yellowrose88

There is no way at 1300 calories you are any where near 'starvation mode' that is where the body starts using muscle to maintain its nutrients and given that we are all over weight we just dont get anywhere near that unless u are burning over 1300 calories a day too...
If you arent losing at 1300 then u need to reduce it, following pre-set guidelines and rules works for some but not all, i would put on weight if i followed my RMR of 1750 so i dont .. you need to become your own expert about you, know what foods u can eat and cant, you didnt mention exercise, for many its essential to burn off some calories otherwise the scales remain static. so get moving eat a few less carbs and sugar and try that, make sure u try to do 1200 a day for a few days then reduce again to 1100 if necessary.
I have eaten 1000 calories and burned at least 500 every day for over a year now and look how much weight i have managed to lose... foreget being and 'average' and start finding out what u have to do for yourself

I can't say that I have had an identical situation, but can relate to what others have said.

My husband and I have been married for 39 years. During 2 of my 3 pregnancies, I gained way too many pounds ( 85 with son #2, 65 with son #3). I managed to loose all of the "baby weight" both times. I lost the weight because I wanted to do it for me, not to seek his approval, though he did make me aware that he did not find me at all attractive while pregnant and overweight.

I had this surgery because of health issues related to my weight (highest weight 246), and my husband was supportive of my decision. The point I am trying to make is that you will resent him if you are not loosing the weight because YOU want to. To get past the hurt feelings he has caused, and avoid resentment from developing, you must get in touch with the reasons you are having the surgery.

That this surgery is something you will do for yourself is the key. That he approves or does not is not relevant. You can take the credit for the hard work and investment in yourself as you reap the benefits of health and improved self esteem. In psychology, we call this "cognitive restructuring", and changing the way you think and feel about your weight issue is essential for success.

I hope that this helps you...good luck for success!

I missed getting my first fill on March 29; the doctor determined I was severely dehydrated, and I ended up being sent to the ER instead. Before leaving for the ER, I was told to schedule an appointment for 6 weeks, so I am still waiting for May 9 and then hopefully my first fill.
I get hungry often, but now use this cue to start drinking Water. I don't understand why, but remembering to drink enough has been a problem for me. Now I use hunger as a tool to remind me to drink water. I want to avoid any return trips to the ER.

I was loosing 2-3 pounds every week for the first month, then it slowed. I continue to watch portions and calories. I want to believe that this is a plateau as I have adjusted to the initial feeling of restriction, which is now almost none.

We are all different, and no two will have the identical experiences with their band. I am looking forward to sharing some "skinny pics" also. This journey is going to be about developing patience for me...I'm taking a day at a time and keeping my "eye on the prize" of improved health...

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!!!!!!!!

Up in the right hand corner click on your name and select my profile. Once you are at your profile click on edit profile.

Walk walk walk... This is the best thing to do to get rid of the pain and gas.

Just take your time eating and chew chew chew. I take a bite chew chew chew swallow and then wait 1 minute before I take another bite and so on. Remember to eat Protein first because this will keep you fuller longer. Good luck.

Really think about it. Are you really starving or is it just head hunger? Keep yourself busy to keep your mind off being hungry. You can do this. Just remember we have all been there and we all survived! Good luck!

Seriously you can't fail at something in two weeks. Relax and let the band work. Most people including myself do not even feel any difference until their 3 to 4th fill. Most seem to gain weight the first few weeks but remember they put a lot of fluids in during surgery and there is a lot of swelling and your body is trying to figure out what to do. You will be hungry until you get to a certain point with your fills but it usually isn't after 1 fill. Try to stick with your program for food as best you can and quit trying so hard. I ate a lot of poscicles and still do to get over the humps when i can't seem to stay full. The main focus is Portion Control and Protein. You will be ok.

Lulu.... It is not a miracle. It will take work and it is not easy. You still have to watch what you eat and how much you eat. The band is just another tool in your toolbox. I can tell you that it hasn't been easy. It has been as hard as trying to lose it without the band but I have a little more control with the band. If you are looking for something that you get and then just wait for "it" to make you lose weight then NO this will not work and will not be worth it. If you have made up your mind that you are changing your lifestyle FOREVER and this is just to help you then yes you will be successful and it will be worth it. For me it has been worth it but the weight loss has been slow and i have had to work hard at it.

okay...lets take a step back for a minute and try to relax! You have had the band two weeks right? and you say your failing? You havent even given yourself time to succeed! for the first 3 weeks after surgery even on a liquid diet i didnt lose a pound...my body was in shock and yours probably still is as well..So dont get extremely discouraged because your not loosing. as far as gaining two pounds, my doctor forwarned me that i might gain a few pound initially.Everyones body is different and reacts differently to surgery. As far as the foods go..you need to stick with what they told you to eat. Its challenging but no one said it would be easy right? My advice to you with feeling hungry and like you want chips and chocolate is this...Your going to want those things, especially when you (like most of us) are probably use to eating them pre-band. But you have to focus changing your mindset..how you view food and how you view yourself as a person.
Ive seen so many people on here and in my town who have had the lapband and not been successful but it wasnt because they didnt have the option of success..it was because they never changed their habits. Eating habits..mind set about food..exercise..all of those things start in your mind. You have got to be mind over matter in order to have success. The lapband is not a miracle fix, it is a tool that will help you if you use it properly.. i would advise finding a buddy if you dont have one..someone to be accountable to and that can help you deal with some of these emotions..they are normal and most of us have gone thru them at one point or another in our journey!...last but no least! You only FAIL when you allow failure to be an option! If you give up and you throw in the towel..you failed. but as long as you keep trying and pushing towards that goal that you for yourself, you are NOT a failure!

Today I have offically lost 50 pounds since my heaviest and 36 pounds since my surgery on Feb 8th 2012.. ON we go!!!!

home made chili

Why is it sometimes you can get on the treadmill and barely break a sweat and other times you get on it and you need paramedics with a defibrillator standing by???
Just an observation!!! Have a great day everyone!!

I am not there yet but much closer to a healthy weight than .. well EVER! Feel great and people are really starting to notice and comment. It's a wonderful thing but being obese all my life a large majority of time has been spent thinking about losing weight, trying to lose weight, etc. Now I am starting to have odd feelings about being at (or around) goal weight. What do I strive for? What will a large portion of my world be substituted with? I know that once I hit that ellusive # or size I won't be pooping gum drops or riding around on unicorns but it just feels odd for lack of a better term.
Thanks for listening!
Any thoughts?

I got my 1st fill this morning with my Doc. He answered some questions I had about my medications and exercise and whatnot. He told me that to optimize my weight loss I need to eat about 1000 calories a day. I told him that I was eating 1200-1400 now.
He also did confirm that we need to be on a liquid diet for 2 days after the fill. You should have an empty stomach when you come for a fill, so don’t eat about 2 hrs prior to your fill appt. he also said don’t schedule a fill before any events like parties or trips out of town bc of the liquid diet that follows.
He felt the right side of my stomach and used an alcohol swab to clean the area. He used a tiny needle to giving me the numbing medicine near my port site. It was a tiny pinch. He then prepped the needle for the fill. It was a pretty long needle so as soon as I saw it I looked the other way. He told me it was “only 2 inches long” but it looked like it was longer than that. he went in to do the fill and he found the port like immediately. So was minimal pain, I just felt the needle going in my skin, and I felt it going in my port (like I felt some pressure against something hard). It was over in a matter of seconds.
He told me that I needed to sit in the waiting room and drink Water to make sure the fill wasn’t too tight. If you cant keep down Water they will remove some liquid. He also told me that I can come back for fills every 7-10 days if I’m still eating more than 1000 calories or I’m feeling hungry. He told me not to wait to schedule a fill.
So that’s my story J

Chances are your first fill will not do much, and no one can stretch their pouch untill they gave true restriction where they knw that food is actually sitting there slowly passing through the band.
But to answer your question, life happens. There will always be a holiday, a wedding, party, special occasion that will be there down the road.
We have to learn to live with the band, and not postpone it's work.

I agree with SouthernBelle. I have only told 2 of my coworkers and the rest I don't care what they think. I pack my lunch 4 days a week and no one really pays attention to what you are eating.

I don't know what your starting weight is, but mine was 333 the day of surgery. Believe me when I say, no one will notice 17 lbs. on such a big person and if they do, it would only be 5 lbs. in their minds. You don't owe any explanations to anyone except maybe to your spouse or children (if you have either).

It's good that you are an advocate for the band. It definitely needs those around. An advocate was the reason why I got one and she promised she wouldn't tell a soul, which she hasn't. Some people just feel comfortable with sharing and others don't. I am totally downplaying the negatives of abortion when I say this, but a woman has the right choose. Abortion may be the best decision for her and it may "save her life", but I seriously doubt if she's announcing it to the world that she had one. BTW I do not believe in abortion.

Just a quick update! Had my second fill today and loving my band! I am down 8.2 lbs and recieved a small fill today. This should push me into the green zone because I am so close.

Hey guys...sorry its been so long..I have loved reading all the posts...its been crazy around here between my surgery, my dads emergency gall bladder surgery, my daughters emergency appendectomy and im going too school full time....so I was banded on the 17th of february, had my first fill on march 16th , I think that was the date, it was 2ccs, I get my second fill next wednesday..they have too do mine under flouroscopy because my port settled deep into my ab wall which is fine with me because I prefer it that way...I had the band with plication so I ve been very lucky that I hardly get hungry and the weight has been coming off pretty steadily....so far since I started this adventure I have lost 47 pds.... Its funny going to the closet and having nothing too wear because so much doesnt fit anymore.....good luck too us all...this was a huge decision for us all and after fighting for months with the insurance com I finally just self payed...I dont regret it at all.....I feel so much better than I did a few months ago and am even off one of my bp meds..hopefully I will be off the other one soon...

It's finally here. I wish I could say I'm excited, but I'm scared to death. On my way to surgery. I'll keep you posted.

Try cleaning! Start cleaning when you "THINK" you are hungry. This has helped me in the evening or I will get on the treadmill. 98% of the time it will pass. I also brush my teeth.

Try cleaning! Start cleaning when you "THINK" you are hungry. This has helped me in the evening or I will get on the treadmill. 98% of the time it will pass. I also brush my teeth.