bambam

You are still healing. I went through the same thing postop and Restless Monkey "talked me down." From weeks 2-6 I gained and lost the same 3-4 pounds. Then I had my first fill and have been losing consistently since then. I know it is hard to put your head around the fact that it is normal to gain in this period - after all you just had surgery to lose weight!!! Just do your best to watch your portions and eat healthy, exercise, get your Water in, etc. Once you start fills the band will start working and the healthy habits you get into during this period will be going strong to help you lose after your adjustment.

I'm with Sue. I have only had 1 fill and have 3 cc in my band, but dinner time is the meal I notice the most restriction. I could eat a larger breakfast and dinner if I allowed myself to, but by dinner time 3-4 ounces of meat and a little veggie is all I can handle. My band definitely tells me to stop more at that time of day. Weird!

I asked my doc at my last appt and he didn't feel there was a need for one so guess I'll save the money.

My doc puts in 3 cc at the first fill too. It took my hunger away immediately, but it took until about 3 weeks after my fill for it to "take hold" more - I can eat less now and I occasionally get that sensation that I need to stop - which is what I have been looking for. Just continue with your portion sizes, etc.

Once in a while I like Life Water - the 0-calorie fuji apple pear one. It is refreshing, a nice change sometimes.

I've had just one fill too. Honestly, if you really really want the bun I think you'll just have to try it and see how it goes. It all seems to vary so much from person to person as to what is tolerated and what isn't. I've had burgers, but I haven't had a bun - I've always preferred the meat over the bun anyway so I'm a happy camper to eat a burger with a fork. I have tried bread a couple of times and had no problems, BUT again it really varies. If you try it just take it slow.

I've only had one fill, but never really had a full signal until 3 weeks after my fill. Now I've noticed when I have my evening meal that after about 3 ounces of Protein and a little veggie my throat has a sense of fullness. It just started one night. I have read other are tigher in the morning and loosen up as the day goes on. I seem to be just the opposite. Weird huh? I have had a little discomfort in other areas occasionally but never thought of it being a radiating sign of being full. Will pay more attention to that. Otherwise, I just eat a set amount and kind of lose interest - other than my evening full feeling that's my usual sign to stop.

Sandi - You're not doing anything wrong!! You are in the process of healing. Remember that this period is for healing, not weight loss. From my 2nd week postop to my first fill at 6 weeks I gained and lost the same 3 pounds over and over. My doctor said not to be surprised if I gained in that time - by the time I went in at 6 weeks I was actually down 3 pounds and he was thrilled. Just keep doing what you are doing and let your body heal. Once you are start getting fills the process will work, until then keep up with the portion controls (I had to go to about 1200 calories a day as the 800-900 was too few for me). Maybe eat a few more calories and see if that helps shift things? I understand your frustration - I was on here at the same point asking what I was doing wrong and just needed to be reminded of the above.

I had to take a chewable vitamin and calcium the first 2 weeks after surgery, now I'm back to regular tablets. My surgeon said the regular tablets were fine to take. I've only had 1 fill, so with more restriction they may not be so easy to take, but for now they work fine!

I just found out my sister-in-law's band has slipped. The doctor thinks it is due to the flu she had about a month ago. She is going to have to have her band replaced. He tried removing some Fluid on Monday but there just wasn't much in it, so he determined it had slipped. Good luck to you!

Congrats!! What an inspiring thread - I can't wait until I can say that!!

Ex-scale addict here. I used to weigh daily - in fact a year ago when I was "dieting" (yet again) I would weigh several times a day. Now I weigh on Wednesdays (my official weigh in day), and step on for a quick peek on Saturdays just to make sure I'm heading the right direction for the week. I'm 2 months out from surgery and about 3 weeks out from my first fill. I'm finally beginning to trust the band and the process and think I'll be able to skip the Saturday check in soon. If I remember correctly, it takes consuming 3500 additional calories to gain a pound, so anytime I stepped on the scale and was up 1-3 pounds in the past I would get frustrated thinking I had "gained" when most of the time it was just my body fluctuating. But, not knowing that would lead me to a cycle of, "We'll I've gained anyway, I might as well REALLY enjoy it" and lead to me stress eating. Now that I know that I just don't have the desire to put myself through seeing those fluctuations anymore! While I'm enjoying seeing the scale numbers go down I'm trying to enjoy NSV's such as seeing how different my clothes fit, looking down and seeing my feet - not my stomach, enjoying the compliments I'm getting, and buying smaller sizes. I really want the lapband process to be a different mindset for me, not a diet mentality - so for me it works best to keep off the scale as much as possible. But we are all different!!

I know this is probably not going to sound as I intend it to, so here's my thoughts on your Mother's Day. To me it sounds like you had a wonderful Mother's Day. You were able to spend time with your kids and your grandmother and mother are still here to wish a happy Mother's Day too. As far as the PB episode - your band is working!! I can't find any good to your sewer problems, it's just life!! I'm honestly not being unsympathetic, but my Mom passed away in December and this is my first Mother's Day without her. I would have given anything to be able to have called her on the phone and heard her voice or visited her and given her a big hug. Appreciate what you have - you sound very blessed.

BigMomma - Thanks to your post I was able to get away from daily weigh-ins. My main weigh in day is Wed and to be honest I still weigh on Saturday, - midweek, just to make sure something crazy hasn't happened, but I had my first fill 2 weeks ago and am beginning to have faith in the process, so I see myself weighing only on Wed before long. I don't journal anything. I do keep an idea of my calories and Protein in my head, but to be honest I know about what I'm eating each day and while my food choices vary from day to day, I'm still eating about the same amount of protein, etc., so even that is a mute point. It feels awesome not to be chained to a journal, etc any longer. And weighing only 2 times a week is a victory for me!!! Baby steps.... soon only weighing on Wed. Thanks again!

I don't know how far you are out from surgery, but at the 2-week point I was able to go back to regular calcium and vitamins, not chewable (as long as I had no difficulty swallowing them). Again, I don't know how far out you are, but talk with your doctor's office if you are struggling with the chewables. I thought I would be on those forever, was surprised I could resume the regular ones, but happy I could as I didn't care for the chewables!

Mine was low before surgery and after as well. I took pills up to the time of surgery. Was worried it would be too low just prior to surgery but it was okay to proceed at 3.4 I had potassium drips in the hospital afterwards as it was still low. I don't think it is unusual to have low potassium as the liquid diet, etc., can really deplete your system. However, I didn't have to be on potassium once I was home again. Hopefuly as you resume a more normal diet it will come back to normal and you won't need the supplements. You may want to talk to your family doctor about it, or whoever will be checking your potassium level next, just to find out what they expect.

Mim - Congrats on getting to Onderland!!!! That is awesome!!!! I dream of that day :thumbup:. Thanks also for your encouraging post reminding us to stick with the process and have faith in it. Patience is not one of my virtues and I'm learning quick that I better gain some (fast!). As much as I've read over the months that the weight will come off slowly, I still need to be reminded of that. Way to go!!!

I had my first fill last week and have 3 cc in a 10 cc band. So far it is working great and keeping me content from meal to meal and the scale started moving again. My doctor's office encouraged me to wait to eat until I am hungry (rather than eating at set times) and that really seems to be working well for me. I was nervous about the fill, but there was no need to be. Hope all the other March bandsters are doing great!!

Punkster - I love meatloaf - it is always a hit with me. It's a good thing I like leftovers as that is usually what my lunch consists of. Today: b: small square egg bake with veggies, 1/2 banana l: 4 meatballs, sf ff vanilla pudding d: Think we are going out to eat, will probably eat the meat from a "Maid Rite" and a few bites of coleslaw.

I'm 7 weeks out and went through that as well. Weeks 2-6 after surgery I lost 3 pounds total. My doc was thrilled with that as he said I may even gain during that period and not to get frustrated. Just stick with what you should be doing and your body will catch up once it heals. I had my first fill last week, don't feel a lot of restriction, but the scale is moving again. Just have faith in the process.

Just had my first fill last week and things seem to be going well. Of course I feel I'm eating a huge amount compared to many of you, but the scale is moving so all's right in my world! Here's what I'm eating today: b: 1 small egg bake square, 1/2 banana l: 4 meatballs, 1/4 c. broccoli d: will be salmon and carrots s: decaf skinny vanilla latte (coffee night with friends) For the most part I've quit weighing and measuring my foods. I was obsessing over my food journal so I'm just trying to use a lunch plate for my meals and take small portions. When my weight loss slow down I'll probably have to be more accurate , til then I'm just trying to eat healthier, and less.

My surgeon doesn't place any at the time of surgery, but 6 weeks after surgery he inserts 3 cc. I had that done last week.

I'm 6 weeks post surgery, down 29 pounds and had my first fill of 3 cc in my 10 cc band yesterday. Had to go shopping for a dress for my stepson's wedding and I walked out of the store with a dress 2 sizes smaller!! I first took my "old" size in the dressing room, then asked hubby for a size smaller, and finally another size smaller. I couldn't believe all the dresses I was trying on were 2 sizes smaller! I also bought a new pair of jeans, a top, and undies (all 1 size smaller). Talk about feeling on top of the world! My doc says not to buy too many clothes because they won't fit for long. From his mouth, to God's ear.

Sissy - I lost 25 pounds a year ago on WW (my ticker includes my highest weight). I lost 15 on the preop diet and 10 pounds the week after surgery. I lost 3 pounds in the last 3 weeks for a total of 29 (according to the doc's office) since beginning my lapband diet. I include the amount I lost previously because regardless of what I was doing at the time, it was still hard work!! However, I've worn the same clothes during that 50 pounds, have just finally gotten to the point where they are baggy enough to need replaced. Don't want to mislead anyone that I've lost 50 pounds in the last month!!!!