Kiki220

I am 13 weeks. In December I started going to Zumba 4-6 days a week. I had an apt with my obgyn and she told me as long as I am doing the activity beforehand I can conitnue whatever that activity. So immediatly after the appt I joined the gym and a few weeks later a dance studio that offers 3-4 Zumba classes a day. I love it and my obgyn and midwives have encouraged me to continue just to bring down the intensity. The past few weeks i have been so tired but kept up with it regardless of yawning during the middle of songs. Last week I finally started to feel my energy coming back and I can't wait till tomorrow. I owe it to Zumba and of course my band that I haven't gain a pound. Also one of the instructors where I go recently had a baby and she continued to teach into her 6th-7th month. She even came to a class the night before her due date. It helps that I have someone I can go to and since I told the owner/main insturctor she keeps a little extra eye on me especially during Zumba Toning classes. I teach swimming lessons during the summer and can't wait to get into the pool...i'm really working hard to wait to gain my 10-15 pounds (as discussed with my obgyn, midwives and band doc) until my 3rd trimester and to keep it closer to 10.

I am so gald that so many of you have shared your experience, thoughts and decisions. I am 13 weeks and for the past 2 weeks have had days here and there when i'm super tight and uncomfortable. Today and yesterady have been most recent. I haven't gotten anything solid down today even liquids are difficult. I haven't had any morning sickness and I know this is just my bad being too tight. My weight has pretty much stayed the same and I like to say I haven't gained anything however depending on the day I'm up or down 2-3 lbs. or exactly where I was before I found out so yes I haven't gained a pound. I called and spoke with the on-call doc (its sunday) and I am going to sip water and/or gatorade tonight, go wo bed early (so I don't have to think about how much I want to eat) and go to see my doc at the earliest convience tomorrow. Don't want to get a complete unfill but a 1-2 cc sounds like it should do the trick. I'll check back in tomorrow evening. Thanks again to everyone who posted, you don't know how helpful this was it making me feel not so alone and unsure. Congratulations to everyone on their weight losses and pregancy.

Cool, thanks. Is this the thing that they use on biggest loser? Looks interesting. I have never been a calorie counter because I always did weight watchers and concentrated on points. Do I have to know the calorie content of what I eat or does the wed-based program figure that out for you. I am going to continue reading about it, might be a cool idea for my christmas list.

What is a body bug? Please tell me more. I have been STUCK for about 6 months and I think that I have acutally gained over the last month. i am exercising...infact getting get for a hour long hike as soon as I send this...but I am still a mega foodie!!!! I am working to be more mindful of my eating and not graze and munch all day. Looking for anything to help out, I have about 40 lbs left to go

It was great to find this thread and to hear that others have had some plataeus. I did great till Jan and have only lost about 6 pounds from Janto March and now I have been pretty much the say since March. I don't have a great deal of restriction, had a fill in Jan and had to have some removed 3 days later. Had a very little fill (.1cc) in early April and again had it taken out (couldn't get my own salvia done) and had a successful but small fill (.1cc) mid-April. I still don't have a ton of restriction like I did in the beginning and I definitly can eat much more than i ever thought I would. It is taking more and more for me to feel full and satisfied. I did add tons of exercise; 45-60 mins. walks 3 times a week and then weight loss yoga or power sculpt (biggest loser dvds) 3-4 times a week. So I have lost about 2 inches. and my blood work compared to 2 years ago is amazing and I am taking no more medication. Its frustrating to think how easy it was the first 6 months. But I have lost over 80lbs and have only 35-40 more to go. I try hard to think about all the positives but it is hard not feeling let down, discouraged and wondering if I will ever get to my goal. I've never reached my goal before and what if I still can't do it? Anyone else having a hard time with this?

I just started about 2 months ago and I was banded almost a year ago. I got some of the Biggest Loser DVDs and LOVE THEM. My favorite: Power Sculpt and Weight Loss Yoga I try to alternate as well as power walk for more cardio. I've exercised before but only cardio never weights or toning. Now that I've started I'm really into it and best of all I can see a difference. I have muscles in my arms and legs that I never knew where there, its amazing. For the first time in my life I will be not overweight and toned. Going to do the Yoga now :-)

had my 3rd fill two days ago and I can't get anything down, the same thing happended for my second fill but not this bad. I tired sipping 1 oz every 15 minutes and after 3 sips it was coming up. So much salvia. I told the pa that i had a hard time last time so she said she would only put in .6, last time it was .5 but I had lost some when she checked. What made you get to the point where you went back and had some taken out?

hi steph you totally made my laugh about the ice cream... I got married Nov 1 and had ordered my dress in Feb, well before I even thought about getting the band. Well the dress came and I had lost 45 lbs already, so for the month of Oct, while the steamstress was completing re-doing my dress (the alternations were almost as much as the dress) I eat ice cream almost every day because it went down so easily and gave me the extra calories so I wouldn't lose more before the wedding. Boy do I miss it :-) good luck on the 15th

thank goodness I found this thread, so maybe I am just a big baby but I was honestly thinking that I might go to the ER to get some of my fill from Friday (yesterday) taken out. It is very uncomfortable and I can't take even a sip of water or clear broth without sliming and pbing. I understand that everyone is different and some people are more sensitive but this is awful. I had great restriction till about Nov and was too chicken to go sooner for my fill because I was so miserable after the second one. I hope that this keeps me resticted for a good while cause I don't want to do this again. after readiing what everyone wrote I think that I will wait till monday during the day and see how it is before calling the doctor and maybe having some removed. Any other advice, experiences, support on this would be much appreciated and will help me get through this...Oh did I mention that my husband had a fill on friday as well and is downstairs eating pudding LOL

hi steph, i had my third fill on Friday (1/2/09) and am having a very hard time so I started looking around at different threads for advice and found yours. my last fill, back in August for very tight for the first day (not as bad as now) but then it got better, I am thinking it was swelling which is probably what is going on now but...I read your tread and wanted to tell you about this poster my doctor gave me. its called "stay in the green zone", green zone means your adjustment is perfect and you will have optimum weight loss. There is also the orange zone (add fluid) and the red zone (remove fluid). You sound like you are in the red zone. red zone description - poor food choices, regurgitation, discomfort while eat, poor weight loss, and night cough. orange zone description - hungry between meals, eating large portions, not losing weight GREEN ZONE - not hungry, good weight loss, portion control, patient satisfaction. hope this helps...going to search more on how long I should wait to go and get some removed.

i had a fill friday and I am having a really hard time getting anything down, even sips water and clear broth. It hurts alot and everything comes right back up. I haven't read to much on here but my husband (who got banded the week after me, also had a fill on friday and is having no problems) says its called silming? I don't know all I know is I am wondering I should go back on Monday to get some taken out. I understand that some people are more sensitive to fills but how long do you wait before getting some taken out?

i had my third fill yesterday but hadn't had one since Aug. I was able to eat bread, bagel, basically anything that I wanted. I would pb about once a week more due to my eating habits than the fill level. I should have gotten the fill sooner but with the holiday season I thought I would wait and when I had my last fill I couldn't get anything down for a day. this time it is even worse. I can barely get down a sip of water. How do I know when I should go and get some of the till taken out. The second fill was .4 and this one was .6

I was banded June 25 and have been shedding like crazy for the past month. I dred washing my hair cuase so such falls out and then blow drying tons more. I have very very thick hair and have always been a "shedder" but not like this. I don't take my vitamins on a regular basis and probably don't get enough water so between appearing to be very common I could probably be doing more for myself in the water/vitamins area. Anyone have a change to the skin on the palm of your hands? In the morning after I shower it is almost like i have been soaking in the water. My skins gets very soft and white and almost looks like I could rub it away. Then if I look really closely it is almost like there are tiny pin pricks. I did show the PA and she didn't seem concerned especially since I told her about the lack of water and vitamins. I might go for blood work next week but wanted to see if anyone else is experiencing anything like this?

Hi everyone I haven't been on since the end of August and finally sat down today to catch up. I don't work during the summer so I was on all the time and then school started and I was planning my wedding and ever got around to logging on. Now that the wedding is over :-( I have tons of free time on my hands :-) So I wanted to tell you all how happy I am that I got the band. When I went shopping for my wedding dress I came home and told my now husband that we aren't having a wedding because I am too fat and ugly to get a dress. I did find a dress in Feb and vowed to lose weight. A month later I hadn't lost a pound but signed up for the seminar for the lapband. My husband had been a year early and had to lose 40lbs to be eligible for the band cause his BMI was so high. Anyways I got my band the end of June and my dress came in August. When I put it on, it fell off me and the lady had to stand behind me, fold it twice and it still was too big. I waited till Oct. to go to the streamstress because there was no point in starting when I knew I was going to keep dropping. So the day of my wedding I had my hair done and was ready for makeup but put my dress on first. I caught a glimsp of myself in the mirror and started crying. I couldn't believe how beautiful the person in the mirror was and I realized it was me! I haven't been this small since college, I still have about 50 some pounds to go but I waited way to long to do this and get my life on the right track and after trying so many diets this is it!!!!! Oh yea...I forgot to add that the alterations cost almost as much as the dress and worth every penny

HI everyone I had my second fill 4 days ago and definitly have restriction. First fill was 3 cc (I have a 10cc band) and I thought that I had some restriction but realize now that I really do have restriction that I probably didn't have much. Second fill was 2cc. I was able to lose 7 lbs in the 2 weeks between the fills, which I am very happy about. The restriction has been interesting. During all my pre-surgery stuff I knew that I would be eating tiny bits and chewing a lot and going very slowly and portions would be about 1/2 cup but that hasn't really been the case UNTIL THIS FILL!!!!! What a difference. I was told 2 days full liquids 2 mushies. Until yesterday afternoon/evening I was only getting full liquids down and even that was hard. I had so much gas the day of the fill and the next day and very loose bms. Last night I tired some mashed potatoes and definitly restrictions, was full after about 1/2 cup and had to take very small bits. I did have a PB, with water though, I drank too much too fast, and I finally understand why so many of you speak about it with such pleasure. Next appt. is on the 28th but not sure if I wlil get another fill if I have good restriction and lose weight, 7 lbs in 2 weeks is alot and that was without restriction but lots of exercise. I walk almost everynight (not this week though - not enough energy) and I teach private swimming lessons so I am in the water treading as much as possible anywhere from 2-5 hours a day. That stops next week though because I am a school psychologist and summer is almost over. It is so great to read about all of you...good luck in the next coming weeks!

I had my second fill today, first was 3cc and this time 2cc. Until today I have had barely any restriction. I was able to get the water down after the fill no problem but later when I tried a yogurt smoothie (stonybrook farms) I could feel it and would have almost a lump like feeling and would burp before I had even swallowed it all. I am very hungry...my tummy is growling and feels empty and hungry...as I have hardly eaten anything all day. I was able to drink a protien shake, it took almost 20 min. I gave up on the yougrt after 3 sips. I tried some creamy soup, itialian ice, vanilla milk and everything is very tight and I feel nauseous. I have tons of gas and it is very hard to tell if the pains that I feel are because I am hungry or from the fill. I hope that I feel better tomorrow or maybe I will call the doctors.

I had my surgery June 25 and my surgeon said it was fine, infact a good idea, to contine taking my anti-anxiety/depression meds. I took a welbutrin and a lexapro hours before the surgery and since they are so small I was able to take them - together in one sip the day after my surgery. Since they are small my surgreon also does not see a reason why I would be difficulty with them. Proir to my surgery I also spoke with my psychiatrist about this and he suggested I continue taking them but if I stopped for a few days that would be okay, anything longer is not safe unless you are slowing stopping them. SSRIs are not a safe drug to just start and stop. If my surgeon told me to stop taking them I would want a really good reason, i.e. I understand why I had to stop by birth control - blood clotting. Good luck

Hi everyone I have been keeping a speard sheet of my weight loss and since my surgery was on a weds I weigh in every weds. and track the lbs lost. - 12 lbs on my own between my birthday 2/20 and my first appt 3/28 - 4 between first app 3/28 and pre-op appt. 6/16 - 15 during pre-surgery diet of 8 days (surgery 6/25) - 4 from surgery to post op 7/3 - 11 post op till first fill 7/28 - 5 current weight 51 total - I can't believe it, I feel great, I saw some pictures of my taken last weekend and I can't believe how much my face has slim. Congratulations to everyone!

Hi everyone I have found that I tend to stay the same for 2 weeks and then see a drop. I have been exercising since a week after my band but have increased the intensity the past few weeks. Even though I am happy with my loss it does seem slower than what I expected in the beginning. My 2nd fill is next Tuesday so I will see what I have lost then. I do agree about adding some extra calories, I love the "fat" sunday idea. I remember from past diets if I cheated 1 day every few weeks I tended to lose. Also last season on the Biggest Loser they did say that once week they give the contestants extra calories to re-jump start their metabolisms. Good luck eveyone, it will be so worth it next June!!!!

I am from CT and was banded June 25 in Norwalk. I am a school psychologist in an elementary school. During the summer I teach private swimming lessons. Taking almost 2 weeks off out of the water was hard for me. I was so happy when the dr. said I was good to go back. I turned 30 eariler this year and I am getting married Nov. 1 of this year. My finance for his band on July 3. Nice to met you all and share this wonderful adventure.

my first fill is in 10 days. I lost 5 lbs the first two weeks and now about 2, I feel I can eat more than I thought I would, but I know there is no restriction, but still I have to stop myself from eating more. Can't wait for my first fill I love the weight coming off - don't we all!

What a gret thread. Before surgery I was pretty much in a 22/24 pant and 4x shirt. I now fit in a 2x shirt and just bought regular 18 - not plus - pants. This is so great. As with many of you, I have been off my blood pressure meds since surgery. I will have my blood work done nex month to check cholesteral. Congrats everyone...on to healthier new lives.

HI Everyone So after a month on this site I figured out how to insert my ticker thing that I had made when I first joined. So now I will upset it weekly as I lose.

Hi Everyone tomorrow is two weeks and I have moved to Stage 3. Tonight was the best so far, mashed potatos with pureed chicken, a tbsp of gravy and creamed spinach. My finance who is a week behind asked me to eat upstairs LOL. Doing fine with 3-4 meals oer day. Yogurt, egg, smoothies, purred carrots, peas, spinach, peaches, creamer soups. Purred chicken salads. And drinking liquids in between. Starting exercising today and was able to sleep on my stomach last night!!! I think I might go get a massage this weekend :wink2: First fill is July 28th, looking foward to it but I am afaird it is going to hurt, I hate needles and the fear of the unknown is getting to me. Those of you who have had their fill please tell me about it. Kiki220