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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 =]

5 weeks post op, I am always hungry still so far and not sure what I should be eating throughout the day or how much I was going to try Protein shakes throughout the day then 1 low cal dinner making for 1200 calories per day but I quickly realized that won't work, I was so hungry and light headed all day. What does everyone eat at this stage? I want to lose weight consistently but not end up bingeing from being too hungry and too deprived.

This is my firlst day on lap band talk. Back in '70 I wanted to have weight loss surgery but life got in the way. So I never thought about it until last year. I thought I will go for it again and got approved on my 45th birthday last Tuesday. I could not stop smiling. I keep saying in my head, I can do this. Then I read the horror stories about the lap band and I almost want to back out. I prayed God please point me in a good direction and by accident I found lap band talk. I'm feeling much more relaxed and back to excited. Well now I have a pre op appointment on Sept 28 and an OR reserved for me October 22nd. I am real excited to have a positive change in me.

"Back in '70 I wanted to have weight loss surgery" You wanted surgery when you were 3? Well, good luck and keep posting. tmf

I must also be in Bandster hell I Banded May 24th doc will not do the first fill until July 9th. I am so hungry, I get on the scale every morning to see how I am doing it has moved up and down a few pounds but no more weight loss. I have been at 206 for about two weeks. I was also hoping not to need any fills LOL not happening, Lassie

I am 14 days post-op and down 25lbs. I stayed on liquid until yesterday when I saw my doc for the 1st visit. I was shocked to see I had dropped 25. She and I were discussing weight loss before I was weighed because I felt I hadn't lost much. She stated that since I had not lost much pre-op most of my weight loss at this point would most likely be Water weight and that it depends on my start weight, pre-op loss, and how my body adjusts to the surgery. I have been walking everyday and starting on pureed now.

I lost 20 lbs in the first two weeks. My plan had me on full liquids for the first 4 weeks. I would not be worried so early in the process. As stated earlier, slow and steady weight loss is the key!

I noticed only yesterday that my posture is better - without all the weight pulling you down you can stand and sit straighter, effortlessly, without consciously trying to. :-)

The one thing (other than if I don't get insurance approval) that would possibly stop me from going through with lapband is that right now I never feel full. My stomach never talks to my brain and says that I've had enough. I can literally eat until I'm ready to vomit before I feel satisfied. I'm scared that after going through the expense and having the surgery that I still won't feel full. My coworker who had the surgery done says that you can't overeat because you'll vomit it up and yet I'm reading on the forums here about the people who are able to overeat. My diets have always been sabotaged by the feeling of being hungry and never full. I've wanted to chew my own arm off even when on a high Protein, low carb diet. I did have more energy but always still felt hungry. I know that some of my eating is habit and for something to do, but there are times where I hurt until I eat something. Those of you who were like that before your surgery, how were you after (and now)? Did you feel enough full that you were able to stick with the diet? I realize we all have days every once in a while where we may feel hungry but I'm so afraid if I always still feel hungry after the surgery I'll sabotage myself. I guess I'm looking for some encouragement that there is hope that I can at least not always feel like gnawing my arm off. I'm getting older and heavier and the weight doesn't seem to want to stabilize. Gotta do something and dieting in the past never worked. Lapband is my last hope. I'd like to read both sides. This forum has helped me so much before I've even made it for the first talk (I go Thursday after work for the seminar and talk with staff). It helps me to know what I'm getting into and to read about it from people who have lived it. I like to make an informed decision. This isn't something that I can simply return to the store if I change my mind! This is a life-changing decision. Thank you! Mary

Hi and welcome. I can probably give even less advice than TN. I am about 30 pre-op but I saw your other post and I do have Aetna. My surgeon's office told me that Aetna approves almost all claims for Lapband that fall into their requires criteria and you have that covered. If there is a good chance you are going to have the surgery, it is best to get the ball rolling now. There will be a 3 month supervised diet/waiting period prior to surgery and that should give you sufficient time to complete the required testing and research the band further. You'll hate the word "tool" by the time you are done researching but it is true. The lapband is only a tool. YOU have to lose the weight yourself. The lapband just makes you feel full sooner. If you are not ready to change your lifestyle and follow the simple bandster rules, the lapband will NOT work for you. Good luck and get out there and start reading!

Seems like everything I do lately triggers a "this time next year..." in my brain. My kids' school curriculum night, their sports events, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, everything I do with other people! All I can think about is the next time I attend whatever event it is. I CAN'T WAIT! Honestly, before I looked into this surgery I had lost all hope. I've tried every diet and even the ones that worked ended up with me regaining what I lost and more. I decided I can't diet anymore because it only makes me bigger in the end! But not this time. This time it's going to be forever. Am I the only one who thinks people sometimes dislike me because of my size? I honestly don't know if it's my crazy fat brain or actually true. But I swear there are a few people who I get really negative vibes from that I think is based solely on my weight. I wonder what they'll think of me next year?! Although, I bet I won't even care. Like I unfortunately DO now. I guess I just assume people judge me like I judge myself. And it's not pretty. But next year...!

Congratulations on your hard work and success! Something else to remember... some might not say anything because they don't want to make you uncomfortable either. Maybe they aren't entirely sure and don't want to create an awkward situation for either you or them. Who knows? I'm usually asked if I've lost weight after I've had a gain of a few pounds, which is totally par for the course. Memory is so fallible that you can never really tell...