bearbandit

For me personally I told everyone. Why hide something that I am proud of. It is not a 'cop out'. Its a lot of work to use the tool. Besides I was never a person who actually cared about what people think. If they dont support me, then so be it. Fortunatelly all the people close to me are in full support of it. Good luck.

I do weight training to improve my muscle tone. I also apply skin firming lotion by the ton! lol...It seems to help. I do plan on getting a Tummy Tuck and whatever else needs to be taken care of once I hit my goal.. Still got a lot of work to do, but I will get there eventually.

Dr. Michael Snyder “Denver Bariatics”

Surgery date 10/9/08

1st Fill 11/11/08=3.5cc

2nd Fill 12/9/08=1.5cc

3rd Fill 1/9/08=.75cc

Total 5.75cc in a 14 cc band

Being scared is perfectly normal. I too was scared because some people tend to dwell on the negative aspects instead of the positives ones. As for PBing, well I am 4 months out and I am proud to say I have not PB'd one time. (I was close a few times, because I was eating too fast) I am very careful of what I eat, and how I eat. As for the procedure it wasn't too bad. (a 45min surgery=a new and healthy life) Once you get past the liquid stage and move into the mushies things got better for me. Good luck, dont be scared and focus on your daily goals.

Dr. Michael Snyder “Denver Bariatics”

Surgery date 10/9/08

1st Fill 11/11/08=3.5cc

2nd Fill 12/9/08=1.5cc

3rd Fill 1/9/08=.75cc

Total 5.75cc in a 14 cc band

Welcome to LBT! Just to let you know just after 2-3 weeks I came off of my blood pressure meds!.. Wow...Getting off the meds is just one thing you will get to look forward to after some good weight loss. Good luck and always follow the 'rules of the tool'

Dr. Michael Snyder “Denver Bariatics”

Surgery date 10/9/08

1st Fill 11/11/08=3.5cc

2nd Fill 12/9/08=1.5cc

3rd Fill 1/9/08=.75cc

Total 5.75cc in a 14 cc band

I was in your shoes just around 4 months ago. I was worried that I will not lose, have complications, or be unhappy with the new lifestyle. Well let me tell the band is the best thing I have ever done for myself. The key is to make sure you have a good surgeon. Good support pre op/post op. To be able to understand why eating with the band will allow you to lose weight. What to eat and when to eat and of course exercise. People that don't lose weight are the ones that don't follow the rules of the tool or they dont listen to the tool. For example if you are too tight you most likely will not lose weight. Your body goes into starvation mode. Another reason is they don't eat the correct types of food, not eating enough food, or not exercising. Its not magic. you have to use it to lose it. Every doctor is different at what they believe their patients should do. I specifically choose my doc because of his philosphy. Such as eating every 3 hours, no matter what. Which means I am never hungry, because I am always eating. Some docs say eat three meals a day. I personally feel that is not enough calories to maintain steady weight loss. But I almost always eat the correct types of food. I will never forget what he said to me "food is fuel for your body, nothing more" That statement rings in my head everytime I want cake, ice cream, etc...My goal is to be near my goal weight by my 1 year anniversary. So far I am off to a fantastic start but I know things will get harder. Bottom line is this. "if you are ready to take the step of changing your lifestyle, for what you need to do to be successful, then you will lose weight"

Dr. Michael Snyder “Denver Bariatrics”

Surgery date 10/9/08

1st Fill 11/11/08=3.5cc

2nd Fill 12/9/08=1.5cc

3rd Fill 1/9/08=.75cc

Total 5.75cc in a 14 cc band

This is my recovery drink after a good workout.

8oz of vanilla Soy Milk

2 scoops of Perfect Isopure vanilla Protein powder (50g)

1/4 cup of frozen blueberries

1 small bananna

1 scoop of ground flax seed.

1 handful of ice cubes

*56g of Protein and 460 calories*

This is a very tasty shake. I only drink this shake after I burn lots of calories because of the amount of calories in it. Helps build lean muscle.

Surgery date 10/9/08

1st Fill 11/11/08=3.5cc

2nd Fill 12/9/08=1.5cc

3rd Fill 1/9/08=.75cc

Total 5.75cc in a 14 cc band

Hang in there. I used to binge eat as well especially when I was stressed out. Be patient. This might help. Everyday or the night before I would always make my lunch for the day for work. I would measue the volumes out in the 4 oz containers that I bought. Using a stop watch I ate every 3 hours on the dot, even if I was not hungry. I still do it to this day. While drinking lots of Water in between but never less than a half an hour after I ate. Make it a routine and as time goes by, my brain would look at the food as fuel for my body. Go one day at a time, dont scale watch and get fills when needed. if you need to talk with someone that deals with eating disorders, then by all means do it. Good luck and take one day at a time. Eventually and hopefully you will see food for what it is. "fuel for your body":thumbup:

Surgery date 10/9/08

1st Fill 11/11/08=3.5cc

2nd Fill 12/9/08=1.5cc

3rd Fill 1/9/08=.75cc

Total 5.75cc in a 14 cc band

Well I had an issue 5-6 weeks out having no energy. Once you start eating solid meals and start to exercise the energy will come back. Remember your body is going through some major changes. Its adjusting to your new caloric intake. Before you know it you will be bouncing and can't sit still.

Surgery date 10/9/08

1st Fill 11/11/08=3.5cc

2nd Fill 12/9/08=1.5cc

3rd Fill 1/9/08=.75cc

Total 5.75cc in a 14 cc band

Welcome to the board. Congrats on taking the leap. Getting a Lapband was the best decision I have ever made. My life is so much more enjoyable and I am just getting started. I got banded at Denver Bariatrics by Dr. Snyder. They refer to your surgery date as your "new birthday". Good luck and see you around.:w00t:

Surgery date 10/9/08

1st Fill 11/11/08=3.5cc

2nd Fill 12/9/08=1.5cc

3rd Fill 1/9/08=.75cc

Total 5.75cc in a 14 cc band

Remember to get enough calories. If you dont your body will store what you are getting into fat. Sounds like your too tight. You should be able to eat chicken, fish, eggs etc...to get your Proteins. Good luck and see your surgeon sooner rather than later.

Well my longest plateau was about two weeks so far. I am nearly 4 months out and I am down 70lbs. I have 5.75 cc in a 14 cc band. Being only 5 weeks out your doing fine. Look at it this way you can eat around 8oz at a meal. Well that is still alot less than before right. At least it was for me. Wow I could eat a lb or more..lol..This is my advice. Eat healthy, eat often, follow all the rules of the tool, get fills when needed and for stop looking at the scale. Your body is going through many changes right now be patient and stop scale watching. My goal is very simple "Weigh myself once a month" See if you can do it. Its really hard to do. That way you keep your mind out of it and you just focus on what you need to do each day. My weight falls off in chunks. Good luck and take your vitamins.:thumbdown:

I always eat a Protein Bar right after my fills. If Water doesn't go down your way too tight. You need to be able to eat food. That way I now for sure I am not too tight.....have 5.75 cc's in a 14cc band.

:thumbup:To help with hunger you need to make sure you get your Protein. I am a huge milk, yogurt and soy milk fan. I am pretty sure they make protein powders you can make with Water that are really good. I use Isopure Perfect vanilla. It has no carbs and one serving has 50g of protein. Its a milk based protein, but if you can't have milk I am sure there is altenatives. I have tred it with water and its fine that way. At this point in time for me, my workout burn just over a 1000 calories, so I always mix it with non-fat milk. I need all the calories I can get. Also try the whey protein bullets http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f9/new-whey-liquid-protein-protein-bullets-26424/ My favorite one is blue raspberry. Also Isopure makes the clear protein liquid which I used directly after surgury. Concentrate on getting your protein. Good luck on your journey and make sure to follow your surgeons rules to the tee.

I am post op 3+ months. Tried drinking sprite once and wow. You reallly feel it. You have to drink it slow. But I have a friend that drinks sprite on a regular bases and she has a band and is post op 1+ year. All depends, everyone is different. My surgeon told me not to. I really chose not to drink soda because of the calories anyway. Maybe down the road when I am at my goal weight I might drink a little soda once in a while. Good luck.

I know exactly what you are talking about. I crave sweets all the time. Since getting the band I have cut out my sugar intake almost completely. I used to drink soda all the time. You name it I ate it. I really think it is actually a physical thing that will right itself as time goes on. Until then I suck on sugar free candy and chew sugar free gum. I also try to always get some natural sugars in fruits.

I am three months post op. Once you start losing weight and exercising your butt off, well fast food never enters my mind. (at least for me). With the band, once you get some restriction there is just not much things you can even eat at fast food. I am down over 60 lbs and feeling great. infact during the holidays I ate a few brownies which is fine, but it made my stomach upset. once your body gets used to nothing but healthy food and very little sugar your body cant handle it anymore. As my surgeon said to me, once you get it in your head that "food is fuel". Always ask yourself this question, "what benefit do I get out of eating this food". If no benefit, dont eat it. Have a wonderful journey to the new you.

mine was outpatient. My surgeon would have set it up as inpatient if I was at high risk. (extemely obese). It sure was nice being home the same day.

I am just over 3 months post op. I was like you measuring all my food and stopping at that point regardless. It all depends on what food I eat. For example lets say I eat some salmon. Salmon is a lot more dense thus I get full on 4 oz. If you eat some steamed veggies they are less dense and you can eat more. So how much food depends on how dense it is. The feeling of full is really hard to find or understand. Remember your brain takes twenty minutes to realize your full. You are looking for that physical feeling. Hince thats why we have bands because we eat till we feel full. At that point we ate way too much. I have 5.75 cc's now and I have to be very careful on how fast I eat. or I can get stuck, which hurts. I still measure out my food volume. your only two months out so your still healing. Measure out your food and stop. Time yourself between each meal. if you start to get really hungry at around 2 hours after then you need a fill. I eat every three hours regardless. As for drinking Water, (only after about 45 mins after you eat), I drink that stuff down like there is no tomorrow. It wont extend your pouch as it will pass right on through. When you get good restriction and you just ate a very dense meal and didn't wait long enough after you ate to drink water....ouch! that really hurts. P.S. I also had my 3 month labs done. all was good but Vitamin D was low. apparently this is very common. You need D to absorb Calcium. Just a heads up. Good luck! Be diligent and dedicate yourself to exercise and good nutrition.:sneaky:

I eat every 3 hours regardless if I am hungry or not. That way my metabolism stays high. I try not to drink Protein Drinks, but sometimes after a hard workout I have one to help my body recover. (a good recovery after a workout help build muscle tissue). The more muscle the more calories you body will burn. So eating every three hours and consuming about 200 calories each meal with about 5 or six meals a day will get you 1000-1200 calories. Try that and up your workouts and you should start losing. Some banders are instructed to eat three meals a day. My nutritionist says six times a day. All I know is if you dont consume enough calories your body goes into starvation mode and you dont lose any weight. Lets just say I am never hungry. Good luck:thumbup:

my doc says no drinking during meals and 45 mins after. 2 hours is too long.

I have a 14cc band and currently have 5.75cc in my band. My surgeon says I should be eating 4oz every three hours. Thats about six times a day. Just had my last fill last week and that is exactly where I am currently at. If you are eating a subway sandwich you need a fill. You should not be able to eat bread period. My surgeon says if you are eating more than 5oz per meal then you need a fill. (their nutritionist says 75% Protein, 25% complex carbs) every meal. No Protein Drinks. Always get your Proteins from animals or soy products. You want to eat the dense food as it will stay in your stoma where your band is thus making you full. The reason you have to keep getting fills as you lose weight is because of the fat on your organs. The fat will decrease on your organs (fat pad is what they call it) thus your band will losen up. Once you get down to your ideal weight you will have a lot less organ fat and you will be at your sweet spot. Your guess is as good as mine on how many cc's will be my sweet spot. Everyone is different. Good luck and go get yourself another fill and get one everytime you lose your restriction. :thumbdown:

Everyone is not the same. If you are a person who wants to change their current lifestyle with a heathy one, then lapband is a good choice. Let me tell you if your mind is not in this for the long haul you will not succeed. The lapband is a tool. Nothing more. You still have to eat healthy, follow doctors orders and exercise. Keep in mind some foods you enjoy today you will not be able to eat again. This has not been to big of an issue for me so far. I am down 60 lbs and feeling great in less than 3 months. But keep in mind I followed the rules of the tool diligently. For me the choice to get the lapband was easy. Lose the weight or not see my kids grow up. I am self pay and this was the best investment I have ever done. I invested in my life. Good luck with whatever you decide.

They only thing I would add to the above stated is a stopwatch and lots of movies to watch. A stopwatch because keeping track of drinking an ounce of Fluid every 15-mins was hard to keep track of the first few days. Even to this day I use it to make sure I eat every three hours...good luck on your journey :wink2:

My surgeon demanded I keep using mine throughout the whole process. Especially the first night post op.. You need full oxygen saturation to heal quickly.:wink2:

Well let me tell you of my success. I was banded on Oct 9,2008 and I am down almost 60 lbs. Mind you I am a guy and guys tend to lose weight faster than women. That's just the way it is. I have not Bp'd one time. This is because I follow the rules of the band. I eat six times a day around 4oz each time. Never eat junk, as my surgeon would say 'food is fuel'. So I tend to always eat very healthy Protein and complex carbs. I also work out 5 times a week. Started the first month with just walking then after six weeks I started working out at the gym. Your friend is not following the rules and it sounds like they are too tight. If you follow the rules of the tool, you will lose weight. Start out slow and progress at your own pace. I was banded because I needed help. l actually lost 165 lbs without the band and gained it all back. So I said to myself, 'Its time to make a permanent change.' If you think you can just get a band and poof you are skinning you are mistaken. It takes hard work and detication. Good luck....P.S. Getting the Lapband was the best decision of my life.:tongue2: