marfar7

Little Teapot, The first 5 months after my band was like I had not had surgery at all. I could still eat large portions and not feel full. It took until my 3rd fill before I felt "it". I started out at 248 and almost 2 yrs later, I'm down to 151 with about 16 more to go. I love my band. I just had my 5th fill 3 weeks ago (my 4th lasted over a yr) and that's boosted my weight loss again. I have a 14cc band and I didn't feel anything until it reached about 8cc. I had to have 2cc removed in Dec because I irritated my band and couldn't keep anything down. He put back 1cc 3 weeks ago. I'm now at 8cc and it's perfect. I'll be extremely happy if it lasts another year like the last one did. You're just starting this journey. Most people take a few fills before they reach their "sweet spot". It's very rare that I see someone on here with no fills or just one fill and they lose all of their weight. You could be right around the corner from your sweet spot right now! Good luck to you! Oh, and I do have a Realize band also Marci

Today: BF: 1/2 egg, 1/2 pc of bacon Lunch: At the bowling alley today I ordered fries and ate about 6 of them with ranch dressing Dinner: About 5 bites of spagetti with meat sauce. Oh and I had a frappacino about 3 pm too. And I'll probably eat some popcorn tonite Marci

I physically CAN'T drink with my meal - I'll throw it all up. My lapband book says it's called the "cork effect". Where the food sits in the esophagus like a cork and if I put in liquid, it'll come directly out. Yes, I get very thirsty after a meal - especially hard when what I ate was spicy or salty. I have to wait about an hour after eating, but I usually drink up to my first bite of food. I wonder why they say you can't drink before you eat? It's been almost 2 yrs for me and I'm getting used to it actually. Marci

I'm like TKW - there's nothing I can't eat if I eat it correctly. Including bread, rice and Pasta. And yes, I go to fast food (I usually eat 1 taco at Del Taco now instead of 4-6 of them tho) about once a week. My fiance, who has lost over 80 lbs due to the lo carb diet, hates that I can eat just 1 scoop of ice cream or 1 cookie while he has to eat the whole thing. That's why I love my band so much. If I could stay on a diet, I wouldn't have ever had to have surgery in the first place. Yes, I go to the gym 3-4 days a week. I walk on the treadmill for 60 mins and do upper body strength training for about 20 mins. I've lost 97 lbs so far in almost 2 yrs. You don't have to give up your favorite foods. Although if you can't tolerate them (like alot of people can't eat bread) you absolutely won't mind giving them up! I'm terrified of GB surgery. I'm so happy the LB worked for me and it's still working for another 16 lbs! Good luck with your decision! Marci

I had a 9.5 fill prior to Dec. He unfilled me to 7.5 and then just added 1cc 2 weeks ago. Marci

I can hardly believe it! 20 mths ago, I weighed 248 lbs. Today I weigh 151 lbs with about 16 more till goal. The first 5 mths were rough, no restriction at all until my 3rd fill. Then I started losing about 10 lbs a month. I love eating whatever I want to eat (this included Pasta, rice and bread) just really small quantities. In Dec of this last yr, I couldn't keep even Soup down after I started taking antibiotics for a bladder infection and started throwing up. Irritated my band allowing me to not keep anything down. Had to get 2cc taken out. Leaving me with 7.5cc in a 14cc band. I've lost about 5 lbs since Dec. Until 2 weeks ago when I had another fill (after over a yr, my 4th fill lasted a whole yr). I've lost an additional 4 lbs this past 2 weeks! I'm pretty tight, I eat VERY small amts, but I'm happy with it. He put 1cc in. Hopefully this fill will last another yr. The dr told me to call him in Oct and if I wasn't losing, he'd give me another fill. My fiance and I went to Macy's the other day and I casually decided to try on a pair of size 8 Levi's, wondering how much more I'd have to lose to fit into them. They fit! I can't believe that I fit into a single digit size! Just 2 yrs ago, I was wearing a size 20. I'm so happy with my band. My fiance, who has lost over 80 lbs the past 2 yrs on a lo carb diet is jealous that I can eat anything I want and still lose. If I buy a box of Cookies, I can eat one - while he has to eat the whole box. So anyone pondering getting the band - do it! It'll be the best thing you've ever done. But don't expect a miracle in the very beginning. For most people it takes several months to get to that "sweet spot" and start losing. I know I won't gain back my weight like every other diet I've been on in the past. I'm looking forward to getting married in Dec weighing 135! It'll be the first time in my entire adult life (and I'm 44) that I've weighed 135. In fact, I weigh less now than I did at my first wedding 23 yrs ago. I'm very happy with my band! Good luck to everyone! Marci

Hi! You're very fortunate that you had any restriction at all before a fill. I was disappointed the first 5 mths after getting my band because I could eat virtually anything and I didn't feel any different. I could eat a medium Quiznos sandwich with a bowl of broccoli cheddar Soup and not feel full. It took until my 4th fill to feel anything close to restriction. It was 5 mths after having my band placed. It's been 20 mths now, 5 fills, and I've lost 97 lbs. I just got a fill 2 weeks ago after not having 1 for a yr (my 4th fill lasted a yr) and now I'm even more perfect than I was. I'm back to losing. Don't get too discouraged. It may take a while to get proper restriction. In fact, I doubt that you had restriction at all - you probably had swelling after your surgery that tightened your stomach. This is what they call "bandster hell". Be patient. You WILL have success! Good luck to you! Marci

I went about 6 mths after being banded before I tried Diet Coke. I tried it and everything went fine. I'm also like most of the above posters in that I can only drink a few sips at a time. It makes me burp really badly too. But I'm still around and kicking to tell this story! I've been banded almost 2 yrs now and have lost almost 100 lbs. I've got about 20 left to lose. I say if you can't stand it anymore without soda, try it. And since I rarely drink soda (about twice a month) I get regular instead of diet. It satisfies me more and I read somewhere that people who drink diet tend to be fatter. Good luck! Marci

It's very rare that you don't have to be on a liquid diet before surgery. I was one of the lucky ones that could eat whatever I wanted till the midnight before surgery - but my doc was strict with the post-op diet (clear liquids+protein shakes for 4 weeks!). And I did eat whatever I wanted. Went to Outback for ribs the night before my surgery. Ate 5 ribs, baked potato, salad, bread and cheesecake. Now almost 2 yrs later, I'm able to eat about 10 bites total per meal. If it were me, I'd forgo the liquids beforehand. You're gonna get enuf of them afterwards. I can't even look at Jello or popsicles anymore! But that's just me. Good luck with your surgery! Marci

I can't drink after I've eaten anything - makes me vomit immediately. Once in a while I still try it - especially with spicy food. But it comes right back up. I can only eat 1 pc of bread at a time - and I try to limit it to once a week. And I have to eat it SLOWWWLY. I think not drinking after meals is one of the big no-no's docs have for band patients. I have to wait about an hour, or until the food hits my tummy - which I can usually feel. Good luck to you! Marci

I've thrown up (not PB'd) in public more than I can count over the last 2 yrs. Most of the time, I have the bathroom to myself, but when there's someone in the next stall, they invariably ask "are you ok?" Yes, I'm fine. I also find when I eat too fast (a habit picked up in basic training in the Army - if you don't eat your meal in 3 minutes, you don't eat) I throw up. I usually have to stick my toothbrush or finger down my throat to get it out - it rarely comes up on it's own. But I feel if I don't get it out, I'm going to be just miserable. The only advice I can offer you is to try to eat slower. I'm so bad that if I throw up, I continue eating, I don't go on liquids for a couple of days. And if you throw up in public, so be it. It's not that big of a deal. Good luck! Marci

I actually suffer fr9m depression. I started Prozac in 99 and it worked until my husbnand of 19 yrs died 4 yrs ago. I was hospitalized while they chaanged my meds. Since losing almost 100 lbs over the past 20 mths, my meds have been halved. I'm engaged, thinner, and much happier. Before I suffered depression, I used to think that al u had to do was cheer up. Do3esn5t work. U have little cotrol over your minds thoughts and feelings. Good luck to u. Dcepression sucks. And it makes it hard to describe ur feelings to someone if they've never felt it. Prayers go out to u Marci

I'm totally a C'r! I love having the band - it allows me to eat the foods that I love just MUCH less of them. For instance, tonite for dinner I had 1/2 of a homemade taco. I've never been able to stop at less than 4 before my lapband. For Breakfast on most days I eat 1 egg and 1 pc of bacon. Or 1/2 a bagel with cream cheese. Or a carton of yogurt. I've never cut anything out (and that includs soda, altho I drink very little of it, but I now drink the real stuff, as I learned that most people who drink diet soda are overweight) - including bread, Pasta and rice. I can't eat more than 1 pc of bread tho. My fiance, who's lost 80lbs over the past 18mths on a lo carb diet, hates me when I can buy a box of Cookies and eat just 1. He has to eat the whole package. I used to be like that too tho. Now I can eat just 1 and it takes care of that "snack monster". I've wondered if all the people who describe their diets as being so perfect really are - or are they lying? If I could be that good all the time, I would've never needed the band! Marci

Congratulation! Great job! MArci

I have an appt next Wed for a fill. I haven't had one in over a yr. In Dec, I had a bladder infection and was put on antibiotics - which I didn't know I was allergic to. I vomited for days. I got my band so inflamed that they had to do an emergency unfill of 2 cc. I still have about 7 cc in a 14 cc band, which worked well up until about 3 mths ago, when I'm at a standstill. I'm only about 20lbs from my goal weight (actually about 5 lbs from my original goal but the smaller I get, the more my goal goes down!) and I want to lose them before my wedding in Dec.While I've never actually GAINED any weight since my unfill, I haven't lost much either - about 5 lbs in the past 7 mths. Good luck with your journey! Marci

I read a book about the lapband and it calls it the Corkage Effect. The food is just sitting in there and then u add liquid and there's no where 4 the liquid 2 go. This happens to me everytime I thinki I'm going to get one past my band! Its really hard when u eat somet ing spicy and can't drink anything. I've had my band for 20 mths now and I can honestly say I'm pretty used to drinking before I eat. I'm getiing a fill next week afterf a yr. I'm hoping to get on losing wagon again.I only have about 20 lbs to go. Good luck to u Marci

Hey everyone, I got my 4th fill LAST June and it did me well till recently. I'm about 25 lbs from my goal of 135 (myy first goal was 150 but the closer I got I realized I could do better). I got down to 155 a couple weeks ago after haaving stayed at 159 for about 5 mths, but the last couple of wks I've gained 5 lbs. The firsst real wt gain I've had yet. So I'm getting a fill on Aug 3. I'm. Getting married in Dec and want to lose the 25 lbs by then. I've noticed I'm able to eat more now without throwing up then I was before. I think its been pretty good that I've gone a yr without having a fill. If I haffta get a fill once a yr foor the rest of my life, that would be fine. What to do9 about my snacking? I've nev3er gotten over that. I don't eat very much but I still snack everynite. I have a basket of chips and Cookies I keep by my bed and break into them at nite. I eaat hardly anything dur8ing meals so I comppensate by eating the wrong things at other times. I'm hoping this fill will help. Since I hafta go 3 hrs away to get my fill, my fiance and I are gunna spend the nite and take my dog to the beach and make a day of it. Too bad I can't eat the nite I get it! Good luck to everyone just starting this journey. The best thing I've ever done! Marci

Does your significant other love the fact that the majoriity of your food goes to him? My fiance eats lo carb (has lost 80 lbs the last 2 yrs) which restricts what he eats but he's very happy to eat the rest5 of my meat, salad, etc. Especially when we go out.I hardly ever get aa doggyy bag! I still eaat carbs so that limits him to my leftovers, but they're still pretty good! Marci

I went on a 4 day Mexican cruise in March (loved it so much were going on a 7 dayer in Sep!) And I actually lost 2 lbs. I irritated my bnand on the first nite (by getting seasick I vomited for hrs and that irritated my bnand) causing me to eat very little during the cruiise. But there's a great selection 4 u 2 choose from so u should have no problem. I haven't been filled in a yr and I'm getting a fill in Aug a month before my cruise. I'm not too worried about it. Have fun! Marci

I agree with above posters - you just have to try everything to see if you can tolerate them. I can tolerate just about anything, I just don't eat much bread or meat because they hurt. I haven't had a fill in a year, but have an appt for one in a couple of weeks.We'll see if that changes my eating of Pasta (that would be a bummer if I couldn't). I know that when I went on a MExican cruise in March, I actually lost weight because the first meal was ribs and they made me uncomfortable for days. So I ate mainly yogurt and oatmeal after that. Good luck to you on your experiementing. Some people can't do bread. Marci

Congrats! I read 155 on the scale this morning - the lowest in my entire adult life. You must be so proud. Reward yourself (and not with ice cream!) Marci

I take Melatonin. I was taking Ambien for years b ut when I got into a car accident and don't remember it, I decided to start an OTC pill. In fact, I just ordered 6 bottles (buy 1 get 1 free) from Swanson Vitamins online for $21.00 and they're 10mg tablets - which you can't find in stores. I think it works great. Good luck to you! Marci

It's been since Oct 1, 2009 since I've had my lapband and I've lost 80 lbs (about 18 lbs to goal). 2 days after Thanksgiving, I started getting nauseous everytime I ate anything - including water.I threw up about 8x a day, after just sips of water. Since my last fill last June, I had pain everytime I ate anything and I threw up about 3-4 times a week. I thought that was just my new life and it was normal. Until last week when I had to go to the er cuz I couldn't keep anything down. I went to the local clinic (my actual clinic is 3 hrs away) on Wed and they said the antibiotics I was on last week for a bladder infection probably caused my nausea, in turn made me vomit, in turn made my band irritated - causing constant nausea. They took 2 cc out to see if that would help. Life has been wonderful! I can eat again - but not as much as I used to. I was scared taking 2cc out of my 10 cc full band would cause me to gain back all of my weight, but all it did was to allow me to eat the same small amt without any pain or vomiting.And I thought the pain was normal. So moral of the story: your band should restrict your eating but shouldn't cause you pain everytime you eat anything. I wish I had known this last June! I feel great now and I'm still losing! Happy holidays everyone! Marci

Congrats! I went into Onederland about 2 mths ago and it was fabulous. The lower you get, the better you'll feel. Again, congrats! Marci