true2self

Glad everything is going great for you and you joined the group!! Now you are more prepared to do the work required to lose your weight. The lap-band is an awesome tool to bring back control into your possession.

Hi minou, A couple of insights for someone who has had the band for a year. First of all, you are doing great if you can use will power for a bit until you find your sweet spot. Don't try to eat until you feel restriction bc then you are relying on the band to change your habits instead of you learning how to discipline your eating. A sweet spot is when you can eat little amounts and feel satisfied after you eat without wanting to eat more, but realize the battle to retrain yourself has to happen in your mind first. You should get to the point where you can eat small amounts and feel satisfied. That sounds like what you did. Remember being satisfied does not take away the want for more food. There is your true battle. So keep up the good work and don't wait for a feeling of restriction. Eat as little as you can to feel like you have had enough. If you end up eating six mini meals due to this process of feeling hungry soon, that is good. The key is to see if you can go 3-4 hours w/0 feeling hungry. If you can, you don't need a fill until the hunger time starts coming more frequently than 3-4 hrs apart. As far as how many fills it takes. That is different for everyone. I know someone who has had three fills the entire year and lost her weight in one year (100 lbs). That did not happen for me but that is bc I was relying on the band more than the discipline to lose the weight. I went to far with the band, was sick all the time and had to have the fills taken out. I started out eating great and everything great for about 9 mo., lost 45 pounds, but wanted to hurry the process a little bit more. WRONG THING TO DO. I was so sick that I could not even keep liquids down. Had to have the band completely drained. I am starting over with my fills at the beginning level and more determined to be true to myself and do what I need to to lose the weight correctly. I am already off to a good start. So even though you are excited about losing the weight, take your time and do it right. After a fill, you should stay on liquids for 24 hrs and then introduced smashed foods for a day or two before eating a meal. Just that simple discipline helps you do what you need to to start your focus off right. I was like you. I could eat more and didn't find full until my forth fill and then I was doing good. When I went to the Dr. office, I wanted to lose more weight faster than the 1 1/2 pounds a week, so I got another fill (fill #5). Big mistake. Hang in there. You are on an exciting trip so take the time to enjoy the journey even in the disappointing spots. Eat right, drink according to the rules, exercise, and take care of yourself. Try to get involved in a support group. This is probably a great start for you.

I just thought that was cool. I had no idea that an individual could have a band like that. I think it should help with the weight gain during pregnancy. My daughter is considering it, but she is trying to work it out with diet and exercise right now. She just had a baby, but I think it scared her to get a lap band with the possibility of becoming pregnant again. That is why you peeked my interest.

Onmywaydown, You are so right. I have an appointment for Monday and so ready for a fill. I weighed myself yesterday to see where I was. I have gained 15 lbs. So if I can face my doctor on Monday, you can too. Tell me how it goes. I know we will get on track. I have to remind myself that I am not a failure, but I am learning. I am just stumbling around right now. At least I am stumbling. Soon I will be walking up tall!! That is my goal...my desire.

Glad to hear everything is going so good for you. Hang in there!

Cool! I am blending my shakes right now, but that looks like a great idea.

I am right with you. I have lost 43 lbs in a year. I was at the sweet spot, but then I had to have some taken out because I was sick...other than lap band complications....and could not eat. So they took some of the fill out. I am going in Monday and asking if they can put the fill back to the level it was before I had to have some taken out. I understand the discouraging part of fighting will power so much. First ask your doctor if he/she will increase the fill amount for you. Remind him of how you are able to lose the weight, but you are battling with hunger and getting discouraged. Hopefully that will help. Otherwise, hang in there because the sweet spot will come. I wanted to have lost my weight in a year, but my year is here so I will have to hope for more weight loss by December. Keep working out. If you want to snack since you can eat more snack on carotts, veggies, and fruit with a slice of cheese. That seems to help me. I enjoy a desert with 1/2 cottage cheese, 1/2 apple, and sprinkle with cinnamon and splenda. It is great. Then you have your Protein drinks/shakes. I notice if I eat the right amount of protein, I am not as hungry. Maybe that will help you.

Do you like them? What flavors do you buy?

The sleep test is done to determine the level of sleep disorder problems. It usually helps candidates qualify for surgery. The liquid diet helps shrink you tummy and liver so the band will be applied easily. The liquid diet consist of slim fast, broth, Popsicle, tomato soup, just anything liquid but high protein level until surgery. Some Dr. have a protein drink they want you to use, but I used slim fast a lot. I was scared of pills at first but now I do okay. I take them on an empty stomach.

Hello! I have had my band for a year. I struggled with the gas a lot after surgery. It was painful for me, but I was also sick for about two weeks. A friend of mine had hers done and she was great. She recovered like someone from out-patient-surgery will no problems. Traveled the second day after surgery and did great. She struggles with reflux a little now though. The doctors said that they had to do surgery on the hernia before they could put the lap band on, but she is doing better. Glad to see you joined the family. I just found this web page and I am so thankful. You will do great.

I didn't know you could have a port while you were pregnant. How long have your had your band?

Katja, When you say restriction, can you tell me how you feel? Do you only feel it when you are eating or all the time? I am like you. I have had five or six fills, but three taken out recently because I was so sick. I had allergy issues that caused a lot of drainage so anytime I ate or drank anything I could not keep it down. It was scary. I lost 15 pounds in a week. I have since then put it back on, and that is why I am ready to get a fill. I know I can eat now and I want to continue the journey of losing the weight.

You are so right laurinda. I do deserve this! This is the first time that I have done something for myself and this is pretty extreme. I appreciate your encouragement. Just being able to find people to talk to is a great start. I know I will do a lot better now. I just have start believing in myself again.

What is a majic bullett?

Yes!! I go to the same clinic and love both of the doctors there (Dr. Ron Hekier, and Dr. Rachael Keilin). I am hoping that we can get a support group closer to Fort Smith, AR

You are NOT a failure. It is normal to gain a few pounds before your first fill. I did. The doctor was not upset with me. I even gained after my first fill because I needed to be filled more. I finally started losing after my fourth fill. It has been slow for me. I learned part of the reason I was not losing weight was because I was not eating enough. I only gained at the beginning, but after six months I didn't gain I maintained. After talking with my doctor and fitness center I learned I was not eating enough calories. So I increased my calories by about 100 - 200 and started losing. Yes, I was working out every day. I am a little off track right now because I have been out of town for a month. It is hard to eat when you are not cooking for yourself. I think if you stay hooked up with support it will help. I just found this page today and I am so thankful. My doctor is 3 hours away and there is not support here. I think this web page will be a great help to me. It will be for you also. Remember: YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE!!!

I got protein from our local fitness store. It has 23g and is very reasonable. It taste pretty good. I bought one at Wal-Mart that was to sweet. I didn't like it, but I am finishing it so it won't be wasted.

Hi there. I make a couple of different flavors. Here are a few recipes. 3 Frozen strawberries 1/3 cup frozen berries 1/2 banana 1 scoop v. Protein drink 8 - 10 oz coffee 1 pkg sugar free hot coco 1 scoop v. Protein Drink 1/3 cup frozen peaches 3 - 4 large frozen strawberries 1 scoop v. protein drink You can also buy chocolate Protein Powder, but I usually purchase vanilla so I can make different flavors.

Thank you. I just realized that I have not done as well as I should. My hardest part is that I need to write out a menu plan I think. I have not done that. I have so many diets in my head that I struggle as to what direction to start and then how to stick to it.

I too had a delay last year when I started. I was suppose to have my surgery in May, but a family emergency delayed the surgery until July 6th. I was discouraged also until I realized that the time change must have been for a bigger reason than I knew. I know you are ready, but maybe this will help you to stay motivated. Remember the lap band alone isn't the answer, but is sure is a big help.

Don't feel like a failure. I did gain a little weight from pre surgery until my first fill. My doctor said it was expect because I didn't have a fill yet. I still have weight lose, but I have done the slipping back into improper eating habits a few times. The thing to remember is that the Lap-Band will not fix your weight problem by itself. You will lose some just because of the lapband, but then you will stop losing the weight if you are depending on the lap band alone. Just realize that it is okay to be where you are. You might have gained a little weight. If it will help you gain control back, go back on your liquid diet for three days. That will help. Keep your chin up. Your journey has only just begun.