rosemanl

I guess I wanted the good ole days back when the band did most the work. I think you're absolutely right Jachut. Thanks for everyones input.

I've been banded a little over 4 years. I've lost 80 lbs and would like to lose 20 more but if i get my band tight enough for decent restriction during the day its too tight for sleeping at night. At night i will have reflux and cough up liquid. Has anyone else experienced this?

I had the same thing and i think alot of people do. I read this great book titled "the four day win - end you diet wars and achieve thinner peace" by Martha Beck. It explained the mental side of dieting. It really helped me. I still have a long way to go but it helped tremendoulsy!!!

Its GREAT!!! I've bought copy for lap-band doctor, emailed martha beck thanking her. It has really rescued me from my diet hell. I'm telling everyone about it. Its very freeing!!! Don't walk but run to your nearest book store.

I just have to share about this wonderfull book. I started reading it this weekend and it has already totally changed me. Its titled "The Four Day Win - End Your Diet War and Achieve Thinner Peace" by Martha Beck. She was on GMA (good morning america) firday (1/5/07). Totally new weight loss philosphy. I am reaching my thinner peace and weight loss enlightenment. I think its revolutionary.

The "Honeymoon Phase" to me was a time i had so much restriction that the mental battles were pretty much non-existant. I had so much restriction that there was no choice in the matter. The band decided i was going to eat a few ounces 3 times a day - no way around it. Since I never felt hunger it sure was a lot easier to make excellent choices. After a few adjustments to keep the strong restriction i started expriencing reflux and had to have some removed. At that point the "honeymoon phase" ended for me. I began to realize how much the band controlled head hunger issues. I'm still losing (slower rate), i still love my band, I'm going to succeed. So the "honeymoon phase" for me is just that - a phase of the long great journey.

There are some great water proof band aids that i used 1 week post op. I found them at Wal-Mart right along with the other band aids - sorry i don't remember the brand or name of them. They are completely and totally waterproof. I spend about 55 minutes at a time in the pool and when i took off the band aids it was completely dry underneath. Swimming is my main exercise so my doctor was OK with it. Also i did to a test before i went swimming - put a band aid on my arm and let it soak in water just to check.

"I knew that it was not going to end the war only better prepare me for battle." I totally agree. I have just begun to start referring to my band as "my secret weapon".

It does get harder the farther out you get. I think vetern bandsters would agree. My last fill (from 2.5 to 3.0 in 4cc band) gave me excellent restriction during the day but at night it was just too much and i was having coughing spells which led to vomitting at night. Had the last fill taken out (back to the 2.5). So now i'm waiting for a smaller fill which will give more restriction during the day without the night time reflux - i hope. The excellent restriction won't always be there, at least thats what my experience has taught me. I committed to the lifestyle change, diet, exercise as can be. Heck i've exercised every freakin day this week for 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours to make sure i maintain until i can get my next fill and i'm dreading my weakly weigh in tomorrow. I'm seriously doubting i've maintained. Not trying to bring anyone down, just want you to enjoy the great restriction and weight loss your experiencing right now becuase it will probably get harder. I still love my band and pray i never lose it, but it could happen so i'm starting counseling monday so i can be prepared. Hope i didn't steal someone thread or whatever, but i really want the newer bandsters to do as much as they can with the great restriction they have right now. I'm miss mine (restriction that is).

I've hit a spot i'm comfortable with so i've started the maintence phase and i'm finding it a challenge. You don't have the "high" of being down a pound or so every week and the weight loss compliments have stopped because everyone has adjusted to your new size. It's just kind of a blah stage, but you still got to work hard at diet and exercise w/ out any glory. Don't get my wrong i feel better than i've felt in years, but its a very different place than the losing phase.

If you don't care about a couple of talking heads why read this thread?

I just bought a copy of Star magazine and looking at the picture of Star Jones. I totally agree she had WLS. Check it out. February 20th copy, page 62.

Very little carbs. My only sweet treat when i was doing atkins. If i remember correctly its pure fat. Yum!!!

"Also during that time I started coughing very hard while I was sleeping... so hard that I would vomit up any liquid I might have gotten down" I had the very same thing a couple of weeks ago. An unfill of my last fill cleared it up. I was happy with my level of restriction during the day but at night it was just too much restriction for sleep. I'm hoping my doc will give me some itty bitty fills so i find a decent level of restriction during the day with out night time problems.

Unfortunately he didn't specifically address the issues regarding buckle placement which is a somewhat newer process adopted in band placement. If i remember correctly this has reduced the band erosion from 3% to 1%. He's seems to me to be a very articulate and eloquent Bull S---er.