autumn_moon

My doctor wants me to lose 4 pounds per month, and that's what's happening. I don't have any restriction yet, and have had 4 fills. I'm hoping this fill next week will put me in the green zone. My doctor told me to wait 25 seconds in between bites and to take extremely small bites. But with no restriction this is impossible for me to do..But the good news is that I do yoga 5 days a week, ride my bike for 2.5 hours every day or if not every day I walk about 6 to 8 miles a day. So the exercise is up where it needs to be, and I don't eat sugar or processed foods. I feel bad when I see the postings of people who have lost 50 to 90 pounds but then I remind myself that will be me one of these days. Thanks everyone for posting, I can't tell you how much these postings helped me the first few months. I don't have any stuck feelings, but if I eat or drink to much I get a lot of shoulder pain.

My doctor wants me to lose 4 pounds per month, and that's what's happening. I don't have any restriction yet, and have had 4 fills. I'm hoping this fill next week will put me in the green zone. My doctor told me to wait 25 seconds in between bites and to take extremely small bites. But with no restriction this is impossible for me to do..But the good news is that I do yoga 5 days a week, ride my bike for 2.5 hours every day or if not every day I walk about 6 to 8 miles a day. So the exercise is up where it needs to be, and I don't eat sugar or processed foods. I feel bad when I see the postings of people who have lost 50 to 90 pounds but then I remind myself that will be me one of these days. Thanks everyone for posting, I can't tell you how much these postings helped me the first few months. I don't have any stuck feelings, but if I eat or drink to much I get a lot of shoulder pain.

I wish I had a "accurate" scale that measured "fat" and "muscle" because what I would see is that my body is getting "fit" which is so much more important then "weight loss". I have 40 pounds to lose and can't wait to say I lost 30 pounds!..Good Job! Stack up 30 boxes of butter and look at how much weight that is!
I tell myself that I need to be learning about the process as I lose, what lifestyle change is all about and I think I'm learning more the slower the weight loss the more I re-think about health and vitality.
Otherwise, if it's just another "diet" this is only going to be temporary. I learning from the support groups and I'm working on my food issues that got me here. Your an inspiration.. Thanks for your post!

The band will not stop you from eating more than a cup. The point is for you to feel satisfied/satiated with just a cup or less.
I was a low BMI patient too. I had only lost about 32 lbs 6 months into my journey. I finally reached the green zone but I kept getting stuck so I had some saline removed. Now I know that I was not eating correctly. I thought I was chewing my food enough, I thought my bites were small enough, I was wrong. Learning to eat correctly is one of the most difficult things for a bandster to do.
For some of us, feeling, sensing or understanding what satiation truly is, can take months or even years to fully develop and understand. It does sound like you may be too tight but ask yourself this? Can you eat Soups? Soups like progresso or campbells chicken with noodles or beef and barley? If you can down soups but can't eat normal foods, you may not be eating like a bandster. Because, eating like a bandster means the food you chew is similar in consistency to Soup as it hits your pouch.
tmf

how are you eating more then a cup if you are having a hard time eating food and most is piqued? sounds like you need to see your doctor. You should be able to eat solid food but a cup or less at each meal should be satifing. The band should not stop you from eating but should make you not hungary after a meal...something is not right here. Once you figure this part out the weight should be steady at 1-2 lbs a week like any other diet program.

I wish I had a "accurate" scale that measured "fat" and "muscle" because what I would see is that my body is getting "fit" which is so much more important then "weight loss". I have 40 pounds to lose and can't wait to say I lost 30 pounds!..Good Job! Stack up 30 boxes of butter and look at how much weight that is!
I tell myself that I need to be learning about the process as I lose, what lifestyle change is all about and I think I'm learning more the slower the weight loss the more I re-think about health and vitality.
Otherwise, if it's just another "diet" this is only going to be temporary. I learning from the support groups and I'm working on my food issues that got me here. Your an inspiration.. Thanks for your post!

Currently at 180. Wish I was lower but it seems many low BMI bandsters don't lose as radically as people w more to lose. My band still allows me to eat portions that are bigger than a cup. 6ccs in a 10 cc band. I get stuck if I try to eat anything in the am. lunch needs to be liquid. Dinners neeeeed hot tea first and then I can usually get down fish. I eat much healthier now even though I'm still size 16, and only 1 size down from where I started. But I want to feel sexy naked people!!! So i still have a ways to go. Goal weight 150. Gimme some support peeps. We can do this together!

I'm so happy, I hit 50 pounds down this week and got my first fill. Thought I'd share. It's been hard work but so worth every calorie counted and burned.

Hi Dee,
I was banded on the 26th too. Went to see the surgeon today for a fill and was told I need to wait 2 to 4 more weeks. I'm still on mushies and Protein Drinks so it's probably a good thing. I hate feeling like I'm starving and if I get a fill now when I can still feel a lot of restriction, it might make everything worse. The main thing I remind myself, is drink 64 oz of Water, which I'm not even close too and 70grams of Protein a day. I've been going for 2 hour bike rides every other day and strenous walks up in the mountains for 45 minutes. Even though I've only lost 10 pounds, my pulse today at the doctors was "45" so that tells me I'm doing something right. I take a lot of Vitamins so I don't crave anything sweet. Hang in there, thanks for posting. Autumn

I believe weight loss with out any attempt to become fit ( which is not skinny) is an exercise in futility (pardon the pun). Your health is defined by so much more than your weight. So while any bariatric surgery can make you thin by simply restricting calories, true success and wellness comes from a holistic approach at lifestyle change.
My doc actually rarely does lapbands because most patients aren't willing to make that fundamental change that results in permanent weight loss and lapband success ( which defined as what, 40% of the weight lost?).
When I told him I was training for a 1/2 marathon, he considered my surgery.successful, even though I have 40-50lbs to go.
I hate to say this, but one of the reasons many of us have had weight issues in the first place is lack of activity/ exercise. Then as the body is dealing with the effects of the weight, the activity level decreases even more and it gets harder and harder.... the band, or any wls can jump start you to a weight where exercise isn't painful or injury prone.... and from there you can start something that works for you.
It's been proven that getting your heart rate up for 20-30 min a day at least 5 times a week will dramatically improve your health... and quality of life.
Ultimately the decision is yours, and you have to really decide what your goal is and use the tools that work for you.

Any diet that avoids fruit but encourages bacon just isnt healthy! Carbs are not the only thing that defines a healthy food and a healthy diet is about balance even if you like to low carb. Did you know that the association between processed meats like bacon and ham and bowel cancer is so strong that current recommendations recently declared are to not eat those foods at all?
Wheteher you eat carbs or not, fresh and unprocessed is the way to go.

The only Protein I can drink is Isopure, you can get it at GNC and its a clear liquid. Kind of expensive but they are ok. They don't have aspartame in them, and I can't have that it gives me a cloudy head! Hope this helps.

Welcome!!! Congrats on getting banded … the best Christmas gift we could give ourselves! Many of us are on FitnessPal … look me up and feel free to add me: DLeigh77

Dee, I forgot to mention that I make my Protein Shakes with coconut milk it's high in potassium and I take supplements.< /p>

I am having a difficult time figuring out lapbandtalk.com I would like to respond to Dee1973 and cannot find an option to do that. It's probably because I'm so tired. I'm making myself stay up to the half the Protein requirements I need. I don't know how were supposed to just "sip" and get 64 oz of Water and 70 grams of protein. I take my protein in the morning with my Vitamins and the rest of the day my stomach and neck hurt. I think I'm drinking too fast. I don't think I'm figuring out how my body is working with this band. Maybe they needed to band my throat.LOL I don't start hurting for an hour or so after i drink.
Dee1973 I picked up some box Soups from "imagine" they are low sodium and made with soy milk, they are so good. Potatoes have over 800mg of potassium and these soups come in potatoe, tomatoe, butternut squash, split pea, lots and lots of variety. I've been getting bad leg aches at night so my dietictian told me to blend a banana with my Protein Shake which I've been doing in the morning. I've heard that Mucle milk protein does not have dairy in it, I need to check this out too. My concern is getting all the nurtrients that my body needs while the band is healing. If I waiit till my legs are sore or my hair is falling out, that's too late. But in adding all the vitamins I think it upsets my stomach. Everyone says you have to eat to lose weight, and I believe that, but after I have my first protein shake and try to get 16 oz of water throughout the day it's dinner time. I'll have to say, my husband is getting really nice dinners, because I'm so hungry:)
I was told just focus on the 70 grams of protein and 64oz of water, then if you have time and are still hungry then add the carbs, but I have yet to get that much protein and water in. But you know what, each and every day, things change, everything is constantly healing and getting better. Keep up the good work. Autumn

My daughter was banded when she turned 30 and dropped 125 pounds. She's kept it off for over 5 years, she's the one who inspired me. I think it's important to enjoy your life and be the person you were intended to be. Dr Halpin was my surgeon along with a resident from Mexico who is incredibly nice. I cannot say enough nice things about Legacy Hospital, they took such good care of me I thought I died and went to heaven..LOL I've been in a lot of hospitals in my lifetime, and I have never been into such a warm, caring hospital as Legacy. From the receptionist that checks you in to the cleaning staff. Your in good hands.

My primary care was against the weight loss surgery too. I was banded on dec 26 and I'm doing well except at night I'm having horrible leg pain that keeps me up. Any help would be appreciated. I've been taking lots of Calcium because I'm allergic to milk. I'd call my dietician but they're not in today. Thank you everyone for sharing your stories. Vicki

I've had a head cold/flu for a couple of weeks now and it's not getting better even though I'm on antibiotics and a bunch of other over the counter meds.... What concerns me though is that I've been coughing a LOT and trying to cough up stuff, I've gagged a lot... Is this going to hurt my band? I was banded in July of this year and haven't thrown up, had a stuck episode of PB'ed at all... I'm just so worried that the constant hard coughing and some gagging is going to cause my band to slip...
Any insight would be most appreciated....thanks!
L

congratulations! Enjoy your soft foods.lol