catfish87

I was curious, so I did a little experiment on myself. This info is from Jan 14th to about April 14th of this year. Copied and pasted from an earlier post I made. You can look up your BMR on any number of sites. The math doesn't lie. I started tracking/logging my food/exercise on Jan 14th. I used an app called LOSEIT....Not, repeat NOT to limit what I eat, my band does that now, but I was just curious. Here's what I have found over 3 months. I averaged eating about 1750 calories per day. Average calories burned exercising was appx 600 per day. ( I felt that put me in the "active" category) So my Net was 1150 calories. During this timeframe, three months, I went from 252# down to 218#, for a loss of 34#'s. Everybody says a pound equals 3500 calories. THEY'RE right! My BMR is 2950 TO MAINTAIN: according to the Mayo Clinic website http://www.mayoclini...culator/NU00598 My Intake was 1750 Thats a 1200 calorie deficit for 90 days = 108,000 calorie deficit. 108,000/3500 = 31 And I lost almost exactly that.

If your "mother talked you out of it", I'd suggest you weren't ready for this surgery. That doesn't mean you won't be someday...maybe even now. Only you, after MUCH consideration within your own mind/heart, and information from a qualified doctor/nutritionist, can deterimine if you are really ready. Are you REALLY determined to make a change? Do you REALLY want to do those "adventurous things" you talk about? If you REALLY do, then this might be for you. I understand where you're coming from when you state you "don't wanna be big forever, but you like to eat". I had the same mental issue. But both are possible....you can still "eat" and not be big forever. It was what, and more importantly, HOW MUCH I was eating that caused my being fat. And of course, the fact I wasn't doing anything to burn all those calories I was eating. I'd venture to say, if you watched me eat in public NOW, you wouldn't even guess/know I had a band. Maybe early on, when learning how to comfortably live/eat with my band you would have. I can NOW eat most anything I want. I take "normal"/small sized bites of food, and just chew more. Eating less than three or four plates full of food doesn't really stand out as odd to a lot of people. You'll learn you don't have to eat seconds/thirds/fourths to be normal. I just make healthier choices most of the time, and let my band help with the portion control. PORTION CONTROL was my problem. And my band takes care of that for me, now. And I'm loving it! Best wishes to you on your decision.

For me, brussel sprouts are the number ONE problem food. And I don't have many...at all. I have no idea why....I love them!

You got it!! Great job so far...keep that motivation. and LGB!!! we need this one tonight.

Good post! If you have to do it on your own, why didn't they just hand you the band in the package it came in??? Put it in your pocket and carry it around with you every day...wouldn't have needed surgery to install it, if you had to do it on your own. But fortunately, you don't have to do it on your own. The band will do its part when it gets properly adjusted for each individual. I/you may need more or less than the next person....does not make me or them wrong. Thats why it's adjustable. And as an added benefit, it does help considerably with head hunger too, when properly adjusted. You can read from people on here who "skip" meals...from people who preach restriction on both sides...because they're not hungry...."forgot to eat"! Just gotta get there... and you can. Best wishes.

Where "I" failed was not giving my BAND and/or my surgical support team 100% confidence that this would work for me, given the correct adjustments. I hadn't quite wrapped my head around the whole adjustable factor. Still couldn't quite believe it possible....as you say, I'd failed at weight loss ( diets ) for years and years. Fortunately, I overcame that lack of belief....and couldn't be happier.

Maybe this page will help... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/surgeons/

Does the office still have your records? If so, maybe just check your area for a different doc that still is doing the surgeries, and call to explain your situation. Was your office able to re-send you a copy of the letter. Hopefully, it gave advice on where to go for future consults/fills/etc. Or maybe look on here for others who had the same doctor and see what they have done. Who was your doc, if you don't mind me asking?

Wow...are you reading my story or what? Starting @ 324 About one year post op @ 238....thanks mainly to dieting. Then I quit losing, acutally started back UP in weight to around 275, but "hey, I was still down 50 lbs" so I thought that was gonna be it for me. I wasn't meant to be a "normal" weight I thought....couldn't possibly be. After a year and a half of not visiting my doctor, due to embarrassment, I had a friend convince me to go back. I did..with much anticipation of "being in that hot seat" you describe. My surgeon was so fantastic!!!....his office during my hiatus, had started using fluoro for all fills. I got a couple of ADJUSTMENTS, got to correct RESTRICTION, and couldn't be happier.... (read my story for all the details, as there was also an installation issue with my band that got corrected, hence the dieting phase) You too, need to get yourself back to your surgeon. You had surgery! An ADJUSTABLE surgery... I've been there. I know exactly what you're feeling. This website has helped me a tremendous amount. Others on here have been where you are at too. Read and listen to what those EXPERIENCED people write. Those that have overcome/adapted/succeded. You can too! Best wishes for your success. NEVER, EVER give up!

First....Hoping the best for you! I try to learn from folks with experience like yourself, and I thank you for posting your journey. Hopefully, this won't be too many questions. I'd like to know, when you mention that you think you were over-eager with fills and that led to "zero hunger control", was it a gradual thing that happened over many fills? Or more of a one time was too much? You state that your band doesn't really do much at all for portion control "anymore". By that, do you mean that it used to when you were at a less agressive fill volume? When you were losing, did you feel that portion control that the band does provide for many of us? Or was it mostly self portion control ( a diet ) that led to your weight loss? I completely understand the feeling of embarassement of going back to the doctor after a period of not doing well...(for about a year and a half)...been there, right along with you. My experience was, my surgeon was completely the opposite of my fears....absolutely amazing. And I couldn't be happier now. As others have suggested, please make that appt, and follow up. I think you may be surprised at the support you receive from your team. I wish you much success in getting back to that happy spot with your band, and your life. Thanks again for sharing your story.

Hi T! Actually, its probably a good sign you're starting to be hungry....means the surgical swelling is subsiding. Walking will certainly be your best friend right now. Just think in a couple of weeks, you'll be using those herbs to put on some nice grilled fish or chicken, etc. Now, lets go Blues!

First, this isn't a one time and you're done kinda thing...as I'm sure you're aware of. Its an adjustable band for a reason. Your surgeon, per your profile, has "over 3 years experience" with 25 patients who are members on here. I PROMISE YOU, you are not gonna be the first one he's seen, who didn't drop 100 lbs in the first couple of months. I made this mistake over two years ago....and I wasted a year and a half by not going to see my doctor. Thinking it wasn't gonna work for me. PLEASE don't make the same mistake I did. You state a lot of good info in your post. #1. You know you're over eating, BECAUSE you state you're hungry all the time. #2. You know you needed help choosing the right type and quanity of food. Otherwise, why have surgery. #3. You have only 3cc's in your band, and from the what I read, you're not satisfied on a small volume of food. Meaning, you're probably not at correct restriction. The good news! All these things can be FIXED with correct follow up/adjustments with a good surgeon and speaking with a nutritionist. But most importantly......YOU never, ever giving up. Best wishes on your success.

There you go! Starting is the most important part. Anything and everything counts. Congrats!

Understandable, but REALLY not necessary. You went through surgery....fills are more like a little shot. Very simple process. You'll do fine!

So much good info and encouragement already....as well it should be. YOU are doing great! I am fortunate, as my PCP and surgeon were supportive, even when my band wasn't doing anything...nothing. It was just another diet...and I really started to get discouraged. Try not to let your PCP's lack of support/understanding determine how good you should feel about YOUR SUCCESS. You're going to get your port repaired, then your band will do its part. Best wishes for your continued success.

For ME, those "stuck" episodes were a learning process. I wasn't following the "rules" of living with a properly (for me) adjusted band. I still wanted to eat like I did pre-band. I need the band to help with portion control. I can't/don't do a very good job of limiting portions....never have, hence starting this process at 324 lbs. So that discomfort of being stuck several times early on, made me learn those rules. The ones that were preached to me, given to me in many, many handouts. Handouts and preaching didn't work....my properly adjusted band DID/DOES work. You can read on here every day from folks who go for an adjustment because "I'm eating too much", "not losing weight", "hungry all the time", "discouraged at my success", "failing my band", etc, etc. Then, after an adjustment, go back for an unfill because they're getting stuck occasionally. Thats the good thing about this WLS, it's adjustable. But, maybe they just need some time to adjust??? Best wishes for your continued success!

I can't answer about any specific locations in your area, but the actual fluoro process doesn't have anything to do with your band. It's just a machine they use to SEE your restriction level and view correct placement, etc of your band. Think of it like a live xray. You just drink a contrasting liquid (barium solution in my case) while the doctor watches it go down. Here's a link from my docs office describing it. http://www.hoab.org/...louis-missouri/

Hi Donna, I'm happy to hear you lost!! 2-4 lbs per month over a year can really add up. No need to be in a hurry. Much better to be happy. Give yourself another month at this restriction level and reconsider. Thats whats so wonderful about our surgery....ADJUSTABLE. Congrats!

For me the diet restrictions immediately following surgery ( the first two weeks ) were easy. There weren't any options...clear liquids for a week, then full liquids. Nothing to debate. Didn't need to worry about bite size, chewing, etc. Progressing to solid foods is where the real learning took place. Someone can tell you til they're blue in the face about bite size and how much to chew, etc. But YOU are the one that has to LEARN it. And learn you will, given the desire and enough time. Until you do, you may experience getting stuck...thats when the food you just swallowed doesn't go through the band area easily. Its literally "stuck". You feel it no doubt, but it's not the end of the world. Just one more way you learn those rules that bluefaced person mentioned earlier tried to tell you about. Smaller bites and chew better. Some people (like me!) are slow learners...while some you read about don't experience it at all they say. I've read post on here from people who've been banded for years and claim they never have been stuck.....they are good listeners! They follow the "rules". Eventually, you make peace with your band and probably more importantly, your head. Then it becomes second nature.

My experience... Yes, exercise helps with any attempt at weightloss. WLS or not. Its calories in vs calories burned. That parts pretty simple. I never vomit or get nausea. Sometimes I got stuck from eating incorrectly..,but I learned from it and moved on. I was off work two weeks. Yes, it was difficult to adjust my diet/eating habits...otherwise I wouldn't have needed surgery. Would I do the same surgery again, having experienced it for going on four years....Absolutely yes, no question about it.

Good to hear you're off to a great start! Keep moving and sipping. See you next week hopefully!

I wish you continued relief and improvement. My sister, a nurse, has fibro. It's awful for her....It's sad to see what it did to her in such a short period. Hoping they find a cure soon. Best wishes.

Frederic, Since it sounds like you keep good accountability of your food and exercise log, what's is your avg daily deficit compared to your BMR? This is what will or won't determine weight loss. As far as whether you need a fill or not...for me, my experience was I needed/wanted a fill if I wasn't satisfied on what was supposed to be a band sized amount of food. (I needed/wanted more) And/or felt HUNGRY shortly after eating a small amount. Keep in mind, you mention you already occasionally get stuck. Getting a fill MIGHT make that more noticable, unless you're willing to really slow down eating and really chew. You can read on here every day about people getting a fill, then "needing" an unfill. Do they really need the unfill, or do they need to adjust to the new restriction level? I don't know, but I needed to adjust my eating habits. I would suggest that getting a fill shouldn't be based on a two week weight "plateau", but rather more on your HUNGER level. The band now controls that hunger level, for me.

Happy to hear you are doing good! It'll get better every day. Rest when you can. Congrats!

Congrats!!! You're doing fantastic!