BandedBrunette481

Welcome and congrats on your upcoming surgery!!
You're taking control of your health in a big way so it's totally normal to feel nervous and excited and everything in-between. I questioned myself before and after surgery. So many people were telling me that I didn't need the band that I started to wonder if they were right. Could I do this on my own without a major surgery? Of course I can lose weight. I spent my whole life losing weight (and then gaining it back). And that was the thing that made me realize the surgery was right for me. I didn't want to keep that cycle going. I wanted to lose it and keep it off.
I've been banded for 4 months or so now and let me just say it has been the best experience of my life. I don't question myself anymore. It's amazing to know that even when I have bad days or bad weeks, the band is there to keep me from slipping back into my old ways and gaining it all back. I still have to put in most of the work, but I know that if I fall, I won't fall all the way back to the bottom. It's like having a safety net!
I've lost 30 pounds in 4 months. My weight loss stalled after surgery for a while (which is normal) and has been slow and steady. I typically lose 1-2 pounds a week. Some people lose a lot more at the beginning than I did though. It's different for everybody, so don't ever get discouraged if you don't feel like you're losing fast enough. My little mantra is "This is a marathon, not a sprint!"
I wish you the best of luck in your journey!
I documented every step of mine so far, so if you want to read more of my story feel free to check out my blog. The link is below.

Oh my gosh! I have the exact same craving right now!! We have a box of cherry pop tarts in our cupboard that are my family's go-to Breakfast when they are running late in the morning and I have been trying to resist them for over a week,
I was thinking I would save some of my allotted calories for the day for half of one pop tart. Then I can stop thinking about it lol sometimes indulging just a little is the only thing that helps. But planning for it and staying within my calorie limit lets me do it in a responsible way!
I will say this...if you're one of those people who can't stop at just a few bites, don't give in to your craving. Just stay away and say no! You don't want a pop tart to derail you. They aren't THAT good anyways haha

Welcome and congrats on your upcoming surgery!!
You're taking control of your health in a big way so it's totally normal to feel nervous and excited and everything in-between. I questioned myself before and after surgery. So many people were telling me that I didn't need the band that I started to wonder if they were right. Could I do this on my own without a major surgery? Of course I can lose weight. I spent my whole life losing weight (and then gaining it back). And that was the thing that made me realize the surgery was right for me. I didn't want to keep that cycle going. I wanted to lose it and keep it off.
I've been banded for 4 months or so now and let me just say it has been the best experience of my life. I don't question myself anymore. It's amazing to know that even when I have bad days or bad weeks, the band is there to keep me from slipping back into my old ways and gaining it all back. I still have to put in most of the work, but I know that if I fall, I won't fall all the way back to the bottom. It's like having a safety net!
I've lost 30 pounds in 4 months. My weight loss stalled after surgery for a while (which is normal) and has been slow and steady. I typically lose 1-2 pounds a week. Some people lose a lot more at the beginning than I did though. It's different for everybody, so don't ever get discouraged if you don't feel like you're losing fast enough. My little mantra is "This is a marathon, not a sprint!"
I wish you the best of luck in your journey!
I documented every step of mine so far, so if you want to read more of my story feel free to check out my blog. The link is below.

I have about the same amount of Fluid in my band and I'm in the same boat. Everything goes down. I have never even had a stuck episode on a single thing. The 30 pounds I've lost so far have been all because of my own willpower and it's hard! I want the band to do some of the work for me and I don't think that's too much to ask. That's why I got it and that's what it's there for. To help control how much I can eat (while I make the right food choices of course).
I'm scheduled for a fill next week and I'm definitely sure I need it. So I think you should absolutely keep getting fills. You've done amazing so far on your own but it's ok to want it to work better and help you more! I wish you the best of luck

Oh my gosh! I have the exact same craving right now!! We have a box of cherry pop tarts in our cupboard that are my family's go-to Breakfast when they are running late in the morning and I have been trying to resist them for over a week,
I was thinking I would save some of my allotted calories for the day for half of one pop tart. Then I can stop thinking about it lol sometimes indulging just a little is the only thing that helps. But planning for it and staying within my calorie limit lets me do it in a responsible way!
I will say this...if you're one of those people who can't stop at just a few bites, don't give in to your craving. Just stay away and say no! You don't want a pop tart to derail you. They aren't THAT good anyways haha

Oh my gosh! I have the exact same craving right now!! We have a box of cherry pop tarts in our cupboard that are my family's go-to Breakfast when they are running late in the morning and I have been trying to resist them for over a week,
I was thinking I would save some of my allotted calories for the day for half of one pop tart. Then I can stop thinking about it lol sometimes indulging just a little is the only thing that helps. But planning for it and staying within my calorie limit lets me do it in a responsible way!
I will say this...if you're one of those people who can't stop at just a few bites, don't give in to your craving. Just stay away and say no! You don't want a pop tart to derail you. They aren't THAT good anyways haha

I feel the same way ladies...have 4 cc and still no restrictive feelings and I can feel feelings of being full at times other time nothing. I have had stuck issues though...and know its when I get in a hurry...using my slow eat app on phone has helped with that though. but it is very frustrating...seems like we are doing all the work and the band isn't doing much...but no matter what I am trying hard to stay on track. its been a rough 3 weeks but maybe it will get better soon...hope you both start feeling something as well!!! best wishes!!!

I questioned myself about getting my band. I had it in my head that it was admitting failure, and that I did not have the willpower to do it on my own. However, I looked past that and decided that I was tired of being on the yo-yo and wanted to make a permanent change to end my health issues. I was super nervous up to the surgery, its normal. Good luck though you will do great.

Is questioning yourself normal? Oh yes! The same question is asked daily. Mostly it's the fear of failure since we all failed so many times with Atkins, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig and so on.
It's also the fear of losing your comforter(food). You should be able to eat anything you want, just not as much. Many of us softened our insecurities with food, lots of it or lots of one type(sugar). I feared losing my blankie too. But, once you wake up from surgery that fear has sailed.
Don't expect to lose any weight the first 60 days. Some people lose 40 lbs and some lose nothing. There have been some things you may not have been told about. Once you're banded you have a healing period where you may or may not lose weight. It's not a time to worry about it. After that, you may not lose any or much weight till you get enough fills to give you restriction/satiety.

Welcome and congrats on your upcoming surgery!!
You're taking control of your health in a big way so it's totally normal to feel nervous and excited and everything in-between. I questioned myself before and after surgery. So many people were telling me that I didn't need the band that I started to wonder if they were right. Could I do this on my own without a major surgery? Of course I can lose weight. I spent my whole life losing weight (and then gaining it back). And that was the thing that made me realize the surgery was right for me. I didn't want to keep that cycle going. I wanted to lose it and keep it off.
I've been banded for 4 months or so now and let me just say it has been the best experience of my life. I don't question myself anymore. It's amazing to know that even when I have bad days or bad weeks, the band is there to keep me from slipping back into my old ways and gaining it all back. I still have to put in most of the work, but I know that if I fall, I won't fall all the way back to the bottom. It's like having a safety net!
I've lost 30 pounds in 4 months. My weight loss stalled after surgery for a while (which is normal) and has been slow and steady. I typically lose 1-2 pounds a week. Some people lose a lot more at the beginning than I did though. It's different for everybody, so don't ever get discouraged if you don't feel like you're losing fast enough. My little mantra is "This is a marathon, not a sprint!"
I wish you the best of luck in your journey!
I documented every step of mine so far, so if you want to read more of my story feel free to check out my blog. The link is below.

Oh my gosh! I have the exact same craving right now!! We have a box of cherry pop tarts in our cupboard that are my family's go-to Breakfast when they are running late in the morning and I have been trying to resist them for over a week,
I was thinking I would save some of my allotted calories for the day for half of one pop tart. Then I can stop thinking about it lol sometimes indulging just a little is the only thing that helps. But planning for it and staying within my calorie limit lets me do it in a responsible way!
I will say this...if you're one of those people who can't stop at just a few bites, don't give in to your craving. Just stay away and say no! You don't want a pop tart to derail you. They aren't THAT good anyways haha

I have about the same amount of Fluid in my band and I'm in the same boat. Everything goes down. I have never even had a stuck episode on a single thing. The 30 pounds I've lost so far have been all because of my own willpower and it's hard! I want the band to do some of the work for me and I don't think that's too much to ask. That's why I got it and that's what it's there for. To help control how much I can eat (while I make the right food choices of course).
I'm scheduled for a fill next week and I'm definitely sure I need it. So I think you should absolutely keep getting fills. You've done amazing so far on your own but it's ok to want it to work better and help you more! I wish you the best of luck

I've been banded about 2 months now, I have 3cc's in my band, and I've been working at listening to the signals my band is sending. I think it's hard for us newly banded people to always tell what level of restriction we're at. I honestly don't know if I'm in the green zone or not, but I had an epiphany the other day about being full. It went like this:
Last night, after a home cooked meal with friends, everyone was sitting around talking about how full they were and rubbing their stomachs. I sat there thinking am I full too?
I wanted to ask them all how they knew they were full. Did they feel it in their stomachs, physically? Because that’s what my definition of full was before I was banded. I was full when I physically felt as though I couldn’t eat another bite. If I felt like I could still eat more, I wasn’t full.
Epiphany: I was still expecting that feeling after being banded, just that it would happen with less food, and that is all sorts of wrong!
That’s not how full is supposed to feel for anyone, banded or not. That’s what overeating feels like. Maybe full is the wrong word to use in general because, to me, it means “no more room.” My doctor often uses the term ‘satisfied’ in place of full but that doesn’t work for me either because I’m a food addict, I’m never quite “satisfied” with any amount of food. That’s how I got up to 235 pounds, ya know what I mean?
I prefer the word done, as in “I am done eating.” I don’t have to be full or satisfied to be done eating. It just means I have to stop, whatever the reason. Plus, it sounds very final and that helps me stop my head hunger.
So, was I done eating at that dinner with friends? Absolutely. I could tell that I had eaten in the sense that I felt the food in my stomach, but I wasn’t hurting or feeling uncomfortable like so many of my companions. I was just done.
It’s wonderful to realize that I don’t have to strive for full or even satisfied. I just have to eat enough of the right things to fuel my body and then be done. (This is an excerpt from my original blog post. Click here if you want to read the whole thing)
I wanted to share this on the forum because I hope it can inspire others who are struggling.
So who's with me on making "done" the new term for full?

Don't worry, fills are just different for everyone. Some people get the right amount of restriction after the first fill, and for some people it takes several fills to get there. Everyone also reacts differently to each fill. Some people feel it right away and for other people it takes a week or two for the fill to really take effect.
It sucks, but right now all you can do is be patient. Stick to the right foods and the right portion sizes and you'll be ok. Getting to the Green Zone is the hardest part. I'm trying to get there too and until we do, it's a lot like dieting, so we have to rely on our own willpower. You can do it though! Best of luck to you

I was worried about the same thing!! But they were more focused on my hunger level and what/how much I was eating than how much weight I had lost. Just stress to them that you feel no restriction and could eat way more than you should be able to, you just don't because you're careful. I think you'll be able to get your fill

I was worried about the same thing!! But they were more focused on my hunger level and what/how much I was eating than how much weight I had lost. Just stress to them that you feel no restriction and could eat way more than you should be able to, you just don't because you're careful. I think you'll be able to get your fill

My nerves are in overdrive, I'm approaching 39 in July and I know I want to have made a change by 40. This is the closest I have ever felt to actually being able to achieve my goal. Insurance has approved the procedure so the ball is rolling. I'm at a point where I am over food and just want the basics but as i approach a surgery date I have thoughts of "my last meal". Is this a normal thought? Just wondering

I am only 4 months out and I've only lost 30 pounds so far but people are already commenting on my weight loss and I agree with you, it's bizarre! I don't get annoyed when people I haven't seen in a while say things like "you look great", because I know they're just trying to give me a compliment. But when the same people feel the need to talk about my weight loss to me all the time, it bothers me. It always makes me feel like I'm under a microscope. I find it strange that people are paying such close attention to me to notice I've lost weight. And when they repeatedly tell me how great I look it's like they're really saying "I notice you now that you're less fat. You look good less fat!"
I deal with it much like ChasingaDream mentioned -- a smile and move on to the next topic quickly. People don't get what it's like and don't get that it's weird for us to talk about our weight, even when we're slimming down. Most of us have had trouble with our weight and self esteem for most of our lives so talking about it doesn't come naturally. I just try to realize that other people don't know that and I try not hold it against them that they don't know. I just let it go and keep going

Sam- we posted at the same time. I love reading your blog!!!! You are looking fabulous!

Don't worry, fills are just different for everyone. Some people get the right amount of restriction after the first fill, and for some people it takes several fills to get there. Everyone also reacts differently to each fill. Some people feel it right away and for other people it takes a week or two for the fill to really take effect.
It sucks, but right now all you can do is be patient. Stick to the right foods and the right portion sizes and you'll be ok. Getting to the Green Zone is the hardest part. I'm trying to get there too and until we do, it's a lot like dieting, so we have to rely on our own willpower. You can do it though! Best of luck to you

Congrats on all of your success! I was banded Feb.18th so we're about at the same place in our journey. It really does feel good to take charge of your life and your body doesn't it? keep up the great work!!
Oh! I have some progress pictures on my profile here but I have more on my blog too, if you wanna see.

Congrats on all of your success! I was banded Feb.18th so we're about at the same place in our journey. It really does feel good to take charge of your life and your body doesn't it? keep up the great work!!
Oh! I have some progress pictures on my profile here but I have more on my blog too, if you wanna see.

So I started this whole process august. My insurance company make me wait 4 months before I could even get the surgery. My starting weight was 275. When I went for surgery on February 20, I weighed 258. I'm down to 220. My last appointment. I lost 14 pounds. I currently have 4 ccs in my band. I work out five days a week. Sometimes with a personal trainer. I feel amazing. I still do not eat bread Pasta rice and potatoes. I tried to allow myself to cheat meal every now and then as opposed to a whole cheat day so I don't derail myself. The only thing I love more than great food, is people telling me how good I look since I've lost so much weight. It is not easy. Don't ever let anyone make you feel like you took the easy road. In all actuality, I think this is harder than just diet and exercise, Mainly because there are consequences if you don't follow the diet. My first goal is 199. I haven't weighed 200 pounds since six grade. After that it's 175. I'm also building muscle. So my ultimate goal would be around 150-160. I'm 20 pounds from my milestone. Nothing can stop me. This by far was the best decision I've ever made in my life. I took some pictures on vacation last October. And then I took some yesterday wearing the same clothes. I'm so proud of myself. I've never been one to complete anything, but this I'm definitely going to see through.http://instagram.com/p/nbG_0mhNxf/

Congrats on all of your success so far!! I'm almost 4 months out and I still crave sweets and junk food. You just have to stick to the diet and it'll get easier to avoid or eat in moderation Keep up all the great work!

This is going to sound silly probably, but the pre-op liquid diet was the best thing that ever happened to me! Lol! Seriously. I thought the same thing when going through it, "this sucks!!!" But now that it's long done and over with, I can look back and appreciate all that it did for me.
Not being able to really eat for 2 weeks puts you in great place for post-op. Your stomach won't be freaking out over a sudden lack of food on top of having the new band around it. And since you have to move through the liquid to mushy to normal food stage soooo slow, you're going to be glad you already have practice at not eating much.
You'll also get a whole new appreciation for food as you move through the stages. I never thought I'd be so excited for refried Beans in my entire life. And never before had I longed for vegetables and salads.
The best thing that came out of my pre-op diet though was that I was able to get my carb addiction under control. Things like bread and rice are no-no's in the post op diet for a while and you'll be so excited about the foods you can eat, you won't miss them at first. Eventually though, you'll be able to eat basically whatever you want again. I just never added starchy carbs like potatoes and white bread back into my diet. I still crave them on occasion, but it's much easier to say no now. I would never have been able to cut out carbs on my own though!! It was all because of the pre-op diet. It set it all in motion for me.
So I know the pre-op diet sucks, but you're going to get through it! You already have a great positive attitude about everything so I know you're going to do great best of luck to you!