Lap2Fab

After reading the previous posts, I feel like jumping in again! I too didn't really know what REAL restriction was, for the first 5-6 fills, my fills were so small to try to find the sweet spot, that I didn't feel restriction at all. The only time I felt real restriction was when I ate a whole sub roll with all the meats, cheeses and veggies. Yes...I could still eat the whole thing but would force myself to only eat HALF! LOL. When I went to my last two fills and told them what I was able to eat, they gave a larger fill and then the last fill, we found the sweet spot. That was after a year on the lap band! I had only lost about 40lbs in the year, which I thought was horrible, but they were pleased with my results. Since being at the sweet spot, I've lost another 30 in 6 months and can feel the restriction. Marzee...one thing that I decided to do was to keep the surgery low key. Only my husband knew that I had the surgery, and to this day, only a handful of friends and my sister know. At first I didn't tell anyone until I knew I would qualify for the surgery, then I was embarrassed that I couldn't do it myself, and then I realized, it was MY journey, people don't need to know everything! I didn't want to constantly hear about my weight and to have people question my food choices. I just felt it was something I didn't want to announce to the world. People know I eat smaller portions and see me exercising and they just give compliments. I've told my friends who I go out to dinner with consistently and have traveled with without my husband so that someone knows. I know there are many who tell everyone, but I feel that by not telling many, it made the decision easier for me and living with it makes the weight loss about what I am doing for myself. It's a tool, but will be one of many tools that you use to lose the weight and keep it off. Good luck!

I would say 100% worth it! I have had my band for 18 months and I have lost 70lbs and am almost at goal. I feel so much better about myself and my health! I'm 40 and I feel 24 again! I am 5'5" and weighed 225 at my highest. I'm now at 155 with about 20 more to go to be at goal. I was depressed about how I had let myself go too, but it doesn't have to be that way. It's not a quick fix and it does take work, but I have never regretted the decision. My advice would be to start the process! You will have to go through a whole bunch of tests and meetings. You will learn if it's something you can handle or not. But start the process and learn more about it from a surgeon in your area. If your doctor is suggesting it and you trust your doctor, then you owe it to yourself to get informed. I started looking at this website when I was considering it, but in no way did I form an opinion one way or another if I was going to have the surgery. There are too many opinions and situations. Good luck to you in making the decision and no matter what you decide, you are a beautiful young woman!

Give it some time, I too had huge breasts and a 24lb weight loss didn't effect my breasts either. I'm now down over 60lbs and I definitely can see a huge difference. I went from a 40DD to now a 38D, I still hope to lose more and be a 36 or 38 C but with the right bra, I already look so much more proportionate.

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

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

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!

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!

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!

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 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!

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!

I just realized that I have the whey protein powder in the cabinet too, so I'll just add protein to my shakes! Duh!!!!

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.

Congratulations!!! I'm in Bandster hell right now, so glad you are not! I'm sure I'm going to come out of it, I'm thinking it may be because 4 days ago I switched from my EAS shakes which are 17 grams of protein to Slimfast (just for a change) and they have 10 grams of protein. My fault, I should have looked at the label more before buying them! I'm soooo hungry!

Oh, quick question for you...you lost shoe sizes? My friends and I were just laughing at my feet because they are a size 6 but I have to wear a 7.5 because they are wide, will I lose weight in my feet? Their feet are all like 9 & 10 and so compared to mine, it's really funny side by side. They were wondering how my feet even hold my body up! LOL!

Awesome job! You are an inspiration to us all!