MrsRicco80

So happy to see everyone doing great I officially got my first fill Friday hurt like hell they couldn't access my port but eventually got it. I feel no restriction from it. However I am down 41 lbs since February 23 and I am over the moon excited!! Hope everyone keeps up the great work Go February bandsters!!!!

So happy to see everyone doing great I officially got my first fill Friday hurt like hell they couldn't access my port but eventually got it. I feel no restriction from it. However I am down 41 lbs since February 23 and I am over the moon excited!! Hope everyone keeps up the great work Go February bandsters!!!!

Luvbug, please don't feel discouraged. I was banded on Feb 1st, and I've "only" lost 25 lbs. I, too, have days when I look at how much other people are losing and I wonder why that's not me, but it's really important to remind yourself (and myself!) that comparisons aren't helpful. Try to keep these few things in mind:
Everyone has a different body and a different metabolic rate. Personally, my metabolism is positively sluggish. Not only is weight loss always slow for me, so is everything else, like metabolizing drugs. They take noticeably longer to pass through my system than they're supposed to. Part of that may be my decades of yoyo dieting, but part of it is likely genetic. Maybe your metabolism is also on the slow side.
The heavier a person is at the time of surgery, they faster they will lose weight afterward. I started with a BMI of around 43, so fairly high but not in the realm of needing to lose 200 lbs. Heavier people lose faster.
Men lose faster, the jerks! (Just kidding!!!!) People with more muscle mass lose faster. That's just one of those truths you can't change.
Outside medical conditions can slow weight loss, for instance PCOS (which I have) is notorious for making it difficult to lose. Certain medicines can slow down the rate of loss, as well.
The same methods don't work the same way for everyone. For example, I see people losing on 400-600 calories a day. If I drop much below a thousand, my weight loss stops. I also see people losing on 1500 calories a day. If I go above 1250, my weight loss stops. Also, I lose more if I don't eat the same number of calories day in and day out. If I vary with some low days and some high days, I lose more. Some people lose better on high protein/low carb, but I do not. If I cut my carbs too low, not only do I feel physically not as healthy, but my weight loss slows down. Some people exercise an hour a day every day. Some people exercise not at all. I'm in the middle. You need to experiment with what works for you.
And finally, slowing slowly but steadily is not a bad thing. All of the literature on weight loss with the band suggests that 1-2 lbs a week is the goal amount to lose. Not only is this healthy and relatively "easy" to achieve, but it also means that the body and organs--most particular the largest organ the SKIN--have more time to adjust to the lose. That means slow losers are likely to have LESS excess skin than those who lose super fast. So look on the bright side on that one.
The bottom like is that I understand how hard it is to remember all this when you see people who were banded 2 months after you and have already lost twice as much weight, but that doesn't make any of it less than true. It IS true, and in the end, I don't care how fast I lose this weight. I just want to lose it forever.
Hope some of this helps. Good luck.

It's so true that we are all individuals, and no two of us will have an identical journey with weight loss.

There are 3 things which I have noticed which will slow my weight loss: 1. Not drinking enough free fluids (SF, calorie free) of your choice. and 2. Not eating enough Protein, and 3. Not exercising.

I have also noticed that with approx. every 10 pounds lost, I will hit a plateau. When that happens a full 5-7 days will pass and I will not loose any weight at all. You have to remain compliant with your diet, and persevere, knowing that this is only temporary.

Emotionally, it is not a good idea to compare your rate of weight loss with others. That can set you up to feel discouraged, not where you need to be.

It has helped me to be nearly 100% compliant with the diet recommended by my surgeon. I avoid processed foods, have fresh vegetables and fruit, and cook vegetables by steaming them, and lean Protein, mostly chicken and fish. I was encouraged to experiment with seasonings, but not to add any sugar or fat to my meals. I also limit the complex carbs I was addicted to, to one 2 oz. serving a day.

I believe it is very important to point out that my dietitian told us to never count calories, only make good food choices, and measure everything strictly by volume after cooking. Each meal is 3-4 oz of protein and 2 oz of a Fiber carb. If you fall short of meeting your daily protein goals, supplement with a Protein shake made with 1% milk. My protein goal, as determined by my dietitian, is for 32 grams daily.

I hope to get my first fill on May 9 to help with the hunger I begin to experience around 3 hours after eating. I have been using my hunger as a tool to remind me to drink Water between meals, not very satisfying, but it keeps me hydrated.

Yes, sometimes I think about how boring this diet can be, but then I bring everything into a healthier perspective. For me, it is far more important to loose weight than it is to have an endless variety of different food choices in any quantity desired for a few minutes a day during meal times.

I hope that this information will help...we are all doing a good job with weight loss, so Celebrate that, and stay focused on your goals.

There are so many of us who are repeating the same story, we can't ALL be wrong! We all had our fills in February; some but not all of us have had fills; most have lost some weight, but are stalled at the moment. Many are getting discouraged. Here's the story - we can't ALL be wrong! This must be the way it works. So many people say you have to get in your "green" zone or hit the "sweet spot." We just aren't there yet and have to be patient! I, too, had surgery in February (Feb 23). I have lost about 20 pounds total, but only two in the last month. Got a good talkin' to by the Physician's assistant when I got my first fill, but honestly, the reason most of us are overeating is because we can't control this without help, and with no restriction or not enough restriction, the help isn't there! I've found myself more than once saying, well, geez, I don't feel any restriction, I might as well just eat - and that I did. So we need to band together and know that it's going to come off. Next year at this time we'll all be sharing our SKINNY PICS! FEBRUARY BANDSTERS ROCK!!!!!!!!

So, while I am ecstatic about being able to have "soft foods", the weight loss has slowed way down... , despite exercising 5-6 days a week. My husband is much happier now also since we have been able to resume our date nights and go places again!
Today I was thrilled to have discovered the PERFECT meal for a bandster...a Kid's meal at Wendy's!! It consisted of grilled chicken nuggets (came with 4, though I only ate 3 of them, and a side order of fresh fruit(more than my allowed 2 oz, so my husband finished it)! Awesome!!
Life is starting to look and feel more normal now:) Signs of progress...now wearing my smaller size clothing again.
Life is good!! Keep up the excellent work, and please continue to share all of the great and inspiring success stories with the rest of us...

Hi everyone love to hear all us February bandsters doing great!!! I just went in to see my dr. For my second two week check up cant believe it's been a month since my surgery!!! Well I am down 26 lbs and in an 18 loosely I put on my 16 but they are a little snug. Hope to be able to shop in the women section and plus size by the summer. I was feeling hungry a while ago but I listen to sojourner and bumped it up in the Protein area and it worked!!! I walk 30 min a day 5 times a week but it's all uphill walking. Thanks to this site for support Might not post often but I read all the threads. Keep up all the hard work everyone we can do it . Oh by the way no fills yet my next app is next month then they will see if I need one

Hi everyone love to hear all us February bandsters doing great!!! I just went in to see my dr. For my second two week check up cant believe it's been a month since my surgery!!! Well I am down 26 lbs and in an 18 loosely I put on my 16 but they are a little snug. Hope to be able to shop in the women section and plus size by the summer. I was feeling hungry a while ago but I listen to sojourner and bumped it up in the Protein area and it worked!!! I walk 30 min a day 5 times a week but it's all uphill walking. Thanks to this site for support Might not post often but I read all the threads. Keep up all the hard work everyone we can do it . Oh by the way no fills yet my next app is next month then they will see if I need one

i was banded 2/17, am down 35 pounds and go in 3/26 for first post op appt

My 4 yr old said to me while shopping mommy we don't need to get Oreo Cookies I know it hard for you to have bad stuff in our house. My heart melted. These kids absorb all that's going on around them. Yes we all did the right decision cause we did it for our children. For us to be here for them and in the mean time our household is getting a healthy turn around too!!!

I love this! My 14yr old daughter asked if she can have a smoothie for Breakfast before school now instead of toaster waffles! She says "I't so much better for me!"
Those tiny moments that make us proud! lol

greater than ourselves..it constitutes a source of help in areas where we fail. There is plenty of initiative that we have to take. A person in 12 step SHARES their experience, STRENGTH and hope with others to aid them in getting strong themselves. One relies where one is weak in order to become strong. It is not blindly following and giving up one's personality and living under food nazis or food police. There are extreme 12 step groups which have a very strict guideline which is not for all..some need that, but not all do..there are many avenues and branches of 12 step.
Please explore if you are interested, and find the group that is right for you.
I would recommend going to the OA website and the local library and securing some of the basic literature.
12 step teaches self control and also personal responsibility, yet with a mutual reliance , going hand in hand helping and receiving help. No way is it a 'palming off '. I think reading the basic literature of OA will give you more of a positive understanding of the average 12 step recovery program.

So today I am 5 days post op and last night I finally slept in my bed rather than the couch in a sitting up position. I felt great this morning but now the gas pains have starting once again. It is a great feeling to be banded and that part over I am down 17 lbs since my pre op visit. Just wanted to wish the rest of the February bandsters good luck!!!

So today I am 5 days post op and last night I finally slept in my bed rather than the couch in a sitting up position. I felt great this morning but now the gas pains have starting once again. It is a great feeling to be banded and that part over I am down 17 lbs since my pre op visit. Just wanted to wish the rest of the February bandsters good luck!!!

Yes, MrsRicco80 Cheers! To watching our children grow and being able to run after them

Thank God I found this forum I had the only crying fit last night and this morning. I feel as if i made a selfish decision cause now I can't hold my lil one for two weeks. Can't cuddle my big guy cause I am scared he could kick my incisions ( after all he is only 3 yrs old). My hubby thinks I am nuts cause I've cried everyday since having my surgery on the 23. I just wanted to do this to be healthy for my boys. Please let the next two weeks fly. I am sending good thoughts to all of u.

I am officially on the other side lol the banded side the operation went great and my lapband is in place and functioning. My dr also did a stomache plication they have found it to work in aiding the band. Best of luck to all those banded and still awaiting banding. If anyone has any questions I would love to help the best I can. Mi hope we all have an amazing journey into skinnyville lol

I am officially on the other side lol the banded side the operation went great and my lapband is in place and functioning. My dr also did a stomache plication they have found it to work in aiding the band. Best of luck to all those banded and still awaiting banding. If anyone has any questions I would love to help the best I can. Mi hope we all have an amazing journey into skinnyville lol

Hello all, glad to hear everyone is doing great. I hope those that had their surgeries today do as well. Mrs. Brown, that is a bummer about your surgery but maybe your doctor knows a sleeve will be better for you for some reason.
I go for a three day follow up today and am excited to see my progress. According to my scale this morning I am down 4lbs. I hope the docs scale is just as nice. Lol. Anyway hope everyone's recovery continues to progress well.

I'm officially banded now! I had my surgery on Wednesday morning. The worst part was I had 3 toe rings that we couldn't off so the nurse had to cut them off. But the surgery itself was over before I knew it, the last thing I remember was saying this OR looks nothing like they do on Greys Anatomy, the I woke up in recovery. The only pain I had was a slight gassy pain in my left shoulder, which went away within a couple hours. I did wake up with a cough so that hurts quite a bit. My only other issue is getting in and out of my bed and recliner, I've got to figure out a way to do that with less pain! Good luck to everyone with surgeries coming up!!

Oh the nerves are kicking in can't believe tomorrow is almost here. I just hope all goes well. I Am scared of complications I have two lil guys that need me. God please watch over me. I love this forum cause you all give me hope and ease my nerves. Thank you all who post and let us know how your doing post banding you are all my angels

God will be watching over you, plus you will get all our positive happy thoughts sent your way. I have 2 little ones also, and I did this surgery so I can be around for them for a relly long time. It is scary to think about not being there. You will be though, it is a simple procedure. And we will all enjoy a higher quality of life with our loved ones!! Good luck, my prayers are with you!

Well my surgery was yesterday and overall things went great. Dr found a hernia that he had to repair so he said I would be a little more sore than I was probably expecting. So far not too bad. My husband is like a damn drill Sargent so when they wanted me to start walking he wouldn't give me a break but I think it was great for me because now I have no gas pains at all. It is 3:30 a.m. And I am trying to decide if I want to go to work today. Yes I feel that good not even 24 hr post op.
Good luck to everyone coming up on their journey.