marfar7

Hi! The first 4 months, I lost a total of 7 lbs - really. I just wasn't restricted at all - until my 3rd restriction. Over the past 2 mths, I've lost 20 lbs - much better. I still can eat my weight in slider foods (mashed potatoes, Soup, stuffin, baked potatoes) but not much "real" food - w2hich is what my doc wants me to eat. I find that I do have to have Snacks throughout the day (3 meals a day is what my doc recommends) cuz I find myself getting hungry after about 3 hrs. You'll get there, I promise. I know that 2 months seems like an eternity, but it's really not in the scheme of your life. I had hopes of losing the 100 lbs I have to lose in the 1st yr - well, that's not gunna happen! I've only lost 27 lbs in 6 mths! I just started working out at the gym 2 weeks ago, so I'm hoping that will help. It could take a couple more fills to get you to the right restriction. It took me 9cc in a 14 cc band to feel anything at all. Now If I eat the wrong things (bread in particular, and I keep doing it!) or too much, I vomit. Good luck to you. You'll do it - not all of us on here have lost 60 lbs in 6 mths! Blessings! Marci

I don't wait around for very long once I'm stuck - I usually end up sticking my finger down my throat and bringing it up. 9 weeks ago, after my 3rd fill, I was doing this everyday but now I'm down to about once a week. If you caan get it down without having to throw up, by all means, do it. I just don't have the patience to wait it out I guess. Blessings! Marci

Thanks everyone. I got an email back from my docs nurse and she told me it sounded like I needed a fill and to call for a sooner appt. Probably next Wed. And I really thought I had hit my "sweet spot" finally - after 3 fills. Maybe 4 is the lucky one? Thanks again for your input! Marci

Before my 3rd fill about 8 weeks ago, I had only lost 10 lbs since Oct 1. Since my 3rd fill, I've lost 13 lbs. I was definately getting restriction and vomiting a bit.But the last couple of weeks, I don't feel that uncomfortable full feeling at all anymore. When I went in for my 4th fill, about 2 weeks ago, he would't give me one because #1: I'm vomiting too much. He's afraid if he puts more in, I won't be able totolerate anything ad #2. I already have 9cc in a 14 cc band and if he puts more in, there won't be any room for chage once the fat around my stomach comes off and my band becomes too loose. I agree with him then, but now I'm back (almost) to where I was before that "sweet spot" hit. I'm not feeling full, not getting stuck as much and not losing well. I emailed my nurse and asked her if I can have another fill, still awaiting her reply. My ?: If I already have 9cc in a 14cc band, and I have to keep gettin more and more fills, I'm afraid that it'll be filled as far as they can go and there won't be any room left. So when I finally do lose the fat around my stomach, there won't be ay room left to tighten it. Any ideas? Marci

I went thru these same questions just last week! I decided to join an all-womens gym (today) and I start my orientation hour with a trainer on Thurs. I haven't been working out at all. And I felt the same way about people judging me - especially men. So curves is a great idea or the womens only gym. Or heck, if it's free, I wouldn't care who looked at me at the base gym (I miss that perk - I used to be in the Army) Good luck and congrats on the decision to do it now instead of waiting almost 6 mths like I did before staerting to exercise. Best wishes! Marci

I was banded on Oct 1, 2009 and I've only lost 23 lbs (granted the last 13 was in the past 7 weeks, when I finally got a good adjustment, so now I think I'm on my way) and I 've not started exercising. I'm sure that's a reason I've only lost 23 lbs. Why, you ask? I HATE it. I know, I know - it HAS to be done, so suck it up and do it. I just went out and bought some workout clothes and I'm joining the gym tommorrow - so if I'm paying for it, maybe it'll motivate me some. What do you all do for exercise and how often a week and for how many minutes? I plan on spending about an hr at the gym (between cardio and wts) 4-5 days a week. Should I try more or get warmed up a bit? Thank God this last adjustment 7 weeks ago actually worked - I was really beginning to lose hope. There's people here with their surgeries the same day as mine who have lost 60+ lbs. I'll catch up - I'm just going a little slower.

Going to Israel - always wanted to go there and my husband wanted his ashes scattered on the Jordan River - so I will do that too.Hopefully it'll be next yr Marci

I drove 3 hrs to the doc today to get my 4th fill - but because I'm throwing up alot, he refused to give me one. Says I have 9cc in a 14 cc band already and he's afraid if he puts more in this soon, I won't be able to toterate anything. I guess it's ok. Anyone else have their doc refuse to do a fill? He asked me "are you gunna hate me forever?" Not even, I love him! I've lost 11 lbs the past 6 weeks, so I'm doing well. Much better than my first 2 fills. Do you all still drink Protein Drinks or are you getting all of your Protein from food? I'm not gettin enuf, so I'm just wondering! Marci

I went thru catalogs and cut around those outfits on the models and taped them up on a cardboard square. I just put it on my frig for an extra boost of self confidence that I WILL make goal and I WILL shop for these outfits once I do!. Maybe someone else has other ideas of how to keep yourself moving forward? I'd love to hear it! Marci

I carry most of my weight in the middle part of me, and I have no butt. And of course, my butt and legs have started losing it first- where I don't need it the most. The hardest for me to lose is my stomach and back and face. Just thought I'd ask ya'll where's your easiest place to lose and the hardest place also? Marci

I'm wondering the same thing = if I've stretched out my pouch. I'd be happy to hear those band vets out there with some answers....... Marci

I'm having a hard time with this rule also. It's second nature to take a drink of Water after almost every bite of food. But I do undersstand the rational of wanting to keep the food in the pouch for a little while before washing it away. I'm still trying! Not at 100% yet, but soon...... Marci

Congrats on your success! It's posts like these that keep me coming back here and getting out of bed each day. 115 lbs in 8 months is incredible -INCREDIBLE! I've only lost 18 lbs in 4 months (but now that I actually have restriction, I should go up). Just wanted to tell you how well your doing. Do you have photos? I'd love it if you'd post them! Marci

If you're going to the Oscars and have to fit into the size 0 dress tonite, it might come in handy, but as soon as you drink some Water, the dress will come apart!! It's also a great way to get dehydrated too quickly. The only sweat that burns fat is the sweat you get from working out - the other sweat is just your bodys own moistyure that it needs. Marci

Quiznos has a great broccoli/cheese soup for about 140 cals for a cup of it - and it's very good. And I find that the bean burritos from Taco Bell are very filling.And if you aski for it fresco, they'll put pico de gallo in it and give you a little veggie boost too. Marci

I'm curious - does anyone have restriction with everything or just some things? I seems to have restriction when it comes to eggs, meat, chicken, cheese, bread, etc- but if I really wanted to, I could eat my weight in mashed potatoes, broccoli/cheese Soup, tamale pie - easy stuff to get down without any pain. It's so much easier to get stuff down that doesn't hurt or make me feel uncomfortable. Do you get full from these slider foods? Can someone give me some ideas of real food to eat, that will fill me up but that won't cause me to uncomfortable? I appreciate that recipe pdf that someone shared, the all-crock-pot recipes. I cook for just me, so at times, I just heat up a lean cuisine and call it dinner. I know I need to eat more real foods, but when you don't like cooking for 1, it sucks. 2 weeks ago, I finally got restriction after my 3rd fill - almost too much restricition, almost went in for an unfill after I vomited everyday for a week. But now I'm no longer vomiting and I am feeling uncomfortably full when I eat meat, eggs, cheese, etc - but still famished when I eat slider foods. Can I stretch my pouch out by eating too much of the sliders? I'm so scared that I'm stretching my pouch by eating too many of the things that don't make me uncomfortable. Does this make sense anyone? I'm so behind in weight loss - I was banded Oct 1 and until 2 weeks ago, I had only lost 9 lbs :thumbup: - an additional 9 :thumbup:came off this past 2 weeks.I still have 82 lbs to go....... Marci

I thought the same exact thing - that since I wasn't having any restriction after 2 fills, what's a 3rd gunna do? I had my 3rd 2 weeks ago and finally have restriction. Almost went in for a tiny unfill (I have 9 cc in a 14cc band) last week and it loosened up a bit on it's own, now I'm not vomiting everyday. I was banded on Oct 1, 2009 and had lost 9 lbs! I've since lost 8lbs this past 2 weeks. So you're ahead of me! My 3rd fill made all the difference! I wish you the best! Marci

I wish I woulda played by the rules - like spent the entire month on liquids instead of cheating week 2. And I wish I had know how hungry I would be day 3 - I had no clue that my band wouldn't work yet. I must've been daydreaming during my orientation. Marci

Thanks! That makes sense! Marci

Thanks everyone for the advice. I ate some refried Beans for lunch and they stayed down ok. I'll probably give it another week to see if it loosens up on it's own before calling my doc - he's 3 hrs away. And like someone says, I don't want an unfill if I have no restriction, especially since I finally have some after 4 mths. And I lost 2 lbs since last Wed! Yeah! Marci

I got my 3rd fill this past Wed, before that, I felt no restriction at all. Now I do BIG TIME. So much so that it truly hurts to eat anything at all. I vomited slime on Fri nite and last nite twice and reallly don''t want to do it regularly. Last nite, I had 1 scrambled egg with a little cheese in it. I ate it sooooo slowly, chewed however much you can chew scrambled eggs - and it still got stuck and I vomited. The only thing I can eat that doesn't seem to make me sick is mashed potatoes - and I can't eat too many of those, otherwise I won't lose anything. Everything hurts/gets stuck. Any ideas? I'm 6 days post 3rd fill. Am I too tight or do I give it another week and see if it loosens up by itself? Does the post fill swelling usually last this long?Help pleez - I'm sooooo uncomfortable. Marci

Until my 3rd fill this past Wed, I had no idea what sliming was - and then it happened to me on Fri nite and tonite also. It was like vomiting mucous (sorry if that's tmi). Where exactly does the slime come from? Thinking back to my anatomy and physioloy classes many yrs ago, I can;t think of a scientific reason for so much to come up. Just curious! Marci

I've added all 3 of you ladies to my Fb friends - just confirm me when it asks. No one on my FB knows anything about my lapband, just wanted to say "tah dah" when it was all over. It'll be nice to have the extra support! Marci

No, I haven't thrown up at all. I had about 4 little bites of scrambles eggs last nite and it hurt. I spose it's swelling, everyone says you can be tighter right after a fill and it will lossen up, I guess I just need to be patient. If this goes on mucch longer tho, I WILL lose weight. My doc is 3 hrs away, so I don;t want to go in if it;ll go away soon. Does it? Marci

Hey everyone! I was banded on 10/1/09 and have lost a whopping 9 lbs. I actually lost 20 lbs, but gaiined back 11. Before today, my 2 fills didn't really work - I felt no restriction at all and didn't keep to the program. Today I had my 3rd fill and decided to actually play by the rules - 24 hrs of Clear liquids. I can't even finish a 2oz container of Jello. The Water feels likes it's staying in my chest. I'm almost afraid of eating food tommorow. Is this what the proper restriction should feel like - or am I too tight? Thanks! Marci