NJGirl32

That is the 2nd miracle baby story I've read in the last week on this thread! Maybe the Lapband should having a warning that it may cause pregnancy!! lol That is really suck wonderful news! What an exciting 9 months you have ahead of you!

Thanks for the reminder! Can you tell me what happened as far as the slip? How did you know the band slipped-could you feel it? Did they have to do surgery again?

The first 6 weeks is ALL about healing and nothing else. You shouldn't really focus on losing or worry about gaining. Your insides have just been through surgery and need time to properly heal. Making sure you are taking your Vitamins and having enough Protein will help in the healing process. Again-the first 6 weeks is only about healing-so relax. Now I am going to be brutually honest here and say that it may take several fills and several months before you really start losing-do not be dicouraged!! With each fill you will inch closer to what many refer to as the "sweet spot" and the band will start doing it's part. This is not a surgery for the impatient. Very few people have quick weight loss, especially in the few few months-which is unless GBS. With that beiing said...you will get there-you absolutely will! Keep all your fill appointments, watch what you eat, drink lots of Water, and exercise. If you go to YouTube you'll see lots of video diaries of people who tracked each week of the journey on YouTube. Whatever week you are at you'll see that you are normal in your frustration and worries-but you'll get there if you keep moving forward. Good luck to you!

I had 2 C-sections plus the extra weight so I definitely will always have a floppy belly unless I get a TT (which I am not really thinking about at this point). The only thing that really held me in was stockings from JCPenny (tummy control queen sized). It really did the trick. When I was on the dating scene I would wear them with a short because they pulled the fat in from my legs too-and they were comfortable! I know it's summer but with fall hits you might wantto check out somesupport stockings.

Karon-I think it's either a failure to chew and take tiny bites like you said or certain foods just seem to expand inside like bread and rice. It is a terrible feeling! The stomach is a lot lower than the stuck food so I am not sure exactly why stuff gets stuck!

I am posting another one of my favs-slice a 1/2 of banana (or fruit of your choice)in a mug, add 1 teaspoon of Peanut Butter (optional). SF choc pudding and a little bit of cool whip.. OMG-this is SO good! Or get mini vanilla Nilla Cookies (they are not many calories ) and I put 3 0r 4 minis in a mug with 3 thin slices of banana and top with SF vanilla pudding cup (60 calorie kind), a dollop of cool whip!

I use a chocolate protein shake (Total Lean GNC) with ice cubes it the blemder along with 1/2 a banana=blend up! I would advise using half of the protein shake because it makes a lot. Then I put a dollop of LF cool whip and squirt a teeny dizzle of SF Smucker cho. syrup. This is SO yummy and filling!!!! If you don't have GNC's shake (which I like because it has 23 vitamins and high protein and is thinner than other shakes) you can use carnation instant breakfast packets and skim milk. It's like a milk shake!

First I wanted to know if you get stuck does that mean you have some sort of restriction in which back up the opening of the band? Secondly, when I get stuck it seems to be in the middle of my chest-not in my stomach area. I always was under the impression that being stuck meant something was stuck over the stomach opening?? Am I wrong-I am thinking I must be! I don't feel like I have restriction, but I can't eat breaded chicken or I get that feeling in my chest. What's causing that if I don't have restriction?

Thanks for the input! I was wondering if you go to a "Center of Excellence" site that they may require 6 weeks? I am goingto go anyway and tell him that I don't have restriction at all-zero-and I am starting to gain which I totally don't want!

I have had 2 fills so far in what I believe to be a 10cc band (when I asked the doctor he just said it was a medium band?). My NUT old me that I now have 3ccs of fill. I have no restriction and can eat large amounts. With the second fill I noticed that I can't eat certain things for fear of being stuck-but not because I am full. My doc does fills every 6 weeks. I managed to schedule my appointments 4 weeks apart so I have been lucky. This Thursday I have an appointment for a fill but it has only been 20 days. Part of me is worrying that he'll say come back in another 21 days-I don't want to wait that long!! It's so frustrating having the surgery and then having to wait so long between fills. I could go on August 22nd and I think they would do a fill then-but I am not sure about the 11th? I really didn't wantto do the 22nd because I leave for a cruise three days later. Did anyone speed up their fills instead of waiting the 6 weeks? Did they still give you the fill? I am Dr. Strom patient in NJ.

We will have days like that-the point is to simply reflect on how you could have handled it differently and learn from it and move on. The band isn't going anywhere and with proper fills it will help deter you from some bad choices. We all have been there-I can't wait until I feel more restricction so I can better manage my portion control. Good luck to you!

This thread is too funny!! lol Congrats to all of you! I lost my Jack Russell and his 3 pounds bag of dog food! lol When you put it into perspective it really is amazing how we carried all that extra weight around each day-no wonder we were always so tired!

What a transformation!! Awesome job!

I went and I loved it!! I smiled the entire time-it was intense!! The next day I felt it! I did feel like I had 2 left feet, but my class had ALL ages and ALL sizes! I wasn'tthe heaviest obe in class (maybe the 2nd). It was a freshing change from the treadmill and machines.

Whoa!!! What a difference!! You look beautiful!! Congratulations on achieving what many just dream of-and it's amazing that you did all of this in a year! Enjoy being skinny out in the world!

I went shopping and the same thing-I actually enjoyed trying on clothes!! I tried on a size 16 dress-a little snug, but spanx could take care of that! Size 18s are loose-but fit-I can't believe it! I am 5'6 at 222-I figure another 10 pounds and I'lll be in a comfortable size 16-even jeans! Who would have thought that trying on clothes could feel so good! Congrats!!!

Wow! Now that's what I call a real success story-awesome!!!

I am 48 pushing 49 - and I had the band the end of May. I would say you are right that it seems to be about 7-10 pounds a month. The weight tend to come off slower as we get older-that's for sure-but at least it is coming off! I agree that exercise (although I hate it with a passion) gives you more energy and I think it boosts the metabolism.

Girl you have restriction if 8ozs feels almost like Thanksgiving! Dave is correct - you should stop before you get stuffed. Everyone else is correct too-restriction varies from person to person. Good luck!!

It's the worst feeling ever! Just be glad it didn't happen in public. A few tipes to avoid being stuck: 1. Chew, chew, chew 2. Don't stand around the kitchen pooppingthings into your mouth, you're more apt to swallow a bigger piece of something then get stuck 3. Avoid dry textured meats. Make sure your meats and moist. 4. When at a resturant avoid the bread basket. This happened to me and it ruined my entire dinner. I ran to the bathroom 5 times and vomited twice-why risk it? Any of you out in the Bandland who have never been stuck-count your blessings because it is the worst pain ever!

Oh I LOVE that quote!! I especially love the part about learning from failure.

I have had a few beers since surgery. Last week I had 3 Corona Lights while at a friend's get together. I wouldn't do it again because I felt so bloated for several days afterwards and it simply wasn't worth it when there are other options available.

It's true that it can take a few days or even a couple of weeks to feel the result...with that being said, I totally feel your frustration! I had high expectations for my first fill and again for my 2nd fill. My 2nd fill was a little better. I know that we want the band to start doing it's part- it's aggravating having to wait so long to reach that sweet spot! My doc also give fills 6 weeks apart-seriously-6 weeks??!! I booked my 2nd fill 4 weeks and I have a fill coming up next week at 3 weeks. I am not sure if they will do it with only 3 weeks passing by-but I am sure going to try and plead my case! Good luck to you!

Love the new profile pic! You are really an inspiration to al of us- that is an amazing weight loss!! How often do you get fills now? Do you feel like you still have restriction? Any tips or secret to success that you care to share?

My daughter wants me to go to a Zumba class tonight but I am unsure if I can keep up. I am 223 at 5'6 and I can do 2 miles on the treadmill at 35 minutes. Is it all dance? I thought if I couldn't keep up with the youngins (I am 48) maybe I can side out early? How was your first Zumba experience?