HeatherinCA

It's about 1-2lbs a week.. I lose around 6-10lbs a month. But you never know when you will plateau.. if you will cheat... things like that. Some weeks for me are better than others. Judging by your tickets. 7.5 months to lose 75lbs? That would mean you have to lose around 10-11lbs a month

Yea, well as far as your doctor is concerned.. his scale matters. But of course, i weight much less when I first wake up, naked, then I do with 5 pounds of clothes on and shoes at the doctors office after lunch.

You aren't looking for "restriction" you are looking for hunger control. To be able to go 4-5 hours without eating. The band when filled properly presses on a nerve, which prevents the hunger hormone from being released. I have 5.5ccs in my band, and after a few weeks, my hunger was gone. Yes, I can still eat plenty, obviously less than pre-band, but I have to control what goes in. But my appatite is so little it makes it really hard to over eat. I honestly think, there is no point when you will be able to just eat less food without controlling it yourself. It's up to you to mentally figure out when you are full.

Yea weight prior to surgery. Before I started losing weight for the band. This number is prettier than the post op one haha.

Hi, I'm Heather, I'm 25 years old, I'm single, I was banded 12/13/10.. I live by myself in the smallest apartment ever in Hollywood California, which is really really fun! Born and raised in California. I am graphic designer, but I have been unemployed for 6 months . (hire me?) I'm obsessed with all things American Idol (Vote for Stefano!!), I love concerts, movies, shopping, tv show tapings and knitting. My car is orange. My favorite place to vacation is Las Vegas! Haha think that about sums it up!

Yes, I know a few people. Actually, I was with a friend today (well more of an acquaintance) and she told me she had a lapband today, but didn't want to tell me because she hates it and had problems, and I guess her band was recalled (but she did lose 50lbs she said, so she guesses it worked regardless, and isn't extremely overweight so I don't know her whole story). She said she couldn't get over the eating for the sake of eating.. emotional eating, and wishes it did more. I dunno.. I also know someone else who just never changed her eating habits, she'd eat whatever, and just puke, didn't care. Also a relative did it, lost a ton of weight, but has gained a bit back because she's eating around it. Maybe I'm lucky, but I have no problems, I don't puke or get sick all the time, that sounds like zero fun... I can clearly see why you would hate it then.

I don't think it really matters.. Unless drinking and eating makes you sick. A sip of water and a pill wont hurt you.. But if you can before is probably better.

You aren't doing anything wrong! 2 different bodies.. everyone loses different. Also... 42lbs in a year isn't that impressive... I mean I don't know her obviously. But that to me, would signal something is up with her diet. So maybe you can motivate her Also don't listen to her, listen to your doctor haha.

It's different for everyone... it takes about a month for it to completely take effect. I had 5.5cc for my first, after a few weeks, my hunger died. I have zero appetite anymore. So I'm thinking this is what it is supposed to do! Don't be looking for restriction, look for hunger control. The band will never stop you from eating. My hunger is gone, but I control what I eat. It's harder to overeat with the band (I definitely physically can't eat as much, but I can still eat enough to sabotage myself), I'm just satisfied with less, and with no real appetite you don't really care to over eat.

You only vomit if your band is too tight. (well that should be the case). I haven't ever been sick, or stuck. It depends how dedicated you are.. but the fills help get your band to a place where the hunger hormone isn't produced (it presses down on a nerve or something like that), so you don't think about food as much because you aren't hungry. It's a useless piece of plastic if you aren't getting hunger control from it. There is no way to know if just having the band will do that... most people get a fill. But I will say not everyone gets sick all the time with the band. Some people it's only certain food... some people insist on having their band super tight. But most people with normal fills, who take their time to eat shouldn't get sick.

The diet is more to prepare you for surgery... but not everyone needs to do it. It's supposed to shrink your liver.

Yea it's so strange!! I mean normally I get hungry, but if I'm busy doing things I don't notice I should be eating. It changes day to day. But some days my hunger is zero.

The pain after surgery is fairly bad for 3 or 4 days. But it's not unbearable. I was never nauseous except immediately after surgery in the hospital and they gave me meds for that. The surgery is easy and quick, I was home the same day. For me, I'm 4 months out, I've lost 48lbs. I've NEVER had any food get stuck. My appetite is gone. (doesn't meanI don't WANT food, but I'm never hungry) I was more scared when I read this board.. But it really is different for everyone. The way people use the tool is different for everyone... I would say if you can commit yourself to changing your eating habits then go for it, if you can stick to a 1200 calorie diet then go for it. If you still want to eat junk food all the time and expect to lose weight, forget it. It's still essentially a diet, you eat the wrong things you won't lose weight, that doesn't mean occasionally you can't have a cookie. But everything in moderation. I'm not worried about complications right now. I will cross that bridge if I get to it. It's a fairly safe operation, SO many of them have been done. The technology has improved over the years.

I go out a lot. I still personally, order a regular meal and just eat what I can usually about 1/3 to a 1/2 of it (appetizers usually have a crapload of calories, not worth it). If I can plan ahead I do.. I like to check out the menu and see what I can eat. Generally just look for anything grilled, baked or broiled and doesn't have a sauce on it... Or if I don't know the calories, I just try to guess, and eat a small amount, I don't over do it. Don't get the bread basket, a salad, soup, dessert, soda, alcohol.. then a meal isn't so terrible. I don't get sick or puke, I haven't had any problems yet. But if you do, then you may want to be more careful.

I feel like this should be posted in every thread you rule! But i completely agree. No excuses if you are eating junk, you won't lose weight end of story.

I always wondered that. I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it

I have a lapband victory this week haha (not a NSV I guess). Random.. but I went to American Idol on Thursday. I had breakfast around 9, then i had a banana at around 12. Then I didn't eat anything till about 9pm (from waiting inline, and the taping and all that) and I wasn't hungry. it's so weird! I even said to my friend in the car, it's the strangest thing, I should be hungry! Oh yea I know mentally I think I'm eating this perfect diet. But I know I'm not. I know sometimes I go over my calories but I justify it. If the scale doesn't move I go back to journaling to see where I miss stepped.. Yea, I haven't had after care either. I could bother them.. haha but I don't feel the need. I really don't need another fill. 41 pounds is perfect! I'm at 48lbs. 1-2lbs is totally normal (if you average it out, that's 10lbs a month!). Maybe just check up on your diet and make sure you are eating 1000 calories and not you "think" you are eating 1000 calories... up the exercise.. vary your diet, eat a little more.. or a little less.. sometimes I think the body just gets stuck in a rut.

I'd try to stick with it! Take a good HARD look at your diet and count the calories and exercise and make sure you aren't causing the lack of weight loss (I'm only going by what you said.. but if you are really eating nothing you would lose weight. If you are taking in less calories than you are burning off you will lose weight). Or try to change things up. Try low carb.. try eating a little more, or a little less.. or different things. Sometimes we get stuck in a rut... Maybe do a liquid diet for a day or two.. do the 5 day pouch test.. See if anything can jumpstart your weight loss to get your motivation back. Don't give up! You spend $15,000 and it's only been 6 months..

I don't... but it depends on what your body can get down. I try to take smaller bites, but I don't do "pencil eraser" size bites or anything like that. Besides if you chew it to liquid then it becomes a slider food. You just don't want to take a huge hogish bite and chew twice and swallow.. which I know is I what I did pre band. When I'm at home I use baby fork and spoon to ensure I don't eat too fast. Also we only eat small portions, it's more satisfying to eat slower.

What do you mean gross? Like saggy and stuff? I think in clothes I look much better!

My first fill was 5.5ccs. My doc has a fluoroscope machine (like an xray to see how the liquid flows through my band) so he can accurately gauge how much fluid I need. If you are doing it blind, then it's gonna be less to make sure you don't overfill.

Are you SURE you are eating 1000 calories a day? If I'm not losing I take stock of exactly what is going in, and usually it's because I'm eating too much. If that's not it, try uping it a tad, or lowering it a tad, the body is fickle sometimes. 30lbs is great though! don't worry. That's still 7.5lbs a month. Which is almost 2lbs a week The only thing you can really do is exercise much more, or eat much less. But this is about a lifestyle change, not necessarily about a quick fix diet.

Terrible pain is normal for 3 or 4 days. Yea I had liquid Lortab... nothing really helped too much though, I mean they cut your stomach muscles it's just gonna hurt when you have to use them.

Just get as much as you can, and eat more Protein than anything else. Hard protein like chicken, meat, fish.. It keeps you full because it's harder to digest. I don't necessarily think it's important to go overboard on protein though. Just make sure the main part of your meal is some sort of protein MOST of the time. I get all mine in and I'm still losing my hair. Which happens from excessive weight loss and the trauma of surgery.