MollyRN

One other thing, I have never puked. I don't think that is extremely normal. I am also amazed that at 6 weeks, you are just now scheduled for your first fill! I am at 8 weeks and have had 2 - tomorrow is 3.

I was like you - but I had a fill. The thing I realized is that you are losing weight right now by yourself. You are not enjoying the full benefit of the band. You are probably excited and optimistic, like I was/am, but then it hits you. My first fill was 4ccs - my surgeon told me that 4ccs just expands the "balloon" to the rim of the band. I really had no major issues after that first fill and continued losing weight well. But when that day came, and it did, that I got sick of working so hard, the band reminded me to stay on track. Now I have 5ccs and have been doing well. A band with no fill is NOTHING like a band with fill. Going back tomorrow to hopefully get some more! I recommend at least getting something in your band.

Ok - Almost 8 weeks post-op - everything is going extremely well. Have had 2 fills and felt great - eating very little and only twice a day - consistently losing 2 lbs per week. Last week I started to go back to the gym - nothing crazy - but about 40 minutes of cardio/weights. Now my eating is OUT of whack - I am starving after the gym, which makes sense to me so I have a Protein shake and I assume the rest of the day will be normal - but its not. I feel hungrier than normal all day - I have headaches if I don't eat more. I feel completely messed up - on top of that, in the last week - I have not lost any weight. I know that exercise is good for you - and I know that I will not stop. I just need some advice on how to handle my hunger. Do I get another fill? I can't be burning more than 250-300 calories in the workout - so the 200 calorie Protein Shake puts a lot of that back. So what gives??

I am with the general population on this - my only regret has been waiting until I was 38 to fix what has been the major problem in my life for 2 decades!!! Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels - is that the quote? Honestly I was worried about not being able to eat certain things again (my biggest was sparkling Water - I was an addict) - but really, I don't even care anymore. JUST DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree - I mean, I am naturally mesomorphic anyway and I put on muscle rather quickly - so I guess in my mind, it makes sense that I might have this period where my weight loss stalls a little. And I guess I can deal with the stall (for a little while anyway) if I could work out the calorie/hunger stuff. I don't want to be hungry all day - but at the same time, I don't want to further sacrifice a metabolism that was already pretty lame. I also don't want to be OBSESSING more than necessary.

I had this - weird tongue stuff - but it kind of started a couple days before surgery for me - and it lasted like 6 weeks!

I did! They told me to stick to around 1000 calories per day... but I wonder if they say that assuming that people underestimate how many calories they take in. I track it religiously so I know exactly what I take in on any given day. My body is saying EAT - so I guess I need to listen. This is totally new though - because before I started working out last week, I was coasting along - no hunger between meals. I had a cup of coffee in the am and then lunch and dinner - and I would not get hungry for like 5 hours after I ate. Now this....

Office mate...I like that Ah... about 1000-1200 per day. 1200 with breakfast/protein shake. Yesterday however I ate 1400....

I read somewhere that you can get swollen from a PB or from overeating and that's why we have fluctuations in restriction - that it is swelling driven. But I also have seen people talking about increased restriction during their periods and things like that.

I lost weight through bandster hell - but only because I put my best dieting face on. Don't take the pills - this period is so short and you can do it if you stay focused. I don't have a desire to eat Cookies - but this is mostly because I am full after I eat the things I have to eat. I think finding that spot where you feel satisifed really works - of course, it does not work on the emotional eater as well - and they told us that up front. Emotional eaters need additional support - and even apidex isn't going to help us with that.

You are doing so well!!! May I get to 79 lbs some day - in spurts even!!! It's not a diet - EAT WHAT YOU WANT (focusing of course on protein) but get that band tight and eat only a little bit of it. This is a NEW way of living. Are you in your sweet spot? I think I might be in mine - I can eat almost anything - but I eat so little of it that it hasn't affected my weight loss at all. Don't get bored - you can do it!

I'm in! This rocks :smile:

Vitamins and protein are not really a concern the first couple of days - hydration is. I did start mixing some protein powder into my water and drinks by day 3.

For mine, we just needed a certain BMI and proof of sustained attempts to lose weight (aka, nutritionist, doctor)

I know that we did not have anything other than a 2 week liquid diet pre-op. Of course, that was if we met our insurance's requirements. I know a lot of people who had gastric bypass who had weight loss requirements pre-op - but it seems like most lap band people just had pre-op diets (and not even all people had that!). I did lose 10% of my excess weight in the pre-diet though... but like I said, that was not a pre-stated goal.

I almost hate myself for asking you this... but are you eating enough?

My doc told me that 4ccs just fills the band - doesn't even tighten it yet, if you know what I mean. The difference between 4 and 5 for me was AWE INSPIRING. I had 6 and they had to back out one. At 4, I had no restriction - so we all have our spot - just practice the habits they want us to and you will get there.

I am at 5ccs and I can't do sushi rolls - first of all, it is too big of a bite - and second, the seaweed isn't that friendly!!

I agree - muscle milk light rocks. I even like the strawberry or banana one....

I agree that these recommendations are so we PRACTICE and become COGNIZANT of what we are putting in our mouths. Because when we get fills and when we actually get tight, the band tells you how long to wait - don't worry. You won't be counting 90 seconds off in your head, you will be FEELING the food, stop and then hopefully pass. When the doctor tells you something to do BEFORE you have more than 4ccs in your band, DO IT. It is for practice. It will help you later.

I eat around 1300 calories per day, 80grams of protein, 30-90g of carbs I have been a steady 2lb per week - I haven't started working out yet - tomorrow the kids go back to school and I go back to the gym!

Weights before cardio is good for fat loss. Lifting weights burns off your sugar stores and that means that when you do cardio, you are working on fat burning rather than sugar burning.

You are doing great - keep it up. Check out my blog because I am writing about exactly your question. I thought getting the band was the band. Then I thought my first fill was the band. At my first fill the nutritionist told me, we installed it but we havent turned it on until today. At my second fill on Wednesday (and unfill), they said the first 4 ccs of a standard lapband doesn't really do anything more than inflate the band. After 4 ccs, you start seeing a difference. Ah.... they were not lying. I am at 5ccs now and EVERYTHING SINGLE THING I SWALLOW stops and then passes. The putting down the fork thing and waiting, it was no lie. It takes me like an hour to eat now. The first or second fill will fix the hunger issues you are having. GOOD LUCK!

Congrats Amanda - you are doing really well! I just got my second fill and things have changed dramatically for me. I giggle when you say going out to eat is not worth it - I was just writing about that on my blog today. Eating has become SUCH a chore for me since my last fill on Wednesday. It's not even worth it!

Agggghhh.... After all my complaining and research about the metal taste in my mouth, I am pretty sure now that I am in full ketosis. From what I read, it seems like a highly positive thing - meaning my body is no longer burning glucogen and has switched instead to burning fat (primarily because I consume practically no carbohydrates). But seriously, can someone tell me if I have to live with the taste and pain in my mouth forever? Any long time bandsters have this issue? The nutritionist says that I don't have to eat carbs if I don't get that far (meaning, eating Protein first and then veggies...and not getting to carbs). I think I have about 30grams per day of carbs.