lanagirl

The band is a tool to help you but you still have to make those good choices! Meal should not take longer than 30 min. Stop at 30, do something else. When properly filled the band helps so much but again you have to make those choices!! Are you drinking enough Water? Dehydration can be confused with hunger. Protein 1st but I have found have to make fresh leftovers dry out too much and I have difficulty with the same piece of protein I had before. It is easy to get discouraged with a life time of failures as your example but keep at it, keep finding things that motivate you and help you make good choices!! Good Luck

the foods you are eating (bread. pasta) are not Protein and will not give you protein/fullness you need
if you cant get anything down other than what you said, and making bad food choices, you need to go back to dr, maybe take some out so you can eat better/healthier food options..being too tight so you cant eat is NOT the way to live..
only you can decide to use the band as intended.......if you dont, it wont work
studies or not studies.....and if that doesnt help, look at some of the peope who responded to you, and
their looses.......the band works...
for those who work it.
hang in there, eat better, exercise and make yourself well

I'm just here to share my story in hopes of encouraging others, because this has not been easy! I was 327 about this time last year. I had my surgery on Janaury 9, 2013. Went fine, super easy. I was not successful on the pre-surgery diet and entered the process feeling like I was already a failure. I also had no restriction after the surgery. I could go to Wendy's and have a burger and fries. Again, I had no confidence that I could/would do this. When the Dr asked me my goals, I was so unsure I said lose maybe 30-40 pounds if that's possible. I had never successfully lost weight in my life.
For me personally, it wasn't until I had about 5 cc's in my band that I started to feel restriction. Over the past year, I have seen the bariatric nurse specialist at the Dr's office every month, talking wiht her about diet, how much restriction, and often getting a small fill. Seeing her regularly has kept me on track! It's kept the goals clear in my mind and provided such great support!
The first 4-6 months were sheer hell, I have to say that. I didn't know that else to do when I wasn't eating. I craved crabs. I felt like I would die without bread and Cookies. I was restless and unhappy, even as the scale started to show results.
I finally figured out some things to do at times when i used to eat. I also figured out that I could, actually, eat half a serving of reese's peices and satisfy my sweet tooth. I had no idea what a serving was much less the idea of having half of one!
I eat a high protien diet right now. I'd like to get down to 149 and i think that might just be possible!
Nov 2012 327
Today 199

I say do exactly what got you to 150, this is not a race the is no finish line be consistent but enjoy yourself ever now and then

I say do exactly what got you to 150, this is not a race the is no finish line be consistent but enjoy yourself ever now and then

I say do exactly what got you to 150, this is not a race the is no finish line be consistent but enjoy yourself ever now and then

Thanks. Yea, I learned something new this time around. I have to look towards the future.

One other thing I might add is those of you who are newly banded stop being in such a hurry to get filled up because once you are full what happens then. Part of this is restraint. If you get your doctor to completely fill you and you are not even half way to goal then what because you have nothing left to work with. I think that some of you think and no I am not being nasty when I say this that the band will do it all for you but it only does about 10% and you will do the other 90. So why did I get this then because we needed help not a complete fix. If you wanted instant gratification then the sleeve or bypass would have been a better choice. The band is not about fast losing and if you do its great but most of us have had to earn our weight loss.

I have been in the Green for 2 years now, at least, never wavering, no complications.......my last fill was 2 -1/2 years ago....
Have no idea what you are experiencing....but for my last fill it was difficult to keep or get anything down for at least 2 weeks...I called my Dr. and he suggested patience, the band is setting the rules, and I should try to Learn and understand what is happening and adjust myself, my eating, my foods, everything....to what the band is dictating.....in other words, I had to learn to "Listen to the Band", and obey!
Not all Dr.'s will say that I know...some will give an immediate un-fil, putting you back to where you were...
I'm glad I did....things DID settle down, I DID change just about everything...the foods I eat, the amount I can eat, how thorough I really needed to chew, and above all, don't try to force it...don't try to overeat...which to this day I cannot do....also, within all this adjusting on my part, I learned I was not really hungry in the first place...that while the band was limiting my food intake, I was becoming aware I did not want/need to eat in the first place....I don't miss eating less....I could walk in a room full of food and not even notice....
Finally everything began to fall into place.....NO Hunger, LIMITED portion sizes, UNABLE to eat certain (mostly unhealthy) foods......Green Zone.
I hear time after time people refer to the band as a "Tool"....I get it, and understand (I think) what they are trying to say....but for me and my mental process, the band is not a Tool...it is the "Boss" telling ME what I can and cannot do, telling me I am not hungry.....telling me to stop when it's time to stop......telling me what foods are hazardous...
To me, if it was truly a tool, then I would be in charge, I could set the rules, choose to use it or not, choose to turn it on or off...but I can't...it is there 24hrs, doing it's thing regardless if I'm at a party, on vacation, Thanksgiving or just sitting in front the TV...it's always there, it's always a constant....
If it were a tool. then the choices are up to me and change under various circumstances.....
Everyone has their comfort level....everyone has their "Happy" place where they find success with this WLS...and that is all that matters......everyone approaches this a little different....some people do not ever want a fill at all....if they're happy, we all should be happy.
I know I could not be happier....

I say do exactly what got you to 150, this is not a race the is no finish line be consistent but enjoy yourself ever now and then

Great Job I'm 17 months into my new life, down 97 pounds. We can so do this!!!

Great Job I'm 17 months into my new life, down 97 pounds. We can so do this!!!

Great Job I'm 17 months into my new life, down 97 pounds. We can so do this!!!

As my surgeon says "if you forgot to brush your teeth this morning would you just go ahead and give up on them for good?" . Get back on track. You will not regret it.

its only too late for those who give the f**k up
you my dear are taking a great step...get your butt to the dr for a check up (fluro to make sure the band is in good shape) and i am sure it is...
then back to the basics....eating great food in allotted band sizes (you know baked vs fried, fresh vs boxes) and lets not forget exercising....that does help and then, let the band do its thing...
you can do this if you want too..and you do as you posted here..dont wait til tomorrow or monday to start....start NOW

Being able to do a closet search for smaller clothes instead of bigger ones , buying my 1st full length mirror EVER! The amazing way I feel!!

Great Job I'm 17 months into my new life, down 97 pounds. We can so do this!!!

Buying clothes in the junior section of a clothing store makes me smile everytime I was an XXL, size 24 prior to surgery in March 2012.................now I wear a medium size and size 10/12.........................woooo hoooooo

Alex, I can't count one thing. However, health was my key issue for getting the Lapband. I am considered legally disabled but as I lose my weight, I have been taken off my diabetic meds, my blood pressure is normal. I had two strokes in my early 30's and was diagnosed with hydrocephalus (water on the brain) as a possible cause. I had brain surgery to have a shunt inserted and then after 3 months had to have a second brain surgery, then when I was 36 I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and when I went to have a radical hysterectomy this team of neurologists did several tests and came in my room before surgery and informed me I also had MS. Then on top of all that my weight was spiraling out of control because of not being able to get enough exercise. On top of all my other problems I was suffering from cellulitis to the point of having to be hospitalized many times. I knew if I lost weight I'd be able to overcome some of my obstacles. On top of everything else my doctor had said I was suffering from CHF (congestive heart failure). So, with a heavy heart and a lot of faith I was determined to live for my grandchildren. They were and are my purpose for living. I had researched weight loss surgery for three years and was told by my insurance company that I would not qualify. I went to several Lapband seminars and I let my PCP know this. He said he would document all my health issues and declare it medically necessary. In the meantime, I was determined to improve my health in whatever I needed to do it. That included WLS. In the meantime, I had changed insurance companies and it was my latest series of seminars on the Lapband I found out that the surgeon I had attended my latest seminar with accepted my insurance -all but $800 plus my liquid pre-op diet and I would attend another class on Lapband once I was accepted as a patient. So, here I am with a plethora of health issues and my mindset was I need to get healthy but without weight loss how was I ever going to get healthy? Well, I'm here to tell you that I'm off a lot of meds that I was prescribed for years. My health has improved to the point that I don't need a mobility cart to go shopping, I'm breathing better, I'm not out of breath after walking for 5 minutes, I fit in a coach airline seat with the arms down and the seatbelt buckles without having to ask for an extension, so aside from weight loss it was health issues and social issues that have improved my life. I still have a ways to go but my life has improved so much since starting on this journey. I've added years to my life, my health has improved so much since this surgery. My weight loss is slow but steady and above all my grandchildren are seeing their grandma walking instead of in a wheelchair. I walk with a cane due to balance issues but there was a time I couldn't walk at all without severe issues. I still have issues with spasticity but that has improved too and my doctor has reduced my meds for that because I weigh less so I think I have to reiterate that health improvement was my reason for WLS and I love it! Ok, I think you get the point, it was all for my health and I'm a testimonial to that. I mean without writing a book this is my synopsis of the issue. Thank you Alex for starting this Lapband forum. It has been a Godsend for me.
:-)

Everything is better ! I can wear cute smaller size clothes, I can do my own pedicure, I no longer use a C-pap breathing machine, I can jog, people find me attractive, as does my hubby, I have lots more energy, I look and feel 10 yrs younger, , I live, not just exist, I look and feel better in my own skin and no longer feel like a skinny girl trapped in an old womans body etc etc etc......lap band literally gave me my life back !!

Self pride, more energy, hold my head up a bit higher, I feel like I am rescuing myself.

OMG it's my concentration level, for sure! I've been walking around in a sleepy brain fog for the last few years and I'm suddenly back AWAKE! And I'm doing really well at work. Not that I wasn't doing well before, but my stamina now hugely improved, I'm sharper, quicker, and can handle a greater volume of tasks.
I also just feel like myself again. I was feeling really old. Tired. Like my best times were behind me. But I feel like I've taken off ten years. I'm 41 and I'm right back to the zippy party girl I was before having a kid. And I'm even thinking I may want one more before I can't anymore... Good times!!!
And getting to pull down all my 'thin clothes' from the closet kinda rocked. Cause I threw out all this stuff that fits but is way out of style. Woo hoo!! And my engagement ring fits again...
I could keep going, but those are the biggies.

I was banded this year in early August. I had my fourth fill last week - the last three have been 0.5 cc's. I can eat just about anything in moderation by eating slowly and thoroughly chewing. I was 276 two weeks pre-op when I started by 2 week liquid Proteins and am now down to 216. I have had no "stuck" or "sliming" episodes.

Catfish is right, right after you are very aware of what size portion you eat and how you chew it then it get comfortable and boom, may I add barometric pressure affects tightness, allergy drainage affects how things go down, and after a stuck episode there is some swelling so you have to take it real easy till swelling goes away, 16 months out and still learning

I totally agree with you weight loss surgery alone is a tool not a trick. It doesn't magically fix anything and along with diet and exercise you have to keep learning how you react and eat after a fill. Good luck I am 16 months into my journey and have lost 97 pounds, 30 to goal and maintenance.