I notice a big difference in weight loss when I go vs when I don't go to the gym. I too would get a free pass to some of the gyms around you and see which you like best.

ROFL! Those padded bras are something to get used to, but at least they hold them up! I started out small on top to begin with, and I'm glad they haven't gone yet. they've shrunk a little, but mostly the fat on the sides of the bra area. I'm hoping for them to stay the same (wishful thinking) or to wait until the rest of me is smaller!

I would be sure you tell the dr exactly how you feel and when you get the pain. Don't assume you need an unfill. Make sure the dr understands what you're going through. It is interesting that you've had this pain since your last fill, so I really hope nothing is wrong with the port. Pls keep us posted after your appt today.

The runny nose or stuffed up nose for me comes on when I've eaten too much. I know this, because it stops when I stop eating and stays away. It doesn't happen too often, but often enough to remind me when I've had enough. I don't think I have reflux. I would think there would be more signs, like burning in the throat area or other things associated with reflux, which I have none of.

Thank you for this! You are so right on it being a disease, and we need to realize how to cope and be successful. I have found it helpful to not be so strict with myself. I realize I won't be one of those lap banders who has lost 100 lbs in 6 months, but I can still lose weight and enjoy eating good tasting things during my journey. I don't deprive myself of things I want, I just learn to enjoy them in moderation. And as much as I don't enjoy exercise at all, it really has helped me to continue to lose weight and make me feel so much better.

I would also stick to liquids until you get in to see the dr. You probably have Fluid in the band that needs to be removed. Pls call your dr if you haven't already.

Sometimes dr's orders are a 'general rule'. Try eating 4 small meals a day and see if that helps your blood sugar level out better. I'm not diabetic and don't know much about it, but I would try something else, since obviously the 3 times a day isn't working for you. Sometimes the 4 smaller meals work better anyways. Hope it levels out soon for you!

Try some pineapple juice. That worked for me on a piece of lettuce. Be prepared for swelling. Stick to hot liquids and only liquids for at least 24 hrs. Don't try and eat anything at all. If the pineapple juice doesn't work, call you dr.

Breakfast was my favorite meal, and all it was was a bowl of cereal! Since my last fill I really can't do a lot for breakfast. I decided on diet hot chocolate and that works really well for me. About 10:30 I eat a Protein bar, which usually takes me about 45 mins to an hr to finish. Then I'm good until about 1:30 for lunch. Before I'd get a headache if I didn't eat something for breakfast, but I guess we train our body to get used to certain things, and now I'm used to not eating breakfast.

I had a free pass that ended a few wks ago. I'm going today and joining a gym! I notice a big difference from when I exercised to not exercising. I'm totally with you! Zumba here I come!

Hoping someone else with a slipped band could chime in. My thoughts are, can they remove all your Fluid and see if that helps? Then, if the pain subsides, and stays gone, they can gradually put fluid back in. Have they checked you under fluro to see if the band has slipped? This sounds like a problem, and I'll call your dr ASAP today and schedule a complete unfill. Please let us know how things go for you.

I think it's very odd they won't give you this info, but I have heard of others on here with the same issue. I ask my NUT each time how much is going in and how much that gives me as a total. They have no problem telling me. I would find it more odd if they didn't. I think you made a right choice in going to a new dr. But hopefully that's possibly, and you didn't speak too soon about wanting to change. did you find a dr that will accept you? If not, I'd ask to see the dr who performed the surgery and express your concerns.