BandedApril

Hey friends! Hope everyone is feeling fanastic is your new, smaller bodies! I was banded July 12 and am down 57 lbs (in about 16 weeks). I am no longer "plus size" and am anjoying shopping in all the "normal stores". I'm soooo happy I made this decision! What about you?? Please check in!

Name, real or screen~ April Age~ 32 Weight on October 1st~ 195.6 Goal Weight for October 29th~ 190.6 Exercise Goal for October~ 4x's a week Dietary Goal for October~ low carb Personal Goal for October~ stay away from starbuck's! Date Banded~ July 12, 2011 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~ 43 lbs

In my opinion, laxitives are probably going to be your best friend as long as you have a band. I am almost 3 months post op and have to take laxatives on a regular basis or else I don't go without them. When you eat so little food there's not much going on down there, so it could take while. I don't feel like waiting, and I don't lose weight unless I go!

Completely normal. Just drink what you can and don't worry about it. The swelling will go down before you reach the point of needing to be hospitalized.

Hey, friends! It's good to hear from everyone that has been checking in lately and I'm so happy for those of you seeing good results! For those of you feeling frustrated and challenged, just hang in there! I know that it seems slow-going, but if you can picture what youll look like in 9-12 months, it might help you keep motivated. I know that sometimes I stop and think I haven't lost much, but then I have to remind myself that it's not even been 2 months yet! Anyway, I have been doing great with the band and haven't had any problems so far. I am 7 1/2 weeks out and down 34 lbs. I guess my only complaint is CONSTIPATION - Grr! Onward and downward, my friends!

Hey, Nancy! I got my first fill recently and got .8 cc, which she said was "a lot" for a first fill, so I think .5 is probbaly about average. Have you noticed a difference? I haven't.

I am almost 6 weeks post op and as of today I am down 31 lbs! I haven't had a fill yet, but have an appt on Wednesday. I'm a little mervous about food possibly getting stuck, but looking forward to increasing my results. Just 9 lbs to go to get me to onederland. It's been years...SO EXCITED!

Just because you CAN eat that much, doesn't mean you should. The band is not going to stop you from overeating; that's YOUR job. You should limit your portions to 1/2 cup - 1 cup and bread should be a definite no-no. I'm concerned about your doctor not informing you on what and how much to eat, and I'm concerned that he said not to worry about losing weight????

Yeah, I think you should eat a little more, and drink water when you start to feel a little hungry. I do that and can usually push back my eating for another hour or so, although, it is fine to eat something every 3 to 4 hours. 3-4 hours is the "green zone". I bet eating a few more bites of food would get you there. I had the same problem and now try to eat about a half a cup.

Hello my July friends! I just wanted to drop in since today is my one month bandiversary! Here's what's been going on: I've been pretty much eating anything I want (crunchy, mushy, whatev) and haven't had any problems getting or keeping anything down. Still no PB's or stucks-- yay! I take (ridiculously) small bites and chew, chew, chew. Still working on eating slowly, and I think I'm getting a little better. I just get annoyed being the last one at the dinner table, so I usually just throw whatever food I have left in the trash. Whatever works, right? I eat no more than 1/2 cup at a time. I usually eat less, but have found that if I eat the full 1/2 cup portion, I stay full longer. So even though I lose interest after a few bites, I'm going to push myself to eat a little more so that I'm not thinking about food after 2 hours. Water intake: dismal. Why is it that I can chug down a grande iced mocha like it's going out of style but I'm doing good to get down 20oz of water in a day? Ugh. I hate water. I still have some soreness, particularly around the port area, so I haven't started exercising yet. The incisions are healing nicely though, so that's good. Looking forward to feeling 100% and hitting the gym. I was walking my dog this morning and a neighbor told me I was looking great. Um, awesome!! I could get used to this. And, drum roll please....25 lbs lost! Love. My. Lapband. April

Yes, I was craving a Diet Coke and ordered a small one at Sonic about a week ago. I had a few sips and was fine, but found it didn't quite satisfy me the way it used to. Maybe I've lost my taste for them. I figured that I really need to be trying to get in my Water, so why drink something that has no nutritional value?

Thanks! I know I need to work on eating more Protein, I just find that eating meat requires so much chewing that it bores me! ha I have some Protein Powder, so maybe I'll start adding that to foods. Staying full 5 -6 hours sounds great. Maybe if I Bump up my portions I'll stay full longer. I think right now I eat 1/4 to 1/2 cup, so it makes sense that it burns off quicker. Wel, I'm off to eat my eggs!

Hey bandsters! Thanks in advance for your input. I am one month post-op and ever since my surgery I get satisfied very quickly with my food. A few bites usually does the trick. No, I don't eat until I feel "full", but I eat until I'm not hungry anymore and lose interest in the food. I'm a little paranoid about PB'ing or stretching my pouch so I don't want to overdo it. Anyway, I'm just wondering if you think I'm maybe eating too little? I feel fortunate to not be plagued by hunger like some who haven't had a fill yet, and I feel like the band is doing what it's supposed to do by satisfying me after a few bites, but should I eat more? I eat every 3-4 hours, just a small amount at a time. Should I be worried about nutrition and such? I find it difficult to get in much protein/water, but overall I feel fine. Your thoughts? Anyone else feeling this way? BTW, I lost 24 lbs this first month.

Why would you think losing 26 lbs in a month is slow?? The band is not magic. You didn't put on 100 lbs in a month, so it isn't coming off in a month. Eat a small amount of healthy food everyday and you'll get there. But not next month. Just stay realistic and optimistic. I think positivity is a big part of this. Think yourself thin!!

I eat 1/2 cup. That's what I was told to do by my nut and that's how much some successful bandsters eat. It works for me, and sometimes I don't even finish the 1/2 cup because I simply don't want it. I'm satisfied and the weight is falling off!

Banded July 12. Today is my 3 week bandiversary and I am down 21 lbs from first consultation. I didn't do a liquid preop diet, so I only lost about 5 lbs doing the low carb thing. All the rest has come post-op, from the band doing it's job!

Congrats! That's amazing! Before you know it, you won't be able to shop at LB at all!!

Well, the stomach pain feels better today, but the side pain keeps making a reappearance. It tends to happen after I eat or drink and then try to start moving around. Maybe I just need to rest before being active. Walking does not help. It just makes it worse. Maybe if I walked long enough it would help, but it hurts too bad to keep going. I'm a wimp!

Cool! Maybe we'll meet up at one of the support meetings at True Results. I plan to go to the August one. You can probably move to a thicker liquid and be fine. I moved to full liquids early, and I moved to mushies early and have had no problems tolerating anything. Try a protein shake and see how you feel. I'm going to take it easy today. I think sometimes I forget that I just had surgery.

Looks like we had the same surgeon, Serifa! Are you in Austin also? Guys, I am now 16 days post-op and I was feeling amazing until today I don't know if I overdid it cleaning or what, but I started have pain in my stomach similar to those like when I was just a few days post-op. AND I have been getting weird pain in my lower side. Gas maybe? Not sure what to do? Hoping that as time goes on I can finally be pain free!

Man, what a bummer! I'm so sorry to hear about this. As someone else mentioned, you should have been on a very low carb, high Protein diet prior to surgery. Did you stick to the diet if recommended? My doctor mentioned that he had patients before who did not do the diet and he was unable to operate as well. If you give it another shot, and I think you should, I would ask the doctor about the pre-op diet. I wish you all the best!

Yeah, I'm a very nervous eater unless I'm eating liquids. I'm SO afraid of PB'ing or getting stuck. I'm hoping that as I get more comfortable with the band that I can learn to relax. Hope you enjoy your meal more than I did!

OMG, Amy. That's sucks! Hope they are able to fix your car cheaply and quickly! I'm so proud of you for recognizing the urge to eat and beating it. That's what this new lifestyle is all about.

4 hours at a jump place??!! After 2 hours I am dragging my son to the door! LOL Glad you feel better though! I moved to full liquids and mushies early and I've had no problems. It was definitely the right thing to do because I had no energy either.

Go, Shauna! Congrats!