MSan914

I am 9 months post-op and am NOT at my sweet spot yet. My surgeon is cautious and reserved.....my weight is dropping VERY SLOWLY......but I am working out 5 days a week - and losing pant sizes....so i gues that is a GOOD thing. But I would like to see the scale move MORE often!

There is a Biggest Loser type contest at my work - started last week. Now I want to say that I work in an office that has some RNs and MPHs people -- working in a health-related medical field. The staff know that I had lapband. I asked if I could join - the rules they got from another company said that if a person has had a WLS within the last 12 months then they COULD NOT participate. But the office I worked for deleted that rule ON PURPOSE. They believe that I have lost the "easy weight" and now am working on the hard to lose pounds. So they let me join! It cost me $100 and the winner gets $750 and 2nd place gets $250. The contest is 5 months long....so it is a longer than normal BL contest. I lost one pound from last week -- others have lost 5-7 lbs. I work out 5 days a week - and I am losing inches...as I have gone down 2 pant sizes in the last 2 months. But my weight has not gone down much. I was banded almost 9 months ago -- have very little to no restriction. I can still eat almost anything in any amount....so MY will power and my workouts are what is helping me lose the weight....really hoping that I will get some good restriction SOON..

I still get the munchies....awe heck - who am I kidding --- I STILL think of food constantly........hungry or not......... I can curb the want to eat...........but it is most difficult at night -- after dinner............ This is my downfall................ and want it to stop.:smile2:

Hi everyone!! Well I have been gone from this site for a long time --- but I am back now. 2 months ago I joined our local ATA school (TaeKwonDo/Karate) and have been working out 5 times a week. This has helped me on the WL journey - as I still have very little restriction. I would recommend ATA to anyone that is able to do a cardio/kickboxing type of workout. I do not own a scale - so I never know where I am with my weight...until I get to the doctors office.....but I do measure my success by how my clothes fit...and they continue to get more and more loose!!! YEA!!

I was banded in April 2009 -- and have a conservative surgeon. I have 5.75cc in my band. I have lost 39 pounds since surgery. I still have VERY LITTLE RESTRICTION........ I get very jealous of those that have 7 and even 8cc in their bands and their surgery date was after mine!!! I am losing weight (less than 1 lb per week --- but still losting!!) - with very little help from the band....just like the old days. Intense cardio/weight EXERCISE 5 times a week and being careful on what I am eating. Any and everyone that thinks that having the BAND is going to be the ANSWER to their weight loss is fooling themselves...it REALLY is just a TOOL. You need your WILL POWER and your DETERMINATION to get the weight off................the band will help....some it will help sooner than others!

I joined a local ATA (karate) school about a month ago - it is GREAT - they have 45 minute work-outs several times a week - and then a FITNESS class on Saturday mornings....they push you hard - but understand that everyone has limits.:drool: Do a Google search for ATA + your town and see what comes up.... I have lost 1 dress size in a month -- hoping to lose another size by Christmas...........

I have heard GREAT things about P90X --- you CAN get bored and unmotivated with any video type thing - So if you are able to get a group of people together to do it the same time and same days....maybe a church group or at a school (parents in the evening), etc......

I got my lap band on April 28, 2009 here in Lansing .... The surgeon's office has once a month post-op meetings -- but they are lecture style - not really a support group. I am hoping to find a "Support/talk group" in the Lansing area............

Where are you getting the surgery done? I am in Lansing --

YEA -- Congrats -- I am really excited and glad for you!! (And a little jealous too ) I go in for my 3rd fill -- hopefully I will get some restriction.... still working on strict will power....which I am not very good at... Keep up posted on how things go the next few weeks --

Being a year post-op -- you may want to look up the 5 Day Pouch test they are at www.5daypouchtest.com and see if that will kick start you again. You don't need to BUY or ORDER anything from them - just search out the website and you will get the idea of what you need to do for the 5 days. As far as Protein amounts my dr office (the dietician) says I should be getting 70-80 grams of protein a day. I drink a 30g Protein shake in the morning (costco brand)... a greek yougurt at lunch time or two eggs or some tuna.... and then have steak/chicken/fish with a salad at night time... I also eat some fruit and veggies at different times through the day - if I have the hunger pains. Try to get back on track - if you surgeons office isn't real helpful - find some other form of information and support...it is NOT EASY - but you CAN do it, it takes TIME and EFFORT. GOOD LUCK!

Sanderson - Good Job on the weight loss!! I am 30lbs down -- and have had 2 fills (2cc's each) - and still have NO RESTRICTION....ugh!!! I have my 3rd fill appt next week and HOPE that the fill will help me feel some restriction.... Keep in touch! Stephanie

Congrats!! Would you be willing to share how much/when your flls were? What you normally eat in a day? and how much/what kind of exercise? I am almost 4 months post-surgery and only have lost 27 lbs..........ugh :-(

I was not aware that the ramen seasoning packet or broth had much protein....how much do they contain?

I was banded in April.......and did not get a fill at surgery. Got my 1st fill in early June - getting my 2nd fill next week. I do not own a scale -- I wait until my dr appts to find out any weight loss. I have had NO RESTRICTION from day one post-op. I have been on "will power" and "self-control" the whole time. Which is helping me with the "mental" side of my eating habits. I can not wait to get my fills -- that will hopefully offer me that physical restriction. I need the tool (the lapband) to get out of the toolbox and start working!!! YES - I have to get it working, but the fills will get it out of the tool-box!! hahaha Good Luck to All of Us!! :tongue_smilie:

I was banded back on April 28 -- and I have stayed away from those high carb smooth foods....mashed potatoes, refried Beans, etc. I just love that kind of food too much to give me that temptation. I also have stayed away from most all starches, including crackers, breads, tortillas etc. I have been able to get my Protein amount in the entire time. That GREEK yougurt has been good - also a pouch of tuna is only 80 cals and 18g of protein!! Most fruit has a high sugar (natural yes, but still sugar) - so I have cut WAY back on fruit. I have increased the "FREE" veggie choices - I have not had any problems (knock on wood) with any foods from day one.......so I have eaten pretty much whatever I have wanted to......meats, protein shakes/shots, cottage cheese, yougurts, etc. Good Luck!!

Those are good questions to ask - I would add: -- what kind of diet and how long (even if you have been told before...I ask the doc at the appt) -- can they numb the port area prior to the fill (it took my doc a little prior to finding the correct area to inject the fill)

I had my first fill on Wednesday (June 10). The dr gave me a shot to numb the area - and then inserted the needle for the fill. When the needle went in I started to laugh and couldn't stop. She waited about 10 seconds and then told me that if I couldn't stop laughing she would have to remove the needle. I took a huge breath and tried to breat slowly and think about something else. But I couldn't help it - I just busted out laughing again. Luckily - in those few seconds of not laughing she was able to get the needle into the port. I got 2 cc's. anyone else have the "laughing" episode?:thumbdown:

Hey there Pudgy -- I can understand your feelings --- my husband has done two deployments in 5 years....and those emotions alone are HORRIBLE to deal with. I was banded on April 28th - and I get my 1st fill next week. I can not wait -I have absolutely NO RESTRICTION what so ever...... Take a look at the www.TheDailyPlate.com website. The basic site is free for anyone to use. I have NOT eaten any bread/pasta products - keep pretty much to meats, green/color veggies and fruits, along with Protein drinks and shakes. I have found that I can get my protein in but I have to write everything down in a journal to make sure I have gotten enough of the protein (60-80grams) and the fluids (64oz +) Good luck -- you are welcome to send me a private message if you want. And THANK YOU for the service that your husband and YOU are making......... keep the faith!!:redface:

I never had any restriction from day of surgery (April 28th) ---- I would call you surgeon's office and ask them about it.

I am sorry that you are feeling pain and are uncomfortable. I was banded on April 28 -- and do not get my 1st fill until next week on June 10....... I can not wait -- and I hope that I get some restriction. keep us posted....k?

what happened is what they call "PB'ing" (productive burp). It has happened to me twice. it is NOT vomiting. It usually means that the food was not chewed well enough - and the little pouch area can not hold it adequately. If you are worried about band slippage - you should call your surgeon's office IMMEDIATELY and get their advice. hope this helps.

walk walk walk I vomited twice within 24 hrs after my surgery -- the 1st was the most painful. When it happened it helped for me to "hold" the belly area of the incisions. But I am not going to lie - it was painful. The nurses and docs said it was probably from the anethesia.

You will still be working with your WILL POWER prior to 1st fill. That is where I am right now - I am 4 weeks post-op with no restriction. Have been able to eat most things - and I do not get that full/stuffed feeling. But don't just sit around to wait for the 1st fill. My surgeon told me from the 1st day of post-op that I need to MOVE my body. Walking at first and then increase the activity more and more - putting in the sweat equity. My weight loss has slowed down these last 2 1/2 weeks -- but working on getting moving more often and at a betting "sweat" -- I am set to get my first fill on June 10 (was banded on April 28). Good Luck!! This aint easy.

Wow- congrats on that weight loss!! I am so jealous -- good work!!