YngGram

That's great, soon you will be sleepy in something 'SKIMPPY'

Only 6 months here but I take 25mg of Aloe Vera daily for digestion, it has helped me.

I would also need to vent. I am down about 57lbs. in 6 months and I am upset with me. I am lucky that I am able to eat most things with 2 fills, but my problem has been some bad choices.

I have tried to keep some variety in my diet, and get in my fluids but I just haven't exercised like I should. You may not be eating enough for you body to know it's not starving. I would suggest you keep a really detailed journal for about 2 weeks and then sit down with your nutritionist (if possible). She should be able to tell you where you might need to make changes. Also I read recently that many of the things we think are good for us or that are low cal, really aren't.

I have been stalled almost 6 weeks so I did liquids for a day and a half, and started doing a "Belly Dance" workout. It fun and might tighten me up. I have lost 4 lbs. in 3 days. Don't give up, but get whatever help you can to get it moving.:biggrin:

I fill a 32oz bottle in the am, I start my day with a full cup because I don't eat Breakfast until I have been up for a while. My doc says 64oz of Fluid, so he is counting my Soups, popcisles, and smoothies. I do the smoothies as a snack and I do low cal latte in place of coffee. Crystal Lite type drinks (Wal-Mart brand) don't have the cals and give me flavor, love the peach tea. I keep a cup in the bathroom and use the Water out water in system. I close out the night with at least a full cup before bed. I don't keep count, it just comes in.

My first down size was found when my daughter took me shopping for Mother's Day. We made so much noise in the dressing room they checked on us! Congrats to you as well.

Work with me ladies, I am coming from a good place with this.

I have been plus size something for over 20 years. I am so excited that I am no longer there I almost flip out when looking at clothes. I see that some of the pics posted show others have the same issue, but little restraint. I am 52 and want to look good in my new sizes but not over the top.

Parts of my body are different sizes and finding things that fit correctly and look good is still difficult. I started watching "What Not To Wear". This show has helped me so much. For years it has been, I got it on, I can breath, it's OK. The show is helping me to know what to look for, how to enhance what I got and have a better understanding of what makes me look thinner and taller (w/o death heels). Another thing is that I now have a better understanding of how I could have done better with my look at a larger size. I don't plan to go back up to check it out though :biggrin:. Now I won't do a jean that isn't a dark wash, wear a shoe that is longer in front, and gave up on the box shaped shirts.

Is anyone else out there feeling overwhelmed by their shopping choices?

My savior has been Faded Glory Jeans. I have a couple of pair of 18's that had been in the closet forever and I was so excited in March when I was able to get them on again. They were tight but I could wear them. Now I am in a comfortable 12!They are at Wal-Mart designed to instantly :biggrin: slim and only 12 bucks. I don't want to spend a lot until I am more settled in the weight. Since they are stretch I can still wear the 18's around the house or to run to the store. Avenue seems to have things cut a little smaller, my girlfriend gave me some 16s from there and they are snug. I am 44, 40, 44 I try to look at Dress Barn, Fashion Bug and Cato because they all have plus size on one side and smaller on the other side of the store. I still need the larger tops and some of the 14 jeans fit from the "small" side. Dressier slacks are not something I have found yet. A 16W is just to big and I haven't found a 14W yet, a regular or misses 14 is to tight in the thighs and hips. Burlington is next on my look for it list. I thought about starting to sew again, but my measurements have me over 3 different sizes! I am 5'2, with a really flat butt, it had a shelf on the top, not as bad as it was.

I had some saline in the band at surgery, and have had 2 fills in 6 months so I am at 4.cc (I think, might be 5.2). I can eat everything I've tried. I don't have problems unless I forget to pay attention. In my second week a hardboiled egg took me to my knees. I tend to overeat by a forkful or two, I end up uncomfortable for the next hour; I don't always listen to what my band is telling me.

I can also eat around the band by eating slowly and really chewing well. I have done a Oz prime rib no problem, with bread and some salad and some sweet potato. For this reason, when I am out I ask for the to go box before I start to eat, if I take it off, it's not there to eat.

I haven't experienced this, I do whey Protein additives, and protein bullets. It's not that hard if you plan for it. In the first few weeks it's not that big of a deal. A hardboilled egg can start your day or serve as lunch, as a guy you need more calories than I do, but it can be added to your regular meal, or maybe a light snack. My doc said failure to get it in makes you tired, Hair loss and it slows the weight loss process. He explained how it worked, to much to go into, but it's why the Atiinks and high protein diets work.

The extra lbs are the gas they pump in for surgery, I came up about 4lbs. I didn't have the shoulder pain but many do, so I guess it normal. Walk for relief, just get up and move through the house about 3 or 4 times an hour. Congrats!!

I had a tram flap on the left and so is my port! I didn't have any shoulder pain, but the gas was manic! It woke me the first two nights I was home. From a dead sleep it just hit and I almost hit the ceiling. I had to get up and walk through the house to get it to ease up. I am about 6 months out and the gas and rumbling is still present. I recently started taking Aloe Vera & B6, these seem to help a lot. I have had a port before (chemo) and I couldn't see it, this one shows when I lie down. Small price for the 50+ pounds that are gone.

Hi everyone! I have been on here for a while reading everyone's stories. I am planning on being banded during the Christmas break. I have a few obscure questions:

1. After Lap Band is it hard to sleep at night? Can you comfortably sleep on your stomach or your side?

2. Gummi Vitamins yes or no?

3. What is everyone's exercise routine? Is everyone hardcore for daily exercise?

4. My main problem is that I NEVER feel full, even after I eat. Will the band help me FEEL full on just a cup of food sufficiently?

5:A lot of my extra weight is in my hips and thighs. Does this weight come off last after stomach weight?

6: Anyone have the band for over 5 years here? Any long term problems?

7: Do you find that you are satisfied on eating less by feeling full after wards.

Any responses to any of these questions would be helpful.

1. I slept on my side in the hosptial, and just fine when I got home (expect when gas woke me)

2. I do chewables, I hate gummi anything, always have

3. I reallt tried early on, I just don't get to the gym. I walked and used the treadmill at first, it helped with gas. I really haven't done much in the last 3 months, just started with some dance tonight.

4. YES!! However, you must listen to your body, and follow the rules for this to work. There will be times, especially in the early stages that you can eat more. Only put on the plate what you should have, and don't get more. Set a schedule for eating and it might make it easier for you to not be hungry.

5. Everybody is different. Mine seems to have been breast down. My face slmmmed and arms, in a size 12 jeans, but still need a 20 shirt.

6. Not at 7 mos. yet.

7. I get cravings. I really like food and that's one reason I got the band. I can eat most things, just a lot less. At this stage I am still learning to listen to my body, follow the rules and not put in the stuff I shouldn't. I crave bbq chips, & Tomato sauce (pizza & calzones). At the start I gave up sweet tea, I have a glass couple of nights a week because I am out and it is there. I don't make it at home. This tool works, but it doesn't work alone. You must be committed to the cause in your mind or it just won't do it for you.

OH HELL!!! I haven't had it that bad. So sorry for you, I just can't imagine!

Well, for me it seems to change (don't know why) something will go down at lunch but not at dinner. About 2 weeks after surgery I didn't chew well on a hardboiled egg, not nice. I eat them over med. but not scrambled, I can barely stand to cook em. I can eat grilled, roasted, & baked chicken, but if it is chunky bites I can't do it. Some dinner rolls are fine, but I try to only have well toasted bread (if any) Rice is ok, but all veggies must be well done or I can't get them down. Beef works for me, steak & prime rib work as long as I chew. A yam is fine, but a white potato is 3lbs. no matter what.

6 months post and had a 5 hr flight couple of weeks ago. No problems on flight, next day I felt a little more restriction and same with the return.

I can also eat popcorn but if you can't and still want the taste try Quaker Mini Delights Popcorn flavor. It's not the same but close enough to make me happy. If I do a mini bag of popcorn, I want to do two! These snack bags of rice cakes work well for me.

I am sitting on the plateau also. My restriction is good, I am doing mindless eating. I know I don't want or need it, I just eat it. Early on I must have been more motivated because I didn't have a problem passing on something, now I look for stuff to eat just because. I can't get my head back into this and I am really very upset with myself. I got under 190 and into a size 12 jeans. I WAS DONE!!! That wasn't the plan, but my sub seems to think so. NO matter what I tell myself when I go to bed about what tomorrow will be it just doesn't happen. If I can get to 184 and hold it for a few days I would be on top of the world again.

For about a month I have been taking Aloe Vera and B6, they are for metablism and digestive health. The bleching (which is not the real problem) and the other calmed down. I get it a Walmart.< /p>

Sorry to say it, but it will happen again. What tiggers it for me has been different each time. One forkfull to many, time of day, not chewing well, or eatting to fast. I have eaten something for lunch that won't go down at dinner. I flew recently and the second day I couldn't eat. This week I can't comfortably eat until I have been up a couple of hours, this is new. I find if I can get to the restroom or side of the road most recently, stand up straight and cough I can get enough slime up to get relief. I will be at Walgreens soon to get the product restless mentioned.

If you are ONLY burping you are lucky! Some of the gas comes from the surgery, I think the rest is just from the "new" slow way you are digesting your food now. I am a gas factory and my husband finds it really funny. I was banded in March and it is just starting to get better. I recently started taking B6 and Aloe Vera, they help with metabolism and digestion. I try to always have some type of gas pill with me because I can get gas from iced tea!

You are doing the right thing, walking was a lifesaver for me. I was up in the middle of the night just walking in the house to get relief. Keep up the good work, follow what the doc says.

There is much swelling after surgery, I had it for almost 3 weeks. When it went down I could tell I could eat more. I got a fill at about a month and felt that change too. I was having problems at strange times with different foods and I didn't want a second fill. I could slowly eat a 16oz prime rib. I got the second one about 2 weeks ago, no problems with any food yet. I get full on the small amount and I am staying full. Had dinner couple of hours ago, I don't even want my Water.

Eat the right amounts, and drink, drink, drink. Wait for the suggested time to start drinking, but it will help you feel fuller longer.

I starting using a smaller plate before surgery and it really does help. I just had my second fill about 2 weeks ago and I can't believe the difference it has made. I am at 5.2cc's and the change is unreal. I was eating so much more than I should and I couldn't tell when it was enough. I WILL NOT weigh every meal because I don't want to be a slave to the band. Not only can I get the "full" sign on time, I stay full. It took almost 2 weeks for me to be able to read it, but Ihad dinner about 2 hours ago and I still feel to full for Water. I just don't want anything else. I do have problems with the thought of eating even when I'm not hungry, late night nibbling.

Listen to yourself, slow down and take your time eating. Fix your plate and only eat that amount. Maybe you haven't reached your "sweet" spot. Stick with it and believe in you.

I got the 9cc Realize Band on May 19th. After the first week of liquids, I had a normal appetite and all food went down fine (without even chewing). This was not at all what I expected. Then June 29th I got a 5cc fill and I still feel about the same, but I feel a mild constriction every once in a while. But then the food slips on through and I can eat more. I don't feel full after small amounts of food like I thought I would. I don't have to chew a lot either. Its almost as if nothing was done and I'm not losing any weight. Discouraging.

Is this normal for this time frame? Do I just need to be tighter? :thumbup: My next fill isn't until July 31st.

I got my second fill today .6cc, total is now 5.2cc. I really didn't feel restriction and was schocked to learn that I had some in at surgery. I had lost 20lbs. since the mid April fill. On Mon. I ate a 16oz. prime rib without a moment of trouble.(really needed that fill) Funny thing is that I just admitted to myself that I was just flat out overeating. I wasn't hungry between meals beacuse I ate to much at meals. When I tested myself by measuring out the 4oz of food I was allowed, I found out I was full and didn't get hungry before time to eat again. You might want to try measuring your food, use a food log or calorie counter and make sure you are getting in the full amount of fluids; that helps with hunger. You might also limit the amount of time for eating and eat ONLY what is on your plate. If you feel restriction, STOP!!! Think of your choices, they might have more calories than you think.

Well the good news is that you have your band; bad news...nothing helps with the gas but time. Try Gas-X and just walk. I moved around the house from room to room 3 or 4 times an hour, just to move, that seemed to help keep it from building up on you. It woke me in the middle of the night the first two nights I was home. It does get better, I got my band in March and still get gassy after eating. What you have now is from what they pump in during surgery so it's around your stomach not in and that's why the gas-x doesn't really work that well.

I renewed my military ID couple of weeks ago and I am below the weight I LIED about 4 years ago when I got it!!:smile::thumbup: