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Hi! My name is Gabbi, I was banded on the 13th of September. I have lost a total of 30 lbs (last weigh in was last week)...i am doing ok i guess... i still have port pain and it still looks a bit swollen. umm, i am having a hard time following my dietary plan that was given to me, either im scared to eat too much or i get bored so i end up eating very little. Here is my blog:

glamorousbandster.wordpress.com

check it out...lets keep in touch how are you doing?

Thank you Cindy....Band slipped and apparently I had alot of scar tissue, so my Doc said to stay on liquids for 6 weeks. Next week I at least get do introduce pureed food, this week is all protein drinks. Toughest thing I've ever done in my life. I am married and my daughter who is 21 just moved back home...but they are both very supportive. I couldn't do this without them. Thank you for the prayers. Hope you have a wonderful weekend. ~Christy

Kathy, I'm so glad you are so busy because life is so good - how great is that? I am doing well. Had first fill on Friday (2cc) and looking forward to a new jump start on my weight loss .. . I never got off plan or anything, just got stalled on the weight loss. I am loving this tool - IT WORKS! Rose

Hi there. thanks for the compliment! I've lost 123 pounds and was banded a litte over 16 months ago. In the beginning I was exercising about 5-6 times per week, it slowed down to about 3-4 time but now I'm picking it back up again trying to drop these last 17 pounds to my goal.

Hey, WOW thanks for checking in...I'm good - Surgery went great, I've had one fill w/ 1cc so I have next to no restriction. But not gaining back too much. I go every 2 weeks for 1cc at a time. Frusterating but I'm sure it will be worth the wait. How long did it take till you saw major loss???

Thanks! Got through week one liquids -- hoping to make it through week 2 -- I am hungry tho -- keep up the healing and we'll get to the workouts in a few weeks.

Only three more days until you start your pre-op diet! Enjoy your last days of freeeedom!

I had to change my surgery date to the 20th, because I got a new surgeon so I'm starting my diet on the 12th as well.

I THINK im doing okay. haha. I've lost almost 75 lbs since April. I can definitely tell a difference now. I had my second fill a couple weeks ago and its made all the difference, Before that i didnt really have to chew anything, and could eat whatever i wanted, just smaller portions. Now i have to chew the hell out of everything i eat and am very limited to what i can eat, For instance yesterday i ate 5 blueberries, a couple strawberries and half a sausage patty and i was done. couldnt eat another bite. overall its been pretty easy tho

The type of diet you are on was the diet I was given after surgery. I was on 2 weeks of liquids, sugar free drinks and so on. The main purpose for the post op diet is to shrink down your liver for your surgery. Just focus on the big picture and why you really want to be banded. Good luck, trust God and everything will work out just fine. page 2

Congrats on your up coming surgery. My post diet was a little different. I was not restricted to only liquids for 2 weeks before my surgery. There was a list of foods that I had to eat from. I was not allowed to eat sugar, white flour and only whole wheat products. I could not eat fruits that were high in sugar or carbs. I could only drink sugar free items and limited fruit juices. I was not allowed to eat fried meats only lean cut meats or fish. I could eat low starched veggies and almost anything thing green and leafy. It was okay for me to eat dark chocolate which I love. I was encouraged to drink lots of water, protein water, and anything sugar free even sodas which I don’t drink. page 1

I've had 10 surgeries in the last 2 years - from a bone spur in my big toe to a total knee replacement. In comparison, the band was a breeze. I suppose it helped to have docs that knew what they were doing and had done it many times, but after reading so many posts of people's horror stories, I was concerned.

Other than a sore throat (now gone) I have some soreness in my abdomen. Not unbearable and the pain meds are keeping it under control. No nausea, no shoulder pain and I sleep in any position I want to.

I have had restriction from the beginning. The doc added 4 cc to my 14 cc band during the installation. While doing the swallow test, I could see - and feel - the liquid pause in the pouch before entering the stomach. Very cool. I'm on a liquid diet for a week while it heals, and an 8 oz protein shake fills me up for several hours.

Overall, this has been a pleasant experience and I am looking forward to a "new" me.

Where are you?

I haven't been on in weeks. My insurance denied coverage and then denied the appeal. I am waiting for one more chance. It was denied based on me not going to a dr in 2008 and having my weight documented from that year. Even though I have been overweight my entire life and have had a BMI of over 40 for at least 15 years, it wasn't enough because I didn't have that one peice of documentation. I am bummed but am keeping my fingers crossed for my final appeal.

I haven't been on in weeks. My insurance denied coverage and then denied the appeal. I am waiting for one more chance. It was denied based on me not going to a dr in 2008 and having my weight documented from that year. Even though I have been overweight my entire life and have had a BMI of over 40 for at least 15 years, it wasn't enough because I didn't have that one peice of documentation. I am bummed but am keeping my fingers crossed for my final appeal.

AWESOME! So excited for you!!! Less than one week to the start of your new life!

I am okay, a little sore still. I lost 20lbs in the last few weeks. How are you doing with the band? What has been the biggest challange?

I love nuts, so I keep two oz of almonds, or peanuts, any kind of cheese and a few wheat crackers, string cheese is the best. I just have to keep something that I can get to every three hours or so because if I get too hungry I tend to eat too fast when I eat and then I can not get it to stay down. I like the fruit snacks too. I keep an orange or apple (small) when I have them, I have to peel the apple so I keep a small folding knife in my purse too, this always gets me when I fly, I have to remember to take it out of my purse. Oranges are better for the juice but I don't eat the peth, It layers over the opening to my stomach if I eat too much of it, I think I am very tight for my restriction and I am being very careful now.

Really struggling going on the low fat diet...help

i have less then 2 weeks to go..Feel i'm on self de struct!!

Hi, lovely to hear from you - i'm down six pounds since surgery so i'm elated! finding it hard keeping to yogurts and soups but i'm not hungry. One more week on that then i'll go onto the mushy stuff. I didn't get ANY gas trapped - don't know if thats cos i got up 3 times in the night after op and walked up the corridor.

how's your weight loss been? i'm craving pasta and pizza.

jude x

Yeah my restriction is so so. I have some; but I am eating more than the cup that my Dr says should be the max before you get the full feeling. So he says come in for a fill. I hope that jump starts things back up. I am working out every week, but only three days. I need to up it to five days. Yeah I could def eat better too. Its such a huge change. Im trying, but its a lot of work!

mezzo, you had asked me how long it took me to run my first 5K. I started running in May and I could barely make it a mile (and that took about 20 minutes). So basically most people could walk faster than I could jog. By Labor Day, I was able to run my first 5K in 48:03. The hardest part is just making myself start running each week.

I had my first fill today. Doctor said nothing but liquids for five days. I already feel dizzy and weak, it's gonna be a long week.

I know what you mean. It took me a while to admit that I really needed a change, and it wasn't until my husband admitted he was considering RNY I really thought it out, and decided I wanted to convert. I'm lucky to have a supportive family, and my surgeon and nutritionist were all for it, so tomorrow is the day my band will be removed. I'm looking forward to being able to eat chicken and steak again without worrying if its going to come back up *lol* But I do need to be careful in the 6 week interim until I have the RNY. I'm considering that 6 week period to be my adjustment to the idea that I'm now going to have a permanent change to my anatomy!

Hey Trina!

Big pointers are walking, eating low carb, and drinking lots of water. No soda at all!!! That's really been the keys to my weight loss thus far. I walk at least 6 days a week. I push myself further and further each week. It's work but aren't I worth it? LOL

Keep in touch!

Pete

Hopefully mine keeps moving fast too! I like to see results. I got stuck for a few days and decided to exercise. That helped, lost another 1/2 a pound. I will take it!

I am glad to hear you say the fills aren't bad, because I talk in the chat a lot and those ladies scare me to death with their stories!!! lol

So how is your week going?

hi! When were you banded. I have fm, diagnosed a year ago. I havent been banded yet. I am looking forward to the surgery but are having reactions from taking lyrica. i am having heart palpitations so right now we are trying to find out if they are coming from having pnuemonia or from side effects of lyrica that i had only been tking for a couple of weeks. did you experience any side effects? i was only taking a pill at night before bed.