Kristin1031

If you research the band the inventors tell you this is a TOOL to assist in WL for those who have had problems keeping the weight off in the past. This tool is designed to limit portion size, it does nothing with what food goes into the pouch. That is all up to the person and the choices that we choose too make. So yes this is a lifetime adjustment on eating habits that most of us have been doing well over 20 or 30 years. These are not easy things to change or revamp. It takes will and determination and alot of encouragement and sometimes even pain, to get the changes in place and make them routine. I find now four months out it is much easier to choose healthy foods over bad ones. I truly have little to no desire for sugar. I have no desire for the bad foods that I used to slather onto my plate or shove into my mouth....LOL I now choose for healthy things that I know will keep me full and satiated longer. I have no fill and I want to keep it that way as long as I can. I am losing very well according to my surgeon who is thrilled with my progress to date. I am 9 pounds away from being halfway to goal in less than 6 months out from surgery. This is not usually the norm. I attribute this success to the amount of workouts that I put in each week. I too work out 6 days a week and 5 at the minimum. I increase the workouts every month. I also add things or change things, to keep my metabolism running on high. This whole process is not easy and anyone who wants to try it for a month I say come one. Take the plunge....they will soon find out how very hard this is. Too eat so little, too drink so much, too maintain your active body on little food, takes lots of planning and forthought. It is worth all of the trouble and inconvience that it can be at times however. I can think of nothing in my adult life that has been this challenging to me personally as my WLS surgery has been. I can also state that it has been the most rewarding experience as well. I finally feel in control of food for the first time in my life. I never will go back to the old way!!

Protein will help keep you fuller longer, it is more dense and therefor takes longer to break down. I always choose protein first when I eat, and I try to not eat more than 20 grams at a sitting because our bodies cannot use much more at one time. And then it just becomes waste and hard on the kidneys. Drinking Water is key as well, it helps to make sure you stay hydrated and that you are not hungry for water instead of food. Most people mistake the cue for thirst and think they are hungry when all their bodies need is a drink of water. I try to sip something all day long, sometimes that works out fine and others I am up later trying to get in my water for the day. I do not ever NOT drink my 64+ ounces of water.

One reason I chose my Bariatric Program and Surgeon is because they are a Center of Excellence and have been doing WLS surgery as pioneers back in the 70's as a surgical group. They have studied their patients and know what they are doing. They also know what works and does not work. Yes every patient is different and all of that but the basics are the same for all patients. As for being your own advocate that should be a given. However, when it comes to the lapband and fills, I think the surgeons know best on this issue. I think you are asking for many many complications, when you go pushing for fills that are not needed, or are too much all at once. This is a SLOW process, not speedy gonzalez.....if you want speedy then LAPBAND should never have been your decision. With that being said, I have not had a fill yet and I am losing just fine. I don't mean to sound flippant here, but I think there is far more head hunger than true hunger that rush people off for fills........and if you can't differentiate these types of hunger then that is Bandster hell for certain. My surgeon explained to me that fills are there if needed, they are not just given because. You need to evaluate the patient's diet, what they are eating daily, what type of exercise they are doing, and what amount of Water they are drinking, he said if after all of that is within band guidelines, and the patient is not losing the 1-2 pounds weekly then and only then should a fill be considered. Not just because the patient THINKS they need one! My two cents!:biggrin:

kristin1031 256...........226........199........27 Sorry I forgot to update last week....I was sick though!!

I have little problems with my fibromyalgia since my lapband surgery, I have noticed less stiffness and soreness and I attribute this to my workout regime. I know all the time I spend working out in the water has so helped my disease. I have to admit I have never connected my fibro with any food cravings. I have had no hunger since my banding, I have occasional head hunger and I know what that is now, and I head it off with doing something else and replacing what I would of done as eating in the past with either exercise or an activity of some sort. Even if it is just coming online here and logging my food or writing on my blog or reading the lapbandtalk threads.

Yes indeed good luck, I hear they can be a bear sometimes. I am so happy I have not needed one yet!! Let us know how you do!

We could meet somewhere in Morton that would be awesome for me, I could do it after I work out then anynight during the week except for nights that I have my own group meetings here. Anytime after 6pm would work for me since I work fulltime!! Just let me know!! I would love it as well!!

That would be great Carol...anytime just let me know when you are coming. I love the Riverplex it has been a huge help in my weightloss success. I believe that activity is truly the key in this whole process. Good luck on your date I am sure all will go well. As for me not having a fill I can honestly tell you that I have no hunger, and have had no hunger since my surgery. I believe alot of what people think is hunger is not, it is head hunger or dehydration from not drinking enough Water. Getting enough water in the very beginning is so hard because of all the swelling all I can say is you will be sipping constantly while you are awake and when you think you can sip no more keep on sipping.....LOL

I thought I too would miss it, but thankfully it has not been given a second thought. I had a sip of regular coke the other day and almost puked it was so gross tasting to me.....LOL I cam thankful for that I love Water now it is what I drink, and of course skim milk.

Hello everyone nice to have this Forum for us over forty somethings......Afterall our metabloisms are not what they were in our 20' or 30's. With that being said I have jump started mine through diet and exercise. I am never returning that god awful feeling of tired that I had before surgery. It is so nice to have energy at the end of the day and not to be a couch potato. Nice to read about everyone's success, good luck on your journey's and I am certain this will be a great Forum. Hugz,

Thank you Sue: I sure can get discouraged but I know what has happened is amazing. I definately know that the exercise is the key in all of this and I truly love it. I have increased my intensity in my work outs as well, I do Water aerobics twice a week and a body pump class and I also have begun walking on the treadmill 2 miles a day on a 6% incline, that really works my butt.......I love how the exercise makes me feel. I love the enegry and sense of well being that I have now that I did not have before. You my dear are truly the inspiration, to be already more than 100 pounds down that is what I am so shooting for, I do not want to relax in this experience, I want to keep pushing for great results. I wanted to prove to myself that this can be done without feeling deprived. I now know that I am not deprived at all, and that I feel fulfilled. Great experience for me. Congratulations and keep up the continued effort I am certain you will make that goal sooner than later.

Hello Forty Somethings.....I was banded on Nov 9, 2007 and I have lost 61 pounds and I have not had a fill yet.......I work out 5 to 6 days a week and I log my food and journal on Sparkpeople.com I think that helps me to track my progress and keeps me honest. I have strep throat right now and I have not eaten for two days much of anything, but Protein shakes. I will be happy to not be sick anymore. My banding is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I cannot say enough I have a goal to lose all of my weight by my one year band anniversary and I am no track to do that. I love working out it has become my new addiction. Food happily no longer controls me.

As for the Peoria support group there is one through OSF but it for their patients only. I attend that meeting and have been asked to help mentor and faciliate that meeting. I still would like to get a group going outside of it. I want to have some support on here as well since we only meet once a month it is just enough in my opinion. If anyone is willing to meet somewhere in Peoria please let me know. I am flexible on Monday and Thursday and on Saturday or Sunday afternoons for me as well. The rest of my days are filled with work and working out religiously.

I would love to come Ladies but since I work til 4:30 and have a Water aerobics class on Tuesday nights from 5 til 6 this will not work for me. But don't let that stop you all from getting together. It sounds like it will be lots of fun.

I love this idea Ladies and we should definatley do this. I work fulltime and workout at the RiverPlex in Peoria 6 days a week so my time is limited. However I my Thursdays and two mondays of the month I am free. Let me know what you decide.

Hi Becky that would be awesome....I do not have a fill either and I am doing well without it, I am trying to hold off as long as I can, simply want to see what the band can do without the saline and my surgeon told me he has had patients go a year without needing a fill. Congrats on your 15 pounds that is AWESOME!!

Hi Karri nice to meet you, I will be 47 this fall. Yes and Carol good luck to you, I remember the excitement waiting for my surgery as well.

I had my Band on Nov 9th by Dr DeBord at OSF in Peoria.

Congratulations Bandpal on taking control......It feels wonderful to finally be in control over something that has so controlled all of us for such a very long time. I am proud of you as you should be of yourself!! Hugz

I work with two women who have both had Gastric Bypass and both are over 4 years out and both have either gained it all back or well on their way to gaining it back and then some. I cannot believe the portion sizes that they consume. It just amazes me. Because they too are given a pouch with the bypass....they are to eat no more than said amount......I am uncertain why people would venture past that. I know it is not easy, but certainly it has to be other things that play into it as well, you have to deal with what makes you eat in the first place. For most of us there are real reasons that causes us to choose food over something else when we are not actually HUNGRY!! God Bless her and I hope she wins this battle........Lord knows it is a WAR for life!!

I know this feeling well, I have lost the same size difference. I got out the pair of jeans that were so tight I could not breath before surgery and they are huge, I am thrilled but am waiting for my 16's to come along. I have some wonderful dresses in that size. I cannot tell you how long it has been since I wore a dress above my knee. I have a light lavender skirt that buttons up the front that my husband loves....have not had it on in 8 years....but it is coming...I can almost taste it!!:tt2:

To those out there who think you cannot be successful with the band......I have to say if I can do this anyone can. I cannot explain why I have the restriction without a fill but I apparently have enough because I am able to eat within the boundries of the band and feel satiated. I know that many struggle with all of this, and I hope that those who are will see the success I have had as a positive thing. I know that when I am not losing for weeks and then boom I drop 5 pounds, which is how my body has been doing it for the past two months. That I too would get discouraged with other posters large numbers. But what I was failing to see what the bigger picture. That as long as you STAY the COURSE you are bound to be successful. Even if you are not losing weekly, making muscle out of fat weighs more so there are times you are not going to see the change in the numbers.....However when I go in for my next bodpod in May I am certain I will see a large difference in my BMI. That for me will be the biggest success of all.....to know that I have restructured my body and put that fat I had to a much better use. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF US WHO MADE THE DECISION TO TAKE CONTROL OF food........and to no longer let food control us!!

I so agree with Cindy on this one. I think people with weightloss think they are in this soley on their own. And when you get support you tend to do much better with long term success. So my suggestion is to find a motivationl site, one that builds people up and helps you set goals. Short term goals and even long term ones, goals are important. Also track your food and make sure you get in your exercise and WATER. Find a place where you feel welcome, and this is an awesome one. I also love Sparkpeople. com and attribute that site to my inspiration, because I track my GOALS.....good luck and we are all here for you!

Kendra: So glad the news on the cysts was good! I remember the Radiation treatmnets that my son got and how it took a toll on him. So be sure to rest, I agree with everyone else you are an amazing teacher and a wonderful friend. You are a fighter and that is so apparent. I know that you will be a winner in this fight as well as your WeightLoss fight. All of our prayers our working and they will not stop, they go out daily here in Peoria....LOL Hugz Lady!!:tongue:

Hi Rhea some of the things that I try are most all exercise related; I am truly not eating between my meals because my surgeon told me he would kick my ass if I did. He wanted me to eat three meals a day. But sometimes life gets in the way of that and when it does, I always make my food choice based on Protein, I like the slimfast high protein snack bars I love the whipped caramel and it is only 110 calories so I do not feel like I am giving in to too many calories. It is like eating a candy bar really. But mostly I get up and move my arse, because for me when my head hunger comes into play it is because I am down or depressed I have figured this much out since surgery. It is the hardest thing to learn to recognize and I feel that many people who talk about being ravenously hungry are actually experiencing the HEAD hunger. They cannot tell the difference. I have had no hunger pains in my stomach since my surgery and I have NOT one FILL. I have however expereinced hungry from my head. Telling me that I need to eat, when I know that I do not NEED to eat. When these times come for me, I usually get moving in some fashion and get my mind onto something fun, or something I enjoy. There are so many things you can choose rather than eating.....it is just being able to recognize and actually bring ourselves to make those choices. I hope you continue with your great success, as other posters have said your weightloss is great and you want to lose it slower, since that is healthier. Afterall, Rome wasn't built in a day!!