PackersFan

Tally, I know what you're talking about. My weight loss kind of came to a screeching halt over the last few weeks. But what I've found is that if I catch myself grazing, then I stop and make a conscious effort to eat until I'm full at each meal, and then drink a lot of Water. This seems to help me stop the between-meal eating. I'm at the "time to re-focus" point where I'm actually walking twice a day instead of once, and I'm paying very close attention to limiting my calories and try for healthier eating. My surgery was almost a month after yours... so we're not too far apart, but I think I have more to lose than you. Good luck to you - or should I say - Good luck to us both!

I had my surgery on a Thursday and was back to work on the following Tuesday. I have a desk job and it wasn't a cake walk, but it was do-able. I just remember feeling fairly sore, and getting tired those first few afternoons. But everyone is different. Good luck to you on this amazing journey!

Hi Debbie, I'm no expert, but can talk about my own experience. I had one week pre and one week post op of clear liquids and those last few days resulted in very very loose stools. I think it's probably that liquid diet catching up with you. The more normal foods you add, it should improve.

My biggest motivation was to improve my health and have hope for a longer, happier life. Kiskis, you and I have fairly similar starting stats. Good luck on your journey.

You know... photos are brutally honest. It's weird how we can look in a mirror and think "Yeah, I look OK." But as soon as we see a picture, we see the truth. My husband has been taking picts of me every couple of weeks so that I can document the progression, and even though I can see a difference each time... I'm still always disappointed by how big I still look.

Hi Bebe, What size band do you have, and how much total fill so far?

Hi Mike, I'm no expert... but this is my theory. I think he's saying to give it time, because you probably have quite a bit of swelling from the surgery itself. After the swelling goes down you should be able to start trying food again. I agree that probably a week of liquids and then slowly adding in mushies. Now for the plus side, you might be one of those that doesn't have to wait through months of small fills to get good restriction. You might be lucky enough to have enough restriction with just having the band in place. But if you can't keep down any liquids then you have to seek medical attention so that you don't get dehydrated. Good luck.

Hi again, Bob, I can't say any one thing in particular helped... but I can't stress enough the importance of following the doctor's guidelines and being willing to work hard to succeed. There are several people I personally know that have had the lap band procedure that have struggled. But they are also eating bread regularly, drinking with their meals, and not exercising, which are all no-no's when it comes to the lap band. And I've heard people say "well if I had willpower and the discipline to exercise a lot, I wouldn't need the surgery!" But my answer to those folks is - The difference is that the band helps keep you from eating large quantities of food and it also keeps you full longer... you just don't need all the snacking. (But remember it does take some time to get the restriction you need to feel the full affect of these benefits.) But you need to get moving ... walking or biking or something every day, which does take an effort and committment. Sorry to sound like a broken record. I'm just sharing my own experience.

Hi Bob (and others), Here's my story... I have been overweight most of my adult life, and I had been getting increasingly sick due to my obesity over the last few years. I had diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis, sleep apnea and coronary artery disease. My father died of a massive heart attack at my age, and I fully expected to also die young. But then I had the lap band surgery on Sept. 2, 2010 and for the first time in a long time I have hope for a bright and healthy future. I went from taking 8 pills a day to none. My blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol are all normal. This procedure has been a God send for me. I don't regret my decision for even a moment. But you have to know that even though the band helps with appetite control and overeating, it does take some effort and hard work. I would encourage you to follow your doctor's guidelines as closely as possible. I know that this is a big decision and shouldn't be taken lightly. But I'm so happy that I did it. Good luck on your journey, and let me know if I can provide any help.

Hi Luv, I think it's hard to answer this question because it really depends on how much fill you get, and how much resulting restriction you have. I don't claim to be an expert, but my experience after four fills has been that each time I can eat less at each meal. I'm not at my sweet spot yet though. I think I probably need maybe one more fill. I'm currently at 7.8cc in an 11cc band. But I still can eat probably 3/4 to 1 cup per meal (lunch and dinner) but I can only eat oatmeal or yogurt for breakfast. So I think I'm able to eat too much at each meal, and I do get hungry between meals from time to time.

OK, First of all I told all of my family and close friends, and close coworkers with 100% support from them all. They all know how sick I've been getting over the last few years due to my obesity. Since I'm up to about 45 pounds lost now, people are definitely starting to notice. But as far as other "acquaintances" go, here's my policy: For thin people that say "Wow, you've been losing weight. How'd you do it?" I say "I cut out bread, soda and sweets, I drink a lot of Water, and I exercise every single day." Which is all true. For larger people who I think really want to know "So, how are you doing it?" I say "I had the lap band procedure which helps, but I'm working really hard to follow the suggested eating guidelines and I exercise a lot!" I just want to make sure that they know that the lapband helps, but it isn't magic... and that you still have to work hard to succeed with it.

When I first started researching weight loss surgery a few years ago, my husband was 100% against it. He was just so scared I would die in surgery or from complications. But then I continued to get sicker from my obesity. I was diagnosed with diabetes, coronary artery disease, sleep apnea and arthritis all within the last two years - on top of already having high blood pressure. I told him "I understand your concern. But if I don't do something, I won't live anyway." And then I invited my husband to go with me to a seminar, and he could hear how much safer the lap band procedure is over some other procedures. He said he would still worry about me, but that he supported my decision. My father died of a massive heart attack at my age, and I was certainly heading that direction too. Now a little over 4 months after surgery I now take zero pills a day for my heart & blood sugar (I was taking 8 pills a day!).

Hi Michelle, I totally know what you're talking about. I had Clear Liquids one week before and one week after surgery. By those last couple of days I was basically eating nothing. I was so tired of broth and Jello. It was amazing how good milk and pudding can taste after two weeks of clear liquids! Good luck on your journey.

OK this is just my opinion here... but I think that is totally ludicrous! There was a little bit of a question how much I actually had in my band on my last fill visit, and all my Dr. had to do was take out all of the fluid and then he could tell where my fill amount actually was when he put it all back in. The nurse told me that sometimes with your first few fills there is a little bit of "dead" space in the band, and often patients aren't quite as full as they first think. I'm currently at 7.2 in an 11 cc band, but I feel confident that it is a true 7.2,

Hi Sig, That's not abnormal at all! Almost every bandster seems to go through a period of time when they hardly feel any restriction. But it can often take several fills before you have a really good restriction. With each fill you'll have a little more restriction until you hit your sweet spot.

Hi Barb, Don't beat yourself up too badly. A lot of us slipped up over the holidays. The important thing is to get back on track. Sounds like you've very quickly lost quite a bit of weight. My only advice would be to make sure you're eating enough at meals to not need to snack much. And when I find myself looking for my my mid-afternoon chocolate fix, I force myself to drink an entire glass of Water, and amazingly that does seem to help. Also, right after the holidays I cleared out all of my cabinets and drawers of candy, Cookies and other no-no's. It helps a lot to not have those temptations too handy! Good luck to you. I think you'll be just fine.

Hi Ladies, I'm a recent bandster. I had surgery on Sept. 2. Before surgery I had been obese for many years. I would have occasional weight-loss success, but always gained it back. I was taking 8 pills a day for high blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol. I've lost 40 pounds and thrilled to say that I now take zero pills a day! I cannot tell you how happy I am that I made this decision. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. I will tell you that while the band helps in several ways (reduced apetite, eat less at meals and stay full longer) in order to have the most success, you will need to dedicate yourself to some lifestyle changes (drinking lots of water, exercising regularly and eating healthy). Good luck on your decisions. I'll answer any questions you have and I'll happily share my experiences with you,

I don't remember the brand... it might be Campbells. But I highly recommend the bean with bacon soup. I put it in the blender and it just had some really great flavor. I was getting tired of all of the cream of chicken type soups.

I'm an author and I had an offer from a publisher that wanted to publish one of my books, but they asked if I would be willing to participate in the publicity for the book - interviews, book signings, etc. I was horrified at the idea of having my morbibly obese self appear on TV. I told them I'd get back with them... and that was a year ago. Now that I'm losing the weight and looking and feeling better, I plan to call them back. But I fear that I may have missed my opportunity.

Hi Bulldog, I found that I was snacking way too much in between meals and then I remembered that someone (don't remember if it was the doctor, nurse or nutritionist) told me to eat until I was full. I was eating what I thought I should be able to eat, but not until I was full. Once I started eating a little more at my meals, it definitely helped.

Hi Lynn, I know what you're going through. And I'm fairly certain that most people that decide on banding have those second thoughts. I tell everyone that this was a drastic solution for a desperate situation for me. It just seemed that every year I was getting more sick and on more medications.Right before I had my surgery I went through a "Maybe I should try one more time on my own" moment, and all I kept thinking about was how many times I'd done that - and then find myself a year or two later having gained it all back. I had my lapband surgery on Sept. 2 and haven't regretted it for a second. I went from 8 pills a day for diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol to none. I've lost 40 pounds and I already feel so much better. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Hi Melissa, Congratulations on your amazing success! Regarding thinning hair, I would highly recommend taking Biotin. Someone told me you can get it in liquid form, but I buy the 5,000 mcg capsules. I just open the capsule and put it in pudding. It takes a little while to see a difference (probably at least a few weeks), but after some time you should notice an improvement in your hair... and nails. I first tried it when I was losing hair on Atkins and it worked great.

Hi Lenore and Wayne. I live in Illinois, but work in St. Louis. I had my surgery in September, so I'm only a couple of months ahead of you. There is a lot to learn from this site, but let me know if I can be of any help. Good luck to you both... or I should say, good luck to us all.

Hi KRP, I was banded on Sept. 2. I've lost about 40 pounds so far. I'm at a 7.2 in an 11cc band, and I have a fill appointment for next week. I'm not at my sweet spot just yet, but I think I'm getting close. I don't regret getting the band for even a second. I was taking 8 different pills a day for diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure. Now I take none. All of my recent tests came back normal. My father died at my age of a massive heart attack, and I was heading that same direction. But now I think I'm going to be just fine, and I look forward to the future.

Of all of the things I've given up with the surgery... soda is what I miss the most. I've heard many different opinions on various message boards about carbonated beverages. But I've just decided that if there is any chance that it could stretch the pouch and have potentially long-term negative effects, it just isn't worth it. So I haven't touched a soda since my surgery in September.