angelic_1

Hey May 2008 Bandsters! How are we doing? It's been about a year and a half since our surgeries... I am down 61 lbs!!!! Yeah!!!! I just went shopping yesterday for some new clothes (my clothes were all 1X, 2X, and 3Xs), and the XLs were too big, so I had to try on Larges. I haven't had to do that in FOREVER!!!! I am at restriction, exercising (I do KICKBOXING!), and am losing about 2-3 lbs a month. Slow, but I don't care. My skin is not sagging... Super happy. I feel better than I have in who knows how long. I have about 45 lbs til goal of 125. Tell me how you are doing. We can swap tips...

It's been good for me to see all these posts also. I lost 20 right after surgery, then have been unable to lose more than 10 lbs the rest of the year. I feel like I have been following the plan for the most part, but with minimal restriction. Now, I finally have restriction (I feel a little anorexic because I can hardly eat a thing!), and have lost 4 lbs in 3 weeks. I am happy about that loss, but it is still slow compared to what I am eating... I am trying to stay posititve because w/o LBS, I would be 230 still, at the very least! Now, I am only 194, and can fit into many clothes in my closet. I'll post again to let you all know how I am doing. Thanks!

I too am making some wrong choices. Not gaining either, but very slowly losing. I had some restriction after my fill, but not where I need to be. I can still eat way too much!! I am looking forward to my 2nd fill August 21. Hopefully, that will bring me to a sweet spot... a great b-day present (I turn 36 on Aug. 31!)

Thanks, that's good to hear.

Fluffycat, I would like to preface this with the fact that I have yet to experience a PB, and I can eat a lot of food still (shamefully, I was able to eat a chicken sandwich and small fries from McD's yesterday with NO problems). So to that part of your question, I really can't help. The drinking- you are supposed to wait because drinking aids digestion, and the goal is to allow the food to remain in the pouch as long as possible to feel fuller longer. BTW, I have had a fill (3.5 in my 10mm Realize Band), and I have some restriction, but can still eat WAY TOO MUCH! I feel like it is 5-10% the Band and the rest me. Sometimes I wonder if I am some part of huge experiment and I got the placebo! I hope with the next fill, I will feel better restriction. I hate losing so SLOWLY.

I am also so glad for this thread! I was banded May 6, 1 week of liquids, 1 week of mishies, then soft food to regular food. Most of the time I ponder if I got a placebo surgery!!! I can eat anything, I hardly get full, and I can eat fast. It's not like I am trying to see how far I can push it. But sometimes I forget and eat quickly, and am like, Wait a sec, I should have struggled with that bite!?! Every day, I wake up with good intentions. I will have Protein shakes today, but then I feel starving, and have a turkey sandwich instead. Granted I am eating a little less, but I haven't lost a pound in 2 weeks! I Iam walking a bit, but probably not enough. And I can't get my first fill until July 11 (doc's on vacation). Please send positive thoughts my way so that I can be especially good from now until my fill date. I'd like to lose 5 pounds before then.

Hey Bandfan, how'd the fill go? I am in Bandster hell- I am hungry, with minimal restriction and can't wait until I can get a fill. I feel like I am just dieting. Plus, my life is very stressful right now. We have to move, and the place we were going to move to flooded, so I had to quickly find another (we have to be out of our present place by this weekend!). Luckily, I found us a place, and even more lucky, we hadn't moved yet to be flooded. Thank goodness!!!

I had to take Milk of Magnesium and (TMI) it was miserable. I lived in the bathroom the day before surgery. I also suffered from dairrhea after the surgery. My mom said it was probably a lasting effect from the Milk of Magnesium. It was a wretched feeling that lasted about a week. Sleep before surgery was elusive for me. I was just so excited!!! Best wishes for the tail end of our May Bandsters! I am sure that you will do great with the surgery.

They make me wait 6 weeks after surgery, but my surgeon is on vacation until the end of June, and that was the first available appt. I guess she has to determine the 1st fill.

Good luck Kammi!

Gralda, I am just like you! My post op diet was exactly the same, and I have not lost since starting on solids, even though I am eating significantly less than pre-Band. I went to my 2 week follow-up today, and I am healing well. BUt I can't get a fill untilJuly. I hope that when I can start exercising more, the weight will come off, even slowly... But I do feel great!

We have the same band date, and YES!!! I feel almost no restriction, and am losing slowly. I hope I can get a fill soon.

I would try eating something small or drinking a Protein shake around 3PM, that way you aren't starving at 5.

I am new to banding (May 6), so I don't have personal experience to lean on. But my sister is very athletic and has always given me great tips. Her best tip ever is to drink Isopure liquid Protein right before you go to bed. No carbs, just protein. She says that has always jump-started her when on any plateau. Good luck!

I was banded on May 6 with the Realize Band. I did not even know that it was an option with my doctor until I received the letter of welcome from the doc informing me that I had a Realize band. I have heard pros and cons to it vs. the LapBand. It seems similar though, and I will be questioning my doc on my follow-up appt this week. I am already sure I will need a fill at the 1st opportunity because I find myself hungry and not feeling any restriction. But it could just be head hunger, and I am losing... This will be an exciting and educating new journey in life. :leaving:

Allison, I love to eat too. I have looked at the earlier bandster threads about food always being on our minds, and some people say that you become less obsessed as you lose the weight. I can't see that happening, but I hope so... You can eat fast food, just choose healthier options and eat the protein first, ie no bun???

Marilyn, that is great about the meds. I bet you feel amazed! I am a little over one week out and I feel fantastic also! It is weird to think that there is a band in there. I wouldn't know except for these scars and a residual pain where the port is located. I am so excited for the rest of the May Bandsters. You will be so glad of this decision. The surgery itself was easy. The first few days I was surprised with the tiredness and soreness that I felt (I thought that 2 C-Sections would be more painful and they may have been but I can't remember; plus, I stayed in the hospital 3 days for each of my babies, 1 day for this), but now I feel great. Good luck everyone!:thumbup:

Hi all! I was banded May 6, 2008. I am feeling better from the surgery every day. Today I just have a little tenderness on my left side. And I am still a little bit more tired than usual. I am so excited that I have already lost 10 lbs! But I realize that will slow way down when I start eating food instead of liquid. Does anybody have the Realize Band? I found out after surgery that was what my doctor put in me. Anyway, glad to meet all the 30-somethings!

I would start weaning myself from the TAB now. You may not be able to take the caffeine pills. My doc said no caffeine right after surgery.

You may not want to say gall Bladder surgery because, from what I understand, it seems that there is a higher incidence of GB surgery after WLS. My suggestion if it is personal does not work- it's female stuff and leave it at that.

This site is great! I was banded on may 6, and I know that I am hungry because I hear my stomach growl!!! I can't start on mushies until 5-13, and it is hard. Thanks for all of the tips!

Okay, I am feeling really good today. I was banded on the 6th, so it has been 4 days. The incisions are so tiny, except the port is about 2 inches long. My energy is still lower than normal, but better than any since the surgery. I am very excited for this process for all of us! Also, last night, I received a letter in the mail, from my surgeon, welcoming me to the new Realize Band. I was a little surprised because I did not know that was an option. Does anyone know much about this band? If not, I will be calling the surgeon on Monday...

Good to know. I thought something was the matter with me!

Well, I am feeling much better today. But it is very hard for me to get the 64 oz of liquid in. Plus, I am starting to get hungry for mushies- not allowed until 5-13. The incisions are feeling great. I can only feel the big port incision, unless I lean against the others (like when I spit out toothpaste). The house we live in was for sale, and I just found out I have less than a month to move. Since I can't pick anything up, I am a little stressed, but I am taking care of this band!

I was banded 2 days ago, on May 6th. I am very happy, but I thought that the surgery would be easier. I feel like I have been stabbed 5 times in the gut! Which is basically what happened. Today I feel a bit better. My gas is in my lower abdomen. Today, I actually hear my stomach growling, wanting to eat. I am sipping on Isopure to get my protein in. I will post more later. Good luck to all the May Bandsters!