Search the Community

congrats...ive been banded 5 days and realized that if I loose 60lbs i will be at my goal weight!!...forcing myself to take down these liquid foods...not hungry at all, not even for liquids and no i have to have them to stay hydrated

I'm almost 8 months out and I started exercises at 4 weeks I started crunches at 6 weeks out it only did 20 Cardio is a must but I also do weight training Good luck with your journey Sent from my iPad using RNYTalk

Everyone's experience is different, but I haven't found managing nutritional needs to be difficult after my sleeve surgery. I'm not cooking these days either but I'm able to get enough protein with basic things like rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, eggs, yogurt, cheese and so on. I eat a little weird because I don't often eat a whole meal but I'm managing to get my nutritional needs met (I know because I'm still keeping track of everything). And of course I take my multivitamin daily and B12 weekly as my doctor prescribed. My bloodwork always comes back fine, the only suggestion the doctor has given me was to start taking Vitamin D, which I did. And there's no malabsorbtion with the sleeve, so that's not a factor. I do find that my appetite is significantly reduced. I know hunger comes back more quickly for some people, but 20 months out I'm still hungry less often and less urgently than I was before. One of the BEST side-effects of surgery for me is that things that used to be "comfort food" for me no longer have that emotional kick they used to have. I can eat a pancake with syrup and it tastes good, but whatever that emotional hit was that I used to get, that's gone. And that's a VERY good thing for me. I mostly avoid the carby, sweet stuff but I do allow myself a treat every now and then. And then it's RIGHT back on my eating plan because I don't want to wake up cravings for all that stuff. I still don't keep sweets or junk food in the house. When I have a treat, I have to make a special effort to go get it and it's planned. And I only get enough for one serving. When that's gone, I'm done and it's back to protein, dairy, nuts, eggs, etc. I'm an apple shape like you, so I know exactly what you mean. I've lost 11 inches off my waist, which my doctor is ecstatic about. Only you can decide if weight loss surgery is right for you, but I wouldn't let malnutrition fears be the deal-breaker. Your bariatric team will give you a diet designed to meet your nutritional needs and they'll be monitoring you. All the best, whatever you decide! 🤗

I identify with both of you here. im having more sweets and chocolate than i should be. my weight loss is there but minimal....( but Im grateful for every bit of weight loss.) I dont mind the rate of weight loss but do mind the fact that im still having issues about what im eating.Plus the fact that im not lasting four hours before being hungry again... and thats after having a protein breakfast. I have a fill in two weeks time. that will make me four ccs (3cc plus 1/2 plus 1/2 coming up i hope) .... im hoping that this fill will make a big difference to the amount i eat as well. I have to say.... ive had more soups this year.. remember, its winter in Australia... more home made soups... and ive been having more than a bowl at a sitting, thats for sure. Thats definately not a cup full... way more than a cup. More like two good cups full. I know that im hopeless keeping blogs... im not even consistent with the weight loss site that so many are using on here. Im grateful that i can share on here though. By the way, i had a drs appointment on friday. this was to my referring dr. I havent seen her in months. I was weighed and she was so excited about my weight loss . In the country areas where i come from lap band surgery isnt seen much... so she was excited to see the results and also to talk with me about it all. Only problem... i have a bad UTI... blood in urine etc.. (TM information.. lol, sorry)... Ive also been dizzy quite a bit, some days worse than others. It was a bit confusing for me as i have some hypertension, so that was making a clear diagnosis harder. the dr reckons not enough fluids being drunk, that the UTI and not enough fluid can cause the dizziness and also the infection. So now im on antibiotics. i hate taking them but we have to get this cleared up. Im trying to get as much fluid in as possible as well... Now im wanting the infection to be cleared up and Im hoping that this next fill will help me to last at least four hours between meals.

Hi Bandsters~ do you ever get the feeling that you're going backwards with weight loss?. I know that for us women, we retain fluid from everything that we eat. I watch my salt intake as well as my carbs/sugars. Not sure what's going on. Are there any other bandster that have experienced this problem? If so any suggestions would help.

Yeah, I haven't has my TOM since January, but I can tell my hormones are buzzing cuz my face breaks out. I have a dumb question for you. Two actually... Can you gain Water weight each month, even though you're peri-menopausal? If I stay with my food program during this time, and not gain actual weight, will I lose pounds after that TOM?

Hey, I'm gonna jump in here -- I'm 8 months out in a couple of days -- I'm about 20 lbs from the top end of my goal -- and I'm low carbing till I reach the top end of my goal and then I'm gonna start adding in some carbs -- I gain weight in an instant with carbs, so I have to take it slowly and carefully -- but that said, everyone is different -- Hope that helps!

Pretty much, from all the vlogs and blogs I've read get used to the cold until you reach your goal and your weight stabilizes. The weight loss throws everything out of wack for awhile. I have been freezing since surgery too, it is normal.

"Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding" - Achieving Permanent Weight Loss with Minimally Invasive Surgery Jesse H. Ahroni, PhD, ARNP Jesse has had her band since 1998. She also does the fills at my doctor's office. I found her book to be very helpful...lots of basic information, easily readable. A good reference tool.

Hi Lucy: Every doctor has their own rules for when you can go back on solids...My doctor has us on liquids for the rest of the day, then soft foods for the first meal of th enext day, then progress to solids. Just make sure you take small bites and chew everything very thoroughly. It's just like after surgery. Everything a little bit at a time paying close attention to your body. Your band will certainly give you a signal if you ate too much, too fast or too big a bite. So little bites and very slow and steady when you do go to solids. What does your doctor say? I suggest you follow his/her rules. Since this is new to you you may find some useful information on my blog, which is my story, starting from the beginning of my journey almost 6 years ago. You can find it at: Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story Let me know if you find it useful.

I met my doctor on Wednesday and I've lost 18kg/40 pounds!! I was so happy. And he was very happy with me. He didn't want to give me a fill since I'm doing really well. He also said I'm putting too much pressure on myself. That he was happy and I should be as well. I should read too much about how much other people are loosing because our bodies do not work the same. But I'm incredibly happy. Also this is kind of a milestone. This is the second time I've lost 40 pounds in one run .... and well then I gained weight again. But this time, I'm going to get further, I'm going to loose more so ever pound after this will be a new milestone yay. This Friday I was sooooo hungry at lunch that I was dreaming of all kinds of food I was gonna eat that day. I had an omelette at work. I ate a bit too much. I ate until I was full and I never do that. But hunger does that to you. I was full all day! I couldn't imagine eating dinner even. I did but just a little. Before the lap band, if I got full, I could begin to eat again in 2 hours but not now. And guess what, I love it. This rarely happens that I eat so much. maybe happened 3-4 times in 6 months. I told my doctor that I was still learning and he understood that. I will do mistakes and learn from them. Ok 3-4 times eating to much haha, ok I might be a slow learner hehe But I'm so happy now. I tried on a dress I wore last Christmas and it's too big now And my panties. Seriously, I need to renew them! They are a size too big. My bra is still the same size ugh! hate that. But I was telling a coworker how much I'd lost and she told me that she noticed my hips ass getting smaller and yay again! soooo happy! I've always hated my hips and ass. I would do the Kardashians proud. They were even large when I was in a normal weight. But so far so good! loving my new life

After so many appeals with the insurance and struggle today, my surgery at 1:45 pm. I had my first surgery in Colombia and my surgeon here in the usa found they left the pouch to big and that is why i did not lose all the weight. This time i am determine to finish what i started.

I weight lift HEAVILY and I am in pretty good shape. I find that the harder I train the more appetite I have. When I take breaks, or I lessen the intensity, I feel like my appetite goes down. I know the intensity is definitely affecting my hunger because I need to replenish what I'm losing in my workouts, but I am wondering what people do to curb the appetite that comes from training. Might sound like a dumb question, but I am just curious about other strategies that people are using.

I feel like I should start a blog but I'm just not sure I'm comfortable with that...so instead I'll share here. I am so frustrated with myself right now! I have been falling back into old bad habits like snacking when I'm not hungry, hiding my eating, and making bad food choices. I am horrible at keeping a journal. I tell myself it is something I will use when I hit a plateau and when I do, I journal for a day at best. Yes, I've tried several apps on my phone, taking pictures of my food and the basic writing down what I eat but none of them last long. When I went to adjust my weight tracker tonight I realized I had only lost 1 pound in 4 weeks. I admit it is better than gaining but I need to get back on track. My next PA appointment is September 13th and at this point I do plan to get a fill. I have not had one yet and know that could be part of the problem. I know it is not the entire problem though! I am battling eating past being satisfied and into "I'm stuffed". Today has probably been the best day for me this week. Hopefully just getting what is in my head out into "cyberspace" will help me get back on track. I also keep looking forward to September 4th, that magical day when school starts and I can hopefully get back into a more predictable routine! Thanks for reading my rant!

Jacqui: I've dieted all my life. Like you, it would be nice to lose the weight as a result of the band and not a diet. Thanks:)

I'm feeling great today :wink2: I'm 8 days post op and I woke up this morning suddenly feeling a little jump in my step. I must be pretty well healed up now. Today is my post op appt with my doctor in Dubai. I'm looking forward to asking him some questions including why I have such achiness around the front and back of my ribcage area. I have learned that I have to eat something right when I wake up so I don't feel so sluggish and icky in the morning. I was never like that before but it's necessary now. I just have some yogurt first thing. I found yoplait has a "baby" yogurt so I found that is nice a light and makes me feel better in the morning. Later I will go to "breakfast" with friends. I'll just have some soup. Thank goodness I have always been a soup freak! It makes this pureed diet thing not such a hard thing to handle :wink: I have a friend that has done the same surgery (6 years ago) and she has been wonderful. Thank God for her and her advice! Take care everyone and have a nice day :cool2:

You're so right. My 7 year old niece will run her hand down my stomach and say, "Yep, it's getting skinny." Or she'll see me in something and be like, "Lala, you look so pretty. You are definately losing weight." It's really cute. Although kids can be brutal too, it's nice to get noticed for the good stuff now.

I HATE having my picture taken. My hubby is the same way. Our kids will be so sad when we aren't around because we just don't have that many pictures of us. I really regret not having before picture (I have a few but not many) Also, please take your measurements!! I really regret that I just didn't want to see those huge numbers!! Just like I didn't want my pictures taken. But...I still hate them!! Even tho I now weigh 125#'s and almost lost 1/2 of my body weight. SAD I know.

I got to the mid range of a normal BMI, and I looked pretty good. Not fat, but not a (Aussie) size 8 either. I was still sort of, for a lack of a better term, dumpy. I am actually really glad I ended up losing more weight after getting to "goal". I am at anywhere between 105-107lbs. It's a good weight on me. At 5ft 3, I am short enough to carry that little weight, and still look healthy and athletic. I wouldn't want to lose any more weight, but I am happy where I am.

I had to do a few this year due to allergy issues causing severe tightening of my band. I was able to eat and drink normally again and started losing more weight. Before the unfill, it was torture trying to eat and I was not losing any weight.

I am hoping there might be someone out there that can help. I have trouble with workout pants that will stay up when I work out. I carry most of my weight in my stomach. Anyone with similar problem that has found a good brand of workout pants they can suggest?

I called my Surgeons office, left a message to have them call me back if there was anything that I needed to do to get things moving a little faster... No call back so assuming that they had done everything that needed to be done I called the insurance company... OMG... I wanted to tell that lady right where to go... I kept getting "ma'am we do NOT have any thing in process, or even on file for you" . AND, to make matters worse I have to call from work because they aren't ever available when I would be home so trying to get time, and quiet, and NO body around because I am not telling anyone at the office about this was even more frustrating for me. Anyway, I finally hang up with the insurance and call the surgeons office again. I have to leave a message for the girl who does the insurance stuff because she is on the phone with insurance companies all day long so she returns calls after 5 pm... I can accept that, she has her job to do too and if it were me and had to deal with those insurance companies all day, I'd be bald from pulling my hair out! So, it's really ok. Last night at 6:15 she calls me! :-) however, she says... "I sent your paperwork in today, so you should see an answer in a week or 2 at the most" I wanted to cry :thumbup: at that point. :eek:... ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? :wink2: I was under the assumption it had been submitted 2 weeks ago and that it was the insurance company that was holding things up right now. :thumbup: Last night I was so bummed it wasn't funny. But have dealt with it and decided that I will make this my last holiday without the band, the new year will bring the "Normal" resolution that I have always made (to lose weight) only this time it will work. And it will be easier for me to not tell the people that I don't want to tell!!! Right now you are probably saying (or going to say) why not have it done before the holidays... And I was thinking that too, but I have a trip scheduled in November and then another in December to visit family out of town. and I really don't want to cancel either trip or be recovering from surgery during either trip! So, right now I am just waiting for the approval and then ready to schedule a January, 2010 surgery date... New Year, New Me!!! It's all good! :thumbup:

The two pounds gained must be muscle. Keep your faith and focus on the prize. You doing great.

Here I am 3 months after being banded. I feel proud of the progress that I've made... but sorta bummed because I have such a long road ahead of me. I look back to last April and I realize how far I've come. I actually weighed 332 lbs before I got sick. So, since then I've actually lost 70 some lbs. I know, I know I should be proud but I'm looking at more than a 100 lbs to go to get to my goal. That's a lot of weight. I need to set small goals to keep myself motivated. I'm also bummed because I have so many back problems that its making it impossible for me to exercise. I've had two fills. I have 6cc's in my 14 cc band. I'm calling today to see if I can come in early and get my third fill this week because I know I need it, I'm not in the green yet. Which brings me to my next thought. I had an "Ah Ha" moment this week. I don't know how many times I've heard that the band is just a tool it doesn't make you lose weight. This is SO TRUE! I've had the band for three months and really I've been dieting for three months. I've changed the way I eat and watch my calories. My band isn't tight enough to "KEEP" me from eating. Technically, I could eat whatever I wanted and quite a bit of it, but I'm using my willpower to keep myself on track. Some days are better than others. My point is the band isn't working for me right now so I'm still on my own. I made up my mind that I was going to lose weight and that's exactly what I'm doing! I just didn't realize it would take so long to get my band to the right spot to get me losing with my band. If anybody is reading this that hasn't been banded yet, just realize the band does work it just takes a lot of maintenance. You have to be in contact with your surgeon. I've only been going once a month but I'm hoping to start going every two to three weeks until I get where I need to be. After my fills usually by week two I know how I can eat and what's going on with my hunger. I know I'm just rambling, but that's what my blogs are for! I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving this year and I'm not worried about gaining. I'm more nervous about being around family, and them seeing how slow or what a small amount I eat. Plus, those who know will be looking at me to see if they can tell if I've lost weight. I've lost two jeans sizes. Go me! Go me! Go me! My daughter who comes home on the weekends from college always tells me she can tell the difference in my weight. She told me my clothes were too baggy and I needed to wear smaller clothes to show off my body more. This is another issue. I don't see myself any thinner so I'm still wearing clothes to disguise my body. I really still need to because I have a bad case of muffin top going on now. The jeans are all low cut and I need to lose weight around my middle. Can't wait until I'm to the point where I can get a tummy tuck!! Also, my poor tata's are shrinking. Of course, the first person to tell me about that was my hubby. LOL!! Finally, I mainly wrote this for myself to remind me where I've come from and where I am and to set my mind straight to where I wanna be! I can do this! I am doing this! BUT, its hard. This is not an easy fix. The band is not a quick fix. The band requires dedication and pure commitment to your goal. It's not just another diet either. It's a life changing way to help you eat healthier and in turn you get your life back! I'm getting out more. I'm doing more with my friends and that happy party girl is coming back! Everyone around me has noticed it. I'm THANKFUL that I feel more confident! I'm so glad I got the band and I'm so glad I found this site. Even though it's changed dramatically. I love all my new lapband friends! I'm thankful I have friends and family that are supportive! I feel blessed and I'm going to continue to work hard to lose these last 100 lbs. It might take me two years but I'm going to get there! Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving! Till Next Time, Tara

I was told by Dr Cierny that he had removed 60% of my stomach, but I don't know if that was by weight or volume. However it was sufficient to work and allow me to live normally now, I can eat maybe 5oz of steak, or a chicken breast and a spoonful of veg with that in one sitting. I am careful to always eat Protein 1st now.