B-52

That's good news....But you say you have no trouble getting ANYTHING down? Can you feel your band when you swallow? Tighter/looser different times of the day?

Depends upon where you are at with restriction.....because I have not concerned myself about calories or portion sizes for almost a year. As someone else said before, my pouch can handle just so much. If you listen to your band, then you stop long before you over do it. And, since my portion sizes are so small, I choose good foods to eat so I know my calories are Ok also. Only thing I count is my Protein and Water intake. But even protein, I have a routine that first thing in the morning I get 40-45 gm in at one shot before leaving the house for work. So getting the balance for the day is not a challenge. as far as NOT getting enough calories in per day, as many people seem to be concerned about, I probably don't but it has not affected me at all, and I go to the gym every day and have plenty of energy.

For over a year now, aside from my coffee, all I can get down in the morning is a high Protein smoothie for Breakfast. Then it gets easier as the day goes on. Plus I get more protein from the smoothie than anything I would be able to eat.

was this your first fill? Either way, you can feel tight for a few days after a fill, then it will subside. If this is your 3rd fill, lets say, then you can expect the feeling to remain....that's what it is all about!

I know it's hard to comprehend, but you are too early in your journey to worry about slipping and bad habits. All you're doing now is recovering from the surgery. 5-6 months from now is when you can really be concerned about your bad habits coming back. Just do your best. Concern yourself with getting fully recovered from the surgery so the Dr. can get down to business.

My God that's incredible....glad you came throuh it! I had to read your story 3 times. You're saying the band was fine, then all of a sudden caused seizures? The one thing led to another? And this is going to happen to 1/2 of us by 5 years? That's scary. I need to speak with my surgeon about this. I'm also confused about having up to 3 bands. Need to look into what that is all about. 5 years. If this is new information they are now finding out about, I'm sure there will be more info given to new patients. I was always undecided as to what to do with my band after I've been at my goal for a few yeas. I guess I now have a idea. Again, thank God you're all right. Feel better.

That's what I've been using for 2 years, same thing, it got to be monotonous. I would do 20 minutes on my own, then the 30-40 Cardio Coach, then finish up an Hour on my own. So that's why I went to running. I still do 30 minutes on the elliptical, then my weights, then finish with 30 minutes of Couch to 5K. I really do like, and highly recommend Cardio Coach to everyone who has never used it.

yes that's the one I use. It is the 2012 best Health & fitness App award.

I just started the program a few weeks ago. But week 1, the program starts with 1 minute jogs with 2 minutes walking in between. As the weeks go on the progression changes also. But you can stay at a level untill you're ready to move on. The one I have, plays you music and has verbal instructions.

Chances are your first fill will not do much, and no one can stretch their pouch untill they gave true restriction where they knw that food is actually sitting there slowly passing through the band. But to answer your question, life happens. There will always be a holiday, a wedding, party, special occasion that will be there down the road. We have to learn to live with the band, and not postpone it's work.

I stink at dieting! I have no self control and love to eat. That is why I needed to have surgery. But surgery in itself is not the answer. The answer is getting that thing hey installed around your stomach properly adjusted to where it starts operating at peak performance the way it was deigned to. Once that point was reached, then I started to have true success and reached my goal in 13 months. Aside for the few medical conditions that some people run into, I do not see how anyone can be a failure with this program. As long as we let the band do what it is supposed to do, then the only thing that can get in it's way is us! And I have read many posts fom people who get cold feet and say things like "I don't ever want to experience that" or "I can't give up those certain foods" etc, etc.

We don't know all he facts to make any judgments.....but if your Dr says it's all your fault, and he has all your records.........?

It really is up to your Dr. Clearing you. I went back to the gym 1 week after surgery, then went all out at 4 weeks, with my Dr.'s blessing.

You need to transition right into another program with no time lapses in between, and have your current program send them all your progress notes so they can continue we're you left off. You're going to have to find a program before you move, contact them and tell them your situation.

My prt sticks out like there's a 1/2 goofball under my skin, and you can see the tubing snake from the port about 2 inches untill it goes deep. Like a large vericros vein. But then I do crunches every day, and I ave little/no fat on my mid section anymore.

Better be up front with them, unless your voice comes back and your throat is not sore. The anesthesiologist is going to pu a tube (endotrachial) down your throat through your vocal cords, hen blow up a balloon. If you are already irritated, this will result in more irritation. Plus, after you're out, when he looks down yor throat and sees red, he may stop and call off then surgery. Do everything you can to soothe you thrat now, don't talk more than you need to, and be honest when you go there.

I never liked running, because of all the excess weight I could not stand the pounding on my joints. So I did the elliptical. After 2 years, and using a program called "Cardio Coach", I've worn out the elliptical doing hard 60 minutes a session. But now the weight is gone, so I cut my Elliptical to 30 minutes, then do weights, then go on the treadmill for 30 minutes using the "Couch to 5K" on my I-Touch. It really is making a difference, and thus far I have been following the program very well, into the third week.

Ride it for all it's worth and see how it goes. Don't get hung up on starvation modes, plateaus, metabolisms, etc. Maybe later, but now you want to find that "Groove"

Mine has me coming in every 3 months, but I am only 15 months out. That may change again.

As long as you're not "craving starving climbing the walls hungry", if you don't feel like eating, then don't. Forget about getting you daily calories in, just go for the Protein and water.......nibble at what you know is good for you. Food is what got us fat in the first place, so to do without it is not a bad thing.....interpret what I'm really trying to say. water may be slow, but keep it up. It will get easier after time. At least for a little while and see what happens......Congratulations!

Help me out here, and others for that matter. I am 15 months out, and have reached my goal. where I am at right now I cannot yet understand how I van gain so much weight back. I am unable to overeat. Even if it is a slider food, like ice cream say, I can tolerate just so much. I'm not trying to be critical, just that I need to know what to look out for if and when it should arise. Have you ever felt optimum restriction where if you ate a little too much, or the wrong foods it would come right back up, and make you feel miserable? Or does the band simply loose it's function and begin to be as those it were not there at all. Just wondering.

I lost weight the first 4 weeks after surgery. Then went for my first fill, 4 cc's. After my first fill, I gained weight, could not control my eating. The band did nothing and I was never any good at dieting. Four weeks after that, 8 weeks from surgery, went for my 2nd fill, 2 cc's for a total of 6. At that point the band started to take effect, but not much. It would come and go. I did not gain weight, but I did not loose all that much either. Four weeks after that 12 weeks after surgery, had my 3rd fill for an additional 1cc, total of 7. That did the trick. My eating was then totally under control. Could not over eat even if I tried, would result in getting stuck, pain, regurgitating. But even then, it took me 4 to 6 weeks to figure out what was happening, learned to adapt my eating habits and foods, and found my "Groove" putting me in the Green Zone, with everything they say it does. Have been there ever since. So, to answer your question, yes....I had a tough start. I stink at self control and dieting. Have tried every diet under the sun, including hypnosis and acupuncture. You name it I tried it. Failed at everyone miserably. So it was no surprise that I did no better after surgery untill my band was properly adjusted and took control of me. That's why I take exception to calling the band a tool. A tool, like a hammer, is something I choose to use, and can choose how much or how little I use it. But the band has control of me. If anything I am the one being used. I'm the tool and the band is in control. That makes this the EASIEST thing I have ever done, because there is nothing I need to do. I can't over eat, and I have little or no hunger 24/7. There are times I have to force myself to sit and have a meal, not because I'm hungry, but because I know I need to. I don't count calories. All I need to do is drink my Water, and when I do eat, chose good foods high in Protein. That's it!

You answered your own question...IMO, with "One Small Fill" What is different now than before you were banded? besides "One Small Fill?"

Just be mindful that EVERYBODY looses weight post-op, how can one not being on liquids and mushies. Now the real challenge starts, REAL FOOD! and getting back to where you were before you had the surgery, (bandster hell) only all healed up and ready to go for the next phase. I started to gain weight at that point, even after my first fill.....but that was not the end of the world, because they have to get your band adjusted to where it begins doing what it is designed to do in the first place. And right after surgery is not it. So be patient no matter what may happen in the future. It will all come together eventually. Congratulations! Everybody was new at this at one point, and managed to be successful just the same! The only thing that can get in your way is YOU!

It is easier to get your water if you drink it out of a wide mouth container, rather than straight from the water bottle. I get in 32 oz everyday at the gym alone each day, although I'm probably sweating that all out at the same time. But that's ok, keeps the system flushed out I guess.