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Hey Becky! Welcome to LBT :eek: I am like you - a food addict, compulsive overeater, and binger. I've been that way since I was very young. When I was in middle school, after my parents would go to sleep, I would horde food in our play room (my parents transformed our basement into a play room/entertainment area for us...so there was a couch and a tv...perfect for secluded binging) and sit down there all night watching tv and sneaking food. If I thought I heard someone coming I'd stuff the food under pillows or in the couch cushions. I remember when I went to college feeling a sense of freedom because I could eat as much as I wanted without having to hide from my parents. I also get very particular food obsessions. There was 4-5 months where I was pretty much only eating cold peanut noodles. Then I went through a phase where I would have to eat 3-4 mushroom mozzarella panini from Panera everyday. At one point I felt like I had to go to Friday's everyday and get fried fish with a mashed potato appetizer. This particular obsessive compulsive food-associated behaviors are not unusual for people with eating disorders (both bulimia and compulsive overeating disorders). Anyhow, the band has helped me in many many ways but I also have had/need to work on myself and my head issues. I certainly can't binge the way that I had before, and I don't really want to, but sometimes I will dive into food too fast (the old way) and then it gets stuck. I have struggled with knowing when to stop, since my previous eating habits were to just eat until I couldn't function. I have been getting much better with being content with not eating until I have to throw up. I repeat to myself on a daily basis (sometimes hourly) that there will be food for me to eat on a daily basis everyday for the rest of my life and its not necessary for me to eat EVERYTHING that comes to my mind (or within my eyesite) in one day/sitting and surprisingly this has helped me with my compulsion to eat. Food logs and calorie counting has been invaluable. When I am not food logging (or participating in this site and blogging for that matter) I find myself straying. I have also become structured about my meals. I plan my meals a week (or at least 4-5 days) in advance. That way, when I go to the supermarket, I know what Im there to get and I don't browse the aisle's picking up anything that looks good. I shop at whole foods and there are always samples. The fact that I log everything that goes in my mouth, prevents me from staying in the market and eating 800 calories worth of samples. I will say that about 5-6 months in I completely fell off the wagon and went back to my old eating habits, except instead of sandwiches and other foods that would get stuck, I would order 5 extra large, extra thick milkshakes everyday. Or I'd eat 2 containers of Haagen Daaz ice cream (at over 1000 calories each). So I replaced my binge food with slider food. For some reason mac and cheese was a slider food for me and I'd eat it everyday. I gained 50 of the 80 pounds I had lost back doing that. I've now lose 40 of the 50 pounds I regained. Although I wish I didn't back track like that, its been an invaluable learning experience for me. I have become even more aware of my compulsive eating habits than I ever have which makes me more effective at what I'm trying to do with this band. So I don't completely regret the setback. The band is a great tool, but for compulsive eaters (which many of us are/were) it take a tremendous amount of mental/emotional work too. So if you're prepared to put in the emotional work, the band can be a great tool for you! But if you're not ready, you may not get the results you are hoping for. Feel free to send me a message if you want to talk!

My surgeon said be wanted my A1C of 7 before surgery. My last check was 8.2. I'm so very close. I have appointment next week with the diabetes clinic. Hopefully I'll be down below 8.

I have been so ravenous all day today. I have been exercising a bit more than usual, but I didn't think I'd be this ravenous! I had fill #2 on 2/25 (.8 ccs, first fill was 3.4ccs). My doc does fills under fluroscopy, so when he first looked, he said that I have restriction. It is true that in the mornings I am tighter, but as the day goes on I loosen up quite a bit and am able to take bigger bites, nothing gets stuck and I am hungrier. After a lot of coaxing on my part, the doc agreed to give me a little more. He put in .8 ccs and when I swallowed the barium, he said the restriction was 'perfect'. So, fast forward to today. I had a 10 ounce lunch, still hungry. Had a cheese stick--still hungry. Had a few mini wheats before forcing myself to STOP. I mean I was so hungry I couldn't stop! Now I know 13-14 ounces is WAY outrageous for any bandster meal, but how could my doc see restriction if I am still capable of eating this way? True, this is the first day I am like this and it could very well be that I need to just throw a snack in between my Breakfast and lunch to keep the hunger at bay (trying to do breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack), but can someone tell me how I can go from being so tight in the morning that I can't even eat breakfast until 11:30 and I just hoovered all of a 13-14 oz lunch??? Yes, all healthy food, but the quantity of it scares me as I am sooo paranoid about stretching my pouch. Could I need another fill already? It will only be 2 weeks on Thursday! Any advice or insight on this would be soooo appreciated. Thanks for your help!!!

Surgeons office will call next week.

I will be celebrating a year from my surgery next week... and I still can't really eat salad. 1) It really fills me up; 2) doesn't really digest well; 3) hard to eat after eating my Protein. It's still "protein first" for me. That being said, one of the local grocery stores has a salad bar with lots of healthy choices. I'll put in a few pieces of Romaine lettuce and then top this with grilled chicken and/or ham. Then some cheese, peas, shredded carrots, a few sunflower seeds and a little Ranch on the side. It usually costs me about $2.35. This way I'm getting in the important protein AND a little lettuce. (The extra toppings are super light in amount.. you know, like 5 peas, 10 sunflower kernels, tablespoon of shredded carrots and cheese.) I literally CRAVE a big salad with Ranch dressing.. basically all of the above, plus croutons. My eyes definitely want to be bigger than my sleeve when it comes to a salad.

I also have a hiatal hernia. But my biggest complaint was the acid reflux, I have been on meds for 10 years for GERD. had the upper endoscopy last week found the large hernia which will be repaired during my surgery next week. Please mention to your Dr about your concern, you may need an endoscopy to determine if that is what it is so it can be repaired during your surgery. This way the Dr will know what is there and will have your consent. Good luck.

Hi all, I went to the dietician today and was told to move on to the mushie stage yippee!! After two weeks of the liquid stage Soup and more soup I am now going to get to eat real food. Tonight I am going to have some bolognese I am so looking forward to that. I must admit she wants me to have 80% Protein for both lunch and dinner that one is going to be hard as I really don't like a lot off meat. Sam

Lap band is placed laparoscopically on the vast majority of people. Some do have to be opened up, but its rare. I was home four hours after my lap band surgery. I was back to work four days later. Some people need more time than that. The most I have seen someone take was two weeks to return to work. Some docs keep their lap band patients overnight at the hospital, some don't. Gastric bypass is, from what I understand, much more invasive and does require more down time...about six weeks on average I think before returning to work from what I read. Its also, again, from what I read, several days in the hospital.

Right. I would hope it wouldn't be an urgent matter. Actually, my original question, though I may have phrased it a little awkwardly, was really this: After you have been banded for a long time (think years, here), and goal is reached (Hope, hope), will it be necessary to have fills regularly? Will the band maintain the fill or is there leakage that might require more fills in the future? I suppose that a lot depends on the individual person, but I am trying to anticipate any problems that could occur. I have my first consultation with my doc in a couple of weeks, and I will have a lot of questions for him. I am kind of looking for what actual users (of several years) are experiencing. Thanks lot to all of you.

I had one that they put on me before I woke up from surgery. It helped tremendously the first week. I took it off around a week or so post op. It just provided extra support to my weak/sore ab muscles that were cut and stitched. Helped me lay on my side and sleep without discomfort as well. I highly recommend it.

@@Sassy Little Redhead I found it very helpful and pain relieving. I am at 3.5 weeks and am still wearing it when I work. (On my feet a lot during the day) It definitely provides support and makes the abdomen feel more "protected" and "held together" I purposely wear it quite tight. In the first 2 weeks I wore it around the clock! Only took it off to shower.

I was feeling down about only loosing 4# in dec challenge with the sept bandsters. However- Lets look at the positive: I did not gain over christmas, never have I lost between Oct and Dec ever! I am going to have a fill next week. I have mixed emotions since I either do 100% fine or get stuck in the first 4 bites, slime and occassionally PB. I am going to only request .2-.3cc and then buckle down on my intake and increase my exercise.

I was feeling down about only loosing 4# in dec challenge with the sept bandsters. However- Lets look at the positive: I did not gain over christmas, never have I lost between Oct and Dec ever! I am going to have a fill next week. I have mixed emotions since I either do 100% fine or get stuck in the first 4 bites, slime and occassionally PB. I am going to only request .2-.3cc and then buckle down on my intake and increase my exercise.

I've read about others "not eating enough calories". I would imagine that each person is different based on their size, how fast their metabolism was preop, whether they're exercising or not....etc. So how do I find out if I'm not eating enough calories. I've lot 30 pounds in 5 wks, which is great but not really the steady weight loss I expected. Could it be that I'm not eating enough calories? Also, if I'm not eating enough, where should I get these calories? I am already struggling to get enough protein but then I'm so full of protein that I am literally working at eating so as to get "enough" calories. I am really starting to get confused. I lost like 16 lbs in the first two weeks postop. Then stalled for the 3rd week or so. Then I dropped a pound a day in the 4th week. Then nothing for days. Then one pound, then nothing, then one pound and now nothing for four days. Maybe there is nothing I can do about it but maybe there is?? I get in about 750 cal/day and about 60g protein/day. I just got cleared to start exercising but I'm concerned about burning calories when I already might not be getting "enough". This is starting to get to be ALOT to think about and sort through. In my past, if things got to confusing, I would eat my self into a numb state of food bliss. Thankfully, I can't do that now but I would like some answers. I can't afford to see a nutritionist. Long story but the jist is that my husband is out of work from the economy, I spent my savings on my surgery and wasted a ton of savings a year ago trying to get approved through my insurance company. (They denied me so I had to pay cash for all those appts). Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

Hey Lisa - I've got similar challenges in that my body is fighting me for every last ounce lost! I've found that if I vary my caloric intake every couple of days (like more soup based protein on one day and solid on another day), I can sometimes make my body shake off a little more weight. Also, if I don't exercise at least twice a week, I'm completely stalled. I've not put a calorie number to this game yet but I know exercise gets the scales moving every week that weight loss slows down. Good luck as you figure out how to balance to get your best results.

I am going to disagree with some folks above who counseled you not to worry about Protein. My surgeon had the opposite advice. He said it was absolutely critical to get in enough protein as soon as possible. I credit his skill and following his advice for the ease of my recovery. Even if you don't feel like it do your best to get as much protein and Fluid in as soon as possible. He said barring major complication so, there is no physical reason we cannot consume three premier Protein shakes in one day. It's just a matter of sipping all day until you get it in. Don't wait until you feel like it or even remember to do it. Set up a schedule and sip, sip, sip. You will feel so much better if you stay hydrated and get plenty of protein.

I'm four weeks out and just starting to cook again this week as I'm able to eat soft meats and mushies. I'm a young hispanic woman that prides myself on preparing traditional dinners and eating as a family every night. While I do not dictate to my hubby and kids what to eat, (they are not overweight) I do want to incorporate healthier cooking for them as well. Yesterday I made myself (on my new george foreman grill that I love!) a tilapia filet and grilled zucchini. Omg yumm!! I was only able to eat half of the filet and a few pieces of zucchini, but I was full and feeling good. I made my family some grilled sausage and rice. Tonight I made myself a mini meatloaf with italian greenbeans. Only ate a third of the meatloaf and about eight greenbeans, but boy, happy tummy!! My family ate picadillo with sopa only I threw in loads of chopped veggies that they didn't notice, but ate up! I'm just loving that this is so "do-able" if that's a word!! I went from eating tortillas every night to eating new healthier foods that are so easy to prepare and taste so good. Yay!

My heartetw was in the 50s the first week. It's back to normal now. Lynda

Ok. I'm starting week two op pre op diet.. liguids only with occasional jello

You are doing great! Yes, it is a long road to goal, but you are well on your way! Goal just seems so far away so I have tried to set little mini-goals along the way. One of the things that has helped me the most is setting out the next item of clothing I will be able to wear. I have saved clothing over the years in hopes I would take off weight and get back into the stuff. I went through my closet and tried to organize it by size. I sometimes try things on to see if they fit. I will bring to the front of the closet the pair of jeans or whatever that is just a little too tight to zip comfortably or too tight to wear in public. I try them on about once a week and before I know it, they fit! It is just so much better than looking ahead to that final goal weight.

I had sleeve surgery on December 30. I lost 10lbs in a week but starting this week I have gained 4 pounds. I have been doing everything the doctor told me to, so is this normal?

Samantha, I've been feeling the exact same way! I can eat an entire 4 oz and on top of that my weightloss has stalled, and I found out today that I was dehydrated which is weird cause I drink water all day.

Congrats on the new date!!! I just have a week of two shakes and some food like a lean cuisine or smart one. My pre-op is Thursday and my surgery is June 25th. Good luck with your surgery and recovery.

Hi, I lost 5kg in the week after surgery and was then promoted to mushies. the post op liquid diet isn't too bad - the first few days you don't really feel like eating anyway and then you get Soups and smoothies and jelly and broth and drinking yoghurt - basically anything that goes up a McDonalds straw. You'll do fine!! Danna

I have a very high pain tolerance level, but I also found getting in and out of bed, standing up, and moving around generally very painful at the port site. I had VERY bad bruising. I guess everyone is different. As I said, I have high tolerance for pain, so I just kinda sucked it up and accepted it as what I needed to go through for the greater good. It lasted about 1 week. I was able to stop prescribed pain killers after about 5-6 days.