OldMomOf3

I'd go back to tracking.... there is something about those "extra" calories staring you back in the face that keeps you from eating them the next time.
I find tracking to be one of my most beneficial tools.
Your weight loss is great... if tracking helps motivate you do it!!!

If tracking helped, then track!!! I have always heard that I is best to write or track your intake. I wish I could get motivated to do it again!!!

Hi Patty, I was banded the same day you were and am at about the same place you are - 30 pounds down since surgery and pre-op. I lost about 18 in pre-op (2 weeks) combined with post-op (2 weeks), and the other 12 pounds have come off very slowly, since about mid July. I have had 2 fills for a total of 3.8 ml and I find I can stay at about 1200 calories a day, with considerable hunger from time to time through out the day. I don't know if I have the restriction I should have, but I'm okay where I am - might go for a fill in a month or so, depending on how it goes.
I know what you mean about being frustrated with how slowly it comes off. I find I bounce around for a few weeks (down 2, up 1 down 1 down 1, up one) then settle at about 3 pounds down, and stay there for several weeks. I don't change anything, just keep to 1200 per day, then it seems to start bouncing down again, slowly. As long as I'm not up, I'm okay with the slow weight loss. I think we will be better off if we lose it slowly. I don't know about you, but I'm so ready to lose weight that I want to just cut it off, and we're working hard to stick to it. I'm proud of you for the amazing 25 pounds you lost in 3 months! Wow, congratulations. I know you want to lose it qicker, but don't give up! So far you are doing great and you'll only do better as you get to the green zone. Remember we're in this for the long haul! Best wishes!

Hi Patty, I was banded the same day you were and am at about the same place you are - 30 pounds down since surgery and pre-op. I lost about 18 in pre-op (2 weeks) combined with post-op (2 weeks), and the other 12 pounds have come off very slowly, since about mid July. I have had 2 fills for a total of 3.8 ml and I find I can stay at about 1200 calories a day, with considerable hunger from time to time through out the day. I don't know if I have the restriction I should have, but I'm okay where I am - might go for a fill in a month or so, depending on how it goes.
I know what you mean about being frustrated with how slowly it comes off. I find I bounce around for a few weeks (down 2, up 1 down 1 down 1, up one) then settle at about 3 pounds down, and stay there for several weeks. I don't change anything, just keep to 1200 per day, then it seems to start bouncing down again, slowly. As long as I'm not up, I'm okay with the slow weight loss. I think we will be better off if we lose it slowly. I don't know about you, but I'm so ready to lose weight that I want to just cut it off, and we're working hard to stick to it. I'm proud of you for the amazing 25 pounds you lost in 3 months! Wow, congratulations. I know you want to lose it qicker, but don't give up! So far you are doing great and you'll only do better as you get to the green zone. Remember we're in this for the long haul! Best wishes!

Holly Dolly, I just read your story and WOW, it was inspirational. I can relate on so many counts. Congratulations on all you have accomplished! Thank you for sharing,

Thanks Holly! I sent you a private message, but I'm going to follow up on your lead. Brea is a ways to go for me, but Irvine is only about 30 minutes away. Every other Tuesday might be an issue though. Still, going to check it out. My options are fairly limited..... Thank you!

I just can't take the incompetenc of the staff at The New Program in Newport Beach, CA.
I need to find a new doctor, but I've heard it's hard to get a new doctor to care for you and your band if they didn't put it in. Does anyone have any experience or advice on finding a new band doctor?

Thanks for the replies and the picture! The picture was helfpul.
So, what I hear you saing is that the hair does grow back and the Biotin may or may not help, but it's likely that it helps it stop falling out sooner and start growing back sooner. Bottom line, it's a matter of speed, with the same end result. The hair does come back. That's great news! And yes, I agree that if this is the worst side effect of the band, it's totally worth it! So far, for me, the Hair loss and a little bit of residual port pain is all I have to say as far as negatives. The rest has been WONDERFUL!! Just today I put on jeans and crossed my legs! A first in a long time for both, and it felt very rewarding.

liquid softgels -- very tiny and super super easy to swallow, they just slide down. I took a picture for you. I take 2500 mcg.
Hope this helps!

This might be TMI here, but...
I wasn't sure my husband would support me, but when I brought up the issue, and told him I wanted the surgery because my weight was inhibiting my ability to enjoy sex, he was listening. When I told him I really wanted to jump on top of him naked and make love in broad daylight and feel great about it like we did as newlyweds, he warmed up to the idea....quickly. No, it wasn't because he wanted me to look different, it was because he wanted me to feel great about being naked with him and making love more freely. Now, just 28 pounds lighter and 2 months post surgery, I enjoy sex much more and it makes him enjoy it more too because he knows I feel better about myself already (and the 28 lbs barely shows, I just feel better in my mind).
Of course there were other reasons as well - reasons why we both ended up seeing the surgery as a good idea for me, and he was amazingly supportive once he got his mind around it. Nevertheless, if sex has been a challenge for you, as it can be for so many of use when we don't like our bodies, maybe that is something you can bring up with him because it will improve his quality of life too.

This might be TMI here, but...
I wasn't sure my husband would support me, but when I brought up the issue, and told him I wanted the surgery because my weight was inhibiting my ability to enjoy sex, he was listening. When I told him I really wanted to jump on top of him naked and make love in broad daylight and feel great about it like we did as newlyweds, he warmed up to the idea....quickly. No, it wasn't because he wanted me to look different, it was because he wanted me to feel great about being naked with him and making love more freely. Now, just 28 pounds lighter and 2 months post surgery, I enjoy sex much more and it makes him enjoy it more too because he knows I feel better about myself already (and the 28 lbs barely shows, I just feel better in my mind).
Of course there were other reasons as well - reasons why we both ended up seeing the surgery as a good idea for me, and he was amazingly supportive once he got his mind around it. Nevertheless, if sex has been a challenge for you, as it can be for so many of use when we don't like our bodies, maybe that is something you can bring up with him because it will improve his quality of life too.

This might be TMI here, but...
I wasn't sure my husband would support me, but when I brought up the issue, and told him I wanted the surgery because my weight was inhibiting my ability to enjoy sex, he was listening. When I told him I really wanted to jump on top of him naked and make love in broad daylight and feel great about it like we did as newlyweds, he warmed up to the idea....quickly. No, it wasn't because he wanted me to look different, it was because he wanted me to feel great about being naked with him and making love more freely. Now, just 28 pounds lighter and 2 months post surgery, I enjoy sex much more and it makes him enjoy it more too because he knows I feel better about myself already (and the 28 lbs barely shows, I just feel better in my mind).
Of course there were other reasons as well - reasons why we both ended up seeing the surgery as a good idea for me, and he was amazingly supportive once he got his mind around it. Nevertheless, if sex has been a challenge for you, as it can be for so many of use when we don't like our bodies, maybe that is something you can bring up with him because it will improve his quality of life too.

Broke my 4 week plateau!
It took almost 3 months and 27 pounds down, but today someone nocitced!
I've been off HBP meds for 11 weeks and my BP was 112/70 at the doc last week!
I did a full 1 hour ropes course (100 feet in the air) and a zipline today and didn't have to worry about exceeding the weight limit

Wendy - If you go into it with a great attitude, knowing that it is a tool and you still have to work at it you will definately succeed. Get educated on how the band "really" works! It is a lot of work, but it definately helps curb my appetite. I could not have done it without it. I think there are a lot of failures out there and those are the ones people talk about, not the successful ones. I weighed 432 pounds when I started and I now weigh 278. If I don't lose another pound (but I know I will) I would be so thankful I did it. It has greatly improved my quality of life!
You can do it, don't listen to the negative stuff!
Good Luck!

Broke my 4 week plateau!
It took almost 3 months and 27 pounds down, but today someone nocitced!
I've been off HBP meds for 11 weeks and my BP was 112/70 at the doc last week!
I did a full 1 hour ropes course (100 feet in the air) and a zipline today and didn't have to worry about exceeding the weight limit

I want to zipline so bad! i"m going to one of these days. It looks like so much fun. Congratulations on your victories!

Broke my 4 week plateau!
It took almost 3 months and 27 pounds down, but today someone nocitced!
I've been off HBP meds for 11 weeks and my BP was 112/70 at the doc last week!
I did a full 1 hour ropes course (100 feet in the air) and a zipline today and didn't have to worry about exceeding the weight limit

I say you are still in ketosis..... not always a bad thing. When we are in the big weightloss phase this happens. It will also change your BO and yes other people can smell it. I had to switch to a stronger deoderant while in this phase. It sounds like your dental hygiene is great, but stay away from using rinses that are high in alcohol more than once a day. They can dry up your saliva and make things worse. Also make sure you stay hydrated.
Don't worry, the bad breath will not last forever.

I was told that this happens to some people due to the fat burning. You are loosing weight and the fat burn will cause your breath to smell. I haven't had it happen, but the nutritionist said some people do and some don't.

I would have said Ketosis. It doesn't matter the amount of calories per day, it's WHAT foods you are consuming. Do u have Keto-sticks to test your urine?

I wouldn't get a fill, but still talk to your doc. My surgeon told me not to look for any weightloss a month out. You sound like you're doing great!

Talk to your doctor, but if it were me I wouldn't fill. I was in the same situation and my surgeon put a lot of pressure on me to be filled. Eventually I had problems and got too tight despite having less then 3 ccs in my band and now am fully unfilled. trust your body. The weight loss will come.

My two goals were 50 and then 25 more. I get it. I told myself that if this band can get me down to 175, it will have been worth it. I'm 8 lbs away from my first goal. tmf

MomOf3InOC - my port pain is almost gone and I'm day 14 post-op. I know how you feel I was so sore round my port and I felt like it would never feel better but it has subsided to almost nothing now.
Good luck hope you feel better soon!

So, here's what it was like...
Surgery was at 7:30. They loaded me up with Versed before going into surgery so I was happy and have amnesia from that point until I woke up in my hospital room.
I was and still am extremely sore in the entire abdomen area. Every thing causes excruciating pain. I'm on Tylenol with Codine and it does help, but I hate the way it makes me feel in the head.
The gas pains were not as bad as I expected.
Walking really does help - it's just that getting up and down is difficult.
I can barely eat or drink but manage to get down about 20oz of Water and 8-12 oz of Protein Drink.< /p>
Other than the extreme pain in the abdomen, I don't have anything to report.
I don't regret doing this. I'm glad to be on the other side and ready to recover.
Right now I don't know how much I've lost nor do I care. I'm just to sore to care.
I'll update more later.
This is about as long as I can sit up.