citygirl4616

Congrats!!!!! I will lose 2-3 pounds, then nothing for a week. Then another 2-3 pounds, then nothing for a week. Very odd, since I eat pretty much the same, and do the same exercise. I am down about 35 pounds(1/3 of my extra weight), and I am in no rush.

Yuck! I had my first PB last week. I have had food stuck before, but it always worked its way down...not up! It was a terrible feeling. More like vomiting to me. The hardest thing about being banded for me, is learning to change the speed which I eat. I am still eating way too fast! Also, not chewing enough. That is what causes my food to get stuck...every time! Ouch! So painful! New mantra..."Eat slow...chew, chew, chew! Eat slow....chew, chew, chew!"

Any kind of protein is going to help with hunger. Of course...protein shakes are the best. Some other high protein, soft foods are cottage cheese, yogurt, ricotta cheese, scrambled eggs (any kind of egg really), egg drop soup, egg salad, tuna salad, flaky fish. Don't fret too much about the weight loss. Your body is healing right now. You WILL start losing again, but it may not be until you get an adjustment (or two, or three). In the meantime, eat plenty of protein to help your body heal, and to stay full, and drink lots of water. You are doing just fine!

1 - The pain you are feeling is pretty common. You just had major abdominal surgery. Give your body some time to heal. It took a good 6-7 weeks before I felt that all of the soreness and tenderness went away. 2 - I was told I could do any exercise at 2 weeks post-op as long as I didn't feel like I was straining myself (but no abdominal exercises). I have been taking spinning on and off for years, and there is no way I could have taken a spin class before the 6 week post-op mark. Spinning is way to strenuous on your core muscles to try while still recuperating. I was able to walk and do yoga. Don't push yourself right now. 3 - Congratulations on your weight loss! Most people experience a slow down in weight loss in the weeks immediately after surgery. This is a time for your body to be healing, not necessarily losing weight. I know you don't want to hear that now, but almost everyone goes through it until they reach the proper fill level in the band. I lost 17 pounds after surgery, then gained 2 pounds back before my first adjustment! Once I got my adjustment (I was lucky, and got good restriction after just one fill), I started losing again...slowly, but I'm not in a rush. Be patient. The weight will start dropping again. Good luck!

It didn't take me long to realize that I needed something to replace eating as the primary "stress reliever" in my life. There was nothing better to me, after a long, hard day, than coming home to a huge plate of Pasta, garlic bread, a glass of wine, and a few Cookies for dessert. The effect on me was like a drug....calm, serene, almost a trance-like "high". Now, after a long, hard day..what am I to do? The first few times I was OK. This is my new life. I had my healthy, small meal, and felt virtuous, and went about my night. By the 4th, or 5th time this happened, I realized I needed a replacement for my "food-induced high". I found a few things worked. Preparing a nice dinner for my family was very soothing to me. Just working with the food was comforting to me. Also, a nice, hot bath works wonders! I make a whole spa night of it! Facial, body scrub, mani and pedi, deep conditioners, lotions..the works! It takes up the whole night, it is very relaxing, and I feel great afterward. I also like renting a good DVD. I make myself a cup of skim milk hot cocoa, and settle down with a good movie. I am sure I will continue to find new things to help me get through those tough days.

Just answer honestly. They are not looking for reasons to deny you, it sounds like they are asking good questions for you to think about. Your eating habits are going to have to change dramatically after surgery, so it's a good idea to have your patterns identified beforehand, so a plan can be in place BEFORE the day of surgery.

Have you considered seeing a psychiatrist for this, rather than your internist? I know many internists will prescribe anti-depressants, and anti-anxieties, but you would probably benefit from more of a specialist that can work with you to find the right combination of medications that will work for you. Finding the right medication combination, with some good therapy, will bring you much closer to the relief you need. I think a psychiatrist will better be able to help you meet you needs.

My gas is in the form of terrible internal gas pains. Like the really cramping kind. They almost always come after I have eaten too fast (still a bad habit of mine), or I have eaten a little too much. None of the OTC gas meds work, so I have to suffer in silence. Sometimes, I am almost doubled over! Does anyone else get those kind of gas pains?

I just weight in with my surgeon at my follow up appointments. I only met with the nutritionist once, and she never weighed me.

I was banded on 1/10, and have always been able to feel my port. Even my hubby once in a while will touch my abdomen, and check out my port. Very weird, but very normal!

I have a 4cc band, and got about 3cc in my first fill. So far, this seems to be good restriction for me. I have heard that as you lose weight, the band may loosen, so maybe I will need more of a fill later, but for now, I am content.

I am at a point in my weight loss where my old clothes are looking big and baggy. I want some new clothes, but am assuming they will only fit for a couple of months. What a waste of money! What do you do? But just a few inexpensive pieces and wear them all the time? Get your old clothes altered? I don't have a ton of money to spend on clothes right now, but I want to look nice, and show off my new figure a bit.

Great thread! I have been wondering how other Jan. bandsters have been doing. Even though my weight loss has been slow, I am fine with it. I had my first fill 2 1/2 weeks ago, and got very good restriction with the one adjustment. I think I have lost 4 or 5 pounds since the fill. Before the fill, I had no restriction, and was gaining weight! Now, in the mornings, the band is super tight. Breakfast is Carnation Instant Breakfast, or yogurt. lunch is "iffy". Some days I can eat a small salad with chicken, some days it has to be a soft food like cottage cheese. By 3pm, I am able to eat almost anything, in small quantities. I always allow myself a nice dinner...just a small one. I cannot eat any type of bread yet, but maybe one day. I have to get going with my exercise. I have been active, but not regularly working out. I play tennis twice a week, and work out with a trainer once a week. I also do yoga once a week, but I need to add more cardio. I belong to a great gym, that has awesome classes and equipment, so I have no excuse not to go. I am very happy with the lapband, and for the first time in my life, I am optimistic about meeting my goal weight and getting healthy.

I try to make a large batch of chicken cutlets once a week. Then I have them on hand, in the fridge, all week long, and they only need to be heated. Each week I try a new preparation, and each day of the week, I grab a cutlet for a quick meal. Plain, chopped up w/ mayo., thrown on a salad, w/ some salsa, etc.

Tried a bagel chip today. Took the tiniest bite, and chewed 20 times. YOW! Didn't go down well. Felt like I was eating rocks! Tried 2 more bites..no luck. I still have to try some light toast.

I was on Meridia for almost a year. I think I lost about 20 pounds. It is an appetite suppresant, and for me, it worked pretty well. The problem was, my eating has always been emotional. If I had the urge to binge, I would either not take the pill, or just eat, even if I wasn't hungry. That is why my weight loss stopped at 20 pounds. It was too easy for me to "cheat". Just like any diet, Meridia requires willpower, proper nutrition and exercise. Good luck!

I consider myself tight in the morning, but I mean I cannot eat solid foods until lunchtime. I can definitely sip water. Sometimes I can drink a half a cup of coffee. If I am hungry, I'll have yogurt or Carnation Instant Breakfast. I cannot eat eggs or fruit or cereal. If you can't drink water, I would imagine you're too tight (I wake up thirsty!).

I think that is the standard way the operation is performed now. It was shown that by stitching the stomach, up, and over the band, the chance of the band slipping drops dramatically.

I should have clarified. I am probably one of the few people who got major restriction with just one fill. Shortgal is right...for most people it takes several fills before you get some good restriction. Didn't mean to be misleading....

I do not crush my pills. I even take my normal vitamins, but I cut them in half, using a pill splitter.

I doubt your insurance will cover any complications from your Lap-Band surgery. Not because you are having it done in Mexico, but because, I am assuming, they do not cover bariatric surgery (that's why you are self pay...right?). If any complications were to arise as a direct result of the surgery, you would have to pay for it out of pocket. I had the surgery done here in the states, as a self-pay patient, and that is what I was told by my insurance company (Coventry). Perhaps you may want to call and double check with your insurance company.

I have 4 small ones, and one larger one, where the port went. My surgery was two months ago, and the 4 small ones are less noticeable every day. The larger one is fading too. I had no external stitches or staples, just band-aids. The lap-band is the best tool I know for weight loss. I have already lost 25 pounds. I have been on every diet out there, and failed on every single one. It is normal to feel like this may not work for you, but with a little knowledge and a little support, it will work! Read the boards, and check out the success stories. They are all so inspiring.

I had my first fill 3 weeks ago, and I feel very good restriction. As of now, I do not plan on asking for another fill. That is not to say things won't change in a few months, but for now, I am satisfied with my one fill.

What you are experiencing is very normal. It sounds like most of your surgery swelling has gone down, so your appetite has returned. Since your band was most likely put in empty (unfilled), you will feel little to no restriction with your eating until your first adjustment. Just be patient....the first 6 weeks after surgery are for healing, not weight loss. Once you get your first adjustment, you will really feel how the band will adjust your appetite.

Sure, no problem. I only take if absolutely necessary, b/c I find it to work VERY well