SaraWalk

March Bandsters!!! How is everyone doing?? I am not exactly were I thought i would be, I am pretty sure i need a fill, and hope to get one soon. But it is happening very slowly! I like to see it goin down instead of up Hope everyone is feeling good and has enjoyed their summer!

I understand where you're at!
I've had a lot of stuck episodes lately even though nothing has changed as far as fills or what I'm eating. I find that I'm "tighter" in the morning so I still stick to a Protein shake in the AM but I'll blend it with Peanut Butter to get the extra Protein and better flavor.
And as long as I don't let myself get too hungry, I'm ok. Just have to eat so darn slow. And over a long period of time, like an hour to finish a salad with grilled chicken.
My weight loss has definitely slowed down which feels frustrating until I look at pictures of myself from January and happily don't recognize that fat face!
Hang in there March Bandsters!

Monday July 23, 2012
Breakfast-1 hard boiled egg and 3 cups of coffee with sugar free caramel macchiato liquid coffee creamer
Snack-1/2 cup cottage cheese with crushed pineapple
Lunch-Egg salad and 10 saltine crackers
Snack-Hard boiled egg and string cheese
Snack before workout: strawberry EAS Protein Shake mixed with pb2
Dinner-Grilled chicken, small baked potato, corn, and 18 mini rice cakes
Dessert-Sugar free chocolate pudding with a small banana
64 oz of water-COMPLETED
20 mins on Eliptical and worked out chest and triceps-COMPLETED
Calories:1175 (net)
Fat: 60 grams
Carbs: 142
Protein: 107

Hi everyone I havent been on here in a long time but wanted to share my progress. So i had my surgery June 18 2012 a little over a week to having my band for one year. And I feel great..
My beginning weight was 288
Day of surgery weight 272
Todays weight 205
I have lost 83 pounds I feel great, 30 more to go and im at my goal weight I love my band i have not had one problem so far , just wanted to share, good luck to everyone on your journey its a journey well worth it.

@Jenny: I could have written this myself! This is precisely what I'm experiencing, too.
Re fat: I make sure to add some avocado to my meal, or some cheese to get in some fat. It helps keep me satisfied and has some benefits such as less-dry skin and hair.< /p>
Re meat: I can only tolerate moist hamburger, too...no other red meats. That's ok; I'm don't miss steak or pork anyway.
Re not waiting until one is starving to eat: my biggest battle, too. Waiting far too long for lunch today, and, as you described, ended up starving AND in pain. My chest still hurts, in fact, and I'm still starving.
Must.slow.down. and must not arrive at the table soooo hungry.

WOOHOOO I lost another lb and I have lost a 1 inch in the waist, 7 inches in the ab, and 2 inches off the thighs.... Yeah me every inch means the world to me now that it is gone!!! Yeah Me!!! :wub:

Hey Banded1979
My BIGGEST complant about surgery prep is that no one mentioned the shoulder pain! It was rough for me too, it lasted about 2 weeks after surgery but I got used to it after the first week and it was less sharp but still constant.
I've read others who said it lasted longer for them. But I promise, it won't kill you! It just sucks.
Also, I still get that shoulder pain. If I drink too much liquid too fast, or fill up my stomach too much, bam! the sharp shoulder pain is back. It only lasts a couple hours and honestly, it's the best signal I have for learning what the right amount of food is for me.
Hang in there! You were banded on my birthday, it's obviously a great sign

Banded March 8,2013 I have not shared too much of anything. I have been hard on myself for my weaknesses. But this past week I was able to put a button up blouse on that I love and had not been able to wear comforatably because the buttons looked like they were going to pop. I have had a bad week eating wise but Thursday when I tried that shirt on and was able to button it and had room to spare OMGoodness, I was on cloud nine. My scale is my worst enemy, but I realized that what I have not lost in lbs, I have lost in inches . So this morning I was dressing and was able to get into a pair of size 20 jeans that a month ago I could not get my hips past the waist band. Honestly so very happy to see that I am making progress, and then my OH so brutally honest 14 year old daughter said "Wow mom I can really see where you have lost some weight." So yeah me and all the bandsters that are making progress on this journey! We Can Do This!!!!

My Dr. doesn't use it. But it's nice to see other people from Washington on here

Where do you live? My doctor does fills under flouro. He's in Federal Way at Virginia Mason. 253-874-1604

I can't answer about any specific locations in your area, but the actual fluoro process doesn't have anything to do with your band. It's just a machine they use to SEE your restriction level and view correct placement, etc of your band. Think of it like a live xray. You just drink a contrasting liquid (barium solution in my case) while the doctor watches it go down.
Here's a link from my docs office describing it. http://www.hoab.org/...louis-missouri/

Great job!
I got my first fill last week, feel like i have a ways to go, gonna call tomorrow and get back in asap for another fill! Im ready to start loosing some weight!! My scale has barely moved in the last few weeks!! Its getting nice here, I need to get moving more too!

lol I am so right there with you. I am not sure if they put anything in my band to begin with but I have already had 2 fills. The first one they put in 2cc's they tried to do another 2cc's last Wednesday but I didnt even get to the parking lot before I lost the water I had drank. I had to go back in and have them take some out. No fun at all. I am finding it difficult to find the right balance of food and remembering to eat slow small bites. This is what always gets me. I get too hungry and then eat too fast. I am starting to see the scale move now. I go back every 3 weeks for a fill so hopefully I will start to see a greater difference soon.

Hi y'all! Banded 3/21/13 here. Down as of Friday at my first fill appt 15 lbs but after a weekend of liquids only I'm down another 5!! Filling good restriction and hoping to drop a little faster for a little bit. Being good logging food and walking.
Keepin' on keepin' on!!!
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Today I have accomplished a huge place in my journey. I finally am below the 300's and I am never going back! Surgery was 1-4-13 and I am down 40 pounds. It's slow, but I am learning more everyday.

So glad to hear that I am not alone this month. After such success the weeks before the surgery and the weeks after this stand still has been very frustrating. Trying to stay positive because I know have lost, I can get into clothes that have not fit in years and my coworkers have begun to notice and been so encouraging. Just wish the scale would move.
Go for my first fill on May 5th and my doctor had actually said at my last appt to just heal and try and keep the 25 pounds off. When he said it I was actually a bit miffed thinking he believed I will fail but maybe he was just warning me that the quick honeymoon was about to end and the real work to begin.
So glad I have my fellow bandsters to help keep me on track.

</p>Oh could I get started on that.... FLUORO fills are the ONLY way I know of where you take the guessing out of it and actually SEE what your restriction level is. Im not one here to beat up doctors, but think about this. IF your doctor says "you are at correct restriction because most people feel correct restriction at XXXcc's in their band", I'd be worried. There are thousands and thousands of folks on here. What's the one thing repeated so often? "everybodys different!!!!" What if your band isn't providing you correct restriction? How will they know, by guessing?? It doesn't have to be a guess! Fluoro fills are so simple, they just require a machine that most doctors don't readily have in their office. It's like a live xray, they adjust your band while they watch your restriction. As for why its not used more often? I think it eventually will be a standard. I hope so for the benefit of all. Heres a link to my surgeons page describing fluoro. http://www.hoab.org/...louis-missouri/</p></p>

I have 11cc in a 14cc band and I'm nearly there , next week having something like a 20cc put in as my nurse says that it's definitely nearly there. It's taken a long time to get there. But for me it's helped me understand my food addiction as its started to restrict . I realise for me it's not just about losing weight but changing my mindset as well. Something that I had not fully appreciated before hand. I have lost three stone in eight months and another five to go. This time it feels like I have found something that helps me but doesn't take the responsibility away from me.

Great info so far! Thank you so much, I just wanna get a good feel for what the average is! For those who havent hit that green zone yet, keep trying! I have an appointment for another fill on Wednesday, hope i can at least get 1 cc for a total of 7. At my last appointment they made it sound like any further fills would be pretty small, but im gonna have a talk with em!!

Wow! That's one of those things thin people take for granted! I'm happy for you! I'm waiting for the day I can see my collar bone

I was banded 3/12, down 30 lbs total, 15 was pre opp. I had a fill a couple of weeks ago 3 cc's, I've had 2 stuck episodes, it does pass, me too with a salad. I too, totally caved today & ate some m&ms not sure why, but I'm sure after a couple of months of being really good, I just wanted to cheat a little...I'm over it now & will be back on track no problem!

Hiya March Bandsters!
I was banded 3-21-13...and am now eating regular food. I find that I can eat pretty much anything- just have to make sure I chew it all up- REALLY WELL! I hae gotten "stuck" a couple times from eating too fast! NOT FUN! I currently have no saline in my band and am scheduled for my first fill on 5-3-13. I really struggled with being stuck at same weight for 2 weeks- but I am doing 1-2 Protein shakes a day to get going again! Lost almost 3 lbs last week! I know I gained this weekend because we were out of town for my middle son's DeMolay competition and obviously ate crappy food- but I did watch my portions! Small victories & silver linings!
I did do some side by side pics...of face this time! I think Im starting to see a difference!
Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

to all very good...

I was banded on March 28. I am exactly 29 days out. Doing good. Still on puréed until May 2. No fills yet... See my surgeon on May 13. I can't complain about the weight weight loss. Down 18 lbs.