2muchfun

1200-1400 calories for me. 500 is way too low imo. Your body will shut down it's metabolism because your body thinks it's starving. You should be able to lose more weight if you consume more calories. At least that's what I gather from reading posts over the last 3 years. Try mixing it up. Maybe 500 for a week and then 1200 for a week. tmf

I beg everyone's forgiveness for hijacking this topic! So, for you, imagine carrying around three 20 lb bags of litter? And, people like Missy and Floridays probably can't even lift the weight they've lost. So, folks, when people tell you that the lapband doesn't work, don't believe it. imo tmf

121512, I recommend you watch all 4 of these videos. It will give you much insight into how the band is placed, how to eat and how this whole lapband magic works. Part 1 part 2 Part 3 Part 4

OK, now you're just braggin'? 75 lbs in less than 5 months isn't a lot of weight? OK, Roja, grab those 3 extra large bags of dog food in the pet food isle at your local grocery and walk around for a while Now me, I've lost 50 lbs and we have cats so I imagine what it was like to drag around 2.5 20 lb bags of cat litter. Sometimes I buy two and then go down to the basement with both on my shoulder. Wholly crap, that's a Sh**load of weight to carry around. You should be beaming ear to ear over how much success you've accomplished! tmf

Understandable. Even many of us who had surgery in the States expected to lose lots of weight immediately. I don't recall anyone mentioning "Bandster Hell" to me during my seminar/support group phase. I too was pissed that I had to wait till I got some kind of restriction before the band started to do it's magic. Then I got 2 fills and still was starving and not losing weight. And it sounds like my experience is typical? But now, looking back on the whole experience, it was all for the good. It takes so long to learn how to eat with this band and become one with the band. Good luck and trust me, you'll soon have this love/hate relationship like many of us do(mostly love). tmf

First, please fill in your profile so we know you better? Second, I really doubt you overdid it. Many of us had setbacks during the first month. It's a difficult time especially since it's the Holidays. BTW-Eggs(whole or whites) can be one of the toughest foods for us to eat early on and even after we're in the green zone. Sounds like your band is working perfectly if you are full or satisfied. tmf

Many, if not most, new bandsters do not eat like a bandster. I know after 2 fills I thought I was doing it right. I thought I was eating the right foods too. I met with a nutritionist late in my 4th month and she set me straight. I made some minor changes to what I ate and snacked. The 3rd fill and her advice made all the difference. But, I still slimed(and still do) 1-3 times a week due to distracted eating. That's where I revert back to my 63 year eating habits and eat too much, too fast and do not chew enough. It's possible that you are too tight of course. But evaluate why and when you get stuck and slime before you decide to have some saline removed? tmf

Standing "O" for the not so big guy now!!! tmf

Quoting B-52 "Until there's restriction, It's just another diet" tmf

Let me apologize in advance for my default response to your topic. Your post is very common mainly because almost every one of us has had the same experience 6 weeks or more into this journey. Seems like most all had selective hearing when we went through the seminars, research and nutrition meetings? I know I did. I really thought I'd immediatly start losing weight and feel satisfied with a small meal. HA! Not a chance. Some are lucky and it does work that way but for most, not! I was banded a little over a year ago(11/28/12). I lost 12 lbs the first two weeks and then nothing for the next 3.5 months. Then I got my 3rd fill and met with my nutritionist. The weight began to fall off after that. Relax, what you are experiencing is very normal and has happened to most of us. Seems like I was hungrier after the surgery than ever before. But, I was a good boy and ate healthy foods, but maybe not the 1/2 cup I was told to eat. You'll be in "bandster hell" until you get the fill that gives you enough restriction for the band to work it's magic. That may be 1 fill or 6. No one knows. Till then, like our esteemed forum member B-52 says, " "Until there's restriction...It's just another diet tmf

I don't understand what you just said, but you should be drinking about 64 ozs of fluid a day. Drinking water probably won't suppress your appetite as water passes right through and is absorbed into your body. The extra fluid should help flush out sodium and start your body to evacuating excess fluids you're body is retaining. You're still in the healing phase and should not be concerned with restriction and weight loss. I'm sure your doctor gave you instructions on how much fluid to consume? tmf

You didn't say why the Dr won't give you a fill? Could it be you're not eating like a bandster? Also, I lost 12 lbs the first two weeks after surgery and then nothing for the next 3.5 months. I visited with my nutritionist(4th month) and she helped me understand that I was not eating like I should. That's why I ask if you're eating right? Have you visited with your nutritionist? If you have restriction and if you eat the right way, and if you exercise, you should be losing weight. tmf

Great story Seth. It's so true that we all find a way to make this band work for each of us. My only concern with your approach is that you haven't learned to eat healthy? Living day to day off liquids and mush is no way to live(imo) and I hope your next year's journey leads you down the road to health and satisfaction. tmf

Every doctor has a different protocol. What is phase 2? tmf

Freudian slip?? You know, you can always edit your post after it's published. There's an edit link at the bottom of all your posts. Not sure if it's available with some ipad/iphone apps? tmf

^5 tmf

I assume the Dr unfilled your band to allow it to settle back into position? tmf

Tony Horton's(Beachbody.com) 10 minute exercise is fairly inexpensive and gives you a good workout without spending a fortune on equipment. tmf

"Stretching your new stomach"...Highly unlikely. To stretch your pouch would be very painful and should occur over a long period of time. Unless you have some kind of abnormality of your esophogus you would feel a lot of pressure and pain with most every meal. "Band Slip"...Why are you asking? Do you feel like you have some kind of symptom? You're a little to new to be experiencing a slip unless you're vomitting regularly? tmf

Fills are supposed to make eating more challenging. It sounds like you're eating too fast and big bites? Learning to eat like a bandster is one of the biggest challenges to making your surgery a success. It takes some of us months and maybe a year or two to finally get the eat small, eat slowly and chew big part of your routine and is just a mechanical function. I'm over a year out and I still get stuck once a week or more. Distraction can be one of the biggest obstacles. Watching TV, eating in a group with people talking to you etc can make us forget we're stuffing too much food in our pieholes. Eating non slider foods like a bandster will help you stay full longer and get there quicker. You'll eat much less this way. tmf

I'm not following you? You can't eat but you are eating, wrong foods? Are you in the green zone? How many fills? What are you eating? 55 lbs is a lot btw. tmf

If you think you can eat like a veteran bandster go for the big fill. If you never learned to eat the right way and follow the rules? Slow and steady could be your best friend. tmf

You've touched upon a controversial subject. Some doctors don't allow it(like yours?) and some doctors encourage taking a sip of Water 1 minute after you swallow your bite of food. If you don't sit down to eat with glass of water, you won't drink right? Just don't pour the glass. It's similar to eating chips or chocolate. Don't have them around and you won't be tempted. RE: The doctors who do allow you to drink. It's my belief that you should follow your doctors orders. And until you learn how to eat with the band(maybe 6 months or more) you should not drink and eat. Otherwise you may not ever learn how to eat slowly, chew big and take small bites. The temptation to swallow and flush it down with liquids is too strong for many to overcome. jmo tmf

Anesthesia and pain killers plug me up. tmf

I noticed the two new forum members posting pablum. tmf