lifebegins2012

I have no regrets. I'm 12 weeks post op and 30lb down. Last month I lost 8lb but this month I've only lost 4lb so far but have been off track more than on in food choices and keep going back to the cupboards.My target set by the dietician is 4-8lb a month so I'm ok but am still knocking myself as I know just how often I have eaten badly.

My dietician wants me to eat everything now, all food types so it's an experiment as to what doesn't suit me. I've found broccoli, apples,crumpets and some bread have been a problem. I have had alcoholic drinks 3 times and for me it was the same as pre-op. I can drink a whole mug of tea at 'normal speed' and my dietician has even said I can drink while eating. A couple of times this has proved problematic though..

I'm really enjoying the feeling of weightloss. I remember being this weight and I feel so much better and happier. My confidence is returning.

My journey hasn't been plain sailing. Constipation has been a problem, particulaly in the first couple of weeks. I have to push myself to drink more fluids as these daily volumes havn't been part of my routine for the last 40+years! Some days I suffer the '2nd bite stuck' sensation where I have to wait and wait before eating any more as it's kind of 'stuck'. When I haven't waited long enough , I'm sick. Sometimes I can eat and eat and eat. I am suprised at some of the portions I can still have - but know I shouldn't be.

Crunchy foods are my best friends. They fill me up quick and keep me full for longer. I eat chicken at least 4 times a week which is the same as before having my band.

A tip is not to compare yourself and journey to others. It's really hard not to but our bodies do work at different rates. This site is one of the best tools you will find. Initially I could be on here for 5 hours a day every day. I've needed it less as I'm finding my way and might only log on for 10 mins every 3-4 days now. xx

Hi. I think every Healthcare provider varies. I have been private pay, had some fluid put in at time of surgery and have now had 2 fills. I'm 9 weeks post op and up to 5.5mls in a 10mls band. Since I have paid for a two year aftercare package, I kind of think they are proactive to get you to restriction asap as less fills mean less appointments required.

My handbook advises what to expect from The Hospital Group and at what stage but in reality they have cut corners ie... no 1st bandfill under xray (just the nurse giving a fill), no follow up appointment with surgeon(left to dietician and nurse) and not even the pedometer it says we have to count our daily steps!

I don't have a date for my third fill but it is going to be early July as the dietician dropped heavy hints about just how busy they were in June!

HI. I was the same but the hunger came about 10days after surgery. Some days I didnt want breakfast and others I wanted lots but I found the evenings really tough going. You do have to stop yourself from eating too much and too fast. I was sick from doing this.

Someone did say to me that we've spent how many years doing certain things like overeating, habits aren't all broken overnight!

I got my appt via email and it said not to eat for 4 hours before the fill and no drinks for an hour before the fill

Many congrats!! You're a bander now!

Fear of the unknown is normal and I'm still taking stock of how easy it was. I had no pain or nausea following surgery, just shoulder discomfort for a couple of days.

Sit back and rest a while:)

I opted for calorie counting on my 2 week pre op diet. I did 1,000-1,200cals per day. On my final day my calories were spent on lovely food including chocolate. My final meal was a small macDonalds cheeseburger ( which took me over my cal limit a little bit). I lost 9lb in total but I did a huge amount of cleaning/exercising to help get me there

I lost 9lb in the 2 weeks pre op and had lost 9 lb since up to last Sat. For the two weeks up to Sat I was really hungry on an evening and eating the equivient of an extra meal or two. The guilt was there all the time and I gained 3 lbs of the weight back on. I was down to only 1lb gain when i went for my fill.

I had 4mls at time of surgery and that had reduced to 3.5mls when it was measured Sat. I have had 1ml more put in and was ok until Monday and can now eat big portions again. I'm fighting my 'need ' for food every evening but have 31st May in sight which is my next fill.

My dietican had said early on to add potato to soups/pureed food if you are really hungry as the starch will help to fill you up.

Good luck on your journey:)

Congrats!! It's such a nice feeling isn't it?

I had the same.. bought a pair of sale jeans that did not fit without expelling all air out my body(not breathing lol) and a huge 'muffin top' above the waistline( definately not a nice sight). I put them on around 2 weeks post op and they fit. I've worn them in now and the smaller muffin top is reducing as the weeks go on. So happy:) xx

At times mIne can sound like a right old thunderstorm brewing up

This is SOOO lovely to read. Thank you for sharing you wedding with us:)

Hi. I asked my dietician last week about slippage and she said I would be very uncomfortable and be vomiting all day. A few people have mentioned their band seems tight in a morning but by the evening there desn't seem to be restriction. I'm like this on some days but others I don't feel any tightness. I've had 4mls in at time of surgery and the dietician said I won't be feeling proper restriction until I have about 7mls in my 10mls band.

My support group friends have said the port can become more obvious as we lose weightx

Happy St Patrick's Day to you too!! I'm being banded in 13days. Am still trying to get my head round the protein shakes and other things on my shopping list. Hope you get a better night's sleep tonight x