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Well Nicole, remembering that everyone is different ... I think I hit my sweet spot at my 7th fill. I was banded on June 15, 2010 and hit my sweet spot somewhere around April of this year ... maybe March. I haven't been back to see my doc since. LOL I am a slow loser and haven't been on a scale in more than 7 months. I was obsessed with the scale and would become discouraged when I didn't like the numbers; so when my batteries died, I threw away my scale. I only know that I am losing weight because I have had to buy new clothes. I have stepped up my exercise recently and the new clothes I bought a few weeks ago (I bought them just a tiny bit snug) are now loose. The good news is I've lost weight, the GOOD news is I get to go shopping again, YAY!!! LOL Okay, yeah, maybe I should wait a few before buying more new clothes - money doesn't grow on trees. LOL But, we'll see. Take a deep breath, Nicole, you are going on an "E-ticket" ride (showing my age) and you can stay on it for as long as you are willing to do the work. When you start to get discouraged just remember that as much as we would all like to wave a magic wand and have the weight fall off -- it ain't gonna happen that way. The band is a tool and it works as hard as we are willing to work. If you find yourself overeating during the holidays remind yourself that it really is a choice what we put into our mouths. It is true that when you get to your sweet spot, making that choice will be easier, but it's good to get into the habit of knowing that YOU are in control of what happens to your body. Nicole, you are young and beautiful and YOUR FUTURE'S SO BRIGHT, YOU'LL HAVE TO WEAR SHADES! LOL Just be patient, better days are ahead! I am having a great time with my band and I'm going to be 55 tomorrow! Wish I had done it when I was your age, but glad I did it at all!

Randomran ... nice to know I am not alone. I used to be a nighttime eater. I am better now, but still have to "fight the feeling" sometimes (like last night, but I made it) It is a mind blow and almost creepy how rarely I feel hunger. When I need calories, I feel it, but no more night eating at all and it's really easy. Same here, I rarely feel hunger - physically, just the need for calories - Protein I suppose. I still battle head hunger if I stay up to late. I eat dinner about 6:30pm and am not hungry the rest of the night. SOOOO not how I have EVER been. Ditto. I feel like a new person sometimes. Couldn't be happier about the "new me". It's a hard transition, but you may want to give it a try if you want to. It certainly wasn't a "walk in the park", but now that I am here ... a walk in the park every morning at 6 a.m. is just what I do! Another thing I do at night when I think I (or may actually be) hungry is drink a cup of hot herbal tea. Helps me feel satiated and lulls me off to sleep. Hope the hungries go away soon, Fluffy Girl. ~F

Yep, been there, done that ... hated it! I guess it was aroung the 4 or 5 month, probably my 4th or 5th fill. I thought I was THERE, sweet spot heaven ... NOT! So, I called my doc and made an appointment for another fill. Hang in there, you're on your way. Remember, this is not a race, and depending on your doc (mine was very liberal with the fills) you only have so much control over when/how much fill you get. Don't let the frustration get the better of you, it will only make you eat more (or least that was true for me --before restriction). This can be a difficult time of year. A time when even thin people overeat. Give yourself a break. Do the best you can and be kind to yourself. You will get there! ~F

seknj, when I read your post it was just about time for me to go to lunch. I started thinking about a hamburger. LOL I thought about the burger that I wanted but had to think smaller because I knew it would be too much. When I thought about the smaller burger I knew that even it would be too much. Since I didn't bring my lunch to work today I knew I was going to have to think of something. Took me about 30 minutes ... I went downstairs and got a salad with chicken. Oh well, it's not a juicy, tasty cheeseburger ... but it's much more likely to get me to my goal. All in all, I am glad I made the healthier choice ... but I certainly know how you feel!

You are liquids because usually after a fill there is swelling. If you eat food while swollen it can cause irritation and the swelling doesn't go down. Docs can be different, how long does your doc want you to do liquids? After a fill my doc had me on liquids for 24 hours. Sounds like your doc is keeping secrets from you (i.e., you didn't know you would be on liquids after a fill). LOL The next time you go in for a fill you might want to take a list of questions about being banded so you won't have anymore "unpleasant" surprises. One more thing ... just in case you haven't heard ... a large number of people (myself included) do NOT have restriction after their first fill. Hang in there Sdart, things will get better. All the best to you on your journey.

I am sure you would never say anything to a stranger, but I don't think it is odd that, because of your success with WLS, you would want others to be as happy as you are. Lately, I have had a lot of lessons about "perspective". An example would be this morning as I did my mile at the track. I saw 2 new women walking the track, rather slowly. They were very heavy and yes, the thought did cross my mind that perhaps WLS could be life changing for them as it has been for me. But, then perspective popped into my mind. First, it may be a major success for them that they are even out walking. Second, although I have gone from a size 26 to a size 14/16, I am by no means thin -- I feel great, and at 5'8" I look pretty good in my clothes (my legs are long and slender -- I carry my weight on top -- uggghhh), but next to my thin-all-her-life sister who is 5'6" and weighs 119 lbs, I look pretty big. It's all relative, you know? My best friend (since we were 5 yrs old) has been heavy like me all our lives. Last week I asked her if she wanted to walk with me in the morning, she immediately said "absolutely not!" and gave me a flimsy excuse about not tying her exercise to another person. Mind you, she's been "talking" about exercising for 2 years now -- hasn't started yet. It kind of stung when she was so abrupt about not going because I was thinking in terms of having time with my best friend, but I know she wasn't trying to hurt me. So, as much as I would like to see her get healthier and lose the weight, I have to respect her choice to do it her way -- no matter what the result. I understand how you feel. When we are happy we want to share our happiness with everyone! But, as we all know from experience, weight loss is a touchy subject. All the best to you as you continue your journey! ~F

Jessica, I bought my Vitafusion Fiber Gummies at Target. They weren't with the vitatmins, they were on the aisle with the Benefiber, Metamucil, etc.

I recently started taking Vitafusion Fiber Gummies. They taste great too! They were slow to start working, but after a few days I have become more regular. The constipation was killing me! LOL I also take the Vitafusion adult vitatmins, like I said, great taste. I have tried other things in the past like Metamucil and Benefiber but it seemed they just got stuck. So I am now sold on the Vitafusion. That's my 2 cents. Hope it helps.

Allison, thank you so much for taking the time to reply. Yes, you have been a big help. You are to be commended for losing 150 lbs at such a young age! That is fantastic! Your explanation sounds sooo reasonable to me. I can see myself doing the same thing for the same reasons. If it is any help to you, continue to come to this forum for support. Our issues/ages/weights, etc. may not all be the same, but I think we all understand the journey and want to help and support each other. You have been a tremendous help to me and you remain a success story as far as I am concerned. It's not over till the fat lady sings ... and around here we are ever-shrinking, so the fat lady won't be singing. LOL Keep your head up. We can do this! ~Fran

Please hang in there, I am sure that someone on this forum will have great advice for you. I, on the other hand, have a question. You lost 150 lbs with the lap band, had to have some Fluid taken out and gained almost 50 lbs, right? I totally commend you on losing the weight. As a bandster myself I know that it takes a lot of work to get the weight off. Some people think we have "taken the easy way out" by having WLS, but we both know better than that. My question has to do with the mind and changes in the way we feel about food. After having the band for 4 years your feelings/attitude/thinking about food didn't change? This scares me because after being banded for 18 months and struggling with the "mind" or "emotional" part of my food issues even now -- although I am much, much, MUCH better than before banding -- your story makes me think that maybe I will never get a handle on this. What do you think happened? Do you feel that your attitude about food is the same as before, similar or completely different? Sorry that I am "asking" rather than giving advice. I really do think you can shed some light on how the band works long term. Thanks. All the best to you on your journey. Don't lose hope ... we are all here for you. You can start again with us and lose those pounds in no time. ~F

My change isn't fish, it's chicken ... boneless, skinless chicken to be exact. Never in a million years would I have believed that I would opt for skinless chicken! I buy NOTHING else when buying chicken. I love it! I sautee it with a little pressed garlic, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and lemon pepper. Delicious! Who knew?!?! I have acquired a few new fish grilling/baking recipes that I plan to try soon too. All the best to you on your journey. ~F

Angela, I am so sorry for the loss of so many in your family. I applaud you for taking steps to ensure that your life is not only different, but long and healthy. You are very brave. I say that because it can't be easy to be the "maverick" in your family and take a different route. Upsetting the status quo in any family has its challenges. KUDOS to you! While your story is a sad one, it is truly a reminder to all to count our blessings -- big and small. You make me so glad I had this surgery. Thank you for sharing. All the best to you on your journey. ~Fran

Totally agree with mdhannant. Let me add that I am a slow loser. In the early months (I was banded June 15, 2009) I so wished that I was a person that could follow a regimen without benefit of restricition/pressure on vagus nerve. By now I would probably be a size 8 ... or maybe not. But, after 18 months banded I have gone from a size 26 to a 14/16. I'm good with that ... still losing. Here's the thing, feeling bad about yourself and what you're NOT doing isn't going to move you toward your goal. Before I had restriction I had to decide what I was willing to do/give up to help myself. Initially, it wasn't much. I ate half a sandwich and a smaller bag of chips and drank Water for lunch instead of a whole sandwich, a big bag of chips and a juice. I understood that it meant I would lose much, much slower, but it beat not losing at all. Gradually, as I attained more restriction, I cut back more and then started changing what I ate. I completely stopped going to fast food restaraunts (which is not a necessity) because once restricted I couldn't eat even the smallest meal offerings. I got tired of wasting money on food that I could not eat and would not eat later (I've never felt that fast food keeps well). Now I cook almost all my meals myself. If you knew me you'd know that I was NEVER a person to cook (my poor kids ... LOL). I used to say that my kitchen floor was on fire, so anything that couldn't be cooked in 10 mins was not going to be cooked by me cuz that was all the time I could stand in the kitchen. I now only eat boneless, skinless chicken (when chicken is my protein)! Never in a million years would I have thought that I'd be willing to give up chicken skin, with all that delicious (now I think it's "yuck") fat. Anyway, to make an already long story just a little shorter, decide what you can live with and don't beat yourself up. This is not a race. People who work on their food changes before they have restriction just have a head start. Some of us aren't as good at it. Don't worry, we are not being tested on a curve, you will reach your goal when you are ready and willing to be ready and willing. All the best to you on your journey. ~Fran

I have definitely had bouts of depression over the years (even as a child, but no one recognized it). I have been seeing therapists off and on for 35 years ... whenever my life gets to be overwhelming for me. I am currently seeing a wonderful obesity specialist that I started seeing about 8 months before my lap band surgery. In the past I took meds ... took myself off the meds because I felt "artificial" .. but they did have their benefits. Your post struck me because it sounds like me a few years ago when the kids were in high school. I was depressed and lonely and "head hungry" ALL the time. I am a Christian and without my faith and true friends, I would never have gotten through it. Everyone works their faith in their own way, so what I have to say is merely a suggestion. First (and this is NOT a suggestion -- and you probably know this to be true as well), God hears ALL your prayers AND he will NEVER leave you or forsake you, so no, you can never do anything to "turn him off". My suggestion is that you see a therapist and/or get counseling from you minister. I did both and it was a BIG help during those "crazy teen years" when I was so busy getting my kids from one college prep program to another that my head was spinning. Also, while it is good to "give back", try not to "over do". When things got too crazy for me and I was exhausted and getting sick frequently, I had to stop and take stock of my life. I cut back on some of the things I was doing at church and prayed to God about my loneliness. You know what? God answered my prayers. Did he bring someone into my life? NO. But, he gave me peace with being alone because I had a job to do with my kids and I didn't need the distraction of trying to please a man at the same time. In 2 years I read more 150 books while waiting for my kids at football camp/SAT prep classes/YBS college prep/college visits, and the list goes on and on. One of my kids graduated college this past June and will be going to grad school this coming fall and the other is a sophomore in college. My work is almost done ... kinda. LOL The bottom line is that it is so important that you take care of yourself. Having faith gives us hope. And, God will never put on us more than we can handle. Keep praying and take time out to hear what God is telling you ... it may not be what you want, but it is definitely what you need. Take a look back at how far God has brought you and what he has brought you through -- look at all those blessings. He has more for all of us. There is nothing that God cannot do ... even remove your depression. Trust me, I know. Keep the faith and God bless. ~F

In 18 months not one problem with lettuce. For me it's a slider (with dressing, of course). My doc never mentioned it either. But, as it's been said ... we are all different. Good luck.

Go to the top of the page where it says "Signed in as ___", click the down arrow, click "profile" and voila! you can make all the changes you want. Hope this helps. ~Fran

"Does it ever become less of a conscious thought??" My response to that would be yes and no. Yes, it becomes less of a conscious thought in that I don't think about the fact that I have a band every minute of the day. I don't feel for my port the way I did in the early days. And no, I still consider what I am going to eat everyday. I make sure I get enough Protein to have energy to get through the day. I also think about what I am going to eat (when I don't bring my lunch), making sure that I am getting the proper nutrition as oppose to eating something that "tastes good" but has little to no nutritional value (i.e. ice cream, Cookies, cakes, mashed potatoes w/butter, french fries, fried chicken, etc.). I try to get the most bang for my buck so to speak. I guess you could say that I now eat to live -- no longer living to eat. I am not obsessive about it, I am just prepared (95% of the time). It's been a process and has taken time for me to get into the swing of things. Some people are on board right away, others, like myself are slower on the uptake. Either way, if you can get there that's all that matters. I am losing weight slowly but consistently. I'm good with that. All the best to you on your journey.

First, ditto to what Elfiepoo says "you have to do this for you and not worry about what others think". Sometimes, when reading responses on message boards it can be very upsetting. People say really cruel things -- about people they do not even know. The topic can be race, religion, politics, smoking, drugs, etc. The anonymity of the internet removes inhibition, as well as common courtesy. It's just the nature of the beast. That is not going to stop, it is here to stay. Do I think it is a good thing? No. But, you can't let people that don't even know who you are, influence your decision to change your life for the better. Being "fat" has never been acceptable in American society, and it has gotten worse over the decades. It is what it is. I don't listen to them ... at least not for the past 20 years. When I was young, it bothered me. I am older now and have learned soooo much about life that I no longer sweat the small stuff. While it's nice that losing weight through lap band will give me a "more attractive" outside, I had so many comorbidities that my biggest concern was how it would help me on the inside. I was tired of being sick, and sick of being tired due to being overweight. I am sooo much healthier now. Lap band is a lot of work, but for me it's worth it. I lose slow, but the key word here is "lose", so I am happy. I was as size 26 when I got banded and I bought a pair of 14/16 jeggings last week that fit like a charm. Anybody who says that lap band is the "easy way" is truly ignorant and should do their homework. And finally, I don't believe that lap band should be a "last resort". I do believe that if you have tried other things and you haven't had success and you want to get lap band, go for it. I am always happy to see young people that have had the surgery. I was 53 when I had the surgery, I waited much too long (but I'm glad I finally did it). I would not recommend that anyone keep trying to reinvent the wheel before getting the lap band. You know what they say, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. I was "insane" for a long, long time, dieting again and again with the same results (plus extra pounds). My opinion is that if you have been struggling with your weight from childhood and you still can't get a handle on it as an adult -- if you want the surgery, get it. Good luck to you on your journey.

Well, I come from a different perspective ... I'm not married, and I do almost all of the cooking in my house. Sweets have always been my nemesis -- winning virtually ever battle we ever fought, until recently. I have become a really big fan of cooking shows. In the past I truly hated cooking. After Lapband surgery and proper restriction I found that a lot of money was wasted on buying food out that I could eat only a small portion of. So I started cooking more at home. While at home I started watching cooking shows. A LOT of cooking shows, from "Chopped" to "Amazing Cakes" to "Man vs. Food" to "Paula Dean" to "The Neelys" to "Big Daddy's House" to "The Next Iron Chef" to "Top Chef" to Top Chef Just Desserts" to ... and the list goes on and on. Well, I started cooking at home more and more, now I rarely buy food out, and if I go to a restaurant with friends I order an appetizer and still I bring food home. Anyway, I got sooo in to "Top Chef Just Desserts" that I started baking. First Cookies, then giant cupcakes. When I started baking cookies I found that I was eating them - constantly, it was terrible! I became very frustrated with my weight loss (or the lack thereof). I just couldn't resist the sweets. I would eat my normal menu all day but would come home and ruin it all by eating cookies like there was no tomorrow! So, I did some research to find out why I was craving sweets. First, I should mention that I am an atypical Type 2 diabetic - no longer on meds due to weight loss. In my research it was suggested that if I was not getting the right Vitamins and minerals I could find myself craving sweets. I had recently stopped taking my multiple vitamins because I ran out of the kind I like and replaced it with something that I couldn't stand to take (chewable vs. liquid). Anyway, I started taking a number of supplements including chromium picolinate (it has been suggested that "chromium somehow works to increase sensitivity of insulin receptors") and now I don't crave sweets. I still bake pretty frequently, my kids and their friends eat most it, some goes to other family members homes and friends. Bottom line, I was stunned the first time I baked a batch of cookies (after starting the supplements) and didn't eat even ONE! I didn't crave it, I didn't want it, I didn't care. I also stopped the late night snacking that had been driving me crazy. I am once again losing weight. YAY! I can really tell the difference. Last night I was out late and hadn't eaten much of anything all day (just a couple of Protein shakes -- busy day), so before going to bed I munched on some tortilla chips. When the alarm went off this morning I felt awful! I thought for a minute, "what did I eat last night?", then remembered the chips. Not a good idea! In the end, I find that if my body gets what it needs, it is less likely to crave what it shouldn't have. This may not work for everyone, but consider looking into it. Make sure you are getting what you need and perhaps when your husband bakes you will barely notice. All the best to you on your journey.

I sooo know how you are feeling. Over the Thanksgiving holiday I bought a pair of jeggings (jeans/leggings) in a size 14/16 and was thrilled (when I started this journey I was wearing a size 26). Then yesterday I looked in the mirror and thought "OMG, there's the FAT LADY"! I had to slap myself (metaphorically) and remember that I am still losing and not to be too hard on myself. It's a struggle, but we can do this!! All the best to everyone on this journey! ~Fran

You might want to check with your docs office to be sure, but I think they may have been talking about Tylenol only for the pain. That said, my doc gave me liquid Tylenol with codeine -- which I didn't take -- I opted for the Darvocet pills I had at home. The liquid tylenol with codeine was sooooo nasty ... blech! A lot of people here are on a number of different meds for pain. Some are on Percocet, other Vicodin, etc. As for the sinus problem, I NEVER stopped taking my Zyrtec. I took if from the time I came home from the hospital. Like I said, you might want to verify with your do, but ... I think taking a sinus med should be fine. I must agree, Tylenol is NOT going to do the trick for your sinuses. Congratulations on joining the banded world! ~Fran

Thanks Calico, I didn't think of calling the CPAP provider. I will give it a try.

In January 2010 I had a 2nd sleep study (original study in August 2004). I received a new CPAP with the same setting, 12. I tried using the new CPAP but felt like I was drowning in my sleep. So I stopped using it. One of the sleep apnea side effects I suffer from is stuttering. This happens when have I have spent months without the CPAP. The neurologist says it is the result of not getting enough oxygen to my brain. After losing more than 60 lbs I thought that sleep apnea was a thing of the past, but apparently this is not the case for me. I was sent home from work last Wednesday because of the stuttering (it also makes me exhausted beyond belief). I tried using my CPAP last night and thought I was going to die! I start with the ramp at "4" and it eventually works it way up to 12. Each time it would reach 12 I would wake up choking, my chest hurting terribly, feeling like I was having an asthma attack and feeling sick in general. Needless to say, after being awakened a couple of times choking I took the mask off. I am, of course, exhausted today. I can't go on like this and I don't want to end up in the hospital again. Any sleep apnea patients out there with some sage advice for me? Will the apnea go away with more weight loss? I appreciate any and all advice.

Let me second what MsJeanetteA said, "walk"! I have had back surgery and I have spinal stenosis so I cannot do extreme exercises. Because of this I lose more slowly than some, but the more weight I lose the farther and longer I am able to walk. Do you have an iPod? Do you like music? Or maybe you prefer a book on iPod. Whatever your preference, walking is easy when you aren't thinking about it. When I have an appointment I park far, far away (sometimes a mile away) and walk - making sure to give myself enough time to get there, of course. I see a therapist twice a month, an obesity specialist, to help with "emotional eating". Her office is in the marina so I park a mile away, put on my "walking" playlist on my iPod and enjoy the beauty of the area. Give it a try ... when you see the weight start to drop it will be motivation to continue and do more. I went from a size 26 to ... a size 14/16! YAY! And still losing! All the best to you on your journey.

I have lately had this problem. I don't eat a lot of sweets but when I do, I get a little indigestion. Usually I will take an anti-acid and drink ice cold Water. Not a pleasant experience. For me, it's usually after eating a cookie or piece of cake so I surmise that it is the fat in the dessert that is causing the problem. My meals have been much lower in fat content since getting the band so I think I just can't tolerate the fat the way I could before. ~Fran