olivepickles

So yesterday was my 6 month ban-anniversary. In six months I have lost 65 pounds and dropped 4 sizes. I am leaving for vacation to Europe in 3 weeks. All of this would not have been possible without my band. This has not been the easiest journey but I am lucky. Lucky I have had no issues with the band. I work out 4x a week and keep within my calorie limit using my fitness pal. I am hitting a bit of a wall with the diet I know it will pass. I think I need a fill I haven’t had one since November. I sometimes feel this head hunger is never going to leave me. Head hunger is my biggest struggle. I easily can 4 hours or more between eating and when I starting eating it is like I am starving. I am glad my band lets me know when it is time to stop. I am hoping in the next 6 months I will have this head hunger beat and keep up my weight loss, I am half way to my goal. The band is the best decision I have made ever and I wish I would have done it sooner.

Having the band is work. If you have not worked thru any food issues you have the band will not work. i hear things like i paid to much to be on a diet. You will be on a diet and will have to follow it for sucess. Some people lose weight slower and because they have the band think the weight is going to fall off. Weight doesnt come off fast for some with the band. I think because the weight loss is slow for some, people give up on the band. I track every calorie i eat and work out 4x a week i am losing a 1 to 2 pounds a week. I still have head hungry issues but i am very aware now when/what i eat.

i am going to London, Paris and Madrid. Yes i feel so much in picures and i just feel so much better with engergy as well

i am taking Biotin too. my hair is starting to thin now i was banded in August. i have been told this is totally normal and should get better in a few months. I always make sure my protein intake is high everyday. i also bought some shampoo for thining hair it seems to help

i weigh my self everyday. i record the weight once a week mine day is Saturday then i can look back and see how my eating was and repeat a week if it was a good weight loss

i think you should go as long as you can without a fill. Ask your doctor what he/she thinks but there are many people on this board who have lost a lot weight without a fill. I am not so lucky i have had 4 fills and i think i need one more tweak to get to the green zone Good luck and great job losing 24 pounds

i am 3 months post op and so far this is the best choice i have ever made. it is work and band is a tool i have to do the work. i am sure this time the weight will stay off. I tell everyone about my band i really don’t worry about what others think. i can see where people fail their band it’s all about choices. I would worry with hypothyroidism if weight loss could be a struggle with the band. i have read many people with hormone imbalances have a hard time the band I have a few friends who have had WLS surgery and the one who had the band 4 years ago is the only one keeping her weight off. My friend who had bypass 8 years ago is starting to gain weight again good luck in you journey

i was banded 8/10/2011 and since then i have lost 47 pounds

8 bags of sugar

thanks for the information!

My cost was $9,900 my minimum payment is $235 if you go to the care credit website breakdown payments and options but every doctor is different on which option they will give you on the care credit because it does cost them money to take the care credit

i agree myfitness pal is the best thing to help track. you can over eat calories on mushies measure everything out. I was 4 week post op until i felt hungry so transition was not hard. I still don’t have restriction yet 8 weeks out so my challenge is pushing away and to stop myself . i did plateau a bit when i went to mushies and then solids but exercise helped me over the plateau.

Congrats!! What an accomplishment

I am in Texas too. i used care credit so far so good i received the low interest over 4 years i am making double payments because it i went that route it would be $3,000 in interest. I set up auto pay to prevent any forgetting on my part. My Mom used care credit for some dental work and she said it was fine. I dont care if i do have to pay on this awhile it has been the best thing i have done i just wish i would have done it sooner

Congrats Kim! I am in Austin i am 7 weeks post op and doing great this is the best thing i have done i am down 32 pounds. It is work but the results make you keep going.

everyone is different but my gallbladder post op pain was horrible and it took 6 weeks for me to fill better. My lapband surgery was a breeze the hardest part is the diet. the port pain is odd and uncomfortable. walk as much as you can it has taken me about 4 weeks to feel back to normal. i am 6 weeks post opt now and feeling great

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Congrats the lap band so far is the best thing I have ever done I am only 8 weeks post opt. The surgery was a piece of cake for me. I walked a bunch which helps with the gas pain. I would get chewable Vitamins, gas-x strips, pill splitter and a baby spoons for after surgery. I did Atkins before surgery also. You can have sugar free Jello, eggs, cheese, meat and some vegetables. Some Protein shakes are low carb. I could only have 20 total carbs per day not net. This is confusing because all the Atkins products load up Fiber to offset carb total. i used my fitness pal to track my total carbs it helps. They are lots of recipes online. I was eating a lot of steak and eggs. I also cleaned out my fridge and pantry it helps not to have all the carb stuff around. Good Luck!

I am 4 weeks post opt and i had my first fill today and I don't know why I was nervous it was over and done in 10 minutes. My doctor pulled all the fluid from my band to get a starting point and then added 1cc. So now in 14cc band I have 6cc. Had a glass of water and was on my way. My port feels a little sore now but I still don't feel a true restriction. On to 24 hours of liquids and more weight loss

i am 4 weeks post op and i have had those feelings too. I had a friend who had this surgery in May and she warned me about this stage it will get better. i am trying to keep busy in other things than food so i dont think about it as much. I am at soft foods stage and the head hungry and feeling like i am missing out is slowing leaving But i feel real hungry setting in so that worries me

i have a 14cc band my doctor said average is 7cc to 8 cc till green zone in the 14cc bands everyone is different. i am going for my first fill this week i am hoping i can get to the green zone sooner but i know it can be a slow process at least in our heads its slow

Name, real or screen~ Olivia Age~ 34 Weight on September 1st~ 312.6 Goal Weight for September 29th~ 300 Exercise Goal for September~ start a program with a trainer 10,000 steps a day Dietary Goal for September~ water and keep logging on my fitness pal Personal Goal for September~ make more time for my husband and relax Date Banded~ 08/11/2011 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~ 20 lbs

i had my 2 week post opt follow up today and i am down 20 pounds. I found out i have a 14 cc band is that a good thing or a bad thing? I also know this is a hard part until i am in the green zone i am using my fitness pal to start tracking my mushies. my engery is starting to come back so the weekend is looking good