Srock

Banded in jan 2014. Last fill 1 week ago and I'm feeling real restriction for first time. I can eat about 1/4 - 1/2 cup at a a time. I'm trying out different foods with different consistencies to figure out what works best for me. But I'd like to hear from other bandsters on what you eat, what amounts, how long u take to eat, when do u know to stop? I've heard that some people have signals that tells them to stop but I don't. So, sometimes I eat too fast and get that painful sensation mid-sternum - till it slips thru the band. But I'd like to have some pointers that I can use to not have that feeling. I know that everybody is different but everyone with a band has some secret tips - so spill people! Lol.

I can totally relate....with my first fill I got 4.5 cc's before the "drinking water" trick made me burp..lol but after a day or so, felt no restriction whatsoever while eating. the funny thing is, I can wear clothes that I haven't been able to wear for 2 years and they are baggy in places, which is awesome, but I sure wish the scales would reflect that ...

I totally understand. No weight loss until after 2nd fill but able to fit in smaller clothes. Crazy but true! Thought it was just me.

Had my second fill 2 weeks ago. Finally my hunger is curbed and I'm consuming much less - and the scale is moving!

But, I'm finding that I cannot eat tolerate certain foods - particularly anything dry. And I know to avoid sliders. My question is - where is that delicate balance between food that is so dry it sticks and food that is so moist it slides?

Or should I even worry about foods being too moist as long as I'm satiated, eating healthy, and losing weight?

Any feedback is welcome.

Thanks for feedback all! The part that perplexes me most is that I've virtually stayed the same weight but dropping pant sizes. Pants that didn't fit at all 6 weeks ago are now the right size (and loose!). Just weird but I am happy with it.

I know the scale will eventually move because of the basic science (cals in/ out). Just curious if this is happening to anyone else. Again thanks for responses - it always helps to hear from other bandsters

First fill today - 6 weeks post op. My body shape is changing and I've gone down a pant size but only lost 1lb from surgery date of 1/21 (according to doc scales). Exercising, completely changed the way I eat (no soda, no junk food, Protein first, etc.).

Doc said he was gonna put in fill, then have me drink til I felt restriction. He put in 3 ccs and I inhaled 2 glasses of Water with no problem. I told him I could keep drinking and he said that 3ccs is his max fill. He said "I'll see u in 4 weeks and I'm sure u will need a fill".

Anybody else had similar experience with (1) not feeling restriction with first fill and (2) dropping a size with virtually no loss in lbs?

I haven't posted in a few days but I'm feeling a little bit discouraged already. I lost 15 lbs the first two weeks and nothing the past week. I am trying my best to eat the way my surgeon recommends which is Protein and a little bit of veg. Lots of fluids (low or no cal) i try my best to go with low carbs. I am just so anxious to get to my first short term goal of 25 lbs down because I have it in my head that I will believe that the band is working once I see that number. I havent been that weight in years so that is why I feel that way. In the past year I fluctuated between 230-250 so I would just really like to see 225 and that is only 10 lbs away! I realize I that this is a journey not a marathon and that I didn't put the weight on in a day and rome wasnt built in a day and blah blah all of those cliche things. That still doesn't stop the mentality that I and I'm sure many other people have. I just want to see that its working! I want to see that i didnt do this all for nothing. I'm sure I feel this way because I have been discouraged with other "diets" before. I am trying not to "diet" but just to eat better things...and of course less of these things. Anywho...I have my first fill on Friday so maybe it will help a bit. I'm not expecting much of a difference though but I suppose we will see!! And please no negative comments. I don't tolerate rudeness. I am simply venting and I believe this site is a very good outlet for that and a very good support system. Thanx!!

I'm right there with you! Banded on 1/21/14. Starting weight on 12/21/13 was 262; day of surgery 244; today 241. The scale has been as low as 238 - but I started exercising so I think I'm beginning to build muscle so I'm not totally discouraged (a little aggravated maybe cause I'd like to see more weight loss right away). I'm eating between 700-1000 calories per day plus doing cardio workouts - not adjusted yet. I can tell I'm losing inches and my body is changing shape, but I'd still like to lose more on the scale to prove I'm working hard. I just want you to know that you are not alone!

Although most of the cliches are true (journey not marathon), it doesn't change the way you feel right now - discouraged. And if you are like me, I can attribute most of my weight issues to emotional eating. Bottom line is that food/eating has brought me comfort over the years, but I've finally chosen to conquer that weakness.....and step 1 was lapband placement. I'm going to be patient as step 2 is just ahead of me - adjustments. Please hang in there and know that you are not alone. Much of my post is a personal pep talk too but I hope it helps you in some way.

Hi! I'm one month banded and can eat about 2 1/2 cups at a time. Thankfully I only eat about twice a day because I'm pretty full in between. Is this ok? I'm eating healthy food fish and veggies NO carbs. My dr said I was doing great on weight loss so he didn't give me a fill. Lost 30lbs since jan 1

Hi there Princess! I was banded on 1/21/14. Like u, I can eat 2 cups at a time (solids, no sliders and no liquids 30 min pre/post meals). I thought it would be much less too. But I don't have my first fill until 6 weeks post op. I'm eating super healthy and keeping calories between 700-1100 per day. Also exercising daily and losing at a slow/steady pace-23lbs since 12/21/13.

I expect that my intake capacity will shrink as I get fills, but right now, I'm sticking to 4 oz Protein with approx 1 & 1/2 cups low carb veggies at lunch and dinner. Breakfast is usually Protein Bar or toast/peanut butter. My doc has never mentioned food portions in terms of cups but maybe he will as I'm adjusted. Congrats on your success so far!!

srrock

Would love for y'all to add me too!!

I've always been aware of what it took to lose weight and if I could lose 2 lbs a week I was grateful. But when I was banded, I got this googley eyed notion I was going to lose 10 lbs every month. And you know what? I didn't? So, if you're new or in a stall. Do the math. Every pound put on came from 3500 calories you consumed. So, every lb of fat you lose will require you burn off 3500 more calories than you consume(easy to get googley eyed and forget this) So, if your body needs 1400 calories a day to function normally, and let's say you walk and burn off 300 calories a day through exercise, you're body needs 1700 calories/day to maintain. And if you consume 1000 calories/day your deficit will be 700 calories a day or 4900/week. That equals about 1.4 lbs a week you'll lose. Now throw in Water weight gains and losses it's going to be up and down but mostly down. Good luck.

Excellent post! Well said and very true. Thanks for your words of wisdom - I truly appreciate this site and the fact that I can learn from others who have traveled the path.

Update: Had first post-op appointment today. Doc says I'm healing well and first fill will be in 4 weeks. He asked if I felt any restriction and I no -- because I've been super hungry and can eat a significant amount before feeling full. My doc and his nurse seemed surprised when I answered "no" to the restriction question. Their response was "you don't feel any restriction?" and really seemed to discount my answer/perspective (in a nice way, lol).

So, I've been thinking about the whole thing.......their perspective as clinicians and my perspective as the patient. I started with the verbiage - in particular the term restriction. So my definition of restriction is being able to eat approx 1 cup of food and feeling like I can't take another bite.......not sure exactly where I came up with that definition, but there it is. I'm guessing here - but I'd say my docs definition of restriction is that you feel full after eating less food than you did before the band.......especially prior to getting any adjustments.

So I'm gonna stop thinking about feeling restriction and focus on feeling full. I do feel full faster post lapband even without adjustment........but the term restriction doesn't really articulate that. The term restriction sends the wrong message (to me anyway). Does this resonate with anyone else at all?

Abbie and Wendy,

So glad to hear that I'm not alone on the hunger issue. I think my surgeon performs the first fill at 6 weeks postoperative so I'm basically on a diet til then. But I'm down around 20 lbs since the beginning of this journey and I must be patient. It really helps to know that others are going thru some of the same things as me. First post op appt tomorrow.

Drink, drink and then drink some more. Be sure and get your Protein and also make sure you have a little fat in there as this helps with the hunger pangs. When do you get your first fill?

Not sure. 1st post op appt next week. Thanks for advice.

Lapband placed on 1/21/14. Swelling must be resolved because I feel no restriction. Stuck to pre-op diet exactly so I have some cravings that are hitting me strong now. Any words of wisdom to help me through this very difficult time?

Are there any newbies experiencing the same thing? If so, how are u coping?

I just figured it out- the gas is making me so bloated that I can't get down more than a couple sips. So relieved cause I was beginning to think it was my band. Even with walking and gas x, the bloating is so bad that I'm miserable. I have my husband and daughter on "back chop" duty and that's helping a lot.

This is post op day #5. Left shoulder gas pain gets way worse after eating anything. Better between meals, but take a bite of something and BAM! Has anyone else had this experience with left shoulder gas pain worsening after eating?

Day 3 post op. I'm hungry but can only drink a bit of Soup before I feel like I'm filled to the top but I'm still hungry. Advise please.

I just figured it out- the gas is making me so bloated that I can't get down more than a couple sips. So relieved cause I was beginning to think it was my band. Even with walking and gas x, the bloating is so bad that I'm miserable.

I have my husband and daughter on "back chop" duty and that's helping a lot.

Wow ur lucky i had a whole week of Clear Liquids then a week of full liquids. Just starting mashies today! Cant wait to scramble an egg!! Soon as kids r on this bus...

Day 3 post op. I'm hungry but can only drink a bit of Soup before I feel like I'm filled to the top but I'm still hungry. Advise please.

It's almost time. I'm just waiting for them to put my iv in and then surgery...

Getting prepped now too! Just started my and drew blood. I'm 1st case this morning with 0730 start time.

I been wondering why after a fill it don't take long before im hungry again.like 3 or 4 weeks. So I been thinking that the needle is put in the port to put the saline in to fill the band. so does that mean that it leaks out the hole that's put in the port to give me a fill,?? I mean, it is a hole with a needle.and the more fills means the more holes in the port and maybe the more saline leaks?? im asking if anyone knows?

According to the manufacturer, the port has been tested and will withstand over 200 accesses before losing any integrity. My question is this: if the port is difficult to access and the MD is not using guided fluro, he may miss the port and puncture the tubing. How many people have docs that do not routinely use fluro for fills and just accesses blindly?

My surgery is 1/21 but I know my doc does blind access. Should I be concerned?

"But you carry your weight so well!" This one always drove me nuts -- I wanted to say, "well, you carry it!" And just for the record I didn't carry my weight well. There is photo documentation. I looked and felt like hell. I am almost thirty pounds down, seventy to go, but already I feel so much better. Oh, and I had to gain to meet the insurance requirements. Just wasn't fat enough for 'em! Good grief.

My surgery date is 1/21/14. I've started telling a few people at work and I've heard "You qualify for WLS? You may be a bit over weight but not enough for WLS." I truly don't think those people mean it in a negative way, I just think they don't know what to say. I find that staying positive is the only effective response. Step 1 for me is to stay positive.

I think as one of the others stated, it has a lot to do with your own genetics and your age. I am happy with my sagging body, most of the tiem. But, wish I had the money to have tummy tuck.My surgeon keeps reminding me that I am fine, I am 65. Karen..aka..kll724

May I ask how much you've lost?

I've lost over 100lbs, and have very little loose skin..... I do not have a definitive answer as to why, but it is probably a combination of things... Lots of water...good for skin tone...I go through 32 ozs during my workout alone Plenty of Cardio exercise...45 minutes in the zone, 5 days a week.....also good for skin tone... Protein...daily requirements met every single day since surgery.. Sauna....I sit in a 160 - 170 degree sauna 30 minutes, 5 days a week at the gym, and drink Water while doing so...opens and cleans the pores while ridding the body of toxins....THEN an ice plunge (when available), if not then a brief cold shower to tighten up the skin and close the pores......the swedes knew the secret..jumped in the snow afterward... And last, I use a moisturizer every day head to toe...( I do see a dermatologist for skin issues, although non-existant since loosing weight) My Wife buys Facial treatments in packages of 5 at the Spa, and I will use one from time to time...but that has nothing to do with loose skin throughout the body...just the face...

How much Protein is your daily requirement? And how can I determine my daily protein requirement? I use fitness pal app and it has me at 42 grams daily but should I try to exceed that?

From what I have read the younger you are (the less time your skin was stretched and therefore damaged) the less hanging skin you will have. Genetics play a role in this as well. Pregnancies? Well, of course they stretch the skin, so more damage. Hydration helps keeps the skin plump and more elastic. Toning exercises. And I use a toning body lotion (Jergen's I think), it does seem to help a little and I figure if I am going to moisturize why not use the toning kind it isn't really any more expensive. Good luck! Hope this helped! (It is what I researched when i had the same question...lol)

Thanks for the reply. I'm working on trying to stay hydrated. I need to be more regimented with body lotion. And as far as exercise, it's just walking for now. I need to research some good toning exercises and try to incorporate that as well. Your post was quite helpful!

Probably slower weight loss helps you have less loose skin, but for some who really watch what they eat and exercise, the weight just falls off faster. Loose skin will be better than fat. You can always buy some Spanx! lol. Best wishes for your surgery.

I'll take the loose skin for weight loss anyday! Looking so forward to my band placement - thx for your support!

YAY!!! I finally figured out how to start a new thread thanks to Amy C and 2muchfun

My lapband surgery is scheduled for 1/21/14. I was hoping to hear from others who have paved the way before me to see if you have any advice for preventing or reducing the amount of sagging skin that often happens with rapid weight loss. I'm a planner and its never too early to start thinking ahead to my future weight loss that WILL happen with a little help from the band.

(P.S. another user named her band - any suggestions for me as I plan to name my band too!! hehehe)

I don't know if this has anything to do with the ACA or not....but....Hospitals and Dr.'s are dropping certain things because even though the ACA will approve them, the reimbursement is too low for a Dr. or Hospital to continue that particular procedure.... But I don't want to get off track.....that's another topic entirely.