NJGirl32

Oh swimming is such great exercise too-just walking against the water or holding on to the ledge and doing some leg lifts. Good for you!!! You are conquering all your fears and owning your life!

Alex- thank you!! That was a great read! Could you also give us some options for dining out, BBQs and handling social events (parties)? I agree I would love some ideas on options for loose skin. Thanks again!

This is 100% normal. You have fluids in you from surgery and swelling too. Your body is healing for the first 6 weeks. Do not expect any weight loss during this time. Once you start getting your fills you will be in the weight losing zone. I was also very disappointed with the lack of weight loss for eating so little-it;s been over a month and I still seem stalled, but I am hoping my 2nd fill in 2 weeks helps me get closer to the zone. Being banded requires a lot of patience, unlike gastric by-pass surgery this is a slower road to weight loss-which I think may be a healthier way. Good luck to you!

The liquid doesn't actually go into the band (but I know you know that) because the band in wrapped around the outter part of the stomach. I know in the mornings I need to have something hot before I can eat something. I would love to know the answer to why that is? I'll be keeping my eye on this post!

Sounds like you are doing everything right. I agree, I think a small fill might do the trick.

I totally agree with what others have said. I was banded on May 25th and have lost just a little. I question why I got the surgery and I am getting bills in from the surgery (although my insurance did cover it) and I am thinking what was the point. But I gaet a 2nd fill in 2 weeks and I am booking another fill for 3 weeks after that. I want to start losing weight! I never knew that this process would be so slow and would stall for extended periods of time. I really thought by the end of the summer I would be a least 30 pounds thinner!

Sorry you had to hear all that!! Next time you'll know !! I know we have to do our part but it's so darn hard when the band isn't doing it's job either!

Wonderful post! I totally agree that we must change our mindset. Use a word that better drscribes the process instaed of saying : I cheated" say "I made some poor choices and if I am in a sililiar situation this is what I intend to do." It's a process of constantly adjusting and readjusting our attitudes and eating habits. We are tryingto retrain our bodies and our minds and again, it's a process that requires reflection and a shift in our thinking! We will get to that promised bandland!!

I told my husband and just 1 person at awork who sort of lead me to the band. That's it! I am SO glad I didn'ttell more people because 6 weeks after surgery I am not losing that much weight at all! I am hoping with fills the band will kick in. I can't imagine not losing weight and everyone knowing I had the band-they would all be thinking "Hey I thought she had the band and she's not losing?" or watching what I eat at every function-no thanks...I don't need that additional pressure right now! Once I start losing I might open the circle and tell a few more (or maybe not). This is a hugely personal decision and what fees right for 1 person might not for the other person - so it's totally YOUR choice. ONe size does not fit all. For me, I am so happy I didn't tell everyone.

I hear you all! I have been not as good as I could have been lately!! I do realize we need to a=watch what we eat and do our part-but the band needs to do it's part too!! I had excellent restriction for about 5 days after my first fill. I know what the band can do when it is propery adjusted and it's great! I wasn't even able to eat more than a very small amount. Now I can eat a big dinner. My next fill is in 17 days and I can not wait! I know for sure there's light at the end of the tunnel!

Banded May 25th and I think I was down 20 pounds (including my 1 week pre-surgery diet)...but not sure abou tthis past weekend! I wasn't the best bandester this weekend although I did get a lot more walking in. My first fill was June 22 and that worked for about 5 days...recently I have found that I can eat anything and I do mean anything! Took my mom to Red Lobster and had the Utimate Feast (with bisquits) WTH!!! That was a big slip up. I remember those first few days after my fill and how little I needed to eat. I remember not being hungry-I wantthat feeling back again and I am hoping that I will get it with my 2nd fill on July 22nd! I wish my doctor did fills every 2 weeks!

Melissa - thanks for sharing that info! I can't wait to get to "Being totally euphoric about your weight loss." I think the most important thing to realize is that this IS a process and ike Jack said "This is not ike any other diet."

I have noticed several stages with the lapband-the stages tend to vary from person to person, but this is what I have come up with so far: Stage 1 - excitement!! You can't wai tto get through all your appoinments and make this life changing committment! Stage 2- doubt, right before surgery you begin to second guess yourself and wonder if you are really making the right decision and wondering why you can't do this on your own Stage 3- Amazed that you actually went through the surgery hoping it was the right decision and worried about healing and eating the right foods Stage 4- it's been a few weeks and you haven't lost that much. You are wondering if you are going to be one of the ones who struggle even with the band. You might feel frustrated at the slow weight loss and only hope that a a fill will help. Stage 5 - you got your fill!! At this stage you either feel some restriction and are very hopeful (at least for the first few days) or feel nothing and are wondering when the heck the band is going to start to do something-anything-you are hungry! Stage 6 - You cheated with some food that you know darn well that you shouldn't have eaten! You may be feeling low at this point and a little disappointed in the band and in yourself. You can't wait until your next fill! You may also be hard on yourself thinking that you had surgery and still are having problems losing the weight! Stage 7- I haven't gotten to this stage yet but I sure hope it brings me a little closer to the "Promised Bandland" Some good weight loss would be welcomed! Please feel free to add some stages!! I am amazed at how little info you get from the doctors prior to surgery. With the band you really need to know that the weight won't come off quickly (for most bandsters) and it will take several months to get into the zone. The trick is to stay motivated and committed to the process. For every bad choice you make you need to think about how you could have handled it better and plan for the future so it doesn't happen again. Once you reach stages 4-6 you need to ask yourself a few questions such as: Am I drinking enough Water? How much water did I drink today? Is there a better way I can prepare for my water intake? Am I waiting 30-45 minutes to drink liquids after I eat? Am I planning meals? Are these meals high in Protein? Am I eating my protein first? How am I doing with my vitamins-am I taking them every day? Am I trying to do a little exercise? Every morning that you wake up take a few moments to recommitt yourself to this process-it can work and others have had the same roadblocks and have gone through the same struggles and self-doubt-but the secret is to not et your fears take over. You really are so much stronger than you know!! The fact that you even had this surgery is a huge indicator of your commitment. Keep positive thoughts in your life as you journey to the Promised Bandland!!

Yes, totally normal. I had 1 fill and had perfect restriction for about 1 week-now it's completely gone!! I don't get another fill for 19 days!! It's very frustrating to say the least, but my inderstanding is that it can take several fills to maintain good restriction-this is th ekind of info we should have had prior to surgery. I was ubder the impression that having the band would help me lose weight right away, now I know it may take several months to see a real difference. Hang in there!! I also recommend the book-I think everyone who has the surgery should read it.

Rachel-you are absolutely right! I had a really BAD weekend too. I ate the Ultimate Feast at Red Lobster (yes the bisquits too)! I mean seriously! How depressing is that??!! When I was first filled I feltthat sensation and knew I could only eat a small amount of food and was happy with the small portion, but times have changed in just a week or so!! I had a taste of what the band can do - I do need a fill to bring back that feeling of having enough with a smaller portion. It is a downer to think you underwent surgery have 6 incisions on your belly and can still eat an entire mea! WTH?! Not a good weekend, BUt I am trying to regroup and think through what I could have done differently and how to handle potential roadblocks in the future.

My doc does fills every 6 weeks. No way am I waiting that long! I will go 4 weeks but that's the max. My first fill worked so great for the first week-then nothing at all!! I can eat a regular dinner with no problem. I do understand we need to meet the band halfway, but I had good restriction those first couple of days after my first fill-I couldn't finish my dinner or my drink...it was awesome! I wantthat feeing again and I know it will come with proper restriction! I have heard of some people getting restriction weeks after their fill so there's still hope. The end of JUly isn't that far away. Try keeping a food journal. I know there a few good ones online. Hang in there-your journey is just beginning!!

I had mine too-no undies and no tampon allowed. I had to stick a pad between my legs for the surgery. You'll be fine! Good luck!!!

Nope! I won't miss one ounce of fat at all!! My hubby fell in love with a skinnier version of me (not thin-but about 50 pounds less than I am now. I'll be hapyto reunion with the skinnier me-I have missed HER for a long time! I miss feeing sexy and I miss looking in the mirror and feeling happy with thereflection staring back at me.

You're right- I need some nagging! lol And I know the vitamins are important. Today I was better with not drinking after a meal. After reading your response I am going to take my vitamins! I need a small vitamin-I take 2 huge chewable now so that's why I don't like them. I need to get a small pill or I heard some people say gummy vitamins are good.

I agree that GNC Total Lean Swiss Choc. is great tasting! Not thick, like some shakes and not that horrible after taste either! You can try 1 to see if you like it before purchasing more-some GNCs even have a fridge with a cold one in them! You can bend it with ice and a half of a banana for extra Protein (althought it has 25 grams of protein already (plus 23 vitamins). When I blend it with ice I put a dollop of cool whip on top to make it like a shake! I have found carnation instant breakfast packs great in the blender with skim milk and ice - if you wantto up your protein and a half scoop of

In my mind, based on my research, I am thinking it will take at least 8 weeks post surgery to get the bal rolling with the band. I watched a few YouTube videos of peope whio post every week and they all seem to have gone the 'Bandster Hell" period for an extended period of time. The all reached that frustration stage too where they doubt the band process. In the end they all lost lots of weight-lots! I am not sure how many fills you have had so far. But another Bandster posted that her doc. said it's like blowing up a balloon-once it has air in it -it only take a small amount (fill) to have a greater impact. .5 cc can be just enough-some people had that much taken out because of problems and it made a huge difference. If it was your first fill I woud say it's not enough...but if it's your 3rd or 4th fill that sounds right. Hang in there-your ride is just beginning and this time next year you'll be skinny!!

Okay-had the first fill and feel some restriction-which is great!! However I did manage to eat a smallish steak last night-I surprised myself! I definitely eat less with this fill, yet I know I need another fill to get to the right kind of restriction. This first fill had definitely helped though! I haven't been good about waiting before drinking after I eat-I am going to work on that for sure! Also drinking water and getting protein in-that's why I feel so tired all the time! I might need to have a protein shake in the mornings to help! I also stopped taking vitamins-bad I know! New goals are to watch the water, up the protein, and take my vitamins! Good news is I am down a size!! Very happy about that! My next fill is July 22nd and I think that may get me a lot closer to the promised land/band!

I have a low threshold for pain. When I woke up in recovery my first thought was "I'm aive!" then my next thought was that I was in a lot of pain. They woudn't take me to my room until the pain was managed. They really worked with me to increase the pain meds (morphine) which helped. But I was thinking this procedure is NOT reversable because I couldn't imagine gong through this pain again. I had the pump and used it all night which hinders the ability to really get up and walk around a lot, plus the pains meds make you sick. 24 hours later I was feeling so much better and had no trouble sleeping (with the help of pain meds). Within 2 days I wasn't taking pain meds and was feeling good. I had no gas pains at all.

I had my fill last Thursday and I feel full after eating much smaller amounts. Not full like I am stuffed, but rather the kind of full that I don't need or want to eat more. Depennding what I eat I am full for several hours. I think it's important for me to remember to eat solid proteins and avoid sliders. I am so use to sliders that I have to stop and eat protein first. I hope it lasts until my next fill in 4 weeks, but that's not the way to bet! Good luck to you!

What is a Pandora? Is there a link? I have decided once I hit Onderland I am getting some nails! I use to have them and thought they added to a sexy look! I am also going to get myself to a sexy pair of knee high leather boots-once the calves are skinnier! Victoria's Secret-matching bra and panties- wow, that will be an accomplishment for sure! I told my hubby that he needs to buy me a new wardrobe once I get skinny-I am saving him a lot of $$ by eating and drinking less! Once I reach goal I think a tatoo would be great even though I am 48! For my 50th birthday I plan to be skinny (a year and a haf away) and take a trip to Italy!