Bardy

You will do it! I am 2 years out and actually reached my goal weight in the first year! I too started at 232 and am now at 145 and wearing a size 6! I've had my share of difficulties adjusting and suffer occasional heartburn/acid reflux but I'm overall so much happier! If I can do this you can too. You're already doing great! Good luck and keep up the good work!

Plateaus are very tough on us emotionally -- we want to keep seeing the weight come off! I learned a little trick about combining some foods that will tend to break the plateau -- fish, spinach and grapefruit -- not all together haha - but if you bake some salmon or other fish, add a spinach salad or steamed spinach and have a few bites of grapefruit there is something about those foods that will help break a plateau -- try it, it worked for me! Hang in there and don't give up!

I just want to encourage you to go for it! If you keep with the program after you've had the band placed, get counseling to deal with the food issues, etc. you will be successful! I know this because it happened for me! Make sure you have a good surgeon who really knows what they're doing in placing the band for you -- I had an excellent surgeon and have not had any slippage -- of course it is a learning process how to eat with the band -- but you will get there, and the feeling of success and being healthier and being able to buy cute clothes and feel good about yourself is awesome! I was banded on December 3, 2010 and have lost 95 pounds -- I'm at my goal weight of 140 and so happy. I had a complete unfill as I had some issues not being able to eat, but those have been resolved. I have also had challenges with heartburn and acid reflux but am learning how to deal with that as well -- overall it was the BEST decision I have made for my life! Take care and hang in there!!

I like Ensure that has 25 grams of protein to sip on between meals. I also eat half cup portions of tuna salad, or chicken salad, or egg salad for protein. Be careful not to drink liquids following solids -- that can be disastrous. I always drink my fluids first, wait a while and then eat a few bites chewed very carefully. I also like Jamba Juice protein smoothies.

I gotta tell you I am so happy to now be in a size 4! I never have been this size in my life -- the smallest I got was a size 8, which was fine because I'm 5'6" -- but I kept losing with this lapband program and kept shrinking -- I did make the mistake early in my journey of buying different sizes -- went from a 16 to a 12 to 10 to 8 to 6 (which most of my clothes still are) and now some size 4's so I did waste quite a bit of money -- my friends have lucked out some as I gave away some fairly new clothes, haha! But it is so much fun to just pick something up and know it's going to fit! I too need to tone up as I'm rather "loose" but very happy overall.

15 pounds in 3 weeks!! That's awesome! An average loss of 10 lbs a month is awesome. Good for you! Keep up the great work! You can try protein smoothies from Jamba Juice that are awesome too. I also have used a strawberry protein powder blended with frozen fruit and water and it's pretty good -- I get the powder from GNC. I got to my goal in about 9 months and now under and maintaining. You will get there!

You are all doing great with the exercise -- I certainly didn't do as much -- but what I found is that I had to keep calorie intake to more like 900-1,000 a day to really see the weight come off. For me that wasn't too difficult as with the band I can only eat a small handful of food -- trying to stick with protein based meals - tuna, chicken, salmon, etc. I am a year out from being banded December 2010 and have reached my goal -- down a total of 90 pounds. Believe me, although sometimes it feels like it's slow, as long as there is steady loss you will get there! Good luck to all of you! If I can do this at age 55, you youngsters certainly can! Deb

That is awesome! I know it feels fantastic! But don't buy too many clothes yet cuz you're still shrinking! I made the mistake of starting to buy clothes cuz I was so excited -- bought 14's then 12's then 10's then 8's ... I'm now a 4-6!!! I cannot believe it!! I was banded back in December 2010 so a little over a year later and 90 pounds gone!! Woohoo! It is very exciting for sure!!

Yogurt, protein smoothies, try to stay away from the breads and cereals ... you will get thru it. )

I can eat very tender steak or bbq'd carne asada -- as long as the meat is tender and chews up really well. I also can eat lean pork roast and sometimes shredded pork. It is true everyone is a little different and it is definitely trial and error. Sometimes chicken and turkey are too dry. Good luck.

Wow! I can't believe it's been almost a year since I got my lap band ... December 3rd is my bandaversary and I have lost 89 pounds and am at my goal weight!! YAHOO!! I never would have imagined I would be at this place when I was first banded -- There were a lot of challenges getting used to the feeling and know what to eat and how much, etc. Trial and error is what we all go through -- sometimes I would let myself get too hungry and then would eat too fast and end up throwing up ... wish I could say that only happened once, but it occasionally happens even now if I don't pay attention to what and how I eat. Overall it has been a great experience and I am ecstatic to be at this place a year later! I went from size 16-18 to now a size 6!! It's so fun to shop now and feel sexy again! I encourage all my fellow banders to hang in there -- it is definitely worth the work and lifestyle change. I pretty much can "taste" most foods and stick to the very small portions -- avoid most bread products and try to eat balanced and healthy. I find I can't eat much solid foods in the morning so I usually ease into the day with a protein/fruit smoothie, then maybe a little tuna or egg salad and soup for lunch, chicken or fish and veges for dinner ... snack on protein if I get hungry. I want to wish all of you a wonderful Christmas season!! Deb

26 pounds in 3 months is almost 10 pounds a month -- that is FANTASTIC!! Any faster and it wouldn't be healthy -- that is what I averaged for the entire time I have had the band and I have reached my goal after 9 months -- be ecstatic and enjoy -- you are on your way!!

The band will help you lose weight by only allowing you to take in a half cup of food at a time. Some foods go down easier than others -- soft breads will tend to get stuck and then you feel like crap and then they come back up. If you eat too fast and try to eat too much they will get stuck and come back up. It isn't an easy fix and you have to learn how to eat -- small bites chewed very well and take your time. And make the right choices -- protein, veges and a little fruit -- I eat yogurt, fruit protein smoothies, I can occasionally eat a few bites of very tender steak, shrimp, salmon. It is a total commitment and an education - not just eating less. You need to commit to both and understand that it is a learning process. You will feel better overall if you choose the right foods and eat them in the small quantities. All of this is good information for you -- losing weight and keeping it off is not easy - but the lap band really is a great tool if you understand how to work it. I didn't end up exercising a ton, but kept walking and making good choices and definitely very small portions and 9 months after getting my band I am at my goal weight and have never felt better. With other diets like Lindora I felt deprived and starving -- I don't feel this with lap band. I can still "taste" foods I love, like a bite of apple pie, or a bite of mashed potatoes -- but I don't have to have a whole plate full. I feel more in control and that with the band I can really have the hope of keeping this weight off for good. Good luck to you -- I started at 232 and am now down to 148.

I was banded 12/3/10 and started at 232 - size 16-18. Today down to 147 and size 6-8! Beyond thrilled. Had 2 fills and last week took about .07cc out of band as I wasn't able to keep anything down -- feeling great today with 3cc only in the band. I eat VERY small portions and try to eat the right things - no breads or potatoes or rice.

I was banded December 3, 2010 and have only had 2 fills -- the last one in March. I still feel restricted almost 7 months later. I think some get adjustments too often and then have issues. I am still losing - have lost 80 pounds and am 4 away from my goal - yahoo!! When you first get a fill it feels very tight and you may need to ease in with liquids and then smooshies -- if you can't eat or drink much after a few weeks, your band may be too tight. I think as long as you are losing and not eating too much or feeling too tight you should be good for several months -- that has been my experience anyway. Good luck! Deb

This was very helpful information about the stomach muscles and explains a lot of what I have had problems with lately -- thanks for explaining this!

Banded on 12/3/10 - Highest weight was 232 now down to 156 almost to my goal of 150 -- may go down to 145 depending on how 150 looks -- don't want to over do it but feeling great!

I agree - 10 pounds in 24 days is awesome -- if you lose 10 pounds a month that's a great rate -- I was banded in December and have lost a total of 80 pounds -- only 5 away from my goal -- and that has been about 10 pounds a month. You don't want to lose any faster than that as it isn't healthy. I only had 2 fills and feel like I'm at the sweet spot -- although sometimes I feel like I don't eat enough - I think eating more often with tiny portions and keeping the protein up is the plan. Good luck - you're off to a great start! Deb

I have had this feeling as well -- It seems I need to stick to smoothies and yogurt in the early morning, have a small meal (no bread) at lunch, and then usually vegetable soup or something similar in the evening. This pattern seems to work for me. Also always small bites and chew a lot -- eat very slowly with all foods. Good luck.

Can you get some fluid removed -- sounds like you're too tight -- shouldn't be that way - talk to your doctor again and get some help. It's awful to have spent so much and be so miserable.

I usually start off in the morning with the low-fat yogurt eaten ver slowly -- seems to do well. Then mid-morning have a little oatmeal. Often I will just have cottage cheese and some fruit for lunch, a protein bar mid afternoon and then fish or very tender chicken and veges for dinner -- I really like the Jack in the Box teriyaki chicken bowl -- but don't eat the rice. Very small portions chewed very carefully -- I find I have to stick to softer foods as well. I can eat the fish part of the sushi but too much rice will get stuck. It's a learning experience for sure.

Sounds like you're band is too tight now -- you should feel restriction but still be able to drink and eat SLOWLY. I think there is a happy medium where you feel restricted but can still eat the very small portions. Also stay away from breads and rice, etc. as they always cause a backup. You can try going back to smoothies for a while until the band settles -- this has worked for me after a fill.

Yep, this has happened to me as well -- last night with salmon -- it was pretty moist and I chewed until pureed but still had the issue -- guess we keep learning what works and what doesn't -- it's nice to know we're not alone going through these trials ... keep up the good work everyone. I often stick with cottage cheese, yogurt, Healthy Choice soups... Deb

Thanks for your support! I really appreciate it -- it definitely is a journey -- I discovered today that I need to avoid chicken skin at all cost! I love pollo loco chicken and succumbed to the skin and then had a throw up incident - not fun at all ... I will add that to my list of things to avoid for sure!! All the best to you all as well!