bambam31

Just remember you're in this for the long haul! It takes so long preparing to have surgery that once it's done we just want to get going - problem is the equipment is installed - but not fully operational yet. It will take numerous fills to achieve satisfactory restriction - which can mean months down the road. This is one of the toughest periods of the whole process I think. Just be tough, follow your doc's guidelines, focus on the band fundamentals, and soon enough you'll be achieving success! Brad

Well joining without disclosing would be dishonest. But the people voting to not allow a banded person to participate are assuredly misinformed about the band process as well. Losing FAT with the band is still very hard work. It doesn't just magically disappear. You don't have too look far on these forums to find scores of people stranded mid-journey who are not proceeding closer to goal - it is very hard work indeed. What about people taking weight loss prescriptions or OTC weight loss drugs? Are they disqualified? Brad

I don't know about all of you, but the food demons I dealt with pre-band still exist post-band. They don't ever go away. I think the band helps me manage them, but manage them I must. I eat most all foods - there isn't anything that I "can't" eat. But when I eat trigger foods I find myself slipping into a weeks-long-rut... When I find myself losing control like this I have to intensely buckle down to defeat it. Increase exercise - stay away from ALL crappy food. Once it's under control I can then eat all foods sensibly again - until the next tumble off the wagon. Good luck - be strong! Brad

This is quite normal. I still have port pain from time to time. Little ones jumping on you or lying down on something... It's normally a short term thing - like bruising. If it continues or gets worse I would definitely increase my attention to find out why... Brad

Spinning classes are one of the most bang for your buck cardio (time-wise) out there! It's one of the tools I used to get my metabolism white-hot. Beyond that, outdoor cycling, elliptical and weight lifting round out the side for me. Use the treadmill for the extreme incline. One of the best things I've done is invest in a heart rate monitor to get a fairly accurate measure of calories burned. The computers on gym equipment are just generalities and can by insanely inaccurate. Don't do much walking - it just doesn't get my heart rate up high enough any longer to be a good form of exercise. Brad

This is definitely one of the areas where your mileage may vary... I think you just have to do the right things and hope for the best outcome. Remember, your skin has great elasticity and is mostly water. Keep it well hydrated inside and out. Toned musculature beneath will give it the best appearance possible. And ladies, don't worry that strength training is going to give you big man-like muscles... Very few women possess the chemical make up to do so.

I used to like the cold and dread the heat but that has just about done a complete 180 now! Brad

Nope... but some days it has psychological value... :biggrin: My doc never had an issue with the consumption of diet soda so I drink it occasionally. I drink beer more often than soda but neither give me any problems. Brad

So much of the initial loss is Fluid and the scale is going to bounce around a bit. Don't worry yourself into a panic when this happens. Once the swelling from surgery dissipates you basically have the equipment but it isn't doing much to tame the hunger until you achieve sufficient restriction from fills. It took me about 4 fills to get to this point - so that's months after surgery... Just do your best in the meantime and try to focus on the fundamentals of living with your new companion. Begin an exercise regimen as soon as your surgeon will allow. Not only will it help increase your metabolism and quell hunger - but it's an essential component of long term success. Good Luck! Brad

So much of the initial loss is Fluid and the scale is going to bounce around a bit. Don't worry yourself into a panic when this happens. Once the swelling from surgery dissipates you basically have the equipment but it isn't doing much to tame the hunger until you achieve sufficient restriction from fills. It took me about 4 fills to get to this point - so that's months after surgery... Just do your best in the meantime and try to focus on the fundamentals of living with your new companion. Begin an exercise regimen as soon as your surgeon will allow. Not only will it help increase your metabolism and quell hunger - but it's an essential component of long term success. Good Luck! Brad

Hi Vikki, I would first try to focus on the export side before the intake side. Maintain calories and increase cardio - especially the intensity of the cardio. Walking is effective to start - but won't achieve the necessary intensity to burn fat for long. Variety of exercise is the best approach also because your body is a smart machine - it learns how to achieve maximum efficiency. When it does the same exercise over and over it learns how to adapt to it - all the while expending the least amount of energy necessary to accomplish the task. Keep very well hydrated too! Good luck!

Your ability to guzzle Water may fade with fills, but that means you just have to drink smaller quantities more often. I think hydration is about the most often overlooked component of fat loss. Keep drinking good quantities of water and just cut back immediately after meals. Good Luck!

OH yes definitely better! Especially with adding regular exercise! Brad

Well I'm about your age and I'm thankful everyday that I went ahead with the surgery. It's been almost 2 yrs now and I don't regret it at all. How much and what can you eat? There's no way you can get a "real" perspective. There are so many factors involved that it is impossible to answer this question. Some people have foods they can no longer eat after banding, while others, like myself, eat every single food I ever did. You learn from trial and error what you can and can't do. Something else... If I go out to eat with good friends it will be a very different experience than going out with strangers or under stressful conditions. For me... Stress = tight band! Best of all... it's adjustable so when you get close to where you want to be you can have the Fluid adjusted to meet your desired restriction. Good luck! Brad

I think it depends on all of the circumstances. I only had one that was painful because the port kept eluding the doc :biggrin: - but the other 4 or 5 were just a poke that lasts a moment. (no anesthetic for any of them) Brad

BINGO! That was the key to my loss. Calorie deficit derived from both intake and export! Then it's just a matter of playing with the numbers to find out how hard you can push to achieve the desired result. Too many people try to achieve their goal from intake alone - it rarely ever works long term. Brad

Dawn, recommit to yourself and do an honest evaluation of your progress. Ask the tough questions and give honest answers. Is your band sufficiently restricted? Are you eating rationally? Are you exercising sufficiently? Those three questions should get you moving in the right direction! Good luck and stay focused!

Alcohol is one of those hot button topics like soda, caffeine, etc.... You will get responses all over the spectrum. Some will tell you nothing is off limits others will tell you that blood will shoot from your eyes if you ever sniff the stuff again... :cursing: YMMV... Personally, I preferred to get a good chunk of weight loss behind me first because alcohol is not just empty calories, but very dense since it has 7 calories per gram. I don't drink very often but when I do I drink pretty much whatever I choose - beer included. Carbonated beverages don't cause me any trouble - so long as I drink slowly. Chug a carbonated beverage while your band is sufficiently restricted and you'll quickly be schooled in a physics lesson. :scared2:

Hey I was banded 8-4!!! But it was 2008 not 2009... :cursing: Keep up the hard work everyone - you will be so empowered by the fact that you're now in charge! :scared2:

You'll hear all sorts of new sounds and gurgles - just think of it as musical weight loss!

Do some searches for Bandster Hell - it will help explain what you're experiencing. One things' for certain... you're definitely not alone... :cursing:

You know we work so hard just to get the band that after surgery we think, "ok... I've got the band, let the weight start falling off." And then we're dissappointed to learn that this isn't the way it works. The first few months after surgery are tough, with most people experiencing bandster hell. But once you achieve satisfactory restriction, learn to make better food choices, and learn what real exercise is all about - victory will be yours. Those first few months are hell - but it will get better, and you'll look back and know that it was all worth it. Stay focused! Brad

The more conservative the fills, the more fills it will take to achieve satisfactory restriction. Be patient - you will get there. But in the meantime, you have to remember not to put all of your eggs in one basket. It's not JUST about the level of restriction (that's the TOOL part) It's only one component.... It's also about exercise, food choices, hydration, sleep... it's a package deal. In fact, all of the these other factors combine to be much more important than your fill level. Losing fat - with or without the band - with or without good restriction - is HARD WORK! It isn't just about how little you can eat... Don't think you can subvert the process by eating 800 calories a day and being sedentary. That is a recipe for disaster in the long term. Work hard, train hard, and you shall conquer... Brad

Congrats! Progress breeds progress. Keep up the hard work. Brad

The band is designed to remain after you achieve your goal weight, however, if necessary it can be removed. During the main part of my ongoing fat loss, I ate mostly quality foods with very little "cheating." Now that I'm essentially at my goal weight I relaxed that more. I make good food choices most of the time but I also let myself enjoy the evil foods - just in moderation. At this point there really isn't anything I can't eat so long as I'm cautious and eat "rougher" foods later in the day. Good luck! Brad