NJGirl32

Well after that first fill I entered "Bandster Hell" the period where you don't lose a damn pound and may actually gain weight!! It's sort of a scary place to be because you wonder if you are going to be one of those people who lose very little or don't lose at all. I have been eating more than I should, but at the same time watching what I eat. Does that make sense? My scale broke 2 weeks ago and I wasn't in a hurry to by a new one. I finally said enough is enough and bought one. I got on and lost 2 pounds! Today was another 1-2!! I am thrilled and secretly praying that this scale isn't wrong! lol I averaged out my weight loss to about 2-2.5 pounds per week (eventhough most of that was the week before and after surgery). I am feeling happy! My Fill Situation - okay my doctor does fills every 6 weeks...every 6 weeks!!! Come on-give a girl a break! But I know there's wiggle room with the appointments - I just don't know how much! I know I would be okay booking an appointment 4 weeks, but not sure if I could get away with 2 weeks. He might say "No I can't give you a fill it's only been 2 weeks (or 3 weeks). So I did something very naughty. I am confessing here so shhhhh! There are a couple of doctors at this group and I booked an appointment for every week in August. I have one August 4th (13 days after my 2nd fill), one booked for August 8th (16 days after my 2nd fill) and today I booked August 15th (23 days after my 2nd fill). I plan to book the week of August 22nd too! Now before you think I am absolutely crazy let me explain my strategy. First, I will probably cancel the 4th-that's too soon after my 2nd fill. I will only keep 1 appointment but I wanted to have them schedule because this doctor gets filled up in his appointments so quick you get shut out. But if I don't have any restriction I am not waiting 6 weeks this time.! I hate that I have to book them like this but you can't just call and say I need to come in next week (I tried that already and they said they had no openings until August! Let's hope the 2nd fill has some magic to it! (scary thing is my couch actually looks like this!) Finally, exercise, yes exercise-blah! I spend way too much time on my couch. WHen I get home from work that's where I sit most of the night. Today I had off from work and I spent 80% of the day on it! I hate the heat and it wipes me out. Fortunately, I have a pretty active lifestyle most of the time, but I need to get going with some exercise! A gym 5 minutes from my house has a special until July31st for teachers. It's $20 a month!! No long term contract, but I have to pay first and last month's payments. I think that's great so I might go for it. I am trying to talk one of my daughters into it too because she's a teacher and the other is a student so she is eligble too. So I'll let you all know how the 2nd fill goes on the 22nd!! Take care!

All my fills are included as far as I know. I have Horizon BCBS. Your doctor's receptionist should have all the answers to insurance questions.

How can you hate yourself when you have lost 170 pounds and are so close to your goal? You had a set back- please, please change your way of thinking and redirect your thinking. First, get a trash bag and throw all the crap way-all of it-every tempting piece of food! Then dump coffee grinds or water in the water so you'rw not tempted to save anything! Next, get paper and a pen and write a grocery list of food that you used to get you to the huge weight loss! Make a grid with 7 boxes (for each day of the week) and start planning your meals for the next 7 days. It will be your 7 day challenge!! Buy a motivational book to read in bed or a book that will grab your interest (or get a few from the public library). Keep a large bottle of ice water by your bed with maybe a slice of lime in it. Next time you want a snack tell yourself you'll need to finished all that water first (at least 28 oz). Have some low cal. Snacks in the house. Make these snacks that you'll eat but not snacks that you love and make them healthy!. Keep sf pops in the freezer to curb the hunger monster. Stop being so hard on yourself!! The band is NOT about perfection it's about moving forward despite setbacks. You haven't failed until you've given up and clearly you haven't done that since you are seeking help from this forum! Good luck to you!

I agree a couple of drinks should be fine-stay away from carbonated beverages though and get plenty of water in throughout the night! Enjoy!

Jess- I know!! I had about 4 weeks with no loss-but you really do need to count the weeks and divide the pounds lost. Lapband really is suppose to be 1-2 pounds per week (that's what my doctor told me). If you are staying in that 1-2 pounds per week range you are right on track. Once the fills start to kick in it will help us along!

Thanks guys! Cindy-that's why I was thinking about joining someplace that's on my way home from work. I know once I get home the chances of me wanting to go out again aren't too good.

Keep moving forward- and be patient. It seems a lot of people don't lose much (if anything) 6-8 weeks afetr surgery and then suddenly they start dropping pounds. Don't get discouraged-keep your fill appointments and do 1 thing better each day (drink more water, take a walk, take your vitamins). Keep your eye on the prize at all times and good things will begin to happen. The lapband isn't for someone without patience because it is a slower method for most. Good luck to you and hang in there-there is a light at the end of the tunnel even if you can't see it yet!

I have been in Bander's Hell pretty much since my surgery. The scale hasn't moved much since my 1 week post surgery weight in that first week in June. My scale broke 2 weeks ago and I needed a new one. I delayed the purchase, but finally bought one last week. It sat in the darn box for 5 days! I didn't feel like I lost anything and actually thought I may have gained. Yesterday I decided to face my worries and hopped on the scaled to see a 2-3 pound weight loss!! Today I got on and it was 2 more pounds! So I didn't gain at all in fact I lost weight! Wow! 9 weeks (inlcuding my 1 week liquid) and down 23 pounds! That averages to 2.5 pounds per week even though there has been many weeks I haven't lost at all. I haven't seen these numbers on a scale in such a long time! I am thinking about joining Bally's Fitness to get a work out routine in place. Now I feel motivated-even though I hate the thought of working out.

Definitely stretchy pants (I brought yoga pants-very comfortable). A small pillow is must to hold against your incision. Forget the shakes-you will be on clear liquids and really not feel like eating. I was on morphine and could barely keep my eys open to watch TV or read, yet I couldn't seem to get to sleep. I brought an IPOD to listen to music and that was my favorite thing that I brought. I hadthe gasX strips but didn't need them at all. Some some liquid Tynenol PM- to help you sleep through the night.

I buy the pre-made Total Lean so I can just grab one and go. They are more expensive but it's worth the convenience for me, plus I but them the first week of the month when GNC members get 20% off. I have been know to put them in the blender with ice and top off with a dollop of light cool whip. Tastes like a chocolate shake!

My scale broke 2 weeks ago. I delayed in buying a new one because I felt like I wasn't sticking to parts of my diet as I really should have, although I still have made some good choices. I thought for sure I gained. Today I finally got up the nerve and stepped onto it to see I not only didn't gain , I lost 2 pounds!! All that worrying for nothing! I don't like to get weighed every day. Maybe 3 times a week always in the morning.

This is not about perfection -it's a learning process. You have to get out of the mentality that if you aren't perfect then you are a failure. When you eat something that wasn't good or really allowed simply say to yourself "How could I have handled that differently?" Then move on. When you go to events the key is to plan, plan, plan. The liquid stage sucks. When I was on it someone posted a great strategy for handling it. They wrote a note on their refridgerator that said " I CAN DO ANYTHING FOR___DAYS" So your first note would read "I can do anything for 14 days!" Each day you insert another number. That really helped me get through the liquid stage. When I felt weak I said "I can do anything for 7 days." It really helped. Good luck to you!

SOunds like you definitely have some restriction going on! Try a timer for water...you can set it for 15 minutes and work up to 30-having a visual might helo, or my favorite suggestion was to have a glass of ice and sip as it melts. Another poster suggested this and I thought is was a great idea! It would be 30 minutes by the time it melts. Congrats on your sighs!!

If you were stuck there would be NO question about wondering if you were! I had similiar experiences as you when I ate. Sometimes I would feel a little lump in my chest- while it was uncomfortable it was mild to being stuck. I was stuck this past weekend and all I can say is OMG!! It is HORRIBLE. It felt like a large jagged rock was firmly placed in my chest, I slimed and I was panicked. It's almost like the kind of panic you'd have in you were choking. It happened immediately after I ate a shrimp whole.

I had that sweet spot the first 3 days or so after my first fill. It was AWESOME. I went out to eat with my husband and I ordered a salad with chicken and a Margarita. I maybe could drink 1/2 of my Margarita and 1/3 of my sald, brought the rest home. Actually I didn't want to go to dinner because I wasn't hungry from breakfast, but hubby was starving. I thought "this is what it's all about!" You eat like a skinny person!! It was really short lived though, I guess the swelling went down or whatever. Now, I could eat a lot-I am looking forward to that 2nd fill so badly!!!!

I always get an end seat so at least the top part of my arm can stick out. I always pray a skinny person will be in the middle seat!! I never needed an extender but it came very, VERY close. I pray that no one is seated next to you and if someone must be that it's a skinny mini! Enjoy your trip, you deserve to get away!

Absolutely tell him know0and say I really want to train with someone who is educated about weigh loss in all areas! That should put him in his place! I remember your original post very well! Thank you for the follow up! Remember: "Looking good is the BEST revenge!"

Very, VERY normal. This is a time of healing-expect 6 week post surgery to be all about healing from surgery (even if you feel good). Also, be prepared for the chance that you may experience "Bandster Hell" - a stage where you feel hungry because the fills haven't kicked in enough to control the hunger monster. Slow and steady wins the race! Good luck to you!

Definitely talk to your doctor about it. I feel your pain. I have a friend who had gastric bypass and looks absolutely amazing and has kept it off-BUT she has had problems alochol (she gets drunk really fast and often), depression,etc.. If you are leaning toward GB do your research. Good luck with your decision!

I agree old people can't see nayway. Plus you probably lost weight in your face (looking thinner) and since you lost 27 pounds (which is A LOT of weight) your clothes were loose. Thinner face+ looser shirt might give that impression. Whn you dtart wearing clthes that show off your weight loss it will be different! I am a teacher and I had a 4th grade giel ask my about my "baby" WTH??!!! Okay-so she was only 9 years old, but seriously!! Don't feel bad because I wisj I lost 2y pounds since my surgery on May 26th. My scale broke about 2 weeks ago and I bought a new one-I haven't dared to step on in yet since I know I haven't lost and I may have gained. You should have said "Oh the baby doesn't mind-she's use to by now" lol Ask a stupid question get a stupid answer! Mess with thei minds the next time someone is insenstive!

Thanks for the moral support Rachel! If I waited every 6 weeks that would be 18 weeks for 3 fills instead of 6 weeks for 3 fills (if done evry 2 weeks) - that's 3 extra months of quality weight loss avaliable (18-6=12 weeks=3 moths) You have really done such an amazing job with your weight loss, comgratulations!!

Rebecca, I am a beliver and will keep you in my prayers! I am also a teacher too!! I still hate that he is giving you mixed messages like coming around and kissing you on your forhead etc. That is really good about handling the finances-good for you-but still be cautious! I know what you mean about thinking about things constantly. I had some marriage trouble early on and I could do nothing but think about everything. I think that's absolutely normal. It will do you the world of good to get away and spend some time with family! Does your family know about the situation? It might help to confide in them so they can offer support and another perspective. PS- I am impressive my your painting energy!! I have so much painting to do but I can't get motivated! Please keep in touch!

Oh Girl...there are some big flags going up in this relationship!! The fact that he won't tell you where he is living is the biggest one. My thinking is either he has her over a lot and doesn't want you unexpectantly popping in OR he is living with her. The fact that he called you several times and is having panic attacks could all be related to guilt. He wants you to console him. I agree that you MUST seel legal advise. When my 1st husband and I separated I never dreamed in a million years he would clean out my bank account, but he did!! If you have joint credit cards they must also be stopped today! Please see a lawyer and get the ball rolling. It takes a while for a divorce and you need to save your credit immediately-please do this now. Don't make the mistake I made-I was so trusting. It's been 11 years and I am still trying to clear up my credit. I know it's tough because you love him, but love isn't selfish and he is being selfish and playing mind games with you. Be strong and think with your head, not your heart. Don't wait around for him to make up his mind with what he wants. Truthfully, if it were me I would have to follow him home from work (or have a friend do it) just to see where he lives-he is hiding something. Stay strong and be smart-seek legal advice-most lawyers will give you a free consult. Please keep us posted on how you are doing!

njm I know you are 100% right! ANd my metabolism is really, really slow. I have a big inground pool-I need to use the darn thing! Today it was 90 degrees out and when I came home from work I could have gone in it-but nooooo I sat my rump on the couch! I like your suggestion of doing weights. Have you joined a gym or do you do them on your own?

Great answer! Thanks! It really makes sense. But I still want a fill! lol