LosingAimee

Having adequate Fluid in your band will help hunger, but sticking to the right portion is your job to control not the band's job. Here is how Dr. Simpson explains it:
"The Lap-band is NOT about Restriction
When talking about the band, some patients talk about restriction. Let's first be clear about one thing: the purpose of the band is not restriction; the purpose of the band is to lose weight by suppressing the appetite.
When band professionals talk about restriction we are talking about something totally different than "restricting what a person eats." In fact, many band surgeons avoid talking about restriction so as to not confuse patients. The band works by dimming the appetite, and this provides a conscious control and decision made by the patient, it does not work by "making" a person do something, or keep them from eating too much.
The Lap-band works by suppressing your appetite
As a result, you are less interested in food between meals, making it easier to resist temptation. The analogy is when you are near a vending machine when you are hungry-- what do you do? Probably find yourself with some junk food that is not a part of your plan. But, when you pass a vending machine when you are full, it may not even catch your eye. Having the appetite dimmed makes you less tempted by the many food choices modern living throws at you - -this is what the band does, by suppressing appetite you become less interested in food."

I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around it, but I'm officially in onederland!!! I never evereververever thought I'd EVER be a ONE hundred something pound person, again!! I had surgery February first. This was my one year goal...to be in onederland. The fact that I've met this goal about 6 months early is pretty amazing.
I was going to share pics, but I'm going to save that for my next big weightloss goal, 100lbs!! Only 7lbs away!

It gets better but you just need to keep getting fills. I had to get over 14cc in my 14cc band before I got really good restriction. Good luck!

I can't believe it has been 5 years! I had my surgery 5 years ago. Since then, I have lost nearly 70 pounds and what a difference that has made to my life. I am more active, feel better, and do more than I did when I was younger. Hope this can inspire someone to get the surgery. BTW, I am almost 65 years old and I'm planning a white Water river raft expedition for next week. Something I would never have dreamed of 5 years ago!

I had made a post recently that I was .5 away from having lost 45 lbs... today I have made it to 45!
My highest weight was 357. Surgery was May 6 and I was 350. I am now at 312!
My first fill of 4.5 cc out of 14 was June 3. I went in expecting to have my second today and was told my loss was way over average and there would be no reason to give me another.
It's so surreal to me that I've lost that much - too bizarre to process in my head.
I recently put up my first profile picture on Facebook that I've had in years. It wouldn't seem like a big deal to many, but it felt so good to be able to have a picture there I felt good enough about to share.
I know I was the creator of a very long "Miserable inside" thread a month ago... at 21 especially, this was a very difficult decision to make but I'm glad it worked out.
Thank you all who have been so supportive It's really appreciated and I hope we all can continue to inspire each other.
~Mark

I feel like a new person! Loving my Lapband!

By far this is my biggest challenge! I've never had any problems because of it, but it certainly contributes to not losing weight or to re-gaining weight for me. My surgeon was very emphatic about this rule. She even told me that technically eating a salad with my meal was kind of like eating and drinking at the same time because of the Water content in the vegetables. She just explained that if you put thick sludge in a sink, it will eventually drain out. But if you add a bunch of Water to it, it will wash out quickly. The band works because the relatively small amount of chewed food stays in the pouch for a long time. If we wash it through, we defeat the band. Her exact quote - "You can eat and drink your way through anything if you try hard enough."
When I follow this rule about not drinking with meals and focus on getting 60g of Protein a day - I lose weight. When I ignore the Protein and drink with meals, I gain weight. Just that simple for me.
Shelly

Iam banded. Overall I'm not feeling to bad . I feel very bloated in my upper stomach area and my doctor reassures me it is from the air the put in during surgery. I should be going home sometime this morning.

Thanks and please keep us updated Aimee!!

The first week or so it was hard to drink in general. I didn't have issues keeping things down, but I couldn't drink big quantities of fluids at a time. Just make sure you remember to sip sip your Water and protein!

The first week or so it was hard to drink in general. I didn't have issues keeping things down, but I couldn't drink big quantities of fluids at a time. Just make sure you remember to sip sip your Water and protein!

Hello,
I just scheduled my surgery for July 22nd!!!
Ahh I'm so nervous but I know this will be an amazing journey for me.
All my life I have been overweight/unhealthy and now I am
Given the opportunity to changes my life for the better and I took this without a second thought.
I am looking through all the blogs and I really getting nervous about all of the lap band after affects.
Any advice is the post op really bad.

I eat fruit every day. Cantaloupe, apples, grapes, pineapple, blueberries. My band likes them all. But of course, you need to track how many calories you're consuming so don't over do it?

This has been a big issue for me too. Prior to my surgery, I was a HUGE drinker with my meals... multiple glasses. I always enjoyed the "cleansing of my palate" for the next bite... anyways, it's been probably the biggest challenge to get used to.

Sipping Water or any Fluid while you eat allows the food to travel right through your stoma and defeats the purpose of the band. Some of us sip Water or wine with meals occasionally but we wait until the food has passed through the pouch and into the stomach. Each bite takes about one minute to pass through if you follow the rules.
I recommend newbies learn to eat without fluids until they have more control over their eating habits.
tmf

I'm a self pay as well, and I've financed it for the next 24-36 months. I feel like it's given me tremendous pressure to make sure I stay on track. I can't allow myself not to make the most of something when I'm still making payments for it.

First of all ignore anyone that comes in here asking why it slipped. Secondly, you can come back from a slipped band. Whether they can fix it or they have to remove it you have options so just be strong and you'll get through this. If they have to remove the band you will probably have the options of either getting a new band or opting for a different surgery. That's the great thing about the band. If it doesn't work for some reason you can always switch to a different method. This will be a tough time but get support and you will make it. Good luck!

Long post….but hell, it’s taken me almost four years!
ONEDERLAND, finally!
Although it seems to have taken me forever, I’ve arrived. I was banded way back in Sept 09. I struggled to find that green zone, that spot where I wasn’t hungry all the time. I stayed on the diet, eating exactly what I was told to, per all the paperwork given to me by my surgical team. (They are awesome, by the way! )
Then after about a year, my determination dwindled, just as it always did in the past. (hey, I did DIET for a year…not bad for me) I wasn’t feeling any help from the band…..and I knew it, but couldn’t/didn’t do a good enough job of convincing my surgeon of this. We/he thought it was just “I was losing faster than they were adjusting”, “may take me more saline than normal”, etc, etc…all those reasons you hear so often on here. That was back when my fills were done blindly. Then along comes FLUOROSCOPY! First time using it, the problem was easily detected and the corrected asap.
For me, and others I hear on here talk about this often… we get discouraged/lose that motivation when it’s not working as fast as we want. Thinking this wasn’t going to work me, I’m a failure, I can’t do this, etc, etc. That was so me! I thought never gonna get to goal…enjoy the 40-50% EWL and move on…I quit going to my doctor for about a year….embarrassed I had actually gained about 20#’s from my lowest. BECAUSE I was eating too much! Not in the green zone….just another diet.
Then I had a friend persuade me to get my butt back to the doctor….she had the band too. And she had already been through where I was at, and had succeeded.
So I did go back, doctor was VERY encouraging, he said we just need to adjust your band. Still skeptical, but I somehow got my mind back into the mode of maybe this thing really will work….maybe. A couple weeks after that fill….I knew exactly what the green zone was/is for me. And its been great ever since.
With my band in a great spot now, I enjoy riding my bike, AKA Stephanie (Steph for short) as my form of “exercise”.
She is always ready and willing. Never complains she doesn’t want to. I’ve ridden in the rain (soaking wet!), cold (even snowing), heat (sweating like crazy), etc. Because I enjoy it! She is always ready for MORE! Addictive I say. Once you find something you like….you’ll know what I’m referring to.
So if you’re struggling, losing that motivation/determination…..I hope this encourages you to know that others have struggled too. But you can do it! Just never, ever give up! I wish you the best….now its off to ride. Life is good GREAT!

I am so thankful for my band!
I started the process at 243 lbs and was banded April 29th and have lost 45 lbs (including pre-op) and am so excited! I hit the "ONEderland" yesterday weighing in at 198!
I can't wait to see what the number is in the next few months!
Just wanted to share!

Four months ago today I was in Swedish Hospital in Seattle and had my band installed. Have lost 44 pounds since then along with 16 pre op for a total of 60. Awesome. Went clothes shopping in my closet yesterday and have bags of stuff to give to Goodwill tomorrow. Thanks Swedish, love ya.

WOW I have to say the Lapband with Plication has been the best weightloss dession of my life. 11 wks out no fills 56.9 Lbs total gone, (still have a lot to go but I am loving it..). grated it is just a tool i cant sit on the couch and watch TV and just shed the LBS magically, I am in the gym 7 days a week and with every pound loss allows me to add more and more time to my work out. I am loving the changes in my life. I can play basketball w my daughter and keep up. I am participating in my first 5 K saturday. Start runing with a running group next monday... it has truly been a blessing to me. I love this site and the info and support to be found here. Thanks to all of you.

Today marks 1 month post op!!
I feel like its been a year since my surgery but its only been 4 weeks and its went by soooooooo fast lol. I can sit here and say this is by far the best decision that I have ever made and I'm following my doctors guidelines to a T and I'm feeling back to normal now and getting out ever other day and exercising. I have been eating soft foods for the past few weeks and today I can start solid foods! I'm going to wait another week before I start solids again since I have stocked up on a lot of foods!
Since about 2-3 weeks post op I have been gradually working my excersise and I'm currently training for a 5k run in September. It feels so good that I am back walking/jogging again knowing about 3 months ago I would be able to walk but not for long.... I have been portion sizing my meals like its no ones business and sticking to even though I could eat a little more but keeping myself at bay and knowing in the future I would be eating portion sizes 1-2 cups of food and I know doing this would get me prepared
Well since being 4 weeks post op, I have lost 48pounds to date since March 7th 2013 (344 was my highest weight recorded at my consultation weight). Its feels so good to know in 4 months I have lost all that extra weight I had been carrying around for awhile. I have been very motivated since the start of my journey when I started my Pre-Op diet and I'm full of confidence.
I have met a lot of awesome people on this website and I'm very grateful to have everyones support along the way of my journey. I started a video log on Youtube and I have met a lot of good people on there too. It keeps tabs on myself and knowing that I'm documenting my journey will only help me motivate myself even more in the future!
Thanks for all the support everyone
-Amine

My drinking days are Sundays. I preplan everything. I double my workouts, plan my meals and make sure I stay within my target calories intake. My drink of choice is a shot of a low cal vodka and Zero Vitamin Water. Blueberry Pomegranate is one of my favorites. My advice to you is to plan you day and do some research on your favorite alcoholic drinks and find a healthier alternative. Remember alcohol has empty calories. So choice wisely

So a lady stopped me this morning around mile 4. She lives right around the corner from me. "I see you walking every morning when I'm getting my coffee. You look great, you're losing weight, your posture has improved, your gait is faster. You are doing great, it motivates me to get off my butt and get moving" man that made that last mile easy!
It reminds me to show up and work hard because you never know who's counting on you for motivation!
I remember that I used to be embarrassed to exercise outside. I thought people would think "oh look another fat guy trying to lose weight, bet he gives up in a couple days." I don't know why I thought that just did. But I've been busting my butt walking/jogging between 1-5 miles 6 days a week for about a month now. I even completed my first 5k! Keep working hard everyone, you are someone's source of motivation, whether you believe it or not!!