Sooverit!

I'm hoping I will be taken to the poll link but not sure so I will ask everyone who is willing to answer: How many fills did it take you to get to the point where you had good restriction. Meaning you got the full signal after eating a "bandster" size portion and you began to lose weight consistently?

I lke Brad's formula. I personally would be happy with a 27 lbs weight loss actually...I've lost 5 lbs since my band 2 months ago. I think age plays a big factor as well. I think Rose at age 30 could definitely start up a serious exercise program. When I was 30 I liked to exercise with sports. I joined a raquetball team and bicycled almost everyday. I lost 60 lbs. from a pregnancy and kept it off till the next one 9 yrs later! Now at age 50 ...it is hard and dangerous to go full force into an exercise program but I do believe that excersie + thoughtful eating + the band is an almost fool proof formula for health and weight loss. Go for it Rose you won't be this young forever.

Hi experienced Banded people, I have a question as to what is the average amount of fills it takes to get that loss of appetite back as I had during the 2-3 weeks post op. It was great I was super consciencious of what I ate and how I ate it and I got that full signal quickly and regularly and was losing weight consistently but as per usual the 6 week mark is up and I am back to my old ways prior to getting this band. I worked so hard with ins companies and doctors and eventually paying out of pocket with money I shouldn't have spent to only lose 5 lbs. I am 49 and lower BMI so have my challenges. Feeling discouraged and just want to bitch. thanks for listening. M in NY [/url] News

Hey Fluffy: Thanks for the rational words! You are right, but after going through sooo much to get this Band sometimes I feel frustrated I'm back to ground zero with my bad eating habits! Winter makes it harder and our age, low BMI.....but I'm not looking to weigh what I did in my 20s or even 30s...just want to be a healthy normal weight. Today is the big day ...finally getting my first fill and I am aware there could be no restriciton. I have been trying to exercise more tho. You are a patient person and I will remember this is for the long hall. It is good to know that there is something in place that will help us....because it doesn't get easier but this will even the playing field! thanks and good luck to you!!!!

Hi Colorado ..glad to hear you are okay now...whew...what an ordeal you had. It seems they were very aggressive in their use of anesthesia and meds whereas I had the complete opposite. I wasn't given any sedatives period...then I was given anethesia but not enough to keep me asleep during the part whre they take out the breathing tube. :tongue: That was scary but I was very alert when I was taken to recovery. We have amazing bodies that constantly strive for Homeostasis - the state of health and recovery. Now let's forget about that and move forward to a healthy living style! Best wishes to you!

HI everyone I am a fellow Long Islander here! I went to Westchester for my surgery though. I have to say the surgery has been pretty anticlimactic. I was banded 12/1 then the holidays now the snow. I'm only down 15 and not holding steady. Need my fill fast. Have to get back to exercise also. The snow makes me want to just do things in the house. Glad to see people are meeting each other in person...that's great. best to you all

Thanks Susan...I loved the first 2-3 weeks also! It was great I felt so healthy and had great energy. I don't mind waiting a year either. I will be happy if I just lose the weight I need to. This age is tough too....I am 49 now and my hormones are kicking in ....makes me very hungry. Best to you on your path too!

Hello and Happy New year@! I'm turning 50 in March and I feel somewhat like I'm about the birth a new "me"....going through extreme birthing pains tho but I have faith in the process. It's not so much a new physical me that is blossoming but a saner more spiritual me (I hope) who won't escape into food or need to hide or fight with life anymore. was banded on 12/1/08 and haven't had a fill yet. I had a tough time scheduling a Fluoroscopy and my fill center will not provide a fill until I have one. At this point I have no restriction...except occasionally when I feel heartburn so I know I have the band. It's extremely difficult at this time as it is very cold out and I usually exercise outside. I've lost 15 lbs since banded but I'm afraid I will gain it if I don't get a fill soon. Being a lower BMIers I think we do have the luxury of taking it slow....looking down the road as a life long process. I know it's about getting back into the mind set of living and eating healthy but now I am dealing with head issues. I feel guilty paying out of pocket and not seeing changes. I must trust tho that everything fell into place for me to get this thing and I worked incredibly hard to become BAnded so there will be results but patience is the word to focus on now. m Blessings to all in 2009.

Hello Lower BMIers and Happy New year@! I was banded on 12/1/08 and haven't had a fill yet. I had a tough time scheduling a Fluoroscopy and my fill center will not provide a fill until I have one. At this point I have no restriction...except occasionally when I feel heartburn so I know I have the band. It's extremely difficult at this time as it is very cold out and I usually exercise outside. I've lost 15 lbs since banded but I'm afraid I will gain it if I don't get a fill soon. Being a lower BMIers I think we do have the luxury of taking it slow....looking down the road as a life long process. I know it's about getting back into the mind set of living and eating healthy but now I am dealing with head issues. I feel guilty paying out of pocket and not seeing changes. I must trust tho that everything fell into place for me to get this thing and I worked incredibly hard to become BAnded so there will be results but patience is the word to focus on now. I am turning 50 in March and I feel somewhat like I'm about the birth a new me....going through extreme birthing pains now but I have faith in the process. It's not so much a new physical me that is blossoming but a saner more spiritual me (I hope) who won't escape into food or need to hide or fight with life anymore. Blessings to all in 2009.

Does anyone get cramps during the TOM? I never got them before being banded. I haven't lost enough weight to warrant any Estrogen changes. I haven't been eating right lately I'm so worried my cramps are from a slippage? Am I just being scolding by the band for eating so badly. I haven't even had a fill yet. I am due for period soon but have been irregular due to Menopause ....don't know what this is but I have port pain and cramps almost like mild labor or period cramps but worse than I've ever experienced.

Hey Steve...Congratulations on the great job ...well done! I say don't ask an American here if you should drink...sorry....you're on your own here...I hope! If you want a Lager as your doc if you can?

Happy new year fellow LIers. Glad to read I'm not alone and that these holidays were tricky as per usual but not as bad as when I didn't have my Band. I never eat Cookies....but come December they have a way of slipping into my mouth (all 2 doz.)! Finally, I get my first fill this Monday and it couldn't come sooner! I was a bad girl but I'm still thrilled with my initial weight loss albeit small. Marg

Tapshoes said: 4. By Dec 31, make a significant dent in my accumulated financial debt...that means, putting away the credit cards unless for a true Emergency Whoops..forgot one.....stop avoiding my financial debt! Only use CASH and cc for emergency! Good one for all of us this year Tap probably!

This is a good idea...thanks! Goals for 2009 1) To lessen the focus on myself and think of others first remembering people are fragile just like me and need compassion. 2) To exercise 3-4x a week, including yoga and cardio. 3) To get under 200 lbs. by March 4) To get off blood pressure meds by March 5) To swim with my daughter with just a bathing suit, no cover ups or hiding and no excuses this summer! 6) To work 4 days a week at a job I love/like with nice people and good salary in a helping capacity. 7) To volunteer for a good cause by end of January 8) To meditate for 20 mins a day and have a more peaceful mind. 9) To eat only when I'm hungry and never anywhere besides the table. 10) (long term): To be in a size 10/12 by June 09! 11) Pick up a creative hobby.. 12) Have more friends 13) Long term: To be content

It is a comfort to me that if I lose what I am feeling now I can always have fills. The wonderful mysteries of the banded life! Thanks Christine, I am comforted too in knowing I will have fills down the road. I do feel like I have some control over this eating problem for once and for all...as I was soooo overit! Thanks Sarah....I think the band will hopefully break me of the eating while doing something else bad habit. Funny how clear my eating problems are to me now. This LB is a blessing as is this community! Blessing for the new year!

Thank you SMSmithart this is a great thread ! Being raised in a strict Catholic school system..geez it's not easy to confess the truth but here goes. You're not supposed to drink for the first year is it? Hmmm....well there was New Year's eve and that bottle of champaign and the wine I consumed and then got stuck on a Tostito chip only 3 weeks out. I think I know why there is that alcohol restriction. I'm hoping I didn't do any damage to my band and will only find out at the routine Flouroscopy next week. Hoping I won't pay too badly for my sin.:confused:

Hey congrats.....I was banded on 12/2 also. The best thing I did for myself during this process was throw out any scale I had in the house! I don't weigh food or myself. I want to learn to make portions smaller automatically. I realize I grew up in the eat before the next famine/depression mentality and I am working to correct this life long habit. I too am not losing weight after the initial 15 as I can tell by my clothes. However I have more energy than I have had in years! I am focused on what I put in my mouth and am trying to take this time as not only a healing process but also a learning one too. I'm trying to focus on the 50 grams of Protein I am suppose to eat a day. I'm cheating like mad too but I'm not gonna beat myself up anymore!! Best to you....can't wait for my fill either!

Hey VC...thank for posting this....I second this! I was an outpatient as well and I was pretty surprised at how much pain I experienced after surgery. It very much reminded me of child birth also. My labor wasn't terrible but none the less, I was so focused on what it would be like after surgery that I was completely forgot to worry about the surgery! I was VERY nauseous the first night home but also was greated with my menstrual cycle. I would have wanted to stay the night at the hospital. What a flight!! You poor thing. The surgeons should be more careful about post op....they cover there butts ad nauseam while you're in their care !! Terrible....sorry you had to go though this ...! Everyone is diff we know ...but...we are also close in age and this does play a factor I think. Everyone is different and they shouldn't take chances here!! This makes me mad!:confused:

I was banded a month ago and don't have restriction at this point, but.... as soon as I posting this fact and wrote that I don't even feel like I have a band, I was severely reminded and got stuck on a hard pretzel! It has happened to me twice both times I was eating while on the computer! I don't think I'll want to do that again. I had some reflux problems in the middle of the night also ...something I've never experienced before and never will want to again:scared2:.

Great post Kristen.....thank you and Happy Christmas everyone. You are so right, if I didn't have the band i would have no control or be eating without thinking. Also as if my band was hearing me before saying I had no restriction......I sat down for dinner and coulld only eat 1/2 a cup of food!@ whooo ...I am Premenstrl so it may be from that....I am very fortunate I have this tool to help me! thank again for an inspirational post! 5K WOW....I have to just get back to my yoga and 45 min walking/hiking...cold weather is throwing me off a bit tho...and holidays :-)

Being hungry and be able to eat are normal during this stage. We have all been through this and know how hard it is. If you want this to work then you need to stay with the program that your doctor gave you. It is only temporary and eventually you will be allowed to be on solids and as the fills come you will be satisfied on smaller and smaller amounts. Choosing to ignore doctors orders during healing is not a wise decision. As all people are different so too are doctors. Mine said iI am able to eat what ever I want at this point 3 weeks. I was warned against chicken and bread (after asking) and that is it.

Mnn I was wondering do you need to wait 5-6 weeks with every fill? My doc already hinted that she is not agressive with fills. I haven't really gone back to exercising dailly which I know willl help too. But I sure hope my next fill will feel like it did post op or near that. I don't want to sound like a Scroog but I can't wait for alll the decadent holiday food to leave this hou:w00t:se!!

"Are you measuring your meals? Are you counting your Protein?" and the answer is, well, yes at first, but then I don't feel restriction helping me eat less and eventually I stop... and she has this " tsk" attitude. Hi there: So sorry you are going through this frustration. I am new to the band and only 3 wks out so I'm probably not the best person to advise. I am experiencing what you are going though.too...I had that initial 15 lb loss 2 wks post op which was a mircle for me as I'm not at the age that it's easy to loose weight like it was but I feel no restriction with the Realize band right now. I really enjoyed having the restriction in the beginning with the swelling. I felt full on small portions and I felt like a success.. Now after paying oout of pocket and having cheated with Christmas goodies ...I feel pretty down. I am praying the first fill will make some difference. I know that eating Proteins first does help with appetitie. Then a veggie and a startch last. Have you made hard boiled eggs and kept them handy ....I eat one and it either makes me feel sllightly stuck or totallly fills me up. Funny how bad food or "slider" food go right down. I wish you had a more support. Have you gone to the monthly meetings? I hope for both of us we didn't go through this for nothing.

Tamara..I'm a fast healer like you but remember you don't want to get in a position of throwing up....that is the one thing I was told could make the pouch slip in the band but other than that listen to your body. I think it's vomiting often that can really do damange. I was thinking I could never had shrimp@ Maybe now that you have no restriction you can but remember after a fill it may not be the same so take caution with the shrimP 111