Lap2Fab

Hey everyone! It's been a while since I have posted, I haven't lost weight in months. I had a bad fall on Halloween and had been pretty sore for a while and that was my excuse to not exercise. I feel like I'm doing fine with my eating, but the lack of excerise is a problem. I'm also eating more than I think I should, so I'm scheduling another fill. I'm really frustrated, but then I also realized that I stopped coming to the website, and I am sure that is part of the problem too. Out of sight, out of mind! I need the support to get me off this plateau and moving forward. I thought back in August that I would be down 60lbs...yes, in 6 months! I was sure that I would just drop the weight quickly. It's not happening and I need to be more realistic about my goals! I hope you are all doing well, I'm looking forward to going back and reading the threads to catch up on how you all are doing! I have finally told 3 friends about the surgery...just last week. I feel better now that other people besides my DH knows. I also added a picture finally, I've been dreading letting anyone know about the surgery, but feel better now that I have! Shelly

HIGHEST WEIGHT - 225 LBS GOAL WEIGHT - 130LBS SURGERY DATE - 08/11/2010 WEIGHT ON DATE OF SURGERY - 215LBS CURRENT WEIGHT AS OF 01/18/2011 - 185LBS I HAVE 55LBS MORE POUNDS TO LOSE

I finally walked into my gym after joining two months ago. I've been doing a lot of walking outside and was really nervous about actually going to the gym. I didn't realize that they changed it. The gym used to have a women's only area for weights but now they have relocated it to another area and have an entire women's only section, so they have treadmills, bikes, stairclimbers and elipitcal machines now in the room too! I did 20 minutes on the treadmill and 20 minutes on the bike with some stretching. I'm going to blog what I do to keep track of myself and be more accountable!

Day 2 - 45 minutes walking Day 3 - 50 minutes walking at incline

Great blog, you really helped me think about fill #3. I have had 2 fills and don't feel much restriction unless I don't chew enough and then I get some pain, but it goes away within a couple of minutes. I was reading my paperwork and it said I could go in every 2-4 weeks but when I called the office, they said that was old information and they usually will give a fill every 4 weeks, but that my next appt isn't until Nov 8th, so they would let me come in next week for fill #3. I'm going to pay close attention to this one since I'm at 4.5 ccs now. I want restriction but don't want to have reflux or be on any new meds, I'm on enough still already! :thumbup: Good luck finding your sweet spot, hopefully, I'll be at mine in another few weeks!

So glad that I'm not alone! Was banded 8/11 and have had 2 fills totaling 4.5 ccs in a 10cc band. I don't feel much restriction and can still eat most anything so long as I chew it. Like others, I'm trying to make good choices in what I eat, but with no restriction, I am not losing. Starting tomorrow (since I'm not eating anymore today), I am going to dig out all of my Lapband information and really stick to the program and get my exercise in and write down what I am eating. It's not the band's fault, it's my responsibility to follow the program in order for it to work! Thanks for motivating me tonight, this post is exactly what I needed! :smile2:

Very helpful, I need another fill! Yesterday I made an apple pie and ate a piece that I should not have been able to finish, and I did, with no problem! I was good the rest of the day because I knew I shouldn't have eatten it all! If I had restriction, I wouldn't have been able to eat it!

Today is my 2 month bandiversary, I've had 2 fills and can go back for another in 2 weeks. I feel like I have hit a plateau and am just wondering if that's normal so early on. I still eat whatever I want, though I really think about what I am eating, so I'm not doing any fast food (except the occasional Subway) or junk food/snacks. I'm full most of the day, I drink my water and take my walks. Should I go back and do shakes for a couple of days to get my body back on track? I know it's a process and it's not a race, but I haven't lost anything in weeks!

I would only recommend having a good support system at home too. With two young children, you are going to be out of commission for a couple of days and then still be recovering for a couple of weeks. My kids are now 7 & 9 so they are more self sufficient when they need something. With that being said, I don't regret for one minute having the surgery done! Like you, other diets have worked but not for the long term. I'm so happy to have found Lapband!

I had my second fill this week, it didn't sting as much as the first one in fact, I don't even remember her doing it. I now have 4.5 ccs in my band. I still don't feel much restriction. Went to a fair yesterday and ate a greek gyro, finished about 1/2 of it and I was done. My husband kept asking me if I wanted fried dough or a sausage bomb or french fries, which is what we would usually eat a fair. I just didn't feel hungry and nothing appealed to me like it once had. I'm not going to lie, the smells were fantastic, but I knew if I put one bite in my mouth, it would have been too much after the 1/2 gyro! Much to my surprise, my husband only ate the other half of my gyro and a burger! Boy, this lapband will pay for itself in no time! I'm now down 30lbs total, 25 since the preop diet. I'm feeling good and loving that a lot of my old clothes are fitting me better. I am starting to see the changes. I have absolutely no regrets about doing this, I'm so happy that this was an option for me!

Wow! Thanks for sharing, that is scary! I've only had my band since 8/11 and never had anything really stuck, had one experience with not chewing enough and that scared me, I can't imagine what you went through! Glad this worked out okay for you!

Congratulations! I was scared and nervous and second guessed myself the days before surgery, almost like "why did it have to come to this?" and "what if I tried this diet instead?"...but there is a reason that you went through the lapband approval process to get you where you are today. Like so many of us, those other diets don't work for us! The first day will be okay, the second to fifth days will be harder, everyone is right, walk, walk walk...it's just gas pain...and I did take Gas X strips and they worked great! By the end of the first week, you will be so happy that you made this decision to be healthier! I had my surgery on 8/11 and with the preop diet and lapband, I have already lost 32lbs! I look better, I feel better and I'm wearing clothes I haven't worn in years! You will be thrilled with your decision! Good luck!

Congratulations surgery buddy! I'm at 190 and holding! I so want that number to say 189, but I have to remember that it's not a race and I'm not competing with anyone but myself. I was so happy to see the 1 as the first number, I should just be pleased with the results so far! I am due for my second fill tomorrow, I have to call and make an appointment, I can't believe it's already been 4 weeks since my first fill! I definitely need one...I had 3cc in my band already so they added .5 cc to it. For the past week, I have been able to eat a lot more food than I had previously, I even ate almost an entire Subway sandwich. I wasn't trying to eat it all, but I was thinking I would stop once I felt satisfied. I ate 3/4 of it! Bread and all! Last night I went out to dinner with the family and brought half of my meal home and no dessert, not even a bite! I was pretty proud of myself...and the fact that I was wearing my size 14 jeans that I've never been able to get much of a leg into and now I can wear them and zipper with no problem! :crying: Hope everyone is doing well. I am finding that I don't come on as much because sometimes I forget that I even have had the surgery and still need the support that goes with it. I know I'm not doing everything I can and should be logging on more, I'll work on that!

I'm in bandster hell right now! I need to find my way out of it. I switched 4 days ago from EAS shakes with 17 grams of protein to Slimfast (just for a change) which have 10 grams. I'm wondering if that is why I'm hungry all of the time. I was doing fine until I switched. I didn't look at the label and bought a case at BJs. Should I go back and get the EAS shakes and just use the Slimfast as needed once I'm on regular food? I'm only 15 days post op.

Hey All! I haven't been on in a while, just have so many things going on with the kids going back to school and trying to get my house in order! I was stuck and not losing anything, although I did feel like I should have been. I'm finally losing again! I wanted to warn you all about not chewing enough...I wasn't thinking and popped a small piece of popcorn chicken in my mouth and didn't think about having to chew it to mush...BIG MISTAKE! Luckily I was at home, but I honestly thought that I couldn't breathe, I had to really think about breathing and I got up and walked around a little. It took a couple of minutes to pass through. I have only had 1 fill and that was 2 weeks ago. I have been very careful with my food choices since that happened! When it happens to you, and I'm sure it will, just stay calm and breathe!

I have to admit that I had been a little disappointed in the scale since WLS. I gained 5.5 lbs after the operation and although I knew mentally that it was from the surgery and the gas and bloating, emotionally, I felt disappointed that the scale went back up. I had worked so hard on the pre-op diet and stuck with the plan and gaining weight wasn't part of my plan. You can tell yourself it's not a big deal over and over, but when you want to see results, it's difficult to face the reality of it. On Friday, my doctor suggested that I take Mirilax because I hadn't had a bm. On Saturday, nothing...but on Sunday...holy crap! I had no idea that a liquid diet could still produce all of that. I don't mean to be gross, I use this as educational purposes for those who go after me! And you will go! I got on the scale this morning and I am happy to report that I have lost those 5.5 lbs again along with another .5 for a total of ....drum roll please... 6 lbs!! I knew that it was short term, and I'm glad it's over!!

Yesterday I had my post op appointment and first fill. I have to say that for someone who has a very high tolerance for pain, it hurt a little! Or I guess I should say, it stung. Even after she was done, I could feel it stinging. She said I already had 3 ccs in the band so she put another .5 ccs in. I'm back on liquids for 2 days, but I'm okay with it, it's Africa hot outside, so fluids are good! I'm still down 20 lbs overall, but I can tell that my clothes are fitting me better, so maybe the scale isn't moving, but my body is changing. Today I put on my size 16 shorts and they fit! Unfortunately, they are white, so I only have a few more days until Labor Day...heck...I'm no fashionista...I just may wear them into October! LOL!

BCBS is great! Mine was approved a day after it was submitted and I got a letter 5 days later (weekend!) Congratulations...you will not regret it!

Good luck to you! Have a safe trip and please keep us updated on how you are doing!

Yesterday I went to my post op lap band support and learned a few things. Most of us in the class were 2 weeks + a couple of days post op, so we were in the space place. They said we should stop using the shakes as much and only use them to get in enough protein. I added a scoop to my slimfast yesterday, and it tasted like a thick shake, it was yummy! I got a good laugh when I asked when the steri-strips would fall off because I was the only one with them still on! 16 days post op and they were still stuck on me! They said I could have taken them off 10 days ago! I was amazed when I showered...I was all healed! LOL! I also learned that too much Crystal Light can make you feel bloated and gassy, which is probably why I haven't been feeling that great this week. It's the chemicals and the body has to process them differently. I was tired of water, and I just kept drinking lemonade and iced tea from Crystal Light. I'm giving myself a break and going back to water. I had a back to school party for my kids and their friends last night, and several people commented that I had lost weight! I'm glad that it's noticable, the only thing I notice is that my shorts are falling off me! I finally broke out my bike and went for a ride with the kids yesterday. I did okay, but it hurt a little where the port is, so I think I'll stick to walking until I'm fully healed! No need to push it, I'm doing great and losing every couple of days! :scared2: I love this lap band! I finally feel in control and don't have cravings!

I pretty much have given it up. I LOVE coffee, but have only had it once post op when I thought it would help me go to the bathroom (it didn't). I normally drink one cup a day and hopefully I'll be able to go back to that. I don't drink it for the caffeine, I truly like taking the time and drinking a cup of coffee, whether it's decaf or regular! In the fall, I really enjoy Dunkin Donuts cinnamon coffee but this year, I'll skip the pumpkin muffins!