Desert cactus

Wonderful story, I have been banded since June 27, 2013 and have lost only a net loss of 3 lb. Yes, 3 lbs. do you have any tips to share with me? a lot of people talk about the green zone but I don't know if I ever will reach that point. Congratulations on your sucess and hope one day I can say the same. One of the reasons I am not loosing weight is because I have a low thiroid but, it is frustrating. Any suggestions will be greatily appreciated.
Thank you,
Maria

Everyone is different, there is no way to know what is happening from one person to another, what their eating habits/technique is like, is there band tight or not....
Can only share my experience....
My last fill, over 3 years ago, it was not all that uncommon to get stuck 2-3 times a day...not always, but it did happen....
I could have easily went back to get Fluid taken out, but I asked myself "Where would that put me? Back where I was before my last fill?" And that was not acceptable either because at that point the band was doing absolutely nothing.
So there had to be another variable...with the fill I had a hard time eating, getting stuck, etc...without that fill I was hungry all the time, cravings, could not control my portions, etc......so what was the missing variable????
It turned out to be ME!
I called my Dr....expecting him to have me come in...but he told me to stick it out for another week or two....
Long story short, I had to learn to eat in ways I could never have imagined possible....I never realized one could do as good as I am doing on so little food....and that there would be foods I will never eat again..
After being fat - Obese for so long, I had some deeply ingrained habits that I had to break free of....all those years of my Mother feeding me the wrong foods, etc.
If someone had a way of showing me what I would be like today as far as my food choices and how little I would be eating, I seriously would have re-considered having this surgery at all....thinking that was impossible and I would be harming myself.
Everyone has to find that perfect balance for themselves....between the foods they eat and how they eat them, how much the band is adjusted, and how much one is willing to change their old ways....
I read on another post that the band only has a complete success rate of only 40% ????
If true, that means 60% never really fully get there?
This has been the easiest weight loss I have ever been on and could have ever done....absolutely no struggle or problems at all....do not count calories, worry about portion sizes, etc, etc...just go about my business from day to day...
BUT.....
GETTING to that place of "Perfect Balance" the "Green Zone" was the hardest of all, PURE HELL at times, and often worried I would never get to that place and this has all been a big waste of time.
I can relate when people say this is difficult, and they are frustrated....
Sorry for ranting on, I have a habit of doing that at 4am and my first cup of coffee.......off to the gym when they open at 5am....then work by 8:30

Well it's been a year. A very triumphant year if I may say so myself. I have lost 80 pounds and even though I have hit a plateau I have no doubt I will break through it soon.
So much has changed...I went from sporadically active to exercising 6 days a week. I actually haven't missed a workout this entire year. I have NEVER been that committed to exercise...EVER!!!
I don't really eat carbs, especially doughy ones. I watch my calories and track them. I choose Protein before other types of food.
I went from wearing a size 20/22 to a 12 or 13 depending on women's or juniors. My tops and dresses are now medium instead of XXL. I can actually confidently by clothing without trying it on and it fits. I wear a bikini...been a really long time since that one happened last. My addiction to shoes and clothing (and don't forget accessories) is getting worse but it really is oh so fun.
I am more active with my kids. I don't wake up with aches and pains. The mattress I thought was horrible is actually quite comfortable now. ???¯ And let's not leave out how amazing my sex life with hubby is now ???œ
I have lost 12 inches in my waist, 9 in hips, over 4 in each thigh, almost 3 in each arm and sadly 6 in my boobies (but I would look weird if they hadn't shrunk too).
I know I have been absent lately but I wanna thank all the wonderful people on this site for their continuing support and wish everyone just starting this journey luck. The journey is what you decide to make of it. You can do it!!!
Thanks for letting me brag

Thanks, ladies! My husband is going through the clothing problems now. He got a pair of shorts about a month ago that were tight on him (just fit but slightly snug) and now he's pulling them off and on with out buttoning.
Agreed, it's a good problem to have. Hopefully, I'll have some weight off and find the outfit closer to the date!
Good Will is going to be getting a lot of clothes from this house.

Best wishes and good luck

Welcome to the world of the banded. You have taken the first step. Work with your bariatric people & listen to their people. We will cheer you on & try to inspire you & wish you a future of good health & happiness! :wub:

Welcome to the club

Hi everyone I just under went the procedure this morning at 7:00 am. No pain necessarily. My left hand tingles from the elbow down to my thumb. Drinking Water and sugerfree Powerade. I am 51 years old, 5' 9" and weigh 275. My goal is 200 or less. I am on Januevia, Levimir and glucophage. Hopefully all those meds will go out the door once I loose some weight.
The doc had to use staples to close the holes so I go back to see him in a couple of weeks to remove the staples. I asked hi if I could remove them myself and he didn't laugh too much.
Well I hope anyone who want to respond will and who doesn't want to then dont. I hope to learn and discover somethings about myself and about other as I walk through this journey.
Thanks for listening

True Results (if they are in your area) will finance $5,500 if Care Credit denies.

I have read it has to do with activating the nerves at the top of the stomach. The band's restriction causes food to enervate nerves that normally would not be touched unless the stomach were FULL. This gives the senastion of fullness.
When I do my upper GIs with food, I see it pass through pretty quickly. Very interesting!

Thanks Missy,
I always enjoy reading your posts and replies.

What your doctor told you is 100% correct.
food passes through the band in less than a minute. If it's sitting above the band, then your band is too tight and it will stretch the pouch. This can lead to a lot of problems, including erosion,reflux, and slips.
Always trust your doctor over anything you read on these forums. We're not doctors and we're no experts.

I am confused,
At my Dr. office they said that the "pouch" is not to hod food and that it is just a passing trough, that food should never stay/sit in there because it will stretches the esophagus and will eventually the patient start having problems with acid reflux/GERD etc.
According with some post that I've read, you eat small amounts to fill the pouch and once it is full then you feel full and the food slowly moves to the big part of the stomach and that is the reason not to drink Water.< /p>
Which version is correct?

I agree with Missy,
I lost 20 lb. in 10 days, 7 days pre op liquid diet and two days of Clear Liquids after surgery and I have not loose any more since then, so it's been almost 4 weeks with no loss, I am focusing on eating the right food and eventually the way will come off. It could be that my body think it is in a starvation mode because I am not consuming more than 800 cal per day.

Awwww, sweetie, I know this can be a scary thing if you've never been put down before. I was actually scared because I WASN'T scared (I never am when going under) Focus on how your life is going to change for the better, and if you're a believer, have faith, The Lord will see you through! We will all be here waiting to hear about your experience. Be blessed and be still.

I turned 50 and am 100 plus pounds lighter! I was banded 3 years ago and although the journey has been rough at times I have no regrets . I have more energy am just more comfortable than I ever imagined. I am struggling a little right now with food choices but am confident that it will pass and I will continue my success!

Amy, im proud of u. Between fairs, n parties & bbq's, there is never a great time for surgery. U did yourself a huge favor not eating processed or fried foods not to mention the SUGAR (cotton yummy, i mean candy lol) just right there u lost 5lbs.
Sent from my SAMSUNG GALAXY S3 using LapBandTalk

Omgosh Ive have lost125 pounds I was banded on march 30 2011 Im a very proud women I couldn't of made it with out my support from other band members that very much understand the new life style I have aquired my hubby who supported my weight loss and my struggle to reach my goals my parents who supported my choice on having the band my 2 year old who inspired me to change not only my weight but the way I eat so I can show her the healthy way to eat for people who are thinking or even already have the band there's always bad and good always !!!! but the band out weighs any bad for reason being the feeling of acomplishment and self worth for you're self loving the inside is so much better then loving the outside Im health and loving it !!! first off I thank god for being there every step of the way for everyone who is considering having the band and or already has it wish yall the best and god bless <3

I don't like the groups navigation either. It's a bit confusing.
Doing pretty good, 14 days out and on soft foods. How are you Rebecca?
Hi Desert Cactus, I also had a hernia repair. How are you feeling?

walking will help with the shoulder pain and massage will help shoulder and neck pain, it doesn't need to be profesional massage, just have a friend or relative to give you massage in that area and it will help a lot. Good luck!

walking will help with the shoulder pain and massage will help shoulder and neck pain, it doesn't need to be profesional massage, just have a friend or relative to give you massage in that area and it will help a lot. Good luck!

I feel the same way, well, I don't feel full when I drink, I am still on liquid diet but it helped me to make my Protein Shake in the shaking cup instead of the blender. My porblem is that when I drink I get some air in and it gets ready to get out trought burping but I can not burp, I think it has something to do with the surgery or with the Hietal Hernia that they fixed during surgery.
I don't know but it is uncomfortable because I have to walk a lot in order for the gas to move arround. Hope it gets better.

Do you know when to call it quits? To quit a meal, that is?


It’s 12:15 pm. Sad to say, your meal is over now.

I used to work with a recovering food addict (I'll call her Wendy) whose work station was about four feet away from mine. We both went to lunch in the company break room at noon every day.

Wendy had lost over 100 pounds in a 12-step program, but food was still of paramount importance to her. At 11:45 every morning, she would announce hopefully, "It's getting close to lunch."

At 11:55, she would announce ominously, "It's getting dangerously close to lunch."

At 12:00, she would announce triumphantly, "It's time for lunch!", spring out of her chair, and head for the break room.

At 12:15, came the final, regretful announcement, "Lunch is over."

Our coworkers found this daily ritual both amusing and annoying. Only another food addict (like me) could understand what was going on in Wendy's head as she looked forward to her noon meal and then mourned its passing.

What's the take-home message from this story?

Lunch is over. It has to be over. You must put down your fork and stop eating when your planned portion is gone or the instant you get a stop message. But what if there's still food left on your plate? What about the children in Armenia (all starving, according to my mother)? What about that leftover food?

1. Get up from the table (say, "Excuse me" if it seems indicated).
2. Put the food in a storage container, and put the container in the refrigerator, or throw the food away (down the garbage disposal, where you can't get at it, is best).
3. Take your plate to the sink and rinse or wash it.

Did I say "throw the food away"? In spite of the starving Armenian children? I sure did. I'm not going to tell the World Health Organization that you threw out the extra food. You can donate money to a food charity to help feeding starving children (you'll be able to afford a few bucks for charity because you won't be spending $50 a month on soda). God will not strike you dead for this, I promise.

Remember what Rhoda Morgenstern said to Mary Tyler Moore as she tore into a chocolate bar back in 1973 (or thereabouts)?

"I don't know why I'm eating this. I should just rub it directly on my hips."

So look at that plate of leftover food and ask yourself, "Should I roll in it, or throw it away?"

Lunch is over!

Hello the welcome! I am from the Scottsdale True Results office. I just had my surgery 06/13/2013. I wish you all the best luck, remember to take it easy as you are still healing.