Lolo~t

I just thought I would share some of my story for those of you who are struggling with getting to the green zone as I am. I was banded in July. I lost 15 lbs in 14 days on the pre op diet. My first fill was 2 CC and I was primed with 1CC during my procedure. I had 5 fills in between then and now. I only lost another 15 and gained 5 back even though I felt like I was eating way less. I realized i had been misleading my Dr., unintentionally. I had been telling them what I was eating. Not what I was capable of eating. When I was discouraged, my portions became larger as I started to give up and not watch what I was putting in my mouth. Had I been more forthcoming with what I was able to eat, he most likely would have been giving me larger fills. I was also discouraged right after a fill. The first week I would be tight and feeling like I was in the green zone and by week 2 I could eat almost anything again. I was embarrassed that I had gained those 5 lbs back and finally worked up the courage to make another fill appointment and get back on track. I went to my fill appointment and waited until my dr came in, fully expecting to be scolded or frowned upon for my weight gain. I explained to him everything that I was experiencing and he gave me a larger fill of .75 CC. I believe my band has just over 5CC now. He also wrote me a prescription for a new drug called Contrave. At first I was resistant to try it. I just had weight loss surgery and now it's back to the pills that have never worked for me in the past? He told me it was only temporary and it was a way to jump start my weight loss as the scale was moving in the wrong direction. I agreed. Filled the prescription and waited two days before I started taking it. I read some reviews online and found very few positive ones. I decided to give it a shot anyway despite the negative side effects I read about online. Turns out, it is working for me. I have lost 9 lbs in a very short period of time and the scale is moving in the right direction again. I have my motivation back, however I am experiencing some side effects but very mild and they have lessoned as time went on.
So the moral of this story is.. Communicate with your surgeon and be extremely honest. And DON'T give up

For some of us, a small amount of alcohol goes a long way.
2 drinks has become my personal limit. Often just one before dinner
But I love that I get to change my attitude just a bit.
Since being widowed last year, I rarely find myself out at night.. But it is a nice treat to be civilized and have a cocktail with a small dinner for me????

I don't hold back drinking socially...either gin and tonics or bloody mary's....
Does not effect my band one way or the other....
As far as colories, I'm not a calorie counter...I look at the big picture which is I now eat 1/10th of what I used to on any given day, and when I do eat, I make the best nutritious choices I can.
I also will have a beer or two from time to time...but I don't recommended it to people just starting out...there is a lot to learn first...

I'm having the same issue! Very frustrating!

Aside from getting into smaller sizes, I had my 1st NSV last night. We went out to dinner for the 1st time since surgery and went to a restaurant that we would normally wait for a table as the booths are so small and it'd be a very tight fit.
Well I didn't even think about it until I went to sit and there was plenty of room to spare! I was so shocked I didn't have to try to wiggle my way in and pretend I was fine.
It's definitely the small things! ????

I've been thinking the same thing. I'm not hungry but 2 times a day. But my mind is always looking for something to eat. It drives me insane

IMO it is not a complication, but normal....the stomach is designed to stretch and contract with the amount put into it, and the pouch is still part of the stomach.
I've been banded over 4 years....the band sets limits on how much I can eat - portion control....don't need to measure or count calories....
From time to time I realize I just ate more than usual with little problem....(throughout a day)
It is then I will go all liquids for 2-3 days, after which I feel back to normal again. Letting my pouch return to normal.
Some people call this the 5 day pouch test (why, I'll never know) but your Dr. is doing the same thing by removing the Fluid...he could just as easily instructed you to lay off solid foods for a week, but would you have?
Every 5-6 weeks, I lay off solid foods and stick with liquids including Soups, shakes, etc....this is the only maintenance I am aware of with the band...(since I am not dieting)
But of course, this is me and what I do...other people have different opinions and different experiences....

I can't wait to be there!! Tired of being hungry.

I don't think it is fair to question someone's motivation because they are having a hard time. I bet there is not one single one of you who has done every single step of this journey perfectly. You may be struggling post op with getting your Water or Protein down...why can't you 'just do it'? You don't really want it. You may have struggled pre-op with cutting negative people out of your life. Why can't you 'just do it'? You must not have really wanted it. Every person is different and just because you overcame a particular part of the puzzle does not mean other people who struggle with that particular issue is unmotivated and isn't ready.
Every single one of us is here because we have been unable to control our relationship with food.
Let she/he who be without sin cast the first stone.

I am doing well, 25 pounds gone!! I feel better and I have not had a full yet but I'm losing 1 to 2 pounds a week! I am so glad I got the lapband!

I like all of them except not drinking alcohol for a year ????

Does anyone want to join me on Fitbit. You can find me at emb88e@aol.com

I don't know how he found out, I really hadn't told many people at work, but I guess people talk. Anyway, it came up in conversation, and he started questioning my motivation, saying that didn't I worry that I was taking that easy way out. That if I just worked hard and stayed disciplined, I could do it all on my own. He made it sound so simple. I could tell he thought he was being positive, but he was being condescending, something he has a reputation for doing.
First of all, it's not so simple. I am well over 200+ lbs over. I have gone past the point of no return. And while I make no excuses for how I got this way, I know it's all on me, and I haven't made the best choices in my past. But I'm at the point where medical intervention is required, and my doctor wholeheartedly agrees (I love her by the way!). And I'm going to do this like I do everything in my life. To the best of my abilities. Despite his opinion, I know this will most certainly not be easy. In fact, I want to it to be hard. It will make it that much more worth it once I reach my goal.
And second. This is life and death, I'm in my mid 30s now, and the clock is ticking. If I keep going on this path, I will not have much time left on this planet. I am not concerned with preserving my honor in his eyes. I have family and friends who are all united in their support of me on this. And he's just some guy we hired last year to do . . .I really don't know what he does.
So for those that say, we're cheating, or taking the easy way out. Kindly direct them to engage in intercourse with themselves. Rant over.

Going to try and stay motivated!

I had my LapBand surgery 1/13/2015. No regrets yet and down 30 pounds. If you have any questions let me know, id love to share my experience.

I'm 8 weeks post op. I've lost 15lbs since surgery. I also lost 15lbs pre-op on the pre-surgery liquid diet. I had my 2nd fill this week. I still feel hungry. I can't wait for the band to start working for me vs me having to weigh and measure everything. I'm ready for my 3rd fill.

It feels GREAT!!!!

I have gone from a size 18 to a size 8. I can see how much smaller I am but I don't feel thin. Can't help it but I keep waiting to feel thin and I don't know what I am waiting for. Has anyone else experienced this and if so when did it change? If it did. Thanks.

I found this via Facebook. It's a good reminder of what to do (how to live) post-op and it looks like it has a lot of resources. Just sharing!
http://www.bariatriceating.com/2015/03/02/top-10-bariatric-post-op-mistakes/

There are many good Protein drinks - but look for low carb/low sugar, modest calories for the Protein.< /p>
I like Premier Protein (Costco!) which are 30g protein/4-5G of carbs and about 160 calories. A good powder is Syntrax nectar which are uber low carbs, about 100 calories and 20g protein. I would look for ones with similiar stats and really limit the bars - too much carbs for the protein amount!

It gets better!
I am 3 years out and I FEEL and LOOK wonderful - best of my life. Hang in there.

Had a visit w/Dr yesterday and im under 200lbs, haven't been under in 6 years+. Im so happy. Didnt get a fill, Dr says i didnt need it, since im still eating at every 4/5 hours, gotta wait till i get hungry at every 2/3 hours...

We're highly contemplating opening an online store on BariatricPal that will sell discounted Bariatric Nutritional Products. We'll most likely stock all the big brands plus some others we feel would benefit the community.
Would this be something that interests you ?
Which products do you use most ?
Would you be interested in a monthly auto-ship service ?

I'm sitting in preop waiting my turn to be wheeled back

Two words for him. Grow up.
And don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.