LaLu

Thanks everyone for the support very excited. It's only day one but I already feel so much better from exercising If anyone has fitness pal, add me: diigiit

Okay everyone - I'm back..... AGAIN. A little bit more pathetic/embarrassed each time lol. Yet again I had a major relapse with my mental health, and my doctors have got me trialling all sorts of medications again. The last time I did this it took 2 years for them to find medications that worked for me, and those tablets only lasted 6 months before they stopped working. So it's not looking good. BUT, trying for a third time now, and doing a much more casual and relaxed diet/exercise this time. My partner and I are starting today Starting waaaay back at the beginning. So 2000 steps here I come! I just went to get my blood tests done last week and I'm actually healthier than the average person and weirdly enough I always have been lol. Except my Vitamin D which is less than a quarter of what it's meant to be. But that's mostly because of my insomnia/chronic fatigue from being off my tablets. Today I am going to take new photos of both myself and my partner, get on the scales and document EVERYTHING. I have recipes saved and ready to go, the only problem is we are so broke because we are both studying full time that it's hard to eat healthy. But we are going to just use the weight-watchers idea which should make it easier to eat what we can afford, but also watch what we eat. If that makes sense? Also can't afford to go back to get my band tightened, which is really crap. I wish I could because I also want to go get a check up and tell them what's going on since I haven't seen them in a year or two. It would be great to know other people that have just started loosing weight. I am currently 127kg, so if you're around that weight and just starting the weight loss, send me a PM!!!! I am going to be using Fitness Pal Wish me luck!!! Cause I need it more than most haha. x

Btw i just read about your nutritionists. Is that the same as a dietitian? If so, then don't tell anyone else i said this but DON'T LISTEN TO THEM!!!!! lol Dietitians are ALWAYS over the top. Use them as a guideline only or you will have no chance. I would also suggest to AIM for the diet they are telling you to eat. But don't start there! Especially when you aren't in your green zone yet. I used my dietitian for tips, not for strict rules. I think that's the only thing i was upset about with the "team" i had for getting my lapband. Everyone else was really understanding that I am big because of what i eat and i slowly need to change that. But the dietitian never really understood what it's like to be fat and expected me to change over night. Most people on here will probably tell me I'm an idiot for saying that, and telling you not to listen, but sounds like you are trying too hard to please them. I have always agreed with TV ad that says "You don't have to give up everything you like, just swap it" So if i ever get cravings for horrible things like Cookies, i end up swapping it instead of not eating it. I swap heaps of cookies for only 2 cookies, or i swap tim tams for weight watchers cookies, or full fat for low fat etc. Obviously i can't eat cookies all the time, it's just when i get bad cravings and when i'm starting again - because you have to start somewhere and going cold turkey is too hard. But your nutritionists would probably NEVER let you have cookies. Because all of those people are the extreme healthy eaters. The other thing is you said you lost 16 the first 2 weeks. Is that kilos or pounds? If it's kilos, that's too much!!! If you lose weight fast, you will gain it back. Do it slowly so your body can adjust to the changes and learn to live a skinnier life To everyone else, i understand that many people would completely disagree with what i'm saying and that's fine. But it's just my advice and my opinion. If you are able to listen to your dietitian's and stick to their strict diets then that's awesome, but this is just what i have gone through and what works for me

Anglkrys2, if your hair is falling out i would check your Vitamins. Have you been talking multi-Vitamin tablets? Also you need to calm down, that won't be helping your hair as stress will also make it fall out. I can't help much on why your so hungry because I've never been a big eater with and without the lapband, but that's just me. It would be a very common thing with new lapbanders. You said you have only had one fill - so that would probably be the reason you are so hungry. You just need to calm down and wait until you can get more fills so your in the "green zone". Unfortunately that takes time, but hopefully once you have a second fill it will start helping. Have you been to see your doctor and talk to him about being hungry all the time? They would have a lot of other people in the same position as you so maybe they will have some ideas on how to help you through until your next fill. You shouldn't feel judged from anyone on here - we are all in this together (as corny and cliche as that sounds) Heaps of people are going to have problems so you should use this website as somewhere to come for advice and help. Because there is bound to someone who can relate to you and is going through the same thing and then you can help each other through it. Just like everyone who has helped me get back on track and that have told me it's possible to fail and start again I don't know anyone else who has a lapband in my real life so using this website is a huge help for anything that seems abnormal. Go and take your vitamins though!!! My hair has started falling out too the past few weeks (since i started watching what i was eating) so i'm going to get tested and start taking my vitamins again.

Just weighed myself today - 1.6kg down and only a week into it. And my partner is 1.7kg down. Still haven't got my lapband filled but i just got paid so will book it sometime today

Aww thanks sombra, I just wish I tried again 6 months ago. cause even once I was better it took me over 6 months to consider trying again. I haven't gone for a fill yet, but I've started changing all my foods and choosing better options and exercising for half an hour every day. Its just a start - i will build it up slowly. It will be a week tomorrow that I started. I lost 1kg by the 3rd day but haven't checked since then My partner also lost 1kg by the 3rd day (who doesn't have the Lapband) We have been using my fitness pal for a guide on what we are eating as well as a reminder to eat healthy. It's not completely accurate but it helps heaps. Except my partner has pulled his hamstring from exercising and can't even walk at the moment so it's going to be hard to keep it up on my own until he is healed But even though my Lapband isn't tight and I can eat normally I'm only eating 1000 calories a day :S that's including all of the details like sauce etc. I've never been a big eater but when I used to eat it was usually horrible stuff like flavored milk and Cookies. So now that I'm watching what I eat it's barely any calories. What calorie intake should I be aiming for If I'm about 130kg and not using my Lapband at the moment? And what should I be aiming for when I DO fill my Lapband up?

Sorry I know I just posted a thread but I've noticed everyone is saying "protein first, then veggies, then fruit, then carbs" I know I should know by now, but what are some examples of protein!? All I know is that its meat of some sort, I think? But I don't know what meat. I would love if everyone could post what they eat for Protein so I can start eating that and getting back on track. Anything except fish because I hate fish lol. Thankyou

Your not the only one!!! I couldn't even go to the mall without doing a lap and being in pain. I used to wear tights/leggings ALL the time. I tried everything to stop it but it doesn't work. I have asked so many people and no one I know gets it on their inner thighs. I have big black marks/scars from chaffing all the time and they really upset me. I don't get the chaffing as bad anymore but to be honest it's because I avoid walking in summer because of it. And if I HAVE to walk or go to the shops for an hour or more I wear tights. This is a major reason for me hating excersizing and also why swimming is my favortie. I get this really bad at the beach as well and just refuse to go anymore. I also see a lot of girls my size and bigger than me who give me weird looks or comments when I ask them or even ask on the Internet. I don't understand why it's not a really common thing in overweight people. I'm almost 130kgs and 20 years old and had this chaffing of my inner thighs since I can remember. It's horrible. I found that any powders made it SO much worse. Maybe we sweat more there than other people of bigger sizes? I gave up on finding something to help and just stick to my leggings if it gets bad.

Fantastic! Thankyou guys will make a list of my favorites and take it to the grocery store.

This is the rule I hate the most!!!! I can't do this. I have to have a drink when eating. Mostly because I don't like the taste of food. Even if I have ice cream or something "yum" I still have milk or Water to wash it down cause I don't like the taste being in my mouth. And I certainly can't wait an hour after eating to drink. It's horrible I don't know how to change this. But I would highly recommend if you can stop yourself from drinking before, during and after eating then do it!! It will make the Lapband work a lot better. For the simple reason that drinking makes your food liquidy and it falls through your Lapband easier and faster.

Hahahhahahaha thankyou TMF. I don't think it's really what he would say though its more the guilt and the judgement and then that I've put it off for over a year makes me feel pathetic. Although before I got the operation I remember him saying at a meeting something about if we put the weight back on we only fail if we don't go back ever again. So I will have to keep that meeting in mind. I guess I'm just ashamed to go back.

I find that anything that is hard to chew like bacon, steak and subway - I have NO problem with. But if the foods are "mushy" like scrambled eggs and ravioli then I have a lot of trouble. It's really weird, I would of thought it would be the opposite - but that's just what I'm like Like everyone else has said, the Lapband changes. Some days it's fine with certain foods and other days it's horrible. I think it likes to give you a break haha. And then sometimes it causes pain and choking to let you know that it's still there and don't forget! Haha I also find that stress and different situations have impact on my Lapband. If I'm stressing about something then I can't eat. If I'm not at my house and I'm eating with friends or in public or at someone else's house I have a lot of trouble - usually because I'm worried about if I need to throw up and that stresses me and causes food to get stuck. Also if I know i need to go anywhere after I eat, that causes food to get stuck no matter what it is. I can't eat if I have to go somewhere within an hour after. And lastly, I'm not sure if anyone else gets this, but milk ALWAYS gets stuck in my Lapband which does not make sense to me >.<

Thankyou Cheri for your story that made me feel like I'm not the only one And thanks humming bird I will take your advice. I will keep everyone up to date on what's going on. I am going to have to learn to eat slowly, that was the hardest part for me. I kept eating normally because I don't like the way food tastes so I eat to get it over and done with. Even if that means being in a lot of pain. I wish I could just eat puréed food all the time, that was the only time I was super slow at eating. Haha.

I stopped Using my Lapband because I have aniexty and panic disorder which seem to run my life. I had a lot of trouble leaving my house and couldn't be on my own at any time. So i had to concentrate on getting that sorted and couldn't deal with thinking about my weight as well. I also have a lot of issues with food, since I was a kid I've had a phobia of lots of food. I lived on toast growing up and it wasn't until I wanted the at age 17 that I was finally able to get someone to help me. I've always been told I would just grow out of it or that I was just being a fussy kid. I went to lots of counsellors and phsycologists to help me with both problems and found a lady that helped me heaps with my eating. She was able to prove I had a real phobia just by placing the food in front of me. I ended up crying and hyperventilating and shaking from things like chicken and fish and oranges. About 95% of food actually. But I have come very far from that. I love cooking now and trying new things. I still have trouble eating certain foods on their own, I usually have to mix foods together so I can't taste, smell or feel one certain food. And that way it stops my brain from realising it's something I'm scared of. I also have to drink a lot with my food because I'm so sensitive to taste because most foods are new to me, kinda like a small child, which is a problem with the Lapband because we have been told not to drink while eating. Unfortunately both these things are going to be with me for life and even though I know they are going to be a huge problem I'm hoping with my weight I can just go two steps forward and one step back. Because I think giving up completely for 1-2 years is what got me back to square one. If I had gotten back on track sooner I would have only put back on 10kg not 20kg. I'm lucky though because I've never used food as comfort or for emotional reasons. I'm also lucky because I'm so young, people on here are 60 and getting lapbands, so that gives me 40 years to try and get if right haha.

Whoops typo in the heading. Failure*

I was 18 when I was banded and I am now 20

Sorry if this is already a post somewhere, I'm new to these forum sites and i'm not sure how to search for topics. So i'm a light smoker, and i quit smoking 2 weeks before surgery and cut down to only one every couple of days before that. Now it's been a week after surgery and my aniexty is starting to get the better of me. I strongly believe that i need to be mentally ready to give up smoking before i can actually quit. Just like going for the lapband, you needed to be mentally pumped up and ready for a change, or you would'nt be able to lose weight because you wouldn't be motivated to. You can't just do it because people tell you it will eventually kill you. With that being said, it's been a week after surgery for me and i want to know if its "safe" to smoke again. Or if i might get an infection or a chest infection etc. Please don't lecture me, i know i shouldn't smoke but i just want to know the facts, When can i start smoking again, Can it harm my lapband, How much do you smoke with your lapband or so. Like i said at the start i am a light smoker, before everything to do with the lapband i only smoked 1-3 ciggerettes a day. And i will probably smoke even less than that now i have my lapband.

I went camping for my birthday for a week and I'm really paranoid ive stretched my band. I ate a bit too much and snacked a lot. Although I haven't had any pain or symptoms. How can I tell if I've ruined my band? I haven't put on any weight but I didn't lose any either while I was camping. I'm seeing my doctor Friday but I can't afford any re-adjustments. I'm really worried do i go for an xray or something or can my doctor just tell?

By re adjustment I mean another operation to fix it if it's stretched or slipped. Which Wouldn't I have to pay for all over again? I haven't gone for a topup yet my first one is Friday. It's not really that I ate too much it's more that I ate too fast and didn't chew enough. Thanks though you've calmed me done a bit lol.

I saw a post on here that someone's doctor told them they were taking the easy way out. And i started thinking about the people who have told me the same thing. I'm sure a lot of people here would have been told the same thing, and that they're lazy for getting the lap band. So i was wondering, What do you do about these people? If they don't let you explain that it's not the easy way out, and that there's still diet and exercise involved, do you just try to ignore it or is it best to get them out of your life? Because I've lost a few really good friends and have been in fights with family members about this. Luckily most of my family members now understand and completely support me, and I've only stopped seeing one of my family members. But i tried to explain to a couple of my friends, and it just didn't end well. I don't want people being non-supportive about it in my life. I don't mind if they don't agree with it. But if they won't even hear what I'm actually going through then i just can't handle it.

Well i didn't realize how hard it was going to be to not drink while eating. I still have to take tiny little sips. With my 2/3 of cup of food (im on my soft phase) i usually have about a medicine cup size of water or less. I think it is because i have really sensitive taste buds though. A lot of normal food is super spicey to me, even beef sausages, tomato sauce, chicken schnitzel, and some yogurts. I used to have to drink milk with all my meals before the op. but i can't do that anymore and it drives me insane not being able to drink as much water as i want to, and having to wait half an hour after the meal before i can gulp down some water to stop my mouth burning. I think this the hardest part since the operation.

I agree! I have unfortunately lost a few really close friends who believe i'm lazy and shouldn't have gotten it done. Including my "God sister" who i've known since i was born. What she said to me really upset me to the point where i wish i didn't get it done. And no matter what i told them they didn't believe me. They said i should just join a gym membership and go on a diet, because it's cheaper. Gym membership is CRAZY expensive. And i've completely changed my diet for this operation and have had heaps of help from therapists to do so. Not to mention you still have to excersize everyday anyway! But luckily my mother has supported me non-stop, and helped me ignore people like my godsister. Theres no point in having people like that in my life anyway.

My surgeon and GP told me it's common to need plastic surgery when you get to your goal weight, especially tummy tucks. My GP doesn't think I'll need one cause I'm only 18 and my skin still has a lot of elasticity. And he also doesn't want me getting it done so young because i might need other surgeries or might have kids and it will just ruin it and i will end up needing another one. But it's only been a week since surgery so i can't really help much.

Thankyou for your honesty! I appreciate it. I'm planning on only having one when i need it (probably once a week or less) at least for the next month. And see what happens from there.

My names lannah. I'm 18 years old and from Sunshine coast (brisbane) Australia. I am new to these forum sites, because being a typical teenage i'm used to using facebook lol. I got banded 1 week ago, and i have lost about 10 kilos (22lbs) so far. I lost that weight a bit too fast, but i assume it will slow down from here on in. I had keyhole surgery and the only pain i have at the moment is from my "port" which sometimes hurts while laying down and is still currently bruised. But my other "Keyholes" are completely healed and look like little scratches My starting weight was 130kg, and i am currently 117kgs. My goal weight is 80kgs.:thumbup: