Jachut

I've never had any instructions to do liquids or mushies after a fill, personally, I've had a fill and then gone out for lunch an hour later, of course, I ate lightly and carefully, but there's really no risk to your band as such, its more to let everything settle and calm down in case you Pb. I virtually never PB and am quite confident about how I "feel" after the first mouthful or two, so although I'd choose an easy food, I dont actually do liquids etc. I certainly wouldnt go all day without eating. Why on earth would you just not have some yogurt or milk, or thicker soup?

Not really. I mean the liquid diet bit was not even that hard, it was so exciting to be on my way, and I knew it wasnt forever and i wasnt hungry anyway because I was lucky to have good restriction after surgery. I was full of motivation and excitement, which kept me on the straight and narrow for quite a while, but really, I eat now the same as I did before, only in much smaller quantities. I ate healthy food before (with a few too many treats), and I do now. Its just now my meals are smaller and when I feel like a muffin at 4pm I say to myself that I shouldnt because I wont be able to eat my dinner. Its just a bit of self denial, its absolutely not a totally different life for me. Now, I guess if I ate McDonalds for lunch every day and pizza for dinner every night and had drive through breakfasts and drank buckets of soda, it might have been hard. But I didnt, and so it wasnt. I'm not sure how I would have overcome that, I'm not really that good at self denial. I feel for people who have to change that much, it must be incredibly difficult.

I think everyone is different, that's true. For some, a low carb diet just seems to be the trick they need. Glad its not that way for me, lol, I love my carbs. often with PCOS and the like, that whole syndrome x metabolic thing often responds well to lower carbs. And I would guess in any overweight community of mainly women, you would find a high number of PCOS sufferers. Which kind of skews the feeling about whether low carb diets are necessary or not. I think that whilst you can say that many people here need low carb to lose you cant extrapolate that to say that out in the general population carbs make people fat. You cant blame the bun on your big Mac or the sugar in your Krispy Kreme in isolation, when its being washed down with a cocktail of saturated and trans fats. Asian countries are huge rice eaters and they dont suffer half of the woes of the western world - the obesity, heart disease and cancer, until they start eating a western diet - high on Protein, fat, animal products. Its not so much the low carb that worries me but the mega high protein and huge soy intakes (in the soy protein isolate shakes) that some people have to get that protein. I just think 50 to 60 grams a day is ample for most women and normal levels of working out dont really warrant an extraordinary diet. I worry about people's kidneys with the intakes some people have.

At 5ft 10 I was about 245, bmi of 36ish. But I am not strongly built/muscular really, I'm more of the tall and willowy type, so even though my bmi is now 22, I could easily lose more weight and look OK. Well, not easily, my body seems to want to stay here, lol. But I could be another 15lb lighter and look fine. However, I've gotten to here without major loose skin. My boobs are wrecked, that's the worst of it. My stomach is OK, considering I'm 41, have had 3 babies and a 100lb weight loss. Its flat and definitely bareable in public. But it is a little loose, I could have probably a mini tummy tuck and a mons lift probably wouldnt go astray either. I dont want to though, way too severe, expensive and painful for the problem I have. I will get my boobs done though, those are a lot more important to me. I think plastic surgery isnt inevitable but i really dont think anyone will lose all their weight and not be a bit loose and flabby somewhere on their body. Its just the way it is, and its better than being huge. I exercised all the way through too and I really do think it helped, at least I'm toned.

I think you may be misinterpreting things. In all my time on this board - 3 years plus - I've only known of a couple of people who lost all their weight without any fill. PLENTY of people have great restriction for a period of weeks or months after their surgery though. I know I did. That's because of post op swelling and healing up, it can take quite a while for your stomach to return to normal and for you to need a fill. I lost absolutely tons of weight in that time, it simply fell off. But eventually I healed up and I turned out to be one that needed a lot of fill because even at 2.8ml in a 4ml band I can eat an entire sandwich. Lots of people get great restriction on very little fill though, some people are just more sensitive to it than others. As for pregnancy, well many people find they get tight with their monthly cycles, with stress etc and pregnancy most definitely can affect your body in the same way. With my third pregnancy, it was exactly like being banded (only it worked better for me than a band does) because my daughter was breech and high up and I could barely eat more than a mouthful at a time if I wanted to keep it down. Lost a lot of weight during that one! I also had wretched reflux the whole time and couldnt bend over without throwing up - and I've never had heartburn or reflux in my life at any other time. You really wont be able to tell until you are pregnant how it will be. But I've not heard of any emergency band removals due to pregnancy - you can get a lot of nutrition and calories in on liquids if you have to! Anyway, people WAY overestimate what eating for two means. Your baby needs nutrition, not calories. You dont need to eat loads more as long as you're eating nutritiously. You dont need any extra at all for most of the pregnancy and then about 2 to 300 calories extra during the third trimester.

Near enough will be good enough. I think I figured out it was about 60to 70 calories per point once too. Really, you should be able to go by the recommended amount of points for your weight, you dont have to convert. Calorie recommendations are only a guide, as are points. Obviously if you dont lose on say 20 points a day you would have to drop, but personally I could always lose on about 25 points, despite not being "heavy enough" to eat that many. Just follow the program if you want to do it. You dont have to convert it back and forth. The lapband will simply help you do it and not be so hungry.

I didnt lose my hair, and I dont know anyone around me personally who did either, I've only ever read about it on here. This wont be popular at all, lol, but I actually suspect its often the high Protein diet that causes it, that lots of protein does NOT prevent hair loss. Its only ever people on severe diets that you hear about losing their hair (outside of a WLS forum). I think an "almost no carb" approach is too extreme and not complete nourishment. I also think that the calorie intakes many people have after surgery are way way too low for nourishment. If you eat 600 calories a day you're going to suffer side effects. Protein is not the only thing you need! All this focus on it, people forget that you can lose hair if you dont get enough zinc or Iron too, and that there's other bad effects to your health with lack of B Vitamins or C etc etc. You need a balance. Cramming as much protein into you as you can without thinking about everything else might help you get thin but it wont make you super healthy. Slower more moderate weight loss on a more varied diet seems to not result in hair loss. I was quite happy to take over 2 years to lose my 100lb and not have any side effecs like hair loss. I've never heard of anyone who didnt recover though. Everyone's hair seems to grow back, and nobody goes completely bald. Its just thinning, a pretty good sign you're not getting all you need in your diet.

The best way to get rid of a spare tyre is to lose the fat - for me, lots of cardio works, I do minimum strength training (coz I hate it). But a combination is what's usually prescribed. You cant spot reduce it, it really doesnt make any difference if your abs are in good condition or not, if there's fat on top, you get the spare tyre. And most of us will be left with at least a small one. Because there will no doubt be some excess skin.

Lol, we have those. But dough in a can... that IS weird!

I've never heard less than 10 minutes either. You've probably eaten too fast and maybe a little too much, slow it down and stop a few bites before you're really full and see if you feel better. Also, if you weigh daily, you WILL see the scale go up and down, that's entirely normal and happens to every person in the world, on a daily basis. If it upsets you dont look, but otherwise, as long as your weight is on a downward trend over reasonable periods of time, then there's not a problem. Plateaus do happen though and particularly when you come off liquids and go onto solids. They break eventually, you've just got to keep doing what you're doing.

Just checked the fridge, yes its the true greek yogurt we eat. I also love the thick set vanilla yogurt, yummm. To me, yogurt should be something you can put on your spoon, turn the spoon upside down and it doesnt run off - it should be thick and of a set consistency. Runny stuff, ick.

I dont drink them and never have and I dont focus on Protein either. Its just not a big thing here in Australia, none of the doctors here focus on it, and we all lose weight fine here. I also havent wasted away to a muscle-less marshmallow. There's 1001 ways to skin a cat. At the end of the day it comes down to calories in v calories out, whether you believe that high levels of protein are necessary or not. If you're really into lifting weights and adding muscle, then perhaps you need higher levels of protein than the next person and shakes are a good way to get it if you like them.

I dont "need" a tummy tuck after a 100lb weight loss. Dont get me wrong, my stomach is not perfect and nor is my bum or thighs. There's flab and excess skin left over, but its a fairly small amount. The main problems it gives me are that if I wear pants that really fit me, sometimes I have a small muffin top. But I'm an absolute perfectionist like that and always have been. I will NEVER wear anything that gives me VPL, I would NEVER wear a bra that gave me back rolls, I will NEVER wear anything you can see underwear through unless said underwear is designed to be seen. So my "problem" muffin top to most people would not even be a problem. I can put on a bikini and look OK. People dont fall down vomiting on the beach and nor do I grab all the attention from everyone for being the most gorgeous thing on two legs. I look like a 41 year old who has had 3 babies. There's a bit of actual wrinkled crepey skin on the bottom of my belly, that's hidden in the briefest of bikini's, my stomach does have rolls when I bend and sit, if I get into a push up position, there's a horrid drooping layer of skin down the middle that shows there really IS some loose skin there. I have cellulite on my bum and the backs of my thighs, but thankfully, most of that is hidden inside a bikini too, but my thighs are not my best feature. Arm wise,there's a bit of swing and droop there, but not enough that its noticeably different from anyone else. I think you can tell that I've lost a lot of weight. But given most women my age have gotten rather fat, had a few babies and not done any exercise in about 15 or 20 years, by comparison I come off pretty well - even if I'm not perfect, I look OK for my age. So I'm not motivated really to go and fix all those bits with expensive and painful surgery. I'm getting old faster and faster now anyway and the days of smooth perfect skin are numbered for me anyway. But I will get my boobs done, 6 years of breastfeeding, a big weight loss and saggy boobs before I even did any of that have taken their toll and I would like a great set of boobies. And I figure if they're good enough, nobody will be looking at my bum anyway!

I like the way you dress too! You look funky and stylish but not mutton dressed as lamb. Completely right for someone over 30, but not placing yourself anywhere age wise, it'd be hard to tell how old you are. Althought I sort of agree on the dresses, but I think the boots will make a difference there. You show that's it possible to dress appropriately without dressing old. I can see all of those outfits on a 35 year old, a 55 year old and even on my mum who's nearly 70.

I am more than happy to admit that I had weight loss surgery as a preventative and cosmetic procedure. I was worried about my future health and I knew I was likely to get fatter. But I hated how I looked, I felt bloated and disgusting and unable to wear anything I wanted. I fail to see how its "OK" to have plastic tits and tummy tucks and arm lifts but everyone balks at weight loss surgery as so "extreme" and thus not a cosmetic procedure. Yes gastric bypass is way too extreme for cosmetic reasons in my opinion. But lapband surgery is short, simple, safe and the result is a healthier lifestyle (if you use the tool right), not a restrictive, malnourished one. So how on earth is that somehow morally reprehensible but getting silicone bags in your chest is accepted? That's stupid to me. My "cosmetic" procedure has had way more benefit than that - I look better, I feel better about myself, but I am also way healthier and have prevented future obesity related problems. So maybe my band fails sometime in the future and I need a new one. Doesnt that happen to fake boobs too? I just find it ironic that many of the people who frown upon "cosmetic banding" are more than willing to have tummy tucks when they've lost their weight. I just dont see the difference. By being banded at a lower bmi, I dont NEED a tummy tuck! I know which operation would be easier to recover from! I had a BMI of 35 and no real health problems by the way. Highish blood pressure and cholesterol but not outside of normal range. A few back and heel problems which weight loss has improved but not cured. In Australia thankfully, most surgeons share my view of it and I had no trouble being approved to be banded. Waiting till your morbidly obese to do something about it is a shame. A system that forces you to wait like that is pretty stupid and short sighted. I'm all for both - low bmi banding and cosmetic banding. There's enough bands to go around, there's enough surgeons to do it and fat is fat is fat.

I'd agree with all of the above, and then there's also that "sick" smell you pick up in hospital and nursing homes etc. The anaesthetic can have an odour as it comes out of your body too, you just tend to smell sick after an operation, without being able to put the actual smell into words. I noticed it strongly on DH, he smelled like a hospital for days.

Is it normal to be able to? Probably its not unusual but most people dont do it so you cant really say if its normal or not. Put it behind you and move on. You know you shouldnt have. Its important that you try not to do it again. But I wouldnt take the ability to eat as a sign that you're not goign to lose well or the band isnt going to work or any of the million things that people tend to freak over. I'd imagine that's its quite normal to be able to eat without terrible discomfort quite soon after surgery when you're unfilled. Some people heal very quickly.

Thank you for sharing that. I try to remember this all the time. I know when I feel disgust at others overindulging that it is my band talking too. It is for this reason that I had a slight unfill, and am now quite open but am FORCING myself to learn to deal with an appetite again. So far I'm doing well, I havent gained, but its hard. But like we said at the start, its the kind of hard we can do. Its easier to me to not gain weight than it is to lose it. I can indulge and enjoy food, just not too much. Everyday I go out and run for an hour. Sometimes I'm tired and I dont want to, but that is the ONE thing I have that were I to lose my band might save me from complete regain. Nobody can take that away from me, and if I lost a leg, I could swim. I can always always exercise and that will help in this battle. I will never ever ever be lazy again there. On that score I have changed completely. But I hate to think how hungry I would be without my band. I would definitely regain weight.

I've thought about it, but my scar is nearly invisible now. I dont want a new one!

I'm not sure either, and i've had a band 3 years. People describe it as losing weight steadily at 1 to 2 lb per week on half a cup of food per meal. The only time I was restricted to half a cup of food per meal my band was tight enough that I found life very restricted, eating pretty miserable, I felt shocking, was undereating and had no energy. It was definitely no sweet spot for me. Its different for everyone. You will probably have many good fills, where you reach a level you're really happy with, lose weight well and eventually it will loosen off and you will need to go find that level again with another fill. My advice would be not to listen to what others eat, how much they eat etc. It only makes you worry. If you are losing weight on two cups of food at a time, then that's what's right for you at that point in time.

It will naturally get looser as you lose internal fat from around your stomach and over time, you do get a tiny bit of evaporation from the band too. But you will need to fill it tighter and tighter most likely. As your body weight drops, you require fewer and fewer calories to maintain or lose weight and most people need more restriction to achieve this. For example, I lost weight easily at first, rapidly and steadily, with an unfilled band. The amount of restriction I had unfilled was plenty. Nowadays, I require 2.8ml in a 4ml band to enable me to just tick along maintaining easily. The band got looser as I got smaller and I had to fill it tighter to maintain the same level of restriction.

Its just getting warm here after winter. I went down to school to pick up Eliza and everyone was out in Tshirts. Fat white wobble arms everywhere, and muffin tops spilling over summer pants. Oh, golly, I remember who utterly exposed I used to feel when I first had to unwrap my body after winter. Everyone looked uncomfortable. On the other hand, I had no such qualms. I felt fine. Only my pants from last summer were too big and kept falling down! It is SO nice not to regret putting on 5kg over winter come springtime! And we've got a wedding to go to today. I just went out and bought a dress last week. No fuss, it looks great, it didnt cost a bomb. It used to be tears and tantrums and a nanna outfit everytime we had to go to something formal.

Dessert isnt a daily thing for us, neither of us grew up with it and so we dont do it with our own family. Its more of a thing we do when we have company. So I dont worry about fat free, sugar free etc, when I have dessert, I just enjoy the real thing. Absolute fave? Apple crumble with double cream! mmmmmmm..... PS: is apple crumble an Aussie thing? Like hot apples (similar to pie filling) topped with a mix of brown sugar, butter and oats and baked. I do love a good home made apple pie too.

Awesome job! You look well and truly like you've never been very overweight.

If that will help you, then yes, that's a good idea. Overall though, sooner or later you just need to learn to live with those foods around you and not be affected by them, it IS possible. The kids had a packed of Doritos yesterday afternoon, MAN I wanted them! I was quite hungry and hadnt had anything really yummy all day. But you know, I realised that once we left the house (for basketball) I would forget about them and I did. I didnt die by not having them although the craving was very intense for a few minutes. You can do this. Let others kill themselves with rubbish food. You are treating yourself better than that.