kiz

Give it a little more time, you've just had your surgery. Once you can start some light cardio, it's amazing what losing weight does for your endurance. Someone just took a 20 lb weight off my back. :tongue2: It does take some time to heal from the surgery, before you start feeling yourself again.

We've replaced yo-yo dieting with yo-yo font settings. Give me font issues any day. My yo-yo dieting days are over! lol

My surgery was a month ago, and even in this short amount of time, I feel like I'm getting my life back. Right now, my goal is to regain my stamina. I'm walking/jogging faster than I've been able to in years. I'm on our elliptical everyday, for at least 40 mins. Pre-surgery, 30 mins three times a week was such a struggle. Now, I feel like I have a new lease on life. I haven't gone down a size yet, but my slacks are all baggy, and baggy feels so much better than skin tight. I'm very optimistic about my future weight loss, but right now, I'm basking in my new found level of energy.

I would also venture to say that must of us who have reached the obesity designation has yo-yo'd dieted along the way. Once obese, I'm in total support of someone having WLS as a viable option to become healthy. This isn't about some ideal of beauty; it's about our health and quality of life. Having a nice figure is a fringe benefit.

Hi, and welcome to the forum! Make sure you understand the pre-op and post-op diet requirements that you should receive from your doctor or nutritionist, and keep all your paperwork in a file or notebook. I got a ton of stuff, and once I got it all organized, I felt so much more in control.

Hi Chrissy. You'll find a lot of great info on this site. I'm a pretty new bandster, but it's been an amazing tool for me so far. I feel like I have a new lease on life. I wish you all the best on your road to good health!

Kymmie, you know your triggers. Would you be able to eat a very small piece and a bit of ice cream without falling off the wagon, so to speak? Personally, if I had the surgery in May, I would have a small piece and take an extra walk later in the day. However, at my support group, one woman who is several years out said she could never have a piece of cake because she's afraid she'd loose control. Judge yourself on your discipline for sweets, and either way, enjoy yourself, and be thankful you won't be cleaning up after the party. haha Happy Birthday to your son too!!

Becky, is sounds like you might be working on ending some old bad habits. I was a grazer too, so I know how tempting it is to eat a little nibble here and there, and then at the end of the day, you could kick yourself. My biggest help is drinking lots of Water, in addition to SF drinks to ward off the munchies. Luckily, you noticed right away that you were having grazing issues. If you find yourself tempted again, maybe you should journal what you're eating, to hold yourself accountable. Sometimes, just knowing that you're going to have to write those extras down is enough to stop the grazing.

Gabrielle, if I were you, I would RUN not walk to your doctor's office and get some help. You're only two weeks post-op, and you are doing your healing stomach harm, let alone, the fact that you're eating is already out of control. Don't be ashamed, and worried about what they'll think of you. Look, none of us got to the state of being obese on garden salads, but you have to get help NOW, or you're going to damage your stomach. Stretching your pouch is not even your biggest concern right now, you may be jeopardizing your health.

Way to go, bemused!! You're off to a great start with a great attitude. My two hurdles on the pre-op was the second day (that was the first and only day I felt a lot of hunger) and the first weekend (which happened to coincide with Labor Day). After that, the time flew. I wish you the best of luck!!!

Here's a post I just wrote a few mins ago to somebody else, that had almost an identical question: "I was worried about the same thing, because in my nutrition class, they had a plastic egg to represent our pouch, and said we shouldn't eat more than 1/2 cup of food. I don't have a fill yet, and I've pretty much stuck to the 1/2 cup servings for my meals, but a couple of times I've eaten around one cup. I asked about this at my last appointment, and they wanted me to add a high Protein snack so I'm sure not to get hungry, but they said without a fill, most of the food I'm eating is going straight through the band, and I shouldn't worry that I might stretch the pouch, within reason. I'm not saying to eat until you puke, but, I wouldn't worry too much, since you didn't get to that point. My, "within reason limit", is sticking to 1/2 cup most meals, but if I want a small salad or a few extra veggies/fruit, I'm not going to worry as long as I'm under one cup. However, you're less than two weeks out, and your stomach isn't close to being healed yet. Not to make you feel worse, but what did you eat? I hope it was a mushy, and not something that's hard to digest. I know I couldn't even finish a small container of SF Jello in one setting at a week, due to swelling. Just be careful about the healing process. Some doctors still have their patients on liquids at your stage, so consider this your wake-up call that this was serious surgery, and not to overdo it. Measure, measure, measure, and don't go over your doctor's recommendations!!"

Newbeginnings, you are definitely NOT a "freak"! I have a close friend who has more than the top fill in a Vanguard Lap Band, and she doesn't have good restriction either. You are not alone. I don't know why this happens, if it's the placement or the anatomy, but, sadly, it does happen. I just wanted to comment on the size of the Realize Band. It's a 9cc band. I went to a seminar by a Realize Band rep, and he said that you can get a bit more fluid that 9cc's and it's not going to burst, but, I went to this seminar, pre-band days, and I forget the exact amount he said it could hold. Also, I've read lots of posts from people on here, that needed just a final small tweak to get good restriction. Hopefully, you're there now. Good luck!!

Becky, I was worried about the same thing, because in my nutrition class, they had a plastic egg to represent our pouch, and said we shouldn't eat more than 1/2 cup of food. I don't have a fill yet, and I've pretty much stuck to the 1/2 cup servings for my meals, but a couple of times I've eaten around one cup. I asked about this at my last appointment, and they wanted me to add a high Protein snack so I'm sure not to get hungry, but they said without a fill, most of the food I'm eating is going straight through the band, and I shouldn't worry that I might stretch the pouch, within reason. I'm not saying to eat until you puke, but, I wouldn't worry too much, since you didn't get to that point. My, "within reason limit", is sticking to 1/2 cup most meals, but if I want a small salad or a few extra veggies/fruit, I'm not going to worry as long as I'm under one cup. However, Becky, you're less than two weeks out, and your stomach isn't close to being healed yet. Not to make you feel worse, but what did you eat? I hope it was a mushy, and not something that's hard to digest. I know I couldn't even finish a small container of SF Jello in one setting at a week, due to swelling. Just be careful about the healing process. Some doctors still have their patients on liquids at your stage, so consider this your wake-up call that this was serious surgery, and not to overdo it. Measure, measure, measure, and don't go over your doctor's recommendations!! Hey, we all fall down, so just brush yourself off, and get back in the fight!!!

Hi Cat, and welcome to the forum! I'm in the "thin to thirty" crowd. I wouldn't consider myself a breeder (lol), but that's when my weight started creeping on....at first. Then it was an avalanche. Even now, it takes me by surprise when I accidental see my reflection in a store window, for instance, because I just can't believe how big I've gotten. I hope, in a year, my reflection will startle me, because I won't be able to believe how thin I've gotten. :tongue:

I am so sorry to hear that you've been so sick after getting your band. I'm sure you feel miserable. Did the surgeon's office give you an Incentive Spirometer to use after surgery? I had to use mine for five minutes every hour for at least a few days (I forget now how long I was told to use it), and I could tell my lungs felt clearer after each session. I was worried about Fluid in my lungs, so I used mine religiously. Anyway, I was just wondering, since you ended up getting pneumonia. I hope you feel better soon!! Incentive spirometer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Congratulations!! With my oldest son, I just knew I was pregnant, although I failed two or three home pregnancy tests. I went to the doctor for a blood test (I was that sure), and I had been pregnant all along. So, like FairyFacade said, for now, you can only go by your last period to guesstimate your due date.

That's great Alex. Another happy camper! :w00t:

That's fantastic news, Crystal! I'm very happy for you.

Lynn, I'm sure people are keeping track of their weight loss differently too. I had to go on a liver shrinking diet two weeks pre-op, so part of my weight loss happened pre-banding. A lot of people have a six-month required diet for insurance, and some may include that in their weight loss totals. I know it can be frustrating when you're working so hard and the scale just doesn't seem to want to budge, but we'll get there. There's no way we can eat this little and excercise and not lose the weight. Maybe not as fast as we would like, and maybe not as quickly as others, but we'll get there. One of the things I love about the band is that we can customize the restriction based on our needs. I'm making total health my commitment, so I'm going to be busting my butt to exercise six to seven days a week with lots of cardio now, and at six weeks I want to add strength training. I hope that also will aid in my weight loss. Others aren't so much into exercise, and may need a tighter fill to get the pounds off. Heck, who knows, I may need a tight fill and tons of cardio to get to normal, but I do know that I already feel 100% better than I did a month ago. I'm thankful every day that I'm was able to get a lap band.

This is a small POSITIVE in the grand scale of things, but my rings have not been tight at night since I started this process. In the past, there would be evenings I had to struggle to get my rings off, due to swelling, and that's never a problem now.

nazzy, staples, glue, steri strips, stitches, are all ways doctor's close incisions. Mine used glue for the outside. I'm pretty sure, like 99.5% sure, that the type of closure used is dependent on what the doctor prefers and your needs and not the brand of band. You might be getting confused with the the way the port is attached inside. The Realize port has metal "hooks" that keep the port attached, although, I think the doctor can suture it, if (s)he prefers. The Lap Band, unless there's a new attachment technique, is sutured. When I suggested you research the bands, the port attachment was one tipping point for me. Not the only one, but it was important to me.

Without a fill, chica, and your swelling is probably starting to go down, you really need to try to just stick with the amount of food your doctor has told you to eat. Mine says 1/2 cup per meal, but I have on a couple of occasions eaten closer to a cup. I stay pretty satisfied until it's time to eat again, especially because I drink a lot of fluids starting 45 mins to an hour after a meal. That helps me tremendously. For me, right now, it's about portion size and not the full signal I was getting early on.

Random sneezing is such an odd issue. I've even heard of people who sneeze like that when they walk out in the sun. From your marvelous weight loss, it must have worked for you. Congratulations Steve!! Soon after my surgery, when I was very restricted from swelling, I would have a soft burp when it was time to stop eating. I hope I have a tell like that after I have a fill and I'm restricted again. Better that, than eating too much and having a more painful indicator that it was time to stop.

Thanks chocolate snaps for the good wishes!! I've had so much inspiration from reading the Sep 07 forum, and daydreaming about where I'll be a year from now. terilynn, you are doing so well! I can't believe you're down so many sizes. I just can't wait to get down one size! haha My clothes are feeling a little baggy, but not enough to get into something smaller. It sounds like you have supportive friends, ANKPTA, and/or they LOVE your wardrobe!! How encouraging though, that your friends are rooting for you.

You are so right, Harley. It really helps to hear from long-term bandsters like you. Here's a convo my dh and I had about the cost: me-$13,500 is so much money dh-It's worth it. It could add ten years to your life. me-That's true, but if it cost a million dollars would you still say that? dh-ummm, I'd have to think about it then. At least now I know I'm worth somewhere between $13,500 and a million dollars to him. I haven't got him pinned down on that just yet. lol