Northwest_Nance

I've always been a night time eater too. I could make healthy choices all day long but it seems I would just "snap" at night. Since being banded, I've only eaten at night a few times -- those are my "binges" and believe me, they're nothing like they used to be. But they are few and far between. Most days since being banded, I don't even eat between meals. Three meals a day and nothing else. I haven't had a potato chip or any other kind of snack in months. It's unbelievable! Yes, there's hope for all us night time eaters!

Congratulations! It's wonderful that the two of you are going to embark on this journey together. You've come to the right place for support and information. None of us are thrilled at the idea of saggy skin but hey, if I have to choose between staying fat or having some extra skin, guess which one I've chosen?? I wish you all the best of luck and look forward to sharing in your journey.

Yes Lundy, I'm experiencing the same thing. I am losing 2 pounds a week, can eat anything I want, have never slimed or PB'd or thrown up. I love that McDonald's salad with the grilled chicken and I can eat it all, too. I'd love to be losing weight faster, but I know that slower is the healthier way and at my age, this is more about health for me than about looks and cute clothes (although they count too). I'm finally starting to experience some of the things I've been reading on this forum from long time bandsters..... especially the part about learning to listen to my body and recognize when I am satisfied (not full). Also I'm recognizing just how much of my hunger is head hunger and I'm seeing just how bad my compulsive eating and/or addiction has been for so long. I'm not going to be "cured" of those issues overnight but the band is proving to be an excellent tool to help me fight it.

Great post! You're obviously on the winning team.... congratulations!

I had the same problem and I think I've seen other posts about it too. I heard that it can take about a month for the swelling to go down. Now that I think about it, I never really noticed when mine finally went down.... but it did! Hang in there, it will get better soon.

The same thing happened to me. My nutritionist told me I lost a lot of weight in a short period of time and it's normal for your body to react to that by hanging on to the pounds for a little while. Eventually the body gets back into gear and is ready to let go of more weight. Also if you're not getting enough calories your body can go into starvation mode and hold onto the weight as a means of self-preservation. Don't worry, right now you're in the healing stage of the journey, not the weight loss stage.... any weight lost between surgery and your first fill is just bonus weight loss!

Iodine, I don't think you're ever too old! I was banded in May at the age of 55. When I went to my pre-op seminar there were about 40 people attending and I think about 9-10 of them were older than me, several in their 60's, and the question came up --- you are not too old! It's never too late to make positive changes and work towards a happier, healthier, longer life!

I do still have to diet and work at it, but somehow it seems a whole lot easier with the band. I'm sure part of that is psychological but it is physical as well. My attitude towards food is changing. I have dieted plenty of times before (lost 100 lbs. three times over 20 years) but I feel so different this time. It's like the little voice in my head that has always said "eat, eat, eat, what can you have next?" has been stilled. Last weekend I had family over and I served barbecued shrimp. In the past, even when dieting, it would have been hard for me to control myself and leave enough for everyone else. But this time, I had several shrimp and I was just done. I didn't even have to think about it. Near the end of the meal, there were still several shrimp left in the bowl near me. It didn't even occur to me to think "oh I want them" or "I hope nobody eats them, I can have them later when everyone goes home". Without even thinking about it, I offered it to others at the table and didn't even get that little twinge of desire as I handed the bowl over to someone else. It doesn't sound like much but for me it was big. Oh, and another interesting thing. I've always made way too much food when having friends or family over. With the barbecued shrimp this time, I made HALF as much as I usually would have made.... and there was plenty to go around. My whole perception of portion size is changing. I still have my occasional little binges, but they don't even qualify as binges compared to how I used to slip up. And they usually consist of healthy food because that's all I have in the house. And... another big thing.... I no longer use that "slip" as an excuse to go ahead and "blow it" for a few days before getting back on track. I'm right back on track the next morning. You do have to want this journey.... because the band isn't going to do all the work for you, and you can eat around it if you want. But if you want the journey and you're ready for it, the band is a powerful tool.

No, I have the Realize band. It holds 9 cc's and I'm at 6 cc's now... hoping to get another half or full cc tomorrow.

Congratulations! You're doing just great. I'm hoping to hit Onederland for my birthday in September. Can't wait to join you!

I guess alot of us youngsters in our 40's and 50's have something in common...... yes, first I got the band for me. I feel like I have been on the sidelines of life for several years now and I'm tired of being an observer instead of a participant, tired of the increased health problems from being overweight, and the aches and pains in my joints. I am so excited about this journey! But yes, like several others of you mentioned..... grandchildren. I don't have any yet but I'm hoping to in the next few years. My daughter and son-in-law often joke about how important it will be for the health of their relationship, for them to be able to go out on a Saturday night and have Grandma keep the baby overnight..... as much as I'm looking forward to that, it also scared me. I knew I didn't have the energy for carrying a baby around, nor did I have the knees for getting down on the floor with a little one. And just my health in general.... once I finally become a grandma, I want to be around to watch that child (or children) grow up.

My doctor said I could have a shot to numb me up if I wanted it, but he said he doesn't usually use it because that shot stings and is worse than the fill itself. He was right.... the fill didn't hurt at all. It might depend on the "touch" that the nurse or doctor has, just like sometimes it hurts when they draw blood and sometimes it doesn't. I've been lucky, 3 fills without getting numbed and never have felt a thing.

If you have a 401K plan you can usually borrow against it. That's what I did, it's like having a car payment (my payment is $270 a month for 5 years) and the best part is, I'm paying myself back.

Various doctors have different instructions and it's important for each of us to follow our own doctor's orders. My doctor had me on liquids (including creamy Soups, Jello, sugar free pudding) for the first week and mushies the second week. On the third week I could start slowly and carefully working in solid foods.

Pedro had the most beautiful eyes. I'm so sorry for your loss.

I noticed the same thing. I've had that reaction to quite a few different foods, most notably my beloved prime rib on Father's Day -- it didn't taste that great at all.... good, but nothing special. Definitely a mixed blessing, but for now I'm happy about it.

I am scheduled for my 4th fill on Thursday and I'm having a similar dilemma, but it seems I can eat a lot more than you can.... I can eat a 7 oz. steak and a big pile of broccoli, or a chicken thigh, 2 drumsticks, and large serving of green Beans. I can eat anything I want, and I don't have to chew very well. But on the other hand I'm losing about 2 pounds a week and having no problems, so I am not sure what to do. I'm going to keep my appointment and talk it over with my nurse/nutritionist (who is also banded). It sounds to me like you're in a good place but if you feel like you need more restriction I agree with one of the posters above who recommended a conservative fill. Good luck!

I had my gallbladder removed laporoscopically when I was in my early 40's, and got my lapband on May 15th at the age of 55. For me, the two surgeries were very similar; each was simple and relatively pain-free (as much as any surgery can be) and recovery was fast.

I'm in exactly the same boat. I've had 3 fills and I have 6 cc's in my Realize band. I feel something - I know I'm banded, and I can't eat a full size restaurant meal. But I can eat anything I want.... bread, Pasta, big Vitamins.... and I don't have to chew it very well either. Of course, that would be wonderful if it also meant that I can feel satisfied on a little less food. I journal my menu each day on TheDailyPlate and I am slowly losing but I have to push myself away from the table before I'm satisfied. I do have to say though, that I'm starting to learn the difference between real hunger and head hunger and sometimes I know that it is head hunger and that's going to take time to work through. I'm scheduled for another fill later this week and I've honestly tried to figure out whether I should get one, or accept it the way it is for now.

I can sure see a difference, you're doing great! Thank you for sharing -- we all love to see progress pics!

It's such a personal and difficult decision. Of course, don't forget you are also coming for advice to a room full of people (so to speak) who all chose the lap band! I agonized between bypass and the lap band also. My best advice is to research both of them as much as you can. You're the one who has to live with the outcome, no matter which way you go. I was changing my mind every thirty minutes for awhile there. But in the end I began to think of it as "drastic bypass" and I just didn't want to put myself through that. Being self-pay, I also feared what I perceived to be the higher risk for complications with bypass surgery (which would also come out of my pocket). Also, it's true that bypass patients lose a dramatic amount of weight quickly, but the studies have shown that at the end of 3 years, bypass and lap band patients have all lost an average of the same amount of weight. And, as impatient as I am to lose all these extra pounds, I want to do it the healthy way and with as little loose skin as possible at the end of it. It's true that nobody can guarantee that I will lose the weight I want to lose.... but I can guarantee it, because I am determined to work with my band and let it help me. Those are the things that helped me finally make up my mind. Again, learn as much as you can about both surgeries. I read every on line blog and diary I could find, every doctor's website, I went to support group meetings with bypass and lap band patients, and finally a seminar. Best of luck whichever way you decide to go!

I was banded May 15th and I had the same thing happen -- lost a lot on pre-op and right after surgery, then it stalled for what seemed like forever. It seems to be a common thing right after your body has lost a lot of weight pretty quickly, for it to hold on to the weight for a little while. I went back and forth lowering my calories, then raising them because I thought maybe I'd gone into starvation mode...... it got pretty frustrating. I've had 3 fills and I still don't have restriction, don't have to chew well, can eat anything (except a big restaurant size meal).... but I've been keeping track of my calories, etc. on TheDailyPlate and it really hasn't been that hard to make healthy choices so I feel like the band must be helping me one way or the other. The scale seems to be moving again now..... I decided to start being a little more careful about the carbs so maybe that helped. I think what you're going through is normal, just keep making those healthy choices and it will all fall into place (no pun intended!)

I started my pre-op diet early, but that was because my doctor told me he wanted me to lose 10 pounds in seven days. He assured me I could lose that much weight in seven days but I didn't believe him, and he's known to postpone surgery if you don't lose the weight he asks you to lose ahead of time. My problem was that I'd also been anxious to get things going so I had already just lost 10 pounds in the previous month.... and I was afraid I'd already lost the "easy" pounds that come off quickly in the beginning. Anyway I started my pre-op diet about 3 days early and it's a good thing I did, because I didn't hit the ten pound lost marker until the morning of surgery! If you think you can do the diet for two weeks, I don't know of any reason why you shouldn't.... it will just put you that much further ahead of the game!

It sounds like a horribly adverse reaction to the anesthetic, I wonder if they used a different one from what you've had in the past? And then to have to put up with an insensitive nurse on top of it..... wow. I am so sorry it was such a nightmare experience for you. I don't think it had anything at all to do with the lap band itself (but of course, I'm not a doctor or even a nurse so I don't really know). We all know there are risks going into any surgery but we also go into it with the high hope that we won't be one of the people who has problems, and when you're one of the ones who does have problems, it doesn't matter how low the risk was. For you it was 100%. It sounds like you were absolutely miserable and I'm so sorry. I am glad you're feeling a little better each day. I hope by the time you're ready for a fill, you feel up to it. Thanks for sharing your story.

It's funny, I was going to make a post about the same thing today. I had my third fill on Thursday. I have 6 cc's in a 9 cc Realize band. I am losing weight at a pretty steady 2 pounds a week. I can very slightly feel the band if I really over-eat, but mostly I think I'm doing it on will power. But then I start thinking.... this does feel different somehow from before I had the band. Maybe I'm in denial about how much the band is helping me? On the other hand.... I don't have to chew things well.... I have no problems with anything whether I chew it well or not. I can eat anything I want. And I can easily eat more than a cup of food. Lastnight for dinner I had a 7 oz. blade steak (a cheap cut, on the thin side) and a huge pile of broccoli. Sometimes I want to eat so badly that I literally pace the floor up and down talking myself out of it, don't go near the kitchen..... sometimes it's real hunger and sometimes, I recognize, it's head hunger and of course I have to work on that. So I'm really debating whether to get my next fill (scheduled for next Thursday) or not. I have another 5 days or so to decide. What I might do is go keep the appointment and talk to the nutritionist about what to do. They always tell me I'm welcome to come in whether I feel like I need a fill or not.