sharonk

It was a huge Mystery for me too… And the only thing we could probably figure out was the fact that I started training in my sport and was working out very hard and my body may have just assimilated it. But back on track had one Fill and suddenly my body is back to where it was when I first got the surgery. Because I'm building lean muscle the weight-loss is slower but I'm losing inches and am at my pre-accident weight from a year ago when I crushed my arm. Have faith this was probably the best thing ever to happen and you may not have a leak it may just been your body absorbing it and you're getting a second chance to start all over

I feel the exact same way. I have had the band for three years now. First year was great but now its almost like I don't even have a band. I am reminded only when I eat something to fast and/or when I eat Pasta. Yes, I already know that those are two big no no's!! If I didn't know that then I would probably be commenting on a different string about why I am not losing weight. I already know why. I don't eat the right foods and too much of the wrong foods. I don't feel full because I'm eating carbs and not Protein.
The One thing I can say that I have stuck to, is exercise. I work out a min of 4 days a week and really try my best for 5-6 days. Of course I do slip here and there when there is a lot going on such as holidays but I do put more effort in then I ever did before the band.
I too just feel like a failure because I am not losing and I've recently put on 10lbs. I like control and structure in my life yet I can't seem to control my eating habits. Figures! Someone explain that to me. It's one the area I seem to always let my guard down. I never met my goal but hope one day I can still lose more weight. My goal right now is to lose the 10 + another 5. I would like to do that by Spring.
Good luck to all who are struggling. I too feel your pain and know what it's like.

I feel the exact same way. I have had the band for three years now. First year was great but now its almost like I don't even have a band. I am reminded only when I eat something to fast and/or when I eat Pasta. Yes, I already know that those are two big no no's!! If I didn't know that then I would probably be commenting on a different string about why I am not losing weight. I already know why. I don't eat the right foods and too much of the wrong foods. I don't feel full because I'm eating carbs and not Protein.
The One thing I can say that I have stuck to, is exercise. I work out a min of 4 days a week and really try my best for 5-6 days. Of course I do slip here and there when there is a lot going on such as holidays but I do put more effort in then I ever did before the band.
I too just feel like a failure because I am not losing and I've recently put on 10lbs. I like control and structure in my life yet I can't seem to control my eating habits. Figures! Someone explain that to me. It's one the area I seem to always let my guard down. I never met my goal but hope one day I can still lose more weight. My goal right now is to lose the 10 + another 5. I would like to do that by Spring.
Good luck to all who are struggling. I too feel your pain and know what it's like.

Oh goodness...i can SO relate to this!
I have been banded since July 18th 2012 and have gone in for quite a few fills.
I have the realize band also and if i remember correctly, I'm at 5 or 6 c.c. My last fill was Dec 11 and it was done under fluoroscopy. I requested this because I was concerned i wasnt feeling any differences between the 1 c.c. fills and that the Dr was unable to withdraw the previously added c.c.s. Everything seemed to check out.
Since the last fill i have only noticed that i get stuck episodes more easily if i eat too fast. I can still eat anything i want. (I know i shouldn't so know need to barate me on that comment. :/ )
Any who, i work out 4-5 days a week and haven't lost a lb since early December. I have my next appt scheduled for feb 21st. Each time i go in for a fill i pray it will be the magical fill that will have me only wanting that 1/2 cup of food. Sometimes reading this forum is discouraging because you hear some people say that there is no specific green zone but then sometimes i just need to know that other people may be feeling the same way i do! Good luck to you all!

Feels good

Hi everyone.... On my last thread I had asked if anyone tried the 5 Day Pouch Test? Well... I did. It works... I'm back on track now. No more carb cravings and taught me to measure foods again. Even though I was following my doctors plan I must have just been missing that one step. I even lost 2.8 lbs. That alone finally gave me the confidence and push that I need to not give up to keep moving forward!!!! I even tried Zumba for the first time and it felt great!!!!
I highly recommend the 5DPT for anyone that is struggling or just needs a reset!!! Big shout out to the author Kaye Bailey..thank you!!!!

Girl just say it. Nurse or no Nurse. .

I remember when I was in my 20's stepping off of a bus, an elderly woman walked right up to me and said "drink warm Water first thing in the moring and put a fresh lemon in it every day"... I really had no clue what she was talking about, in fact I just chalked it up to another crazy lady, LOL.
Soooo, for the past 4 days I have been drining a lot of Lemon & Water. In the morning warm, and during the day ice cold. I really am enjoying the flavor in my plain water and the way its making me feel..
My research found 10 Reasons why we should drink Lemon & Water (in the morning): The water added to the lemon juice should be lukewarm, or hot lemon water:
1. Boosts your immune system: Lemons are high in Vitamin C, which is great for fighting colds. They’re high in potassium, which stimulates brain and nerve function. Potassium also helps control blood pressure.
2. Balances pH: Drink lemon water everyday and you’ll reduce your body’s overall acidity. Lemon is one of the most alkaline foods around. Yes, lemon has citric acid but it does not create acidity in the body once metabolized.
3. Helps with weight loss: Lemons are high in pectin Fiber, which helps fight hunger cravings. It also has been shown that people who maintain a more alkaline diet lose weight faster.
4. Aids digestion: Lemon juice helps flush out unwanted materials. It encourages the liver to produce bile which is an acid that required for digestion. Efficient digestion reduces heartburn and Constipation.< /span>
5. Is a diuretic: Lemons increase the rate of urination in the body, which helps purify it. Toxins are, therefore, released at a faster rate which helps keep your urinary tract healthy.
6. Clears skin: The Vitamin C component helps decrease wrinkles and blemishes. Lemon water purges toxins from the blood which helps keep skin clear as well. It can actually be applied directly to scars to help reduce their appearance.
7. Freshens breath: Not only this, but it can help relieve tooth pain and gingivitis. The citric acid can erode tooth enamel, so you should monitor this. I admit, I’m slightly worried about it.
8. Relieves respiratory problems: Warm lemon water helps get rid of chest infections and halt those pesky coughs. It’s thought to be helpful to people with asthma and allergies too.
9. Keeps you zen: Vitamin C is one of the first things depleted when you subject your mind and body to stress. As mentioned previously, lemons are chock full of Vitamin C.
10. Helps kick the coffee habit: After I have a glass of hot lemon water, I actually don’t crave coffee in the morning. This is weird, I can’t explain it, but I’ll take it.

I was banded on February 7, 2012 my starting weigh was 250 pounds, I wore a size 22 and my BMI was 37.

Today I weigh 171 (lost 79 pounds), I wear a size 10 and my BMI is normal at 25!
stacy.bmp

Just got back from my appointment with my surgeon...from the moment I walked into the office I received nothing but
praise and compliments from all the office staff on how well I looked...there were 2 Med students there who came out to see what all the talk was about...
After an introduction and a little background story from the Nurse...one Med Student said "You're a runner! I can tell...you can always tell a runner a mile away...it shows!"
Back in Exam room with the Dr., weighed in...gained 1 lb in 6 months...he looked at me with a big smile and said what did you expect? You don't have an oz. of fat on your body...there's nothing left to loose!
Just keep on doing what you're doing...it definitely worked!
There is nothing else I can do for you, unless you think you're having a problem...then call me...
It's been 2 years....I wish I had done this sooner....to be honest, I never felt it would be this successful...sure, I knew I would loose weight...but for the Dr. (and everyone else there) to say
I look fantastic, and that I cannot possibly loose anymore???
It's also a big relief to know that everything I have been doing, everything I eat and drink, all the exercise...has been 100% SPOT ON!
And confirmed to keep right on doing everything the way I am now used to...
Words cannot describe how great I feel right now!!!!
NO MORE DIETS!!! NO MORE WORRYING ABOUT GAINING WEIGHT!
Just live the new life!!!
To all the newbies out there that may be reading this, I just want to say that THIS THING DOES WORK!!! All THE WAY!

I guess everything looks the same on the phone app... I don't see any different colors or fonts

I thought I'd share this. Cheap, simple, easy, and packed with Protein.< /p>
http://sleevedinthecity.blogspot.com/2013/01/weight-watchers-faux-cheesecake.html?m=1

I agree. People said the same thing to me. They thought i wasnt heavy enough. I was 239 lb at 5'4. Go with your heart and what your body is telling you!

I agree. People said the same thing to me. They thought i wasnt heavy enough. I was 239 lb at 5'4. Go with your heart and what your body is telling you!

Why did you have this WLS? Did you do your research before hand?
Maybe I should say, "What do you expect the band to do for you?" You went through all the preperation, anxiety, hassle, and perhaps out of pocket $$....
All that, and to what end??
There can be 1000's of people on this forum at any one time...and as you read all (many) of the posts you can read just as any different "Opinions"
I have read:
**You should be able to eat anything anytime, the band should not stop you from eating, and should not take away certain foods...
**You need to measure/weigh your portions, food passes through the band quickly and does not prevent over eating
**Hunger is normal and good, and should be expected.....
Also, you read all the time people saying "I need a fil"...I know why I wanted/needed a fill....but I wonder what other people expect?
I can go on, but that's all that comes to mind at 5am...For the NEW PEOPLE reading the posts on this forum, all this information must be VERY CONFUSING....
Myself, I'm somewhat glad I found this website AFTER I had surgery and AFTER I did my research ad maade up my mid why I was doing this.....
Perhaps people can chime in and explain "Why did you have this surgery?" and "What are your expectations?"
And please don't say "to loose weight", that's obvious....I mean HOW do expect the band to get you to loose weight.....
I had certain expectations of what the band would, and should accomplish, and to this day I still hold firm on those expectations and was not pleased with this surgery untill I acheived that level of satisfaction...
And for myself, I will not compromise for anything else...but that's me....other people have different expectations....
Well, just a thought I woke up with this am, finished my 2nd cup of coffee...took a Protein shot, my Vitamins and supplements, heading out to the Gym ( in the snow) to be there when they open at 6am on weekends....5am on weekdays....
I am, as I'm sure others are, curious as to what people think/expect this band to do for them, and how......

I'm down 125lbs in two years and had a Tummy Tuck heres my before and after pictures.

[ATTACH]25561[/ATTACH]

I just wanted to tell my experience with "the green zone".
I feel like I'm in the green zone. I eat about 1 cup of food a meal, do my Protein first. I could very easily eat more but I choose not to. I can go 3-4 hours without feeling hungry. But, if I'm bored I start thinking "what can I eat?" (bordom eater!) Evenings are the hardest. This hasn't changed and it never will. I have to battle the head every day.
I have also found that if I don't eat enough Protein I get hungry sooner and eat a lot more.
I don't think the green zone is as easy as some say. It's not for me anyway. I battle the head everyday.
Good luck to everyone.

if your weight loss is slow. I was banded over 2 years ago, and I only loose around 3 - 5 pounds per month on average. It has been a painfully slow process, and at times I get discouraged because it hasn't happened faster. It dawned on me a few months ago that from where I started until today, my life has dramatically changed. I can now ride rollercoasters without fear that I won't fit in a seat. I sometimes even have a hard time finding myself in pictures of the new me.
If the weight loss is slow, just keep at it. The weight will eventually come off if you follow the plan and exercise. I like to say that over 2 years I have not gained any weight. My scale keeps moving in the right direction. That is the best I can do.

You know, I got on this site hoping to get answers from people just like me but instead of feeling comfortable, I am afraid of being honest or feeling like I am going to be judged if I make a mistake, ask a stupid question or make a comment about my experience so far with the band. Let's take this post for example, she says she is happy she got stuck and people act like she has lost her mind instead of educating her in a nicer way. She said she was eating tacos and she is made to feel like she committed a sin. She says she is going 70mph and suddenly the post is fake. Let's get real, if we are on here is because we all overate, ate the wrong things more frequently than not and probably didn't do much exercise so to make someone feel bad about their choices or comments is pretty hypocritical to me. It's not what you say more than how you deliver your message.
We are here to motivate and support each other not repremand or judge each other.
P.S: this is not meant for "all" who posted on here, only for some as well as others in other posts I've read.

okay people, stop reading into it so much, if you have no sense of humor then don't respond! :-) Anyway, I got my 4th fill of .5 cc and im almost completely in the "green zone"!! Down a total of 22 lbs in 4 months! Good luck everyone!

I've been eating more than I know I should, too. I'm trying to stop, but I feel guilty, which makes me want to eat more because I feel bad. So I'm trying to stop the negative spiral. I was doing so good the last few weeks, I want to get back there. Just gotta do it. Urges are so frustrating, and I've been quite cranky lately! This forum has helped me so much and encourages me to keep pushing forward.

I too had my first fill recently, 8/23 to be exact. I am ashamed at my eating habits right now!
I started off strong (239lbs down to 211lbs) within the first three weeks of surgery. 16 lbs down just from the preop. At this point i have been fluctuating between -26-28 lbs.
I already know i need another fill because i have been eating a little more than i think i should. Granted it IS less than what i used to eat pre-band. But i also have ate Pasta and have used flatbread with my tuna. I have also snuck in a piece of apple pie with reg vanilla ice cream two nights in a row this week. I feel horrible for making these choices!!
My Dr said at my first fill apt to come back in two months and we will see where im at but i think I'm only going to go a month and try to get back in for a small fill the 1st part of October. At least i hope too!!
As for my food choices, i will continue to fight the urges to the best of my ability.
Good luck to you!

Just on the side of telling people- i get tired of explaining what it is and what it is about....its like i constantly have to repeat myself and it gets annoying. I have told most people close to me....only a few at work.