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Firstly don't worry about the fact that you haven't had many replies to your previous posts- this is such a busy forum and so many new threads each day, I couldn't keep up with all of them and most people just look at a few. I am similar to you, although I have only been banded since November and had one fill so far and pretty good restriction from it so I am one of the lucky ones. I postponed my appointment for my second fill as I am busy and I am still losing. I also don't want to experience being over restricted as the one time I got stuck it was awful and the few times I have had sliming have not been nice either. I discussed it with my bariatric team and they said that if I am still losing to wait a while for my fill. I know I can eat more than some bandsters (some seem to live on fresh air), but I like the fact that I can eat salad and veggies which some that I know can't. I don't eat ice cream and have managed to stay clear of chocolate mostly (just a few at Christmas) so I am going to wait until my weight plateaus before booking my fill. I have lost 52lbs since my pre op diet started in August and gone down 3 clothing sizes so I feel I am not doing too bad. Do let us know how you progress BSwhip, it is tough knowing what to do best and comparing yourself to other people who prefer their bands to be really tight isn't always helpful. Very best of luck, you are doing great! Sue Ps just joined a gym for the first time and going along for my induction this morning -hoping that will help boost the weight loss

Since being denied for WLS by my insurance in early Feb. 2010, I have been in a major depression about my weight and desperate to do something about it. I scheduled a Lab Band surgery in Mexico for the end of this coming April. However, I am having a lot of mixed emotions because my husband and close friend are completly against me going out of the country for this surgery. And If I do go through with it I will be traveling alone with no support. I am so emotionally torn because I desperately want this surgery but I am very afraid of the risks of being out of the U.S. Can anyone please share your experience if you've been to Mexico for this procedure. I appreciate it very much. :smile:

Hi Newbeginnings I am scheduled to be banded on the 27th of March..19 more days! I have a one year old daughter (who rocks) and am expecting an other kid in August (don't know the sex yet). From what I've seen on this website it seems like weight loss is highly variable between differant folks. In my case I have a pretty big frame which means I won't be able to lose as much, at least not easily. My surgeon thought 235 would be a good goal for me (186lb is my ideal weight by the books). I'm hoping to get a little below 235, but it won't be easy I am sure. The most important thing is how determined you are to stick with the guidlines that we have to follow as new bandsters. Like staying away from the cheater foods like shakes and juice. Best of luck to you, let me know how your surgery goes!?!

to ever get this far, and then have second thoughts. I've done my seminar, first doc's visit, seen the nutruitionist (love the Protein shakes). My doc said I had to lose 10 percent of my body weight, which for me is 33 pounds. By the end of the first 3 1/2 weeks, I've lost 21 pounds. I've never been on a high protein diet before, and I seem to be thriving on it. I'm not hungry, and, so far, no uncontrollable cravings. I'm so confused. I had myself prepared and ready to have this surgery, and now I find myself wanting to back out and keep on dieting. I didn't know that he would put me on a diet like this. I only knew about the very strict diet I would be on, a couple of weeks before the surgery. The office will be getting me qualified with my insurance after I go in, in another month. I only need to lose 9 more pounds. I don't have much time to change my mind if I really don't want to do this. Any thoughts or opinion--no matter what they are--would be appreciated.

Hi Marion, I can see your house from here!!! Google is soooo neat. I ordered a lot of Protein powders on line last night. I looked at a few places yesturday and they just didn't have much variety. I have enough stuff to hold me until my deliveries. Yesturday we broke a heat record from 1888 with a temp of 96 F = 36 C. I almost fainted. We never get those temps here in New England. This morning it dropped to 55 F = 13 C. (I found a conversion site) Yaa! Us Yanks and Aussies speak the same language but, diverged with Money, Measurement, Area, Temperatures and Weights. We have a 3 day holiday this weekend. It's our Memorial Day we celibrate our lost service men and women with parades, barbies with friends and family. It's kind of the unofficial opening of Summer:cool2:!!

I had a small one on pre op liquid diet I ate a fish sandwich from mcdonalds and Big Mac. Have not missed them since. Post op on May 1 2013. I lost my goal of 130 by jan 1 st. Have appt today for weight in with surgeon.hang in there you will eat regular food again after but you really won't want it all!

I'm six weeks post op and have been at a weight stall for almost two weeks. I'm getting my proton and water intake but my calories per day have been low. Exercising is hard because I get weak So I'm unable to do as much as I did pre surgery. how can I get this stall over and done with? Help

I had to change the starting weight on my profile page because I have gone up quite a bit during my six month pre-op phase. I have six months of weigh-ins with my PCP in order to qualify for my surgery. Each month I have gone up because I just keep having food funerals. Thank goodness I only have one more month of weigh-ins. I don't know how much more I can afford to gain.

Yes...it will get easier. You'll get used to it and you'll learn tricks to keep the hunger down (blend your shakes with ice - at least you can chew the ice....drink tons of Water...brush your teeth when you're hungry) Also, you'll start losing weight which will give you motivation. Just keep picturing your liver shrinking smaller and smaller and getting you ready for a life-changing surgery!

Hey Guys, Quick question for you, does sleeping on the stomach cause any pain or discomfort the next day? I have slept on my stomach two nights in a row and this morning and yesterday morning, I have felt a sort of soreness around both the large middle incision and the one right to the left of it. If I apply pressure to it, the feelings stops, but as soon as I release, it feels like there is too much weight or something pushing down on the port area or something?????

Hi everyone. Just a post to share my story. I was banded in 2008 and have had a love/hate relationship with this band ever since. It took a year and a half, and a dozen fills to get it right. I did lose just over 50 lbs and have kept it off. But my eating for the last few years seems terrible to me. So many healthy foods I can't tolerate. Eating out is miserable. Travel is the pits. The fickleness of this band boggles the mind! Sometimes I can eat my portion fine, the rest of the time I'm stuck and vomiting on two bites. The constant tightness in my chest and pressure when I eat. And don't get me started on the heartburn! I never had it pre band. and it has been constant these last 5 years. I am so grateful for these years of weight loss, but I am so ready to try the sleeve. We took a family trip to Disney in April and I ended up in the bathroom vomiting at almost every meal. I think our flight went up to a very high altitude, and the band was mad at me for the whole trip. I knew I had been having more vomiting episodes, but this just made it very clear in my mind that I needed to do something. When I got home I immediately went to my hospital website to see if they are doing sleeve now, they are, and I made an appointment that day. I was very interested in the sleeve back in 2008, but it was not performed at my hospital then, and no insurance coverage either. I did spend some time considering having the band removed and not doing another surgery. When the band was put in I was told it was for life, now it's a very different story. Based on that I can't help thinking that 5 years from now there may be a different story with the sleeve too. But in the end, I can't go back to 255 (at only 5'2"), and I'm pretty sure that is what would happen. So far I have met with my surgeons assistant who recommended me for revision. The psychiatrist and the nutritionist. I now have an appointment on July 18 with my surgeon. I am thinking there are tests he will want to do. And I am nervous about getting insurance approval. But one step at a time. I am hoping to have the revision in the next few months. We'll see. LapBandTalk and this site have been so amazingly helpful through all these years. It's been great to be able to read all the stories of other people going through this revision process. So a big thanks to all of you!!

This is my personal record of my progress at twelve weeks. A bit dull so don’t read it! But I kinda need to get it down. And I have to admit, it has been a dream run. 14 December, Lap band removal and RNY in one. Fobi Pouch (‘no stretch’) type RNY, with intestine sewn over the incision line for my long thin pouch, making it very thick and non-stretchy, also with a small non-adjustable silastic ring sewn in to maintain the girth size/shape. Open surgery, but even that was pretty easy. I did take 4 weeks off, then built up my hours over the next 3. I have a stressful job with 1000 staff, so I wanted to come back carefully, knowing I would not collapse. And steady weight loss averaging 3.75lbs (1.7kg) a week ever since. The MyFitnessPal graph below- at the start the pre-op diet for 3 days, the flat drop in the post-surgery out-of-town-so-no-daily-weighing days, and daily weighings first thing in the morning since. I am so glad that I faced up to the non-working band and made the call for surgery before letting my weight get right back up to my pre-band weight. In only 3 months I am less than 5kg off my band-working weight, so my reward has been like instant gratification. Back into many of my old, carefully stored clothes. Walking, without feeling self conscious. Hips, knees much less sore. Proud of my eating. Back into my motorcycling gear - so bought a new bike in the weekend!! She’s a beauty. And going scuba diving in the pacific at Easter. Amazing the lifestyle difference 45lbs makes. Being ‘obese’ and not. I can eat more than I want - I think. Too much sweet gives me dumping - or did. I am too scared to try sweets again! I have a piece of liquorice each night, fine. I can eat bread easily but if I eat a bread roll that is my whole meal, so I don’t. I feel like I can eat a lot, but after a meal maybe 1/4-1/3 the size of my partner’s, I kinda stop eating - not feeling full exactly, but feeling ... finished. Disinterested in having more. No drive to eat til stuffed. 3 or 4 potato chips and I am done - these were my nemesis. Am never driven to buy them. I am pretty good about ‘protein first’ each meal. I get 45-60g a day. My calories are 750-900 a day and very slowly climbing - I am on strictly 3 meals a day but I think I may need to add one to get to 1200 calories/60g protein. I eat too quickly and I sometimes forget and drink with a meal, to no ill effect. I drink lightly carbonated water, my coffee is mostly decaf, and I start each day with a Nescafé pod/ice/trim milk//‘balance’ vanilla protein powder frappe on the NutriBullet. Lunch - sardine or chicken salad. And a good dinner, which I love to cook for us both. My normal-sized partner’s wee pot tummy is gone because I am not being a bad influence! And this forum has been a constant source of inspiration, chuckles, and fascination. Many thanks.

Hello everybody!! My name is Stella and I am a new bandster. I had my surgery on March 29. I am 37 years old, married to the same wonderful guy for 18 years. We have 2 beautiful children-Amanda, who is 15 and Richard, who is 12. I have struggled with weight most of my life and it just kept getting worse. My kids are heavy too. I decided to get the LAP-BAND®® for several reasons. #1, I want to see my kids get married and being extremely obese was killing me. #2, I want to learn how to be healthy so I can teach my kids...maybe I can spare them some of the pain and struggle that I have faced as far as my health and weight is concerned. #3, I want to know what it feels like to be fit and lean and to wear clothes that don't come from the plus size selection. #4, I love horses, as a matter of fact they are my first love, and I want to get back to that. # 5, I'd like to have a small farm or hobby ranch when I retire...and I need to be fit to keep up with the demands of such a venture. So, that's me in a nutshell. Wish me luck and know that I am cheering for you guys too. :frown:

Hey, I had the band done on March 15th also. I went back to work on March 22 and am doing well physically. I lost 9 lbs before surgery, 7lbs, the first week after surgery and 1.5 lbs the second week. The third week I have gained and lost 2lbs. every other day or so. I am very disappointed in my progress. I thought I would have lost more by now.

On the final stretch. I work till I leave bright and early Monday @ o-dark-30. My flight leaves @ 6:30 am and I am ~1hr away from the airport! At least I should sleep on the plane! I have really been enjoying food for the first time since I had the band. I have only gained 1 lb since my unfil. Since I get to eat real food I don't get so hungry! The last week reassured me that the sleeve will work for me.:biggrin0: Saw my PCP she was very supportive.:sad0: Got my check, passport card, bags semi-packed!:thumbup1:

We all make mistakes, so try to move on and not ruminate about it. The additional scoop of protein will likely help produce a weight loss on your scales. And as Deb wrote, most importantly, you are one step closer to getting your band!

Hello all, I will be having my surgery on April 12th and I'm a bit nervous. I'll be having it in Mexico because I don't want to have to go through a year's worth of psych evals. My BMI is 39.7 and have been over weight most of my life. I'll be having my surgery with Dr. Kuri in TJ and have heard many great things about him. If anyone else has had any experience with him, please feel free to contact me. Many thanks, Nik :clap2:

THANKS GUYS!!! AND I love you all for the support ... When I was banded I was soooo scared of complications and this not working for me like other diets! And thinking damn what will I try once this doesn't work but I am more determined than ever to get this weight off! So I gotta make it work. Failing and this "not working" isn't an option. I wont let it be! But once again guys thanks for the love and support I really appreciate all of you! Love and blessings APPLES!

I get the depo-provera shots and have for years. I imagine that is one thing that has kept me heavy and gaining weight over the years. I was due for a shot as soon as I got back home after surgery and went and got it. I have been losing just fine though. Even though the hormones of the pill may typically cause weight gain, I don't think it will be able to counteract the band. I am not an expert though, Teresa

I don't know anything about birth control pills, but I can say that a fill is not a magic instant weight-loss switch. With all three of my fills the restriction and weight loss took its time about showing up--sometimes weeks. So your current plateau may be something you'd be experiencing anyway.

fancy that is weird i agree with mokee that it usually works the other way around BUT......... maybe you shouldn't weigh yourself 2X a day??? the weight fluctuations can you/ will make you crazy!!! I do weigh myself daily - many OP don't like/suggest that!!! I say, "oh well, i'm gonna do it anyways!!! ) but of course i still love them good luck kathy

Well let me explain.....I had ten fills in one year and was never restricted period....The of us women whom our husbands work with each other went to have lap band....Our insurance paid a 100 percent.....Now three of us have never lost any weight......When we go in for a fill I only pay 25.00 and insurance covers the rest...Now if I went in and paid cash it would cost me a hundred...but he charges my insurance around 700 dollars last time I checked....How rich does this guy want to get off of us three women......

Wow... I wonder what caused that pain? You'll never get another fill again with him or anywhere? I wonder if the more weight you lose the more painful the fills are.. interesting.

1. How much weight did you loose in the first week? 15 pounds 2. What are some good meals to eat in the 2nd week. I was on full liquids. I enjoyed lots of Soup or broths. 3. Do you snack between meals? If so, what? No, I don't snack between meals. 4. Do you smoke? If so, how much? I don't smoke 5. What us the best juice to drink. I was allowed to have clear juice with no added sugar. I now drink tropica 50 orange juice. I don't drink coffee in the mornings. So I enjoy me a 8 oz glass of orange juice. 6. Can you ear rice in the 2nd week? ( I live I Japan, this is rice country.... So hard to not eat rice) I have not tried rice. Rice was my down fall before surgery. 7. How long after surgery did you get a fill? I haven't had a fill. However my doctor put 3cc's in the day of my surgery. 8. What is your present fill? 3 cc's 9. Did/do you pass a lot of gas? Nope, I didn't have any gas after surgery. And so far so good. 10. How soon after can your really see a difference? I started noticed a different when my clothes started fitting different around 25 pounds or so. My starting weight was 231.8 I'm 5'2". I was banded Febuary 16, 2011

Myrori, well done on getting through the 170 barrier...I am in the same boat; I bounce between 179 and 181 and have been doing so for since the beg of April!! My cals are a little more, say, 800 - 1200 but still low enough eh? What I tell myself is that as long as there is no huge gain, I am ok. My mindset has changed a little more recently, and yes, I still get frustrated and a little cheesed off when the scale doesn't move... but now I have come to terms with the fact that this might take me a lot longer than I first thought. At last I can move how I WANT to and that keeps me focused! Keep up the good work and regardless of the time frame, you will get there! Just look at what you have acheived in such a short space of time... and hey just 24lb from goal... that is bloody brilliant!! Bask in your glory to date, that is what I say ...lol =]