javalishus

Thanks for sharing your experience! It's great to hear positive and negative impressions, since on a daily basis I am both pleased and displeased with my own experience. I just passed my 1 year and have lost 40 pounds.

It's great you are being honest with yourself about your feelings. Its OK to feel anxious. Especially if you are prone to any depression or anxiety. I suffer from deep depression at times and the first week after surgery was terrible for me. Your body is traumatized and is metabolizing chemicals and meds (if applicable) differently. There is an adjustment period. Be gentle with yourself and dont be afraid to voice your concerns. Not all the folks here are feeling great all the time.

I commend you for daring to ask. Even though I went to all of the classes meetings and evaluations, I really dont think I had all the info until after the surgery. I deeply regret not spending time on this site prior to my surgery. I DO NOT REGRET GETTING BANDED. Th e band is a tool, not a magic bullet. We have all tried and failed countless ways to lose weight over our lifetime. I have lost and regained over 500 lbs all tolled. For the first time I have the ability to lose and keep it off. 10/12/11 will be 1 yr for me and I have lost 60 lbs. I work out 3-5 x week. I love Zumba, and total body workout. I often stray from the lifestyle and diet. and get disgusted and discouraged. I spend 30 minutes on this site and get re-motivated to make the right behavioral choices. The band is a mechanical fix to address a physical symptom of what is really an emotional and behavioral disorder. Good luck

Ha! Terrific. I remember reacting the same way. Its like an affirmation that the band is doing its job. You will learn to stop eating a bite before that blocked feeling. Good luck!

I began to experience "stuck" after my second fill. But that was my personal experience. Everyone on here is shareing thier personal experience which will vary from person to person. Your questions and concerns are valid and not having info can be very frightening. I sought as much knowledge as possible prior to my surgery and attended 8 months of classess. After the surgery I realized how much I didnt know. We are here for you. Don't hesitate to ask anything. My greatest need post surgery was to find folks who had been through this before me and here about it, sometimes over and over. All the best to you!

Welcome to the March Madness Challenge! This is a fun , motivating, stress free way to set personal goals for the month. I hope you join us. Please complete the template below, weigh in each Monday, and list your name with your weigh in, screen or real. Lindsey (I hope!) will do our stats on a separate link. (Thanks LIndsey!) Name, real or screen~Javalishus Age~51 Weight on February 28th~243 Goal Weight for March 31st~238 Exercise Goal for March~add walking 2x week Dietary Goal for March~ eliminate certain slider food that is holding back my progress Personal Goal for March~self acceptance Date Banded~10/12/2010 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~34

Don't panic. I vascillate between regret and joy almost daily. I had a slow start despite exercising 5x week and following the rules of the band. I'm four months in now and have lost 35 lbs. Thats amazing! The first 20 was in the first 3 weeks and the last 15 was in the past month. It comes in spurts, I had to get back to basics and start keeping a food diary, planning my meals and drinking tons of water one hour before and one hour after eating. My second fill made a;ll the difference for me. Its different for everyone.Vow to change 1 little behavior each week. The band and the sleeve are both just tools to assist us as we follow a careful plan for eating and exercise. Whe I feel doubtful or discouraged, this site always helps. Its easy to feel alone. Why not set a time each day to log on and read the first ten threads. You will find yourself more relaxed and confident daily. Good luck and good choices to you!

I am so thrilled! I I have achieved a long term secondary goal. Evertime I go to a doc's office with the non-digital scale the nurse starts with the little metal slide weights for 200 lbs., then realizes she has to use the 250 lb start point. For the first time in 10 years I was below 250! 249.6 to be exact. I am so pumped!!!!!!!!! Well on my way to my January goal after a long stagnant period. Thanks for the motivation.

I also had no restriction even after first fill. I am scheduled for second fill this week and hope to feel the difference. Good for you for quitting smoking! That's huge. Don't beat yourself up. You will even out and start to get results.

I joined late as well. But I joined and that's what matters. The accountability to like minded peers keeps me on target. I will post my Monday update wight tomorrow. Good luck!

I am a slow loser as well. It can be so discouraging. Nice to see our goals can be achieved!

That's awesome! Good for you.

Is anyone interested in a New Year / January challenge? Is there an active one already that I couldn't find? I love challenges and find them fun as well as motivating. If you'd like to join me, we can delelop our ideas for a challenge. I would suggest we each post our starting weight on Monday the 3rd and what our plan is for the month to reach a realistic weight loss goal. Also to introduce ourselves so we can get to know each other. I'm joining in late at the suggestion of members. I feel motivated already as part of a group. Name, real or screen~ Javalishus Age~51 Weight on January 9, 2011 253 Goal Weight for January 31st~ 247 Exercise Goal for January~ Zumba 2x week, weights 2x week, yoga 1x week Dietary Goal for January~eliminate white flour, HFCS, leafy greens and whole grains, Water water water Personal Goal for January~ be gentle with myself instead of hyper-critical Date Banded~10/12/10 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~23 lbs

Since the holidays I have become increasingly noncompliant with the diet, I started sneaking in old bad food behaviors and because I didnt have any negative results I ate more. I have been eating more, more frequesntly and the wrong foods. I have gained 2 pounds, I am depressed, discouraged and have lost my focus. I wish I knew someone else who has had the band, I feel very isolated and unsupported. Has anyone else lost thier way? How do you get back on track? Everyday I say this is it, "Today I am eating right" etc and I "sneak" and eat wrong. I'ts my lifelong behavior pattern and I'm so disgusted with myself. I cant fail with the band like I failed my whole life.

Thank you all. I feel a little more hopeful. I'm going to do your suggestions including the January challenge.

What an inspirational story! I didnt realize it until I read your post how badly I would like to hear a compliment from a man...any man.

I do best if I plan ahead for everything I will eat for the day. I was never a planner , always just winging it and thats one of the reasons I always ate so much. Now I have a protien shake in the morning at home, I pack 3 meals (4 oz. each) to take to work, and have a clear plan for what I will have for dinner and late snack. The timing needed in order to space out liquids, i.e. no drinking 30 minutes before or 60 minutes eating, makes it nearly impossible to eat too soon. Sometimes the day comes to an end and I realize I still have two "meals" to fit in. I try to avoid eating heavy before bed but a glass of soy or skim milk before bed dosnt hurt.

Centrum adult chewables are available at Walmart or grocery stores

:thumbup: I lost 16 lbs for 8day post op check up. Then gained 3 lbs and have stopped there for 14 days. I am doing everything to the letter. Excercise 5x week, 4 oz meals, high protien, at least 64 oz water a day. I'm getting discouraged. Any advise?

This is all so helpful. Thanks. Planning for my first fill next week. I have been disapointed by my weight loss (or lack there-of) and I feel like I can eat anything and certainly more than 4 oz.. I have had to really restrain myself, measure meals and chew slowly etc. Looking forward to first fill.

I get hungry listening to what you ahd been living on prior to your fill. I had 3 days clear liquids 5 more full liquids and started food processor chicken and turkey and sardines right from the can at 14 days. You must have been starving.

Cool! Thanks. I have my first fill next week and had no idea what to expect. I relate to your very detailed account of this experience. Good luck!

I am the same way. Banded on 10/12, lost 16 the first week and have gained 2 lbs since then. I was very constipated and backed off the calcium, iron and added stool sofenter. I also added one prune with each meal. I have always been a big fruit and veggie persona dnall of this protien and calcium has me out of whack. Doing much better now.

Thanks Mom2. After years of failed attempts I feel like that's all I'll ever have.