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I have that question too, although I suspect it is different for all of us. But I think as chronic overeaters, which is what brought us here, we don't know what full feels like, because we've never stopped at full, only overstuffed. I'm trying to get in touch with that full feeling, but I find I either stop before I feel what I would consider full, or I get this painful "rock" between my shoulder blades, which I imagine is overfull, band style. I'm still only eating like a custard cup of food at each meal, but I still have never felt what I would consider a reasonable "full." Any help from you experienced bandsters?

I feel your pain as well. I was banded on 3/31 and have lost weight before and after the surgery, but it is a fight every day, which is one of the reasons I wanted the band...appetite restriction. I find I eat less, but not beat I'm on cause I'm full, but becaue I make myself stop....I feel like I coulhave done this without the pain (and the $15,000) of surgery. I'm also still having trouble controlling my sweet tooth. I have no fill right now, but my doctor said if I don't get appetitie retriction now that I' mon solid foods, he will give me a fill. Now I know why they call it bandster hell.

If you have an Iphone or Ipod touch, there is a great application called "Lose It." It has most of the features of all the online ones, but it is with you at all times. I know myself, and I won't take the time to go online and log my food. This one is always around, though, so I'm doing much better. You can also tell it to display exactly what nutrients you want counted, such as protein and carbs. It not only does each day, but a weekly average.

My family and I are spending a weekend at the beach house. These trips have always been full of food...going out to great little restaurants, barbecuing, eating snacks at the beach all day. Needless to say, it will really put my new lifestyle to the test. So far, I've been able to eat everything with no problems and sickness whatsoever but have made the right choices in terms of amounts and foods, which may be why. Normally that would be good, but I'm concerned that not experiencing any of those typical side effects will hurt my willpower. I could really use some words of wisdom and support as I launch into my first real trial. BTW - I was banded March 31, and have lost a total of 32 pounds pre and post surgery.

I also go to Curves..started during the preop phase and was just released to start back slowly. While it is probably less strenuous than a traditional gym, we former couch potatoes should find it more than adequate. Plus, I'm more comfortable in the all-women, primarily adult setting (no gym bunnies) and I've made some really nice friends. I even got my mom to join and at 68 years old, she is loving it!

Wow, that's a fabulous weight loss...I can understand how hard it is to get used to the idea. I'm way behind you in the process (3/31 banding.) I've been seeing a counselor since before the surgery and he said that we often use our weight as protection....from succeeding, from love, from intimacy. He said that losing the weight is like stripping ourselves bare and feeling more vulnerable than we ever have. It totally makes sense to me. I think I've always used my weight as an excuse...nobody takes me seriously at work because I'm fat, I don't want to be intimate becasue I'm too fat...etc. I'm not sure if this helps, I'm certainly not in any place to mentor, but a good counselor could certainly help. BTW - I'm only about an hour north of you, in Bakersfield!

I had the same problem with the shakes. I used HMR, which most bariatric centers will carry. Pre-surgery, I was able to choke it down blended with banana and ice. But afterwards, I obviously couldn't use the bananas, but blending also put too much air in the shake and it gave me gas pains. What I finally found was Nectar protiens cappucino flavor. Yummy! Now I drink my shakes all the time, even crave them. I feel like I'm having a frappucino when I'm actually getting 43 grams of protien, more if I use milk. Idrink four ounces in the morning and the rest at night. I don't know if that would work for you, but Nectar has lots of good flavors.

Okay, this may be a dumb question, but I keep reading about a gastric sleeve and peope converting from band to sleeve. Can somebody give me the basics about what it is and why people are switching (or direct me somewhere where I can find the information.) Thanks!

Hi...wanted to update you...I'm down another 3 for a total of 5.6 pounds. just under 8 to go, so I'm going to have to kick it up...I'm thrilled with 30 lbs since my March 31 banding, though!!!!!

Egg beaters are egg substitue that comes in a little carton, like cream. You buy them in the egg section of the grocer. They are supposed to be healthier than eggs...but real eggs aren't something I want to comprmise on, especially at 6 grams of protien a pop.

Julie - I think it is all something we go through, especially if head hunger has been our problem in the past (which mine was.) While the lap band doesn't cure head hunger, my surgeon said the band should provide "negative feedback" that sickly, pain in the back feeling that will eventually help retrain your brain. I've only been banded for 2 weeks and am dealing with the same issues. I'm thinking about calling a counselor to get more help as well. The lapband was something of a last resort for me and I need to do all I can to make it work..I'm sure you feel the same way. Find other people to support you, help hold you accountable when you reach for more or for something you shouldn't have. My husband, as much as he hates it, is doing that for me and it is helping. Good luck to you!

Run, RUN! Do not be a training ground for an inexperienced surgeon who is obviously biased against the band in the first place. I too work in health care and know that the more of a specific type of surgery a surgeon does, the lower his or her error rate. That's why hospitals create "centers of excellence" - they bring together all the doctors who are exerienced in a certain specialty and send all of their patients to them...it just makes sense medically. Insist your insurance provide you with different options, especially one with support system for band and preferrably a certificate of excellence...given to centers and physicians who have a proven track record in bariaric care. Good luck!

Okay, I'm shocked and pretty much devastated when I got on my scale this morning and had gained 2 1/2 pounds. I'm moving beyond mushies into soft foods and am eating about 700 to 1000 calories per day, but am having trouble getting down all the liquid while planning arund the food. I had been down to 235.5 from a high of 265 at my sugical consult, but today I a back to 238. I know it seems a small amount in the big picture...but I just went through so much to get to this point in my lap band journey, it just pisses me off to see the scale going in the wrong direction!:cool2: Any words of wisdom from those of you who have been down this road and possibly experienced something similar??

I did salf-pay in central California and its $16,500. I probably could have found it cheaper but I wanted to be at home and have a surgeon who was right around the corner if I needed anything. Good luck!

I've been using Tap Tracker, but i'm going to check out all the ones you guys are talking about!

I tried all different sorts before surgery and found I had a lot of stmach problems if it wasn't full of food first. My surgeon suggested something made just for bariatric patients and gave me some samples. I'm know taking Bariatric Advantage vitamins, which work much better for me. I take two wild berry multiples per day, 3 cinnamon calcium citrate perday and one lemon-lime iron per day. They are all actually pretty good, especially the cinnamon and I don't feel icky when I take them. You can get them at an site that sells bariatric stuff or at bariatricadvantage.com

Bambam - that is an amazing weightloss for a March 10th band...you are my hero. Yesterday I tried to keep track of what I ate (iphone had a great tracker called tap track) I had about 800 calories and 60 grams of protien...I figured that was okay. Today, I'm going to try and do more protien and hope it helps. Let me know if the rest of you have any more success in upcoming days. I'd sure like to see my scale in free-fall again!

Hi all - after spending my first post-surgery week absolutely miserable I thought I would never eat again. But then this week, on the mushies, I am STARVING. I'm forcing myself to keep to portions: 1 scrambed egg, 1/2 cup mashed potatoes, 1/2 cup cottage cheese....but I want more of them and more things. I read somewhere that it is normal to feel hungry after banding (mine was 3/31) and he fullness comes slowly. My band is empty but I can't imagine I would need a fill already...my surgeon won't even consider it for four to six weeks. Any help?:thumbdown:

Hi all = I want to join too! I'm a newbie (banded on 3/31) I've created a ticker and lost 2.6 pounds since I first read about it and started. Do I just come back and post my progress or does someone keep track of the group. Thanks!

Can I join??? I'm a newbie, banded on 3/31, but I'd sure like to be a part of this. My current weight is 236 My July 4 goal is 200 I want to lose 36 Not sure how to add my name to the list....can some one help me?? :eek:

Hi Jena - I'm 5'5'' and started at 265 and my bmi was 43.7....that's as much as you probably want to know. :eek: I paid cash for my surgery because my insurance only covers gastric bypass and I'm not a candidate for that. The cost of mine was $16,750, but I was able to shave some off by having my own doctor do the psych eval and my own cardiologist do the heart testing. I think I could have got it cheaper and we certainly couldhave paid more. You really want to find your own sweet spot...not judging just by money, but by quality and reputation. This site has a lot of good resources for dr. referrals...definitely look for bariatric center of excellence for both the facility and the surgeon. As far as regret...I'm only 6 days out...I have lost 26 pounds. I'm only now starting to turn the corner where I may feel good enough to feel it was worth it. As far as money, we used our work bonuses and borrowed $5k from my parents, who really wanted me to do it. Other people have used their home equity line of credit and (at least in California) there is a financing program called CarePay which has really low interest rates. There are lots of options for payment and providers...do your homework and good luck!!! :w00t:

Great for you Weas! I see a lotta people out here that are upset because they aren't losing as fast as they think they should. But as life-time dieters we need to remember that it is not just what we are losing, but what we are not gaining! I would be thrilled to be down 80 in a year. I would be even more thrilled to know I hadn't gained 20, 30, 40 or 5o in that same amount of time. Happy bandiversary to you! And I'd lift 80 drinks in your honor if they wouldn't make me absolutely miserable! :eek:

I don't use Dr. Irani, but Dr. Dr Garcia in his office and I have talked to Dr. Irani when I had problems and he was on call. Both of them are great guys with excellent patient rapport and highly reputed skills. They have a third partner, Dr. Naiak, but I have heard he is more of a "Jillian" when it comes to keeping you on track with your wieght loss...Dr. Garcia is more of a Bob. Just so you know....prices in medicine (especially outside of insurance) are negotiable. Remember, the insurance company pays only a fraction of "charges" and they have to hassle with them. If you go in, say you are paying yourself and will hassle with the insurance yourself, ask them for a discount. I got my cost down from $5k to $4k, no cost if I needed a hernia repair and three free fills. All I did was ask! Good Luck

I know I'm a late-comer to this thread, but wanted to put my two cents in if you are still looking and researching. As a cash pay, I thought about going out of town...beleive me, cash is welcome anywhere. But I ended up right in little ol' Bakersfield. With John Garcia of Bakersfield Surigcal Associates. He does seminars at both Mercy Southwest and San Joaquin (which I beleive has the better overall program.) He came highly recommended from a friend who had him and my husband and I just loved him...practical, a real person you can talk to and always takes the time to answer all your questions. If you prefer a more "distinguished" surgeon, Dr. Hormuz Irani, who started the group, is also very caring and great with patients....he's been doing this since God was a boy, so his skills are supreme. Hope that helps! Cristy

Hey Dani - I'm from Bakersfield...banded on March 31. I'm still having all the first week issues, bu each day gets better..Where dd you have your surgery and which surgeon? What has your experience been like? I'd love to get more Bakersfield folks on here so we can chat and eventually meet...the hospital support groups just don't happen frequently enough to meet my needs!