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I was scared too. Almost backed out three times before getting to the surgery center and once while I was on the gurney getting wheeled into surgery. Fortunately, the anesthesia kicked in and its been one week today. The fear and anxiety were worse than the actual procedure trust me. I felt better afterwards than some times when I've been to the oral surgeon for a tooth extraction. The team of people that will be there for you pre and post op will put you at ease as well. Scarier for me now would be if I hadn't gone through with it and being faced with dealing with the anguish of the weight problem and no incentive to try to defeat it on my own again....and fail.....again. This tool called the Lap-Band kicks ass! It will help you fight off the fat and start living the life you must have wanted or you wouldn't have registered for the procedure. Imagine being full....I mean really really full after a few glugs of Soup and pushing the rest of it away. And when you finally weigh in after a week and see that you've knocked off 10 pounds or more, come back to this message board and tell me if I wasn't right. Be more afraid NOT to do it!

I find at 5ft 10, what I can lift or hold appears amazingly heavy for smaller people! It probably wont bulk you up - the people who bulk up fast are usually ones that have large bodies in the first place due to a lot of muscle tissue - like you can be fat but have LOTS of muscle. For most women, it just wont happen, you'll get nice definition. But really, if you notice you're bulking up more than you'd like, its simple, stop doing it (so much). I've found though that lots and lots of running has given me the type of body I wanted, tall, slender, with definition/shape but not big muscles. I dont really do any more than pushups and tricep dips for my upper body - good compound body weight exercises for strenght and tone, and running takes care of my lower half.

Disagree... I am working my band correctly - and I am hungry between meals.. I can have steak & eggs for Breakfast and by 10:30 a.m. be hungry - real hunger not head hunger - a piece of low fat string cheese will tide me over til I can have lunch. Or I can be out busy doing something and can't stop to eat a meal - I will eat a piece of fruit to get me give me the engery I need to keep my motabolizm going... It boils down to what your doc suggest and each doctor here is different and then you have to take all this knowledge and make it work for you..

Hi! I was banded on 8/13. I am constantly amazed when I read about how quickly some people are allowed to progress through food stages. My bariatric center wants us to go two full weeks at each stage. I am getting to week 6 now, which means I will be ready for "unrestricted" textures, including, at long last, raw veggies, fruits and veggies with skin, and nuts. I'm not in such a hurry to have them, but it is nice to reach this stage. I'm pretty contented with the soft food stage as I can eat almost everything I want anyway. But a good salad - oh yum! I've been craving it for weeks now. I have to say I cannot say thank you enough to everyone who posts and replies here. I was beginning to worry early last week as my weight went up another pound. Then someone reminded me (duh me) that I haven't had a fill, and with each new food stage I'm likely taking in more calories again. I am due to see the Dr. on 10/2 and find out how much he wants to do for my first fill. Because of thinning in my abdominal wall from previous abdominal surgeries I've had, he's sending me to a radiologist to have my first fill done under the fluoroscope. I can feel the outline of my port, but have NO problem with this. It may even mean less time for me to wait for a fill - the average is about 1 1/2 hour right now if you go to the office. My point is, right now my pouch is unrestricted, and I'm clearly healing well. I can eat MUCH more quantity of food than I thought in a meal. Still less than before I was banded, but much more than the nurses led me to believe. So I was getting concerned about it. Now I feel much more relaxed and am lightening up on myself. I did feel, for the first time, the sensation of food getting stuck yesterday. I think I took too big a bite & didn't chew it small enough before swallowing. I didn't bring any back up, but there was a minute there when I was quite uncomfortable. Lesson learned! One reason (in my top 10) for choosing banding was because of the low purge incidence. I am not a purger. So PB's are not something I want to experience - EVER. Compliant little brown-noser, that's me! LOL. Thanks to all. I really appreciate your willingness to share your experiences and support one another. It makes me feel quite pleased that I chose this route to help me lose weight.

I also think 10 minutes is too fast. We are supposed to eat slower in order to feel full faster. If that makes any sense. It takes 20 minutes for your stomach to alert your brain that you're getting or are full. I'm back to regular foods now. This week, I've been bouncing UP in ounces. No loss so far although official WI is Friday. It's not looking good for a loss this week and looking like a GAIN! I've lost about 8lbs since the day of surgery (15 if you count the 7lbs of surgery gain that took a week and a half to lose!!). I've always been a slow loser. Can't see why this will be any different for me. Speaking of the surgery gain, do you include that in your post-surgery loss or just the other weight?

Stomach flu is actually the Noro Virus and it does spread easily. Only bleach kills it so you might want to keep your work area wiped down with a 1:10 mixture of bleach and water. That's what we do in our skilled nursing facility and it really helps. Hand sanitizer does not help this.

Hey mandymoo, I'm sistercin and you have made my day. I've been reading such negative post that I told my husband this morning that I didn't think I could do the band....mine set for April 19...I've been waiting to hear someone with great news and you've done it for me. I'm sooo glad you're doing well. I've gotta think positive and do this for me and my family. Please keep me and others like me updated on your success. Keep doing what you're doing!!!!

Hi, Excuse me but I am new to online forums. I'm sure over time my tech-savvy will improve. I am 4 weeks post sleeve. My first 2 weeks were awesome I thought "wow" then I've been really going backwards. I have celiac disease which flared a lactose intolerance, which has added to my woes. At about 2 weeks on a minced and mashed diet I started to vomit all solids. It didn't matter if I took nause medication (I take Nexium) up it would come. Landed in hospital for a night just after xmas for fluids and a scope - all was fine. Home sweet home for a few days and the vomiting started all over again. My doc is great but I think he's wondering what to do with me. Also every time I eat solids or even thick Soups I get moderate to severe stomach pain - like a spasm and in my stomach that radiated to a variety of places over my tummy. I have now been told this is not 'normal'. After I eat, the pain goes away generally within 5 to 10 minutes. I am keen to here if others have experienced a similar set of complications and how did you cope and DID IT PASS? Cheers, Gmac (I have not figured a signature out yet!):thumbup:

LOL you should put that in the prayer thread http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=17568 When you pray, you pray that others come to know God and have their own personal relationship with him. I'm sure this is not about bashing someone else but just good clean chat. So JMO how are you doing. WWJD? I wear him on my sleeve or my signature at least. LOL 10 pounds gone, you girl!!!

I was banded 3/29 and everything's been going very smooth. Never had any restriction at all after about 10 days after surgery. This afternoon I ate a hard boiled egg with out even thinking about the band,talkingand eating don't mix. This is the very first time for the"golfball in the chest"feeling so I know this thing works.terryr

I posted this today on my blog and wanted to post it here as well! So if there are names or backstories that I mentioned...that is why...hahah! I didnt realize how long it was! In the name of reflecting on a year gone by, I have been working on this Bandiversary post. It is a mumble jumble of some of my thoughts, tips, rules (non-rules), and lessons learned since Tina the Wonderband took up residence in my body. This year has flown by and brought me so many wonderful presents, people, and experiences. I don't have all the answers...and our journeys, while on parallel paths in the same direction, can look very different. So here you go! Happy Reading! All doctors, clinics, bandsters, and rules, are different. They just are. And I am not a slave to any of the rules. I see them more as guidelines and helpful tips. For example, I eat Soup...a lot. Soup is a liquid and therefore, slides right down the old shoot. But I honestly feel rather satisfied with 2 cups of wonderful soup. I also now almost always choose soup if we go out to eat. I noticed this when we went to Lambert's for my mom's birthday. Lamberts did not have one soup option. I think I started ordering soup out as a rule after my October fill. It just became too risky to try solid food and a waste of money. And even though I can bring leftovers home, leftovers usually go to waste in our house. I just couldn't see spending $10 on something that I could only nibble at. It does not bother me, this soup fetish of mine. I can have a couple of bites of whatever Tracey gets and I am a cheap date. Drinking with meals. This was not that hard for me to give up. At home, I just make sure that I don't have my Water near me when I eat dinner. When we go out to eat, I drink about 4 cups of water before the meal comes. I drink right up to that point. I do not personally believe that water primes the band. Water goes right down people. It doesn't just sit there. For me, when I do try and be naughty (Cookies and milk anyone?) drinking with my food either hurts OR gets me stuck. Some bandsters measure, weigh, or journal their food. All the time. I do not. I do measure Snacks though. For example, if I am going to have some nuts, I measure whatever one serving size is and put it in a little baggy. This way I know what my calorie intake is for that snack. I do not do food journals, count carbs, or watch my fat intake. Those things, for me, are all part of DIETING. They give me horrible flashbacks and I find myself rocking in the corner with sounds of helicopters and gunfire in my head. They send me to a bad place. However, from time to time I have recommended online food journals to struggling bandsters who feel lost or out of control. Sometimes when we estimate our calories we forget things, round DOWN, or just lie! So it can be a useful tool. And whatever works for you is the way to go. The scale. Another rule I do not care for is the "scale rule". Even my wonderful Dr. Friedman told me not to weigh daily. I weigh myself every day, but only record the weight on Mondays. Mondays keep me motivated through the weekends. I do not freak out if my weight fluctuates during the week...I try to reserve such freakouts for Mondays alone. Your weight will go up and down. But weighing myself every day does keep me accountable for my actions. I eat better when I bring my lunch to work. While for dinner I can usually eat grilled chicken breast, some pork chop etc., leftover meat is a no-go for me anymore. It just gets too dry when I heat it in the microwave. This is one of the reasons I make soup and freeze it. But whatever you choose, make it something you can just grab...so you don't use the excuse "I didn't have anything". It is a rare, rare day when I eat fast food for lunch. And the only fast food I do eat is either chili from Wendy's or nuggets from Chick-fil-a. I am thankful for an amazing doctor, who surrounds himself with amazing staff. I think that having the right doctor is so crucial to success. Dr. Friedman let me decide when I needed a fill. I could come in week after week until I got restriction. I see him every time I go for an appointment and he is right beside me when I get my fill. I am honest with him. I tell him when I have been drinking Sunkist or snacking. I tell him what I can and cannot eat. He listens. I was a trooper through bandster hell. I stayed the course and did not go hog wild (pun intended) when I realized I could eat anything and everything. I was on my high from my preop diet weight loss. I knew what I had to do. Dr. Friedman told me upfront that the band does not work for everyone...that his biggest fear is that his patients won't lose weight. By God I was going to lose weight. I listen for the real hunger. One of the most important lessons I have learned is when I really need to eat. How many times do we say "OH I am starving"? A lot. And are we really? No. So I took this phrase out of my vocabulary. I might say "I am hungry"....but that is different than starving. When you are fighting headhunger, try and stop and say "Am I really hungry?" If the answer is no, try to resist munching! Drink water instead! Do something. Of course I still snack sometimes whenI am not hungry, but at least when I DO, I am tsk tsking myself! LOL I tell everyone about my surgery, if they ask. This will be a debate until the end of time...on Lapband Talk and on these blogs. There are just so many factors that go into making this decision, and I know that for everyone...their choice is their own. I don't think it ever occurred to me to hide it. For me, I tell because it can help others, because their is no shame in having weight loss surgery, because it can educate the ignorant, and because the truth shall set your free. I think about some of the ladies who have been banded because they have seen my progress. What if I had just told them I did it through watching what I eat and exercising (which is not a lie, but not the complete truth either). Would they feel like failures because "Amy did it the old fashioned way...why can't I?" Would they still be putting off the idea of surgery? I am proud of my choice and where I am today. You know ironically, I get the most negative comments about choosing WLS from fat people. Maybe bc the skinny people don't want to be politically incorrect? But as I think about it...yep...mostly my heavy "friends" are the ones who turn up their noses when I tell them about the band. But that's okay...I'll give them time. A year later, I still think of food all.the.time. This by no way means that I am hungry. In fact, the only time I feel real hunger anymore is in the morning before Breakfast. I have read about those people who after being banded, food just became something they "had to do". I used to really hope for that day to come. Eh, it just might never happen for me. I did learn this year that there are actually people who do not think of food all the time. This was mind boggling to me...and still kinda is! Funny, but it seems that those people who do NOT think of food all the time are thin. Who would have thunk? There are foods I do miss...and they all involve bread. I miss peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, hamburgers with buns, hot dogs with buns, cinnamon rolls, oh cinnamon rolls, Stuffing my face with cookies and chugging milk , pizza, Big Macs...It's a good thing I have the band huh? lol I set goals. Mini goals, about every 3 months along. I made these goals preband (for the first 6 months out at least). I have met every goal. Don't be afraid to set these mini-goals. Right them on your calendar, a post it note, on the fridge, or on the wall above the scale. Exercise. I have yet to become an exercise fanatic. Right after surgery I started walking to get ready for my first 5k. Then we did bootcamp/interval training for awhile. Now we just do what sounds good. I play WiiFit once in awhile, we go walking, we are going back to bootcamp, Bandita and I did Zumba. Exercise is an area that I could improve on. Another rule that does not work for me: Not eating in front of the t.v., computer, while reading...etc. They say that when you eat you should be focused solely on your food. No distractions. They say this well help you eat slower and take smaller bites. This is not true for me. For example, when Tracey and I eat at the table, or with family...I tend to eat MUCH quicker. For several reasons. First, I feel a need to keep up. Second, have you ever adopted a dog or puppy that comes from living with lots of other dogs? They eat so quick bc they are afraid that someone else is going to get their kibble. Somewhere deep down I am still afraid of not enough kibble to go around. So, when Tracey and I sit on the couch with our tv trays...I eat much slower. When I am reading a magazine or surfing the net...I eat much slower. It gives me something to do, something to put my fork down and entertain myself with. Things that have changed: Where I shop. What I eat. How much I eat. I cook more. I try new and different foods (but that doesn't mean I like them all). My love for Tracey. I love him even more. He is so proud and supportive. I can cross my legs. My lower back pain, my pee sneezes, and shin splints...they are all gone. The amount of people who read my blog. The amount of blogs I read. The amount of friends this blog has blessed me with. My pant size. My shoe size. Things that haven't changed: My self confidence. My facial hair (still the same amount...I was hoping for less). My attitude. My complexion. I thought it would clear up a lot. The way I see life. My obsession with food. My thirst for Sunkist. The way I act with, towards, and around other people. How many pictures I take. How I wear my clothes. My finances. My job. My dislike of a the majority of vegetables. Things I have learned: Peanut Butter cups and sunkist do not mix. Well, they do...but then they erupt out of your nose. Eating a muffin in shame in a bathroom stall is not a high point of anyone's journey...but your blogger friends will love you even when you share the shameful moments. You can walk a 5k at any weight. And most likely you will not be the last person to finish. It is better to set a goal and not reach it then not set a goal at all. Tweezers may come and go, but apparently whiskers are forever. Life's journey is long. You better take snacks. (okay, I stole this one from a calendar). I really do have bones in my body. I cry happy tears in dressing rooms, and am also known to cry tears of frustration. I always want more. Poopies will never be the same. Good bye big girl poop. Hello chicken nugget poop. I have no boundaries. Just when you think it can't get any better....it does. And finally, the biggie. Why was I able to lose 120 pounds in 12 months? Why Amy and not everybody? I have given a lot of thought to this question and I am not sure I have the answer. If you think about it...I could have lost more. There are certainly bandsters out there who have done it (Mary for example) and others who are well on there way. I could have lost more by making the right choices, working out harder, etc. I did not have the perfect year. But that's okay! I personally think that for those of us who start at a higher weight, we can lose a little faster at the beginning....so you could say I had that going for me. There are the things I think are out of our control: Genetics, history, body shape. Even though I was 327, I was solid as an ox under all that fat. Perhaps my muscle mass helped in the beginning as well? There are two things that I think really made a difference in my weight loss. The first is this blog. This blog and all of you who have become part of my life helped to keep me accountable. When someone tells you that you are an "inspiration", it makes you want to keep inspiring! I didn't want to let anyone down. I knew that I would be honest with you guys. I shared the ups and downs. And seeing others make it into a new pant size, or run a 5k...inspires me. The second reason I have lost this weight is...Because I knew I could and I would. When Dr. Friedman told me that the band does not work for everyone, I made a choice that I would not be one of those people. I was not going to have a surgery just to "eat around the band". I wanted to be his star patient. I wanted to be the person on the commercials. I wanted to be a success story. And I wanted to be more than a statistic. Of course, all you have to do is read through my blog to know at times I had a few doubts and questions, but overall...I knew big things (and a smaller body) were possible. And you have to believe. I was at a great place in my life. I had support from Tracey and my family. I was at a good place mentally. It was just the right time. So that's it! That's all that I could think of! I hope you made it through and I can't wait to see what this next year brings! Thank you for everything. Yours- Amy

Hello and welcome, I have had no problem with the lap band - however i haven't been at my sweet spot yet, i coasted for a while after initial weight loss then when i decided to get serious again I was following weight watchers. I have not put back on any weight that I have lost in a year which I think is absolutely thrilling. I intend to get to my sweet spot as I am going for a fill in a few weeks, had to partially defill prior to jaw surgery several weeks ago. I haven't been eating very much the last few weeks and have lost about 10 pounds so I'm not sure how the band impacts weight loss if one isn't eating - seems to be the same as without a band. good luck and hope you get more responses for support.

I get that "golfball" soon after I begin eating. I was wondering if that was my "signal" to stop eating. I was feeling "guilty" 'cos I never listened to the "signal"! I'd wait a second, then just keep going. From being on this board quite a while pre-op, I knew that I would be hungry at this point ( I was banded July 19), but I am still dismayed. For the last week I have been eating just as much as I did pre-op. I start the day with one cup of half/caf with lowfat milk. 1/2 hour after drinking I will have an egg beater omellet or some oatmeal (Quaker's Women's nutrition). Today I had 2 pieces of toast w/ butter and peanutbutter. For lunch i've been having a lean cuisine or a lean pocket. dinner...whatever the family's having. Last night I went to Red Robin for dinner. My son and I split a Macho Nacho app and a just-in-quesadilla app. I had no problem eating this at all. In fact, I then ate about 1/3 of my daughter's hot fudge sundae. Then last night I had a Healthy choice ice cream! I keep telling myself that if willpower and good choices were "do-able" for me, then I wouldn't have needed the band! I am trying not to be too hard on myself. But everytime I am filling my face I'm thinking, OMG, I went thru surgery, liquids, mush, FOR THIS? To eat as much as before? I know I haven't had a fill. Mentally I know that the band will work when it is filled, but right now I am really being tough on myself and I am disgusted w/ myself. I wanted the band vs. RNY 'cos I knew it was healthier, I knew it was a slower weight loss, I knew it was a life-long process. Yet here I am, whining away 'cos I'm still eating too much! Sorry this is so long, but I really need to get this out, and I really need to have some good solid "been there, done that" advise! I keep thinking, "Am I stretching my pouch, am I compromising my band"? Geesh! Just like my dieting days, I know all the answers, tricks and tips. Implementing them is a whole other story!

I literally just got on the site because I was going to ask this same thing. But first I was like let me scroll some posts I may find an answer. I had my sleeve on 10/29/2020. I just started regular foods. I haven't over ate, haven't had any sugar, I've been trying to keep my sugar at like 1 gram if any. And the little tiny bit I just started eating I make sure its healthy. My weigh days are Tuesdays, I cheated and weighed Friday too. Was down to 301. I weighed today after my bath, and am at 303. [emoji15][emoji15][emoji15]. I'm hoping it's what was stated above. Water retention or something. It got me feeling a little down I won't lie tho. Sent from my SM-G781U using BariatricPal mobile app

For those that I have seen have lost like 60 ,70 even more in a year, did you lose quick since day one? Or did it just kick in one day? I am one week post tomorrow which I know is still really really, but I'm only down 1lb. I've seen several others who are already down 10+ by now. Just wondering if this is an indication I'll be a slow loser.

Mine did the exact same thing. Lost 9 the first week and then nothing for 10 days. Just be patient. It'll come.

My understanding is that "clear liquids" is more about consistency and if you can see through the bottle/glass. Apple juice, cranberry juice, water etc. Here is my post-op diet... Day 1-7 after surgery: Clear liquids such as water, broth, apple and cranberry juice, sugar free jello, low cal sports drinks, black coffee and teas. Day 8-10: Full liquids such as tomato or cream soups, cream of wheat, greek yogurt, cal free liquids, protein drinks. Day 10-12: Pureed food such as cream of wheat, yogurts, refried beans, applesauce, pureed chicken, turkey, and tuna salad. Day 13 up until my 1 month check up: Soft foods such as chili, beans, eggs, moist meats, ground turkey, fish, deli meat, soft fruits, steamed veggies with no skin. I am going on vacation 30 days after surgery and am just praying I can be up to normal foods by then. My surgeon and nutritionist say I should be fine.

I'm on day 8 of my clear liquid phase and so far it's gotten easier since my parents brought me home the broth from chicken soup from our favorite local diner...however, I'm still frustrated with diet drink choices...I'm usually an avid water drinker but I need some variety..has anyone had any issues with Bai5 drinks? They have 1 gram of sugar and 10 carbs and only 5 calories..my NUT said I can have anything diet drink as long as it's clear...what are your thoughts on that if you've had Bai5 drinks?

Are you talking about my pain on the day of surgery? For me, the gas/shoulder pain was the worst. I was definitely sore when I woke up and I was very nauseated and started dry heaving right away - but I don't tolerate anesthesia very well. The heaving hurt my stomach but at it's worst I would say my pain was only 6 out of 10. They gave me Lortab post-op and I only took one other dose that day. I was fairly sore but I wasn't necessarily in pain. I also made sure I got up and moved around a lot which helps in the long run. Day 2 I took 2 doses of Lortab and that was it - no pain meds since then. I do have a high pain tolerance though so that may not reflect what the majority need. I would definitely, absolutely, 100% recommend that you get a heating pad for the shoulder/gas pain - this was my biggest lifesaver! I used it around the clock for the first couple days and I feel like it made a big difference. I'd be happy to answer any other questions I can, good luck to you!!

Seriously? Wearing a too-tight girdle that makes you throw up is a viable solution for weight maintenance after WLS? Well, if that doesn't wind up working for you, you could wear a chastity belt with an hook that pokes you in the stomach. Or you could wear a full coat of armor that's a size too small. Or you could lock a full-face helmet onto your head without any opening to your mouth. Or you could find an old Iron lung and move into it with only your head sticking out and no way to feed yourself. Seriously ... if you lost 10 pounds in a month because you didn't work out, it's likely that most of that weight loss was muscle mass.

My dr said that it was my gallbladder. It was working less than 10% so we thought that removing it would help and it hasn't ???? went to a different doctor today and we will see how his medicine works

Hey there, I was banded on the 24th of Nov and had my first fill last Sunday. Well, I have only lost about 10-14lbs depending on the day..lol. So I was wondering what a day of food is for you? South beach? Lo-calorie or lo carb or what and I am a blonde so can anyone out there PLEASE give me some sample menus of your day/week. I have copied some I have seen but y'all in particular and others who have been banded since this past July I am curious and need some success tips and motivation! catie

I was banded 10-21-2010. At my 1 month appt I received a fill. I saw my surgeon yesterday and I didn't receive 1. He told me I had good portion control, but it seemed like I needed to break some old habits. I am going to the gym every other day doing some sort of 30min cardio, I am down to 2 meals a day with a lite snack but my weight is slow to come off! I do drink alot (coffee, tea, juice, smoothies).........is this slowing my weight loss down?

I worried about this so much before my surgery, because we are very social. ,I didn't eat out much at first because it just wasn't much fun. But by the 3 month point we were eating out all the time again. I usually get what I want and have lots of leftovers, which I feel no guilt about throwing out if I don't get to it all. Often if we go to a place that has add-ons (e,g,, crab legs for $10 with an entree, or grilled shrimp). I'll get that with a side of veggies or baked potato. That usually works out well for me, although I still only eat about 2 bites of potato. Avoid bread, rice and pasta. They will swell in your stomach and hurt. Honestly, I don't left out at all. If people get an appetizer, I eat one or two tiny bites. Never dessert anymore. No room! The only thing I really miss is a big salad.

I don't feel like I've lost fast but I've lost pretty consistently over the last 10 months. Just this morning, I went through my journal from the date of surgery to present. I noticed that I didn't lose that much the first week. The second week, I had a pretty strong weight loss and then week 3 - 6, I hit that 3 week stall and everything shut down. I remember at my 6 week visit, the doctor was concerned that I hadn't lost as much as they expected. From then on, my weight loss has been pretty steady. I agree with previous posters that you have IV fluids in you and not to mention that pain meds can shut down business in the bathroom. All sorts of factors there. These early weeks are no indication of how you will lose long term.