2muchfun

Good to know!

I don't think you want full restriction? No one would. Like Lauren said, you want to be satisfied with a cup of food per meal for up to 4 hours. If you're hungry(true hunger, not head hunger/cravings) shortly after a meal, you probably need a fill. Most of us are on a "diet" of healthy food. The band only helps you feel satisfied for hours after a meal, it won't stop you from eating bad foods and you never said what you are eating that you feel like you don't have enough restriction? If you're eating slider foods you won't see the magic the band provides. tmf

We all can gain or lose 2 lbs a day in just Water weight. Sodium, TOM, stress, carbs, all contribute to our bodies retaining fluids. 1 lb is no big deal. tmf

Lapbandster hit the nail on the head. I had 4 fills before I started to lose and it took 6 to get me to the green zone. 6 lbs in 2 months is not great but it's still within the norms. What are you eating that you feel no restriction? Do you track calories? Exercise? BTW-I've had 8 adjustments so far. 7 fills and 1 small unfill. And, injecting fills and finding the perfect adjustment is an art and not a science. Sneaking up on the green zone is the safest way to proceed.

Every day, twice a day. Morning and night. I've never really understood why someone would get aggravated over seeing their weight every day? If you understand that your weight isn't only a result of losing fat and that it's also a result of TOM, sodium intake, stress, carbs, it's easy to accept what the scale indicates. If I eat two slices of pizza I know my weight will probably be 2 lbs higher since I've consumed simple carbs and lots of sodium. My body will retain 32 ozs of fluids due to my poor food choices. I accept that. And, if I am gaining weight, why would I want to wait till the end of week or month? I want to correct my behavior as quickly as I possiblty can. That's me. tmf

You won't like this suggestion? Stop using your job, your stress level, your status, as an excuse not to take a full 30 minute break and eat a healthy band friendly meal. It's important you gain some control over just a 30 minute portion of your day just a few days a week. Otherwise, how can you control what you put in your mouth? tmf

4 weeks.

That's a very tough question. For me, there is no bad. For others, they may have some regrets? I do have to say that if you've come to the conclusion that you can never diet or exercise off the 160+ lbs you're carrying around, the band or some other form of weight loss surgery(WLS) could be your only hope to live a somewhat normal long life? But, only you can know this and I'm reading between the lines and I'm not seeing that you're ready to make this kind of commitment. I don't have to keep this band for the rest of my life but if I want to live longer I know I have to keep it. I can have the band removed and gain back 60+ lbs just like that. I don't want to live like that. You'll hear this over and over, the band is only a tool and still requires a lot of work and commitment. The band won't make you thinner, it will only help you make yourself thinner. tmf

Hard to know since you've not filled in your profile? Are you banded or one week out or what?

So I'm sorry to be too graphic here but remember, someone filled your body cavity full of gas, they pumped fluids, medications, antibiotics and anesthesia into your body. They punched 5 holes in your abdomen, moved all your inner body parts around, shoved a tube down your throat, took an electric scalpel and burned away excess fat and tissue wrapped around your upper stomach, then wrapped a plastic strap around your stomach, stitched it in place with 5-6 sutures bringing your lower stomach up and over the band and then snaked a tube out of your body and then sewed another plastic piece to the muscle tissue on your rib cage. Now, thinking about all that has been done to your body, you're doing quite well aren't you?

Staying on the post surgery diet has nothing to do with weight loss. The band was sewn into your stomach and by eating large meals with solid food at this point could cause the sutures to tear away and cause your band to slip.

Eating soft foods can compromise the surgery this early after surgery. pureed or liquids are required not because they want you to lose weight, they're required because your band is sewn into your stomach and if you push too hard so early, you can cause the sutures to tear and then you're in a world of hurt. You don't want to go back into surgery? Make sure you're drinking lots of Protein rich shakes to appease your appetite. As long as you fill up on protein you shouldn't be so hungry. Most of the hunger is head hunger. It happens to almost all of us. My favorite was egg drop Soup. It's basically boiled broth with an egg stirred into it while it's boiling. Lots of protein and very filling.

Keep the shirt. Miniskirts are coming back!

That's funny! It's just the opposite of how we dress and behave when we go in for our post surgical visits, isn't it? I know I wear my lightest shoes, wear lightweight shorts and t-shirt. I hold off on drinking any water 2 hours before I go in so that scale is as low as it can be? tmf

3 weeks is nothing. I lost 12 lbs the first 2 weeks and then nothing for the next 3.5 months. Here's one reason why:

You need to shrink an inch or gain 10 lbs. Don't be vain and cling to an exagerrated height? Not saying you are, but I've seen some folks with similar BMI problems who might qualify if they gained weight or lost an inch in height? Check it out? And the list of co-morbids is a long one. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/76220-list-of-comorbidities-please-add/

My experiences with plateaus is I have to be committed to a plan for at least 7-10 days before I see the scale move. That means, I eat 1200 calories a day, exercise strong for at least 5 days and no slips. One or two slips in that time span will doom me to staying at a plateau.

"I guess I will give up"........This is the only negative comment on this page.

Let me be the contrarian here. This is a pity party and I'm not buying it? I agree with Dylan that your PCP may have some sway over getting you in. And I know if it were me, I'd demand they get me in or at the very least put me on a waiting list if someone should cancel. Hard to believe that an opening won't happen in the next 6 weeks? You can't expect them to take your band right to where you were before the illness. Your stomach lining could be different now and you also need to show a willingness to eat like a bandster. You're starting all over again and that's the way I would approach it if I were your physician. Have you looked at other clinics for a fill? It's easy to give up and if that's what you want you will. But if you really want this, you will find a way. I don't mean to be cruel but there's no way in hell I'd give up my dream so easily. tmf

Who is the doctor and what city? I would imagine that if he tells all his patients he takes more out than he puts in, of course the ratio is a self fullfilling prophecy. Why would any patient want the band if their doctor is against them? If he put in 200 and is taking out 30 but telling all his new patients not to get one, of course the ratio would be more out than in? And maybe he doesn't know how to put them in properly or doesn't want to offer the follow-up? I know I would have changed docs if that were the case. Docs make more than twice the money for other WLS surgeries. I'd be skeptical and get a 2nd or 3rd opinion? tmf

I see similar stories like yours every day it seems? It's my personal belief that many people in your shoes believe they're hungry but they're actually caving to head hunger/cravings. It's like Jean McMillan said last week: "NO WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY OF ANY DESCRIPTION WILL KILL THE EATING DEMONS IN YOUR HEAD" You have to ask yourself as you open the fridge or pantry, am I really hungry or do I just want to chew on something tasty? "When a craving doesn't come from hunger, eating will never satisfy it" ...Dr. Michelle May

Why did they have to unhook your band?

Sounds like a question for your doctor?

Are you taking any blood pressure meds? I suffered the same symptoms when I first started to exercise heavily but as I got stronger they went away?

And that's true. But we prefer "Geico People" please