Duitsy15

Thats veryyyy exciting! congrats!!

I've lost ten 5 lb bags of flour since December 17th...51 lbs!...I can't imagine carrying all that flour around all day now, but I did carry that weight and it was fat! I have a horrible relationship with the camera but I do plan on getting some pic's up....
So yeah...thanks for letting me brag, I'll brag again when I lose the next 50!!

My advice is to measure yourself chest, waist, calves, thighs, arms neck ect. so that when you feel like nothings happening you can remeasure and hopefully see some progress! but i think you're doing great so far. sounds like you really have control over your situation!!

My advice is to measure yourself chest, waist, calves, thighs, arms neck ect. so that when you feel like nothings happening you can remeasure and hopefully see some progress! but i think you're doing great so far. sounds like you really have control over your situation!!

1) either you are over filled and you should call your doc asap for an unfill
2) or you are not eating like a bandster should. Don't worry you are not alone. Many of us have struggled in the beginning, so here are some tips
1) weigh your food and don't eat more than a cupfull per meal (or whatever amount your doc advises)
2) from now on only eat on small plates-that way it wont by feel like your eating tiny portions that don't even fill up a plate
3) until you're used to eating like a bandster do not eat with friends or while your otherwise distracted (like watching tv or doing work) This will help keep you focused on chewing and taking small bites
4) just relax!! It will take some time in the beginning to learn what you can and cannot tolerate

I've never had a slip, thank God. But I've been stuck.
A big stuck for me is pain - like heart burn. A lot of it.
Then nausea for a split second - then UP IT COMES!
A little stuck for me is repeated swallowing with a sludgy throat, discomfort, and then an eventual "clunking of the pipes" as the food goes thru.
Either way your instinct might be to drink...I cannot stress enough NOT to do that. It does not "wash thru" but instead sits there and makes things worse. What works for me is papaya enzyme, jumping up and down, walking, or bending wayyyyy over (or all in succession!)
You'll know when it happens.

sounds like it. im pretty dang jealous not gunna lie.

Started the pre op diet on 12/5. Lost 23lbs. Banded on 12/21. Just lost another 17.5lbs for a grand total of 40.5 lbs. I don't know why the 40lb hurdle was so important to me...most people shoot for 50, but when I stepped on the scale this morning and I finally made it I was extremely excited. :-). Yipppeeee!!!

he wanted me to "aggressively move to solids" yeah i thought i was supposed to be on mushy stuff for the second week atleast. i went straght from liquids the first week to solids. they didnt want me having any liquid calories after a week. including yogurt!! i've been fine no real pain or anything i dont think anything has gotten stuck. no puking or anything either.
my diet is meats cheeses nuts peanutbutter ect. not supposed to really eat fruits or veggies cuz of the carbs.. idk he doesnt give great detailed instructions and i'm a shy person especially when it comes to talking to drs. so i feel kinna lacking in instructions. i mean hes good hes been doing this for 11 or so years and has awards and several practices, i just feel like i'm the only one on here on this diet.

Bandster hell is a very real thing, trust me I know! I had my surgery 12/21/12 and I go for my first fill this Friday. I feel like I'm hungry all the time. I try to reach for Protein first: string cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, Protein shake. At lunch, I eat deli turkey and a veggie or fruit. Protein first! And lots of Water. At 3 weeks post op you should be able to eat soft cheeses or yogurts.
Personally, I count calories and protein, not carbs. I know if I eat enough protein first, I won't have room for any more carbs. I do eat carbs, but I count every calorie. It must work, because I'm down 25 lbs.
Best of luck to you. Hang in there, it does get better.

Hi everyone, im Milehighdreamer, you may also call me Adrian. I am a Colorado transplant living in Midland Texas; I moved here last year because my 53 year old astranged father was living here and had/survived a heart attack.
I am now 27. I am 5'11" and weigh 347. I had been working in the oilfields of Texas for most of last year. Which I enjoyed very much but had to quit because of physical demands. Now I work for a major wholesale retailer; but I wish my body would have allowed me to stay in my previous job.
In Denver, in 2011 I attended a huge lapband seminar but was turned off by the impersonal aspects of that meeting. But after the seminar I contacted my insurance and found that the surgury was excluded. Now its january 2013 and im feeling much older physically. My right knee always hurts aswell as my feet. I have trouble keeping up with coworkers and friends. I cannot work hard, I get tired soon. Im just not feeling what I belive a 27 year old should feel like. Im not fit and my life feel unfulfilled. I feel like im traped inside a jail which is all this excess weight.
A week ago, while stocking 90lbs boxes of ribeye at work, I had a very sudden idea. I said to myself,"its time!" I thought about it for a hour, knowing I was going to have to be a self-pay. I then told everyone I knew that I had made the decision to get the operation. I asked my close friends and relatives for money to pay for it. With limitex success. But I can say this thursday I will be driving 5 hours to San Antonio for my first consultation. They told me on the phone if I pay half I can pay the rest over two years. Well wish me luck everyone.

Hello ...very excited to start this journey.. ok here's the basics. Starting weight 228 and 5'2". I need knee replacement at age 50...trying to get some years out of my knee before I have to get a replacement and in the last couple years been diagnosed with hbp asthma thyroid disease sleep apnea....sound familiar? I had to cut back at work to three days a week...my knees just couldn't do it. I have only told immediate family about my procedure....I just don't want everyone to be "weighing me". So had my surgery on the 16th stayed out of work with a "stomach thing" and returned to work a week later. I have a semi desk job...was just extremely tired and tummy sore but I made it thru. Cant wait until official weighing next Tuesday. About to get over liquid diet...overall surgery recoop not to bad...gas pains in chest and shoulder and sore tummy but me and lortab (for first 4 days) have made it thru. Day 11 post op and feeling good!

It gets lot's better. Hang in there. When you start and see your weight loss, the clothes sagging on you, can sit in booths in places you couldn't sit before, you'll love the new you. When the doctor starts removing certain medications because of your loss of weight and your back, legs and feet don't bother you anymore, you will know why you went through all of this. YOU already know diets alone don't work very well form past experiences.
Keep on track! YOU can do it!
Best wishes

My surgeon told me that it is also fine not to lose any weight during this period too. so i'm sure that what you're going through right now is completely normal. i know how you feel about being afraid to see your surgeon if things arent going perfectly but we shouldnt think like that! I'm sure they are understanding.
good luck!

Amy it will def be worth it! And what your feeling is normal. I was so scared in the beginning to eat and after a fill I get a little anxious too but I think it's all part of the process. I just mentally prepare for the fill before my appt so that way It won't be so bad. Everyone I have spoken too on here is awesome so you will have plenty of support from here!

yeah i wasnt afraid of the surgery oddly. i knew it just had to be done. today ends my second week after surgery. thats what i dont get is why now im afraid. but i'm sure itll work out.. hopefully.

I had my "re-visit" consultation today and they submitted my paperwork to insurance again and they approved it right away! Picking up my pre-op shakes tomorrow and surgery is scheduled for February 7th! I am grateful for the expedited care! I am ready to do this!

thanks hummingbird and mis73 for the encouragement.
yeah i also have over 200 to lose. but yup.. i just need to be super hard core from now on. i know itll be worth it.. but why am i feeling so fearful... idk its just all new i guess.. like how (cliche i know... but) it really is the first day of the rest of my life and just not knowing is freaking me out.
Panic-ing aside it's good to know people have gone through the same struggles as me

I was banded on 12/31/12 and was sure I would be down 20 pounds the week after surgery, afterall, I'd been on Clear Liquids and couldn't eat much of anything the week following surgery. I was sooooo disappointed to the point of crying when I discovered I had only lost 6 pounds. My doc says that's normal because of bloating and swelling from the surgery. I'm down 16 now, but have come to the conclusion that I can't live and die by the scale. I can only do what I'm supposed to do and hope the weight will follow. I'm committed to working with this band to reach my goal. My first fill is 1/31/13. Lost of luck with your journey. I'm sure you'll be successful:-)

Amy - I was banded 12/21. I am also low/no carbing it because I have done Atkins in the past and had great success with it. However, that works for me. Lots of others here do get their Protein in first but also have some veggies and a bit of carbs and they are having no issues with weight loss. I lost 7lbs the week after surgery and then it came to a dead halt. I didn't worry about it just kept on going. In the past 11 days since I've been back on solids and keeping the carbs at bay I've lost 7.5 lbs more. I imagine even that will slow down. But again, that's ok. I'm in it for the long haul. My plan is to follow the rules and work this band as best as I can. I don't plan on getting a full until I get to my goal weight. I figure I'm going to need it more to help me maintain when I get all whiny down the road. Take it one day at a time and just remember that you can do it!

Hi Amy and Welcome!
I'll try to answer your questions in order
Diet: You'll find every doctor and nutritionist seem to have their own idea what works best. So, you'll get a wide variety of answers on that one. As for myself, I don't do the whole low carb thing. It's simply not realistic for me long me term. However, I do have some rules I follow. It's simply what works for me, everyone is different:
-I never go over 1 cup of food per meal
-I stay between 1000-1200 calories daily
-I make sure to get at least 60g of Protein in daily
Fills: How your feeling is totally normal. It takes most people multiple fills to have adequate Fluid in their bands. You'll here this time referred to as "bandster hell" because you don't feel any different yet you're expected to eat like a banded person. It's rough but a very common experience for a lot of us.
Port: I won't lie, if you notice it now you will likely notice it more as you lose weight. I've lost 179 pounds so far and mine sticks out a lot more than it did originally. The good news is, if you find it's an issue once you real goal, you can always get it replaced with a low profile one.
Best wishes!