Karad

I had my 1st fill done 2 .75 cc in a 10cc band on April 2 nd , I have lost 4 pound sense that fill, I feel full for about 5 hours, this has been from the 1st few days after the fill, my N.P told me they like to wait 4 weeks to do a fill as that gives the stomach time to adjust, as many find around 3 weeks they feel the band restriction, well that was not my case at all and I am loving this, 20 pounds down in 6 weeks and 2 days... averages out close to 3 pounds a week!

Great post. Most of us that grew up heavy were bullied enough and don't need it now.

Just to let you Bariatric Bullies know--when someone posts a question here it is because they truly don't know or want constructive criticism! Not to be laughed at or made fun of or be answered condisendingly! Some of us know more than others and that's why we are here! You are not supposed to be a BULLY about it! I for one have been talked down to and literally laughed at for my question about protein!! I was new an knew very little about it and thought I was safe to ask anything here! BOY WAS I WRONG!!! There a quite a few Bariatric Bullies here! Grow up and be an adult already! I wondered why children bully and now I see its adults as well! =

You lose fat when you consume fewer calories than you burn. There are dozens if not hundreds of people who find the green zone but don't lose fat because they can't control their cravings/bingeing.
Most of us lose some weight shortly after surgery. This 10-20 lbs is mostly Water weight. Just having the band usually helps most of us eat smaller meals but not small enough to lose fat. After 1-5 fills most of us feel the restriction and many lose lbs but much of it is pure willpower and following the rules.
If you reach the green zone and follow the rules you should lose 1-2 lbs a week.jmo
tmf

B52 you sound very intelligent and know your band. there are however some of us that enjoy reading some of these messages and find solace in some of those responses. you have had your band for years and have experience under your belt so to say...but there are some of us that are new to this and find some of the answers helpful. I sure hope you are not saying that reading these posts are futile. that would be sad to know that we are wasting our time.
I hear what you are saying, but I wonder if you realize that not all people that get the lap band have providers that give them educational materials or have conversations with them on the do's and don't's of lap band world. I so know that we are all different and our experiences and weight loss/gains will all be different, but it is just helpful especially to me that there is a place I can turn too when I need answers/suggestions. Some folks on here have providers that are less then forthcoming with answers...I suppose they could go to another one, but some don't have that option either.
Because I don't know you like you mentioned here...I am not sure if you are being critical of us that choose to use this website for some answers or if you merely are stating your case. I find it confusing though...but so understand that you truly have been there done that and I appreciate that!!! thanks for you very knowledgeable post.

It is a very thin line, a delicate balance between having the band properly adjusted, and adapting new habits in order to exist and let the band work optimally....and the perception of what is that "perfect" place is left up to the individual.....many variables to consider....
The hardest aspect of the Lap band Surgery was finding that place....took many months of some very hard lessons, many stuck episodes, a lot of behavior modification....some very miserable experiences.
I had to accept things that I did not want to accept....I had to loose things I did not want to loose....I had to change...I was forced to change.....
The downside to all this is that is is totally up to me to manage this...I can determine what I want to do, and then determine whether or not my band is adjusted to where I want it to be...
At any time I can tell my Dr. this or that, and can pretty much dictate if I want more or less Fluid in my band....I can determine for myself what and where I want to be...where I want my comfort level....I could if I wanted to, have my cake and eat it too.....
No wonder there is a high failure rate with the band.
A short time ago I asked to have a small amount of fluid taken out....for no good reason, and my Dr. thought I was nuts....but he did it....and I was back 2 weeks later getting the fluid put back in....with a big "I Told You So" grin on his face...
And yet...it was my decision....I was/am in control....what was my Dr. going to say, NO?
Unlike other surgeries, where it is what it is, lap band surgery is a process, it is adjustable.....and the Dr., staff, cannot get into our heads and really know what it going on.....they have to leave it up to us to tell them, and it can be construed to our liking....good or bad....
Reading these forums, people with the lap band are over the spectrum....too tight, too loose, always hungry, never hungry, one small fill and can't keep anything down.....numerous fills and cannot stop eating.....100% successful to can't loose at all....on track, off track.....
THIS, for me was the most difficult thing of all about this surgery....I wish it was cut and dried....2+2=4...but it's not.....just read these forums enough and one can see just how broad this can be in peoples beliefs, experiences, theories, and success and failures...or not.
It is difficult to pin it down as to what is happening, because it is all about each owns personal behavior.
i can read a post about someone who has lost all the weight, only to gain much of it back, needs to get back on track, lost restriction......
In reality, I have absolutely no clue as to what is going on with that person...nor do I care to speculate....
Only thing I can do is share my experience, but that does mean anything other than what I do, what works for me.....
On the flip side I do not need people telling me what I'm doing is right or wrong...they don't know me no more than I know them....and I have experience and a successful track record without any problems....it's kind of hard to argue with that....
It took a while for me to figure it out....and what I have found what works for me, is not what others should or should not do....unless they find similarities in their experiences.....
I know nothing about the other WLS's, but this Lap band can very difficult......there are just too many parameters...to may variables....
I can see why it is frustrating for many Dr.'s to work with The lap band, and would rather go with something else such as the Sleeve or By-Pass....
And I can see why this can be very daunting for newly banded people....
This website can be very, very helpful...at then sometimes, too many voices......

I had my 1st fill done 2 .75 cc in a 10cc band on April 2 nd , I have lost 4 pound sense that fill, I feel full for about 5 hours, this has been from the 1st few days after the fill, my N.P told me they like to wait 4 weeks to do a fill as that gives the stomach time to adjust, as many find around 3 weeks they feel the band restriction, well that was not my case at all and I am loving this, 20 pounds down in 6 weeks and 2 days... averages out close to 3 pounds a week!

I don't see how coughing can cause a slip. Your lungs and stomach have little in common.
I agree, sit it out a few days and see if everything calms down?

So I stepped on the scale this morning and the following was staring back at me.

I have now lost 101 pounds and finally passed the 100 lbs lost mark about 6.5 months after surgery. I have been staring at the scale impatiently for the better part of the past week waiting for this and today was the day. I keep reminding myself that I originally thought it might take a year to get to this point and it bested that by 5.5 months. As an added bonus at my six month appointment I was told I had lost 96 pounds overall, but had lost 102 pounds of fat, so I actually gained some muscle. In addition to that my measurements showed a loss of six inches from my neck and 12 inches from my waist. Surgery definitely is the tool that makes the difference.

First, find another doctor. Yes, we chew a lot. The band is different than the sleeve or bypass in that it dims our need to eat too much. It does not take away our ability to eat too much though. You will need to exercise more control and be more disciplined with the band. Bypass and sleeve force you to eat less since the stomach is so much smaller.
Our stomachs are still the same size beneath the band. If you can't control your cravings, and buy and keep junk food in your house, you will struggle losing weight with the band.
For me, the band almost always reminds me when I've had enough to eat. Oh, I could continue eating more if I choose to, but the taste and need to eat more is so much less now. We like to say the band goes around your stomach, not your head.
If you're a self disciplined individual and feel like all you need is this one tool that gives you the edge, the control over how much you eat, the band can work for you. But not with the doctor you saw. Aftercare is as important as the surgery, maybe more? Don't make a mistake and put your success in the hands of a surgeon who doesn't believe in you or the surgery they perform.
tmf

I have noticed that since getting lapband surgery my entire relationship with food has changed. I still have cravings and still want foods that are bad for me sometimes, and yes- I'm sure I'll make poor choices from time to time.
But for the first time I can remember I don't save the best bite of food for last. It's a small change but I think it's indicative of a bigger shift in perspective.
Before, when my meal was in front of me, I would save the best bite of steak, or the cheesiest potato for last, fully expecting to eat the entire portion.
Now, when my meal is in front of me, I go strait for the good stuff (Protein first, of course).
I'm still learning, but it's encouraging to see these small changes in my behavior coming naturally.

.. I'm finally getting banded today! The 12 months of insurance required "coaching", switching doctors, 5 weeks to get approved by insurance.. It's ALL been worth it. All these obstacles have only made me realize this is exactly the right decision! Thank you all for the support so far, I'm really glad I stumbled upon this site.

Had to share this...it's soooooooooooooooooo funny...wanted to make you SMILE!!! hope it comes through!!!

Hi to anyone reading this,
I started my journey at 264lbs and a size 18/20. I never thought I would make it to where I am today. I not only feel like a different person but I look like a different person. I feel great and my self esteem and confidence has gone through the roof. For the first time in my life I am a healthy woman. Mind you I stand at 5'8, I now weigh 174 and I wear a size 8/10. My ultimate goal is to be at 150lbs and a size 6/8.
The journey I have worked through has been the hardest of anything I have ever done in my life. I not only went into this alone with no one in my life to understand what I'm going through but I made the decision to not tell many people of my life style change. It's had its rewards and it's had its punishments along the way. Along with accomplishing the weight loss of 90lbs, I met the love of my life, whom I adore with all my heart and soul. I have gone down almost half my size, I eat much less then I used to which till today still blows my mind on the amounts I used to eat. I find that I'm hungry every few hours which I think isn't supposed to happen because of the purpose of the band but I'm still losing. I don't work out as much as I should be but with a back injury I do what I can. I have ran a few mud runs, which are 5K's each, I have of course run into many and I do mean many road blocks. The stuck episodes were hell at the beginning but a learning experience, the vomiting was another thing to learn from, the depression of not having anyone to really talk to about whats happening to my body, the changes happening to my body and chemical changes were a big one for me. I think for those just beginning the journey should seek a local support group or someone from a support group locally to you to help you get through your good and bad experiences like a friend would be there for you.
My family has been my ultimate support but they just don't understand what I'm going through. The few friends I told are there for me and will do what they can to show their support. The only advise I can give now that I know what is to be expected I think would be to take your time getting to each step of the process. There really is no reason to rush through it when your health is on the line. I promise that you'll reach your goal at some point and some of you will understand that those good and bad days are always going to come and go. No one is perfect and no one follows the rules to the perfect T. I know the normal life eventually kicks back into reality and changes things.
I never in my life wanted to get married and have a baby more then I do today. The weight loss has changed my prospective on life and the way I live it. I wish I would have taken the steps into this journey a lot sooner then I did so I could have felt this amazing sooner. The best thing that's happened for me is my relationship and that I'm no longer shy about being in the nude with my boyfriend, I'm not shy about wearing short dresses, shorts, tank tops and sexy lingerie. I am confident and strong!
Sorry for making this such a long post but I wanted to just get some of my experience out there so that some of you don't feel alone out there. This journey isn't easy and it's most definitely not the easy way out as I have heard people comment along the way.
Thanks for reading!
Lindsay

I had my 1st fill done 2 .75 cc in a 10cc band on April 2 nd , I have lost 4 pound sense that fill, I feel full for about 5 hours, this has been from the 1st few days after the fill, my N.P told me they like to wait 4 weeks to do a fill as that gives the stomach time to adjust, as many find around 3 weeks they feel the band restriction, well that was not my case at all and I am loving this, 20 pounds down in 6 weeks and 2 days... averages out close to 3 pounds a week!

I had to go out and buy new jeans(again) today. Everyone has been laughing at how baggy my clothes are so I decided it was time to break down and buy a couple new pairs of jeans. I was a size 24 when I started this journey. Today, I bought a size 14! WOW! Just Wow! I can't believe it! I've also gone from wearing a 3x-4x top, depending on how it's made, to now wearing an XL and even a large in some things. No more shopping in the plus sizes for me! It's funny too because I find I always start looking in the plus sizes and end up realizing those are too big and THEN I wander off to the "other side" of the store where the regular sizes are at. I don't know why I can't get it in my head that I don't need to be in the plus sizes but, as I said, I always go there first thinking that's where I'll find the right fit and it isn't until I realize that stuff is all too big that I get brave enough to browse the other side.

Today marks two years from my lap band surgery, and I can honestly say it was the best decision of my entire life.
Here are a few rambling thoughts about my success story, as well as some of what my life is like now...
When I started I was 266. I think I last weighed in at 172, but I think I've lost since then, so I'm somewhere in the neighborhood—or pretty close to—100lbs down. When I started I wore a size 22/24 pants, and now I'm wearing a 14ish... Tops were 2-3x, now I'm in a 10-12. I recently realized that my "style" doesn't AT ALL match who I am on the inside. I'm awesomely cool on the inside, but I look pretty dowdy and conservative because I'm still wearing the styles that looked good on me when I was heavier. So I am slowly trying to upgrade my closet with funkier, younger looking things. I have a neck!! It's a really cute, long thing that attaches my head to my shoulders. My head no longer looks like it's sitting embedded into my shoulders. I also more importantly have a lap!!!!! My daughter can sit on my lap and not slide off. That was not possible before. I can run up the stairs in the subway and don't get out of breath. I have no scars on my belly at all (thank you Dr Fielding at NYU, you're a rock star!) My stomach is pretty flat and doesn't have that much extra skin, but sadly those little fat-fold creases in my upper arms have not gone away with the weight. So while I can wear things that are fitted in the waist, I don't feel comfortable wearing t-shirts. 3/4 sleeves are my best friends. Same with my legs. I'm cursed with fat knees, so I won't be wearing cute little summer dresses with my legs showing. I cross my legs all the time!! I couldn't at all before. When I started, I couldn't see my lady parts at all when I looked in the mirror because my stomach "apron" covered that area entirely. Now, if I stand just right I can almost see my c-section scar. That's amazing!!!! I have a little triangle of light that comes through my thighs when I stand with my legs together. WOW!!!! Never thought that would happen. I can wear heels all day with no problem! I don't really think about food during the work day. I used to stop for breaks all day long! I still overeat at night some, my old bingy self is still in there, but I do reach a limit where I have to stop. But for the most part I still eat the same kinds of things I used to, just not as much. I can eat anything, though not a lot of anything. Usually I have a big coffee and maybe the middle section of a ham/cheese square from Starbucks for Breakfast (if that). lunch is usually a large Soup and a piece of bread. dinner is usually a small plate of something. I'm mostly a healthy eater—probably 75-80% healthy choices, but certainly not all. The rest of my food is total junk. I love sour cream, it's a weakness. Also love ice cream now, but often can't finish a whole cone. When it's that time of the month I can eat most of a Chipotle burrito bowl if I go slowly. But when it's not that time of the month I'm about 6-7 bites and then done. I still eat a lot of sushi, though have some trouble breaking down the seaweed, so I usually spit that out. I still eat steak, but I have to cut it tiny and often end up eating the fat (sad admission). I have some trouble with Indian rice, I have no idea why. I eat a lot of salmon and corn on the cob, but can only eat about 3 bites of the corn usually... I'm still CONSTANTLY amazed that I fit in tiny spaces when I'm on the subway. Seats that I would never dare try to squeeze into now have extra room and surprise me! My stamina at work has DRASTICALLY improved. I think more clearly. I work faster. I'm less tired. I am more engaged. My brain just works better. I don't have a fog in my head anymore. But most of all, this whole experience has been easy. I know a lot of people say this is the hardest thing, but it hasn't been for me... This surgery HAS done the work for me. I don't make any special effort, I don't diet, I don't work out. I would still LOVE to stick all this food in my face that I used to, but whatever, I can't. Next. It's truly amazing that I could ever feel that way.
Maybe it would feel harder for me if I were really dying to reach my goal weight. I mean, I've been banded for 2 years and I'm not at goal! That might drive someone else nuts, but I don't care. If I get there, great, if not, I'm thrilled with myself as I am now... I've achieved everything I wanted to out of this surgery, and the rest is a nice bonus if it happens someday. I don't think food or even my body that much. And oddly, I'm still slowly losing weight.

This past Tuesday was exactly 8 weeks since the day of my surgery and I couldn't be happier! I'm down 25 lbs, have 3cc's in my band, and I'm feeling great! I love my LapBand and I feel like I'm living a whole new, positive life.
It's really easy to get caught up in posting on these forums when something is going wrong, but sometimes, you just have to stop and take a minute to Celebrate what is going right
I posted some side by side comparison pictures on my blog of my progress so far. Here is the link if anyone would like to take a look.
http://blissfullybanded.wordpress.com/2014/04/18/2-month-bandiversary-pictures/
Thanks for all the support fellow Bandsters! I wish everyone the best of luck, no matter what stage of your journey you are on.

Well my daughter is pregnant (#2) and she just suggested to me yesterday, "mom, why don't you buy the pre-natal gummy vitamins in Target, cause they are loaded" So think that's my plan. Hope it works for you!

Enlighten me
@@Loristi
Sounds like you are pre-op???
saying on the board - "one thing we have in common is that we're all different"
docs and NUTS have different rules about things
some of "them" say no coffee - "never, ever"
others say after a certain time period you can have alittle coffee
some say no alcohol for 6 months
others say.............
wait 6 months, 6 weeks, 6 days, 6 minutes etc - ..
soda - some/many say NO, NO, NO
others say .................
no straws, others say its ok
sex - some might say wait til you feel ok, then take it slowly, easy for awhile (no crazy acrobats!)
other docs might say NO NO NO to sex forever!!!!
gotcha!!!!
so..........the answer to your question (oh no, what was your question again LOL)
alcohol - soda - never say never!!!! unless doc says so
i drink coffee, no alcohol, straws or soda/carbonation for this grammy
listen to your NUT and surgeon ALWAYS like they were amongst the highest power!!!

good luck with surgery
kathy

I have this new small body body and am having trouble finding cute summer dresses to buy. I wear size 4 in pants but need smaller in dresses. Went shopping only to find very limited supply of size 2 dresses. And the ones I found were low cut of v neck, not flattering for my A cup.

You've given yourself a false dilemma. You are not being selfish but your expectations may be a little too lofty.
Losing 8 lbs(fat) a month is about the most we can lose and it would take more than just walking to achieve this goal.imo
The calories burned math just doesn't work out well for your scenario. Remember, you need to burn 3500 calories to lose 1lb. You need to burn about 900 calories/(every)day more than you consume to make your goal. If you consume 1000/day and your BMR(basal metabolic rate) is around 1600, you need to burn an extra 300 calories per day, every day. It can be done but it's so difficult to exercise every day and keep those calories at 1,000/day.

Hello! I am a mother of two teenagers and have struggled my whole life with being overweight. I finally made the decision for weight loss surgery back in the summer of 2013. It was such a long process to be approved by my insurance but finally they sent my approval letter in March of 2014. My lapband procedure was on 3/20/2014. It was the scariest and most exciting day for me. So far i have been overjoyed at the results. At my two week check up, i was down 16 lbs. I havent had a fill yet but so far my food intake is where it should be. So excited to see the results as time progresses.

No my dear....you shouldn't presume you haven't lost enough weight at two months post band. The 'average' weekly loss is 12 lbs. Really. You lose slower with the band than with other WLS. In the end though, it makes no difference. After a couple of years, the weight loss is nearly the same regardless of which WLS you had.
Practice eating slower. As the band is filled, you must take small bites and eat slowly. Otherwise, you will find out the joys of sliming and getting stuck.
Alex (the founder of this site) is working on face to face support groups. I don't know where you live but you can search on support group threads and you should find the one Alex started. It will let you know if anything is planned for your area.
I live in New York City and we have become the test case for these support groups. We are organizing the second meeting now as a matter of fact.
Read the threads that inspire you. Take strength from the many success stories out there. Follow you doctor's instructions....don't cheat..you will only feel bad and guilty and that sucks.
Good luck and keep up the good work.

Glad to have you here,
you will find many very supportive people here, I am 5 weeks into my new life living with a band and Loving it!
I am only down 15 pounds, but the way I look at it is Im down 15 pounds and not up.
I also have to learn to slow down when eating and start focusing more but it's all a learning process for us all
Due to a Accident many years ago I am not able to exercise much but have taken a few short walks so I know my weight loss will be slower then if I was able to be at a gym or walk more But I am Happy with loosing and not gainning!
I also need friends to help encourage me so if you would like add me to your friends list .