HappyOne

I was banded on 2/15/08 and have lost a whopping 15 lbs since then. I hit a plateau about 6 weeks ago and have been bouncing up and down with the same 2 lbs since them. I am a single mom with 2 daughers, 11 and 16. I'm 47 yrs old. I work full time and have a part-time job that I work about 5 hours every 2 weeks on average. I live in San Antonio Texas. Considering it's about 100 degrees here today and has been in the upper 90s over the past month I don't do a whole lot outside. I try to walk at least a mile 3 x a week at work. The more I try and don't lose, the more depressed I get. The more depressed I get the more I want to eat. I haven't been tracking my foods lately but am starting that again this weekend. Thanks, Lesly

NIP50 Thanks for the reply. I started tracking my food intake on dailyplate again this week. I eat between 1100-1200 calories per day which is what my nutrionist wanted. I do eat my Proteins first and try to avoid Pasta, potatoes etc. It's really hard for me to get the exercise in since I don't have a treadmill at home. I try walking at lunch but with the limited time I have it's about 1/2-3/4 mile. I try to get in at least 1 mile, 3 times a week but maybe that's not enough. I go back next week for a fill. I didn't get a fill last week when I went in because the physician assistant wanted me to try to cut back on my portions. I've done that but am still at the same weight. I'm a little nervous about another fill though. When I went for my last one they put in .4 cc. I couldn't get the Water down - golf ball in the chest feeling. They took out .2 cc and I was fine. Do you think it is possible they actually took out more than .2cc? One of my other problems, I think, is that I hadn't taken the time to come here to the forums. Maybe I need to read others stories and see that I'm not the only one in this predicament. I don't know....I'll what happens. Lesly

Hi Katie. I'm in the same place you are. I have lost 17 lbs since the week before my surgery and have played with the same 2 lbs over the last 4 weeks. I've tried everything I can to get past this plateau - added more workouts, watched what I'm eating more closely, etc, etc. I guess as long as I'm not really gaining more it's good but I want to loose. I went for a fill last week but didn't actually get one. They wanted me to eat MORE. Said my 1000-1100 calories a day just wasn't enough. So I'm working on eating up to 1200-1300, increasing the protein intake and go back in 2 weeks to see where I am. It's king of depressing to not lose at least 1 lb a week. We'll get there, we just have to keep trying different things to jump start out weight loss.

I've had 3 fills now and bruised with each. It takes them a little bit to get to the port so I figure that's why. The bruise is about the size of a quarter. My PA told me that was normal.

Hey Gibson, sorry to hear you're under the weather and injured on top of it all. Hope things perk up for you soon. As far as being the slowest loser, maybe not, or maybe I'm tied with you. I've lost all of 9 pounds since my surgery on 2/15. The other 8 showing on my ticker is what I lost the week before surgery. How sad is that???? I lost more in 1 week than I have lost in the past 10 weeks after surgery.:frown: I do agree with what the others have said. Losing slowly is better than losing a lot fast. Your body has a chance to adjust to it's new size and the skin will hopefull shrink back down so you won't need ps down the line. Hang in there, we're all here for you.

I agree with everyone else. I think you are going to become totally addicted to playing again and they'll have to drag you off the field. I took the step back in to sports 4 weeks after my surgery. I play co ed softball on a league where I work. I told everyone when we signed up that I did not run, I could hit, but running was not going to be part of the deal. Well, as you know if you hit the ball you have to run to the bases. We have games every Thursday evening and I almost crawl to work on Friday, but I love every minute of it. I'm even going to join the womens volleyball league that starts up after softball season. Volleyball is my to die for sport so here goes. Good luck and go get 'em.

Hi Syndy, We have the same surgeon and get fills and follow ups at the same location. I think some of the bp issue may be their equipment. All along I have had bp around 127/70. I do take high bp medicine so I figured eventually I would lose enough weight to stop the meds. When I went in for my fill last week they had my bp at 110/60 - the nurse was excited that it was so low. I'm still on the meds so I wasn't surprised but thought it was a little strange to be that low with only 15 pds lost. When I got back to work I had the nurse there take my bp and it was 125/70. Not sure what happened. Let your primary doc have a look and hopefully it isn't anything serious. Be sure to give us a follow up.

Hi all. I thought I give you a positive spin on the band. I was banded on 2/15/08 and felt pretty much the same way you all are. As a matter of fact on the 2nd day after the surgery I was near tears because I didn't know how to 'fix' what I had done. I think that was the anesthesia talking. Now I am very happy with my band. The band will only work for you as hard as you work for it. By that I mean, you have to make a conscious decision at each meal to eat healthy, chew your food appropriately and have nothing to drink with your meals. Before my surgery I drank 2-3 cokes a day. I stopped cold turkey about a week before the surgery. I tried a little cola the other day and it doesn't seem to taste as good as I once thought. Now I stick to Water or tea, or an occasional lemonade. I still eat pizza every now and then, but I can't eat more than 1 piece before I am full. A lot of the eating is mental, you can still have most of the foods you love, just in smaller (much smaller) portions. As far as pb'ing, sliming, etc. I have not had one episode yet (knock wood). Once or twice I've gotten this feeling like there is a big knot right under my sternum. That told me to stop eating. The feeling went away in less than 10 minutes. I think the food backed up and needed time to work it's way down. I don't feel like I have restriction but I know that I can't eat anywhere near the amount I used to. I've had 2 small fills and go back in Monday for a 3rd. I've lost 7 pounds since surgery which is an average of 1lb a week. I like that. losing slowly means I shouldn't have a lot of baggy flesh when I've lost to my goal. Hang in there and if you want this band bad enough, it will become your best ali in your fight against the weight. Good luck to you all.

I have to leave the house at 6:15 every morning to take my kids to school (2 different schools, opposite sides of town). Since my commute takes close to an hour I usually grab an Atkins or EAS shake on my way out and drink it on the way. I did have one day that I forgot the shake and my youngest want McDonalds pancakes so I got a happy meal scrambled eggs for me. Not bad and just the right size.

Here's another one of my biggest fears - anesthesia. I have heard that there have been people who appear to be anesthetized but can still feel everything. They go through surgeries feeling all the pain but are paralized and unable to tell or let anyone know they can feel. That's one reason I had to think really, really hard about whether to have this surgery or not.

Roaches, yep those little buggers are gross and evil. I have a good (?) friend who swears that her sister knows someone who had one crawl out of a sore in their mouth. Something about there being an egg on an envelope flap she licked to shut it. She got a paper cut on her lip from the flap and the egg some how got in the cut. :tongue_smilie: Sounds like one of those things from Ripley's Believe It or Not. It's just discusting enough that it probably did happen. Needless to say I will never lick an envelope to seal it again. Oh, and spiders are rather disgusting too.

You know Karen, I really missed reading your words of wisdom and support. Don't disappear for so long next time. I may not post a lot but I like to read what others have to say and you have given some really good insights and information. thanks again.

Someone mentioned it earlier in this post, February bandsters are beautiful people. Everyone looks great. I'll see if I can dig up a picture. Like most of you have said, I too try to avoid having my picture taken.

I know it's already been said and I can't think of any better way to say it - Way To Go. I'm a week behind you and have loss less than 1/2 of what you have. I am soooooo happy for you.

I have a similar problem. Sometimes if I do alot of walking I can feel a pulling, no like a side stitch. I asked the doctor on my last visit and she said that it could be a stitch that is too tight or pulling. She said to give it a few more weeks and if it didn't get better they could go back in and clip that stitch. For me it isn't that troublesome and unless it gets a lot worse I doubt I will do anything about it.

Great thread and I relate to just about everything said. The things I really won't miss: - hiding behind baggy shirts so others don't know just how big I am (the big shirts really don't help as much as I wanted them to) - feeling that my kids are embarassed to be seen with such a big fat mom (I have to give them credit, they never said it, and it may have been my imagination) - not being able to play softball and volleyball, my 2 favorite sports (I have been able to start back at softball since my surgery) Thanks so much for starting this, I feel so much better to realize that I'm not the only one who has felt this way for so long. Sometimes I feel that I'm surrounded by thin people who don't understand how the other 1/2 live.

I can feel mine - kind of like a lump. Every now and then it gets a little sore or achy, especially if I've been energetic and did some situps or something.

I don't get a lot of time to watch tv - too busy being a chauffer (I think I spelled that wrong, sorry). I do try to catch America's Next Top Model when I can. My other favorite is Dirty Jobs, I could sit and watch Mike Rowe all day:drool:. I still like I Love Lucy, I grew up watching those shows and my kids love them to. I think I have videos (yes videos, not dvds) of most of the episodes.

Hilarious thread, I can't stop laughing. Most of mine have been mentioned even my favorite - irregardless. Something else that really annoys me is when people confuse the "sh" and "ch" sound. For instance my ex always wanted a shocolate chake at Sonic, and on Sunday's when I went to church, he went to shursh. Another pet peave is the Texas drawl some people have. Not everyone from Texas speaks with a "twang".:biggrin:

Gibson Thanks for the research I wondered the same thing but was too lazy to search for the answer. I think you deserve a positive rep for this one.:biggrin:

Congrats. You look awesome.

ilvlucy607 17 lbs in 5 weeks is nothing to sneeze at. I have had 2 fills, very small ones that totalled .9cc between the 2. I was banded 2/15/08 and have lost 15 lbs in about 7 weeks. My doctor said 1-2 lbs a week is a good way to lose - it is healthier and hopefully will allow the skin to shrink back vs leaving a lot of loose skin to deal with later on. I would love to have lost the 30+ lbs some other banders have in the 7 weeks but I am content with what i've lost so far. I don't really feel like I have restriction and I can eat quite a bit if I want to. I make a conscious decision everytime I sit down to eat to eat less than I ever did before. If I eat out, I ask for a to go box when they bring my meal and I put 2/3 of the food away up front. That way I'm not tempted to eat more than I should. Good luck on your new journey.

Syndy and I have the same surgeon. I didn't know these rules when I went for my first fill and had eaten a scrambled egg about an hour before. The doctor said it wasn't a problem, just that some people are more sensitive than others. I also don't totally follow that after fill requirement. I have liquids for the first 24 hours and then mushies for 24 hours. If everything feels okay, I move on to the real stuff.

I used insurance also but when I saw was billed to insurance it was in excess of 17k. Of course the insurance company cut the bill to somewhere around 12k after all was said and done. About 1700 came out of my pocket. I don't know that you really need the visits to the nutrionist. She's okay but I've learned more from this website than she has ever told me. JMHO.

I really like coming in here to see how wonderful everyone is doing. It's awesome how much everyone has lost in just about 2 months. I had my 2nd fill yesterday. I lost 2 pounds in 3 weeks. The doctor decided to give me only .4cc in my 10cc band. This brings me to a total of 4.5 (they put in 3.6 at surgery). I feel a little more restriction but not that much. I don't mind taking things slow, maybe I won't need another surgery to rid of the loose skin. I have my 30 :tongue: year high school reunion next year - the same year my oldest daughter graduates from high school. I would love to be at my high school weight for her graduation and our reunion.