Wow! Slow Start but Finally Starting to Work?!?!?

[jennybean 175]

Wow, had my 5th fill and think I may finally be there or close!

I had a rough start, had ZERO cc's in my band due to major swelling complications. The fills have been painfully small for the same reason.

My weight loss has basically been non-existent and I was starting to get down on myself. As you can see from my ticker things are not going well to this point. I have only lost 2 pounds since post-op and that was after the January fill and a major struggle at that.

My fills were as follows:

2 cc October

0.5 November

0.2 December

0.2 January

0.2 February

I have been trying really hard not to "diet". I really do NOT want to have to diet. I have been keeping my portions small and mostly Protein. But I have been snacking and looking for food all the time. Stating to get really frustrated, until now!

Now after this last fill I don't feel hungry AND not really that interested in food. Is this what I have been waiting for??? I hope so!! I finally feel GOOD about this and feel like it will start working!!

I pray that this will work for me!!

[Bandista 7,466]

Let's team up for support -- I have the same philosophy of not dieting as that has been so destructive for me in the past -- and not being hungry, looking for food, etc. It definitely takes a while to get to the right place fill-wise -- I'm so glad you're feeling it now. I have no idea how much I have in my band as the surgeon doesn't share that, but I had no Fluid in my band and am pretty sure he's of the small fills school of thought -- that patients need time to adjust behavior and experience "restriction" incrementally in order not to have negative repercussions. I think it becomes a very organic process, the lifestyle change, the reduction in calories, increase in exercise and......finally......serious weight loss. Also, of course, as we all know, the closer to goal the more difficult it is to lose. And for those of us who convinced our bodies the famine is here, it takes some time for the brain to get into the right mode for shedding. Let that dialogue begin in earnest now, and it's spring -- great time for health and healing.

[terrydumont46 1,954]

I know my fills but I am 8 mos out and still working it out. and having a 14 cc band I still have a lot to work with. after this last fill the doctor and I agreed to let me figure out the food part on my own. I really need to work on not eating when I am not hungry. and to allow myself to be hungry. that I won't die from being hungry. nor will my doctor's know that I am not being completely compliant by not eating all my meals.

[Jim1967 3,569]

Hang in there gang it will definitely get better. As we know everyone's anatomy and needs are different but I have an 11cc Realize band it took me nearly 6 months to reach the elusive green zone and as I lost weight I needed follow adjustments as the zone changed on me. Patience was the hardest part of the process for me.

1cc Realize Band:
1st fill 5/29/12 5cc
2nd fill 6/12/12 1cc
3rd fill 7/02/12 1cc
4th fill 8/14/12 1cc
5th fill 9/4/12 1cc
6th fill 1/29/13 .5cc

[catfish87 3,471]

As others have said...hang in there. It took me a long time to get my band adjusted correctly as well.

Continue to go to your surgeon, tell them how you feel, and make he/she get you to a good spot with your band.

Best wishes as it sounds like you may be there or at least real close.

[jennybean 175]

Let's team up for support -- I have the same philosophy of not dieting as that has been so destructive for me in the past -- and not being hungry, looking for food, etc. It definitely takes a while to get to the right place fill-wise -- I'm so glad you're feeling it now. I have no idea how much I have in my band as the surgeon doesn't share that, but I had no Fluid in my band and am pretty sure he's of the small fills school of thought -- that patients need time to adjust behavior and experience "restriction" incrementally in order not to have negative repercussions. I think it becomes a very organic process, the lifestyle change, the reduction in calories, increase in exercise and......finally......serious weight loss. Also, of course, as we all know, the closer to goal the more difficult it is to lose. And for those of us who convinced our bodies the famine is here, it takes some time for the brain to get into the right mode for shedding. Let that dialogue begin in earnest now, and it's spring -- great time for health and healing.

I think you are right about the process...it seems like the process is going about the same for me. I have gone through all of the stages and should be at the serious weight loss phase now

I have been a little upset about the small fills, but in the end it might be best for me. Little by little things are happening.

Edited February 21, 2014 by jennybean

[B-52 7,113]

Little by little can be best for many people....I remember the tough times I had adjusting to the band, and my Dr. joking with me saying "Imagine if it was not adjustable, and everyone simply got a pre-adjusted band at surgery" Same tightness, Fluid volume...What a disaster that would be...!

You have to start slow, and increase little by little, learning noticing the slight changes needed in order to continue...realizing when those "Rules" they always preach actually start to come into play, one by one...and you have that AHA! moment.....so that's what they meant...

I am at a point today where I can say I do not even have to think about it anymore...and yet the way I eat, what I eat, and how much I eat cannot come close to what I was like 3 years ago...I am a different person.

It took me 3 years to here today...and everyday it does continue to get even easier...

Simply being in the Green Zone does not make it easy either...so many people wish for it...once you get there, you have to be able to live there....! And that can take practice...LIke learning to swim for the first time..Ok, now that you jumped in the deep end. what are you going to do now? Hmmmm? Ready to swim the English Channel?

I can sit here and say that this is all very simple after all, and easy...no big deal...BUT THEN, I have to remind myself that was not always the case....I had to evolve, learn, adjust myself as the band got adjusted.....took a little time, it was not a "in one day out the next"...all finished! No Way!

Edited February 21, 2014 by B-52

[Lady VS 1,147]

Sounds like you're in the green zone finally. Hope it works out for you now. Good luck.