HeatherMarie

I was banded on March 8, 2011 and have lost 70 pounds. This was not my dream of waking up a size 6 but respectable I think! lol Could I have lost more by now? Certainly. There are things I can work on and need to work on but there has to be a middle ground between living and weight loss! I could not maintain exercising for 2 hours a day for very long. Everyone is different and we need to focus on what makes us happy! I can compare myself with the great "losers" out there but it will not aid in my weight loss and will probably just make me want chocolate! lol You said it best-we can all support each other (successes and setbacks). I am always looking for more support on this journey

I call them Sucker' In-ers! I wear the camisole type that you can wear with your own bra to hold in the jiggly parts of stomach and hips. I don't see a problem with wearing them now but I wouldn't wear them for long periods of time at first. One thing I have found when I wear mine is that my band seems tighter! Probably not the band but more pressure on the stomach so eat carefully.

Thanks Ladies! Certainly stressed right now (work is crazy and hubby is gone for 2 weeks for work leaving me with the kiddos). I'm hoping getting back into my water routine will help eating. Been stalled now for a couple of weeks and I think it is the lack of "good" calories.

I was banded in March 2011. Fills every month 6 weeks out at a very cautious rate. Took quite awhile to reach restriction. Last fill was in December of 2011 and finally started to lose after a long plateau (not all the bands fault . At my 1 year check-up I had .5 cc removed (had agreed to .25 but the NP had .5 in her head) due to stuck episodes. Admitedly, I was probably too tight. Here I am almost 2 months later and am experiencing being stuck again on random stuff. I read somewhere (can't remember where) that dehydration can cause band to be tighter. Has anyone else experienced a fickle band when they haven't had enough Water intake? Thanks!

I am not there yet but much closer to a healthy weight than .. well EVER! Feel great and people are really starting to notice and comment. It's a wonderful thing but being obese all my life a large majority of time has been spent thinking about losing weight, trying to lose weight, etc. Now I am starting to have odd feelings about being at (or around) goal weight. What do I strive for? What will a large portion of my world be substituted with? I know that once I hit that ellusive # or size I won't be pooping gum drops or riding around on unicorns but it just feels odd for lack of a better term. Thanks for listening! Any thoughts?

It sounds crazy but a teaspoon or two of regular mustard. The little packets that you get at restaraunts work great for carrying with you.

Yes, it will get better! I was not one of those who had surgery one week and went back to work the next. I took 2 weeks off. Try to walk little laps around the house, it will help the gas move out. I also found a heating pad to be my best friend the first couple of days. Don't try to be superwoman or compare yourself with others. Everyone heals (and loses weight) at their own pace. Get plenty of rest! It will help your body and mental state. Take Care and keep me posted.

I love this!! I laughed out loud and nodded my head in agreement. A great message for everyone. Newly banded or not. I am definately watching this topic so I can come back to read it when I need a boost.

I agree with Jenn. The gas pains were way worse than incisions! Try a heating pad on your chest/stomach or even your back. This helped me those first couple of weeks. Take Care

All of cakegirl's suggestions plus drinking something hot helps me alot. Just tiny sips or everything may come flying back up. I've never tried the "chicken dance" though! lol

Hi from Northern MN! Sounds like you have a new resolve to get to a healthier you. I would love a new fiend to go through this process with. I am about 5 hours from you but we do travel to the cities on occasion to see family.

Wow!! What an awesome accomplishment and I bet your not done yet

I am part of a private facebook group called Banders. It can only be viewed by the members. If you friend me I could add you. I am Heather Wilson Anderson with a profile pic of a little girl and boy dressed up.

Woo Hoo! Way to go Wayne and a day early.

GOOD LUCK! It sounds like you have a great plan and the determination needed to follow it through. Fell free to message me if you need to vent, cheer or need encouragement. I find support is a great motivator. Take Care!

I received fill #1 six weeks after surgery. My surgeon did not add Fluid at the time of placement and wanted a good 6 weeks for healing and swelling to go down. Good Luck, you are doing great!

Can't figure out updating my ticker but I got 4 miles in today. 8 miles total. Slowly but surely! LOL

This is just what I need. Exercise really needs to become a priority or this band is going to become another failed attempt

I would love love to be friends with everyone on facebook. So far I have only been able to find marcy so Please add me. I am under Heather Wilson Anderson. Thanks everyone!

Good Morning Shirley! I am not too far away in MN. I'm not sure how many I have but you are more than welcome to have any of the size 22 and size 20 jeans I have. I'm sure you will be in size 20's in no time Please email me and we can work out the details. Pants weather is fast approaching I'm afraid. Only 52 degrees here this morning on my way to work. Have a great day! Heather jhbanderson@wiktel.com Oh, I should add I' am 5'1"

Congratulations! What a wonderful feeling that must be (can't wait to be there myself). A great sense of pride and accomplishment

Made my goal exactly, 218 this morning! Count me in for June. let's keep the support going. Have a great holiday!

saturday's are my weekly weigh-in days so checking in with 219.4! Whoo Hoo! TOM weight off and 2nd fill working it's magic. Have a great weekend everyone!

Good Morning! My surgery went great. I did get very nauseas while in the hospital from the pain medication. I was on a continous drip so once we stopped that things got slowly better. They gave me a patch to wear behind my ear to help with the nausea. Incision pain was very minimal. I only used the liquid pain meds at home for 3 days. I would recommend staying on top of taking the pain meds for at least the first couple of days. You start to feel good and think you don't need it, then "ugh" you wish you had taken some earlier. When you first get home from the hospital you will be full of the air from surgery and Water weight from the i.vs so don't freak out if your weight is up. The majority of my discomfort after surgery came from the gas build up. They fill your abdomen full of air in order to get a better view inside. After surgery this must disappate on it's own. Some have a lot of pain, others not at all. Have gas-x strips and a heating pad ready to go. Also, it helps greatly to walk as soon as you can after surgery and keep walking once you get home. This gets the gas moving out. It doesn't have to be big walks around the block, just try to get up every hour or so and move around. I have been losing pretty steadily since surgery (1-2 pounds per week). I have to keep telling myself I am losing. I have heard of some lapbanders who gained before their first fill. I, of course, wanted to get the fat melting lap band and wake up a size 12! Must have been out of stock - lol I do not know what your doctor does in regards to fills or if he will add anything to your band at the time of your surgery but my surgeon does not have any Fluid in the band until 6 weeks post-op. This time is lovingly known as "bandster hell". Two - three weeks after surgery I felt exactly the same as before surgery and could eat exactly the same. And sometimes I did! I probably could have been losing more weight during this time if I had been more strict with myself but I have a thick head and a love for food. After my first fill at 6 weeks I got some restriction. Full on less, but hungry about every 3 hours. I received my 2nd fill this past Tuesday and there is certainly a difference. Quantity is much lower. You certainly sound like you have the right frame of mind - eat to live, not live to eat. I have not been as aggressive as I could have been but everyone needs to travel this journey at their own pace. Try to remember that as you read stories about people losing. Don't compare yourself. I did that in the beginning and was really kicking myself. Who needs more self-loathing though. That defeated feeling is what got me to this weight in the first place. "Well, I suck so I might as well have that 5th oreo, or can of pop or whatever is handy". We have beautiful children who deserve the best and that includes mommies who feel & look the best they can! Take care and look forward to talking with you more!

Why haven't you received a fill yet? I was banded on March 8 and just received my 2nd fill Tuesday. Prior to my fills though I was just like you. No restriction at all. I felt like I was the girl who had weight loss surgery just to eat the same old way! It does get better with fills. Some who have the surgery the band is enough restriction. I was not in that lucky group but now with my 2nd fill my amount of food intake is much lower (without stopping myself) and hunger between meals is longer. I would speak to your surgeon about starting the fill process. Keep in touch!