AbbieL

I recently had surgery at Nyu, Dr Kurian was great! I live in Staten island, I would be up for meet ups!

Hi all! I was banded by Dr. Ren in 2010. I absolutely love the practice. Hopefully I'll see you all at the annual dinner Cruise around NYC this summer.

I am definitely being able to tell a difference now that I have had my 2nd fill but it isn't what I thought it would be. Not to mention I actually started losing more weight when I wasn't eating just the healthy stuff. I think our bodies need some fat intake or it holds on to what we are putting in thinking it is not going to get more. Eating olives and avocados or using olive oil when cooking can help add fat. Sour cream, cheese, and such... I don't know what it is but I started eating regular foods again instead of restricting what I eat and I feel better and am losing. I cannot eat a lot of any thing so i am still staying low on calories and such I have found that pretty much all meat other than hamburger meat in sauce and such will not go down. My husband (who had lap-band 2 years ago) lived on tacos and tortilla chips for a while because they broke down easier for him. I cannot eat a taco to save my life. I got 1/2 of one down and felt like it was stuck. I am sure if I take smaller bites of anything it would be easier but I am still learning. My biggest battle is not waiting until I am starving to eat. This seems to be when I hurt myself the most. I get so hungry that I eat too fast and then it will not go down. It usually takes about 15-20 minutes to get down so I can continue to eat slower all the while I am still starving but now starving and in pain. Oh the learning process... lol even after 2 years my hubby still has a difficult time with eating small bites slow. Good luck to you...

My Dr only took out 1cc, now I have 5cc. The 1 made a big difference, I drank the cup of water just fine. But now 4days out I'm not feeling any obvious restriction. I'm really stressed out and its making me not prepare for meal times so I'm snacking more and then I cannot keep track and I don't really know if I feel hunger or not. I'm eating healthy foods, no junk or sugary stuff. I guess the band will never really help with emotional eating problems. I eat way too fast and bigger bites than I'm supposed to. There is so much to learn! My Dr said you ate a certain way all your life, it's going to take time to learn this new way.

My Dr only took out 1cc, now I have 5cc. The 1 made a big difference, I drank the cup of water just fine. But now 4days out I'm not feeling any obvious restriction. I'm really stressed out and its making me not prepare for meal times so I'm snacking more and then I cannot keep track and I don't really know if I feel hunger or not. I'm eating healthy foods, no junk or sugary stuff. I guess the band will never really help with emotional eating problems. I eat way too fast and bigger bites than I'm supposed to. There is so much to learn! My Dr said you ate a certain way all your life, it's going to take time to learn this new way.

So glad to hear that I am not alone this month. After such success the weeks before the surgery and the weeks after this stand still has been very frustrating. Trying to stay positive because I know have lost, I can get into clothes that have not fit in years and my coworkers have begun to notice and been so encouraging. Just wish the scale would move.
Go for my first fill on May 5th and my doctor had actually said at my last appt to just heal and try and keep the 25 pounds off. When he said it I was actually a bit miffed thinking he believed I will fail but maybe he was just warning me that the quick honeymoon was about to end and the real work to begin.
So glad I have my fellow bandsters to help keep me on track.

I was banded on 3-4-13 and have lost 20-21 lbs. The scale has been verrrrrry stingy the last month! I feel like I am on my regular diet plan - Protein Shakes and light meals. I am working out again and my body is changing but I feel little restriction despite a fill. Before surgery, the nutritionist said I should not be able to eat a whole sandwich. I am quite sure I could but I haven't let myself. I know there is restriction and I am eating less than before - I am just hoping to feel that magic "stop" point! Patience, I guess. It helps me to read y'all's stories and know that what I am experiencing is normal. He gave me a small first fill and I go back in 2 weeks. Maybe the magic happens then!!!!

I hope you get a cancellation appointment. It's so hard isn't it? But once you get the fill it will get better!
I just had an adjustment, the Dr took out 1cc & now I can drink liquids with no pain. Being too tight is horrible!!!!

Just had my first fill today. He literally said "quick prick" and I felt a stick a little like a steroid shot then nothing as he placed the Fluid in. Then he had me drink the barium Fluid to test my restriction. It was so cool to see the liquid hit the pouch then funnel through a small straw size opening. Crazy!!! And NOOOO hunger at all today. Just sipping Clear liquids for today and tomorrow before full liquids Sunday.
My doc does the fluoroscopy each time I get a fill. He said I should see a huge drop in weight over the next two months if I follow the rules. Soooo ready for a lighter healthier summer!!

don't be discouraged if folks aren't commenting on it - for the first 2 months of my journey everyone kept complimenting my hair and i hadn't changed it AT ALL.
there's a popular mantra in the weight loss community:
it takes 4 weeks for you to see your body changing
it takes 8 weeks for close friends and family
and it takes 12 weeks for the rest of the world
i don't know how scientifically accurate it is but it seems about right and even then you never know if people will feel comfortable commenting on your changing body!

I love this thread, I am also struggling with my head hunger big time. I'm seeing my pcp next week and will ask him if he can recommend a counselor who specializes in eating disorders. My pcp is also a bandster so he will understand. My problem is I want to binge on sugar, candy, chocolate etc... I stand in front of the fridge and kitchen cabinets, my empty cookie jar and I don't understand these feelings of wanting to eat but being physically unable to is so hard. It's very confusing. I'm not always able to leave the house for a walk or easily distract myself, but I am trying so hard....

Glad to hear everyone is doing well! I was banded march 9th, I have lost 19lbs. I think I would have lost more but the last 3weeks I have felt less and less restriction, so I know I'm ready for my first fill on April 24th!!!!! Keep in touch guys!!!

The purpose of your band is an appetite suppressant, "portion controller" to satisfy you with less food. You should never eat til you're full, just til you're satisfied-not hungry any more. My docs have recommended 4 oz of food at a time, if I'm still hungry after that I can have 2 oz more, if I'm STILL hungry....I need a fill. If I am still hungry after the 4-6 oz, sometimes I just think I'm still hungry bcuz it tastes so goooooooood!!! I will make myself wait 30 minutes & drink some Water before eating more to make sure I really am physically hungry & not head hungry or oh that tasted good hungry. This has worked for me, I've lost 90 pounds in 17 months. If you haven't lost anything in a month, have you been exercising? This is important too!!

I also had my surgery on March 12th and have not had a fill yet. Appointment on the 23rd - have lost 30 lbs including pre diet 20 - didnt think I felt any restriction until I over ate some lasagna yesterday - Felt uncomfortably full for about 5 hours - did that at lunch and thought I better not eat much else for the day so stuck to fluids. Still having a hard time with the slow eating - a work in progress I guess

wow you had to wait along time for your first fill. I had my surgery March 12th, and first fill April 4th. I have noticed some difference but still seems to be only about 1 lbs a week lost. I have my second fill on the 24th too hopefully will see a bigger difference. One of the girls that I work with said she had to ask them to be more aggressive so that she could see the weight come off faster. Plus everyone I know that has done it says that the 2nd or 3rd fill is when you see a difference.
Good Luck!!!

I have been using extra virgin coconut oil for 3 months and have had great results with my hair, nails and skin. I did not realize the benefits of ingesting it. I am going to see if it improves my blood tests. For some odd reason, I am 6 months post op, 32 lbs down and my cholesterol jumped from 178 to 236. Crazy!!!!

Years before binge eating was classified as an eating disorder my therapist said I was a "non purging bulimic." I have been a binger from day one I am sure. For nearly 28 years I have been an active member of Overeaters Anonymous and this has helped some. I did the band because I could not release the weight in a way I felt comfortable. I have only been banded about 2 months but have lost around 35 pounds. With the support and structure of OA and the band and the support groups I go to at my bariatric clinic I am getting a lot more support. I must admit last night was not a good one. I bought something at the store that is sugar free, but it still became a binge food. Gave it to my roommate and I hope he enjoys. If not it goes in the garbage. I have used some therapy as well to help with the eating disorder. Wish you the best with your band and keep up the good work.

Hi Everyone! I was banded on 3/21/13 and am feeling great also! My port pain is finally gone too! I had my first fill last Thursday, and still really don't feel any restriction. I know they say it sometimes takes a few times to hit the "green zone" but I thought I'd feel a little something. Anyways, I'm learning to make better food choices and incorporating exercise now. Looking forward to more weight loss and a healthy life!

.

Breakfast, slimfast chocolate Protein Shake with spinach (tastes good!)
lunch , 1 cup of chicken noodle Soup
snack, a mango &Greek yogurt
dinner, broiled salmon, spinach, 1/2 avocado drizzled with olive oil
Sweet, 2 squares of dark chocolate.

I'm at 4weeks post op and last time I weighed myself last week I also was down 20lbs. Pretty exciting ! But I have found my hunger has increased ferociously the last few days. I used to be satisfied or even too full with 2:5oz tuna with 2 wheat thins, now I'm hungry 1 hour later for more. I have to wait 3 weeks till I get a fill.
60lbs to goal weight!!!!!!
Good job everyone!

Speaking for myself and my own experiences....part of the new life with the band is that it will change our lives....in order for me to co-exist with the band, I have changed in ways I could not have imagined I was capable of before the surgery, or even within the first few months to a year.....and now people look at me and say is that all you're going to eat? Or. aren't you going to eat at all??
There is a very gray area between the band being too tight, between us not changing our eating habits/techniques, and even the choice of foods we eat........
No one here can possible know what you are going through (*although your symptoms sound familiar)......but I do personally know patients who refuse to give up their old ways when it comes to food and eating....then turn around and say the band is not working, and they feel like a failure.....it is very sad, but there is nothing anybody can do...they have to make their own decisions....but it is still sad to see them self destruct when they wanted this so much....
Lets face it...we are/have been fat because our eating sucks! years upon years of practicing the wrong things....heck...mine started when I was 5...my mother set a fine example....
For me. it became a battle between myself, and the band...went on for months.......I could have gotten an unfil and declared victory....but that would mean holding onto my old habits...fortunately the band is now the boss....and now I have not gotten stuck, slimed, or whatever in over a year....and I am done loosing weight....nothing left to loose...
Again, I'm not saying this applies to you...only way anyone could tell is to spend a day together.....but this is what I have found to be true for me and other patients I know...face to face...
Some people find other avenues to get to the same place.....I hope you find yours.....