JaimeSTL

I'm glad to hear it went well! I hope you feel better soon!

1-2 lbs a week is an average weight loss. The least that I have lost in a week, excluding a 2 week plateau, has been 3 lbs. I've lost up to 10 lbs in a week. How does one control the pace of their loss? Eat more? The band keeps us from doing that. I know that I could slow my loss by eating more but a) I physically cannot take in more than I do unless I start adding junk and b)I feel GREAT so why do that?

After my experiences with my two pregnancies, I wouldn't even consider it until I was below 200 at least, preferably at goal (160). I was about 240 when I got pregnant with my first. It was a relatively easy pregnancy, save for massive morning sickness and reflux, then I was induced at 36 weeks due to pre-eclampsia. Not easy for most, but compared to the horrible experience with my second, I call it easy. My second was born 18 months later. I had a pre-preg weight of about 270. I developed pre-eclampsia at 14 weeks. I was told my baby might not make it, that she might be sick/small due to the restricted blood flow caused by the pre- eclampsia. At 23 weeks, I was admitted to the hospital for a few days because my BP was no longer controlled by the meds and bed rest. They told me that they didn't recusitate before 24 weeks so if I had to deliver then, they couldn't do anything for her. Fortunately they tweaked my meds and put me on strict bedrest and let me go home. I developed gestational diabetes. I went into preterm labor at 32 weeks and was hospitalized until delivery, which ended up being a week later. My liver and kidneys were failing due to the pre-eclampsia. My DD was born at 33 weeks exactly, 4 lbs 5 ozs. She was VERY healthy, only needed oxygen support for about 18 hours and spent 12 days in NICU. She has suffered no lasting effects from her prematurity. It took me a good 2 years to recover from the pregnancy, get my BP stablized, etc. Yes, these things can and do happen to moms of lower weights, but the risk is much higher when you are obese.

I had that problem before I was treated for my sleep apnea. Since then, not so much. I just have to pee all the time because I drink so much water.

I have quite a few food police around me. The worst about is my 6 year old Autistic son. He perserveres on everything and he has made my diet one of those things. It drives me nuts. I can't eat anything without him asking if I can eat it because he seems to think I can only eat popsicles, soup and jello and all the rest isn't allowed. My 16 year old SIL will sit and stare at me while I eat, and my husband's grandmother (who has always harped on my pickiness and my son's food issues) will ask about the things I can eat to no end. It is to the point that I don't want to go to family functions anymore because I can't stand it. I want to be normal and they make me feel like a freak!

I don't/won't do low carb. I just don't think it is a healthy way to eat at all. I know that I couldn't maintain that for long. I don't eat refined sugars, sweets, etc., but I do eat potatoes, a little Pasta, rice. I also try to avoid things that are processed and out of a box, but sometimes I do like convenience things because our life is hectic and I need something quick. My surgeon is mostly worried about calories. By cutting my calories I naturally cut the fat and carbs that I used to eat. That books sounds interesting. I think I'm going to look for it. I prefer to buy fresh foods and organics whenever possible, so I think this is something I would be interested in.

Mine is MySpace.com - Jaime - 29 - Female - Fenton, Missouri - www.myspace.com/jaime920. Let me know you are from LBT if you add me. I love to make new friends.

LOL WTG! And yes, it makes me so mad to hear how "strong" I am. When discussing the food problems with my husband I know that he thinks this has been easy for me. He should know firsthand it hasn't been, since he got to listen to all of my whining about being hungry and all of that on the liquid diet. I have a friend who has a 40 BMI, dr suggested lap band, etc., and she tells me, it isn't easy for me like it is for you. Blah! This has been anything but easy for me, but I was given the chance to change my life and I'm taking full advantage of it.

Jacqui, I agree with everything you are saying. For me, when I went to the extreme of having surgery, that was it, there was no choice but to comply and lose weight. I have a very hard time understanding the self-pity and noncompliance. I have often thought, if I can do this, almost anybody can do it. I had no discipline, no ability to tell myself no, I ate uncontrollably. I have a true food addiction. I've had people tell me straight out that the only reason I have done so well is because of my age. That makes me so angry. I am working my butt off--this is the hardest thing I've ever done and I will not fail. I am very strict with myself and hold myself accountable for everything I eat, even when I have a bad day. I'm not perfect, I'll never be perfect. I eat pizza and chips and candy--just way smaller portions and not nearly as often as before. I really don't feel like I'm doing anything special. My husband is having issues with his blood sugar and needs to make dietary changes. I get so exasperated with him because he just keeps eating and drinking all the things he shouldn't. He tells me, I'm just not as strong as you. Strong? No. Just really determined to lose this weight, get healthy, and live a full long life. I couldn't go on like I was before surgery and the memories of that time push me to succeed.

My surgeon and insurance have the same requirements--BMI over 35 with at least one comorbidity or BMI over 40 with no comorbidities. My surgeon wants patients to be at least 100 lbs overweight. When I went to my seminar he addressed self-pay issues and didn't mention whether or not any of the requirements are waived for self-pay. I see a lot of tickers on here and really wonder why someone would have surgery at certain weights. But we don't really know everybody's histories, if they have yo-yo'ed for years, if they have medical problems, etc. I also can see where the band can be a preventative because if your weight is only going up, why wait until you need to lose 150 lbs if you can do it when you only need to lose 80?

That's a great problem to have, Michelle! I really hate being between sizes. I am constantly hiking my pants up because I am not going to wear the too tight ones. I'm getting to that point with my current size very quickly. It seems like just last week this size was snug and this week, they are falling down. I tried on a smaller size and they will button but are way too tight to be comfortable.

I was on liquids for 5 days pre-op and 10 days post-op. I lost 27 lbs in that time. I gained back 8 lbs in 10 days once I started back on food and didn't lose anymore until after my first fill at 4 weeks post-op.

You look great, Ezma! I love your new do!

I couldn't agree more. It's one thing for doctors to have different aftercare instructions, but quite another for one to say, "I'm supposed to be on liquids but I ate a piece of chicken" or "I'm a week out and just ate cookies, candy, cake, a shake....." It is really just stupid and dangerous. Why bother with surgery if you can't follow the guidelines? We all know going in what to expect afterward.

This is the website: Calorie Calculator When you enter your information, it will give you what your BMR should be for your weight and height. For me, it gives numbers over 2200 per day but there is no way I'd go anywhere near that. LOL I tweaked it, using the same basic premise. Make sure to click where it says "7 day calorie cycle (zig-zag)." This is what the site says about zig zagging: "*Calorie cycling provides same amount of calories per week, but 'tricks' your body by constantly changing daily calories. This helps to prevent or break plateaus. Guideline only." I also found this one: NY Times Calorie Calculator This one tells you how many calories a day you should get to lose a certain amount of weight by a certain date. Pretty cool. It won't let you get too aggressive and calculates about 1.5 lbs a week. It told me that I could be at GOAL by my 1 year bandiversary if I stick to 1200 calories a day!!

Bread, bagels and pasta are things that aren't going to go down well for most bandsters. I'm not surprised those things came back up with good restriction. Ideally, you should be able to eat enough solid food, but I'd stay away from the bready, doughy type of foods like that. If you got stuck or PB'ed today, I'd do liquids the rest of the day, then try regular foods again tomorrow. Just be cautious, eat slowly, chew well, and stay away from things you know don't go down well.

Congrats on breaking your plateau!! Hopefully now you'll just keep going down down down. I was looking at this website that tells you how many calories you should eat a day to lose weight and it recommended a "zig zag" pattern. Basically five days you stay on your regular plan, one day you add a few calories (the numbers it gave me said to add about 200) and one day add even more (about 500 more for me). That is supposed to result in optimal weight loss. I'm trying it to see if it works out. My base will be about 1000, then one day go up to about 1200, then one day about 1500. I'm not sure if I can manage 1500, but I could let that be my "treat" day.

Yes! I feel like that lot. My husband keeps commenting on it, and also on my increasing confidence. I very rarely had good days before.

I also have PCOS, diagnosed 9 years ago. I took Metformin for several years, off and on. Both of my children were conceived with only the help of Metformin, the first after I couldn't even get pregnant (or even just ovulate) on Clomid. With my second child, I was on it for approximately a month and got pregnant (after ttc for almost 2 years for our first). My doctor doesn't want me on it right now because of the possibility of blood sugar crashes since I don't eat much now. I've been losing well without it so I'm not interested in having the side effects of it right now.

I have to agree with Irene and StLouisGal. If that is all you are getting in, that isn't nearly enough. How are you getting in all of your protein? Maybe if you just can't get in more food you could add some protein shakes for more calories and protein. I won't lose if I go under about 700-800 calories.

I think I answered my own question. I always have oatmeal for breakfast (Quaker Weight Control banana bread--so yummy!) and I never have a problem with it. But this morning, I must be really tight and it is hurting a little going down. How weird. I haven't really had that sensation before. I'm glad I didn't call earlier this week when I thought about it because I'd probably be too tight.

Good luck Ezma! You'll be in my thoughts.

I'm trying to decide whether or not to call my doctor before my next scheduled visit. I saw him on May 7th and had to practically beg for a fill. He didn't think I'd need it because I was losing so well. And because of that fact, he said to come back in 3 months. My next appointment isn't until August 6th. My fills were very aggressive. The first was 3.2 cc and the second was 2.5 cc. I have a 14 cc band. I fill up quickly but I don't stay full very long and I end up hungry between meals. I try really hard to either not snack or have a very healthy snack (cheese, fruit, etc). I had fill #2 on May 12 and I've lost about 16 lbs since then. However, right now I feel that a lot of it is willpower, plus I plateaued for 2 weeks and just broke through that. I will not go backwards so I'm just going to end up hungry a lot if I wait. I keep telling myself I should just call, but then I keep thinking, he's not going to want to do another fill now because of how much I've lost. I don't have the time to waste to drive out to the hospital, wait, etc., just to be told no. I also don't want to get too tight and then need an unfill because I like being able to eat a decent amount of food. But I don't want to lose any progress. What do you think?

I've had both of my fills under fluoro. They are always super early in the morning, so I can't eat after midnight the night before. It is pretty much the same as StLouisGal's experience. You drink some white stuff (Barium, I guess) and the doctor watches it go down. Then mine will inject the saline until the flow slows down. I've had two very aggressive fills (3.2 cc and 2.5 cc) because he can see how things go through. It gets tight, but not too tight.

Way to go, Karen!