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Thank you SOO much to everyone who replied to this, I honestly greatly appreciate it from the bottom of my heart!! I'm glad I joined this forum as I don't feel as alone anymore. Also this information was very useful and I'm starting to feel better I guess my body has more to get adjusted to right now than just the surgery, I've recently started University so I assume the newly added stress as it is a big transition from high school may be playing a small part as well. It's just becoming difficult to make sure I eat when I should be and the exercise is extremely hard to get in as much as I want to do it!! But I must figure out a way to do so. Also, for you guys, how long does your satisfaction tend to last for until you feel hungry again after eating? Most stories that I have followed up on stated that they feel satisfied for hours which helps in eating less and boosts the weight loss, so this is what worried me as I tend to feel hungry again fairly quick. Once again, thank you all for your great help!!

My surgeon wanted everyone to lose as much weight as possible specifically because of our liver. The more weight you lose the easier it is for him to lift the liver to get to the stomach. I've lost 18lbs and my surgery will be this coming Wednesday.

What did your surgeon say about his expectations pre-op? Did he give you an amount of weight he wants you to lose before surgery?

I just started my pre-op diet 12/8 officially although I’ve been weening my way off of caffeine, sugary foods and I’m allowed one low calorie meal for dinner but I’m curious if you don’t lose the pre-op weight that the surgeon set will they deny you the surgery?

I have a long list of things I WANT to do when I loose weight. Things I've done when I was thinner or younger..which is about the same time. Since I've been over weight since I was 9. I want to go swimming and not have to hide under a T-shirt. Ride in amusement rides with my grandsons. Walk for long distances without getting out of breath or my knees hurting. I have many more to list but I'll let you all take it from here. What have you accomplished or want to accomplish?:clap2:

Hello All, I'm sorry I've not been too active on the board. It is true that after you've lost all your weight, you suddenly have much less free time. This is a good thing I think. Anyway, my revision surgery is Thursday with Dr Ortiz in TJ Mexico. I leave Wednesday morning at 6am (yikes) for pre-op. I am so glad to be getting it done. This last month I've been surprised at how much I've suffered with "last meal" syndrome. Things like fried pickles (my FAVORITE) I have a difficult time eating once I'm fully restricted, so I totally pigged out this last month. I've enjoyed the food, but I will enjoy having my 123lb body back much more. Its amazing how much more ten pounds does when you're at this weight. I figure the ten pound will easily come off during the month on liquids. I went and bought a huge variety of liguid foods today so I'll have all sorts of things to choose from - which is VERY important. Liquids get old fast as it is - if you only have Slim Fast it'll get old even faster. Mae

I'd have to say no, and it's different for everyone I would get a fill, could drink half a bottle of H20 in office and then the day after feel the restriction to the point of being too tight. went to liquids and if the feeling passed great ,if not then I'd get an unfill. It's NEVER a good idea to stay tight, go for the happy medium. Being able to eat small amounts, with a steady slow weight loss. Aspirating or Vomiting is NEVER a good option. I

Tiffykins, you are right. When I told mine he was horrified. Completely against it. He too likes round girls but... It was the right choice. And he still is like before (he needed a couple of weeks to adjust to the idea of me losing weight), ou relationship hasn't changed a bit: still fighting, arguing, having sex, having fun. Last Sunday he even said: "You really made the right choice". I think he enjoys the fact that I am not obsessed with food anymore and that I don't hate myself anymore. If YOU are convinced that it's the right choice at some point he will understand. Explain your reasons. Tell him how you've been fighting this problem all your life and that he can ask you any question he likes. That you need his support. Maybe if he feels somehow involved in your decision (and not having the decision just "dropped" on his head) he will be more understanding...

Google how body builders make weight when they need to lose. I had to do this one time during the 6 months of appointments & that advice is how I lost 8 pounds in just a few days. The weight came back, of course, but it was a "quick fix". Good luck!

Hey guys my scale is playing games with me and I'm in search for a new (good) one. Any suggestions? I have a weight watchers scale that I bought about a year ago, but it's not working properly. Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Look for the app as "Libra Weight", ChrisInc2. I placed an image above. Please let me know if you need any help. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I was banded over 2 and 1/2 years ago and I'm here to inspire those that fall off the wagon! After being banded I lost 90lbs in about 9 months... I looked and felt so good, I went and got pregnant. Fast forward 18 months and I had completely fallen off the bandwagon and started gaining weight. I was depressed and frustrated. It finally took me relearning the band rules and following them meticulously.. since then I have lost over 60 lbs and I'm still going. I'm not a complete success yet:wink:, but I want people to see a different perspective. The band is always there and ready to work, when we are REALLY ready to use it!

wow you looks great!! Congrats... May I ask what your starting weight was and how much you weigh now

Brightfuture something very similar happened to me. I was dehydrated. I was taking in the amount of liquid that I was supposed to but losing some because of an intolerance to dairy products. Drink as much soy based protein drink as you can stomach and eat your weight in low cal Popsicles.

@@sparksrn, best of luck with your surgery!! That's so exciting. I'm lucky that my doctor brought it up and was so encouraging about it. And yeah, people assume because I'm overweight that I don't try hard enough to lose the weight and am sloppy with my health and eating habits. I actually eat healthier and less than the majority of my friends and somehow I always weigh the most. I had people call me fat when I was 13 years old and I was probably only about 20 pounds overweight then (sometimes I want to slap every girl in junior high ever). And my friend told the other bitchy teen, "She eats almost nothing. And you're stupid." I have great friends. I've been doggy paddling in the pool of weight loss since I was a young teen and never was quite able to swim like many seem to manage. I've tried this, I've tried that, I've tried every freakin thing. Weight loss surgery is going to be difficult and it's going to force me to change my relationship with food entirely, but it will be worth it. Until your behavior changes, you don't change. This is all pretty intimidating but big decisions usually are. I'm all shiny and new and optimistic; you can pinch my cheeks and pat my head if you like.

Not sure where I got this from.. somewhere that I was doing research on.. but thought it might be useful for this thread. Increase Your Chances of a Good Fill The following suggestions are good rules of thumb and will greatly increase your chances of getting a good fill. 1. Be sure you are very well hydrated when you come in for your fill appointment. That means at least 6 to 8 full glasses of liquid every day for at least several days before the fill. (Remember, Water is your friend). Drink especially well the morning of the fill. If you're flying in, it can be much harder to stay hydrated, so take an empty drink bottle and fill it after you pass airport security. TSA rules state you can bring an empty water bottle past the TSA security check point. Bring some of those "to-go" packs of Crystal Light, they’re ideal! Ask the flight attendants for a refill of your water bottle, pop one in, and then you will have plenty to drink. (Hint - If you flying in for a fill, while you're on the plane, grab a couple of those white barf bags. It’s good to keep one in your purse or car, for "emergencies".) 2. Do not to have any solid foods for at least 6 hours before the fill. Don't eat a huge or late dinner the night before. If you're having any trouble (reflux, possible slip, etc) please have nothing but fluids after dinner the night before. In some cases, food can still be in the pouch for 12 or more hours. ANY food in the pouch will make it impossible to give a good fill, or get a good fluoro 3. Don't drink COLD fluids for an hour before the fill. That will shrink your stoma and give a false fluoro reading, and a poor fill. Room temp fluids are fine. Let the ice in your drink melt and hour before a fill, and then you'll have room-temp fluids to drink right up to the fill time. 4. Avoid getting a fill during a menstrual period or a few days before an expected one. During this time, girls are usually retaining water, and the fluoro will not be as accurate, and the fill will not be either. 5. If at all possible, hang around for at least a few hours after a fill. Don't run right back home or to the plane. It takes the normal swelling after a fill 1-2 hours to develop, and by that time you might be too tight and need to come right back. 6. If you fly in, If at all possible, stay overnight and catch a plane out the following late afternoon or evening. If you are too tight, this will allow time to get a small unfill before you leave. This is not very convenient, but sure beats having to possibly return to TJ in a few days, on short notice, in pain, and at high last-minute plane fares! This is "prevention!" Overfills are not common, but they DO happen, even under the best of conditions. Be prepared, and think about this overnight stay. Test your fill the next day before you leave. 7. After a fill, please have liquids only for at least 24 hrs. This allows the stoma to rest and heal. Then, a day of soft foods, then back to regular foods. Full liquids are fine, no need for clears. Remember, if you staying over night test your fill before you fly out. 8. Review the eating and food guidelines again before every fill. You’ll need to refine your eating more and more with higher fill levels, and there will be less and less room for goofs. As you reach a higher fill level, you'll no longer be able to "get away" with things you might have before! 9. Please don't get a fill if you are having ANY trouble with the current level of fill. This means ANY regular pain, PB or barfing more than maybe once a week at the VERY most, not able to get enough calories in, not able to drink enough, able to eat only soft foods or fluids. More fill will NOT help, and will make things worse. Discuss all this carefully with your doctor. You may even need an UNFILL, to keep your band and stomach safe. 10. First fills are routinely given at 6-8 weeks after surgery, but only as you need them. Many people do, some do not. Your doctor will help you decide if you need a fill, just ask. There is no rush for fills. Too much can very easily get you in trouble, and you end up further "behind" than if you had gone slower with fills. 11. Give a fill at least 2-3 weeks to test it. Some fills don't "settle in" for a week or two, and sometimes more. Your weight loss is what determines how a fill is - not any feeling of restriction, necessarily. 12. One of the most important things in determining if a fill is good is choosing proper band foods. Soft foods, liquids, junk foods, sweets, etc, will NEVER be well-restricted, and will never tell a thing about having a good fill or not. Only solid foods give useful info. A good test meal is 2-4 oz of solid meat or chicken - be sure it's soft and moist - and about 1/2 cup veggies. You should be able to eat about a cup of food (no less) and this should keep you satisfied (NOT "FULL", but simply "satisfied, not physically hungry". for about 3-4 hrs. 13. Plan regular meals. A good fill will keep you satisfied for 3-4 hrs, but no longer. If you are hungry 5 hrs after lunch, it is not because you have an inadequate fill! Regular meals at planned times are important for a number of reasons; including avoiding snacking, maximizing your calorie burn and normalizing metabolism, which is essential for weight maintenance later on. 14. Learn to recognize YOUR "soft stop" sign. Common ones are chest tightness or "fullness", a sudden runny nose, a single hiccup or burp, an eye twitch, back pain, left should pain. All mean the pouch is full enough and we should STOP eating, even spitting out the bite that may be already in our mouths. If you do not, you could progress to the "hard stop" - slimming, pb, barfing. Please remember that good fills are very elusive, even with highly- experienced docs and fill people. There are just too many individual factors involved that the docs cannot control. Even the fluoro is only a clue, and not entirely accurate - for some of the reasons above. It usually takes 3- 5 fills to slowly and safely creep up on a good level, and they can be safely given a month apart. Trying to go faster with a bigger fill is not the solution, and the stomach rebels at big sudden fills. The goal of the first few fills is NOT to achieve a good restriction, but to gradually get your stomach used to some pressure so you can tolerate a GOOD fill later. SLOW and GRADUAL is the key! Going slowly with fills can be frustrating, but is well worth the wait to avoid problems. • After a “fill” you are on a clear liquid diet for 24 hours; then, soft for 24 hours; then, regular food o Clear – juice, water, broth, miso Soup, tea - no salty or iced drinks. o Soft – V-8, yogurt, cottage cheese, smoothies, (no ice cream), pureed Soups, squash, apple sauce. • Call me if you are unable to sleep lying down due to reflux to schedule a slight “unfill”. Do not talk yourself into “working through the reflux”. • Eat Protein at every meal; eat your protein first in order to facilitate proper digestion of this complex food. • Eat three meals daily or six small meals; do not snack – ¼ to ½ cup per meal • Drink water instead of mindless munching (add lemon to water) between meals. DO NOT DRINK LIQUIDS 45 MINUTES BEFORE AND 60-90 MINUTES AFTER YOUR MEALS.• Make sure your bowels are moving daily with ease not effort • Add Fiber into your diet if you are not having complete bowel movements – 1 tablespoon ground flax seed• Have some form of movement every day for 30 minutes • Avoid white flour and white sugar products • You are not allowed to be on an ice cream diet • You may not lose weight if you’re not eating enough • Eat slowly between bites; take small bites; sip your drinks. • Chew your food slowly • Throw out all the junk food in the house • Don’t buy anymore junk food • Eat organic as much as possible to avoid increasing exposure to false hormones, antibiotics, and other toxic substances • Join a support group, Curves, or weight watchers. • Stop eating after 7:30pm during the summer; and 6:30 in the winter • Keep working on the mental emotional component to comfort food eating • Schedule another fill when your portion sizes increase to “old day” sizes or you are feeling hungrier earlier then you remember. • Journal about your feelings, keep a food diary, create a collage of what your future looks like and hang it in your room. • Create a collage of images you want to let go of and burn the collage. • Laugh every day RECIPES FOR AFTER A FILL Master Cleanse Drink (adjust lemon, ginger and cayenne to taste) 4 oz of apple juice Pinch of cayenne pepper ¼ teaspoon fresh grated ginger 4-8 TBls of Lemon juice 4Tbls of Maple Syrup or Honey Pinch of salt top off the blender with filtered water Blend till mixed Strain and drink ½ - 1 Quart a day SMOOTHIE: FOR DAYS WHEN YOU ARE ON SOFT FOODS AFTER A FILL OR UNFILL - A 24 HOUR REQUIREMENT FOR POST FILLS AFTER LIQUIDS. 2-4 oz of apple juice or Rice or Soy Milk 3-5 ground almonds 1-2 teaspoons of flax oil ¼ cup of frozen fruit ? berries, bananas, mangos, papaya 1-2 Tbls (or packet) Protein powder (I use a Rice Protein which is hypoallergenic and tastes pretty good) ¼ teaspoon Bee Pollen (do not add if allergic to bees or huge environmental allergies) ½ - 1 teaspoon of chlorella or spirulina

Hi Sue, Thanks for the reply. I was very pleased with my first visit with Dr. Geiss and his staff. They are all very helpful, friendly, and patient with any questions I have. Before my first visit, I already had my appointments lined up (a co-worker used Dr. Geiss and she gave me the paperwork on the required tests). Just yesterday I went to the pulmonary Dr. and tomorrow (5/1) I go to the cardiologist. You mentioned going to the meeting....isn't it next Tuesday (5/8)? I went to the one in April and it was so inspiring. I had tears in my eyes because for the first time, I knew that this will really help me to finally lose the weight. I'm very excited and positive about this journey and I feel very fortunate to have found Dr. Geiss and his staff. I also look forward to meeting new people in the same boat, such as yourself, and sharing our experiences. I look forward to hearing back from you. Lisa

I don't think it's surprising that you don't have much energy when you're hardly eating anything. Even if you don't feel hungry, your body is on the verge of starving. Plus, surgery is physically traumatic and it takes energy to heal. I'm two weeks out today and I feel surprisingly good. I went back to work on Monday (it's a desk job so not physically strenuous). But I have been making sure to take it easy and especially avoid anything that will make me sweat, since my fluid intake is ok but not quite where it should be. I know I will need to exercise to achieve the weight loss I want and get in shape, but I'm not worrying about that at this point since my calorie intake is so low (about 400 calories/day).

Yeah Ive stopped buying clothes. I've put some stuff away but not much. I figure there are a lot of things I can probably still wear for awhile, at least a month after surgery. I have convinced myself that I will be the only person to not lose weight, so I'm leery about getting rid of anything.

Hi everyone! My name is Anthony and I'm 31 years old. I've struggled with being overweight all of my adult life. I am just about 5'9" and currently weight 245 lbs. It may not seem like I have to lose as much as some others and a lot of people tell me that I don't look like I weigh that much, but I know that I don't like the way I feel or look. I have back and knee pain, especially when I am standing for too long. It's also difficult for me to exercise at this weight. I've lost weight in the past via diet and/or medications but it always manages to come back on. I'm strongly considering the gastric sleeve. My only worry is that I did have my colon removed when I was 16 due to severe Ulcerative Colitis. I now have what's called a "j-pouch", which is basically when they form a new bowel out of your small intestine so that you don't need an ostomy/colostomy bag (I did have one for 3 months in between the 2 surgeries - first surgery to remove the colon, second to reverse it and make the pouch). I've checked with my doctors and one of the colorectal surgeons said he doesn't recommend the gastric sleeve and a couple of others said their only concern would be having urgent bowel movements due to having less of a digestive tract, but told me to check with the bariatric surgeons to make sure. The bariatric surgeon said he thinks it would probably make me have LESS bowel movements since I would be eating less and the food would be moving slower through my system. Wish me luck, I am having another virtual consultation next month!

Congratulations! I've been following your frustrations along with my own. My guess is we just keep plugging along and the weight has to decide to leave at some point!

:crying:HELP!! not loosing weight at all !!am still stuck there!! lost so far 7 lb ONLY!!!! is the band not suitable for me ???

I'm right there with you, I was banded on 4/29 and have lost 8.5lbs since surgery. I went today for my 1st fill and the doc put 4cc in. I asked him while I was there if my weight loss was normal, and he said yes average is 1-2 a week and that's about where I am. He said some people do loose more faster but not everyone and to not be discouraged. He said he is very happy with my progress and my fill should help with curbing my hunger and come back in 2 weeks. I really understand your frustration and concern, but when I get a little upset that I'm not 20lbs lighter already, I just think 1 i'm still 8lbs lighter. 2 I'm loosing not gaining and that is exciting, and 3rd and finally, if I continue with 1.5 lbs a week I'll have lost 78lbs by 1yr and thats incredible. So although it may not be coming off as fast as we want it to, the scale is still going down and that all I wanted. best of luck

Hi there...I have not been sleeved, but I feel so bad for you on this one! I can see where you would be resentful towards your husband for not wanting to eat better for not only himself, but you and any future together. Maybe he is a little envious of you right now and he is fighting his own food demons. I'm no expert by any means, but weight loss is such an emotional journey. I think communicate, me honest, and communicate. Did I mention communicate! Best of luck to you!

I have had the band for 1.2 yrs. I have had 30 lbs wt loss and have become frustrated since I am taking in around 1000 calories per day. I went to my family Dr and she gave me a diauretic to help with my water retention. Well, little did I know how much this affects my band! With the diuretic, I can eat more normally (eat food, not just drink liquids). I am relieved and have began losing weight but does this mean I'll be on a diuretic forever? Anyone else experience this!? Can't believe it took me a year to figure out why my band was soooo tight in the AM....well...cuz I retain so much water in the AM!