chayamom

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Isn't it funny how we notice the huge amounts of food that people eat now? It's so funny how little food we actually need to live and even thrive. If most people only realized that. Including me pre surgery. But I would have thought I was starving to death

I agree with you that even though I am eating less I am much more satisfied with what I eat. For one each bite is being eaten in smaller pieces and needs to get chewed better than in my pre-banding days. So I savor my food. The emotions of feeling terrible for overeating and still not being satisfied is mostly gone. And for that I cannot be thankful enough!

I was at a sales dinner last night. I sat next to a very nice woman, who happens to be very, very, trim. In addition to cheese and crackers, plus at least one glass of wine pre-dinner, then two glasses with dinner, she ate the (large) starter salad, cleaned her plate (8-10oz sirloin, asparagas, and onions), plus two rolls with butter. Then dessert, tiramisu with coffee. If that is eating like a thin person, no. I'll never be able to eat like that.
I have no idea how she normally eats, but I was suitably impressed - in an odd way.
I had some cheese and a few grapes before dinner. A few bites of salad. Did my best to estimate 4 oz of steak, and a had a few asparagas spears. I was more than done.
There was a time when I could have eaten that much food, but I would have felt like crap afterwards. I'm quite happy eating smaller meals. I still enjoy what I eat. I think that's important.

I'm not 100% sure what you mean by "eating like a skinny person" but I can explain how it works for me. I have found that dieting rules are so much simpler to follow since my band has been tight enough. I am guilty of grazing (not sure if that's a bad thing). What I love is that I can go out with friends, go to a wedding, or some other function and eat some of most of what is served including dessert. The difference is that I have only one or two spoons of some of the foods served including dessert - and don't feel like I cheated or that I did something terrible. If I see that my weight loss is slowing down more than I want I can track what I'm eating and follow a normal eating plan for me, and I will see the weight begin to move down again. To me this is the way skinny people eat. Moderation and Portion Control without feeling deprived. Good luck!

I would be happy seeing myself in a 12 considering how hard it's been to see success. But my ideal goal is a 10. I just cannot imagine getting there nor staying there. Time will tell.

great poll. I am trying to figure out the balance of what I need to eat now to maintain and not lose anymore. Its such a weird feeling to not try and lose anymore. To some 154 lbs is still alot... but I am almost 5'8" and wearing a size 8 and med shirts and that is small enough for me. I dont want to look sickly and I feel better than I have in years. Thanks so much for this sight Alex... I dont know what I would have done without the support I have gotten on here!!!!

I'm with you 100%. I had gastritis before I banded. Since my band is working well I have heartburn instead. I was on omeprazole for the gastritis for way longer than anyone should but nothing else worked. Now I'm on previcid twice a day and still get heartburn at times. I have an appointment with my GI later this week. I hope he'll be able to resolve the issue for good . Maybe you should check in with your doctor as well.

Had another visit to my doctor yesterday. I am down 8 lbs. this month. Hurray!!! My band is finally doing what it is supposed to. I can't believe that it took close to 6 years in to figure out how to get it to work. I so gave up on it a while back. I feel like snoopy doing the happy dance!

January 2009 I had my lap-band surgery done in Brooklyn, NY. I followed the rules before and after the surgery and lost about 30 lbs. total counting the two week pre-op liquid diet. I went for fills regularly for a while but did not see much in the way of weight loss results. I would be asked if I feel any restriction, and I always did - especially the first day or two after getting a fill. I was always surprised by how much I was able to eat and what foods I could eat. It got to a point I felt like the band is just not working for me and I sort of gave up. Life got in the way and I stopped going back to my doctor.
About three and a half years later I decided to go back to the same doctor after seeing another family member do really well with the band after years of having had no results either. At first we started with some fills and then she wouldn't give me another fill because she felt I was going to be too full. I went in with the attitude that there must be something wrong with my band such as a leak. The PA that I saw was ready to send me for routine testing and flippantly told me that in the worst case I can always have the sleeve done. I did not like her attitude at all! I also did not go for testing because should they find a problem I would need another surgery to correct it and mentally I wasn't prepared for that. Last winter I went on an OA type diet for about four months. I fell off the wagon and had a very difficult time going back on. Over the summer I ate whatever was served and/or was around depending on where I was etc. In May I had blood work done and my A1C was going from pre-diabetic into diabetic. I was still calling in pre-diabetic because I couldn't deal with it but in the back of my mind I knew I needed to deal with my reality. My father had passed away 5 1/2 years ago from diabetes at the age of 62. It was what pushed me to go for the surgery in the first place.
This September I decided to look into having the sleeve done since a number of people I know were quite successful with it,I still believed there was something wrong with my band. I switched doctors and it was the best move I made! For one he explained things to me so much more clearly. Another thing he did for me was removed all the saline in my band and measured it. My band was not as full as the first doctor assumed. He right away gave me one cc. When I tried to eat after that fill it was like a light bulb went off - I remember hearing that optimally one should be able to eat about 1/4 cup of food in one sitting. This was the first time I could even imagine what they were talking about. In the first three weeks I lost 6 lbs, most of that in the first week. Last week I was back and the doctor told me that was very normal and being that I was able to eat a bit more he would give me a slight fill. I am so excited to see results!!
I am still trying to figure out what an appropriate fill would mean for me. At the same time I began seeing my new doctor I also began exercising at the gym. The second fill coincided with a Pilates class that was way too difficult for me. I have been quite uncomfortable and I'm trying to figure out how much is from the band and how much is from exercising my very out of shape body. So I guess I'm still very much a work in progress. I want to see this weight come off and my A1C numbers dropping therefore I'm hesitant to do anything about the pain. I'm taking a watch and wait approach, if I don't see any improvement or cannot pinpoint what is causing my pain I will call the doctor by the end of the week.

January 2009 I had my lap-band surgery done in Brooklyn, NY. I followed the rules before and after the surgery and lost about 30 lbs. total counting the two week pre-op liquid diet. I went for fills regularly for a while but did not see much in the way of weight loss results. I would be asked if I feel any restriction, and I always did - especially the first day or two after getting a fill. I was always surprised by how much I was able to eat and what foods I could eat. It got to a point I felt like the band is just not working for me and I sort of gave up. Life got in the way and I stopped going back to my doctor.
About three and a half years later I decided to go back to the same doctor after seeing another family member do really well with the band after years of having had no results either. At first we started with some fills and then she wouldn't give me another fill because she felt I was going to be too full. I went in with the attitude that there must be something wrong with my band such as a leak. The PA that I saw was ready to send me for routine testing and flippantly told me that in the worst case I can always have the sleeve done. I did not like her attitude at all! I also did not go for testing because should they find a problem I would need another surgery to correct it and mentally I wasn't prepared for that. Last winter I went on an OA type diet for about four months. I fell off the wagon and had a very difficult time going back on. Over the summer I ate whatever was served and/or was around depending on where I was etc. In May I had blood work done and my A1C was going from pre-diabetic into diabetic. I was still calling in pre-diabetic because I couldn't deal with it but in the back of my mind I knew I needed to deal with my reality. My father had passed away 5 1/2 years ago from diabetes at the age of 62. It was what pushed me to go for the surgery in the first place.
This September I decided to look into having the sleeve done since a number of people I know were quite successful with it,I still believed there was something wrong with my band. I switched doctors and it was the best move I made! For one he explained things to me so much more clearly. Another thing he did for me was removed all the saline in my band and measured it. My band was not as full as the first doctor assumed. He right away gave me one cc. When I tried to eat after that fill it was like a light bulb went off - I remember hearing that optimally one should be able to eat about 1/4 cup of food in one sitting. This was the first time I could even imagine what they were talking about. In the first three weeks I lost 6 lbs, most of that in the first week. Last week I was back and the doctor told me that was very normal and being that I was able to eat a bit more he would give me a slight fill. I am so excited to see results!!
I am still trying to figure out what an appropriate fill would mean for me. At the same time I began seeing my new doctor I also began exercising at the gym. The second fill coincided with a Pilates class that was way too difficult for me. I have been quite uncomfortable and I'm trying to figure out how much is from the band and how much is from exercising my very out of shape body. So I guess I'm still very much a work in progress. I want to see this weight come off and my A1C numbers dropping therefore I'm hesitant to do anything about the pain. I'm taking a watch and wait approach, if I don't see any improvement or cannot pinpoint what is causing my pain I will call the doctor by the end of the week.

I go day to day and don't even notice or think about the band all that much....
The lifestyle I now live, was brought about by the band. But has now become a normal for me....
No side effects or problems. All that was in the first year. And that was because I had to adjust and change to get along with what the band was doing....
After that...it all settled down, myself especially, and it all became harmonious. Never better.
I'm sorry that everyday was nothing but trouble for you...it is not the first time I had heard people say they and the band never could got along...
But when I do read posts like these, I feel I have to chime in and simply say, that there are people, like myself, who do complete the journey and get along just fine day to day...like someone previously said, it's like being on auto-pilot....

Good to hear you've managed to find a way to solve your problem.
If my own Band office were 8 hours away, it would be more trouble than it is now at 5+ round trip plus whatever in-office time there is.
And yes, the fill-charges have gone up tremendously.
However, in my own case, 10 years postOp, I'm in better shape now than I was preOp. If fact, it is very likely I would have died from one of my own co-morbidities if my health hadn't improved from the effects of the Band.
Sorry you had such troubles. I'm not going to rush out and have mine removed just yet though. The worst day I've had postOp is still better than the best day I had in the 5 years preOp.
Good luck.

January 2009 I had my lap-band surgery done in Brooklyn, NY. I followed the rules before and after the surgery and lost about 30 lbs. total counting the two week pre-op liquid diet. I went for fills regularly for a while but did not see much in the way of weight loss results. I would be asked if I feel any restriction, and I always did - especially the first day or two after getting a fill. I was always surprised by how much I was able to eat and what foods I could eat. It got to a point I felt like the band is just not working for me and I sort of gave up. Life got in the way and I stopped going back to my doctor.
About three and a half years later I decided to go back to the same doctor after seeing another family member do really well with the band after years of having had no results either. At first we started with some fills and then she wouldn't give me another fill because she felt I was going to be too full. I went in with the attitude that there must be something wrong with my band such as a leak. The PA that I saw was ready to send me for routine testing and flippantly told me that in the worst case I can always have the sleeve done. I did not like her attitude at all! I also did not go for testing because should they find a problem I would need another surgery to correct it and mentally I wasn't prepared for that. Last winter I went on an OA type diet for about four months. I fell off the wagon and had a very difficult time going back on. Over the summer I ate whatever was served and/or was around depending on where I was etc. In May I had blood work done and my A1C was going from pre-diabetic into diabetic. I was still calling in pre-diabetic because I couldn't deal with it but in the back of my mind I knew I needed to deal with my reality. My father had passed away 5 1/2 years ago from diabetes at the age of 62. It was what pushed me to go for the surgery in the first place.
This September I decided to look into having the sleeve done since a number of people I know were quite successful with it,I still believed there was something wrong with my band. I switched doctors and it was the best move I made! For one he explained things to me so much more clearly. Another thing he did for me was removed all the saline in my band and measured it. My band was not as full as the first doctor assumed. He right away gave me one cc. When I tried to eat after that fill it was like a light bulb went off - I remember hearing that optimally one should be able to eat about 1/4 cup of food in one sitting. This was the first time I could even imagine what they were talking about. In the first three weeks I lost 6 lbs, most of that in the first week. Last week I was back and the doctor told me that was very normal and being that I was able to eat a bit more he would give me a slight fill. I am so excited to see results!!
I am still trying to figure out what an appropriate fill would mean for me. At the same time I began seeing my new doctor I also began exercising at the gym. The second fill coincided with a Pilates class that was way too difficult for me. I have been quite uncomfortable and I'm trying to figure out how much is from the band and how much is from exercising my very out of shape body. So I guess I'm still very much a work in progress. I want to see this weight come off and my A1C numbers dropping therefore I'm hesitant to do anything about the pain. I'm taking a watch and wait approach, if I don't see any improvement or cannot pinpoint what is causing my pain I will call the doctor by the end of the week.