morningoasis811

Comparison to the bypass is THE main reason I refrained from telling the world about my band. Only 3 people at work know and my close friends and family. I try to give people mini education lessons about the band, it's easy to bring up when I'm talking about fills (no one understands how that works) so that's how I explain the difference. The band is adjustable and I have to find a sweet spot, until then weight loss is slow and wavering. My family and stuff has been very supportive so far. At work is where I'm most concerned. These people don't care about me like my friends and family. I try to keep it to myself, I also go to WW for support so I'm just telling people that notice my loss that I'm going to WW and excercising. It's hard not to compare myself either... but that's useless for me since the bypass was NOT an option. I had pre-existing digestive track issues (malrotation and adhesions) that would prohibit them from the "bypass" part of the bypass. Lucky me. The band is awesome though. I'm just not working it like I should.

Thus far I've only had one "stuck" feeling and that was with a pill after my first fill. No pb's, no throwing up... I was very cautious going back in to solid food for a few months. Especially with foods commonly mentioned as problematic. Like, lettuce, rice, soft bread, orange/citrus membrane, meats and so on. Some things don't sit well but nothing extreme has resulted. Like raw carrots are a no no and I avoid dry meat, so I use a lot of condiments like ketchup and mustard. I've been VERY conscious about CHEWING well and slowly. This has helped. I can tell somethign doesn't sit right when I havne't chewed enough. I have 1.2 CC's in a 4 CC band. some restriction so far, I think the max I can ingest at one time is 1 - 1.5 cups volume depending on the item. but I still feel like i'm eating too much.

Hello! So I'm rounding the corner on 4 months post op. I am having a really hard time with deserts and sugar. I have fallen prey to holiday indulgences (cookie parties, brunches, dinner parties, valentines...) I have been losing about 2-5 pounds a month if that. I got a fill in January because I had fallen below 8-10lbs per month as per my Dr. I haven't gained any... so I have this maintaining thing down! that's not doing me any good right now. I'm not being honest with myself, I haven't been on the support boards that much, i'm not tracking my food everyday, my excercise is less consistant. I guess I'n in the mindset of "I have the band, that means I can eat whatever normal people eat... just MUCH less". Not good. With the band doing it's job and helping me out so much like the tool that it is, I guess I started getting cocky. I started feeling like a "normal" eater. I could have a few bites of desert and be satisfied. I could eat half an enchilada and be OK. Like all my friends who don't have a problem with food. But I am different. I know this, that's how I got to be obese in the first place. :thumbup: I want to get back on track. I'm going to get more involved on these boards again, read about what people are going through. I want to hear about others struggles as well and successes. I feel that since i've gotten the band I've become more self involved (good for the most part) but It's affecting my home life, i'm out socializing more, trying to be there more for my friends, and now i'm neglecting my husband. I'm trying to be there and support people who were there for me... but I've transferred my energy. Time to put myself first again... with humility and care. Just needed to put that out there and say it out loud. I'm not the picture perfect bandster I was 2 months ago. Tracking and measuring my food. I know i'm due for a fill soon, but I need to stop abusing my lack of restriction in the mean time. right?

I had a Hiatal Hernia for years before my lapband. I also had a scope done before my surgery. They said it is something they could fix easily while performing the surgery. They fixed me right up and all is good now. My story is similar to JaxBandster.

I noticed my hair loss around the 2 month mark. My hair is already kinda thin ish to begin with. My hair is one of my prize posessions you know. When you're a fat girl, you gotta work with what you got. I had awesome hair, blue eyes and big boobs. I'm freaking out about hair loss! Biotin was suggested. I've been trying to keep up on protien... good to know though that its just a phase and not forever. I'm tierd of cutting hair out of my vaccum each week, pulling it out of the drains and such. Sometimes at work, a hair will just fall to the desktop. I hope it stops soon. I'm doing everything I'm supposed to and meeting my nutirtional goals. At my last fill appointment this past Wednesday, I told my surgeon and he ordered some labs. Looks like a full Protein panel. Not sure what they can find out from that?

I joined WW when I was struggling with my pre-op diet. It really helped. My primary care dr. suggested it. I've made a commitment to stick with it. I like the weigh in's weekly. I'm on the core plan. It's working great for me. Makes me feel like a real normal eater, not on a diet. It really helps me stay motivated weekly. I get a lot of support.

I was given one. It says something like I've had surgery that limits the amount of food I can consume and to allow me to order from age restricted menus. It's all official looking from the hospital. Only one place has given me a hard time about it. I find that kids menus often aren't the most nutritional even though they are smaller portions... so I usually order a regular meal and eat the left overs and lunch for a few days... the card is nice though.

Hi, for those of you who have been in OA/FAA, and then gotten the band, have you told anyone in program about your surgery? Group level or Individual? If so, what has the response been? Easier softer way? Taking the easy road? or have you been met with support? I know it's techniquly an "outside issue" like going to Weight Watcher for a food plan... but I feel like I'm not being completely honest. Please share your experience, strength and hope on the subject. Thank you.:regular_smile:

I've lost 35 pounds since surgery on 10/25. I lost about 20 before surgery from the begining of my journey. woo hoo. I'm averaging about 2lbs per week right now. Dr. is happy with my progress. He'd like to see me at 3-4lbs a week or at least 10lbs per month, but he's happy. So am I. Loving the band!!!!

Hi all. So what are your doctors telling you about how much they want you excercising? Do they distinguish how much cardio and how much strength training they want you to do? or do they just say how many days a week? My primary care Dr. is hounding me about excercise. She says that for weight loss I should concentrate more on Strength to build some muscle so I burn more calories at rest. However cardio is super important. She says I should be working out 5-6 days a week. Like 3 days strength and 2 days cardio. I started walking at lunch for 45 min 3 times a week, she says that not enough. I said I'm doing baby steps, don't want to go balls out right away and get burnt. I'm just curious as to what guidelines are being set forth for other bandsters in terms of Cardio vs. Strength. If it were up to me, I'd do cardio all the time. I know I need to build muscle though...

I had port pain, stress, discomfort for 2 months post op. My overall general surgery soreness and pain went away completely by one month. Give yourself time, everyone is different.

Yes, and glad to see from the Poll im not the only one. They come around 15-45 min after a meal. They are deep and satisfying. So they are productive for me, but not in the terms here where food comes up. Just air and I feel SO much better afterwards, like everything is settling. I thought that I'd have trouble with flatulance after surgery (i've heard people who have bypass fart way more after) however I think because i'm eating so much better I guess i probably fart LESS than I did before. Just the burping is consistant. I almost look forward to it now. It's all good.

I got banded at 27, I was 274 pre-op and 255 day off. Welcome.

Thanks for the reminder. I know I can totally tell when I haven't beeen getting my water.

The phases look like they were posted back on page 1. I'm going to go back and read them.

Foofy, thank you for posting this point of view. You are right about the poeple pleaseing aspect of it. I guess my motivation in not in not wanting to tell people at work especially is that I don't want them all up in my business. I generally have a pretty big mouth and not a lot of shame. I made the mistake last time when I lost a lot of weight to talk about it a lot, fed off of everyone noticing... but then felt like I needed to eat extra good around all of them.. F them right? Well when I started gaining all the weight back I was very embarassed and even more paranoid about people noticing, no one said anything them. So this time around, since surgery is somewhat controversal subject, and I really DONT care what people think of me having it because it was an extrememly difficult decision to make and others don't know what I have gone through to get here. I just don't want their input so I don't tell them. So for me I guess it's avoidance and "just not going there" rather than people pleasing this time around. But people pleasing is still one of my major character flaws. It seems unlike me becasue I'm seem so strong and independent... Daddy issues for sure... Anyway, thanks for bringing that point up, definitly something to think about on this topic.

I can relate for sure. I do what others have suggested If it's on the fly - I tell them I just ate a little while ago not knowing we were going to eat together If it's planned ahead - Just not that hungry I guess Or I have a bit of a belly ache. It's tough, but just set your personal boundaries before you go eat with others and prepare yourself with answers so you're not put on the spot. I call them canned answers.

I'm going in for my second fill appointment tomorrow morning 1/9. I didn't get a fill at my first appointment because I was losing about 3-4 lbs per week. In the past 4 weeks i've only lost 7 pounds, that's 1.75 per week, I guess that's good. The surgeon told me to expect only 1-2lbs per week. I'm hoping to get a fill this week. I can eat at least a cup of food at each serving and I plan little Snacks in between. I'm staying at or under my 1,000 calorie a day limit they have set. I stopped excercising since the weather has been bad. Thanks for the advice on what to eat before a fill. My appointment is at 9am, so I think I'll just drink 1/2 a Protein shake at 7am. I have no idea what to expect as far as a post fill diet... I don't even know how many CC's are in my band. I don't feel like my Surgeon was very thorough at my first appointment, he didn't even check out my scars or my port, he just saw how much weight i was losing, asked if I was excercising and if I was happy with the band so far. That was it... I'm hoping he's less rushed this time. I want him to check it out. My surgery clinic mainly only does Bypass. I was only the 8th Band. They save it for special circumstances they don't give you the option... so I feel like I have to fight for more attention since i'm not the norm I guess.

hey everyone! woop woop to a great 2008! I look forward to better health and well being. 2007 was a rough year. In late 2006 I had gotten married, graduated with my BA and was working my first management position. In 2007 my company closed and I had to lay off about 50 people before losing my own job, I gained back 80 of the 90 I had lost in the 2 years prior. I stopped taking care of myself. I was fortunate to find a new job right away, but was on contract at a much lower rate of pay but then got hired on full time at great pay. My new job and company are awesome but the job is challenging and is making me doubt how awesome I thought I was before... we had to put off buying a home and starting a family. I closed 2007 by getting the lap band surgery as an investment in my family's future. Life will throw curve balls at you and I'm always ready to take them on. But last year I let myself down. This year I put myself first. Because when I'm first and taking care of my health and my career, it makes me a better wife, a better friend and a better person to everyone around me. The band is the tool I was missing from my tool belt last year. Best wishes to all of you bandsters out there! 2008 is going to be my year!

Is your pre-pay transferable? I would not go back if I could avoid it. this surgery is too serious for you to have a doctor who you don't feel confidant and comfortable with.

From my goals I posted on 11/28 Goals: Continue logging my calories religiously and planning ahead for the next day I had actually stopped journaling... so I'm going to get back on that. I know it works. Try to consume more solid protien and less protien drinks I have not been eating enough protien, mainly because I am not tracking...or planning ahead Reach for 70-80 grams or Protein per day Only been getting about 40 average, have not been drinking shakes Walk 3 days a week on my lunch break Stopped walking because the rain has moved in and I've been sick To be in anywhere in the 220's by the end of December Miraculously I have reached THIS goal!!! OMG, not sure how, but I am now 227 woo hoo. New Goals to reach by February: Get back to logging my food every day Reach my protein goal of 60-80 grams per day Exercise 3 days a week and make it to the gym Eat less sugar and refined carbs, put protein first Measure my food or keep closure track of portions Be under 220 by Feb 1 (10 lbs a month) Let's do this!

Hello... so glad I decided to stop by the 10/07 group, you guys are at the same pace as me so it's easier to identify with you all... I must confess that I have not been perfect either, with the holidays and all the goodies... however, I have still been losing weight slowly... I was really good for the first 2 months, journaling all my food, reaching all my Protein and Fluid goals... but I stopped a couple weeks ago... I've been eating sugar and empty carbs, but making decent food choices. I think i'm only getting about 40 grams of protien a day and haven't been taking my Vitamins... I'd like to slowly pull away from all the refined sugar again, its not stuff we normally keep around the house so it should be easier. We've also been eating out a lot... My new plan based on confession: 1) journal daily no matter what 2) Put protein first and carbs/sugar last 3) exercise at least 3 days a week again 4) plan ahead and grocery shop to help make better choices I feel weird because I have not had any fills yet... I do have some restriction, but I think I can eat at least a cull cup of food at each sitting. I'm hoping to get a fill on this next apt coming up... we shall see... I think I convince myself to eat the crap because I have room for it...I eat my cup of food and then I nibble...

The magic bullet blender is the best thing ever. It's blends Ice and cooked chicken to perfection. It's a bit spendy at about $60 but well worth it and I'll use it for everything for ever.

When eating frozen meals... how much of one can you eat? I know for the eaters we used to be, they didn't yield much satisfaction... however, I assume that eating one now... I'd be satisfied by eating 1/2 - 3/4's of one...

I go for little to no sugar and HIGH fiber. I've been eating plain cheerios and also Weetabix biscuits. Due to the whole grain, they are naturally sweet to me. I'll try to mix them with higher protein soy milk.