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I am almost 2 years out and my last appointment with my dr. we discussed my eating habits and I told him everything I was eating and he said that I should be able to eat everything with the band. My only problem is when I do eat fast I will throw up. And it is usually when I let myself get too hungry. I think I have about 6 ccs in my band. I have not had a fill since March. I am maintaining my weight, almost at my goal another 5 lbs and I will be there. But I am fine if I don't make it. I have lost 130 lbs. wear a size 12. Never thought I could do it. Somedays I do overeat but it is a horrible feeling. Good luck to all.

Good morning! After a solid week of battling the same damn pound, I dropped it Monday, and two more since then It is a great and rewarding feeling to get on the scale and see those changes. It makes the extra time it took to dig out a weight watchers recipe and cook versus grabbing fast food that much more rewarding. The weather is finally breaking here in Michigan, and it's beautiful out!! Can't wait to get out and walk every single day again- I miss it sooooo much! I'm back horseback riding again, which wasn't something I had given up due to my weight or anything...but I kind of see now, looking back, I gave up a lot of stuff indirectly becuase of my weight. I didn't feel like going out, I wasn't in the mood, didn't have the energy, etc. I love getting out now- getting dressed and going out in the world. I'm almost to my 1/2 way point in my journey...down 49# total, with 56# more to go. I'm excited to start seeing myself IN pictures with my kids, instead of just standing behind the camera all the time. I'm excited to get dressed and know that nobody is noticing me for what is or isn't showing- it's like an entirely new outlook on life. I have always had my weight weigh really heavily on my mental well-being and my attitude, so I'm glad to see as I shed pounds, my attitude changes, my life is better, and I'm so much happier! Had to share some uplifting stuff today- I know that I haven't been on as much, and I want to be able to track my journey on here as well as maybe help someone out that is questioning if this is the right choice for them or not. I know everyone is different, but I would do this for myself 100xs over if I had to. I finally have my LIFE BACK Have a great day y'all!

Today started out great. I felt great, everything was fine, until about 1pm. Suddenly my energy bottomed out and I felt a little funny. Also, I had a nicotine craving so huge it scared me. I hadn't had one that strong in a long time. I called the Dr's office and they said it would be fine for me to wear nicotine patch if I felt I needed it, it wouldn't interfere with my scheduled surgery for next Wed. So, today's stats: Weight 278.4 (down about 1.4lbs) Isopure Protein drink (40g protein) 2 low-carb Slim fast (40g protein) 2 cafe latte's (non-fat) (14g protein) Won-Ton soup - minus the wonton noodle Sugarfree Jello water water water water I'm sure the tiredness is normal, and is because of the lowered caloric intake. I've been told that it will improve in a couple of days. I really hope so! It's been almost 2 years since I felt this tired. That was back when I was having major thyroid issues.

I have had my first adjustment (on Aug. 3rd) with Dr. Francis and just loved her! I have had the band for a year and am on my 4th fill. I have switched doctors to Dr. Francis after being referred by many to her. I have just under 7 cc's in my 10 cc band and was just wondering what to expect. I will tell you what I am experiencing 3 days into it and maybe you can share your experiences. Still on liquids but tried a teaspoon of Yoplait fat free yogart at lunch - back pain, chest pain...maybe I tried it too soon, maybe to fast. I have had a hard time with Gerd (only at night, when I lay down) the first night, this was painful....last night, I must have burped stomach acid up in my sleep because it went into my lungs and had me sitting straight up in my sleep and fighting for air. I finally coughed up the Fluid from my lungs and went back to sleep at an elevated level. All in all, I have lost about 4 pounds in the past 3 days, YEAH ME! Sooo....what should I expect in the next week???? Anybody??

Good Luck everyone tomorrow morning. I was banded on 7/6/09. Surgery weight was 216 and my current weight is 204. I was so nervous and now I say what a waste of time that was. I took no pain meds and I'm hearing that a lot. It's not a painful surgery. I don't know why I was so worried. I am happy for my decision and can't wait for my first fill. I can't wait to start learning how to eat food again even if its just an ounce. For the first 3 days I wasn't hungry at all and on day 4 felt really hungry then I discovered that when all you can have is liquids make sure they taste good. Go to a restaurant that makes great chicken Soup and just order the broth, lots of it. The store bought ones just don't do it when you are hungry and can only drink. And see about the creamy Soups they make for when you can have those. My husband is a chef and I thank him everday for his soups. I bought those box containers of organic chicken broth the week before surgery and I want to return them all to the store. They were good for the first few days and now they make be sick to think of drinking them. My dr recommends carnation instant Breakfast but there is not enough Protein so I add Protein powder and it helps me to feel fuller longer. And I drink slim fast when I'm on the go which also doesnt have enough protein. I need to research a better Protein Drink that helps to keep me fuller longer.

I have lost 4 lbs in 3 days after my last fill on Wednesday, just wondering if that means o am in the green zone or if that is too much too fast meaning I am too tight? Confused : /

yup.. i moved to solid 2 days before my second fill. I asked them about it and they said their "rule of thumb" was if i could eat more than a cup of food at a time and only felt full for 1-2 hours (both were true) then a fill was needed. That's why they did the second fill, and at the time I didn't mind one bit as I was tired of my stomach growling at me! lol. They said everyone was different and people heal faster than others and are ready to move on faster than others. They basically said I was in that "fast track" sorta lane where my body was adjusting alot easier than some of their patients and was ready for the second fill. I just not sure if Im adjusting, or if they put a bit too much in is all. (as to why my body sending me weird messages now)

Atkins shakes are all low carb and can be found at grocery stores. I go to Ralphs (it's a newly built store). If you go to a newer larger store they usually will have a bigger inventory (thus more flavors). Slim-Fast also has a carb control version, but I think Atkins taste better. You should try both and see how you like them.

I like Atkins low carb drinks in single serving cans. They are 2 grams of carb, 160 calories, and 40% of your daily serving of protein per can. Grocery stores have them. If you find a store with a good selection you can get flavors such as, Mocha and Carmel Latte (my favorite), besides the usual Chocolate and Vanilla. They are very tasty, a little more expensive than Slim Fast but worth it for the short time we are on liquid.

The 21st (Tues) was my six weeks follow-up appt with Dr. Cahn. I had lost 39 pounds. Got my first fill (1cc) and went on two days of liquids again. The first day I managed to drink a protein shake with the Slim Fast in it, and also a can of pureed Bean with Bacon soup. The next day I couldnt face the shakes so just had a can of soup. I was so hungry by Thursday that I could have eaten a house, but well.. no, I couldnt! heh Today I've been tired and really fighting the head hunger. It seems that just the idea of being off of the restricted diet has my brain working on overtime. It's almost like someone said, "Ok, youre diet is over. Go do what you want now." Wow, the brain is a crazy thing to deal with. Paul is doing just great too. 38.5 pounds down as of last Sunday. Dropped out of DeFelcha's challenge, but will be joining Heather's on March 1st. Will track the weekly loss there. Have been walking on the treadmill more. Can do about 15 mins, on a really good day I can do 20, at 2.2 - 2.4 mph. Seeing the nutritionist next week for food ideas. Need to eat more, not getting over 700 calories per day. At 50 pounds, we will update our pics.

It totally depends. My time from seminar to surgery was just 1 month, and I have insurance. Some are fast, some take longer. :tongue2:

It helped me to put it into perspective. We are on a long term journey. We didn't gain the weight overnight, and it will take a long time to lose it. The band is a tool, but there is a process to getting it to the right place where the tool begins to help you on that journey. I had absolutely no restriction until my first fill, and that was hell from being hungry all the time. I was losing weight, but I felt it was only because I was "dieting". The band was doing nothing for me. I had 5cc added to a 15cc band this past Monday. I experienced my first restriction when I ate my lunch a bit too fast. It was a great day when I felt that first bit of restriction. I suspect that I will need at least 1 to 3 more fills before I start feeling some real restriction each time I sit down to eat. Hang in there. What you are feeling is totally normal. Have faith and you'll be in the green zone before you know it.

Thanks so much Susan! Yes ma'am, I've lived a pretty fast life up to now, and after 30-something years on the road touring, it finally caught up to me. Plus, I got started WAY to early in this business (age 11 professionally), so I prolly have the innerds of a 70 year old. I'm hoping that serious devotion to recovery, and the lapband procedure, as well as many bad habits eliminated, will prolong me a few more years down the road. Only time will tell, but I believe I have a good chance. Smiles back at ya! Take care up there in potatoville! Shannon

I have found also that my sleeve can change from day to day. I will be 3 months post surgery on the 18th and have lost 44 lbs including preop weight loss. I find that the restrictive feeling seems to come quicker when I am eating than it did 1 month out, if that makes sense. I also find that the worse thing I can do is eat too fast. I went to Costco shopping on Saturday. I hadn't eaten since lunch and I bought some pears. They looked and smelled so good. So on the way home I decided to eat one. I bit into it and it was sugar sweet and so delicious. I guess I got carried away on how good the pear tasted that I ate it too fast. I was only about 2 miles down the road and had to pull over and throw-up a few bites. This has happened to me a few times when I eat too fast. I don't know if eating too fast doesn't allow the sleeve time to adjust to the food that is being put in but I have to remind myself to eat slow. If I do that I don't have a problem. The funny thing is that I can't over eat even if I wanted to. I can eat the wrong things in small amounts but I can't just eat too much or it comes back up. Actually this is one of the best things about the sleeve because it keeps me from over indulging when the food tastes so good. The sleeve keeps me in check. I really can eat anything I want in small amounts so I have no problems if I chose to eat the right or wrong thing. I just can't sit down and eat a whole bag of potato chips or a big bowel of ice cream or 4 or 5 chocolate chip cookies (sweets are my passion). It is a great tool and if you use it wrong it will let you know.

In one week I will hopefully be prepped for surgery and getting ready to go under. My surgery is scheduled for 2pm on June 17th. Today is day one of my pre-op diet. I am crashing hard!!!!!! Everything was stockpiled and ready to go to get thru the day. I am taking RELIV vitamins and Isopure protein drinks. I am thanking God above for Isopure--although right now I can't even bear to think about drinking another one--they are a God-send! How well do I remember the days back even 10 years ago--and the hideously disgusting protein shakes that I would choke down doing the Body For Life challenges and trying to get ripped. I'm a LONG way from ripped--but this stuff makes this phase so much easier. Right now I am sweaty, nauseous, shaky, can't think or focus, want to cry. This is my body's typical reaction to drastic drop in blood sugar from cutting out carbs. I've had my limit of carbs already for the day and have been snacking on nuts and other NO carb things....but not helping. Completely second guessing my resolve and my ability to get this surgery. I'm wondering if I totally caved and ate something if I would just feel better. But I know I WOULD feel better--but I would not be better. This is part of the cost I counted before I started this journey...and I will be ok. It is day one --six more to go until I'm banded. It is a miracle that I was even approved and so many of my friends don't have this opportunity. I've got to seize this day for me, my little family, my sister that wants to get this, and all my friends who would die to be a week away from surgery, but aren't able to. My daughter went to be with her dad for a few days, then to Missouri to visit my sisters and family for a week. I will miss her SO bad, but thankful she will be away for this pre-op diet---that I don't have to make any food for her in the next week and that she won't be around for the surgery. She'll be back 2 days after with my awesome sister who is the best nurse in the world. My husband is the best in the world! SO supportive of me and is vowing to go on some kind of crash diet this week too, so I won't be alone. The good part about this is not having to smell or make good food (tuna is not a temptation) or fast food or any of that stuff. He will likely lose more weight than me in the next few days but who cares. I'm going to be banded in a WEEK!!! Oh, side note----ha ha ha---my skinny mother in law (who still knows nothing about the surgery) made a comment about how much weight I had gained since Easter. She thinks it's thyroid meds causing me to go "up and down". And she was concerned. I've gained 9 pounds since Easter--but have to agree....these last 9 pounds were BAD ones---and I felt like each one was an extra comorbidity for how horrible physically I felt with each one--not to mention the inches around my middle! My ex was at my daughter's kindergarden graduation last night--and he didn't say anything but I prob'ly weight more than him for the first time ever. Not cool. I had my "last supper" last night, and had heartburn (STILL) from it clear up till 11:00 this morning. I CAN make it thru today...and will take this one day at a time.

Please pray for the family of a friend of ours who died from the lap band surgery last week. Boy do we take things like sagging skin, weight not coming off fast enough, fills and unfills for granted, I guess we should all just be happy that we made it through surgery to even worry about these things! My understanding is during the surgery (very GOOD surgeon, whom has done thousands of lap-band surgeries, with a VERY HIGH success rate) part of her stomach lining was cut through and she developed an infection due to that, and unfortunately passed away as result. Thank you for your prayers she was a younger woman with a family etc, they will def. need some prayers!!

I actually didn;t know if I would have the surgery until about a month before it happened. Was waiting for insurance approval for over 8 months and then decided I would just self pay. Once we made that decision, the surgery date happened fast. So while I had time for "last suppers". I really didn't want even MORE weight to lose after, so I was careful to eat as healthly as I could. I ate at Thanksgiving but watched my portions and had only one glass of wine. We are always so impatient about how fast we are going to lose weight after the surgery, but how can we moan about that if we are going to overeat before. Plus the goal before surgery is to be sure our livers are healthly and small, so they don;t interfere during the surgery. High fat, high calorie meals are not good for the liver. We have to be ready to say goodbye to the old eating habits that got us in the position to need this surgery, so does stopping the overeating a month earlier really matter? I say just be careful about how many and what kinds of food are in your last suppers if you choose to indulge.

Hi Lori - You will probably eventually need to have another fill, but NOT NOW! Your mind needs time to adjust to your smaller portions! Being on your fourth fill in only two months seems very fast to me - I was banded 1/23/03, and had my third fill July 12. Also, my fills tend to tighten-up after about 4 weeks. If that happens to you, you may end up being too tight. I personally would recommend that you work with this fill for at least a month before you decide to add another fill. Give yourself a chance to adjust emotionally to all of these changes - remember, this is for life, not a temporary, short-term fix. Good luck!

I just learned about PB last wk, at my first doctors apt since Jan. I switched doctors because we had a very bad personality conflict. My new doc was on maternity leave. I do the PB thing at least once a day. I thought it was the chewing and swallowing to fast. I got a fill last week and I feel fine. Oh do I have alot to learn about this band. I just don't want anything bad to happen to me in the mean time. I love my new doc by the way she treats me like a real person opposed to the other doc I was a statistic. Want to talk about mental abuse???? I would never go back to see him.

Sue, I hadn't ever PBd until after my second fill. I think I also have 2.5 cc's in a 9 cc band, but I'm not sure. I used to know, but I didn't right it down so I've forgotten. If you take an hour to eat a hamburger, that's probably why you don't PB. I only do it when I eat too fast. And there are certain things that cause me to do it more than others. I really like imitation crab meat, but it makes me PB quite often. As does chicken, and steak. Most meats, I guess. I've PBd on cottage cheese, but only because I was talking and not concentrating on chewing. Have you ever had the pain? As I mentioned before, when I feel the pain I can just kind of flex my esophogus and get rid of the food. I wouldn't be concerned about not PBing. I'm sure you'll get your chance sooner or later. Strangely, I can eat "bad" foods - i.e. chips or rice krispy treats - and not PB. But meat I have issues with. I PBd just a little on the salmon I ate tonight, so I decided I was done and put the rest away. This is what I should do, but more often I have the habit of waiting for the pain to subside, then continuing my meal (though quite often I PB on the first bite or two, so if I always put it away, I'd never eat a thing.) And Donna, I totally understand where you're coming from (oh what I'd give to be down 100 lbs), but I think Sarah makes a darn good point. It's not really mathmatically possible for you to have gained the extra weight based on what you're eating. Slow down, give it a few more weeks. You need the nutrition and to not be light headed all the time. Getting that extra food/nutrition may be scary, but it's not going to make you start piling on the pounds. Keep yourself healthy (skinny, but healthy).

I didn't have much gas after my gall bladder was removed but I did with my band. For the chopper, walmart has one that is $12 it looks like a small blender and you can drink out of the plastic "cup part" it even has a seperate lid to drink out of, works great, I make crab salad with it. While you are at walmart check for front closing sports bras, I found 3 there for less than $8 each and still love them to wear to the gym. I did the chewable gas-x and it really did help. As for the broth, I bought cambells select chicken noodle soup and strained out the pieces, my daughter ate them, and drank the broth. I also bought the boullion (sp?) powder and made my own chicken and veggie broth. The beef was just weird to me. My mom boiled a chicken for soup and I drank the broth off of that for several days, I put it is small cups in the freezer and then just nuked it when I wanted to treat myself to something good. I also ordered egg drop soup with no eggs and that was really filling, it is made with corn startch so it is thicker than regular broth. Another really filling drink is jello that is still warm, it makes you feel full and fools you into thinking you are having something sweet. I love the sugar free peach, and the strawbery-banana. During the mushy phase, I did jell-o let it get 90% set and then whip it with a hand mixer with a small tub of light coolwhip. Put it in the fridge for about 2 hours and it becomes the texture of twinkie filling. Makes a fun light summer pie and you can make whatever flavor you want. I also tell people that I am bringing a watermelon pie, they look at me like I am crazy but it is always a huge hit. It was great during mushies. When I was allowed mushies, I ate wendy's chili in the blender with a bit of sour cream added to make it richer and more filling. I still have wendy's chili several times a month, it has become a regular part of my diet, high in protein and fiber and low in fat. I have the recipe but it is easier to just order a cup and eat it on the run. That is one of the few fast food items that I still eat. I have loads of post-op food ideas, I was starving after day 3 and I was lucky my doc had a pretty short post-op restriction for food. I was back on solids in 2 weeks. But I was creative for those 2 weeks. I also developed a terrible stomach flu over the holidays and had to be on liquids for 10 days. If you have any other food questions, just let me know. ~Mandy

I am having the same problem and it is driving me crazy...trying to figure out what triggers it and for the life of me I can't! I was banded July 29th and it seems to be getting worse, not better. Sometimes I think its from eating or drinking too fast, but then other times its real bad when there is nothing in my stomach and I wonder if its from being hungry.....(are these my new hunger pains?) If I walk it off I eventually burp and it seems to help, but it is never 100% gone. My dr. said to use a heating pad. It seems to help, but like I said, its never gone.....Any other tricks anyone has will be extremely helpful~ Thanks....Carol

Could be a stomach bug. other causes of vomiting could be dumping (eating things with high sugar content...lay off the fruit and see if it makes a difference). My Protein shakes make me dump if I drink them too fast. I have a friend who said she didn't dump...but was having regular vomiting episodes. Guess what. That was how she dumped as they usually happened after eating a high carb item. I get sweaty and nauseous and dizzy and feel gross but don't vomit or have other gastro symptoms. other causes could be a stricture. I would call the doctor's office and see if they can help narrow it down.

I've had a horrible time of it since I got the surgery on the 11th. They also repaired a hernia. It started with my doctor telling me to take some tylenol if I felt pain. I called a few hours after I got home asking if there was anything at all they could do, because I couldn't breathe it hurt so bad. Most movement left me trying not to cry because even that hurt. After some debate they finally called me back at noon the next day and gave me some painkillers. (Four days worth) The painkillers worked okay. I still couldn't drink anything thicker than the chocolate milk consistency Protein drink I have. I can't do yogurt at all, and my medications for narcolepsy and allergies are almost intolerable. I have to swallow them and wait 15 minutes for the chest pain and discomfort to go away. I had my follow up appointment on Tuesday and told him this and they prescribed me an anti-anxiety medication and told me it was all in my head! :thumbup: Today's followup had them order an upper gi for tomorrow morning because apparently my esophagus didn't get the memo that it was all in my mind that this was happening and I still couldn't swallow. And he made a face when I gave the sarcastic line about my esophagus, but seriously, the moment he told me my pain was only anxiety he lost my respect completely. I'm not in pain anymore unless I try to take a pill or have yogurt or anything like that or if like today I get cheer at someone and move my arms too fast and pull at the large scar a bit I registered here because I've been searching through this site for ideas and trying to figure out stuff that's going on since my doctor's been less than helpful over this past week, and a lot of the advice here has helped me. Stories of people who made it through help when I'm sitting here with chest pain from taking cut up Tylenol. My friends have also given interesting advice but not quite as helpful (Though I liked the one that told me to kick the doctor in the knees and tell him the pain was in his head.) Anyway that's how I found my way here. Hi!

It varies from person to person. Some people are fast losers. Some are slow and steady losers. Are you getting all your fluids and exercising? Are you logging your foods? Eating processed foods? There are many variables.