Search the Community

The band does limit what you can eat, but liquid things pass through the band faster, making it possible for you to eat more. Eating around the band would be consuming things like milkshakes, which pass through the band easier than solid food and are packed with calories, or drinking while you eat, which helps the food to pass through the band faster as well. Both of these result in you being able to take in an increased amount of calories. Even with the band, if you're still eating the same number of calories, you won't lose weight. If you're eating solid protein and following the rules about waiting before and after a meal to drink, you should be fine. Of course, the better food choices you make, the faster you'll lose.

hey im also 20 weeks, congrats on your pregnancy.. i dnt feel a lump in my throat but i am eating like a horse and guessing that i have stretched my band. i have 5 mls in my band and i didnt want to unfill it because i was scared of weight gain. At the beginning of preg i weighed in at 101kgs but went down to 93kgs in first trimester frm being so sick.. now im 98kgs and its abit disheartning.

Okay everyone.. We all know when your pregnant you have cravings. Ive been REALLY bad. I eat healthy most of the time.. but sometimes I eat breads and pastas.. Since I was 10 weeks preggo Ive had the feeling of a constant lump in my throat. Some days I have it.. and some days I don't. I finally talked to my OB about it and she tested my thryoid.. which was fine. A friend of mine also has LAP-BAND® and she mentioned Ive probably stretched my pouch bc I can eat SOO much more then what I used to. Like tonight for instance.. I made an omlet with veggies in it.. I used 3 eggs to make the omlet.. I was able to get down about 3/4 of it! I KNOW thats to much! I only had the band about 4 months before I found out I was pregnant.. So my fill was only at a 3 which my Dr. refers to as a "prime". He didn't want to unfill me bc he wanted me to continue to lose or just stay the same. So far Ive gained about 4 pounds..and thats within the last 3 weeks. Anyone have any insight on this problem or am I just being paranoid?!?! Thanks in advance!!

Wow! Incredible to be back to work after Gastric Bypass so quickly. How was work today? How is the head hunger? Do you feel hydrated? I'm still so impressed at your ability to get right back at it and how much weight you've lost. Congrats!

So this week is the week from hell..I officially reached the dreaded the 3.5 week stall....It is so frustrating I have been at 218 for a week....but I know that my body is adjusting and that I will start losing again cuz I know Im losing weight only eating 700 cal a day....I started weight training this week to so maybe im gaining muscle..

You are all doing amazing. I am 6 months post op and have lost about 60 pounds in total and on average a 10 pound loss per month. Im totally pumped even though I would like to lose another 25 or so to get to my perfect height for weight/BMI. So I am was on the lighter side as a starter compared to some of the people on this forum, so don't expect the massive loss that those folk will experience. Trust me you are doing absolutely amazing!!

Those would probably work well. The main idea is to find something healthy, easy to eat and portable on not relying on the cart girl. As for the carbs / energy part of your question, honestly I just don't see that as an issue. I know it seems like you'll be running your body on fumes, but doing activities without the weight equivalent of a large suitcase tied to your back makes everything way easier, at least for me.....

Hello Everyone. I was banded on August 10 and since then I have lost nearly 20 pounds. Is that too much? Does that mean I'm not eating enough? Or should I just stop complaining and be happy that the weight is coming off so quickly?

I am so not a fan of the BMI. It was originally developed between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing "social physics", it is defined as the individual's body mass divided by the square of their height. The concept of the BMI is essentially 150-170 years old. In my opinion its use is primarily driven by insurance companies and their Actuaries. Using BMI as a universal tool to predict future health is lazy but it allows the rule makers to place people in nice neat pigeon holes. Since insurance companies use this tool to help predict profit/loss it has become ingrained in our lexicon. It may have some use as a generic guide but not much else. There are better indicators as you have outlined. As a former strength athlete I will never hit a normal BMI. In fact if I ever reach singe digit bodyfat I will still be considered obese by the BMI table. Measures of health need to be evaluated on a individual basis. Even the US military knows this. When a Soldier/Airman/Marine falls outside the height/weight tables they are not automatically considered overweight. They then have body composition measurements to determine percentage of body fat. How can BMI be a good indicator of future health when it is not a reliable indicator of current health? Thanks for your post!

First time I played was ~12 weeks post opp. Would have been physically ready at 6-8 weeks, but it just didn't have an opportunity to play.... Funny thought about the power. Most pro golfers anre quite thin but generate massive power. I just had it in my head that putting weight behind the ball somehow helped!

Beautifully said! There is nothing "easy" about the lap band, no matter what the skinny minis think. Not only is it major abdominal surgery that leaves permanent scars, you have to completely change your eating habits or risk getting stuck or throwing up. Plus it's not a magic wand, it's a tool. Anyone who accuses you of taking the easy way out should stuff it! If losing the weight lowers your health risks and makes you feel better, what do they care how you did it?

Hi everyone! I am just curious about something, I am 5 weeks out as of today and have lost 40 lbs (10 from pre-op diet) why I am super super excited for this amount, I have noticed that my weight loss has slowed down quite a bit since the first week. The first week post op I lost 14 lbs... after that I am ranging between 4-5 lbs a week. Which is still AMAZING! More than I was losing before surgery, when I was trying really hard. Just was curious how everyone elses went. Was it similar to mine?

Picture from January 2017 : 231lbs Picture from July 2017: 183lbs Goal weight : 139lbs

Interesting question @MindyMe. I must tell you that I had a boyfriend...not a fiance, but nevertheless, we were a couple and he gained weight because he was eating his portion, and what I left over. I know he felt like he was out of control and it was a facet of our eventual breakup. My current boyfriend also eats some of what I don't, but he's learning to let me bring home leftovers and not always eat them. I know he's gained some weight and I've also told him I want him healthy...which is true. I don't care that he's chubby...it's not what he looks like, but who he is that makes me love to be with him. Other than that, I leave him alone and say nothing. Now having said the above, the takeaway is that you are not the food police....and you cannot make him eat less, and stay away from your leftovers. You can try to do more sharing if that works because we know how much excess food there is when eating out, but otherwise, leave him be because you can't do anything about it anyway and all that would happen is he'd start to resent you being on his case.

I'm guessing that you don't have any current GB stones or inflammation so your doctor didn't prescribe anything. There isn't a lot you can do to avoid GB issues. It just comes with the weight loss territory. If you do develop GB stones, then avoiding fat will help control the pain of a GB attack. Some people have problems in their teens with GB stones, but the "general" population that is likely to get GB problems follow the 5 "F"s (we learned this in ultrasound school) Fair, Female, Fertile, Forty, and Flatulent! LOL

I was doing really great at dieting after the band for a while, but then I had stressors that made me plateau and I found it really hard to lose more weight. Now I have a new boyfriend and when I am with him, I don't want to overeat at all. Not because I care what he thinks of me eating, but I feel like the love is so powerful that all I can think about is making out with him. So when we go out to dinner, I will order Soup and salad and eat about 1/4 of both. I have been dropping weight like crazy since I started going out with him, totally unintentionally. New love is a great way to break a plateau.:thumbup:

Last week was such a crappy week for me workout wise. I lost like 3 pounds but I had SH*TTY training sessions..like to the point I felt like I let my trainer down. He even asked me if I felt okay because I wasn't my usual self. So I am going to bounce back this week and remove the words "I can't" from my vocabulary! I am also needing to increase my calories, which is a bit of a scary thought for me..I am around 1,200 a day now at 6 months out. According to my TDEE which I adjusted for having less lean body mass I need to be somewhere around 1,500 calories a day to lose weight. Furthermore, I need more sleep. According to my UP band..I am only averaging like 6 hours of sleep a night. Anyway..that is my confession!

Yup, normal thought. I thought that too. But in less than a month you have lost 17lbs!!! THATS AWESOME. Ever done that before?? Probably not. If you follow your plan from your doc, you will not stay fat. Set realistic expectations, 10lbs a month, or 2lbs a week - something like that. Don't be hard on yourself -- that negativity and self defeating attitude and feelings of undeserving unworthiness are what keeps the weight on and if you're like me, caused the weight to pile on!! And, if you are a slow loser, so what, you are still a LOSER! Slow weight loss can help your skin, can keep nosy people from noticing rapid weight loss, help you cement and solidify good habits. There's a slow losers board. Read it, look at the tickers from people posting a year ago -- they all lost BIG amounts of weight. You'll get there too! Have faith in the tool you chose and use it to the best of your ability. That's all you can do!

I get my first fill on Wed and it's been (6-8) weeks. I went to visit my family for 2 1/2 weeks and pretty much ate what they cooked, trying to pick the best of what they had. I still managed to gain 5lbs which is off again no, just want to keep the weight coming off. I am excited about the fill, but it's under florscopy which I am not sure about. Wish me luck! Christy :biggrin:

Some people lost weight prior to surgery in the support group I attend and some folks didn't. I lost 20 pounds without even trying by cutting out the 6 diet cokes I drank each day. It is a good goal to lose some weight pre-op because it can add to your total weight loss after the operation. But this goal is possibly not set in concrete. But as you say Kaiser Northern California in Sacramento may be dictating that requirement. So drink enough Water and I wouldn't cut out all salt completely. Salt is important to your diet too. My mother cut out all salt from her diet and that drove her into the hospital emergency room.

Congratulations. I am going on a 4 day cruise at the end of the month and I am determined not gain weight. It can be done if you think before you react.

I understand that not all calories are created equal. The food plan I am on is pretty strict. I was provided a binder with a list of foods that I can choose from. Lean proteins, non starchy veggies, fresh fruit, very little fat, nothing processed and no sugar. I get in between 70-80 grams of protein a day, which comes from food, not supplements. I keep a food journal and I'm not hungry in between meals, and I'm not snacking. I know the crazy fluctuation has to be water weight, I just don't know why I'm retaining so much water. I would have to consume an extra 3500 calories to gain one pound of fat. A typical breakfast for me is egg whites, spinach and mushrooms, a slice of 40 calorie bread with a fat free butter and a small banana. Lunch is usually 3 oz of boneless, skinless chicken breast, mixed non starchy veggies sautéed in Pam, 3/4 oz of triscuit crackers and a small apple. Dinner is similar to lunch. I take my vitamins in the morning with 8 oz of skim milk. Am I overthinking it? Am I just obsessing/stressing myself out? I'm drinking myself nuts. Lol

Hello Everyone, I am new to this site and at the beginning of my VS journey. I am English, living in England and have been overweight all my life. I have a huge amount of weight to lose. I had been seeing a dietician for the past six months (with no real success) (had a lifetime of failing at every diet going) and the dietician mentioned WLS. She suggested I speak to my Dr. about this as I have type 2 diabetes and she thought I would definately fit the requirements for surgery (my BMI is 59). I went to the Dr. who was at great pains to point out that WLS meant you could only eat smaller portions and had I thought about doing that????? Despite this he did say he would fill in all the forms to see if I could get approval for funding for surgery on the NHS but not to get my hopes up. A week later I got a telephone call to say I had been approved. Another week later I got my first appointment at the hospital to see the Dr. there. During my time with the dietician (who was a lovely lady who actually listened to what I said) she put me on a 'milk' diet for three weeks. I lost 10lb the first week, 7lb the second and gained 2lb the third week! I have since regained all but 4lbs of that weightloss, even though I have been extremely careful with my diet. I know I will have to lose more before I can have surgery and am planning to put myself back on the milk diet next week. I am trying to lose that 5% people have talked about on here. I am hoping that if I manage to lose that magical 5% they will push me forward for the surgery. Although I only joined this site recently I have been reading avidly for the past fortnight. There is so much useful and interesting information here, and everyone is really generous with their own experiences and knowledge. I hope that my journey details will be equally beneficial to others as it progresses. I chose the name Phoenix Rising as I hope that people will begin to see the new slimmer fitter me rising from the ashes of the old fat unhealthy me. I know I have a very long way to go and look forward to having your help and support. Thank you

Hello gang, I had WLS in 2004. I was one of the early lap band recipients in Australia under Prof. Paul O'Brien. I did great and lost 46kg (101lbs), but then life set in and I had two kids and a suicidal husband so I let the weight creep back up. I had a revision in 2013 due to a hiatus hernia so large I was having esophageal spasms. So now, I'm at the heaviest I've ever been, and I've got a ventral hernia that goes from my navel to my sternum. My surgeon said he won't even try to fix it if my BMI is over 30 because it will just come right back. He then talked to me about how the lap band has fallen out of favor because it was not as effective as the original studies promised. He suggested a revision to a VSG, and set me up in my insurance's approval program for WLS. The first step is the removal of the band and port and recovery from that. Surgery is scheduled for July 7th. After that I'll progress through the "hoop-jumping" to qualify for the VSG, which providing everything goes smoothly, I'll qualify for in October. So far no one has stated any pre-surgery weight loss requirements, but I have been studying the various plans and doctor's programs I've found online, as well as reading personal stories from support forums like this one, so I can get an aggregate view of the entire procedure both pre and post-op. I must admit that the pendulum swings widely across what I've seen, both in program execution and in individual responses. Of course, I realize that there are outliers on every scale, and I'm averaging what I see. I got this little binder from the program introduction meeting (Dignity Health), and I've been adding my own research to it, things like print out of appropriate bariatric (or equivalent) vitamins based on their recommendations, worksheets for tracking eating and drinking, pre and post-op protein shakes, mixes, and recipes, motivational type posters, and text documents on things like how digestion works, how protein is used by the body, etc. Note, all the research is stuff from actual university or journal studies, I'm not taking answers from Reddit or Quora as facts! I've decided the biggest issue I've seen is the grief process that hits people after the surgery when they suddenly realize they can't eat what they want. I've read a lot of threads (not just here) of people rebelling and hating themselves and hurting themselves because of this. I do not want to deal with this. I'm already working on changing my eating habits, albeit slowly. I want to be more in control of this transition than I've seen, So, if you've read this far, my questions to you are: Did you make any effort pre-op to really change your eating habits? Did you experience grief or regret post-op if you didn't? Did you regret your surgery for any reason OTHER than the food restriction/complications? Thanks for discussing!

Yesterday I mounted my quarter horse mare without needing a mounting block!!!! Yes! I am finally light enough to pull my own weight off the ground and onto the horse without assistance. I am delighted and so is BR Star Baby, who (bless her heart) pulls both her weight and mine.