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Thanks everyone. I'm starting day one of the 5 day pouch test, trying to break some bad habits. Liquids only for the time being.

Hi everyone. I was banded in Feb 08. I did really well and the band worked well for me initially and I lost about 70 pounds in the first year. I had 28 pounds to go but stalled and didn't really mind as I was happy with that weight. I maintained that weight for 2 years. However in the last year I've slipped into bad habits and have been eating around my band and gained about 7 - 10 pounds. But in the last 6 months I lost all restriction and gained another 20 pounds. I went back for a fill in January and have some restriction now but am still eating around the band (chocolate, drinking with meals, heavy handed on the sauces etc). Please help because I can't remember what I am meant to do. Over here you're banded and that is it. You pay for each fill but it's a case of in and out and no real help or advice. I don't think I need a fill. For example I can only eat a couple of bites of red meat or bread. But I can eat a large bag of crisps (chips to those from the US ) I could really use some help and advice because I am floundering a bit and at a loss as to what I did the first time to make the band work for me. Thanks

Hi all. What with this recession going on there is no money in the pot for new clothes! I'm looking for stuff in 16s and 18s (mostly 18s ) and wondering if any of you who are skinny now have them stored away anywhere and want to sell them? I'm 26 and usually dress out of New Look and Dunnes (just to give an idea of what I'm after). Thanks

Thanks for all the suggestions. I should have pointed out I'm in Ireland so no Taco Bell here :thumbup: I went to the supermarket yesterday and stocked up. I went home and baked some potatoes (always handy), made a beef stew which is in portions in the freezer and some pork curry. Also got loads of fruit and veg and prepared it to have for snack attacks and got a few ready meals too (just in case I'm having a lazy day!) Thanks again. I hope to see all this cooking pay off on the scales!

Hi all, Banded 6 months ago and was doing well but have become lazy recently. I work until about 6pm and people in work don't know about the band so I usually just eat something small and wait to get home for dinner. I was doing really well but then my partner and I broke up(he left me for a younger woman - I'm 25:eek:) and I moved out. Even so I was still good and cooked dinner in the evenings. I have a daughter but she eats dinner in creche so in the evenings it's just myself I have to feed and I have fallen out of the habot of cooking. It just seems like such an effort for just me. I have been craving salty things (which is a change for me as I was always a sweet tooth) and find I usually just eat rubbish now in the evenings. Any ideas for some quick, healthy recipies bearing in mind that I am now broke (paying rent, creche etc alone now) so no expensive options please :thumbdown:. I also know I need a good kick up the backside as I have fallen back into the "comfort eating" trap even though I am still losing weight it has slowed down and I feel tired and sluggish. Help!!!

Me too. Gave us all in the office a good chuckle :thumbup:

I am no longer morbidly obese or even very obese. I am now in the plain old obese range (hopefully not for much longer). I am also single again after my partner of 6 years left me to go and find himself and his freedom (and picked up a 20 year old within a week or two _ I'm 25). I'm not coping well but can only imagine how I would be if I was still at my heaviest and had no band. I'm devestated but I have hope of being slim and healthy and getting out there again. And when he sees me he'll kick himself :thumbup:

As of June 26th, my 4 month Bandiversary, I have lost 44 pounds. I have had 2 fills, 4.75ccs in an 8 cc band.

I'm doing good too. Lost 40 pounds in under 4 months. Only have 4.75mls but I have very good restriction. Probably won't get a fill for a while yet.

Hi there. I found the first 2/3 weeks great as I was fortunate to have restriction from the swelling. Then the week or two before the fill weight loss stopped totally. After the fill I had great loss for the first week or so and it dwindled again. After my second fill I have begun losing steadily. It feels slow but it really isn't. I have just hit 3 stone loss and I was banded 4 months ago next week. It feels like forever since the surgery but it isn't and I know it will take time. We all wanted an instant fix, especially after going through so much, but that doesn't happen. It will still take time. You will see a small improvement after each fill until you get to your optimum fill and then you will see steady progress. Best of luck.

Hi all. I need some advice. I've been on holidays last week and even before I left I had started falling into bad habits again. Biscuits dipped in tea, ice cream etc. It got worse while I was away as we were in a resort which had really crap food choices. It was all steak and chips, burgers and chips etc so i pretty much survived the week on chips. I lost a lot of weight the week after my last fill but gained a pound or two and have remained the same since. I have good restriction but I'm not handling it well as I love eating so am going for things that go down easy and mean I can eat a lot. I've just realised that. God, it's so obvious. I feel when I am full and continue to eat. I had a few pbs on holidays. Once in a shopping centre in Barcelona. I was in Mc Ds (not my choice to go there) and was enjoying a chicken royal burger (what was I thinking ) and it got stuck. I couldn't find the toilets and had to discreetly pb into a bin nearby. A woman asked was I ok and I lied and said I was pregnant and she let me use the staff toilet. I felt so bad :thumbup:. Anyway, clearly my issues with food are still there. I'm self pay and counselling isn't part of the package and I can't afford it to be honest. Any advice how to get out of this awful habit and get myself back on track????

Hi Corrib. It's me (from RC). Glad to see you dropped in. Lucky you getting the op with the HSE! Glad to see this is becoming an option for people in Ireland. How did you hear about it? Was it through your GP? My GP is not supportive of the band so probably wouldn't refer anyne for it but at least there might be more options available to people rather than paying for the op privatley. Keep in touch as this site is great for advice and support.

I am actually starting to look after my appearance again and people are noticing. I'm taking more time on my "beauty routines". Before the surgery I would have just hopped out of the shower, tied my hair in a ponytail and thrown on whatever was clean. now i pluck, preen and apply tan. I put on my make up and style my hair and decide what I am going to wear. It means I have to get up earlier but I feel great!

hi gill. This is totally normal, par for the course. I am banded since late February and in the first 2 weeks(on liquids) I lost 17 pounds which I was thrilled with. Then when I started eating mushies the weight loss stalled for about 2-3 weeks. Basically you are regaining the weight you lost when on liquids (starvation) but this is countered by the fact that you are losing weight if that makes sense. Personally I don't think you are eating enough calories. What did your doctor recommend? Anyway, after about 2 weeks of staying the same weight it started to go down again but much more slowly. I am nearly 9 weeks post banding and am down about 26pounds which averages at nearly 3 pounds per week which I am happy with. I had my first fill 2 weeks ago and am due another in 2 weeks. I have a little restriction but can still eat a good bit so I'm delighted I'm still managing to lose weight. Best of luck and don't get disheartened.

Hi Damienne. I'm 25 so can't help with the over 60s part of your post but I can tell you that you can have a consult with Dr. de Bruyne in Dublin. The address is Raglan Clinic, fitzwilliam st, dublin. He is next over on the 8th of May. he comes over about once a month and does fills and consultations. Hope this helps. The number to call if you want to book a consultation is 00447872963503 (julie) and she can give you an appointment. I went to Belgium so if you have any questions just shout.

A girl in work said "you're doing really well. You must have lost about 3 stone (approx 42 pounds)" when in fact I have lost just under 2. Yay. At least people are noticing it.

Coco it seems that the old thread has been moved from "introductions" to the thread "local lap band support" futhur down on the home page. If you look down at that section it is top of the list in "elsewhere". Why they felt the need to move it after a year I don't know. More to the point why weren't we notified?? :cursing: And if the UK has it's own page why doesn't Ireland. There are plenty of us on here too!

EVERYBODY CALLS ME: Ash MY PRIMARY RELATIONSHIPS INCLUDE: My partner and our daughter (aged 5) MY NON-HUMAN FAMILY CONSISTS OF: 2 rabbits I LIVE IN: Ireland. OCCUPATION: Insurance claims administrator. AVOCATION: Reading, travelling, quality family time FAVORITE EXERCISE: Swimming I COLLECT: nothing. I hate clutter and our house is fairly minimalist except for the playroom.

I was banded just over 3 weeks ago and while I do get hungry I have just started back on normal food and find I have great restriction. Get full very quickly and food gets stuck if I eat too much or too fast. I had luch with colleagues today and only managed half a childs portion and I feel I ate too much. I'm stuffed. I knew I wanted to stop eating but loads of people were there and have all been commenting on how little I've been eating so I was trying to eat as much as possible. Stupid I know but nobody in work knows I've had the band and I want to keep it that way. Feel awful now though :wink2: First fill is in 2 weeks (almost 6 weeks post op) so hopefully I get more restriction as although I can't eat a lot in one sitting I get hungry quickly.

Yay! It worked! I basically ate about 7 small meals yesterday! After dinner I totted up my calories at was at 900 (after what felt like non stop eating) so I had some full fat soft cheese on crackers (good for protein) and this morning was down 2lbs!!!! Yay!!! So basically I was eating too little (not usually a problem for me!) so I am trying to eat more than 3 times a day now. Have been grazing all morning so far (smoothie at my desk and have been drinking my way through it all morning where I used to have a bit for breakfast and then nothing until lunch). Nice to see the scales move. It's weird though as I feel I am eating loads to lose weight!

I haven't been counting calories but at a guess I would say I am averaging about 600-800 calories per day so I think I'll increase that. Maybe have a glass or two of vino and some ice cream! :huh2:

I've reached a plateau too. Been stuck at 17lbs since last week. This is week 3 for me so it's reassuring to know it's common. My weight loss is since the day I was banded. I didn't have to do a pre op diet so I was the same weight as always (well, actually I was a my heaviest) when I went for surgery. My 5 year old is very concerned that I won't be getting an easter egg. Think I'll buy a cream egg as a treat and let himself eat most of it!

Thanks all. Good to hear I'm not alone! Have great restriction which I am truly grateful for. Ate mashed potato and swede last night and should have eaten slower as I only had a tiny bowl and was so full 5 minutes after. Hopefully something kicks off soon and the weight starts coming off again.

Hi all, was banded on Feb 26th and have been very good sticking to liquids. Started on mushies a few days ago and my weight loss just stopped. I'm probably eating less than 1000 calories per day. Weight loss has been stuck at 17lbs for the last week. Now I know I shouldn't be complaining as 17lbs in 2 weeks is great but I'm slightly afraid that this is where I'll stay and I'm not due a fill for another 4 weeks. How can I not be losing weight???? I'm being so good, have good restriction and am eating 3 meals per day plus loads of Water. I haven't started excercising yet as I'm still a bit sore but I do have more energy and am always up doing something. Did anyone else get stuck?

I considered bypass and discussed the issue with my surgeon who recommended the band. I'm only 25 and want more babies so the band was the one which would allow pregnancy with the least amount of complication. That did it for me!