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Thank you all for your reply's. I love this site! I am drinking Water. Of all my bad eating habits, water drinking wasn't one of them. I like water and chose it 99.9% of the time. Like so many, I just fear I've done something to cause the band to slip and mess it all up. I really can't imagine that with what I've eaten, but one never knows. If I do eat something I consider maybe not allowed yet, I do chew it to mush and drink it down with water swallowing it some with each swallow. (That's kind of talented now that I think of it.) Again, thank you all for the support. I will weigh again on Sunday. Oh, how do you get the information under your names about your weight loss to date. I've looked at my main screen, but I can't seem to find it. Angie

OK, I've been on a liquid diet for 5 Weeks - and I was SOOOOO excited to go to the doctors today and be advanced to 'soft' and then 'regular' foods. I had decided a portion of a Veggie Soft Taco from Taco Time would be my treat for a job well done. I didn't drink anything until the doctors office to maximize my weight loss (I also wore shorts and thongs). OK, I get there, I did well, my mouth is just salivating - I talk to the doctor - he asks me how I'm doing - I'm doing great - no problems - excep HUNGER! I tell him about a little stitch poking out, he says climb up on the table "I'm going to feel you". My physician has an accent - but I got ready, and he took a long time to get something to remove the suture with, and came back in with a cart. He started filling needs and I said, what are you doin? He said "I'm going to feel you". I queried "why do you need a needle to feel me?". I couldn't believe it - he was going to "fill me". Of course, I was excited. Then came the words. MORE liquids for 2-3 days, and then of course - restriction. I just feel like going and slurping up some ranch sauce - I want that taco so bad! Oh well. But hey - my sister decided to do my diet with me - and she lost 18 pounds this month! She's smaller than me - and DID GREAT. I called her and let her know about my loss (just slightly more than her) - He must have known I was going to eat - he just must have known! I thought it was funny - but I'm happy.

Wow, that's struck a chord with me. I do eat too much, of course I do but I'm not sure that hunger is my main problem, its more emotional eating and choosing the wrong things to go along with that. Nobody relieves stress by eating celery do they? This is such a big scary decision and like you say, I'm actually not sure I would go through surgery to lose only 40lb. I'm positive I could do that on my own, what I dont know I can do is lose the 80lb I'd like to. But surgery doesnt guarantee that either does it? I'm still going to go and see the surgeon on Tuesday, I really want to discuss the option. However, I'm not positive its for me and I'm not sure my health fund will cover it either. For lots of low BMI candidates perhaps there is good consideration to be given to whether that much money would be well spent on a personal trainer and a dietician rather than just go it alone? For the last few days I've "practiced" the way I would have to eat, measured out half a cup or so of food and chewed it really really well and really concentrated on it. It's really made a difference - we had a Pasta bake type of thing last night for dinner with parmesan on top and I found when I really stopped to actually taste it, it was very rich and I couldnt eat very much, the flavour became too intense for me. Ordinarily I would just bolt it down and not even taste it. Sigh. It's SO hard isnt it? The good thing about this process is that it's actually really made me think about my eating habits and what I would have to change in a way I've NEVER done before. I've realised that that is going to be very hard but that all the band would offer me is a physical restriction on how far I could go off track. This morning I'm really thinking that I might go along to the dietician my doc recommended and give that a really really good go first. LilAngel I guess all you can really do is go for the initial consult, really get a good idea of what kind of weight loss statistically you could be expecting and weigh up whether its worth it. I know that thinking of going through surgery to lose 30lb has really stopped me in my tracks.

I had surgery july 2 2013. I have lost 75 pounds. My endocrinologist ordered regular blood work and discovered I had a hyperthyroid. She just kept retesting me every 6 weeks and it went normal and then 6 weeks later it was off again. Now it has returned to normal but the weight loss has slowed (stalled) for a few months. My endocrinologist said it was not uncommon for WLS patients to have fluctuations in thyroid until weight loss slows. The hyperthyroid didn't speed up my weight loss though!

I have been hypothyroid for many years, had the surgery 10/31/12 and lost 107 lbs. Last March I became hyperthyroid for some reason for a few months, then dropped and became very hypo again. The endocrinologist says she has no idea why it happened. I think it really contributed to hair loss, but not too much to weight loss. She put me on tirosint, a thyroid replacement medication that is more expensive but believed to be better absorbed in our small stomachs. My levels have been steady since. The thought is that once one has thyroid problems they are more likely to have more thyroid problems down the road. We just have to stay vigilant.

Hi my name is Brandi and I'm an 80's hair-band junkie. LOL the first step is admitting it right? I actually have pour some sugar on me as my ring tone on my cell right now. haha! Sadly I rotate between that, Blondie- Heart of Glass & Cindy Lauper- Girls just wanna have fun...depending on my mood. Ok I'm going to go hang my head in embarrassment now LOL

While I was at a support group for bandsters last night in NJ I mentioned a cookbook for weight loss surgery patients. Here is the information for all who want it. title: Eating well after Weight Loss Surgery, Over 140 Delicious Low Fat, High Protein recipes to enjoy the weeks months and years after surgery. Author: Patt Levine. this book is great because it tells you what and how much you should eat from each recipe whether you have the band, bypass or the switch surgerys. It also advised you of what portion is approiate for people who have not had the any weight loss surgery so it make sit easy to cook one meal for the whole family. An added bonus it lets you know which recipes can be pureed for that oh so wonderful mushies stage we all got to go through right after surgery.

I did have hair loss after surgery, but it was from the trama of the surgery, not lack of Protein. I've been banded for just less than 5 months. and I don't use Protein drinks except for the rare occasion, or when I travel. My hair is great and my nails have never been better!

Coops is right! I completely agree! I'm just a tad over 6 weeks out and have only lost 28lbs. I cannot remember the last time I've lost almost 30lbs in 6 weeks...oh that's right, NEVER! So I am happy. I simply cannot compare my stats to someone else. Sometimes people lose a lot prior to surgery, so if they lose 30lbs pre-op and then another 30 in the 2 months following surgery, their ticker may say they are already down 60lbs. Which looks like HUGE loss in a short amount of time. Please do NOT get me wrong, their ticker SHOULD read -60lbs because they absolutely own every single pound they have lost and they should absolutely Celebrate those lbs gone. So I'm not saying anything bad about that. But please do NOT compare yourself to someone else. I went to a support group last night and there was someone there who basically had the RNY about a week before my sleeve, and she has lost -65lbs. I was blown away!!! But then she revealed that she had been hospitalized once post-surgery to clear out some Fluid build up in her stomach remnant, and her starting weight was 470lbs. So then it was all very much in perspective for me. She weighed basically 200lbs more than my starting weight, she was basically still recovering from the trauma of being hospitalized twice in the same month and all the sudden it was very clear why comparisons just don't work. Please do not get discouraged and down on yourself. And know that this is a journey. You know the saying ...the pounds did not magically appear overnight (even though sometimes it feels like they did!) and they will not magically disappear overnight. Celebrate your loss and know that when you are using your tool, you will continue to get healthy and lose weight!

I did pretty well. I cooked everything just as fattening as always, I figured it was a special meal, no need to give up things we have once a year. Difference was I only took a few bites of each thing. I still took in more calories than I should have, but it was probably a third of what I would have eaten before so I consider it a victory. It was really nice to enjoy the meal without the food coma wasn't it! I've kind of let my plan slide a little this week with the kids home and the holiday and all and had a couple of ups and downs on the scale but came out with no gain or loss overall so I consider that a victory also.

Some days I wished the surgery could fix more than the amount of food we eat or what we weigh. I wished this would also help with head hunger and mental image of ourselves. Though I am not close to goal at all, I have lost 53 lbs since surgery in July. Thats alot of weight in a short amount of time. I've gone from 4x shirts to XL, 26 pants to 20. In Tommy Hilfiger jeans no less! Logically I know I have lost the weight, my clothes are smaller and the scale is moving. But when I look at myself, I see a HUGE belly, flappy bat wings on my under arms, nasty ugly floppy fat on my UPPER thighs. And lets not even mention the girls hangin to the floor. And I want to cry! Because of what I did to myself by over eating for years, for having to have weight loss surgery, for having all this skin as my punishment... Everyone around me see a huge weight loss, smaller belly, skinnier face, someone well on the road to a healthy weight. They see me laughing more, relaxing more, and even venturing to wearing clothes in the right sizes. I just brought new jeans 2 weeks ago, I have been wearing my 26s when I needed 20s. They see it, why cant I? Anyways, congrats on your weightloss. You have worked hard for it and deserve to be proud of yourself.

Friday the 13th was my one year anniversary. And...I finally broke down and went shopping for some new clothes. I had no non-work clothes at all to wear and wanted to wear something for a night out with friends. All of my work clothes are hand me downs from another friend of mine losing weight. I decided to skip trying on the size 16s. Even though I thought there was no way I was fitting in the 14s. they looked so small. I have been wearing 16's but they were all light weight "stretcy pants" --and we all know jeans are different! But even though they are all getting big, I was shocked to fit in a size 14. I fit in every pair I tried on and actually got to decide which pair I liked more, and which ones I didn't like...not only just buying the ones that my butt fit into. But--after all this. I don't feel like I'm a size 14. I don't feel like I look that much different, even though it's obvious to me in pictures and in other people's reactions. It's almost funny. When I started this journey I said I would be happy to just fit in a size 14...but now that I'm here, I'm not satisfied. I still feel like a fat chick with a cute face. Now, I've reassessed my goal --to a size 10. OMG.. it's actually a possibility. I'm one of the ones that took forever to start losing. Now that I'm at my sweet spot, 7.1 ccs in a 10 cc band (I only got small fills every couple months and had to wait 2 months before getting the first one), I finally feel the weight coming off. But my question is this...am I supposed to feel skinny now? How should a size 14 feel? I'm still struggling mentally with the loss. I have to realize that everyone's first reaction to me is not, damn she's fat. I have to realize that it's really happening for me this time. Maybe that's why I never bought new clothes...I thought I'd gain it back again??? And now that I'm a year out, maybe it's the realization that this time it's working?? How does everyone else feel after gettin down to a normal size? Sorry for the vent. My hubby just does not understand... Supportive yes, but everyone here really understands. Thanks for listening. Crystal

Vicki it was explained to me by my surgeon that the higher your bmi the more weight you will loss in the first two months, those with a lower bmi may loss weight slower. Maybe speak to your nutrionist regarding your food intake and calorie intake.

Gosh, I really feel your predicament because you are so young, and your parents should still be a huge part of your life. But unfortunately as many of us learn at some point in life, this is how lies go, they build. It takes more lies to cover the lie, etc. If you were 40 it would be different, but I'm assuming you are like 18 years old...right? So, I would disagree with some others and say I think your best choice would be to apologize and confess. If you man up and be honest with your dad saying something like "I decided to have surgery because _...._. I decided not to tell you because I was afraid you would (argue/make fun of me)...... But I respect you, and I do not want to continue to lie to you, so I decided to confide in you. I hope you will support me in this decision. And I'm sorry I was not honest about this. " I would maybe keep your mom out of it as much as possible, bc this really fuels a fire. Like if you say WE decided not to tell you, ugh, now he is mad at everyone. You could say "I asked them not to tell you". As a parent, honestly, I'd be horrified and furious if my kid's dad participated in WLS surgery for my child without my knowledge. Truly, I would be highly upset. But your situation is different because you were not raised by your dad. But you are in college still...so hard to see what his involvement will be. But I personally think your mom didn't make a great decision to put this on her insurance, but not make sure your dad at least knew about it. Parents are often wise, and can offer great advice for you. So when our kids make such huge life-long decisions, wow, without their parent's support that is such a big thing to us. Also, he will be upset bc EVERYONE hid this from him. And I think you and your mom made a mistake in not informing him because it does sound like he is a part of your life. It is hard for you to see, but as parents we often are the ones that pick up the pieces from the decisions our children make. So we really don't like after-the-fact surprises very much. But we are always able to forgive, especially if someone is honest at some point and accepts responsibility. In any event, congratulations on your weight loss! It is a shame this little lie has put a damper on your happiness. I've done stuff, hidden before, when I was younger. It is just not the right road to be on. Honesty is the best policy, particularly with parents. Unless we are old enough and have enough resources to pick up our own pieces. And even then, heh, parents like to be included because we love our kids - the jewels of our lives.

Okay you guys to give you all a lil background info about me....I have always lived with my grandparents and my aunt. My dad is in my life but not as often as I wanted him to be growing up. He and my mom broke up when I was very young(too young to remember). My mom's insurance covered my surgery Last July...an agreement between some of my family members was that we not tell my dad because he is so negative and would not agree to it and would speak inappropriately to me and my mom about it.(Because she also had wls) I had my wls 2 weeks before it was time to move and start my college life(STARTING AT 240) therefore, he seen no major results then. My first time coming home via greyhound was for my birthday(Nov 6th) he saw me and was shocked(WEIGHING 190 then!!)...thinking I was starving myself at school or doing drugs!!! I just told him I exercised at my school's rec, which I am. He told all of his in-laws and they then looked on my facebook comparing my prom pics to my birthday pics. The next time he saw me was for thanksgiving(WHICH I WEIGHED 184 then) and Christmas break...He is sayin things like "I'm gonna find out what's going on, and the reason you are losing weight it's just crazy" I really don't have a reply to the things he say about me. Now that my winter break is almost over and its time to go back to school(I WEIGH 170) OMG:D this is with minimum exercise. I can only imagine if I had access to the gym like I do at school.!! -To get to the point...I won't see my family again until spring break. I am so afraid of what he may say then about the weight loss. I'm wondering fellow sleevers should I go ahead and tell him? Or should I just let him think what ever he wants?

Hi Vicki, I'm sorry your feeling bad and struggling but don't give up. I agree to what everyone is saying. Also I bet your still lossing inches, when I stayed the same I realized I was still lossing inches. Stay positive and give yourself time, Janine

I really feel bad for you that you feel you have to 'hide' your weight loss from him. It should be such a happy thing and he is making you feel like you can't even enjoy it because you are dreading seeing him ever so often. I understand you didn't tell him initially because he would have been negative about it, but he really is being negative anyway and he doesn't even know what happened. So in my opinion, you might as well tell him. He might blow up one big time, but that would probably be it ( I mean, you can't exactly go back in time and change what you did. Nor would you want to.) and at least then you won't have to dread visits with him.

Most women lose 70% percent of their breasts due to weight loss. My wife is slready making me save up for her implants and shes not having wls till may of 2013. Shes determined (null)

OP... how much weight loss are you expecting at this point?

I was banded June 1st, 2011 since my surgery i have lost a total of 18lb but i really expected to have lost a lot more. I got my first fill July 12th and my band is 5cc i have lots of restriction now and think i should see some improvement however i am starting to get depresed. Any advice?

Hi, I should have joined a support group a long time ago. I'm 22 years old and was banded in Jan, 2009. I come from a family of overweight people. Both my parents plus my uncle have had the lap band surgery with success. It was an easy decision for me to get the lap band at a young age because I didn't want to grow up obese like my parents who had diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attacks, etc.....Although I only started at around 190 lbs before surgery, on my small 5'1" frame it was a disaster. My BMI was high and physically I was an overweight mess. Emotionally I was upset that I would never get to play sports or enjoy life! After being banded I lost about 30 lbs in the first year. I don't remember exactly now, but I got a fill sometime in the first year. Since then I have had about 3 or 4 fills with about 7.5cc in a 9cc swedish band. I have since gained back almost 20 lbs. I am getting a fill tomorrow from a new doctor that I have never seen before that will give me the support I need. I have not received a fill in almost a year so I KNOW that is why I have gained a lot of weight back. Also my current boyfriend is amazing and never criticizes me when I am eating a carton of ice cream or bags of popcorn that go down so easy. I guess all I am looking for is someone to help enourage me to lose the weight again and get back on track. Every bander knows it can be tough. I feel like it has been tougher for me because I don't have 100 lbs to lose. I would like to lose about 40 lbs to get to my goal weight. It doesn't seem like much but it is so hard. Also, besides my boyfriend and immediate family, no one knows I had gotten the surgery. Since I was only 19 it was hard for me to face the fact that I was getting a life changing weight loss surgery. I had tried every diet imaginable since I was about 9 and it was all "temporary" weight loss. I am just looking for support and people in my situation.

I know how you feel especially when you read other posts and how much they have lost, Im 3 weeks out and lost a total of 13 pounds but I also must admit when I could start to eat mushy I ate several things that put a halt to my weight loss like ice cream and I had a couple of Mc Donalds Frappe, A BIG NO NO!!. So last night I went online and joined weight watchers so I could at least pick out food and count points to keep me on track. I really felt gulity!

So I'm getting close to my surgery for Gastric Sleeve which is causing me to become obsessed with blogs and youtube. I keep hearing about hair loss! I'm getting super stressed out...my hair is already super thin on the top because of hypothyroidism and obesity. I'm worried there will be nothing left! Is it time for me to start researching wigs??

Congrats on the weight loss! I am currently at the exact same spot you are! I hope things are getting easier and easier day by day for you. Good luck with everything!

I am neither a regular smoker or regular drinker. The two do tend to go hand in hand for me, but usually it is weeks or months between my 'party' nights out. I don't drink or smoke at all when not in these sorts of social situations, and I do neither to excess when I do go out. Once every year I go on a campout with a group of people that is pretty much a party group. I've been going to this event for over 10 years and it's my one time of year when I get to let my hair down for a few days. This year, it happens to fall over Memorial Day weekend, which is right before my 2-week pre-op diet. I am going to TRY not to drink more than a beer or two each day or smoke any cigs at all, but I know it's going to be difficult around this crowd. I'm wondering how much effect a few days of less-than-perfect behaviour with the alcohol/nicotine thing might have, or would the two weeks of following the pre-op diet to the letter be enough.... *sigh* I'm also not going to go off my BC pills until 2 weeks pre-op (as the idea of dealing with feminine hygiene while camping is not a good one), and I hope that 2 weeks will be good on that too. Argh, I hate second-guessing all this. :thumbup: