MeiQa

I agree that losing more slowly and staying toned will help but genetics and age play a factor as well. You can kind of control how fast or slow you lose by how tight you keep your band. I kept a daily log of my weight to help me, others did not like monitoring daily. Even now 4 years later I weight myself almost 4 times a week to keep an eye on it. I rarely have to see the Dr. for adjustments. It takes time to find what works for you and what works for me very well may not work at all for you. BUT I did want to share that I had a lot of loose skin after losing 100+ pounds and being over 40 and having had a child. I did not plastic surgery to have it removed. It is all a mixed bag with no "normal". I will say if I had to chose one I would take the loose skin back before I would take the 100 pounds. Embrace the journey and surround yourself with your cheerleaders and do not listen to any negativity. I wish you the best on your journey

I have had one fill and have done well. I do have two friends that we all live by and see eachother weekly. We are all so different. One has had 4 fills and is still struggleing and has not lost that much... BUT she drinks a lot of calories, something to watch and look at honestly. The other has had two fills and is losing slowly but thinks it sould just drop off daily by the truck loads so we need to be realisic too. I was drinking Water with meals and things were going slow but I put that in check and stopped drinking unless completely nessary and have lost more quickly. It is hard and I know people experance the band in many different ways. I am glad we have this forum.

For me I always avoided mirrors or photos, now that I have lost 50 pounds I like looking on the mirror and being in photos. I feel like the outside me is starting to look like the inside me. I have started wearing make-up more and nicer clothing because it looks nice. There has to be some change as the weight comes off and we are not so focused on food. I have read many cases where shopping replaces eating. I work with my mental health advisor to not let that happen and have added more outside activities like hiking and SCUBA to my life. Something has to replace eating so it you look at that and then make a choice as to what is the best activity to fill in that gap for you. Shopping will just leave you broke... try something new and no that there are many of us out there trying to fill the void left by not eating like we us to.

Been banded since May 19th. Thank you for the comfort. I have been on edge ever since it happened. I am starting to feel the ristriction again and have never been in any pain. Glad to hear from you.

I was eating and while it may have not been the right choice in foods (rice) it was a very small amount. BUT I got the hick-ups, I tryed drinking Water but they just got worse, then I had one big one that hurt and then it was like poof... I have no restriction now. Can the band just open up or break off? I know I need to go see my Dr. but right now that is not a choice. I am on vacation in Egypt and will not return for over a week and then I have to jump through hoops just to see him. I am not in pain but can swallow a bit of meat whole and it goes right down.

Freaked out!

I guess I am bad, I waited 11 days and was fine. Um, who knows I guess Dr. knows best but as longs as all wounds are closed and there is no seeping seems like it should be fine. It is 90 daily here so I am in the pool a lot.

No liquid diet before surgery. Light lunch the day before then nothing till a day after surgery. They have found there is no reason for the liquid diet. They are about 10 years ahead of America in this surgery.

Thanks, heard from my dr. today and he said drink 1.5 to 2 lts of Water and enjoy the honeymoon!

Glad to know it has happened to others and they lived! I am doing mostly liq. but yogert and cream of weat too. My husband is the Water pusher and when I start to feel dry mouth I know I have not done a good job. I do feel good so I will stop worring. Thanks

Ok, taken it to the experts. I have the problem we all dream of. I do not want to eat and feel great. The problem is I am only eating about 300 calories a day. This has been for a week now. I do not feel hungry and have to force myself to eat three times and day and can only manage to get down about 100 cal at a time. It does not hurt, I do not feel sick, But I worry it is not enough and each day I keep thinking I will be able to eat a little more, but nope cant. Any idea what is a safe calorie range. I lost 20 pounds this week but I know a lot of us do the first week after the surgery. Thanks

I was banded by these two amazing, wonderful, Dr. on the 19th of June. You really are in the best hands with these two men. They speak perfect english and took better care of me than I have ever had anywhere.

I took 2 season of Sex and the City and my portable DVD player and was very happy. I am not a reader so books are of little use. I did do all the food shopping per op so I did not have to go anywhere for a week. I used mens boxes as undies and they worked very well, just got them a few sizes bigger. Good Luck

Went to the Dr. on Thur really did not progress to far, he just gave me some more stuff to read then another appt for this Thur. GGRRRR it is just going so slow. From what I read this happens to almost everyone. I have been so busy it is hard to find the time to come on line. I always feel better after being on this web site. I would love to read anything you have. Thanks for the support

There are so many great places to eat here. I live on the other side of town from Longare. I live close to downtown. I am amazed at how skinny all the Italians are, but I have never see a population smoke the way they do. All the time and everywhere. Even the kids waiting for the school bus. And lets not forget the daily intake of coffee!

I will see the Dr. on Thursday. I really do not know the pre op plan but the post op is liquids for two weeks then mush for another two weeks then "We will see".

Because I am going thru the military health care it is a little disjointed and no one really has a view of the full picture. I have done a lot of research on line and have been to the nutritionest and mental health. The process has been a bit confusing and I have drug my feet a little trying to get better prepaired. It was kind of like "O, ya we do offer that now... sure go ahead." I have been kind of like "wait, I need to know more" so here I am gathering information and with every word I read I am more ready to "DO IT" I will know more on Thursday.

What was your pre op plan? Post? Just to give me an idea.

Looked at the pm option, could not figure out how to send one I tell you computers and me, not a good mix. That is why I teach pre-school! SMILE

I am in Vicenza at the Army base. I do so love Italy it is just a little scarry doing medical stuff here. The Dr. is from Padova a teaching school and has been doing banding for 10 years. He does speak english so that is wonderful. Glad to have your support. new to the whole message board thing sorry but what does pm mean? I forgot to put to stats 258 BMI 38.

Reading all of the posts has helped me a lot. My insurance has just approved banding and I am waiting for a date. It is scarry and exciting all at the same time. I find comfort it all the stories posted on this message board. I will be having this done in an Italian hospital where most medical people do not speak english (I speak a little Italian but not much) My husband is in the Military and that is why my family lives over here. My next appt is on April 3rd and I should get my date then. Thank you in advance for all the support I know I will get from here and have already. Congradulations to all of us for taking a step to be healthy. Those of you close to goal, two thumbs way up! Ciao!