luceparis

It has been 1 week after the 3rd fill and I can tell I am almost there. I am going for my 4th fill on Thursday of next week. I am trying to get most of the fills done 90 days after surgery. My insurance does not make me pay the copay for 90 days after surgery, so that is really cool. I am getting full faster and eating a lot less. Night eating is still a problem, but getting a little better. I got a few things stuck last week after the band fill. One time I even had to go to the sink and sort of spit up a little. It was very uncomfortable, but I knew it would not last. Glad I was at home. I have been going to the pool a lot this week and doing a little work out. I have been dreaming about running a mile, does that count?? My doctor set me up on the Realize My Success website even though I had the Lap Band. It is really cool. you can track your progress, diet, workouts, and goals. He is on it and can monitor my progress. Today I put in several goals. Some are to do with health and fitness, but most are about fitting into normal clothes again. I really want to go to a day spa and when the lady hands me the little bathrobe and says to meet her in the relaxation room, I want to not cringe in embaresment. When I see that bathrobe I feel anything but relaxed. I want to be able to slip it on without a thought about "I wonder if they have a bigger size"... Anyway it seems to be a good site to track my progress.

It has been 1 week after the 3rd fill and I can tell I am almost there. I am going for my 4th fill on Thursday of next week. I am trying to get most of the fills done 90 days after surgery. My insurance does not make me pay the copay for 90 days after surgery, so that is really cool. I am getting full faster and eating a lot less. Night eating is still a problem, but getting a little better. I got a few things stuck last week after the band fill. One time I even had to go to the sink and sort of spit up a little. It was very uncomfortable, but I knew it would not last. Glad I was at home. I have been going to the pool a lot this week and doing a little work out. I have been dreaming about running a mile, does that count?? :cursing: My doctor set me up on the Realize My Success website even though I had the Lap Band. It is really cool. you can track your progress, diet, workouts, and goals. He is on it and can monitor my progress. Today I put in several goals. Some are to do with health and fitness, but most are about fitting into normal clothes again. I really want to go to a day spa and when the lady hands me the little bathrobe and says to meet her in the relaxation room, I want to not cringe in embaresment. When I see that bathrobe I feel anything but relaxed. I want to be able to slip it on without a thought about "I wonder if they have a bigger size"... Anyway it seems to be a good site to track my progress.

I got my 3rd fill yesterday afternoon. I am now at 5.3 CCs. I feel great too. I lost 5 lbs in 2 weeks!!!!!!!! :glare: I am on a huge high about it too, if you can't tell. :smile: He did tell me that I have to start working out. I have been getting in the pool a little but not enough to really count it as working out. I am on liquids today and soft foods. In the waiting room I met 2 ladies that were getting revision surgeries from the band. they had the 4 CC bands. they kind of scared me a little about getting to the sweet spot. Saying that I will throw up and not be able to get anything down. I hope that does not happen. I think I am doing pretty good at this fill point, but still want to lose more... I am getting irritated a lot faster with people and upset when they suggest that I should have lost more weight. I know it is slow going, but at least the scale is going down instead of up, right? Oh well I am trying to not focus on that kind of talk. The doctor said that it is normal to be a little emotional and that is part of the ride for now. Oh well, I also tend to get over things fast now. I am so excited about all the changes with my body, that I tend to get over the things that upset me. And I am not turning to food when I get upset. :thumbup: Anywho... doing well today and glad to have lost 5 lbs in 2 weeks!!!! How cool is this!

I got my 3rd fill yesterday afternoon. I am now at 5.3 CCs. I feel great too. I lost 5 lbs in 2 weeks!!!!!!!! :glare: I am on a huge high about it too, if you can't tell. :smile: He did tell me that I have to start working out. I have been getting in the pool a little but not enough to really count it as working out. I am on liquids today and soft foods. In the waiting room I met 2 ladies that were getting revision surgeries from the band. they had the 4 CC bands. they kind of scared me a little about getting to the sweet spot. Saying that I will throw up and not be able to get anything down. I hope that does not happen. I think I am doing pretty good at this fill point, but still want to lose more... I am getting irritated a lot faster with people and upset when they suggest that I should have lost more weight. I know it is slow going, but at least the scale is going down instead of up, right? Oh well I am trying to not focus on that kind of talk. The doctor said that it is normal to be a little emotional and that is part of the ride for now. Oh well, I also tend to get over things fast now. I am so excited about all the changes with my body, that I tend to get over the things that upset me. And I am not turning to food when I get upset. :smile: Anywho... doing well today and glad to have lost 5 lbs in 2 weeks!!!! How cool is this!

I have been eating a lot of chicken and fish. Also I like sushi a lot... no rice but just raw fish. Yummy!!! I buy skinless boneless chichen thighs. they are so much better than the breast, but just more fat. you can cut that part off though. it goes down very well and fills me up pretty fast.

I am almost 2 months out of surgery. I moved my 3rd fill up to next week. So I will have exactly 2 weeks between fill 2 and fill 3, instead of 4 weeks. I am just ready to be at my sweet spot so badly. :thumbup: I have noticed that I get full much faster and on a lot less food. And finally the scale is agreeing with me :sad: Dinner is still the hardest. I pretty much eat the same meal for dinner that i had for lunch (little chicken and veggies), but it is the late hours that get to me. I tend to eat popsicles or something sweet. I have cut way back though, so that is really good. I have been limiting myself and even cutting the condiments back a ton. I am not hungry between meals either. I can go about 3 hours. That should all really help out a lot. I had to go to the cardiologist due to high triglycerides. They were off the chart!!! He put me on some medication for 6 weeks and increased my vitamin D. I had to wear an EKG holter for 24 hours. I did get a few heart flurries so I was glad I had it on for him to monitor. The results will be ready in a week or so. Also Dr. Garth said he would sit down with me to discuss a better diet to help lower the lipods. Everyone is being so supportive and helpful! i am really grateful that I have such a wonderful family and friends. All my co-workers are great about it too.

I am almost 2 months out of surgery. I moved my 3rd fill up to next week. So I will have exactly 2 weeks between fill 2 and fill 3, instead of 4 weeks. I am just ready to be at my sweet spot so badly. I have noticed that I get full much faster and on a lot less food. And finally the scale is agreeing with me :thumbdown: Dinner is still the hardest. I pretty much eat the same meal for dinner that i had for lunch (little chicken and veggies), but it is the late hours that get to me. I tend to eat popsicles or something sweet. I have cut way back though, so that is really good. I have been limiting myself and even cutting the condiments back a ton. I am not hungry between meals either. I can go about 3 hours. That should all really help out a lot. I had to go to the cardiologist due to high triglycerides. They were off the chart!!! He put me on some medication for 6 weeks and increased my vitamin D. I had to wear an EKG holter for 24 hours. I did get a few heart flurries so I was glad I had it on for him to monitor. The results will be ready in a week or so. Also Dr. Garth said he would sit down with me to discuss a better diet to help lower the lipods. Everyone is being so supportive and helpful! i am really grateful that I have such a wonderful family and friends. All my co-workers are great about it too.

I am in your exact position. I got my band on March 10th so I am almost to 2 months. I have lost about 20 lbs, but the past 2 weeks I did not look anything. I just got a 2nd fill today. I was so frustrated, but had to remind myself that this is a long process. Don't worry about what people are asking you. You are doing a great job!!!! and you are doing it for the rest of your life!!! :wink: I tell people that I am "still on track and right where I should be"... Also you might want to move to solid foods if you have not already. I was in the soft food comfort zone and I think that is why I was not losing anything... Focus on the good things and that you have lost 34 lbs!!!!!!!! I'm jealous!!!!! :wub:

I just got back from doctor's office. I got another .5 cc in my band so now I am at 4.5 ccs. It was easier this time. I had the same PA do it, so it was faster finding the port and doing the fill. It has only been 2 weeks since my 1st fill, but I was not feeling any restrictions. Besides today and tomorrow, I am eating solid foods now. Hopefully that will help with the weight loss. The soft foods just don't stay in the pouch long enough to stay full. Since I have been eating solids I have noticed the sloshing feeling go away! :biggrin: When I would stand up or sit down I could feel the food bubble down the pouch or something. It was weird. I am still having a hard time finding something to eat for breakfast. I was doing the protien shake but the doctor does not want me to drink those, because it does not stay in the band. So I tried 1 banana and that is good, but I know it has too many carbs for me. I think I will try hard boiled eggs next.

I just got back from doctor's office. I got another .5 cc in my band so now I am at 4.5 ccs. It was easier this time. I had the same PA do it, so it was faster finding the port and doing the fill. It has only been 2 weeks since my 1st fill, but I was not feeling any restrictions. Besides today and tomorrow, I am eating solid foods now. Hopefully that will help with the weight loss. The soft foods just don't stay in the pouch long enough to stay full. Since I have been eating solids I have noticed the sloshing feeling go away! :wink: When I would stand up or sit down I could feel the food bubble down the pouch or something. It was weird. I am still having a hard time finding something to eat for breakfast. I was doing the protien shake but the doctor does not want me to drink those, because it does not stay in the band. So I tried 1 banana and that is good, but I know it has too many carbs for me. I think I will try hard boiled eggs next.

Glad to hear I am not the only one... thought the band was just not working for me yet. I am trying to take it slow, but I really just want to be at the sweet spot so badly. Tomorrow is the 2nd fill date so I will be closer at least.

I moved my 2nd fill date to this Thursday. I was supposed to go next Thurs, but I really do not want to wait. I can barely tell a difference since my 1st fill. I do get full, but not really that fast. I am eating solids and am staying full a little longer. It just seems like I should be getting full faster on less food. Not really working out yet, but running around town as much as possible. does that count for anything

I moved my 2nd fill date to this Thursday. I was supposed to go next Thurs, but I really do not want to wait. I can barely tell a difference since my 1st fill. I do get full, but not really that fast. I am eating solids and am staying full a little longer. It just seems like I should be getting full faster on less food. Not really working out yet, but running around town as much as possible. :thumbup: does that count for anything :thumbdown:

It has been a little over 3 weeks. I am so glad that I was introduced to this site. There is so much good information and friendly people here. My port site is still hurting a bit, but not all day and very manageable. I am still weighing myself 2 times a day. I really want to stop doing that, because it seems to be discouraging to see the numbers hoover around. Since I told so many people that I did the band, I now have a lot of people asking me how is the weight loss going. I am still doing about 1-2 a week, but it gets old telling everyone that. Oh well, I really like the encouragement I get from everyone. that really helps. And having so many people know keeps me on my toes.

It has been a little over 3 weeks. I am so glad that I was introduced to this site. There is so much good information and friendly people here. My port site is still hurting a bit, but not all day and very manageable. I am still weighing myself 2 times a day. I really want to stop doing that, because it seems to be discouraging to see the numbers hoover around. Since I told so many people that I did the band, I now have a lot of people asking me how is the weight loss going. I am still doing about 1-2 a week, but it gets old telling everyone that. Oh well, I really like the encouragement I get from everyone. that really helps. And having so many people know keeps me on my toes. :thumbup:

I had my first fill yesterday. It was not that bad... I already had 3 ccs in the band from surgery and they added 1 more cc, so now I have 4 ccs. He had to poke around to get the needle into the port, but it really was not painful. Just really weird pushing and preasure feelings. I drank a little bit of water and was on my way home... I was on all liquids for the day of the fill and on soft foods now. I have my next fill set for 3 weeks. The clinic is moving to a new location next month. In the new location (closer to my work, yea) they will have a gym and pool for the patients. Not sure if it will be free, but it will be discounted. That is really exciting fo me!!!!:smile2: I love to swim and the pool is inside from what I hear.

I had my first fill yesterday. It was not that bad... I already had 3 ccs in the band from surgery and they added 1 more cc, so now I have 4 ccs. He had to poke around to get the needle into the port, but it really was not painful. Just really weird pushing and preasure feelings. I drank a little bit of water and was on my way home... I was on all liquids for the day of the fill and on soft foods now. I have my next fill set for 3 weeks. The clinic is moving to a new location next month. In the new location (closer to my work, yea) they will have a gym and pool for the patients. Not sure if it will be free, but it will be discounted. That is really exciting fo me!!!!:scared2: I love to swim and the pool is inside from what I hear.

My Fit Foods - Locations They have lots of locations around Houston. The pricing is really not that bad. About $4 for breakfast and around $6 for lunch and the same for dinner. Good luck on real food tomorrow. Go slow... :smile2:

Thanks Monica!!! I am on pretty much real food now. I am at lunch now and eating chilli from My Fit Foods. They are like Diet Gormet. Yummy healthy food that are cooked for you by a real chef instead of nutisystem MREs. hehehe... All liquid diet was hard. I have to admit I cheated a few times, but very healthy cheats. Congrats on your band too!!!! Keep me posted on how you are doing :smile2:

Thanks Mimi! I was worried about the pain. Glad to hear it goes away and is normal for now.

Thanks Becky!!!! That is crazy you were here during Hurricane Ike. I was on a cruise ship and raced the hurricane home. Made it home in time for the big event. It was wild. I had my surgery done by Dr Garth Davis at Methodist. He was great. Who did yours? Good luck with your progress and keep me posted. Amy

I just wanted to introduce myself to the group. :smile2: I am Amy and am from Houston. I finally got the lap band on March 10th. I have been working towards this goal since May 2008. Almost 1 year later it is done. Now the real work begins. So far I have lost 20 pounds and feeling great!!!! I still have a little pain on the port side, and hope it goes away soon. My first fill is set for April 14th. I can't wait!

:thumbdown: It has been a bit over 2 full weeks since surgery date. I am not sore at all anymore, but I do feel the port every once in a while. I went to post opt and got to set a date for my first fill - April 13 or 14... I have been eating pretty normally for the most part. Tuna salad is my main course most meals. I have had chicken and meat loaf. All portions are cut down, but not as much as I would like. I am sure after the first fill things will be different. I have lost another pound since post opt. I have become a compulsive weigher. It is so frustrating because my weight goes up and down through out the day as it does with everyone. I am going to try to only weigh 1 time per week or maybe 2 times. It is really hard. It is nice to see the scale number not increase everyday. I have not picked up working out more yet, but I have noticed that I do not get tired as quickly as I used to. Even though I have only lost 20 pounds and I have a lot more to go, I do feel better about myself and feel better in my clothes - not too much, but a little better. it helps. Fianlly got banded (from my previous blog site) I finally got the lap band on March 10th. I have been working towards this goal since May 2008. Almost 1 year later it is done. Now the real work begins. I went on a liquid diet for 2 weeks before surgery and lost about 13 pounds. I have lost another 5 pounds since then. Totaling 18 pounds. YEAH!!!! Post Opt appointment was today. The doctor said I was healing nicely and that I was loosing a good amount of weight. Of course he said that I should not expect to keep up this weight loss. It should go down to 1-2 pounds a week or around 10 pounds a month with good excerise. I am feeling better and drove today. I still have a bit of pain in my side where the port is, but so much better than last week. Last night was the first night that I was able to sleep on my side. Doc says I will not be able to sleep on my stomach for several months, blah! Oddly I am looking forward to going back to work tomorrow. I have been working from my laptop this week and was out of it all last week. Surely after a few days back at work this will pass. :cursing:

:thumbdown: It has been a bit over 2 full weeks since surgery date. I am not sore at all anymore, but I do feel the port every once in a while. I went to post opt and got to set a date for my first fill - April 13 or 14... I have been eating pretty normally for the most part. Tuna salad is my main course most meals. I have had chicken and meat loaf. All portions are cut down, but not as much as I would like. I am sure after the first fill things will be different. I have lost another pound since post opt. I have become a compulsive weigher. It is so frustrating because my weight goes up and down through out the day as it does with everyone. I am going to try to only weigh 1 time per week or maybe 2 times. It is really hard. It is nice to see the scale number not increase everyday. I have not picked up working out more yet, but I have noticed that I do not get tired as quickly as I used to. Even though I have only lost 20 pounds and I have a lot more to go, I do feel better about myself and feel better in my clothes - not too much, but a little better. it helps. Fianlly got banded (from my previous blog site) I finally got the lap band on March 10th. I have been working towards this goal since May 2008. Almost 1 year later it is done. Now the real work begins. I went on a liquid diet for 2 weeks before surgery and lost about 13 pounds. I have lost another 5 pounds since then. Totaling 18 pounds. YEAH!!!! Post Opt appointment was today. The doctor said I was healing nicely and that I was loosing a good amount of weight. Of course he said that I should not expect to keep up this weight loss. It should go down to 1-2 pounds a week or around 10 pounds a month with good excerise. I am feeling better and drove today. I still have a bit of pain in my side where the port is, but so much better than last week. Last night was the first night that I was able to sleep on my side. Doc says I will not be able to sleep on my stomach for several months, blah! Oddly I am looking forward to going back to work tomorrow. I have been working from my laptop this week and was out of it all last week. Surely after a few days back at work this will pass. :cursing: